The Fae & The Fallen (Gifted Fae Academy #1)

The Fae & The Fallen, Gifted Fae Academy, Year One by Brittni Chenelle was absolutely wonderful! I listened to this story in one day and thought she did a great job crafting a unique world and story, with really enjoyable characters. Reina wants to be Fae so bad, but her gift either isn\’t showing itself or isn\’t there. Meanwhile, her best frenemy Kai has a gift but failed the entrance exam to the Gifted Fae Academy. He resents her and nothing he does seems to upset her. Well, before they know it, they both are being admitted to GFA, just as a slew of Fae are being murdered around town. I don\’t\’ want to give too much away, but there\’s magic, a bit of romance, battles, bad guys, everything that makes for a good listen. I could definitely see this becoming a movie, as it\’s that well put together and has all of the trademarks of a successful transition from book to movie. It\’s kind of a bit Hunger Games and Vampire Academy, but totally unique if that makes any sense. If the summary sounds good, just listen. You won\’t regret it. I can\’t wait to listen to the next two books! Lessa Lamb and Matthew H. Longoria brought each character to life and gave them all unique voices. I really enjoyed listening to their performances and I\’ll gladly listen to them in the future. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher for an honest review. Did you find this review helpful? If so, would you please take a moment and select the \’helpful\’ button below? Thanks so much!

Voice suited the story well and it made the story pleasant to follow. Despite being a serf (the term used for ungifted people in this world), Reina is convinced she will go to the Gifted Fae Academy and as a result, she’s put a target on her back for the elites to be ridiculed and bullied every single day (the elites are the most gifted people, measured either in the amount of power or in the practical/defensive/offensive usability of their gift). Despite those hardships, Reina remains strong in her optimism to one day be enrolled at the Gifted Fae Academy and she endures everything her bullies throw at her and still remains so full of life, frustrating the elite even more (her optimism and joy of life and such are completely realistic and on point for this character once you get to the whole story). But one day, things get too far and both Reina and her former-friend-turned-bully Kai are both expelled from school. From that moment on it’s very clear that these former friends have a history together that can make it feel like the other person is the only one they can truly feel safe with. Not that they just move on like the bullying never happened, they just cross paths, first to blame eachother, then to try and get into the Gifted Fae Academy. Once there, the all time lustrous looking academy is a vicious world where, as long as the duels and challenges by any student and their peers are done in the designated areas, they can go “all out” with their gifts, no matter the damage they can do. Let’s just say it’s a good thing they have an infirmary on the premises! So in that regard, I do feel like it’s only natural to sometimes have that urge to go to the one thing you already know, even if it’s someone you don’t trust or like anymore or whatever. After all, they were friends before. I believe they were friends way longer than they were bully and target. But of course having that history doesn’t automatically make them friends again so it’s realistic on that fron as well. They both start their own lives at the academy and while they’re trying to find their place in the academy, the Fae are turning up dead. The Fae, as in, the utter most gifted people ever that have successfully graduated from the Gifted Fae Academy and are the thoughest people arround to beat. And yup, you’ve read that right, in this world Fae are some kind of very talented People with a certain gift, not a totally different species, just extraordinary people, extra schooled and trained, the ones that don’t die at the academy during those tough academy years filled with training, that is. They are created from the thoughest and most talented people to protect the ones who can’t protect themselves, they’re also kind of the rich celebrities in this world but foremost they are the officers -and the assassins- when needed. So who, or what could be responsible for for killing one of them? Brittni Chenelle has stirred up her own kind of Fae and I like it. The struggles and mysterious events make for a captivating story filled with training, suspenseful moments, also some heartfelt moments and witty comebacks and more. And lastly, it gets you to the point where you’re checking in regularly to see whether book 2 is available yet or not lol (sigh, the struggle of having to have to wait).

I cannot tell you what it means to me when I read fae books with a black main character. I love to read paranormal fiction but so often people who look like me are not represented. This book was amazing and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Btw…I think Kai is innocent… guess we\’ll find out.

I cannot express how over this genre I was for it\’s lack of representation. I simply could not take another fair skinned heroine who was somehow more special than everyone else, exceptionally attractive, or otherwise worthy of a story where others fall short of deserving. Thank you Brittni Chenelle. I liked the story. There were several plot twists of major and minor importance that kept me off-balance enough to stay engaged. Raina is so noble and determined; Kaito is so broken and wanting. I know the empath often gravitates to the narcissist but I\’m not sure I want them to end up together (as much as I want the best for both of them). I don\’t love the thought of a woman ending up with a dude that physically abused her, regardless of the excuse that he was protecting her from worse. No, dear. Because he was only willing to protect you in a way that also protected himself. Toni Morrison already told us this: \”Love is never any better than the lover. Wicked people love wickedly, volent people love violently, weak people love weakly, stupid people love stupidly…the loved one is shorn, neutralized, frozen in the glare of the lover\’s inward eye.\” Choose a better lover, Raina. At the very least have enough self-regard to care for him as a friend until he can love more responsibly. Beyond the love drama, the mystery I was very here for, especially the way it asked ethical questions that encouraged characters (and readers) to ask who is good and bad– and why they get afforded those titles. I\’m so looking forward to the rest of the series. Oh, the suspense of it all.

Loved the story, The narrator was great! I have such a hard time finding someone I can listen to and she was perfect! and so was he!

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member