THESE HOLLOW VOWS by Lexi Ryan

“Brie would do anything before making a deal with the Fae; death is better than their vicious schemes. But when her sister is taken by the sadistic king of the Unseelie, Brie breaks her own rules and agrees to steal three magical relics from the rival Seelie court in exchange for her sister’s return. Brie’s only way inside is to pose as a potential bride for the Seelie Prince, Ronan – a prince who’s not quite as wicked as she once thought. Unwilling to let her heart distract her, she accepts help from a band of misfits with their own secret agenda. But as Brie spends time with their mysterious leader, Finn, she finds herself struggling to resist his seductive charm. Caught between two dangerous courts, Brie must decide who to trust with her loyalty…and with her heart.”

What is the book about?

Brie has always hated the Fae and vowed to never make a deal with any of them as she knew just how vicious and cruel they are and how they can change and manipulate their words to get you to make a deal that you will never come out of. However, when her younger sister is sold to the king of the Unseelie, the supposedly crueller and more dangerous Fae court, she breaks her own rules and makes a deal with him to steal 3 magical relics from the Seelie court and return them to his court where they belong in exchange for her sister’s freedom. So, in order to get into the rival court, Brie poses as a potential bride for the Seelie Prince, Ronan, and joins a competition to win his heart. Brie believes she will have no problem manipulating the prince and sneaking around his court to find the items, however, it turns out the prince isn’t who she thought he was and he may not be as evil as she had always been led to believe. Determined to not let her feelings get in the way, Brie continues with her mission and allows a band of outcasts and misfits to help her with her newfound powers, powers that a human like her should never have possessed in the first place. But, as Brie spends more time with the Seelie prince and with the group’s leader, Finn, she begins to find herself caught between her feelings for 2 men and also finds herself caught between the 2 Fae courts and now she doesn’t know who to trust…or if she should trust anyone at all. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I had no idea that this book existed until a few months ago when I asked one of my friends for a list of books she wanted for her birthday so that I could buy her one. When I spotted it on her list, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to find out more about it so I looked it up and read more about it. When I saw what the cover looked like and read the blurb I knew that I had to read it so I happily bought it for my friend and, once I gave it to her for her birthday, I asked to borrow it as soon as she had read it. So, when I went to her house a month or so ago, I was so glad to see her lend me the book, and another that I had also been wanting to read, and I wanted to read it right away. Finally, a couple days ago, I decided it was about time I started to read it because I knew I would eventually have to give it back. When I reread the blurb before starting the book, I was even more interested in reading the book and so excited to find out more about the book. Once I started to read, I initially found the book a little hard to get into, but, after a little while; I found the book quite enjoyable and was soon racing through it, loving the romance and adventure. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

Despite how hard I tried to like the characters and pick a favourite or at least one that I disliked a little less, I was completely unable to do this and I cannot reply honestly to this question. So, my answer to this would have to be that I don't have a favourite character. I honestly tried really hard to like Brie, the main character, but she was quite annoying and this whole story where she was constantly feeling guilty and confused about who she was in love with. It was like she had no real personality other than her love life and her sister. However, at the end of the book, I liked the change in her and how she was able to finally see past everything and realise that she could trust no one. She actually chose to use her power and fight against the people who betrayed her. So I hope that I will enjoy her a bit more once I read the second book in the duology. The love interests were also both rather annoying and I hated that they both acted so suspicious and I knew Brie should've never trusted either of them, but she did anyway because she was blinded by their beauty and powers. I hope in the next book I will actually like a few characters and find a favourite character. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book would probably have to be the ending. The main reason was because of the way it left me excited to read the next book and also because of the way that Brie changed. Throughout the book, Brie was never reaching her true potential with her magic, never focusing on anything other than her sister, never thinking on anything other than the love interests and it was rather annoying. However, at the end of the book, Brie realised that the one person she thought would always be there for her and would never betray her had done exactly that and had only ever come into her life to get what every other Fae wanted from her. So, as a result, she changed both physically and emotionally and she was finally ready to reach her true potential and take back what had been taken from her. It looked like she was finally going to stop acting like a lovesick teenage girl and adapt into a strong, independent woman who was ready to use her power to hurt, protect and control. She was no longer afraid and no longer using her hatred for the Fae as an excuse. I can't wait to see what she does in the next book.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, These Hollow Vows was a rather enjoyable book; however there were several things that could have been better. One thing that this author did marvellously was the way the way that the book was so fast-paced and easy to read. The plot was very good and because so much was happening in such a short amount of time I felt like I rushed through the book, reading about so many different things and finishing the book in only a couple of days. There was even a certain part of the book where I just couldn’t put down the book and had to keep reading because I needed answers and was prepared to sacrifice sleep to read and finish the book. Despite how easy the book was to read and the good plot, there were also some things that I disliked about the book and one of those things was how predictable the plot was. I honestly felt like I was watching one of those cringey, romantic Christmas films that all have the most unoriginal and super predictable plot because I saw literally everything coming except for the final plot twist (but I still had some suspicions about it). I don’t mind a book being a little predictable, however this was extremely predictable and I literally saw everything coming and could’ve told you the whole plot before reading the third chapter. I didn’t hate this, but I would have liked more surprises and twists in the story. Another thing that I didn’t really like was the romance. Although the love triangle was alright and I could see both couples working out, there was something so weird about each of the boys and I could tell that something wasn’t quite right (so I saw their betrayal coming from a mile away). They both just acted so suspiciously and they never shared anything with Brie, which got on my nerves because I was so confused and needed answers. Now I know it wasn’t their fault that they didn’t tell Brie anything and kept secrets from her, however I still disliked them and would have preferred a better love interest. Not only that but I would have liked a better main character who was a little less annoying and focused on something other than her feelings. I felt like, even though Brie was trying hard to ignore her feelings, that was all I heard about and I would have liked her to be more of a strong, independent main character, which I hope she will be in the second book of the duology. 

Would you recommend this book?  

Despite not loving the book, I do think I would recommend it, but you need to have a lot of patience and be ready to cope with a lot of annoying characters and some predictable plot. It is a good book for readers over 16 who enjoy fantasy, romance and adventure.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A rather predictable book full of fantasy, magic and romance. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

About Me: Merry Christmas!

Hi everyone! I know that this is rather odd, but I just felt like saying something this Christmas, mainly because I am always reminded of books and why I love to read around this time. When the weather starts to cool and it becomes too cold to go outside for walks without coming back freezing, it is the perfect weather to stay indoors and do nothing other than curl up under the covers with a book. Not only that but I also have to give people suggestions on what to get me for as a Christmas, which for me means taking out my trusty list of books that I don't yet own but would love to read and adding another couple dozen on there. 

To me, Christmas means books, especially because my family is Spanish and we also celebrate 'El Día de los Reyes Magos' and always get books on that day. This means that when I get back after the holidays I just talk a ridiculous amount about all the books I read and got as gifts. You would think that after getting 30 books for Christmas it would no longer seem so special to get gifted another, but to me getting books will always be special because they simply thinking about them and the adventures I have gone on and have yet to experience makes me feel so happy. I will always appreciate another story because every story is different and the best thing about books is that I get so much use out of them because I can read them multiple times over and also lend them to my friends. 

In reality, people who give me books are giving me so much more than just words on paper – they are giving me the best gift imaginable: an escape from reality. Which brings me to why it is that I read when so many people claim that it is boring and it would be much better to watch TV: I read because I get to experience the adventures the characters go on as if I was one of them and I get to visit worlds that will never make it to a screen because no matter how many movie adaptations they make there will always be a book that will never become a movie or TV show and those who don't read will never get to see what I have seen. Not only that but I get to escape reality when I read and I completely forget about all my worries. Reading is the best thing this world has ever given us and the only true magic on Earth. I am proud to call myself a reader and I hope those of you who read my reviews are too. 

So Merry Christmas and I hope you all get all the books you wished for!

