What Caz Read

The Undoing of Lines is a romantic fantasy with storytelling so immersive it completely pulled me in from the very first page.

Clara is a half-fae, half-human princess determined to save the human lands, which are barely surviving a brutal fifty-year drought. Desperate to find a way to save them she does the only thing she can think of, she runs away with Leo, her loyal royal guard and heads into the fae lands to ask for their aid herself.

There she meets Casimir, the young King of the South, and his court. As Clara spends more time among the fae she begins uncovering the truth about her mother’s fae heritage, the complicated dynamics within her family and the real reason Casimir keeps his distance, even as the pull between them becomes impossible to ignore.

I absolutely loved Clara and the way she stands up for what she believes in. She knows her worth and isn’t afraid to challenge the patriarchy. She’s not perfect and she definitely doubts herself at times, but that’s exactly what makes her feel human. Well, half human. She’s determined, strong and willing to fight for what she believes in.

And Cas, honestly, he’s book boyfriend material through and through. The reluctant King of the South carrying an unbearable amount of grief and secrets he can’t share. The emotional walls? The tension? The quiet longing? You can’t help but feel for him.

The banter and slow burn between Clara and Cas was one of my favourite parts of the book. Clara is bold and a little feisty while Cas keeps his emotions carefully locked away, leaving her constantly guessing what he’s really thinking. Watching them slowly learn to trust each other and finally let their guards down was so satisfying.

“I see the way you look at me, Clara. I know exactly what it means.”

I also loved the relationships Clara builds with the side characters, especially Leo. That said, I’m hoping we get to see more depth from them in book two because it definitely feels like we’ve only scratched the surface.

Overall, this is a fantastic slow burn fantasy romance full of court politics, secrets and magic and that cliffhanger ending has me absolutely desperate for the next book. If you like romantic fantasy with tension, banter and emotional stakes this one is definitely worth a read. 

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Publisher: Rebecca Hesseling
Format: Paperback, 518 pages
ISBN: 978-1764379106

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Here’s the synopsis

Well past marriageable age, half-Fae Princess Clara refuses to be traded into marriage, even if it means aiding the human kingdom of Danascis which suffers from a magic-induced drought. Determined to help in her own way, she journeys to the scorned Fae lands to plea with their king for reprieve.

Casimir, the powerful yet reluctant Fae king, strikes a deal with Clara, giving her the chance to learn about her Fae heritage and magic governed by the ley lines. Little does Clara know, but Casimir gambled with her fate.

After historical mysteries are uncovered, Clara finds herself destined to usurp a vicious, seemingly immortal dictator. Casimir takes responsibility for educating and training Clara in all things Fae, discovering they are not so different after all. While facing unravelling secrets, tainted family legacies, and life-long friendships, Clara must carry the weight of making choices for the greater good – all while trying to shield her heart from the emotionally unavailable Casimir.

Not only will Danascis not be saved if she doesn’t succeed, but Casimir will not be freed from his own personal prison, and – for Gaia’s sake – she cares.