Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this eARC. Mortal Memories is the story of a young woman who has lost her memories and suddenly found herself engaged to a fae by the name of Straid in order to avoid being put to death for breaking fae law. With no memories of who she is or where she came from "Anna/Carra" finds herself entangled in the mysterious disappearances of several women. With the help of her new husband, "Anna" must find out how she and her missing memories tie into these strange occurrences.

The concept of the story was rather interesting but somehow it fell flat. While the characters seem to share physical attraction, their chemistry wasn't really believable until about 80% in, though this isn't what I would consider a slow burn novel. Both characters were rather one dimensional.
If you like steamy scenes, there are several throughout this book. "Anna" is also somewhat of a strong FMC. She doesn't shy away or give into fae customers despite being human. The story would benefit from more world building as well as more meaningful interactions between the main characters. The epilogue was rather unexpected and while I'm curious of how the story will progress, the lack of organization throughout this book prevents me from wanting to pick up the next one.

If you're into slow-burn romance with spice and a touch of fae magic, this book is worth checking out. At points, the stakes feel pretty low, almost giving off a cozy fantasy vibe. But don't be fooled—it ramps up and gets more tense before you know it.

I loved the two main characters. Carra, especially, is a breath of fresh air. She’s not your typical romantasy heroine, and it’s awesome to see a woman of color in the spotlight. Her dynamic with Straid is just perfect—her assertiveness balances his stoic charm really well. Plus, the book has a really positive representation of sex workers, which is rare and handled with respect.

My main issue with the book is that it’s too short. The author created such a compelling storyline and such interesting characters, but only gives us a taste of it all. The world-building is intriguing but could use more detail, and I would have loved more time and interaction building up the main romance. I was left wanting more from all of it. And some plot points felt a bit flimsy, like the forced marriage situation—it felt like a quick fix to get the story moving, even though it did lead to some interesting dynamics.

The ending left me hanging and wanting to throw my Kindle, though! It's a cliffhanger that sets up for a sequel, which is exciting but also frustrating because I wanted more right now! Despite these minor gripes, it's an enjoyable read that will appeal to romantasy fans and anyone who loves character-driven stories with a bit of smut. If you like slow-burn romance, intriguing characters, and a mix of fantasy elements, you'll likely find a lot to enjoy. Just be ready for a bit of a cliffhanger and a craving for more depth. Fans of Sarah J. Maas and similar authors will definitely feel at home here.

Likes & Tropes 🌹

- World and themes very similar to the beginning of ACOTAR

- It’s giving early Feyre and Tamlin vibes in the beginning

- Dual POV

- He falls first

- She advances first

- Forced relationship

- Mysterious missing people

- Their timing is off

- LOTS of spice

- The ending you will never see coming

Rating - 4/5 🌟

I really enjoyed this story. It wasn’t like anything I’ve read before. The beginning had some similarities to ACOTAR but the story itself and its contents were drastically different. I do wish there was more background description around the magic and the magic system and the rules and why things are the way they are in this world, at times it felt like rules were in place with no context and we were forced to just accept them. But overall, the story is beautifully written and I felt immersed in the plot. I wanted to know more about why she had lost her memory and there are still questions regarding that and some other things but it sets things up nicely for a sequel which I love. I find I’m often not motivated to read sequels when the original book is tied up nicely at the end with a bow. I think if there was just a little more world building this would be 5 stars for me. The characters themselves were easy to love and root for. There was plenty backstory for them. I was surprised that in that short of a story (216 pages) I was able to get to know the characters so intimately. A sequel is desperately needed as the story seemed to end right as their story was just about to take off! It definitely left me at the edge of my seat and wanting more so I look forward to reading the next one! ❤️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and F. A. Eden for giving me the chance to review this book! I look forward to seeing what’s to come for these characters in the future 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC of this book!

I wish I could give this book a better review, as the blurb initially intrigued me. Unfortunately, the actual book didn't live up to that. If anything, if you've read the blurb, then you've read about 75% of this book already!

Our main character, Carra, has lost all her memories and is found in the Fae Quarters - a fate punishable by death. She's saved by Straid, a Fae Lord who announces they will be wed in the morning. Given Fae are bound by their oaths and promises, they do just that. As a result, she can't go to the mortal lands for a year afterwards and must return one night a month forever after.

That's my first issue - all this happens within like...the first 5% of the book. I'm aware I'm reading a book about Fae, so I have to suspend my disbelief, but I found it VERY hard to do that when they're getting married so soon, especially when she can't even remember. It seems so stupid that someone as reserved and stoic as Straid would just...do something spontaneous like that. He gives a half-hearted excuse later in the book, but it's not believable. It just reads as dumb - she can't even remember her own name. And yeah, the other option is death but...come on.