OF SECRETS AND SLIPPERS by Chanda Hahn

“‘A haunting song. A deadly dance. An explosive finale.’ Allemar may be dead, but his cause festers in the dark. Strange beasts stalk the night as haunting music corrupts the fog. When morning comes, nothing but dust remains. Rumours are quick to spread, with many speculating that Allemar had a son…and the evil sorcerer’s heir wants blood. When an attack hits close to home, I become embroiled in a plan with the Magical Menagerie to infiltrate the palace of Sion and flush out the apprentice. Instead, I find twelve princesses, terrified and ensnared in a spell of music and death. Caught in a charade for my life, I don’t know whom to trust, for even my greatest love may be my greatest enemy. For I am Honor, one of the adoptive daughters of Lady Eville, and I’m an antimage – cursed with a gift that can kill. Forever forced to travel the ley lines to keep my friends safe, I must find the source of the rumors before the sinister song reaches its final note… And death takes his final bow.”

What is the book about?

After the events in Of Mist and Murder, Maeve succeeded where her sisters hadn’t – she killed Allemar. However, despite him being dead, his cause continued and there are rumours that Allemar had a son, who is now claiming blood and dark magic and following in the footsteps of his evil father. Not only that but strange creatures originating from the kingdom of Sion are appearing all over the 7 kingdoms, wreaking havoc and causing deaths. After Honor, one of the adoptive daughters of Lady Eville, gets involved in one of the attacks as it occurs close to the place she calls home, she seeks to find the source of this trouble and stop the young apprentice before all hell breaks loose. With help from the Magical Menagerie, Honor plans to infiltrate the palace of Sion and, even though there are many protections in place to keep the daughters of Eville from entering, the job seems easier than ever because Honor isn’t like her sisters. She is an antimage, cursed with a gift that doesn’t mean she can use magic but means she takes it and can kill without meaning to, which is why she was always kept away from her other sisters. So now Honor must find out if the rumours are correct and stop whatever or whoever is responsible for this destruction before everyone dies, but she won’t be able to do it alone…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

My first thoughts on Of Secrets and Slippers were conflicted as I struggled with my excitement and fears. After finishing Of Gold and Greed and learning more about the mysterious 7th sister, Honor, who was always away from the tower and never with her sisters, I was intrigued and desperate to read this book, which is why I bought it. When I first got the book series Of Secrets and Slippers had not yet come out, so I waited to see if I would like the books and, as I did, I bought the final book. When I got my hands on it and I read the blurb I was even more excited about reading it and discovering more about Honor, who I had grown to like in the previous book. However, before I started reading, I also had some worrying thoughts that always plague me when I think of starting the final book in a series I have enjoyed. I was scared that the book wouldn’t be as good as I thought it was and that it would ruin the whole series by having a bad ending. These doubts were even more severe than usual since Of Gold and Greed hadn’t been the best of the books, however I tried to put them aside in order to start reading the book. Soon I forgot all my initial doubts as I started to read and began to really love the book, just like I had hoped. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was definitely Honor, though I also greatly appreciated Rumple and his entertaining comments once again. In Of Gold and Greed I couldn’t be sure about what Honor was really like because I didn’t get her point of view, only her sister’s. However, I now know that everything I thought was correct. I loved Honor’s bravery, strength and determination. She was independent and, though her training with Lorn, she knew how to survive on her own in the wild. I also loved how she was so strong and powerful and, despite the fact that she wasn’t a sorceress like her sisters, she was never seen as the weak link, only the outcast, the one always on her own because of her power. This beings me onto my favourite thing about Honor: even though she knew she was destined for a life of loneliness and that she would also have to keep her distance, fearing killing those she loved, she never complained about it and never let those thoughts bring her down. She was so strong and I know she is definitely one of my favourite of the daughters of Eville. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book was near the end when the help that Honor needed came. Since the beginning, Honor had always felt like the outcast of the family because of her power, which kept her far from her other sisters, travelling along the ley lines so she could take the magic from them and not from the people around her. However, despite feeling this way, her sisters still loved her like they loved all the others and at this part of the book Honor finally understood that. All her sisters came to her aid and every single one of them accepted her for what she really was (an antimage) and didn’t hate her like she had feared. Not only that but at the end of the book, when Honor needed help fixing what was broken they were all prepared to let Honor do the thing that she had always been told she couldn’t do, the thing she had always feared. This all happened because they loved and trusted her and knew that she would never hurt them on purpose and I loved that at this part Honor was finally able to see that because I knew it was important to her, even though she tried to push it down. I also loved this part of the book and the bit even further at the end because all of the sisters were back together, like they had been at the beginning of the whole series, and I loved that. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I loved reading Of Secrets and Slippers and it was definitely one of my favourite of the books in the Daughters of Eville series. One thing that I really liked about the book was the fact that all 7 of the daughters of Lady Eville were present in the book. Not only that but so were all of their love interests and any family that they had started to create. I liked seeing all of them together and liked the way that all of their powers were needed in order to really solve the problem, even though it was Honor’s adventure. Every sister had had help from one of the others and then that other girl had gone on to have her adventure and receive help from another sister and so on. As a result, I had been concerned that Honor would be on her own, which I wouldn’t have been surprised about because she was the one always on the outside looking in at the relationship that her other sisters had with each other. However, instead Honor got help from every one of her sisters and she was the thing that brought them together. Another thing that I loved about the book was the amount of plot twists and secrets that seemed to be revealed at every turn, though the biggest were only ever hinted at until the end. I honestly can’t believe I didn’t see the reveal at the end of the book coming but I had been so distracted by my own theories about the son of Allemar that I didn’t see what was right in front of me. The initial book had not had as many twists so I was glad that this book did because it made it so much more interesting. One other thing I loved about the book (which you are probably tired of hearing about as I have mentioned in all of the previous book reviews) is how easy to read it was. I am not kidding when I say that I bought and finished the book in one day and literally finished in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down (yet another reason supporting the amazing plot) and found it so fast-paced that it honestly felt like the events of the book were flying by. The fast pace also helped me feel more involved in the book and made me forget I was reading for a bit and that these characters and events weren’t actually real. Even though I enjoyed the book immensely, there were a few things that weren’t exactly perfect. One of those was the ending. Although I think it fit very well with Honor’s situation and personality, I would have loved to see all of the daughters of Lady Eville take control of every single one of the 7 kingdoms and think it would have made the book even better. However, the ending was satisfactory and I liked that everyone got their happy ending, which is rare for such crazy, deadly adventures. Another thing I would have liked for this book, as well as every other one in the series, was some different points of view including. I would have loved to see into the minds of some of the side characters and love interests, and also would have preferred a third person perspective because I find that gives the book a deeper meaning and view. But, despite all these flaws, Of Beast and Beauty, Of Glass and Glamour, Of Sea and Song, Of Thorn and Thread, Of Mist and Murder, Of Gold and Greed and Of Secrets and Slippers were all amazing and I am sad to see the series end. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I 100% recommend reading this book and think it is the perfect read for those over 14 who love fantasy, romance, adventure and fairy tale novels. Obviously it is important to read the 6 books previous to this one and I definitely recommend doing so as it is worth it. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

The perfect conclusion to a romantic and adventurous series about 7 magical sisters and 7 magical (and corrupt) kingdoms. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

OF GOLD AND GREED by Chanda Hahn

“‘A hoard of gold. A cursed bladesman. A talking pain in the axe.’ High in goblin-infested mountains lies the ruins of Ter Dell, the lost stronghold of the dwarves. Evil lurks beneath layers of ice and broken stone, buried in a vault of gold, hungering for the day that man's greed would see it unearthed. That day has come. For I am Rheanon, one of the adoptive daughters of Lady Eville – and I'm trapped in a web of deceit with the King's deadly blades-enchanted beings that guard the king and hunt those with magic. Beset by enemies, I must use my gift of alchemy to forge a sentient blade with ancient knowledge and a sharp edge. I needed a powerful weapon. I got a giant pain in the axe.”

What is the book about?

