Elisabeth J. Hobbes delivers a mesmerising blend of historical fiction and fantasy in Dance with the Fae, an enchanting story that bridges the real and the mythical with effortless grace. Set in 1919, in the aftermath of the Great War, the book follows Kit Arton-Price, a man scarred by battle, both physically and emotionally, as he stumbles into a world beyond his understanding.

At his engagement party, Kit watches as his fiancée, Adelaide, dances with the mysterious Mr Wilde. By morning, Adelaide cannot be woken, and the local doctor attributes it to the baffling Sleeping Sickness, a real but little-understood epidemic of the time. But Kit soon learns that Adelaide’s fate is far more otherworldly. Drawn into the realm of the fae, he finds himself in a place of magic, danger, and deception—one that challenges everything he believes in.

What makes Dance with the Fae truly stand out is Kit himself. As a war survivor, he carries deep trauma and scepticism that makes his gradual acceptance of the fae realm feel natural and immersive. His resistance allows the reader to slowly uncover the wonders and perils of this world alongside him. Hobbes expertly balances the fantastical elements with a deeply authentic historical setting, making both the war-torn England and the fae court feel equally vivid and compelling.

With beautifully drawn characters, a rich atmosphere, and a story that feels both haunting and hopeful, Dance with the Fae is a unique and captivating read. A perfect choice for fans of historical fantasy and folklore-inspired tales.

3.5/5.

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Kit Arton-Price transports readers into a richly atmospheric world where post-war land collides with the magical realm of the fae. After surviving the horrors of war, Kit's life takes a strange turn when his fiancée, Adelaide, falls into a mysterious Sleeping Sickness. What begins as a tragic mystery soon leads Kit into a hidden world of magic, danger, and secrets he never imagined. With a compelling mix of historical intrigue and enchanting fantasy, this novel is perfect for readers who enjoy stories of love and otherworldly adventure.

Dance with the Fae by Elisabeth J. Hobbes was a unique storyline with a somewhat rare male main character.

It was at around 25% in before Dance with the Fae pulled me in. The relationships between the characters grow naturally. The romance is very sweet. This ends without a cliffhanger and is wrapped up nicely.

The romance has a very modern fluidity that some will appreciate. It is subtle and natural.

The magic is explained really well.

Highly recommend.

I really liked this take on the fae word, and some of it reminded me of Holly Black. The setting postwar makes it for a welcome change of scenery, and it was lovely to read from a perspective of a young man stuck between the changing times.

The dialogues felt a bolt stilted at times, and the writing somehow disjointed - lack of description for example. But overall that didn’t have a huge impact on the story which was lovely, with some unexpected and welcomed twists.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Sadly DNF’ed this one but I’m not sure if it was my mood or the book itself, maybe I’ll revisit one day and give it another go.

Dance with the Fae is set post WW1 and centres around Kit who is dealing with the changes of returning from war back to his estate. Kit's fiancee gets the 'sleeping sickness' and Kit has to go to the realm of the fae to save her.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and the world felt fun and interesting throughout. However it felt as though something was missing in the second half that was present in the first.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this eCopy to review

I recently read Dance with the Fae by Elisabeth J. Hobbes, this enchanting historical fantasy is set in 1919, right after the end of World War I. The story follows Kit Arton-Price, who is celebrating his engagement to Adelaide. However, the celebration takes a dark turn when Adelaide falls into a mysterious "Sleeping Sickness" after dancing with the enigmatic Mr. Wilde.

Kit, bearing the physical and emotional scars of the war, is drawn into a magical realm to find a cure for Adelaide. This realm is filled with danger and wonder, as Kit navigates the world of the fae. The novel beautifully blends historical elements with folklore, creating a unique and immersive experience.

The strengths of the book lie in its atmospheric writing and the rich, detailed world-building. The characters are well-developed, and Kit's journey is both emotional and captivating.

Overall, Dance with the Fae is a magical and engaging read that I would recommend to fans of historical fantasy and folklore.

Thank you for letting me read and review this book on Netgalley.

Initially I really liked this book and the beginning was really good however I ended up in a reading slump not long after and struggled to get through it a bit more. I think I'm going to do a reread sometime in the future to see whether it was just the mood I was in.

Overall, despite struggling to get through I would recommend. I think I had built my expectations really high which is also why it could have been more of a let down.

Unlike any fae romantasy book I’ve read!

4.5 🌟 I’ve really enjoyed delving into fantasy books that properly utilise fae lore lately, and I don’t just mean books with hot men with pointy ears. I’m talking all the bargains and trickery! And this book definitely delivered, and took me on such a fantastic adventure!

