Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
As it took over a month to finish, I had plenty of time to wonder how this could be so boring. Possibilities listed below:
* Maybe because I read enough futuristic/medieval fantasy romances in the '90s that this seemed old hat?
* Maybe because the obvious influence of Game of Thrones made me expect to see references to a few epic fantasy tropes and I never did. There were scenes that seemed to call out for them so strongly, it felt like Charlie Brown and the football. I guess that was more me speculating that KA isn't familiar with the fantasy genre and being disappointed by the wasted potential, rather than boredom.
* Maybe because of all the "it looks like Disneyland, but really it's just like home!!1!" moments. It's like going to Spain and strictly eating at McDonald's; what's the point?
* Maybe it's because I never figured out whether Sjofn and Finnie made a physical switch or just a mental one -- signs pointed in both directions, and it's kind of important to the story and....
.... so many world building questions I could never settle in to the narrative. I think that's why it took so long to finish.
* Maybe because I read enough futuristic/medieval fantasy romances in the '90s that this seemed old hat?
* Maybe because the obvious influence of Game of Thrones made me expect to see references to a few epic fantasy tropes and I never did. There were scenes that seemed to call out for them so strongly, it felt like Charlie Brown and the football. I guess that was more me speculating that KA isn't familiar with the fantasy genre and being disappointed by the wasted potential, rather than boredom.
* Maybe because of all the "it looks like Disneyland, but really it's just like home!!1!" moments. It's like going to Spain and strictly eating at McDonald's; what's the point?
* Maybe it's because I never figured out whether Sjofn and Finnie made a physical switch or just a mental one -- signs pointed in both directions, and it's kind of important to the story and....
.... so many world building questions I could never settle in to the narrative. I think that's why it took so long to finish.
Not for me. You know those airhead pretty girls Hollywood likes to portray in movies? The kind that don't have two brain cells to rub together? The MC is one of those. So are most of the other characters. Except the males, they're just a******s.
Really liked the idea, but the execution just doesn't work for me.
Really liked the idea, but the execution just doesn't work for me.
Oh my gosh, this book went far and beyond my expectations! I've been wanting to read it for a LONG time but have kept myself from doing so because it is fantasy. Fantasy is the one genre I've read the least of because there's so much world building that goes into these books. But MAN! I cannot wait to continue!!!!
Wow I can not believe it took me this long to read this book.
Okay, normally my reviews are pretty short but I have taken my time on this one.
First of all let me just say, I really wanted to like this book. Really, I did.
When I first started the book I was optimistic. I liked the way the author just jumped into the story. I liked Finnie's attitude. I liked that Finnie was and adventure despite being feminine.
However this novel had one big problem from the very beginning: Frey Drakker.
Normally I am a sucker for a hot, brawny, dominate male. Really. And usually I can separate life from fiction and enjoy those type of characters even when they have questionable moral alignments. But Frey crossed the line. Repeatedly. I understand this character was raised in a very different world and therefor has different set of morals but honestly I don't think that is a good enough excuse for half the shit he did.
His list of fucked up practices include (but are not limited to)
1.Coercing a women into sexual acts even when she makes it clear she is not ready
2. Forcibly binding that woman to his world without telling her
3. Belittling and degrading said woman for having genuine feelings
4. Switching out his wife's birth control without telling her (even though she said in one of their first conversations that she wanted to wait to have children)
7. Longing for the day that his adventurous wife (the quality he apparently loves about her) is pregnant so he can make her stay home and cage her in to "keep her safe"
6. Forcing his wife to abandon her hobbies (for her "protection") when she becomes pregnant, in spite of the fact that she wants to continue.
7. In general making decisions for her and not "allowing" her to do things she wants to do
All of this pretty much makes him despicable in my eyes. However my BIGGEST problem with Frey is how Finnie acts around him. She gives into everything he wants. Even if she initially protests she eventually relents. She forgives every single fucked up thing he ever does. We are led to believe that Finnie is this badass, strong, adventurer, however she shows no agency throughout the entire book. She simply goes along with Frey. It really, really bothered me.
I think novels like this are very, very dangerous. By showing that because Finnie and Frey "love" each other, Finnie can easily forgive everything Frey ever did because he did it out of love... We set a dangerous example to women and men about what a healthy relationship entails. By romanticizing abusive relationships, we help cultivate a culture where that abuse is seen as normal.
My other big problem with this book, and yeah I know some are going to roll their eyes but I am going there, is that 3 (out of like 5) of the antagonistic forces of the novel are all queer. In fact (I am 98% sure) every LGBT character in the entire novel is shady.
