A remarkable story about crossing into the Fae Realm. A group of humans find a portal and must rely on one another to find their way through. Love triangles blossom and develop compelling the author to delve deeper into the narrative. S. J. Kadile has built a unique literary world filled with fast-paced action sequences, drama, and the art of humans and literary characters finding genuine empathy and compassion for one another.

Realm of the Fae is a lush, magical escape filled with intrigue, danger, and beautifully eerie fae vibes. The world building is immersive without being overwhelming, and the story balances wonder and menace in a way that keeps the pages turning.
A captivating read for anyone who loves fae lore, hidden realms, and a touch of darkness woven through the magic.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and S.J. Kadile for the ARC

I enjoyed this book, and would continue reading more from the author. I had a great time reading and was engaged the entire story.

I actually can admit that I forgot all about this book and that I read it in December 2025, so here I am a little bit late (I am sorry that this is late) doing my review.

I was lucky enough to get the chance to read this novel as a arc from NetGalley so a massive thank you to them, the publishers and Kadile for giving me the chance to read this book.

This was a really good fantasy fae read, and I really did enjoy it. I will admit it did take more than the 7 days to read this but that was mainly cause I was reading this at sleep time while also reading other books on my kindle. As I was reading this on my Kobo.

Was it a good read? Yes, it was a yes from me.
Do I recommend this book? If you love fantasy, anything fae then yes I do recommended this book.
Was it also unputdownable? Well yes, even though I only read at bed time, I had issues on turning it off to sleep instead of read.

This is the first book in the series of the Realm of Fae and this new comer author has done such a amazing job with it and I really did love reading the story.

This story was a really easy read for me, and it felt so much different to other fae based stories that I have read. It was a new world, a new plot and new magic.

A romantacy with great worldbuilding, adventure and a luscious slow burn romance. I enjoyed this book so much!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the world building, the details the author included. The FMC was someone I felt I could relate to. This was definitely a longer read and something I couldn’t read in one sitting but I still found myself wanting more. I look forward to reading what’s next.

✨𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝑺. 𝑱 𝑲𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒍𝒆 ✨

𝐴 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛, 𝑓𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑎𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑦 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑤𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟, 𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒

⭐ 4/5 stars | fantasy | fae | magic | adventure | 🅔🅜🅞🅣🅘🅞🅝🅐🅛 |

| Book Series: Realm of the Fae (1/3) |
[ E-BOOK ]

| advance review copy (ARC) |
______________________________________

🧚‍♀️ General facts about the book

Realm of the Fae is the first book in the Realm of the Fae trilogy and marks an impressive debut by newcomer author S. J. Kadile. I had the chance to read this book before its release, and overall, I truly enjoyed my time with it.

What stood out to me immediately was how different this story felt compared to many other fantasy books. It gave me the feeling of stepping into something new, a fresh world with its own rules, atmosphere, and magic. For me personally, it was incredibly refreshing to experience a fantasy story that didn’t feel recycled.

I did struggle a bit when it came to my final rating. I went back and forth between three and four stars, but in the end, three stars didn’t feel right. The beauty of the world, the creativity behind it, and the clear potential of the series convinced me to give it four stars. I’m genuinely curious to see how the story develops in the next books and hope the wait for book two won’t be too long.

🧚‍♀️ Story

Clara is a young woman at a crossroads in her life. She works as a nurse and cares deeply for her elderly patients, even though she isn’t entirely sure if this is the path she wants to follow. Still, her patience, compassion, and quiet strength make it clear that she belongs in this role.

Everything changes when she receives a mysterious package from her parents, something that seems harmless at first but quickly raises more questions than answers. As strange events begin to unfold and another unexpected object comes into her possession, Clara is pulled into a journey far beyond anything she could have imagined.Together with Malrik, she is chased, hunted, and eventually pulled into a completely foreign world, a realm where humans do not exist. I absolutely loved this concept. Instead of slowly drifting into another world, the transition feels urgent and dangerous, like being thrown into the unknown without time to process what’s happening.

