4.5 rounded down.

This story surprised me. The beginning was a bit slow, even though I actually really enjoyed the flip flopping timelines (usually that's not my thing). But the way it all came together?? Absolutely incredible. I'm obsessed with that ending.

Also, the Irish mythology and vibes were delightful too!

This was a great book! It was very dark and full of emotions and I loved it! The story was action packed. Highly recommend!

Unseen by Christy Healy is a haunting, atmospheric retelling that completely captivated me from the first page. Before reading, I hadn’t heard of the Irish fable The Snow, The Crow, and the Blood, but that unfamiliarity made the journey even more engrossing. Christy Healy doesn’t just adapt a myth, she breathes new life into it, crafting a dark fantasy that is as emotionally rich as it is beautifully written.

The story follows Riona, a young queen and one of the last descendants of the gods, whose life is slowly unraveled by grief, duty, and the looming presence of the shadowy Lord of Death. Her childhood friend and lover, Conor, is a gifted healer who grounds the story in quiet emotional depth. The romance between them is slow, aching, and deeply woven into the narrative without overpowering it. This isn’t a love story with fantasy elements, it’s a mythic fantasy that just happens to carry the tragic weight of love.

Healy’s writing is immersive and lyrical, filled with crisp descriptions that never overstay their welcome. The pacing is tight, and the story moves forward with purpose, never dragging or losing focus. One of the standout elements for me was the use of multiple timelines and shifting points of view. We follow Riona and Conor’s shared past, Riona’s surreal experience in the “in-between” as she serves Death, and the present where consequences come due. This nonlinear structure can be hard to pull off, but it works perfectly here, creating a layered and emotionally satisfying narrative.

Riona is a phenomenal protagonist, flawed, powerful, and heartbreakingly human in how much she sacrifices. The moral complexity of her choices, especially when it comes to protecting those she loves, made her feel so real.

And while this is undoubtedly a dark tale, grief, sacrifice, and mortality all play major roles, it’s not without hope. The mythological elements rooted in Irish folklore give the story a timeless quality, while the relationship dynamics and internal struggles keep it grounded in emotional reality.

For readers who like:
-Dark folklore and mythological retellings
-Slow-burn, tragic romances
-Dual POV
-Themes of grief, sacrifice, and self-discovery

Final Verdict
Unseen is easily one of my favorite retellings in recent memory. It balances romance, fantasy, and folklore in a way that feels both timeless and fresh. Christy Healy’s prose is sharp and evocative, and the emotional depth of the characters kept me glued to the page. If you love dark myth-inspired stories that stay with you long after you’ve closed the book, Unseen is not to be missed.

Grateful to NetGalley, Pen & Paper, LLC and Christy Healy for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

I will be the first to admit that I went into this narrative blind, and requested to read an ARC based off the cover illustration alone. I'm one who often judges a book by its cover and often, i'm never wrong! A solid 4 stars for this hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric lyrical piece of prose that tells to story of the lengths a parent will go to for their child.

I felt easily transported into the mist-shrouded world of Riona and Conor. This dark tragic tale pulses with emotional depth and quiet intensity. From the very first page, I was drawn into the dual perspectives of Riona and Conor; two voices that felt distinct yet deeply intertwined, each carrying the weight of secrets, grief, and longing. Not only did this book tell the narrative wuth a dual POV, but it was also spanning across time, from their childhood into their adulthood. I loved how Irish myths and legends were interlaced into the narrative, giving it a timeless and almost folkloric resonance. The writing is lyrical and immersive, with a slow-burning tension that builds toward a powerful, bittersweet conclusion. I found this narrative to be both plot driven and character driven, and it was lovely to see Riona and Conor develop and grow and despite their flaws they both still had such redeeming qualities.

That said, there were moments where the pacing lagged slightly, and I found myself wishing for a quicker unraveling of certain plot threads. For me personally I struggled with the pronounciation of several Irish based words and this did detract slightly away from my overall enjoyment of the book. But even in its slower moments, the prose remained evocative and the emotional stakes remained high.

I would happily recommend this book to lovers of fantasy that are looking for emotionally high stakes without any spice!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Unseen is a beautiful and tragic fantasy story about the lengths parents will go to protect their children. Compared to the previous book in the series, Unbound, this book felt more polished. I felt like Christy Healy grew a lot as an author between these two books, which was really fun to see. Also, while Unbound toed the line between fantasy and romance, I would never mistake Unseen for romance. The story is much too sad and focuses on the main character's love for her daughter.

I could tell that Healy used Unseen to process the trauma of having one of her kids go through a major health scare from type 1 diabetes. Even in fantasy terms, it was easy to recognize the condition by how she described it, and she writes about it in her author’s note. What this means for the story is that it is very heavy, with the main character having to sacrifice everything to save her daughter.

Although Unseen isn’t romance, it does contain a love story. I LOVE that we got a true cinnamon roll love interest! Conor was the sweetest. He was definitely the most easy character to like. Riona was more selfish and impulsive, and I found myself wanting to yell at her a lot during the first quarter of the book! She was such a mean kid! I actually love how well the author understood how mean children can be, even if they have good hearts overall.

