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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I didn't like the main character very much. When the characters I did like left, I left with them :/
I thought this sounded interesting. The idea of it is great, and I learned in the author's notes that it's based on actual historical people. However, the author seemed to expect us to know about them already; I got the sense as I was reading that there was backstory I wasn't being given because I should have already known it. Even something as simple as the fact that Moura is the same as Moor - which I'm still not sure of!
The writing itself is great, and I loved the characters; Yzabel is brilliant, and I quite liked Denis even though I was never sure if I was supposed to. Those parts were great. I just wish I'd understood the backstory more clearly.
Good, but not great.
The writing itself is great, and I loved the characters; Yzabel is brilliant, and I quite liked Denis even though I was never sure if I was supposed to. Those parts were great. I just wish I'd understood the backstory more clearly.
Good, but not great.
Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: an interesting flavor of magic; diverse romance; interesting, mysterious characters; gorgeous, poetic prose; devoured it; I could not put it down
HUGE thanks to Diana Pinguicha, Entangled: Teen, and Netgalley for the free egalley of this title in exchange for review. This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
Hunger.
The kind of hunger that festered not because of choice, but because of a lack of it. This man couldn't eat because he had nothing to eat; Yzabel couldn't eat because she was cursed. They weren't the same, and yet, they were.
I don't know WHAT took me so long to pick this read up, Penguins. I only have so many excuses and honestly...none of them are REALLY fitting. Because this read?! Was GORGEOUS. I held my breath through every page flip, every chapter ending, just waiting for the ball to drop and things to go sideways.
These characters tugged at every heart string I have...and some I didn't know I still had. The story was filled with magic and betrayal, curses and curiosities, and I could not bring myself to put it down once I started...which is how I found myself, 4 hours later, closing the final page. The prose is GORGEOUS--poetic, atmospheric, and leaps off the page with description. Diana Pinguicha crafted a story from history and fantasy, and swept me up into a world I had before been missing out on.
"Kings don't let princesses drag an engagement for years, and a princess who hides terrible secrets can't risk the ire of the men who hold her fate in their hands.
Of course, there will always be questions that linger at the end--but these questions are less of the "need to know to be satisfied" and more of the "want to know just to know" variety. The characters were captivating, the story was enthralling, and I only wish I had picked this book up all the sooner. If you're looking for a tale woven with magic, history, and poetry--this one's for you!
Quick Reasons: an interesting flavor of magic; diverse romance; interesting, mysterious characters; gorgeous, poetic prose; devoured it; I could not put it down
HUGE thanks to Diana Pinguicha, Entangled: Teen, and Netgalley for the free egalley of this title in exchange for review. This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
Hunger.
The kind of hunger that festered not because of choice, but because of a lack of it. This man couldn't eat because he had nothing to eat; Yzabel couldn't eat because she was cursed. They weren't the same, and yet, they were.
I don't know WHAT took me so long to pick this read up, Penguins. I only have so many excuses and honestly...none of them are REALLY fitting. Because this read?! Was GORGEOUS. I held my breath through every page flip, every chapter ending, just waiting for the ball to drop and things to go sideways.
These characters tugged at every heart string I have...and some I didn't know I still had. The story was filled with magic and betrayal, curses and curiosities, and I could not bring myself to put it down once I started...which is how I found myself, 4 hours later, closing the final page. The prose is GORGEOUS--poetic, atmospheric, and leaps off the page with description. Diana Pinguicha crafted a story from history and fantasy, and swept me up into a world I had before been missing out on.
"Kings don't let princesses drag an engagement for years, and a princess who hides terrible secrets can't risk the ire of the men who hold her fate in their hands.
Of course, there will always be questions that linger at the end--but these questions are less of the "need to know to be satisfied" and more of the "want to know just to know" variety. The characters were captivating, the story was enthralling, and I only wish I had picked this book up all the sooner. If you're looking for a tale woven with magic, history, and poetry--this one's for you!
