BLOG TOUR: My Kingdom for Richard - Stephanie Hickman

Cecily, a chaotic half-human half-Magical Creature, is obsessed with the fifteenth-century monarch, Richard III. In a drunken moment of over-enthusiasm, Cecily breaks into Leicester Cathedral and accidentally moves her beloved king to York Minster, where she believes he belongs. The only issue…she has no idea how she did it.

Finding herself in trouble with His Majesty’s Government for Magical Creatures, her case is passed to Henry, the bureaucratic and uncompromising Magical Creature Lead for Yorkshire. Facing the full extent of her lack of rights as a Magical Creature, and with the threat of even more being stripped away, Cecily and Henry are forced to work together to figure out how to move Richard back.

 

What did I think?

I'm reading more fantasy lately and I love anything to do with Plantagenet history so I jumped at the chance to read Stephanie Hickman's debut novel, My Kingdom for Richard, and I was not disappointed. It was everything I hoped it would be and more!  I even had a little tear in my eye at the end and I'm missing the characters already.

Combining history with fantasy and a sprinkling of romance, we follow Cecily's journey as she faces the repercussions of magically moving Richard III's tomb from Leicester Cathedral to York Minster.  I mean, she's right - Richard of York should be buried in York not in the area where he was killed and left to rot under a car park.  It's a debate that will go on for many years I think; it's very much like the Wars of the Roses but between York and Leicester (instead of Lancaster) and our own opinion on the matter shows which side we are on.

Anyway, this isn't a debate about Richard III's final resting place and Cecily has been instructed to put him back!  If only she knew how she did it in the first place.  Oh I really felt for Cecily, especially when she got reclassified as a Magical Creature who is a danger to humans.  There is a bright side of her magical powers though and a familiar comes into her life just when she needs them most.  Oh I loved this little thing...even though Stephanie Hickman vividly describes them, I don't know how best to refer to them.

There's a strong theme of prejudice in the book with humans being treated differently to Magical Creatures (MCs) and it feels very unfair, especially with MCs being further classified to show how dangerous they are to humans.  It's very thought-provoking and sobering to consider how quick we are to assume something based on someone's appearance.

My Kingdom for Richard is an absolute joy to read; it's pure escapism and it certainly cast its spell on me.  It's a wonderful debut novel and one that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. 

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the Compulsive Readers blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

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Nettle - Bex Hogan

Inspired by faery myth and folklore, the haunting, heart wrenching tale of a girl called Nettle in a dark, foreboding faery kingdom.

Welcome to a world of glittering courts, dangerous bargains and dazzling trickery...

A wild misfit in the human world, Nettle is enthralled by the glamour of the faery realm, with its two moons and scarlet stars. She grows close to Conor, a human stolen centuries before, and she also falls under the spell of mysterious Ellion, a Shadow Faery. To try to help her beloved grandmother who is fading in her world, Nettle makes a pact with the faery king. He'll heal her grandmother in exchange for Nettle completing three tasks. She agrees, not realising that deception lurks in this enchanted place, and that she has been tricked...

In this dangerous fantasy kingdom Nettle discovers, too late, her part in an age-old love story and the price she will pay.

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness!  Nettle has just bagged a prime spot on my favourites shelf as this is a book I will read over and over again.  It really is THAT good.

I actually didn't realise that it was a YA book aimed at readers of age 12 and above as it has that timeless and ageless feel to it, much like my favourite book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  Just as I have done, readers of all ages will fall under Nettle's spell and remain captivated by this wonderful book that is surely destined to become a future classic.

It starts off very much like a faery tale with mesmerising lyrical prose that drew me immediately into Nettle's world.  Falling through her own version of Alice's rabbit hole, Nettle finds herself in the faery realm where she encounters a colourful cast of characters who both help and hinder her attempt to return home.  The story takes a darker turn as Nettle discovers the deceitfulness and trickery of the fae but it's never too dark or scary for younger readers.