Lady Eville has sensed trouble in her childhood home, the kingdom of Kiln, since now every time she tries to spy through her magic mirror, she sees nothing but fog. To help solve the problem, she sends one of her adoptive daughters, Rheanon, far into north. As Rhea grows closer to the mountains and the ruins of Ter Dell, the destroyed home of the dwarves, she also senses a darkness surrounding the kingdom, coming from deep within the mountains. However it seems that this is more than just dark magic and that it is a curse that will plague any greedy being. On her journey to find the source, Rhea finds herself in the palace, growing closer to the king’s blades, his deadly and unnatural guards. As she runs from her enemies and tries to help Kiln, Rhea uses her gift of alchemy to forge a magical, sentient blade with ancient knowledge, a sharp blade and the ability to never stop talking. So Rhea sets off with her giant pain in the axe to a place she isn’t sure we will come out from…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Initially, I was confident that I would enjoy this book and nothing shook my confidence, even as I read the blurb and then started reading the book. Once I finished the previous book, Of Mist and Murder, I was curious to learn more about Rhea, however there was no cliff-hanger ending that left me desperate to read Of Gold and Greed. So, after a day of not reading, I finally decided it was time to pick up the book and start to read it. When I started to read, I soon got back into the world of the 7 kingdoms and 7 daughters of Lady Eville, who somehow kept ending up married to the next king of one of the kingdoms. I was glad to see that this book was back to the ones where the adventure was one which their mother had ordered, and I soon grew to enjoy Rhea’s perspective. It didn’t take long for me to see that my initial thoughts were correct and my confidence was not misplaced. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character would probably have to be either Honor or Rumple. Even though Honor’s involvement was limited and she didn’t spend long on the page, I immediately loved her and I can’t wait to read her story next. She was so brave and strong and I admired the fact that even though she didn’t have magic like her sisters and wasn’t a sorceress and at time she probably felt like the outcast of the family, she kept strong and excelled at other things, such as fighting and risking her life to save her sisters. She was ridiculously smart, brave and was ready for anything. The other character I liked was Rumple because of how funny and entertaining he was. Despite him not having arms, legs or an actual body, he always had something to comment on and it was always something ridiculous. I loved the nickname he gave Kash and I always found it hilarious when he spoke because I had no idea how it was possible and it was so entertaining. The funny side character is always appreciated, especially through tough times, and I was definitely grateful for the laughs. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I don’t really think that I have an actual favourite part; however one part that I did enjoy was near the end when Rhea defeats the source of the trouble in Kiln, however not in the way she expected. Compared to the other books, where the destruction of the main villain was a happy victory moment, in Of Gold and Greed this part of the book was actually quite sad because it turned out that the villain they were looking for was not as evil as they thought. Not only that, but the characters had believed they had all lost someone close to them and they were still grieving. However the most important bit is the fact that the villain was not fully evil, and turned good at the end, risking their life in order to save another. I loved this because of how representative it is of people: humans aren’t fully good or evil, it is just the situation we are in and how we feel that determines what we are like, so if you just help the person you thought was the villain you may find that they weren’t as bad as you thought. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Of Gold and Greed was a great book and, although I didn’t enjoy it as much as the other books in the series, I still liked it. One thing that I liked about the book was how fast-paced the book was and how I found it easy to enjoy and read. Although the plot and the characters may not have been as well developed as with other books, I still enjoyed it and found it was just as fast-paced and still read it in very little time, finding myself in a similar situation as with the other books because I wanted answers so didn’t want to put the book down. Another thing that I liked about the book was the fact that I got to learn more about Rhea and also her sister Honor, the daughter of Eville I had yet to hear from. In fact I probably learnt more secrets about Honor than I did about Rhea, which is probably another reason that I didn’t like the book as much as previous ones. I was hoping for another huge reveal about the identity of Rhea’s parents and about what Rhea’s powers meant, however I got nothing, which meant there was one less secret and twist in the plot. However, learning about Honor and the truth about why she was kept away from her sisters did give me a little more to enjoy about the book. Of Gold and Greed was a good book and after the introduction of the final daughter of Eville I can’t wait to read the final book of the Daughter of Eville series, Of Secrets and Slippers, (though I am still sad to see the series end).

Would you recommend this book?  

Of Gold and Greed was a great read and I do recommend reading it, but after all of the previous books in the series. It is perfect for those over 14 who enjoy reading fantasy, romance, and adventure books and love fairy tale retellings. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

Another romantic fairy tale adventure filled with secrets and darkness that only a daughter of Eville can destroy.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

OF MIST AND MURDER by Chanda Hahn

“‘A captured sorceress. A prince without a throne. Balancing on the edge of good and evil.’ Captured by an evil sorcerer, I'm forced to become his apprentice and learn forbidden magic. Teetering on the edge between good and evil, I trade my soul for power. Allemar wants to control me, but little does he know the shifter he's caged--is not easily tamed. My training draws me closer to Aspen, the forsaken prince, wanted for treason against the crown. My sisters have always feared him, but I can see the man beneath the cloak of hate. For I am Maeve, one of the adoptive daughters of Lady Eville. I hunt the truth, seeking the one who murders my shifter friends. But what will I do when all evidence points to Aspen and the dark magic he wields? Unleash the beast within.”

What is the book about?

After falling and ending up alone in the woods, Maeve, one of the adoptive daughters of Lady Eville, is found by Allemar and his followers and taken captive. When she realises that no one is coming to save her, she is forced to become his apprentice and learn forbidden magic or risk losing her life. Now Maeve struggles to keep good and evil separate as she learns magic that her mother and sisters always deemed dark and evil. However, Maeve is more than just a trapped sorceress, she is also a shifter, able to shapeshift into different forms, and she is not easily caged, especially as she is one of the most reckless, brave and stubborn of her sisters. Despite being Allemar’s apprentice, Maeve is also bound to Aspen, the dark prince, and as he teaches her more about her new magic, she begins to learn more about him and the man he really is behind the mask. She sees the truth about him, not the monster her sisters fear and begins to feel more than hatred towards him. When Aspen takes her back to his kingdom, they both enter the palace, along with some other shifters that Maeve didn’t even know existed. But there is someone after the shifters, killing them in a dark and magical way. All evidence points to Aspen and Allemar, but Maeve struggles between what she knows in her heart and in her head. However, no matter what Maeve will find a way to save her shifter friends and save the kingdom, even if it means unleashing the beast within and losing control once again. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Of Thorn and Thread ended on a shocking cliff-hanger about Maeve and left me with so many unanswered questions, so, as soon as I finished reading it, I grabbed Of Mist and Murder, desperate to start reading to find out what happened to Maeve. Initially, before even looking at the book, I knew I would love Of Mist and Murder, particularly because of how much I liked Maeve every time she appeared in one of the previous books. I was also really excited because this book was different to all of the others as Maeve didn’t choose to leave home and go on her own adventure; she was taken and forced into it. After reading the blurb, I was even more excited to read this book as I wanted to find out more about the shifters and about Maeve and Aspen. Soon I had started to read and I found the book so easy to read from the very beginning. I had initially thought I would enjoy the book and I was glad to see that I was right once again. It was so easy to read that I was soon reaching the end of the book in only a couple of days, after only being able to put it down a few times. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was definitely Maeve because of her bravery, strength and confidence. She reminded me a lot of Rosalie, who I had loved in the first book; however she was more reckless and less calm and calculating. I loved how, even though Maeve was trapped and forced into using a type of magic that her mother had always forbidden her, she didn’t let that change her and she continued to be the rebellious, young girl I always encountered in the other books. Her sister always saw her as out of control and reckless, however, for me, Maeve was brave and strong and, although she didn’t always think before she acted and used her magic, she did so because she wanted to help and cared too much for her family and friends, which proved correct time and time again. She was also stubborn and confident and knew her worth, which often got her into trouble as she would never back down from a fight, even against one of the most powerful and feared sorcerers around. Where everyone else saw recklessness, I saw bravery, however her rash decisions did come back to bite her at the end of the book and she realised that it was time for her to change a bit, but I know that she will never fully give up her rebellious side. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book was when Maeve learnt the truth about who, or what, she was. She always believe her rare circumstances were because she was a shifter, as well as a sorceress, however she was soon let in on the secret that her mother had kept from her all these years and she realised that she was different. I also loved this part because she quickly took in what she learnt and embraced her magic and took the form of a creature she had always felt a connection with. She used that power to help everyone and defeat the sorcerer who had plagued each of her sisters, proving once again her strength, bravery and recklessness came from her need to help her sisters and others she cared for. I loved how quickly Maeve was able to adapt to the information she was given and the fact that she did that made me love her even more and choose her as my favourite character and this as my favourite part. In this part, Maeve also looked past her grief and the loss of someone she cared for and was able to see past it all in order to help those she could still save. This showed me more of her strength and made me love this part even more, especially seeing as I still had hope that not everyone was lost.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed Of Mist and Murder, however, although there was a lot I enjoyed, there was also some things that I did think could be better. One thing that I really enjoyed was how fast-paced the book was. I know now that all of Chanda Hahn’s books are incredibly well written and so easy to devour in one sitting as they are ridiculously addictive and easy to read. There are some books that I have read and found hard to get into, but that has not happened with one of these books and I am not expecting it to happen in any of the next books. Another thing I really liked about the book was the romance. I have a huge thing for enemies to lovers, mainly because of how much I enjoy the fact that these people hated each other and only saw the flaws they each had, and yet somehow they fell in love with those differences and the characteristics that they should hate about each other. I also love how it really illustrates that there is a fine line between love and hate and that it is easy to see past the things you hated about a person when you are in love with them. I also love the stress and tension it brings, especially for me, as a reader, because I can see clearly that they are falling for each other, but they are blinded by their supposed hatred and are unable to see their true feelings (it really does get annoying, but I love it). Maeve and Aspen’s feelings for each other were strong, however they not only had their hate blocking them, but Maeve also had to cope with the fact that her sisters hated Aspen and she didn’t know if they would forgive her for falling for the villain of the story. One last thing I wanted to mention was the ending of the book. I absolutely loved it and loved that Maeve got the ending she deserved, a certain character got the second chance that he deserved and another was finally punished and destroyed. Although I really liked the ending and it was exactly what I wanted, I did think that it was a little unbelievable and it might not have been what the book needed. Sometimes death of those you love is necessary in order to make a story better, and it is especially important in a story where there is magic and a lot of fighting because in real life not everyone survives. However, I also understand that in romance stories the couples are supposed to get their happy ending, so the ending sort of made sense. Also, the fact that a certain villain was defeated seemed ridiculous because of how easy it seemed. How can the villain that appeared in every story so far be defeated this easily? It may not be real and there is a chance he comes back, however if he doesn’t then it shows that he wasn’t a good enough villain and he was far too weak. Of Mist and Murder was a great book and I just can’t wait to read the next book, Of Gold and Greed. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would absolutely recommend reading this book, but after reading the previous 5 books in the series. Of Mist and Murder is the perfect book for over 14s with a love for adventure, romance and fantasy. It is also particularly important that you enjoy fairy tale retellings. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An enemies to lovers love story with dark magic, sacrifices and thrilling twists. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

