Game of Wishes Begins

Izael, the cunning Unseelie Duke, delights in making deals with desperate mortals. When Alex, a human woman, refuses to admit she wants anything, he's intrigued. Their bargain: if she can go seven days without making a wish, she wins freedom and fortune; if not, he grants her wish and claims her soul. But Alex's refusal to play by the rules throws Izael off balance. When she flees into the sunlight—where Unseelie cannot follow—she lands in the hands of the Seelie, the fae's radiant but equally dangerous counterparts. Izael, unexpectedly desperate, realizes his feelings for Alex run deeper than he ever intended. The game, once simple, is now a matter of love, power, and survival.

Sunlight and Seelie Sanctuary

Alex, disguised by Unseelie glamour, is hunted by Seelie soldiers. In a panic, she accidentally transforms her pursuers into wildflowers, horrified by her own power. Alone and traumatized, she's discovered by Abigail, the Seelie Queen, who reveals her own human origins and offers Alex shelter. Abigail's warmth and wisdom contrast with the cold politics of Tir n'Aill, and she becomes a rare ally. Over coffee and bread, Alex confesses her confusion and guilt, while Abigail shares her own story of falling for a dangerous fae. The Queen's advice is clear: Alex must win the game, or risk the destruction of two worlds.

Queen's Counsel and Confessions

Abigail's empathy helps Alex process her trauma and the burden of her wish. The Queen insists Alex stay with the Seelie for the remaining days, hoping to shield her from Unseelie manipulation. Meanwhile, Izael, frantic and jealous, seeks help from Valroy, the terrifying Unseelie King, but finds only threats and rivalry. Puck, the unpredictable half-breed, becomes a wild card, offering Alex donuts and comic relief, but also reminding her never to trust the fae. The stage is set for a standoff: Alex, under Seelie protection, must resist both Izael's and Valroy's machinations, while the clock ticks down on her impossible choice.

Unseelie Schemes and Bargains

Izael's desperation grows as he's forced to negotiate with Valroy, who wants Alex's wish to break the treaty that keeps the fae from waging war on Earth. The King's cruelty is matched only by Izael's possessiveness. Meanwhile, Alex bargains for a week's reprieve on Earth, guarded by the odd couple Bayodan and Cruinn, Unseelie courtesans with their own tragic histories. The fae's rules are ironclad: Alex must return to Izael after seven days, or all bets are off. As she settles into her new, temporary life, Alex is haunted by the knowledge that her power could doom two worlds—and that her heart is dangerously entangled with the very monster she should fear most.

Seven Days of Solitude

Alex's week on Earth is a strange blend of mundane comforts and supernatural babysitting. Bayodan and Cruinn, though odd, offer her perspective on fae love and loss. She struggles with guilt, loneliness, and the growing realization that her feelings for Izael are more complicated than she admits. Izael, meanwhile, is tormented by jealousy and longing, watching Alex from afar and plotting how to win her back. Both are trapped by their own natures: Alex by her stubborn independence, Izael by his possessive love. The week crawls by, each day bringing them closer to an inevitable, painful reunion.

Heartbreak and Self-Discovery

Alex's introspection deepens as she weighs her options: surrender her magic, risk her soul, or doom two worlds. Conversations with Bayodan and Cruinn force her to confront her feelings for Izael, but she remains paralyzed by fear and responsibility. Izael, visited by Abigail, is told that only by earning Alex's trust can he hope to save her—and perhaps both their worlds. The iron collar, a symbol of both protection and imprisonment, becomes the key to containing Alex's dangerous magic. Both lovers are forced to reckon with the pain of loving someone they cannot have, and the cost of their own desires.

The Treaty's True Cost

Alex learns the true nature of the treaty: only a mortal can end it, and her unique magic makes her the perfect weapon. If she breaks the treaty, war will consume both fae and human worlds. If she refuses, she risks her own soul and the wrath of Valroy. The rules are merciless, and every path seems to lead to suffering. As the week ends, Alex is forced to return to Izael, who greets her with anger, longing, and a collar of iron that silences her magic. Their reunion is fraught with passion and pain, as both struggle to assert control over a fate that seems already written.

Iron Chains and Ultimatums

Izael's iron collar strips Alex of her power, making her both safe and utterly vulnerable. Their relationship becomes a battle of wills, desire, and trust. Izael reveals a new, cruel bargain: if Alex does not use her wish to love him, her soul will be his, but if she wins, she gains his soul instead. The stakes are higher than ever, and both are trapped in a web of love, lust, and manipulation. Their physical connection is as intense as their emotional turmoil, each encounter blurring the line between pleasure and punishment, freedom and captivity.

Love, Lust, and Leverage

Their nights together are a tempest of longing and resentment. Izael's monstrous form and insatiable hunger both terrify and enthrall Alex, who finds herself drawn to him despite her better judgment. The iron collar becomes a symbol of their twisted bond—protection, punishment, and proof of Izael's love. As they navigate the treacherous politics of Tir n'Aill, both are forced to confront the truth: love is not enough to save them, but it may be the only thing worth dying for. The lines between captor and captive, lover and enemy, blur beyond recognition.

