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M.A. Grant

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The Marked Prince (The Darkest Court) Kindle Edition

by M.A. Grant (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.6 403 ratings

Book 2 of 3: The Darkest Court

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In this fantasy romance, a royal on a rescue mission falls in love with mysterious stranger and is torn between his duty and his heart.

The Summer Court is nothing like Sebastian remembers. The oppressed lower classes are drained of their magick, and around every corner political intrigues threaten an already unstable regime. Sebastian’s only hope of surviving the Court and bringing home Prince Lyne’s traitorous brother lies with Duine, a magickless Unseelie servant desperate to win his freedom. A servant for whom Sebastian, an estranged Seelie royal himself, is developing a dangerous and deepening affection.

But behind the mask Duine wears are secrets as dangerous as what’s smoldering between them. And the more Duine helps Sebastian navigate Court life, the more it becomes clear the servant is not who he appears to be. How he came to be the whipping boy of one of the most powerful and corrupt faeries in the Summer Court is a truth Sebastian is determined to uncover, even if it puts him at odds with the very people who can lead him to the missing Unseelie prince.

When a powerful enemy steps from the shadows, it could spell the end not just for the Unseelie, but for both faerie Courts. Sebastian must choose: complete the mission and earn his place among the Unseelie who took him in, or risk his very life to ensure freedom for the man he loves.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One would expect The Marked Prince to end with a showdown in a ballroom or council chamber, given all the political intrigue that takes up the majority of the story. But Grant goes to wilder, more primal places by the story’s end, tapping into the fairy tale roots of her world to give her deserving pair a suitably mythic happy ending." - BookPage

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07Q4JM1BZ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Carina Press (August 5, 2019)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 5, 2019
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1240 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 366 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #355,182 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,087 in LGBTQ+ Fantasy (Kindle Store)
- #9,674 in Gay Romance
- #10,179 in Fantasy Romance eBooks

Customer Reviews:
4.6 403 ratings

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M.A. Grant

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M.A. Grant fell in love with the romance genre while working at an independent bookstore. She spent a decade in the rugged beauty of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula before moving to the mountains of Eastern Washington. When she’s not calling out to passing ravens or making a cup of tea, she’s writing dark and moving stories.

Updates on her new releases and current projects are available at her website: www.marionaudreygrant.com

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4.6 out of 5

403 global ratings

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A Borghese

this is one of the best Fae books!

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2022

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The plot and writing in these books are superb, and the characters are wonderful and engaging. The twists and turns are perfect, and there haven’t been any inconsistencies that mar the read. I have really enjoyed these first two books, and am looking forward to more in this Darkest Court series

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alexis rodrigue

even better than book 1

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2020

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this one was way better than the first book in terms of writing and it actually filled in a few of the plot holes from book one.

also Slaine and Seb have the sweetest relationship

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sue

Just WOW!! What a ride!

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2019

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ust finished reading The Marked Prince, the second book in the Darkest Court series by author M.A. Grant. Wow! What a ride! The first book, The Prince of Air and Darkness was a great intro into the mythical world of magick. This second book revolves around a different couple, the eldest brother of the first, and his plight at the hands of the Summer Court. Both books are fabulous, but this one had a totally different feel to it and the couple a very unique dynamic. While getting a quick course in the Fae mythology, we see the two main characters, Slaine and Sebastian, slowly getting to know and trust each other. I really love how Grant takes her time showing us the interactions that finally make this couple fall in love and devote themselves to the other. If you want lots of hot m/m sex, you won't find it here. There's like one scene later in the book and it is so perfect and gives us the culmination of the feelings between Slaine and Sebastian. I like this slow burn so much better! I would definitely recommend reading these books in order as there is an overall arc of the Seelie/Unseelie war looming above everyone's heads. And now I can't wait to get my hands on the final book, youngest brother Lugh's story. Hope that comes out soon!

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2023

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Loved this book! Great magical world building, strong characters, both good and evil, wonderful love story, heart pounding adventure. No spoilers here, I’ll just say the best thing I can about a book: I couldn’t put it down!

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Kindle Customer

I'm so in love with this series

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2020

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This is a series second in MA Grant's amazing and captivating fae fantasy series that grabs you and won't let you go and neither do you want it to ...
It's MM and this title isn't a standalone.

It's sheer Magick. It bewitches you, and this said with a fond heart. This series is such a new favourite. 5 stars feels very minor to be able to give it. I should be able to give it red roses or something...

