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Bride of the Fox King
Legend says that those who catch a fox in the fae Kingdom of Whynne are granted a wish—any wish they desire.
Lila isn’t sure if she believes that, but when the handsome Fox King catches her hunting and offers her whatever her heart may desire in exchange for information regarding her patron, she cannot deny him.
Not when he looks at her the way that he does and shoots her his charming smile.
But the moment her wish is granted, the king will go away, and Lila doesn’t want that… or does she?
Lila isn’t sure if she believes that, but when the handsome Fox King catches her hunting and offers her whatever her heart may desire in exchange for information regarding her patron, she cannot deny him.
Not when he looks at her the way that he does and shoots her his charming smile.
But the moment her wish is granted, the king will go away, and Lila doesn’t want that… or does she?
57 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2023
4 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 21, 2023
A fun, wholesome and light-hearted read recommended for anyone who can't get enough of fae, crooked smiles and laugh out loud banter!
Thank you to Book Sirens, for providing me with an early copy of this book.
In this short YA-Fantasy Romance Novella we follow our main characters Lila & Rory. Lila, who is hunting in the forest, decides to venture deeper into the woods only to encounter the charming and quick witted Rory. Rory, who is a Fae in charge of protecting the foxes in the area, offers Lila a deal in order to stop the poaching. Lila is to lead him to her patron and in return Rory will grant her one wish. The story takes off from there and follows the couple as they bond over the span of a week while wandering the forest.
🦊 what I loved 🦊
🌿 Rory! Oh my! Absolute gem of a YA love interest. Let's not even talk about his fluffy fox ears and tail, because I might just faint of cuteness.
🌿 cute and funny banter, that made me laugh more than once
🌿 strong and relatable FMC.
🌿 feel good atmosphere & wholesome low stakes storyline that still manages to be well paced and engaging
🦊 room for improvement 🦊
🌿 the novella would profit off of some more editing; some sentences were still a tad clunky, and I saw a few typos throughout that could have been avoided.
🌿 this is obviously very subjective, but, I think a different cover would suit it much better. Our MC has black hair, and is 17, whereas the cover model has auburn hair and looks in her late 20s ~ plus we (I) desperately need some art of Rory (preferably on the cover)!
🌿 Although the story was well paced and engaging, I think this could have easily been 50 pages longer .
B. A. Lovejoy is definitely and author I will keep a close eye on in the future, and hope she will come out with a full length novel sooner than later. 🍄
Thank you to Book Sirens, for providing me with an early copy of this book.
In this short YA-Fantasy Romance Novella we follow our main characters Lila & Rory. Lila, who is hunting in the forest, decides to venture deeper into the woods only to encounter the charming and quick witted Rory. Rory, who is a Fae in charge of protecting the foxes in the area, offers Lila a deal in order to stop the poaching. Lila is to lead him to her patron and in return Rory will grant her one wish. The story takes off from there and follows the couple as they bond over the span of a week while wandering the forest.
🦊 what I loved 🦊
🌿 Rory! Oh my! Absolute gem of a YA love interest. Let's not even talk about his fluffy fox ears and tail, because I might just faint of cuteness.
🌿 cute and funny banter, that made me laugh more than once
🌿 strong and relatable FMC.
🌿 feel good atmosphere & wholesome low stakes storyline that still manages to be well paced and engaging
🦊 room for improvement 🦊
🌿 the novella would profit off of some more editing; some sentences were still a tad clunky, and I saw a few typos throughout that could have been avoided.
🌿 this is obviously very subjective, but, I think a different cover would suit it much better. Our MC has black hair, and is 17, whereas the cover model has auburn hair and looks in her late 20s ~ plus we (I) desperately need some art of Rory (preferably on the cover)!
🌿 Although the story was well paced and engaging, I think this could have easily been 50 pages longer .
B. A. Lovejoy is definitely and author I will keep a close eye on in the future, and hope she will come out with a full length novel sooner than later. 🍄
August 8, 2023
I honestly didn't know how to rate this.
This story was pleasing to read...only 60 pages so one can binge this in a single-sitting. I liked how the plot was straightforward.