🥜🪻🥜🪻

Premise:
Following WW1, war hero Kit is struggling with his memories of the war and the shame of his hidden sexuality. At his engagement party to a family friend, he meets two mysterious strangers, who talk of another war in far away lands, that needs support.

When his fiancé, Adelaide falls into a ‘sleeping sickness’, he finds himself venturing into the lands of the fae to save her, guided by a shapeshifting / gender-shifting fae, Valentine. And is caught up in a quest to save Valentine from her enslavement and save their lands.

🥜🪻🥜🪻

It’s a very cleverly plotted book, with its utilisation of fae lore. The author’s note and how she put the idea together was very interesting!!

What I loved:

🥜 Kit! It’s rare that I read a fantasy book where the protagonist is a man, but I really loved Kit! He’s slightly broken and heartbreaking, but perseveres, and seems to find beauty in everyone.
🪻The whole gender shifting thing was very new for me in a book! But I loved how Kit was able to fully explore his sexuality, in a world that was so freeing. Valentine was a great character, although her background and positive attitude despite all that had been done to her, also broke my heart slightly!
🥜 The fae world. I loved the little magics, like singing to speed up a walk and the Dodo birds. And therapy time with the Unicorns. All the little touches, made me want to run away with the faeries!
🪻The plot. From the start to end, I was enraptured and read the book in a couple of days. The ending especially had me very stressed but I love how it all came together. The plot is a slower pace I’d say, but it allows for a really beautiful development of the characters’ emotional relationships!

All in all, a fab read! I understand the author has written a few other fantasy books and I’m very intrigued to explore them! But I would also 100% love it if she did more in this world. I think especially showing us the journey of Silas and Addie, which I would have loved to see in this book!

Let’s wait and see!

This story is about the battles that Kit gave and will give, a soldier who has lived through the First World War and is about to fight another battle in a fantasy world, the world of Fae.
Elisabeth J.Hobbes combines reality with fantasy in a nice way. She also describes in a very realistic way how the protagonist's mental health has been traumatized, thus making him a particularly likeable character. The descriptions of the world of the Fae were delightful and very vivid. Overall I think it is an easy to read slow paced fictional/historical story that I really enjoyed.

The premise of this book sounded so interesting—a scarred soldier recovering from the horrors of WW1 and is then sent on a journey with the fae in order to find his fiancé (that he is not attracted to), with promises of a bisexual main character.

However, I really tried but I could just not get into this book. It started off quite slow, and nothing much happened until about 30%, and by that point all hope for me getting into the book was gone. I really wished I had liked it, as the premise sounded interesting.

Thank you to HaperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the eGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A historical fantasy that feels very predictable, but the characters are likable and the writing makes it easy to read. As you get further involved it does not go the way that you expect, and I was very interested by the world building and the plot became intriguing. But unfortunately, it all wrapped up too quickly and I got a little confused at the end. I would read this author again.

WW1 and fae are two things I never thought I’d see mentioned together in a book but here we are and for the most part I think it worked!?

The novels unusual premise was promising but unfortunately I did find the story to be a little slow. I must admit, I wasn’t the biggest fan of either Silas or Adelaide and believe this interfered with my reading experience, as I just wasn’t interested in them but I enjoyed everything to do with Kit and Valentine and their journey into the Fae Realm - this is when the story really picked up for me. Not my favourite read but overall I enjoyed myself, the pacing issues were just unfortunate. 🧚✨

Loved the concept of the story, however, the execution could be better. Absolutely hated Adelaide, I haven't met such unlikable character for a while. Though I loved the way historical fiction was mixed with fantasy, I wished that faeries were a bit more distinguishable from humans not only in looks but also in their behavior, manners, and mindset. 3.5/5

A Magical and Enchanting Fantasy Romance ★★★★☆

Dance with the Fae by Elisabeth J. Hobbes is a beautifully written fantasy romance that transports readers into a world of intrigue, danger, and enchantment. The story follows a compelling protagonist who is drawn into the mesmerizing yet treacherous realm of the Fae, where nothing is quite as it seems.

Hobbes’ writing is lush and immersive, capturing the magic and mystery of the Fae world with vivid detail. The romance is slow-burning and well-developed, with plenty of tension and emotional depth. The characters, especially the lead, are engaging, and their journey is filled with twists that keep the reader invested.

The only reason for a four-star rating instead of five is that certain plot points felt a bit predictable, and I would have loved more world-building in some areas. However, these are minor issues in an otherwise captivating story.

