Review: A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan

New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan returns to the high-stakes, sweeping world of dragons, romance, and drama first evoked in her bestselling young adult Firelight series, in a brand-new epic adult romantasy series.

A FIRE IN THE SKY by SOPHIE JORDAN

Series: A Fire in the Sky #1

Publication date: September 24, 2024

Published by: Harper, Avon

Genre: fantasy, romantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying.

But human lust for power is immortal.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous…especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it's her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard...though sometimes she thinks he wants more than friendship.

When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn’s world becomes even more dangerous. To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry the brutal warrior. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride...but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone.

Magic is not dead...it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.

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Praise for Sophie Jordan:

“Firelight soars to dizzying heights, combining forbidden love, scorching romance, and thrilling danger.” — Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of Paranormalcy

“Magnificent and masterful! A world so captivating, you’ll never want to leave!” — Kerrelyn Sparks, New York Times bestselling author on Firelight

Praise for Vanish: “With thrilling fights and several escapes…[an] impossibly handsome love interest and star-crossing impediments to love…[Vanish is] imaginative.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Just surrender to the sizzle.” — Kirkus Reviews

"Bestseller Jordan (the Duke Hunt series) will have readers rooting for adultery with this risqué and alluring series launch. Jordan conjures such chemistry between Tru and Jasper—and makes Lord Chatham so odious—that readers will leave any qualms at the door. The tantalizing struggle between love and honor at the heart of this delectable romance keeps the pages flying."  — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess

"Sharp, sexy, and blissfully salacious, The Scandalous Ladies of London is an adrenaline-soaked, romantic delight. I flew through this in one sitting, completely unwilling to stop until I reached the perfect last page. This book is precisely what I love most about romance! " — Christina Lauren, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Soulmate Equation

"Jordan…makes a firm argument for more historical romances that dare to live outside the ballroom or even the aristocracy altogether. Her love scenes crackle (don't worry, the book makes good on its deliciously clever title) … for those looking for a historical romp that goes a bit further afield than a 19th century estate, The Duke Goes Down is a delightful diversion.”

— Entertainment Weekly on The Duke Goes Down

"Jordan gives readers a clever and high-drama twist on the traditional Regency romance but keeps the heart of what makes the genre so popular and beloved. Historical romance fans who like their romance with a dash of soap opera antics will eat this book up and anxiously await more scandals in future volumes." — Library Journal on The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.

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REVIEW

A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan


I gave this one a try because I'm a huge fan of Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison and I'm always on the lookout for another Dragon book that can grab my attention. It's very hard to find good quality paranormal/fantasy books with dragons-at least that has been my experience. This series takes place before Sophie Jordan's Firelight series and is supposed to give more background on the creation of the dragon shifters. I have never read her YA series, but I was excited to read this author for the very first time as she entered the adult romantasy genre. One positive thing that comes to mind about my impression of this book is that it quickly and easily engaged me in the story and I never struggled to continue reading. It took me less than 24 hours to read the book in its entirety which I can't say for a lot of stories I have read.

Based on the wording in the synopsis, one of my only concerns going in was that the hero becomes violent or abusive in some form when he learns that he's been deceived by the heroine. Yes, his character is a brutal warrior, but one thing I can't stomach is when an author romanticizes abuse. I took the risk and read it anyway, and luckily my fears were never realized. While he was understandably enraged and left feeling betrayed in a huge way, I never felt that he crossed the line in his treatment of her.

   Legions of warriors followed this man. 

He was the stuff of legends and nightmares. 

The strongest. The most vicious. The man 

who held this realm together.

Fell is a "border lord" who fiercely protects Penterra and its inhabitants-including the royals. Their freedom and safety are all due to him and his warriors, however they do not receive the respect they have earned. His people from the Borderlands are seen as brutish, uncivilized, and Fell himself is referred to as a Beast. When he marches upon the castle to greet the royals, he is greeted with artificial compliments and praise. Everyone has pretty words and bright smiles for them until he demands to marry a princess in return for his service. Suddenly their true feelings are revealed. These outrageously selfish people think it's laughable to reward the very person who has kept them all safe for many years. A scheme is quickly concocted to use their whipping girl to take the place of a princess and hide her identity until it's too late to reverse the marriage.

