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the_bookish_raven 's review for:
A Lonely Dance
by Selina R. Gonzalez
5/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
(This is the second book in a series. As such, this review could contain spoilers for book 1.)
When a foreign stranger shows up in Talland, Princess Ilara hopes it might lead to increased trade between their countries. Instead, it results in a curse being placed on her and her sisters. Every night, they are taken to a magical ball, forced to dance, and then they lose all memory of what occurred there. It won't stop unless Ilara agrees to marry the sorcerer who cursed them.
Meanwhile, in Rethalyon, Tristan is struggling with his place under the new king. To prove his loyalty, he is sent as an ambassador to Talland. It's a much better fate than he deserves after his past deeds, but he has no desire to go so far from home. He hopes this mission will at least give him a chance to redeem himself, but the unexpected curse on the royal family is making his new ambassadorship rather complicated...
This book was everything I hoped it would be and more! I admit that I was wary of a book from Tristan's POV since I didn't like him at all in book 1, but this book completely changed the way I viewed his character. I'm a sucker for a good redemption arc, and Selina nailed this one!
Besides Tristan and his character development, I also loved Ilara's character! She's determined and brave, and her love for her family makes her easy to root for! She also has a lot of patience and a good heart. I hope we get a cameo of her in future books!
I also loved Masarik, Allyre, and Remy! Their dynamic with each other and Tristan was great! I didn't expect them to play as much of a role as they did, but some of my favorite scenes are the ones with these guys!
Fantasy romance and fairytale retellings are my favorite genres, and this book is both! It's a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. I was curious to see Selina's take on it, and her version is beautiful!
This story is packed full of messages about forgiveness, grief, healing, regret, anxiety, etc. They're seamlessly woven into the story. It was incredibly well-done, and I thought it made this book even more impressive than it already was!
I can't recommend this book (and the series in general) enough. Selina is a powerful storyteller, and her books leave a lasting impression. If you love fantasy romance, fairytale re-tellings, redemption arcs, strong friendships, and amazing characters, you should read this book!
I'm definitely going to continue this series! I'm looking forward to whichever character/fairytale comes next!
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
(This is the second book in a series. As such, this review could contain spoilers for book 1.)
When a foreign stranger shows up in Talland, Princess Ilara hopes it might lead to increased trade between their countries. Instead, it results in a curse being placed on her and her sisters. Every night, they are taken to a magical ball, forced to dance, and then they lose all memory of what occurred there. It won't stop unless Ilara agrees to marry the sorcerer who cursed them.
Meanwhile, in Rethalyon, Tristan is struggling with his place under the new king. To prove his loyalty, he is sent as an ambassador to Talland. It's a much better fate than he deserves after his past deeds, but he has no desire to go so far from home. He hopes this mission will at least give him a chance to redeem himself, but the unexpected curse on the royal family is making his new ambassadorship rather complicated...
This book was everything I hoped it would be and more! I admit that I was wary of a book from Tristan's POV since I didn't like him at all in book 1, but this book completely changed the way I viewed his character. I'm a sucker for a good redemption arc, and Selina nailed this one!
Besides Tristan and his character development, I also loved Ilara's character! She's determined and brave, and her love for her family makes her easy to root for! She also has a lot of patience and a good heart. I hope we get a cameo of her in future books!
I also loved Masarik, Allyre, and Remy! Their dynamic with each other and Tristan was great! I didn't expect them to play as much of a role as they did, but some of my favorite scenes are the ones with these guys!
Fantasy romance and fairytale retellings are my favorite genres, and this book is both! It's a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. I was curious to see Selina's take on it, and her version is beautiful!
This story is packed full of messages about forgiveness, grief, healing, regret, anxiety, etc. They're seamlessly woven into the story. It was incredibly well-done, and I thought it made this book even more impressive than it already was!
I can't recommend this book (and the series in general) enough. Selina is a powerful storyteller, and her books leave a lasting impression. If you love fantasy romance, fairytale re-tellings, redemption arcs, strong friendships, and amazing characters, you should read this book!
I'm definitely going to continue this series! I'm looking forward to whichever character/fairytale comes next!