If you enjoy fae-centered fantasy with a strong romantic thread and beautifully crafted prose, Dance with the Fae is definitely worth reading!

While the synopsis captured me, I admit I struggled a bit to connect with our protagonist. It was a bit hard to relate at times, but overall I enjoyed story.

Set shortly after WWI, we follow Kit, who has is resuming his duties as heir to his family estate, and marrying his childhood friend, Adelaide. It is what is expected, and Kit, ever the soldier, follows orders. He’s use to keeping his feelings, his trauma, his secrets inside. The story begins at the couple’s engagement party. Kit has a few encounters with odd guests, one of whom dances quite intimately with his betrothed. Another brings up feelings that Kit knows are all too dangerous to expose…

The following morning, Adelaide can not be roused from slumber. Kit must journey to the realm of the far to rescue her, and ultimately save himself as well.

Now, for the best part- Adelaide is not the love interest, but I won’t spoil it for you.

I really loved the premise. It evoked memories of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and The Red Shoes, and actually even Downton Abbey, in the beginning. It felt nostalgic, like a classic fairytale, but also refreshing, in that it’s not a straightforward love story between our initial characters, but a true journey of self discovery, with excellent pansexual representation, as well as gentle self healing that allows for a deep love to grow with another character.

Now, the only problem for me was the pacing. It took me a few tries to get going. I loved the idea but it’s slow slow pacing and if I put it aside for a few days, I had to back read to remember what happened. It wasn’t until around half way that I felt like I got momentum and wanted to immerse myself in and finish quickly. I think a lot of work went in to the beautiful character relationships and development, and we could have benefited from a little more action in our quest earlier on perhaps?! 3.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this arc, in exchange for my unbiased review!

Liked it . Due to health issues cannot will write a proper review at a later time
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mineA more extensive review will follow

Set in the aftermath of the First World War, we follow a wounded soldier's journey of recovery, of finding himself again, and a second chance at life in an enchanting mystical realm. After his fiancée is swept away by the charming and mysterious Mr Wilde, he begrudgingly pairs together with the fae Valentine - who's full of riddles and cryptic meanings - to save his stolen love.

Upon reading the description of this novel, I was excited to see that it was a male rather than female protagonist that would be adventuring into fairyland.

However, I found it a little difficult to connect with our main character as I didn't fully like his personality. He was angry often - justifiably so as his fiance was kidnapped - and very mistrusting; again, this makes perfect sense as they fae are not to be trusted and have deceitful ways. However, I think he is almost written too realistically. I had hoped for more wonder and excitement throughout this novel, and more happy moments between him and his love interest. This book has a depressing tone to it, and although I enjoy reading about battles, and dangerous and emotional scenes in my fantasy books, I think this novel didn't provide me with the joy I get from the escapism of reading. I felt dreadfully sorry for Kit and had a pit in my stomach knowing what he'd gone through.

The representation for PTSD was good, and it holds great importance to remember what occurs to people during war - and mental health representation in general too - , although it was distressing to read. I would definitely advise readers be aware of this content before reading, as although I am usually comfortable reading about violence and characters battles with mental health, the emotional impact of Kit's memories are a tough one to digest.

The author handled his confusion and distrust of the fae really well and captured his disorienting experience entering a new and unfamiliar fantastical realm.

I loved the LGBT+ representation this novel provided. It was beautiful to see it blended so naturally into the fae world Kit has found himself in. It was wonderful to see how free he was able to be in a more diverse and accepting world.

This novel is a historical fantasy romance, though I did find the romance a bit lacking. Kit and Valentine definitely formed a connection during their adventure together, but I found it lacked chemistry, and not much was provided to the reader as to why their personalities would mesh. Their bond wasn't translating off the page to me. I just wanted to feel a little more excitement from their romance.

This novel had quite a slow build-up. I was looking forward to jumping into the world of the fae, but it took so long to get there, and even after arriving, I wished there was more description of the magical things to be discovered there. I struggled to build a full image in my head of what differences this new land had to the one we live in.

The ending also felt very rushed in comparison to the slower pacing throughout the book, leaving it feeling a bit lackluster and without very high-stakes, as I knew the book would be ending shortly.

'Dance with the Fae' is a beautifully well written novel, and though I did not connect with it the way I'd hoped, I think it's a fantastic historical fantasy. It was enchanting, with a uniquely eerie, unsettling, and mystifying vibe, and darker themes. I would definitely recommend this novel, even though it wasn't for me.