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The Cartographer’s War #1
The Spring Maiden
A nominee for the 17th Annual Whitney Awards in the YA Fantasy category.
Powerful plant mage and heir-apparent to the Duchy of Eleusion, Penny Barclay lives each day under two strict rules: Don’t shame the family’s magical heritage and don’t allow any man to turn her head.
While she knows her mother’s restrictive rules come from a place of love, Penny doesn’t always agree on how they should be followed—particularly with a rebellion threatening their way of life.
The rebels’ goal? For all magic wielders to be enslaved under those who have not received such a gift from the Goddess.
When whispers of a rebellion reach Penny’s ear, she knows she must do whatever it takes to uproot the rebels from her lands. And this is her chance to prove to her mother she can take on more than her mother believes she can. But Penny can’t possibly uncover the sinister plot on her own—not without her mother finding out and locking her away for the rest of her life.
When Lou, a handsome spy sent by the Crown to investigate the rebellion, arrives with the expertise she needs to accomplish her goals, Penny demands she be included in his mission to help Lou uncover the leader of the rebellion... even if it costs her everything, including the freedom she’s longed for.
A bewitching debut from a strong new voice in fantasy. The Spring Maiden is everything. Book one in The Cartographer’s War gives us a fierce, relatable heroine, forbidden love and a noble quest to root for.
Powerful plant mage and heir-apparent to the Duchy of Eleusion, Penny Barclay lives each day under two strict rules: Don’t shame the family’s magical heritage and don’t allow any man to turn her head.
While she knows her mother’s restrictive rules come from a place of love, Penny doesn’t always agree on how they should be followed—particularly with a rebellion threatening their way of life.
The rebels’ goal? For all magic wielders to be enslaved under those who have not received such a gift from the Goddess.
When whispers of a rebellion reach Penny’s ear, she knows she must do whatever it takes to uproot the rebels from her lands. And this is her chance to prove to her mother she can take on more than her mother believes she can. But Penny can’t possibly uncover the sinister plot on her own—not without her mother finding out and locking her away for the rest of her life.
When Lou, a handsome spy sent by the Crown to investigate the rebellion, arrives with the expertise she needs to accomplish her goals, Penny demands she be included in his mission to help Lou uncover the leader of the rebellion... even if it costs her everything, including the freedom she’s longed for.
A bewitching debut from a strong new voice in fantasy. The Spring Maiden is everything. Book one in The Cartographer’s War gives us a fierce, relatable heroine, forbidden love and a noble quest to root for.
350 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2023
226 people are currently reading
2267 people want to read
About the author
Allison Anderson
8 books97 followersAllison Anderson lives her best life as a wife, a mom, a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and a fantasy writer. As a life long fantasy nerd, she finds it natural to create stories of her own and you can often find her jotting down new story ideas or talking about dragons. She’s spent most of her life across the southwestern United States.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 4, 2023
I had the privilege of reading Allison Anderson’s The Cartographer’s War series before it came out. The Spring Maiden is a great mix of epic fantasy, YA romance, and intrigue. I love a good re-imagining of ancient myths and this debut author packs a punch! It has everything I look for in a story, strong and fascinating characters to root for, creative world building, suspense, a mysterious villain, and just enough romance to keep me wanting more. If you haven’t figured out the ancient myth it’s based on, I won’t spoil it for you. Watch the symbolism and you may figure it out too.
October 3, 2023
This book puts a vivacious twist on what is usually the overused mythology trope of Persephone and Hades. Setting the plot on that foundation Ms. Anderson develops a uniquely interesting story, complete with magic, intrigue and a dash of romance!
Penny (Penelope) Barclay is a 17-year-old heir-apparent to the prosperous Duchy of Eleusion. Her mother, the duchess, is determined to raise her as a strong, magical woman who has no need for men, but Penny is frustrated at her mother’s lack of confidence and her strong-arm tactics. This sets the stage, as an underground rebel organization comes to light and determines to destroy all magic users - and that includes Penny and everything within their estate.
The story is engaging but there are some noticeable discrepancies that prevent it from achieving 5 star status. First and foremost is the lack of real depth within the characters. Each one stays decidedly on the surface, never allowing readers to really mine the emotions and motives of the players. Penny’s character is also frustratingly inconsistent. She is said to be a strong, capable young woman and shows it in the way she rises to her tasks. Yet at the same time, she freezes in terror and cries whenever danger hits, ultimately and repeatedly requiring rescue. And, even though she has absolutely no training or world experience, she demands, and is given, placement in the royal spy ring? In this capacity, she is consistently placed in the very situations she cannot handle and falls apart in! While furthering the story, it falls frustratingly short of the common sense mark.
The romantic relationship, however, is a lovely one! Although the “secret” concerning Lou is apparent very quickly, it is still a fun and lovely ride. Penny’s relationship with her mother is assuredly the best written in the book, however. In this, the author does a masterful job of creating the tensions, as well as the concerns and love, between the two. The question of the mother’s loyalties never quite made sense, however. There just isn’t enough reasons given to jump the chasm of guilt, and Penny doing so doesn’t seem authentic.
So, the story overall is absorbing and pleasurable to read, there are just a few growing pains that will hopefully be smoothed out as the series continues and the author develops.
Penny (Penelope) Barclay is a 17-year-old heir-apparent to the prosperous Duchy of Eleusion. Her mother, the duchess, is determined to raise her as a strong, magical woman who has no need for men, but Penny is frustrated at her mother’s lack of confidence and her strong-arm tactics. This sets the stage, as an underground rebel organization comes to light and determines to destroy all magic users - and that includes Penny and everything within their estate.
The story is engaging but there are some noticeable discrepancies that prevent it from achieving 5 star status. First and foremost is the lack of real depth within the characters. Each one stays decidedly on the surface, never allowing readers to really mine the emotions and motives of the players. Penny’s character is also frustratingly inconsistent. She is said to be a strong, capable young woman and shows it in the way she rises to her tasks. Yet at the same time, she freezes in terror and cries whenever danger hits, ultimately and repeatedly requiring rescue. And, even though she has absolutely no training or world experience, she demands, and is given, placement in the royal spy ring? In this capacity, she is consistently placed in the very situations she cannot handle and falls apart in! While furthering the story, it falls frustratingly short of the common sense mark.
The romantic relationship, however, is a lovely one! Although the “secret” concerning Lou is apparent very quickly, it is still a fun and lovely ride. Penny’s relationship with her mother is assuredly the best written in the book, however. In this, the author does a masterful job of creating the tensions, as well as the concerns and love, between the two. The question of the mother’s loyalties never quite made sense, however. There just isn’t enough reasons given to jump the chasm of guilt, and Penny doing so doesn’t seem authentic.
So, the story overall is absorbing and pleasurable to read, there are just a few growing pains that will hopefully be smoothed out as the series continues and the author develops.
June 21, 2024
Clean Fantasy
3 Stars ✨
“You’re a light in the dark, Penelope. I’ll always see you through the shadows.”
The Spring Maiden was infused with Greek mythology, magic, life lessons and Faeries. It was a clean spin/retelling of Hades and Persephone. The writing was great, and I liked most of the characters. I didn’t realize this was a retelling until I was done reading it 🤭. So, in some ways, that was a good thing. Had I known- some things that confused me while reading, may have made a little more sense. The main characters mom was a bit controlling and some of the plot elements weren’t explained enough for me personally. It didn’t take away from the story too much though. It looks like it is going to be a 4 book series, so I may give the second one a go and that will decide if I continue with the series. If you like Greek mythology, clean romance, and the fae- I think you would enjoy this one.
3 Stars ✨
“You’re a light in the dark, Penelope. I’ll always see you through the shadows.”
The Spring Maiden was infused with Greek mythology, magic, life lessons and Faeries. It was a clean spin/retelling of Hades and Persephone. The writing was great, and I liked most of the characters. I didn’t realize this was a retelling until I was done reading it 🤭. So, in some ways, that was a good thing. Had I known- some things that confused me while reading, may have made a little more sense. The main characters mom was a bit controlling and some of the plot elements weren’t explained enough for me personally. It didn’t take away from the story too much though. It looks like it is going to be a 4 book series, so I may give the second one a go and that will decide if I continue with the series. If you like Greek mythology, clean romance, and the fae- I think you would enjoy this one.
October 4, 2023
“You’re a light in the dark, Penelope. I’ll always see you through the shadows.”
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC of The Spring Maiden in exchange for an honest review.
A perfect read if you enjoyed reading:
- Enchantment of Ravens
- These hollow vows
- The Cruel Prince
Tropes:
- Greek Mythology inspired - Hades and Persephone
- Faerie Court
- Magic and Mages of all sorts
- Flirtatious Banter
- Partners in crime
- Light x Dark
- 19th-century fantasy setting
I will start by saying there may be some triggering content throughout this book regarding death, controlling behaviours and domestic abuse. So be wary if these may be triggering topics for you.
I must say that I didn’t have many expectations for this book when I first picked it. As a mythology lover (especially Greek Mythology), the synopsis was intriguing, and the cover was pretty, but I didn’t see much more. But let me just say this was a soul-wrenching read.
