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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I make no excuses for being a big Kristen Ashley fan and Broken Dove is just one more example of what an entertaining writer she is. However, this is not a deep novel that will have you searching your soul for the meaning of life. This is a story that will take you to a fantastical world that resembles the middle ages with landed lords, kings, queens, and even hot barbarian leaders with a touch of magic. Although these stories can be read as stand alone books, the couples from the previous Fantasyland books make an appearance in Broken Dove and I enjoyed having them added in to support the story woven for Apollo and Ilsa. The Ilsa of our world becomes known as Maddie to distinguish her from her other world twin who was happily married to Apollo and had two children, but tragically died young. Maddie is transported to Lunwyn by the witch Valentine just in the nick of time as she faces her abusive husband from whom she had been running for the last three years. The Apollo of our world is a horrible, woman beating drug lord that Maddie (Ilsa) had married. The Apollo of the other world knew of the danger that Maddie was in and wanted the opportunity to save her since he was helpless in the face of his Isla's tragedy. The struggle of Maddie trying to distinguish herself from the memory of the other Isla was a nice twist to this story and added the needed tension between her and the other world Apollo.
Now for the negative. Although I did enjoy the story it was not a unique or especially intriguing story line. I admittedly cut Kristen a little slack for this book. She is a prolific writer and I am sure that it has to be somewhat difficult to come up with a fabulously exciting and unique story every few months. Since I am doing well just being able to articulate my own opinions I am not going to go all ballistic over a somewhat formulated story that I actually enjoyed! At only $3.99 for a book that is almost 400 pages and a nice escape to boot I won't complain too loudly! If you have never read a Kristen Ashley book don't make this your first one. Try the first book in the Colorado Series The Gamble or book one in the Fantasyland Series Wildest Dreams (still only 99 cents!) to see why readers like me enjoy her so much!
You can find more at my blog Monlatable Book Reviews at
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
Now for the negative. Although I did enjoy the story it was not a unique or especially intriguing story line. I admittedly cut Kristen a little slack for this book. She is a prolific writer and I am sure that it has to be somewhat difficult to come up with a fabulously exciting and unique story every few months. Since I am doing well just being able to articulate my own opinions I am not going to go all ballistic over a somewhat formulated story that I actually enjoyed! At only $3.99 for a book that is almost 400 pages and a nice escape to boot I won't complain too loudly! If you have never read a Kristen Ashley book don't make this your first one. Try the first book in the Colorado Series The Gamble or book one in the Fantasyland Series Wildest Dreams (still only 99 cents!) to see why readers like me enjoy her so much!
You can find more at my blog Monlatable Book Reviews at
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
Review to come. Absolutely loved this book! KA is back!
Where do I start?
Ignore the Lo haters out there *side eyes SB* as they have it all sorts of wrong. Or skimmed. Or had a faulty copy. I digress.
Apollo is the Creme Brûlée of this series. All of the heroes of the series have a hard exterior. Apollo does too, but it’s also sweet. He wears his heart on his sleeve. But when you crack through that hard shell, you get a firm, sweet center that melts on your ...
In reflection, I truly loved how Kristen Ashley intertwined the dynamics of the twin Apollo’s. One used his fists. The others his words. Both can hurt. Deeply. But it is what you choose to do after you realize your transgressions and how long you take to rectify. Needless to say, the better man ‘won’.
Maddie... hmmm... this is the only book where there isn’t any interaction of the twin; only historical reflection through characters. She was definitely a broken dove. Which for me was a bit disappointing as the other “twins” found their worth quicker in the story. So her character arc drug a bit.
I loved all that the secondary characters brought to the story especially the children.
The series picks up pacing as you read through it. So I found myself devouring at a much faster pace.
If you are a fan of her writing and love a twist on reality, take a chance on the series.
4.5 stars
Ignore the Lo haters out there *side eyes SB* as they have it all sorts of wrong. Or skimmed. Or had a faulty copy. I digress.
Apollo is the Creme Brûlée of this series. All of the heroes of the series have a hard exterior. Apollo does too, but it’s also sweet. He wears his heart on his sleeve. But when you crack through that hard shell, you get a firm, sweet center that melts on your ...
In reflection, I truly loved how Kristen Ashley intertwined the dynamics of the twin Apollo’s. One used his fists. The others his words. Both can hurt. Deeply. But it is what you choose to do after you realize your transgressions and how long you take to rectify. Needless to say, the better man ‘won’.
Maddie... hmmm... this is the only book where there isn’t any interaction of the twin; only historical reflection through characters. She was definitely a broken dove. Which for me was a bit disappointing as the other “twins” found their worth quicker in the story. So her character arc drug a bit.
