"Dark Fae" by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti: A Spicy, Reverse Harem Ride Through a Fae-Filled Chaos Fest
"Dark Fae" by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti: A Spicy, Reverse Harem Ride Through a Fae-Filled Chaos Fest
A Morally Grey Book Review
It seems like spicy, dark romantasy has taken a hold on the world (or maybe its just me) ever since the ACOTAR series put a hot as fuck chokehold on booktok. I found myself going down a long road of morally grey books, which lead the way to my current obsession…reverse harems.
Which leads me to one of my latest reads.
Get ready, because "Dark Fae", the first book in the "Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac" series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, is about to drag you through a world of sexy assholes, steamy power dynamics, and a plot that might just make you question what the hell “fae” even means anymore. If you're into a protagonist who collects hot, morally dubious men like Pokémon, then this one’s for you… if you can get past the less-than-creative world-building.
Plot Recap with Extra Sass
Elise Callisto isn’t your average heroine; she’s got a one-track mind set on revenge, and she’s willing to navigate the chaos of Aurora Academy to get it. Did I also happen to mention that she’s half vampire and half siren?
This place is your typical magic school, but with more death traps and less ethics.
Elise wants to figure out who killed her brother, and she’s not going to let a bunch of sexy, dangerous heirs stand in her way—although she might let them get in her bed.
Aurora Academy is cutthroat, filled with dangerous trials and backstabbing, and everyone just happens to be ridiculously hot. It’s all about survival, power struggles, and, of course, extremely charged interactions between Elise and her harem of bad boys.
Formats I Used
I started this book on my kindle, but switched to audible around chapter 2. I actually found the audible version really well done and like the voice actors they chose for this because it gave a lot more flavor to story than the written form alone. I highly recommend the audible version.
But before we get to all that…
I have a bone to pick here… and not the fun kind of a bone I’d like to ride, but the kind that makes you cringe like an unsolicited dick pic surprising you in a DM.
SPOILER ALERT! Yeah… I’m going there. I’m the queen of spoilers… I don’t even try to stop myself anymore, so if you want to read the book first, come back to this review later.
I picked up this book, having seen it with a solid 4+ stars on Goodreads and a solid spice rating from many reviewers. I went into this book with high expectations of steamy sex scenes and world building.
What I found was… not quite that.
I’ll be the first to admit, my taste in reading material is not for the faint of heart. I need it hot, filled with as many trigger warnings as possible, and these days, reverse harem is the only thing that wets my appetite. Adding fantasy, epic world-building, magic, and hot fae guys… good luck reaching me for at least a week while I have a love affair with my book boyfriends.
Dark Fae had all the ingredients to fill my desires, but I really struggled to get through the first half of the book. I kept reminding myself that its building to something.. it has to be building to something… PLEASE let it be building to something. The plot had great potential, but just as I would get a little invested into the story, it would hit you with a fae pun that was so cringy, it felt like nails on chalkboard and pull me right out of the story.
Here’s some examples:
FaeBook instead of Facebook
FIB - Fae Investigation Bureau
CaFAEteria instead of cafeteria
Faelandia
Faetography instead of Photography
Faefly
Faeroids (Fae steroids…because the fae guys aren’t jacked enough?)
Faeflix (Netflix… because they need to chill too.)
Faeworms
Faesine (kerosine… since not everyone can conjure fire.)
Faerati (Maserati… I can’t even at this point.)
Faetalian (Italian… it’s Italian.)
While I love a good pun, the amount of times “fae” was used was overkill. But then there were also references to pop culture like Tayler Swift, Disney, and the use of burner phones that felt completely wrong for the setting. It seemed as though it was meant to be an AU since the setting is the dark city of Solaria, but the back and forth between fae puns and modern “real life” references felt confusing. Maybe this is meant to be more like a multiverse situation where some things are the same as Earth-616?
Sorry… went into Marvel territory there.
Ok, now that I got my pet peeves out of the way, let’s get into the meat of the book.