The Spring Maiden is set in 19th-century Olympia; throughout the novel, we follow the main female lead, Lady Penelope (Penny) Barclay, who is the daughter of the overprotective Duchess of Eleusion. Penny comes from a long line of mages (with her mother being a mage herself), those gifted magical powers by the Goddess/Gaia. Penny and her mother are full-time residents at their Barclay Manor in the country, where they use their mage gifts of instilling life to help grow crops on their farm, bringing in work, wealth and security for all of their Duchy. And since the King of Olympia died, replaced by the Crown Princes, their land has been ever prosperous and in peace. But when a new group of rebels form right under their noses and start to threaten all that Penny and her mother have built and cherish, will Penny find her voice to stand up and fight against them, or will they take the rule of her and her Duchy?
Throughout my time reading The Spring Maiden, I was constantly in awe, always wanting to read one more chapter to discover what had happened next in Penny’s adventures! Anderson’s writing style was engrossing. I enjoyed the formality of it. It flowed well and created a cozy, homely feeling, keeping me engaged. I also loved the Hades and Persephone Greek mythology twist previewed throughout this book. It was a perfect read for October.
The characters were beautiful. Penny was a solid female lead written with passion and good morals. She reminded me a little of Jude Duarte in her determination and sharp mind. Like in the tales of Hades and Perephones, her mother had a character arc similar to Dementer, always controlling. Her friends, especially her best friend Angelica and handmaiden Sissy, subtly tested Penny, helping her to grow and develop nicely. The male lead assisted Penny in discovering herself, providing her with the freedom she sought and giving her a safe space to confide in. He is truly a work of art; he stole my soul! I grew very fond of these characters. They were very comforting and left me craving for more. It was like drinking a warm hot chocolate with a giant, fluffy toasted marshmallow.
The plot twists throughout The Spring Maiden shocked me, with many twists catching me off guard. The story ended on a cliffhanger, making my theories list ever-growing. When I read the last line of the epilogue, I was begging for the second novel to be released! I even enjoyed the addition of the letters written between Penny and Angelica, which were previewed at the start of most of the chapters, setting them up well and creating some interest!
The Spring Maiden was a beautifully written coming-of-age novel that twisted in the tale of Hades and Persephone. The world-building wasn’t overwhelming, and the two leads’ romantic friendship didn’t feel forced. Every chapter fit perfectly into the plot and left no stone untouched.
I encourage anyone interested in reading this novel to give it a go! It has been a beautiful addition to my mythology-inspired bookish recommendations! (Even if you’re not fond of mythology, I highly recommend this one!)
“No words could break through the crash of pleasure his words gave her.”
DO NOT copyright any part of this review, or quote, paraphrase it in anyway unless the author of this review has approved otherwise. Thank you.
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC of The Spring Maiden in exchange for an honest review.
A perfect read if you enjoyed reading:
- Enchantment of Ravens
- These hollow vows
- The Cruel Prince
Tropes:
- Greek Mythology inspired - Hades and Persephone
- Faerie Court
- Magic and Mages of all sorts
- Flirtatious Banter
- Partners in crime
- Light x Dark
- 19th-century fantasy setting
I will start by saying there may be some triggering content throughout this book regarding death, controlling behaviours and domestic abuse. So be wary if these may be triggering topics for you.
I must say that I didn’t have many expectations for this book when I first picked it. As a mythology lover (especially Greek Mythology), the synopsis was intriguing, and the cover was pretty, but I didn’t see much more. But let me just say this was a soul-wrenching read.
The Spring Maiden is set in 19th-century Olympia; throughout the novel, we follow the main female lead, Lady Penelope (Penny) Barclay, who is the daughter of the overprotective Duchess of Eleusion. Penny comes from a long line of mages (with her mother being a mage herself), those gifted magical powers by the Goddess/Gaia. Penny and her mother are full-time residents at their Barclay Manor in the country, where they use their mage gifts of instilling life to help grow crops on their farm, bringing in work, wealth and security for all of their Duchy. And since the King of Olympia died, replaced by the Crown Princes, their land has been ever prosperous and in peace. But when a new group of rebels form right under their noses and start to threaten all that Penny and her mother have built and cherish, will Penny find her voice to stand up and fight against them, or will they take the rule of her and her Duchy?
Throughout my time reading The Spring Maiden, I was constantly in awe, always wanting to read one more chapter to discover what had happened next in Penny’s adventures! Anderson’s writing style was engrossing. I enjoyed the formality of it. It flowed well and created a cozy, homely feeling, keeping me engaged. I also loved the Hades and Persephone Greek mythology twist previewed throughout this book. It was a perfect read for October.
The characters were beautiful. Penny was a solid female lead written with passion and good morals. She reminded me a little of Jude Duarte in her determination and sharp mind. Like in the tales of Hades and Perephones, her mother had a character arc similar to Dementer, always controlling. Her friends, especially her best friend Angelica and handmaiden Sissy, subtly tested Penny, helping her to grow and develop nicely. The male lead assisted Penny in discovering herself, providing her with the freedom she sought and giving her a safe space to confide in. He is truly a work of art; he stole my soul! I grew very fond of these characters. They were very comforting and left me craving for more. It was like drinking a warm hot chocolate with a giant, fluffy toasted marshmallow.
The plot twists throughout The Spring Maiden shocked me, with many twists catching me off guard. The story ended on a cliffhanger, making my theories list ever-growing. When I read the last line of the epilogue, I was begging for the second novel to be released! I even enjoyed the addition of the letters written between Penny and Angelica, which were previewed at the start of most of the chapters, setting them up well and creating some interest!
The Spring Maiden was a beautifully written coming-of-age novel that twisted in the tale of Hades and Persephone. The world-building wasn’t overwhelming, and the two leads’ romantic friendship didn’t feel forced. Every chapter fit perfectly into the plot and left no stone untouched.
I encourage anyone interested in reading this novel to give it a go! It has been a beautiful addition to my mythology-inspired bookish recommendations! (Even if you’re not fond of mythology, I highly recommend this one!)
“No words could break through the crash of pleasure his words gave her.”
DO NOT copyright any part of this review, or quote, paraphrase it in anyway unless the author of this review has approved otherwise. Thank you.
October 6, 2023
Mind Blown in the best magical way
The Spring Maiden by was AMAZING. For a debut novel the author knocked it out of the park. I was hooked before chapter 5 and I FINALLY was able to have some good reading time today and binged it because once I hit the 50% mark I knew I couldn't put it down. It was just ✨🤯😍🥰🤯🤯🤯🤯
📖Penny Barclay has magic that lets her work with plants and growing things. When she discovered rumors of a rebellion among her people she's determined to prove her worth to her mother, and save her people. When she discovers Lou, a spy working for the prince disguised as a farm hand, she is determined that he will train her and let her help with the cause. As Penny goes throughout her adventure she gets letters from her best friend Angelica encouraging her along the way and giving insight into the world around her. Suddenly, she realizes she doesn't know much about the world and not everything is as it seems. Can she rise to the occasion and save her people?
✍️I was hooked very early on. The magic system is AWESOME, world building was perfectly paced, and I loved the variety of how the world was built. The romance *SWOON* y'all there's a HAND FLEX MOMENT and the author's ability to write swoony one liners was just 👌*chef's kiss*. Not to mention the intrigue, the rebellion, how I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out everything and wondering what was going to happen next. It was 👌. I loved the development of Penny and how she became an awesome character who I was cheering and crying with. Ugh the feels too y'all were REAL. Like ooofff but in the best way.
💋Flirting only
⚠️ kidnapping & PTSD for victim, fantasy violence (limited descriptions), probs with parents, and rebellion
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy which I was absolutely dying for and so happy to read!
The Spring Maiden by was AMAZING. For a debut novel the author knocked it out of the park. I was hooked before chapter 5 and I FINALLY was able to have some good reading time today and binged it because once I hit the 50% mark I knew I couldn't put it down. It was just ✨🤯😍🥰🤯🤯🤯🤯
📖Penny Barclay has magic that lets her work with plants and growing things. When she discovered rumors of a rebellion among her people she's determined to prove her worth to her mother, and save her people. When she discovers Lou, a spy working for the prince disguised as a farm hand, she is determined that he will train her and let her help with the cause. As Penny goes throughout her adventure she gets letters from her best friend Angelica encouraging her along the way and giving insight into the world around her. Suddenly, she realizes she doesn't know much about the world and not everything is as it seems. Can she rise to the occasion and save her people?
✍️I was hooked very early on. The magic system is AWESOME, world building was perfectly paced, and I loved the variety of how the world was built. The romance *SWOON* y'all there's a HAND FLEX MOMENT and the author's ability to write swoony one liners was just 👌*chef's kiss*. Not to mention the intrigue, the rebellion, how I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out everything and wondering what was going to happen next. It was 👌. I loved the development of Penny and how she became an awesome character who I was cheering and crying with. Ugh the feels too y'all were REAL. Like ooofff but in the best way.
💋Flirting only
⚠️ kidnapping & PTSD for victim, fantasy violence (limited descriptions), probs with parents, and rebellion
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy which I was absolutely dying for and so happy to read!
October 2, 2023
I’ve mixed feelings on this one. I do enjoy a good revamp of mythology but I’m not sure I liked this one. The premise is kinda cool Regency era mixed with supernatural ie fae and magical abilities. I didn’t quite connect with the characters the way I’d like. Domineering mother, somewhat ditzy daughter and the battles between them. So it’s a good not great read for me. 3.5/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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November 7, 2025as of 11.07.25, this book is free on bookbub!