But i feel like the author could've done a little more to enhance Rory's character to provide more depth to the story. Lila's character was very well-written. She was shown to be materialistic without being too greedy and ostentatious, with a good backstory. If only the author paid the same kind or attention to Rory. Though i suppose the author did the best she could in the limited page limit. Overall the novel was good but not something I would recommend to someone else.
Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC :)
This story was pleasing to read...only 60 pages so one can binge this in a single-sitting. I liked how the plot was straightforward.
But i feel like the author could've done a little more to enhance Rory's character to provide more depth to the story. Lila's character was very well-written. She was shown to be materialistic without being too greedy and ostentatious, with a good backstory. If only the author paid the same kind or attention to Rory. Though i suppose the author did the best she could in the limited page limit. Overall the novel was good but not something I would recommend to someone else.
Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC :)
July 18, 2023
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I read Bride of the Fox King in just a few hours - it is 62 pages so it is a relatively short story. During my reading I honestly struggled with how to rate this story.
On one hand it has potential - the world itself seems interesting, the writing stile and grammar is good, it can captivate you. We get both of our main characters point of view - it changes per chapters.
On the other hand my biggest issue with the book is its length. The story, the worldbuilding, even the characters have promise but it just ends up shallow because we simply did not have time to get to know deeply and fall in love with the characters and the world.
The main characters - as almost everything in this story - have potential. Lila seems like a badass girl, her family story is interesting, I would have loved if our author showed it to me as a reader instead of just talking about it. What I didn't like about Lila is her relationship with her "friend", Declan - there is a saying, what can totally describe their relationship in my opinion: WITH FRIENDS LIKE YOU, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES? I absolutely hated how she thought and spoke with and about him... In my opinion it should have been just cut from the story as it did not give anything to it outside of making Lila not so sympathetic.
I liked Rory better - although I hate his name, he is a fox king with such an ordinary human name -, but it was weird how he is supposed to be some kind of womanizer according to himself - it felt kind of fake. I would have loved to read more about his role as a fox king and what abilities he has.
The second part of the story - during and after the hovel - seemed a little bit rushed. We got to know somewhat another character, who was a big questionmark for me...
With such a short story we just had too many directions, it just became a little bit shallow for me. We got a lot of interesting facts and directions, but these were just the tip of the iceberg and I wanted the iceberg itself, the depth.
If I think of it as a synopsys/short version of a longer, more in-depth book, then my rating would be much higher. If I think of it as a complete book then it just leaves me hanging, so I chose to rate it a 3/5. It has so much potential - with the characters, worldbuilding, grammar -, but it was just too short to reach its greatest self.
I read Bride of the Fox King in just a few hours - it is 62 pages so it is a relatively short story. During my reading I honestly struggled with how to rate this story.
On one hand it has potential - the world itself seems interesting, the writing stile and grammar is good, it can captivate you. We get both of our main characters point of view - it changes per chapters.
On the other hand my biggest issue with the book is its length. The story, the worldbuilding, even the characters have promise but it just ends up shallow because we simply did not have time to get to know deeply and fall in love with the characters and the world.
The main characters - as almost everything in this story - have potential. Lila seems like a badass girl, her family story is interesting, I would have loved if our author showed it to me as a reader instead of just talking about it. What I didn't like about Lila is her relationship with her "friend", Declan - there is a saying, what can totally describe their relationship in my opinion: WITH FRIENDS LIKE YOU, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES? I absolutely hated how she thought and spoke with and about him... In my opinion it should have been just cut from the story as it did not give anything to it outside of making Lila not so sympathetic.
I liked Rory better - although I hate his name, he is a fox king with such an ordinary human name -, but it was weird how he is supposed to be some kind of womanizer according to himself - it felt kind of fake. I would have loved to read more about his role as a fox king and what abilities he has.
The second part of the story - during and after the hovel - seemed a little bit rushed. We got to know somewhat another character, who was a big questionmark for me...
With such a short story we just had too many directions, it just became a little bit shallow for me. We got a lot of interesting facts and directions, but these were just the tip of the iceberg and I wanted the iceberg itself, the depth.
If I think of it as a synopsys/short version of a longer, more in-depth book, then my rating would be much higher. If I think of it as a complete book then it just leaves me hanging, so I chose to rate it a 3/5. It has so much potential - with the characters, worldbuilding, grammar -, but it was just too short to reach its greatest self.
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July 19, 2023
Disclaimer: I received an ARC ebook copy of this book from Book Sirens and all thoughts on the story are my own.
3.5 STARS
I liked it a lot. Novellas can be a hit or miss considering their length especially for fantasy books. So the only real complaint I had was that I wish it was a full sized book.
Although simple, I liked both our main characters and the world that we did see was vibrant and well described. I enjoyed the double POV and the narration style as well, it really helped get a fuller perspective on the emotions of the characters.
There was a little bit of "insta-love" if not "insta- affection" in this one, and though that is one of my least liked tropes, it worked out well considering the length of the book. Because it was so short (around 60 pages - ebook) I thought the story was very well paced. I wasn't left wanting for answers as the story was simple but not boring and I was able to stay interested in the story as it progressed.
I'll definitely look into more works by this artist, and so I can't wait to find out more about the World of Whynne.
3.5 STARS
I liked it a lot. Novellas can be a hit or miss considering their length especially for fantasy books. So the only real complaint I had was that I wish it was a full sized book.
She could not look away from him.
Although simple, I liked both our main characters and the world that we did see was vibrant and well described. I enjoyed the double POV and the narration style as well, it really helped get a fuller perspective on the emotions of the characters.
"She didn't want to think about what hasty agreements her charm-addled brain would have made."
There was a little bit of "insta-love" if not "insta- affection" in this one, and though that is one of my least liked tropes, it worked out well considering the length of the book. Because it was so short (around 60 pages - ebook) I thought the story was very well paced. I wasn't left wanting for answers as the story was simple but not boring and I was able to stay interested in the story as it progressed.
He was magical, through and through - which meant that like all magical, enchanting things, it stood to reason that he could be only momentary.
I'll definitely look into more works by this artist, and so I can't wait to find out more about the World of Whynne.
August 28, 2023
📚 Embarking on a Whimsical Journey into the Fae Realms 🦊
Hail, Seekers of Realms! 🌟 Let's dive into an enchanting adventure through mythical lands and magical romance in "Bride of the Fox King" by B. A. Lovejoy. Heartfelt thanks to BookSirens for the incredible ARC that transported me to this fantastical realm! 🦋
Stepping into "Bride of the Fox King" was like slipping into a dream woven with threads of longing and enchantment. Our spirited heroine, Lila, finds herself in the mesmerizing Kingdom of Whynne. Despite her doubts about fox legends and magic, fate guides her to an unexpected encounter with the alluring Fox King. Imagine a chance meeting during a hunt, a secretive smile, and an offer promising a single wish. Intriguing, right? 😉
As Lila sets forth, Lovejoy's words paint ethereal landscapes that sweep me away. Vivid scenes and mythical creatures immerse me in a world where magic and emotion entwine. Lila's journey surpasses spells and quests; it mirrors our desires and choices.
With each page, Lila's dilemmas mirror our own, prompting contemplation about the complexity of our yearnings. Can we embrace newfound affection while relinquishing familiarity? This question resonates throughout, echoing in our hearts.
Closing the book isn't an end; the tale becomes a part of me. "Bride of the Fox King" isn't just a story; it's an invitation to uncover our innermost longings, the choices shaping us, and the enchantment woven into every heartbeat. ✨
For fellow book lovers seeking an exquisite blend of fantasy and romance, your search ends here. Prepare to be entranced, captivated, and left pondering the true cost of wishes. Join this magical journey, as enchanting as Lila's, within these extraordinary pages.
Claim your copy now, for this is a book you can't afford to overlook! The author's masterful crafting transports you to a new world, captivating your imagination.
Happy reading, Fantasy Bibliophiles! 📚✨
Warmly,
Mysterious Shy 🦋✨
Hail, Seekers of Realms! 🌟 Let's dive into an enchanting adventure through mythical lands and magical romance in "Bride of the Fox King" by B. A. Lovejoy. Heartfelt thanks to BookSirens for the incredible ARC that transported me to this fantastical realm! 🦋
Stepping into "Bride of the Fox King" was like slipping into a dream woven with threads of longing and enchantment. Our spirited heroine, Lila, finds herself in the mesmerizing Kingdom of Whynne. Despite her doubts about fox legends and magic, fate guides her to an unexpected encounter with the alluring Fox King. Imagine a chance meeting during a hunt, a secretive smile, and an offer promising a single wish. Intriguing, right? 😉
As Lila sets forth, Lovejoy's words paint ethereal landscapes that sweep me away. Vivid scenes and mythical creatures immerse me in a world where magic and emotion entwine. Lila's journey surpasses spells and quests; it mirrors our desires and choices.