Honestly, almost everyone in the castle is despicable. King Hamlin is a spineless weakling who relies on his advisor to make his decisions for him. The chancellor is the man in charge of whipping the heroine for the princesses' transgressions and he finds sadistic pleasure while doing it. Two of the three sisters are vain and selfish. The majority of everyone else belittles Tamsyn for being raised with the royals but being "beneath" them.

   I might be trapped between worlds—royal 

and not royal, belonging and not belonging—

but at least I knew my place, my purpose.

One princess and Stig, the captain of the guard and Tamsyn's best friend, were the only people with any decency. Though even Stig quickly lost my respect as well. I just didn't understand why Tamsyn seemed so humble and giving towards all of these people who had her whipped because of an archaic tradition and only thought of themselves. Truly. She was willing to constantly sacrifice for them and never feel an ounce of resentment, even when they led her like a lamb to the slaughter to a man whom everyone deemed dangerous. It was sort of frustrating all around from every angle, but I suppose I gave her a little bit more understanding since they took her in when she was an abandoned baby and she felt indebted to them. She was also quite sheltered living in the palace and had no experiences with the outside world regarding how their political policies and decisions were negatively affecting the lower classes. Her marriage to Fell is supposed to gain him entry into political discussions so that he would be able to help the poor and struggling prosper. Unfortunately, that hope is destroyed when he discovers that he has been duped, and unsurprisingly he does not take it well.

After the marriage, the story becomes more of a journey/adventure type fantasy as they make the grueling trek back to his homeland. They encounter danger and hardship, and we get a lot of internal dialogue through alternating POV chapters. What the book is truly lacking is character depth, any development of romantic feelings, and detailed explanations on just about anything important in the plot. In general, everything is very surface level. It almost has the feel of how a novella reads to me because of how everything is briefly told to you instead of being shown or brought to life. Questions I had regarding the physical reaction Tamsyn and Fell had in their hands where they were blood bonded during their wedding were never satisfied. Why did the dragons start delivering human babies who could shift? There was a brief throwaway comment about a witch being responsible, but the full background was never explained.

This is the first book and a prequel to another series. Its main purpose is to tell backstory and history, yet it seemed noticeably absent. Maybe more will be introduced more in the next book? I couldn't help but feel disappointed in the worldbuilding and flat characters. How did Tamsyn and Fell even have such strong emotion for each other when they barely spoke to each other? When they did speak, most of the time they weren't getting along. The book ends very abruptly on a cliffhanger. I knew this was supposed to be a series, but the way the book ended was so rushed and jarring. There was a big reveal with Tamsyn and Fell and his reactions didn't quite come off as natural to me based on the lack of time he spent with his wife getting to know her. We are just to believe that he would immediately accept the things revealed and upend his entire life the way he did at a moment's notice? I'm not convinced.

I wanted to love this book, but I think it didn't meet the potential that I felt it had. Unfortunately this one was just okay for me.

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Review: Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay

When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books, from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

LOVE AT FIRST BOOK by JENN MCKINLAY

Series: n/a

Publication date: May 14, 2024

Published by: Berkley 

Genre: contemporary romance

 

SYNOPSIS

When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books, from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading .

Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha’s Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in the Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. After all, Siobhan’s novels got Em through some of the darkest days of her existence.

Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series—after a ten-year hiatus due to a scorching case of writer’s block—is a dream come true for Emily. If only she didn’t have to deal with Siobhan’s son, Kieran Murphy. He manages Siobhan’s bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn’t want Em around.

When Siobhan’s health takes a bad turn, she’s more determined than ever to finish her novel, while Kieran tries every trick in the book to get his mother to rest. Thrown into the role of peacemaker, Emily begins to see that Kieran's heart is in the right place. Torn between helping Siobhan find closure with her series and her own growing feelings for the mercurial Irishman, Emily will have to decide if she’s truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.

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Praise for Love at First Book:

"Hilarious, deeply emotional, and brimming with swoon-worthy passion, this is an enemies-to-lovers tale that every romance reader should have the pleasure of enjoying at least once in their lives. Dazzlingly fabulous!”

—Holly Cassidy, author of The Christmas Wager

"Whimsically wonderful and wryly witty…. This is a swoon-worthy romance that has not only a great deal to say about self-love, forgiveness, and the importance of living in the moment but also celebrates the undeniable magic of books and the important place they hold in a reader’s life."

