Fairy Tales

Review of Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen

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Synopsis:
I’ve always loved fairytales. I never imagined I’d actually be in one.

When my father wanders into the enchanted realm of the fae, I know I have to go after him. And when he gets imprisoned, I’ll do anything to save him… Even trade my freedom for his. I had no idea I’d end up imprisoned by four sexy fae who turn into beasts at night.

I have to win my freedom, and that means making a bargain with them. They must find their mates in order to break the curse. If I can help them do that, they’ll set me free. Sounds simple, right?

It’s not. Because against my better judgment, I’m starting to fall for these beastly princes. One is smart and sweet, the other mysterious and deadly, another flirty and confident, and the last prince… He’s handsome, strong, has a wicked temper, and is dead-set against breaking the curse. Why does he want to keep me here forever?

But it’s not just my freedom on the line. If I don’t break the princes’ curse soon, all the magic in the Enchanted Vale will be stolen by the evil—and stupidly hot—Prince of Thorns. And I’m not letting my princes stay cursed.

Not after I’ve fallen in love with them.

BONDED BY THORNS is a steamy adult Beauty and the Beast retelling set in a fantasy fae realm. In this version, our beautiful bookworm doesn’t have to choose between the four sexy fae princes. It is a full-length novel that ends on a cliffhanger. It includes MF and MM content. It is intended for mature readers only.

Review:
This book had me enraptured from the beginning. Given how “romance” driven it seemed set up for, there was a lot of lead in and backstory that really had me gripped from the first page. I never once was considering looking to see just how much time I had left chapter to chapter or until the end, unless I was falling asleep while reading and wanted to get to an end point. I loved how Rosalina’s life was shown before and after being with the princes, and how she grows as a character. I cannot wait to be able to read the next book, and oh my gosh, waiting until June is going to be TORTURE!!!

I feel that Rosalina and her previous relationship is very much how many women find themselves dating when they don’t know any better; it’s good enough, okay enough, he’s nice to me etc. I absolutely adored how we saw her relationships with the various characters blossom during the story, so that it’s more than just attraction between her and any of the others. I love she finds herself reevaluating her place in life and in this story, and finding that, just like the real world, sometimes your desires and feelings and future change before you even realize.

There is a hint of spice between Rosalina and one of the princes (not naming names!) however the main spice is MM, and I’d put the dirty talk at about a 5/5 spice and the rest maybe 3/5.

I did absolutely love the subtle nods to the Disney version with “Far off places, daring sword fights, a prince in disguise…” but this could absolutely stand on its own. The flower twist was gorgeous, the thorns and her connection perfect. I have a few suspicions on who some of the main characters so far unseen will turn out to be (fae queen, enchantress) but overall I quite love this book and cannot wait to continue on!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Off the Page by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

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Synopsis:
Delilah and Oliver shouldn’t be together. But they are together. And just as they’re getting used to the possibility that happily ever after may really, truly be theirs, the universe sends them a message they can’t ignore: they won’t be allowed to rewrite their story.
 
Delilah and Oliver must decide how much they’re willing to risk for love and what it takes to have a happy ending in a world where the greatest adventures happen off the page.

Review:
This was actually everything I needed to read at the time, and along with Vespertine and another book I’m still in the process of reading, it really helped me feel something when facing personal tragedy. Now, this book does pick up where Between the Lines left off, however, Delilah, in my opinion, becomes quite unlikeable. Oliver and Edgar face a lot of personal trials and tribulations and grow a lot, but Delilah seems to sink into her relationship in a way that seems quite unhealthy. She recognizes this and even begins to dislike herself for it, but she doesn’t change or advance or grow in any way. That’s alright, because this book is honestly more about Oliver and Edgar and what it means to be yourself and put those you love first.

One thing that I think this book does better than almost any other book I’ve read is actually talk about death and dying in a way that makes sense and doesn’t belittle how much it hurts to lose someone. Everyone will lose someone in life, and it can be hard to understand and even harder to know how to pick up your life and continue on when someone who was an integral part is just… gone. Thank you so much to Picoult and van Leer for realizing that this was something that not everyone may have experienced, and that it hits people differently; especially the feelings of guilt.

This book was awesome, and I think it’s a definitely must read if you loved the first; but warning, this one has no pretty pictures (unless you count the chapter headings).