With each page, Lila's dilemmas mirror our own, prompting contemplation about the complexity of our yearnings. Can we embrace newfound affection while relinquishing familiarity? This question resonates throughout, echoing in our hearts.
Closing the book isn't an end; the tale becomes a part of me. "Bride of the Fox King" isn't just a story; it's an invitation to uncover our innermost longings, the choices shaping us, and the enchantment woven into every heartbeat. ✨
For fellow book lovers seeking an exquisite blend of fantasy and romance, your search ends here. Prepare to be entranced, captivated, and left pondering the true cost of wishes. Join this magical journey, as enchanting as Lila's, within these extraordinary pages.
Claim your copy now, for this is a book you can't afford to overlook! The author's masterful crafting transports you to a new world, captivating your imagination.
Happy reading, Fantasy Bibliophiles! 📚✨
Warmly,
Mysterious Shy 🦋✨
September 4, 2023
I figured I would give this short story a try as I've been on a short story kick lately. However this just wasn't for me.
The synopsys caught my attention as it was intriguing, but the story itself was not for me.
I understand that this is a short story, so there isn't much time to get into character development or world building. However after reading other short stories that were able to successfully do both, I felt very bored with this story. Everything about this story just fell flat.
I really disliked the main character Lila, she is impossible to like. Her whole identity is just being extremely selfish, she breaks the law to hunt soley for fortune and doesnt feel an ounce of remorse. And Rory was very 2 dimensional, his whole identity right from the beginning is being attracted to Lila. The conversations also fell flat, with in a matter of hours after meeting they are professing their love. To me there wasn't even a plot for this story, just an excuse for the author to write about a human and Fae falling in love at first sight.
I was so disappointed with this book that I ended up DNFing it at around 73% and will not be completing it. I can honestly say that I did not like the writing style of this author and will not be checking out other books. This book gets a 1 star from me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The synopsys caught my attention as it was intriguing, but the story itself was not for me.
I understand that this is a short story, so there isn't much time to get into character development or world building. However after reading other short stories that were able to successfully do both, I felt very bored with this story. Everything about this story just fell flat.
I really disliked the main character Lila, she is impossible to like. Her whole identity is just being extremely selfish, she breaks the law to hunt soley for fortune and doesnt feel an ounce of remorse. And Rory was very 2 dimensional, his whole identity right from the beginning is being attracted to Lila. The conversations also fell flat, with in a matter of hours after meeting they are professing their love. To me there wasn't even a plot for this story, just an excuse for the author to write about a human and Fae falling in love at first sight.
I was so disappointed with this book that I ended up DNFing it at around 73% and will not be completing it. I can honestly say that I did not like the writing style of this author and will not be checking out other books. This book gets a 1 star from me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 8, 2023
What a delightfully entertaining novella.
At the start, we have Lila, who is out in the woods poaching for foxes for the countess. She has one goal in mind, earn enough gold to leave and enjoy the finer things in life on her own. When she is ensnared by Rory, who is none other than the king of foxes. He makes a deal with Lila, take him to her employer, and he will grant her one wish.
Lila agrees, and they take off. However, Rory finds himself entranced by Lila and intentionally 'gets lost' to spend more time with her. What you are left with is a wonderfully witty love story that sets up the world for additional installments.
Rory is witty and Lila is bold. I would have loved a longer story so I could spend more time with each of them and enjoy more of their banter.
I am looking forward to seeing more from this author.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this for free and am voluntarily leaving this review.
At the start, we have Lila, who is out in the woods poaching for foxes for the countess. She has one goal in mind, earn enough gold to leave and enjoy the finer things in life on her own. When she is ensnared by Rory, who is none other than the king of foxes. He makes a deal with Lila, take him to her employer, and he will grant her one wish.