OF THORN AND THREAD by Chanda Hahn

“‘Save the kingdom. Break the curse. Become the villain.’ Born an empath, I have the power – and burden – of hearing thoughts and feeling emotions of others. Retreating from the world, my only refuge is an ancient tower, but my haven is shattered when an injured man arrives with a plea to save the kingdom. Liam is the perfect knight, yet one attribute makes me hesitate. He is immune to my powers. His thoughts are a mystery, his heart an enigma. And while I fear the unknown, I cannot resist the desire to unravel his secrets. For I am Aura, one of the adopted daughters of Lady Eville. I have joined Liam in his quest to destroy a magical blight that ushers in darkness and poisonous thorns. The closer I get to the source, the more I sense threads of destiny weaving a deadly cage, and at the end of the journey lies a fate worse than death. Eternal slumber.”

What is the book about?

Aurora Eville is an empath, which means she carries the burden of hearing the thoughts and feeling the emotions of others around her, even when she doesn’t want to. To most it seems like a strong power, a gift even, but she is plagued by thoughts and feelings that she doesn’t want to hear and she is unable to shield herself from them. Her only safe haven is the tower where she, her mother and her sisters live, where all she hears are the thoughts of those women, which are usually easy enough to handle. However, one day an injured man arrives and after helping him she discovers that he came all this way in order to get Lady Eville’s help with his kingdom. Liam is the perfect knight, who claims he will protect Aura at every turn, however there is something that makes her hesitate – Liam is immune to her powers. His thoughts and feelings are a mystery to her, but somehow she can tell that she is telling the truth, so she decides to help him destroy the magical blight that plagues the kingdom of Rya. But the closer Aura gets to the source, the more she feels the dark magic that created this destruction and she knows that at the end lies a fate worse than death: eternal slumber. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After reading Of Sea and Song I was beyond excited to read this book because of the introduction to Aura’s character and the shocking ending. I love how as each book in this series nears its end and the main character starts to struggle another sister comes to her aid and that sister is the one who then leads the adventure in the next book. So when Aura appeared to help Meri in the previous book, I knew that Of Thorn and Thread would be her story, which made me really excited because I loved Aura after only a couple chapters in Of Sea and Song so I could only begin to imagine how much I would grow to like her in this book. When I finished Of Sea and Song I immediately read the blurb of this book and found myself even more intrigued as I was desperate to learn more about this mysterious Liam and what was happening to his kingdom. I soon began to read Of Thorn and Thread and I’m not joking when I say that I finished it in one night and one morning as I was unable to put it down. Initially I had thought this book was going to be amazing and was so sure there would be twists in the story just like the other books I had read from the Daughters of Eville series and as soon as I started to read I knew I was correct. Of Thorn and Thread was such an easy read from the very beginning and I loved reading it. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character would definitely have to be Aura. I know some people probably saw her exactly as all her sisters saw her, as the weakest one, as a fragile girl who can barely handle to be around others. However, for me Aura was the strongest one because she went on this adventure knowing that she would probably come back in pieces because of her powers as an empath, but she kept going because of how much she wanted to help Liam and his people. I loved how kind Aura was and how self-sacrificing she was because that’s what I think a true hero should be like. She is someone who is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for that of others and I know that she chooses this path of selflessness because of the fact that she knows that most empaths don’t make it past 20 because they either take their own life or go mad and she wanted to use what little time she had left to help others.  Even at the end of the book, when she thought that maybe she and Liam could have a future together she chose to sacrifice that so Liam could live a better life because it wouldn’t be right to make him shield her forever. I liked the way the book ended and how Aura proved that she wasn’t fragile and she had the strength to do what needed to be done, but she is still an empath and of course she would never kill someone (unless they really deserved it).

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book is 100% the ending of the book because Aura finally got exactly what she always thought she would never get. As an empath, she always thought she was destined for a life alone, or a life of madness, or an early death, and none of those options seemed appealing. However, when she met Liam she thought there was maybe a chance at happiness. When she chose to leave him to give him the best life possible and once again let her self-sacrificing nature win over, she thought she had lost that life she dreamed of. However, Liam once promised he would always find her and he was not about to break that promise, even after what Aura did to him. So when he did exactly what he promised and did his own sacrificing in order to make Aura happy, she finally got exactly what she deserved and I am so glad for that because no one should have to suffer in the way that she would have had to without this perfect ending. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Of Thorn and Thread was an amazing book overall and there were a lot of things that I liked about it. One of the things that I loved was how this book wasn’t really a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. It was obvious that this was what the story was based on (especially since the main character is literally Aurora and there is talk of eternal sleep), however this is one of the most twisted fairy tale retellings yet and I am very grateful for that. In the Disney tale I am familiar with it is the prince who is the hero and he is the one that wakes Aurora from sleep. In fact the fairy tale I grew up with was probably one of my least favourite princess tales, so I was glad to see how different this book was from the original and that Aura was the hero of the story, not the one who falls asleep for hundreds of years. This made the book so much better and made me love Aura even more as she took control of her own adventure and took the role pf protector, hero and villain. Another thing that I liked about the book was the fast pace. After reading so many books by Chanda Hahn I now know that she is the queen of fast-paced fantasy, fairy tale books. I literally devoured this book in less than a day and I was unable to put it down. I think the main reason for the easy read is the fact that so much happens in such a small amount of pages so it feels like time has flown (but it may also have to do with the fact I read the books on my kindle). One last thing that I enjoyed was the ending of the book. A few of the books previous to this one had left me on a cliff-hanger ending, however this book was slightly different because it was not only the end of Of Thorn and Thread, but it was also the beginning of Of Mist and Murder and left me with so many questions. It was such a shocking ending, especially after what the characters and I had thought had happened at the end, and it left me desperate to read the next book. Of Thorn and Thread was amazing and I can’t wait to read the next book in the story.

Would you recommend this book?  

