💌 Hello, fellow romantasy addict…

There’s something about morally gray mercenaries, reluctant queens, and dangerous powers that just hits different, am I right!?

This week we’re spiraling through deadly alliances, gold-touched prisons, and betrayals you’ll absolutely scream about (in the best way).

Let’s get into it. 🗡️👑

Table of Contents

• 💎 Hidden Gem Spotlight 💎

• 🔥 TBR Temptation

• 🗳️ Poll of the Week

• 🏆 Meme of the Week

• 💀 Quote That Broke Me…

• 💕 Before You Go...

💎 Hidden Gem Spotlight 💎

If You Liked: A Deal with the Elf King meets The Bargainer Series
You’ll LOVE: A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark 🖤✨

This series is criminally underrated.

She’s on the run, hiding dangerous powers she barely understands.
He’s the mercenary fae who’s supposed to deliver her to her enemies—but somehow keeps choosing her instead.

We’re talking:
✨ Enemies to reluctant allies with vicious tension
✨ Banter that bites. Betrayal that actually stings.
✨ A plot with real teeth—and a romance that simmers before it burns

🌶️ Spice Level: 2/5 – Lots of tension + a good amount of open-door payoff

Tropes: ✔️ Hidden magic ✔️ Reluctant protector ✔️ Forced proximity✔️ Betrayal and second chances ✔️Found family (but make it morally messy)

👉 If you like your romantasy dark, sharp, and slow-burn deadly—A Court This Cruel and Lovely deserves a top spot on your TBR.

🔥 TBR Temptation

🏰 Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy

Gold cages. Deadly kings. A woman who realizes she’s no one’s possession—and decides to burn it all down.

• Gild starts as a dark fairytale retelling of King Midas... but don't be fooled. This story turns into a full-scale romantasy rebellion.

• Massive character growth, slow-burn tension, and trauma healing

• By Glint and Gleam, you'll be feral for the real love interest (Slade 👑)

• Found family. Forced proximity. Morally gray fae kings.

  Status: complete 5-book series.

• 🌶️ Spice Scale Across the Series:

• Book 1 (Gild): 1/5 – Just vibes and trauma

• Book 2 (Glint): 2/5 – Tension + some steam

• Book 3–5 (Gleam, Glow, Gold): 3–4/5 – Steamy, plot-heavy spice

Tropes to love:

• Survivor heroine

• Political intrigue

• Enemies to lovers

• Found family

• Dark worldbuilding with slow-burn rebellion

👉 If you love slow-burn character growth, angsty romance, and fae kings with serious "touch her and die" energy, Plated Prisoner will wreck you (in a good way).

🗳️ Poll of the Week

Which romantasy vibe are you most obsessed with?

👉 Vote on Instagram at @fated_reads

🌙 Broody mercenary with secrets
👑 Ruthless fae king with a soft spot
🗡️ Survivor heroine ready to burn it all down
✨ Betrayal, but make it romantic
🔥 Forced proximity and way too much tension

🏆 Meme of the Week

Me: I love slow burns.
Also me, two chapters in:
 "Just kiss already before I lose my mind!!"

💀 Quote That Broke Me…

Sir, you’re going to have to give me a minute.🥺 

💕 Before You Go...

🧠 Before You Go...

If this made you laugh, swoon, or add four more books to your already doomed TBR:

📩 Forward it to a fellow romantasy addict
📲 Post the meme or poll in your stories and tag @fated_reads
📚 And please read A Court This Cruel and Lovely so I’m not screaming into the void alone about this book!

Until next time—may your mates be fated, your betrayals delicious, and your chapters end in dangerous kisses and deadly promises.

— Julie 💕
Your Fated Reads Fairy Bookmother