—Booklist (starred review)

"A cleverly written forced proximity romance for book lovers."

—Kirkus Reviews

"The ultimate bookish romance! With the endlessly charming backdrop of a cozy bookshop in the idyllic Irish countryside, a wholly lovable supporting cast, and several heartstring-pulling subplots, Love at First Book is the perfect escape for any romance fan."

—Nicolas DiDomizio, author of Nearlywed

"Love at First Book is so tender-hearted, and I couldn’t help but root for Kier and Red! A delight for book lovers and anyone who loves to armchair travel, I couldn’t love this novel more! The setting in Ireland was an escapist dream. I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down!"

—Jamie Varon, author of Main Character Energy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.

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REVIEW

Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay


I have a personal rule: if a book manages to make me cry, then it gets an automatic five stars. Which is why I am giving this book an enthusiastic five stars with zero hesitation. A story has to really reach your heart in order to bring on a physical, emotional reaction. What elevated this book to another level was the fact that not only was it a deep-diving, emotional story, it managed to give the feel of a lighthearted rom-com at the same time.

Within the first few pages, I immediately connected to Emily. She's a romantic dreamer, a book lover, and occasionally a bit socially awkward. Her inner dialogue was often a funny daydream or a connection between her current situation and something in classic literature. 

His brow was furrowed and his mouth 

turned down in the corners. 

I was struck by how much he 

resembled the Fitzwilliam Darcy 

of my imagination from Jane Austen’s 

Pride and Prejudice, 

a favorite novel of mine. Oh, yes, 

I was a hardcore Mr. Darcy fangirl.

Her anxiety and insecurities produced a hilarious meet cute with the hero who happens to also be her new boss. Judging by the synopsis, I was imagining an enemies-to-lovers trope, but I wouldn't exactly call them enemies. Kieran was unwelcoming, sure, but his animosity was shown and explained in a way that made you understand his reasoning behind it. One of the big problems I tend to see with this trope is that the animosity/rivalry is written in a way that their behavior or attitudes make no sense. Their anger feels very contrived and surface level in order to present them as enemies. She never really, truly dislikes Kier, she is upset that he's trying to drive her away and that he uses underhanded tactics in order to do so, but she's crushing hard from minute one. On his side, he may be a bit of a jerk early on, but there are subtle hints that he thinks she's cute and that he respects her intelligence and backbone. Their shared encyclopedic minds filled with infinite book quotes is something that he can't help but challenge her with. He is constantly surprised and impressed with her ability to match his knowledge of books. I really loved that about these two.

Kier is a protective son whose only concern about Emily's job assisting his mother is that her health will suffer again if she becomes too focused on writing again. After a 10 year writing hiatus, Siobhan wants to write the long awaited conclusion to her bestselling series, but a horrible case of writer's block has prevented her from doing so. After receiving an inspiring letter from Emily, she invited her there to help her find her passion for writing again. As much as I loved Emily and Kier's combative/cute connection, I loved Emily and Siobhan's equally so. What really touched me was the deep friendship that developed between them in a short amount of time that Emily so desperately needed. She became a loving mother figure that she had never had and it was wonderful to see her blossom under Siobhan's sass and affection for her.

  It struck me that ever since I’d arrived 

Siobhan had shown me more maternal affection 

and kindness than my own mother had in 

my entire life. Siobhan always listened to me 

when I spoke, she asked questions 

about me and my life, and she . . . cared.

Emily is still dealing with insecurities and issues with hypochondria because of her mom's manipulative control and verbal abuse. Through therapy, she's much better, but she desperately needed more people in her life to give her positive affirmations and care. Kier's mother gives that to her, but the small town as a whole gives her a feeling of home and family that was beautiful to read.

Finn's Hollow was a quaint small town in Ireland that was described to perfection. The small town was so picturesque that you could imagine yourself there along with Emily, exploring and seeing exciting new places with new friends. You can tell when a book has been well researched based on the descriptions of food, clothing, locations, and the culture in general. Without a doubt, the author did her homework because it shows without feeling too wordy. As well, I found the writing to be beautifully heartfelt in the most unexpected moments.

