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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
3.5 stars
Had to dock a .5 because I now realize how much I can't stand Tor. I pretty much stayed for Cora, tbh.
First read: June 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Fantastical is so funny! Cora is hilarious, and I like reading about her a lot. And Tor is pretty charming when he's not being a jackass.
Had to dock a .5 because I now realize how much I can't stand Tor. I pretty much stayed for Cora, tbh.
First read: June 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Fantastical is so funny! Cora is hilarious, and I like reading about her a lot. And Tor is pretty charming when he's not being a jackass.
I won't stop being angry at random times during the day until I talk about this book, so here I am.
I started this book expecting nothing, then I saw it had potential to be something, but it just ended disappointing.
What to expect?
- Not complicated plot.
- Bossy Hero, who NEVER said I'm sorry.
- Mix between kind/spineless heroine.
- 2 or 3 steamy scenes.
- NOT GROVELING FROM THE HERO.
The hero:
Noctorno or Tor, he was the reason the book disappoint me :(
For some reason I don't understand since he was a JERK, I cared about him from the beginning. And every time he hurt the heroine and didn't apologized, I started disliking more and more the book. If I am honest, I think I liked him mainly because he called Cara "my love" or "love" and I loved that (wink wink). See what I did there? Let’s hope I never become a comedian. Anyway, for every time he was really sweet with Cara, he was also a dick. But those little moments when he really cared about her, I liked him a lot.
Seriously I wasn't expecting much from the book. If he had apologized at least once I wouldn't have cared much about everything he did.
Spoilers to have in mind before reading:
- In one scene after being in danger because of Cara (an accident, since she isn't from that world) Tor blames and manhandles her IN A CHURCH (she even had bruises) after that he leaves, for I don't remember what, and Cara goes to another place far from him. He obviously found her (like one day later). His excuse for what he did is that he was worried, and he NEVER said I'm sorry they just start kissing and that's it.
- At half of the book Cara listened a conversation between Tor and a guard in which Tor tells him he is only using Cara to have a baby and to have sex. He realized Cara listened what he said (I was liking this scene because she made him feel bad AT LAST) but then she has a minor accident Tor got worried like five minutes, something else happened. The next day he is bossing all over Cara (again) and everything is forgiven. NOT ONCE HE SAID I'M SORRY.
Even with all these problems this is a book you should read if you want to get distracted or if you want an enemies to lovers with a jerk hero who can be sweet and possessive sometimes. And if you are able to overlook these things I told you about, you can enjoy the book. Fantastical had so much potential but at the end it just left me with a bad taste of disappointment.
So far, I haven't found another book with the same fantasy vibe or at least someone like Tor but without the asshole attitude.
I started this book expecting nothing, then I saw it had potential to be something, but it just ended disappointing.
What to expect?
- Not complicated plot.
- Bossy Hero, who NEVER said I'm sorry.
- Mix between kind/spineless heroine.
- 2 or 3 steamy scenes.
- NOT GROVELING FROM THE HERO.
The hero:
Noctorno or Tor, he was the reason the book disappoint me :(
For some reason I don't understand since he was a JERK, I cared about him from the beginning. And every time he hurt the heroine and didn't apologized, I started disliking more and more the book. If I am honest, I think I liked him mainly because he called Cara "my love" or "love" and I loved that (wink wink). See what I did there? Let’s hope I never become a comedian. Anyway, for every time he was really sweet with Cara, he was also a dick. But those little moments when he really cared about her, I liked him a lot.
Seriously I wasn't expecting much from the book. If he had apologized at least once I wouldn't have cared much about everything he did.
Spoilers to have in mind before reading:
- In one scene after being in danger because of Cara (an accident, since she isn't from that world) Tor blames and manhandles her IN A CHURCH (she even had bruises) after that he leaves, for I don't remember what, and Cara goes to another place far from him. He obviously found her (like one day later). His excuse for what he did is that he was worried, and he NEVER said I'm sorry they just start kissing and that's it.
- At half of the book Cara listened a conversation between Tor and a guard in which Tor tells him he is only using Cara to have a baby and to have sex. He realized Cara listened what he said (I was liking this scene because she made him feel bad AT LAST) but then she has a minor accident Tor got worried like five minutes, something else happened. The next day he is bossing all over Cara (again) and everything is forgiven. NOT ONCE HE SAID I'M SORRY.
Even with all these problems this is a book you should read if you want to get distracted or if you want an enemies to lovers with a jerk hero who can be sweet and possessive sometimes. And if you are able to overlook these things I told you about, you can enjoy the book. Fantastical had so much potential but at the end it just left me with a bad taste of disappointment.
So far, I haven't found another book with the same fantasy vibe or at least someone like Tor but without the asshole attitude.
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Fantastical is the third book in Kristen Ashley's infamous "Fantasyland" series and boy this book blew me away, not quite as much as the previous two books, but was such a solid read. I have to admit I have tried to read this book a few times over the past year or two and quite frankly I will say the beginning is what really turned me off. So what made this time so different? Well, one, I was actually in the mood for a good angst romance so I think when it comes to the angst I really need to be in the right mood to really enjoy it. Now Kristen Ashley doesn't do these too often, at least not in this manner but boy I fell in love with this one. Once you get past the first few chapters you quickly fall in love. So if you are like me and struggle with the beginning, keep reading, it will improve, I guarantee it.
Our heroine, Cora Goode, wakes up in a strange world, where birds talk and flowers sparkle and an angry husband is awaiting for her. Cora is downright confused by what has happened, where her normal boring life is and why this "dream" seems so vivid and real. But when a woman claiming to be her sister disappears due to her actions, and her angry husband "Noctorno" claims her and its very apparent he hates her. But Cora knows she is not the woman he believes her to be and the difficult challenge is to try to convince him she is a different woman from a different world. But that task is much more difficult and they are battling evil that is chasing them and Cora will have to face up to the fact she is stuck in this new world, with a husband who aggravates her but also tugs at her heart in other ways, but will Cora and Tor find their way to the HEA or be separated by evil workings forever?
Fantastical I will admit I have had to force myself to read, but since "Broken Dove" which is the fourth book in the series I am reading later this week is part of the Romanceopoly Reading Challenge I just knew this is one of those series I needed to read in order. So I had to force myself to get this one read, but it didn't take very long before I couldn't put this one DOWN!!! Dang this book was so so good. If you love a good angsty tension ....this is a book for you. Their bantering was so hilarious, especially the baffling differences in their cultures they have to work through. I am just loving this fantasy world that Kristen Ashley has created. Its so full of magic, unique political dynamics, and adventure. I swear this author can do NO wrong.
There are so many factors involved that really make this book just come together in so many good ways. I really loved seeing Cora really battle through her challenges to find a place beside Tor and fight for their relationship. Because they both realize that it will take BOTH of them to reach their HEA. It's not just going to be one or the other, but both working with the goal of being together and fighting for what they believe in. And honestly, the FEELS in this story is downright emotionally provoking, you will not regret grabbing up this book and falling in love with Tor and Cora who will capture your heart in the typical KA way.
Overall I found Fantastical to be a story full of drama, sexual tension, plenty of laughs and adventure in the lands of Fantasyland.....come with a heart of readiness and I guarantee you won't be disappointed in this shining star of a romance!
Fantastical is the third book in Kristen Ashley's infamous "Fantasyland" series and boy this book blew me away, not quite as much as the previous two books, but was such a solid read. I have to admit I have tried to read this book a few times over the past year or two and quite frankly I will say the beginning is what really turned me off. So what made this time so different? Well, one, I was actually in the mood for a good angst romance so I think when it comes to the angst I really need to be in the right mood to really enjoy it. Now Kristen Ashley doesn't do these too often, at least not in this manner but boy I fell in love with this one. Once you get past the first few chapters you quickly fall in love. So if you are like me and struggle with the beginning, keep reading, it will improve, I guarantee it.