I absolutely recommend reading Of Thorn and Thread and I think it is perfect for those over 15 (due to some of the difficult topics discussed in the book) who love to read fantasy, romance and adventure books, and who specifically adore fairy tale retellings. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A magical and emotional read with so many new twists and secrets revealed and some very impactful messages. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

OF SEA AND SONG by Chanda Hahn

“‘A treasure stolen. A kingdom teetering on ruin. And the silence of a sea witch’s curse.’ I killed a man to protect my sisters, and now I am a fugitive. With bounty hunters hot on my trail – willing to take me dead or alive – I’m forced to disguise myself as a cabin boy on the Bella Donna. I should have been safe at sea, but I cannot escape the dangerous feelings evoked by the ship's handsome captain. For I am Merisol, one of the adoptive daughters of Lady Eville, and to escape my past and save my friends I will make an uncertain bargain with a shady sea witch. The deal sounds too good to be true. What could possibly go wrong?”

What is the book about?

Merisol Eville is one of the adoptive daughters of Lady Eville and she cares about nothing more than her family. So, when one of her sisters is in trouble, she doesn’t hesitate to help and accidentally kills a man in order to protect her. Now she is on the run and is a wanted murderer, hunted by people who will find her, eventually. After a strange encounter with a mysterious man, she finds her way out of a tricky situation and manages to escape him and the bounty hunters. In order to keep hidden, Meri disguises herself as a cabin boy on the Bella Donna, thinking she will be safe at sea, but she can’t escape both the bounty hunters and the feelings she has for the ship’s captain. And after an encounter with a sea witch, she makes a deal with her, a deal which will change everything, a deal which seems too good to be true. So what could possibly go wrong?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I really enjoyed reading both Of Beast and Beauty and Of Glass and Glamour, the two books in the Daughters of Eville series previous to Of Sea and Song, so I came into this book with high expectations. My initial thoughts on Of Sea and Song were that it was going to be a great read and I knew I was going to enjoy it.  I was so excited for another great story based on a fairy tale and after reading the blurb I was even more interested in reading this book. Once I started to read I was immediately sucked into the world of the book and knew that my initial thoughts were correct, especially at the shocking start and the way that everything was so interesting from the beginning – this book was amazing, from the very beginning. I finished the book just as quickly as all the others and loved reading it, from start to finish.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

Even though I really liked Merisol, I think I would have to say in this book my favourite character would have to be her sister Aura. Merisol was amazing and I really admired how strong and determined she was and how she did everything she could to protect her sisters, however at the end of the book she was transformed and she was willing to lose everything because she couldn’t see past her anger and pain. So she needed her sister Aura to help her and at that moment I knew she had to be my favourite character. The main reason for this was because of her power and the fact that that made her who she was and gave her the perfect personality. The fact that she could read minds and feelings made her a sensitive girl who always knew what everyone needed. But instead of people seeing her as strong, her sisters saw her as fragile because she was so sensitive to those emotions and it sometimes put her in a lot of pain and it also meant that she was unwilling to hurt others. And she wasn’t going to have people seeing her that way and when Meri thought that she immediately struck her down because she was just as determined, strong and willing to do anything to protect her sisters as the others and in that moment I  knew that I was going to love her. I just can’t wait for her story in the next book, Of Thorn and Thread. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book would probably have to be when the captain appeared at the start of the story because in that moment I knew exactly what was going to unfold and I was so excited. The start of the book had been a series of twists and turns and I initially had no idea what was going to happen, who the love interest was and anything about the sea witch mentioned in the blurb. However, when the captain appeared and I realised his true identity and Meri realised who he was, I knew exactly what was going to happen and was immediately rooting for a couple that had shown little to no interest in each other. It gave me a sense of certainty that I needed and reassured me that this book would have a romance that would (hopefully) end happily. It gave me hope for a fantasy, romance book that would be exactly like I wanted: the boy and girl defeat every obstacle in their way and get together in the end. There were so many moments when I was dreading the ending, thinking that I wouldn’t get the happily ever after I wanted because of all the twists and uncertainty, however in this moment I was oblivious to all of that and was just rooting for this couple that had met so unexpectedly after a strange twist of fate. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Of Sea and Song and there were so many things I loved about it. One thing I liked about the book was the mix of twists and predictability. At the beginning of the book and the end of the book, there were so many twists and turns in the story and the element of not knowing what would come next in the story. It gave a much needed sense of uncertainty to a fairy tale story I had been familiar with as a child. But now after reading 3 of the 7 Daughter of Eville stories I know that these are not regular fairy tale retellings and there is a magic and link between them that I have never seen before. Despite the moments of surprise in the story, there was a lot of predictability, particularly with the romance. There was nothing wrong with this of course and I loved it because who doesn’t love the predictable, cringey love story most romantic novels and books have. And it was more than just that, this romance story was deeper than that and I just loved every moment of it, which brings me onto the second thing I loved about the book – the romance. It brings such happiness to me when I root for the couple who gets together in the series, but for this book it was more than just that because of the fact that the couple spent the majority of the book pretending that neither of them knew the truth about how they had come to know each other, when in reality they both immediately recognised each other and couldn’t stop thinking about each other. This couple had so many more obstacles than either of the other from the two previous books and it made the book so much more interesting. One last thing I would like to mention was the fact that, even though this book was nothing like The Little Mermaid, it still had the main message of the story, just like all the other books before this one. Meri made a deal with a sea witch, just like Ariel did, and she chose to give up the thing that meant the most to her, all for love, which was the most special thing ever. I literally just noticed this and I noticed that the other books also had this. In Of Beast and Beauty, the couple fell in love, despite the darkness that they each had within them and the fact that they may have both been seen as beasts by others, which was very similar to the story of Beauty and the Beast. And in Of Glass and Glamour the prince went after the girl when he lost her because he knew he loved her, just like in Cinderella. I loved this so much and I will definitely look out for it in the other books because those fairy tales are stories that I grew up with, stories that I fantasised about and the fact that the author kept the main romance makes these books so special.

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend reading Of Sea and Song, but definitely read the first two books (Of Beast and Beauty and Of Glass and Glamour) before this one as there are some things that you need to know to make complete sense of it. It is the perfect book for those over 24 who love fantasy, romance and fairy tale retellings. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

The perfect romance wrapped in a magical story full of sacrifice, adventure and secrets.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

OF GLASS AND GLAMOUR by Chanda Hahn

“‘Get the guy. Get the shoes. Get revenge.’ Born under a hunter’s moon, abandoned as a child, I was raised to be a powerful sorceress—okay, a mediocre sorceress. All right, I’m good at glamour and can make things sparkle, if my spells don’t backfire. It was foretold long ago that I was a child of prophecy that would unite the fae and humans of Candor. The only problem, no one told me, and now the king wants me dead. For I am Eden, one of the adoptive daughters of Lady Eville, and I have to attend the royal masquerade ball—not to win a prince, but to avenge my parents. Even if it means pretending to be a fairy godmother and wreaking a little havoc.”

What is the book about?

