By Anna Fiteni (author)
"Charged with sisterhood, the drama and wonder of Welsh myth are unleashed in this fabulous faerie romantasy involving a perilous pact with a dashing prince."
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November 2025 Book of the Month
Shot-through with themes of oppression, with its historic context coming courtesy of Wales’ Rebecca Riots, The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is as rich in Welsh myth as it is in heart-pounding romance.
“Unwaith ar y tro”. Once upon a time. So begins a richly-woven story that’s set in Wales in 1842 as two sisters - smart sixteen-year-old Sabrina and beautiful-but-sickly Ceridwen - take their first-ever train to find out if their father will swing on the hangman’s gallows for his part in the Rebecca Riots, a series of protests that saw citizens fight to resist crippling rising taxes and tolls at a time when the Welsh language had long been barred by Westminster.
After being sentenced to ten years’ transportation, Sabrina’s dad instructs her to look after her sister and grandmother. Then, after Sabrina leaves milk out for the “tylwyth teg” (“fair family” fairies), as she’s always done, pondering how she might find her sister a rich husband to support their family, Ceridwen goes missing.
Sabrina’s search for her sister sees her enter a magical realm populated by magical beings from age-old myths, where she discovers Ceridwen’s secret life and love, and encounters an irresistibly handsome fairy prince who issues her with a nigh-impossible proposal.
Offering romantasy fans the full gamut of expected genre tropes - a strong female lead, a richly-imagined magical world, and sizzlingly risky romance - the captivating Welsh context of The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire boosts this book to fresh heights.
An irresistible dark fae romantasy, inspired by Welsh mythology and perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Faebound, Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black's The Cruel Prince.
Read the full description
Ceridwen Parry has run away with the fairies.
But this is not her story.
For Sabrina Parry, the world is tough, cruel and practical. With her father in prison, her aims in life are: 1. hold onto her job, 2. hold her tongue and 3. set up her sister Ceridwen with a man rich enough to look after her.
Ceridwen is lovely, romantic, timid - everything that Sabrina isn't. But then Ceridwen vanishes into the eerie woods leaving only an iron ring behind and Sabrina is drawn into a beautiful but decaying world of fairies and monsters of old. And when an annoyingly handsome fairy prince offers her a dangerous deal, Sabrina is forced to put her own freedom at risk to save her sister.
This is a beautifully lyrical yet accessible romantasy novel with Welsh language woven throughout. Inspired by Welsh mythology with themes of oppression, colonisation, beauty and power, with an epic and compelling time-travelling angle.
'Magic oozes through every page of this unapologetically Welsh fantasy. The heart of Wales beats throughout, expertly weaving Welsh heritage, history and mythology through the story of sisters Sabrina and Ceridwen … Special mention for the Mari Lwyd appearance – I adored it! This story will make you look at the forest differently. Think twice before waving back at that moving leaf. Maybe I don’t want to make friends with the fae after all! Unless he’s Neirin.' – J S Strange, author of Look Up, Handsome
'Shimmering with fae magic, Fiteni’s debut is rich in lyrical prose and Welsh mythology. Readers will fall in love with this book, as I have.' - Rachel Greenlaw, author of Compass and Blade
Anna Fiteni is a Welsh writer with a passion for Welsh mythology and a truly exquisite storyteller just bursting with ideas and excitement. From Cardiff, she studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick, before going on to the University of Oxford to complete a PGCE. When not writing, Anna enjoys travelling, fashion history, and daydreaming about writing. The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is her debut novel.
Photo credit to Siria Ferrer
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The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire features in the following genres: Featured Books for 13+ readers, Featured Books for Young Adults, Books of the Month, Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Star Books, Adventure Stories, Stories about Family and Friends, Fantasy / Magical, Historical Fiction, Romance / Relationship Stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy romance, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Romance and love stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. £8.99, down from the £9.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire was written by Anna Fiteni and published by Electric Monkey an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire has 356 pages
£8.99, reduced from £9.99. In Stock.
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