December 29, 2023
This has a well-developed magic system and great worldbuilding. The societies are a curious mix of agrarian, Victorian and fae, interestingly enough. There’s some insta-love, which I personally roll my eyes at, but overall, the story is engaging and quite the unique fantasy. And I do enjoy a good, clean romance, so I always appreciate authors who don’t elaborate on what happens behind closed doors.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books!
Thank you to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books!
February 9, 2024
This was one of those books that took me by surprise, in the most positive way! I enjoyed it so much and was captivated by the story. I loved the growth and development of FMC, Penny, who I found really interesting, bold, and strong, despite her sheltered upbringing. And Lou, MMC, he was great, secretive yet helpful, and always there. The romance isn't quite there, it's in the making and I think book 2 will be full of it. Still, I loved how their
the relationship progressed and I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds further on.
The twists were predictable and you could've guessed most of them, but still, that didn't take away anything from the story.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, so beware of that.
I was gifted the ARC by NetGalley and this is my honest review.
the relationship progressed and I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds further on.
The twists were predictable and you could've guessed most of them, but still, that didn't take away anything from the story.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, so beware of that.
I was gifted the ARC by NetGalley and this is my honest review.
September 20, 2023
GUYS.
I'm so psyched rn because I just found my new favorite obsession. This book was such a surprise and I am so happy I read it. There was so much that I loved about this story, let's dive in shall we?
The Good:
- Penny or Lady Penelope as some call her;
LOVED HER. She was smart, actually made a lot of smart decisions and while her fears and feelings were shown, she didn't let those cloud her judgement. She struggled, she triumphed, she struggled some more but still she kept on. I loved how we got to see her figuring out who she is and what she wants all while struggling with pleasing her mom vs breaking away from her mom.
- showing realistic struggles with PTSD; I'm gonna try to be vague here but beware of some slight spoilers (the event I'm referring to does take place pretty early on in the book tho). After escaping a potentially horrific incident, Penny struggles to be comfortable around men. This was shown not just once or twice in the book but multiple times, so THANK YOU AUTHOR because I feel like in many other books I've read events like this are glossed over or just mentioned once in terms of the aftermath but not this one.
- the magic and world building; I feel like we got a good taste of the world and magic through Penny and also Angelica's letters and I'm so looking forward to seeing more of it in the coming book(s?)
- Lou;
he was a sweety. Heart eyes all around. I know there's so much more to his character coming and I'm so hyped
- the romance;
Guys, seriously. The first chapter had me thinking this was gonna be some super cheesy love-at-first-sight deal where I was gonna be eye rolling my way through the end (I could kill whoever started that weird bolt of lighting thing when the two characters touch hands -_-) but BOY was I wrong. So if you read that first bit and are like no way, trust me, just keep on, it gets so much better. It's not insta love at all (insta attraction maybe? which yeah is a lot more realistic) more slow-burn actually and I am here for it. They support each other, don't drag each other down, TALK to each other, ahdvdhendn. This is gonna be a good non-toxic CUTE relationship I can root for, worth the wait
- the dedication; LOL. it's the little things ya know?
- the characters; I mentioned Penny and Lou already but honestly all the characters in here were so great. Penny's friends, Diana, Paulo, and Angelica were all so individual with their own things going for them. Even the little bit of Rissa we got gave a good view of her character.
The Eh:
- the plot twists;
I saw them all coming. Still good stuff, just a bit predictable (tho I'm thinking one thing may not be as it seems....)
The Ugly:
- I have to wait for the sequel. I haven't seen a date or a title or anything. RIP me.
Last minute warnings:
- violence;
a couple deaths (including murders), sword fights, bleeding wounds, riots
I don't feel like anything is described ~too~ graphically
- men being pigs
- attempted abduction
- depictions of PTSD symptoms
Overall:
I loved it and am very distressed that I have to wait for an unforeseeable amount time for the sequel. Do I have any regrets? No, I would gladly wreck myself all over again for this book. 4.5 ★
Thank you Netgalley for providing an early digital copy of this book :)
I'm so psyched rn because I just found my new favorite obsession. This book was such a surprise and I am so happy I read it. There was so much that I loved about this story, let's dive in shall we?
The Good:
- Penny or Lady Penelope as some call her;
LOVED HER. She was smart, actually made a lot of smart decisions and while her fears and feelings were shown, she didn't let those cloud her judgement. She struggled, she triumphed, she struggled some more but still she kept on. I loved how we got to see her figuring out who she is and what she wants all while struggling with pleasing her mom vs breaking away from her mom.
- showing realistic struggles with PTSD; I'm gonna try to be vague here but beware of some slight spoilers (the event I'm referring to does take place pretty early on in the book tho). After escaping a potentially horrific incident, Penny struggles to be comfortable around men. This was shown not just once or twice in the book but multiple times, so THANK YOU AUTHOR because I feel like in many other books I've read events like this are glossed over or just mentioned once in terms of the aftermath but not this one.
- the magic and world building; I feel like we got a good taste of the world and magic through Penny and also Angelica's letters and I'm so looking forward to seeing more of it in the coming book(s?)
- Lou;
he was a sweety. Heart eyes all around. I know there's so much more to his character coming and I'm so hyped
- the romance;
Guys, seriously. The first chapter had me thinking this was gonna be some super cheesy love-at-first-sight deal where I was gonna be eye rolling my way through the end (I could kill whoever started that weird bolt of lighting thing when the two characters touch hands -_-) but BOY was I wrong. So if you read that first bit and are like no way, trust me, just keep on, it gets so much better. It's not insta love at all (insta attraction maybe? which yeah is a lot more realistic) more slow-burn actually and I am here for it. They support each other, don't drag each other down, TALK to each other, ahdvdhendn. This is gonna be a good non-toxic CUTE relationship I can root for, worth the wait
- the dedication; LOL. it's the little things ya know?
- the characters; I mentioned Penny and Lou already but honestly all the characters in here were so great. Penny's friends, Diana, Paulo, and Angelica were all so individual with their own things going for them. Even the little bit of Rissa we got gave a good view of her character.
The Eh:
- the plot twists;
I saw them all coming. Still good stuff, just a bit predictable (tho I'm thinking one thing may not be as it seems....)
The Ugly:
- I have to wait for the sequel. I haven't seen a date or a title or anything. RIP me.
Last minute warnings:
- violence;
a couple deaths (including murders), sword fights, bleeding wounds, riots
I don't feel like anything is described ~too~ graphically
- men being pigs
- attempted abduction
- depictions of PTSD symptoms
Overall:
I loved it and am very distressed that I have to wait for an unforeseeable amount time for the sequel. Do I have any regrets? No, I would gladly wreck myself all over again for this book. 4.5 ★
Thank you Netgalley for providing an early digital copy of this book :)
October 8, 2023
A sigh enduring retelling of one of my favorite myths.
“The Spring Maiden” has protagonist Penny working her hardest to maneuver her overbearing mother and the rebels closing in at the gates of her home where she uses her magic to keep the fields over flowing and upon meeting a new worker she gets entangled in a world of the Fae and the fight to rule all.
I fully understand this is YA however it seemed to lean a bit too much into the younger side of that audience impacting my enthusiasm or even willingness to power through and finish.
Our main character is very naive and while I could get behind that if we were building her up and out of that as she spent more time away from her mothers will I might have felt differently about things but unfortunately she starts and ends the story pretty much the same person. Her relationships leave much to be desired and while I waited for any of the, for lack of a better word, magic to spark between anyone I found myself wondering if the Hades to her Persephone was even a character in this book or if he was coming later.
The plot itself moves rather slowly as we unravel the political unrest and as fun as it was to try and see which myths and Gods were playing a part here I couldn’t tell you really what the conflict was about and who is on which side for it. This may be ironed out in sequels but for now it’s just a question mark I’m not really interested in learning the answer to.
I think if you were just dipping your feet into mythology retelling this isn’t a bad start but there are better versions of this pairing across the age group spectrum that I can see this being lost along the way.
*special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“The Spring Maiden” has protagonist Penny working her hardest to maneuver her overbearing mother and the rebels closing in at the gates of her home where she uses her magic to keep the fields over flowing and upon meeting a new worker she gets entangled in a world of the Fae and the fight to rule all.
I fully understand this is YA however it seemed to lean a bit too much into the younger side of that audience impacting my enthusiasm or even willingness to power through and finish.
Our main character is very naive and while I could get behind that if we were building her up and out of that as she spent more time away from her mothers will I might have felt differently about things but unfortunately she starts and ends the story pretty much the same person. Her relationships leave much to be desired and while I waited for any of the, for lack of a better word, magic to spark between anyone I found myself wondering if the Hades to her Persephone was even a character in this book or if he was coming later.
The plot itself moves rather slowly as we unravel the political unrest and as fun as it was to try and see which myths and Gods were playing a part here I couldn’t tell you really what the conflict was about and who is on which side for it. This may be ironed out in sequels but for now it’s just a question mark I’m not really interested in learning the answer to.
I think if you were just dipping your feet into mythology retelling this isn’t a bad start but there are better versions of this pairing across the age group spectrum that I can see this being lost along the way.