The fae realm itself is breathtaking. Nature is not just a background element but a living, breathing force. Trees provide shelter and sustenance, magic is woven into the land, and every place feels purposeful. Quotes like “The stories your kind tell are only shadows of the truth” or “Everything in Avenora lives with purpose” perfectly capture the depth and philosophy of this world. The setting often reminded me of something almost Avatar like, vibrant, spiritual, and deeply connected to the environment.

That said, the pacing was one of my main struggles. The story moves very fast. While I usually enjoy fast paced fantasy, here it sometimes felt almost overwhelming. Important moments, training sequences, and emotional beats passed by too quickly. At times, I struggled to fully understand certain terms or magical concepts, which took away some tension, especially during action heavy scenes.

Another issue for me was the sheer number of names and characters introduced early on. Because there weren’t enough meaningful interactions with some of them, I often forgot who was who, even though they were clearly meant to be important. More dialogue and shared scenes would have made it much easier to connect emotionally.

Still, despite these issues, I was deeply immersed. The world, the constant danger, and the wild cliffhanger at the end kept me turning pages and left me genuinely curious about what comes next.

🧚‍♀️ Characters

Clara is compassionate uncertain brave:

Clara is an emotionally grounded and relatable protagonist. Her doubts, fears, and quiet resilience felt very human. I liked that she didn’t immediately feel powerful or confident, but instead had to adapt quickly to overwhelming circumstances.

Malrik is conflicted loyal emotionally burdened:

Malrik carries a heavy emotional weight throughout the story. He often feels useless or like a burden, even though he keeps pushing forward without complaint. His internal struggle added depth and vulnerability, and I found myself feeling deeply for him, even wishing we had more insight into his perspective.

Asahel is intense guarded emotionally scarred:

Asahel is intriguing and complex. Beneath his harsh exterior lies vulnerability and trauma, which made him fascinating to read about. However, while Clara and Asahel do grow closer, I personally wished for more interaction between them. The foundation for a deeper connection is there, but I wanted more shared moments, conversations, and emotional development to truly feel their bond. With more space to explore their relationship, their dynamic could become something truly powerful in the next books.

🧚‍♀️ Writing style

S. J. Kadile’s writing is poetic, atmospheric, and often strikingly beautiful. The way the fae world is described makes it feel alive, ancient, and meaningful. Nature, magic, and emotion are deeply intertwined, and the imagery often feels almost cinematic.

Quotes like “Only fools run before they walk” and “The forest does not grow overnight, yet it endures” stayed with me long after reading. They add a philosophical depth that elevates the story beyond a simple fantasy adventure.

At times, however, the pacing of the writing worked against its own beauty. Some scenes, especially emotional revelations or moments of magic, would have benefited from being explored more slowly. Slowing down in those moments could make the impact even stronger.

🧚‍♀️ Cover & atmosphere

The cover fits the book’s atmosphere perfectly. It reflects the mystical, magical, and slightly otherworldly tone of the story. While reading, I constantly imagined the world in cool tones with blue accents, and the cover captures that exact feeling beautifully.

📌 Realm of the Fae is a visually stunning and imaginative start to a new fantasy trilogy. While fast pacing and limited character interaction held it back from being a five star read for me, the worldbuilding, poetic writing, and cliffhanger ending made me eager to continue the journey.

Humans from modern time being pulled into a fantasy world can be hit or miss for me.
This one was a pleasant surprise. Clara and Malrik assimilate to the world rather than bringing their technology in and purposely standing apart.

I liked Clara from the start so I was invested in her journey.

The world felt like it had a lot of depth and history.

The pictures of the items as they were talked about made it feel more for a younger audience, but it did help with what they looked like. I liked that they were used in chapter breaks.

Realm of the Fae tells the story of Clara, who is fated to help a world of fae connected to our world by a veil with a broken gate. Sucked through, she and her childhood friend must learn the ways of the fae whilst also learning to defend themselves and working with the fae to repair the gate. The only problem? Corrupt fairies who want to control the gate for themselves are on their trail.
The worldbuilding in the novel is good, weaving recognisable fairy tales with new ideas. The characters are strong and lovable, with a good range of personalities and motivations.
The plot is fun, with elements of danger and suspense. It was not complicated, but it is enjoyable.

