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A Tale Of #1
A Tale of Something New: A gripping and romantic tale of light and darkness (ATO Series Book 1)
*Every story starts with a choice.*
Liliana is shocked to find a dying man in the middle of the forest, surrounded by the remains of a brutal fight. She brings him home to her father’s farm to nurse him back to health. However, when the stranger regains consciousness, he doesn’t remember who he is or how he came to be there.
Intrigued by the mystery of it all, Liliana sets out to discover who this handsome, well-mannered stranger is. Could he be the man who whisks her away and shows her the world? Or will whatever happened in the forest put her and everyone she loves in grave danger?
--
This is the beginning of a low spice (fade to black) romantic fantasy series with adult protagonists, an unconventional story line, demonic powers, and those magical fairy tale vibes.
Follow Liliana as she tries her best to balance love, family relationships, morals, ambition and responsibilities when her world expands from her little cozy village to events that span the Continent.
Liliana is shocked to find a dying man in the middle of the forest, surrounded by the remains of a brutal fight. She brings him home to her father’s farm to nurse him back to health. However, when the stranger regains consciousness, he doesn’t remember who he is or how he came to be there.
Intrigued by the mystery of it all, Liliana sets out to discover who this handsome, well-mannered stranger is. Could he be the man who whisks her away and shows her the world? Or will whatever happened in the forest put her and everyone she loves in grave danger?
--
This is the beginning of a low spice (fade to black) romantic fantasy series with adult protagonists, an unconventional story line, demonic powers, and those magical fairy tale vibes.
Follow Liliana as she tries her best to balance love, family relationships, morals, ambition and responsibilities when her world expands from her little cozy village to events that span the Continent.
241 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2024
5 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
April 29, 2024
First of all thank you to NetGalley and D. S. McColgan for this ARC and beautiful reading experience.
I really loved the overall setting and atmosphere. This book was written really well where I felt like I was a part of the story. The imagery was wonderful and the character development was really well put together.
This is a fantasy romance with vampires and all three blend so well together. It’s definitely a slow burn but perfectly set up to make me want to keep reading the series.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series since this book was mostly building the story I’m excited for where it’s taking us.
I really loved the overall setting and atmosphere. This book was written really well where I felt like I was a part of the story. The imagery was wonderful and the character development was really well put together.
This is a fantasy romance with vampires and all three blend so well together. It’s definitely a slow burn but perfectly set up to make me want to keep reading the series.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series since this book was mostly building the story I’m excited for where it’s taking us.
March 5, 2024
I received this book for an honest review via Voracious Readers Only.
I loved this book more than I expected to... The MMC and FMC are believable and make choices that make sense. Nothing felt forced here.
My only qualm is I have to get book 2 STAT! Also, more spice is always better in my opinion.
I loved this book more than I expected to... The MMC and FMC are believable and make choices that make sense. Nothing felt forced here.
My only qualm is I have to get book 2 STAT! Also, more spice is always better in my opinion.
March 5, 2024
I loved it!! I was so hooked I finished it in 2 sittings! Would 100% recommend!!
July 21, 2024
I picked this up as an ARC read because it sounded very much like an old-school dark German Fairy Tale sort of vibe, and I was definitely not disappointed. As a life-long fan of the brothers Grimm, as well as horror classics such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Wolf Man, this book hit some part of me I didn't know needed touched, but man, it was soooooo needed. So much so that I pre-ordered the next book before I even got to the real action of this one (which is good because this one definitely ends on a cliffhanger!).
When Liliana, a 22 year old, well-read farm girl, discovers a young man on the verge of death amidst a gory scene in the woods, her big heart can just leave him there to perish. She brings him home and her family helps tend to him and bring him back to health, only to discover that he has lost many of his memories. He can not remember who he is, other than the name El, or how he ended up in the woods in such a state...but he can remember the stars and constellations and fancy words and how to be an obviously refined gentleman. Over his weeks of healing, El and Liliana develop a very close bond, and something much more than friendship seems to develop...but will El be the one to break her from her mundane farm life, or will his secret past put Liliana and her whole village in terrible danger?
There are so many wonderful characters in this book. Liliana and her big dreams and love of stories reminds me very much of myself and my favorite Disney princess, Belle. Her whole family is so loving and obviously cares for her and for each other very much. Peter, a man we only see for a short time, is such a devoted and loving man who deserves far better than what he receives. And, of course, El... *swoon*...
I definitely recommend this one for anyone who likes classic monsters and dark fairy tales! It is also a Beauty and the Beast vibe, as evidenced by the Belle-like qualities of Liliana, so if you like that tale, give this one a try!
I will add TW for thoughts of terminating a pregnancy and some gore.
When Liliana, a 22 year old, well-read farm girl, discovers a young man on the verge of death amidst a gory scene in the woods, her big heart can just leave him there to perish. She brings him home and her family helps tend to him and bring him back to health, only to discover that he has lost many of his memories. He can not remember who he is, other than the name El, or how he ended up in the woods in such a state...but he can remember the stars and constellations and fancy words and how to be an obviously refined gentleman. Over his weeks of healing, El and Liliana develop a very close bond, and something much more than friendship seems to develop...but will El be the one to break her from her mundane farm life, or will his secret past put Liliana and her whole village in terrible danger?
There are so many wonderful characters in this book. Liliana and her big dreams and love of stories reminds me very much of myself and my favorite Disney princess, Belle. Her whole family is so loving and obviously cares for her and for each other very much. Peter, a man we only see for a short time, is such a devoted and loving man who deserves far better than what he receives. And, of course, El... *swoon*...
I definitely recommend this one for anyone who likes classic monsters and dark fairy tales! It is also a Beauty and the Beast vibe, as evidenced by the Belle-like qualities of Liliana, so if you like that tale, give this one a try!
I will add TW for thoughts of terminating a pregnancy and some gore.
March 24, 2024
I loved the atmosphere and setting of the book. There were lots of twists I didn’t see coming. I read it super quickly, and although it started in a slow, descriptive way, the action picked up to a fast pace as it went along. By the end I was racing through.
Be aware this is part of a series, so it doesn’t tie up too many plot threads yet, but there are lots of interesting threads introduced. I’m undecided yet of whether I like the MMC, as he’s definitely a morally grey type so far, and I’m excited to see how this plays out. Great first book to a series!
I got a free ARC of this book, but also bought my own, and the review is voluntary.
Be aware this is part of a series, so it doesn’t tie up too many plot threads yet, but there are lots of interesting threads introduced. I’m undecided yet of whether I like the MMC, as he’s definitely a morally grey type so far, and I’m excited to see how this plays out. Great first book to a series!
I got a free ARC of this book, but also bought my own, and the review is voluntary.
January 23, 2025
This is book 1 in this series. Lots of story and character building. I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book. This book feels incredibly important to the beginning of a series of books. Lilliana finds a passed out man in the woods and she nurses him back to health. Your adventure picks up there and you move across a couple years but by the end of the book you’re left wondering how Lilliana (a human) has ended up in a Vampires Nest. Cliffhanger ending but makes you want to pick up book 2.📕
April 1, 2024
This book was for surprises! It wasn’t at all what I expected – it was so much better. Liliana is such a strong, compassionate character. She took it upon herself to rescue the desperately injured stranger in the woods, and nursing back to health. She was completely unaware of the consequent, what the consequences would be. The mutual attraction between Liliana and El, the stranger, show signs of becoming a great love story, but with a twist. I was completely shocked when it was revealed the El was a vampire! There were signs that he was different, but I was leaning toward werewolf. Liliana‘s true strength begins to really shine when she must flee with her daughter Annie, to keep her family in the village safe from the vampires that are hunting her. There are some really excellent characters in the story, I thought Zach and Zach were funny. The book has a brilliant plot that I really enjoyed. It was very well written, with lots to keep you guessing. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next part of Liliana, Annie and El’s story.
April 2, 2024
I was excited to read A Tale of Something New because I love fantasy and I had heard this moved more towards horror and monster fantasy and any one who knows me knows I love a good werewolf or shifter. That said I wasn’t 100% sure what would happen with this one and let me say, despite the cliff hanger I was hooked.
McColgan has created an interesting world and two interesting main characters. I particularly liked Lilianna who is a good strong female protagonist. I did also enjoy the writing and the fact that lots of darker and political topics are covered. I did find the pace switched a little, it seemed to be fast, slowed a little, picked up again and then ended on a cliffhanger. None of this was bad or off putting, apart from me wanting to know what happens next. But it’s worth keeping in mind.
The world building was woven into the tale and by the end of the first novel I had a good understanding of the world our protagonists inhabit and the protagonists as well. If you enjoy fantasy and a touch of horror this is for you.
McColgan has created an interesting world and two interesting main characters. I particularly liked Lilianna who is a good strong female protagonist. I did also enjoy the writing and the fact that lots of darker and political topics are covered. I did find the pace switched a little, it seemed to be fast, slowed a little, picked up again and then ended on a cliffhanger. None of this was bad or off putting, apart from me wanting to know what happens next. But it’s worth keeping in mind.
The world building was woven into the tale and by the end of the first novel I had a good understanding of the world our protagonists inhabit and the protagonists as well. If you enjoy fantasy and a touch of horror this is for you.
March 20, 2024
So initially, what intrigued me most about starting this book, was the blurb because it made it sound like such a good mystery (and y’all know I love a story I have to piece together!).
Basically, the FMC (female main character) of the story, Lilliana, finds a dying man in the middle of the forest and brings him back to her father’s farm in hopes of nursing him back to health and saving him! Once said man regains his consciousness, it turns out that he can’t remember who he is, where he came from, or how he ended up being there! (Personally, at that point, if it were me, he would have had to GO! It’s the only way, you feel me? 🤣🤣😅 Because if YOU don’t know if you’re a threat…🤷🏽♀️😅)
Anyway, things go AAALLLL the way downhill from there…
Though it was made clear to me that this story did have some paranormal mystery/romance to it, the beginning made me completely forget that! It starts slow and with a very “cozy country mystery” kind of vibe…..then it turns into a strong “slow burn romance vibe”, and then, when those paranormal vibes hit y’all, they hit HARD!!!
While I do enjoy a good paranormal romance, I can genuinely say that I’m not too fond of shifters or werewolves (I thank Twilight for ruining that for me back in middle school!). But the way that McColgan wrote this story… I was drawn in with freaking tunnel vision! There was a point in the book where we found out the true nature of what/who a character REALLY is… and me having not pieced it together all the way at that point, I still found myself turning that page, chugging my coffee, and stress eating my snacks trying to learn more!
Why was he in the forest? Why did she bring him home? Why couldn’t he remember anything about himself but remembered cities and what they were best known for? Could either character be trusted? Why was he found so far out in the country where no one knew him? Why was he alone? Why’d he growl at those freaking wolves? I NEEDED ANSWERS!!!
And while I’m used to an emotionally damaging cliff hanger, I will say it’s been a LOOONNNGGG time since I’ve read something that ended with a “to be continued” kind of vibe.
Did it end abruptly in the middle of a scene? No. Did I lose sleep over my unanswered questions? Yes. Do I need book 2 like YESTERDAY? Yes! 😂😂🤦🏽♀️
Overall, this book was very well put together! From the detailed farm life, to the village culture, the different societal customs, the way the characters’ religion played such a huge role in how they acted on their fears, the way “love“ is shown to mean different things to different people, the fantasy, the suspense, the mystery, the slow burn….
I’ve never read anything like this where 2 totally opposite tropes/vibes come together so well for an amazing plot! And I genuinely cannot wait for book 2!
Basically, the FMC (female main character) of the story, Lilliana, finds a dying man in the middle of the forest and brings him back to her father’s farm in hopes of nursing him back to health and saving him! Once said man regains his consciousness, it turns out that he can’t remember who he is, where he came from, or how he ended up being there! (Personally, at that point, if it were me, he would have had to GO! It’s the only way, you feel me? 🤣🤣😅 Because if YOU don’t know if you’re a threat…🤷🏽♀️😅)
Anyway, things go AAALLLL the way downhill from there…
Though it was made clear to me that this story did have some paranormal mystery/romance to it, the beginning made me completely forget that! It starts slow and with a very “cozy country mystery” kind of vibe…..then it turns into a strong “slow burn romance vibe”, and then, when those paranormal vibes hit y’all, they hit HARD!!!
While I do enjoy a good paranormal romance, I can genuinely say that I’m not too fond of shifters or werewolves (I thank Twilight for ruining that for me back in middle school!). But the way that McColgan wrote this story… I was drawn in with freaking tunnel vision! There was a point in the book where we found out the true nature of what/who a character REALLY is… and me having not pieced it together all the way at that point, I still found myself turning that page, chugging my coffee, and stress eating my snacks trying to learn more!
Why was he in the forest? Why did she bring him home? Why couldn’t he remember anything about himself but remembered cities and what they were best known for? Could either character be trusted? Why was he found so far out in the country where no one knew him? Why was he alone? Why’d he growl at those freaking wolves? I NEEDED ANSWERS!!!
And while I’m used to an emotionally damaging cliff hanger, I will say it’s been a LOOONNNGGG time since I’ve read something that ended with a “to be continued” kind of vibe.
Did it end abruptly in the middle of a scene? No. Did I lose sleep over my unanswered questions? Yes. Do I need book 2 like YESTERDAY? Yes! 😂😂🤦🏽♀️
Overall, this book was very well put together! From the detailed farm life, to the village culture, the different societal customs, the way the characters’ religion played such a huge role in how they acted on their fears, the way “love“ is shown to mean different things to different people, the fantasy, the suspense, the mystery, the slow burn….
I’ve never read anything like this where 2 totally opposite tropes/vibes come together so well for an amazing plot! And I genuinely cannot wait for book 2!
March 12, 2024
Ok, so where do I start? I got the advance reader copy (and I can't wait to get my physical copy too) so I was trying to pace myself reading this book, but after reaching chapter 8 that went straight down the drain and I just couldn't stop reading until I finish it in the middle of the night. I mean if that is not enough to catch your reading curiosity let me give you some more reasons:
1.- I knew this was fantasy, vampires and romance, right? But that was about all I knew, but you guys, I was not ready for the vampire nor the romance stuff this book hit me with. (I got shock after shock)
2.- I was aware plot twists were about to happen as I was reading but holly smokes, the TWISTS, you all are also not ready. I consider myself I very experienced reader, very good at foreseeing more or less how a story is going to unravel, well not this time, and that was absolutely refreshing. (I mean, I already told you I basically inhaled this book in one day, I even forgot I needed to eat)
3.- The scenes in the story are so beautifully described, I had a sharp, crystal clear image in my head every time a pretty epic scene happened. So much so I'm actually drawing some fan art of my favorite ones, which I will post on my art Instagram.
4.- This is a breeze to read through, you know how some books have a really cool story but the way they are written kinda hinders your advance because they keep cutting the flow? Well this is not that kind of book, but the opposite, it takes you on a lovely cruise through the story, and before you even realize you are at the end being extremely confused because it felt like you basically just started like 20 min ago, but it's actually been 12+ hours :D, and you are sad because you want to keep reading, but it is finished so you need to contact the author asking when you can read the next book. (True story)
5.- The character development is so well done and thought through, that these people feel absolutely real, there were so many moments in which I felt so identified and so seen with the stuff Liliana (the main character) was going through that I was like, yeah I feel you girl, hang in there, you are a trooper, and you are going to make it, don't worry, I've been there too.
So yeah, I could keep going and write a whole essay, but it says no spoilers, so I'm going to leave it here, I think I've made my case clear and if I didn't, well I'm officially the biggest fan of this story (self-proclaimed), and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
ABSOLUTELY 1000% RECOMMENDED
TOP TIER WORTH EVERY CENT YOU PAY FOR IT
1.- I knew this was fantasy, vampires and romance, right? But that was about all I knew, but you guys, I was not ready for the vampire nor the romance stuff this book hit me with. (I got shock after shock)
2.- I was aware plot twists were about to happen as I was reading but holly smokes, the TWISTS, you all are also not ready. I consider myself I very experienced reader, very good at foreseeing more or less how a story is going to unravel, well not this time, and that was absolutely refreshing. (I mean, I already told you I basically inhaled this book in one day, I even forgot I needed to eat)
3.- The scenes in the story are so beautifully described, I had a sharp, crystal clear image in my head every time a pretty epic scene happened. So much so I'm actually drawing some fan art of my favorite ones, which I will post on my art Instagram.
4.- This is a breeze to read through, you know how some books have a really cool story but the way they are written kinda hinders your advance because they keep cutting the flow? Well this is not that kind of book, but the opposite, it takes you on a lovely cruise through the story, and before you even realize you are at the end being extremely confused because it felt like you basically just started like 20 min ago, but it's actually been 12+ hours :D, and you are sad because you want to keep reading, but it is finished so you need to contact the author asking when you can read the next book. (True story)
5.- The character development is so well done and thought through, that these people feel absolutely real, there were so many moments in which I felt so identified and so seen with the stuff Liliana (the main character) was going through that I was like, yeah I feel you girl, hang in there, you are a trooper, and you are going to make it, don't worry, I've been there too.
So yeah, I could keep going and write a whole essay, but it says no spoilers, so I'm going to leave it here, I think I've made my case clear and if I didn't, well I'm officially the biggest fan of this story (self-proclaimed), and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
ABSOLUTELY 1000% RECOMMENDED
TOP TIER WORTH EVERY CENT YOU PAY FOR IT
March 22, 2024
Liliana and the Stranger . . .
Every story will begin with a choice… what will Liliana choose?
Liliana rode her donkey through the forest where several trees had apparently crashed. There was blood on the ground and on some of the tree leaves. She looked up and saw animal intestines and some shreds of clothing and human skin hanging from some branches. Her donkey spooked and ran away, leaving her standing there. She saw wolf prints and drag marks in the snow. She began to walk and saw a bloody bundle on the ground… a person covered in wounds, bites, and cuts! Everything was silent around her. Already afraid, would she decide to leave him there, or would she force herself to touch him and find out if he still lived? Touching his wrist, she felt a tiny flutter and felt his breath on her outstretched fingers. Dragging him only a few steps at a time, she had to stop to deal with her own dizziness. She made it to the edge of the forest and her donkey was standing there! Before she could lift him onto the donkey’s back, Cedric showed up and helped her get the stranger to the farm. It seemed Liliana was the only one who wanted to help the unconscious man. But she won’t give up on him. When he does wake up, he has no memory of who he is or what happened to him. Will she help him discover the answer? Will that put her in danger?
The story was intriguing enough to keep me interested and to want to continue reading this series. Lots of surprises, so don’t miss this one!
Every story will begin with a choice… what will Liliana choose?
Liliana rode her donkey through the forest where several trees had apparently crashed. There was blood on the ground and on some of the tree leaves. She looked up and saw animal intestines and some shreds of clothing and human skin hanging from some branches. Her donkey spooked and ran away, leaving her standing there. She saw wolf prints and drag marks in the snow. She began to walk and saw a bloody bundle on the ground… a person covered in wounds, bites, and cuts! Everything was silent around her. Already afraid, would she decide to leave him there, or would she force herself to touch him and find out if he still lived? Touching his wrist, she felt a tiny flutter and felt his breath on her outstretched fingers. Dragging him only a few steps at a time, she had to stop to deal with her own dizziness. She made it to the edge of the forest and her donkey was standing there! Before she could lift him onto the donkey’s back, Cedric showed up and helped her get the stranger to the farm. It seemed Liliana was the only one who wanted to help the unconscious man. But she won’t give up on him. When he does wake up, he has no memory of who he is or what happened to him. Will she help him discover the answer? Will that put her in danger?
The story was intriguing enough to keep me interested and to want to continue reading this series. Lots of surprises, so don’t miss this one!
March 22, 2024
I loved this book. I really loved this book. The gorgeous imagery of a small countryside village, a developing romance, and great fantasy elements blend to create an incredible read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Liliana is incredibly relatable; she works hard to help her family but wants nothing more than to disappear into one of her books. The dichotomy of her duty to her family and her duty to herself shows up time and time again, and we are able to understand her motivations for each choice she makes. When she finds a man injured in the woods, she is steadfast in her desire to save him. As she cares for him, it feels very natural how they develop feelings for each other; I was able to relate to and understand her fears of unrequited love and abandonment. I would have loved more insight into El (or any of the other family members) and his thoughts; I felt a bit removed from the other characters because we only ever see him through Liliana's eyes. Overall, I really enjoyed this read and cannot wait to see what comes next.
April 22, 2025
This book completely exceeded my expectations. From the very first chapter, it pulled me in and refused to let go. The plot was full of unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, and just when I thought I had things figured out, the story took another surprising turn.
The writing was vivid and immersive. You could genuinely feel the tension and fear that gripped the villagers, especially as they grappled with forces they didn’t understand. The sense of dread was palpable, and the author did an incredible job of building a haunting, eerie atmosphere that lingered long after I’d finished reading.
I absolutely cannot wait for the second installment—I’ll be keeping a close eye out for its release. If you’re a fan of suspenseful, thought-provoking stories with a touch of the mysterious and supernatural, this one is definitely worth picking up. I received a copy for free from voracious readers and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The writing was vivid and immersive. You could genuinely feel the tension and fear that gripped the villagers, especially as they grappled with forces they didn’t understand. The sense of dread was palpable, and the author did an incredible job of building a haunting, eerie atmosphere that lingered long after I’d finished reading.
I absolutely cannot wait for the second installment—I’ll be keeping a close eye out for its release. If you’re a fan of suspenseful, thought-provoking stories with a touch of the mysterious and supernatural, this one is definitely worth picking up. I received a copy for free from voracious readers and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 10, 2024
https://www.goodreads.com/review/new/...#
With A Tale of Something New, McColgan has ventured into the word of fantasy. Interesting is her choice of a high fantasy setting, with more commonly urban fantasy characters and vibe, which creates a unique reading experience.
Liliana, born and raised in a rural setting and environment show McColgan’s authentic understanding of such a lifestyle. While happy with her life, Liliana yearns for something more, which she believes to have found, with the wounded stranger she picks up in the woods. McColgan depicts the difficulty in constructing a relationship for those two characters, who clearly feel attracted to each other, but face the challenge of El’s memory loss. How do you fall in love with a person, who doesn’t truly know who he is himself?
Often in fantasy, the characters leave home soon into the story, to become, who they were always meant to be. McColgan takes time, however, to let Liliana change and discover, who she is, while her circumstances change, but the environment stays the same. This creates a sense of dissatisfaction, which Liliana surely felt, and the reader will experience as well. Until, finally, things do change…
As a debut novel, the development not only of the characters, but also the author can be detected. While at the beginning sometimes sentence structure and fill words distract from the central thread of the story, the story itself starts off strong and carries one through these parts, until richer imagery and vocabulary make the reading delightful.
For all those out there, who like a story to be completed in itself (like the first Harry Potter novels, or Bridgerton, e.g.) remember, this is a first book in a series and plenty of question marks stay unanswered at the end. Well, hang in there and let’s hope book number 2 follows soon!
With A Tale of Something New, McColgan has ventured into the word of fantasy. Interesting is her choice of a high fantasy setting, with more commonly urban fantasy characters and vibe, which creates a unique reading experience.
Liliana, born and raised in a rural setting and environment show McColgan’s authentic understanding of such a lifestyle. While happy with her life, Liliana yearns for something more, which she believes to have found, with the wounded stranger she picks up in the woods. McColgan depicts the difficulty in constructing a relationship for those two characters, who clearly feel attracted to each other, but face the challenge of El’s memory loss. How do you fall in love with a person, who doesn’t truly know who he is himself?
Often in fantasy, the characters leave home soon into the story, to become, who they were always meant to be. McColgan takes time, however, to let Liliana change and discover, who she is, while her circumstances change, but the environment stays the same. This creates a sense of dissatisfaction, which Liliana surely felt, and the reader will experience as well. Until, finally, things do change…
As a debut novel, the development not only of the characters, but also the author can be detected. While at the beginning sometimes sentence structure and fill words distract from the central thread of the story, the story itself starts off strong and carries one through these parts, until richer imagery and vocabulary make the reading delightful.
For all those out there, who like a story to be completed in itself (like the first Harry Potter novels, or Bridgerton, e.g.) remember, this is a first book in a series and plenty of question marks stay unanswered at the end. Well, hang in there and let’s hope book number 2 follows soon!
March 13, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced electronic copy of this book!
Overall this book was all right. It's got a very slow build until anything interesting happens (around the 45% mark), then slows down again until around 70%, but even the action in the end fell short for me. It's majority filler that could have been removed to advance the story a little further into the planned plot instead of ending where it did. It all just felt very drawn out.
The FMC is described as being 22, however, her dialogue and thoughts read more like she is a little girl for the first third of the book. I'm curious about the potential of the relationship between the FMC and MMC, and I feel as though it should have been explored more in this book instead of waiting on future books in the planned series. It didn't give me enough to be interested to see where it goes from here.
Overall this book was all right. It's got a very slow build until anything interesting happens (around the 45% mark), then slows down again until around 70%, but even the action in the end fell short for me. It's majority filler that could have been removed to advance the story a little further into the planned plot instead of ending where it did. It all just felt very drawn out.
The FMC is described as being 22, however, her dialogue and thoughts read more like she is a little girl for the first third of the book. I'm curious about the potential of the relationship between the FMC and MMC, and I feel as though it should have been explored more in this book instead of waiting on future books in the planned series. It didn't give me enough to be interested to see where it goes from here.
March 15, 2024
This story started off strong, then slowed down and then picked up again. I felt like some parts of the story were a little more drawn out than they needed to be. But the story itself was pretty good. There were some twists and surprises. It definitely kept me on my toes.
I felt like the description of Liliana came across as than the 22 years of age that they author said she was. Also, El's age was never mentioned, but from the he seemed a lot older and more mature than Liliana.
The ending of the book was a little anti-climactic, but I definitely want to read the next book to see what happens!!
I felt like the description of Liliana came across as than the 22 years of age that they author said she was. Also, El's age was never mentioned, but from the he seemed a lot older and more mature than Liliana.
The ending of the book was a little anti-climactic, but I definitely want to read the next book to see what happens!!
March 19, 2024
I absolutely enjoyed this book. From the very first page, I was intrigued and it was hard to put the book down. The ending was left on a cliffhanger, and I am excited to read the next book in the series.
March 17, 2024
This story was very interesting... I am intrigued to know more about where the story is going. Knowing this is part of a series helps to understand that this book is full of mainly world building and build up to the over all story. I like our FMC and really want to know more about the MMC. I would continue reading as I want to know more... I have A LOT of questions!
April 4, 2024
Every story begins with a choice.
So that was a great read! I fell into this one surprisingly easily, I loved the cosy olden day vibes of this. The simple farm life, old fashioned ways of healers, village life, and marriage. It wasn't what I was expecting at all for a new fantasy series, but it worked well.
I was intrigued by the BLURB of this one and it didnt disappoint.
Lilian is a dreamer, sweet, kind, strong and determined as she rescues an injured stranger and nurses him back to health, despite her families concerns. She is headstrong and moralistic, already aged 22 and unmarried (olden times vibes remember) and I adored her sweetness.
This book has a real cosy mystery vibe at the start and then we see the plot unravelled, revealing a much more dangerous, fantasy element. Now she must battle to protect those she loves most.
The characters in this are well rounded and easy to like. The author has a clever way of building both the world and characters in a way unlike any fantasy series or paranormal books I've read before.
The ending to this one happened just as the story REALLY got going with the fantasy side. A definite cliffhanger for the next in the series, and because I'm impatient to wait, I would have loved this to continue a little further into the explanation of events (keeping spoiler free) as the author left this one with lots of questions.
This is definitely one I'm glad I read and will be reading book two for sure.
I received a gifted book of this from the author for a book tour with Love Books, all thoughts are my own.
So that was a great read! I fell into this one surprisingly easily, I loved the cosy olden day vibes of this. The simple farm life, old fashioned ways of healers, village life, and marriage. It wasn't what I was expecting at all for a new fantasy series, but it worked well.
I was intrigued by the BLURB of this one and it didnt disappoint.
Lilian is a dreamer, sweet, kind, strong and determined as she rescues an injured stranger and nurses him back to health, despite her families concerns. She is headstrong and moralistic, already aged 22 and unmarried (olden times vibes remember) and I adored her sweetness.
This book has a real cosy mystery vibe at the start and then we see the plot unravelled, revealing a much more dangerous, fantasy element. Now she must battle to protect those she loves most.
The characters in this are well rounded and easy to like. The author has a clever way of building both the world and characters in a way unlike any fantasy series or paranormal books I've read before.
The ending to this one happened just as the story REALLY got going with the fantasy side. A definite cliffhanger for the next in the series, and because I'm impatient to wait, I would have loved this to continue a little further into the explanation of events (keeping spoiler free) as the author left this one with lots of questions.
This is definitely one I'm glad I read and will be reading book two for sure.
I received a gifted book of this from the author for a book tour with Love Books, all thoughts are my own.
April 13, 2024
3.75⭐
(Kindle)
I was expecting this to go in a very different direction but overall enjoyed the book.
As someone who is really into history, I loved how realistic the world felt and how true to life the daily life of the villagers was portrayed. The initial premise had me hooked pretty quickly, I liked the chemistry between characters. Liliana wasn't always the most likable, but that is pretty realistic.
I do think the pacing started losing me halfway through. The book started dragging and felt lacking in direction. There was a lot of stuff that could have been left out for the sake of better pacing in my opinion. My assumption is that this was done to end on a specific cliff hanger, but I think it would have been better to make the book just shorter in that case.
I still had a good time reading it.
I liked the writing style. The characters were so interesting to read about. I wanted to honestly find out more about the different people in Lilianas life a bit more.
The way the monsters are portrayed in the book I found to be a very fun twist on the classics.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
(Kindle)
I was expecting this to go in a very different direction but overall enjoyed the book.
As someone who is really into history, I loved how realistic the world felt and how true to life the daily life of the villagers was portrayed. The initial premise had me hooked pretty quickly, I liked the chemistry between characters. Liliana wasn't always the most likable, but that is pretty realistic.
I do think the pacing started losing me halfway through. The book started dragging and felt lacking in direction. There was a lot of stuff that could have been left out for the sake of better pacing in my opinion. My assumption is that this was done to end on a specific cliff hanger, but I think it would have been better to make the book just shorter in that case.
I still had a good time reading it.
I liked the writing style. The characters were so interesting to read about. I wanted to honestly find out more about the different people in Lilianas life a bit more.
The way the monsters are portrayed in the book I found to be a very fun twist on the classics.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 5, 2024
When I first read this blurb, it really intrigued me, but the author doesn't really give much away.
I was really hooked on who this mystery man was and why he had been left for d3ad in the woods... who he was, well I didn't see that coming at all.
I really felt for Liliana and the fact she was abnormal for her time, twenties, and unmarried... though I do feel like there is something extra there that we don't know a out yet.
I loved how the author made use of traditional herbs for healing and how they captured life on a farm in this world.
Without giving the big surprise away, it shocked me! I didn't realise and from there, I really wanted to know who this was and why he disappeared for 3 years... only to have his 'friends' re-emerge and kidnap(?)/politely ask Liliana to go with them.
The Blurb describes the story as a plot outside the mainstream formula, and boy, does the story deliver on this front.
The characters are deep and (most!) are loveable.
It was a fantastic start to the series - cannot wait until I can read Book 2 as we were left on a little cliffhanger!
Highly recommend to all ❤️
I was really hooked on who this mystery man was and why he had been left for d3ad in the woods... who he was, well I didn't see that coming at all.
I really felt for Liliana and the fact she was abnormal for her time, twenties, and unmarried... though I do feel like there is something extra there that we don't know a out yet.
I loved how the author made use of traditional herbs for healing and how they captured life on a farm in this world.
Without giving the big surprise away, it shocked me! I didn't realise and from there, I really wanted to know who this was and why he disappeared for 3 years... only to have his 'friends' re-emerge and kidnap(?)/politely ask Liliana to go with them.
The Blurb describes the story as a plot outside the mainstream formula, and boy, does the story deliver on this front.
The characters are deep and (most!) are loveable.
It was a fantastic start to the series - cannot wait until I can read Book 2 as we were left on a little cliffhanger!
Highly recommend to all ❤️
April 14, 2024
This is the first book in the A Tale Of series and also the first time I've read this author.
I wasn't sure what to expect as I also went into this one totally blind having not read the blurb either.
This was a wonderfully written fantasy with some extra surprises!
When Liliana finds a near to death stranger in the woods, she takes shim back home to nurse him back to health.
This was a little slow to start - but this is expected with fantasy where we're learning about the characters and the world is forming - I really liked the descriptive writing which gave me a vivid image as we read through.
Once this got going though, the pace really picked up and I was hooked.
I loved watching Liliana and El's relationship take root and blossom and was totally invested in everything going well for them.
This was quite a surprising read as there was a great supernatural element to it that really gave it an edge over my usual fantasy reads. There were also some great twists throughout which I never saw coming which I loved.
This was a great mix and definitely my kind of fantasy read - I can't wait to see where book 2 takes us.
I wasn't sure what to expect as I also went into this one totally blind having not read the blurb either.
This was a wonderfully written fantasy with some extra surprises!
When Liliana finds a near to death stranger in the woods, she takes shim back home to nurse him back to health.
This was a little slow to start - but this is expected with fantasy where we're learning about the characters and the world is forming - I really liked the descriptive writing which gave me a vivid image as we read through.
Once this got going though, the pace really picked up and I was hooked.
I loved watching Liliana and El's relationship take root and blossom and was totally invested in everything going well for them.
This was quite a surprising read as there was a great supernatural element to it that really gave it an edge over my usual fantasy reads. There were also some great twists throughout which I never saw coming which I loved.
This was a great mix and definitely my kind of fantasy read - I can't wait to see where book 2 takes us.
April 2, 2024
This was book was paced just like a rollercoaster! It was slow going to start but once you reached the peak and it was a faster paced and interesting story!
I loved Liliana, she is strong willed, loves reading, loves her family, and just wants to be happy even if she isn’t entirely sure what that looks like yet.
I’ve got a soft spot for El, the dark, mysterious, kind of broody stranger she saves in the woods. Oh and defunct not who he appears to be. Just my type of book boyfriend 😂
It did take me a little while to get into, but the slow start was definitely worth it! This fantasy book lingers on the edge of horror and was done in a way that I really enjoyed. The writing is so well done that you can practically feel Liliana’s emotions as she feels them. The length was perfect as well! Long enough to keep you interested and not too long that it feels full of useless points just because.
Also the cover is stunning! It really portrays the darkness of the story.
I loved this and I’m really looking forward to reading what happens next!
I loved Liliana, she is strong willed, loves reading, loves her family, and just wants to be happy even if she isn’t entirely sure what that looks like yet.
I’ve got a soft spot for El, the dark, mysterious, kind of broody stranger she saves in the woods. Oh and defunct not who he appears to be. Just my type of book boyfriend 😂
It did take me a little while to get into, but the slow start was definitely worth it! This fantasy book lingers on the edge of horror and was done in a way that I really enjoyed. The writing is so well done that you can practically feel Liliana’s emotions as she feels them. The length was perfect as well! Long enough to keep you interested and not too long that it feels full of useless points just because.
Also the cover is stunning! It really portrays the darkness of the story.
I loved this and I’m really looking forward to reading what happens next!
April 9, 2024
A Tale of Something New by D.S. McColgan.
ATO Series Book 1.
Liliana is shocked to find a dying man in the middle of the forest, surrounded by the remains of a brutal fight. She brings him home to her father’s farm to nurse him back to health. However, when the stranger regains consciousness, he doesn’t remember who he is or how he came to be there. Intrigued by the mystery of it all, Liliana sets out to discover who this handsome, well-mannered stranger is. Could he be the man who whisks her away and shows her the world? Or will whatever happened in the forest put her and everyone she loves in grave danger?
I loved the cover. This was a good read. The chapters were shortish. I did like the style of the writing. It was slow to begin with but I soon got into it. I did like Liliana. She was strong and wouldn't back down. I didn't expect that. That did surprise me.Twisty. I didn't like or trust the vampires. Annie surprised me. The ending did surprise me and I can't wait for the next book. 4*.
ATO Series Book 1.
Liliana is shocked to find a dying man in the middle of the forest, surrounded by the remains of a brutal fight. She brings him home to her father’s farm to nurse him back to health. However, when the stranger regains consciousness, he doesn’t remember who he is or how he came to be there. Intrigued by the mystery of it all, Liliana sets out to discover who this handsome, well-mannered stranger is. Could he be the man who whisks her away and shows her the world? Or will whatever happened in the forest put her and everyone she loves in grave danger?
I loved the cover. This was a good read. The chapters were shortish. I did like the style of the writing. It was slow to begin with but I soon got into it. I did like Liliana. She was strong and wouldn't back down. I didn't expect that. That did surprise me.Twisty. I didn't like or trust the vampires. Annie surprised me. The ending did surprise me and I can't wait for the next book. 4*.
March 26, 2024
‘A Tale of Something New’ feels like a book of two halves, the first half focusing on Liliana and her life in the sleepy village she grew up in. Liliana is a young girl who dreams of a fantasy world and hopes to one day explore what lies beyond her village. I really liked how she finds the mysterious stranger in the forest and how she nurses him back to health. I was really intrigued at who he was and where he came from and I thought Colgan did a really good job of getting us to wonder what was going to happen.
The second half of the novel is more action packed and the story takes a turn to the supernatural. Liliana has grown up a lot since the first part of the novel but it still reads as a sort of fairytale in a way. I was surprised at where this book ended but I have read enough to really care what happens next to Lilana and I want to know more.
I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
The second half of the novel is more action packed and the story takes a turn to the supernatural. Liliana has grown up a lot since the first part of the novel but it still reads as a sort of fairytale in a way. I was surprised at where this book ended but I have read enough to really care what happens next to Lilana and I want to know more.
I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
March 23, 2024
This was an incredibly well written book. Without wanting to reveal too much, the writing changes with the main character in a way that really helps you get into her mindset as her character develops. It begins as a sweet, idealistic story, which then has a drastic turning point that completely shakes our main character and challenges her very identity. The way this is reflected in the writing is just superb - it makes it particularly good to read more than once.
The characters felt rich and full of depth, the story was engaging, and I really felt invested in the events and happiness of my favourite characters. There were parts that felt so raw I couldn't help but cry along with the characters. Would highly recommend as a book that will challenge your perceptions, tug at your heartstrings and take you to a new world you won't want to leave.
~ I was an ARC reader!
The characters felt rich and full of depth, the story was engaging, and I really felt invested in the events and happiness of my favourite characters. There were parts that felt so raw I couldn't help but cry along with the characters. Would highly recommend as a book that will challenge your perceptions, tug at your heartstrings and take you to a new world you won't want to leave.
~ I was an ARC reader!
March 29, 2024
I really enjoyed this story, I knew from the blurb that it was my kind of book. But I didn't expect to enjoy it this much. The world building was fantastic, I really got a sense of what lilianas life was like and the world she lived in. The characters were written so well, I really came to feel for the characters, some of them not so much haha. It was a slow build up, which normally I wouldn't like in a book, I tend to like it more fast paced, however this wasn't the case, it was a slow build up to something big and writing was done so well, that I was sucked into the story despite finding it a bit slow for me. But the last few chapters were well worth the wait, it was fantastic. This is a beautifully written story that really captures Lilianas coming of age, a story where not everything or everyone is what they seem! I cannot wait to see what happens next!!
August 1, 2024
Okay honest truth I didn't know what was going to like this book. But it's actually really good. Mind you it's very slow burning, kind of betrayal, and more. The interesting part was you met the love interest early and then out of nowhere they disappear. So it's very slow in the beginning because it describes more of MFC setting and how she began. Honest truth I felt kind of sad for her. Cuz she had like a happy life, and then after meeting the mystery man, it all kind of just came down from there. Still I love the way the author wrote everything. It was beautifully descripted And it just flowed really nicely. Honestly I can't wait for book two because I want to know what happens now.
July 8, 2024
Love this book. It's a bit of old times with a good pace, interesting story progression/characters, and a bit of pg love interest. There are a few moments of violence but nothing too scary. I loved the main characters' growth through the story and her self realizations. It does end on a cliff hanger so I am excited for book two.
July 9, 2024
Great read! Reading the blurb, I thought it was something I might enjoy, but it was better than expected. The blurb doesn't give much away, and I really loved that. I immediately went on to the next book, and I am nearly done it. I would have to say I'm enjoying the second one even more. I highly recommend this book and the next.
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