Lila agrees, and they take off. However, Rory finds himself entranced by Lila and intentionally 'gets lost' to spend more time with her. What you are left with is a wonderfully witty love story that sets up the world for additional installments.
Rory is witty and Lila is bold. I would have loved a longer story so I could spend more time with each of them and enjoy more of their banter.
I am looking forward to seeing more from this author.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this for free and am voluntarily leaving this review.
August 19, 2023
Lily's attraction to Rory was described in such a magical way. She was so love-struck as if she was in a magical haze. She didn't want to face the attraction but gives in to her temptation. I do wish that Rory's world was described more in detail though. I wanted to know more about him. It lacks world-building. I know that this was meant to be a short read but I was left wanting more. I do feel that this book has piqued my interest to check out the world of Whynne though, therefore this novella has done its job.
Lily- A strong-willed woman with a less-than-desirable lifestyle she wishes to escape from.
Rory- A confident and curious fae king who I couldn't help but root for in terms of getting the girl. I sort of wish that the love interest would have been challenged more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lily- A strong-willed woman with a less-than-desirable lifestyle she wishes to escape from.
Rory- A confident and curious fae king who I couldn't help but root for in terms of getting the girl. I sort of wish that the love interest would have been challenged more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 23, 2023
Bride of the Fox King is a short novella set in the fictional Kingdom of Whynne.
The main characters are well-written and entertaining to read about. Their story is short and sweet. Lila, the main character, is not an average young woman who enjoys fancy parties and fancy outfits. She is the kind of person who is skilled with a bow, so when out hunting in the woods that are filled with magical creatures and fae, she encounters Rory, a fae. From that point on, the plot revolves around their encounter and growing bond. It ends happily and has faerie and lovely character elements.
I recommend this novella to readers who enjoy fae and romance stories.
I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main characters are well-written and entertaining to read about. Their story is short and sweet. Lila, the main character, is not an average young woman who enjoys fancy parties and fancy outfits. She is the kind of person who is skilled with a bow, so when out hunting in the woods that are filled with magical creatures and fae, she encounters Rory, a fae. From that point on, the plot revolves around their encounter and growing bond. It ends happily and has faerie and lovely character elements.
I recommend this novella to readers who enjoy fae and romance stories.
I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 1, 2023
Short but sweet!
First of all, a big thank you to Book Sirens, for providing me with an early copy of this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I had so much fun reading this book! This plot explores the love story of our main characters Lila & Rory. Both of them are witty and that leads to a delicious banter and tension. Rory is an absolute flirt and Lila is witty and a strong FMC.
Unfortunately, the plot was lacking a bit. There was room for improvement in the plot it self and in the writer's writing in my opinion. I wanted more of this story. It was so promising.
Still, this book is a worth reading its fun and sweet read!
First of all, a big thank you to Book Sirens, for providing me with an early copy of this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I had so much fun reading this book! This plot explores the love story of our main characters Lila & Rory. Both of them are witty and that leads to a delicious banter and tension. Rory is an absolute flirt and Lila is witty and a strong FMC.
Unfortunately, the plot was lacking a bit. There was room for improvement in the plot it self and in the writer's writing in my opinion. I wanted more of this story. It was so promising.
Still, this book is a worth reading its fun and sweet read!
August 29, 2023
Bride of the fox king is a short story set in the world of Haldia. I believe that it can be read as a standalone and that you don't need to be familiar with the main story to enjoy it.
It tells the story of Lila, a baker's daughter who happen to meet a fae king in the forest. It was a very typical story of the genre and I liked it.
I was not fond of the main character though and while it worked as a short story, the number of pages made it hard for the romance and the characters to develop fully. I think with double the pages, Lila would have become more relatable and I would be more convinced with the love story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It tells the story of Lila, a baker's daughter who happen to meet a fae king in the forest. It was a very typical story of the genre and I liked it.
I was not fond of the main character though and while it worked as a short story, the number of pages made it hard for the romance and the characters to develop fully. I think with double the pages, Lila would have become more relatable and I would be more convinced with the love story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 31, 2023
Bride of the Fox King was a quick and delightful novella. Lila and Rory were interesting characters. Lila is a human hunting fox illegally when she happens upon the Fox King. He grants her one wish in exchange for knowledge of who is paying her to hunt. As they spend more time together, Lila has a decision to make. Make a wish and watch the Fox King disappear, or hold out as long as possible, taking in as much as she can while they are together.
This is a perfect story to fit in on a lunchbreak or waiting at an appointment. Filled with satisfying characters and a fun plot, grab your copy of this cute fae fantasy today.
This is a perfect story to fit in on a lunchbreak or waiting at an appointment. Filled with satisfying characters and a fun plot, grab your copy of this cute fae fantasy today.
July 17, 2023
I will say that the only think I did not care for was the book is a short read. I finished it within a couple hours, and I was ensnared the whole time.
I generally am very picky with FMCs, however, I loved Lila. Everything about her felt so genuine and frankly just adorable. And the way Rory treated her was just so wholesome. And that’s really what this book is. It’s wholesome and heartwarming and just so cute. I wish there was more, and I am so very happy with what was written. Bravo!
I generally am very picky with FMCs, however, I loved Lila. Everything about her felt so genuine and frankly just adorable. And the way Rory treated her was just so wholesome. And that’s really what this book is. It’s wholesome and heartwarming and just so cute. I wish there was more, and I am so very happy with what was written. Bravo!
July 27, 2023
A delightful Novella to get you curious about the world of Whynne!
I thought this was a standalone, but was pleasantly surprised to find it an introduction short story. It allowed you to settle into the world, and learn how their fae operated before jumping into the full story. The epilogue also left you curious for more, great for keeping interest and wanting to pick up the next one!
I received an advanced copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thought this was a standalone, but was pleasantly surprised to find it an introduction short story. It allowed you to settle into the world, and learn how their fae operated before jumping into the full story. The epilogue also left you curious for more, great for keeping interest and wanting to pick up the next one!
I received an advanced copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 31, 2023
Honestly, the story was good but somewhat lacking. It reads exactly like an old fairytale, almost a little too bland and a little too unbelievable. Like a wives tale passed down orally without emotion or fleshing out the characters. I wanted so much to like this book, and honestly I don't hate it - it simply isn't one of my favourites.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this read! It was a very short, fun read. It was very lighthearted and fast paced. I like that the book got straight to the point and it was short and sweet. It made me laugh and also made me happy. This book made me intrigued by the world of the fae and definitely want to read more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 16, 2023
The Fox King welcomes you into the lore of Whynne. It’s rich world building, offering a history that enhances the novels and adds to your enjoyment of the universe. B. A. Lovejoy is a great writer.
Bride of the Fox King is a little taste of Whynne. This is wonderful if you are familiar with the universe. As an introduction to the world it leaves you wanting a little more depth.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Bride of the Fox King is a little taste of Whynne. This is wonderful if you are familiar with the universe. As an introduction to the world it leaves you wanting a little more depth.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 21, 2023
Honestly, I really liked the prologue and hoped the book was more like that. It's not bad per se but I wished it would've gone into more detail with the story and Rory and Lila's wanderings as they slowly fall in love.
I do like the author's style so I will try a full-length novel to see if I like the book better when the author has more space to spread their story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I do like the author's style so I will try a full-length novel to see if I like the book better when the author has more space to spread their story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2023
I enjoyed this story and I’m looking forward to reading more in this world. A couple of the scenes were a little hard to follow but overall it was a fun read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 28, 2023
The writer has a good potential with a compelling story and an interesting worldbuilding approach. However, there is room for improvement in the narrative style to truly bring out the story's full impact. Overall, the work has a wholesome and promising essence.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 16, 2023
A wonderful short story. Lila meets the Fox King who grants a wish. Unfortunately it would mean that he goes away. Perhaps Lila is in love. Ready for more.
September 21, 2023
I’m not sure this can really be described as a book when it only has 85 pages! It’s definitely more of a novella! It’s a very sweet fantasy romance set in a woodland realm. The author has some beautiful turns of phrase, like “Some stories are living, breathing things, and travel both on the tongues of the old, and the whispers of the wind. Some stories are engraved into the fabric of time itself.” I particularly enjoyed the prologue and was excited to find out more about the world of Whynne.
If anything, I actually felt there wasn’t enough of this story. The world building is pretty effective, but I just wanted more of it. I felt like we just barely scratched the surface of this world and this felt more like an introduction story to whet the reader’s appetite for further books (does that sound too hopeful?!). The story is pretty fast-paced and everything happens pretty quickly - which I suppose has to be the case if you’ve only got 85 pages to play with - and as a result I’d say the character development and relationships aren’t as detailed and effective as they could otherwise be. It’s not a major problem, but it did make this feel more like a short story than a whole book.
There were a few grammatical errors and mistakes that I think ought to have been picked up before publication. Mostly it’s misspellings and awkward phrasing that could be edited out; eg “humans wanted mostly all things” (p4) “a large, definingly male hand.” (P32) There were also a couple of inconsistencies that made the narrative confusing, for instance on p48 he pulls her hood “down” but this should say “up”, because she then tries to remove it in the café and he tells her to “keep it on” - but it says here “her hands instinctually raising to lift her hood” (p51) and it should say “lower” rather than lift if she’s trying to take it off.
The other major issue I feel I have to point out is that Lila’s village is named Bellend - which to an English reader is pretty inappropriate (it’s British slang for penis!). I’m assuming the author is not aware of this, so I thought I’d point it out in case they’d like to rethink the name! I also thought that the title was really a bit of a spoiler to be honest! As soon as the reader realises who Rory is, we know how the story is going to end. Otherwise it’s a sweet low-stakes fantasy story that was a quick, pleasant read.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for an ARC of this book. I received a copy for free and was invited to share my honest opinion.
If anything, I actually felt there wasn’t enough of this story. The world building is pretty effective, but I just wanted more of it. I felt like we just barely scratched the surface of this world and this felt more like an introduction story to whet the reader’s appetite for further books (does that sound too hopeful?!). The story is pretty fast-paced and everything happens pretty quickly - which I suppose has to be the case if you’ve only got 85 pages to play with - and as a result I’d say the character development and relationships aren’t as detailed and effective as they could otherwise be. It’s not a major problem, but it did make this feel more like a short story than a whole book.
There were a few grammatical errors and mistakes that I think ought to have been picked up before publication. Mostly it’s misspellings and awkward phrasing that could be edited out; eg “humans wanted mostly all things” (p4) “a large, definingly male hand.” (P32) There were also a couple of inconsistencies that made the narrative confusing, for instance on p48 he pulls her hood “down” but this should say “up”, because she then tries to remove it in the café and he tells her to “keep it on” - but it says here “her hands instinctually raising to lift her hood” (p51) and it should say “lower” rather than lift if she’s trying to take it off.
The other major issue I feel I have to point out is that Lila’s village is named Bellend - which to an English reader is pretty inappropriate (it’s British slang for penis!). I’m assuming the author is not aware of this, so I thought I’d point it out in case they’d like to rethink the name! I also thought that the title was really a bit of a spoiler to be honest! As soon as the reader realises who Rory is, we know how the story is going to end. Otherwise it’s a sweet low-stakes fantasy story that was a quick, pleasant read.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for an ARC of this book. I received a copy for free and was invited to share my honest opinion.
October 17, 2023
This short story was very eloquent and descriptive, without being too "info dumpy." You just dropped into the world, and went with things ! And I truly enjoyed that.
The set up for Lila and Rory was subtle and expected, but in the best way. The whimsical way the story was told was exactly the feeling you get when you read a fairytale.
I loved the epilogue as well! Potentially teasing for another story perhaps?
The only reason why I didn't give this 5 stars, was both a thing I loved and hated. It was a short story. I loved that I was able to read it and get through it quickly. But also, I wish it was more fleshed out! I'm so hard to please lol.
But no, truly I loved this short little story. And its lore.
This book was sent to me as an Arc by the Booksirens and it was free, and am leaving this review of my own volition.
The set up for Lila and Rory was subtle and expected, but in the best way. The whimsical way the story was told was exactly the feeling you get when you read a fairytale.
I loved the epilogue as well! Potentially teasing for another story perhaps?
The only reason why I didn't give this 5 stars, was both a thing I loved and hated. It was a short story. I loved that I was able to read it and get through it quickly. But also, I wish it was more fleshed out! I'm so hard to please lol.
But no, truly I loved this short little story. And its lore.
This book was sent to me as an Arc by the Booksirens and it was free, and am leaving this review of my own volition.
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