Keeping in theme with the first book, Unseen is told across multiple timelines. I felt like multiple timelines wasn’t as fitting for this story as with the last book, but it was still well done and I like that it keeps the series cohesive.

I don’t think I was the right audience for Unseen. I read for escapism, so the story was a bit too sad for me. I think there are readers who may find Unseen cathartic, or they may appreciate the tragedy of it. Christy Healy writes very vivid, emotional stories, which I can appreciate. She is definitely an author I am going to look out for in the future! I may just have to check to make sure the story isn’t going to be too heartbreaking for me!

An excellent addition to the Queens of Eire series. It seems like all of the books in this series are going to follow the same family, and it was bittersweet to see Rozlyn and Jamie years into the future as doting grandparents. Just like her grandmother, Riona is quite prickly and often selfish. While the first book focused a lot more on the love story between Rozlyn and Jamie, in this book, the focus is a lot more on Riona's relationship and feelings towards her daughter. I thought this was done so well; even though Riona barely knows her daughter, it's because she loves her so much that she has been gone for most of her life trying to save her. This whole book is so bittersweet, and I think the routes it takes and the themes it discusses are a lot different from other fantasy books I'm used to reading. Very excited for the third book in the trilogy.

⭐ 1/5 stars
DNF at 33%

First, I want to thank the author, Christy Healy, the publisher (Pen & Paper LLC), and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Unseen as an ARC.

The premise of this book immediately caught my attention, and I was hopeful going in. I want to be clear: my low rating is not a reflection of the author’s talent. In fact, Healy’s prose is undeniably lyrical, and she demonstrates a strong command of atmosphere and an ability to craft complex narrative threads. That said, this book ultimately wasn’t for me.

From the start, I found the prose-heavy, poetic writing style difficult to engage with. While beautifully written, it simply isn’t my personal preference. I pushed myself to read a third of the book before deciding to put it down—something I rarely do, as I’m usually a completionist when it comes to reading. But I’m in a season of life where, if a book doesn’t resonate with me, I’m allowing myself to step away rather than push through for the sake of finishing.

I do want to acknowledge the story’s strengths. Healy sensitively explores the emotional weight of childhood illness, a topic that isn’t easy to tackle. Riona’s desperation to save her daughter, including her bargain with death, is powerful. I also appreciated the nonlinear storytelling and the shift between time and space (“Neither of the Earth Nor Under It, Not Then Nor Now”), which added a unique, haunting quality to the narrative and showcased Healy’s skill with layered storytelling.

Ultimately, Unseen just didn’t grab me. I admire the author’s ambition and voice, and I sincerely hope others find the emotional resonance and style they’re looking for in this book—even if I didn’t.

Firstly I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for allowing this book as a free read.

I thought the premise of the book sounded really interesting and that's what initially hooked me, I love re-telling's it's always interesting to see how and author takes an old story and gives it new life.

I liked how the book changed form past to present, giving us more information on the characters early life and relationships with family.

I look forward to picking up a physical copy and checking out the authors other works.

I am SOBBING. Just finished it and am SOBBING. The perfect blend of fantasy, mythology and romance, Riona is a wonderful heroine who is so flawed but so redeemable and I just love her and cabbage together. Would also read an entire book about Fiadhs adventures!!

Thanks to the author and to Netgalley for the early ARC. Looking forward to this one's pub date!!

The writing is a bit too prosey for my liking, and the ending didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to. I did love how character driven the plot is, and the setting was quite unique. I can see what the author was trying to accomplish, it just fell a bit flat. 3.5 Stars.

I didnt realise this was part of a series but apparently you do not need to read the first one first and can be enjoyed as a standalone.

This book did drag at some points and i think 500 pages was just a bit too long and some parts could have been cut or just shortened.

In regards to the characters I felt like they were a bit underdeveloped, or at least their personalities needed more character development, especially Riona.

I did like the setting with the folktales and myths but felt like it needed more pacing as some parts were boring and sluggish.

Overall I think I would read the first book in the series.

A perfectly serviceable book. The ARC I received had quite a few errors, but the story was full. I enjoyed this enough until it became fully about Haisley. I didn’t realize going into this that it was about a mother, my bad. The writing was repetitive occasionally and the story lagged in some spots. Overall, it was worth reading.

I do love retellings of old stories and I’m glad I was able to get an e-ARC of this book. As with other reviewers, I was not aware that this was part of a series until after finishing the book. It absolutely can be read as a stand alone.

I did find it to be a bit slow and at times I really had to push myself through. It was also quite predictable (ex: it’s immediately obvious who Death really is). Though, it was mostly worth it for the side characters. Do be prepared to bawl your eyes out at the end as it is incredibly sad (like many classic fairy tales).

