City of Fae by Pippa DaCosta Review

"From the moment Alina touches London's hottest fae superstar, breaking one of the laws founded to protect all of her kind, her fate – and the fae – close in. 

Below ground, the fae High Queen plots to claim the city as her own and places her pawns, ready for the battle to come. A battle she cannot lose, but for one small problem – Alina. There are four ancient keepers powerful enough to keep the queen in her prison. Three are dead. One remains … And to fight back, Alina risks sacrificing everything she has come to love."

A rockstar Fae? Okay, from the beginning, I should had known something is weird about this book. Because there is a rockstar Fae. This is like Zayn Malik coming forth as a vegan dragon shapeshifter or an immortal vampire who sparkles like diamonds in the sunlight. (I suspect the latter may be possible, but I have yet to find any proof of it.) Weird, and weirder. Or, if you're more polite, awesome and awesomer. 

City of Fae sheds a light on a world where the Fae has revealed their presence. But of course, all is not well. (How else could there be a story?) The Fae is dangerous to humans, and they have the ability to condemn one to a fate worse than death (though it won't seem so for the poor victim). Thus, there are the Trinity Laws. It is quite simple. "Look, but don't touch. Touch, but don't feel. Feel, but never ever love." Those are the words humans have to live by in order to protect themselves from the beautiful Fae. 

Alina is a reporter, until she is fired. By luck, she manages to crash into the rockstar Fae (named Reign) and help him escape from authorities. But Alina is special and she doesn't know it. Quickly enough, she stumbles into a bunch of problems and sticky/dusty situations. Involving spiders. But she isn't defenseless. Not a damsel in distress. She is a decent character, undergoing an identity crisis and struggling to hold onto the memories she has. 

The romance between Alina and Reign is steaming some portions, but it doesn't feel deep. The emotions involved are messy; everything between the two of them are murky. There are ties and allegiances that simply tears the two of them apart. I dislike how some parts are worded and how some scenes play out. 

The world building is one of the more fascinating parts. Though it could have been more vivid in details (especially about the Fae or spiders), the descriptions are enough to get the message through. However, the "revelations" and plot twisters aren't as poignant and impressive as they could have been.  

The ending. It is very cryptic and dark. My reaction is this: no hipe, no excitement. By the start of the climax, I admit I was asleep. No buzz. 

Overall, City of Fae is not what I expected it to be. I'm mostly disappointed with this one (even more so than usual, because I actually bought this book). Maybe someone else will like this, but this book isn't my cup of tea. 

Rating: Two out of Five