A Rivalry of Hearts
by Tessonja Odette
5 ⭐️

fae bargain ✨
rivals to lovers
historical fantasy romance 🌸
cozy slow burn
dual POV📚

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopeadia of Faeries meets a slightly more modern Bridgerton! I picked this ARC because the premise sounded like something I would love. I was a bit hesitant because these types of books can either be great or fall very short but I’m happy to say this was amazing!! Edwina reminds me a more modern Emily Wilde especially in the narration/tone of the book. This the the perfect cozy, fantasy rom com. There is so much tension and quick witty banter!! I loved the slow development between Edwina and Will. The only things that made me consider lowering my rating slightly was that the dialogue did not actually give regency vibes and the ending felt a little rushed. I still loved it and now I’m considering buying the hardcover as my trophy because I’m a sucker for under the jacket designs and this was truly SO good!

I’m so excited for Daphne and Monty’s book! I was really hoping for a work place romance but I’m sure that whatever it ends up being will be amazing! I really loved them and I’m SO interested to see how their relationship happens! This was my first Tessonja book but definitely not my last! Currently trying to pick the next book of hers that I plan to read!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-Op for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*IG review will be posted on 5/30/24 on https://www.instagram.com/rasberryreads*

I was drawn to this book after seeing the NerdFam marketing on Instagram and it sounded like such a fun and spicy fantasy.

This book was such an original story and also felt like a combination of so many of my favorite tropes. Cozy spicy fae 😍. The FMC and MMC banter was everything. The perfect enemies/rivals to lovers.

I really appreciated the effort put into the ARC digital file. It was beautiful and so easy to read! Very much looking forward to this coming to print, so I can add the gorgeous to my shelf.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=1.5 | 😘=5 | 🤬=4 | ⚔️=1.5 | 18+

summary: rival authors (one human, one fae) on a book tour are mean and bantery at each other (in a manner either genuinely hurtful or extremely cringey). and they like make a deal about who can seduce the most people but then the deal goes literally nowhere because the guy’s POV is 99% “omg how does she not notice that I want to seduce her” so what was even the point??

thoughts: oh dear. oh no. okay. well. here are the few things I did like:

- the fae love interest isn’t 500 billion years old! he’s actually a couple years younger than the heroine, which is so much better than him being an ancient old man like in 99% of other fae romances!!

- I loved that there was a map inside. I never once referenced it, and it was extremely frivolous and useless. iconic.

stuff I didn’t like

- prose style was cringe??

- their nicknames for each other 😭 he calls her “Weenie” (short for Edwina; I wish I was kidding). it is used excruciatingly often to devastating effect on my mental wellbeing. I can not emphasize enough the great extent to which this will haunt me for the rest of my living days. horrifying.

- the guy’s POVs were there solely so he could talk about how in love he is with the heroine, which I always find to be boring and unnecessary. male characters deserve diverse personalities and actually interesting wants that aren’t primarily centered around the love interest!! #givemenrights (I’m kidding) (but it is boring to have male POVs entirely centered around the FMC) (with hardly a care for any other character traits whatsoever) (looking at you, Divine Rivals )

- speaking of the MMC’s primary want (outside of banging Edwina)!! the resolution was super weird?? I’m struggling to explain why exactly I didn’t like it and I can’t so I guess I’ll leave it there
the scene where the sleazy fae guy almost assaults her is solely there so that the MMC can heroically and possessive rescue her and I don’t love that? like it serves no other narrative purpose??

- the world building is so strange in a way that made me giggle. like there is corsets and sexism and the heroine is, like, the property of her male relatives until she gets married, but simultaneously there are fae orgies and the phrase “R rated” (though bizarrely it refers to plays??) and other bizarrely modern turns of phrase?? like this is a cozy romantasy so chaotic, silly world building is par for the course, but this one didn’t work for me.

- those are just the ones off the top of my head lol

anyway. this wasn’t for me! cozy silly witty romantasy has been one of my favorite genres lately (see The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love , Half a Soul , The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy , etc) and this one did not give what was meant to be gave. sorry. yikes.

This book was so so fun! I loved the fae elements, and world-building was really well done and made me feel like I could actually picture these settings. I loved the FMC and the MMC, and loved the delicious tension between the two of them. I will definitely recommend this book to readers who like cozy romantasy, and I think that this title will reach a broad demographic of readers. Thank you to NetGalley, Tessonja Odette, and Crystal Moon Press for the chance to read and enjoy this advanced copy!

