Heroine makes deadly deal with Fae in steamy romantic fantasy

June 27, 2024

Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee

What is it about?

If Cate Holloway fails to break a dark pact with a deadly fairy prince before her time runs out, she will be bound to him and his deadly world… forever.

Geneva Lee’s Immerse yourself in romance with the first installment in the series, Filthy Rich Fairywas more of a happy jump. Having written book friend Julian Rousseaux in the Filthy Rich Vampire series, readers don’t have to travel far or prepare for what some call “fairy smut” in this subgenre. In fact, it’s a fun trip from the vampire world to the fairyland created by Lee.

Is it just me? When I think of fairies, the first thing that comes to mind is a tiny little humanoid with wings, a la Tinker Bell. Lachlan Gage is definitely not a little lady with wings. In fact, he can be quite a scary guy at times. But most of the time, he’s just a sneaky, supernaturally handsome, tall, dark-haired guy. But as a fairy prince, he can also cast a spell and completely hypnotize someone. Even if he’s some kind of mafia boss. He’s what author Geneva Lee has dubbed a “cinnamon roll alpha” (something she explains in the latest episode of the Nerdy Romantics Podcast).

But as delicious as Lachlan Gage is, this is the book of the heroine, Cate Holloway. She is a nurse at a large hospital in New Orleans – one with the name Gage emblazoned on the wing. When she sees her brother admitted one night with a gunshot wound from friendly fire, she knows he has joined a gang. A gang led by Lachlan Gage. Furious, she storms out of the hospital and heads to a hotel that is supposedly Gage’s headquarters to somehow lure her brother out of the gang.

Instead, she is tricked into making a deal by Lachlan Gage himself – her life for her brother’s. Now she is bound to this tall, handsome leader of the New Orleans underworld. Well, she did eat fairy food. (Never eat fairy food!) But to be fair – scratch that – a deal with a fairy, especially a fairy prince, is never fair.

Hot and heavy … and dangerous

If you’ve read a Geneva Lee book, you know it’s going to be hot and heavy. The fairies (like Lee’s vamps) love their parties, their fashion, their jewels, and their orgies. While Lachlan develops a slow crush on Cate, everyone else is doing everything else with each other. Readers who like it hot will get a generous dose of that here. And if you love a really HOT, slow-blooming romance, you won’t be disappointed with Cate and Lachlan.

Along with the heat, there are also trigger and content warnings. This is not a happy, cheerful fairyland. These fairies are violent, severing body parts from bodies and marking people for death. Additionally, Cate is an orphan (her brother is a foster brother) who has suffered not only family trauma, but also sexual abuse trauma. If you are sensitive to any of these topics, be sure to read the trigger warnings the author has included.

Drama in an enchanting fantasy setting

If you thought Julian and his vampire family were a real challenge, wait until you meet Lachlan’s sisters and the other ruling fae families. I came for the romance between Cate and Lachlan, but what will keep me hooked on this series are the family dynamics, the betrayals between courts, and, as I said, the parties. Not just for the decadence, but to see how fae interact with each other. While there are alliances, there is also animosity between families. The hatred is not just between the existing members, but Ms. Lee suggests it has been around for a long time. For generations.

An additional character for Filthy Rich Fairy is the elaborate Otherworld that Lachlan and his crew inhabit. It is filled with labyrinths, elaborate flowers and animals, and priceless adornments. Even the hotel that hides the entrance to the Otherworld feels like it has been dipped in gold, housing an endless maze of rooms and corridors. It is no surprise that this fairy palace and the entrance to the Otherworld that the palace hides are located in New Orleans. Magic and intrigue are synonymous with the Southern city. Ms. Lee gives New Orleans character status, just as Candace Bushnell did for New York in Sex and the City.

This first foray into the world of romance/urban fantasy for Geneva Lee is thrilling and fiery. Who knew fairy smut could be so entertaining?

Learn more about author Geneva Lee and the inspiration for her now 3 very popular series, including several more on Filthy Rich Fairy in the Nerdy Romantics Podcast, Episode 42

About Geneva Lee:

Geneva Lee is the New York Times, USA todayand internationally successful author of over thirty novels. Her bestseller “Royals Saga” has sold almost four million copies worldwide. She is shamelessly addicted to recovering alpha males, headstrong heroines and stunning plot twists. People Magazine calls Geneva’s books “compelling with fluid writing full of drama.” When she’s not writing or reading, you might find her on another adventure with her real-life hero and her three children.