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momwithareadingproblem 's review for:
White Stag
by Kara Barbieri
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not effect my opinion of the book or the contents of this review.
Where do I begin?! White Stag by Kara Barbieri is the book I was waiting for. I’ve been craving a fantasy that could sweep me away from reality for a little while, and this was it. A hunt, a dead king, Goblins….it’s all very Labyrinth-esque. To be honest, I was a little hesitant going into the read. While I was excited, I was remembering my disappointment in Wintersong. Y’all there’s no comparison. While Wintersong was romantic and whimsical, White Stag is dark and haunting. Be prepared for a dark read.
Dropping the reader right into the action, the author creates a suspenseful read from the first page. Janneke is a thrall (re: slave) of a high-goblin lord, and as a result is perpetually 17. At the opening of the book, she’s been 17 for almost 100 years, taken as a slave after her village and family were killed. Now she is fighting becoming a changeling, fighting her growing feelings for the goblin who keeps her enslaved, and fighting to return to the human world. Janneke isn’t an easy character to empathize with. She is dealing with a lot of trauma (i.e. rape) and not fully recovered from it.
Soren, Janneke’s owner (I don’t think that’s the right word, but I’m going with it), comes off as a little cold to start. However what isn’t obvious to Janneke is very clear to the reader: he cares for her.
When the Erlking dies, the stag awakes and runs off, starting the hunt. This is the main plot of the story and follows Soren and Janneke as they hunt. I struggled a bit through the middle of the book. The writing felt rushed and dialogue stilted. I needed more detail personally. I also felt that the book itself needed a polish with an editor. (Please note though that I read an advanced copy, I’m hoping these issues have been resolved prior to release).
Overall, I liked White Stag and cannot wait to read more of Janneke’s story in the second book. If you enjoy high fantasy, suspense, and a little romance, I recommend it.
Where do I begin?! White Stag by Kara Barbieri is the book I was waiting for. I’ve been craving a fantasy that could sweep me away from reality for a little while, and this was it. A hunt, a dead king, Goblins….it’s all very Labyrinth-esque. To be honest, I was a little hesitant going into the read. While I was excited, I was remembering my disappointment in Wintersong. Y’all there’s no comparison. While Wintersong was romantic and whimsical, White Stag is dark and haunting. Be prepared for a dark read.
Dropping the reader right into the action, the author creates a suspenseful read from the first page. Janneke is a thrall (re: slave) of a high-goblin lord, and as a result is perpetually 17. At the opening of the book, she’s been 17 for almost 100 years, taken as a slave after her village and family were killed. Now she is fighting becoming a changeling, fighting her growing feelings for the goblin who keeps her enslaved, and fighting to return to the human world. Janneke isn’t an easy character to empathize with. She is dealing with a lot of trauma (i.e. rape) and not fully recovered from it.
Soren, Janneke’s owner (I don’t think that’s the right word, but I’m going with it), comes off as a little cold to start. However what isn’t obvious to Janneke is very clear to the reader: he cares for her.
When the Erlking dies, the stag awakes and runs off, starting the hunt. This is the main plot of the story and follows Soren and Janneke as they hunt. I struggled a bit through the middle of the book. The writing felt rushed and dialogue stilted. I needed more detail personally. I also felt that the book itself needed a polish with an editor. (Please note though that I read an advanced copy, I’m hoping these issues have been resolved prior to release).
Overall, I liked White Stag and cannot wait to read more of Janneke’s story in the second book. If you enjoy high fantasy, suspense, and a little romance, I recommend it.