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A review by sarahlreadseverything
A Princess of Vision by Jen Lynning
4.0
A new Jen Lynning book is a bit like getting a perfectly wrapped chocolate - a small treat just for yourself. I've read everything she's published to date, and I feel like she's just consistently great at putting unique worlds and set-ups and beautifully strong heroines in front of her readers. A Princess of Vision is no exception to that rule.
Josyn was my favourite character in A Lady of Truth (the prequel novella to this series) and continues to be excellent here. She's crafty - a spy in Princess clothing - but also strong and kind. Like all of Jen Lynning's heroines, she knows her own mind and fights to retain her agency (rightfully calling out other characters when they impinge upon it). A Princess of Vision starts with a life-altering change in Josyn's circumstances and at first it felt as if her reaction to that change was a little matter-of-fact - but Lynning weaves through Josyn's slow emotional processing throughout the novel in a way that, by the end, felt very reflective of her character.
Aevin was not my favourite Lynning hero - he was nice enough, but beyond his 'Beast' characteristics it felt like we didn't get masses of insight into him as a person. The whole 'Beast' side of things was a lovely and loving send up of Beauty and the Beast though, and I really hope we get to find out even more about it later in the series.
The premise for The Great Balance World and A Princess of Vision is multilayered and really original. I've never encountered a fantasy world like it before, and Jen Lynning's world building and exploration of the culture and politics in the world she has built is just as complex and good as for the Treaties of Moial series. Like the Treaties of Moial, she does throw you in the deep end a bit. You're thrust into the middle of a fully built out fantasy world and instead of gently introducing concepts Lynning writes as if you know how the world works already and just trusts that you'll be able to catch up. It's a testament to her skill as a world builder that you can! But like Empath's Lure before it, I felt like I spent the first half of A Princess of Vision getting to grips with what was going on and why it was important; I think you would struggle even more without the context gained from reading A Lady of Truth first.
Overall a very solid 4 stars. If you're looking for consistently fun, well-written, unique fantasy romances with rounded, strong heroines that have actual character, then you really can't go wrong with Jen Lynning.
*Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Josyn was my favourite character in A Lady of Truth (the prequel novella to this series) and continues to be excellent here. She's crafty - a spy in Princess clothing - but also strong and kind. Like all of Jen Lynning's heroines, she knows her own mind and fights to retain her agency (rightfully calling out other characters when they impinge upon it). A Princess of Vision starts with a life-altering change in Josyn's circumstances and at first it felt as if her reaction to that change was a little matter-of-fact - but Lynning weaves through Josyn's slow emotional processing throughout the novel in a way that, by the end, felt very reflective of her character.
Aevin was not my favourite Lynning hero - he was nice enough, but beyond his 'Beast' characteristics it felt like we didn't get masses of insight into him as a person. The whole 'Beast' side of things was a lovely and loving send up of Beauty and the Beast though, and I really hope we get to find out even more about it later in the series.
The premise for The Great Balance World and A Princess of Vision is multilayered and really original. I've never encountered a fantasy world like it before, and Jen Lynning's world building and exploration of the culture and politics in the world she has built is just as complex and good as for the Treaties of Moial series. Like the Treaties of Moial, she does throw you in the deep end a bit. You're thrust into the middle of a fully built out fantasy world and instead of gently introducing concepts Lynning writes as if you know how the world works already and just trusts that you'll be able to catch up. It's a testament to her skill as a world builder that you can! But like Empath's Lure before it, I felt like I spent the first half of A Princess of Vision getting to grips with what was going on and why it was important; I think you would struggle even more without the context gained from reading A Lady of Truth first.
Overall a very solid 4 stars. If you're looking for consistently fun, well-written, unique fantasy romances with rounded, strong heroines that have actual character, then you really can't go wrong with Jen Lynning.
*Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review*