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readwithmesashamarie
Having finished the first three books in this series, I liked this one the least. HOWEVER...holy crap. It is one of the best, first books in a series, I've read in an incredibly long time. The way this book set up the series was incredible, and as the story progressed in book two, shocking. Without this first book there would be no impact in future events. There was so much mesmerizing world building, secrets, evil, and triumphs. A round of applause for this book. Why the four star rating? Just wait until book 2...there aren't enough stars for book 2.
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Hands down, this is my favorite book in the series. The slow build, the action, the suspense, wow. I could not put this down.
I don't know where this book sits with me. I was enthralled by the last 250 pages, and I loved how it tied in with everything from the beginning. Nothing was inconsequential in the end. And I loved that. I like this book better than the first, but less than the second. It's sitting around a 4.8. Very, very good.
Review Post Reread
I think the first time around I was sooo enamored by Rhys and Feyre that I couldn't focus on the dramatics or war politics, I just wanted more of them. Knowing how everything ended changed how I approached this book the second time. I was able to appreciate the interactions with characters from other courts, and loved the moral discussions on how to proceed with this war. I absolutely loved this book the second time, and any hard feelings or misplaced judgement has evaporated. Solidly done.
Review Post Reread
I think the first time around I was sooo enamored by Rhys and Feyre that I couldn't focus on the dramatics or war politics, I just wanted more of them. Knowing how everything ended changed how I approached this book the second time. I was able to appreciate the interactions with characters from other courts, and loved the moral discussions on how to proceed with this war. I absolutely loved this book the second time, and any hard feelings or misplaced judgement has evaporated. Solidly done.
Let me start off by saying that Mrs. Maas and I have quite the history, as reader and author. A Court of Thorns and Roses is one of my favorite fantasy series ever written. Throne of Glass has some of my favorite and least favorite books ever written. And the infamous Crescent City was one of the worst books I have ever read. I don’t say any of that to disparage Mrs. Maas (as I came to call her in my reading vlog of this experience), but to set the tone for all the possible outcomes reading this novel could have had.
As it turns out this book fell solidly in the middle, and might on a reread come out closer to the top of my Maas book list.
This story follows characters from the first A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy. We get to pick up where all their misadventures left off just a few years post the war. Right off the bat, this book set itself apart by giving us dual points of view, both male and female.
I realized pretty quickly that Cassian may have only been my favorite character when I saw him through Feyre’s point of view. The Cassian we meet in this story, while he remains true to his character in the previous novels, was a little more sexual than I recall. This could also be stemming from the fact that in this novel we’re in his head, so to speak, and there is no denying that he is very, very male.
All of his redeeming qualities that made me fall in love with him are still represented, but towards the beginning some of his thoughts rubbed me the wrong way. A lot of times when it came to Nesta, Cassian’s inner monologue would respond to her physical attributes first (and I don’t mean remarks about her looking tired or too thin), before exploring her emotional well being or state of mind.
With my favorite male character ever written teetering on the edge of his pedestal, it was up to Nesta to fill in the gaps. When this story begins I could not have cared less what Nesta did, who she hurt, or how she behaved. It wasn’t until Nesta began having conversations with other women, and exploring her own trauma that I finally began to see her personality instead of the facade created to survive.
I could not wait to see Nesta’s powers get explored in this book. I fully expected us to finish this novel not knowing the full scope of her abilities, but was happily surprised when chapter by chapter the magic she stole from the cauldron was unraveled.
Let’s talk about who my favorite character in this novel turned out to be. Did you guess sentient house? Because neither did I! I absolutely fell in love with Nesta’s interactions with the house, and by extension the library(s) throughout. Through the house, and Nesta’s subsequent grounding within its walls, we got to meet more characters who helped Nesta come out of her shell. I loved the women who supported one another, and encouraged themselves to do the hard things, including reviving a long lost, all female, fighting battalion.
As always, Mrs. Maas never fails to center these stories around art. Feyre is a Painter. Elaine is a gardener, and Nesta is a dancer. Music and dancing filled too few pages of this novel. I could have read chapters upon chapters of Nesta describing music or dancing lessons, or how she captivated everyone in a room by her dancing alone. I fell in love with these scenes, and how they literally transported Nesta to another place when she was in the presence of music.