*special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
November 10, 2023
I kept on finding myself going between a 2 and 3. The fact that i would read the sequel pushed me to a 3.
Disclaimer I know the author from church and that is mainly why I read this book.
I loved the Greek influence and the clever way many Greek stories are woven into the novel. The Greek aspect did make some parts predictable.
I found myself annoyed with various aspects of the book though, it felt slow to action, the main character feels very naive. I don’t like the title of the bad guy being “the cartographer” as there is a loose if any connection made between cartography and the villain.
I’d like to see more of the villain in future books.
The magic aspect of the world intrigued me and o enjoyed that part.
Disclaimer I know the author from church and that is mainly why I read this book.
I loved the Greek influence and the clever way many Greek stories are woven into the novel. The Greek aspect did make some parts predictable.
I found myself annoyed with various aspects of the book though, it felt slow to action, the main character feels very naive. I don’t like the title of the bad guy being “the cartographer” as there is a loose if any connection made between cartography and the villain.
I’d like to see more of the villain in future books.
The magic aspect of the world intrigued me and o enjoyed that part.
September 27, 2023
I was blessed to read an advanced copy of this book, courtesy of NetGalley & Jeff Wheeler.
This debut novel by Allison Anderson was quite interesting. I quite appreciate the new approach to old mythical tropes & I really like the direction the story is moving. I look forward to the next installment with great anticipation.
That being said, however, it took a long time to get moving, and I'm talking about many chapters of what seemed to be teen melodrama before getting to the meat of the story. I read the book twice to try to make sure that I was being fair if my assessment & I believe that I'm correct. Slow & slightly tedious to begin but enjoyable once the story getting going.
After 2 readings, I am still curious about the political structure & tensions. Yes, there was a war & there's political tension between magical people & non-magical people, but why is there space for the Cartographer? Who are these mysterious princes & why are they important? How does their magic work? What's the deal with the fae? I feel like it lacks sufficient context for a story that took so long to gain steam.
As this is a brand new series from a brand new author, I'm willing to give it a pass & say, "Bravo, I'll read the next one." Hence the 4 stars instead of my initial 3 star thoughts. There's some spelling & grammatical errors still (specifically chapter 13, location 1654, should be 'reins' instead of 'reigns'). I will be passing it to my teenagers to read, which I do on a rare occasion. This is a clean novel & I pray that it stays that way. If my teenagers share any different insights, I'll update my review.
This debut novel by Allison Anderson was quite interesting. I quite appreciate the new approach to old mythical tropes & I really like the direction the story is moving. I look forward to the next installment with great anticipation.
That being said, however, it took a long time to get moving, and I'm talking about many chapters of what seemed to be teen melodrama before getting to the meat of the story. I read the book twice to try to make sure that I was being fair if my assessment & I believe that I'm correct. Slow & slightly tedious to begin but enjoyable once the story getting going.
After 2 readings, I am still curious about the political structure & tensions. Yes, there was a war & there's political tension between magical people & non-magical people, but why is there space for the Cartographer? Who are these mysterious princes & why are they important? How does their magic work? What's the deal with the fae? I feel like it lacks sufficient context for a story that took so long to gain steam.
As this is a brand new series from a brand new author, I'm willing to give it a pass & say, "Bravo, I'll read the next one." Hence the 4 stars instead of my initial 3 star thoughts. There's some spelling & grammatical errors still (specifically chapter 13, location 1654, should be 'reins' instead of 'reigns'). I will be passing it to my teenagers to read, which I do on a rare occasion. This is a clean novel & I pray that it stays that way. If my teenagers share any different insights, I'll update my review.
January 9, 2026
I love this story! I loved the elements of Greek mythology threaded through out the story. It was pure genius! I loved all the characters and the story was so intriguing. I did guess some of the ending, but most of it took me by complete surprise. The ending was a cliff hanger so I have already started the next one. I loved this and will definitely be reading it again!
Content: non graphic violence, mentions of abuse
Content: non graphic violence, mentions of abuse
October 8, 2023
Three words: I WANT MORE!
This book took me on an incredible adventure following Penny Barclay, a plant mage who lives under her mother’s control on their family farm. With the threat of rebels that want to turn her world upside down and hurt those she loves, Penny learns to take control of her life and will do anything to protect those she cares about.
Penny is an amazing character who I became very fond of! I liked getting to see her develop from this innocent and seemly dismissive young girl into a complete badass by facing her fears and conquering so many adversities!
There were many references to this greater world of fae which I am desperate to hear more of! As a devoted ACOTAR enthusiast, the mere mention of different courts (Winter, Spring, Summer, etc.) and magical abilities had me eager to devour the rest of the book and discover more.
I feel like I just scratched the surface on this story and will definitely be reading the next instalment!
This book took me on an incredible adventure following Penny Barclay, a plant mage who lives under her mother’s control on their family farm. With the threat of rebels that want to turn her world upside down and hurt those she loves, Penny learns to take control of her life and will do anything to protect those she cares about.
Penny is an amazing character who I became very fond of! I liked getting to see her develop from this innocent and seemly dismissive young girl into a complete badass by facing her fears and conquering so many adversities!
There were many references to this greater world of fae which I am desperate to hear more of! As a devoted ACOTAR enthusiast, the mere mention of different courts (Winter, Spring, Summer, etc.) and magical abilities had me eager to devour the rest of the book and discover more.
I feel like I just scratched the surface on this story and will definitely be reading the next instalment!
February 26, 2025
This was a fun, clean fantasy with magic and fae. I enjoyed it and am going to read the second one. The main reason I didn’t give it five stars was because there were multiple times where I got confused wondering if I skipped a chapter because it seemed like things jumped so quickly but I hadn’t.
October 2, 2023
As always, thanks to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for providing an eARC of The Spring Maiden in exchange for this honest review.
❤Overview
Penny is the daughter of an overbearing mother, the Duchess of Eleusion. As the heir-apparent, one might expect Penny to be hands on with the workings of the Duchy, with her mother teaching her everything there is to know about their people and taking care of the land. Instead, Penny is treating closer to a pet than a person, with limited freedoms and little responsibility.
When Penny is abducted on a trip into town with Mother, she meets a fae man who rescues her from an abduction. He is, of course, the same man she ran into at a party the previous year. After the abduction attempt, a new farmhand begins at the Barclay estate with the same amber eyes as the mysterious fae.
Penny and Lou, the new farmhand, begin to unravel the rebellion taking root in Eleusion, and Penny fears it may be closer to home than meets the eye.
❤My Thoughts
Throughout the story, it is very clear that Penny is trying to grow and develop as her own person, but is smothered and shut down by her mother. Hence the Persephone/Demeter relationship.
Lou is, obviously, Hades. He literally goes by Pluto (Roman name for Hades) at certain points in the story. If you were hoping for a Hades/Persephone dynamic, then be prepared to be disappointed; this book is 100% more the story of Persephone & Demeter.
I do love a good Greek Mythology inspired story, but The Spring Maiden just didn't do it for me. I am generally opposed to stories that paint the "Persephone" character to be both ditsy and know-it-alls at the same time.
Personally, I think the reveal of who the Cartographer is happened too early for this to be a multi-book series. The epilogue also just gives the Cartographer really childlish vibes when they are supposed to be the mastermind behind a huge rebellion.
The Spring Maiden does, however, do a great job of capturing the toxicity of manipulative and controlling relationships. With this, there are also good depictions of healthy relationships and strong support systems.
At first I was annoyed by each chapter beginning with a letter from a character we do not see after the prologue, but they are by far the best part of this book.
💔My Issues
Penny is an example of my least favorite type of main character: clueless but thinks she is so smart.
-She is completely oblivious to the very obvious fact that Lou is not a human or a magic user; he is the half-fae prince that hunts rebels. "I have only ever seen one person with that color of eyes" and the fact that (LITERALLY ONLY) he calls her Lady Penelope instead of Penny wasn't enough to question his identity??
-Penny gets upset when Lou gives a recommendation for improving farming techniques, even though his points were extremely valid, but she must know everything so how DARE he try to tell her how to do her job!
-She literally laughs at a waitress who flirts with customers. She could not have been more "I'm not like other girls" if she tried in that moment.
It's pretty dang obvious that something terrible is about to happen to a sweet side character when they, for no reason, give their favorite item to the main character. Way to announce a death sentence for that side character!
Overall, this was not the worst read ever, but I will not be planning to read the sequel.
❤Overview
Penny is the daughter of an overbearing mother, the Duchess of Eleusion. As the heir-apparent, one might expect Penny to be hands on with the workings of the Duchy, with her mother teaching her everything there is to know about their people and taking care of the land. Instead, Penny is treating closer to a pet than a person, with limited freedoms and little responsibility.
When Penny is abducted on a trip into town with Mother, she meets a fae man who rescues her from an abduction. He is, of course, the same man she ran into at a party the previous year. After the abduction attempt, a new farmhand begins at the Barclay estate with the same amber eyes as the mysterious fae.
Penny and Lou, the new farmhand, begin to unravel the rebellion taking root in Eleusion, and Penny fears it may be closer to home than meets the eye.
❤My Thoughts
Throughout the story, it is very clear that Penny is trying to grow and develop as her own person, but is smothered and shut down by her mother. Hence the Persephone/Demeter relationship.
Lou is, obviously, Hades. He literally goes by Pluto (Roman name for Hades) at certain points in the story. If you were hoping for a Hades/Persephone dynamic, then be prepared to be disappointed; this book is 100% more the story of Persephone & Demeter.
I do love a good Greek Mythology inspired story, but The Spring Maiden just didn't do it for me. I am generally opposed to stories that paint the "Persephone" character to be both ditsy and know-it-alls at the same time.
Personally, I think the reveal of who the Cartographer is happened too early for this to be a multi-book series. The epilogue also just gives the Cartographer really childlish vibes when they are supposed to be the mastermind behind a huge rebellion.
The Spring Maiden does, however, do a great job of capturing the toxicity of manipulative and controlling relationships. With this, there are also good depictions of healthy relationships and strong support systems.
At first I was annoyed by each chapter beginning with a letter from a character we do not see after the prologue, but they are by far the best part of this book.
💔My Issues
Penny is an example of my least favorite type of main character: clueless but thinks she is so smart.
-She is completely oblivious to the very obvious fact that Lou is not a human or a magic user; he is the half-fae prince that hunts rebels. "I have only ever seen one person with that color of eyes" and the fact that (LITERALLY ONLY) he calls her Lady Penelope instead of Penny wasn't enough to question his identity??
-Penny gets upset when Lou gives a recommendation for improving farming techniques, even though his points were extremely valid, but she must know everything so how DARE he try to tell her how to do her job!
-She literally laughs at a waitress who flirts with customers. She could not have been more "I'm not like other girls" if she tried in that moment.
It's pretty dang obvious that something terrible is about to happen to a sweet side character when they, for no reason, give their favorite item to the main character. Way to announce a death sentence for that side character!
Overall, this was not the worst read ever, but I will not be planning to read the sequel.
June 23, 2024
DNF at 220/330 pages but should have stopped sooner. It felt like a first draft. A lot of internal pondering spelled out so there is zero confusion or infetence needed - like A LOT. It went between providing a ton of detail about one incident that wasn't needed later and one line about something that was hyper fixated on later. Apparently they're was a kidnapping but even after few rereading that part several times, all that happened was she got dragged down an alley in a kidnapping attempt, like maybe a page on it, but she keeps having flashbacks.
Again, first draft type. Too many holes and emotional hands holding for me.
Again, first draft type. Too many holes and emotional hands holding for me.
December 31, 2023
Wow. What a book. Fantastic world building. I never thought a Greek myth retelling set in the magical regency setting would work. But darn it did.
Penelope “Penny” Barclay is a great character and am excited to see where she goes in this series.
The magic is cool and the setting. What makes this great is it’s only scratching the surface.
It doesn’t suffer from debut author problems. It grips me from the start and doesn’t let go
I have theories about the antagonist of this story. I’m excited to see if they play out
Penelope “Penny” Barclay is a great character and am excited to see where she goes in this series.
The magic is cool and the setting. What makes this great is it’s only scratching the surface.
It doesn’t suffer from debut author problems. It grips me from the start and doesn’t let go
I have theories about the antagonist of this story. I’m excited to see if they play out
September 30, 2024
The Spring Maiden
By Allison Anderson
The Spring Maiden is a book that follows the story of Penny Barclay , the heir to a duchy. In a world full of fae and mages , Penny has the power to control plants which serves her and her mother well since their central business model revolves around farming and supplying the kingdom with food. However when random accidents such as fires, robberies and a dwindling workforce starts to present itself in their duchy, Penny discovers the existence of rebels led by someone called the cartographer. After a botched attempt at her own kidnapping Penny teams up with a new farmhand who is actually a part of the kingdoms spy network and is tasked with gathering informaton on the rebels, together they try to find out the identity of the cartographer and what his/her plans are to gain control of the kingdom.
**** Spoilers below ****
This book is a fantasy read infused with mythology, it's marketed as YA but I think it's aimed more towards the younger demographic of the genre. Firstly the writing style is in third person but the lack of the use of pronouns makes the writing extremely difficult to read. For example a parapharsed line would read: " Mother went to the shop at the end of the street to repair a hat. Mother rarely allowed herself to enjoy things so it was nice to see a smile on mothers face." This happened every few sentences and I just wanted 'he','she','her' etc. to be used. At some point the main male character was never named and the description 'Amber eyes' was constantly used by Penny. "Amber eyes told her to stay put but Penny did not care about what Amber eyes said because Penny needed to get back to town". (Paraphrased example)
In terms of the characters, Penny's mother is described as controlling and that she doesn't allow her daughter freedom or respect her choices, but as a reader this character was the most interesting for me, she wanted to stand on her own as the only female business owner and teach her daughter to do the same without the need of a marriage and when she does give Penny responsibilities when she leaves for the Capital, Penny immediately neglects her duties to go running off with Lou.
With regards to Penny, she wasn't a character you wanted to root for. She kept making terrible choices, like when she fired Martin and dismissed her mother concerns, concerns which seemed valid to me, to victimise herself. She also didn't put together the fact that Lou was the Prince despite the rare eye-colour and the fact that the reader knew instantly and had to wait for her to catch up. One particular part of the story when Lou tried to give her farming advice and she immediately dismissed him and became angry at him for giving her ideas left me instanty disliking her. She literally condescends to him the words, " I'm sorry are you an expert in farming?". She also pokes fun at a waitress for no reason and at one point when she's on a mission with Lou and they're literally about to be caught and have seconds to leave the room- she thinks he's going to kiss her...... Other phrases like "Penny giggled not able to help herself" (Direct quote) also didn't lend confidence to her being a strong heroine.
In terms of the other side characters Lou/Aiden was just there for most of the book but I'm hoping that the future books explore more of his fae heritage. I had expected Angelica to give more insight to that realm but her letters only breifly describes her role there before going into monologues about romantic advice and how happily married she is. She even signed a letter with 'Your happily married friend'.
The world building in this book is also really similar to other books, I know that with these types of stories there's bound to be overlap especially when dealing with fae but the human and fae worlds being divided by the mist, the faerie wars, the fae keeping human slaves was a bit too similar to books like acotar etc.
I will continue with this series, I'm hoping Penny really grows and that the plot takes the centre stage in future books especially with faeire, human and mage dynamics. Hopefully there are more plot twists especially in terms of the crown princes' maternal heritages.
*** All feedback posted in this review is based on a personal reading perspective and does not reflect the overall/general reader experience ***
By Allison Anderson
The Spring Maiden is a book that follows the story of Penny Barclay , the heir to a duchy. In a world full of fae and mages , Penny has the power to control plants which serves her and her mother well since their central business model revolves around farming and supplying the kingdom with food. However when random accidents such as fires, robberies and a dwindling workforce starts to present itself in their duchy, Penny discovers the existence of rebels led by someone called the cartographer. After a botched attempt at her own kidnapping Penny teams up with a new farmhand who is actually a part of the kingdoms spy network and is tasked with gathering informaton on the rebels, together they try to find out the identity of the cartographer and what his/her plans are to gain control of the kingdom.
**** Spoilers below ****
This book is a fantasy read infused with mythology, it's marketed as YA but I think it's aimed more towards the younger demographic of the genre. Firstly the writing style is in third person but the lack of the use of pronouns makes the writing extremely difficult to read. For example a parapharsed line would read: " Mother went to the shop at the end of the street to repair a hat. Mother rarely allowed herself to enjoy things so it was nice to see a smile on mothers face." This happened every few sentences and I just wanted 'he','she','her' etc. to be used. At some point the main male character was never named and the description 'Amber eyes' was constantly used by Penny. "Amber eyes told her to stay put but Penny did not care about what Amber eyes said because Penny needed to get back to town". (Paraphrased example)
In terms of the characters, Penny's mother is described as controlling and that she doesn't allow her daughter freedom or respect her choices, but as a reader this character was the most interesting for me, she wanted to stand on her own as the only female business owner and teach her daughter to do the same without the need of a marriage and when she does give Penny responsibilities when she leaves for the Capital, Penny immediately neglects her duties to go running off with Lou.
With regards to Penny, she wasn't a character you wanted to root for. She kept making terrible choices, like when she fired Martin and dismissed her mother concerns, concerns which seemed valid to me, to victimise herself. She also didn't put together the fact that Lou was the Prince despite the rare eye-colour and the fact that the reader knew instantly and had to wait for her to catch up. One particular part of the story when Lou tried to give her farming advice and she immediately dismissed him and became angry at him for giving her ideas left me instanty disliking her. She literally condescends to him the words, " I'm sorry are you an expert in farming?". She also pokes fun at a waitress for no reason and at one point when she's on a mission with Lou and they're literally about to be caught and have seconds to leave the room- she thinks he's going to kiss her...... Other phrases like "Penny giggled not able to help herself" (Direct quote) also didn't lend confidence to her being a strong heroine.
In terms of the other side characters Lou/Aiden was just there for most of the book but I'm hoping that the future books explore more of his fae heritage. I had expected Angelica to give more insight to that realm but her letters only breifly describes her role there before going into monologues about romantic advice and how happily married she is. She even signed a letter with 'Your happily married friend'.
The world building in this book is also really similar to other books, I know that with these types of stories there's bound to be overlap especially when dealing with fae but the human and fae worlds being divided by the mist, the faerie wars, the fae keeping human slaves was a bit too similar to books like acotar etc.
I will continue with this series, I'm hoping Penny really grows and that the plot takes the centre stage in future books especially with faeire, human and mage dynamics. Hopefully there are more plot twists especially in terms of the crown princes' maternal heritages.
*** All feedback posted in this review is based on a personal reading perspective and does not reflect the overall/general reader experience ***
November 28, 2023
EN:
This is the story of Penny Barclay, a girl from nobility and the daughter of the Duchess of Eleusion. Beyond her responsibilities with the family properties, Penny also has to manage her magical powers at a time when rebels against those who are wizards resurface.
Penny cannot remain indifferent and, against her mother's wishes, she must act to halt the growth of these rebel groups. For this, she relies on the help of Lou, a crown spy, whom she ends up falling in love with.
One aspect I appreciated was the inclusion of references to Greek mythology in this story. As a lover of mythologies, especially European ones, I was delighted to find various references throughout the book, which, in reality, aims to portray a different version of these same mythologies.
The connection to the natural world, magic, and a romantic story are also themes that I always enjoy reading, purely out of personal preference.
Some aspects I didn't appreciate as much were the superficial development of the characters' personalities. I struggled to engage with the story and characters as I couldn't find points of identification with them, making the reading challenging.
There were many clichés, without much innovation, and several points throughout the story that didn't make much sense, either because they were presented abruptly and without context or because they didn't have much relevance to the plot.
I believe this is an excellent book for young readers, but it doesn't quite meet my expectations as an adult reader with a different level of demand.
I want to express my gratitude to the author Allison Anderson and to the NetGalley website for providing this eBook. The opportunity was truly appreciated.
PT:
Esta é a história de Penny Barclay, uma rapariga da nobreza e filha da duquesa de Eleusion. Para além das suas responsabilidades com as propriedades da família, Penny também tem de gerir os seus poderes mágicos, numa altura em que ressurgem alguns rebeldes contra aqueles que são magos.
Penny não consegue ficar indiferente e, contra a vontade da sua mãe, precisa de agir para conter o crescimento destes grupos de rebeldes. Para isso, conta com a ajuda de Lou, um espião da coroa, por quem acaba por se apaixonar.
Um ponto que apreciei foi a inclusão de referências à mitologia grega nesta história. Como amante de mitologias, especialmente as europeias, fiquei muito feliz por verificar várias referências ao longo do livro, que, na verdade, pretende retratar uma versão diferente da mitologia grega.
A ligação ao mundo natural, à magia e a uma história romântica são também temas que me agradam sempre ler, meramente por gosto pessoal.
Alguns pontos que não apreciei tanto foram a superficialidade do desenvolvimento das personalidades das personagens. Tive dificuldade em envolver-me com a história e as personagens, pois não encontrei pontos de identificação com estas, o que dificultou a leitura.
Houve muitos lugares-comuns, sem grande inovação, e vários pontos ao longo da história que não fizeram muito sentido, quer por serem apresentados de forma abrupta e sem contexto, quer por não terem grande importância para a trama.
Acredito que este seja um excelente livro para jovens leitores, mas não preenche as minhas expectativas enquanto leitora adulta com outro nível de exigência.
Quero expressar a minha gratidão à autora Allison Anderson e ao site NetGalley por disponibilizarem este eBook. A oportunidade foi verdadeiramente apreciada.
This is the story of Penny Barclay, a girl from nobility and the daughter of the Duchess of Eleusion. Beyond her responsibilities with the family properties, Penny also has to manage her magical powers at a time when rebels against those who are wizards resurface.
Penny cannot remain indifferent and, against her mother's wishes, she must act to halt the growth of these rebel groups. For this, she relies on the help of Lou, a crown spy, whom she ends up falling in love with.
One aspect I appreciated was the inclusion of references to Greek mythology in this story. As a lover of mythologies, especially European ones, I was delighted to find various references throughout the book, which, in reality, aims to portray a different version of these same mythologies.
The connection to the natural world, magic, and a romantic story are also themes that I always enjoy reading, purely out of personal preference.
Some aspects I didn't appreciate as much were the superficial development of the characters' personalities. I struggled to engage with the story and characters as I couldn't find points of identification with them, making the reading challenging.
There were many clichés, without much innovation, and several points throughout the story that didn't make much sense, either because they were presented abruptly and without context or because they didn't have much relevance to the plot.
I believe this is an excellent book for young readers, but it doesn't quite meet my expectations as an adult reader with a different level of demand.
I want to express my gratitude to the author Allison Anderson and to the NetGalley website for providing this eBook. The opportunity was truly appreciated.
PT:
Esta é a história de Penny Barclay, uma rapariga da nobreza e filha da duquesa de Eleusion. Para além das suas responsabilidades com as propriedades da família, Penny também tem de gerir os seus poderes mágicos, numa altura em que ressurgem alguns rebeldes contra aqueles que são magos.
Penny não consegue ficar indiferente e, contra a vontade da sua mãe, precisa de agir para conter o crescimento destes grupos de rebeldes. Para isso, conta com a ajuda de Lou, um espião da coroa, por quem acaba por se apaixonar.
Um ponto que apreciei foi a inclusão de referências à mitologia grega nesta história. Como amante de mitologias, especialmente as europeias, fiquei muito feliz por verificar várias referências ao longo do livro, que, na verdade, pretende retratar uma versão diferente da mitologia grega.
A ligação ao mundo natural, à magia e a uma história romântica são também temas que me agradam sempre ler, meramente por gosto pessoal.
Alguns pontos que não apreciei tanto foram a superficialidade do desenvolvimento das personalidades das personagens. Tive dificuldade em envolver-me com a história e as personagens, pois não encontrei pontos de identificação com estas, o que dificultou a leitura.
Houve muitos lugares-comuns, sem grande inovação, e vários pontos ao longo da história que não fizeram muito sentido, quer por serem apresentados de forma abrupta e sem contexto, quer por não terem grande importância para a trama.
Acredito que este seja um excelente livro para jovens leitores, mas não preenche as minhas expectativas enquanto leitora adulta com outro nível de exigência.
Quero expressar a minha gratidão à autora Allison Anderson e ao site NetGalley por disponibilizarem este eBook. A oportunidade foi verdadeiramente apreciada.
September 30, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Title: The Spring Maiden
Author: Allison Anderson
Star Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review:
The Spring Maiden by Allison Anderson is the first book in the Cartographer Series. Allison Anderson creates an interesting world with Fae and mortals living in the same world. Penny Barclay, who is a princess, has magic that can grow plants and harvest the crops that her lands provides her people. Then we have our mysterious Lou (who is also a Shadow Daddy 😏) who comes in and reveals himself to be apart of a spy group that is led by the youngest of the princes to uncover a rebellion led by a person who calls themselves the Cartographer. This cartographer threatens to enslave all people who have magic in their system. After discovering who Lou is, Penny convinces Lou to train her and teach her how to defend herself against the Cartographer’s led rebellion, to save her crops from being tarnished, and her people from joining the cartographers rebellion. All comes to a head when Penny discovers her mother is apart of said rebellion, and grapples with how to tell the crowned princes. When we are introduced to our famous three princes, our beloved Lou turns out to be the mysterious third and youngest prince, Prince Aiden.
I absolutely loved this book, it first took a good while to get into it, but am I glad I gave it a chance. I really like our main character penny. Penny really comes into her own, after being kept in the castle by her mother all these years (anybody else get a sort of tangled vibes?) she demands to be given more responsibility. Her mother is hesitant at first, but nevertheless she gives in a gives penny a chance. This is when her and Lou meet and get to know each other. Penny and Lou have a good back and forth with each other, Penny is stubborn but an understanding person. Lou is a stern but willing to compromise where he can. They (and I feel it) are a SLOW burn, let me tell you. Like nothing even has happened between the two except a little flirting. BUT nevertheless I believe that we will see a whole lot more romantically between Penny and Lou (hopefully) in the second book, which I am fully excited for. I loved the world building that Allison put in this book. When world building is done, it gives the reader a visual to really picture where the characters are and what is around them. Allison did that wonderfully for me, creating a scene helps tremendously and Allison knew how to do so. It looks like The Shadow Lord will be the next in this series, one that I will definitely be reading to see how the story continues!
Title: The Spring Maiden
Author: Allison Anderson
Star Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review:
The Spring Maiden by Allison Anderson is the first book in the Cartographer Series. Allison Anderson creates an interesting world with Fae and mortals living in the same world. Penny Barclay, who is a princess, has magic that can grow plants and harvest the crops that her lands provides her people. Then we have our mysterious Lou (who is also a Shadow Daddy 😏) who comes in and reveals himself to be apart of a spy group that is led by the youngest of the princes to uncover a rebellion led by a person who calls themselves the Cartographer. This cartographer threatens to enslave all people who have magic in their system. After discovering who Lou is, Penny convinces Lou to train her and teach her how to defend herself against the Cartographer’s led rebellion, to save her crops from being tarnished, and her people from joining the cartographers rebellion. All comes to a head when Penny discovers her mother is apart of said rebellion, and grapples with how to tell the crowned princes. When we are introduced to our famous three princes, our beloved Lou turns out to be the mysterious third and youngest prince, Prince Aiden.