The main couple are Sebastian and Sláine, the oldest of the Unseelie Princes who was told to have defected over to the Seelie Court in the first title Prince of Air and Darkness. We find out the truth about this at the beginning of this title for starters so we don't need to wonder at the reason for alleged defection anymore. The other MC is aware of this state of affairs while the other isn't. The story in this title basically starts with the main characters from the first title setting out to get Sláine back home one way or another. Sebastian ends up as the one put on it due to surprisingly knowing the ins and outs of the Summer Court.

This title was again another outstanding one. The writing once again is awesome. I really cannot have proper words. I just keep thinking of new adjectives to say OMG SO GOOD while swooning and cooing!

I love it through and through.

There was nothing I disliked. It just started rolling like a wave and keeping me on the edge of my seat feverishly reading on and on. I really think I may most love the way the author started lovingly wrapping the main couple together like in an intricate dance that became a love story, like it was so natural as the wind blowing through woods and wrapping the whole nature in its arms. They were simply intertwining naturally together since they met, like they simply belonged and just didn't know it yet. The whole continuous part of them learning each other and interacting amidst the rest of the plot was simply my very favourite. So very, very well done, it leaves nothing to be desired. So romantic! Ooh and aah has been all I've sighed in my mind. Then the court politics and the rest of the excitement besides all the stuff about responsibility and how they both developed both together and while separate under the circumstances on top of that. Just WOW!

I'll have to try to add something more that'd do justice at least a bit when I'm out of the I finished the best book - coma.

Sincerely,
Thank you to the author for writing!

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Sieran Lane

Super romantic!!

Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2020

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Woah this was super romantic! Out of the 6 protagonists in this series (I read The Iron Crown too), I liked Sebastian best. He was the most relatable to me. We got to learn a lot more about Sebastian and about Slaine's personalities, too. Before this book, we only got to view Seb and Slaine through Roark and Finny's eyes. Now, we get to see how Slaine and Seb are like from their backstories and internal thoughts. One theme that frequently comes up in the book, is how people, even those who love you, can misunderstand you, and these misunderstandings may embitter your relationship with them until you finally communicate how you truly feel. And yes, these guys generally have trouble talking about their feelings and relationship gripes. Sebastian is relatively more willing to talk about his emotions, but even he (understandably) wants to avoid relationship talk sometimes, because it can be a very painful topic.

I liked how we got to see a more sympathetic side to Oberon. While I wouldn't call him a "nice person," he has some redeeming qualities. It was pleasing to see some of the better and brighter sides of the Seelie royalty, especially as the Seelie court sounded so bad from the first book. Titania and Aoife weren't likable at all, however.

Out of the three books, The Marked Prince was the most absorbing for me. I loved how intensely political it got, and I greatly enjoyed the disguised identity plot. The plot twists were huge; lots of things happened that I never expected.

One last note: I strongly feel that the writing quality has improved from the first book. The sentences feel much smoother and more engaging to read.

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Lea M

Lovely m/m fantasy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2020

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Oh this was a brilliant addition to the series. There was a lot of action in this one, and we're introduced to the Seelie Court which we didn't see a lot of in book 1.

I loved Sebastian and Duine! I just watched to cuddle Duine and protect him. There were so cute together! Watching them both grow more confident and purposeful was lovely, the Sebastian and Duine in the beginning were definitely not the same as they were in the end.

There was a lot of politicking in this one, and I found it really interesting how different the Courts were from one another. Our first introduction to the Summer Court is not a good one and I loved how Grant slowly showed the other sides to it, having characters who disagreed with the way things were but didn't know how to change it. I loved how Sebastian took it on so reluctantly at first but as the book progressed he grew more assured of himself and settled into his new role.

I was a bit worried about how Grant would go about Duine still being a servant but that's never really an issue in the book. Sebastian and Duine share the power in the relationship, with Duine helping and supporting Seb every step of the way. Duine did get a bit too angsty in places for me, but it's easy to see why he's like that. It was nice to see Seb coax him out of his shell, I would have loved to see them have more time to have fun but that's not really possible during the course of the book.

I did guess at the big reveal fairly early on but it didn't diminish my appreciation of it. Grant drops lots of hints and you can see what being set up so it's more a 'ah ha, I thought so' moment, than one that comes completely out of the blue. I also liked that the secret behind Duine was revealed very early on and not dragged out. I think that would probably have driven me nuts because it's definitely obvious who he really is.