Reverse Harem Dynamics: Elise’s Hot Mess of a Love Life
“Dark Fae” has a solid mix of enemies to lovers and friends to lovers among the kings (Kings being fae gang kings of the academy). Elise doesn’t have to choose between her suitors either, as much as they would like her to choose one of them. It is kinda hot to have the most powerful bad boys all fighting each other over you, right? It’s like a buffet of toxic, complicated, and irresistibly attractive men, each offering a different flavor of drama.
The interactions between Elise and each of the guys bring their own unique tension and steam, turning the hotness dial up, before giving the reader a dose of icy cold water when, yet again, she refuses to give into sexual urges that are placed on a silver platter. Maybe I have a bigger slut-streak in me than she does, but I found myself frustrated with her more than once for giving these guys blue balls so much, and maybe a little frustrated with the guys for taking it.
The Kings
Dante Oscura (Dragon Shifter)
He is all brooding darkness and dangerous charm. He’s got that classic enemies-to-lovers energy, but with an edge that makes you think, “Maybe he actually will stab me, and it would be kinda hot.” The way he challenges Elise makes their encounters electric, filled with push-pull tension that’s as volatile as his shadowy powers.
On the flip side, he’s an absolute mama’s boy who randomly speaks in Italian (faetalian sorry) and brags about his rare dragon powers like a guy boasting a 12-inch dick, but there is absolutely no way to back that up.
Gabriel Nox (Harpy)
If whiplash was a sport, this guy would be the master. One one hand, he brings the mystical, mysterious vibe, always talking about fate and visions like he’s just seen the spoilers for everyone’s lives. Frankly, he was a bit of downer half the time. His connection with Elise is more restrained but charged with that whole “we’re destined to be together, but it’s risky as hell” energy.
It’s the slow-burn aspect of the harem, with plenty of longing glances and cryptic warnings. He eventually decides that he is too dangerous for her to be around and tells her to fuck off more than once, then stalks her like crazy and goes out of his way to humiliate her left and right, before randomly turning up and putting out the “I just care about you so much” vibes before he tells her to fuck off again. But, he STILL manages to end up being the ONE GUY she actually caves to and fucks in the entire book.
Leon Night (Lion Shifter)
I can’t help it… I kinda like Leon (his star sign is a leo… cringy but hey… we aren’t short on cringe in this book). I see him as the wild card. He’s playful, teasing, and brings a chaotic energy to the group dynamics. With him, Elise gets a bit of fun mixed with danger, and the chemistry is all about letting loose and giving in to primal urges. He’s got that shifter unpredictability, where you’re never sure if he’s about to kiss you or bite you—but either way, it’s going to be intense.
So let’s talk about what I don’t like about Leon for a moment. My BIGGEST issue is the whole “pride” thing. He has some kind of “lion power” that makes women fall all over themselves like lionesses in heat to do everything for him. Literally… EVERYTHING… and he has no control over it. So instead, he leans into it. He leans so much into it that he doesn’t bother to learn the girl’s names and instead just calls them all “Mindy.”
“You know I hate to shout, Mindy.”
“It’s Lillia-“
“Shhhh Mindy.” I called them all Mindy. Made it miles easier to remember.
It comes across a little pathetic the way he has no ability to do for himself, but Elise is the one person who seems totally unaffected by his “lion powers.” The fact he has to work for her attention is rather sweet. Not to ruin the start of book 2, but he does get some action later on.
Ryder Draconis (Basilisk Shifter)
I can’t even with this guy… out of all the dudes, this one just drives me crazy. He has SO much potential but is SUCH a wet blanket. In book 2, though, (spoiler) Elise happens upon a chest filled with BDSM gear, which fully redeemed him for me.
Here’s the thing… Ryder feels like a walking embodiment of dominance and fire (literally and figuratively). He’s the type to pin Elise against a wall during an argument, and you just know that somehow, they’ll end up making out before they’re done yelling. His vibe is all about fighting for control, which adds a layer of intensity to their connection.
