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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I love that they spent a significant amount of time in Cora's world!
Loved Cora and Tor, definitely excited about Noc getting his own book.
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoy the switching worlds storyline. I love the other universe with talking animals and sexy weapon welding warriors. Even tho this isn't my favourite I loved it. Tor is deeply hurt and doesn't believe Cora when she try's to explain shes from a totally different person. I like that the women are strong and independent but balance out the hero's in story. As I read a lot of erotica I though the mild sex play would bore me but not in slightest. Love that all three main character come together in this book even if it's for a few lines. Apollo gonna have a hard road but I bet it's a great one. Great sort of HEA but really good ending.
Not my favorite in the series to this point, but I laughed a little, I cried a lot, and it was so full of love in the end. I am looking forward to the rest of the series for sure.
Wow. This was definitely my favourite out of the series.
I’m Fantastical, we find Modern Day Cora waking up to a land she knows nothing about. She thinks she’s dreaming, because why wouldn’t you? In her ignorance, she accidentally starts a curse the whole kingdom has been trying to avoid and is whisked away to safety by a very begrudging Prince Tor and the real drama begins.
While I hated Tor for the way he treated Cora in the beginning, it really was beautiful to see the turn around from there. Plus I guess I can’t reeeally blame him for his scepticism, just for his actions in that cake scene in his office.
The cake scene is one of my favourite heartbreaking moments of all time and I’ve reread it several times since finishing the book. It just hurts so good!
I loved Cora as a character. She was strong and determined to make the best of things, despite being stuck in a difficult situation. She makes a life for herself, makes friends, and is unerringly sweet. All of that again is why the cake scene cuts so deep.
Despite his many faults, Tor is still one of my favourite men in this series. When he finally gets over himself, he’s protective, caring, ready to take on the world for those he loves. When the giant plot twist comes, he really shines. His adventurous, self-assured personality kicks into gear and he’s deliciously impressive.
We also meet a character who I knew was going to be super important in the coming books. Sure, he looked like he could kill your and stuff you in his trunk, but he was a sweet, protective teddy bear in the end.
I’m so proud of all of the characters for how they started and where they ended up. It’s such a beautiful, precious story with a gooey HEA, I encourage everyone to read it.
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m Fantastical, we find Modern Day Cora waking up to a land she knows nothing about. She thinks she’s dreaming, because why wouldn’t you? In her ignorance, she accidentally starts a curse the whole kingdom has been trying to avoid and is whisked away to safety by a very begrudging Prince Tor and the real drama begins.
While I hated Tor for the way he treated Cora in the beginning, it really was beautiful to see the turn around from there. Plus I guess I can’t reeeally blame him for his scepticism, just for his actions in that cake scene in his office.
The cake scene is one of my favourite heartbreaking moments of all time and I’ve reread it several times since finishing the book. It just hurts so good!
I loved Cora as a character. She was strong and determined to make the best of things, despite being stuck in a difficult situation. She makes a life for herself, makes friends, and is unerringly sweet. All of that again is why the cake scene cuts so deep.
Despite his many faults, Tor is still one of my favourite men in this series. When he finally gets over himself, he’s protective, caring, ready to take on the world for those he loves. When the giant plot twist comes, he really shines. His adventurous, self-assured personality kicks into gear and he’s deliciously impressive.
We also meet a character who I knew was going to be super important in the coming books. Sure, he looked like he could kill your and stuff you in his trunk, but he was a sweet, protective teddy bear in the end.
I’m so proud of all of the characters for how they started and where they ended up. It’s such a beautiful, precious story with a gooey HEA, I encourage everyone to read it.
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A cliffhanger?? Did not see that coming. Thought KA books were safe!
Fantastical (Fantasyland 3) by Kristen Ashley
3rd in a series of interconnected standalones. Though they are about different couples, they start tying in more later in the series. You should read in order.
4.5 stars
I am so in love with The Fantasyland Series by Kristen Ashley. Her books are always an escape, but this series is so much more. I never thought I'd be into fantasy, but once again, Kristen Ashley converted me. I loved Wildest Dreams and I adored The Golden Dynasty. They were two new permanent favorites. I loved Fantastical as well, but not quite as much as the first two.
Fantastical was more like a dirty Disney movie than anything else, believe me, it's not bad, just sweeter and fluffier than the first two.
"I woke up in a parallel universe. A fairytale land. A fantasyland. Where they ride horses and birds talk to you and the air shimmers like it has glitter in it."
Not only does Cora wake up in a new place, she has a sister about to get married, and she is married as well. To a prince, albeit one that doesn't like her other-world twin very much at all.
“Does this mean I’m a princess?”
“That’s usually what happens when a woman marries a prince.”
So, as you can see, we have talking birds, sparkling air, princes and princesses...what else do we need for the perfect Disney fairytale? An evil witch! Yup, it's in here! In fact, Cora accidentally sets off a curse, and needs to be rescued by none-other than the husband who hates her, and even more, blames her for starting the curse!
“Do you have to have the last word?” I snapped.
“Yes,” he returned.
“Jerk,” I gritted out.
“Cow,” he returned.
Oh my God! He just called me a cow!
“I hate you,” I spat.
“That feeling, my love, is mutual,” he returned.”
He doesn't believe that this is a different Cora than his wife, but as they are forced to spend time together, things begin to change of course.
“Quiet,” he repeated with a growl, “I’m about to fuck my wife and the only words I want her saying when I do it are ‘yes’, ‘Tor’, ‘my prince, ‘baby’ and ‘oh my God’. Am I understood?”
One really fun feature is that a portion of this book was spent in our world. It's fun to see these people who have no electricity play with a remote and see cars. We also meet Tor's 'our world' twin, Noc (their names are both Noctorno), and I had hoped to read more about him, and now I know we do. He shows up in Broken Dove and gets his own book in Midnight Soul.
To get on with the review--though the romance took a while to be all-consuming, I loved that we had to wait. It was totally worth it. Tor turned out to be another delicious Kristen Ashley alpha. A hardass with a soft center.
“In this world,” I kept whispering, “you were the only thing I had but you were the only thing I needed.”
Despite Tor being a douchecanoe in the beginning, I totally loved him in the end. <3
Likes:
- •It was like a sexy Disney movie. Fun and different. What girl never dreamed of being a princess?
- •I loved Cora's our-world slang.
- •Great blend of romance, excitement and relationship angst.
- •Spending time in OUR world with people from THEIR world.
- •Crossing over from the first two books.
- •Falling for Noc, and looking forward to his book.
- •I loved Cora's inner voice.
- •Epilogue! <3
Dislikes:
- •This was a bit lighter and fluffier than the first two in the series. Kind of like the movie Enchanted a little. I still loved it, but not quite as much as The Golden Dynasty, but I am not sure I will ever love a book that much!
The Down & Dirty:
The Fantasyland Series by Kristen Ashley is a must-read, whether you think you would ever like fantasy or not. Kristen Ashley's stories, dialogue, relationships and personalities, along with her rich attention to detail make every world she writes about incredible. Fantastical was a bit like a sexy Disney movie, and such a fun change from the same old books. I highly recommend this series, and this just added more great to an already favorite series.
Rating: 4.5 Stars, 4 Heat
Purchase Fantastical by Kristen Ashley
This book in one sentence: Third installment in this series, exact same premise: girl from our world gets body swapped with her alter ego from a magical universe, falls in love with an alpha male hot guy (whom she at first hates) and who also happens to be royalty.
My rating: ⭐⭐
Steaminess: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Would I recommend: Not really. This entire series is complete guilty pleasure trash. I'm not really sure why I keep reading these, other than a compulsion to see how the whole thing ends.
Tropes: all the tropes.
My rating: ⭐⭐
Steaminess: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Would I recommend: Not really. This entire series is complete guilty pleasure trash. I'm not really sure why I keep reading these, other than a compulsion to see how the whole thing ends.
Tropes: all the tropes.
I might even have liked this one more than book 1 :) (and do not talk about book 2, that atrocity shall not be named.)
Ok so the hero is a total ass, BUT, he has a right to be. He is married to a total bitch who made his life and everyone else miserable. Then suddenly his wife starts behaving in another way and he thinks she is playing her, cos she is a bitch.
Cora is from Seattle and one morning she wakes up in a fantasy land. Where she is married and her husband thinks she is a lazy spoiled bitch. She tries her best to explain but why would he believe her when she is..yes a bitch.
It was fun to read. She trying her best. Him being an ass. But he slowly finds her amusing cos she is nice, kind, different.
A fun ride :D The only part that was not as fun was when it took place in our world, booo our world. Boring at once then.
And now I look forward to book 4.
Ok so the hero is a total ass, BUT, he has a right to be. He is married to a total bitch who made his life and everyone else miserable. Then suddenly his wife starts behaving in another way and he thinks she is playing her, cos she is a bitch.
Cora is from Seattle and one morning she wakes up in a fantasy land. Where she is married and her husband thinks she is a lazy spoiled bitch. She tries her best to explain but why would he believe her when she is..yes a bitch.
It was fun to read. She trying her best. Him being an ass. But he slowly finds her amusing cos she is nice, kind, different.
A fun ride :D The only part that was not as fun was when it took place in our world, booo our world. Boring at once then.
And now I look forward to book 4.