A drunken bet turns into something more than what Edwina (a human author) and William (a fae poet) hoped for. The bet? Whoever can bed the most lovers during their month-long book tour wins the highly coveted contract with a publishing company. At first, they absolutely despise each other. Overtime, they begin to have feelings for each other (Will falls first), and, thanks to a “free pass,” Edwina can finally act out the *spicy* scenes she describes in her novels.

I love a good enemies-to-lovers trope, and this one does it so well. Edwina and Will are both flawed characters, each having their own secrets, habits, and other personality traits, and it makes for funny (yet somewhat adorable at times) interactions between the two (and the rest of the characters). Throughout the book, I noticed both of them had valid reasons why they needed the publishing contract, and I’m glad it ended the way it ended. The world-building is pretty good too - each tour stop had a different vibe and charms to it, and I could picture the settings well. Overall, its cute, but be warned: it gets a spicy at times ;)

This is my first title from this author, and I will definitely be reading more of her work! This book was such a fun approach to the rivals to trope that magnificently combines top-notch banter, great spice, and swoon-worthy romance. This book is well-written, inventive, and should appeal to any romance reader, even those not keen on fantasy. Edwina and William were such great characters, well-developed and witty. I loved watching them both navigate their highly unexpected competition, all the while falling for each other. Anyone looking for a charming romantic comedy with a flare of historical romance and fantasy will adore this one.

This book gets all the stars because this was SUCH an amazing surprise! The synopsis definitely sounded intriguing, but I didn't expect to be sucked in the story from the very beginning. I'm so glad I did! Edwina and William's story was amazing, and I could not get enough of their banter and sexual tension. This is definitely a must read!

Oh my goodness! This book was so much fun! If you love "Enemies to Lovers", "He Fell First", fantasy & fae, and you love making fun of yourself as a smut/romance reader, then this book is for you! Our two main characters Edwina and William had be cackling with laughter. Their banter, and relationship development was simply the best. This was a fun read that had me grinning and blushing the whole time.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A huge thank you to Netgalley for this ARC! I absolutely ADORED this story from start to finish. I was literally giggling and kicking my feet all throughout - it was just so lovely. The romance, the spice, the banter - perfect. I will be purchasing a physical copy once it's released so I can read it again.

Prepare to be swept away on a whimsical journey into the enchanting world of 'A Rivalry of Hearts,' where rival authors find themselves entangled in a seductive game of hearts and words. In this spicy standalone fantasy romance, Tessonja delivers a delightful blend of wit, charm, and steamy chemistry that will leave readers utterly captivated.

What sets 'A Rivalry of Hearts' apart is its irresistible blend of humor, romance, and fantasy. Edwina's quick wit and determination make her a heroine to root for, while Will’s charm and complexity add depth to their fiery dynamic. As they navigate the twists and turns of their unconventional “relationship,” they discover that sometimes the greatest rivalries can lead to the most unexpected love stories.

I adore this book so much! I love this world created by Tessonja and I love all the characters - especially the FMC, Edwina, and the MMC, Will. This book was utter perfection and had me swooning, giddy, and kicking my feet. The banter between the main characters was chef’s kiss And the mouth on Will 🥵🥵🥵.

I highly recommend this book if you adore spicy, fantasy romance stories with rivals to lovers!

This was a delight. It was cozy, romantic, funny and silly in all the right places. I loved the main characters and their connection. IYKYK.
This is a perfect read for book lovers wanting something fresh to add to their tbr!

I loved this book so much. "Smut and drivel," indeed! Edwina and William do such a great job at being enemies and being lovers. Their banter is hilarious, their drunken-bet and its results entertaining. and their back stories compelling. I loved the secondary characters (I cannot wait for Daphne's book!). "A Rivalry of Hearts" is simply a fun romance - with a healthy dose of spice mixed in. Perfect book to read pool side, or fire side. Highly recommend.

5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. These opinions are my own.

A Rivalry of Hearts brings together Edwina, a human author, and William, a fae poet, as they travel across the fae lands on a joint book tour. Their rivalry sparks a competition that will lead to only one of them securing a future contract with their publisher (which both desperately need).