My only gripe with this novel was the plot. There just wasn’t enough. I wish I had gone in expecting a fantasy romance, heavy on the romance. It felt like Mrs. Maas had heard her audience’s pleass for more smut after the conclusion of the first trilogy, and put everything she could think of into this one book. It was well written and serves its purpose, but it was a little too much for me (did we really need this to be 800 pages? I’m just wondering).
I wanted more suspense, more rogue magic, and more fighting evil fae. My favorite scenes are the ones where there is a sense of danger, scenes that forced me to scan ahead a few pages to make sure everyone made it out alive, or left me questioning everything that had just happened.
Overall I was thrilled to be back in Velaris, and back with our bat boys. If you are on the fence of giving this book a chance, I say go for it. I cannot wait to read this again, especially after some of the revelations towards the end (honestly I cannot believe I didn’t see that coming). Right now this book gets four stars from me, but I have a feeling that on a reread this could easily become a solid five stars.
As it turns out this book fell solidly in the middle, and might on a reread come out closer to the top of my Maas book list.
This story follows characters from the first A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy. We get to pick up where all their misadventures left off just a few years post the war. Right off the bat, this book set itself apart by giving us dual points of view, both male and female.
I realized pretty quickly that Cassian may have only been my favorite character when I saw him through Feyre’s point of view. The Cassian we meet in this story, while he remains true to his character in the previous novels, was a little more sexual than I recall. This could also be stemming from the fact that in this novel we’re in his head, so to speak, and there is no denying that he is very, very male.
All of his redeeming qualities that made me fall in love with him are still represented, but towards the beginning some of his thoughts rubbed me the wrong way. A lot of times when it came to Nesta, Cassian’s inner monologue would respond to her physical attributes first (and I don’t mean remarks about her looking tired or too thin), before exploring her emotional well being or state of mind.
With my favorite male character ever written teetering on the edge of his pedestal, it was up to Nesta to fill in the gaps. When this story begins I could not have cared less what Nesta did, who she hurt, or how she behaved. It wasn’t until Nesta began having conversations with other women, and exploring her own trauma that I finally began to see her personality instead of the facade created to survive.
I could not wait to see Nesta’s powers get explored in this book. I fully expected us to finish this novel not knowing the full scope of her abilities, but was happily surprised when chapter by chapter the magic she stole from the cauldron was unraveled.
Let’s talk about who my favorite character in this novel turned out to be. Did you guess sentient house? Because neither did I! I absolutely fell in love with Nesta’s interactions with the house, and by extension the library(s) throughout. Through the house, and Nesta’s subsequent grounding within its walls, we got to meet more characters who helped Nesta come out of her shell. I loved the women who supported one another, and encouraged themselves to do the hard things, including reviving a long lost, all female, fighting battalion.
As always, Mrs. Maas never fails to center these stories around art. Feyre is a Painter. Elaine is a gardener, and Nesta is a dancer. Music and dancing filled too few pages of this novel. I could have read chapters upon chapters of Nesta describing music or dancing lessons, or how she captivated everyone in a room by her dancing alone. I fell in love with these scenes, and how they literally transported Nesta to another place when she was in the presence of music.
My only gripe with this novel was the plot. There just wasn’t enough. I wish I had gone in expecting a fantasy romance, heavy on the romance. It felt like Mrs. Maas had heard her audience’s pleass for more smut after the conclusion of the first trilogy, and put everything she could think of into this one book. It was well written and serves its purpose, but it was a little too much for me (did we really need this to be 800 pages? I’m just wondering).
I wanted more suspense, more rogue magic, and more fighting evil fae. My favorite scenes are the ones where there is a sense of danger, scenes that forced me to scan ahead a few pages to make sure everyone made it out alive, or left me questioning everything that had just happened.
Overall I was thrilled to be back in Velaris, and back with our bat boys. If you are on the fence of giving this book a chance, I say go for it. I cannot wait to read this again, especially after some of the revelations towards the end (honestly I cannot believe I didn’t see that coming). Right now this book gets four stars from me, but I have a feeling that on a reread this could easily become a solid five stars.
