A Deception of Courts is the third book in Realms of Fey series by Ben Alderson.
Due to the nature of the plot so far, this review will contain minor spoilers.
Following in the footsteps of A Kingdom of Lies, Ben Alderson picks up just a short time later as Robin Icethorn and his new love interest, Duncan Rackley, navigate the impending chaos of Duwar, an otherworldly demon that Aldrick, the half-fey leader of the Hand, is on a quest to unleash upon the realms in the name of power in A Deception of Courts.
Action is immediate and intense as the group of fey linger in Lockinge with bated breath, waiting for Aldrick to flee his hideout after the betrayal of his closest followers, including the Children of the Asp, who are professional manipulators and assassins. Robin, intent on keeping his promise to free the fey from their lengthy imprisonment as sources of blood magic and power to feed Aldrick’s experimentations, is waiting for a sign to indicate the coast is clear, and Althea, badass fey princess that she is, is ready to burn everything to the ground in his name.
Grief was an emotion powerful enough to execute decisions without a second thought. It latched onto fury and fueled it.
– excerpt from A Deception of Courts by Ben Alderson
Anxiety, a constant companion, worms its way into Robin’s psyche as the plan goes through with unexpected ease, Robin in charge of an effort to free the fey from the confines of their long-term imprisonment and use. Freedom is a strong motivator, one that quickly becomes overwhelming under the care of a newly crowned king, with chaos resulting in runaways desperate to escape Adrick when given the opportunity to roam the world above the underground “utopia” is presented. Robin’s trepidation and fear leading up to the moments of chaos are well founded and relatable, adding depth to his character – a king just coming into maturity that is insecure, but desperate to find his footing, both as a leader and a wielder of exceptionally powerful ice magic by birthright.
That being said, the feeling of foreboding that coats the opening chapters of the novel, while palpable and realistic, is a little too obvious, the plot a little too predictable – a trend that continues as A Deception of Courts progresses. While Robin’s anxiety and insecurity are well-founded and palpable, making it easy to relate to his character, the thoughts don’t let up and are primarily focused on the idea that something is wrong. There’s no follow through or intrigue or internal introspection, just an overwhelming sense of foreboding that coats his every action, beginning in the first chapter and continuing as his journey to put a stop to Duwar’s resurrection unfolds, which makes for a heavy-handed, stagnant, and somewhat predictable plot that follows the same basic pattern: action, resolution, and conflict that interrupts the flow of progress by a returning, monstrous entity in the gryvern (and later, the draeic) at the absolute worst moment.
The same momentum propels the journey forward as Robin makes it a mission to put a stop to Duwar’s full return with the help of the Children of the Asp, as well as a new, albeit reluctant ally in the Seraphim. Aldrick has been slowly building an army to obtain the keys required for Duwar’s return –keys necessary to power the gate between realms that will let the demon god into the world. The idea of the keys themselves was quite interesting, as were the unique abilities and weapons of the Seraphim which include the ability to read truths and the ability to read a person’s past, present, and future. To that end, though, the world-building could have potentially been a bit more developed, especially given the fantasy backdrop of the series.
The focus remains on the elemental magic of the courts – and here, Alderson continues to thrive. Magic is deadly. Magic is alive. Magic is a vivid, explosive force of nature, born of blood and birthright. Magic powers battles and provides power, and the one strength of this series is the detail with which Alderson choreographs fight scenes, weaving magic into the fabric of the characters and the flow of battle. And for a realm on the brink of disaster – there are ample opportunities to dive into fast-paced action: ambushes, betrayal, full-scale invasions – the characters are always in the middle of some life-or-death situation, often to the point of being abruptly (and frequently) disrupted during moments of hurt/comfort or intimacy.
Romance is a high point of this series as well, and Alderson captures the complicated feelings that come with betrayal, heartbreak, and moving on, all while managing an interesting dynamic between Robin, Duncan, and Erix. What Robin and Duncan have is tender, wholesome, and unconditional, and I absolutely adored their dynamic and the sweet romance that unfolds between them. Together they lift one another up, but their relationship is not without fun or a bit of sexy mischief, either. Robin’s former lover, Erix, makes a return in A Deception of Courts and Alderson does a great job balancing the dynamic between the three men, who are forced into close proximity often. Erix returns as a quiet protector, one that very obviously continues to harbor feelings for Robin, but who recognizes that he has found someone else. There’s longing and heartbreak, but also a deep connection that binds all three of them, with Erix and Duncan balancing feelings of love and protection for the newly crowned king of the Icethorn court.
“I fight for you because I care that you live, not because I don’t think you are capable.”
– excerpt from A Deception of Courts by Ben Alderson
Although the third book in the series is not as spicy as its predecessor, Alderson continues to write sex scenes with emotion and sensuality. While the language itself was not to my taste, Robin and Duncan are willing partners fueled by passion and trust. More than anything else, the plot prohibits intimacy in this case, and sex scenes were well paced, explicit and furthered helped to both solidify and deepen their relationship when they did occur. Duncan is an encouraging and supportive partner, and ultimately, the dynamic between he and Robin is full of understanding, affirmation, and hope, making it incredible sweet and swoon-worthy.
While character dynamics and romance were handled well, Robin remains a little immature and inconsistent throughout the series. One moment he is acting out of emotion, no planning or preparing, looked upon with skepticism and concern; the next, he’s regarded as a force to be reckoned with and trusted, despite the fact that he is a young, inexperienced ruler. His explosive, instinct driven responses often left me feeling frustrated, and I would have enjoyed seeing a more impactful character arc that forced change upon him, or, at the very least, pushback instead of blatant acceptance from his friends, companions, and fellow leaders.
“We are broken when separated, but unstoppable as one.”
– excerpt from A Deception of Courts by Ben Alderson
Ultimately, Ben Alderson pens an easy-to-read, compelling romantasy series that fills a gap in the current market by featuring a queer-normative cast and gay lead. The Realms of Fey series offers a unique take on elemental magic alongside a compassionate love triangle, making use of well-loved romance tropes to establish a complicated relationship dynamic between love interests, even if those relationships start with feelings of instant love and connection. In the end, Alderson promotes self-discovery and compassion in a loveable yet immature main character that undergoes multiple tests of strength, will, and perseverance that are productive, if a bit predictable. That being said, I am looking forward to the conclusion and very much enjoyed the twist of a cliff-hanger and propulsive action that leads into the final book in the series, to be released in May: A Game of Monsters.
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, or Rebecca Yarros that are searching for a queer, high heat romantasy series, if you can get past the occasionally clunky narration and predictability.
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