The other fact is that she's a prostitute - I've got no issues with this as a career, and Carra is actually very proud of her job and her talents. She's got a loyal client list who are very good to her, which is good to see. My issue is that she has no memory of anything and immediately starts doing it again? There's nothing more vulnerable than sex, and she just throws herself back into it even though any of her clients could've been the reason for her memory loss. Straid also just...goes along with this and lets it happen in his house? This would be fine, as Fae have different standards, but it's made very clear to us that Straid isn't just a normal Fae Lord. It just felt like a weird choice.

This also fed into the fact that for most of this book, nothing happens. There's some underlying plot that only takes off later in the plot, but otherwise...it's just reading Carra renovating a room and seeing her clients? That's most of the spice - her with other men. It's boring, and whilst it's easy to read, I found myself wondering what the actual point of this story is.

On top of that, there's no world-building. All I know is that there's the Fae Quarters and the mortal world...a town with iron around it. That's it. Nothing else. The Fae are bound by oaths and promises; don't say please and thank you and have some powers. That's all you learn. Nothing about the world they inhabit. 80% of this book takes place in the house, and most of the rest is just in...other clients' houses. There's no depth to the characters, either. Straid is mourning his fiancée, but do we get to know what he loved about her or what she enjoyed? Not really. There are a few throwaway comments, but that's it. We don't get to know much about Straid either. He's just a stereotype of a brooding, introverted and grieving man.

Carra can't remember her past, so obviously, there's minimal character development there.

Overall, it was very lacklustre, and I didn't really enjoy it.

Loved this book so much. I gave it 4 stars and loved everything about this book and story. Everything is super well explained in the plot so you don't need to worry about the plot being shallow. It's amazing.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc.

This book wasn't at all what I expected (a marriage of convenience between an amnesiac human and a fae) instead we got them married but nothing romance whatsoever and to make matters far worse she was continuing her job she shortly remembers; as a prostitute and was fing other guys in the house and outside of the house?!? Wtf is was that about seriously and that went on for more than half of book then final 40 pages or so it took a total turn and it's like a different book also it was the most painful slowest of slow burns honestly ridiculous. This was a mess all around sadly and wasn't what I wanted or expected when I requested this book to read. And what was that ending?!?! I didn't a- realize this was a series and b-I'm mad at the ending.

This is a great book for people who like slow burn and want to watch the main characters form a bond.

I think the general story of the main character missing her memory is intriguing. And they're both such likable characters; she is assertive when it comes to her own rights and self-worth, but not in an annoying way. And he's such a cutie.

There wasn't a lot of world building, and I didn't need any more. We know a little about the fae area they live in, and I personally prefer that the story revolved more about the characters than a grand fantasy world.

I'm actually not a big fae fan, and I was happy to note that the way fae are written here is to my liking. The whole "they can't lie" and "you have to be careful how you speak with them" thing is always very interesting. And I'm glad the book didn't have a lot of political talk in it; I hope it'll stay that way in the next two books.

I can't wait to see how their story continues.

DNF at 31%

I really wanted to love this book; the cover first caught my eye and I was intrigued by the description. Carra is found running through the streets of the Quarters unaccompanied, a deadly transgression for a human. When Straid comes to her aid in exchange for marriage, Carra is uncertain of the prospect of marrying a fae man. Even worse, she has no memories of her former life at all. After agreeing to marry Straid, Carra discovers that this fae is not like the others and genuinely wants to help her rediscover her past.

I thought the idea of this book was very unique and I was interested in discovering a new world. However, I really wished there was more world-building at the beginning of the book, as some of the customs of this world went over my head. Additionally, I found that the "spicy" scenes were somewhat randomly distributed and did not flow well with the rest of the story. I also, unfortunately, could not get past the frequent grammatical errors and plot holes to finish this book. I am hopeful that F. A. Eden is able to take the time to make any necessary adjustments before publication and would love to give this book another chance once edited.

Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and F. A. Eden for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Stay tuned for the publication of Mortal Memories on October 9, 2024.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/443542d3-328b-4ce9-a6f6-3239998d6bdb?redirect=true

Gracias a NetGallery por darme la oportunidad de leer esta historia y dar mi reseña libremente ✨ mágicos.

Recientemente tuve el placer de leer un libro que combina de manera magistral los elementos del romance y la fantasía: una historia de amor entre un fae y una mortal. Desde las primeras páginas, me encontré cautivado por el ritmo inicial rápido, que rápidamente da paso a un desarrollo más pausado y profundo, creando un perfecto "slow burn" que mantiene al lector enganchado hasta el final.

El mundo en el que se desarrolla la historia está construido de manera sutil pero efectiva. Aunque la construcción del mundo no es excesiva, proporciona el contexto suficiente para entender las reglas y dinámicas que rigen la interacción entre los personajes. Las reglas de este universo en particular me parecieron fascinantes y bien elaboradas, añadiendo una capa adicional de interés a la narrativa.