My first big issue with the book was the confusing world building and magic system. The story seems to be set in a world that the author has developed in previous books. Maybe if I had read those I would have understood it more, but in my opinion the world building should be able to stand alone. There was a strange combination of historical elements (dress, society, transportation) and modern elements (interns, book tours, marketing dollars), but it wasn’t fleshed out enough to give me a true sense of place and time. The magic system was also poorly explained and it felt thrown in whenever it served to move the plot along. For example the rules around the bargain, how they are struck, can be changed, and can be ended, all seemed ad hoc.

The bargain which serves as the main conflict of the story was also not to my taste. <spoiler> A bargain about how many OTHER people you can seduce seemed a little weird for a romance. And it seemed out of character for the true William and especially for Edwina.</spoiler> It seems like this book couldn’t decide what it was: cute and cozy historical fantasy, or sexy fae erotic romance.

However, not all was bad, I did really like the two main characters. If you’re a fan of Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby (Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series) you may really like Edwina and William. But they suffered from the plot really pulling me out of their love story. The side characters were fun and I was interested in their backstories.

Overall this was a good book, but not a great book. But I am intrigued enough to explore the author’s backlist.

Read and reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley.

thank you to the author for allowing me to read this as an ARC!
I was super drawn to the preface of this book, fae x humans rivalry and enemies to lovers.
it was all fun and interesting until about 60% then it lost its splendor. somehow the story fell flat and I struggled to finish it but powered through.
The ending wasn't all that unpredictable but all in all it was a happy one.

Who among us hasn't watched Bridgerton and thought... this would be better with Faeries?

I absolutely adored this book! I haven't read anything else by Odette, but I have since added all of her books to my tbr! I love a world where humans and fae coexist, I love bookish books, I love enemies to lovers... this was made for me! I fell in love with these characters and smiled the whole time I was reading. I can't wait for the next book!

It felt like all the fun parts of Regency England, but with some fun, progressive fae culture mixed in (hello, non-binary representation!). I would highly recommend this for fans of the Emily Wilde series, or anyone who is looking for some Bridgerton-esque romantasy.

(and honestly - what better series title than "Fae Flings and Corset Strings" - come on!!!)

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

✨ Review ✨
Genre: Cozy Romantasy
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I loved this cozy fae romcom! In this story, two authors rival for a contract with an esteemed publisher. One is a goofy, human romance writer, the other a pretentious, fae poet. I adored the banter between Edwina and Will. I laughed out loud multiple times while reading this book. And the tension! 🫠

Tessonja did an amazing job! Thank you for writing this fun, beautiful, and cozy romance.

I think I have read almost every read written by Tessonja Odette that is set in the world created in The Fair Isle Trilogy and Entangled with Fae so this book has been on my must-read list ever since I heard that it was coming out.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a charming romcom with great banter, steamy scenes, and sweltering sexual tension that gives a regency feel with magic. Perfect for a Bridgerton Season 3: Part 1 after effects!

I can't wait for the next book in this series because Daphne is going to blow us away.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tessonja Odette, and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Wow. I adored this book so much! I already ordered the hardback!

This story is about Edwina and William. Edwina is a romance author of spicy books who has been offered a chance of a book tour in Faeywethr. For reasons she is late and so another Author has joined the tour which is meant to be solely hers. William is a Fae and is the author of a book of poetry which seems to be more popular than Edwina’s book. They are rivals to secure a book deal from the publisher and for reasons they enter into a questionable bet and the winner will secure the deal.

Now, let me start by saying that I absolutely adore all the characters in this book. Our MMc and FMC are fully fleshed out and I loved watching them go from begrudging rivals to friends to more. Their banter is perfect, I love the playful teasing from William and Edwina’s unrelenting stubbornness.

The side characters are wonderful. I especially can’t wait to read the next book and learn more about Monty and how he is. Even Jolene, who we meet early on and I expected to hate simply because she is competition I ended up loving.

I’d never read anything by this author before but I can say I will be reading all the other books with certainty. The author has a way of writing that is both accessible and supremely fun.

The plot is good, focused mostly on the bet and how they go about trying to win, whilst accidentally falling for each other and has a satisfying conclusion.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys rivals to lovers, fae romance and romantic comedy. Truly a wonderful book I adored and probably my favorite so far in this genre.

