How Does It Feel?: Infatuated Fae Book 1 by Jeneane O'Riley Summary

1. "How Does It Feel?" by Jeneane O'Riley is a dark fantasy romance novel.
2. It is not a non-fiction book.
3. This is the first book in the "Infatuated Fae" series, published in 2023.
4. It features a human biologist named Callie Peterson who accidentally falls through a fairy portal into the Unseelie Fae realm.
5. The story follows her forced participation in three deadly trials after the Unseelie Fae prince mistakes her for an assassin.
6. Fiction novels don't have "key takeaways" in the same way as non-fiction books.
7. Instead, they have plot summaries, character arcs, themes, and story elements.

About the Author of How Does It Feel?

Jeneane O'Riley is the #1 bestselling author of How Does It Feel? and a rising voice in whimsically dark and romantic fantasy. Her debut novel launched the Infatuated Fae series, which combines forbidden romance, human-fae dynamics, and lethal trials in a richly imagined world where danger and desire collide.

O'Riley's love of storytelling began in childhood, evolving from bedtime fantasies into darker, tension-filled narratives. A Hobby Mycologist and nature enthusiast based in Ohio, she draws inspiration from the forest, weaving elements of the natural world into her atmospheric fantasy settings. Her characters are intelligent, morally complex, and unapologetically bold, designed to keep readers hooked through unpredictable twists and emotional intensity.

Following How Does It Feel?, O'Riley continued the series with What Did You Do? (2024), Where Did You Go? (2025), and Can You Take It? (2025). Her work has gained significant traction on TikTok and social media, building a devoted fanbase drawn to her unique blend of whimsy, darkness, and romance. The Infatuated Fae series has become a breakout sensation in the romantasy genre.

FAQs About How Does It Feel?

What is How Does It Feel by Jeneane O'Riley about?

How Does It Feel by Jeneane O'Riley is a dark fantasy romance following Callie Peterson, an environmental scientist who accidentally falls through a mushroom circle into the Unseelie Fae realm. After being stabbed and left for dead by guards, she's challenged to three deadly trials by a powerful Fae villain who becomes obsessed with her despite his hatred for humans. The story blends enemies-to-lovers romance with political intrigue in the dangerous Fae court.

Who is Jeneane O'Riley?

Jeneane O'Riley is a #1 bestselling author specializing in whimsically dark and romantic fantasy novels. A hobby mycologist and nature enthusiast from Ohio, she combines her love of fungi and environmental science into her storytelling. How Does It Feel is her debut novel in the Infatuated Fae series, which gained significant popularity on TikTok. Her work features morally gray characters, plot twists, and tension-filled romances that cater to readers who love the villain.

Who should read How Does It Feel by Jeneane O'Riley?

How Does It Feel is ideal for readers who enjoy dark fantasy romance, enemies-to-lovers tropes, and morally complex fae characters. Fans of romantasy with political intrigue, trials, and spicy content will appreciate this book. However, it contains graphic depictions of abuse, sexual assault, and violence, making it suitable only for adult readers comfortable with darker themes. Those who love nature-based fantasy elements and human-fae dynamics will find this particularly engaging.

Is How Does It Feel by Jeneane O'Riley worth reading?

How Does It Feel is worth reading if you enjoy dark romantasy with intense emotional stakes and morally gray characters. The book offers vivid world-building in the Unseelie Fae realm, a compelling enemies-to-lovers romance, and unique elements like the protagonist's environmental science background. However, readers should be prepared for graphic content and a writing style that some reviewers noted reflects a debut author. The TikTok popularity and series continuation suggest strong reader engagement despite mixed critical reception.

What is the main plot of How Does It Feel?

Callie Peterson works in Willow Springs studying luna moths when she searches for rare mushrooms to cure a parasite affecting them. She accidentally falls through a mushroom circle into the Unseelie Fae realm, where guards stab her and leave her for dead. A magical fox heals her, but she's discovered and challenged to three deadly trials by an Unseelie Fae royal who becomes dangerously obsessed with her. Survival means freedom; failure means death in this dark fantasy romance.

What are the main themes in How Does It Feel by Jeneane O'Riley?

How Does It Feel explores several core themes:

• the tension between darkness and light, as captured in the quote "There is beauty to be found in the dark, just as there is horror within the light"
• enemies-to-lovers romance transcending species boundaries
• political intrigue and power dynamics in the Unseelie court
• nature and environmental conservation through Callie's scientific work
• the transformative power of obsession

The book examines hatred converting to desire and the complexity of morally gray characters.

What does "You're like a goddamn Disney princess" mean in How Does It Feel?

The recurring line "You're like a goddamn Disney princess" in How Does It Feel refers to Callie's unique ability to connect with animals, who consistently help and protect her. This nickname, often used by Cliff, highlights the contrast between Callie's gentle nature and the brutal Unseelie realm she enters. Her animal affinity becomes crucial to her survival, as seen when a fox heals her fatal wound and guides her through danger, making this seemingly whimsical trait a powerful survival mechanism.

What is the Unseelie Fae realm in How Does It Feel?

The Unseelie Fae realm in How Does It Feel represents the darker counterpart to the benevolent Seelie court, characterized by political tension, power struggles, and deep-seated hatred for humans. This dangerous world connects to the human realm through portals like mushroom circles. The Unseelie court values brutality and power, with royals refusing to touch humans they consider repulsive. The realm's harsh environment creates the backdrop for Callie's deadly trials and the unlikely romance that develops.

What role do mushrooms play in How Does It Feel by Jeneane O'Riley?

Mushrooms serve dual narrative purposes in How Does It Feel. Scientifically, Callie seeks rare toxic mushrooms to kill parasites plaguing luna moths, reflecting author Jeneane O'Riley's mycology background. Magically, mushroom circles function as portals between the human and Fae realms—Callie's discovery of a mushroom ring leads to her fall into the Unseelie world. This connection between nature, science, and magic creates a unique fantasy element that distinguishes the story from typical fae romance.

What are the deadly trials in How Does It Feel?

The Unseelie Fae villain challenges Callie to three deadly trials to entertain his people while determining her fate. These trials test her survival skills and wit in the dangerous Fae realm. If Callie survives all three challenges, she gains her freedom and can return to the human world. However, failure means death at the hands of the Fae who's become obsessively infatuated with her despite his intention to kill her, creating a twisted dynamic of desire and destruction.

How does How Does It Feel compare to other fae romance books?

How Does It Feel stands out in fae romance through its unique environmental science angle, with the protagonist being a biologist studying moths rather than a typical fantasy heroine. Unlike Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses, which balances darkness with court politics, O'Riley focuses heavily on the brutal Unseelie court and visceral content. The book's mycology elements and nature-based magic differentiate it from traditional fae romances, though it shares the enemies-to-lovers and trial tropes common to the genre.

What content warnings apply to How Does It Feel by Jeneane O'Riley?

How Does It Feel contains explicit content warnings including physical and emotional abuse, manipulation and coercion, graphic sexual encounters, sexual assault, and imprisonment. The Unseelie Fae realm is depicted as brutal and dehumanizing toward humans, with violence being a central element. The romance includes dark themes of obsession and power imbalances. Readers sensitive to these topics should approach cautiously, as the book embraces its "whimsically dark" categorization with intense, mature content throughout.