The Last Unicorn a Review

 

Image copied from Goodreads

Today I'm excited to share my thoughts in review of a fantasy classic, The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. It is the story of a unicorn who realizes, after overhearing a conversation between two hunters in her enchanted wood, that she may be the last existing unicorn in the world. To confirm this, she leaves her forest home and embarks on a journey to find out what happened to her fellow unicorns. Along the way, she encounters an inept wizard named Schmendrick and Molly Grue, a woman who has long given up on finding unicorns or on magic existing in the world.

 This novel is one that I've been meaning to read for a long time. As someone who loves writing fantasy myself, especially fantasies that involve fairy tale and folklore elements, I feel like this is one book I couldn't overlook as a possible mentor text. For those not familiar with what a mentor text is, it is a published work that writers read to gain insight into how to effectively employ crucial techniques in their own writing. These can range from things like characterization, to world building, to developing settings, or themes, employing figurative language, developing dialogue, and myriad other aspects of story creation. I can confidently say that I was not disappointed by this book even if it was originally published in 1968. However, there were some aspects of it that I felt could have been improved. As with even the most well-written books, no work is ever perfect. This one is beautiful enough though for the weaker aspects to be overlooked and those did not prevent me from fully enjoying the story. 

Let's get into it. First, let's talk about the numerous positives. First, the premise of this story is so unique and original. I do not recall ever reading a novel quite like this one before. The tone of the writing and the fairy tale aspects of it come closest to The Princess Bride in quality. However, The Last Unicorn is much more serious in tone and much less tongue in cheek in nature than William Goldman's work. The other thing I immediately noticed was the prose writing in this novel. Beagle is such a master of figurative language, description and weaving together beautiful prose to incorporate a deeper meaning into his writing. Take this description of Molly Grue for instance when she first sees the unicorn:

"Molly Grue laughed with her lips flat. 'And what good is it to me that you're here now? Where were you twenty years ago, ten years ago? How dare you, how dare you come to me now, when I am this?' With a flap of her hand she summed herself up: barren face, desert eyes, yellowing heart" (Beagle 97).

How beautiful and yet spare is that description of Molly in that moment, "barren face, desert eyes, yellowing heart." An earlier quote from Schmendrick sums up his condition as a wizard who cannot summon or control his power at will. It also is a beautiful commentary on the human condition as well where he says:

"'There is much misjudgment in the world. Now, I knew you were a unicorn when I first saw you... Yet you take me for a clown, or a clod or a betrayer, and so I must be if you see me so... We are not always what we seem, and hardly ever what we dream'" (Beagle 40). 

Again, so spare and yet so touching and heartbreaking as Schmendrick explains what being human often means to the immortal unicorn who wants for nothing and cannot feel regret. His explanation is so spot on when he tells her, "We are not always what we seem, and hardly ever what we dream." It's just gorgeous writing! Other aspects of the story that are lovely in their inception are the main characters in the novel, the unicorn, Schmendrick and Molly and how each changes during their quest. Schmendrick saves the unicorn but also changes her very nature at one point in the story by making her mortal. Molly softens and finds joy and purpose in her life again as she accompanies the wizard and the mystical beast in their journey. The unicorn herself changes, as in experiencing what it is to be mortal, she learns the immediacy of life by inhabiting a body that is dying as all mortal bodies begin to do from birth. She experiences regret as well, something no other unicorn can understand, and which continues to set her apart even when she saves her own kind, finding and setting the other unicorns free.

With all of those positives, you may wonder what could possibly be a weakness of this work? Well, I felt while the storytelling was wonderful overall, there were places where the plot lacked some development for some of its threads. The hero the main characters encounter is a little two dimensional for me. He does grow and change as a secondary character. But we are told he does this more than we are shown it. Also, the main villains in the story, King Haggard and his Red Bull, are meant to be mysterious and to an extent they are, but they were too mysterious for me. Too many questions were left unanswered in the story about their connection, how they first came to be a pair, who King Haggard really was and where he came from, what sort of creature the Red Bull really was, even the story behind the building of Haggard's castle could have been developed more. Of course, doing so would have made the book longer and maybe some of Beagle's shorter works set in this realm go back and answer some of these questions. However, it would have been nice to have more character and story development for both of these antagonists in terms of the plot. 