  They smiled at each other and it was such a look 

of pure affection and devotion that I found myself 

smiling as well, as if they’re love for each other

included me just because I was there to bask in it.

The ending really hit me in the feels. Some of it was bittersweet, but Kier and Siobhan's complex mother-son relationship was closely tied to her last book. The lingering resentment that he held for her writing tied into painful memories from his past. They both needed to make peace with some traumatic events and Emily helped bridge the gap between them. Just as Emily found comfort and peace in Finn's Hollow, she helped to bring the same to the new people in her life she had come to love. None of the characters were without their own flaws, but was what helped them shine. We saw the light and the shadow, the pain and the strength in all of them and it's what brought them to life so well. This book was grand (as Kier and Siobhan would say) and I recommend it to anyone who loves these things in books:

• small town destination story
• found family
• great banter and rivalry
• endearing heroine with quirks
• brooding but sweet and protective hero
• poignant/emotional plot with humor
•literature quotes and references

I'm a new fan and can't wait to read more from this amazing author! This is going on my 2024 favorites list for sure!

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Review: The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Sayers

From the author of A Witch in Time comes a haunting tale of ambition, obsession, and the eternal mystery and magic of film. 

THE STAR AND THE STRANGE MOON

 by CONSTANCE SAYERS

Series: n/a

Publication date: November 14, 2023

Published by: Redhook

Genre: fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

1968: Actress Gemma Turner once dreamed of stardom. Unfortunately, she’s on the cusp of slipping into obscurity. When she’s offered the lead in a radical new horror film, Gemma believes her luck has finally changed. But L’Etrange Lune’s set is not what she expected. The director is eccentric, and the script doesn’t make sense. 

Gemma is determined to make this work. It’s her last chance to achieve her dream—but that dream is about to derail her life. One night, between the shadows of an alleyway, Gemma disappears on set and is never seen again. Yet, Gemma is still alive. She’s been transported into the film and the script—and the monsters within it—are coming to life. She must play her role perfectly if she hopes to survive. 

2015: Gemma Turner’s disappearance is one of film history’s greatest mysteries—one that’s haunted film student Christopher Kent ever since he saw his first screening of L’Etrange Lune. The screenings only happen once a decade and each time there is new, impossible footage of Gemma long after she vanished. Desperate to discover the truth, Christopher risks losing himself. He’ll have to outrun the cursed legacy of the film—or become trapped by it forever.

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Praise for Constance Sayers:

A captivating tapestry of a tale, A Witch in Time weaves together the supernatural, historical fiction, and a humorous present day heroine, while traveling the macabre brambles of a dark curse-through lifetimes-with a compass to the heart.-- "Gwendolyn Womack, bestselling author of The Fortune Teller & The Time Collector on A Witch in Time"

A spellbinding historical fantasy....Fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus will love this page-turning story of dark magic, star-crossed love, and familial sacrifice.-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Ladies of the Secret Circus"

A sweeping story of magical, star-crossed love, as glamorous as it is romantic. Prepare to be dazzled.-- "Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger on A Witch in Time"

Ambitious and teeming with magic, Sayers creates a fascinating mix of art, The Belle Époque, and more than a little murder.-- "Erika Swyler, author of The Book of Speculation on The Ladies of the Secret Circus"

At once a sweeping tale of dark magic, artistic obsession, and a love unbound from the limits of time, The Star and the Strange Moon captivates with lush prose and moments of poignant, heartbreaking beauty. A soaring celebration of female agency and the power of free will, this is Constance Sayers at her finest.-- "Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of The Witch of Tin Mountain"

At times decadent and macabre, The Ladies of the Secret Circus is a mesmerizing tale of love, treachery, and depraved magic percolating through four generations of Cabot women.-- "Luanne G. Smith, author of The Vine Witch on The Ladies of the Secret Circus"

Be warned! The Star and the Strange Moon will cast its spell on you. Constance Sayers has created a book of worlds within worlds. Like the main characters, the reader is irresistibly drawn into the dangerous intrigue and dark truth at the heart of the story. Highly recommended!-- "Paula Brackston, New York Times bestselling author"

Fans of Deborah Harkness will devour this page-turning tale of love, reincarnation, and dark magic. A highly unique and enjoyable read!-- "Hester Fox, author of The Witch of Willow Hall on A Witch in Time"

Fresh and original... a narrative rich in historical detail, brightened by flashes of humor, and filled with colorful characters and fascinating settings. A most rewarding read!-- "Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches on A Witch in Time"

Sayers traverses time periods effortlessly with lush, graceful descriptions....This spiraling narrative will appeal to fans of historical fiction and complicated love stories .-- "Publishers Weekly on A Witch in Time"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Constance Sayers is the author of the Amazon best-selling novel, A Witch in Time (2020 Redhook/Hachette) as well as The Ladies of the Secret Circus (2021 Redhook/Hachette) that received a starred review from both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. Her books have been translated into six languages.

