---

📚 Book Review: A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark

Book 1 in the Kingdom of Lies Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

If you’re a fan of slow-burn fantasy romance packed with political intrigue, hidden magic, and enemies-to-lovers tension—you need to add this book to your TBR ASAP.

💭 My Thoughts

A Court This Cruel and Lovely pulled me in from the first chapter. Stacia Stark delivers stunning writing, complex characters, and a world that feels both dangerous and captivating. I couldn’t stop turning the pages.

---

🗡️ The Plot

Set in a world where magic is feared—and those born with it are executed—this story follows Prisca, a young woman hiding a deadly secret. When her power is discovered, she’s forced to flee, and along the way, she meets Lorian, a broody mercenary with his own motives.

Their reluctant alliance takes them into the heart of a corrupt kingdom, where rebellion simmers just beneath the surface and nothing is quite as it seems. Think slow-burn tension, secret identities, political games, and just enough spice to keep things interesting.

---

👥 The Characters

Prisca is fierce, intelligent, and incredibly relatable. Her growth throughout the book—from terrified fugitive to powerful force—is so satisfying to watch.

Lorian is the perfect morally gray male lead. He’s protective, mysterious, and infuriating in the best way. The banter between him and Prisca is everything.

The supporting cast is just as rich, especially Lorian’s mercenary crew. You’ll find found family vibes, loyalty, betrayal, and some much-needed comic relief to balance the heavy themes.

---

🌍 The World-Building

The world Stark creates feels lush and layered. There’s a corrupt ruling class, hidden gods, forbidden powers, and the looming threat of rebellion. While this first book only scratches the surface of the larger world, there’s so much promise for future installments—and I’m here for it.

I especially loved the tension between the human and fae societies, the hints of deeper magical lore, and the way politics shape every character’s fate.

---

💘 Romance, Tropes & Spice

If you love:

• Enemies-to-lovers
• Forced proximity
• Dual POV
• Found family
• Fae court scheming
• Forbidden powers

…this book was written for you.

The romance is a slow burn, but the tension is so well done. The chemistry between Prisca and Lorian jumps off the page, and their dynamic had me rooting for them the whole way.

And yes, there’s spice—but it’s perfectly balanced with plot and emotional development.

---

🧵 Final Thoughts

A Court This Cruel and Lovely is a strong, immersive start to a promising romantasy series. It combines everything I love in fantasy: high stakes, emotional depth, compelling characters, and world-building that makes you want to live in the story.

I’ve already started book two and it’s even better.

If you’re craving a romantasy with court intrigue, rebel causes, forbidden power, and the slowest of slow burns—don’t sleep on this one.

---

🏷️ Tropes & Tags

✔️ Dual POV
✔️ Found Family
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Political Intrigue / Fae Court
🚫 Forbidden Powers
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
🤝 Found Family
🏰 Political Scheming
👑 Royalty
🪢 Complicated Family Dynamics
🌶️ Spice
📚 Book 1 in the Kingdom of Lies Series