Mini Reviews | Institute of the Shadow Fae Series (Books #1-4) by. C.N. Crawford

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: Court of Shadows (Institute of the Shadow Fae, #1)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited – borrowed)

Pages: 224

Categories: Urban Fantasy

A girls’ night out means three things to me: drinking whiskey with my best friend, keeping my magic hidden, and trying not to kill anyone. A supernatural gladiator like me isn’t supposed to exist anymore.

But my Friday night takes a bad turn when a lethally gorgeous fae–Ruadan–tries to assassinate me. He’s taken a vow of silence until he’s slaughtered the outlaws on his kill list. Outlaws like me.

Ruadan lets me live on one condition: I have to earn my place at the Institute of the Shadow Fae. As a powerful demi-fae, I can take the competition.

But things fall apart when I’m given an impossible choice: betray my mentor Ruadan, or my best friend dies. Now, I face a quandary my gladiatorial past did not prepare me for.

I think I was supposed to read this series before the Sea Fae series but here we are. Arianna is a demi-fae who was once a gladiator and slave to Baleros. She’s a whiskey drinking, kicking ass fae who has a secret past. Ruadan is a shadow fae with a vow of silence and Ariana becomes paired with him when she is recruited into the Institute of the Shadow Fae.

Arianna can seriously kick some ass. And I love reading the scenes when she is fighting! Noble fae call her a gutter fae and seriously, this girl is starving and struggling on the street! She has a human friend named Ciara (does this sound familiar?! If you read my review of the Sea Fae trilogy by this author duo then you know this is familiar). Arianna’s last “master” is coming for her and she needs to do a mission for him to keep Ciara safe.
Ruadan is a silent assassin with all this swirly dark shadow magic around him. I like how they learn to communicate and something is brewing between them of course. Of course he’s a quiet, gorgeous (aren’t they all?!) demi-fae as well.
We learn about the Shadow Fae who seem to be big with this author duo. We learn about their beginnings and who rules them. Plus I’m a sucker for books about institutes or academies and trials to pass. We meet some interesting novices and yay another female! The male novices are alpha…of course and treat Arianna like dirt.😒
This book is a very quick read (224 pages?!)…so quick I downloaded book two right away. So far…I’m interested in the story. And…cliffhangers, ugh…

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Title: Court of Darkness (Shadow Fae, #2)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: eBook (KU-borrowed)

Pages: 236

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Romance

I would not say things are going well, exactly. I live in a burnt-out car under a bridge, surrounded by rubbish. When Ruadan shows up to bring me back to the Institute, I leap at the chance.

That is, until he throws me into the dungeons. I’m on the naughty list, and the mentor who once trained me is cold as ice. Now, I must pass every single trial, or the Institute’s executioners will rip me to pieces. Good thing I can handle it. I was the queen of the gladiator ring, and I do not go down easily.

The trials to become a Shadow Fae goes on but Arianna needs to kill Baleros and he can’t seem to die! I’m still enjoying the fight scenes a lot.
Ruadan can speak, thank goodness and he’s half incubi, a sex demon…well, well…which means there will be some hotness from here on out right? Right. 🔥🧯 lol
Ruadan and Arianna team up because he obviously has a soft spot for her. But what are these memories Arianna conjures up – what IS she? I mean everyone keeps asking and I am too – this better be good! 🤔
Another short one at 236 pages…like can we stop with the cliffhangers and maybe combine books one and two? lol

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Court of Night (Shadow Fae, #3)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: eBook (KU)

Pages: 238

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Romance

As a Knight of the Shadow Fae, I’m tasked with defending the Institute. I’m deep into a world of dark magic, orgiastic death cults, and demon roller discos.

But my new life begins with an impossible choice: turn over Ruadan within twenty-four hours, or my nemesis will unleash the Black Death.

Worse, my old gladiator master is threatening to reveal my identity. If the truth gets out, I’ll be out of the Institute faster than you can say “wrath of an incubus.”

If I can’t find and kill my oldest enemy in time, then it’s the Black Death for everyone, and I’ll be back on the run once more.

Love finding out what Arianna’s parentage is. It’s so bad ass and really fits her kick ass personality. She is a fighter but with such a lineage also very feared and it could come between her and Ruadan.
Speaking of the love-birds, I think they are sweet together(as a killing, kick-ass couple LOL). But I love them as a couple.
Some things were becoming redundant like Arianna always fighting herself aroused in wet clothing but can’t say I blame her – she’s hanging out with an incubus. 🤷🏻‍♀️ But I felt myself wanting to move on from her always wet clothing, these darn portals filled with water haha.
Also another short book with a cliffhanger, it was driving me a bit crazy…

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Court of Dreams (Shadow Fae, #4)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: eBook (KU)

Pages: 235

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Romance

Exiled from the Shadow Fae, I’m left out on London’s streets. The Knights of the Institute are dying of the plague, and they’re sure I’m to blame.

Desperate to speak to Ruadan, I invade the Institue. Then, things take a turn for the worse. Like, “tortured in a tiny prison cell” worse. Seems like Ruadan has completely betrayed me. But when I finally reunite with my dark demigod, it turns out I’d totally misunderstood his actions.

Once I’m out of jail, Ruadan and I have to fix this mess, and we’re thrown together once again. That means finding my father, and killing Baleros before the monster gets what he’s after: the skin off Ruadan’s corpse. If Baleros gets what he wants, then he’ll control the world, and I’ll lose Ruadan forever.

Arianna/Liora is trying to help the Shadow Fae again and yet…she’s banished again. Redundant yes, but I like how she keeps fighting to do the right thing. She may be death incarnate but she’s still a good person but she’s afraid Ruadan hates her.
Everything comes full circle for Liora – she has accepted everything about herself and she’s found parts of her past.
I’m so happy for Liora and Ruadan.
Aenor from the Sea Fae trilogy makes a cameo which makes me wish I read this series first!
Yes I read 4 books in one night because of the short installments and cliffhangers and that drove me crazy.

** Triggers: violence, abuse

I could’ve done without the short lengths of the books and the cliffhangers! But it was another urban fantasy series that made me escape from the real world and had a little bit of everything. I especially love the fight scenes because Arianna/Liora is great at kicking ass. And then there is the romance which was hot and sweet at the same time. I think I’m a new fan of this author duo.