Eden Eville was born under a hunter’s moon, the brightest full moon in the month of Nochtember, and, when she was abandoned as a child, Lady Eville took her in and raised her to become a powerful sorceress. However, despite Eden’s attempts to strengthen her powers, she has always just been a mediocre sorceress, not yet able to form many spells without making some mistakes and having them backfire on her. But there is one thing that she excels at – glamour. Despite Eden’s lack of skill and power, somehow she was chosen by her mother to go to the kingdom of Candor and try her hand at getting chosen to marry the prince, however the reason for her being chosen had nothing to do with ability and everything to do with her parents and the prophecy that was told about a girl born in Nochtember who would use her powers to unite the fae and humans of Candor, kill the prince and become queen. And everyone knows of the prophecy, including the king, who will do anything in his power to keep his son safe. So now, while evading being killed by the king, Eden must find out the truth of what happened to her parents and get revenge for herself, her adoptive mother and her real parents, and the way to do that is to go to a ball and try to catch herself a prince. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After reading Of Beast and Beauty (the first book in the Daughters of Eville series), I was really interested in reading Of Glass and Glamour and discovering what adventures the other sisters would get up to. I really enjoyed the first book in the series and so by default I believed I would also enjoy this book, and, though I was right about that, I fully understand now that the books have barely anything to do with each other as they are about different sisters with different adventures and romance, so it’s kind of like a series of standalones. Because of this I know that I can’t assume I will enjoy a book and I will also not be choosing a favourite book in the series or saying which I liked best because I don’t think I should compare such different stories. Anyways, after reading the blurb of this book I was even more invested in reading it as I wanted to get answers to the many questions spiked by the blurb. Once I stared to read, I started to really enjoy it and got into it a lot quicker than I thought I would and I was soon reaching the end. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character in this book would probably have to be Eden Eville. I know it’s unsurprising as she is the main character of the book, however I really did like her. The biggest reason for my choice was because of her personality. She didn’t have much self-confidence and often doubted herself and her powers, comparing herself to her much more talented sisters and believing herself to be inferior just because she took longer with spells. However, my favourite thing about her was how she never let those feelings show to anyone other than those she felt safe around (her sisters). The reason I liked this was because she didn’t let anyone step all over her, as they probably would if she had shown her lack of confidence and self-worth. Instead she let herself act like her older sister, Rosalie – who I had gotten familiar with in the previous book – and she made sure everyone knew to fear her and that she was a sorceress who shouldn’t be messed with as she was strong, even though she didn’t feel that way. I liked how she gained confidence throughout the book and just admired the fact that she didn’t let what she thought about herself stop her from fighting. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book is definitely the main battle scene because of the way that Eden changed and showed her strength and power. I don’t want to say much because I don’t want to ruin anything for anyone who hasn’t read it, however I do want to explain what I liked about this part. During this part of the book, Eden was trying her hardest to fight for her safety and the safety of someone she loved and she was also trying out a plan to avoid what she was being forced into doing. In order to do this, she had to use a lot of her own magic and she had to step out of her shell and believe in herself, and she actually did it. She always knew deep down that it was up to her and she was going to have to fight by herself, without any help, but she never wanted to believe it because of her lack of confidence. She thought she couldn’t do it herself, however at this point of the book she pushed down those feelings and used her powers to fight and I was just so impressed and loved this part.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Of Glass and Glamour was a really good book and I enjoyed (nearly) every part of it. One thing that I really liked about the book was how different it was from the real Cinderella tale; however the main parts of the tale were still there. This book literally kept me on my toes the whole time as I never knew what was going to happen next and there were so many new twists and secrets discovered. I think that this will probably happen with a lot more book in this series due to the fact that these girls are all adopted so they know nothing about their real families and have so much to discover, so it gives the books deeper secrets to being up and a more different retelling of the fairy tales. I was never once bored reading Of Glass and Glamour and I just loved this. Another thing I really enjoyed about the book was the fact that the villain and the hero (or prince) weren’t who Eden and I initially thought them to be. I loved this because it made the story much more interesting and meant that the ending was exactly what I wanted and not what I thought would happen. I also really liked how Eden fell for their act like me because it showed me how realistic the book was and showed me that even the most powerful people can fall for the promise of love and safety for it is something that everyone wants deep down. One last thing I enjoyed about the book was how fast-paced and easy to read the book was. I found reading this book so easy because of the fact that it moved so quickly and there wasn’t a single moment where I was bored – there was always something happening. I have no doubt that the book was fast-paced, however I have a strange suspicion that the fact that I am reading the book on my kindle may be affecting the speed I’m reading the book at. I think that because I don’t see how thick the book is and all I see is how long I will take to finish the chapter and what percentage of the way through I am I find myself reading it quicker. This is because the size doesn’t deter me and the percentage makes me want to end up over 50% quicker. Either way I loved this and it made the book much more enjoyable (I may have to move to being a kindle reader, but I don’t know if I can give up my physical book buying addiction). Of Glass and Glamour was a great read and I can’t wait to read the next sister’s adventure. 

Would you recommend this book?  

Of Glass and Glamour is a perfect book for any reader that loves romance, adventure, fantasy and fairy tale retellings, and I do recommend it, specifically to those over 14. I also recommend reading the first book in the series (Of Beast and Beauty) first, as there are a couple spoilers. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A very magical, twisted retelling of Cinderella that will keep you on edge through new secrets and twists. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

OF BEAST AND BEAUTY by Chanda Hahn

“‘Something evil this way comes. 7 vengeful sisters. 7 fairytale kingdoms. 7 daughters of Eville.’ Everyone dreams of marrying a prince – except for me. I am nothing more than a pawn in my adoptive mother’s diabolical plot against the seven kingdoms. I was the chosen tool, her sharpened blade that would cut the deepest into the heart of the Kingdom of Baist. But like all deadly weapons, my wedding is two-edged sword that could cost me my soul. For I am Rosalie, one of the adopted daughters of Lady Eville, and it is my duty to enter into a loveless and hate-filled marriage with the narcissistic Crown Prince of Baist. My choices and heart are not my own to give. Yet even in the thick of dire situations, beastly vengeance can give way to beautiful attraction.”

What is the book about?

It is every girl’s dream to marry a prince – except for Rosalie, the first adoptive daughter of Lady Eville; for she knows that her arranged marriage to the crown prince of the Kingdom of Baist is just part of her plan to get vengeance on the 7 kingdoms. Rosalie was her chosen tool to take control of Baist, the strongest of her 7 daughters and the one she believed would be able to get revenge and would be able to thrive in Baist, the only kingdom that had not yet embraced magic. But this was not Rosalie’s choice, as she didn’t want to give her heart away to a man who would never want anything to do with her. However, there is a thin line between love and hate, and even the most horrible relationships can give way to a romance unlike any other. But soon Rosalie realises that there is more to her mother’s decision than she thought and she must learn the truth about her family if she is ever going to understand and help the people she will grow to care for. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

When I first started reading the An Unfortunate Fairy Tale series many years ago, I really enjoyed the few books I managed to read during that first summer, so I soon decided that I wanted to try other books by Chanda Hahn. As a result, I discovered the Daughters of Eville series and immediately downloaded all available books in the series onto my kindle as I thought I would enjoy them. I have a huge thing for fairy tale retellings as I love the magical feeling and the mix of the predictability as well as the twists that the author has introduced to keep the story from being the same as the original fairy tale, so when I realised that these books were going to be retellings I knew I would like them, but I did keep them unread in my kindle for quite a while. My initial thoughts on this particular book (Of Beast and Beauty) were similar to that of the whole series when I first got it and reading the blurb left me even more interested in the book as I had so many questions about Lady Eville and was also so excited for the suggested enemy to lovers romance, which is one of my favourite types of romances. When I started to read, it took me a little while to get used to the story and the fact that it was told from a first person perspective, however, after a few chapters, I started to really enjoy the book and was soon reaching the end in less than a couple days. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was probably Rosalie, not just because she was the main character and the one person whose mind I was able to see into but also because I really liked her personality and the way she handled things. I really liked the fact that, even though she was treated terribly just because she had powers and magic that the people of Baist were unfamiliar with and terrified of, Rosalie didn’t let that stop her and she tried her hardest to ignore them. I liked how stubborn, intelligent and strong she was and the way that she used all of these qualities to go against the wishes of the people who tried to keep her shut away and she never once let herself be controlled because she knew her own strength and wasn’t going to be treated like she was less than what she was, even by the crown prince. I also really liked the way that Rosalie never gave up, even when she was so scared and tired, and she kept fighting back and trying to find her own way, but she also knew when she needed help and was ready to ask for it. She was a great character and I liked that she was the daughter to start this series. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

This was a really hard decision to make because there wasn’t really any part of the book that stood out to me, however after much consideration I would probably say that my favourite part of the book was when the prince realised who Rosalie really was and didn’t shy away from her. I had initially really liked the way that Rosalie used the prince’s own decision to never look at his wife to her advantage and she managed to manipulate her way into doing many things; however the biggest reason why I liked this was because the prince was able to get to know her without ever knowing the truth. So then, when he found out, he couldn’t actually bring himself to hate her like he had initially done because he had grown to know her in ways he never would have. I really liked this and I enjoyed that he finally understood the truth as I was getting a little annoyed at how stupid he was being and how he couldn’t see the signs.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I quite enjoyed Of Beast and Beauty; however it wasn’t one of the best books I have read. One thing that I did enjoy about the book was the plot and the amount of twists that were incorporated in the story. Fairy tale retellings always have a certain element of predictability as they are based on stories that we have grown up reading and watching however, although there were some things that I already knew (like the fact that the prince was a beast), somehow this book managed to keep me on my toes and leave me shocked after secrets were revealed and twists in the plot occurred. I loved the fact that there was no way I could’ve seen those things coming and I loved the way that it linked different kingdoms together. Another thing that I liked was the romance. I really liked how it was different to the original story; however it also grew in a similar way to it. It may not have been the most amazing romance, but I did like it and I liked the way the book ended for the main characters. However, there were a few things that I didn’t love about the book. One of those was the fact that it was told from only one point of view, and it was told from the first person. I have really come to enjoy third person over first person, though it was the other way when I was younger, so it did take me a while to get used to it. I did grow to like it a bit, but I know that I would have probably liked the book better if it had been from the third person perspective or if it had more points of view, as I would have liked to see through others eyes. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I recommend reading Of Beast and Beauty, especially if you are over 14 and love fantasy, adventure, romance and fairy tale retellings, but you need to be ready to stick with it as there is more to it than meets the eye and you learn a lot near the end. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A dark, magical version of Beauty and the Beast, full of secrets, twists and turns that you could never have seen coming. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

FOREVER by Chanda Hahn

“‘Will Beauty have to destroy the Beast she created?’ With the Godmother Guild destroyed by Teague's army, Mina finds herself without the guidance of her Fae Godmother. Alone and confused, she must lean on her friends for support. The dark prince threatens their very existence with a show of power on the human plane that has everyone running for their lives. To save them, Mina must make a deal with the prince to become his prisoner or lose her friends forever. But is there any hope for Jared and the love they briefly shared, or must beauty destroy the beast she created?”

