BOOKS | Review: Between by L.L. Starling

 Name: Between

Author: L.L. Starling

Publisher: Wicked Fable Press

Date published: October 2020

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, adventure, romance

Pages: 737

Rating: 5/5

A bewitching, fiendishly funny cautionary tale about the perils of gatecrashing fairy tale kingdoms - particularly ones with drunken unicorns, bored dragons, and sorcerers in tight, leather pants.

Sasha Pierce hasn’t had a single dream since she was a child…

... until she accepts a substitute teaching position in the charmingly witchy village of Old Middleton. Her first dream in twenty-five years ought to be enchanting, but her wonder quickly turns to shock when she realizes that it’s not a dream at all, but an entirely different sort of magic. Catapulted into the fairy tale kingdom of Between through an ancient portal, Sasha’s astonishment is swiftly upgraded to panic when she accidentally performs a supposedly impossible feat and is declared the True Queen of Between… and betrothed to its infuriatingly handsome sorcerer-king.

Lorn, Shadow King of Between, is desperate to break free from Between’s clutches. Magically tethered to the ramshackle kingdom, he wages a daily battle to save his disreputable subjects from rampaging magical creatures, sinkholes, and catastrophes of the distressingly lethal variety. To avoid an early grave, he needs an escape plan, not a wife... until he learns that this magicless mortal holds the key to his freedom.

Unwilling to leave her world to accept the crown - or the husband - Sasha must race against the clock to disentangle herself from this fairy tale. But her empty throne leaves a dangerous rift between their worlds. As dark forces descend upon Old Middleton, the two must make a choice: work together or unleash fairytale chaos upon their realms.

Between is the spellbinding first novel in The Chronicles of Between fantasy series. Filled with feisty, fairytale-savvy heroines, swoon-worthy sorcerers, slow burn romance, morose minotaurs, and bawdy witches it’s a laugh-out-loud fairy tale romp.

- From Goodreads.

I completely adored this book. The sense of humour was just wonderful, the adventure and magic in the story were just brilliant, and the characters were immediately loveable. I was so excited to keep reading and sad when it was over because I just wanted more of this story and the characters, even though the book was already over 700 pages. Between was just fantastic and I smiled the whole time I was reading it.

I enjoyed both of the two perspectives. The first half is from Sasha's perspective and the second half is from the Shadow King's perspective, and since Sasha is from the human world and her perspective is first, it makes it easier to learn about the world and to understand what is happening because you as the reader are learning along with Sasha. That means that by the time you reach the king's perspective you already have a basic understanding of the events so reading what happens from his viewpoint is not overwhelming or confusing.

The illustrations were magnificent, drawn in such a unique style, and were a brilliant addition to the story. They really brought the scenes to life and made each moment they illustrated even more delightful.

I really loved each moment between Sasha and the Shadow King. They had such a fun dynamic and the two of them beginning to grow to care for each other was so compelling to read about. I am really looking forward to reading about the development of their relationship and their continuing journey together in the next book.

This was just a truly brilliant book that just made me so happy. If you liked the movie Labyrinth or Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, then I think you will really love this too. It has humour, whimsy, and heartfelt emotion and I think it has easily become a favourite of mine.

BOOKS | Review: A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

 Name: A Conjuring of Light

Author: V.E. Schwab

Publisher: Titan Books

Date published: February 2017

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, adventure

Pages: 666

Rating: 5/5

The precarious equilibrium among the four Londons has reached its breaking point. Once brimming with the red vivacity of magic, darkness casts a shadow over the Maresh Empire, leaving a space for another London to rise. Kell - once assumed to be the last surviving Antari - begins to waver under the pressure of competing loyalties. Lila Bard, once a commonplace - but never common - thief, has survived and flourished through a series of magical trials. But now she must learn to control the magic, before it bleeds her dry.

Meanwhile, the disgraced Captain Alucard Emery and the Night Spire crew are attempting a race against time to acquire the impossible, as an ancient enemy returns to claim a crown and a fallen hero is desperate to save a decaying world...

- From Goodreads.

A Conjuring of Light was an incredible conclusion to a fantastic series. I was emotional and enthralled for the whole book and sad for it to end because I loved the characters and world so much. 

I loved every moment between Kell and Lila, I adored their relationship and I think V.E. Schwab wrote their romance very well. I also enjoyed reading the relationship between Rhy and Alucard, especially towards the end of the book. 

Schwab continued to add more to the world and the magic system in an inventive and unique way. The world felt so real and there were so many wonderful details. I very much enjoyed exploring the world throughout the book.

Overall this was a really wonderful book that wrapped everything up well and really made my heart ache for all the characters and everything they had been through. I really loved Kell and Lila and I was so happy that they had a good ending together, even though I was sad for the things that they lost along the way. I definitely recommend this series if you are looking for an epic adventure that will give you plenty of emotional reactions.