Three Boards, One Heart

Izael juggles three games: appeasing Abigail by containing Alex's magic, satisfying Valroy by trying to win Alex's wish, and winning Alex's heart for himself. Puck, the time-traveling trickster, warns that every path leads to tragedy: Alex's death, Izael's enslavement, or the destruction of both worlds. Desperate, Alex and Izael finally unite in purpose, choosing to fight together rather than surrender to fate. Their love, once a liability, becomes their only hope. But as the final day approaches, the cost of every choice becomes unbearable.

The Impossible Choice

With time running out, Alex and Izael resolve to challenge Valroy directly, knowing it means certain death. They spend their last day together in bittersweet joy, dancing, singing, and making love—celebrating the life they might have had. When the moment comes, they enter the Maze to confront Valroy, armed only with Alex's magic and a ring of poison. Anfar, Izael's estranged father, offers warnings but no help. The final confrontation is brutal: Izael is mortally wounded, and Alex, in a last act of defiance, nearly destroys Valroy before Abigail intervenes. Grief-stricken, Alex chooses death over becoming a weapon, using her wish with her dying breath.

Death's Door and Sacrifice

Cradling Izael's body, Alex is consumed by sorrow and regret. She confesses her love too late, wishing only that they could be together. As the poison takes hold, she surrenders her magic and her life, believing she has failed everyone. Abigail and Valroy, united in their own grief, witness the end of the game. But Alex's final wish, spoken in love and desperation, carries a power neither fae nor mortal could have foreseen. The music of Tir n'Aill falls silent, and the world holds its breath.

A Wish for Togetherness

Alex awakens in Izael's arms, reborn as an Unseelie fae. Her wish—to be together—has rewritten the rules, binding their souls and granting them a second chance. Izael, restored to life, is overjoyed. The curse of the wish is broken: Alex's power can no longer be used as a weapon, and the treaty remains intact. Their love, once forbidden and fraught with danger, is now their salvation. For the first time, they are free to choose each other, without fear or regret.

Unseelie Rebirth and Reunion

As Alex adjusts to her new life as an Unseelie duchess, she and Izael navigate the strange politics of Tir n'Aill. Valroy, forced to honor his bargain, must allow Alex to claim Izael's soul as her own. Their friends—Bayodan, Cruinn, Puck, and even Abigail—gather to celebrate their unlikely victory. The world is changed, but peace is fragile. Alex and Izael, now equals in power and love, vow to face whatever comes together. Their story, once a tragedy, becomes a testament to the power of choice, sacrifice, and the wish to be loved.

The Price of Souls

Valroy, ever the schemer, insists on honoring the letter of his bargain: Izael's soul belongs to Alex. The irony is not lost on anyone, least of all Izael, who grumbles but accepts his fate. Their love, once a game of leverage and loss, is now a partnership of equals. The fae world watches with wary fascination as the Duke and Duchess of Bones forge a new path—one where love, not power, is the ultimate prize. The cost of their happiness is high, but both agree it is worth every sacrifice.

Peace, Poker, and New Beginnings

Alex and Izael settle into their new roles, hosting poker nights with friends and building a life together in Tir n'Aill. The threat of war lingers, but for now, peace holds. Alex, once a lost and lonely mortal, is now the Duchess of Song, beloved by her monstrous husband and respected by fae and human alike. Their story is a reminder that even in a world of bargains and betrayals, love can rewrite the rules—and that sometimes, the greatest wish is simply to be together.

Characters

Alex

Alex begins as a jaded, self-reliant human, thrust into the fae world by a dangerous bargain. Her refusal to admit desire is both her shield and her curse, making her a unique challenge for Izael. Gifted with the power to change the "music" of life, she is both weapon and target, burdened by guilt and responsibility. Alex's journey is one of self-discovery: she must confront her trauma, her capacity for love, and the consequences of her choices. Her relationship with Izael is fraught with passion, fear, and longing, evolving from adversarial to deeply intimate. Ultimately, her willingness to sacrifice herself—and her final, honest wish—transforms her into an Unseelie fae, granting her the agency and belonging she always lacked.

Izael

Izael is the Unseelie Duke of Bones, a creature of appetite, manipulation, and ancient loneliness. He delights in making bargains, collecting souls, and playing games with mortals. Alex's resistance fascinates and frustrates him, awakening feelings he never expected. His love is possessive, obsessive, and often cruel, but also genuine and transformative. Izael's journey is one of vulnerability: he must learn to trust, to let go of control, and to accept the pain of loving someone who might not love him back. His willingness to die for Alex—and his joy at being reborn with her—marks his ultimate redemption. Their love, once a weapon, becomes his salvation.

Abigail

Abigail, the Seelie Queen, is a former human who rose to power through sacrifice and suffering. Her empathy for Alex is rooted in shared experience, and she becomes both mentor and protector. Abigail's marriage to Valroy is complex—a union of love, rivalry, and political necessity. She is pragmatic, compassionate, and fiercely protective of her people. Abigail's guidance helps Alex navigate the treacherous fae world, and her intervention at the climax prevents further tragedy. She embodies the possibility of change, showing that even in a world of monsters, humanity and love can endure.