What is the book about?

Now that Teague and his army have destroyed the Godmother Guild, Mina finds herself without the support and guidance of her Fae Godmother and the other Godmothers, who seemed to be the only ones willing to share their knowledge of the curse and help Mina though her quests. But Mina is not completely alone as she now has her friends, both Fae and human, to lean on for support as she tries to find a way to stop the dark prince from destroying both the Fae and the human planes. However, no matter how much Mina wishes it could be different there may only be one way to save her friends and family from Teague – she must sacrifice herself to protect them and that is something that she must face alone, without their much needed support in these dark times. But, after everything she has lost, Mina is willing to do anything to not lose those she loves. She must try her hardest to stop Teague, but is it too late for the beast that she created? Mina loves him with all her heart, or at least she loves a part of him and she doesn’t think she can go through with the one way to stop the destruction: kill Teague. But is it possible that Jared is still in there somewhere and she can save him? Or will she have to kill the one she loves most?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I had been looking forward to finally reaching the last book in the An Unfortunate Fairy Tale series for years, but before starting this book all I could think was how scared I was to actually finish the book. Mainly it was because of how worried I was that the ending wouldn’t match my expectations and that it would ruin the whole series; however I was also scared because I have been rereading this series for years and I was not sure if I was ready for it to actually end. However, I was also desperate to read on after the shocking ending to Reign and I knew that the only way to get answers to my questions was to read the book, so I finally picked it up and read the blurb. The blurb only managed to scare me more as I still had hope for Jared and I didn’t want Mina to have to kill him; however I was also even more interested in finding out what deal Mina made with the prince, so I soon started to read. Once I started reading, all my worries disappeared as I forgot the world around me and became part of the story. From the very first page I knew that this book was going to be just as good as the others and I was soon reaching the end as it was such an easy read. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

Although I really liked Mina, I feel like I have to give another character a moment to shine as she really changed in this book. I think that my favourite character was probably Ever because of the way that she started to really embrace friendship and was actually, not just willing to help out, but ready to put her life on the line for Mina. When she first appeared in Fairest, I didn’t know what to think of her and really I don’t think I liked her much. She was so grumpy and so unwilling to play any part in Mina’s quests and she was so attached to Jared, who I had been shipping with Mina, so I didn’t want her to get in the way of anything. However, in Reign something changed about her (or someone changed her) and she started to help out more, even despite how much she hated Mina for what she did to Jared. But the biggest change in her was in Forever when she chose to become Mina’s new Fae Godmother. I was so surprised and I loved this sweet change in her, though she did continue to be grumpy from time to time. She risked everything in this book and she became one of my favourite characters in the process. Also I just wanted to quickly mention Nix who also helped Mina, even though he was completely human and defenceless (and he also helped to change Ever a bit and bring some happiness in her life after Jared).

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book has got to be when Mina discovers her true self and she finally feels comfortable in her own skin. I could always tell that there was something different about Mina, something that no other Grimm who had tried to break the curse had, because ti couldn’t be that an ordinary teenage girl could succeed where the adult men in her family had failed. So when I learnt the truth about who Mina’s mother was and, therefore, who she was, I wanted to know absolutely everything and understand just how powerful Mina really was. That is why I loved this part of the book, when Mina embraces her power and lets her true self show through the glamour that had been masking her real identity her whole life. It was a shock, but it also felt right and it made so much sense when I thought back at all the strange, magical moments in Mina’s life. But my favourite thing about this part was the fact that now that Mina had discovered the truth about herself, she wasn’t going to go back and she was ready to do whatever it took, something that the old Mina would’ve struggled with, and all it took was a little magic and beauty to show her that she could beat Teague and stop him from killing everyone she loved. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Forever was amazing and I think it was the perfect conclusion to this magical, fairy tale series. One thing that I loved about the book was how fast-paced it was. With the first 3 books I found that they were a lot slower and it took me a bit longer to read (though that may have been my fault for rereading them so much and not paying attention before this time), however Reign and Forever were different. They were both so easy to read and I think that it was because of the fact that the plot flowed more, almost as if it had been destined to happen. It was so easy to read this book and I literally read it in only a couple of sittings and couldn’t put it down, even though it was really late and my eyes were burning. Another thing I really enjoyed about Forever was the romance. I know I do mention this again later on but I just have to explain just how happy and relieved I felt about the couples in the story. Since Jared’s Quest I have been rooting for a specific couple, even despite everything they went through, because I could just tell that these 2 were made for each other. That became even clearer to me once I read Reign so I had been on edge throughout Forever, hoping and praying that the 2 characters would finally get together. There aren’t even words to describe how happy I was that what I wished for came true and I know that this is one of these moments that I will hold forever in my heart. One last thing that I would like to mention about Forever was the ending. This was what I had been so scared of reading because I was worried that it wouldn’t be what I wanted and that, after reading so many books in the series, the ending would ruin it and it would have all been for nothing. When I started to reach the end I had been even more terrified than when I initially started the book because of the fact that so much had been left unsolved and there was a whole plane left to save with only a few chapters left. I had been so worried that the book would leave me with questions and that it would end so quickly. I now know that I should never have been as scared as I was, however it was not exactly the ending I had pictured. Despite this, I think it was the perfect ending for this series because it perfectly depicted the fact that every happily ever after is different and that some don’t always have a happily ever after, they just have an after (which was something that had been made clear from the very first book). It may not have been exactly the way I pictured it, but the couples that I had wanted together did get together, though maybe not exactly how I imagined, and I know that Mina is happy how she ended up, so I am too. Forever was perfect and I can’t believe that the series has actually ended after all of these years.

Which was your favourite book in the An Unfortunate Fairy Tale series? (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5)

Before I go on to explain which my favourite book was, I would just like to say that I can’t believe I got this far. After at least 5 years of having these books in my kindle and attempting to read the whole series in one summer I actually did it! I have read UnEnchanted at least 4 times now and Fairest and Fable at least 2, but I had never gotten round to reading Reign, let alone Forever. Yet, here I am, at the end of reading all 5 books and I am so glad I finally finished them because I would’ve missed out on so much if I hadn’t read them all. I am particularly pleased I read all 5 because if I hadn’t I wouldn’t be able to tell you that, despite all books being amazing, my favourite book in this series is the fifth and final one – Forever. There are 3 big reasons for this decision: Mina’s transformation, the romance and the ending. Since one of the first few books, I always knew that Mina had something special and that she had a strength and power unlike any other Grimm, but I never knew what it was until reading this last book. I loved this discovery and the way that Mina embraced her new identity and was willing to face the things she had been scared of before she knew her true self. She always thought her magic was a curse, but through her transformation she learnt it was a blessing and she had something special that no one could take from her and she could use to her advantage. She always thought that she wasn’t enough to stop Teague because what could a clumsy teen do to stop the most powerful Fae prince, but she realised here that she was strong and could do it, and I loved that. There was always romance in the series; however the one in this last book just felt right. Mina finally gave up on the one she always thought she wanted to be with and let him be with his true love, which hurt but she knew it was the right thing because she was actually in love with someone else. There was also another cute couple, who I had noticed was sprouting up in Reign, which finally got together. But the biggest thing was a couple that I had been rooting for from the very first book and continued to want together, despite one of them being a destructive, evil being, finally getting something close to a happily ever after. The ending is also something that made Forever stand out because, initially, I had been worried for how the book would end because I didn’t want it to ruin the whole series. This ending may not have been what I was hoping for, but it was good enough for me and it gave me the closure I needed. The An Unfortunate Fairy Tale series was amazing and I am so glad I finally got round to reading it.