A finalist for Alternating Current’s 2016 Luminaire Award for Best Prose, her short stories have appeared in Souvenir and Amazing Graces: Yet Another Collection of Fiction by Washington Area Women as well as The Sky is a Free Country. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net.

She received her master of arts in English from George Mason University and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She attended The Bread Loaf Writers Conference where she studied with Charles Baxter and Lauren Groff. A media executive, she’s twice been named one of the “Top 100 Media People in America” by Folio and included in their list of “Top Women in Media.”

She lives in Washington DC. Like her character in The Ladies of the Secret Circus, she was the host of a radio show from midnight to six.

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REVIEW

The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Sayers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Arriving here, a hollowness had enveloped her. 

Perhaps a horror film was appropriate 

for her current state of mind, 

yet she had a premonition of sorts that this

film was going to be the undoing of her.

Constance Sayers has just joined a very short list of authors that are so good I will auto-read their books no questions asked. The Star and the Strange Moon is the third book in a row of hers that I absolutely LOVED. Like the first two reads by Sayers, this story had a dark, foreboding edge that keeps you turning the pages with equal parts anxiety and wonder. I've never really been a big fan of the horror genre, but this novel leans towards the gothic sub-genre with the element of romance involved. The romance was not in the forefront of the story, which I didn't mind at all. The dual timelines and time travel feel (I would describe it as traveling to an alternate world/dimension rather than time travel) both added to the complexity of this thought-provoking story.

Christopher Kent's childhood was very unstable and chaotic. From a very early age, he had to learn how to deal with his mother's extreme mood swings, addictions, and unpredictable behavior. Constantly on the move to a new place and a new job, they lived a nomadic life out of hotels filled with uncertainty and dread. Christopher knew he wouldn't stay in any one place too long, so he wouldn't allow himself to make friends. While it wasn't an easy childhood, it was what he had become accustomed to in order to take care of his mother and keep them safe. Then his world came crashing down one day when his mother seemed to have a complete mental breakdown. The catalyst was (strangely enough) a poster of an old black and white movie star named Gemma Turner. It seemed to send his mother into an unhinged loss of control that became her final breaking point.

After Christopher couldn't hold the pieces of their life together any longer, and he was sent to live with his aunt and uncle. He never forgot Gemma Turner and the strange effect she seemed to have on his mother. It started a lifelong obsession-a quest to learn everything he could about the actress and her possible connection to his mother. It was a quest that would ultimately dig up dark secrets that were meant to stay hidden forever.

Christopher knew in his heart that 

his mother’s true tale had been hidden 

from him—from all of them. 

He just had to find it.

Gemma Turner's POV is ominous from page one. If you've read the synopsis, you know that she is doomed to disappear during her last movie. That movie, L’Etrange Lune, grew to have a cult-like following as well as the strange deaths of some people connected to it. Was there some sort of curse on the property they were filming at? The world had a macabre fascination with the unexplainable events. To Christopher, it was more than that. He felt uncontrollably drawn to the story. Obsessed. Gemma's fate meant something to him in a very personal way and he couldn't stop until he had closure. Her alternating chapters become hard to read because you're filled with dread for her. Knowing she has nothing but a living nightmare waiting for her in the near future, in a living story that alters with each decision she makes.

I can't say much more about the plot without spoiling the mystery of it all, but I will say that Christopher and Gemma's worlds eventually will collide. He must find a way to extract her or he may become entangled right along with her. What sacrifices is he willing to make in order to put this cursed movie to rest once and for all?

The book was a little slow going at first, partly due to my impatience to just get Gemma's entrance into the movie over with. Even though I was impatient, the attention to detail created a fine-tuned plot and three dimensional characters. Everything was brought to life in an exquisite, sinister package that kept me hooked until the very last page. I can't wait to see what this author has in store for us next!