The ending was a bit strange. It dragged on for a while and then everything suddenly seemed to come to a head in the last 5%. I saw the time left in the book and was a bit disappointed because it didn't seem like Grant could wrap everything up in time. It did finish fairly satisfactorily, but I guess that's what the sequel is for. This trilogy is definitely one where you need to read all the books to get the full, proper picture.

Again, another highly recommended mm fantasy. If you've read book one, you'll definitely need to read this one after. Seb and Duine were my favourite couple but Roark remains my favourite character :)

Shann

A wonderful story of love and forgiveness

Reviewed in France on November 26, 2019

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I have to say to set low my expectations before taking on the second part of The Darkest Court but soon enough I found myself completely enchanted by the story, the level of emotional load inside each of the heroe I found myself reading it and craving for more. The biggest value of this story is the emotional layer and deep insight of the characters - here we are following a complicated story of friendship and eventually love without jumping straight to the point but building slowly the emotions between the main heroes. And the finale -with not spoiling- I have to say amazed me how it was well placed and developed and lack the abrupt ending which I did not like so much in the previous book. I'm in love with this book and I cannot wait to sink into another story of this author.

Charleyrose

Fabulous 2nd addition. Highly, Highly recommended reading. 5 Stars!!

Reviewed in Australia on August 5, 2019

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The Marked Prince, Book 2 in the fabulous, fabulously written The Darkest Court series by MA Grant, was not what I was expecting, and in turn was so much more. I absolutely highly, highly recommend this book, especially if you’re a lover of extremely well written fantasy set to the Fae world.

For those that haven’t read the 1st Book, the Prince of Air and Darkness, I highly, highly recommend you go do that before reading this instalment. While this book could be read as a standalone, the world building that takes place in the 1st book, the lead up drama that takes place in this book, and mostly all the important players are identified in the 1st book, making the transition into book 2 so much easier to understand and relevant. Plus frankly, the Prince of Air and Darkness was a terrific, read.

So, as we know, Book 1 was a rollercoaster of epic action, magical fighting scenes, and witty snark between our main men, Roarke and Finn which culminated in smoking hot chemistry when our guys finally went horizontal as they fought hard for Finn’s life and their HEA.

The Marked Prince, follows on a short period after the end of book one, and starts with a prologue, with the rest of the book taking place over a period of many months. It sees Sláine, the High Prince of Earth and Ruin, Prince of the Unseelie Winter court, betrayed and kidnapped by Aoife, the High Princess of the Seelie Summer court, whereby he is imprisoned and turned into Aoife's personal torture toy. Sláine, a once very, very powerful Fae Prince, is now Duine, a powerless, magickless servant, unable to make his own escape.

Sebastian, half Seelie, half Unseelie, is the bastard Prince of the Seelie Summer Court, nephew to King Oberon, and cousin to Aoife. He has spent most of his life not quite fitting in, and after his mother’s death, hiding his roots. He becomes Finn’s best friend at Mathers’ Magick College, where he studied agriculture, his magic talent is considered weak by Fae standards, and he spent those 6 years further studying how to heal and rejuvenate plant life.

At the end of book 1, we knew that Queen Mab had closed the Winter Unseelie sídhe’ to protect her citizens, in the face of looming war. With no other place left to go Sebastian goes with Finn, as the barriers come down sealing them all in protection. Unfortunately here, Sebastian is walking a tightrope of hate, surrounded by an entire Sidhe who hate and blame the Seelie Fae (which includes him) for their current predicament.

In response to the escalation of civil war, advanced with the help of the seemingly traitorous Prince Sláine, Prince Roarke, engages the help of Sebastian to go back to the Unseelie court to help facilitate his plan to kidnap Sláine, and return him to the Winter court for judgement.

What follows is a slow burn between two unlikeliest of men as Sebastian and Duine/Sláine navigate the political minefield that is the Unseelie court as the likelihood of war escalates. Sebastian, while the favoured nephew to King Oberon, is not as welcome as he should be, due to his half caste status, and his knowledge of the outside world. A knowledge that has been denied the majority of the lower class Seelie Fae, as means of aiding to their subservience under the ruling nobility. It is something that Sebastian wants to change and in trying to do so, he pulls the attention of the vicious Aoife, (who clearly has a coup agenda of her own, and an extremely sadistic side), when he saves Duine, Aoife’s nameless servant during one of her cruel torture sessions at the court.