I loved all that the secondary characters brought to the story especially the children.
The series picks up pacing as you read through it. So I found myself devouring at a much faster pace.
If you are a fan of her writing and love a twist on reality, take a chance on the series.
4.5 stars
I know the author is going to be wrapping up the series after one more book but she seems to be losing steam on the series. I hate it when great series end on a whimper. I want to see them go out with a bang. Hopefully, the last installment will be the explosive end I'm looking for.
Many reviewers were bothered by what is in essence a story of a man falling in love with identical twin sisters, one after the other (with four years in between), but given how different the two women were, looks aside, and the fact that he fully acknowledged he wasn't ever confusing one for the other, it doesn't bother me. What does bother me is how much power his young son has over the relationship. Huge, giant power. If the kid doesn't like the woman he loves, then that woman can't live with them, and they can't be married.
And the kid knows it. Now, he's a good kid and he has good reasons for feeling uncomfortable at first with his father's lover. But this storyline drags on and on and on. She has to work really hard for months to win over this kid. And that's not right. No child that old should hold that kind of power over an adult's life. It gave me the willies.
Secondly, ugh, yet another heroine who has absolutely no job skills, no point to her life aside from hanging out with her family and girlfriends. She even thinks it's super cute when the young daughter hates school and just wants pretend tea parties all day. Because if you are female in Kristen Ashley's fantasy world, it's ok just to hang out and giggle and basically contribute nothing but babies and looking awesome in a dress to the world.
I come from a culture where adults are supposed to work, and even if you don't have a job, you contribute to the world, to your culture. You do things for charity, you head local school boards, you support the arts and found libraries. You give back. Those who rule, they must also serve. Or even perhaps, they must especially serve because people with jobs, or who raise families without legions of servants, they don't have time to.
There is something sick, flimsy and wrong about a life of wealth spent giggling like an airhead in the corner, ignoring the needs of the world. Even in a fantasy land.
And the kid knows it. Now, he's a good kid and he has good reasons for feeling uncomfortable at first with his father's lover. But this storyline drags on and on and on. She has to work really hard for months to win over this kid. And that's not right. No child that old should hold that kind of power over an adult's life. It gave me the willies.
Secondly, ugh, yet another heroine who has absolutely no job skills, no point to her life aside from hanging out with her family and girlfriends. She even thinks it's super cute when the young daughter hates school and just wants pretend tea parties all day. Because if you are female in Kristen Ashley's fantasy world, it's ok just to hang out and giggle and basically contribute nothing but babies and looking awesome in a dress to the world.
I come from a culture where adults are supposed to work, and even if you don't have a job, you contribute to the world, to your culture. You do things for charity, you head local school boards, you support the arts and found libraries. You give back. Those who rule, they must also serve. Or even perhaps, they must especially serve because people with jobs, or who raise families without legions of servants, they don't have time to.
There is something sick, flimsy and wrong about a life of wealth spent giggling like an airhead in the corner, ignoring the needs of the world. Even in a fantasy land.
This is the story of Apollo Ulfr, the cousin of Frey Drakkar from Wildest Dreams - and his story started from the first book itself. He is a man who has lost the love of his life and when he finds out about the parallel worlds he ends up making a decision to bring his wife's twin, Ilsa Ulfr to this world!
But here's the thing - the Ilsa Ulfr of this world hasn't exactly known the best side of Apollo of this world, especially having been married to him. So when she is whisked off to the parallel world by his lookalike, it isn't exactly a bed of roses, especially with the way Apollo treats her at first!
"There would be no winning her. It had only been a day and in that day, her adorable stubbornness, even her exasperating peevishness, he realized he wanted to win her more than he had before."
Ilsa Ulfr aka Miss Madeleine or Maddie is a broken woman. She hasn't exactly had the most fruitful life, with her parents abandoning her, and the choices she made in her love life - she isn't looking forward to be a replacement to woman so obviously loved by her husband and her children, something that she never had in her life.
Apollo, on the other hand, I was a little uncertain of - for he didn't understand that no woman, none at all, would want to be a replacement for another woman. And the way he treated her (even if it was with a bit of indifference!), was a little heartbreaking and I didn't know if he would be able to redeem himself. It didn't take long for him to understand that Maddie and his late wife are two different people.
There are of course more than these two involved in this story, and it took everything in me to actually not break down with the angst in this book and the level of angst is quite high with this one! And not to mention, evil is slowly gaining power and until all the couples get their stuff together, they will definitely win!!
"It takes more than fairytale worlds to fix what’s broken in me. And this is because I live every day knowing it was me who broke it.”
