Beauty With Teeth: What I Want From Fae Fantasy

They are dramatic, dangerous, beautiful, and built for morally messy stories. Which makes this a little ironic to admit, but I have not actually read that many fae books. Still, the ones I have read left a strong enough impression that I know exactly what I want from fae fantasy.

This post is part of Fantasy with Friends: A New Discussion Meme at Pages Unbound, and today’s prompt is – “Fae have been popular in fantasy the past couple years. Do you have a favorite portrayal of Fae? What aspects do you think are important to Fae characterization? Do you prefer traditional representations or unique takes?“

My exposure to fae fantasy is actually pretty selective. Instead of being eased into fae lore through dozens of books, I encountered them in a more limited but impactful way. That selectiveness shaped how I think about fae. I expect them to feel old, restrained, and deliberate, not impulsive or emotionally human. Most importantly, I expect them to feel other.

Trickery, Bargains, and Beauty With Teeth

One of the earlier portrayals that really stood out to me came through The Mortal Instruments. This series showed me the trickster side of fae in a way that felt intentional and unsettling. The obsession with bargains, rules, and the consequences of breaking them made the fae feel dangerous without needing constant violence. Nothing was ever free. Every favor came with conditions, and every word mattered. Conversations felt like careful negotiations rather than casual exchanges. That idea of beauty with teeth really stuck with me, the kind that draws you in and then reminds you too late that you should have been paying closer attention.

What worked so well here was the structure behind the danger. The fae were not chaotic for the sake of drama. They operated within systems. Laws mattered. Promises mattered. Hospitality mattered. Break the rules, and the punishment felt earned, even if it was cruel. That sense of order made their world feel real and their power feel frightening.

When Fae Are Allowed to Be Cruel

The only truly fae-focused series I have read and genuinely loved is The Folk of the Air. This series leaned fully into the cruelty of the fae and refused to soften it for reader comfort. It did not ask us to excuse their behavior or reinterpret it as misunderstood kindness. The fae were cruel because cruelty was part of how they functioned. Their logic was twisted, but it was consistent. It made perfect sense to them and very little sense to humans, which is exactly how fae should feel.

The fae in this series felt ruthless and emotionally sharp. Every interaction carried tension because you never forgot that these beings did not share human morality. Power was currency. Kindness was suspicious. Love was dangerous. Because I have not read many fae books, The Cruel Prince becomes my favorite portrayal of fae fantasy by default, but it also genuinely earned that position. It balanced tradition and innovation beautifully. The courts, hierarchies, and rules felt classic, while the emotional cruelty and manipulation felt fresh and unapologetic.

What truly sets this portrayal apart is how seriously it takes fae nature. The fae are not rewritten to be comforting or easily lovable. They are allowed to be vain, petty, manipulative, and terrifying, all while remaining fascinating. That balance is rare, and it is why this series continues to define what fae fantasy looks like for me.

What I Actually Want From Fae Characterization

So if I had to sum up my preference, I love the traditional beauty and structured courts of fae lore, but I also crave complexity and moral ambiguity. I want fae who operate on rules that matter. Promises should bind. Words should carry weight. Immortality should shape how they love, hate, and remember. I do not want fae who apologize for being dangerous. I want them to own it.

Give me fae who lie without lying. Fae who keep promises in ways that destroy you. Fae who love fiercely but never fairly. Make them beautiful, yes, but let them be terrifying too. Whether an author leans traditional or experimental matters less to me than whether the fae still feel like fae. Ancient, powerful, and just inhuman enough to remind us why they should never be trusted completely.

What’s your favorite Fae Fantasy?
What Do you Expect from a Fae Fantasy?

Just in case you missed,,,

• Beauty With Teeth: What I Want From Fae Fantasy
• The Best and Worst Books of 2025
• The Holiday Fakers (Hideaway Harbor #2) by Evie Alexander – fun and cozy holiday romance

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