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kebreads's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this story. This is my favorite so far in this series.
Content: clean- some violence, a couple swear words
Content: clean- some violence, a couple swear words
a_ab's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Despite all of the deceptions, intrigues and attempted murders, this book felt very monotone somehow. So much so that this pacing made me lose interest and I almost abandoned the book early on. I only finished it because it was short, but I skimmed through some of the middle.
There is also a significant competence scale issue — threats to the heroine's life are the book's biggest stakes generating plot point, yet she is positioned early on and in one of the previous books as very competent, self sufficient and capable of evading all sorts of threats and disarming her attackers with ease. So the basic plot mechanics didn't quite work in this book either.
The romantic plot line is better than in the Shadow and Thorn, but much weaker than in the first two books of the series (#1 and #2)
It's a fuller sorry than the original, but not a retelling I liked.
There is also a significant competence scale issue — threats to the heroine's life are the book's biggest stakes generating plot point, yet she is positioned early on and in one of the previous books as very competent, self sufficient and capable of evading all sorts of threats and disarming her attackers with ease. So the basic plot mechanics didn't quite work in this book either.
The romantic plot line is better than in the Shadow and Thorn, but much weaker than in the first two books of the series (#1 and #2)
It's a fuller sorry than the original, but not a retelling I liked.
rachel_loves_2_read's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed it
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. I loved the banter. It was witty and had me laughing several times.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. I loved the banter. It was witty and had me laughing several times.
brii_brii's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lilytholfsen's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know if I'm just tired of this series, or if this book was actually worse than the others, but it certainly felt worse. Don't get me wrong, this book is still fun to read, and I love Brenna a lot, but it just fell a bit flat to me, and felt much more predictable than the other books in this series.
There were some parts of the book that were funny, little lines here and there, that I really want to give credit to. Also, Quinn is a great character. I need more.
One thing that really irritated me throughout was that everyone made a big deal about how Louise was way too old for Rom, but then Brenna and Rom had almost the same age gap. It made me uncomfortable, and was the most prominent of numerous gender roles throughout the book.
I'm going to be honest right now and say that I am a little biased, because the last time I read about Brenna, I really wanted to be the gay representation this series needed (I mean, even in this book she talks about how she's never met a man that's interested her). Instead, the romance was straight, very fast, and honestly a little boring.
There were some parts of the book that were funny, little lines here and there, that I really want to give credit to. Also, Quinn is a great character. I need more.
One thing that really irritated me throughout was that everyone made a big deal about how Louise was way too old for Rom, but then Brenna and Rom had almost the same age gap. It made me uncomfortable, and was the most prominent of numerous gender roles throughout the book.
I'm going to be honest right now and say that I am a little biased, because the last time I read about Brenna, I really wanted to be the gay representation this series needed (I mean, even in this book she talks about how she's never met a man that's interested her). Instead, the romance was straight, very fast, and honestly a little boring.
nicoleh3's review against another edition
4.0
I love Kenley Davidson's stories!
Fairy tales retellings are predictable. I enjoy how this author is able to take what you think is going to happen at the end of the book, tie it up in a neat little bow at the beginning, and then take you down a very different path the rest of the way through the story. It's refreshing and fun!
This was a thoroughly enjoyable (I just read The Shadow Queen and it made me cringe fairly often) retelling of Snow White and it had surprisingly deep truths woven in. A great read for young girls. Or anyone else who likes fairy tales!
*You'll want to read others in the Andari Chronicles series before this, or you'll be confused. At the very least read Pirouette.
Fairy tales retellings are predictable. I enjoy how this author is able to take what you think is going to happen at the end of the book, tie it up in a neat little bow at the beginning, and then take you down a very different path the rest of the way through the story. It's refreshing and fun!
This was a thoroughly enjoyable (I just read The Shadow Queen and it made me cringe fairly often) retelling of Snow White and it had surprisingly deep truths woven in. A great read for young girls. Or anyone else who likes fairy tales!
*You'll want to read others in the Andari Chronicles series before this, or you'll be confused. At the very least read Pirouette.
srishti_b's review
4.0
This is my favorite book of the series so far. I have always loved books about spies for some reason, and I loved Brenna from the Traitor’s masque so I was happy to see her get her own book. This was really fun and I enjoyed the return to Andar, which we hadn’t seen in the last few books. I enjoy the magic of the other worlds, but I’m finding that I enjoy more of Kenley Davidson’s books in which it is not as prevalent. I really enjoyed seeing Brenna in her element, and also seeing her realize that living as a noble was not staying true to herself and who she was as a person. I also thought the portrayal of Louise’s love for Kyril showed that sometimes there is a limit to how far a mother’s love should go. I just wish she hadn’t died. I feel like it would have been more powerful if she had had to face what she had done. The thing that bothered me the most about this book was that was that Rom was almost as much older to Brenna as her mother was to him, and since that was made out to be such a big gap, it didn’t make sense to me that it wouldn’t be addressed in the other case.
penguindragon's review against another edition
4.0
TLDR: An interesting retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
This version of the Snow White story definitely had some changes I wasn’t expecting and I quite enjoyed them. No prince. The “seven dwarves” are actually seven women (girl power!).