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Review: A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

In this romantic fantasy of manners from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft, a magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when a gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the groom.

A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT

 by ALLISON SAFT

Series: n/a

Publication date: January 2, 2024

Published by: Wednesday Books

Genre: romantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland. 

But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more—until an anonymous gossip columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.

Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allison Saft is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic and Down Comes the Night. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time rolling on eight wheels and practicing aerial silks. She lives with her partner and an Italian greyhound named Marzipan.

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REVIEW

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft
My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I was so excited to start this because the premise sounded really different and intriguing. Sadly, it was a bit of a mess, and very difficult to read for many reasons. Surface level character development, pacing, inconsistencies, unlikable hero, minimal fantasy worldbuilding, and the weak historical setting were just a few of the things that came together to make this lackluster romantasy. I am so bummed that I didn't love it, but I'm honestly patting myself on the back for trudging through and making it to the last page.

Niamh Ó Conchobhair is the female protagonist. She's eighteen years old and has just been offered the position of clothing maker for the upcoming royal wedding of the youngest prince. Prince Christopher, Duke of Clearwater (Kit) is marrying Rosa because his older brother has decreed that it's for the good of the kingdom. The alliance will prove to strengthen them financially and improve Kit's battered reputation. Kit is seen as a bit of a joke because of his alcoholism and the fact that he's been living away from Avaland in an attempt to recover from his addiction. He's reluctantly going along with the wedding, but he's not happy and everyone knows it.

From the first introduction, Kit is surly, mean-spirited, and just generally unpleasant to be around. Niamh is asked to stitch something for him and the prince regent in order to show the capabilities of her magic. He sneers at her work and makes her feel unwelcome before stomping off. This immediately causes her to (understandably) hate him from the get-go. During all of their interactions, his behavior takes a similar vein, though she starts to sympathize with him as she sees hints of compassion in him. Personally, I did not see enough in him to excuse his bratty behavior, nor did I see him as a multi-layered person who is misunderstood. His reputation is well-earned, and I didn't even feel sorry for him being forced into a loveless marriage.

Niamh came off as a bit of a people pleaser and a martyr. She lives to help support her family (even though they're ungrateful), has no personal life to speak of, and weakens herself by working her fingers to the bone knowing that it's accelerating the mysterious disease she is "dying" from. When she is overly stressed or anxious she ages and/or weakens which is shown in the physical manifestation of her hair gradually turning white. In the synopsis, it says that the magic she uses in her clothing is "the same magic that will eventually kill her." However, in the book, it says this:

Some illnesses pass through generations. We tend to see them appear more often in families with divine blood—not necessarily because they’re connected [...]

Absolutely nobody else in the book with magic powers is suffering the same health issues as her. Nobody else has hair turning white. None of this was explained with any type of detail, and no one seems to be overly concerned when she baldly states to various people that she is "dying." When she blurted it out to Kit, they were becoming involved at that point and he acted surprised but that was the extent of it. How do you not react with horror to a statement like that for someone you are supposedly falling for? I kept thinking that this would be addressed somehow towards the end in order to ensure a smooth HEA, but unfortunately no. She could literally die one year after they get together...one day even. But they calmly accept that like it's no biggie. In fact, all of the seemingly insurmountable hurdles these two have are hopped over quickly and unrealistically. Kit's engagement is even solved from many different angles in very few pages. Everything all tied up in a neat bow, but not in a remotely realistic manner.

The magic system is described very vaguely as well as the historical setting. All we are told about the magic is that every person with an ceird (magic) claimed they could trace their ancestry back to one of the Fair Ones. The Fair Ones are described in one paragraph. None of it really makes sense. Are there a set amount of powers based on the six Fair Ones named, or are there too many to count? Despite the source of the magic, some of the Machlish people who are peasants who live in poverty have magic, like Niamh. It seems that anyone in any class can have them, but having them doesn't earn respect unless you are upper class. There is no structure to any of it, and it's all briefly, sporadically, and in an inconsistent way. If I'm reading a fantasy with magic involved I expect world building and in-depth explanations in order for the setting to come to life. The historical detail was sufficient either, despite the fact that this world was supposed to have been modeled after Regency England. Their clothing may have been appropriate, but I didn't have the benefit of a description besides a bit of lace here, or a mention of a garter under her dress there. The speech and social customs were more modern than antiquated, so everything was a bit artificial for my taste.

