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Beyond Fairytales #9
Taliasman
Born to a destitute woodworker who wanted a son to carry on the family business, Talia grew up with one phrase on her “If I had been born a boy.” If she had been born a boy, she would have been cherished, supported, and launched into the world with her father’s legacy. As only a worthless girl, she toils all day long to earn her handful of inferior grain.
Far away in the heavenly palace, Queen Vina receives a mysterious coin necklace from Nicodemus, teller of stories. Compelled by the throbbing heartbeat, she scours the earth to come across Talia, enslaved to a family who never wanted her. Rather than admit her motives, Vina purchases the girl with a sack full of gold. Furious, betrayed, and homesick, Talia endeavors to share her misery with the entire palace. Vina, afraid to confess her love, allows herself to become trapped in the role of brutal slave owner.
Talia, bred to expect nothing but misery, faces the first choice of her life. Will she accept love, even if it comes from an unlikely source? Or will she reject the one who offers her everything?
A Beyond Fairytales Adaptation of Our Lady’s Child
Far away in the heavenly palace, Queen Vina receives a mysterious coin necklace from Nicodemus, teller of stories. Compelled by the throbbing heartbeat, she scours the earth to come across Talia, enslaved to a family who never wanted her. Rather than admit her motives, Vina purchases the girl with a sack full of gold. Furious, betrayed, and homesick, Talia endeavors to share her misery with the entire palace. Vina, afraid to confess her love, allows herself to become trapped in the role of brutal slave owner.
Talia, bred to expect nothing but misery, faces the first choice of her life. Will she accept love, even if it comes from an unlikely source? Or will she reject the one who offers her everything?
A Beyond Fairytales Adaptation of Our Lady’s Child
72 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2014
3 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Anastasia Vitsky
36 books150 followersCookie queen, wooden spoon lady, and champion of carbs, Anastasia Vitsky specializes in F/F fiction. She hates shoes and is allergic to leather. When not writing about women who live spankily ever after, she coordinates reader and author events such as Spank or Treat, Love Spanks, and Sci Spanks. Her favorite event is Ana’s Advent Calendar, a month-long celebration of books, community, and making a difference.
She is too afraid to watch Doctor Who, but she adores The Good Wife and anything with Audrey Hepburn. In her next life, she will learn how to make the perfect pie crust. She can be found at governingana.wordpress.com and on twitter @AnastasiaVitsky.
I love to hear from readers!
She is too afraid to watch Doctor Who, but she adores The Good Wife and anything with Audrey Hepburn. In her next life, she will learn how to make the perfect pie crust. She can be found at governingana.wordpress.com and on twitter @AnastasiaVitsky.
I love to hear from readers!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 22, 2019
While I found it disconcerting when I started it, it ends up being quite a sweet story, although that sounds like an odd thing to say for a story that's theme is domestic discipline. Talia is the daughter of a poor woodcutter. When Queen Vina knocks on the door offering to buy her, Talia's mother quickly agrees and even haggles the price upward. No matter what Vina does, Talia is nothing but angry and petulant.
It's a mash-up of a couple of fairy tales with heaven chucked in for good measure. Odd, but well written.
It's a mash-up of a couple of fairy tales with heaven chucked in for good measure. Odd, but well written.
January 5, 2015
If I had been born a boy, I would have followed in my father's footsteps and become a tradesman.
Because I was a girl, he sold me instead.
Talia, a woodworker's daughter, lives in squalor but maintains a positive viewpoint of her life. When a regal woman offers Talia's parents an extensive amount of gold Talia is sold to Queen Vina. Although Vina wants to shower Talia with extravagance, Talia is a willful and bratty young lady.
When Talia's insolence threatens the harmony of the palace something has to give...
Will Talia finally embrace her new life filled with love or will Vina have to give up all that she's ever wanted?
Taliasman is definitely a hybrid novella that mixes many elements across several genres. The writing as well as the story flows from page one and mixes the reader into the action right away. I found it impossible not to like both Talia and Vina as they are easy to relate to and soft souls. I had my fingers crossed the entire time hoping they both found true love in each other!
There were a few twists in this story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and there was one point where I seriously thought there would be no happily ever after. I almost was about to accept an alternate ending, but was very happy with how everything ended. All in all- a beautiful love story filled with a little angst, mystery, and magic. I'd highly recommend this to FF readers or those who want to try out FF.
~4.5 stars~
*Received an arc in exchange for an honest review*
Because I was a girl, he sold me instead.
Talia, a woodworker's daughter, lives in squalor but maintains a positive viewpoint of her life. When a regal woman offers Talia's parents an extensive amount of gold Talia is sold to Queen Vina. Although Vina wants to shower Talia with extravagance, Talia is a willful and bratty young lady.
When Talia's insolence threatens the harmony of the palace something has to give...
Will Talia finally embrace her new life filled with love or will Vina have to give up all that she's ever wanted?
Taliasman is definitely a hybrid novella that mixes many elements across several genres. The writing as well as the story flows from page one and mixes the reader into the action right away. I found it impossible not to like both Talia and Vina as they are easy to relate to and soft souls. I had my fingers crossed the entire time hoping they both found true love in each other!
There were a few twists in this story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and there was one point where I seriously thought there would be no happily ever after. I almost was about to accept an alternate ending, but was very happy with how everything ended. All in all- a beautiful love story filled with a little angst, mystery, and magic. I'd highly recommend this to FF readers or those who want to try out FF.
~4.5 stars~
*Received an arc in exchange for an honest review*
February 16, 2016
I'm not totally sure what to make of this one except to say I liked it. There was some sweetness there, some good tension, some intrigue. It was also a little confusing in parts, but I think that might be because it's a rewrite of a fairy tale I'm not familiar with. Still, I couldn't put it down, and it's a quick, satisfying read.
October 21, 2014
From the first page I was hooked on Talia's story. "If only I had been a boy." As a young girl, I often felt that frustration watching boys playing on the playground and having a grand time. As a girl we are often placed into situations we would rather not be in and so in many ways is Talia. Sold to a wealthy woman, she resents her circumstance and longs to return to her parents, even though her heart burns at the memory of them selling her.
Day by day, Queen Vina tries to win the affection of Talia but she fights her at every turn. Spankings and punishments do not curb the girl's tongue and willful ways. It is only when the winds of fate are altered nearly irrevocably that love's true form is discovered when all hope is nearly lost.
This was a fast paced read that kept me up late and eagerly anticipating my breaks at work so I could revisit Talia and Vina. I wonder if they are accepting house guests...
Day by day, Queen Vina tries to win the affection of Talia but she fights her at every turn. Spankings and punishments do not curb the girl's tongue and willful ways. It is only when the winds of fate are altered nearly irrevocably that love's true form is discovered when all hope is nearly lost.
This was a fast paced read that kept me up late and eagerly anticipating my breaks at work so I could revisit Talia and Vina. I wonder if they are accepting house guests...
May 29, 2020
this was an unusual story for me and I liked it. Talia and Vina are incredible MCs but I really loved Vina more than I did Talia even if her struggles were complex she was still a well developed character. this book can be seen as a soulmates story since Talia is Vina's great and true love. anyway you should give this short story a try.
October 20, 2014
A truly moving tale.
First of all let me say how very elegant the cover is. Syneca Featherstone has done an excellent job with it! It is one of the prettiest covers I have seen in quite awhile. The story matches very well.
Ms. Vitsky gave a tantalizing taste of this incredible tale during the Sci Spanks 2014 event and again when it was released in the book of the same name. I had no idea this story would be so much more...well, everything! It is heartbreaking and happy, it made me angry, made me afraid, made me cry, made me smile and laugh. There was just so much pain for both Talia and Vina...such stubborn, prideful women who either wouldn't or couldn't express their true feelings. I prayed Vina would find her voice and Talia would open her eyes before it was too late and the future lost to them forever. I really could gush on and on about the story but I do not want to give anything away. It is too delicious an experience that needs to be savored by your own eyes. Let me tell you this, I really do want to gush and can not wait until I can discuss it with friends!!!
The chapters go from Talia's point of view to Vina's Point of view. I really enjoyed this as it let me see what each of them were thinking and let me know how their minds worked. Everything flowed well and I did not notice a single mistake.
This book is definably in my top favourites list! I am so very, very impressed Ms. Vitsky, thank you so much for bringing this story to life.
First of all let me say how very elegant the cover is. Syneca Featherstone has done an excellent job with it! It is one of the prettiest covers I have seen in quite awhile. The story matches very well.
Ms. Vitsky gave a tantalizing taste of this incredible tale during the Sci Spanks 2014 event and again when it was released in the book of the same name. I had no idea this story would be so much more...well, everything! It is heartbreaking and happy, it made me angry, made me afraid, made me cry, made me smile and laugh. There was just so much pain for both Talia and Vina...such stubborn, prideful women who either wouldn't or couldn't express their true feelings. I prayed Vina would find her voice and Talia would open her eyes before it was too late and the future lost to them forever. I really could gush on and on about the story but I do not want to give anything away. It is too delicious an experience that needs to be savored by your own eyes. Let me tell you this, I really do want to gush and can not wait until I can discuss it with friends!!!
The chapters go from Talia's point of view to Vina's Point of view. I really enjoyed this as it let me see what each of them were thinking and let me know how their minds worked. Everything flowed well and I did not notice a single mistake.
This book is definably in my top favourites list! I am so very, very impressed Ms. Vitsky, thank you so much for bringing this story to life.
October 22, 2014
Wow! Taliasman blew my mind. It is based off the original fairy tale called Our Lady’s Child. I hadn’t heard of that one before but based on Ana’s book it is one heck of a tale! First off, let me begin by saying that the cover for Taliasman is just stunningly beautiful and represents the story perfectly!
Second of all, In order to read this book there are a couple things you will need and the first is a big box of tissues. This book will tear at your heart strings and will really make you rethink the way you live and love. Ana does a fantastic job in this story making you fall in love with Talia and aching for her to be happy all throughout her journey.
One of the coolest thing about this book is the characters, their names are so unique and rare. They aren’t your average Sue or MaryJane characters. They have depth and you can really relate to them.
I don’t know what else I can say without spoiling it for you but this story shows real love’s worth and the things two amazing woman will do for it. I highly recommend it even to those of you who don’t like f/f stories! This is just beautiful!
Second of all, In order to read this book there are a couple things you will need and the first is a big box of tissues. This book will tear at your heart strings and will really make you rethink the way you live and love. Ana does a fantastic job in this story making you fall in love with Talia and aching for her to be happy all throughout her journey.
One of the coolest thing about this book is the characters, their names are so unique and rare. They aren’t your average Sue or MaryJane characters. They have depth and you can really relate to them.
I don’t know what else I can say without spoiling it for you but this story shows real love’s worth and the things two amazing woman will do for it. I highly recommend it even to those of you who don’t like f/f stories! This is just beautiful!
June 25, 2023
Each and every time I read one of Ms. Vitsky's books, I'm struck by the sheer beauty of her writing voice. It's so smooth and lyrical, similar to prose written by McKinley, Hoag, and Rice. The second thing that always manages to strike me is how much depth she brings to her characters. It's a rare gift.
I fell in love with the concept of the story right away, and was a little worried when I first started reading the story and immediately developed a strong dislike for the character, Talia. Despite her poor origins, she's such a selfish, arrogant character, I never did warm up to her. The good news is that I loved the rest of the characters!
I was a little surprised to find that this story was racier than previous Vitsky stories I've read, but even those scenes were beautifully penned and organic in nature.
Although this is a part of the publishers Beyond Fairytales line, the supernatural/paranormal elements are very light, making it a good choice even for those who don't care for fairytales.
I fell in love with the concept of the story right away, and was a little worried when I first started reading the story and immediately developed a strong dislike for the character, Talia. Despite her poor origins, she's such a selfish, arrogant character, I never did warm up to her. The good news is that I loved the rest of the characters!
I was a little surprised to find that this story was racier than previous Vitsky stories I've read, but even those scenes were beautifully penned and organic in nature.
Although this is a part of the publishers Beyond Fairytales line, the supernatural/paranormal elements are very light, making it a good choice even for those who don't care for fairytales.
February 2, 2015
I love fairy tale retellings, and this one did not disappoint.
WHAT I LIKED
-----------------
* The complexity of the relationship between the female leads.
* The sweetness of the sweet moments - this author writes those moments in a way that really hits home in the heart.
* The ending. :)
I usually include a "what I didn't like" section, but I don't really have any "didn't like" elements. What I do have is "I want more" elements:
* Would have liked more background on the talisman and how it ended up in the hands of Talia's mistress.
* Would have liked more of the year that Talia struggled and resisted, to help further deepen the scenes where she and her mistress choose vulnerability with each other.
Note that this story contains a sex scene and intimate spanking.
WHAT I LIKED
-----------------
* The complexity of the relationship between the female leads.
* The sweetness of the sweet moments - this author writes those moments in a way that really hits home in the heart.
* The ending. :)
I usually include a "what I didn't like" section, but I don't really have any "didn't like" elements. What I do have is "I want more" elements:
* Would have liked more background on the talisman and how it ended up in the hands of Talia's mistress.
* Would have liked more of the year that Talia struggled and resisted, to help further deepen the scenes where she and her mistress choose vulnerability with each other.
Note that this story contains a sex scene and intimate spanking.
January 6, 2015
Firstly, before I write anything about this - I just wanted to say - how pretty is this cover ? I still look at it on my kindle bookshelf having read it and think "I wish I'd come up with that design" And that's before you read the story and realise the necklaces significance to the story......
Although there is a common theme of spanking running through all of Anastasias books - the scenarios that she uses to explore this are so different to one another that there will always be one that will suit your personal tastes. This well crafted Faerie tale is a bit of a roller coaster that will pull you around emotionally in terms of how you think of love and the twists along the way as the characters stories unfold keep you hooked until the very end...........
Although there is a common theme of spanking running through all of Anastasias books - the scenarios that she uses to explore this are so different to one another that there will always be one that will suit your personal tastes. This well crafted Faerie tale is a bit of a roller coaster that will pull you around emotionally in terms of how you think of love and the twists along the way as the characters stories unfold keep you hooked until the very end...........
May 4, 2015
Magic, mystery and romance. Captivating from A to Z.
I was pleasantly surprised by how this story developed and I had no idea where it was going. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I've fallen in love with Talia. A young woman who was treated so Incredibly bad by her parents, it made me sad. This is a perfect story. A story with misunderstandings, with desire and passion. A fantasy, a mistery and a enchanting romance with magic. I really enjoyed this story. It's written full of emotions. Sadness, fear, anger, happiness. You name it and I felt it. Anastasia Vitsky has the ability to entrain me in the story, time and time again. I recommend it highly and if you don't read this one you'll miss a great story.
I was pleasantly surprised by how this story developed and I had no idea where it was going. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I've fallen in love with Talia. A young woman who was treated so Incredibly bad by her parents, it made me sad. This is a perfect story. A story with misunderstandings, with desire and passion. A fantasy, a mistery and a enchanting romance with magic. I really enjoyed this story. It's written full of emotions. Sadness, fear, anger, happiness. You name it and I felt it. Anastasia Vitsky has the ability to entrain me in the story, time and time again. I recommend it highly and if you don't read this one you'll miss a great story.
October 22, 2014
Sweet and savory.
This is a story that pulls at heart strings. It grips you and never lets you go, until the very last word of the story is uttered. I loved Vina, and Talia. Their struggles and battles. The rollercoaster of doubts and fears. It is something we all can relate to. The character development was strong, but didn’t detract from the story, instead it helped build it even more.
There were twists that I was not expecting, they kept me riveted to the book even while fighting with being sick. I am really looking forward to more books!
Definitely something to recommend to friends!
This is a story that pulls at heart strings. It grips you and never lets you go, until the very last word of the story is uttered. I loved Vina, and Talia. Their struggles and battles. The rollercoaster of doubts and fears. It is something we all can relate to. The character development was strong, but didn’t detract from the story, instead it helped build it even more.
There were twists that I was not expecting, they kept me riveted to the book even while fighting with being sick. I am really looking forward to more books!
Definitely something to recommend to friends!
May 1, 2015
The author creates a 3 dimensional world in just a few pages. The reader is very quickly drawn into the emotional heartfelt story of Talia and Vina. Fabulous story, character development, and storyline. You may need tissues to read this story. Talia's self doubt, fears and inability to move past them is a common theme in today's world. Although a fairy tale, the moral of this story focuses on acceptance, love and trust which is so very relevant today.
November 11, 2014
A lovely story, Taliasman's only flaw is that it leaves you wanting more. Anastasia Vitsky writes of two stubborn women unwilling and unable to believe the other one could ever possibly like her, especially without ulterior motives attached. The fairy tale qualities of the story are very appealing and the cost is well worth the short length! :)
January 5, 2015
Beautifully written, a tale that will fascinate your mind and capture your imagination. Anastasia Vitsky skillful writing of this tale will keep you captivated from the begin, you will not be disappointed.
May 5, 2015
I really loved this book, it touched my heart. I wonder how many girls have felt this way at some point in their life? Too many, I would suspect. Wonderfully written and emotionally touching! Very well done!
May 8, 2015
Not your everyday fairy tale. Much better!
How would you feel if you’d be bought by the one who loves you? In Taliasman Talia faces exactly this. Sold to Queen Vina because she is a girl and not the much longed for male heir to an unloving family.
Vina loves Talia and goes to some length to make Talia feel good in the environment of a luxurious palace. However it is not clear for a long time at all whether Talia is willing to accept Vina’s advances and I enjoyed finding out what would happen next. After all, their whole relationship is based on a business transaction. Not the best circumstances to start a relationship with, but a great idea for an exciting plot and it definitely worked here.
Accordingly, the question if the powerful Queen and the powerless slavegirl, in her own eyes a mere possession, can possibly find a way to each other, was one of the reasons why I could not put the book away. There are some twists in the story that I enjoyed a lot as the story unfolded and I cannot write these down here, as this would spoil the fun for other readers. However, I can say how much I loved the exchanges between the two women and for me it was awesome to follow the thoughts of both main characters, because both suffer and are desperately looking for love. They want to be appreciated for who they are and this is not made easy for them. You can see the women’s thoughts and some moments are heartbreaking, and if anything, Anastasia Vitsky makes clear that love is the force pushing us, and how it can be the source of our greatest pain.
To a great extent it is Miss Vitsky’s adorable style and language use that made it easy to find into the heads of the characters immediately and to invoke all the pictures and emotional nuances you could wish for. I love this style of writing because it appears so effortless and easy and makes reading Miss Vitsky’s books an even more pleasurable experience.
If you are looking for a book full of steaming hot sex scenes, then Taliasman is not for you, because this is not the focus of the story. However, if you enjoy reading about strong women who are believable and whose thoughts, emotions and actions are like those you could have, I recommend Taliasman wholeheartedly. I loved the story and the characters a lot and can only hope for more.
So, my opinion about Taliasman? It is awesome!
How would you feel if you’d be bought by the one who loves you? In Taliasman Talia faces exactly this. Sold to Queen Vina because she is a girl and not the much longed for male heir to an unloving family.
Vina loves Talia and goes to some length to make Talia feel good in the environment of a luxurious palace. However it is not clear for a long time at all whether Talia is willing to accept Vina’s advances and I enjoyed finding out what would happen next. After all, their whole relationship is based on a business transaction. Not the best circumstances to start a relationship with, but a great idea for an exciting plot and it definitely worked here.
Accordingly, the question if the powerful Queen and the powerless slavegirl, in her own eyes a mere possession, can possibly find a way to each other, was one of the reasons why I could not put the book away. There are some twists in the story that I enjoyed a lot as the story unfolded and I cannot write these down here, as this would spoil the fun for other readers. However, I can say how much I loved the exchanges between the two women and for me it was awesome to follow the thoughts of both main characters, because both suffer and are desperately looking for love. They want to be appreciated for who they are and this is not made easy for them. You can see the women’s thoughts and some moments are heartbreaking, and if anything, Anastasia Vitsky makes clear that love is the force pushing us, and how it can be the source of our greatest pain.
To a great extent it is Miss Vitsky’s adorable style and language use that made it easy to find into the heads of the characters immediately and to invoke all the pictures and emotional nuances you could wish for. I love this style of writing because it appears so effortless and easy and makes reading Miss Vitsky’s books an even more pleasurable experience.
If you are looking for a book full of steaming hot sex scenes, then Taliasman is not for you, because this is not the focus of the story. However, if you enjoy reading about strong women who are believable and whose thoughts, emotions and actions are like those you could have, I recommend Taliasman wholeheartedly. I loved the story and the characters a lot and can only hope for more.
So, my opinion about Taliasman? It is awesome!
January 18, 2015
I am so glad I chose to read this gem. It's a beautiful story with a dreamy, ethereal quality to it (there's a reason for that, of course). It's a quick and absorbing read.
I had a hard time putting this one down. I don't normally enjoy first-person narrative with shifting perspectives, but I think this worked best in that format. We needed to see both sides of the story in order for it to make sense as a whole.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the exploration of what it means to have been born a girl in a world that seems geared toward preferring boys. The desire to be a boy for its advantages (rather than because of one's innate sense of gender) is always worth talking about.
The spiritual themes were also present throughout, though I never had the sense that there was heavy-handed religion. There was a sense of holy love underneath the story (which is also intentional; if you don't know the story this is based on, do read the note at the end).
Finally, this is yet another story which proves there doesn't need to be graphic content for a story to be romantic and sensual. The scenes between Vina and Talia are lovely and perfect for their relationship.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
5 stars
Amy
I had a hard time putting this one down. I don't normally enjoy first-person narrative with shifting perspectives, but I think this worked best in that format. We needed to see both sides of the story in order for it to make sense as a whole.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the exploration of what it means to have been born a girl in a world that seems geared toward preferring boys. The desire to be a boy for its advantages (rather than because of one's innate sense of gender) is always worth talking about.
The spiritual themes were also present throughout, though I never had the sense that there was heavy-handed religion. There was a sense of holy love underneath the story (which is also intentional; if you don't know the story this is based on, do read the note at the end).
Finally, this is yet another story which proves there doesn't need to be graphic content for a story to be romantic and sensual. The scenes between Vina and Talia are lovely and perfect for their relationship.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
5 stars
Amy
August 20, 2016
I am so glad I chose to read this gem. It’s a beautiful story with a dreamy, ethereal quality to it (there’s a reason for that, of course). It’s a quick and absorbing read.
I had a hard time putting this one down. I don’t normally enjoy first-person narrative with shifting perspectives, but I think this worked best in that format. We needed to see both sides of the story in order for it to make sense as a whole.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the exploration of what it means to have been born a girl in a world that seems geared toward preferring boys. The desire to be a boy for its advantages (rather than because of one’s innate sense of gender) is always worth talking about.
The spiritual themes were also present throughout, though I never had the sense that there was heavy-handed religion. There was a sense of holy love underneath the story (which is also intentional; if you don’t know the story this is based on, do read the note at the end).
Finally, this is yet another story which proves there doesn’t need to be graphic content for a story to be romantic and sensual. The scenes between Vina and Talia are lovely and perfect for their relationship.
I had a hard time putting this one down. I don’t normally enjoy first-person narrative with shifting perspectives, but I think this worked best in that format. We needed to see both sides of the story in order for it to make sense as a whole.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the exploration of what it means to have been born a girl in a world that seems geared toward preferring boys. The desire to be a boy for its advantages (rather than because of one’s innate sense of gender) is always worth talking about.
The spiritual themes were also present throughout, though I never had the sense that there was heavy-handed religion. There was a sense of holy love underneath the story (which is also intentional; if you don’t know the story this is based on, do read the note at the end).
Finally, this is yet another story which proves there doesn’t need to be graphic content for a story to be romantic and sensual. The scenes between Vina and Talia are lovely and perfect for their relationship.
May 7, 2015
I am not into fairly tales generally but this charming mash-up of a fairly tale had me hooked from the compelling first line. "if I had been born a boy" all the way to a sublime ending. There is an ethereal quality to this author's style that I found very captivating and this is in spite of the fact that I am not a fan of even the mildest sort of kinkiness, and yes there is some mild spanking thing going on but that is not the most alluring part of the story. Having said that, I did find the love story between the unwilling Talia and the determined Mistress Vina poignant and evocatively told. The mix of emotions between the two is lovingly unfolded as each of them struggles with conflicting emotions. Talia longs to be free from what she considers her enslavement even though she is lavishly cared for by Vina and her servants. Vina longs for Talia's love, freely given, something Talia resists. This has everything a good romance should have. A love that won't die, betrayal, greed, jealousy, mistrust and a resolution that will make any romantic feel like swooning. The characters are all strongly presented, there is depth and richness in the prose and I would very much recommend it.
May 18, 2015
I've come to love everything from this author. The complexity of every single character, no matter how minor they seem at first glance, is so well planned and executed.
In this story, we meet darling Talia who is living a life that is terribly downtrodden between the level of poverty her family suffers and her "place" in her society. My heart broke as they gave a lion's share of their remaining food to the wealthy Queen Vina as the details of Talia's purchase are settled. Strong willed Talia is unable to see that she is not merely a commodity to Vina and it takes a painfully long time for her to realize this. In time, both Talia and Vina grow, relationships with others are tested and their true colors are realized.
I appreciate the length of this story. Plenty of time has been devoted to the details if making this world believable, and for characters to develop over time. Everything wraps up nicely without that sinking feeling of needing to know what's next. We do want to know what happens next and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.
In this story, we meet darling Talia who is living a life that is terribly downtrodden between the level of poverty her family suffers and her "place" in her society. My heart broke as they gave a lion's share of their remaining food to the wealthy Queen Vina as the details of Talia's purchase are settled. Strong willed Talia is unable to see that she is not merely a commodity to Vina and it takes a painfully long time for her to realize this. In time, both Talia and Vina grow, relationships with others are tested and their true colors are realized.
I appreciate the length of this story. Plenty of time has been devoted to the details if making this world believable, and for characters to develop over time. Everything wraps up nicely without that sinking feeling of needing to know what's next. We do want to know what happens next and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 9, 2015
I have read several of Ms. Vitsky’s books and I have enjoyed seeing her evolve as a writer. In this story, we start with Talia being purchased from her parents by Vina. Talia feels that the reason that her parents sold her is because she is a girl. If she had been a boy, they would have kept her, treasured her.
Vina spends a lot of time trying to convince Talia that she loves her for herself. That she isn’t just a bought slave. But, Talia has no love for herself and she can’t accept love from someone else. Talia’s personal servant, Merda is not helping. She has a personal agenda that she is following.
Talia is railing against her life. She feels unloved, unappreciated. When love, in the form of Vina, is shown to her, she can’t see it because of all her anger. Eventually, there is a meeting of minds and, of course, a HEA.
I really enjoyed reading this story. Ms. Vitsky writes a wonderful story with emotion and feeling. There is definitely a romance. I do like that there is more focus on the relationship than on the physical. I highly recommend this book!
Vina spends a lot of time trying to convince Talia that she loves her for herself. That she isn’t just a bought slave. But, Talia has no love for herself and she can’t accept love from someone else. Talia’s personal servant, Merda is not helping. She has a personal agenda that she is following.
Talia is railing against her life. She feels unloved, unappreciated. When love, in the form of Vina, is shown to her, she can’t see it because of all her anger. Eventually, there is a meeting of minds and, of course, a HEA.
I really enjoyed reading this story. Ms. Vitsky writes a wonderful story with emotion and feeling. There is definitely a romance. I do like that there is more focus on the relationship than on the physical. I highly recommend this book!
May 8, 2015
Taliasman is a powerful story about a young girl, Talia, who is sold by her parents to a rich woman, Vina. I was immediately pulled into the story about power, emotion and heartbreak. Ms Vitsky does a wonderful job in character development throughout the story. There is mild power play written into the plot and love is the prevailing theme here. If you want to dive into a character, then Talia is for you. Her heartache from being sold and feeling trapped, is tangible as is the attraction to Vina.
Ms Vitsky's attention to historical details and customs shows her research into characters is quite thorough. I felt transported to that place in time in the palace, with the characters in the story. I love the escape that this story gave to me!
I find myself anxious to see where Talia's story travels next! Don't miss it!
Ms Vitsky's attention to historical details and customs shows her research into characters is quite thorough. I felt transported to that place in time in the palace, with the characters in the story. I love the escape that this story gave to me!
I find myself anxious to see where Talia's story travels next! Don't miss it!
May 25, 2015
A deeply meaningful read
I went into this book not quite knowing what to expect but from the first page I was drawn in and I couldn't stop reading until the very last page. Reading page for page word for word I fell in love and continued to see the scenes play out before me as a well written play between the covers of a book! I look forward to reading more and continuing to read until no more books are written.
I went into this book not quite knowing what to expect but from the first page I was drawn in and I couldn't stop reading until the very last page. Reading page for page word for word I fell in love and continued to see the scenes play out before me as a well written play between the covers of a book! I look forward to reading more and continuing to read until no more books are written.
January 4, 2019
Not. My. Kink.
Want to read
November 6, 2022note to self: apparently good at demonstrating bdsm dynamic
September 18, 2015
4 Heart Review by Kat
I am extremely new to both fantasy and lesbian romance but had heard about this series and wanted to stretch myself more as a reader. What I found was that I enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would. I found it piqued my interest and kept me guessing on where it was going. Although not usually a fan of short stories, this book developed a good strong story with descriptions and facts to make it feel like it was a much longer book. It was refreshing that it wasn’t filled with long, descriptive sex scenes, because that is not what this book is about. I have to admit, even though Ms. Vitsky is known for her wooden spoon, I hadn’t expected quite as much spanking with both a hand and a belt.
Taliasman is a rewriting of Our Lady’s Child, a story I had no knowledge of whatsoever so I had no premise of where this story was going. It is a “sad to start” tale of a girl, Talia, born to very poor parents. She has done everything to gain their love and appreciation. She is not loved, especially by her hard, mean mother, for what appears to be the fact that she was born a girl instead of boy to carry on the family business. She has learned her father’s woodworking trade and is quite accomplished at it but as in tales of old world, she is not permitted to be a working woman and now her mother believes she is ruined. She is then sold to Vina, Queen of another world believed to be heaven. Her parents are thrilled to not only be rid of her, but to also now have money to survive on. Vina brings the girl home with her and lavishes her with clothes, food and status. However, Talia wants nothing of this. She feels cheap and bought but wonders why Vina treats her this way. Talisman is the story of love, trust and commitment on the part of Vina as she reaches out to her beloved. I am giving this an enthusiastic 4 stars.
The sequel to Talisman, Taliaschild, has very recently been released and I cannot wait to read it and discover more of secrets of this delightful fairytale.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
I am extremely new to both fantasy and lesbian romance but had heard about this series and wanted to stretch myself more as a reader. What I found was that I enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would. I found it piqued my interest and kept me guessing on where it was going. Although not usually a fan of short stories, this book developed a good strong story with descriptions and facts to make it feel like it was a much longer book. It was refreshing that it wasn’t filled with long, descriptive sex scenes, because that is not what this book is about. I have to admit, even though Ms. Vitsky is known for her wooden spoon, I hadn’t expected quite as much spanking with both a hand and a belt.
Taliasman is a rewriting of Our Lady’s Child, a story I had no knowledge of whatsoever so I had no premise of where this story was going. It is a “sad to start” tale of a girl, Talia, born to very poor parents. She has done everything to gain their love and appreciation. She is not loved, especially by her hard, mean mother, for what appears to be the fact that she was born a girl instead of boy to carry on the family business. She has learned her father’s woodworking trade and is quite accomplished at it but as in tales of old world, she is not permitted to be a working woman and now her mother believes she is ruined. She is then sold to Vina, Queen of another world believed to be heaven. Her parents are thrilled to not only be rid of her, but to also now have money to survive on. Vina brings the girl home with her and lavishes her with clothes, food and status. However, Talia wants nothing of this. She feels cheap and bought but wonders why Vina treats her this way. Talisman is the story of love, trust and commitment on the part of Vina as she reaches out to her beloved. I am giving this an enthusiastic 4 stars.
The sequel to Talisman, Taliaschild, has very recently been released and I cannot wait to read it and discover more of secrets of this delightful fairytale.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
May 16, 2015
Imagine you were the only child of a poor woodworker who wanted to hand his trade down to his son, and his wife, who wanted the finer things in life.
Now imagine the disappointment you brought into the world when you were born a daughter, not a son.
"If I had been born a boy..." Talia thinks to herself every day as she's reminded by her Mother that girl children must marry bringing a dowry with them, if she had been born a boy, she would no longer be a burden on her parents and they would be all the richer for it.
When a mysterious woman shows up at their door with a sack full of gold, Talia's world goes from one extreme to the other as she finds herself in the extravagant palace of Queen Vina, bought and paid for.
Based on Our Lady's Child, Taliasman is a beautiful addition to the Beyond Fairytales series. We follow Talia's journey as she struggles to allow herself to understand that she matters, that she's worthy of love, Talia, born a girl.
Vina has her own struggles as she tries to follow her heart and the beat of the Talisman, given to her by Nicodemus, driven by a persistent pull towards Talia herself.
Defiant, angry, and miserable, Talia trusts no one, believing she is unlovable.
Vina wants nothing more than to love Talia, and feel that love in return, but misunderstandings, palace intrigue, and conflicts make Queen Vina wonder if it will ever be possible.
I've read Taliasman three times so far, first time I read it, when I got to the last page I immediately went back to the first page and read it again.
So richly written, the characters are layered and complex and yes, human, just like the rest of us.
I love this story, and this is one of those cases where you can judge a book by it's cover. The cover of Taliasman is so exquisite I can stare at it's beauty for hours.
The only thing that could make this book better is a sequel.
You can also find a short about Talia and Vina in The Sci Spanks Anthology 2014, as well as a lot of spanking sci-fi stories by some other great authors.
Now imagine the disappointment you brought into the world when you were born a daughter, not a son.
"If I had been born a boy..." Talia thinks to herself every day as she's reminded by her Mother that girl children must marry bringing a dowry with them, if she had been born a boy, she would no longer be a burden on her parents and they would be all the richer for it.
When a mysterious woman shows up at their door with a sack full of gold, Talia's world goes from one extreme to the other as she finds herself in the extravagant palace of Queen Vina, bought and paid for.
Based on Our Lady's Child, Taliasman is a beautiful addition to the Beyond Fairytales series. We follow Talia's journey as she struggles to allow herself to understand that she matters, that she's worthy of love, Talia, born a girl.
Vina has her own struggles as she tries to follow her heart and the beat of the Talisman, given to her by Nicodemus, driven by a persistent pull towards Talia herself.
Defiant, angry, and miserable, Talia trusts no one, believing she is unlovable.
Vina wants nothing more than to love Talia, and feel that love in return, but misunderstandings, palace intrigue, and conflicts make Queen Vina wonder if it will ever be possible.
I've read Taliasman three times so far, first time I read it, when I got to the last page I immediately went back to the first page and read it again.
So richly written, the characters are layered and complex and yes, human, just like the rest of us.
I love this story, and this is one of those cases where you can judge a book by it's cover. The cover of Taliasman is so exquisite I can stare at it's beauty for hours.
The only thing that could make this book better is a sequel.
You can also find a short about Talia and Vina in The Sci Spanks Anthology 2014, as well as a lot of spanking sci-fi stories by some other great authors.
December 8, 2014
I always start with a content rating:
Was older YA, with a few descriptions of sex that were not too over the top. Had some spanking and abuse - but the abuse and the spanking were not too overdone in either direction, though I think this element of the book needed more 'something' to make it work. Very little kissing. This is a fantasy setting and not modern day, so the usual vices are a bit 'removed'.
Stars: 3.25 rounding up big to get the 4 stars.
First - heads up if you did not notice yet - This book is a novella - at 66 pages. Good for what it is, but anything under a hundred to me is a short story or a novella.
The story:
It starts mid stride, or it felt that way to me. No true build up, just right into the mix of winning the girl at the first page without getting a chance to know the players. I also had to play catchup and even at the end of the book I was still somewhat confused as to the 'state' of the Queen and her kingdom in relation to the 'mortals'. ??? The story wrapped up somewhat abruptly. Again, you have to let this one breath - its a fantasy - and a novella. It was well written, no jumbled sentences or typo's that I saw - though I must say I had a few head scratch moments. Not complete WTF's but a hick-up or two as I tried to figure out what or why. This happens with novella's because there is so little time to flesh out worlds, motives, situations and characters - again, gotta read and roll with it.
All and all - I did enjoy the read. It was a fun and light read. Read it in couple of hours and I enjoyed it. The fact that it was 'Fun' to read and well written, added to an original storyline made it to 3.25 stars in my book, and as we don't to part stars - 4 stars. Fun, well written, but missing some things I needed.
Was older YA, with a few descriptions of sex that were not too over the top. Had some spanking and abuse - but the abuse and the spanking were not too overdone in either direction, though I think this element of the book needed more 'something' to make it work. Very little kissing. This is a fantasy setting and not modern day, so the usual vices are a bit 'removed'.
Stars: 3.25 rounding up big to get the 4 stars.
First - heads up if you did not notice yet - This book is a novella - at 66 pages. Good for what it is, but anything under a hundred to me is a short story or a novella.
The story:
It starts mid stride, or it felt that way to me. No true build up, just right into the mix of winning the girl at the first page without getting a chance to know the players. I also had to play catchup and even at the end of the book I was still somewhat confused as to the 'state' of the Queen and her kingdom in relation to the 'mortals'. ??? The story wrapped up somewhat abruptly. Again, you have to let this one breath - its a fantasy - and a novella. It was well written, no jumbled sentences or typo's that I saw - though I must say I had a few head scratch moments. Not complete WTF's but a hick-up or two as I tried to figure out what or why. This happens with novella's because there is so little time to flesh out worlds, motives, situations and characters - again, gotta read and roll with it.
All and all - I did enjoy the read. It was a fun and light read. Read it in couple of hours and I enjoyed it. The fact that it was 'Fun' to read and well written, added to an original storyline made it to 3.25 stars in my book, and as we don't to part stars - 4 stars. Fun, well written, but missing some things I needed.
October 31, 2014
I won this book during the Spank or Treat event, so spanking and romance as expected.
I can't read romance for the sake of romance, it's really hard for me to do so.
The good characters are so good and nice and the bad characters are so nasty and vile it was difficult for me to find a balance in this book.
Of course in Heaven, people are supposed to be perfect, but the perfection just yelled at me. Even if the Queen was genuine it was hard to swallow.
I think Talia was the easier characters to relate to. The main questions are: How do you love someone who buys you? How do you love someone who throws every luxury at you no matter how bad you behave and punishes you only because you demand it?
I can see where the answer given in this book in a fairy tales manner are coming from, yet from personal experience I had a lot of trouble with the conclusion. I would have loved to see Talia make her own choice at the end without having someone to convince her about what was right and wrong for her.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to dream about a world where you can belong in just because someone says so and where you are loved back just because you love. Perfect to mend broken hearts.
I can't read romance for the sake of romance, it's really hard for me to do so.
The good characters are so good and nice and the bad characters are so nasty and vile it was difficult for me to find a balance in this book.
Of course in Heaven, people are supposed to be perfect, but the perfection just yelled at me. Even if the Queen was genuine it was hard to swallow.
I think Talia was the easier characters to relate to. The main questions are: How do you love someone who buys you? How do you love someone who throws every luxury at you no matter how bad you behave and punishes you only because you demand it?
I can see where the answer given in this book in a fairy tales manner are coming from, yet from personal experience I had a lot of trouble with the conclusion. I would have loved to see Talia make her own choice at the end without having someone to convince her about what was right and wrong for her.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to dream about a world where you can belong in just because someone says so and where you are loved back just because you love. Perfect to mend broken hearts.
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