folklore

Review of The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

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Synopsis:
Vying for the hand of one brother.

Falling in love with the other.

A new Victorian-inspired romantasy, perfect for fans of Bridgerton, The Selection, and The Cruel Prince.

“If you’re looking for the next YA sensation, here it is.” —Adalyn Grace, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Belladonna

London, 1848—For four hundred years, England has been under the control of an immortal fae queen who tricked her way onto the throne. To maintain an illusion of benevolence, Queen Mor grants each of her subjects one opportunity to bargain for their deepest desire.

As Ivy Benton prepares to make her debut, she knows that not even a deal with the queen could fix what has gone wrong: Her family’s social standing is in shambles, her sister is a shadow of her former self, and Ivy’s marriage prospects are nonexistent. So when the queen announces a competition for Prince Bram’s hand, Ivy is the first to sign her name in blood. What a bargain can’t fix, a crown certainly could.

Ivy soon finds herself a surprising front-runner—with the help of an unexpected ally: Prince Bram’s brother, the rakish Prince Emmett, who promises to help Ivy win his brother’s heart…for a price. But as the season sweeps Ivy away, with glittering balls veiling the queen’s increasingly vicious trials, Ivy realizes there’s more at stake than just a wedding. Because all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may have discovered hers too late.

Review:
“Parents warned children to stay away from tall strangers in the woods and to never follow music that seemingly came from nowhere. They did not heed the warnings, and they paid the price.” (Page 365)

This book is AMAZING. It’s got the Victorian society mixed with fairies and magic and love. One of the best parts of this novel is that the faerie aspect is done very well; there is magic, there are bargains, but they all come with a price. While the bargains may be done to make the Faerie Queen seem sympathetic to humans, the duplicity of having to give something away that you often wouldn’t have considered the significance of should have made most realize that the fae don’t consider futures, morals, values, people in the same way that humans do. Yet one by one people send their daughters to ask for a bargain to try to make them more attractive, to elevate their family’s standing and lives, without considering what one may be giving away in return. This book also entwines familial relationships and what one would be willing to do for a sibling that they love more than anything.

This book is gripping, thought provoking, and leaves you wishing for the next book immediately before you’ve even set this one down.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs

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Synopsis:
Before Miss Peregrine gave them a home, the story of peculiars was written in the Tales.
 
Wealthy cannibals who dine on the discarded limbs of peculiars. A fork-tongued princess. These are but a few of the truly brilliant stories in Tales of the Peculiar—the collection of fairy tales known to hide information about the peculiar world, including clues to the locations of time loops—first introduced by Ransom Riggs in his #1 bestselling Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series.
 
Riggs now invites you to share his secrets of peculiar history, with a collection of original stories in this deluxe volume of Tales of the Peculiar, as collected and annotated by Millard Nullings, ward of Miss Peregrine and scholar of all things peculiar. Featuring stunning illustrations from world-renowned woodcut artist Andrew Davidson this compelling and truly peculiar anthology is the perfect gift for not only fans, but for all booklovers.

Review:
If you are a lover, a connoisseur of fairy tales, folk tales and folklore this is a book you want to pick up. While fairy tale retellings are a genre of their own Riggs went forward and created his own set of peculiar tales, that whether or not you’re peculiar, offer quite a lot of insight to what is wrong, right, moral and just. The stories are at times somewhat reminiscent in the back of your mind to tales you may already know (The Fork-Tongued Princess and The Paper Bag Princess bare a striking moral resemblance) but they are all filled with knowledge and warnings to be careful of what you have, what you wish to accomplish, and the mark you may make on the world.

This was on the pile of “books I bought and never read for years so maybe I should get rid of them” but I picked it up and started reading it instead… needless to say, it won’t be returning to the pile. The hardcover edition of this book is also gorgeous, with gold leaves on the front, black and white pictures for every story, and a black ribbon to keep your place.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Hawcett

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Synopsis:
Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party—or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, muddle Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones—the most elusive of all faeries—lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all—her own heart.

Review:
I cannot say enough good things about this book. This book is the quintessential fantasy adventure; it has adventure, a strong female protagonist, romance, and growth. It was impossible to put down, and even though you start off knowing that Emily doesn’t do well with people, you find yourself hoping that she changes. From the start Emily is off to work and we’re left with a less than desirable portrait of Bambleby, but throughout the novel we learn that not everything is as it appears. Emily has widely studied the fae, which makes her more knowledgeable about how to deal with them than most, leaving others wondering if she is magical herself. Her own response is, “One doesn’t need magic if one knows enough stories.” (page 195) While on quite the journey, there are still many lessons to be learned along the way for all involved, one being that if you’re a person in power, people model themselves to behave in a similar way to you so you must be conscious of that.