Would you recommend this book?  

I 100% reading this book, but you need to read the previous 4 books in the series. This book is perfect for any reader over 1, who loves fantasy, adventure, romance and (specifically) fairy tale retellings. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

The perfect, magical conclusion to a fantasy series about a girl and a boy who were always destined to be together. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

REIGN by Chanda Hahn

“‘One day her prince will come, and it will be her worst nightmare.’ Going to the Fae plane against Jared’s orders has cost Mina dearly. Her decision haunts her as a new danger surfaces back on the human plane. The Grimms are fading from existence. To save her family’s future, Mina Grime will have to travel to the past with the help of her Fae Godmother and a pair of magic shoes. She must go to the Story’s very beginning, to the days before the dark prince’s reign. But can she finish her quest before her time runs out, or will she be trapped in the past forever?”

What is the book about?

When Mina went against Jared’s wishes and went to the Fae plane to retrieve something dear to her she hadn’t been expecting to lose something else she loved in the process. The events that transpired that day still haunt her and her decision has led to the creation of a danger far greater than anything she has ever faced. But now there is something worse happening, something that would lead to Mina and every other Grimm disappearing from the human plane as if they never existed, and this would mean that both the human and the Fae plane would be at risk from the monster that plagues Mina’s nightmares and there would be no Mina to help. So, the only way that Mina can save her family from ceasing to exist is if she goes into the past and finds the root of the problem and fixes it before she disappears. With the help of the Godmothers Guild and some magic shoes, she will be transported in  time to before the Story began, before her family was ever cursed and before Teague became the dark prince who threatens to destroy her and all her friends. But her time in the past has an expiration and she needs to finish her quest, or she will be trapped in the past forever and her entire bloodline will disappear. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After reading Fable I knew I needed to immediately start reading Reign. Fable had ended with one of the most heart-breaking plot twist and cliff-hanger I have experienced and I was left in utter shock and devastation as I struggled to understand and cope with the final events of the book. I almost instantly started to read Reign when I finished Fable, but I did stop to read the blurb, which just left me feeling even more desperate to start reading as I had even more questions and immediately wanted to know what was going to happen and how in the world Mina would travel in time. Since learning about the true identity of the Story (Teague) and his other half (Jared, who was trapped in the Grimoire), I had a ridiculous amount of questions about what happened to cause the prince to become so evil and I needed to know about the backstory. So when I learnt that Mina was going to be travelling back in time to when Teague was just a normal royal Fae I was so excited to see if I would finally get answers to my questions. My initial thoughts on the book were that I was going to really enjoy reading it, like all the others in the series, and when I started I continued with Mina’s adventure as if there had never been a break in the story and loved it from the first chapters. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

In this book there were a lot of characters who I really liked, however I would probably have to say that my favourite character is probably still Mina. I really liked Nix, who was just so entertaining and I loved seeing how he adjusted to human life, and, surprisingly, I started to like Ever as she became less of the grumpy pixie that I had grown accustomed to and she stated to become friendlier (and I learnt more about her past). However, both of these characters weren’t as present as Mina (because she is the main character and she went time-travelling so didn’t see much of them). Ever since reading Fable and seeing the change in Mina, I have really liked her because she was no longer the whiny teenager narrating the story and she had finally come to accept that this was her life and she had to do things that a normal teenager would never have to deal with. At the start of the book, when she first realised that she was going to have to go back in time, she was in danger of going back to the terrified girl who didn’t want to be cursed and just wanted to live a normal life, but, after a few words from Ever (which is one of the reasons why I started to like her more in this book), Mina realised that this was her role and she had to do this or her whole family would be gone. I did feel bad for Mina; however I admired her lot more because of how she handled her situation and was willing to keep risking everything to help the people she cared about, and this selfless personality of hers is one of the biggest things I like about her. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book would probably have to be when Mina (and I) finally understood that all these events were meant to happen and that everything had started with Mina, and she was destined to end it too. It took her a while to come to terms with what was happening and that she was the reason for everything, however when she finally did I knew this had to be my favourite part because of all the questions it answered and the amazing structure it gave the series. From the very start of the first book I had so many questions about how the curse started to begin with and why in the world the Grimm Brothers would go to the Fae plane, and since those questions first appeared in my head I have been worried that I would never find out the answer, however now I know everything and I feel like my eyes and mind have finally opened up. It made so much sense and I loved the way it made the story flow and meant that Mina was destined to break the curse since before she was even born. It was a great part of the book, and really it was a great book overall.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I absolutely loved reading Reign and there is nothing that I could possibly change about it because it was perfect. One of the things I loved about this book was how incredibly fast-paced and easy it was to read. I am not joking when I say that I started reading it one night at about 10 pm and had finished it before 10 pm the next day. I found it so hard to set it down because of how easy and enjoyable it was to read and how time literally flew by as I forgot I was reading and fully submersed myself in the experience and adventure Mina was going on. I devoured the book and as soon as I reached the end I was in absolute shock from not just the ending but also the speed I read the book at. Another thing that I loved about the book was its cyclical structure, which I realised from all the new information I gained from Mina travelling back in time. From what I learnt I now know that all of this started with Mina and she is destined to end it all – hence the cyclical (circular) structure of the whole series. I loved this because it made the whole story really flow and it also filled in all the gaps that I had and answered all of my questions. That is another huge reason for why I loved reading Reign because I love getting answers to my questions and I specifically love getting them in the form of flashbacks to the past (or in this case travelling back in time). When I first started to read I had no idea what it was that Mina had to do while she was in the past, but slowly the pieces started to fit together and I started to understand that there was so much more to the story and now Mina was not only the one destined to fix everything, but she had been the one to cause the problem to begin with (and all of this blew my mind). One last thing I really liked about the book was the ending. The shocking event that happened at the end of the book had left me and all the characters in the book feeling heart-broken, however none of the character let that make them lose the hope they had to stop Teague and end the curse once and for all. I loved how now Mina had both of the humans who meant the world to her back in her life and that they were never going to be brainwashed again. This all left me feeling beyond excited for the last book in the series as I knew that together they were unstoppable. I can’t believe that after all of this time Mina will be the Grimm to break the curse and stop it from plaguing generation after generation and I know she can do it because she has gotten further than every other Grimm to ever try (and it turns out all they needed to do was have a girl try). I can’t wait to read the last book in the series, but I will be sad to see it end. 

Which book did you like better: 1, 2, 3 or 4?

Every book in the An Unfortunate Fairy Tale series which I have read so far has been incredible and I truly liked reading every single one of them. However I would have to say out of the 4 of them (UnEnchanted, Fairest, Fable and Reign) my favourite book so far would have to be Reign. The biggest reason for this decision is because there is one huge thing that is different about Reign. Once Mina finished whatever adventure and quest she went on in the other three books, the book would end with Mina right back at the beginning with a complete reset in the minds of her closest friends. Every single time they would forget her and everything she went through and she would be back at the start going through some immense déjà vu as she had to restart her relationship with Brody and had to once again explain everything to her best friend, Nan. However, with Reign it was different and no one’s memory was wiped. This gave me such as sense of hope and also made me so grateful for the fact that I wouldn’t have to once again watch Mina and Brody, or Mina and Nan argue about how weird Mina was being. This was such a huge change and left me loving Reign more than any of the other books. One other thing I loved about Reign was the amount of new information and backstory I got on the main characters. I hate being left in the dark and the suspense of not knowing the whole truth, however Reign gave me answers to so many questions and this left me feeling overjoyed as I finally understood the truth. Reign was a great book and I know that the fifth and final book, Forever, will be just as amazing and will hopefully be a magical conclusion to this fairy tale series. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend reading Reign, but obviously after the previous three books in this series (UnEnchanted, Fairest and Fable). It is the perfect book for all readers who love fantasy, adventure, romance and fairy tale retellings, and specifically those over 13.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A crazy, time-travelling adventure that links the predicted ending to the beginning of the whole story, hundreds of years before, and will leave you in shock.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego