Talia Benson would consider herself fairly ordinary. Anyone would. Diligent student, only child to a single mother, protector of three cats—nothing crazy has ever happened to her. And Talia wants it to stay that way: stable. Her knack for making friends, along with her obsession with the stars and her love for skirt pockets, coffee, and art, is more than enough to keep Talia happy for the rest of her days—that is, until a single evening in front of a blank canvas becomes the adventure she never dreamed she wanted.
Now, Talia finds herself lost in a world completely unlike her own, a land where monsters roam and magic thrives, where wars are born then die at the wave of a hand, and where strange entities decide the fate of those who live among the Nine Realms. The guardians of these foreign lands have seen a great shift in the heavens. Something has changed, a prophecy has been spoken—a darkness is coming. But maybe, just maybe, an ordinary girl thrown between worlds could be the key to saving it all.
Charting Stars is the first book in a spirited, heartfelt young adult fantasy series by Micheline Ryckman that will appeal to the minds of those who’ve always felt, well, ordinary. Talia’s adventures prove that even an average everyday girl can have skills enough to be a hero. And she’s joined on her journey by a lovable cast of characters—some human, some furry, some covered in ivy vines—who will steal your heart away. Book releases May 21, 2021.
Micheline Ryckman lives on a farm in the Rocky Mountains of Canada with her family and multiple pets. When she’s not spending time with said family and pets, she writes, reads, and illustrates. It was her love of art and literature that inspired her to build Whimsical into a traditional publishing house where she can publish other authors and support other artists. She gives thanks everyday for how her little company continues to grow.
Her young adult, epic fantasy series, The Maiden Ship, and cozy fantasy, Charting Stars, are all available.
Stay up-to-date and connected with Micheline by signing up for her newsletter via her website/blog whimsicalpublishing.ca or connect with her on social media sites—Instagram: @whimsicalillustration, or @theogwhimsicalartist
Charting Stars began as a graphic novel series years ago, but due to unforeseen circumstances, an injury, and serious chronic health problems, I was unable to continue. It was devastating; I loved the story and the characters so much, but I just couldn’t draw that much while I was so injured and ill. During that time, I turned to writing as my primary creative outlet, it was something I could actually do from my bed, and it gave me a reason to get up each day. And a reason to smile. It wasn’t until after I wrote my debut novel, The Maiden Ship, that I started to imagine bringing Charting Stars to life in a full novel version instead. So, I began plucking away at this story again, and over the course of 2019 and 2020, I wrote this book. What I want people to know the most about this story is that it’s not some great work of literary fiction,it’s a cozy fantasy that I wrote so I could smile amidst hardship. I filled it with my joy, imbued it with my humor, and I’m desperately hoping—honestly it’s all I care about—is that it makes people smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Yep, that’s my only goal with this one, to bring JOY!
Narnia meets Goldstone Wood in this lush portal fantasy. Ryckman has mixed gorgeous prose with an amazing cast and vivid settings. It's the sort of world you could linger in book after book (here's to hoping). If you love feel-good adventure, mystery, relatable heroines, and perfect-imperfect heroes, then I highly recommend this tale!
2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say, I'm so deeply sad this book wasn't for me. I've heard this also comes in the form of a graphic novel and I honestly see that working way more for this type of story. I found it really wholesome and endearing and in the beginning I actually thought the book was working around a 4 stars but alas, it wasn't meant to be.
I connected instantly with the main character, which I actually really loved reading about. I found her pretty relatable when it came to her personal life (oddly similar to me though I was never lucky enough to fall into a magical world and go on a quest while also making friends that feel like family and meeting the love of my life but oh well). If you're into a cozy YA, whimsical journey this book is definitely for you.
Unfortunately, what didn't work for me was the very young voice in this book. I think I have to really keep off YA because most of the time it's not the book's fault but my own since I seem to no longer be the target audience for this type of novels. Despite that, I did read the book in one sitting!
You know how it is, sometimes you have to venture yourself and find out if something is for you or not. I can't be the judge of that.
