Book Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Star Rating: ★★★★★

It’s hard to formulate how much I adore this series, but I’ve never gotten around to writing a review for all of the books and writing out my own thoughts on it. I’ve reread this series at least three full times, Holly Black does a beautiful job writing inherently flawed and morally grey characters who are still worthy of their stories being told. I would consider myself to be a “lifelong fan” of her work, with The Spiderwick Chronicles having lived rent-free in my adolescent mind, and her “Modern Faerie Tales” series starting a minor (major) obsession with the idea of faeries in middle school. The Folk of the Air series is no different in this and if there’s any question about it, it is one of my favorite series.

Jude Duarte is our main protagonist, narrator, and is fierce from the moment we meet her. The Cruel Prince opens with a peek behind the curtain to Jude’s first life, before going to Elfhame, a simple life with her father, her mother, and her two sisters, her eldest sibling, Vivi looks a little different than her and her twin, but they love her regardless of her differences. It opens with an idea of what their day-to-day life is like before her life is disrupted (not for the last time) by fair folk, her sisters, and her being taken in by their surrogate father, Madoc, a RedCap and Vivi’s birth father.

Fast forward to early adulthood, Jude is somewhere between 17 and 18 through the first book, and by all respects, the “outspoken” one of the twins, with Taryn wanting to fit in and assimilate as much as possible by playing their games, while Jude wants their respect. Jude, by all appearances, is Madoc’s chosen of the daughters, she’s intelligent, cunning, strategic, and as ambitious as any fae could dream to be. She is often compared to be, “The most like Madoc,” and we see throughout the series how true this statement is. There is a comparison that is to be made in the ways that Jude and Taryn are different but also similar.

Jude is defiant against the restrictions and biases placed on humans within Elfhame, pressing back and causing trouble within her courses, drawing the attention of schoolmates and her leading figures within the court spectacles. Enter: The youngest Prince of Elfhame himself, Cardan Greenbriar.

Cardan is described for all intents and purposes as someone with a flair for the dramatics and very good at playing to courtly expectations. He is sarcastic, prideful, and is used to being able to manipulate people into what he needs for survival and gaining what he needs. He can play a room. He’s 18 or 19 throughout the original trilogy, and he enjoys drawing attention to himself. He is also a part of the group of teens who bully Taryn and Jude pretty excessively. When we are first introduced to Cardan, we get a one-dimensional view of him, and for anyone who’s read the series, you might be aware that his outer layer is not the end of the story.

After a summer tournament that Jude wants to use as a power play to become a knight of the Royal family, Dain, the heir to the throne and the one who is set to take over for the Greenbriar line shortly, recruits Jude to be a part of his “Court of Shadows”, also known as a spy network, and in return puts a geas on her that allows her not to be impacted by faerie glamours and enchantments except for ones placed by him.

So, two opposing, bickering, and equally attractive characters you say? You would not be wrong in cheering for the enemies to lovers energy coming quickly your way.

Heavy Spoilers Below, don’t continue reading if you have any intention of reading this series.

March 12, 2024 0

Book Review: An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Star Rating: ★★★★☆

This book really crawled under my skin and built a home there. If you’ve followed my book reviews for a while, you probably know that I have a pretty serious attachment to stories involving fae/faeries/fair folk and anything of the like, this story was no different for me. I’ve heard the comparisons made between Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns & Roses, and this story, but categorically disagree. Maybe on the surface because we’re talking about royal fae and common girls who like to paint, but if that was all it took to compare any of us to each other, originality would have died a long time ago.

Isobel and Rook are an interesting duo. Isobel is a painter with an art for capturing the likeness in fae that does not go unnoticed by them, but when she captures the emotion of human sorrow in the Autumn Prince, Rook’s portrait painting, the risk to his safety and rights to the crown are at risk.

It’s a very romance driven plot, but it’s sweet for a standalone story that at this point almost 7 years post it’s publication, has shown no sign of being continued (though I wouldn’t be mad at all if it was continued). All around I enjoyed it, and appreciated the romance throughout it.

March 6, 2024 0

Book Review: Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Star Rating: ★★★★★
To say I loved this book, would be an understatement.

This is going to be a glowing review, because I have very little, if anything to negatively say about it. I myself am the daughter of an Indigenous man, and a Non-Indigenous woman, and found myself immediately drawn into Daunis’ character. This is a rarity for me, normally, I have to “imagine” myself in the main character’s shoes, but this one felt more like being mirrored. It made the saying, “Representation matters” hit home for me.

Daunis’ is very relatable, and I think she will ring in many people’s hearts as someone who “feels” real, she’s not perfect, but she’s not this unlikable anti-hero throughout the story. She’s likable, right from the beginning, and it doesn’t really change throughout the story, despite her character development.

I will admit, this genre is a little out of my wheelhouse, I used to read mystery & thriller books many years ago that my grandma would pass down to me if they weren’t too graphic, but this brought me right back to that time, curled up on my couch, on the edge of my seat, and burning the midnight oil to find out what was happening. I could have read this book forever, the world and the culture that I find hard to find in other books gave me so much joy in the intricate nature of it all.

Angeline Boulley takes subjects that have been hard to tackle at times, such as grief, abuse, substance abuse, and sexual assault and approaches them with a maturity and professionalism that is a breath of fresh air, honestly. Many author’s shy away from the topics, or don’t give them the attention they need to be addressed properly, but managed to do it in a way that made me emotional, and inspired.

I found myself completely drawn into the mystery aspect of the story, before I had really even realized it had been introduced as a plot point. I went into this book basically blind, with no expectations, but even if I had been predisposed to them, it would have surpassed them.

All around, I give this book five stars, it’s one of the best reads of this year, and even if it’s not your typical genre, I encourage everyone to pick it up. It’s a beautiful story with deep meaning and shows a lot of real world implications of for what happens in small communities when they are hit hard with traumas. It’s authentic and speaks truth into something that a lot of story tellers would shy away from for not being “big” enough, but what many people miss, she honed in on. For small communities, small impacts, become very large, and hit very close to home.

Congrats for a fantastic debut book, Angeline Boulley, this one will surely be making it’s rounds to my friends and family.

March 6, 2024 0

Book Review: True Loaf by Austin Johnson

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this true and honest review voluntarily.

Star Rating: ★★★☆☆

I really enjoyed this short story, it was an easy, comfortable read, and would be suitable I think for anyone Middle-grade reading or higher. I do think if you’re unfamiliar with the folklore this story could be a little confusing, but I don’t think that detracts from the story itself, and in fact may add to the magical aspect of it.

It left lots of questions for both the main character and for us the reader, and I will be very excited to see what the author writes next for their full length folk-lore tale. I highly encourage readers to have a go at this one and see what you think for yourselves!

March 6, 2024 0

Book Review: A Soul As Cold As Frost by Jennifer Kropf

I was sent this book in exchange for a review by Jennifer Kropf herself, and goodness, she did not disappoint.
If you’re looking for a read this autumn going into winter, I can’t recommend this book enough.

Star Rating: ★★★★☆

The book follows a retelling of The Nutcracker, but it takes it so much further than that. The world building in this story is truly fantastic and will make you really feel like you are stepping into a winter wonderland as fantastical as you might have dreamed of as a child around Christmastime.

Helen is a real, tangible person, she’s not made to be anything that she’s not, and she feels like someone you know, someone you could be friends with, or maybe even yourself in some ways. The dynamics between our two main characters are truly wonderful, they are enjoyable to read even when I got teary eyed. Zane is intriguing, and their adventure leaves you yearning for more by the end of the story.

I don’t want to spoil the plot because I want you to read this book and come at it from the angle I did, of not knowing, of letting yourself sink into Helen’s world. Let yourself be immersed, because I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

This is a great read for lovers of YA and middle grade reading books, it may not be every adult’s cup of tea but as someone who regularly reads YA I think this fits in well. Give it a shot this holiday season and enjoy a cup of peppermint hot cocoa, it’s worth it for the cozy vibes this story will give you.

March 6, 2024 0

Book Review: Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Star Rating: ★★★★★

I loved this book so much. The world Shelby Mahurin builds is methodical and takes you through in such a way that you understand it without being expressly told what is going on. The characters are real, with tangible flaws and truly endearing moments that make you cheer for them that much harder. It’s the type of book you can sit with at night with your table side lamp going, and before you know it, the sun is coming up.

If you’re looking for a hard read, this is not the book for you, it’s enjoyable, easy to follow, and keeps you wondering what’s coming next. I’ve had a few friends say that it’s hard to get into, and I think I could see that perspective, but that definitely wasn’t my experience. I love a good enemies to lovers story, especially when magic is involved, and I’m used to the pace that you need to have with those to feel like the relationship is realistic.

The setting is lovely, if you’ve seen “Harlots” on Hulu, I felt myself very much so picturing the setting like that but with magic and major bourgeoisie moments. It’s interesting and a different take on witches. Considering witchcraft was something prominent at one point in France, I’d be curious if that played a hand in the backbone to this story. I described the setting to my mother as, “Think of it as if Witches had always been real like all the scary stories, and placed in the middle of France during the witch trials.” and I stand by that description.

My love of Lou is unmatched, she’s fantastic and absolutely flawed but enjoyable. Her personality reminds me of friends who I have adored, and the way she looks at the world around her is beautiful. This is another story, much like “The Bone Crier’s Moon” by Kathryn Purdie that paints a beautiful picture of sisterhood amongst women and friendships. Lou’s relationships with the surrounding women are complex and detailed, and I would really encourage anyone who may be reading these books to look at them with a second glance and really see how well written these friendships and alliances can be.

If you are looking for perfect morality in this story, you won’t find it, it’s very flawed and only grows the further into this story. I, myself, am very fond of morally gray characters and found no issues with this. “Morality” and “doing the right thing” is a common thread throughout the story and continues to develop as an issue nearly all the characters deal with at one point or another. It’s complex and really drives home the idea that people are inherently flawed and anyone can be made to be a villain depending on the perspective of the persons who are affected.

All around, I love this book series, it’s addictive, intriguing, and beguiling in all the best ways. Congrats to Shelby Mahurin for a fantastic world, characters, and narration. It’s difficult to find all of them in one book, but she surely achieved it.

March 6, 2024 0