I absolutely loved this book, it first took a good while to get into it, but am I glad I gave it a chance. I really like our main character penny. Penny really comes into her own, after being kept in the castle by her mother all these years (anybody else get a sort of tangled vibes?) she demands to be given more responsibility. Her mother is hesitant at first, but nevertheless she gives in a gives penny a chance. This is when her and Lou meet and get to know each other. Penny and Lou have a good back and forth with each other, Penny is stubborn but an understanding person. Lou is a stern but willing to compromise where he can. They (and I feel it) are a SLOW burn, let me tell you. Like nothing even has happened between the two except a little flirting. BUT nevertheless I believe that we will see a whole lot more romantically between Penny and Lou (hopefully) in the second book, which I am fully excited for. I loved the world building that Allison put in this book. When world building is done, it gives the reader a visual to really picture where the characters are and what is around them. Allison did that wonderfully for me, creating a scene helps tremendously and Allison knew how to do so. It looks like The Shadow Lord will be the next in this series, one that I will definitely be reading to see how the story continues!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2023
“You’re a light in the darkness, Penelope. I’ll always see you through the shadows”.
I love Greek Mythology — we should start here. And when looking for fantasy books, I always look for those that hit closer to home, that keep me in a comfort zone that will always keep me coming back for more.
That’s exactly what happened with “The Spring Maiden”. The world-building was amazing, and I got enthralled by the rules of that universe, how every place worked and, deep inside, I missed a map so much because I wanted to know more about the world where the story is settled. This was, by far, one of my favorite aspects of the book.
The story follows Penelope, a girl that was raised under the watchful eye of her Mother, kept away from (men) the world outside, even if she had no idea why, only clinging to her beliefs and the (terrible) reasoning her mom always gave her.
I loved Penelope and her growth arc. I loved watching her building connections and commanding her own life, asking questions. But at some point in the book, I got a bit bored over the fact that she kept going back to the same point, the same explanations; it didn’t make her a less nice character, but there were moments I found it hard to empathize with her, since it looked like she was just repeating herself over and again.
Lou, our male protagonist, was a whole other story. His character arc the plot twists involving him where so amazingly written that most of the time I wanted to see him, to know more about him, just to have his presence around. He was such a warm soul, a friend that I wanted to have with me (and way more than a friend, by the way).
Also, the position of ‘favorite character’ goes 100% to Angelica that, even only showing up over letters, held the comic side of the book on her shoulders, and whenever a letter came in, I was right to laugh as I’ve never had before.
“The Spring Maiden” is a good book about finding yourself, and stepping out even when people don’t want you to. And after that Epilogue, all I want is to read book two and understand WHAT THE HELL is happening.
I love Greek Mythology — we should start here. And when looking for fantasy books, I always look for those that hit closer to home, that keep me in a comfort zone that will always keep me coming back for more.
That’s exactly what happened with “The Spring Maiden”. The world-building was amazing, and I got enthralled by the rules of that universe, how every place worked and, deep inside, I missed a map so much because I wanted to know more about the world where the story is settled. This was, by far, one of my favorite aspects of the book.
The story follows Penelope, a girl that was raised under the watchful eye of her Mother, kept away from (men) the world outside, even if she had no idea why, only clinging to her beliefs and the (terrible) reasoning her mom always gave her.
I loved Penelope and her growth arc. I loved watching her building connections and commanding her own life, asking questions. But at some point in the book, I got a bit bored over the fact that she kept going back to the same point, the same explanations; it didn’t make her a less nice character, but there were moments I found it hard to empathize with her, since it looked like she was just repeating herself over and again.
Lou, our male protagonist, was a whole other story. His character arc the plot twists involving him where so amazingly written that most of the time I wanted to see him, to know more about him, just to have his presence around. He was such a warm soul, a friend that I wanted to have with me (and way more than a friend, by the way).
Also, the position of ‘favorite character’ goes 100% to Angelica that, even only showing up over letters, held the comic side of the book on her shoulders, and whenever a letter came in, I was right to laugh as I’ve never had before.
“The Spring Maiden” is a good book about finding yourself, and stepping out even when people don’t want you to. And after that Epilogue, all I want is to read book two and understand WHAT THE HELL is happening.
October 31, 2023
This book was so good! I am highly impressed by the storytelling. It is one of those books you are aching to read when you have other things to do. I didn't want to put it down and found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. LOL.
The story revolves around a girl who is set to inherit their family orchard from her mother. Both possess magic that calls to the earth, assisting them with their family's business. Her mother puts her through hell by not allowing her outside of their manor without her being there.
One day, on a trip to town with her mother, Penny is attacked by 3 men. She is unable to defend herself when a savior with amber eyes shows up.
Life goes on and then one day a man shows up as a new employee in their manor and the first thing Penny notices is Amber eyes. But he didn't look the same so she knew it wasn't him. Through time Penny learns things about amber eyes (Lou) that change her perspective on her life and the lives around her. She begins training with him to learn to defend herself as she longs to become a part of his world.
Over time, she starts discovering things about her mother that lead her to believe she might be a part of the rebels that are slowly taking over duchys and kidnapping or killing those with magic. She wants to discuss it with Lou but she never gets the chance to.
Her family's manor and all of their fields and orchards were overcome by fire one night and tragedy struck. She is saved by Lou who then takes her to meet her friends from her home to help heal her burns. Then he disappears.
Shortly after they are called to the capital to meet with the council, including members of the royal family, it is here that Penny discovers a huge secret that will change things forever.
The story revolves around a girl who is set to inherit their family orchard from her mother. Both possess magic that calls to the earth, assisting them with their family's business. Her mother puts her through hell by not allowing her outside of their manor without her being there.
One day, on a trip to town with her mother, Penny is attacked by 3 men. She is unable to defend herself when a savior with amber eyes shows up.
Life goes on and then one day a man shows up as a new employee in their manor and the first thing Penny notices is Amber eyes. But he didn't look the same so she knew it wasn't him. Through time Penny learns things about amber eyes (Lou) that change her perspective on her life and the lives around her. She begins training with him to learn to defend herself as she longs to become a part of his world.
Over time, she starts discovering things about her mother that lead her to believe she might be a part of the rebels that are slowly taking over duchys and kidnapping or killing those with magic. She wants to discuss it with Lou but she never gets the chance to.
Her family's manor and all of their fields and orchards were overcome by fire one night and tragedy struck. She is saved by Lou who then takes her to meet her friends from her home to help heal her burns. Then he disappears.
Shortly after they are called to the capital to meet with the council, including members of the royal family, it is here that Penny discovers a huge secret that will change things forever.
August 6, 2025
I have never come across a plot or characters quite like this. Huge fantasy fan, and it took me by surprise. I should have realized she’d pull it off, given the personality and smarts of this incredible woman. Honestly I have no idea how she even wrote a book, much less a series with as busy and dedicated to family as she is. So, with love, thank you, Allison, for writing more for nerds like me to read. I miss you, although time and distance have interfered for almost a decade. Here is my honest review.
I have never come across a plot or characters quite like this. I wanted less and more. More world-building, more depth in the characters, and more of the story. I like big books and I cannot lie, hah! I wanted less transparent or predictable characters, even while I reveled in the choices they made. But at the same time I genuinely fell in love with the main character. Is it just me who feels a sisterly protection and thinks the love interest is never worthy in any book?
I adored how she included the romance aspect without making the story all about that. I love romantasy, but often I skip the super explicit scenes because they almost come across as filler. I skim to see if there is relevant plot development (think controlling their magic in Fourth Wing) but really I could do without. So she has my sincere thanks for that.
Keeping in mind that this is YA and I prefer deep reads like Wheel of Time, it’s more than worth the read. Do yourself a favor and check out this series. I’m thrilled for Allison and can’t wait to see what she gives us next. On the original social media post announcing her book, she said she felt that as an avid reader it was about time she gave back. I’m so glad she did.
I have never come across a plot or characters quite like this. I wanted less and more. More world-building, more depth in the characters, and more of the story. I like big books and I cannot lie, hah! I wanted less transparent or predictable characters, even while I reveled in the choices they made. But at the same time I genuinely fell in love with the main character. Is it just me who feels a sisterly protection and thinks the love interest is never worthy in any book?
I adored how she included the romance aspect without making the story all about that. I love romantasy, but often I skip the super explicit scenes because they almost come across as filler. I skim to see if there is relevant plot development (think controlling their magic in Fourth Wing) but really I could do without. So she has my sincere thanks for that.
Keeping in mind that this is YA and I prefer deep reads like Wheel of Time, it’s more than worth the read. Do yourself a favor and check out this series. I’m thrilled for Allison and can’t wait to see what she gives us next. On the original social media post announcing her book, she said she felt that as an avid reader it was about time she gave back. I’m so glad she did.
October 3, 2023
Firstly, happy pub day to this exciting debut from Allison Anderson! This book is complete with a revamping of a few different tropes, from the bones of a Hades/Persephone retelling spliced with a heavy Persephone/Demeter dynamic, to a hidden/double identity trope, and a spy training arc (which is always fun). Though not actively taking place within a pantheon setting, those who enjoy Greek mythology will likely see some parallels that are easy to enjoy here.