If you’ve been following and/or reading my reviews long enough you probably know that books labeled “cozy” in any way, shape, or form by anyone, whether they be a publishing house, author, friend, or just another reviewer, just don’t work for me. In fact, I avoid them like the plague, which is super annoying when that’s all that seems to come out these days and I have to skip very interesting sounding books because why try a book I’m most likely going to dislike? Unlike Hollywood and most governments, I don’t like to burn money for no reason.
But lo and behold, this book could fall into “cozy fantasy” so easily and you know what? I liked it! So maybe there’s hope for me yet with this sub-genre! (Though I wouldn’t count on it)
Best described as a modern Narnia, this was a delight and a half with plenty of adventure and action in this quest style story along with a handful of very-different-from-each-other-delightful characters I got attached to very quickly along with animal sidekicks, interesting worldbuilding, and an adorable future awkward bean couple to round this sweet, fun adventure out. It wasn’t boring or slow in the slightest (which is my main issue with “cozy” books), though its two fault were it was over too soon and I don’t know when the next book is coming out!
So, as they say, never judge a book by its cover (though this one is gorgeous!), or in this case, never judge a book by it’s potential genre, because if this had been marketed as “cozy” I would have passed it on by but since it wasn’t I found a true gem that I dearly hope is continued one day because I would love to follow this band into future adventures! Maybe this happy accident will convince me to try more cozy books? Nah, probably not, but you never know, I just might try the rare one here and there…though probably not anytime soon. 😜
‼️Content‼️
Language: dammit; crap; what the heck
Violence: characters are chased by tree like beings; a character is attacked and knocked over the head; injuries and blood (not detailed); bandits attack characters on the road; arrows are shot into bandits (not detailed); fighting with weapons (not detailed); a character is beaten (not detailed); a character is almost choked to death
Sexual: a man leers at a girl and wants to “take her for sport” (nothing happens); mild suggestive comments; a man comes upon a woman bathing and hangs around “trapping her” in the water (not shown as a positive action and nothing is shown); a character almost becomes a “bed mate” for a tree creature (nothing happens and they are saved); a couple kisses on the cheek
Drug/Alcohol: a character drinks ale
Other: magic; magical creatures and places; light and dark angel like beings and witches in a fantasy world; death and grief; mentions of a father abandoning his family; a character’s parents died from sickness; characters are captured and tied up
I adored this book. It is just so wholesome and whimsical, and every character - and I mean every single one - is so well written! I quickly became obsessed with all of the characters. And of course, this has my favourite elements of a quest and a journey THROUGH FORESTS! I love it. Put them together with wonderful characters and I am absolutely hooked. Ryckman just creates such amazing worlds and fantastic characters! I cannot wait to see where this story goes next!
Charting Stars was recommended to me by several trusted reader friends, so I had to give it a try. From the very beginning, the story sucked me in. I enjoy the mystery of portal fantasies where characters need to figure out why they've been transported to a brand new world, and that certainly happened to our main character Talia here. Talia makes a great MC because she's relatable even while being her own unique person. I loved that she wasn't an overpowered "strong female heroine," she's just a normal young woman who enjoys art, loves having pockets in her skirts (Talia of the Impressively Deep Pockets, LOL), and is just trying to do her best to adjust to this major new change in her life when she's not a big fan of change. She's quick to make friends when she can and be a mediator between people who aren't getting along, and she goes out of her way to make people smile.
The second character we meet is Jarrett who made me immediately fall in love with him for the simple fact that HE HAS A SHOULDER SQUIRREL, Y'ALL. You can't be a bad person when you have a squirrel friend who rides on your shoulder, you just can't. Jarrett, much like Talia, is doing his best with the situation that has been given to him and I loved getting to know this wonderfully imperfect and kind young man (and his squirrel friend, QB) who has endured much in his life without letting it harden him.
Talia loves the story of The Wizard of Oz and there are ways that this book reflected that story's fictional journey as well. For one thing, the sense of wonder and quirky humor was on point throughout, even as adventurous things happened. Also, much like Dorothy, Talia collects friends along her journey who are each imperfect, but have their unique strengths that make them a good team as they strive toward the same goal. Though I wouldn't call Talia a "cowardly lion" she does learn to be a bit braver (like, not fainting at every threat) and to take more action in her own life.
I didn't know when I started this book that it was the start of a planned series, but realized about halfway through that there was much more world here than could be explored in one book. Talia doesn't reach her goal by the end of the book, but she has made a lot of progress and grown a lot as a person. I look forward to see her and her friends grow even more as the series goes on.
Much like Talia, the author said in her note at the end that her goal with this book is simply to give people joy and she 100% accomplished that for me. :) So, I'm going to give it 5 happy stars and heartily recommend it to others who enjoy fun stories!
Content Advisory: This book is appropriate for teens (14-18) and adults.
Language:
Two uses of d***it. Otherwise, characters (on rare occasion) only use made-up exclamations, usually related to the stars.
Sexual/Romance: There is romantic tension between several of the characters. Talia and Jarrett are attracted to each other quickly and sometimes think about the pretty/handsome features of the other person. At the start of the story, when Talia is dressed in a modern outfit featuring leggings under a short skirt, Jarrett is a little embarrassed by seeing her thighs, even though they're covered in fabric.
Talia sometimes wishes she could kiss Jarrett, but keeps her distance out of concern that she'll just have to leave this new world and him, eventually.
A different male character is described as having god-like/top model looks and his shirtless, muscled torso is briefly mentioned during a sword fight, but it's not described to excess. This man's behavior toward Talia is often flirtatious in a courtly way (kisses on the hand, tenderly wiping a tear from her cheek), but she is not interested in him.
An adult woman named Maren is caught bathing in a natural spring by a strange man. She hides essential body parts in the water, but it's unclear how long the man was watching her. The man ends up joining the travelers and is overtly flirtatious with Maren throughout the rest of the book, though she rejects him constantly. His comments are often played for comedic effect in the story, and he frequently expresses a desire to kiss and hold her. Talia makes a note to herself to talk to him when she gets the chance and tell him that this pushy method probably isn't the best way to win Maren over.
The traveling group gets attacked by brigands who leer at Talia and debate hauling her off to have some "fun," but they're stopped before they can do anything.
When the group gets captured by a tree-like race, the leader of the race seems to want to have her way with hostage Jarrett, briefly wrapping her arm around his waist and running a hand through his hair, but he's able to escape.
Violence: There is peril throughout with the characters rather frequently getting chased and attacked by enemies, however, the violence never gets graphic or overly intense. Bruises, cuts, and mild amounts of blood get mentioned, and one character gets beaten up badly off the page (their injuries are barely described, and they recover later). There is one mention of the sound of an arm bone snapping and brief mentions of pain when various characters get hurt. Two people get knocked unconscious.
Drug/Alcohol None.
Magic: Talia is magically transported to the fantasy world, though we don't yet know why since this story is an ongoing series. There is talk of prophecy and a magic flute that could transport her back home. There are non-human races in the fantasy world. One race is tree-like in appearance. One race has wings, and Talia sometimes thinks of them as angels, though they aren't actually angels. There are people who are called "star-born" and "earthen-born," and legends about stars becoming people and people becoming stars. Because of this, it seems that the stars in this world may be sentient and have special powers. They may be the reason Talia was transported.
One character is an "earthen-witch" which seems to be a unique race with powerful magical abilities that are natural to them. This character is able to shape shift, heal, and perform other acts of great power. (The character seems to be able to do these things simply by thinking them. There are no magic spells or artifacts involved.)
Spiritual: No real world religious belief systems are followed here. As stated above, in the fantasy world that Talia gets transported to, there are legends about the stars being sentient beings that can come to earth in human-like form. At one point, there is talk about "charting the stars" somehow as a way of figuring out what to do next. Talia briefly thinks how this sounds almost like astrology, but she reasons out that it isn't astrology because this isn't her home world and the stars are something totally different in the fantasy world.
