A Court This Cruel and Lovely cover art

A Court This Cruel and Lovely

Kingdom of Lies, Book 1

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A Court This Cruel and Lovely

By: Stacia Stark
Narrated by: Tim Paige, Meg Sylvan
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About this listen

For years, when I fell asleep, I dreamed of a man with blazing green eyes and a cruel smile. The day I meet him, the ruthless mercenary leaves me for dead.

Just hours after humans are born, the gods take what little power we have. In return, they protect our borders from the vicious, merciless fae.

The humans who manage to keep their power are known as the corrupt. And they are burned.

When my forbidden power is discovered, I’m forced to flee my tiny village and the life I adore. To survive, I make a desperate bargain with the mercenary who abandoned me at my weakest moment.

Our deal is simple: I’ll help him and his mysterious friends sneak into the city, and he’ll help me learn to wield the strange, dark power I’ve always kept hidden—the power that may just be the key to my survival.

But the ruthless mercenary is hiding secrets of his own, secrets that threaten the safety of everyone I love, that could tear this kingdom—and perhaps even this world—apart.

Please note: A Court This Cruel and Lovely is an NA/adult romantasy book with steam. While this series is slow burn, the chili-pepper rating will increase for each book.

©2023 Stacia Stark (P)2023 Dreamscape Media Fantasy Romance Fiction Survival
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Love the characters. Love the storyline. Only gripe I’d love more description of the worlds,but that’s not to say it lessens the overall experience or story. Off to absorb book 2!

It’ll make you want to buy the series!

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Good book, will definitely listen to the next one. If you liked From Blood and Ash series, you’ll like this one too I think.

Easy listen/read

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The only thing that I didn’t love about this was the beginning, her voice was rather irritating specially the sulky voice and often when returned to his voice, I forgotten how annoying it was. They got better eventually. Loved the story so much! If you can get passed the annoying sulky voice then you’ll love it. lol

The story !

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Narration was irritating, both main character voices were perfect but as soon as they changed their accents for another character it was so cringey! The women all sound like giggling bimbos and the men have stupid gruff bored voices. Great story though that had me hooked. Will be listening to book 2 and gritting my teeth at the accents no doubt!

Great story, pity about narration

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this book is soo sooo good! worth it I have that it took me so long but now I'm sucked in

highly recommend

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really good story. had abit of trouble getting into it for the first few chapters as there was alot of information but I'm going to start book 2 straight away.

great read

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Storyline was good and I enjoyed listening to the FMC narrator, however every time the male narrator spoke I cringed. Such a shame, as it almost ruined the experience for me.

Terrible narration for MMC

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I couldn't put it down. So well written and the twists were surprising. You've got to read this book.

Up there with ACOTAR

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Great book, overall performed pretty well.

The FMC narrator was excellent and engaging! The performance helped in the development and delivery of the characters personality.

The MMC narrator however, while all in all was okay - I found his performance to be lacklustre and grating, it just delivered the wrong vibe.
I’m not sure what to call it, but it was like he had one tone and it made me feel like I was listening to a historical recount of events by an egotistical finance bro who lacks personality but makes up for it in matter-of-fact statements and grandiose tone. I felt the MMC delivery was detrimental and did nothing to capture the nuances of the characters personality or any development throughout the story and that I as a listener did not get to know the character as intended by the author.

LOVED FMC NARRATOR!!!!

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Wow wow wow ! What an amazing book, if captures you and pulls you into Prisca’s and Lorian’s world and story! Great audio performance and really good story- can’t wait for the next book!!

Loved it - amazing listen/read

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