1. Sjofn- a lebian, while not being evil per say tricks Finnie into taking her place in a marriage she doesn't want.
2. Broderick and Phobin- Two gay men who turn out to be the evil masterminds behind the plot. Phobin (the apparent dom in this relationship) convinced Broderick to turn on his family and commit treason and murder. (Honestly I can't even go into how weird and fucked up this relationship seemed to be but I think it is really poor representation and ughhhhhh) They are both then killed.
I thought it was eerie that so many of the bad characters were LGBT. I don't think this is on purpose, however accidental homophobia can easily be remedied in the editing process.
ALL in ALL this book was a disappointment. Mostly because the plot and the writing were really interesting and fun. I loved the world Kristen Ashley built. But I couldn't look past how abusive the relationship between Frey and Finnie was. And the homophobia, while again I don't think it was intentional, is a big problem.
I would really like to live in a world were Dominate Men and Controlling asshole abusive men were not interchangeable in fiction.
First of all let me just say, I really wanted to like this book. Really, I did.
When I first started the book I was optimistic. I liked the way the author just jumped into the story. I liked Finnie's attitude. I liked that Finnie was and adventure despite being feminine.
However this novel had one big problem from the very beginning: Frey Drakker.
Normally I am a sucker for a hot, brawny, dominate male. Really. And usually I can separate life from fiction and enjoy those type of characters even when they have questionable moral alignments. But Frey crossed the line. Repeatedly. I understand this character was raised in a very different world and therefor has different set of morals but honestly I don't think that is a good enough excuse for half the shit he did.
His list of fucked up practices include (but are not limited to)
1.Coercing a women into sexual acts even when she makes it clear she is not ready
2. Forcibly binding that woman to his world without telling her
3. Belittling and degrading said woman for having genuine feelings
4. Switching out his wife's birth control without telling her (even though she said in one of their first conversations that she wanted to wait to have children)
7. Longing for the day that his adventurous wife (the quality he apparently loves about her) is pregnant so he can make her stay home and cage her in to "keep her safe"
6. Forcing his wife to abandon her hobbies (for her "protection") when she becomes pregnant, in spite of the fact that she wants to continue.
7. In general making decisions for her and not "allowing" her to do things she wants to do
All of this pretty much makes him despicable in my eyes. However my BIGGEST problem with Frey is how Finnie acts around him. She gives into everything he wants. Even if she initially protests she eventually relents. She forgives every single fucked up thing he ever does. We are led to believe that Finnie is this badass, strong, adventurer, however she shows no agency throughout the entire book. She simply goes along with Frey. It really, really bothered me.
I think novels like this are very, very dangerous. By showing that because Finnie and Frey "love" each other, Finnie can easily forgive everything Frey ever did because he did it out of love... We set a dangerous example to women and men about what a healthy relationship entails. By romanticizing abusive relationships, we help cultivate a culture where that abuse is seen as normal.
My other big problem with this book, and yeah I know some are going to roll their eyes but I am going there, is that 3 (out of like 5) of the antagonistic forces of the novel are all queer. In fact (I am 98% sure) every LGBT character in the entire novel is shady.
1. Sjofn- a lebian, while not being evil per say tricks Finnie into taking her place in a marriage she doesn't want.
2. Broderick and Phobin- Two gay men who turn out to be the evil masterminds behind the plot. Phobin (the apparent dom in this relationship) convinced Broderick to turn on his family and commit treason and murder. (Honestly I can't even go into how weird and fucked up this relationship seemed to be but I think it is really poor representation and ughhhhhh) They are both then killed.
I thought it was eerie that so many of the bad characters were LGBT. I don't think this is on purpose, however accidental homophobia can easily be remedied in the editing process.
ALL in ALL this book was a disappointment. Mostly because the plot and the writing were really interesting and fun. I loved the world Kristen Ashley built. But I couldn't look past how abusive the relationship between Frey and Finnie was. And the homophobia, while again I don't think it was intentional, is a big problem.
I would really like to live in a world were Dominate Men and Controlling asshole abusive men were not interchangeable in fiction.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the narrator. The world was really fun with enough detail to make it unique. An easy read as far as fantasy world building, quick to catch on.
I'm not a huge fantasy fan, which is why this book has been on my Kindle for years unread.
But I realize my mistake.
This book is amazing. The characters are fluid and realistic and the plot is quick-paced and interesting and the relationship is nothing short of swoony.
But I realize my mistake.
This book is amazing. The characters are fluid and realistic and the plot is quick-paced and interesting and the relationship is nothing short of swoony.
https://thelonelybooklover.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/book-review-wildest-dreams-fantasyland-1/