A King So Cold: A Dark Fantasy Romance (Royals Book 1)

A King So Cold was a nice change of pace and totally unpredictable. Ella Fields has written something different, something outside her norm, not what I'm used to, something darker and sometimes disturbing. I was addicted to this story and totally loved it but in the end, I'm left wondering how I really feel. It was a long book and I loved every chapter, but I didn't finish with a smile only face. I was kind of sad, but I still wonder why? The characters were fascinating, the plot was captivating, and the twists and turns were shocking. I read ever spare minute I had. I read when I should have been working, should have been cleaning, should have been taking care of kids. This was a story that refused to be put down. I'm not so sure how I'm feeling after The End! It wasn't what I was expecting and so I'm unsettled. Don't get me wrong, it's a great ending, it just threw me for a loop. Just as I thought we were headed down the path I envisioned, BAM! About-face! Off we go down the other path. I flip-flopped throughout the book with the path I wanted Audra to take. Both Raiden and Zadicus were strong male leads fighting for her heart. Each one deserves her, each one loves her, but which one shall she closest? She had some very hard choices to make. She's a magnificent ruler who has lived a harsh life and learned her place. She made a fabulous heroine and I would welcome the chance to read more about this world and these awesome characters who touched my heart. Ella Fields is a phenomenal writer and she hasn't disappointed with A King So Cold. It's a mythological, fantasy adventure ride that kept me glued to the pages but I always feel somewhat saddened when it comes to love triangles, and this book is no different. Not everyone can win the girl and I'm not totally settled with the way this one went.

Some brief thoughts. I might do a full review later, but I might not. It all depends on my mood, and she can be finicky. This book started off quite slow for me, and I had to really push myself to get past the first third of the story. Part of the reason for this is because I struggled to connect to Audra. She’s a cold-hearted b**** of a queen, and while I actually love some feminine rage and a true anti-heroine, I didn’t connect with her until later in the story when I really understood her history. I don’t want to say much about this book because it is FILLED with OP drama and is love-triangle-esque? Like Ella’s other books, it’s a character-based romantasy, but with some more world-building than I’ve seen in the other two books of hers that I’ve read. I will say that I love Audra’s love interest and who I think her final choice will be in the final book of the duet. I want to make it really clear that this story really will not be for everyone. It’s chock-full of OP drama, messy and complicated relationships, and imperfect characters that make repetitive mistakes. I, however, ate it up after that first 30%. Ella’s writing is beautiful, and I love stories that aren’t cut and dry. This one kept me on my toes! If you’re in your anti-heroine and feminine rage era, give this one a try!

I have so many feelings right now, but the thing that stands front and center is THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANT IN A BOOK. It's passionate, it's wicked, it's wild, it's sexy, it's intense, it's fast-paced, and heart-stopping and magical and creative and just DOWN RIGHT ADDICTING. I read this in one day. I don't know how many pages it is (it's long), but I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. It held me captive, stole my heart, and I have the BIGGEST book hangover. I honestly feel like I lived a life inside this book. I lost track of time, of the world, of everything, it was that immersive, and now I'm back in the real world and ALL I want to do is DIVE back inside A King So Cold with Audra, Zad, and Raiden. It's such an intoxicating read, the first book in a new fantasy series from Ella Fields, and pure perfection. Queen Audra is a complicated character but she embraces her challenges, her wickedness, her brokenness. She uses it to seek retribution for the betrayal she endured at the hands of her husband--The King--and she is one of the most captivating heroines I have ever read. An anti-heroine, Audra is full of fierce assertiveness and strength, and you can't help but feel and understand and connect with her. I absolutely loved the way Ella Fields wove this story together. It's vivid and visceral. Audra's dynamic with Lord Zad and King Raiden comes to life in a twisty, dark, compelling, and complex way! These are some of the most enchanting and extraordinary characters I've read in a long time. They're flawed, very very very flawed, and frustrating, yet so wholly lovable. Their story is FULL of twists and turns, of magic and s-x, of betrayal and lies, of loss and love, and it is EVERYTHING. I completely lost myself in their chaos, in their heartbreak, in their darkness. It's an angsty read, there's a scene or two that's tough for sensitive readers, but it is one of the most UNFORGETTABLE, most UNPUTDOWNABLE reads of the year. It's pure MAGIC and PASSION, and I SIX STAR loved every moment. I cannot wait for more in this series. I AM SO READY FOR IT.