There is the addition of various conflicts like the gossip columnist Lovelace, and Lady Helen Carlile who pop up at various points in the book but again, lack any focus or detail. The romance pretty much sprouts out of nowhere after she spends more than half the book despising him, and I couldn't find excitement for it once it did. His fiancé pretty much says it all.

    “He is . . . pretty, in his way, I suppose. In theory,” Rosa conceded. 

“But I am shocked at his poor breeding. 

He is gentlemanly to no one but you. To the rest of the world, 

he is peevish, extraordinarily rude, and

possesses no grace or decorum.”

To me, this feels like a story you would expect from a debut author. I don't think I'll be trying another book from Allison Saft because her writing is just not for me. Many others have read her work and appreciate it, so maybe you will have a different experience.

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Review: Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale

If you had the power to change the past…where would you start?

CASSANDRA IN REVERSE

 by HOLLY SMALE

Series: n/a

Publication date: June 6, 2023

Published by: HQ/Mira

Genre: time travel, fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend, Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn't (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable order…until now.

• She's just been dumped.

• She's just been fired.

• Her local café has run out of banana muffins.

Then, something truly unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. One small rewind at a time, Cassie attempts to fix the life she accidentally obliterated, but soon she'll discover she's trying to fix all the wrong things.

Purchase your copy now!

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Praise for Cassandra in Reverse:

“Witty, touching and totally absorbing. Cassandra is a funny and sharply-observed character who I loved spending time with.” —Graeme Simsion, New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Project

“A glorious testament to the transformative power of being our own true selves. It’s a brilliantly clever, twisty story that dazzles with its wit whilst touching our hearts. . . . A hugely entertaining book with an important message, Cassandra in Reverse is a triumph!” —Sarah Haywood, New York Times bestselling author of The Cactus

“A pure delight from start to finish. Cassandra Dankworth is a character as unique as she is endearing: hilariously prickly and unapologetically clever yet delicate and tragically misunderstood. Cassandra in Reverse is an unexpected take on time travel, exploring the challenges of human connection. Humorous and insightful, this is an absolute gem of a novel.” —Margarita Montimore, USA Today bestselling author of Oona Out of Order

“Hilarious, insightful, and bright with the whole spectrum of human emotion, Cassandra in Reverse reinvigorates the time loop trope with the perfect match of character and concept. Utter genius!” —Catriona Silvey, internationally bestselling author of Meet Me In Another Life

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Holly is the Number One bestselling, multi-award winning author of the GEEK GIRL series.

She fell in love with writing at five years old, when she realised that books didn't grow on trees like apples. A passion for travel, adventure and wearing no shoes has since led her all over the world: she has visited 27 countries, spent two years working as an English teacher in Japan, volunteered in Nepal, been bartered for in Jamaica and had a number of ear-plugs stolen in Australia, Indonesia and India.

Holly has a BA in English Literature, an MA in Shakespeare, and currently lives in London or at @holsmale.

The GEEK GIRL series has been an internationally bestselling no1. smash-hit. It won the Waterstones Teen Prize of the Year and the Leeds book award, was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Branford Boase award, and was long-listed for the Carnegie.

Follow her:

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REVIEW

Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Anytime I see a new book pop up with a time travel theme, I'm automatically excited to read it. I'm a bit obsessed with time travel, and frankly, there isn't enough out there to whet my voracious appetite for it. Let me start off by saying that Cassandra in Reverse started off with a bang.

Cassandra, the main character, has some great philosophical, original thoughts that effortlessly pulled me into the story. As she begins her narration, she even breaks the fourth wall by speaking directly to the reader. It was a really promising first impression, and even better, she only became more interesting the more I read. I could see how many people might be frustrated or annoyed with her horrible interactions with everyone around her. After all, she hasn't a clue how to engage in small talk or polite, casual conversation. She inevitably manages to offend or anger the person she is speaking to-completely unintentionally. Still, for me, her clumsiness at personal and professional relationships made me feel so sympathetic towards her struggles. The author spent a lot of time explaining Cassandra's differences, daily challenges, and feelings of despair that she couldn't stop pushing people away. Based on all of these things, it became crystal clear very early on that Cassandra is autistic, but was never diagnosed.