I liked Maddie - she is fragile and definitely sensitive - and how I wished that she had had the strength to actually find her footing like she actually wanted to. She kept reiterating that she needed to find herself, yet she didn't do anything more than just saying it - and I honestly got the fear she had for opening herself up, I did. What I didn't get was, why she couldn't actually find herself, even if she had to do so with the help of people around her!
“It is my responsibility as the man who loves you and wants you to be his wife to mend what’s broken in you … I’ll not forget again that I must treat you with care.”
Now, Apollo was a hard man to warm up to - somehow even if after knowing the kind of life Maddie had led till now, he still went ahead to treat her with a bit of callousness that I certainly did not expect, or even understand even if I did get his POV.
He understood the preciousness that was in his life, a little late and I just wish he had had the chance of actually understanding a bit earlier rather than a bit late in the story!
But when he did? Oh. My. God. He was the perfect match for Maddie, and definitely redeemed himself quite perfectly in my eyes, even if was a little late.
"Love like you build with Miss Madeleine is as she is. It is not of this world. Not of her world. It is beyond the worlds. It is beyond anything."
The plot with evil witches on the other hand, explodes quite amazingly in this one - and it is quite amazing to see that the heroines are the one who rescue themselves rather than actually waiting around for their men to be heroes!
Every couple makes an appearance in this book, and I honestly it was so fun revisiting all the couples and the way they are slowly moving towards their HEA.
Point to be made though is that this one seems to have ended the witches ARC, and I actually thought this was the end to this series, until the Midnight Soul was announced and now I can't wait to see where KA takes the end of the series to!
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
But here's the thing - the Ilsa Ulfr of this world hasn't exactly known the best side of Apollo of this world, especially having been married to him. So when she is whisked off to the parallel world by his lookalike, it isn't exactly a bed of roses, especially with the way Apollo treats her at first!
"There would be no winning her. It had only been a day and in that day, her adorable stubbornness, even her exasperating peevishness, he realized he wanted to win her more than he had before."
Ilsa Ulfr aka Miss Madeleine or Maddie is a broken woman. She hasn't exactly had the most fruitful life, with her parents abandoning her, and the choices she made in her love life - she isn't looking forward to be a replacement to woman so obviously loved by her husband and her children, something that she never had in her life.
Apollo, on the other hand, I was a little uncertain of - for he didn't understand that no woman, none at all, would want to be a replacement for another woman. And the way he treated her (even if it was with a bit of indifference!), was a little heartbreaking and I didn't know if he would be able to redeem himself. It didn't take long for him to understand that Maddie and his late wife are two different people.
There are of course more than these two involved in this story, and it took everything in me to actually not break down with the angst in this book and the level of angst is quite high with this one! And not to mention, evil is slowly gaining power and until all the couples get their stuff together, they will definitely win!!
"It takes more than fairytale worlds to fix what’s broken in me. And this is because I live every day knowing it was me who broke it.”
I liked Maddie - she is fragile and definitely sensitive - and how I wished that she had had the strength to actually find her footing like she actually wanted to. She kept reiterating that she needed to find herself, yet she didn't do anything more than just saying it - and I honestly got the fear she had for opening herself up, I did. What I didn't get was, why she couldn't actually find herself, even if she had to do so with the help of people around her!
“It is my responsibility as the man who loves you and wants you to be his wife to mend what’s broken in you … I’ll not forget again that I must treat you with care.”
Now, Apollo was a hard man to warm up to - somehow even if after knowing the kind of life Maddie had led till now, he still went ahead to treat her with a bit of callousness that I certainly did not expect, or even understand even if I did get his POV.
He understood the preciousness that was in his life, a little late and I just wish he had had the chance of actually understanding a bit earlier rather than a bit late in the story!
But when he did? Oh. My. God. He was the perfect match for Maddie, and definitely redeemed himself quite perfectly in my eyes, even if was a little late.
"Love like you build with Miss Madeleine is as she is. It is not of this world. Not of her world. It is beyond the worlds. It is beyond anything."
The plot with evil witches on the other hand, explodes quite amazingly in this one - and it is quite amazing to see that the heroines are the one who rescue themselves rather than actually waiting around for their men to be heroes!
Every couple makes an appearance in this book, and I honestly it was so fun revisiting all the couples and the way they are slowly moving towards their HEA.
Point to be made though is that this one seems to have ended the witches ARC, and I actually thought this was the end to this series, until the Midnight Soul was announced and now I can't wait to see where KA takes the end of the series to!