Very refreshing, unique and a good tale of faeries, humans, half blood! The story and the secret's intrigued me. Loved Zad and Audra!

I mean Ella Fields brain is an amazing place to be for sure. I love when authors show instead of telling, those are the real magical books for me, because they have the power to really transport you to that new world and new mind and A King So Cold was that kind of book. This book played with my feelings so much and I LOVED IT. It wasn't a rollercoaster of feelings it was like a series of bungee jumps with my feelings, where one minute I was free falling and the other I had whiplash. And I want more of it LOL I really need for this book to have a sequel. Is the Stray Prince a sequel? Please it has to be. A King so Cold had almost everything I want in a fantasy romance with a royal setting: DRAMA, angst, real fierce and independent anti heroine, action, broken moral compass, mystery, intrigue, betrayal, power struggle, lies, WTF kind of secrets, raw and complex characters. Also hate to love & love to hate, marriage of convenience, slow burn love not sex (I'm so glad that this book had such a sex positive stand), I mean we have two love interests so that's a lot going on in that department, but the story makes it work like a masterpiece. We have such sweet and vulnerable moments, romance in a new twist that will give your head an upside down sense, lust lust lust (holy hell pants on fire scenes), a love triangle that made me almost insane but in a good way (most of the time hehehe) AND that is refreshing as hell because we are forced to keep guessing until almost the bloody end, not a dull moment in this book folks (I need/hope that my ship will sail into the next book as OTP). Anyway it has pages that made me cry, laugh, question myself, rage and have all the feels...atop a development that was so well done, that I was obcessing with it even after I had to stop reading to have a little sleep. The only thing that lacked from that genre was the world-building, I think it would be great if we had more information on the history, geography and distinctions, but I managed to follow it with only a few moments of confusion. My only other problem with the book was that it felt rushed on the end, last 10% to be more precise, some explanations were very simple and convenient and the decisions of some characters were what I wanted but weren't developed in a satisfactory way, maybe a sequel will remedy this. Despite that I didn't feel that it bothered me so much that I had to take a star from the review, the book as whole is really incredible.

I read this book after The Savage and The Swan, which I did not think lived up to the hype. Didn’t really get into the characters, but this one peaked my interest. I absolutely love ACOTAR, and Nesta which I know is of mixed opinions, but this main character reminds me so much of Nesta. She is badass, cold, but so loving and loyal to those she chooses. How she was raised and how the people in her life react to it, I all found so entertaining. I literally didn’t put this book down, didn’t eat or sleep, that’s how good this book was! I want more! (I do know there is a 2, but I need to sleep and eat before I start that one)

Wow what a 5 star read this was - I had to check half way through that there was a second book as I was so wrapped up in the characters and world building! It’s giving Throne of Glass but make it more dark! It also gave me Gild vibes too - two series I adore! Thank you Ella Fields, fast becoming one of my favourite authors x

I’m in love with this book. With the title. With the cover. OTS SOO BEAUTIFUL. I’m in love with the magical world, the creature and characters. At first I promised myself I would hold off read AKSC till I have the paperback version in my hand. But I broke that promise as I could not resist. And I’m very very glad I broke that promise. I screamed at the end when I found out there’s more to come!!! Audra is a badass queen. Just amazing, Fearless and again a total BADASS!!! Ella Fields words are seamlessly, beautifully woven to give the reader such breathtaking imagery and imagination to play the story out in the readers head. I cannot get enough of her! Once I finished this book, it did take me a day or two to realise that the title of this book is actually very fitting, when I realised a specific scene in the book had me click my fingers to have a 💡 moment 🤦🏽‍♀️ Going into this book was a wonderful experience. I felt all the emotions and thoughts Audra, Zad and Raiden were feeling/experiencing. I wanted to give a good smack to all three every now and again to set them straight. This book is packed with everything a reader can hope for- a fearless sexy heroine, handsome men, 🔥🔥🔥 scenes, action, adventure, heartbreak and beat of all revenge! Ella Fields has created a magical world with intricate characters that all have a different story to tell. She even has me rooting for some of the other characters to have their own stories 🤫 🤫 🤫 🤫 (KASH) I cannot wait to find out more. I’m anxiously waiting!!!