Have you ever experienced this reader phenomenon, where you have a book on your mind for a while, and finally decide you know what? That’s my next read. That’s exactly how I finally picked up Lovely War, a novel I’ve had on my bookshelves for years, possibly since it was published in 2019.
I think what helped corral me to this book, as a general mood reader, was the fact that I have been consuming a lot of mythology retellings this year in many different forms of media. All I could remember about Lovely War was that it took place during WWII, and featured Aphrodite. This book ended up being both exactly what it is described to be, and somehow not entirely what I was expecting.
Every year I try to push myself to read at least one novel set during WWII. I think it’s important to read about these topics for many reasons, and while I wish I had the mental fortitude to learn more about the history of the human race, atrocities like these leave me in a headspace I try not to dwell on. In short, they make me too depressed. Some years are just so heavy personally, that taking on a WWII novel isn’t possible, and while this year has been far from light, I knew I could accomplish my goal and finish this book.
What I hadn’t completely understood when purchasing this novel is that, while it is technically set in WWII, the majority of the action and plot actually takes place during WWI, a war I know very little about. It was fascinating to get a view of this war from the perspective of a young, fresh soldier, a young female piano player, and an African American musician turned soldier who hailed from New York.
I expected much more of a fantastical element to this novel considering Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, and Hades make numerous appearances, but I respect the historically accurate trajectory the novel took instead. The Gods and Goddesses become our narrators, while the mortals truly are the star of the show, and boy did I dread any time Hades’ name appeared at the start of a new chapter.
I’m a known and well documented crier, and I somehow managed to hold it together while finishing this novel, instead turning to cursing rather violently at the pages this time around. There were countless heart wrenching moments befitting of a novel set during WWI, and scenes that felt like literal gut punches as a reader. I simply cannot fathom a life of war, and while reading this book I found myself reflecting a lot on current events overseas.
While I’m happy I read this story, and do think it will stick with me for a while, it doesn’t fall under the category of earth shattering favorite. I think in a lot of ways it’s too real, and raw, for me personally to categorize it as a favorite. Maybe that’s a personal shortcoming, but as a reader the books that become my favorites are the ones that helped me escape reality the most, and this novel kept reality right at the forefront of my mind. Despite this book not being a personal favorite, the writing style, unique plot structure, dual timelines, and overall intensity of this story were incredibly well done and woven together beautifully. I’d recommend this novel to people who want a new perspective on WWI, and on what it feels like to be a God, Goddess, or mortal during a very real war in our immediate history.
I think what helped corral me to this book, as a general mood reader, was the fact that I have been consuming a lot of mythology retellings this year in many different forms of media. All I could remember about Lovely War was that it took place during WWII, and featured Aphrodite. This book ended up being both exactly what it is described to be, and somehow not entirely what I was expecting.
Every year I try to push myself to read at least one novel set during WWII. I think it’s important to read about these topics for many reasons, and while I wish I had the mental fortitude to learn more about the history of the human race, atrocities like these leave me in a headspace I try not to dwell on. In short, they make me too depressed. Some years are just so heavy personally, that taking on a WWII novel isn’t possible, and while this year has been far from light, I knew I could accomplish my goal and finish this book.
What I hadn’t completely understood when purchasing this novel is that, while it is technically set in WWII, the majority of the action and plot actually takes place during WWI, a war I know very little about. It was fascinating to get a view of this war from the perspective of a young, fresh soldier, a young female piano player, and an African American musician turned soldier who hailed from New York.
I expected much more of a fantastical element to this novel considering Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, and Hades make numerous appearances, but I respect the historically accurate trajectory the novel took instead. The Gods and Goddesses become our narrators, while the mortals truly are the star of the show, and boy did I dread any time Hades’ name appeared at the start of a new chapter.
I’m a known and well documented crier, and I somehow managed to hold it together while finishing this novel, instead turning to cursing rather violently at the pages this time around. There were countless heart wrenching moments befitting of a novel set during WWI, and scenes that felt like literal gut punches as a reader. I simply cannot fathom a life of war, and while reading this book I found myself reflecting a lot on current events overseas.