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of A rose in the shadows by Angela White

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Synopsis:
And Beauty arrived at the Beast’s Castle… A new contemporary novel for a tale as old as time

Following her father’s death and bereft of economic means, the young Annabelle moves to Vermont to become the curator of a private library. Among snow-covered mountains, she finds a fairytale castle and a frosty welcome. Annabelle eagerly devotes herself to the work, but a mystery surrounds the owner of the manor house. Who is this Declan Lions? Why are there no photographs or portraits of him in Lions Manor? What is the reason for his withdrawal from the world, surrounded by a solitude that only his boundless wealth can guarantee him? He does not want to meet her. But, nevertheless, Annabelle feels an extraordinary presence beside her…

Annabelle Mayfair has disturbed my peace, the way a stone tossed into a pond shatters the stillness of the surface. And, like that stone, she will be swallowed up, deeper and deeper into the darkness of the abyss. I hate her because… she is so beautiful. Very beautiful. The things I could do to her… the pleasure I’d make her know. Would she be afraid, I wonder? I doubt that she has already discovered what a powerful aphrodisiac fear is. I want to hear her say my name. Yes, I want my name on those full, soft lips, still slightly apart in such a seductive way. The things she could do with that mouth…

Inspired by the acclaimed and beloved fairy tale, A ROSE IN THE SHADOWS is a STANDALONE, CONTEMPORARY and very HOT romance novel with a happy ever after.

Review:
I thought I would like this book from the beginning note about it being for the girls who would have chosen the Phantom, and I wasn’t wrong. Though sometimes a bit slow and definitely more sex filled than anything, this novel does well to show how sometimes tragedies make you want to hide from the world and the right person can make you want to return to the light. The spice in this is absolutely superb. There were some cases where the word usage didn’t seem to match the tone of the story or just seemed to be arbitrarily thrown in to elevate the novel since Annabelle is supposed to be such a lover of words. As a dance person, the overuse of the word arabesque drove me crazy. White clearly used Annabelle’s stepfamily as caricatures and I do believe that was well done, however, Annabelle herself was left as merely being a sweet, uneducated girl that didn’t really seem to have much going for her- some might even go so far as to call her a Mary Sue. That being said, her innocence still called to Declan, and their romance and heat was worth reading.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

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Synopsis:
What happens when happily ever after…isn’t?

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

A romantic and charming story, this companion novel to Off the Page will make every reader believe in the fantastical power of fairy tales.

Review:
This book is amazing. There are so many questions that so many of us go through all the time; what is real and what is imaginary? It is so easy to end up enthralled in this book, and the characters have great depth and personality. I absolutely love how there is a book within a book; I hadn’t expected such beautiful illustrations and highly recommend you buy a paper version so you can truly experience this novel. This is a beautiful story that is unique and so expertly told that it may always slightly linger in the back of the reader’s mind. There are many questions brought up but not quite answered about what people may wish or think of you and how that can affect you, positively or negatively, as well as thinking of your wants but also how getting what you want would effect others in your life. At the end, I certainly hadn’t expected what happened, but was also left with so many questions and the burning need to know more that I immediately went online and bought the sequel. I cannot wait to read more of what happens Off the Page.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of To Carve a Fae Heart by Tessonja Odette

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Synopsis:
Every young woman dreams of marrying a king.
Everyone except for me.
Because the king I am to wed has razor sharp fangs and a thirst for blood.

All my life I knew I’d come of age during the Hundred Year Reaping. According to the ridiculous treaty, two human girls are sent to the faelands as brides for the fearsome fae king and his devilish younger brother.

Not me. I was supposed to be safe. Two girls were chosen from my village already. But when they are executed for offending the king, my sister and I are sent in their place.

What a mess. Then again, maybe it’s not so bad. The younger brother I’m paired with doesn’t seem as monstrous as I’d expected. He’s delightfully handsome too. But nothing compares to the chilling, dangerous beauty of the fae king. And when my sister flees the castle and her terrifying husband-to-be, I’m left to marry him instead.

If I go through with this, I might not survive my wedding night. If I don’t, no one is safe, neither human nor fae. An ancient war will return, bringing devastation we haven’t seen in a thousand years. Can I sacrifice myself for the good of my people? Or will a dangerous desire be the death of me first?

If I don’t lose my heart, the king will certainly lose his. I’ll carve it out with an iron blade if I have to.

To Carve a Fae Heart is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy, perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince, ACOTAR, and Kingdom of the Wicked. If you like snarky fae, brooding royals, sizzling romance, and fierce heroines, you’ll love this breathtaking fae fantasy.

*NOTE: This series is Upper YA/NA and contains sexual situations, moderate steam, and some violence.

To Carve a Fae Heart is the first book in The Fair Isle Trilogy, set in the same world as the Entangled with Fae series. To Carve a Fae Heart takes place twenty years before the Entangled with Fae books. Journey back to Faerwyvae or start your adventure for the first time with this epic fantasy tale!

Review:
This book had me from the very first line. I absolutely adore that Tessonja Odette’s heroines/protagonists have lives, aspirations, goals, and not everything in their heads disappears the instant there is a chance of romance. This book is a perfect mesh of faerie tales and the duality of what you see from the outside of someone versus what they may be harbouring within. I absolutely loved how Evelyn is always at war between her head and her heart, there were a few times that she seemed to do things that she absolutely should have known better than. While I believe the couples have great tension, I do wish a certain royal explained better why he felt as he did. Sure, I can deduce that much, but clearly Evelyn couldn’t, so it would have been nice to have it spelled out.

