Friday Mini Reviews #106: Roshani Chokshi, C.L. Wilson & Julia Kent
bought on audio
Synopsis from Goodreads
Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?
Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…
But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.
Audible US/UK | Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK | Book Depository
7/10
The prose is interesting, but uneven. I listened to it on audio, and while some parts held me captivated, others I couldn't care less about. This is a classic myth where a girl is repeatedly told not to do something specific so she can continue to live her charmed life, and when her curiosity wins, she loses the person she loves, then sets off on a quest to get them back.
While I didn't care much for the wishy-washy pre-quest romance as the characters weren't doing it for me, Maya found her spine after starting her journey, and some of the secondary characters ( like Kamala) spiced things up considerably.
Verdict: not bad, but not sure if i want to continue.
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Интересная, но неровная проза. Я эту книгу слушала на аудио и где-то заслушивалась, а где-то пропускала мимо ушей. Это классическая сказка, в которой героине запрещено что-то специфически, иначе она потеряет свою заговоренную жизнь. Правило это она нарушает и теряет свою любовь. Теперь ей нужно пройти испытания и исправить совершенную ошибку, чтобы его вернуть.
До квеста Майя и Амар меня совершенно не вставляли. Какие-то они были деревянные и приторно-сладкие. А вот как Майя начала свое путешествие, она нашла в себе несгибаемую волю, да и сделать ее более интересной помогла ее помощница и шикарнейшая второстепенная героиня - Камала.
Вердикт: не все так плохо, но читать продолжение не хочу.
bought
Synopsis from Goodreads
Once he drove back the darkness.
Once he loved with such passion his name was legend.
Once, driven wild with grief over the murder of his beloved, the majestic Fey King Rain Tairen Soul had laid waste to the world before vanishing into the Fading Lands. Now, a thousand years later, a new threat draws him back into the world—and a new love reawakens the heart he thought long dead.
Ellysetta, a woodcarver’s daughter, calls to Rain in a way no other ever had. Mysterious and magical, her soul beckons him with a compelling, seductive song—and no matter the cost, the wildness in his blood will not be denied.
As an ancient, familiar evil regains its strength, causing centuries-old alliances to crumble and threatening doom for Rain and his people... he must claim his truemate to embrace the destiny woven for them both in the mists of time.
Audible US/UK | Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK | Book Depository
7.5/10
You know why this book gets a lower rating? It does one of the worst things a book can do to me: finishes mid-sentence, metaphorically speaking. Someone somewhere along the line decided it was a good idea to simply split one book in two and sell two instead of one. Yeah, it didn't cut it!
Otherwise, it's a fascinating setting and characters strongly reminiscent of the ones from Black Jewels series by Ann Bishop. I want to read more, but I am pretty miffed at the same time...
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Знаете, я занизила оценку этой книги по одной причине - она фигурально заканчивается на полуслове. Такое впечатление, что у кого-то в издательстве появилась гениальная идея из одной книги сделать две , вот ее и поделили безо всякой обработки...
А так, очень интересное построение мира и герои, сильно напоминающие персонажей из серии Черные Драгоценности от Энн Бишоп. Чертовски раздражена концовкой, поэтому не знаю когда куплю продолжение.
Random Acts of Fantasy by Julia Kent (Random #3)ecopy from the author
Synopsis from Goodreads
You ever really think that you'll win the lottery? Meet Mr. Right? How about two Mr. Rights?
Somehow the universe is handing me everything I want (except for that lottery part...), and I don't like it. Not one little bit. Because just when you get all your dreams handed to you on a silver platter, that's when an airplane dumps its sewage on your house. Or your mama's diabetes takes a bad turn. Or your mobile phone gets stuck in your hoohaw.
(What? It happens…)
Boring old average me got everything I wanted already, moving from small-town Ohio to big-city Boston to follow my heart. So when the fancy invitation offering me a pile of money to come with the band, Random Acts of Crazy, to perform on an island resort and be their manager arrived, I thought it was a cosmic joke. Enough money to help my mama get what she needed, five days in sunny paradise, and a shot at greatness for the band? Unreal. One big shoe was waiting to drop. On my head.
Just like no one really ever finds a naked man wearing only a guitar standing by the side of the road hitchhiking and ends up falling in love with him and his friend and moving halfway across the country for true love, no one gets an invitation to come to what turns out to be a resort where people make what me and Joe and Trevor do together look like a chaste peck on the cheek. But...
Well.
I guess these things do happen.
To me.
Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK | Book Depository
6/10
Well, what can I say? This is a short story from miss Kent involving her usual cringeworthy and at the same time hilarious slapstick humour. Random Acts of Crazy are invited to play on a private island which, surprise surprise!, is a kinky sex resort. Darla, Trevor and Joe finally solve some issues in their relationship and move on to the next level. It's funny, chaotic and very, very silly. Recommended for a light read.
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Ну, что я могу сказать? Это короткая повесть от мисс Кент, полная характерной для нее смеси пошлого, туалетного юмора, от которого временами перекашивает. Случайные Акты Сумасшествия приглашены играть, сюрприз сюрприз! на элитный секс курорт. Дарла, Тревор и Джо наконец решают проблемы в их отношениях и выходят на новый уровень. Смешно, хаотично и дурачливо. Рекомендую если хочется чего-то очень легкого и с каким-то подростковым юмором.
