Phantom of the Opera meets Black Swan in this dark gothic fantasy romance with a psychological twist.
Shipping Starts August 24th
A dark gothic romantasy filled with fated mates, murder mystery, deadly dance magic, and a morally gray king. Perfect for readers who love Phantom of the Opera vibes, the tension of Rebecca, and the obsession of Black Swan.
Gazelle dances to keep the city safe.
As the lead Rift Dancer of the Sacred Palace, she has spent her life performing the ritual that keeps the demons sealed below, the same demons blamed for slaughtering her family. But the dance is stealing her soul and each performance leaves her weaker.
Then a single misstep opens a passage in the catacombs.
In the dark, Gazelle finds Airen: the Hollow King, beautiful as a nightmare and far too dangerous to trust. He rules a decaying kingdom beneath the Palace, surrounded by creatures her people call demons, although he calls them something else. He knows secrets about her bloodline and the ritual that is killing her.
And he claims her dance was never saving anyone.
When Gazelle returns to the surface, there’s been a murder among her people, and her absence makes her the prime suspect. Then more bodies appear, each one drawing suspicion closer.
To clear her name, Gazelle must turn to the Hollow King. But he may be the only one telling her the truth, or the one spinning the most beautiful lie. Every bargain pulls her deeper into his world. Every touch makes him harder to resist. And every answer binds her closer to a king powerful enough to take what he wants.
Because Airen is not just a danger to her city.
He is a danger to her heart.
A dark gothic romantasy filled with fated mates, murder mystery, deadly dance magic, and a morally gray king. Perfect for readers who love Phantom of the Opera vibes, the tension of Rebecca, and the obsession of Black Swan.
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CONTENT RATING
5. Romance with tame content (on page sex with tame descriptions)
SHIPPING & RETURNS
Pre-order ship the end of August and should arrive on or before September 1. Unlocked pre-order bonuses will be included in the shipment.
Gazelle alone maintains the seal that keeps the demons from her home. When the seal fractures due to a single misstep, she finds herself in the land of the Hollow King, at the center of a murder. As the prime suspect, she is determined to sort fact from fiction and unravel the hidden truths that shake the very reality of her world.
Angela Ford’s “Fated to the Hollow King” is book one in the “Fated to the Enemy” anthology series. A psychological, Black Swan-inspired Gothic Romantasy, we enter a world of demigods, demons, secrets, and lies.
Tropes: ~🌶️🌶️, Fated Mates, Murder Mystery, Mortal x Immortal
The world-building is lore-rich with imagery that, like the seal, holds the line between picturesque and haunting. Gazelle’s world is serene and scenic, but is riddled with lies and death. The Hollow King’s realm is beautiful and opulent, but is dusty and decaying. The richness of the lore alone was heavy, especially at the beginning, leaving room for crumbs and building anticipation as we reached the climax.
Ford's mystery creates an atmosphere of distrust and paranoia with expert finesse. A true psychological story, I felt myself constantly questioning who could be trusted and who the killer could be, and reading body language from the limited vantage point of someone looking in.
Which, of course, made the back-to-back revelations truly shocking and all the more praiseworthy. I did NOT see them coming. Ford retells the Black Swan tale so well, guiding us through the story with grace and a gentleness that helped make the unveiling so gasp-inducing.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review 😊
Black swan meets Phantom of the Opera vibes
This book is fast paced pulls you in pretty rapidly and keeps you engaged. I feel like the story gets pretty straight to the heart early on.
I would say it falls in the genre of paranormal romance with a murder mystery twist.
The twist is about as twisted as I comes and kept me guessing and pondering until the end
I really enjoyed this book and will be checking out other books by this author
4⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
Book synopsis:
“Gazelle Dakari dances to seal the demons below. She has been the lead Rift Dancer for years, sacriticing parts of her soul to keep her world safe. But the price is steep and one slip-up during the ceremony opened a door she doesn't know how to close. In the depths, she meets the Hollow King, a man who swears the ritual she performs is not what it seems. In the light, a monster murders those closest to Gazelle, placing her under scrutiny and suspicion.
As she tries to find answers, she only returns with more questions.
Questions that the Hollow King will answer... for a price. Is there truth in this king's promise? Or has she made a bargain with someone far worse than the demons she fears?”
4.5/5
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this short but sweet read! 4.5/5 because honestly, I wish I had just a little more time with the characters.
I really enjoyed the plot, and related to the FMC because I used to be a dancer as well. I definitely appreciate the way the author got into the nuances of what it is to pour your heart and soul (literally) into dancing, and how dancing for the wrong reasons can drain you.
Definitely didn't see some of it coming, but also enjoyed the things I did. Highly recommend!
I am thoroughly surprised how much I enjoyed this story! It starts in a dark place, but ends somewhere beautiful. And to use dance as the medium to bring it forth? Intriguing. I have not read an Angela J Ford tale before, but I will read another. Her swooping strokes to illustrate the goodness, and then smash it all with the greed, was masterful. It is a find out, whodunit, and how to stop them from doing it again. Do you think you can see the pieces?
A short standalone romantasy with Black Swan vibes, dark secrets, and a morally gray MMC? Yes please!
She’s a dancer who believes her performances are helping save her decaying kingdom from demons, or at least, that’s what she’s always been told. But when Arin kidnaps her and starts revealing what’s actually going on, everything she thought she knew begins to unravel.
This is the perfect read if you are looking for a quick romantasy with gothic vibes, a murder mystery, and the best yearning and tension.
The gothic vibes are there from the start, and Gazelle is a strong heroine as she tries to save her city. But one day she meets Airen under that city and everything she thought she knew, she now questions. She doesn’t trust Airen but is forced to ask him for help. The Hollow King is dangerous but there is also something growing between them. I loved the chemistry and banter. Also enjoyed the twists. Was definitely not expecting one big surprise! — Thank you to author Angela J. Ford for the early copy.
This book is part of the Fated to the Enemy series. This is a multi-authored series of standalone, steamy, enemies-to-lovers, fantasy adventure romances. This is a gothic, dark fated mates, romantasy with Black Swan, Phantom of the Opera, and Rebecca vibes. I really enjoyed this story. From the start of the book, you are drawn in and can’t put it down. Each page gives you more hints about the secrets in the story. This book has a strong, well-developed and an interesting story line with twists and unexpected turns that keep you reading and turning the pages. Amazing world building that is detailed and imaginative and so well done that you're drawn into a fantastic world unlike any other. Strong, interesting, and fascinating characters that are well developed and diverse. So far, I have enjoyed the stories in this series and look forward to reading more of them.
There were so many twists I didn't know which way was up. By the end, I was utterly shook. If you're looking for a book that will have you asking what in the complete mindfudgery was that when you finish it, then Fated to the Hollow King is it.
Tropes: fated mates, mortal x immortal, murder mystery, gothic vibes
We're introduced to Gazelle, who's the lead dancer at the sacred palace. Dancing is how the rift dancers in this book keep demons away. Gazelle's misstep during a dance one night initiated the events of the book. She encounters the Hollow King, Airen, and immediately feels a connection. The book's direction was surprising to me. You can't be sure which characters are reliable. The unexpected twist delighted me at the end. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy psychological fated mates romance.
"You are my dawn, you’re my light, my moon, my ritual."~Airen
This book had me hook, line, and sinker right from the start. An absolute must read if you're looking for a fantasy romance. I could not put this book down once I got into it. The beginning did have me a bit iffy but once I got into it I loved it. I also really loved how the story was told and the world building. I loved all the little details and that it didn't feel rushed.
I really liked Gazelle and Airen's story. I loved how it truly was a mistake on Gazelle's part that started everything. And I love how Airen was truthful to Gazelle most of the time. I love how she was willing to listen and learn before deciding on what to do. And I absolutely loved hearing the stories of some of the sleeping Hollows.
And that plot twist?! That plot twist definitely left me reeling. It had me wanting to go back and reread the book to see if missed something. Overall I really liked this book and i can't wait for more!!
This was such a fun read! There’s an interesting magic system using dance, and it had a Phantom Of The Opera feel. I also loved that there’s a murder mystery! It you’ve never read a romantasy before, this would be such a good book to start with because the story is layered and keeps you guessing. It’s just as much mystery as fantasy romance! Trying to figure out what was going on as the lead character works to clear her name had me hooked! At a little over 300 pages, it was a fast read.
Author Angela J. Ford has outdone herself kicking off this series, and I plan to check out her other books.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into this one, but I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. The whole idea of Gazelle dancing to keep the demons away was different and honestly a little strange at first, but once I got into the story I really liked how everything came together.
I loved the darker gothic feel of the book and the mystery was probably one of my favorite parts. There were quite a few times where I thought I had figured out what was actually going on, only for something else to happen and make me question it again. The ending surprised me and I liked that I didn’t have everything completely figured out beforehand.
I also really liked Gazelle and Airen together. Their connection was there pretty much from the beginning, and I liked the back and forth between them and watching Gazelle slowly realize that everything she had believed her whole life might not actually be true. Airen was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book too.
I do wish we had gotten a little more time with the characters and their relationship because I wanted to feel more connected to them. Some parts also slowed down a little for me, but never enough that I wanted to stop reading.
This was a really interesting romantasy with mystery, magic, romance, secrets, and plenty of twists. It was different from a lot of the fantasy romance books I’ve read lately, which I appreciated. I think this is a good one for anyone who likes darker fantasy romance with a mystery mixed in.
Thanks to the Author for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.
“And at last, I understood what he’d been trying totell me through the dance. I’d been broken. Ruined. My soul stolen,but the dance, him, he was healing me.”
Summary:
Gazelle protects her city as the Lead Rift Dancer by dancing a special dance on the full moon to keep the demons trapped. But, she’s slowly becoming weak and sick, which causes her to accidentally misstep during one of their ritual dances. Drawn to the catacombs after the dance, she discovers her misstep may have released something—something who claims to be not a demon, but someone called the Hollow King. Gazelle feels drawn to him, but doesn’t trust him—especially when she discovers her mentor’s dead body the following morning. Can she trust the Hollow King? And how does she continue to protect her city?
Likes:
I was really surprised at how quickly this book pulled me in. Something about the writing style really clicked with me. I felt that Ford did a fantastic job of quickly immersing you into Gazelle’s world and the world of the Hollow Ones. And the atmospheric darkness of the world was really on point. Additionally, Ford did a fantastic job of building Gazelle as a character. I thought her actions really reflected the character and helped make me invested in her character.
Dislikes:
My biggest issue with this book was the pacing in the second half. I feel like the action needed to be slowed down and built out a little more. I feel like it would have helped flesh out some of the revelations at the end a little better. It also would have been nice to see more of the romance plot. Towards the end of the book it started to almost feel like an afterthought.
Notes:
This is the first book to be released in a multi-author collaboration of standalone books called Fated to the Enemy. These are all supposed to be at least somewhat spicy romantasy books. Personally, I definitely plan to read more of Angela J. Fords work after this one—it was something I decided not long after starting this one!
⭐️ 4/5 🌶️ 2/5
“Fated to the Hollow King” is a great stand alone (although I do think it belongs to a group of stories from different authors) following the lead dancer, Gazelle, who is responsible for keeping the demons away from her kingdom every month by performing and ancient sealing dance. You find out quickly that she seems to be getting weaker and weaker after every dance is performed and after her latest dance, she runs away from the festivities to hide said weakness and ends up in the underground labyrinth on the palace grounds and loses all sense of time.
