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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I didn't enjoy this one as much as The Sea Witch, but this is still a very interesting Sleeping Beauty retelling. The void elements reminded me of Shadow and Bone.
I liked the story, but I had problems with the main characters and their relationship
OK so sleeping beauty is hands down my favorite. And I also really enjoyed Maleficent. So this book had the bar set really high, and I wasn't sure it could live up to my expectations. And, unsurprisingly after reading so many of Rebecca's books, it absolutely did.
When you intertwine the villain and the hero I'm never sure if you can call it a retelling or simply inspired by, but whatever this is technically called it is done damn well!
The twist on beloved characters was surprising and well done. The spice... superbly written as always, and can we give a round of applause for how well Rebecca handles kinks. I mean she clearly has her favorites and themes you get familiar with but they are never written in quite the same way so they always stay fresh.
This book had an uphill battle trying to impress me and it made it look like a walk in the park.
Don't read ot of you need the story to be Sleeping Beauty, it'll fail you there even though she masterfully includes so many of the vital elements. But if you can handle a fun and spicy twist with a dash of angst and just a subtle hint of darkness (and I do mean subtle) then read away and and you won't be disappointed.
Now I'm off to see how she makes Rumplestiltskin shine in the spicy romantasy way she absolutely slays at.
When you intertwine the villain and the hero I'm never sure if you can call it a retelling or simply inspired by, but whatever this is technically called it is done damn well!
The twist on beloved characters was surprising and well done. The spice... superbly written as always, and can we give a round of applause for how well Rebecca handles kinks. I mean she clearly has her favorites and themes you get familiar with but they are never written in quite the same way so they always stay fresh.
This book had an uphill battle trying to impress me and it made it look like a walk in the park.
Don't read ot of you need the story to be Sleeping Beauty, it'll fail you there even though she masterfully includes so many of the vital elements. But if you can handle a fun and spicy twist with a dash of angst and just a subtle hint of darkness (and I do mean subtle) then read away and and you won't be disappointed.
Now I'm off to see how she makes Rumplestiltskin shine in the spicy romantasy way she absolutely slays at.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, War
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was such a refreshing take on Sleeping Beauty! Addictive, emotional, and lush. It got me out of my reading slump, too!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was over too soon.
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite fairy tales. (Not THE favorite; that spot goes to Beauty and the Beast.) But when I saw this spicy fae retelling (and it’s gorgeous cover) by Rebecca F Kenney, I couldn’t resist picking it up. This is my first Kenney novel.
And, I’ll admit, I had an ulterior motive in wanting to read it: I wanted to see how another author writes spicy content, because I have spice in my own work but little basis for comparison.
The spice in this book sure is spicy, and quite explicit too. Even though it explores areas of intimacy that I’m not into, I still felt the spice was well done, though perhaps a bit too crude in one or two places.
Malec and Aura’s sexual relationship had tension but things developed really, really quickly. I think that’s where the book disappointed me the most: the pace was quite break-neck and I would have liked to have seen more buildup first. I also would have liked to have seen the original cursing of Aura be played out in the text (at the beginning) instead of simply being related as a story told by Malec later. It would have been an interesting contrast to meet his character in that moment and, perhaps, have some kind of preconception of him, before meeting him again later and seeing him through Aura’s eyes.
In the same vein, I felt like there is much more to explore in this world than what the book presents. I would have liked the opportunity to see more of Caennith and Daenalla rather than just the small slice we get while Aura is traveling with Malec.
Malec was a very well done character. I liked his vulnerability and how menacing he could be at the same time.
I didn’t feel as connected to Aura. I’m not sure why, but maybe it has something to do with how feral she acted from time to time, such as when she actually bites Malec’s throat. Those kinds of choices are hard to relate to.
But, overall, this was an enjoyable read and I was sad when it was over. This is a book I will probably read again one day.
Four stars!
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite fairy tales. (Not THE favorite; that spot goes to Beauty and the Beast.) But when I saw this spicy fae retelling (and it’s gorgeous cover) by Rebecca F Kenney, I couldn’t resist picking it up. This is my first Kenney novel.
And, I’ll admit, I had an ulterior motive in wanting to read it: I wanted to see how another author writes spicy content, because I have spice in my own work but little basis for comparison.
The spice in this book sure is spicy, and quite explicit too. Even though it explores areas of intimacy that I’m not into, I still felt the spice was well done, though perhaps a bit too crude in one or two places.
Malec and Aura’s sexual relationship had tension but things developed really, really quickly. I think that’s where the book disappointed me the most: the pace was quite break-neck and I would have liked to have seen more buildup first. I also would have liked to have seen the original cursing of Aura be played out in the text (at the beginning) instead of simply being related as a story told by Malec later. It would have been an interesting contrast to meet his character in that moment and, perhaps, have some kind of preconception of him, before meeting him again later and seeing him through Aura’s eyes.
In the same vein, I felt like there is much more to explore in this world than what the book presents. I would have liked the opportunity to see more of Caennith and Daenalla rather than just the small slice we get while Aura is traveling with Malec.
Malec was a very well done character. I liked his vulnerability and how menacing he could be at the same time.
I didn’t feel as connected to Aura. I’m not sure why, but maybe it has something to do with how feral she acted from time to time, such as when she actually bites Malec’s throat. Those kinds of choices are hard to relate to.
But, overall, this was an enjoyable read and I was sad when it was over. This is a book I will probably read again one day.
Four stars!