A quest to save the world. In the debut novel by S. J. Kadile, “The Veil: Realm of the Fae”, Clare Valenwood receives an heirloom jewelry present from her father. Then Clare and her childhood friend, Malrik Hawthorne, are transported to Avenora, what legend has remembered as Fae. The two worlds had been connected eons ago until corruption happened and the Veil Gate was closed to protect both worlds. Clare and Malrik join with the Fae of Avenora to find the hidden pieces of the Veil Gate’s key, the Vaelithar, to save both worlds.

I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. Ms. Kadile has taken many legends, myths, and superstitions and tweaked them so that they have their origins in this fantasy tale. This is a believable story that J. R. Tolkien would be proud of. With this book ending in a cliffhanger, I can’t wait for the next installment of this three part series. Fantasy and mystery lovers should read this book.

I wish to thank Teal Ink Press for the complementary eARC of this book and for selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#TheVeilRealmOfTheFae
#TealInkPress
#NetGalley
#Fantasy
#Mystery
#Romance

Realm of the Fae by S.J. Kadile was a really solid and enjoyable debut that pulled me in pretty quickly. We follow Clara, a nurse living in New York whose very normal, real-world life gets completely flipped after a dying patient gives her a mysterious map and she inherits a strange heirloom from her father. What starts as unsettling dreams turns into her being literally dragged into the fae realm — and from there, things spiral fast.

I really loved the contrast between Clara’s grounded, human perspective and the dangerous, magical chaos of the fae world. The fae atmosphere is immersive and dreamy, but there’s always this underlying sense of danger. The lore surrounding the corrupted queen, the rebellion, and the long-lost artifact kept me invested, and I liked how Clara’s background as a nurse influenced how she handled situations — compassion, problem-solving, and trying to keep people alive even when everything is going wrong.

That said, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a little uneven, and I found myself wanting a bit more depth in certain areas, especially when it came to character development. Nothing that ruined the experience for me, but enough to keep this at a strong four stars instead of five.

Overall, this was a fun, promising start from a debut author, and I’m definitely curious to see where the series goes next. If you love fae fantasy with a modern human twist, rebellion vibes, and that dreamy-but-dangerous energy, this one is worth checking out. ✨🧚‍♀️

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. 🥰

Thank you to the publisher Teal Ink Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was quite a trip, it had magic, fae, prophesies, slowburn romance and hidden family secrets. I really liked Clara, she was definitely more of a healer than a warrior which explains why she chose to be a nurse. Clara was strong but it was more of a gentle strength that comes from within, the kind of strength that endures. Stories with the fae are one of my favourite genres and I really enjoyed the authors unique take on this and I really enjoyed how the book was written. I liked Ashael too, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for him to tell Clara how he feels, he was so silent and broody. He and Clara were too cute, the way they were both side stepping around their feelings for each other. I’m not sure how I feel about Clara’s best friend Malrik, I’m definitely team Ashael though. There was something romantic and mysterious about Clara dreaming about him before they met, I think they were fated to meet. After the cliffhanger at the end I’m definitely invested in finding what happens next as I really enjoyed this book.

Great romance and fantasty style

Good for all types of readers and ages

Love the characters like Clara

Fun worldbuilding and vibes

What surprised me most was how grounded and human its opening felt before the story fully spread its wings. The early chapters don’t rush headlong into enchantment; instead, they take their time establishing emotional stakes through small, intimate moments. These details might not drive the plot, but they quietly anchor the reader, making the later fantasy elements feel richer and more earned.

One such grounding detail is the relationship between the parent and their 21-year-old child. It’s a brief portion of the opening, yet it stands out for how authentic and healthy it feels. Rather than leaning on conflict or estrangement, the dynamic is based on mutual respect and a gentle push-and-pull that feels true to that age. The child is clearly an adult—capable, opinionated, and independent—yet still connected to their parent in a way that feels natural rather than forced. This relationship doesn’t dominate the story, but its presence adds emotional credibility, giving the protagonist something real to lose when the fairy world begins to intrude.