I loved the little sprinklings of classic fairy tales throughout the book and I read so fast I probably missed some but I noticed nods to Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Rumpelstiltskin.  Nettle isn't a retelling though, it's an original and highly imaginative story that is sure to enchant and delight every single person who picks it up.

Nettle is without doubt a strong contender for my book of the year as it's right up there with my favourite books of all time.  Prepare to be enchanted by Nettle; a very highly recommended, unforgettable and unmissable read.  An easy and well-deserved five stars.

I received a gifted paperback to take part in the Adventures With Words readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Way By - Holly Walters

Fairies are real. Or they ought to be, at least, according to Madame Bel Carmen's best hypotheses. Her problem, however, is that after searching the world over for the lore to prove it, she hasn't uncovered anything that someone didn't already know. Out of options, she knows her only chance to prove the existence of the Fae is to find someone who's met them, and she's just heard tell of a reclusive scholar who has reportedly done just that. This folklorist is more than just withdrawn; she's nowhere, an academic ghost known only by a few obscure writings.

 

What did I think?

I've only just started reading fantasy books and I was drawn to the beautiful cover of The Way By and that first sentence in the blurb: Fairies are real.  The chapters are quite long so it's a book I read in several small chunks and it took me around 9 hours in total to read.

Holly Walters' writing is beautiful; it's very poetic and vivid.  There's a scene with some birds that really sticks in my mind and I snapped the book shut at the end of that chapter in case the birds flew out of the page.

I loved the idea of The Way By, a place that few people can access and it's a place that is in danger.  What follows is a battle of good versus evil as the Waysmith leads her fellow women into battle against Clarisant, an evil unicorn.  I really enjoyed reading some of the backstories of the characters, although they are quite dark and disturbing, but it shows the strength of these brave women.

Whilst I enjoyed The Way By, I think it is more for advanced fantasy readers than beginners like me.  There is a lot of action in the book (and I wasn't sure what was going on half the time) and I also kept getting some of the characters mixed up.  I will make a list of characters when I go back to the book for a reread.

Filled with magic and danger, The Way By is an imaginative and enchanting novel that is set in a land where the impossible becomes possible.  Well worth a read for fantasy enthusiasts.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon Canada

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

About the author:

Holly Walters originally hails from a small, rural, town in Minnesota. A life-long storyteller, Holly is also a cultural anthropologist with a PhD from Brandeis University working in the high Himalayas of Nepal. While her ethnographic work focuses on fossil folklores and sacred ammonites in South Asia, her creative work pays homage to the dragons, unicorns, and fairy tales of her youth.

When not writing, she can be found perfecting her Medieval archery skills, theorizing about movie plots, and forgetting where she left her tea cup. Today, she makes her home in Boston, Massachusetts, with a very unruly garden, a few equally cantankerous pets, a clever spouse, and a resident house ghost. And since her creepy sculpture hobby hasn’t panned out thus far, she is looking forward to the publication of her first novel and the writing of many more.

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BLOG TOUR: Regency Faerie Tales series - Olivia Atwater

I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for the fantastic Regency Faerie Tales series by Olivia Atwater.  So, instead of a single book review this is a triple book review!

First up, it's Half a Soul.

It's difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you're a young lady with only half a soul.

Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment - a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season - but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs.

If Dora's reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.

Bridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castle in this enchanting historical fantasy, where the only thing more meddlesome than faeries is a marriage-minded mother.

Pick up HALF A SOUL, and be stolen away into Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England!

 

What did I think?

I've been reading more fantasy novels lately and with books of such high quality as Half a Soul, it's quickly becoming one of my favourite genres.  If you're looking for escapism, then look no further than the Regency Faerie Tales series.

A list of characters is included at the start of the book in the form of a 'Dramatis Personae' and I loved reading the short, entertaining biographies of each one.  You don't have to remember them of course, as each character is introduced within the novel, but it's handy to refer back to if you forget who a particular character is.

