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wardenred's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
On an island like Eidolonia, and especially on a property of Rosamund Highvalley’s, it was unwise to open mysterious boxes you’d found inside garden statues.
This was pretty different from what I expected, but a super enjoyable read regardless! I've seen this book billed as a Sleeping Beauty retelling across a few places; in my opinion, it's really not. There are some Sleeping Beauty-inspired bits for sure, but it's more like an original fairytale in many ways. But there's definitely a very strong fairytale vibe, not just because of all the fairies and magic, but in how it's all handled. The heroes face the gravest of threats every few chapters, constantly finding themselves on the brink of death, but it always works out in the end thanks to the power of love and its many facets—what could be more fairy-tale-like than this? At the same time, the end of the story makes it clear that while the main characters have earned the big glorious happy ending, they haven't exactly emerged from their trials unscathed. I appreciated that realistic touch, and how it did nothing to diminish the overall bright hopefulness of facing the future.
I also thought this would be primarily a romance with some fantasy adventure on the side, but I think this is more of a fantasy adventure with a prominent romantic storyline. The focus is very much on righting the wrongs of the past and saving the island. At the same time, the romance between Larkin and Merrick is of course crucial to the plot, and I really enjoyed how it was handled. The attraction between them sparks fairly early on and they both acknowledge it, to each other as well as to themselves. However, they take their time before they start letting it go anywhere, because they're such different people with backgrounds and values that seem barely compatible at a glance, and more importantly, they have incompatible goals for the future. Larkin wants to leave the island as soon as it's saved. Merrick can't imagine his life without the magic that doesn't exist outside of Eidolonia. They grow closer as they both confront some of their beliefs and display a willingness to achieve compromise. It was beautiful to follow. (Also: I can't quite put a finger on it, but I think I caught some Merthur vibes from this pairing??? I wonder if the author is familiar with that fandom!)
The writing style took a bit of getting used to for me. I started really enjoying it about 4 chapters in; before that, I actually debated DNF'ing (so glad I didn't give in to the urge). I think that's because the first few chapters are largely spent setting the stage, explaining the premise, and outlining the core parts of the worldbuilding. Some of it was heavy-handed at times, to be honest. However, as soon as the stage was set and the characters were free to pursue their goals, the story instantly got super fun and engaging.
Speaking of worldbuilding, it's pretty awesome. I liked how the setting both is and isn't part of our real world, being this liminal area that surrounds the fairy lands. I feel there's a great balance between hard magic bits, such as the rules for different types of witchcraft or for interacting with the fairies, and the more loose, fluid enchantments. The fairies here are probably among my favorite—exactly as wonderful and terrible as they should be. Lastly, as I always tend to do, I appreciated the diversity and queernomaritivity. It was especially great to see a prominent nonbinary character, who is also a parent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Death
Moderate: Genocide
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