Our heroine, Cora Goode, wakes up in a strange world, where birds talk and flowers sparkle and an angry husband is awaiting for her. Cora is downright confused by what has happened, where her normal boring life is and why this "dream" seems so vivid and real. But when a woman claiming to be her sister disappears due to her actions, and her angry husband "Noctorno" claims her and its very apparent he hates her. But Cora knows she is not the woman he believes her to be and the difficult challenge is to try to convince him she is a different woman from a different world. But that task is much more difficult and they are battling evil that is chasing them and Cora will have to face up to the fact she is stuck in this new world, with a husband who aggravates her but also tugs at her heart in other ways, but will Cora and Tor find their way to the HEA or be separated by evil workings forever?
He was watching me with a look so tender it was a shock when I felt it slice clean through me. The pain was so perfect, it felt exquisite, better by far than any orgasm he'd given me (and he'd given me lots and all of them were good) so I bit my lip and looked away.
Fantastical I will admit I have had to force myself to read, but since "Broken Dove" which is the fourth book in the series I am reading later this week is part of the Romanceopoly Reading Challenge I just knew this is one of those series I needed to read in order. So I had to force myself to get this one read, but it didn't take very long before I couldn't put this one DOWN!!! Dang this book was so so good. If you love a good angsty tension ....this is a book for you. Their bantering was so hilarious, especially the baffling differences in their cultures they have to work through. I am just loving this fantasy world that Kristen Ashley has created. Its so full of magic, unique political dynamics, and adventure. I swear this author can do NO wrong.
There are so many factors involved that really make this book just come together in so many good ways. I really loved seeing Cora really battle through her challenges to find a place beside Tor and fight for their relationship. Because they both realize that it will take BOTH of them to reach their HEA. It's not just going to be one or the other, but both working with the goal of being together and fighting for what they believe in. And honestly, the FEELS in this story is downright emotionally provoking, you will not regret grabbing up this book and falling in love with Tor and Cora who will capture your heart in the typical KA way.
"He's a warrior," I whispered. "He has scars here," I moved my finger to touch his chest where Tor's scar was, "and here," I kept whispering, touching another place on his chest, "and...here." I finished with another touch and tipped my head back to look from his chest to his eyes. "He has your eyes, he has your voice and he has half my soul"
Overall I found Fantastical to be a story full of drama, sexual tension, plenty of laughs and adventure in the lands of Fantasyland.....come with a heart of readiness and I guarantee you won't be disappointed in this shining star of a romance!
I was extremely excited when I got my hands on this! The audio release was delayed but for a great reason and it was WORTH IT! This is book 3 in the series and a great continuation. With that said, this can be read as a standalone, though I suggest you read the previous books because they are GREAT!
While the blurb tells you exactly what the story about, but its the journey and what you discover along the way that makes this an awesome read. Cora is a heroine that jumps in and takes action. She doesn't coward when things get tough. Her reactions to learning about her life in the fairytale world is funny...she keeps it real! This is one of the things I LOVE about Kristen Ashley's writing style!
Speaking of Kristen's writing, love how she creates these characters that are true to themselves regardless of the circumstances. You as the reader can relate to the characters and fall for them. She also describes their world in a way that makes you want to live there!
All the characters are well developed and continue to grow as the story moves along. Speaking of characters, Noctorno, aka Tor, is one hot, sexy hero! An alpha but not an ass.... Because there is a difference.
Narrator Review: I was pleased to learn that Tillie Hooper would narrate the entire series. Not only for consistency purposes, but she truly adds to the story. Providing different voices and tones to the characters making the story easy to follow and giving the listener a joyful experience.
Overall, this was a great read that I highly recommend! You truly get transported to a different and magical world!
This and other reviews available at Viviana, Enchantress of Books
While the blurb tells you exactly what the story about, but its the journey and what you discover along the way that makes this an awesome read. Cora is a heroine that jumps in and takes action. She doesn't coward when things get tough. Her reactions to learning about her life in the fairytale world is funny...she keeps it real! This is one of the things I LOVE about Kristen Ashley's writing style!
Speaking of Kristen's writing, love how she creates these characters that are true to themselves regardless of the circumstances. You as the reader can relate to the characters and fall for them. She also describes their world in a way that makes you want to live there!