That being said, this is a phenomenal story. I do think even though it is marketed as being for an upper middle grade or young adult audience, that it might be harder for a contemporary young reader to get into. But I really hope that it will continue to be in print for many years to come, even if its appeal remains more for an adult audience. It is a lovely work and deserves its place in the fantasy canon.  If you would like to find a copy of your own to read, click on the title in this post and you will be taken to Better World Books, a wonderful used online bookstore that helps support literacy around the world with each purchase on their website. Even if you don't want to buy a copy of this book, check them out. 

Next month, I have a special treat for all of you! I will be sharing a Q&A session with author Katelyn Doyle about her debut rom-com Just Some Stupid Love Story which comes out June 6, 2024. My post of her Q&A will go live that same day, June 6th. I will also post a brief book review of the novel the Sunday before the Q&A goes live. Also in June, I'll be posting a review of an advanced reader copy (ARC) of T. Kingfisher's latest novel, A Sorceress Comes to Call that is set to come out August 6, 2024 and is "a dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale The Goose Girl..." I'm thrilled to have a chance to read an ARC of T. Kingfisher's book as she is one of my favorite fantasy novelists. Below are some short blurbs about both these books.

For fans of Emily Henry, a debut about a rom-com screenwriter who doesn't believe in love and a divorce attorney who does, forced together at their high school reunion fifteen years after their breakup

Molly Marks writes Hollywood rom-coms for a living—which is how she knows “romance” is a racket. The one and only time she was naive enough to fall in love was with her high school boyfriend, Seth—who she ghosted on the eve of graduation and hasn’t seen in fifteen years.

Seth Rubinstein believes in love, the grand, fated kind, despite his job as, well…one of Chicago’s most successful divorce attorneys. Over the last decade, he’s sought “the one” in countless bad dates and rushed relationships. He knows his soulmate is out there. But so far, no one can compare to Molly Marks, the first girl who broke his heart.

When Molly’s friends drag her to Florida for their fifteenth high school reunion, it is poetic justice that she’s forced to sit with Seth. Too many martinis and a drunken hookup later, they decide to make a bet: whoever can predict the fate of five couples before the next reunion must declare that the other is right about true love. The catch? The fifth couple is the two of them.

Molly assures Seth they are a tale of timeless heartbreak. Seth promises she’ll end up hopelessly in love with him. She thinks he’s delusional. He has five years to prove her wrong.

Wickedly funny, sexy, and brimming with laughs and heart like the best romantic comedies, Just Some Stupid Love Story is for everyone who believes in soulmates—even if they would never admit it.

 From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes A Sorceress Comes to Call—a dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's "The Goose Girl," rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic.

*The hardcover edition features a foil stamp on the casing and custom endpapers illustrated by the author.*

Cordelia knows her mother is . . . unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms—there are no secrets in this house—and her mother doesn't allow Cordelia to have a single friend. Unless you count Falada, her mother's beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him.

But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t evil sorcerers.

When her mother unexpectedly moves them into the manor home of a wealthy older Squire and his kind but keen-eyed sister, Hester, Cordelia knows this welcoming pair are to be her mother's next victims. But Cordelia feels at home for the very first time among these people, and as her mother's plans darken, she must decide how to face the woman who raised her to save the people who have become like family.

"Kingfisher never fails to dazzle."—Peter S. Beagle, Hugo-, Nebula-, and Locus-Award winning author of The Last Unicorn

Exciting News!!!

 I have exciting news to share! I have been invited to participate in a blog tour for the upcoming release of Katelyn Doyle's rom-com, Just Some Stupid Love Story. I cannot share all of the details about what that will fully entail yet, or when she will guest appear on my blog. But it means a bonus post for my readers and a possible Q&A with the author as well as a review of her latest book. I was honored to read an ARC of it on NetGalley earlier this year and it has been one of my favorite NetGalley reads to date. Below is the cover and a blurb about the book copied from NetGalley. Enjoy and I look forward to sharing more news about Katelyn's blog tour soon!

