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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A lovely empowering take on the swan princess.
I went into this book knowing it was a romance with a fairy tale twist and was pleasantly surprised with the take on Odette and her captor. This is not a tale of some helpless girl but of an empowered woman taking action in her life for herself, but also the people she cares for. The happy ending put a smile on my face and was a great start for the new year.
I went into this book knowing it was a romance with a fairy tale twist and was pleasantly surprised with the take on Odette and her captor. This is not a tale of some helpless girl but of an empowered woman taking action in her life for herself, but also the people she cares for. The happy ending put a smile on my face and was a great start for the new year.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Well, it IS a retelling so I don't know why I feel disappointed by it. The author did a good job really but when I came across it I thought it would be closer to the original story. I blame myself because I didn't read the synopsis as I was sold just with the swan lake retelling thing and got into it. I really should pay more attention. Overall it was quite an interesting story.
Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: Swan Lake retelling for the WIN!; gorgeous, descriptive prose; spicy...but only JUST; complex, believable character arcs; morally grey MMC AND FMC; "villain" gets the...guy?!
HUGE thanks to J. Ann Curtis for the ARC copy of this title! My review of this book is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by this gesture.
As always, the mixed feelings crashed through her when she thought of her dead mother, leaving her wondering whether she loved or loathed the woman. Perhaps that was love--some crazy mix between selfless caring and self-preservation.
This is a gorgeously written retelling of Swan Lake and y'all. When I tell you I went practically FERAL signing up to read this ARC? Oh my sharp, shiny beak. The Swan Princess is one of my favorite animated movies. I have pretty much every line memorized by heart. But THIS?!?! This is the GROWN UP version I never knew I needed, and I am SO HERE for it!
J. Ann Curtis went to great lengths to bring creativity and a unique eye to a fairly well-known tale. I adored the elements of magic. The idea that our captive swans are actually assassins and, therefore, potentially more morally grey than our wizard MMC who captured them was above and beyond anything I could have dreamed. The characters and their motivations (and...UNmotivations, in certain instances) are fully believable, and I found myself almost just as ensnared as our swans (except...ensnared by the magic of the read, not by transformative magic itself).
"I stabbed you," she muttered.
He chuckled, his warm breath washing over her face. "That was very naughty of you, Odette." He pressed even closer, his arms coming on either side of her, his gaze darkening. "Perhaps you'd like to find out what happens to those who stab me under the ribs."
I definitely recommend this to retelling obsessionists, fairy tale enthusiasts, and those looking for an adventure they can really get sucked into! I'm sure it doesn't hurt that there's also some spicy lurking between these pages. Will you break the curse, Penguins...or will you let it take control? Are you brave enough to find out?
Quick Reasons: Swan Lake retelling for the WIN!; gorgeous, descriptive prose; spicy...but only JUST; complex, believable character arcs; morally grey MMC AND FMC; "villain" gets the...guy?!
HUGE thanks to J. Ann Curtis for the ARC copy of this title! My review of this book is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by this gesture.
As always, the mixed feelings crashed through her when she thought of her dead mother, leaving her wondering whether she loved or loathed the woman. Perhaps that was love--some crazy mix between selfless caring and self-preservation.
This is a gorgeously written retelling of Swan Lake and y'all. When I tell you I went practically FERAL signing up to read this ARC? Oh my sharp, shiny beak. The Swan Princess is one of my favorite animated movies. I have pretty much every line memorized by heart. But THIS?!?! This is the GROWN UP version I never knew I needed, and I am SO HERE for it!
J. Ann Curtis went to great lengths to bring creativity and a unique eye to a fairly well-known tale. I adored the elements of magic. The idea that our captive swans are actually assassins and, therefore, potentially more morally grey than our wizard MMC who captured them was above and beyond anything I could have dreamed. The characters and their motivations (and...UNmotivations, in certain instances) are fully believable, and I found myself almost just as ensnared as our swans (except...ensnared by the magic of the read, not by transformative magic itself).
"I stabbed you," she muttered.
He chuckled, his warm breath washing over her face. "That was very naughty of you, Odette." He pressed even closer, his arms coming on either side of her, his gaze darkening. "Perhaps you'd like to find out what happens to those who stab me under the ribs."
I definitely recommend this to retelling obsessionists, fairy tale enthusiasts, and those looking for an adventure they can really get sucked into! I'm sure it doesn't hurt that there's also some spicy lurking between these pages. Will you break the curse, Penguins...or will you let it take control? Are you brave enough to find out?
Of Curses and Moonlight by J. Ann Curtis is a Swan Lake retelling. I have been having such an addiction to dark fantasy retellings, but this one was chef kiss. I will be counting with the rest of J. Anna Curties’ The Villian’s Kiss.
XXX- Laura
XXX- Laura
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
A beautiful swan lake retelling.
I'm a sucker for Fairy tale retellings and I absolutely fell in love with J. Ann Curtis take on the swan lake.
I'm a sucker for Fairy tale retellings and I absolutely fell in love with J. Ann Curtis take on the swan lake.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Swan Lake was one of my favourite fairytales growing up, and this was a lovely re-imagining of the classic fairytale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content