While I’m happy I read this story, and do think it will stick with me for a while, it doesn’t fall under the category of earth shattering favorite. I think in a lot of ways it’s too real, and raw, for me personally to categorize it as a favorite. Maybe that’s a personal shortcoming, but as a reader the books that become my favorites are the ones that helped me escape reality the most, and this novel kept reality right at the forefront of my mind. Despite this book not being a personal favorite, the writing style, unique plot structure, dual timelines, and overall intensity of this story were incredibly well done and woven together beautifully. I’d recommend this novel to people who want a new perspective on WWI, and on what it feels like to be a God, Goddess, or mortal during a very real war in our immediate history.
Thank you to Reedsy Discovery for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited by the prospect of this story. Recently I’ve been fascinated by stories that revolve around gods of the underworld, or grim reaper type characters. This story promised to deliver a necromancer and his latest charge, a murdered queen.
This novel had many strengths including elements that were executed well, and moments that had me sitting up a little straighter in anticipation. For the length of this novel I thought that the pacing was adequate and appropriate. The story moved from character introductions to new settings, and high energy scenes often enough to keep me engaged in the story. I think there is a lot of potential here for world building, and so many areas that can be expanded on in future novels.
There were a few things I selfishly wished the novel had done differently. I wish there had been more time spent explaining the history and origins of this supernatural kingdom. We just barely brushed the surface, and I think because these topics were discussed so briefly, I found myself getting confused when the issues were brought up again later in the novel. I really enjoyed the direction that the novel attempted to take us in, by setting up this moral dilemma of good versus evil in the art of necromancy, and the resulting wars the kingdom has endured because of it.
I wish this novel had taken more of a professorial approach, reminiscent of “A Discovery of Witches” by Deborah Harkness. The most interesting aspects of this novel were the moments when we were being told about the art of necromancy, the schooling and education, as well as the targeted hate due to the misuse of these talents in the past. Along with the action sequences, those were some of the strongest moments in the novel and they were few and far between. I loved the snippets of the necromancy text and art in the back of the book, and think sprinkling those throughout the next novel would be a huge asset to this story, and would help the reader submerge themself in this world and magic system.
I also found myself wanting more when it came to the relationship between our necromancer and the murdered queen. When the title pronounces this as a love story, I’m expecting it to reach off the page and squeeze my own heart. Instead I found myself searching endlessly for sparks and chemistry. The characters didn’t feel fleshed out enough to empathize with in a romantic sense. While I could understand their compulsions when it came to their independent jobs, or what guided their actions in the novel regarding the queen’s murder, I couldn’t quite find their romantic connection. While there were hints of fleeting looks, quick reassuring caresses, and words left unspoken, what came off the page instead felt more like a newly formed friendship, and less of a romantic awakening between two characters. Friendship is a great place to allow a romance to grow from, and I’m hopeful that the rest of the series will continue to bring these characters together in a way that makes sense romantically.
I really enjoy the potential this novel has, but I think the execution in this first novel just wasn’t fully formed. I almost wish this book could become the prequel to this series, so that we as the audience could get a bit of a do over as we watch what happens next. I hope the authors continue with this story, because I do think it’s unique, and there are so many directions to take it. Give the characters more room to grow, and allow the audience to fall in love alongside them.
I was really excited by the prospect of this story. Recently I’ve been fascinated by stories that revolve around gods of the underworld, or grim reaper type characters. This story promised to deliver a necromancer and his latest charge, a murdered queen.
This novel had many strengths including elements that were executed well, and moments that had me sitting up a little straighter in anticipation. For the length of this novel I thought that the pacing was adequate and appropriate. The story moved from character introductions to new settings, and high energy scenes often enough to keep me engaged in the story. I think there is a lot of potential here for world building, and so many areas that can be expanded on in future novels.