The book begins with her getting fired from her job, getting dumped by her boyfriend, and her living situation with her roommates is pretty well destroyed. So far, it was reminding me very strongly of Penny Reid's Neanderthal Seeks Human just without the huge dose of humor. (One of my top favorite books, btw) Cassandra doesn't care much for her PR job in the first place, considering she just isn't a people person. However, nobody wants to be fired and lose their financial stability, so she is naturally distraught. Even more upsetting is her unexpected break-up with her lovely boyfriend Will of four months. She truly cares for Will, and was completely blindsided by his sudden extraction from their relationship. Will seemed to genuinely admire Cassandra's intelligence and wasn't put off by her differences. What seemed to be a breaking point for him was her issue with opening up to him about her feelings and sharing herself with him. No matter how many times he asked her to share what she was thinking and feeling, she didn't know how to give that to him.

Somewhere after this disaster of a day when her life implodes, she discovers that she inexplicably went back and started repeating the day over again. She's stunned to discover that she has a strange ability to manipulate time, rewinding moments and re-doing them to fix what she feels like she broke. The catch is that she can only go back to the beginning of that one day and no further. This time travel aspect is left pretty vague and not at all fleshed out. The rules seem arbitrary and erratic, fluid even. But putting that aside, if you suspend disbelief and explore the yawning possibilities with her, there's still potential.

   When I woke up this morning, it suddenly occurred 

to me that I’m not using my newfound abilities 

to their full capacity. I can travel through time, 

which means I can draw the day in pencil and 

then simply erase it when it’s done. 

I can have a holiday whenever I feel like it.

She struggles with questions of morality: should she even be re-doing so many failures with Will in order to prevent their break-up? If she keeps rewinding situations that end badly until Will is happy with her, isn't that a form of control and manipulation? Eventually, it doesn't sit well with her. She briefly thinks about doing illegal things just because she can and then erasing them, but she is an honest person at heart so she discards the possibility. In the end, what she cares most about is finding out where she went wrong with Will, preventing herself from getting fired, and preventing the day with her roommate Derek that ruins everything at home. So she begins an exhausting effort to reset everything. Along the way, she starts to learn things about herself as well as start to become more friendly with Salini and Sophie. Unfortunately, even with some successes, she keeps hitting walls when it comes to Will and the mystery woman named Diana that keeps popping up no matter what she changes. She starts to think that the harder she tries to put things back together again, perhaps she's just better off letting things fall where they may and accepting her life, flaws and all.

The mystery woman, Diana, set the story on a whole new course that I was not expecting. After Cassandra's reconciliation with her, the storyline with Will is completely altered. At first, I was extremely annoyed. After all, wasn't this book partially a romance? Now it wasn't feeling like one so much. Then the more I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that maybe there was a reason she and Will keep having issues in every alternate reality she creates. As sweet as he is, perhaps they really are too different, and she was wrong about fate. She can keep altering it, but in the end, things will eventually realign in the way they were meant to go. Different journey, same results. So I adjusted my thinking about her new projected ending. This is all about her deciding not to time travel anymore because she finally accepts herself for who she is, differences and all. Except...she starts making mistakes again with Diana, time traveling again to fix it (after declaring that she won't anymore), and then deciding to contradict everything she claimed to have learned and start COMPLETELY over again.

By the end, I was left floundering. I wondered what the lesson was. What was the message, the timeline of anything, the takeaway from everything I just read...? It's so unfortunate, but the promising beginning fizzled out to confusion in the final chapters. Everything I thought the book was about changed to something else, then left completely unresolved and undone. I decided on three stars, but this really was a tough one to rate. I enjoyed the author's writing style a lot, unfortunately the execution left something to be desired. Also, a minor complaint I have is the excessive references/comparisons to ancient Greek Gods. I understand that it was Cassandra's obsession, but there were so many insertions into the story that it became boring and I started skimming over them.

I wish I could have loved this one more, but I ended up having very mixed feelings. I will say that despite my issues, this was an original concept that held my interest pretty much the whole way through. I might be willing to give this author another try in the future if the right synopsis catches my eye again.

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