"Sometimes having a life, a real life, takes courage."
If you are looking for the book recommendation, look no further. This book is AMAZING!! It's a relatively short read and is full of wonderful characters. Also, I NEED BOOK 2, like now!!!
Characters:
Talia: Talia made an excellent main character. She's friendly and a great mediator which isn't common for main character so it was a nice change. Also she's obsessed with pockets❤️.
Jarrett: As the other main character, Jarrett is amazing. He's so sweet and protective of Talia it's adorable 🥰. I can't wait to learn more about his backstory!
QB: A doctor, a food lover and a constant teaser of Jarrett -- meet QB, a personal favourite character of mine. QB is so funny and caring I love him. And yes, he's a squirrel.
Maren: A badie woman warrior? Sign me up. I'll be honest, Maren rubbed me wrong at the beginning, but she grew on me and is an amazing person.
Bash: Unpopular opinion, but I didn't like Bash much. What with him flirting with Talia and being all too perfectly princely....idk there's just something about him I don't trust. Tbh it could be completely unfounded, but.....*shrugs*
Moses: Moses was a cool and cheerful addition to the group. He's very forward which is funny to read about. And has mad battle skills. No complaints.
**
OVERVIEW "Talia Benson would consider herself fairly ordinary. Anyone would. Diligent student, only child to a single mother, protector of three cats—nothing crazy has ever happened to her. And Talia wants it to stay that way: stable. Her knack for making friends, along with her obsession with the stars and her love for skirt pockets, coffee, and art, is more than enough to keep Talia happy for the rest of her days—that is, until a single evening in front of a blank canvas becomes the adventure she never dreamed she wanted.
Now, Talia finds herself lost in a world completely unlike her own, a land where monsters roam and magic thrives, where wars are born then die at the wave of a hand, and where strange entities decide the fate of those who live among the Nine Realms. The guardians of these foreign lands have seen a great shift in the heavens. Something has changed, a prophecy has been spoken—a darkness is coming. But maybe, just maybe, an ordinary girl thrown between worlds could be the key to saving it all."
POSITIVE ELEMENTS Messages of honor and protecting others. The characters stick together and would never leave someone behind.
SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS There is magic. Witches (or earth-born) and these things called Guardians (which are star-born). Stars are seen as a kind of Fates.
VIOLENCE Sword fights. Pain and blood described. Monsters attack. A girl passes out. Death and disease talked about.
SEXUAL CONTENT Attraction between a boy and a girl. Touching, hand holding, kisses, noticing etc (not inappropriate). Kisses on cheeks is a greeting. Some men take off their shirts when practicing fighting. When they are taken hostage, Talia has to save Jarrett from being the queens "new toy". Moses first meets Maren while she's bathing (nothing described).
LANGUAGE "D--mmit" said a few times.
DRUGS/ALCOHOLIC Potions. Mentions of alcohol.
OTHER NOTES A really great story of friendship and hardships. I lived every second!
**
If that's true, what's it taught you?' 'Nothing.' His gaze softened. 'But you have.' 'Me?' I blinked. He nodded, releasing my wrist to twine his fingers through my own. 'Yes, you. You taught me to feel again.'"
This was such a good read!! It’s a super short fantasy (under 300 pages) and I felt wrapped up in it and loving all of the characters. It’s wholesome and whimsical. All the things I could have hoped for when I picked it up.
It’s a pretty classic YA fantasy (but the characters felt older, so probably closer to NA). Our heroine lands in an unknown land and finds herself on an adventure with a rag-tag group of people while she learns about everything around her. I adored the sweetly paced romance that for fast-paced didn’t bother me for a moment. Jarrett and Talia were just precious.
I liked the plot line and outer story of the magic system and world building. It could have been even further expanded, but I didn’t feel that was the nature of this book which led me to just want to devour it and anxiously await the next installment. I love the way Ryckman writes her stories and I’ve enjoyed everyone I’ve read!
Overall audience notes: - NA Fantasy - Language: none - Romance: kisses - Violence: physical and magical altercations, near death experiences
I got to read this sweet story on vacation and all I can say is that it’s adorable (cue tiktok audio 😂). For me, the unique start of dropping the read into a new world right along with the character was a bit confusing, but the more we got to explore the Nine Realms with Talia, the more I found myself falling in love with it. • I love the cast of unique characters that we begin to know and love along with our heroine. Jarrett, Maren, QB, Moses, and Bash are all unique, have strong voices and personalities, and I really wanted to join them on their quest. • While the ending was a bit anticlimactic, I did love how the it was happy. It really does leaves you wanting more. What will happen? I guess we’ll just have to wait for book two.
This was a sweet adventure fantasy. I really enjoyed the cast of characters! I love both Talia and Jarrett and enjoyed getting to see both of their POVs. I also really enjoyed the group they traveled with; they were a fun cast of characters. The storyline was interesting and I am curious where the next book will head!
Read: December 11th - December 16th Format: Audiobook Rating: No rating, DNF @ 25%
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!
Oh, look at that. Back with another book I COULD finish, but ask myself why I should when I'm not having any fun. And it's not because the book itself is bad or the plot is full of issues or anything. No, this is a case where it all comes down to the writing.
The writing in this book feels very... young. Like the author is still at the beginning of her writing journey. I couldn't feel any spark that made it feel like this was her unique writing. Not accusing her of anything, just the feel one gets when writers need some time to develop. She has the technical technique to it, but not the personal flare. It was especially bad in Jarrett's PoV for some reason. I see that this was meant to be a graphic novel instead, and I have a feeling it all would have translated better in that format.
These two were also so smitten with each other within the first hour of meeting. Which did not help me one bit with getting invested.
I also will admit, this could be an issue with the narrator. I can't say for 100% certain. I tried to think through the sentences without her specific voice, and I felt like the sentences still came off as bland.
So, overall, this story is fine. And if the writing style doesn't deter someone, they may definitely enjoy it. The lore I got to see is interesting, and I loved the little animals included. But the writing style just lost me soooo hard.
Thank you to Netgalley, author and publisher for the free reading copy
'Charting Stars' is a wholesome read! I was drawn in by the absolutely adoring cover, and the story did not disappoint! Though it's relatively short, the book is packed with action, witty banter, and friendship. And let's not forget the cats! One cat in particular may or may not be a witch???
The main character is incredibly relatable. She prefers the comfort of her home, surrounded by her art and her cats (same). Her sudden plunge into an unexpected adventure forces her to summon courage and venture into the great outdoors. Despite the challenges, the outdoors does have its perks, including a handsome man with dimples...
This was a delicious little snack of a book, perfect for anyone who loves fantasy, wants something easy and fast to read and who loves magical adventures.
A tale of Chosen one thrown into a world on a journey to solve what sh has been chosen for and make it back home. And a chance at romance while on this journey you say? This book was for sure a cute little tale that I finished all in one sitting. It was engaging, charming and a solid start to a series. I really enjoyed following Talia and company on her journey through this new world that was vivid and throughly realized. I can’t wait to see where this series goes. Micheline knows how to craft a story.
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for a copy of this book. My review is a honey reflection of my feelings towards this book.
This book was so much fun! I'm seriously struggling to put into words just how much I enjoyed this amazing adventure. It was most definitely a page-turner! I could not put it down! I gasped, I winced, I literally laughed out loud. This book has everything you could possibly want, including some delightful slow burn pining with some sword fights and death-defying escapes thrown into the mix.
I saw a lot of myself in Talia, the story's reluctant heroine who wakes to find herself in a strange, unfamiliar world. She's not big on adventures and she has just found herself plopped right into the middle of her own. Like the heroine from Talia's favorite film, The Wizard of Oz she finds herself very far from home in a strange land and must embark on a quest to find her way home, making some new friends along the way.
I fell in love with every single one of the characters, but none more than QB. If you've read the graphic novel that serves as this book's prequel, you'll have already met Talia, Jarrett, and QB. And when I tell you I squealed the moment Jarrett and QB appeared on the page... it felt like seeing a TV show that was adapted from a well-loved book but yet, I'm still reading... just a different format than the original story. I was so delighted to learn more of Jarrett's backstory and I can't wait for further installments of this series to give more of the history between Jarrett and his little squirrell bff.
The story alternates between Talia and Jarrett's POVs, which I really enjoyed. The development of the plot felt very organic, and I liked not knowing anything ahead of time because Talia obviously didn't know anything about the world she suddenly found herself in.
All the characters are so fantastically written. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the way they all interact together is perfection. Jarrett, the book's other POV, reminds me of a blend between Aladdin and Flynn Rider. He's got that hardened street-savvy swagger with a heart of pure gold. Maren is fierce and admirable, a warrior through and through. Bash is an actual cinnamon roll and is gonna have fangirls lining up to add him to their book boyfriend lists. Moses... well, ya just have to admire his charisma and determination. QB, Drew, Tae... I just adore them all. And the best part about this book being written by an artist? She's created beautiful illustrations of all these characters, so I have these vivid images of them all while I read.
I loved so much about this book that I know this review is all over the place... I just can't say enough good things about it. Talia gets to have that adventure that so many of us imagine - suddenly, you're not in your 21st century world with all your tech and modern conveniences. Instead, you're navigating forests and wearing medieval-period clothing, embarking on an epic journey and probably feeling as anxious as Bilbo Baggins did when he set off with Thorin's company. Talia is so relatable because she just keeps it real. There are moments in this book where I just smiled from ear to ear because it made me feel like, somewhere, there is another world on the other side of our stars that's just out of reach from our mundane magic-less word.
I can feel just how much of her heart and soul Micheline Ryckman put into this book. I know it was such a long time coming for her and I'm just so happy for her... and immensely proud and grateful that she persisted despite the obstacles that came up during the creation of this story. I am already so impatient for the next book. I am itching for the story to continue and to find out what challenges and surprises await our little group of unlikely friends!
Edited review in 2025 to add audiobook review:
Narrator Lauren Amanda hit it so far out of the park, I don't even know what's better than a home run. She feels like the perfect choice for this book. She brings all the characters to life with absolute perfection - it honestly feels like she plucked their voices out of my mind and gave them life. Her pacing is excellent as well and her narration just really elevates the book even more. 6 stars!
I love how simple and comforting (or simply comforting) this book is.
I love how Talia stayed true to herself - an ordinary girl in a not-so-ordinary world of Nine Realms. But sometimes being "ordinary" is more than enough. She does not go through some intense training only "the chosen" one can undergo. She does not become a super powerful warrior who can do everything on her own. She is just Talia Benson, but Talia Benson is what the magical world she gets into really needs (and she IS brave, even though she does not want to believe it).
I am sure that together with her new friends (she is very good at making friends and I am a bit envious of that) she can do anything, even save the world.
Charting Stars is the beginning to a new YA fantasy series full of whimsy, adventure, friendship, magic, love, and so much more that will have you curled up in a pool of warm sunshine, sipping tea, and delightedly turning page after page as you follow this enchanting tale from beginning to end. This book was a very quick, fun read, and I'm certainly interested in reading what comes next! It's also such a wonderful added bonus that, as Micheline Ryckman is an artist, we get to see these characters, places, and moments brought to life over on her social media. If you want a break from the trend of dark drama and angsty youths, looking instead for something simply fantastical that will carry you away to a new world, then this is absolutely the book for you. A perfect read as springtime begins to make way for summer (I don't know why, it just felt like perfect timing to me haha).
Charting Stars was a very fun read for me. It’s the first book in this series and introduce us to Talia Benson’s journey through The 9 Realms. There’s an important detail: Talia is a Canadian young woman that finds herself thrown into a different universe, without knowing how that happened. At first, I struggled a little to get into the book, because there’s a lot of information in the first chapters and it’s given in scattered manner. I came to know that it was intentionally written this way, so that we could feel how confused Talia was feeling when she woke up in this new world, after passing out. It has amazing characters and brings a similar concept of animals as familiars that’s adorable (they are allocated). My favorite character is Maren, a very skilled storyteller and Hydran warrior. I can’t wait to know what happens next!
What an absolutely delightful-joyous-fun read this was. The characters practically leap off the pages, and I’d be hard pressed to choose a favorite. The starry-eyed heroine with her ever-filling pockets? The street rat-turned-hero who can’t help but fall for her charms? Or is it cone of the colorful side characters? A prince in disguise, a scowling warrior maiden, a talking squirrel, a mysterious cat witch, a confident (read: overly forward) traveler? All of these characters flow together so well, and I cannot wait to see what happens to them next. ❤️
It was cute and cozy, and the story was interesting enough for me to finish the book, but I didn’t love this.
FMC was totally a “Mary Sue.” At first she just seems cute and a little bit quirky, but about 1/3 of the way through you realize she’s perfect and everyone loves her and she never has any character growth.
There were a few misused words which bugged me. In one place, someone is talking about the colors of a sunrise, so beautiful you get up early to see it. Except they repeatedly and unironically called it a “sunset.” In another place, the author describes the gray light of the villains aura as being “putrid.” I believe she was looking for “horrifying” or “terrifying” or some such descriptor, because “putrid” refers to a foul odor.
There were also several plot holes/contradictions that bugged me.
MMC was cute and sweet though. He reminded me of Flynn Rider on Tangled, actually.
Moses is a walking red flag no matter how much the author wants him to be green.
I most likely won’t be reading the rest of the series whenever they come out.
3 ⭐️
CW: almost sexual assault, fantasy action/violence, a peeping Tom
I love this book and the characters here. I love how Talia and Jarrett become so relatable without super special power, they got injured, they were captured and feeling pain. They're lovely and sweet people I want to be around with, the same as Maren (I love her red fiery red hair), Bash, Moses, QB, Drew and Tae. I love how smart Micheline Ryckman make all the characters come to life. Amazing world building and interesting long journey to the north. I don't want it to end this quickly.
Charting Stars is so heartwarming! I am completely enamored with the entire crew. Micheline always creates the most wonderfully huggable characters.
This book is part Wizard of Oz, part LOTR, part Princess Bride, and all charm. From the furry friends to the reluctant heroine, I was there for all of it. I am truly a sucker for a quest full of magic, prophecy, strong women and marshmallow boys.
Honestly, my only disappointment was that it ended. I kid you not. I kept pressing the 'next page' button; even though I saw that it said 100% complete. My heart! I need more!
This book gave me all the feelings. In the BEST grinning way. Wizard of Oz meets coffee girl and skirts with pockets. Even the ordinary can be extraordinary. I just have so much love for this book and will be reading it again!
What a fascinating start to an all new fantasy series! I adored all the characters in this, creatures included. Like QB, Jarrett’s little squirrel sidekick. I didn’t expect to read this so fast. It’s one of those stories that has you asking so many questions right off the bat and you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. I can’t wait to see which direction this story goes in the next book!
This was a unique story. I liked all of he characters and how different they were from each other. It was such an interesting adventure and I am looking forward to a sequel. I especially enjoyed the animal companions, QB and Drew.
I received an e-ARC from the author; all opinions are my own.
This was such a heart warming tale! I love the adventure of a modern girl in this fairy tale world. I am used to seeing protagonist who are excited for a fairy tale/fantasy world. So I liked seeing Talia kinda warm up to this world. I love to see the characters grow. I also liked that the two main characters each had animal sidekicks.
I loved it!!! Since I have the pleasure of having the graphic novel, I had no problem plunging straight into this one. The characters are loveable. Jarrett reminds me a bit of Aladdin. I want my own QB. Can't say much more, I don't want to spoil it. It is an easy read and keeps getting better and better There are several twist, so stick with it. Can't wait for more from Mrs. Ryckman.