Another small but memorable detail early on is the inclusion of Pasalubong. It appears almost in passing, but it was one of those moments that made me pause and appreciate the author’s thoughtfulness. Learning about Pasalubong—the tradition of bringing home gifts for loved ones after a journey—felt organic rather than educational. It wasn’t highlighted or explained at length, yet it subtly reinforced themes of care, remembrance, and connection that echo throughout the novel. Even as the story moves into realms of magic and folklore, that early nod to cultural tradition lingers, reminding the reader that the characters come from a world shaped by real customs and values.

The opening also briefly touches on nursing home and elder care representation, another element that could have easily been glossed over or avoided in a fantasy setting. Instead, it’s treated with quiet respect. Though this aspect occupies only a small portion of the beginning, it adds a layer of emotional realism rarely seen in fairy fantasy. The elderly characters are not reduced to symbols or plot devices; they are simply part of the protagonist’s world, and their presence subtly reinforces themes of time, fragility, and transition—ideas that resonate strongly once the magical elements take center stage.

Once the fairy fantasy truly unfolds, the story shifts into something more mythic and otherworldly, filled with enchantment, danger, and wonder. Yet those early, seemingly minor details never feel wasted. They serve as emotional ballast, grounding the magic in a reality that feels lived-in and sincere. Because the author took the time to establish family bonds, cultural texture, and compassionate representation at the very beginning, the fantasy that follows feels less like an escape and more like an extension of a fully realized world.

Ultimately, this is a fae fantasy novel that understands the power of beginnings. The small, human moments—family, cultural tradition, elder care—are not the story, but they shape how the story is felt. They remind the reader that even in tales of fae and magic, the most enduring enchantment often comes from the quiet details we carry with us into the unknown.

I loved everything about this book. It's so descriptive I could see the world laid out before me as Clara went on her adventure, and it is enchantingly beautiful & magical. I can't wait to read the next one. I recieved an ARC and am leaving this honest review voluntarily. Highly recommended.

You had me at pasalubong. 😱❤️ Opens with nursing life, Pinoy culture, and the promise of ube, I was already invested. Then by the time S.J. Kadile casually introduces a bookstore called Times and Tales (precious!) you’ll want to visit.

This story feels like stepping through a hidden door you didn’t know existed.

The early dream sequences, strange, fleeting previews that foreshadows an adventure to come. It sets the stage for an epic journey.

If you love magical archives, the library scene is a delight. It carries the cozy wonder of stepping into Narnia, mixed with the scholarly curiosity of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries, and even a touch of mystical grandeur reminiscent of the Tower of Geburah.

The worldbuilding is rich and atmospheric. Around chapter six there’s a bit of history exposition that feels almost Tolkien-esque. It deepens the sense that this world existed long before we arrived in it.

The cultural touches are especially lovely. The hometown enkanto superstitions woven into the story give the magic a lived-in authenticity that makes the fae world feel connected to the real one.

The adventure itself unfolds like an epic D&D campaign, quests, mysterious discoveries, danger, and yes… a love triangle to keep the emotional stakes high. Along the way we get enchanting details like sentient trees that expand on a whim to create cozy shelters with moss-covered beds. Honestly, I would happily move into one.

One of my favourite moments? When the characters have to “burn their burdens.” That scene gave me chills, emotionally powerful and beautifully symbolic. The group adventuring together has that Fellowship of the Rings feel of banding together to save their world.

What makes Realm of the Fae shine most is its descriptive, immersive storytelling. The writing invites you to see, smell, and feel the world around the characters, making every forest path, magical space, and quiet moment vivid.

Overall, this was a five-star literary gem—a beautifully descriptive fantasy adventure that blends folklore, magic, culture, and heart into a story that feels both epic and intimate.

And if every fae realm book comes with ube… I’m absolutely ready for the sequel. ✨📚

Really enjoyed this ARC. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher Teal Ink Press for making this book possible! #RealmOfTheFae