The Lord of the Labyrinth by Emma Castle-dual review

NOTE: Prices MAY VARY by online outlet.

Release Date: June 24, 2025

Special ebook Edition: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Google Play /

Special Edition SALE -> 99¢ B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

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SALE->Regular ebook ONLY 99 ¢ at the following links:

Amazon.com / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

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Regular ebook: Amazon.ca / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 24, 2025

Never rescue an injured barn owl…he might be a dark fae king in disguise…

There’s nothing worse than fighting with her stepmother, and Kate Winslow can’t take it anymore. Ever since she moved into her college dorm, her stepmother rarely acknowledges she is part of the family. Kate would love to belong, to dote on her little half-brother, but she doesn’t feel welcome.

Everything changes when she rescues a beautiful injured barn owl during a storm and whispers a wish as she buries her face against his white and gold feathers.

“Take me away from here…let me forget everything…”

When the feathers against her cheek transform, she’s suddenly trapped in the arms of a towering, harshly beautiful man. As darkness closes in on her, she hears his silken promise.

“You are mine now and forever, little one, I shall steal you away by twilight…”

When Kate wakes, she learns she is the war prize of the Lord of the Labyrinth, a dark fae king. And she has but thirty nights to find her way out of the Labyrinth if she wishes to see her family again or else she belongs to her captor forever…

Special Edition includes:
Bonus Honeymoon Epilogue
Music Playlist
A Discussion of Why We Love Fairy Tales
Creature Glossary

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Julie’s Review

In “The Lord of the Labyrinth”, Emma Castle spins a mesmerizing tale of enchantment, peril, and self discovery. 

Kate’s journey begins with a desperate wish for escape from her tumultuous home life, leading her to rescue an injured barn owl. This act of compassion propels her into a realm governed by a dark fae king, and to where the stakes are nothing short of life changing! 😮

Kate awakens to a chilling reality, she is now the war prize of the enigmatic Lord of the Labyrinth. With only thirty nights to navigate her way out of the labyrinth and regain her freedom, the clock is ticking, creating an urgency that griped me from the start.

The author’s imagination of the labyrinth is brought to life, filled with twisting paths, magical creatures, and challenges that test Kate. As she confronts the trials within this strange world, her character goes from a frightened girl to a determined young woman willing to fight for her freedom and family.

The dynamic between Kate and the dark fae king Roan is captivating. Their relationship is full of tension/menace and tenderness. As their bond deepens, Kate grapples with her feelings for a captor who embodies both danger and allure, creating an emotional tug of war that kept me reading well past my bedtime. 😜

The pacing of the novel is well thought out, maintaining a steady pace that had moments of action and moments of emotion. 

The author’s writing is so full of life, it brings the labyrinth to vivid life. The world building just added to the whole story, making it easy to become lost in the fae realm.

As the deadline looms, the sense of urgency escalates, building suspense and keeping us on the edge of our seats. Will Kate find her way home before the thirty nights are over? Or will she be forever entwined in the dark, seductive world of her captor?

Overall, “The Lord of the Labyrinth” is a delightful blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure. Emma Castle has crafted a compelling story that explores themes of freedom and love. 

This book will appeal to fans of fairy tale retellings and those who enjoy a gripping story filled with magic and emotion. 

Highly recommended for anyone seeking an escape into a beautifully wrought world where love and peril intertwine!

It does have “Labyrinth” the movie feel to it, but as I loved that movie I didn’t mind 😉 and the author even admits this is a retelling. 

And the special edition part? Well it contains  a honeymoon bonus, a playlist and a few other things. 

It’s a highly recommended read.

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Sandy’s Review

THE LORD OF THE LABYRINTH by Emma Castle is a contemporary, adult, fantasy romance story line focusing on dark Fae Roan Arun, King of the Twilight Court, and eighteen year old human woman Kate Winslow.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Roan and Kate) THE LORD OF THE LABYRINTH follows Kate Winslow as she struggles with her place in the family. It is Christmas Eve, and Kate Winslow believes her stepmother has turned her father against her, and when she tries to run, Kate’s car hits an owl, and our heroine must nurse the owl back to health but all is not as it appears to be, and Kate finds herself wishing for a different life, away from the family she no longer recognizes. Unbeknownst to Kate, the owl is dark Fae King Roan Arun, and he is about to grant Kate her wish for a different life, far from the people she knows, and into a realm of darkness and magic.

Akin to Jim Henson’s The Labyrinth™ starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, THE LORD Of THE LABYRINTH focuses on the coming of age of a young woman whose immaturity pushes the boundaries of her family’s tolerance. Believing her step-mother has replaced her mother in her father’s eye, Kate is often confrontational and wishes for another life but when Kate’s ‘wish’ comes true, our heroine must battle her fears in an effort to save herself, free her brother, and eventually liberate the Dark Fae King from a century long sleep in the darkness.

THE LORD OF THE LABYRINTH is an enchanting story of magic and mayhem, power and control, acceptance and love. Kate Winslow must accept the reality of the world in which she resides, a world that manifests as the monster of her nightmares, and the growth needed to accept the reality of her circumstance. Kate must choose, and her choices will affect the people she leaves behind.

THE LORD OF THE LABYRINTH reads like a young adult/ middle grade story line with the exception of the adult $ex scenes. There is more telling than showing, and in this, I struggled to place myself into the world I could only imagine as a world seen on the big screen or TV. As Kate must endure the tasks to save her brother, our heroine learns some valuable lessons along the way.

Copies supplied for review