The Heir & the Spare (Of Flesh & Bone, 5)

Amazon Customer

Potential

"Not quite as good as the the rest of the series, but definitely a good read ["

March 25, 2026 Verified Purchase

Nelia

A Fantastic Setup for What’s Coming Next

"I loved how The Heir and the Spare overlaps with What Lurks Between the Fates and What Sleeps Within the Cove. It felt like the perfect little refresher, but from totally new angles. Definitely don’t pick this up unless you’re caught up through What Sleeps Within the Cove though, it has major spoilers. What really hooked me was how clearly this novella is setting the stage for What Roams Beneath the Stars. It’s laying groundwork in a way that made me even more excited for what’s coming. Fallon especially stood out to me here, she’s stubborn, soft, growing, and figuring herself out without losing her fire. I loved her even more after this. Etan… listen. I like him. I also side-eye him. He’s a mess of loyalty, guilt, and feelings he refuses to name, and watching him unravel a bit was honestly fascinating. His POV also gave me a better look at the court politics, which made the world feel richer. And seeing certain moments from the last book through different eyes? So good. Also, Mab? I’m done. Not that I liked her before but fully anti-Mab now. The chemistry between Fallon and Etan is ridiculous. They can deny it all they want, but the tension is loud. Their banter had me grinning, and the slow burn is painfully slow, but the payoff is worth it. That ending should be illegal. I’m still recovering. ["

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February 15, 2026

Tracy Bibler

Great read, just not long enough!

"Really great read. I was not very happy when I got it, to realize that this was not about Caldris and Estrella, but Fallon and Etan. I quickly changed my mind and enjoyed it very much! Looking forward to the next book! ["

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February 12, 2026 Verified Purchase

readbykaycee

Vibes read

"The narrators are absolutely fantastic. The audio is in dual narration and it is very well done. If you have listened to the other books of the series, it is the same narrators. The story is occurring at the same time as the previous book in the series. But it focuses on Fallon and Etan. There is not a huge overlap in the storyline, but there are moments where we are getting events we’ve already read from a different point of view. I could not put this book down. It is a short novella that you’ll dive into and be done before you know it. I think the ending was supposed to be a big reveal, but I was not surprised by it. I hate Etan. I felt like he is selfish and self-absorbed and uses the guise of doing things for his court in order to do what he really wants. It drives me nuts that Fallon just falls for it. She goes from angry to getting over it without any conversation or thought. These uncomfortable conversations are necessary. This is definitely a romance book with a fantasy backdrop. Etan could have been an amazing complex, well developed character, and even with his point of view, I thought he felt inauthentic. He did not grow on me throughout the book. I love Fallon, but her ability to go from hating him to wanting to jump him without any change or conversation or anything more than just a blink was disheartening. The story feels under developed. That being said this is a total vibes read. It’s a good time. Even though I hated Etan I really enjoyed reading about him and their journey. I do wonder if the next book of the series will be four person point of view based on where the story left off. Read this book if you like a romance book with some fantasy vibes where you’re OK with plot holes If you like Sadie Kincaid’s Forged in bBood, you will probably like this series, though this is not why choose. ["

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February 4, 2026

Savanna L Giguere

Great read! Much needed backstories

"I was so thrilled to be selected as an eARC reader for The Heir and the Spare! This series is so near and dear to me, the first that made me realize I love fantasy itself and not just the books in the Massverse! I did not want this story to end. The first half is really just a rehashing of all that’s happened in the previous books from a new point of view. Though it was a bit of overkill at times I do think it was necessary to fully understand why things happened the way they did, specifically the dynamic between Mab/Rheagan/Etan (trying not to spoiler alert this review hahahah). I agree with a few of the other reviews that it would help the story line if it were broken up into two parts (part I: the new POV of the events that happened before the altercation at the tithe and part II: Etan and Fallons journey after) The relationship between Etan and Fallon feels extremely forced at times, but in the end it makes a lot of sense why it feels that way because in truth it kind of is haha. Even in just this short novella, their characters have blossomed so wonderfully. I cannot wait to see what transpires between them as well as how they grow individually in the next and final installment of this story! ["

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February 3, 2026