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Mortal Skin

Folk, Book 1

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Mortal Skin

By: Lily Mayne
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
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I first saw the Folk when I was a little boy, when they started appearing in my garden, with their unnatural, cruel beauty and honeyed words and veiled taunts.

I grew up with big green eyes watching me from the forest. Whispers from the trees. Shimmering skin darting between the bushes. Black creatures always lurking in the shadows.

While they were here, I thought nothing of them. It wasn’t until they were gone that I realise it wasn’t…normal.

But it isn’t until I’m twenty-one, when my life is in ruins, that they come back to take me away.

They say I’m not fully mortal. They say I should be among them. The Unseelie Ruler wants me on her land for reasons no one will explain to me, but it’s her aloof, painfully beautiful son who captures my attention and refuses to let go.

The cold, black-eyed assassin prince who strikes fear into the hearts of all Folk. Who I’ve been warned about, repeatedly.

Who watches me always.

I don’t trust the Folk, so I ignore their fearful advice to stay away from him. I ignore all of them except him, despite everything telling me that he can’t be trusted—that he’s just as bad as the rest of them, that he’s playing games with me, the clueless mortal held here against his will.

But I want him.

Mortal Skin is book one in Folk, a m/m fae romance trilogy. It contains explicit sexual content, depictions of violence, and deals with the death of a close family member. This trilogy will follow the same couple who get their HEA eventually, but book one ends on a cliffhanger.

©2023 Lily Mayne (P)2023 Podium Audio
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All stars
Most relevant
What I got instead was emotional whiplash, trust issues, and a sudden urge to fight an entire fae court bare-handed.
Ash spends most of this book being like: “I shouldn’t trust him.”
And then immediately: “Anyway, I would die for him.”
Honestly? Relatable.
Lonan, meanwhile, is out here being the walking embodiment of “red flag but make it devastatingly hot.” Assassin prince, emotionally constipated, raised by what might be the worst mother in fantasy history… and yet somehow he still manages to be soft enough to ruin your life. I hate him. I love him. I would like compensation for the damage.
The vibes? Immaculate.
We’ve got:
• sinister fair folk who absolutely cannot be trusted
• a main character with the survival instincts of a damp napkin
• yearning so intense it should come with a warning label
• and a plot that lulls you into thinking everything is fine before emotionally drop-kicking you off a cliff
Speaking of cliff:
THAT ENDING???
I would like to formally report Lily Mayne for emotional crimes. Readers are not okay. There are people out there still staring at walls because of it.
And yes, some readers say the plot isn’t wildly original and the romance escalates fast—but when the chemistry hits like that, who even cares? 
You’re not here for groundbreaking fae politics.
You’re here to suffer, apparently.
The only reason this isn’t a full 5 stars?
A tiny bit of pacing wobble at the start and the fact that I would have liked just a bit more development before the emotional destruction began (give me time to breathe before you ruin me, please).
Final verdict:
If you enjoy:
• dangerous fae with zero respect for human sanity
• obsessive, slightly unhinged romance
• and books that end by emotionally setting you on fire
…congrats. This will absolutely own you.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Would I emotionally recover? No.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.75 stars) Listen. I went into Mortal Skin expecting “cute fae romance with a sprinkle of danger.”

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So I specifically put off starting this book on audio until the audio for book 2 dropped because I knew I would want to drive right into it and low and behold I was right! I’ve been in the mood for fantasy books lately but that are easy to get into world-building wise and this 100% for the bill! Everything about it was so wonderfully written, and after being such a fan of Lily’s other books I know every single thing is written exactly how it needs to be to set up future plot points, and it’s all done so masterfully! Also Joel Leslie’s narration is wonderful!

As amazing as I knew it would be!

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Enjoyable story that is well written with likeable characters and good world building. The narration is very good as well.

Enjoyable Story

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If you like fantasy,a bit of evil, greed, and love thrown in, you will enjoy this book. Wonderful narration by Joel Leslie. I am off to listen to the next instalment.

Excellent

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What a combo- great author, great narrator, great story. Absolutely loved everything about it - highly recommend

Amazing

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