The story overall had more of a mystery feel to it and Brenna (our Snow White) is a spy and a Duchess rather than a princess.
The beginning of this story was slow and I had a harder time getting into it than I’d hoped. Once the action picked up though, Davidson’s storytelling reeled me in again.
The romance was organic, though I couldn’t believe the set up at first until the ages were better explained. I did enjoy Brenna’s kick-butt, take-charge personality though and she was fun to follow.
Overall, 3.5/5 stars for me. A little better than average, but not on the level of the first 3 books of this series.
This version of the Snow White story definitely had some changes I wasn’t expecting and I quite enjoyed them. No prince. The “seven dwarves” are actually seven women (girl power!).
The story overall had more of a mystery feel to it and Brenna (our Snow White) is a spy and a Duchess rather than a princess.
The beginning of this story was slow and I had a harder time getting into it than I’d hoped. Once the action picked up though, Davidson’s storytelling reeled me in again.
The romance was organic, though I couldn’t believe the set up at first until the ages were better explained. I did enjoy Brenna’s kick-butt, take-charge personality though and she was fun to follow.
Overall, 3.5/5 stars for me. A little better than average, but not on the level of the first 3 books of this series.
diadaily's review against another edition
1.0
Unironically makes out that a woman pursuing a man a dozen years her younger is disgusting and worthy of being mocked, and then turns around and pairs said man with a baby the same age gap in the other direction. Also there is a 14yo pregnant child bride, and she was a major protagonist in an earlier book. Gross gross gross.
amandasbookreview's review against another edition
5.0
“I realize it’s not quite the thing for gentlemen to find out that we have ankles, but should they also not be permitted to discover that we have thoughts?”
DAUGHTER OF LIES
Daughter of Lies by Kenley Davidson is book five of the Andari Chronicles and a retelling of Snow White! We met Brenna in book 3 and while we only got a glimpse of her, she definitely gave off some sassy vibes. But now she gets the spotlight and she hates it! She misses being a spy now that she has taken over as Countess. She reluctantly accepts an invitation to go visit her mother whom she barely knows. Being stripped of a normal family, she has a little hope that this could be the time to begin anew. However, that hope disappears when her mother reveals herself to be vain and critical. Not only that, someone is trying to kill her. The neighbor nobleman, Rom, seems a little dim-witted, but Brenna will have to work with him to find out who is trying to kill her.
Despite the fact that someone is trying to kill Brenna, this book is surprisingly light-hearted. In fact, Brenna is overjoyed that someone is trying to kill her because it brings some excitement to her newly dull life. She is far from a typical countess and I loved her candor! In fact, there were many moments where I laughed out loud. Rom is actually perfect for her. I was worried in book 3 that the author would try to force a romantic relationship with Alexei when they had absolutely zero chemistry. So I am glad Alexei had his own story and now Brenna gets to shine.
Another wonderful aspect of this book is the wonderful twists and turns. Even Quinn makes an appearance and now I desperately want him to have his own story. PLEASE. It would definitely be a unique story to be sure. Again, Esther Wane is the narrator and as always she is perfect. Another 5 out of 5 stars.
DAUGHTER OF LIES
Daughter of Lies by Kenley Davidson is book five of the Andari Chronicles and a retelling of Snow White! We met Brenna in book 3 and while we only got a glimpse of her, she definitely gave off some sassy vibes. But now she gets the spotlight and she hates it! She misses being a spy now that she has taken over as Countess. She reluctantly accepts an invitation to go visit her mother whom she barely knows. Being stripped of a normal family, she has a little hope that this could be the time to begin anew. However, that hope disappears when her mother reveals herself to be vain and critical. Not only that, someone is trying to kill her. The neighbor nobleman, Rom, seems a little dim-witted, but Brenna will have to work with him to find out who is trying to kill her.
Despite the fact that someone is trying to kill Brenna, this book is surprisingly light-hearted. In fact, Brenna is overjoyed that someone is trying to kill her because it brings some excitement to her newly dull life. She is far from a typical countess and I loved her candor! In fact, there were many moments where I laughed out loud. Rom is actually perfect for her. I was worried in book 3 that the author would try to force a romantic relationship with Alexei when they had absolutely zero chemistry. So I am glad Alexei had his own story and now Brenna gets to shine.
Another wonderful aspect of this book is the wonderful twists and turns. Even Quinn makes an appearance and now I desperately want him to have his own story. PLEASE. It would definitely be a unique story to be sure. Again, Esther Wane is the narrator and as always she is perfect. Another 5 out of 5 stars.