Notably, some of the tropes the author utilizes are a bit frustrating to read through, such as a heroine who is rather naive, but stubborn about not taking outside criticism—even when her naivety is actively and explicitly pointed out to her. The plot twists, including one side character’s death, also seem extremely telegraphed, and I guessed all of them long before they happened, because they aren’t hidden well. For at least one of these twists (about the big villain’s identity), I am unsure if that is intentional so as to pin one character as the obvious villain and introduce someone new in the sequel(s). For now, however, the writing of the Cartographer villain just reads as heavy-handed to me.
Some other pluses include a lovable MMC, extremely accurate depictions of PTSD and the healing and traumatic responses after trauma, periodic epistolary chapters, and a fun magical system and worldbuilding. I am looking forward to the sequel, but hope the author reels in some of the more cliche and predictable aspects of the construction in future books. 3.5 ⭐
*Thank you again to NetGalley and Xpresso Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
Notably, some of the tropes the author utilizes are a bit frustrating to read through, such as a heroine who is rather naive, but stubborn about not taking outside criticism—even when her naivety is actively and explicitly pointed out to her. The plot twists, including one side character’s death, also seem extremely telegraphed, and I guessed all of them long before they happened, because they aren’t hidden well. For at least one of these twists (about the big villain’s identity), I am unsure if that is intentional so as to pin one character as the obvious villain and introduce someone new in the sequel(s). For now, however, the writing of the Cartographer villain just reads as heavy-handed to me.
Some other pluses include a lovable MMC, extremely accurate depictions of PTSD and the healing and traumatic responses after trauma, periodic epistolary chapters, and a fun magical system and worldbuilding. I am looking forward to the sequel, but hope the author reels in some of the more cliche and predictable aspects of the construction in future books. 3.5 ⭐
*Thank you again to NetGalley and Xpresso Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
March 1, 2025
A bit of a slow beginning, but then picks back up. If I didn’t have a few ARC’s I need to read I prolly would have started on the next one, because the ending was enough to make me interested in the next.
I can’t quite put my finger on the reason, but I really struggled to finish this one. But I also couldn’t bring myself to DNF. I think part of it was I wasn’t in the mood for a long series, and the other part might be that it is a bit too YA for me. I find as I get older, I prefer the MCs to be a bit older. I truly believe if I would have read this book in my teens or 20’s I would have gobbled it right up.
One thing I really loved in the book was the start of the romance that I know will grow through the rest of the series. Lou and Penny were so cute together.
I enjoyed the world building, it’s got a bit of regency feel, with dance cards and princes and duchesses, but you also get the magical side with fae and sirens, and magical gifts. It was a nice mix.
Penny was also a very likable FMC, though I did shake my head a few times with her demanding to go on spy missions with her very limited training, but that really wasn’t too bad either.
Overall I liked it, would have loved it when younger, and plan on eventually reading the next one.
Content: no spice, no swearing, some mild violence
I can’t quite put my finger on the reason, but I really struggled to finish this one. But I also couldn’t bring myself to DNF. I think part of it was I wasn’t in the mood for a long series, and the other part might be that it is a bit too YA for me. I find as I get older, I prefer the MCs to be a bit older. I truly believe if I would have read this book in my teens or 20’s I would have gobbled it right up.
One thing I really loved in the book was the start of the romance that I know will grow through the rest of the series. Lou and Penny were so cute together.
I enjoyed the world building, it’s got a bit of regency feel, with dance cards and princes and duchesses, but you also get the magical side with fae and sirens, and magical gifts. It was a nice mix.
Penny was also a very likable FMC, though I did shake my head a few times with her demanding to go on spy missions with her very limited training, but that really wasn’t too bad either.
Overall I liked it, would have loved it when younger, and plan on eventually reading the next one.
Content: no spice, no swearing, some mild violence
October 10, 2023
#thespringmaiden
WOW -This book was great
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the Arc and for giving me the chance to read and give my honest review.
The book Follows our FMC Penny who comes from a long line of mages - whose life is pretty much run by her mother, whom is overprotective and trying to make Penny in to a strong magical woman who had no need of men. I loved how the author showed all sides to Penny, her struggles and triumphs in her young life. I loved how we got to see all these sides to her as it made me like her more, she seemed more real in that respect. I thought the world building in the book was really great. I do believe this first novel leaned more to YA and it’s not something I would typically reach for but I did enjoy it none the less. I believe we will see much more of the relationship between Lou and Penny in the second book which I can’t wait for
😍❤️😍❤️
#booksforlife #readingtime #supportingreaders #supportingauthors #bookreview #bookalike #bookstagram #booktok #lovetoread #writersclub #goodreads #kindle #kindleunlimited #romance #bookworm #readingcommunity #readeveryday #romancereader #fantasyreads #fantasybooktok #arc #arcread #
WOW -This book was great
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the Arc and for giving me the chance to read and give my honest review.
The book Follows our FMC Penny who comes from a long line of mages - whose life is pretty much run by her mother, whom is overprotective and trying to make Penny in to a strong magical woman who had no need of men. I loved how the author showed all sides to Penny, her struggles and triumphs in her young life. I loved how we got to see all these sides to her as it made me like her more, she seemed more real in that respect. I thought the world building in the book was really great. I do believe this first novel leaned more to YA and it’s not something I would typically reach for but I did enjoy it none the less. I believe we will see much more of the relationship between Lou and Penny in the second book which I can’t wait for
😍❤️😍❤️
#booksforlife #readingtime #supportingreaders #supportingauthors #bookreview #bookalike #bookstagram #booktok #lovetoread #writersclub #goodreads #kindle #kindleunlimited #romance #bookworm #readingcommunity #readeveryday #romancereader #fantasyreads #fantasybooktok #arc #arcread #
October 13, 2025
Really enjoyable
For fans of Jeff Wheeler, this book will be a welcomed addition to lovers of otherworldly fantasy. Character development is excellent, and we learn a great deal about Penny through a well-developed inner dialogue.
Plot development is also noteworthy—the pacing is perfect, sparing the reader needless information dumps or superfluous descriptions of clothing, food, etc.
The world the author creates is comfortable and believable in the realm of the fantastical.
The story is filled with exciting events, and Penny is able to grow into a force to be reckoned with, though she still lacks a wide range of experience—which will no doubt increase in the next book.
The suspense is almost tangible and artfully developed. While the rebels are easy enough to spot, there are other characters that are potential enemies, only adding to the mystery sweeping around Penny.
It needs some closer proofreading in places, but this in no way detracts from the structural integrity or delightful intensity of this read. I’m hooked and can’t wait to read the next installment!!
For fans of Jeff Wheeler, this book will be a welcomed addition to lovers of otherworldly fantasy. Character development is excellent, and we learn a great deal about Penny through a well-developed inner dialogue.
Plot development is also noteworthy—the pacing is perfect, sparing the reader needless information dumps or superfluous descriptions of clothing, food, etc.
The world the author creates is comfortable and believable in the realm of the fantastical.
The story is filled with exciting events, and Penny is able to grow into a force to be reckoned with, though she still lacks a wide range of experience—which will no doubt increase in the next book.
The suspense is almost tangible and artfully developed. While the rebels are easy enough to spot, there are other characters that are potential enemies, only adding to the mystery sweeping around Penny.
It needs some closer proofreading in places, but this in no way detracts from the structural integrity or delightful intensity of this read. I’m hooked and can’t wait to read the next installment!!
October 5, 2023
A Great Fantasy Read!
TheSpringMaiden #NetGalley #YAFantasy
**Disclaimer: I read this book on NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review**
**Reclaimer: I loved this book so I bought a copy**
This is a coming-of-age book. The girl protagonist always tries to do the right thing, even though the right thing isn't always obvious. Sometimes she makes mistakes, but she does her best. There are tough choices... It is fun to see h0w she interacts with her peers and how she handles setbacks, while growing into her own as an adult.
I enjoyed this author's writing style, which kept me engaged and interested. The fantasy world magic was a little different; (what other book do you know of that people can grow plants or "ungrow" them?) but the author let us learn from her writing rather than stopping to explain to us how Penny can grow wheat, and her mom can get trees to physically relocate!
A quick word about the book: This is YA and is therefore clean (no sex). I only add this because it seems like in today's world, there are people who really read for the sex. This author is able to have an engaging book without the sex scenes!
1
TheSpringMaiden #NetGalley #YAFantasy
**Disclaimer: I read this book on NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review**
**Reclaimer: I loved this book so I bought a copy**
This is a coming-of-age book. The girl protagonist always tries to do the right thing, even though the right thing isn't always obvious. Sometimes she makes mistakes, but she does her best. There are tough choices... It is fun to see h0w she interacts with her peers and how she handles setbacks, while growing into her own as an adult.
I enjoyed this author's writing style, which kept me engaged and interested. The fantasy world magic was a little different; (what other book do you know of that people can grow plants or "ungrow" them?) but the author let us learn from her writing rather than stopping to explain to us how Penny can grow wheat, and her mom can get trees to physically relocate!
A quick word about the book: This is YA and is therefore clean (no sex). I only add this because it seems like in today's world, there are people who really read for the sex. This author is able to have an engaging book without the sex scenes!
1
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