While there are some fight scenes in this book, this instalment is not about wowing us with fast paced magic action scenes, and witty, snippy snark, which was prevalent in book 1. It’s more about the coming together of these two leading men, Sebastian and Slaine’ and the realisation that they both have critical sidhe changing roles to play in the Seelie court, and each other’s lives, if only they will trust each other.

Fabulously written, engaging, emotional, The Marked Prince, is a long slow build-up of trust, respect and finally love, between Seb and Duine as they try and prevent all-out war, and for Duine, in particular to survive the viciousness that is Aoife.

Where this book shone for me, was the personal journey between Sebastian and Duine/Slaine', because it had all the feels. So many feels. Particularly Slaine’, who was almost despised in book one for his treatment of Finn. Here we see what forms his character make up, his existing relationship with his brother Roarke, and his mother Queen Mab. And frankly Queen Mab has a lot to answer for if we add her appalling treatment of Roarke, and Finn to the mix.

Reading Slaine’s history (don’t forget he is immortal like all the rest of the Fae, so has been alive for hundreds of years) made him real, so approachable and I easily connected with him. Frankly I just wanted to hug him, I was so sad for his lonely life and his feelings of worthlessness in the face of the apparent acceptance and adulation Roarke receives as Queen Mab’s general and how Roarke seems to easily fit in ( we all know that the middle prince had his own personal issues).

As someone who was not particularly a fan of Slaine’ in book one, I easily connected with him and Sebastian in this instalment, but for different reasons. While Sebastian too was lonely, (being Fae he is immortal as well) he had the solid friendship with Finn, which helped ease his isolation. I loved his optimism and his inherent goodness, and how this rubbed off on Slaine’, giving him something to yearn for, something to desire, and miss when Seb wasn’t around. The character make-up of these two leading men absolutely enhanced the romantic storyline and added with the main plot, made this instalment shine.

If you’re expecting the same level of explosive chemistry and sexy- times heat as book 1, you’re going to be sadly disappointed. For me I didn’t even really miss the typical smoking hot sexy- times that MA Grant gave us in Book 1. Though there are some intimate moments between our leading men sprinkled in the latter half of the book, they’re extremely tame in comparison. Honestly this instalment didn’t really need a high heat level because the plot was just so engaging all on its own, it was in fact so, so good, I didn’t even miss the explicit sex, and it wasn’t until the end of the book that I went: ‘Oh, no explosive scorching hot sexy-times this time around’. And that says everything about how immersed into the book I was that I hadn’t even missed the high heat chemistry formula which drove book 1.

Despite the gentle sexy slow-burn between our 2 leading men, The Marked Prince is extremely well written, the world building was amazing as I’ve come to expect with MA Grant’s work, making visualizing where Seb and Slaine’ are caught, and their use of their personal magic easy to visualize. The character development (particularly Slaine’s) is wonderful, as is the emerging romantic relationship between our 2 leading men. The intrigue and political turmoil that surrounds them, is appropriately tense and at times vicious, and filled with deadly under-handed treachery, particularly Aiofe’s and false Slaine’.

Even the action fight scenes, both from Duine/Slaine’ and Seb’s perspectives are well described and terrific. Told 1st POV, with alternating POV, this book was a fabulous, fabulous read. The Marked Prince ends on a HFN, as we wait for the last book in this trilogy, The Iron Crown, which will be the youngest Prince Lugh’s story, as he and Kieran head off to the Wylds to try and win over the Slaugh.

Honestly I cannot recommend this book enough, but please if you haven’t, definitely read book one first, you’ll be thankful you did it was that good and just adds to the overall terrific read of this book.

Liash

Absolutely loved it!

Reviewed in Australia on August 8, 2019

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I love this series! I admit I was dubious as to whether this book would be as good as the first, especially considering what we knew about Sláine from Roark and Finn's perspective - I shouldn't have worried though, as everything made sense right from the first chapter! I then found myself on the edge of my seat, needing to know what would happen next, and how Seb and Sláine would work together and be able to fix things.

I loved getting to know more about both these characters, and still getting to see Roark and Finn a little bit too. The new secondary characters were introduced and developed well, and the worldbuilding continued to impress.

I am looking forward to the 3rd book, and seeing what Lugh is getting up to. We have seen next to nothing of him to date so I can't wait to get to know him better - especially when he finds out what both his brothers have been up to!

Definitely a book, and series!, I would recommend.

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The Marked Prince (The Darkest Court) Kindle Edition

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M.A. Grant

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