This book is also quite unique in that it is written entirely as a journal of Emily’s adventures trying to learn more of the fae; a style that hasn’t been widely used. This book is Edwardian, and has footnotes of Emily’s “dryadology”, serving as additional information about the creatures/fae situations that people may not be familiar with. It is well written, well paced, with quite a lot of Scandinavian folklore entwined and while there is a hint of a romantic subplot it does not detract from the overall fantasy plot of the novel.

All in all this story is a wonderful return to fairytales and what can happen when humans deal with the fae. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves enchanting stories of fae, those who study them, and those who grow to open themselves to more. Book two of Emily Wilde’s adventures is out tomorrow, and I cannot wait to start reading it!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Den of Blades and Briars by LJ Andrews

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Synopsis:

She’s bound to serve her enemy for a hundred years. Now, she’s at risk of killing the man … or falling for him.


After she lands on the losing side of a war, Saga is sentenced to serve Ari Sekundär, the man she despises.

But when Ari is blamed for a tragic assassination, Saga is forced on the run with her reluctant master, and they must work together to survive. Soon hate feels more like passion and disgust more like desire.

What Ari doesn’t know is that falling in love with the enemy will have deadly consequences. But how can Saga tell him, if he ever gives his heart to her, it will unlock a hidden secret that can destroy the kingdom…and end her life.

The tale of the Swan Princess reimagined. This compelling New Adult Fantasy continues the bestselling world of the Broken Kingdoms as the first book in the Southern Kingdom. Welcome to a world filled with fae, Vikings, and spicy romance.


*This book contains content that could be triggering to some readers, so check the TW list inside, along with spicy scenes that are for readers 18+*

Review:
This book was good, but it seemed a bit more of a slow book that I didn’t find as gripping as the others in the series. I’m sure part of it is that I didn’t find Saga as interesting as previous heroines. Perhaps another part is that I waited so long since I last joined this world. Looking at the synopsis now, I clearly should have reread it before reading this book as I personally hadn’t made the Swan Princess connection though I can see some connections to that looking back now. I still loved Ari, but it took quite a while to warm up to Saga. There were definite moments when I felt like he should have seen right through her ruse, especially given his former occupation. All in all they make a good counterbalance to each other, though I did anticipate a lot of things about Saga before they were revealed. The spice in this book was great, and I did think that was well written and thoroughly enjoyable. I have already started the second book by the time of writing this review, and so far, it is picking up a lot quicker.

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 Thief of Spring: A Hades and Persephone Retelling by Katherine Macdonald

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Synopsis:
The Greek Gods are real.

But they aren’t gods.

They’re faeries.

When 17-year-old Persephone accidentally stumbles upon a revel, she’s chosen as a sacrifice, but is saved from this fate when the Lord of the Underworld tricks her into becoming his companion for seven months instead. Sephy is taken to his dark palace under the earth, but the Lord of Night isn’t exactly what she expected him to be…

And neither is she.

Review:
I got a lot of Rapunzel vibes from this book when I started it. It did draw me in, especially because Sephy very much is aware of her growing feelings and the thought that this could be Stockholm Syndrome. I do like how the characters slowly started to get to know each other better, however, I did very much feel like a few things had been overly blatant. When we got towards the ending I was curious what would happen and if there would be a happily ever after but- silly me, I didn’t realize this was a duology!

Though there were a few obvious betrayals and a few twists and turns that hadn’t been expected, I found myself somewhat disappointed in how Persephone progressed throughout the story. The story seemed a bit flat. While mixing fae with the Greek Pantheon seems like a great idea, there was more that could have been better fleshed out about the connections between the myths and the people with those titles now, especially given that some were considered “real” and dangerous in the way that they were originally depicted while others somehow were just the title the Greeks once gave them. The main character, in the story, even mentioned that this type of story (of fae romance) is considered popular right now, which makes a reader consider if the author is merely trying to do what appeals, without giving proper fleshing out required for a deeper read. That being said, it’s a good, quick slow burn read that isn’t full of depth but is fun, and I am looking forward to continuing with book 2.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