Valroy

Valroy, the Unseelie King, is a force of nature—part fae, part void, driven by a hunger for power and destruction. He views mortals as cattle and the treaty as a cage. His love for Abigail is genuine but does not temper his cruelty. Valroy is both antagonist and tragic figure, representing the dangers of unchecked ambition and the cost of denying one's nature. His willingness to bargain, manipulate, and kill makes him a constant threat, but his defeat at the hands of love and sacrifice reveals his own vulnerabilities.

Puck (Robin Goodfellow)

Puck is the half-Seelie, half-Unseelie fae who delights in chaos, mischief, and breaking the rules. His loyalty is unpredictable, but he often acts as a catalyst for change, nudging characters toward growth or disaster. Puck's time-bending abilities and irreverent humor provide both comic relief and existential dread. He is a mirror for the story's themes: the unpredictability of fate, the futility of control, and the necessity of embracing uncertainty.

Bayodan

Bayodan, the one-armed Unseelie courtesan, is a figure of quiet strength and wisdom. His own history of forbidden love and sacrifice makes him a sympathetic ally for Alex. He offers perspective on fae nature, the cost of desire, and the possibility of redemption. Bayodan's relationship with Cruinn is a testament to enduring love in a world of violence and betrayal.

Cruinn

Cruinn, composed of living glass, is Bayodan's partner and a survivor of Valroy's cruelty. Their resilience and kindness provide comfort to Alex during her exile on Earth. Cruinn's ability to adapt and heal, despite trauma, symbolizes hope and the possibility of transformation.

Anfar

Anfar, Izael's father, is a mysterious and ambivalent figure. His relationship with Izael is distant, shaped by fae customs and personal regret. Anfar's warnings and interventions are motivated by a desire to prevent tragedy, but he is ultimately powerless to change the course of events. His presence underscores the story's themes of family, legacy, and the limits of love.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin, the orange tabby cat, is both comic relief and a symbol of home. Gifted to Alex by Izael, Pumpkin represents the small comforts and connections that persist even in a world of monsters. His presence grounds Alex, reminding her of her humanity and the life she left behind.

The Nameless

The Nameless are bone-constructed monsters of the Maze, offering power in exchange for identity. They embody the dangers of surrendering one's self for safety or strength, a recurring temptation for Alex and others. Their presence in the Maze is a warning: in a world of bargains, the greatest loss is the loss of self.

Plot Devices

The Bargain and the Wish

The central plot device is the fae bargain: a wish granted in exchange for a soul. This structure drives the narrative, forcing characters to confront what they truly want and what they are willing to sacrifice. The rules of the bargain are ironclad, but the interpretation is fluid, allowing for manipulation, loopholes, and unexpected outcomes. The wish becomes both a weapon and a salvation, its meaning shifting as Alex's understanding of herself and her world deepens.

The Treaty

The treaty between Seelie and Unseelie is both a literal and symbolic barrier, preventing open war but creating a powder keg of resentment and ambition. Its clauses—especially the requirement that only a mortal can end it—make Alex the fulcrum of fate. The treaty's existence forces every character to choose between personal desire and collective survival, highlighting the tension between love and duty.

Music as Magic

Alex's ability to hear and change the "music" of life is a unique and evocative form of magic. It symbolizes her outsider status, her creative potential, and the danger of unchecked power. The motif of music recurs throughout the story, representing both harmony and discord, creation and destruction. It is through music that Alex both harms and heals, and ultimately, it is her song that changes the world.

Iron and Chains

Iron, the fae's weakness, becomes a tool for both safety and subjugation. The iron collar Izael places on Alex is a literal and metaphorical restraint, silencing her magic but also protecting her from greater threats. Chains and collars recur as symbols of love, ownership, and the blurred line between protection and possession.

Foreshadowing and Time Loops

Puck's time-bending abilities and warnings about possible futures create a sense of inevitability and doom. The story is structured around repeated warnings that every path leads to tragedy, forcing characters to search for a "fourth way"—a solution that breaks the cycle of loss and sacrifice. This device heightens tension and underscores the story's central question: can love rewrite fate?

Analysis

Kathryn Ann Kingsley's The Unseelie Wish is a dark, sensual, and emotionally charged exploration of desire, agency, and the cost of love in a world ruled by bargains and power. At its heart, the novel interrogates the nature of choice: what does it mean to want, to wish, to surrender, or to resist? Through Alex's journey from reluctant mortal to empowered fae, the story examines the tension between autonomy and connection, the allure and danger of power, and the redemptive potential of love. The fae world is a mirror for human anxieties—about control, vulnerability, and the fear of being consumed by another's will. The narrative's use of music as magic, iron as both prison and shield, and the ever-present threat of war all serve to heighten the stakes and deepen the psychological complexity. Ultimately, the novel suggests that true freedom comes not from denying desire, but from embracing it honestly—and that the greatest wish is not for power or safety, but for the courage to love and be loved, even at the risk of everything. In a modern context, The Unseelie Wish resonates as a meditation on trauma, consent, and the transformative power of vulnerability, offering a darkly hopeful vision of what it means to choose one's own fate.

Last updated: October 31, 2025