   

For fans of Emily Henry, a debut about a rom-com screenwriter who doesn't believe in love and a divorce attorney who does, forced together at their high school reunion fifteen years after their breakup

Molly Marks writes Hollywood rom-coms for a living—which is how she knows “romance” is a racket. The one and only time she was naive enough to fall in love was with her high school boyfriend, Seth—who she ghosted on the eve of graduation and hasn’t seen in fifteen years.

Seth Rubinstein believes in love, the grand, fated kind, despite his job as, well…one of Chicago’s most successful divorce attorneys. Over the last decade, he’s sought “the one” in countless bad dates and rushed relationships. He knows his soulmate is out there. But so far, no one can compare to Molly Marks, the first girl who broke his heart.

When Molly’s friends drag her to Florida for their fifteenth high school reunion, it is poetic justice that she’s forced to sit with Seth. Too many martinis and a drunken hookup later, they decide to make a bet: whoever can predict the fate of five couples before the next reunion must declare that the other is right about true love. The catch? The fifth couple is the two of them.

Molly assures Seth they are a tale of timeless heartbreak. Seth promises she’ll end up hopelessly in love with him. She thinks he’s delusional. He has five years to prove her wrong.

Wickedly funny, sexy, and brimming with laughs and heart like the best romantic comedies, Just Some Stupid Love Story is for everyone who believes in soulmates—even if they would never admit it.

The Good, Bad and the Ugly of this Self-Published YA Fantasy

Image Copied from Goodreads

I want to say right from the start here and now that I am not at all against anyone choosing to self-publish their novel. I have read some phenomenal young adult and adult novels that were self-published by their authors. Some of them have been even better and more polished than some traditionally published novels I've read. However, I really encourage anyone considering going that route to seek some professional editing before self-publishing. If you do not have beta readers or a critique group to workshop your work with, then seeking out both a developmental editor and a copyeditor is important. Though as writers we love our work and are capable of some revision on our own, an extra set of eyes can really take the level of development on a novel up to as good if not better than traditional publishing standards. So, that being said let's get into the good, the bad and the ugly for this novel.

I was very intrigued by the blurb for this book when I saw it listed on NetGalley and which I've copied here below from the site.

To be a Keeper was to dedicate one’s life – and heart – to protecting another.

Jasmine wasn’t ready for it. Less than a year into her training at Sanctuary, a college for Keepers and mages alike, and with a fresh start from a brutal life of thievery in the slums, all she wanted to do was continue mastering the sword arts and avoid her other responsibilities.

Those plans are ruined when she's assigned to be the protector of a young nobleman whose family was murdered. Her new charge is cocky, smug, and drives her up a wall at every opportunity.

Forced to protect a man she can’t stand with her life, Jasmine needs to find time that isn’t there to continue her training and keep assassins from killing both of them, all the while learning magic and discovering that there’s more to life than survival.

And yet, Jasmine starts to find herself inexplicably drawn to him. In the slums, Jasmine never had room to care about anything other than putting food on the table. But she’s not in the slums anymore, and she can’t keep her feelings tied down forever.

Unfortunately, burgeoning love is the least of Jasmine’s problems. As pieces of a malevolent plot start to unfold around them, she and her charge realize that there might be only one thing left that they can rely on.

Each other.

In terms of the plot, it is a decent story with lots of intrigue, some truly great training sequences for Jasmine, the female lead, as well as some really nice twists at the end. I really enjoyed the fact that the female lead in this novel, Jasmine, had to protect the male lead, Asher, from mysterious assassins. I also appreciated that while he was a decent fighter in the Keeper program, before his entire family is killed, Jasmine was the more proficient fighter and even becomes a better strategist. The fact that Asher sees her as more than an equal was also a good change from many previous traditional fantasy tropes. The magic system was interesting and unique as well. I don't remember ever reading about a magic system like it before. I also have to say that I really love the cover art for this book as well.

