The One and Only Crystal Druid by Annette Marie

I'm not your average girl. My best friend is my switchblade. My favorite hobby is using it on the cruel, the abusive, and anyone who gets on my bad side. I'm a convicted murderer with a chip on my shoulder and a dangerous lack of restraint. And then there's Zak. His rap sheet makes mine look tame. The bounty on his head is worth more money than I'll ever make, and the deadly fae that shadow his every step wield more power than I'll ever know. He's the Crystal Druid, and his first mistake was setting foot on my turf. His second was saving my life. And his final mistake will be failing to realize that however dark, however ruthless, however broken he is... I'm worse. -- From the author of the best-selling Guild Codex books comes a new series that delves into the dark, dangerous world of druids and fae alongside two ravaged souls who may be exactly what the other needs...if they don't destroy each other first. Unveiled can be read as a standalone series or in conjunction with other Guild Codex series. For the full reading order, visit Annette Marie's website.

Love it.
And I had a feeling about what was revealed at the end. There were a bunch of hints to it.

Very entertaining and I hope I didn't wake up the whole neighborhood with my loud expressions in between.
Can't wait for the second book :)

Wow, that was a magnificent ride.

It's hard to say how great this book is without coming off like a fangirl, but my god, it was amazing. I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Unveiled introduces a new main character who is nothing like the previous leads in the Guild Codex. This book can be your introduction to this world because it's a stand-alone series, but it's so much richer if you've read the others.

Saber is a ... train wreck when we meet her. Or maybe she's a bomb trying medium-hard not to explode. Either way her story is intense and exciting to read. Her backstory is tragic and her actions, while not exactly what a civilized person would do, are fairly understandable for who she is and what she's been through. We don't get everything of course, and there are some hints of more to come.

And then there's Zak. For those of us already familiar with the one and only Crystal Druid, this book is a supremely delicious treat. We get to see so much more of him, and every bit is fantastic. More insight into his relationship with Lalakai and his past, which helps explain some of his actions in Spellbound and Warped. We see how Tori and Kit have changed him, and how he's dealing with the aftermath of his decisions.

The passion between Saber and Zak is already sizzling, and I'm here for it. But it's not just hot - and I wouldn't call it cold. It's ... very fitting for who these two people are.

One of my favorite things about Unveiled so far is the focus on fae. They are heavily featured, and we meet some familiar familiars (sorry couldn't help it) and plenty of new characters. And of course we get a couple cameos and Easter eggs from the greater Guild Codex world, which is always fun.

The world building is excellent, the pacing is solid, and the ending is incredible. It wraps up the main story and leaves you primed for the next book: The Long Forgotten Winter King.

Having grown up in a rough and abusive living situation, Saber snapped at an early age. She carries a switchblade with her at all times and has learned to display the proper emotions for people to accept her. While she holds no memory of her crime, she is a convicted murderer and is currently in a parole guild. By day Saber is a vet tech and volunteers at a rescue ranch. However, she will quickly turn into a hunter if she knows who has been harming the animals she is rehabilitating. Saber’s going to be a tough and prickly character to attach to, but that also means she has plenty of areas of growth.

While Zak does make an appearance in these books, he will be a very different character than encountered before. Throughout the previous novels featuring him, he has discovered hard truths about himself. Do not approach The One and Only Crystal Druid as a first read in this universe. You’ll need all of Zak’s back story to fully appreciate how he behaves and his new outlook on life.

Be warned there are toxic relationships in this novel. Saber is a dark and broken character. Readers will uncover her forgotten past as the story progresses. And while this book is trying to lean into the romance angle it does not start well. There are abrupt turns with little build up and the emotions are not apparent. Granted, Saber is a difficult character to imagine being involved with anyone at this point, but a little more development of her character before trying to wedge in romance would have helped.

The One and Only Crystal Druid is still a fast-paced and action heavy read. With a witch as a main character and Zak hovering in the background, readers will be granted more worldbuilding around their magics. Even sixteen books in there are new discoveries and mysteries for readers to indulge in. Though this one had a rough start, knowing Annette Marie it’s about to really pick up in the next novel.