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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
tense
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5 ⭐️
First, I’m going to disagree with the comparison of this book to the Cruel Prince. The only things similar between the two books is that there are fae and the FMC is supposedly a spymaster assassin. But honestly, she’s as much of a spymaster assassin as I am. Which I am most definitely not. In general, for me, this was yet another book that made me so sad because I could see its potential, but the story just didn’t simmer long enough. It needed to marinate with the author for just a tad longer, and gone through another round or two of developmental editing. I could see what it was trying to do, and I loved it. A story about a changling grown and now sent to rescue the princess she had replaced. And to make it worse, she has to go into faerie with the very Prince she not only is in love with, but has been betrothed to the princess since birth. Plus mix in elements of the Swan Princess with the Twelve Dancing Princesses. I should have loved it. But unfortunately everything fell short. The plot, the characters, I could see what they were trying to be, but they just didn’t achieve it. But the most surprising was that I recently learned that this book might be marketed as adult. I completely thought it was YA. And it has nothing to do with the two mild sex scenes (there was one slightly less mild one, slightly) cause honestly I’ve sadly been seeing more of identical scenes in recent YA books. Nor the age of the characters and their problems. Because in all honesty, those parts can all be found in any Ava Reid book. But the difference between an Ava Reid book feeling actually like an adult book and this one feeling like YA is because of the tone and pacing of the story. This just felt stereotypical YA.
In addition, I think this needed more time because it felt like an early draft where as a writer you are just getting everything down, and because of that, you do a lot more telling. But then you rework those moments during edits to turn into showing. This felt like they missed that step. There was way too much telling. Telling of details that could have been shared via dialogue or wrapped around active action. And to make it worse, there was an unnecessary number of flashbacks that did not add to the plot or character development. And every single one of those flashbacks were like 95% the narrating telling us it instead of creating a scene and showing us it.
Overall, it was entertaining enough to drag me through its entirety. Although I debated DNFing often. It was just frustrating cause I saw those glimmers of what it could’ve been. Of excellent scenes. Only then to fall short or to turn back into telling. I think people will enjoy this story. But I personally think more people would if this had spent just a little more time with the writer and editor.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
First, I’m going to disagree with the comparison of this book to the Cruel Prince. The only things similar between the two books is that there are fae and the FMC is supposedly a spymaster assassin. But honestly, she’s as much of a spymaster assassin as I am. Which I am most definitely not. In general, for me, this was yet another book that made me so sad because I could see its potential, but the story just didn’t simmer long enough. It needed to marinate with the author for just a tad longer, and gone through another round or two of developmental editing. I could see what it was trying to do, and I loved it. A story about a changling grown and now sent to rescue the princess she had replaced. And to make it worse, she has to go into faerie with the very Prince she not only is in love with, but has been betrothed to the princess since birth. Plus mix in elements of the Swan Princess with the Twelve Dancing Princesses. I should have loved it. But unfortunately everything fell short. The plot, the characters, I could see what they were trying to be, but they just didn’t achieve it. But the most surprising was that I recently learned that this book might be marketed as adult. I completely thought it was YA. And it has nothing to do with the two mild sex scenes (there was one slightly less mild one, slightly) cause honestly I’ve sadly been seeing more of identical scenes in recent YA books. Nor the age of the characters and their problems. Because in all honesty, those parts can all be found in any Ava Reid book. But the difference between an Ava Reid book feeling actually like an adult book and this one feeling like YA is because of the tone and pacing of the story. This just felt stereotypical YA.
In addition, I think this needed more time because it felt like an early draft where as a writer you are just getting everything down, and because of that, you do a lot more telling. But then you rework those moments during edits to turn into showing. This felt like they missed that step. There was way too much telling. Telling of details that could have been shared via dialogue or wrapped around active action. And to make it worse, there was an unnecessary number of flashbacks that did not add to the plot or character development. And every single one of those flashbacks were like 95% the narrating telling us it instead of creating a scene and showing us it.
Overall, it was entertaining enough to drag me through its entirety. Although I debated DNFing often. It was just frustrating cause I saw those glimmers of what it could’ve been. Of excellent scenes. Only then to fall short or to turn back into telling. I think people will enjoy this story. But I personally think more people would if this had spent just a little more time with the writer and editor.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
This is a fun Fae adventure. Fia is a changeling who has been raised by a queen in place of her captured daughter. When her childhood best friend/crush is tasked with rescuing that same daughter from the Fae, Fia goes with him with another task - steal a magic artifact. The story structure here is interesting because the two of them can only spend 1 night a month in the fae world, and the rest of the time you get gardening, interpersonal drama, and cheeky fae shenanigans. This book might not be for everyone because there is a bit of a love triangle between Fia, her childhood friend, and the fae who she has to target. The ending was intense and I can’t wait to see what happens in Book 2! Drink this book: Enjoy with an intense and floral Gewurtztraminer
I wanted to love this book, I really did. I tried, but I couldn't get into the storyline and therefore I wasn't invested enough in the characters (it was a me problem).
adventurous
informative
reflective
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
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
I will never be able to let you go. You will always have a piece of my heart. A piece is not enough. I was made of earth and sky and endless waters. I was made to be loved fully, or not at all.
A whimsical story with descriptive writing, taking on Celtic folklore, it’s certainly different but a very intriguing read. There was something about it that had me hooked but also at times a little bored, I can’t quite pinpoint it. But overall I did enjoy it, and will continue the series. You get a little love triangle, some steam and an open ending to set you up for the next book. I enjoyed the botanical magic 🪄🍃
I want all of you. If you are sharp with broken thorns, let them cut me. If you churn with dark shadows, let them engulf me. And if your love only destroys, let it destroy me. I am already a doomed man.
A whimsical story with descriptive writing, taking on Celtic folklore, it’s certainly different but a very intriguing read. There was something about it that had me hooked but also at times a little bored, I can’t quite pinpoint it. But overall I did enjoy it, and will continue the series. You get a little love triangle, some steam and an open ending to set you up for the next book. I enjoyed the botanical magic 🪄🍃
I want all of you. If you are sharp with broken thorns, let them cut me. If you churn with dark shadows, let them engulf me. And if your love only destroys, let it destroy me. I am already a doomed man.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
At times I was lost in the wordy descriptions and world building. It was hard to visualize some of the things the author was describing.