Reviews

Azia: Daughter of Sleeping Beauty by J.A. Armitage

whitney0498's review

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5.0

I have been provided with a review copy of Azia: Daughter of Sleeping Beauty (Kingdom of Fairytales Boxset Book 1) by the author for an impartial review. This boxset has the following titles Queen of Dragons, Heiress of Embers, Throne of Fury, and Goddess of Flames.

Queen of Dragons

This is the first book in the brand-new Kingdom of Fairytales series and the first episode of four for the Sleeping Beauty Retelling. Since this is part one of four be ready for a cliffhanger so if that’s something you don’t like you might want to wait until all the parts are available before you start reading them. Each book is novella sized and setup in such a way that each chapter is a day in the life of the main character so each episode or book is a week in the life of the characters. I wasn’t sure if I would like this setup or the way it was written on the page with the breaks and everything, but I was pleasantly surprised with how it was done. I just had a great time reading this episode and I loved getting to meet Azia the daughter of Sleeping Beauty. It was just a story I had never considered before and I hated when I turned the last page. This story just dragged me in and I was going right along with Azia. I can’t wait to read the next episode of this series.

Heiress of Embers

This is the second book in the brand-new Kingdom of Fairytales series and the second episode of four for the Sleeping Beauty Retelling. This continuation is the second week of Azia story. I just had so much fun getting to reenter this world. It’s just so easy to get lost in and I just didn’t want it to end. Oh my gosh the way it ended I immediately wanted more. I just absolutely love these characters and I can’t wait to read the next episode of this series.

Throne of Fury

This is the third book in the brand-new Kingdom of Fairytales series and the third episode of four for the Sleeping Beauty Retelling. This continuation is the third week of Azia story. Ahhhh this addition to this series was just so good. I just didn’t want it to end and I just loved getting to see more of these amazing characters. I just got so lost in this great story and I can’t wait to read the next episode of this series.

Goddess of Flames

This is the fourth book in the brand-new Kingdom of Fairytales series and the last episode of the Sleeping Beauty Retelling. I hope this isn’t the last time I will see Azia and her family I just still have so many questions that were left unanswered so I hope the author will revisit these great characters. I just had so much fun reading this episode that I just couldn’t put it down until I turned the last page. I can’t wait to read the next series in the Kingdom of Fairytales.

marjories's review

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5.0

Forget the Disney retelling. This book starts to set the stage for a completely new take on what happened after the happily ever after in many familiar fairy tales set in 12 intertwining kingdoms.

In this version of Sleeping Beauty, true love's kiss might not have broken the curse. The dark times seem to be encroaching back on the land, the dragons are flying low, and there are secrets, so many secrets.

Azia's education seemed a little lacking for the role she is expected to assume as future ruler. She is more interested in swordsmanship than diplomacy and DEFINITELY not interested in a boyfriend until she finds out her parents have chosen an incredibly handsome cad for her groom, which causes her to acquire a fake - definitely fake, even that swoon-worthy kiss - ahem - yes, fake boyfriend.

But there is something about the arranged groom, more than he is letting on.....

Crazy complications arise, Azia's brilliant solution to solve her dilemma doesn't go exactly to plan or rather not to plat at all. Along the way hints are continuing to drop about the curse, and her origin.

Azia is immature and impetuous and everything is starting to unravel and spin out of control. It's the train wreck you just can't stop watching. Somehow through it all she keeps hatching more improbably plans to solve her issues. Each book more so than the last. Romance, danger, betrayal, battle, noble sacrifice, true love, searing loss, and yes, more secrets. So much is happening it is making front page everywhere except the Atlantide Conch.....what is up with them?

While some story arcs are completed and a few threads are tied off satisfactorily, this serial is just the beginning of a much larger tapestry and rather than some rushed deus ex machina ending, this story segues into the next section, leaving some overarching questions unanswered. Go find Blaise to see where the story leads next.
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