Rating:  3.5🌈

Fae for Pay is the new fantasy novel by Meghan Maslow for the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae, with a magical traveling two sided Fae gold coin as a connecting point.

An immediate plus goes to Maslow’s use of the fae magical coin in the storyline.It was imaginative,interesting, and a large enough of a element in the plot to make it narratively visible throughout the story.

I enjoyed all the engaging characters who have the potential for more than just one book. They were fun to get to know and enjoy along the journey. However the universe building has need of considerably more foundation information. It’s spotty at best. 

We’re given to understand it’s a world that encompasses humans, vampires and werewolves but not other paranormals.  Why no other species isn’t said. Not much more information is laid out about magic or paranormal phenomena other than that which is puzzling. Nor do we have any background history on if this has always been true or a historical event.

Teremie Summersis a human whose life has been changed for the worse by his ex. Known falsely as Teremie the cheater because of actions by his ex, he’s survived by streaming as an elf on his Only Fae channel and rooming with his best friend, actor Rory.

When Sheila Levy, their agent informs Rory of a actors call for a movie that’s from Rory’s childhood best book, The Elves Cursed Coin/The Prince’s Cursed Coin, it’s both of them who end up answering the call.

The story begins there, following them to the remote set location, and all the weird shenanigans that occur throughout the filming process.  The story continues with the filming as relationships form between Teremie and Kade, and between other friends in the cast.

That would be Rory McMahon, friend from childhood and Alistair the vampire, also an actor. 

Kade Savage, actor, wolf shifter, fated mate, is a very interesting character with a neat twist that comes into play further in the storyline.  But Maslow does with this terrific element as with others here, it doesn’t get developed fully into the highly complex aspect of this thread that it could. Which is the main issue I found here.

Maslow has many great elements and neat ideas thrown in here that while some pop up consistently throughout the story (woodland animals on Teremie and Rory’s porch on the set, the wicked crows, pixies,etc), these details aren’t explored or tied into a specific story elements in a clearly defined way.  So much of the story is written like this that eventually the reader just doesn’t look for any explanations or reasonable tie in to a storyline.  

The dramatic reveal is strange because the reader is unfamiliar with the story of the book the plot of the movie is based upon. Had the author included more details, it would have given clarity and depth to the story and characters actions. It would have helped give foundation too a narrative that’s often not making sense. It’s fun and the characters are charming in their own way. But pulled together it’s just not.

Fae for Pay has so many great characters and good ideas. But a cohesive story and foundation is lost somewhere.  It’s still a lot of fun and has the potential to spin off another romance for two characters in need of HEA. 

Fun for lovers of the author and the series.

Cover art by Natasha Snow. I love the covers. Fabulous.

Fortune Favors the Fae – 15 books:

• A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden by AJ Sherwood #1❤️
• The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae by Michele Notaro #2 ❤️
• Bound to the Wild Fae by Tavia Lark #3 June 13❤️
• The Sorcerer’s Thief by Lee Colgin #4 ❤️🔷
• The Fae Menagerie by Edie Montreaux #5 
• Never Darling by Sam Burns #6 
• Prince of Poison by Alice Winters  #7  ❤️
• Grave Misfortune by Nazri Noor #8 ❤️
• Fae for Pay by Meghan Maslow #9
• Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand #10 
• Smoke and Mirrors by Kai Butler #11 ❤️
• Siren in the Rain by Chloe Archer #12 
• I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem  by Jocelynn Drake #13 ❤️

• A Fae Called Wylder by Michelle Frost #14 – Aug 29,2024
• Lucky or Knot by Eliot Grayson #15 – September 5,2024

Buy link

        Fae for Pay

Blurb

A hot AF wolf who could make me howl all night long. A persistent gold coin with dubious intentions. And a magical whammy no one saw coming. 

Hello, gentle reader (or online stalker). My name is Teremie—yes, it’s a T, not a J, thanks for asking—Summers. Maybe you’ve seen me on Only Fae. I play the sexpot elf of your dreams.

Through a bizarre turn of events, I end up cast as an elf in an upcoming epic fantasy film—even though my acting skills are mainly of the “fae for pay” online variety.

My co-star is the once-cute-teen-star, turned smokin’ hot, all grown up, wolf-shifter Kade Savage. He’s gentle, honorable, and he doesn’t care about my past mistakes.

All great, right? Well . . .there are a couple of teensy tiny roadblocks to my happily-ever-after. See, wolves don’t date non-wolves. It’s a thing. And, oh, yeah, he’s straight. Which is fine. I’m perfectly okay with it. My track record is so poor that I might as well be running backward. So, it’s a little crush. What’s the harm?

But before long I catch him giving me big-bad-wolf eyes when he thinks I’m not looking. His low, growly voice makes my heart beat a little faster and sends tingles down my spine and on a one-way trip to my nether regions. Just when the UST between us is about to erupt, we end up in a fantasy scene so real it would make Peter Jackson jealous. What in the Lord of the Rings alternate dimension is this?! We have to rely on each other—and a contrary magical coin—to show us that “home” isn’t a place so much as where the heart is.

Fae for Pay is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love, and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.

• Publisher: Pun City Pantser (August 21, 2024)
• Publication date: August 21, 2024
• Language: English
• Print length: 255 pages