BOOKS | Review: A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

 Name: A Deal with the Elf King

Author: Elise Kova 

Publisher: Silver Wing Press

Date published: November 2020

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, romance, retellings

Pages: 388

Rating: 5/5

 The elves come for two things: war and wives. In both cases, they come for death.
Three-thousand years ago, humans were hunted by powerful races with wild magic until the treaty was formed. Now, for centuries, the elves have taken a young woman from Luella's village to be their Human Queen.
To be chosen is seen as a mark of death by the townsfolk. A mark nineteen-year-old Luella is grateful to have escaped as a girl. Instead, she's dedicated her life to studying herbology and becoming the town's only healer.
That is, until the Elf King unexpectedly arrives... for her.
Everything Luella had thought she'd known about her life, and herself, was a lie. Taken to a land filled with wild magic, Luella is forced to be the new queen to a cold yet blisteringly handsome Elf King. Once there, she learns about a dying world that only she can save.
The magical land of Midscape pulls on one corner of her heart, her home and people tug on another... but what will truly break her is a passion she never wanted.

- From Goodreads.

The characters in A Deal with the Elf King were very loveable. I quickly became attached to Luella and Eldas, and the minor characters were well written too. Willow, Rinni and Harrow were really enjoyable to read and I would love to read more about all of them, especially Harrow who I thought had a very engaging character arc throughout the story.

The descriptions were beautiful, the world seemed very vivid and immersive, and the ideas behind the world building were so unique. It was a retelling, clearly inspired by stories like Beauty and the Beast and Hades and Persephone, but the author put so many inventive and new ideas and twists into it that it really felt like an individual story and world on its own. I am looking forward to reading more of this world and seeing what more ideas Elise Kova has for it.

The romance was written in a very addictive way. I had to keep reading to know what would happen between Luella and Eldas and I thought the tension and romantic moments were written very well. The ending was very satisfying and I was very happy with where the characters ended up after the journeys they had been on.

Overall this book was a really enjoyable one to escape into and I had so much fun reading it. There was not a moment that I did not like what I was reading and it just had everything I was looking for from a fairy tale romance.

BOOKS | Review: How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black and Rovina Cai

 Name: How the King of Elhame Learned to Hate Stories

Author: Holly Black and Rovina Cai

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Date published: November 2020

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, romance

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5

Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue...
Before Cardan was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone. In this sumptuously illustrated tale, Holly Black reveals a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame's enigmatic high king. This tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince, an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing, and familiar but pivotal moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy, told wholly from Cardan's perspective.
This new instalment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humour and drama that enchanted readers everywhere. Each chapter is paired with lavish and luminous full-colour art, making this the perfect collector's item to be enjoyed by audiences both new and old.
An irresistible return to the captivating world of Elfhame from bestselling Folk of the Air author Holly Black, with stunning full-colour illustrations by Rovina Cai. 

- From Goodreads. 

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories was a perfect addition to The Folk of the Air series and I adored every moment of reading it.

It was wonderful to read from Cardan's viewpoint and get his perspective on moments we previously saw from Jude's perspective, as well as moments that had only previously been alluded to, and learn about moments we did not know had happened at all. Although Cardan was already a very well developed character, it was great to get even more depth to his character and seem more of his backstory. His feelings were so understandable, and it was clear to see how he ended up the way that he did. I loved seeing him grow and change and learn, and I thought the way Holly Black weaved other stories into Cardan's was so clever. It was very tight and well-plotted, and I enjoyed how all the threads tied together at the end.

The illustrations fitted the atmosphere of the stories so perfectly and really added an extra dimension to the reading experience. They were so beautiful and had marvellous details that were lovely to look at. They really made it feel like an old book of fairy tales.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who enjoyed The Folk of the Air series and it was obviously made with love for the trilogy. It really adds to the original books in a fantastic way and it made me so happy to read.

UNBOXING | FairyLoot: Blood & Honey Collector's Edition

 

I really enjoyed reading Serpent & Dove after I received it in a FairyLoot box last year, so I was delighted to get the sequel in this incredible collector's edition box also by FairyLoot. The two books will look so wonderful together, and all the items that came with the book will be amazing to own too!

Blanket, with artwork designed by Noverantale.

La Fôret Des Yeux candle, poured by Bookish Burns, with label designed by Blanca Montiel.

Storage tin, designed by Chatty Nora.

Enamel pin set, designed by Jezhawk Designs.

Gilded tarot deck, designed with oblivionsdream.

Art print, created by Katherine Britt.

Bonus chapter of Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin.

Signed edition of Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin, with sprayed edges and art by arz28 on the inside of the dust jacket.

I really am impressed with this box and every item in it, I am not sure I could even choose a favourite! They are all such high quality and designed so well, with lots of beautiful details. I really am amazed by the tarot deck with each of its unique designs.

I will be sure to post a review of Blood & Honey once I have read it, if you already have then let me know in the comments what you thought! Also let me know if you got this box, what you thought and which item was your favourite.

If you would like to find out more about FairyLoot, you can find their website here.