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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
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:
No
Another enjoyable entry in this series. It didn't capture me quite as much as some of the others had, but it has a good story and I did like the characters.
Well, so far I'd have to say this is my least favorite in the 'Beyond the Four Kingdoms' series. At this point, I feel like the books are perhaps getting a tad formulaic and rushed. Which leaves me with not as much connection to the characters.
Adelaide has been missing for awhile. Missing of her own volition that is. After the tragic circumstances of her family, her godmother helped her escape to a quiet town. Quiet until she was cursed that is; unable to communicate easily with the townsfolk, but perfectly comfortable around her swans, she's not resigned to her fate, but she has adjusted to it. But then Prince Gabriel comes along. A friend from childhood, he recognizes Adelaide, and is not content to leave her to the life she's living.
Adelaide, while she has an interesting relationship with the swans, is honestly not that interesting herself. She's resigned to her fate, resigned to her life and while she has a spark of ambition for some things, it comes across as inauthentic. Which then transfers to the rest of her actions. Gabriel was just too much too soon and he kind of whooshes in and does things and the rest of the characters just kind of go with it. As far as the side characters, they were ok. I liked Wren and Cora and would have loved more detail on their lives. The antagonist had shallow motivations and I think more character development could have really made him into a force to be reckoned with instead of a placeholder bad guy.
The plot was fast, furious, and haphazard. There were different things that happened that really didn't need to be in the story at all because they didn't add much value. While it sets up some of the "plans", it could have been told as soon as shown, because again, it was more a detour and didn't add much. Like most of the books in the series, it interweaves the others, and that's fine considering it's the 5th book, but it did it through a speech of Gabriel's that covered the whole history of the others and was a lot of info at one time.
I just couldn't get into this one. I didn't like the characters as well, thought the plot was not as developed, and just couldn't immerse myself like the others. It doesn't put me off the series, but I'm not longer rushing to the next book as I have with previous ones.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
Adelaide has been missing for awhile. Missing of her own volition that is. After the tragic circumstances of her family, her godmother helped her escape to a quiet town. Quiet until she was cursed that is; unable to communicate easily with the townsfolk, but perfectly comfortable around her swans, she's not resigned to her fate, but she has adjusted to it. But then Prince Gabriel comes along. A friend from childhood, he recognizes Adelaide, and is not content to leave her to the life she's living.
Adelaide, while she has an interesting relationship with the swans, is honestly not that interesting herself. She's resigned to her fate, resigned to her life and while she has a spark of ambition for some things, it comes across as inauthentic. Which then transfers to the rest of her actions. Gabriel was just too much too soon and he kind of whooshes in and does things and the rest of the characters just kind of go with it. As far as the side characters, they were ok. I liked Wren and Cora and would have loved more detail on their lives. The antagonist had shallow motivations and I think more character development could have really made him into a force to be reckoned with instead of a placeholder bad guy.
The plot was fast, furious, and haphazard. There were different things that happened that really didn't need to be in the story at all because they didn't add much value. While it sets up some of the "plans", it could have been told as soon as shown, because again, it was more a detour and didn't add much. Like most of the books in the series, it interweaves the others, and that's fine considering it's the 5th book, but it did it through a speech of Gabriel's that covered the whole history of the others and was a lot of info at one time.
I just couldn't get into this one. I didn't like the characters as well, thought the plot was not as developed, and just couldn't immerse myself like the others. It doesn't put me off the series, but I'm not longer rushing to the next book as I have with previous ones.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A unique retelling blending swan lake and the seven swans together. Masterfully written.
Princess Adelaide is strong, capable, and has a big heart, but a childhood betrayal has left her reluctant to ever trust or accept help. Prince Gabe is adventurous, light-hearted, caring, and daring. He reminds me a little bit of Eugene Fitzherbert from Disney's Tangled. He and Adelaide have known each other since childhood but had lost contact. The characters are opposites in a lot of humorous ways, but they share similar goals. The two must band together to save a kingdom that is essentially falling alseep as they become increasingly timid and cautious from a dire threat. The book had profound insights into the importance of trust and sharing needs in a relationship. This is a good story for those who like creative enchantments, daring feats, a compassionate yet strong main character, diverse and important supportive characters, sweet clean romance, and save the kingdom level stakes.
Amazing!!! Just like all of Melanie Cellier's books.
Warnings
Drugs: no
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: a smidgen
Other: n/a
Drugs: no
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: a smidgen
Other: n/a
adventurous
lighthearted
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:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No