Oleander is author Charli Meadows foray into the paranormal genre and I absolutely cannot wait for more! The elemental desires follows different fae in each installment.
From the blurb:
Oleander
Even though I am a Fae prince and the heir to the Aurorian throne, I’ve locked myself away for the past five years, refusing to use my magic. I’m a toxic disaster waiting to be unleashed. My power is dangerous. Lethal. The kingdom is better off without me.
But my mother is the queen, and by her royal decree, I must attend Elemental Academy alongside my twin brother, Flame. I’ll be king one day, and the clock is ticking to prove that I can control my power. My poison.
I don’t have to search very far before I find someone willing to help me practice my magic. However, as our connection deepens, I start to second guess using my new friend to learn how to control the toxins festering inside of me. I’ve been hiding in the dark for years, but Skyler’s aura is too bright to ignore, which terrifies me because one kiss could extinguish it forever.
Skyler
I’ve been an Air Fae for all of one week before I’m kidnapped, taken to another world, and forced to enroll in some kind of supernatural academy. Although, I have no one to blame but myself after I accidentally created a devastating tornado and sent it tearing through my hometown.
It turns out I’m half-human, half-Fae, and I need to learn control. So, I’m biding my time, following the rules, but I don’t belong here. I’m determined to leave, and my only way home just might be an intriguing fairy prince who shows up late and keeps to himself. He’s an outsider like me, and if the rumors are true, then rightfully so.
His kiss is poison, but I’m reckless, headstrong, and ready to tempt fate.
Oleander is book one in the Elemental Desires series. It is a standalone MM fantasy romance set in a college-aged supernatural academy for the Fae. You can expect a new world full of adventure, elemental-based magic, and evil supernatural creatures. This novel is intended for 18+ readers and contains explicit scenes, violence, and fighting. See Author’s Note for a full list of Content Warnings.
Jacqueleen the Reading Queen's review:
"𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐟𝐚𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫?"
First things first. The dedication in this book immediately started my read off with a smile. It gives a warm feeling when you begin a book with a dedication that resonates with you. A touch of whimsy never goes astray with me. I actually really enjoyed this entire book. The worldbuilding is an enthralling take on the fae dimension and I have a feeling we've only scratched the surface of things that are really going on in this world.
"𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞. 𝐖𝐞'𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫."
I absolutely adored Oleander and I also loved how his and Skyler's namesakes were a nod to their powers. Skyler was a bit wild, but he was exactly what the shy prince needed in his life for him to finally start living it. They clung to each other for support and I do not think that it was a coincidence the headmaster placed these two in the dorms together. Whether his intentions were pure remains to be seen. Regardless, the outcome was more than either boy could have hoped for. A love full of passion and understanding is quite the feat at such a young age, but these two fae certainly seem to have managed it.
I enjoyed getting to know all the side characters, especially once I realized that my first impressions of many weren't exactly correct. I'm hoping that at least a few of them will be getting their own books, especially Zephyr and Flame. Thankfully, it's stated that Flame's book is next and based on the way this one ended, it's not going to be an easy ride. I can't wait!!
Even though I am a Fae prince and the heir to the Aurorian throne, I’ve locked myself away for the past five years, refusing to use my magic. I’m a toxic disaster waiting to be unleashed. My power is dangerous. Lethal. The kingdom is better off without me.
But my mother is the queen, and by her royal decree, I must attend Elemental Academy alongside my twin brother, Flame. I’ll be king one day, and the clock is ticking to prove that I can control my power. My poison.
I don’t have to search very far before I find someone willing to help me practice my magic. However, as our connection deepens, I start to second guess using my new friend to learn how to control the toxins festering inside of me. I’ve been hiding in the dark for years, but Skyler’s aura is too bright to ignore, which terrifies me because one kiss could extinguish it forever.
Skyler
I’ve been an Air Fae for all of one week before I’m kidnapped, taken to another world, and forced to enroll in some kind of supernatural academy. Although, I have no one to blame but myself after I accidentally created a devastating tornado and sent it tearing through my hometown.
It turns out I’m half-human, half-Fae, and I need to learn control. So, I’m biding my time, following the rules, but I don’t belong here. I’m determined to leave, and my only way home just might be an intriguing fairy prince who shows up late and keeps to himself. He’s an outsider like me, and if the rumors are true, then rightfully so.
His kiss is poison, but I’m reckless, headstrong, and ready to tempt fate.
Oleander is book one in the Elemental Desires series. It is a standalone MM fantasy romance set in a college-aged supernatural academy for the Fae. You can expect a new world full of adventure, elemental-based magic, and evil supernatural creatures. This novel is intended for 18+ readers and contains explicit scenes, violence, and fighting. See Author’s Note for a full list of Content Warnings.
Jacqueleen the Reading Queen's review:
"𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐟𝐚𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫?"
First things first. The dedication in this book immediately started my read off with a smile. It gives a warm feeling when you begin a book with a dedication that resonates with you. A touch of whimsy never goes astray with me. I actually really enjoyed this entire book. The worldbuilding is an enthralling take on the fae dimension and I have a feeling we've only scratched the surface of things that are really going on in this world.
"𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞. 𝐖𝐞'𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫."
I absolutely adored Oleander and I also loved how his and Skyler's namesakes were a nod to their powers. Skyler was a bit wild, but he was exactly what the shy prince needed in his life for him to finally start living it. They clung to each other for support and I do not think that it was a coincidence the headmaster placed these two in the dorms together. Whether his intentions were pure remains to be seen. Regardless, the outcome was more than either boy could have hoped for. A love full of passion and understanding is quite the feat at such a young age, but these two fae certainly seem to have managed it.
I enjoyed getting to know all the side characters, especially once I realized that my first impressions of many weren't exactly correct. I'm hoping that at least a few of them will be getting their own books, especially Zephyr and Flame. Thankfully, it's stated that Flame's book is next and based on the way this one ended, it's not going to be an easy ride. I can't wait!!
Molly Otto's review:
Charli decided to step away from contemporary and dive into a fantasy romance! She has done a beautiful job in her world building, making you curious for more tonckme from future stories. The character development is on par with her contemporary series, which is what I fell in love with from this author.
One of those books, yes, it's chunky, yet you don't realize until you have been reading awhile and not halfway yet. For me, that's a mark of a great fantasy romance. Hope to see more of the world revealed as well as their abilities in future books.
Oleander is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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