Dora is a wonderful main character; she only has half a soul so she doesn't experience emotions and her interactions with others are often funny and charming.  Dora is drawn into solving an intriguing mystery with Elias Wilder, the Lord Sorcier, and their story is entertaining and delightful.

Olivia Atwater's writing style is completely breathtaking; mixing historical fiction with fantasy is absolute genius.  Half a Soul is a novel that has everything; the scandal and competition of Bridgerton, an intriguing mystery to solve, a surprising and charming romance, and a colourful and magical Faerie realm.  

Half a Soul is an adult fairy tale written in the style of a classic Jane Austen novel and it's brilliant.  I enjoyed it so much that I plan to read it again and again.  It deserves a place on my bookshelf along with my many copies of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (my comfort book) as I found Half a Soul to be equally comforting, magical and entertaining.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

~~*~~

The second book (and my personal favourite) is Ten Thousand Stitches.

Faerie godfathers are supposed to help young ladies find love. Unfortunately, no one told Lord Blackthorn that.

Effie has most inconveniently fallen in love with the dashing Mr Benedict Ashbrooke. There's only one problem; Effie is a housemaid, and a housemaid cannot marry a gentleman. It seems that Effie is out of luck until she stumbles into the faerie realm of Lord Blackthorn, who is only too eager to help Effie win Mr Ashbrooke's heart. All he asks in return is that Effie sew ten thousand stitches onto his favourite jacket.

Effie has heard rumours about what happens to those who accept help from faeries, but life as a maid at Hartfield is so awful that she is willing to risk even her immortal soul for a chance at something better. Now, she has one hundred days - and ten thousand stitches - to make Mr Ashbrooke fall in love and propose. . . if Lord Blackthorn doesn't wreck things by accident, that is.

From the author of HALF A SOUL comes a whimsical faerie tale set in a magical version of Regency England, with an enchanting Cinderella twist.

 

What did I think?

I loved Half a Soul, the first book in the Regency Faerie Tales series, so I couldn't wait to read Ten Thousand Stitches.  Not only did I love Ten Thousand Stitches, I completed adored it. 

Olivia Atwater's characters are so vividly depicted that they almost pop out of the book the moment you turn the page.  The main character of housemaid Effie is no exception and I loved her dream of falling in love with Benedict, a gentleman who is out of her league.  All is not lost for Effie though, as she makes a bargain with Lord Blackthorn, a faerie, who will grant her wish in exchange for sewing ten thousand stitches on his jacket.

With hints of Cinderella (my favourite Disney film), the well-known fairy tale is turned on its head and makes you question why on earth you would want to marry someone who can't see the real you.  Love is more than skin deep and Effie discovers that her Prince Charming may not be who she thought it was after all.

I loved meeting colourful new characters in Ten Thousand Stitches, as well as encountering some old friends from Half a Soul.  You can definitely read Ten Thousand Stitches as a standalone and there's a 'Dramatis Personae' included at the beginning which lists all the characters.  As much as it's a handy reference guide to the characters it's also very entertaining to read their little biographies, so don't be tempted to skip past it.

Part adult fairy tale, part regency romance, completely brilliant, Ten Thousand Stitches is a delightful tale with a twist.  I loved it and already want to read it again.  An easy five stars. 

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

~~*~~

And finally, the third book: Longshadow.

Proper Regency ladies are not supposed to become magicians - but Miss Abigail Wilder is far from proper.

The marriageable young ladies of London are dying mysteriously, and Abigail Wilder intends to discover why. Abigail's father, the Lord Sorcier of England, believes that a dark lord of faerie is involved - but while Abigail is willing to match her magic against Lord Longshadow, neither her father nor high society believe that she is capable of doing so.

Thankfully, Abigail is not the only one investigating the terrible events in London. Mercy, a street rat and self-taught magician, insists on joining Abigail to unravel the mystery. But while Mercy's own magic is strange and foreboding, she may well pose an even greater danger to Abigail's heart.