There were a few things I selfishly wished the novel had done differently. I wish there had been more time spent explaining the history and origins of this supernatural kingdom. We just barely brushed the surface, and I think because these topics were discussed so briefly, I found myself getting confused when the issues were brought up again later in the novel. I really enjoyed the direction that the novel attempted to take us in, by setting up this moral dilemma of good versus evil in the art of necromancy, and the resulting wars the kingdom has endured because of it.
I wish this novel had taken more of a professorial approach, reminiscent of “A Discovery of Witches” by Deborah Harkness. The most interesting aspects of this novel were the moments when we were being told about the art of necromancy, the schooling and education, as well as the targeted hate due to the misuse of these talents in the past. Along with the action sequences, those were some of the strongest moments in the novel and they were few and far between. I loved the snippets of the necromancy text and art in the back of the book, and think sprinkling those throughout the next novel would be a huge asset to this story, and would help the reader submerge themself in this world and magic system.
I also found myself wanting more when it came to the relationship between our necromancer and the murdered queen. When the title pronounces this as a love story, I’m expecting it to reach off the page and squeeze my own heart. Instead I found myself searching endlessly for sparks and chemistry. The characters didn’t feel fleshed out enough to empathize with in a romantic sense. While I could understand their compulsions when it came to their independent jobs, or what guided their actions in the novel regarding the queen’s murder, I couldn’t quite find their romantic connection. While there were hints of fleeting looks, quick reassuring caresses, and words left unspoken, what came off the page instead felt more like a newly formed friendship, and less of a romantic awakening between two characters. Friendship is a great place to allow a romance to grow from, and I’m hopeful that the rest of the series will continue to bring these characters together in a way that makes sense romantically.
I really enjoy the potential this novel has, but I think the execution in this first novel just wasn’t fully formed. I almost wish this book could become the prequel to this series, so that we as the audience could get a bit of a do over as we watch what happens next. I hope the authors continue with this story, because I do think it’s unique, and there are so many directions to take it. Give the characters more room to grow, and allow the audience to fall in love alongside them.
Thank you to Reedsy Discovery for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I tend to start off my review by explaining my motivation behind picking up a book. I think it’s a great way for someone reading my reviews to understand my mindset, and reasoning behind my reading choices. It also sets the tone of my possible expectations going into a story. This novel sold me first on the cover, and secondly on the summary with the phrase, “sand kittens”. This story promised romance, and cute animals. I was ready to be swept away.
Summer Lights is book 2, in what I later found out was a prequel, novella-esque series. I did get a chance to read the first book in this series, which I’ll be discussing more in depth on my personal review blog. Depending on the author, I either thoroughly enjoy being dropped into a world I know nothing about, or I will become increasingly frustrated trying to understand who is who and what means what. This was a story that carried me away, and I was afforded an opportunity to just relax and enjoy these new characters and their peculiar magical qualities.
This series is set in a magical world, and while the magic system isn’t explained outright in this novel (perhaps it is in the main series), the author did include a bit of a glossary of terms which helped tremendously. This story also had a foundation rooted in fated lovers, with at least one or more of the pairs being LGBTQ+.
I really enjoyed seeing the characters slowly piece together who these new visitors were, and what they meant to each other. The way they had shown up in dreams before appearing in person made my own heart skip a few beats. While the romance isn’t always intense, and was never explicit on the page, it was easy to be swept away in the excitement of new love.
In this second novel the sense of something coming to a head doubles when three new visitors arrive unexpectedly. The wild children take to the desert nomad immediately because she reminds them of someone back home, and because of her care for the sand kittens. However the other two visitors are forcibly kept away from the children at all costs. These men begin filling in holes for the reader as to why the children are there, and who their fathers might be. While we watch these characters orbit around each other, we also witness new magical powers growing in one of the children. My favorite scene is when we are introduced to creatures in the woods; creatures that I had previously blown off as imaginative fairytales told to the children to keep them in line. This story opened up so many new characters and avenues for the next novels, and really made me curious about what might already exist in the main series.
There was something I found incredibly healing about reading this story. While the characters are the driving forces behind the plot, nature, flowers, bugs, animals, songs, and music played just as big of a role in setting the overall atmosphere.