La protagonista, con su trabajo único, ofrece una perspectiva fresca y convincente, y me encantó cómo su “vida profesional”🌶️ se entrelaza con su relación con el fae. El protagonista masculino es estoico pero muestra un romanticismo y una profundidad de pensamiento que lo hacen entrañable. Su carácter estoico contrasta maravillosamente con los momentos más íntimos y románticos que comparte con la protagonista, creando una dinámica cautivadora.

Las escenas "spicy" están bien distribuidas a lo largo de la historia y son inesperadas, lo que añade un elemento de sorpresa que disfruté enormemente. Estas escenas están bien escritas y contribuyen al desarrollo de la relación entre los protagonistas.

El único punto negativo, si se puede llamar así, es que el libro deja muchas preguntas sin responder, indicando claramente que habrá una continuación. No puedo esperar a que salga el próximo libro, porque esta historia me ha dejado queriendo más.

En resumen, me encantó espero con ansias el siguiente 💜 me encantaron los elementos fae, poderes, forced proximity, etc.

Mortal Memories by F. A. Eden
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 10 October 2024

In a world where mortals and fae coexist uneasily, Carra finds herself in a perilous situation. Discovered alone in the forbidden fae Quarter with no memory of her past, she faces certain death. Her only options: marry her rescuer or flee for her life. Choosing marriage, Carra embarks on a journey to uncover her lost identity and the reasons behind her dangerous presence in the Quarter.

Straid, a fae lord who has lived in seclusion for fifty years following his fiancée's death, finds his world upended when he impulsively marries Carra to save her life. As he grows closer to his new wife, Straid becomes entangled in a web of mystery. People are disappearing from the Quarter at an alarming rate, and he suspects a connection to Carra's past.

As Carra and Straid navigate their unexpected union, they must confront not only their growing feelings for each other but also the dark forces at play in the fae world. Their quest for answers could unveil secrets that threaten both their relationship and the delicate balance between mortal and fae realms.

"Mortal Memories" offers a captivating blend of romance, mystery, and fantasy that will enchant readers from the first page. This slow-burn fae romance skilfully weaves together elements of amnesia, forbidden love, and political intrigue into a compelling narrative.

The author excels in world-building, creating a rich and complex universe where the uneasy coexistence of mortals and fae provides a fertile ground for conflict and drama. The fae Quarter, with its air of danger and mystery, serves as a perfect backdrop for the unfolding story.

Carra and Straid are well-developed protagonists, their individual struggles and gradual attraction to each other forming the heart of the novel. Carra's quest to recover her memories adds an element of suspense that complements the romantic plot, while Straid's journey from isolation to emotional engagement is particularly poignant.

The pacing of the romance is expertly handled, with the slow-burn approach allowing for a deep exploration of the characters' evolving relationship. The promise of spicier content will appeal to readers who enjoy their romance with a dash of heat.

The mystery surrounding the disappearances in the Quarter adds depth to the plot, intertwining personal and political stakes in a way that keeps readers guessing. This subplot provides a nice balance to the romantic elements, ensuring the story remains engaging on multiple levels.

While the amnesia trope is familiar in romance novels, the author brings fresh elements to it through the fae setting and the larger mystery at play. The potential connections between Carra's past and the current events in the Quarter create an intriguing narrative thread that will likely carry through future instalments.

"Mortal Memories" will certainly appeal to fans of K.F. Breene and Sarah J. Maas, offering a similar blend of fantasy world-building and romantic tension. However, it also stands on its own merits, with unique elements that set it apart in the crowded field of fae romance.

In conclusion, this novel delivers a satisfying mix of romance, mystery, and fantasy. With its intriguing premise, well-developed characters, and promise of more to come, "Mortal Memories" is sure to leave readers eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and the author, F. A. Eden, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

okay, that ending? mind blowing and such a good play on the title

i adored mortal memories. the romance, mystery, and intrigue. i had absolutely NO idea what the twist was gonna be and i sat there for a few minutes processing the entire book. so, so good! if you love sarah j. maas mortal memories is absolutely for you. 4 stars

thank you f.a. eden and netgalley for the ARC!

I use the following emojis in my Rate scale
✨ - overall rating out of 5
🔥- story/plot

My rating is as followed;
✨✨✨✨
🔥🔥🔥

Tropes included;
Forced Marriage
Amnesia
slow burn
Fae x Human

My Feedback/Review;
*this is a review of an arc so bare in mind these things may have changed by full release*
i give it a 3.5-4 star.

The grammar kind of let this book down for me, the story itself i rather enjoyed but the small errors in grammar made it difficult to read and took me out of the story. The wrong name was used for our main female character before we knew what her actual name was which again took me out of the story and made it a little hard to fully become engrossed and zoned in with this one. This story has potential and the author has done a fantastic job with the story itself but the grammar and minor issues with name mix ups takes my solid 4star to a 3.5


I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A romantasy with a mystery plot and lots of yearning. The slow burn is definitely slow burning. Love this book and can't wait to have the completed version in my hands!

I'm a bit biased about this book but I do genuinely think it's great!!