Review: Flyaway

Name -Flyaway

Pages -176

Author -Kathleen Jennings

Publisher -Macmillan/Tor-Forge

Genre -Gothic Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Literary Fiction

Rating -5/5

ISBN -9781250260499

Source -NetGalley

Review no. -45

Synopsis -

In a small Western Queensland town, a reserved young woman receives a note from one of her vanished brothers—a note that makes question her memories of their disappearance and her father’s departure.

A beguiling story that proves that gothic delights and uncanny family horror can live—and even thrive—under a burning sun, Flyaway introduces readers to Bettina Scott, whose search for the truth throws her into tales of eerie dogs, vanished schools, cursed monsters, and enchanted bottles.

In these pages Jennings assures you that gothic delights, uncanny family horror, and strange, unsettling prose can live—and even thrive—under a burning sun.

Review -

First of all, the creepy cover design is awesome! Beautiful yet uncanny just like the story in this novella.

The novella follows Bettina (Tina) Scott, a nineteen year old woman who lives with her conservative, prim and manipulative mother. Three years after the inexplicable disappearance of her father and brothers, when she receives a note with 'YOU COWARD, TINK' sprawled on it, she sets on finding her long-lost-thought-to-be-dead brothers and to fill the gaping holes in her memory with the help of her two childhood friends, Gary and Patricia.

I don't actually have enough words to describe the writing 'cause it completely blew me away! The novel is set in fictional district called Inglewell and the atmosphere is just alluringly eerie, frightening beautiful and perfect (I am falling in short of words again). I loved the way in which urban legends where interwoven with the pasts of almost each and every character. I gradually got immersed into the novella and was completely astounded by the revelation at the end. The start was a bit confusing but I guess it was deliberately done to give the reader mystery chills.

I feel that 'Flyaway' is a kind of novella that the reader would completely love or completely hate. I, fortunately, just loved the book. But I do totally recommend this novella because it's completely worth taking the risk and Kathleen Jennings is definitely an author to look out for.

I thank NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge for giving me this wonderful opportunity to review this book by providing e-arc. All opinion are my own.

Review: The Princess Will Save You

Name -The Princess Will Save You

Pages -368

Author -Sarah Henning

Series -Kingdoms of Sand and Sky

Publisher -Macmillan/ Tor-Forge

Genre -High Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Adventure

Rating -3.5/5

ISBN -9781250237422

Source -NetGalley

Review no. -44

Synopsis -

The Princess Will Save You is a YA fantasy adventure inspired by The Princess Bride, in which a princess must rescue her stable boy true love, from the acclaimed author of Sea Witch, Sarah Henning.

When a princess’s commoner true love is kidnapped to coerce her into a political marriage, she doesn’t give in—she goes to rescue him.

When her warrior father, King Sendoa, mysteriously dies, Princess Amarande of Ardenia is given what would hardly be considered a choice: Marry a stranger at sixteen or lose control of her family’s crown.

But Amarande was raised to be a warrior—not a sacrifice.

In an attempt to force her choice, a neighboring kingdom kidnaps her true love, stable boy Luca. With her kingdom on the brink of civil war and no one to trust, she’ll need all her skill to save him, her future, and her kingdom.

Review -

What attracted me to request this book was the cover (which, I later learned, was done by Charlie Bowater). It is so gorgeous!!! I totally ignored the quote 'Don't judge a book by its cover' when I requested this book.'The Princess Will Save You' is the first book of the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky Duology and the next book is planned to be released on 6th July 2021.

The main protagonist of the story is Princess Amarande. Her world begins to fall apart when her father, Warrior King Sendoa dies in an inexplicable way. Heirs and rulers of the neighbouring kingdoms flock to Itspi to ask for Princess Amarande's hand in marriage, each with a cunning ambition of their own. And the princess has no other choice than to accept one of the proposals in order to secure her rightful throne. But after a powerful speech that she delivers at her father's funeral, her true love, Luca gets kidnapped to force Amarande's hand into a marriage. The strong-willed princess then embarks on a journey through the scorching desert of Torrent with the goal to save three things: her love, her kingdom and ultimately, her life.

I haven't read or seen 'The Princess Bride' so I honestly don't know how this book is a retelling of that. The plot is fast-paced, filled with adventure, politics and betrayal. I loved Princess Amarande's character. Unlike most of the royal people in books, she speaks from her heart. And the book ends with a cliffhanger so I am eagerly waiting for the next book. I also loved how almost every character had a plan of his/her own.

Although there are many twists and turns, I was able to predict most of them because of the raw hints here and there. I wish there was more of Amarande and Luca before Luca was kidnapped because honestly, I don't know how this pair of best friends became lovers all of a sudden. So I felt like the romance was bland and their relationship was somewhat forced and flat. If you are planning to read this book, I recommend you to go in with an open mind, not expecting anything after reading the blurb or seeing the cover.

I recommend this book to people who like high fantasy especially those books with a tinge of politics in it. I thank NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge for providing an e-arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

Review: Drowned Country

Name -Drowned Country

Pages -176

Author -Emily Tesh

Publisher -Macmillan/Tor-Forge

Genre -High Fantasy, Gothic fiction, LGBTQ

Rating -4.5/5

ISBN -9781250756602

Review no. -43

Synopsis -

Drowned Country is the stunning sequel to Silver in the Wood, Emily Tesh's lush, folkloric debut. This second volume of the Greenhollow duology once again invites readers to lose themselves in the story of Henry and Tobias, and the magic of a myth they’ve always known.

Even the Wild Man of Greenhollow can’t ignore a summons from his mother, when that mother is the indomitable Adela Silver, practical folklorist. Henry Silver does not relish what he’ll find in the grimy seaside town of Rothport, where once the ancient wood extended before it was drowned beneath the sea—a missing girl, a monster on the loose, or, worst of all, Tobias Finch, who loves him.  

Review -

'Drowned Country' is the sequel of  'Silver in the Wood' and the second and final book in the Greenhollow Duology. The previous book had seriously blown me away and I was kinda reluctant to even start this book because I knew it would be a powerful read (the first book gave that away). Like the first book, I didn't have words to review this one and I took a break from book reviewing for a whole month just to get past the dreams and illusions and the spells that Emily Tesh had cast upon me. I never thought that a duology of 100+ pages novella could do this to me!

The 'Drowned Country' takes up months after 'Silver in the Wood' ended, and unlike the previous novella, we follow Henry Silver in this one. Henry, the new face of the Greenhollow wood, is in depression, sulking and moping, after the dissolution of his relationship with Tobias. Until, his mother, Adela Silver comes to the rescue and gets him to help her investigate on the paranormal case of the disappearance of a young woman named Maud Lindhurst. And the hard part is not the investigation itself, but it was the fact that it meant working with Tobias Finch, who is acting as stoic as ever. And that's were the awkwardness starts. 

The setting is mystical and eerie. It takes a while to fit in pace with the story. Even though I keep comparing this book to the previous one, I feel that both were drastically different. This is more fast-paced, action-packed and has more romance than the first one. We also get to know more about Henry Silver in this one.

Overall, I feel that this book is the perfect end to the duology. I had my hopes really up after finished 'Silver in the Wood' and I was not at all disappointed on reading this. I highly recommend this duology to all the fantasy fans and I am pretty confident that Emily Tesh is an author to look out for in the future.