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
The Premise
The fourth book in Ms. Ashley’s Fantasyland series, focuses on Ilsa Ulfr, who has suffered greatly by the hand of her abusive husband, Apollo “Pol” Ulfr, and has been on the run for years. Just as he tracks her down and seems ready to do away with her, Apollo Ulfr from a parallel universe pops into her world and whisks her away to a strange place that seems familiar yet fantastical.
Apollo Ulfr, of the House of Ulfr, has mourned his wife, Ilsa, for four years. When he discovers that everyone has a “twin” in another universe, he tasks the witch Valentine, to bring his wife’s doppelganger, to his world. But what he finds is a woman who may look just like his wife, but the broken Ilsa nothing like his beloved, and further, wants nothing to do with her.
My Thoughts
I’ve been a big fan of Ms. Ashley’s books and I have gladly devoured her entire backlist. Lately though, some of her new books weren’t up to her usual standard and have been a bit...generic, for me. While I enjoy her particular formula, there has been an emphasis on the formula and less on the individual characters and what makes them tick...the very things that drew me to her in the first place.
However, while Broken Dove isn’t perfect - there is some stilted dialogue, and some of the descriptive passages can go on a while longer than I’d like - it is a step in the right direction. Ms. Ashley’s strength has always been a “stream of consciousness” type of writing that pulls you right into the character’s mind and evoking intense emotions. The chemistry is strong between the MCs and the love scenes are fantastic.
In this book, Apollo and Ilsa (renamed Maddie in honor of her new life), you get a great glimpse into Maddie and Appollo’s minds - both have had vastly different experiences with their spouses, and Ilsa in particular definitely suffers from battered woman syndrome. During moments when her behavior was frustrating, at least it felt true to character, and completely in line with the life she led before she met the Fantasyland version of Apollo. Apollo is a good alpha hero who, while he makes some questionable verbal choices regarding Maddie, is trying to do right for his kids, which is always appealing. Seeing the other MCs from previous books was fun, and yet they didn’t overtake the action. That said, I think that it’s a book best read in order. It would affect the enjoyment of the book, since an ongoing plotline comes to a conclusion in this entry and without the buildup, it loses some of its emotional punch.
The Bottom Line
I was concerned going in, but I absolutely enjoyed this latest installment in the Fantasyland series, and I look forward to reading the next adventure - Noc seems like a character with great potential.
The fourth book in Ms. Ashley’s Fantasyland series, focuses on Ilsa Ulfr, who has suffered greatly by the hand of her abusive husband, Apollo “Pol” Ulfr, and has been on the run for years. Just as he tracks her down and seems ready to do away with her, Apollo Ulfr from a parallel universe pops into her world and whisks her away to a strange place that seems familiar yet fantastical.
Apollo Ulfr, of the House of Ulfr, has mourned his wife, Ilsa, for four years. When he discovers that everyone has a “twin” in another universe, he tasks the witch Valentine, to bring his wife’s doppelganger, to his world. But what he finds is a woman who may look just like his wife, but the broken Ilsa nothing like his beloved, and further, wants nothing to do with her.
My Thoughts
I’ve been a big fan of Ms. Ashley’s books and I have gladly devoured her entire backlist. Lately though, some of her new books weren’t up to her usual standard and have been a bit...generic, for me. While I enjoy her particular formula, there has been an emphasis on the formula and less on the individual characters and what makes them tick...the very things that drew me to her in the first place.
However, while Broken Dove isn’t perfect - there is some stilted dialogue, and some of the descriptive passages can go on a while longer than I’d like - it is a step in the right direction. Ms. Ashley’s strength has always been a “stream of consciousness” type of writing that pulls you right into the character’s mind and evoking intense emotions. The chemistry is strong between the MCs and the love scenes are fantastic.
In this book, Apollo and Ilsa (renamed Maddie in honor of her new life), you get a great glimpse into Maddie and Appollo’s minds - both have had vastly different experiences with their spouses, and Ilsa in particular definitely suffers from battered woman syndrome. During moments when her behavior was frustrating, at least it felt true to character, and completely in line with the life she led before she met the Fantasyland version of Apollo. Apollo is a good alpha hero who, while he makes some questionable verbal choices regarding Maddie, is trying to do right for his kids, which is always appealing. Seeing the other MCs from previous books was fun, and yet they didn’t overtake the action. That said, I think that it’s a book best read in order. It would affect the enjoyment of the book, since an ongoing plotline comes to a conclusion in this entry and without the buildup, it loses some of its emotional punch.
The Bottom Line
I was concerned going in, but I absolutely enjoyed this latest installment in the Fantasyland series, and I look forward to reading the next adventure - Noc seems like a character with great potential.