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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
hopeful
reflective
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
Listening to this gave me vibes of Blanca & Roja and This is How You Lose the Time War.
I really enjoyed it! It was really fun to hear a tale from a different country and it was well narrated and a good story.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
more like 2.5 stars
I loved the premise, and I love some queer-historial-fantasy-romance. Plus, this is an Own Voices book AND a debut, so I really wanted to love it (and this is also why I am being a bit more generous with the rating).
But the execution fell flat for me. I didn't understand the world at all, and same goes for the magic system, which was barely explained. The characters were kinda flat, the romance without too much build up and the plot was a bit messy.
I think if the author had written this as one of her later books, with some writing experience instead of a debut, it would have been amazing because like I said the premise was amazing, but the execution wasn't - however, that part can be improved through pratice!
I loved the premise, and I love some queer-historial-fantasy-romance. Plus, this is an Own Voices book AND a debut, so I really wanted to love it (and this is also why I am being a bit more generous with the rating).
But the execution fell flat for me. I didn't understand the world at all, and same goes for the magic system, which was barely explained. The characters were kinda flat, the romance without too much build up and the plot was a bit messy.
I think if the author had written this as one of her later books, with some writing experience instead of a debut, it would have been amazing because like I said the premise was amazing, but the execution wasn't - however, that part can be improved through pratice!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for giving me an advanced reader's copy of this book in return for an honest review. Unfortunately my book corrupted on my original Kindle and I had to wait for my new one to come out, so this review is quite out of date. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book a lot and I'm here to recommend it.
This book is really interesting because it's set in medieval Portugal and based on Portuguese legend. I've read a lot of fantasy, and Portugal is not normally the European country of choice, so this intrigued me. What's even more intriguing is that the plot revolves around a young princess with a curse that reads remarkably like an eating disorder - when she tries to eat literally anything, it turns into flowers. It's nonsensical but weirdly compelling, and it makes you wonder how on earth she's still surviving and what her motives are - what keeps her going?
The plot is initially a little bit confusing, but once the Enchanted Moura is awakened, the extra element of Fatyan's character keeps the story ticking over very well. There's an ongoing tension between the main character, Yzabel, and her betrothed (the King of Portugal) about charity, which seems a bit nonsensical to modern readers, but ultimately highlights Yzabel's strength of character as a queen-to-be.
The romance in this book is between Yzabel and the enchanted woman she awakens with a kiss, but the relationship between Yzabel and the King also plays out well. Yzabel also goes through a painful but contextually appropriate denial of her attraction to Fatyan, which is interesting in itself and develops her character further in the context of this period of history, particularly in the context of the strong religion of the state at the time. However, if you're a queer person, this might hit too close to home.
All in all, I was intrigued by this book and invested in its plot. It dealt with a series of unique ideas - the eating disorder, the princess-awakens-the-princess story, and the fact that it was set in Portugal - so it is definitely worth a read.
This book is really interesting because it's set in medieval Portugal and based on Portuguese legend. I've read a lot of fantasy, and Portugal is not normally the European country of choice, so this intrigued me. What's even more intriguing is that the plot revolves around a young princess with a curse that reads remarkably like an eating disorder - when she tries to eat literally anything, it turns into flowers. It's nonsensical but weirdly compelling, and it makes you wonder how on earth she's still surviving and what her motives are - what keeps her going?
The plot is initially a little bit confusing, but once the Enchanted Moura is awakened, the extra element of Fatyan's character keeps the story ticking over very well. There's an ongoing tension between the main character, Yzabel, and her betrothed (the King of Portugal) about charity, which seems a bit nonsensical to modern readers, but ultimately highlights Yzabel's strength of character as a queen-to-be.
The romance in this book is between Yzabel and the enchanted woman she awakens with a kiss, but the relationship between Yzabel and the King also plays out well. Yzabel also goes through a painful but contextually appropriate denial of her attraction to Fatyan, which is interesting in itself and develops her character further in the context of this period of history, particularly in the context of the strong religion of the state at the time. However, if you're a queer person, this might hit too close to home.
All in all, I was intrigued by this book and invested in its plot. It dealt with a series of unique ideas - the eating disorder, the princess-awakens-the-princess story, and the fact that it was set in Portugal - so it is definitely worth a read.
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-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
i felt so sorry for myself as i read this because i saw my seventeen year - old self in yzabel and i wanted to cry . in all of yzabel's misconstrued perceptions of religion and love and pain and suffering i saw myself and i felt so jealous that at the end she found a balance while seventeen year - old me was still stuck there doing terrible things and thinking even worse things
but anyway ! yzabel and fatyan my loves my dears i hold you so dear to my heart and you too denis , whom i so severely misjudged .
definitely worth a reread in a few years when i have grown and experienced more and seen more and i can read this review and sigh in relief that i have grown even more and i can relate to yzabel in both her recession and her growth .
im so happy that queer people exist and that we are loved by those who love us and we will continue to be loved in small ways and in big ways and it is through media like this that such love is shared .
but anyway !
definitely worth a reread in a few years when i have grown and experienced more and seen more and i can read this review and sigh in relief that i have grown even more and i can relate to yzabel
im so happy that queer people exist and that we are loved by those who love us and we will continue to be loved in small ways and in big ways and it is through media like this that such love is shared .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Self harm
Moderate: Religious bigotry
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A historic fantasy set in medieval Portugal and inspired by a legend of the miraculous transformation of bread into roses. But is it a miracle or a curse for your touch to turn food into flowers? This story explores themes of self-harm, disordered eating, and the legacy of religious intolerance, all tied up in a slow-growing romance between a future queen and the magical woman who may be her only hope of surviving. Pinguicha has the knack of framing her story with realistic historic attitudes, beliefs, and reactions without suggesting that it places a happy ending out of reach. Highly recommended.