So, what were some of the negatives for this book you might be wondering? Well, for me at least, I felt there were so many missed opportunities with the worldbuilding for it. Most of these could have probably been avoided if there had been stronger developmental editing with it, which is such a shame, because it is a great premise and the key moments that could have been fleshed out more with it could have really set it apart as a stellar novel. However, in terms of the worldbuilding overall, I felt like I was thrust into the middle of things without much backstory to help me connect to the main characters. Normally, if the bits of backstory are woven into it as it unfolds a little later, I can go with it. But I didn't feel that this happened as much as it could have. We never fully understand the dynamics of this kingdom or why the king chose to promote Jasmine to Keeper training. All we hear about is that she drew his attention during a pickpocketing incident. But there is really no development about why or how she endeared herself to him enough in the moment to deserve saving from the gutters rather than being punished for what she did. A scene like this might have been a really good way to start the novel and then when we get to her training as a Keeper, we would be even more connected to her and what is happening. We could also get some similar backstory interwoven later in the book about Asher's feelings about his family and what happened to them. Instead, we only get his point of view about Jasmine and his feelings for her and while these are important, having your whole family annihilated unexpectedly like that would be devestating even if you didn't feel particularly close to them. We only get surface info about all of this and the school and the different divisions of people within it. The same is true about the mysterious organization we learn about that is after Asher. We learn they are bad and have toppled whole kingdoms, but not how or why they do this. Also, now that I think about it, I have no idea how the title even connects to the story for Keeper of the Scarlet Petals. More development for this world would have really taken this story up from 3 out of 5 stars for me to 5 out of 5.

As for the ugly, I will just say that there were plenty of places where grammar, punctuation and just overall copyediting for this book could have improved it as well. I can overlook small mistakes like this as I realize that no book is ever going to be perfect in this respect. But it did not seem that any copyedits were done on Keeper of the Scarlet Petals at all. 

That being said, the plot twists and the training sequences with Jasmine's Keeper mentor, Riker, and Jasmine and Asher as they try to figure out what is happening with him and his magic were really fun and compelling. I also enjoyed the slow burn romance between Jasmine and Asher. I do agree with other reviewers in that this may be marketed as a New Adult book, but it reads very much as a Young Adult novel. Overall, this was an entertaining fantasy read. I hope any sequels to this book give us even richer worldbuilding and backstory as the plot continues to unfold. I was given a free ARC for this novel to read in exchange for this honest review by NetGalley and Aethon Books.

In a couple of weeks, my next book review will be of Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn. I've already begun reading it and while I found it a little slow in the first chapter, I am really loving it now! I can see why it is considered a gold standard for fantasy literature. Here is a blurb about the book, courtesy of Goodreads, for those of you unfamiliar with it:

The Last Unicorn is one of the true classics of fantasy, ranking with Tolkien's The Hobbit, Le Guin's Earthsea Trilogy, and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Beagle writes a shimmering prose-poetry, the voice of fairy tales and childhood:

The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone. She was very old, though she did not know it, and she was no longer the careless color of sea foam but rather the color of snow falling on a moonlit night. But her eyes were still clear and unwearied, and she still moved like a shadow on the sea.

 The unicorn discovers that she is the last unicorn in the world, and sets off to find the others. She meets Schmendrick the Magician—whose magic seldom works, and never as he intended—when he rescues her from Mommy Fortuna's Midnight Carnival, where only some of the mythical beasts displayed are illusions. They are joined by Molly Grue, who believes in legends despite her experiences with a Robin Hood wannabe and his unmerry men. Ahead wait King Haggard and his Red Bull, who banished unicorns from the land.

This is a book no fantasy reader should miss; Beagle argues brilliantly the need for magic in our lives and the folly of forgetting to dream. —Nona Vero

Why the Follow Up Was Even Better Than the First

 

Image Copied from Goodreads

As promised, today I'll be reviewing Hot Dutch Daydream by Kristy Boyce, which is a follow up to Boyce's debut novel, Hot British Boyfriend. However, even though it's a follow up on one of the character's from the first book in the series, you can totally read Hot Dutch Daydream on its own without having read Hot British Boyfriend.