The world building and the language used in this novel did take a minute to adjust to, but once I settled in it felt like this is how all novels had always been written. I could see this aspect turning readers away initially, but I do encourage you to stick with it. I’m very curious about this main series, and which of these characters have a larger role. I listened to a few of the songs that were composed for this story on the YouTube channel that was linked in the novel, and that more than anything else helped ground me into this story. I was very impressed with the author’s personal touches, and dedication to the art of building this world so intentionally.
I tend to start off my review by explaining my motivation behind picking up a book. I think it’s a great way for someone reading my reviews to understand my mindset, and reasoning behind my reading choices. It also sets the tone of my possible expectations going into a story. This novel sold me first on the cover, and secondly on the summary with the phrase, “sand kittens”. This story promised romance, and cute animals. I was ready to be swept away.
Summer Lights is book 2, in what I later found out was a prequel, novella-esque series. I did get a chance to read the first book in this series, which I’ll be discussing more in depth on my personal review blog. Depending on the author, I either thoroughly enjoy being dropped into a world I know nothing about, or I will become increasingly frustrated trying to understand who is who and what means what. This was a story that carried me away, and I was afforded an opportunity to just relax and enjoy these new characters and their peculiar magical qualities.
This series is set in a magical world, and while the magic system isn’t explained outright in this novel (perhaps it is in the main series), the author did include a bit of a glossary of terms which helped tremendously. This story also had a foundation rooted in fated lovers, with at least one or more of the pairs being LGBTQ+.
I really enjoyed seeing the characters slowly piece together who these new visitors were, and what they meant to each other. The way they had shown up in dreams before appearing in person made my own heart skip a few beats. While the romance isn’t always intense, and was never explicit on the page, it was easy to be swept away in the excitement of new love.
In this second novel the sense of something coming to a head doubles when three new visitors arrive unexpectedly. The wild children take to the desert nomad immediately because she reminds them of someone back home, and because of her care for the sand kittens. However the other two visitors are forcibly kept away from the children at all costs. These men begin filling in holes for the reader as to why the children are there, and who their fathers might be. While we watch these characters orbit around each other, we also witness new magical powers growing in one of the children. My favorite scene is when we are introduced to creatures in the woods; creatures that I had previously blown off as imaginative fairytales told to the children to keep them in line. This story opened up so many new characters and avenues for the next novels, and really made me curious about what might already exist in the main series.
There was something I found incredibly healing about reading this story. While the characters are the driving forces behind the plot, nature, flowers, bugs, animals, songs, and music played just as big of a role in setting the overall atmosphere.
The world building and the language used in this novel did take a minute to adjust to, but once I settled in it felt like this is how all novels had always been written. I could see this aspect turning readers away initially, but I do encourage you to stick with it. I’m very curious about this main series, and which of these characters have a larger role. I listened to a few of the songs that were composed for this story on the YouTube channel that was linked in the novel, and that more than anything else helped ground me into this story. I was very impressed with the author’s personal touches, and dedication to the art of building this world so intentionally.
Thank you to Reedsy Discovery for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Spring Song is the first story in a novella-esque prequel series. When I first started reading this story, I had no idea it was a prequel, and was understandably confused. The author was kind enough to include a glossary of sorts, which did help me assimilate to the writing style and very specific dialect used by these characters.
This story is first and foremost about fated love, as well as past lives. I really enjoyed watching these characters find each other again in this lifetime, and how they navigated the challenges that came with not only seeing the other person for who they truly were, but accepting them as well. One of our couples includes LGBTQ+ characters, which is a theme throughout the first and second stories in this series.
The author also took the time to compose and record songs for this work of fiction, which made the world building feel complete. After listening to one of the songs on the YouTube channel provided in the book, I felt myself settle into the story and begin to really enjoy the ride.
What I liked so much about this story was that we followed the seemingly mundane day to day lives of certain characters, all the while in the background a major plot point is looming. This world consists of Travelers, who are tasked with duties to different kingdoms. One Traveler brings a High Lord and two wild children to stay with their Grandma (or Grand Aunt). While the children run amok, causing chaos and mini disasters wherever they go, our High Lord discovers the reason he felt compelled to come to this place was a person - a stable lad.
It's my understanding as the reader that everyone in this world has a magical ability to some degree, whether that's communicating with animals, growing plants, healing, music, telekinesis, shape shifting, or traveling between worlds. While we watch two couples find each other again in this lifetime, we're also waiting for the other shoe to drop. The wild children's mothers are missing, and their fathers and unknown (to the reader). The suspense of this mixes so effortlessly with the day to day lives of everyone around the children that the setting becomes idyllic, despite their tantrums and squeals from page to page.
The magic system and language used in this novel could be confusing at times, but I do think it's worth it to push through. I'm very curious about the main series for this story, and hope that readers would pick these books up after reading those for a more enjoyable experience, and easier transition. I really enjoyed the aspects of the love stories, as well as how developed these characters were. Their nuances, faults, and redeeming qualities really shine throughout this story, and blended together so naturally with discussions of music, nature, and animals.
There are so many different aspects to this world I think readers would love, and I hope more people discover this series and give it a chance.
Spring Song is the first story in a novella-esque prequel series. When I first started reading this story, I had no idea it was a prequel, and was understandably confused. The author was kind enough to include a glossary of sorts, which did help me assimilate to the writing style and very specific dialect used by these characters.
This story is first and foremost about fated love, as well as past lives. I really enjoyed watching these characters find each other again in this lifetime, and how they navigated the challenges that came with not only seeing the other person for who they truly were, but accepting them as well. One of our couples includes LGBTQ+ characters, which is a theme throughout the first and second stories in this series.
The author also took the time to compose and record songs for this work of fiction, which made the world building feel complete. After listening to one of the songs on the YouTube channel provided in the book, I felt myself settle into the story and begin to really enjoy the ride.
What I liked so much about this story was that we followed the seemingly mundane day to day lives of certain characters, all the while in the background a major plot point is looming. This world consists of Travelers, who are tasked with duties to different kingdoms. One Traveler brings a High Lord and two wild children to stay with their Grandma (or Grand Aunt). While the children run amok, causing chaos and mini disasters wherever they go, our High Lord discovers the reason he felt compelled to come to this place was a person - a stable lad.
It's my understanding as the reader that everyone in this world has a magical ability to some degree, whether that's communicating with animals, growing plants, healing, music, telekinesis, shape shifting, or traveling between worlds. While we watch two couples find each other again in this lifetime, we're also waiting for the other shoe to drop. The wild children's mothers are missing, and their fathers and unknown (to the reader). The suspense of this mixes so effortlessly with the day to day lives of everyone around the children that the setting becomes idyllic, despite their tantrums and squeals from page to page.
The magic system and language used in this novel could be confusing at times, but I do think it's worth it to push through. I'm very curious about the main series for this story, and hope that readers would pick these books up after reading those for a more enjoyable experience, and easier transition. I really enjoyed the aspects of the love stories, as well as how developed these characters were. Their nuances, faults, and redeeming qualities really shine throughout this story, and blended together so naturally with discussions of music, nature, and animals.
There are so many different aspects to this world I think readers would love, and I hope more people discover this series and give it a chance.
Thank you to Reedsy Discovery for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tolerant by C.J. Sparrow
The synopsis of this novel on Reedsy Discovery was just enough to persuade me to pick it up and give it a shot. Worst case scenario: it would turn out to be a mediocre fantasy novel. Best case scenario: it would ensnare me into the depths of this world and the characters' hearts and never let me go. No one was more surprised than I was when I realized about 50 pages into this book, that it was quickly becoming my favorite book of the year.
This novel does not shy away from gruesome scenes, whether they include graphic physical violence, or intolerable treatment of children as slaves. We, the audience, are thrown into a world that is complicit in this cruelness, and a kingdom that weaves lies within half truths to stem the inevitable uprising.
The pace of this novel, I’d say for 75% of the book, is perfection. We follow our main character Tovey as she tries time and time again to escape her imminent death, oftentimes caused by her own inability to blend into her presumed station as a servant. I loved the anticipation of trying to guess Tovey’s next move, and whether she’d do the right thing or do the Tovey thing, and put herself at even more risk of torture or beheading.
The characters Tovey meets along the way were developed just enough that I cared about their situation in this kingdom, but not enough that I understood all of their motivations or conversations with Tovey. I loved that the reader, for most of the book, had the same understanding and world view of the kingdom as Tovey did. We were fed the same lies and half truths, and worked on that limited knowledge to make the best possible decisions to move forward.
I was both really excited and very surprised when the romance sprung up between Tovey and another character. She’s learning so much of this world from a brand new perspective (with her eyes wide open for the first time), that I just didn’t see this moment coming. While I really enjoyed the innocence of it, some of the consequential scenes that resulted from this relationship left an interesting residue as the story progressed.
The pacing towards the end of the novel felt a bit rushed. There were moments while reading that I thought, “Ah okay now it’s going to end,” but we had 3 or 4 major twists and plot points to get through within the span of one or two more chapters. I was immersed in the suspenseful ending, and cannot wait to read the next book in this series. I will be anticipating it, and championing this series for a long time to come. The magic system, prophetic lore, and a kingdom poised to enter a revolutionary war, are all elements of a truly exciting world that hinges on one special girl with purple eyes. A girl who grew up beaten into submission until even she believed she was no one.
Tolerant by C.J. Sparrow
The synopsis of this novel on Reedsy Discovery was just enough to persuade me to pick it up and give it a shot. Worst case scenario: it would turn out to be a mediocre fantasy novel. Best case scenario: it would ensnare me into the depths of this world and the characters' hearts and never let me go. No one was more surprised than I was when I realized about 50 pages into this book, that it was quickly becoming my favorite book of the year.
This novel does not shy away from gruesome scenes, whether they include graphic physical violence, or intolerable treatment of children as slaves. We, the audience, are thrown into a world that is complicit in this cruelness, and a kingdom that weaves lies within half truths to stem the inevitable uprising.
The pace of this novel, I’d say for 75% of the book, is perfection. We follow our main character Tovey as she tries time and time again to escape her imminent death, oftentimes caused by her own inability to blend into her presumed station as a servant. I loved the anticipation of trying to guess Tovey’s next move, and whether she’d do the right thing or do the Tovey thing, and put herself at even more risk of torture or beheading.
The characters Tovey meets along the way were developed just enough that I cared about their situation in this kingdom, but not enough that I understood all of their motivations or conversations with Tovey. I loved that the reader, for most of the book, had the same understanding and world view of the kingdom as Tovey did. We were fed the same lies and half truths, and worked on that limited knowledge to make the best possible decisions to move forward.
I was both really excited and very surprised when the romance sprung up between Tovey and another character. She’s learning so much of this world from a brand new perspective (with her eyes wide open for the first time), that I just didn’t see this moment coming. While I really enjoyed the innocence of it, some of the consequential scenes that resulted from this relationship left an interesting residue as the story progressed.
The pacing towards the end of the novel felt a bit rushed. There were moments while reading that I thought, “Ah okay now it’s going to end,” but we had 3 or 4 major twists and plot points to get through within the span of one or two more chapters. I was immersed in the suspenseful ending, and cannot wait to read the next book in this series. I will be anticipating it, and championing this series for a long time to come. The magic system, prophetic lore, and a kingdom poised to enter a revolutionary war, are all elements of a truly exciting world that hinges on one special girl with purple eyes. A girl who grew up beaten into submission until even she believed she was no one.
I am in love with Lore Olympus. I've been reading the series on WebToon and hope to one day add the physical copies of the books to my collection. The story, the art style, the vibrant colors that tell such a compelling story. I could not stop reading once I started Episode 1.
Merged review:
I am in love with Lore Olympus. I've been reading the series on WebToon and hope to one day add the physical copies of the books to my collection. The story, the art style, the vibrant colors that tell such a compelling story. I could not stop reading once I started Episode 1.
Merged review:
I am in love with Lore Olympus. I've been reading the series on WebToon and hope to one day add the physical copies of the books to my collection. The story, the art style, the vibrant colors that tell such a compelling story. I could not stop reading once I started Episode 1.