I recieved an e-arc from netgalley and the publisher a few months back and I know I'm late to reviewing this and I'm sorry I've been in a reading slump . I really enjoyed reading this book it was a bit slow to me at first but once faty was introduced I got into it. I loved the characters and how yza really came to terms with herself and faty. If there ever is a sequel I would definitely get it.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
When you’ve spent your whole life being told that your gift is a curse, that your health and safety are contrary to what God wants and that who you love is sinful and wrong, how can you truly help those around you?
Any time Yzabel touches food, it turns to flowers. Not only does her curse keep her starved, but its magic is dangerous in Catholic Portugal … a sign of the devil. In an attempt to rid herself of her curse, Yza seeks the help of an Enchanted Moura. But instead of ridding her of her curse, the Moura must change her perspective, helping Yza wield her blessing to help the famine-stricken people of Portugal before they starve and before Yza’s betrothed - the king of Portugal - finds out.
It is important to note the author’s trigger warnings before reading this book. Religious-based self harm, religious-based eating disorders and religious-based internalized homophobia are constant themes throughout the novel. Regardless, I enjoyed reading this coming-of-age story, where a young girl breaks free of the shackles of her twisted religious education and learns that God’s love does not bring pain, starvation and suffering but love and acceptance.
While the story seemed to lag at parts, I was invested in the relationship between each of the characters, which only grew and intensified throughout the book. Unfortunately, I felt the character that was identified as the villain was not fully developed; his involvement in the plot seemed like an afterthought, as he wasn’t truly introduced until two-thirds of the way through the story.
Any time Yzabel touches food, it turns to flowers. Not only does her curse keep her starved, but its magic is dangerous in Catholic Portugal … a sign of the devil. In an attempt to rid herself of her curse, Yza seeks the help of an Enchanted Moura. But instead of ridding her of her curse, the Moura must change her perspective, helping Yza wield her blessing to help the famine-stricken people of Portugal before they starve and before Yza’s betrothed - the king of Portugal - finds out.
It is important to note the author’s trigger warnings before reading this book. Religious-based self harm, religious-based eating disorders and religious-based internalized homophobia are constant themes throughout the novel. Regardless, I enjoyed reading this coming-of-age story, where a young girl breaks free of the shackles of her twisted religious education and learns that God’s love does not bring pain, starvation and suffering but love and acceptance.
While the story seemed to lag at parts, I was invested in the relationship between each of the characters, which only grew and intensified throughout the book. Unfortunately, I felt the character that was identified as the villain was not fully developed; his involvement in the plot seemed like an afterthought, as he wasn’t truly introduced until two-thirds of the way through the story.
I don't know why it took me so long to finish reading this book! It was beautiful and had me sobbing in a few different sections. I could really relate to a few thoughts and feelings that Yzabel had at times (which is probably part of what was making me cry so much lol). This is a wonderfully written story! definitely worth reading!
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I want to thank NetGalley & Entangled: Teen for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
I found many surprises in this book that I adore, I confess that this time there was little I knew about the plot, I'd only heard it was based on some Portuguese myths and I loved that, so that was what led me to pick up the book and I really loved it! Not only I think the basis of this story is super solid and very well executed, but I also really enjoyed how fresh and unique the story felt as a whole. Undoubtedly, a historical fantasy that I needed in my life before the end of the year, super easy to read and although presumptuous at times, easy to enjoy.
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can find more reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought.
In this book, we follow Princess Yzabel, who finds herself in the grip of a terrible curse that causes all the food she tries to eat to be turned into flowers. This has brought her to the brink of starvation, which deeply unites her to the pain that the people of Portugal feel since they're also starving. Fatyan, a beautiful Enchanted Moura, seems to be the only one capable of reversing her spell, but she'll only do it if Yzabel releases herself of her own spell with a kiss, and even though Yzabel is engaged to the king of Portugal, she decides to accept for her people, but that kiss awakens another kind of hunger inside her. She had sought out Fatyan to help her and save her people. Now, loving her could mean Yzabel's destruction.
This book managed to be as magical as it sounds, with the development of a myth with such beautiful colors behind it, is really difficult for something to fail, and although I think it was really beautiful and that the author decided to execute this myth on a very successful way, I feel that I'd have liked further development in other areas. I think the focus is on the myth and the development of the main characters, which I liked a lot, but I'd have liked to know a little more about Portugal from a social and cultural point of view, basically about its history itself, even so, this is the approach that the author decided to give to her story and I respect that. On the other hand, I feel that I have a somewhat unpopular opinion about the pace of the book, for me, it was very rushed at times, I'd have liked to explore more things, more places, and more lives of some secondary characters and those things, I think a slower pace would have been perfect, especially when it comes to developing romance.
I think the first part of the book is super solid and even more the last chapters which are where the story really comes to life, but there are some weak scenes especially in the middle, scenes that perhaps could have been developed more deeply and others that I felt were there as to lengthen the book a little more, I felt I want more information, which is something good because it means that I'm interested in what I'm reading. Apart from this, I really enjoyed this book and its story, and the things that could have been better, in my opinion, are only details, I don't think there's any major flaw, I think it's a clean, fresh and innovative book in many ways.
I really liked the characters, especially Yzabel, I think I'm demanding with my main characters, especially in new releases I hope to see something new, and this character gave me what I expected, she's SO brave and caring, and I love how she empathizes with the poorest people all the time putting herself in their place and wanting to fight for them. Despite the horrible curse that obviously has her extremely weak, I think she's a very strong girl in personality, who goes directly for those she wants, and I admire that, I liked her position for most of the book and I also think she had a super marked growth towards the end of the book. And I also liked the other characters, but I think Yzabel is the best created. Finding myself with a king who's not the typical evil king, but is a softer personality, I liked, I think that having an evil one who's not so evil, gives him an original touch since it shows that not all people have only one bad side and a good side, but we're a combination of both, and that's fine, it's more real for me.
I liked the romance, I think it's very sweet, and it's very well thought out, again, I think it was kind of rash, and I'd have liked a better transition and slower development, but still, I managed to enjoy it a lot, the relationship felt very real, and the way in which the author described everything made me feel deeply invested in what was happening between them. I want to remind you that the book follows a sapphic romance so that's great! I think many people will like this romantic side of the story, it was very beautiful.
The author's style, although a bit rush-y at times, is very solid, I love how she has chosen to elaborate this story from a more sentimental side because I think the emotional charge is there, there were scenes where I felt like I could cry, so I can say It will make you feel many emotions, and that's obviously due to the author's writing style, which is really beautiful. I wouldn't say her style is very colorful, but rather that type of simpler writing in the best way, it takes you through the scenarios in a very good way and although, as I said, it's rush at times, it still handles other aspects that generate good thrill in the reader
I would undoubtedly recommend this book, I think it has a solid base that's very interesting to explore, the myth on which the author has been based is incredibly beautiful and magical, that's still my favorite aspect of the book, and although it's rush in its narration and it lacks development in some aspects, it's very enjoyable and although many say it's a slow pace, I don't think so, I read it quite fast, in fact, on the contrary, I think that a slow pace would have been even better to develop more some areas in depth, but in general, the story itself is very good and is very well thought out. The romance is charming, the characters are quite solid, especially the main character who stands out above other characters that I've read due to her feisty and empathetic personality & also is quite atmospheric, which is great. But if you like myths and want to explore this Porugues myth, don't hesitate to give it a chance, it's worth it.
First Thoughts 12/18/20
What a wonderful fantasy!! I really enjoyed this book very much, the plot is super original, I'd never heard about Portuguese mythology before and I really fell in love with the myth on which this story is based. I think it's very easy to read and I found myself kind of moved by the story at times, which I didn't expect.
On the other hand, I feel like some scenes are rushed and lack the necessary construction to make the story feel more atmospheric, but it's still super enjoyable and refreshing.