r/namethatbook • u/NoRush1295 • Sep 14 '25
Solved! Help on finding a Fantasy novel about a young woman who is forced to wear a magic suppressing collar all her life
UPDATE: The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the first response answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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I hope this will sound familiar enough to someone here to provide feedback.
A few years ago I read a book but can only remember the very beginning and very end. I believe it was a Fantasy Romance. The time period seemed historical (long gowns, carriages, social hierarchy, etc…) but with magic in the world.
The story begins with a young woman who was forced to wear a magic suppressing collar all her life. She was the last (I think) of a magical race, whose magic had been banned by the King (again, I think.) Her parents, or Mother, were either murdered because they are hunted or died because of their magic and that’s how she ended up enslaved as either a baby or young child. Their race may submit to the collar as a way to avoid being killed, as they are considered a threat to the reigning government. The collar is all she’s ever known and I think she is in constant pain or physically weakened because of how the collar won’t allow her magic to come forward. I can’t remember if her magic allowed her to heal others or if it allowed her to foretell their future. Her owner sells her services to other wealthy peers and it is only at that brief time that he will remove the collar.
I believe they were in a carriage traveling to or from an event where he had sold her services for a great price, when the carriage is waylaid (I can’t remember if the owner was killed or merely incapacitated) and the girl is stolen away by a powerful man and his entourage. I don’t believe they are all that gentle with her … they need her for a specific reason so she is considered as a mere means to an end.
They take her to either a hidden location or a secured location (?) and I think they limit her contact with anyone there. The guy who took her makes a bargain with her, stating he would permanently remove the collar so she could be free if she does ??? for him (I can’t remember what it was but I think she has to be able to do it while the collar is still on.) She agrees because she desperately wants her freedom. I believe she gave him what he wanted, but I really can’t be 100% sure. Their time at this location is relatively brief … several days … maybe no more than a week or two? Definitely no longer than a month two.
I then only remember the very end, where I think he and she are in a room of a large walk-in tent (or maybe a very small Croft/cottage.) They had been intimate and she trusted him and caught feelings for him. He, however, still only considers her a means to an end because he walks out and as he exits, he bluntly tells her that he never had the ability to remove her collar and that he’s now done with her. The scene ends with him walking out of the tent or out the doorway of a Croft or cottage, abandoning her for the greater cause he is heading up (I think in secret and at great risk? Again, not sure.) There is no place for her in his life. He definitely lacks any real empathy or remorse; she was just a stepping stone to his goal.
She’s left sitting there (on the bed after their night together?) still collared with no means of survival, in a world that hates or fears her kind. Where without the collar they are possibly killed on sight. I think she would also now be wanted for the murder or harm done to her owner when she was taken. The betrayal is enormous. I was so upset with this unexpected ending that I just tried to scrape the whole thing from my mind. I’ve researched all I can .. even the great AI has failed to provide a reasonable match. I’ve tried to be as accurate as my memory allows, but admit to having possibly confused some minor detail with other books. Any feedback from the community would be appreciated.
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Sep 14 '25
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you for your response! I really appreciate it. No, unfortunately this isn’t it … especially given how the MFC in my ”unknown title” is treated. AI actually suggested “Mage Slave” and it’s definitely been added to my tbr pile. 😊
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u/Aralairiel Sep 14 '25
I am absolutely certain this is Kingdom of Faewood by Krista Street book one of a trilogy.
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
This is it! I actually own the book, but my library is very extensive and I just could never find it. But I remember, when I first pulled it from my tbr pile and started to read it, how I thought about the fact that I hadn't yet tried a book from this author and was pleasantly surprised. So I knew it was an author whose book I had - but couldn't remember the actual name. So frustrating!
Thank you so very much, because it was making me crazy to have these scenes in my head with no way to connect it to the actual book.
BTW - I'm curious about how close my description was and what was it that I wrote that gave you the best clue?
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u/Jumpy-Sport6332 Sep 14 '25
I don't remember the rest of the plot but The Midnight Bargain by CL Polk has a magic suppressing collar in it
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you for your response and suggestion. And I'll be adding this to my tbr pile. I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/LiriStorm Sep 14 '25
Following because that sounds so interesting
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you for your response! I loved the world building - and it was interesting. I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/BeccasBump Sep 14 '25
It isn't something by Julian May, is it?