From the author of HALF A SOUL comes a queer faerie tale romance full of love and defiant hope. Pick up LONGSHADOW, and return once more to Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England.

 

What did I think?

Longshadow is the third book in the wonderful Regency Faerie Tales series and I enjoyed it as much as the two previous novels, although this instalment is a little different as there is an LGBTQ+ element that transforms it into a queer faerie tale.

I love how the characters from the previous novels appear in Longshadow and I really did benefit from reading them one after the other as they were still fresh in my mind, although you could definitely read Longshadow (and the other novels) as a standalone.  A 'Dramatis Personae' is included at the start of the book to give a brief and entertaining bio of each character.

A spate of inexplicable deaths has an air of dark magic about them and Abigail, daughter of the Lord Sorcier, is determined to get to the bottom of it.  Her magic may not be enough to fight whatever is hunting young ladies but she joins forces with a mysterious stranger called Mercy and together their magic is a force to be reckoned with.

The magical element of the plot is stunning and the developing relationship between Abigail and Mercy is beautifully written.  Abigail's confusion over her feelings is portrayed sensitively, especially as she is living in an era when being attracted to the same sex would make ladies faint.

Olivia Atwater has stunningly mixed life in Regency England with the faerie realm and the glitz and glamour of society balls sprinkled with magic makes Longshadow hugely entertaining from start to finish.  This is an adult faerie tale for the 21st century and I highly recommend Longshadow and the whole Regency Faerie Tales series.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Longshadow (Regency Faerie Tales Book 3) - Olivia Atwater

Proper Regency ladies are not supposed to become magicians - but Miss Abigail Wilder is far from proper.

The marriageable young ladies of London are dying mysteriously, and Abigail Wilder intends to discover why. Abigail's father, the Lord Sorcier of England, believes that a dark lord of faerie is involved - but while Abigail is willing to match her magic against Lord Longshadow, neither her father nor high society believe that she is capable of doing so.

Thankfully, Abigail is not the only one investigating the terrible events in London. Mercy, a street rat and self-taught magician, insists on joining Abigail to unravel the mystery. But while Mercy's own magic is strange and foreboding, she may well pose an even greater danger to Abigail's heart.

From the author of HALF A SOUL comes a queer faerie tale romance full of love and defiant hope. Pick up LONGSHADOW, and return once more to Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England.

 

What did I think?

Longshadow is the third book in the wonderful Regency Faerie Tales series and I enjoyed it as much as the two previous novels, although this instalment is a little different as there is an LGBTQ+ element that transforms it into a queer faerie tale.

I love how the characters from the previous novels appear in Longshadow and I really did benefit from reading them one after the other as they were still fresh in my mind, although you could definitely read Longshadow (and the other novels) as a standalone.  A 'Dramatis Personae' is included at the start of the book to give a brief and entertaining bio of each character.

A spate of inexplicable deaths has an air of dark magic about them and Abigail, daughter of the Lord Sorcier, is determined to get to the bottom of it.  Her magic may not be enough to fight whatever is hunting young ladies but she joins forces with a mysterious stranger called Mercy and together their magic is a force to be reckoned with.

The magical element of the plot is stunning and the developing relationship between Abigail and Mercy is beautifully written.  Abigail's confusion over her feelings is portrayed sensitively, especially as she is living in an era when being attracted to the same sex would make ladies faint.

Olivia Atwater has stunningly mixed life in Regency England with the faerie realm and the glitz and glamour of society balls sprinkled with magic makes Longshadow hugely entertaining from start to finish.  This is an adult faerie tale for the 21st century and I highly recommend Longshadow and the whole Regency Faerie Tales series.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Ten Thousand Stitches (Regency Faerie Tales Book 2) - Olivia Atwater

Faerie godfathers are supposed to help young ladies find love. Unfortunately, no one told Lord Blackthorn that.