All the characters are well developed and continue to grow as the story moves along. Speaking of characters, Noctorno, aka Tor, is one hot, sexy hero! An alpha but not an ass.... Because there is a difference.
Narrator Review: I was pleased to learn that Tillie Hooper would narrate the entire series. Not only for consistency purposes, but she truly adds to the story. Providing different voices and tones to the characters making the story easy to follow and giving the listener a joyful experience.
Overall, this was a great read that I highly recommend! You truly get transported to a different and magical world!
This and other reviews available at Viviana, Enchantress of Books
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 Fantasy Alpha Male stars!
Seriously, Kristen Ashley books are like a huge creamy slice of cheesecake after months of dieting
or coming home to your moms cooking...they are so delicious and flipping comforting.
this was good but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I REALLY REALLY loved golden dynasty..I thought this would blow me away like GD did but..it was just ok, an easy, comferting read. I really like the stuff about the different worlds and of course the yummy possessive KA style Alpha Males
I was originally going to give this book 4 stars but then I read the epilogue and I was more intrigued with the story presented in the epilogue than I was with the story in the book...I cant' wait for the next one
Seriously, Kristen Ashley books are like a huge creamy slice of cheesecake after months of dieting
or coming home to your moms cooking...they are so delicious and flipping comforting.
this was good but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I REALLY REALLY loved golden dynasty..I thought this would blow me away like GD did but..it was just ok, an easy, comferting read. I really like the stuff about the different worlds and of course the yummy possessive KA style Alpha Males
I was originally going to give this book 4 stars but then I read the epilogue and I was more intrigued with the story presented in the epilogue than I was with the story in the book...I cant' wait for the next one
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
3.5 stars
This is the third book in Kristen Ashley’s Fantasyland series. In this series, we continue to have a female who is transported from our world into a parallel universe that is more like a Fantasyland (hence the series name). Two out of the three books in the series, the women have no idea what is going on, they just all of a sudden in a different world. They don’t understand what is going on or where they are at. None of the men know what is going at the beginning.
In this book, Cora Goode goes to sleep, but wakes up some place completely different. She is all of a sudden hearing birds talk to her. Her sister is there and she is like someone from a fairy tale as well, as she brisks about singing. That is until Cora lets her sister see her fiance before the wedding which brings about a curse. Obviously, the Cora of our world knows nothing about said curse, but the Cora of this world did. So everyone thinks she planned this.
Noctorno (Tor) Hawthorne is the prince of this land. He is also the ruler of another land that he conquered himself. His people and his men love him. He is the leader that everyone wants from a prince. However, no one likes his wife, Cora. She is nothing like the Cora from our world. The Cora of this world is lazy, selfish and quite frankly, a bitch. Tor doesn’t like her, but she is also the other half of his soul, so he’s stuck with her.
I enjoyed watching as Cora worked so hard to make people like her. It was not an easy task as her other self had gone so far out of her way to make everyone else’s lives miserable when she was around. She tries to explain to Tor that she is from a different world and that she isn’t the same Cora as his wife. He doesn’t know what his wife is up to, but he will enjoy the time that he has with this less bitchy woman. He is also a bit of a jerk in that it takes an awful long time for him to believe Cora.
While I enjoyed this story, it wasn’t as good as the first two stories in this series. I’m not 100% sure exactly what made me like it less. I think at times, it felt a little too Disney, maybe. There is also the case that both Cora and Tor go back to our world for part of the book. I don’t think I liked that part as much as when they are in the fantasy world. I don’t want to give this the impression that I didn’t enjoy it, I did. I just didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as the first two books. I’m excited to jump into book four to see what happens next and what hero and heroine we have coming up. In this series, unlike most PNR series I’ve read, you meet pretty much a whole new cast of characters for each book. The previous characters do make appearances, but they are extremely small.
Narration
Once again, Tillie Hooper did an amazing job with the narration. I don’t think she can beat the narration of Golden Dynasty, because that book had the amazing language that she made sound like she had been speaking it for years, but she did an amazing job here. I really enjoy how she does all of her voices, male and female. In this book, she had to voice a bird, which was different. The bird didn’t talk like animals from The Lion King (i.e. like people), but more like a bird giving you it’s thoughts. I thought she brought that out really well in the way she portrayed it. If you haven’t tried Tillie Hooper, I highly recommend her.
**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
This is the third book in Kristen Ashley’s Fantasyland series. In this series, we continue to have a female who is transported from our world into a parallel universe that is more like a Fantasyland (hence the series name). Two out of the three books in the series, the women have no idea what is going on, they just all of a sudden in a different world. They don’t understand what is going on or where they are at. None of the men know what is going at the beginning.
In this book, Cora Goode goes to sleep, but wakes up some place completely different. She is all of a sudden hearing birds talk to her. Her sister is there and she is like someone from a fairy tale as well, as she brisks about singing. That is until Cora lets her sister see her fiance before the wedding which brings about a curse. Obviously, the Cora of our world knows nothing about said curse, but the Cora of this world did. So everyone thinks she planned this.
Noctorno (Tor) Hawthorne is the prince of this land. He is also the ruler of another land that he conquered himself. His people and his men love him. He is the leader that everyone wants from a prince. However, no one likes his wife, Cora. She is nothing like the Cora from our world. The Cora of this world is lazy, selfish and quite frankly, a bitch. Tor doesn’t like her, but she is also the other half of his soul, so he’s stuck with her.
I enjoyed watching as Cora worked so hard to make people like her. It was not an easy task as her other self had gone so far out of her way to make everyone else’s lives miserable when she was around. She tries to explain to Tor that she is from a different world and that she isn’t the same Cora as his wife. He doesn’t know what his wife is up to, but he will enjoy the time that he has with this less bitchy woman. He is also a bit of a jerk in that it takes an awful long time for him to believe Cora.
While I enjoyed this story, it wasn’t as good as the first two stories in this series. I’m not 100% sure exactly what made me like it less. I think at times, it felt a little too Disney, maybe. There is also the case that both Cora and Tor go back to our world for part of the book. I don’t think I liked that part as much as when they are in the fantasy world. I don’t want to give this the impression that I didn’t enjoy it, I did. I just didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as the first two books. I’m excited to jump into book four to see what happens next and what hero and heroine we have coming up. In this series, unlike most PNR series I’ve read, you meet pretty much a whole new cast of characters for each book. The previous characters do make appearances, but they are extremely small.
Narration
Once again, Tillie Hooper did an amazing job with the narration. I don’t think she can beat the narration of Golden Dynasty, because that book had the amazing language that she made sound like she had been speaking it for years, but she did an amazing job here. I really enjoy how she does all of her voices, male and female. In this book, she had to voice a bird, which was different. The bird didn’t talk like animals from The Lion King (i.e. like people), but more like a bird giving you it’s thoughts. I thought she brought that out really well in the way she portrayed it. If you haven’t tried Tillie Hooper, I highly recommend her.
**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Yet another world class story!
Easily a 5.5 plus stars.
I don't know who Kristen Ashley does it, but each book in this series is fresh, entertaining and absolutely amazing. Once you start reading it, you can not put it down.
The characters are fully developed and the story keeps your undivided attention.
Amazing writing. Amazing world build. Amazing characters.
The romance is adult. The suspense is non-stop. Twist and turns that keep you gasping and making other audible sounds that tend to get the attention of others around you.
I don't know what sound I made, but my husband looked at me with that eyebrow thing and asked me if I was okay. I just shrugged and kept on reading.
Easily a 5.5 plus stars.
I don't know who Kristen Ashley does it, but each book in this series is fresh, entertaining and absolutely amazing. Once you start reading it, you can not put it down.
The characters are fully developed and the story keeps your undivided attention.
Amazing writing. Amazing world build. Amazing characters.
The romance is adult. The suspense is non-stop. Twist and turns that keep you gasping and making other audible sounds that tend to get the attention of others around you.
I don't know what sound I made, but my husband looked at me with that eyebrow thing and asked me if I was okay. I just shrugged and kept on reading.
This series seems to be the same book but with different characters….I did enjoy this book much better than the second book, but at this point I’m just trying to get through the series.