Review of 'The Prophecy of the Dark Fae' by Ellen Read

Review of 'The Prophecy of the Dark Fae' by Ellen Read

Release date: February 20, 2026

Publisher: Serenade Publishing

REVIEW

If you love fantasy, and particularly Irish legends, you will love this Triple Goddess series as it is wonderfully re-imagined in the true magnificently-delivered-Ellen-Read style. This series is riveting, so beautifully written with gorgeous descriptions and memorable heroic characters you will adore. And evil ones you will seriously dislike. They are all perfect in their parts they play.

The last novel of the trilogy The Prophecy of the Dark Fae had me pinned to its pages and I read it in a day as I could not put it down. I must say there are some unexpected twists and a brilliant ending. How evil is approached and dealt with is pretty impressive! I felt completely satisfied with the solutions, resolutions and outcomes. I loved Bree and Lu as always. But also the littlest fairy plays a big part which shows you even the smallest and most unlikely can do great things (being small doesn’t mean you can’t be mighty!). So there’s a little message in that—that although we may feel tiny in stature and importance we can do goliath acts. It’s not the stature of the vessel but the courageous and hope-filled heart within. And knowing how to use the special gifts you’ve been given.

I enjoyed the entire band of warriors with their strengths and weaknesses. They are put through some gruelling challenges and each time find a way to conquer the enemies and trials they face. Their quest takes them on a heart stopping journey with many obstacles, including fears, to overcome. All that they hold dear will be put at risk. There were be beings they will meet along the way that will test their trust and they will need to decide which ones are good or evil. As it is not always obvious due to disguises and spells. I loved that Bree and Aine are quite sensitive, preceptive and intuitive and notice subtle differences. Having the ability to see what may not be obvious to others, gives them an advantage.

Here’s a little recap for those who don’t know the story. In Book 3 we learn about a prophecy of an enemy. We get a small glimpse of this person in a previous book (although it won’t be anything like we imagined). This Dark Fae will rise up out of obscurity, from the shadows with the intent to bring ruin to the Fae Realm. Of course we have Bree and her aunt and their band of allies who join in a fight against the impending destruction. This is not an easy task. Their hearts, minds, bodies, beliefs and courage will be tested. There is a weapon of destruction that can put an end to the threat of the Dark Fae. Bree and her band must retrieve a single leaf from the ancient Tree of Life to heal the land and banish the darkness. Even with Bree’s gifts it will be hard as this mission will be laced with danger and pitfalls. Yet when hope starts to fade, and victory looks impossible, the truth rises to the top. And as Bree keeps reminding their enemy, evil cannot triumph over good. So true! And wow, what a battle it is at the end! I don’t think I will ever forget it.

There was a lot of serious tension in the plot on this quest! There are some wonderful features built into this story world. Such as the portals and how Bree, Lu and her allies enter through them to other parts of the realm. Once given instructions on how to save their world, culture and people, they venture out with determination. Trying to find a single leaf from the ancient Tree of Life poses many challenges. By the way, this stunning tree image on the front cover carries a lot of meaning in The Prophecy of the Dark Fae. The Celts cherished trees and their spiritual connections to their ancestors, deities and the afterlife. This fact is evident and well utilised in the story.

I am so impressed with Ellen Read’s ability to create such a complex and complete fantasy world. I kept thinking, how does she do all this and so well! The descriptions, the fantasy world structure, the dialogue, plot and characters are all so genuinely perfect. She does not miss a beat! It takes a certain creative mind to be able to build such a fascinating and formidable fantasy realm that is believable. Yes, that word believable seems contradictory with fantasy. For it is a world of the impossible or improbable. But great writers do it all the time: they make us believe in the worlds they have created. And through our imaginations, we are pulled into that realm to experience what the characters are feeling, seeing and doing. We are right there beside them living that impossible life. Yes, we suspend ‘belief’ in the traditional sense, if we compare it to our natural world but one of the beauties of the imagined world, is that they always reflect something of our own existence. Human elements will still be there inside the characters whether as love, hate, trust, fear, courage, etc. but they have an added layer of super skills and abilities we wish we had! Even without those special attributes, we still remain emotionally connected to them and learn from their extraordinary experiences. It can be wonderful therapy to read these kinds of stories! Great stress relievers when we allow ourselves to soar with the characters to new heights in our minds. Many would agree on the value of such literature. There are unlimited benefits as noted in online articles from Medium and Retro World.

In closing, I have to say I loved the Triple Goddess stories and know many others will, too. Please get all three books now available and enjoy the ride through this fantastic imaginative and intriguing world of Irish legend re-created by gifted Ellen Read. 5 Stars for the entire trilogy! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Ellen Read for a copy of The Prophecy of the Dark Fae.