As I said, the side characters were so good. I adored Cabbage and Fiadh! (I’d love to hear about their adventures after Unseen’s story concluded.) However, I didn’t really love any of the other primary characters.

I just couldn’t understand why Riona would not just be honest with Conor. After 10 years, it felt like she hadn’t matured while he had. Maybe she didn’t have the proper time to mature due to the passage of time in the other realm, I’m not sure. Regardless of what Riona’s mother thinks, Conor was too good for Riona! That man deserved far better.

From the moment I read the first page, I knew that I’d soon be enveloped in this story rich with folklore, myths, legends, and heartache.

This is a story that is above all, about motherhood. About the fierce and unrelenting love we feel for our children. The love that would see the world burned before a hair on our child’s head comes to harm.

“A mother needs no other reason to love than existence.”

I loved the main character, Riona.
She was rough around the edges but at her core was a heart that beat for those around her. She goes through a perilous journey spanning months and years in a realm of darkness. Her experience felt genuine and raw. The pains and the heart wrenching grief she experiences.

The love story at the core, with her childhood friend Conor, was so honest and real. The love that he has for her, at every stage of her being. At every emotion and wrongdoing. His love is endless and unconditional.

I especially loved the type 1 diabetes representation as my sister was diagnosed at 14 and I’ve seen first hand her struggle. It is such a debilitating and horrible disease that I feel is so misunderstood by most people. To see it so well represented in a historical and fantastical way was really cool!

I loved this entire story. From beginning to end. Which speaking of the ending, was SO satisfying. It wrapped up perfectly!

Thank you to Netgalley & the author for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book was extremely relatable for me as a parent…A parent would do anything, risk everything, to keep their child safe.

With that said, I struggled a bit with the books format. Each chapter was a portion of the characters’ stories in different points of time. The back and forth was interesting, as the current events were enhanced by the view into the characters’ pasts. But the constant switching at times discombobulated me for the first third of the book. It took some mental adjustment to get into the flow of the storyline

The characters themselves were well developed, and the relationship between Conor and Ria was both heartwarming and frustrating. The walls Ria built around her heart were tangible and understandable, but also frustrating to read.

The introduction of diabetes to their child, Haisley, highlighted the desperation any parent feels when their child is diagnosed with such a dangerous disease. It was twofold considering that this takes place in a time and world where it is only known as “the blood disease” and there is not treatment for it. This spurs on the motivations of both parents to give up everything for the sake of Haisley’s well being.

The villain, Jack was complex, his storyline making you vacillate between sympathy and contempt throughout the story, but in the end, firming up the antipathy toward him as his full nature is revealed.

Overall, I really enjoyed the storyline, although parts of it were predictable. The ending was bittersweet, yet satisfying.

This was a really unique fantasy read. I liked how the magic and the myths were the focus of the story and not the romance but the romance was still really sweet and heartwarming. I hadn't read a lot of Irish mythology so this was all new to me and I really found it fascinating, I think this is more of an epic fantasy than a fantasy romance but I thought they were both well balanced.

So I really loved this book! I was interested by the cover first and then read the description and it sounded really interesting but I wasn't expecting it to blow me away like this. The writing is so beautiful and haunting and I love that both the romance and the story itself was a slow build. I felt like each chapter was another layer that got peeled away and ended up revealing this big beautiful painting underneath it all. Riona was such a great heroine. I liked how stubborn and determined she was and that her flaws made her relatable. Her relationships with other character, especially Conor and her grandpa and her daughter, were so touching and sweet and made me understand why she acted the way she did. I also am obsessed with the cat character and would love to just read a bunch of stories about her history because the mythology behind her was so interesting and new to me. I haven't read the author's other book but I plan on doing that relaly soon. Unseen is an amazing and unique read and I'm so glad that I picked it up.

I had to take a step back for a bit and really think about how I felt about this book.

First thing first- I didn't realize this was part of a series until I went to check "reading now" on Goodreads. I instantly checked out the audio book for Unbound and listened to it while reading this one in tandem in case you needed to read the one before the other. You don't.

I enjoyed Unbound and it makes me wonder if I wouldn't have enjoyed Unseen more as an audio book. I struggled through Unseen. I kept putting it down and giving myself a break before picking it back up. Maybe the audiobook where someone is pulling me through the story would have been enough to change my feelings.

This is one of those books that there isn't anything particularly wrong with it. It's a bit boring to me but I'm sure for every one person who was bored there will be someone who loved it. I say if it's something that sounds interesting, give it a go. Just because it didn't strike a cord with me, doesn't mean it won't for you.

Unfortunately, this could not hold my interest. I wasn't able to feel a connection to the characters, so its sadly a dnf at 12% for me.

This book said “motherhood but make it traumatic.” Riona makes a deal with Death (literally) and spirals through fae purgatory collecting ancient magical junk while he lowkey flirts and trauma-punches her at every turn. The plot moves slow, but the vibes are elite—gothic, lyrical, and just sad enough to feel like a breakup in a foggy forest. This story probably hits harder if you’re a parent. 4 stars from me!