BUT… some things that drove me crazy about him: He has PAIN and LUST tattooed on his knuckles which he looks at and references ALL THE TIME.
“Fear didn’t exist in me. I lived between two emotions. Pain and lust. Those two feelings were all I needed and both were printed across my knuckles to remind everyone else in the world of that.”
”But I didn’t do courtesy. Pain and lust. That was it.”
“He was a mystery. I wanted to know what made him tick beyond the only two emotions he claimed to feel. Pain and lust.”
Oh, wait… he has some cringe too:
I didn’t have hard limits. Unless you counted cuddling, spooning and heaven fucking forbid canoodling . Frankly, anything that ended with an ing that didn’t start with fuck was a solid no from me. I didn’t kiss, I tongue-fucked. I didn’t caress, I clawed. I didn’t go down on girls, I feasted on them.
I’m about halfway through book 2 as I’m writing this review for book 1, and I’m glad there is some deeper character development and backstory there that makes him a bit more palatable.
But bro… don’t tell the girl you clearly want to fuck to stay the hell away from you, then beat up every other dude that she’s trying to bang. That is some serious cock-block action that simply won’t fly.
The reverse harem aspect means that Elise is constantly in the middle of tension, desire, and drama, and she plays off each of the guys in different ways. It’s like watching a reality show where the bachelorette is actually a vengeful badass, and the suitors are all alpha males who wouldn’t mind killing each other if it came down to it.
Why Morally Grey Characters Are So Hot
Let’s be real: morally grey characters are catnip to erotica readers, and this book knows how to use that to its advantage. But why are these types of characters so damn appealing? It’s simple: they’re unpredictable, dangerous, and they keep you guessing. You know they’re probably not good for you (or for the protagonist), but that’s half the fun. It’s like having a crush on the guy with a leather jacket and a motorcycle in high school—he might get you into trouble, but that’s part of the thrill.
It’s also safe when its just books. It’s fun to fantasize. For many who have a kinky side hidden away (which according to statistics is a VERY Large majority), books allow us the freedom to explore situations and scenarios that turn us on from the safety of our seat. It unlocks the imagination and can often help get us in the mood before playtime with a partner too (there I go, slipping into sexologist mode…) As long as the morally grey themes are kept in the pages and we don’t act on them, no different than watching a horror film with chainsaw killers or psychological mind fuckery, there is nothing wrong with allowing yourself to explore the darker side of erotica.
The characters in “Dark Fae” embody this perfectly. They’re powerful, they’re dangerous, and they don’t follow society’s rules—hell, they barely follow their own. They do what they want, when they want, and they look hot doing it. And there’s something tantalizing about a character who might just burn the world down for you—or maybe they’ll let it burn because you crossed them.
It’s not about being entirely evil; it’s about that balance between darkness and vulnerability. These characters show glimpses of softness or a tragic backstory that make you root for them despite their bad behavior. You want to believe they can be redeemed, or at least that they’ll make the right choices when it counts. Plus, there’s a certain satisfaction in watching Elise, someone just as tough, go toe-to-toe with them and not back down. The tension between her and these dangerous men is the lifeblood of the book—every kiss feels earned, every argument is laced with a mix of anger and desire.
Final Thoughts: A Hot Mess Worth Every Cringe-Worthy “Fae” Reference
Look, “Dark Fae” isn’t here to give you a dissertation on world-building or explain why every creature needs to be labeled “fae.” But it does give you a hell of a lot of steamy, chaotic fun. It’s a book where the drama is as thick as the sexual tension, where you’re constantly wondering if the characters are going to kill each other or hook up. If you’re down for a fantasy that’s equal parts angst and heat, with a protagonist who doesn’t have to choose between hot, dangerous guys—because she doesn’t want to—then this book will absolutely scratch that itch.
Sure, the “fae” thing is overdone, and the plot can feel like an excuse to throw in the next shirt-ripping scene, but if you’re reading this for a complex magic system, you’ve missed the point. This is about giving into your guilty pleasure, embracing the chaos, and enjoying the ride. And honestly? Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
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