I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley. What follows is my honest review. There are some spoilers.
Thief Liar Lady by D.L. Soria is a CinderellaI received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley. What follows is my honest review. There are some spoilers.
Thief Liar Lady by D.L. Soria is a Cinderella re-telling that takes place after the ball and the slipper and the marriage proposal. In this version, the protagonist (called Ash and Lady Aislinn) is motivated by much more than romance or curiosity to see the ball. She carries out her (still decidedly wicked) stepmother’s schemes, while also doing some plotting of her own. There is also a political component to this story, which is set in a country on the brink of a greed-motivated war.
My biggest issue with this book is that in trying to add so much complexity to the story of Cinderella, each narrative thread seems weak. (view spoiler)[Ash’s attempts to move past her childhood trauma. Her desire to help her mother’s rebelling people. Her romance with (the wrong) prince. (hide spoiler)] Each of these would have made an interesting story, but together they end up feeling short-changed. This isn’t helped by a rushed ending that leaves many of these storylines either unresolved or resolved too easily.
Still, readers who enjoy fairy tale retellings would probably enjoy this novel. A morally-gray Cinderella figure was certainly an interesting change. ...more
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley. What follows is my honest review.
I really enjoyed this retelling of The Nutcracker. I loved MariettI received an ARC of this book through NetGalley. What follows is my honest review.
I really enjoyed this retelling of The Nutcracker. I loved Marietta's journey to discovering her own power and agency. I thought the author did a good job reimagining the Land of Sweets into Everwood, capturing the magic while also adding a much darker tone. The romance reader in me just wished there was a slightly different ending, but overall it was a satisfying read....more
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. What follows is my fair and honest review.
From Cinderella to Countess by A3.5 stars
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. What follows is my fair and honest review.
From Cinderella to Countess by Annie Burrows is a new Harlequin Historicals title. Based on that title, I expected this novel to be a Cinderella retelling, but that’s not really the case, despite a protagonist named Eleanor and the rags-to-riches element. Instead, From Cinderella to Countess is a story about what happens to Eleanor Mitcham after she runs from an unexpected marriage proposal and why she can’t stop thinking about Lord Lavenham, even though his proposal was shockingly unappealing.
I thought From Cinderella to Countess was a fun read, and it reminded me a bit of Tessa Dare’s The Duchess Deal, as both have a gruff and grumpy hero who has a hard time admitting how much they need the love the heroine offers. I just wish From Cinderella to Countess delved a bit more into the emotional growth of both hero and heroine, though I think the hero’s “tortured past” could use more exploration to make readers more sympathetic to his perspective. I enjoyed the writing style, except for a few abrupt scene transitions that left me momentarily confused.
I think historical romance readers who enjoy when a hero and heroine are at odds will like this novel. ...more
I received an ARC of The Court of Miracles from Knopf via NetGalley. What follows is my fair and honest review.
The Court of Miracles by Keste3.5 stars
I received an ARC of The Court of Miracles from Knopf via NetGalley. What follows is my fair and honest review.
The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant was one of my most anticipated releases for 2020, partly because every edition I’ve seen is prettier than the last. (Yes, sometimes I’m a total cover buyer.) I’ll admit, I was a little surprised when I realized this novel is not actually fantasy, but I think this Les Misérables retelling still delivers in world-building and action. Here’s my quick summary:
Set in a 19th century Paris that is similar to, but not quite, our own, The Court of Miracles imagines a Parisian underworld divided into nine guilds. Nina (Eponin), joins the Thieves Guild to escape the Tiger, the terrible leader of the Guild of the Flesh. But Nina is not content to escape into the safety of her own guild, especially since the Tiger took her sister Azelma and now wants her adopted sister Ettie (Cosette), too.
Like I said earlier, I really liked the world-building in this story. I thought the concept of the nine guilds and the Court of Miracles was really interesting, though it was frustrating how the Court failed to follow-through on its own rules, even if this is one of the driving points of the story. Still, despite the novel’s length and Grant’s ability to craft a Paris on the brink of riot and revolution, I felt that there was something missing from the story. After reflection, I think it’s that Grant includes so many interesting characters, but fails to explore most of them. I enjoyed seeing the story from Nina’s perspective, but I wish I could’ve learned more about the world as Montparnasse sees it. Or Le Maire (Jean Valjean)--especially since Grant offers glimpses of such an intriguing Jean Valjean and (Lady!) Inspector Javert. In some ways, I think the world Grant created was underutilized in the novel.
The novel doesn’t really have any explicitly romantic storylines, though there are three men who are all interested in or intrigued by Nina. Readers frustrated by protagonists who are unaware of their appeal or attractiveness might be annoyed by these elements of the novel, though I would say it’s more that Nina has more important things to worry about than that she doesn’t know her own worth. This also leads me to another frustrating aspect of the novel, which is that Nina’s characterization is a little underdeveloped. I like her perspective, but her actual characterization doesn’t ever move beyond her desire to avenge her sister(s). For such a complex story, the protagonist is a little one-dimensional.
If you’re wondering how The Court of Miracles works as a retelling, my answer is limited by my own experience with Les Mis. I’ve seen the musical and movie, and I enjoyed them, but I’ve never read the original novel. I think The Court of Miracles offers enough of the basic storyline and characters that fans of the original text (or at least the musical) will enjoy the story, but the novel is also unique enough that readers who don’t have any experience with the original novel or musical can still find their own way into The Court of Miracles. There’s at least one obvious “Easter egg” musical reference (that I caught) that might be fun for readers or might pull them out of the story. I, personally, thought it was fun (and a little funny).
Still, overall, I enjoyed my reading of The Court of Miracles. I was intrigued by the story and ended up reading the novel all in one day. I think fans of the musical or movie will enjoy this novel, but I can’t speak for fans of Victor Hugo’s novel. Readers looking for stories with an emphasis on worldbuilding, politics, or criminal elements should also enjoy The Court of Miracles. ...more
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