In fact, if you aren't into series, then I would highly recommend reading this one as a stand alone. While I loved Ellie's story in Hot British Boyfriend I actually loved Sage's story in this novel even more. Though the novel started out a little slower for me than Ellie's story did, it didn't take long for me to be hooked once the love interest Ryland enters the picture. In this book Sage has agreed to come to Amsterdam and to work for her mentor Dr. Reese who she interned for when she was studying abroad in England. But this time, Sage will not be working in the lab. Instead, she's agreed to babysit Dr. Reese's three-year-old son, Diederik for the summer in exchange for Dr. Reese paying for Sage to fly overseas and present a poster of her earlier research work at a conference in Berlin, Germany. At first, things do not go well for Sage. While she's a natural in the realm of science and research, she's not so much when it comes to minding an active toddler. Not to mention babysitting one in a foreign city, Amsterdam, who speaks little English. It was fun watching the always in control Sage, who always has a plan and loves to color coordinate her weekly planner, meet her match in more ways than one. She soon finds herself in over her head when the evenings roll around and she is exhausted, but still needs to put in her work for the research team and prepare her poster for her big conference presentation. Her plans get even more thrown out of whack when Ryland, Dr. Reese's older son, returns home unexpectedly for the summer from his backpacking trip. On the surface, Ryland seems just as much the opposite of Sage as her best friend Ellie is with his go with the flow attitude to life. However, as the two get to know one another, it becomes apparent that they might have more in common than they thought. Where Sage is passionate about pursuing her career as a medical doctor and cancer researcher, Ryland is equally as passionate about pursuing a career as an artist. It is equally evident early on from his teasing and flirting that Ryland might also be passionate about pursuing Sage as well. But a conversation with Dr. Reese, once she realizes her oldest son has come back home, makes it clear that if Sage wants to continue working for her, being anything other than friends with Ryland is out of the question.

One of the things I loved most about this book was how Boyce helps Sage learn to balance her life as a character. In the beginning she is very much the in control, reserved and driven Sage from Hot British Boyfriend. But her summer job as nanny to Diederik while still trying to cover her responsibilities as Dr. Reese's intern force her to adjust and for the first time, accept help when it is offered by Ryland. The fun twist comes into it when we realize the proposition he offers Sage to help him stay focused so he can enter an important art competition is also a ploy to get to know her better. The friendship that blossoms between them is fun to read! Ryland helps Sage, but he also provides her with companionship and a sense of calm and peace that she hasn't managed to find in ages. The way they interact and the way Sage discovers how well they balance each other out is sweet, while also being funny. Plus, I cannot state enough how much I love Ryland. He's creative and smart and so incredibly clever and without giving too much away, the way he compares Sage to a cat in one scene in the book is priceless. Of course, problems ensue when Sage eventually realizes her attachment to Ryland is too strong for her to resist being more than friends. But again, this moment shows us Sage's resilience when she decides to reassess her life and what she truly wants out of it. Also, the comparison between her parents' relationship to hers with Ryland that we learn about later in the novel is so bittersweet, because it shows that not only has Ryland helped Sage find balance in her life, he's also helped her open up about her dad and finally start healing some from his loss for the first time in the years since he died. 

All in all, I gave Hot Dutch Daydream 5 out 5 stars where, while I really enjoyed Hot British Boyfriend, it was only a 4 out of 5 stars for me. Of course, if you are a fan of books by Jenna Evans Welch or other rom-com writers of young adult fiction, I highly recommend your read both books in this series. Also, by clicking on the title for either of these books or by clicking on the store name below, you can purchase a copy from an independent bookseller of books for children and teens Blue Marble Books based in Ft. Thomas, KY. As will often be the case this year, I will try to help showcase independent booksellers in my home state whenever possible. But if you are interested in purchasing used books online, I can also recommend Better World Books as purchasing books from them also supports getting books in the hands of children around the world. As always, feel free to leave a comment here about any YA rom-coms you love and can highly recommend. 

Next month, I will be reviewing some fantasies for YA/NA readers and upper middle grade/YA readers. The first book I'll be reviewing for May will be Keeper of Scarlet Petals by a A. N. Skye, which is a NetGalley ARC provided by Aethon Books and is an upper YA or New Adult (NA) fantasy. My other read and review for May will be The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, and a book I've been meaning to read for a long time as a fantasy writer for kids and teens myself. I'm really looking forward to sharing my thoughts on both with you next month so stay tuned! 

A Slow Burn Dance into Contemporary Romance

 

Image copied from Goodreads

For the month of April I will be focusing on straight, contemporary romance reads. By that I mean these will be novels set in a realistic contemporary world with no elements of fantasy or the paranormal in them. My first pick for this month is Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell, which comes out this July. I would say Slow Dance is a steamy, contemporary adult romance. It is also a stand alone novel, not part of a series.

I have long been a fan of Rainbow Rowell. I loved Eleanor and Park and Fangirl.  I enjoyed the Simon Snow novels inspired by the fan fiction in Fangirl. I will also admit that Slow Dance is the first adult novel of Rowell's that I've read. This novel bears all the hallmarks of a Rainbow Rowell novel, complicated characters with difficult backstories and life situations. However, it is an interesting mix of adult and young adult novel. It revolves around Shiloh, a young, thirty-something divorcee with two kids and Cary, her former best friend. The two are brought together after fourteen years by the marriage of their mutual best friend Mikey.

Here are the things I love about this book. First, I love that Rowell seems to make it seem effortless to depict characters whose lives are messy, who don't have it all figured out, who had life goals only some of which they've achieved. I love that Shiloh is both protective of the life she has built for herself but also embarrassed by it. On the one hand, she is raising her two kids and sharing custody of them with her ex-husband, while also feeling she's taken a step backwards by moving in with her mom. Shiloh enjoys her job working at the local Children's Theatre, but also feels she has to apologize for it because it means she's traded living in her hometown for what could have been a bigger life pursuing a stage career for herself. It is so realistic of what life can be, a mix of pride at what you have carved out for yourself while still feeling you need to apologize to the wider world for not being what the world sees as a breakout hit or success. Yet, as Shiloh grows and changes throughout the story, her growing realization of what brings happiness makes her less apologetic and instead proud. Proud to admit her love for her best friend and proud to take a chance at building a life with him where they can be happy. 

I also loved that Cary is everything wonderful in a love interest, loyal, tender, willing to listen, but also complicated, sometimes surly, and often clueless about articulating his feelings. When he finally decides to risk giving his heart to Shiloh again, the results of that are messy, uncertain and unexpected. But Rowell still manages to make the moment tender and heartbreaking in the best way. Cary, unlike Shiloh, left home and never expected to look back. He's made a career for himself just as he set out to do in the Navy. However, he has still retained his ties to his mother, who is actually his grandmother, and has never stopped looking out for her and taking care of her. In spite of her mistakes, in spite of all the people she brought into his life, all the siblings, step-siblings, half-siblings, cousins she's always taking in and caring for, adding to the people, by extension, Cary has to care for or worry about. In this way, both Cary and Shiloh understand each other on a deep level as both come from broken homes with mother's who made questionable choices. I also like that each of the moms own up to their mistakes to some degree, but also don't apologize for living their life the way they wanted. Again, it is genuine and makes them fully fleshed secondary characters because they are messy, flawed and yet supportive and loving toward their children, though Shiloh's mom is much less maternal and nurturing than Cary's. 

What makes this book an interesting blend of adult and young adult is the fact that it is told through a mix of chapters set in the current timeline for the adult versions of the characters with flashback chapters of the teen versions of the characters. At least half of the novel is made up of chapters about the before versions of Shiloh and Cary. Some even give alternate points of view of the same parts of the story from the other character's viewpoint. So, for example, one set of chapters told from Cary's point of view after bootcamp is later retold from Shiloh's viewpoint. It was a surprise to me that the story was told this way. I will admit that while I think that Rowell was able to pull it off overall, at times, I was frustrated to have to read some of these before chapters. I felt that there were times when I could have done without some of them and would have preferred to see some of that information worked into the current timeline for the adults instead. I was most invested in the storyline for Cary and Shiloh as adults and while I do think some of the before chapters are important to understand the roadblocks that exist between Cary and Shiloh as grownups and to understand why they've not be in touch for so long after being so close as teens, I still wish there had been fewer before chapters. I felt that for me, they slowed the pacing down for the story and made it longer than it needed to be. That is the main reason I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. That may be a pet peeve for me though, and some will likely feel differently. 

If you like contemporary romance with compelling, realistic characters, then I highly recommend reading Slow Dance. I did enjoy it and I found the love story between Cary and Shiloh to be touching, and heartbreakingly beautiful. I was very pleased to be given the chance to read an ARC of this book by NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers in exchange for this honest review.

Stay tuned for my next review in a couple of weeks of a young adult/new adult contemporary romance by Kristy Boyce entitled Hot Dutch Daydream which is a follow up novel to Hot British Boyfriend. Click on the titles for links to Goodreads for blurbs on either of these books.

Images copied from Goodreads

                        

A Romp Into Regency Romance

 

Image copied from NetGalley

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is a fun and lighthearted Regency Romance. It chronicles the adventures of Peter Kent the Duke of Stanhope and his friend Lady Selina Ravenscroft. The pair find themselves in a bit of a dilemma when Peter requests Selina's aid in helping him gain custody of his two younger half-siblings. It seems that since inheriting his title he has developed quite the scandalous reputation. As his father did not recognize Peter's two siblings before his death, their guardianship is very much up in the air. To make matters worse, the man who will have to decide whether or not to bequeath them to Peter's custody does not care for the disreputable duke after he cheated the man out of his already stolen brandy--unwittingly, of course. Selina devises what she thinks is the perfect plan to make Peter respectable again. He must marry a noblewoman who is above reproach. The only problem is Selina secretly longs for Peter for herself and the more she tries to wed him off to another the harder it becomes for either of them to find Peter the perfect match among the worthiest candidates.

There were several refreshing aspects of this novel. One was the fact that Peter was not raised to become a duke. As such, he does not see himself as entitled to the privilege his nobility automatically bestows upon him. Peter was raised in impoverished circumstances in Louisiana. However, he is radically opposed to slavery, and Peter is determined to use his place in the House of Lords to abolish it. He is also determined to protect his younger siblings as their guardian at all costs, even though he has no idea how to raise two children. I found his character to be charming in his cluelessness at navigating the political and social waters of the ton. I also loved the fact that he is not a haughty and entitled nobleman as so many characters in these types of romances are portrayed as being. His unusual circumstances make this very plausible in the story. The other refreshing aspect of this novel is its heroine, Lady Selina Ravenscroft. After her debut in society, Selina is shocked and brokenhearted to learn how dire a lack of education can be for her counterparts if they are led astray by the wrong man. To prevent this from ever happening again, Selina takes it upon herself to help educate young women of the ton by supplying them with literature that explains the birds and the bees to them, sometimes in quite erotic detail. She does this by managing a lending library that she convinces her twin brother to procure for her. However, her feminine empowerment of her peers also leaves her with a scandalous secret that makes her a poor match for Peter as a wife. Therein lies the conflict of the story. 

Peter and Selina are unable to resist one another and they do ultimately wind up together. Along the way though, we meet some very charming secondary characters such as Selina's aunt and her long-term companion Thomasin, Peter's two young siblings, of course, Lu and Freddie, and some of Selina's close friends, Lydia and Iris, who she attempts to match with Peter. We also meet another young woman who becomes a friend to Peter and Selina, Georgiana. The elements of found family for Peter and Selina are lovely. Other things that Vasti handles well are the vulnerabilities and scars that both the primary characters and some of the secondary characters have and how these become an integral part of the story. Both Peter and Selina fear admitting to the other their true feelings. In the end though, they learn to lean on each other and realize they are stronger for it, which is a nice change of pace from most romances where the hero and heroine usually end up split apart after a misunderstanding before they can win their happily-ever-after. 

I would very much like to see Vasti make this a series where she develops romances for some of the other characters in the book such as Lydia, Iris, Georgiana, and possibly even Selina's brother, who is mentioned but never seen, Will. It might also be fun to read a romance for Lu and Freddie somewhere down the line as well once they're grown. If you love a good rom-com set in the regency period I highly recommend this novel. I was privileged to read an ARC of it through NetGalley. Thanks to both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a free copy to read in exchange for this honest review.

Celtic Fantasy in the Isle of Eire

 

Image copied from Goodreads

For the first review of this month, I'm going to take us back a bit to a book I read the end of last year. But as it is one that takes place in a reimagined ancient Ireland a generation of so after the Celts invade and take dominion over the island, I thought it fitting to discuss right before St. Patty's Day. Lesley Livingston's Queen Among the Dead is a wonderfully written fantasy about a rogue and a princess that incorporates elements of Celtic mythology and fairy tale retellings to weave together a tale of adventure, magic and some light romance. 

Neve is a princess of the Kingdom of Eire who some believe was cursed at birth and rumored to have been abandoned by her mother as a result. As the youngest daughter of the Dagda, she is the child overlooked by everyone. This works to her advantage though, because instead of being raised to embrace the traditional feminine role of a princess, she is allowed to train to be a fighter instead. Ronan, an orphan who was taken in to be a Druid apprentice was kicked out of the order for having too much curiosity, of all things, and has turned to a life of crime to survive. A rogue in every sense of the word, he accidentally saves Neve from an evil spirit in a graveyard and the two are inextricably linked from that moment on. 

One of the things I loved about this book was the way this Celtic society is depicted. So often in books about the Irish Celts they are depicted as the ones fighting for dominion of their lands as other invading elements slowly take over and stamp out their way of life, or they are depicted as being a civilization in tune with the natural world and its inherent magic. But in this world the Celts are the invaders. A war-like people who came to this green island from the steppes and plains of the distant east, taking over the magical peoples indigenous to the island and trying to stamp most of them out. I found this to be a clever take on Irish myths about the Foomori, the Fir Bolgs, who are the main denizens who lived in Eire before the Celts swept in, in this interpretation at least, as well as many other magical beings of Irish or Celtic legend. Often the very creatures who are depicted as the foes of all that is good and civilized, in this case are the ones who have been cast out, persecuted or colonized by these strange invaders. Not only that, but their Druids have slowly been syphoning away all the magic in the land and hoarding it for themselves. For what nefarious purpose you may wonder? Well, I can't really say without it being a spoiler. You'll have to read the book to figure it out.

Other elements I enjoyed about the story were magical qualities that both Neve and Ronan discover they've been cursed with. Notice I didn't say blessed here. Neither of the heroes in the story feel their magical abilities that they don't understand or feel they can control are good things. People with any modicum of magic are ruthlessly hunted down by the king's hounds. What happens after they are caught, usually isn't good. For Ronan, if he's discovered it is sure to be a death sentence. For Neve it could be proof that she's cursed as she was rumored to be at birth. This personal conflict for both characters sets them up as enemies at first who then have to learn to rely on each other just to stay alive. 

Staying alive means running away in Neve's case. Something is rotten in her kingdom and in order to get to the bottom of it she must flee to avoid getting married off to someone who definitely has an agenda of his own. One that would decidedly not be good for either Neve or her kingdom. The intricate mysteries, the air of something being really not right about this world and this kingdom mixed with the magic and danger make this a very entertaining read. However, it could be a bit slow for those not as knowledgeable about the ancient Celts or Irish folklore. The romantic elements are also lighter in tone than what you may be used to with most young adult based fantasies, at least, lately. I wouldn't say those are reasons not to give this book a try though. If you enjoy high fantasy then you will likely enjoy this novel, and for those who prefer stand alone titles, this book is one. Also, if you click on the title for the book you will be taken to the site of a wonderful independent bookstore in Kentucky, Joseph-Beth Booksellers. If you like supporting independent bookstores then I definitely recommend ordering a copy of your own from them to read. 

Tune in a couple of weeks from now for my next review of a regency romance by Alexandra Vasti called the Ne'er Duke Well. Also, feel free to share any recommendations of fantasies you've enjoyed inspired by Celtic myths or fairy tales in the comments below.