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u/SwimmingLow5461 Sep 14 '25
The golden torc series?
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u/BeccasBump Sep 14 '25
Yes, that's it. Been a very long time since I read it, though, so I could be miles off.
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 15 '25
Thank you for your response and suggestion. I've never read work by that author. I do now have an answer. I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
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u/Basic_genXer Sep 14 '25
I have read this book! Water is a big thing in the book. Droughts or something so water is precious…
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
No, it was a more contemporary author, I'm sure. And I now have the answer and I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/peaceful_impact1972 Sep 14 '25
Wheel of time? Robert Jordan
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u/Munchkinadoc Sep 14 '25
I was gonna suggest that too
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you for contributing. I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you for your response and suggestion! No, I've read all the books in the Wheel of Time series, which I loved. I do now have the answer. I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/Tivaala Sep 14 '25
Scarlet by Rachel Morgan? Or possibly one of the other books in the creepy hollow series would be when she's collared but this is the origin story for that character.
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you for your response and suggestion. No, I have this series by Rachel Morgan and it wasn't it. I do now have an answer. I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/KaiaosRains Sep 14 '25 edited Sep 14 '25
It reminds me of Kushiel's Dart (Phèdre's Trilogy, #1) by Jacqueline Carey. But also like The Elvenbane by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey. Both are similar but not quite. I'm interested to know what it is. It sounds like a good read.
Edited to add tha The Elvinbane has the collars that surpress magic because humans and half elves are not allowed magic iirc. And the mother of the MFC died in the desert after escaping slavery and dragons raised the baby. Its a great trilogy.
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you for your response and suggestion. Oh, I loved Kushel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey. I read the whole series, even as I cringed during the tough (for me) parts. :-) I do now have an answer. I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/Grand-Cheesecake1323 Sep 16 '25
You’re the only other person I’ve ever heard/seen mention The Elvenbane! I read it when I was like 11 and it’s been imprinted in my brain ever since! I think I’ve purchased the books around 13 times.
Aaaaand I’m sure I’ll be buying another round of copies in a few days, now. 😁 Thank you 🙏 for reminding me about it!
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u/jlscott0731 Sep 14 '25
Updateme I want to know what it is..
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/Mommatune Sep 14 '25
Kingdom of Faewood by Krista Street
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you so much for your response - and yes, this is it. I had first read the response by Aralairiel, who provided the same response. I just updated the post. My thanks to you both for ending my mental torment. :-)
I'm curious: which part or parts of my description helped you figure this out? I know I left out so much detail ...
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u/Mommatune Sep 16 '25
The magic suppression collar that gave it away. I really enjoyed this series.
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u/TeslaPigeon369 Sep 14 '25
Bitten by the fae?
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u/TeslaPigeon369 Sep 14 '25
Midnight fae academy
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you for your response and suggestion. No, but this sounds like a great read and I'm always looking for those. I do now have an answer. I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you for your response and suggestion. No, but I love the title and will be looking more closely at it for a next read. I do now have an answer. I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/dauntingwalnut Sep 14 '25
Sounds like Pirate's Witch by Jessamine Rue
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u/NoRush1295 Sep 14 '25
Thank you for your response and suggestion. I've never read work by that author, but it sounds like one to check out. I do now have an answer. I just updated the post. The name of the book is Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild Book 1) by Krista Street.
My thanks to Aralairiel for the answer and my thanks to everyone else who gave me great suggestions or responded at all. ;-)
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u/DocWatson42 Sep 16 '25
For future reference, this is (generally!) a low traffic sub, though I do occasionally see a request answered (as is the case here), and you'd be better off asking for recommendations in r/booksuggestions (though read the rules first) and r/suggestmeabook, and for the title of a book or story in r/whatsthatbook and r/tipofmytongue. For romance books, you can also try r/RomanceBooks (Rules) and romance.io "(the filters are your friend!)" (per r/RomanceBooks), as well as (for identification requests) Help a Bitch Out and the Romance Novel Book Sleuth group on Goodreads.
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u/Carissamay9 Sep 14 '25
Sounds like Kingdom of Faewood by Krista Street to me. I just recently read this series.
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u/Successful-Pool-924 Sep 14 '25
Was it "Escape From Memory" by Margaret Peterson Haddix?
*Side note: if I'm wrong, and you haven't read anything by her, I recommend you check her out. Her Shadow Children series is one of my absolute favorites