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the Arc ! These opinions are my own and I am sharing them voluntarily.

I will be sharing my review on my Instagram, Goodreads, Waterstones and Amazon.

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
World Building: 🌏🌏🌏🌏

Wow!!!! Thanks NetGalley for this ARC to read and review!

This story was just so fun, beautiful, cozy and spicy!!!!! I absolutely love our two main characters. Their personal growth and love story are truly special. I adore how they grow to love each other but not squash each others careers or dreams. The side characters are all so wonderful and bring so much to the story. I love the regency feel mixed with a Fae world. I wish there was little more magic in the story.

This was beautifully written and so witty!

I absolutely adore the cozy feel plus the toe curling spice!!! Such a fun book!!!

'But if she falls, I'll fall deeper.'

This world might be my new obsession.

A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, fantasy romance that focuses on Edwina and William, two auhors who are competing for a publishing contract they both desperatley need. William needs it so his sister, the person he loves most in the world can have the future she deserves. Edwina needs it so that her career as an author can blossom. Thier deal? Whoever can bed the most lovers before the end of their book tour wins the coveted contract. It should be easy. Except the more time they spend together, the more they find themselves together, the more they find their love story is writing itself.


Edwina and William are incredibly well written. Odette does a fantastic job of developing these characters, making them relatable and endearing. Their initial rivalry had me laughing out loud at points where they were trying to one up each other, and trying to convince themseleves that they weren't falling for each other. The slow burn felt like a real enemies to lovers story, which is something I had really been missing.It really managed to avoid the cliches in this genre. The change in their inner thoughts were subtle enough that though you could tell their feelings were changing, it felt more authentic that they realised it so slowly.

I wasn't expecting this to be a dual POV book, but when it was used, it was used so well. Rather than having it change chapter by chapter, which works sometimes, it always came at a time that had me thinking, 'I wonder what William is thinking' or 'I wonder how Edwina would react.' Their persepctives were so distinctive to each character that it was enjoyable to read from each perspective. Edwina's quirks made her so endearing and fun that she really felt relatable (not to mention the way she recacts to William). I really loved the passion she had for her work, and how much she wanted to chnage the perspective of media written by women, and it being reduced to 'smut and drivel'. It really reflected societies perpective of romance books, and it really made me root for her. William on the otherhand always coming across as suave and cool, made him seem like the perfect tall dark and handsome fae, that always added to his intrigue. This contrasted with the way his mind worked when thinking about Edwina, made him swoon worthy. This coupled with a 'he falls first and harder' trope made him so captivating, I could have read about him falling for Edwina over and over again.

The secondary characetrs really shined, and I found myself engaged with Daphne and Monty as much as I was with Edwina and William. I googled what a pine marten was about halfway through the book, and it made Daphne that much more entertaining. I loved how they were portrayed through each charcters eyes. Daphne really gets more of a chance to shine through Edwina's persepctive, whereas we see more of what Monty is like through William's eyes, when he isn't trying to accomodate being a gentleman. Their arc was so satisfying, but it did leave me wanting more from them. They are getting their own story and I cannot wait to read it.

As well as the characters are written, this book shines in its worldbuilding. Whilst this isn't the first book set in Faerwyvae, its the first book I have read set in it. There is such care taken with making sure new readers understand the way the world works, and what the history is, but theres not so much that people who are familiar with the world feel bored. Fantasy is not a genre that I read a lot of, however this was so well crafted, yet had enough held back that it makes me want to go back and read the rest of the stories set in this world.

The main issue I had with this book is the characters outside of the main four characetrs. Between Jolene and Zane, it felt as though it was little repetative, they get to new stop on their tour, they meet someone who decides to tag along with them, and it causes issues between Edwina and William. The only difference was Jolene wanting to be with William, whilst Zane was pushing for William and Edwina to be together. It felt as though Jolene was there mostly for the reader to root against, whilst we were supposed to agree with Zane. Other than this though I didn't have anything to complain about.

Tessonja Odette's ability to craft a riveting story with memorable characters and a well written dual POV makes it such a good read. Character development, with a captivating romance makes this book a 4.5 star read for me.

ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, thank you for the opportunity to read this early copy, all thoughts are my own.