Quite enjoy her differences between Seelie and Unseelie courts, and the explanation of the different powers different creatures have. Evelyn seemed to take up the sayings of the fae quite quickly, whereas as someone raised human, you would think she would have kept those instead, but that could be because of how immersed she quickly had to become in the fae. Evelyn’s narration is quirky, amusing, and fun and this book was entirely impossible to set down. Highly recommend, and have already finished the second book before writing this review (oops!)

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Glass Gate: A Retelling of Cinderella by Hanna Sandvig

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Synopsis:
Sometimes all a girl needs is a good dress and some magic shoes.
Prince Charming is optional.

My goal was simple: create a killer fashion design portfolio, win the scholarship to the school of my dreams, and never have to clean my step-family’s house again. I just needed some inspiration. Something to set my portfolio apart from all the other up-and-coming designers. A little fashion magic.

I didn’t expect literal magic.

But then my friend dressed me up like a fae princess, and whisked me away to Faerie. The food! The dancing! The dresses! This was just the inspiration I needed, so when the crown prince asked me to stay and be his fake girlfriend, I jumped at the opportunity.

Prince Tiernan is gorgeous and charming, but I’m just a part of a plot to find his bride. That’s fine by me. I’m just here for the fashion. No messy feelings. On the other hand, it’s very hard to not have my head turned by a boy who gives me a dragon egg.

The longer I stay in Faerie with Tiernan, the more caught up I get in the magic of his kingdom, and I start to believe the stories we’re spinning for everyone. Stories of magic and sacrifice and maybe even true love.
I can’t lose sight of my goals. I need to win that scholarship. Putting my heart on the line for a prince and his kingdom is just too risky. Am I brave enough to try? Maybe if I find the right dress.

Where’s a fairy godmother when you need one?

**If you think Ever After is the best Cinderella retelling, because they actually get to know each other, or that Project Runway would be improved by having a baby dragon, try The Glass Gate! This is a sweet, stand-alone retelling of Cinderella, set in the Faerie Tale Romances world**

Review:
This book is very much along the same lines of Ever After, where the prince doesn’t show his true self much of the time. Ella is an amazing girl with a lot of stress on her plate. I quite like that she has real problems that are not solved just by going to a fantasy land with different responsibilities and expectations, a very accurate depiction of how many people face mental health problems and that it’s alright, and better, to be open and talk about them. I love the world Sandvig has created and all the different types of fae; the connection to both Celtic, German, and Japanese folklore/fairy tales. I love that Ella has goals and dreams and ambitions, but also finds what she really had needed all along. I especially loved how Ella came across the name Cinderella in this retelling, as I’d never seen a retelling use that reasoning and I quite liked how it very much fit in this story.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Raven Spell by Luanne G. Smith

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Synopsis:
Fleeing Victorian London, a witch finds her newfound independence comes with all-new perils—both mortal and immortal.

Forever untangling the branches of her strange family tree, Edwina Blackwood is at a turning point. Her parents’ disappearances still strike her as unaccountably odd. Her sister’s questionable life and untimely death have left her shaken. Spellfire has transformed her home and livelihood to ash. And now a devious stalker is on her trail. With supernatural detective Ian Cameron by her side, Edwina can’t get out of London fast enough.

Gaining safe passage, she finds refuge with Sir Henry Elvanfoot, famed wizard of the north, and is promised protection from ill-aimed curses. But in this unfamiliar city of fair folk and witches, where the veil between Earth and the Otherworld is about to be lifted, something is amiss. How else to explain Edwina’s sudden prophetic visions? Or the fear that surviving whoever pursues her will require the powers of an ancient bloodline she’s only beginning to comprehend?

Whatever destiny awaits, it’s Edwina’s to finally control. Where will it lead? Only time, cunning, and magic—in this world or the Other—will tell.

Review:
This book was absolutely phenomenal and I couldn’t get enough of it! The world building was exceptionally done and well crafted; the type of story you find yourself enthralled in and not wanting to put down… until you’re near the end and then you never want it to finish. This book perfectly followed Edwina, Ian, and her stalker. There was so much more fae, and magic, and fairy tales, and it was just the type of perfectly encompassed story that will stay warming your heart long after you finish the series.

I loved the aspect of choice and how it plays into fate and the future, whether everything is an illusion or written in stone. I absolutely adored all of the characters we were introduced to and became attached to; even those that were unsavory. I quite loved the Celtic tie ins, and the descriptions used so if you were unaware you weren’t left in the dark. The one caveat I had with this novel was how easily Edwina did the expected in a circumstance, however it is somewhat explained later given her lack of thorough magical studies. I love who Gavina turned out to be, and I certainly hadn’t expected how tied into everything she already was, or how much Sir Henry played into things. The only question left unanswered was the how of Ian and Edwina, but that isn’t as important as their feelings. All in all, I absolutely adored this little two book series and intend to one day have the paper version on my shelf.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Desperate Measures by Katee Robert

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Synopsis:
Once upon a time, I was a sheltered princess.

On the night Jafar takes everything from my father, he offers me a devil’s bargain—walk with my freedom and nothing else, or attempt to best him and regain my inheritance. In my arrogance, I play right into his hands. I foolishly assume I have a chance to come out on top. I’m wrong.

Now Jafar owns me, body and soul.

We fight during the day, but when night comes, we play out every fantasy I’ve never allowed myself to admit to having. I can’t hide them from Jafar, though. We know each other—and the dark desires we share—far too well. He sees to my every need, no matter how carnal or extravagant. It’s almost enough for me to be happy…

But a gilded cage is still a prison, and I’ll do anything to obtain my freedom—even betray the man I’m falling for.

Review:
This book was a great romance novel with some properly described BDSM elements. The heat between Jafar and Jasmine is tangible, and it is easy to believe she wanted to trust him and let him give her what she was never allowed to have: a man who actually supported her and her ambitions to move forward in life. While the intertwined fairy tale/myth elements were interesting, especially the use of Rajah, I feel as if this story was quite brilliant and very much could have stood on its own without trying to draw people in with the fairy tale element; that being said, I’m almost certain that’s why I was originally drawn in to purchase said novel.

The one issue I did have was how rushed the ending/climax felt. It seems unrealistic that Jasmine would have changed so quickly to become a much more assertive and self assured person willing to force her position on others, especially given the multiple instances where she’s mentioned/felt/shown that she isn’t that type of person and didn’t have enough life experience/knowledge to be able to do such a thing. That being said, I did very much like the ending, it could have just happened in a more convincing manner.

If you like fairy tales, like the morally grey villain, and like well written smut (romance) then I’d highly recommend you read this.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Grinless the Goblin by Kenneth Lynch

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Synopsis:
Comedic fantasy adventures of a luckless goblin who always comes off looking like a hero when he just wants to be alone.

Review:
Earlier this year (in October) I was allotted the opportunity to read a yet to be properly published book titled Grinless the Goblin. Grinless the Goblin is a fantastical adventure for any who have found themselves put out by how things are not going their way, and how when you are down on yourself, you may still be the best thing around to others, and the saviour you didn’t want to be. Grinless is a very easy to empathize with character, a goblin that seems to constantly be in trouble, who goes on great adventures.

The quality of this story isn’t something you would expect from a new author; both a completely modern and relatable story told with a fairy tale flair that makes you wonder if you’ve discovered something unpublished by the Grimm Brothers or a secondary tale in the realms of The Princess and the Goblin but with more adult humour. I was definitely enthralled with the life of our goblin friend and found him both hilarious and endearing. Once this book is fully published, I fully intend to suggest everyone reads it.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Game of Hate and Lies by LJ Andrews

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Synopsis:
When wicked men first took the boy she loved, she was a child.
Now they’ve taken him again, but this time…she’s a queen.


For weeks, Malin plotted and schemed with the kingdom’s cruelest crooks, the Nightrender and the Guild of Kryv, to infiltrate a wicked masquerade.

They survived. They escaped. Most of them.

To the underbelly of the kingdom, the Nightrender never made it out of his own scheme. To Malin, he’s only Kase, the man who owns her heart, and who is once again a prisoner of their enemies. Malin and the Kryv will stop at nothing until he’s free. Even if it means claiming her birthright to a throne that brings death and war.

But when they discover Kase has been locked in a cruel spell, Malin must find a way to steal his new twisted memories before he is lost to them for good.

The only trouble is when Kase looks at Malin, all he sees is an enemy with a death sentence.

Return to the vicious world of the Eastern Kingdom. Part Viking, part Cinderella, the battle continues with more schemes, spicy romance, and epic adventure.


*Author Note* This book contains the spiciest scenes yet in this series. As a member of the mom-of-a-teenager club, I would recommend those who are not old enough to vote to read responsibly. There are open-door love scenes.

Review:
Could not wait to see what happened in this one. It really did a great job of showing how in politics and war you have to have patience and slowly follow a plan to get results. I could definitely feel and understand Malin’s pain as she had to work so very hard to get Kase back. While seeing Malin and Kase together and how they found each other again was quite epic, there is also great loss in this book that made me quite sad. I’m already fairly far into the next book in this series, because this series is just amazing and perfectly binge worthy.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