There she meets a mysterious man who calls himself the Hollow king and is not human, but also claims to not be a demon. He tells her the dance is stealing her soul. She obviously does not believe him and runs away shortly after their interaction.
She stumbles upon a murder scene and is shortly pinned as the main suspect.
Thus the plot thickens! More murders happen and Gazelle is forced to research and form a kind of alliance with the Hollow King for answers to the murders and prove her innocence whilst also trying to figure out if everything she has been told/taught about the demon seal and her dance is a lie.
There is also a plot twist near the end that I’m surprised I didn’t clock earlier.
Overall a fun read full of magic, murder mystery, and romance.
This book ended up really impressing me! I usually avoid anything that's labeled as 'dark', but I'm glad I gave this a chance! The book definitely set out with the goal of giving the reader a distinct feeling, and yes, that feeling is on the darker end, but without feeling heavy and depressing. It permeates the book, and leaves you sitting with it for a while afterward as well. I found it to be impressively deep, somber, and a little twisted but not so dark that it weighs heavily on you. (Speaking as someone with chronic anxiety and depression.)
Gazelle being a dancer is huge to the book, and interestingly, as I read I felt like the plot and writing moved along methodically/rhythmically, like a dance, itself. The spice was more of just steamy yearning, with 2-3 brief and non-descriptive scenes that are easily skippable but generally won't be needed, since it's alluded to so simply and briefly.
The FMC felt generic to me at first, but by the end...wow. Let's just say she was actually quite unique! Also, the plot twist at the end was INSANE. Definitely something I've never seen before. (If you see something that seems contradictory or not make sense, just keep reading! It's not an author mistake!)
I devoured this book in one sitting, and it's lingered with me into the next day. Again, I am very impressed by this book and the author's writing!
I enjoyed this one! I went into it expecting something a little different based on the cover, 👀 so I was surprised to realize it leaned more YA than I expected.
That said, I really enjoyed the plot and the Phantom of the Opera vibes! There was something really intriguing about the atmosphere and the mystery surrounding the characters, and I thought the plot twist was really well done.
It was also a quick, easy read, which I appreciated. I stayed interested throughout and definitely wanted to see how everything would play out.
Gazelle Dakari dances to seal the demons below. She has been the lead Rift Dancer for years, sacrificing parts of her soul to keep her world safe. But the price is steep and one slip-up during the ceremony opened a door she doesn't know how to close. In the depths, she meets the Hollow King, a man who swears the ritual she performs is not what it seems. In the light, a monster murders those closest to Gazelle, placing her under scrutiny and suspicion. As she tries to find answers, she only returns with more questions. Questions that the Hollow King will answer… for a price. Is there truth in this king’s promise? Or has she made a bargain with someone far worse than the demons she fears?
“Fated to the Hollow King” by Angela J. Ford is the first novel of the “Fated to the Enemy” Collection.
A series of standalones, each book will follow a pair of enemies that unwillingly find themselves bound together by fate, fascination, or flirtation. This particular novel is a murder is a mystery inspired by “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Black Swan”. Gazelle was one of the most intriguing gothic heroines I've read, working to solve the mystery she is ensnared by while her own body seemingly works against her. As for Airen? How he draws her in, tempts, and is tempted by Gazelle is absolutely swoony. Every single one of their interactions is a tense scene that leaves even you the reader dizzy. I was so excited for this novel that I could hardly stop myself from reading it; in fact, it cut ahead of several books on my tbr. And I don't regret it!
With plot twists as winding as a dark maze, “Fated to the Hollow King” will leave your jaw on the floor (😂). Even I, a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast with a penchant for guessing the end of a movie 10 minutes in, could not get to the bottom of this mystery before the last page. When all was said and done, I was surprised and delighted by the resolution. Now, I highly recommend you grab your own copy and enter the Sacred Palace. Nothing is what it seems and you'll be left haunting the halls long after it is over.
