How Does It Feel? ♦ Jeneane O’Riley | Review

A Dark and Captivating Journey into the Realm of the Unseelie Fae

Jeneane O’Riley’s How Does It Feel? transported me into the intriguing and dangerous world of the Fairy Realms. At its core, this book is a thrilling tale filled with unforeseen twists and turns that kept me reading, reading, reading … up until the very end.

How Does it Feel? by Jeneane O'Riley
Series: Infatuated Fae #1
Published: 1. October 2023 by Chest Beard Publishing
375 pages
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Fae, Mystery, Romance
Audience: Adult
Shelve: Read 2024
Link to Goodreads

A forbidden obsession
Unyielding family allegiance
Three deadly challenges

THE HUMAN.
When a trip into the forest to collect a rare mushroom goes horribly wrong, I find myself falling through a fairy portal and straight into the arms of the Unseelie Fae prince. The dangerously unhinged and handsome Unseelie Fae prince.
What could be more horrible than that? He thinks I'm an assassin sent by the humans to kill him, not a biologist.
Determined to kill me first, and rid himself of the human he has unwillingly grown obsessed with, yet also needing to entertain his people, the villain challenges me to three deadly trials.
If I survive, I gain my freedom. But if not...
THE FAE.
I've never felt anything but hate and loathing until my eyes found hers--the vile human assassin's. She is a parasite that has mercilessly latched onto my mind and won't let me free.
My hand itches to be ungloved and feel her smooth skin, even though I would never. The Unseelie Fae royals would rather burn than touch a repulsive human.
I fear that if I do not destroy the girl soon, she may be the only thing that's capable of truly destroying me.

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Opinion

The Unseelie Fae Realm’s atmosphere is both mysterious and dark, a bit depressing as well, but making it a terrific backdrop for the plot as it unfolds. O’Riley’s rich descriptions bring this realm to life, transported me to both its beauty and danger. From stunning forests to dreary castles, every element is skillfully sculpted and pulled me further into the story.

The writing style is both appealing and occasionally wild. While the prose is intriguing, there are times when it feels like the tale is leaping from one scene to the next with no coherence. This occasionally left me feeling bewildered and disoriented, especially when trying to remember all the complex scientific terms used to explain various insects at the beginning of the book.

The book begins slowly, establishing the universe and characters. While this may discourage some readers, patience is rewarded as the plot gradually gains momentum. However, once Callie, the feisty FMC, develops a friendship with Earl, the town’s lunatic, the narrative picks up significantly and becomes much more engaging.

The plot really takes off when Callie gets captured by the Unseelie Fae prince, Mendax. From this point forward, I was thoroughly immersed in the story, unable to put the book down. The tension and suspense build with each chapter, kept me flipping pages to see what happens next.

The finale of How Does It Feel? is nothing short of shocking, leaving me ready for the next book in the series. O’Riley expertly wraps up loose ends while leaving enough unsolved questions to keep me interested. So I’m already looking forward to returning to the Fairy Realm and continuing Callie’s journey.

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Conclusion

To summarize, How Does it Feel? is an enthralling and exhilarating story that transported me to a world of magic, peril, and mystery. While the writing style can be erratic at times, the vividly conceived location and engaging characters more than compensate. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a dark and compelling fantasy journey.

About Jeneane O'Riley

Jeneane O'Riley is a bestselling author of whimsically dark and romantic fantasy books. Her love of storytelling began as a small child, dreaming up glorious fantasies to fall asleep to. As she has grown older, her love of storytelling remained, but the tales grew more dangerous and full of toe-curling tension.
She is a Hobby Mycologist and nature enthusiast that resides in Ohio, until she can locate a proper bridge to troll, or perhaps a large tree spacious enough to hold her smoke show of a husband, her Irish wolfhound, pet dove, and of course her three children.

Website | Goodreads

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