Effie has most inconveniently fallen in love with the dashing Mr Benedict Ashbrooke. There's only one problem; Effie is a housemaid, and a housemaid cannot marry a gentleman. It seems that Effie is out of luck until she stumbles into the faerie realm of Lord Blackthorn, who is only too eager to help Effie win Mr Ashbrooke's heart. All he asks in return is that Effie sew ten thousand stitches onto his favourite jacket.

Effie has heard rumours about what happens to those who accept help from faeries, but life as a maid at Hartfield is so awful that she is willing to risk even her immortal soul for a chance at something better. Now, she has one hundred days - and ten thousand stitches - to make Mr Ashbrooke fall in love and propose. . . if Lord Blackthorn doesn't wreck things by accident, that is.

From the author of HALF A SOUL comes a whimsical faerie tale set in a magical version of Regency England, with an enchanting Cinderella twist.

 

What did I think?

I loved Half a Soul, the first book in the Regency Faerie Tales series, so I couldn't wait to read Ten Thousand Stitches.  Not only did I love Ten Thousand Stitches, I completed adored it. 

Olivia Atwater's characters are so vividly depicted that they almost pop out of the book the moment you turn the page.  The main character of housemaid Effie is no exception and I loved her dream of falling in love with Benedict, a gentleman who is out of her league.  All is not lost for Effie though, as she makes a bargain with Lord Blackthorn, a faerie, who will grant her wish in exchange for sewing ten thousand stitches on his jacket.

With hints of Cinderella (my favourite Disney film), the well-known fairy tale is turned on its head and makes you question why on earth you would want to marry someone who can't see the real you.  Love is more than skin deep and Effie discovers that her Prince Charming may not be who she thought it was after all.

I loved meeting colourful new characters in Ten Thousand Stitches, as well as encountering some old friends from Half a Soul.  You can definitely read Ten Thousand Stitches as a standalone and there's a 'Dramatis Personae' included at the beginning which lists all the characters.  As much as it's a handy reference guide to the characters it's also very entertaining to read their little biographies, so don't be tempted to skip past it.

Part adult fairy tale, part regency romance, completely brilliant, Ten Thousand Stitches is a delightful tale with a twist.  I loved it and already want to read it again.  An easy five stars. 

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales Book 1) - Olivia Atwater

It's difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you're a young lady with only half a soul.

Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment - a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season - but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs.

If Dora's reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.

Bridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castle in this enchanting historical fantasy, where the only thing more meddlesome than faeries is a marriage-minded mother.

Pick up HALF A SOUL, and be stolen away into Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England!

 

What did I think?

I've been reading more fantasy novels lately and with books of such high quality as Half a Soul, it's quickly becoming one of my favourite genres.  If you're looking for escapism, then look no further than the Regency Faerie Tales series.

A list of characters is included at the start of the book in the form of a 'Dramatis Personae' and I loved reading the short, entertaining biographies of each one.  You don't have to remember them of course, as each character is introduced within the novel, but it's handy to refer back to if you forget who a particular character is.

Dora is a wonderful main character; she only has half a soul so she doesn't experience emotions and her interactions with others are often funny and charming.  Dora is drawn into solving an intriguing mystery with Elias Wilder, the Lord Sorcier, and their story is entertaining and delightful.

Olivia Atwater's writing style is completely breathtaking; mixing historical fiction with fantasy is absolute genius.  Half a Soul is a novel that has everything; the scandal and competition of Bridgerton, an intriguing mystery to solve, a surprising and charming romance, and a colourful and magical Faerie realm.  

Half a Soul is an adult fairy tale written in the style of a classic Jane Austen novel and it's brilliant.  I enjoyed it so much that I plan to read it again and again.  It deserves a place on my bookshelf along with my many copies of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (my comfort book) as I found Half a Soul to be equally comforting, magical and entertaining.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Follow the tour: