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The Firebird's Tale
The Firebird's Tale begins with the end of a familiar story: a Prince who never smiled, and by Imperial decree has to marry the one who managed to make him do so. Except that it was all an accident, and the Prince would say he didn't actually smile at the thief who dared to rob a Tsar, and the thief was not even a woman - or, as it turns out, even human.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2016
4 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Anya Ow
2 books15 followersAnya Ow is the author of THE FIREBIRD’S TALE and CRADLE AND GRAVE, and is an Aurealis Awards finalist. Her short stories have appeared in publications such as Asimov’s, Uncanny, Fantasy Magazine, the 2019 Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror anthology and more. Born in Singapore, Anya has a Bachelor of Laws from Melbourne University and a Bachelor of Applied Design from Billy Blue College of Design. She lives in Melbourne with her two cats, working as a graphic designer, illustrator, and chief studio dog briber for a creative agency. She can be found at www.anyasy.com or on twitter @anyasy.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 12, 2016
Reading this book was a beautiful experience. It reminded me of The Arabian Nights with its stories-within-a-story structure. Anya Ow has done an excellent job of creating a world based upon European and Eurasian folklore. It's obvious that the author did her homework and I'd like to thank her for getting Russian names and titles right. In my reading experience, it's a rarity.
The romance is very subtle but sweet, and still an important aspect of the story. The main characters could have used more fleshing out, but this does not detract from the overall feel and readability of the book.
I think readers who enjoy fantasy fiction inspired by fairy tales will find The Firebird's Tale very much to their liking. I definitely look forward to reading more by this author.
***ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
The romance is very subtle but sweet, and still an important aspect of the story. The main characters could have used more fleshing out, but this does not detract from the overall feel and readability of the book.
I think readers who enjoy fantasy fiction inspired by fairy tales will find The Firebird's Tale very much to their liking. I definitely look forward to reading more by this author.
***ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
November 4, 2016
ARC provided by NetGalley
Oh man, this was a book with so much potential. Russian folklore, a decreed marriage between a brooding prince and a supernatural thief, adventure and witchcraft. But ultimately it fell short for me, excepting a handful of delightful but intermittent moments.
I think this book mostly suffered from a lack of focus. I love books that are layered and more than one thing at a time, but I spent a good portion of this book trying to decide if it was a romance disguised as a fantasy, a fantasy disguised as a romance, a hodgepodge of fairytale retellings, or a political what-not-to-do handbook. The world-building was intriguing, and I especially appreciated that the author created a culture where people had more freedom in their sexuality and gender roles, which is too rare within the fantasy genre. But I found myself very confused about the world itself--the borders and the rulers and the interplay between the dukes and the nations. Names and places and historical events were thrown around as if I were supposed to know their importance, without ever hearing them mentioned before. A map at the beginning of the book would have helped immensely with that, I think.
The main strength and most enjoyable part of this book for me was the relationship between the two main characters, Nazar and Aleksei. Forced to marry all because Nazar accidentally made the sullen prince smile, they form a hesitant but friendly alliance. My favorite scenes of the whole book were the ones where they were alone together, pushing each other to question their beliefs and the meaning of their lives.
But the pacing of their relationship and the story in general was...really off. I'm usually all for a book jumping into the story at the start with little to no exposition, but this book really could've used some. The book starts immediately AFTER the Big Thing happens that puts all the rest of the story into motion: Nazar stealing from the Tsar and making Aleksei--the apparently never-smiling Tsesarevich--smile. Or smirk. Whatever. I don't really know how it went down because we only get to read about it in retrospect. Then within 35 pages they are married (yes okay that's fine, because the plot requires it), but also getting physically and emotionally intimate. That's a little much for a book that isn't erotica. Over time they do form a more meaningful bond, but it all felt a little artificial after their speedy beginning. So then they're on this quest, which, after the extremely fast-paced opening, I expected to be full of action and adventure. Instead, there is some sitting on horses, and then there's some sitting in buildings, and then there's some sitting on horses again, and then back to the buildings. Most of the middle half of this book was So. Slow. The last 1/4 picked up again, but like the first 1/4, so much happened in so little time that it just felt like an avalanche of plot and information.
Overall this book had some sweet and thought-provoking scenes, and really interesting and unique ideas, but the unbalanced pace and the sporadic world-building left me feeling disappointed with the execution.
Oh man, this was a book with so much potential. Russian folklore, a decreed marriage between a brooding prince and a supernatural thief, adventure and witchcraft. But ultimately it fell short for me, excepting a handful of delightful but intermittent moments.
I think this book mostly suffered from a lack of focus. I love books that are layered and more than one thing at a time, but I spent a good portion of this book trying to decide if it was a romance disguised as a fantasy, a fantasy disguised as a romance, a hodgepodge of fairytale retellings, or a political what-not-to-do handbook. The world-building was intriguing, and I especially appreciated that the author created a culture where people had more freedom in their sexuality and gender roles, which is too rare within the fantasy genre. But I found myself very confused about the world itself--the borders and the rulers and the interplay between the dukes and the nations. Names and places and historical events were thrown around as if I were supposed to know their importance, without ever hearing them mentioned before. A map at the beginning of the book would have helped immensely with that, I think.
The main strength and most enjoyable part of this book for me was the relationship between the two main characters, Nazar and Aleksei. Forced to marry all because Nazar accidentally made the sullen prince smile, they form a hesitant but friendly alliance. My favorite scenes of the whole book were the ones where they were alone together, pushing each other to question their beliefs and the meaning of their lives.
But the pacing of their relationship and the story in general was...really off. I'm usually all for a book jumping into the story at the start with little to no exposition, but this book really could've used some. The book starts immediately AFTER the Big Thing happens that puts all the rest of the story into motion: Nazar stealing from the Tsar and making Aleksei--the apparently never-smiling Tsesarevich--smile. Or smirk. Whatever. I don't really know how it went down because we only get to read about it in retrospect. Then within 35 pages they are married (yes okay that's fine, because the plot requires it), but also getting physically and emotionally intimate. That's a little much for a book that isn't erotica. Over time they do form a more meaningful bond, but it all felt a little artificial after their speedy beginning. So then they're on this quest, which, after the extremely fast-paced opening, I expected to be full of action and adventure. Instead, there is some sitting on horses, and then there's some sitting in buildings, and then there's some sitting on horses again, and then back to the buildings. Most of the middle half of this book was So. Slow. The last 1/4 picked up again, but like the first 1/4, so much happened in so little time that it just felt like an avalanche of plot and information.
Overall this book had some sweet and thought-provoking scenes, and really interesting and unique ideas, but the unbalanced pace and the sporadic world-building left me feeling disappointed with the execution.
January 15, 2019
Galley provided by publisher
Rep: gay mcs
The Firebird's Tale tells the story of a prince who has to marry whomsoever can make him smile. Unfortunately, the person who manages this is not only a thief, but not even human at all, and this is particularly problematic in a land where humans have all but eradicated magic.
The story mixes elements of Russian folklore with other Germanic fairytales, which I wouldn't say worked all too well. On the one hand, you have Koschei the Deathless making an appearance, then the next page there's Snow White (not literally making appearances, though). It's a little dissonant at times. Not to mention it appears to be set in some sort of alternative Russia, because it borders a country they call "the Orient", which seems to encompass the whole of Asia. Again, a problem.
If I'm honest, I was expecting this one to be more of a slow burn than it was. That's not to say I didn't like the direction it went, but I did feel that maybe in the context of the story, it was perhaps more necessary. Within about 40 pages Aleksei (the prince) and Nazar (the firebird) were kissing. But at this point, they didn't even seem to like each other. So you're then stuck with a strange relationship, where they don't really like one another but they're married and apparently that means they have to have a sexual relationship. All this somewhat obscures the way that they could possibly be gaining feelings for each other. Which was a disappointment.
In addition to this, the story didn't really pick up until about two thirds of the way through. Sure, it was easy reading up until that point but nothing really happened. Then when something does happen, you'd think that it'd drive some sort of division between Aleksei and Nazar () but Aleksei isn't even angry. Which is not really in keeping with his character in the rest of the book. He seems to spend the book switching back and forth between being this ice-prince kind of character, who gets annoyed at Nazar quite often, and someone friendlier. What I think would have worked better would have been to see him start of as the former and slowly become the latter.
But despite all that, I did enjoy the story to an extent. It left it on a bit of a cliffhanger too, so I'm hoping there's another book just to see how everything pans out.
Rep: gay mcs
The Firebird's Tale tells the story of a prince who has to marry whomsoever can make him smile. Unfortunately, the person who manages this is not only a thief, but not even human at all, and this is particularly problematic in a land where humans have all but eradicated magic.
The story mixes elements of Russian folklore with other Germanic fairytales, which I wouldn't say worked all too well. On the one hand, you have Koschei the Deathless making an appearance, then the next page there's Snow White (not literally making appearances, though). It's a little dissonant at times. Not to mention it appears to be set in some sort of alternative Russia, because it borders a country they call "the Orient", which seems to encompass the whole of Asia. Again, a problem.
If I'm honest, I was expecting this one to be more of a slow burn than it was. That's not to say I didn't like the direction it went, but I did feel that maybe in the context of the story, it was perhaps more necessary. Within about 40 pages Aleksei (the prince) and Nazar (the firebird) were kissing. But at this point, they didn't even seem to like each other. So you're then stuck with a strange relationship, where they don't really like one another but they're married and apparently that means they have to have a sexual relationship. All this somewhat obscures the way that they could possibly be gaining feelings for each other. Which was a disappointment.
In addition to this, the story didn't really pick up until about two thirds of the way through. Sure, it was easy reading up until that point but nothing really happened. Then when something does happen, you'd think that it'd drive some sort of division between Aleksei and Nazar () but Aleksei isn't even angry. Which is not really in keeping with his character in the rest of the book. He seems to spend the book switching back and forth between being this ice-prince kind of character, who gets annoyed at Nazar quite often, and someone friendlier. What I think would have worked better would have been to see him start of as the former and slowly become the latter.
But despite all that, I did enjoy the story to an extent. It left it on a bit of a cliffhanger too, so I'm hoping there's another book just to see how everything pans out.
February 2, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this fairy tale of a Tsarevich and Firebird-in-human-form (for most of this story at least) forced into marriage by the Tsar's decree that anyone who could make the Tsarevich smile would marry him. The story is so much more than that, it's war, magic, political intrigue and fairy tales upon fairy tales. Don't get me wrong, there is romance in this book as well and a good one. I love romances between a "regular person" and someone who isn't regular - whether they're not human, hundreds of years old or an alien - so I really enjoyed this story.
I also particularly enjoyed the origin story and the ending in which these giant, magical creatures are freed to remake the world anew. Thinking of my tribe's origin stories, I can almost imagine this happening when the spirits and those who left this place to allow human beings to live here come back after deciding that we are no longer taking care of this land that was entrusted to our care. Maybe it's the stress and worries about the politic climate in the US that is making me appreciate these types of stories so much right now but I love it.
Overall, great story that kept me entranced until it was over. Perfect for anyone that love mythology, folk tales, fairy tales, or just some good same-sex romance in a land where same-sex relationships are treated as normally as any others. I almost feel like there could be a sequel though. I would love to see how everyone deals with the catastrophe that their world is currently facing.
*I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I also particularly enjoyed the origin story and the ending in which these giant, magical creatures are freed to remake the world anew. Thinking of my tribe's origin stories, I can almost imagine this happening when the spirits and those who left this place to allow human beings to live here come back after deciding that we are no longer taking care of this land that was entrusted to our care. Maybe it's the stress and worries about the politic climate in the US that is making me appreciate these types of stories so much right now but I love it.
Overall, great story that kept me entranced until it was over. Perfect for anyone that love mythology, folk tales, fairy tales, or just some good same-sex romance in a land where same-sex relationships are treated as normally as any others. I almost feel like there could be a sequel though. I would love to see how everyone deals with the catastrophe that their world is currently facing.
*I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2017
I'm fairly conflicted about how to rate this book. I enjoyed the concept and the writing worked for me except when it didn't, lol. I was a fan of the fairytales being told in the story *however* they were also a big issue because they just bogged the overall story down and it felt like the middle was extremely slow.
Now, if it had been a slow build story, and that middle section was used to show them falling in love then I think this would've been a four straight out of the gate. Instead, their relationship starts off really quickly, not even the getting married right out of hte gate part, but the fact Aleksei seems to catch feelings fairly early on for Nazar. So all of the middle section felt sort of redundant because it didn't really build their relationship except to make it seem like they were setting themselves up to be their own tragic fairytale, but it also didn't move the worldbuilding along all that much either since we were focused on the past through the fairytales.
I will say I love how everything was connected and I enjoyed the way Nazar and the other magical creatures were sort of like "that actually doesn't really make sense, why didn't they just..." etc.
There are a lot of looming threats in the distance, a bunch of things that are hinted at, but in the last 1/4 of the book it feels like a bit of a letdown and a cliffhanger. I wonder if this would have worked better as a novella leading into a series.
Overall I'll say it's a 3, it was enjoyable, I read it in a day and didn't want to put it down while reading it.
Now, if it had been a slow build story, and that middle section was used to show them falling in love then I think this would've been a four straight out of the gate. Instead, their relationship starts off really quickly, not even the getting married right out of hte gate part, but the fact Aleksei seems to catch feelings fairly early on for Nazar. So all of the middle section felt sort of redundant because it didn't really build their relationship except to make it seem like they were setting themselves up to be their own tragic fairytale, but it also didn't move the worldbuilding along all that much either since we were focused on the past through the fairytales.
I will say I love how everything was connected and I enjoyed the way Nazar and the other magical creatures were sort of like "that actually doesn't really make sense, why didn't they just..." etc.
There are a lot of looming threats in the distance, a bunch of things that are hinted at, but in the last 1/4 of the book it feels like a bit of a letdown and a cliffhanger. I wonder if this would have worked better as a novella leading into a series.
Overall I'll say it's a 3, it was enjoyable, I read it in a day and didn't want to put it down while reading it.
October 8, 2016
It was very good !
The worldbuilding was very rich, with an history I became very passionate about. What was interesting was the use of storytelling to explained what happened. A lot of fairy tales were there, with a different, truer version, and linked together to build the history of the lands.
The two main characters were great, with a good, complex relationship. They are from different species, they don’t always understand each other, and they don’t work the same way, sometimes it’s difficult, and they are worried of what will happen, but it works. They respect each other, they take care of each other, and in the end, even if they still are very different, they managed to build a bridge.
In the back, we seen a lot of different people, many women, but saddly, most of them are antagonists. Some w/w couples, women in position of power… In the country they are in, women and men are on the same level, but it is not the case everywhere in the world, and it allows the characters to speak about the issue of treating men and women differently and preventing them to marry who they want. I really like these books with a non heteronormative society, it’s really refreshing.
It was a great fairy tale built of fairy tales.
The worldbuilding was very rich, with an history I became very passionate about. What was interesting was the use of storytelling to explained what happened. A lot of fairy tales were there, with a different, truer version, and linked together to build the history of the lands.
The two main characters were great, with a good, complex relationship. They are from different species, they don’t always understand each other, and they don’t work the same way, sometimes it’s difficult, and they are worried of what will happen, but it works. They respect each other, they take care of each other, and in the end, even if they still are very different, they managed to build a bridge.
In the back, we seen a lot of different people, many women, but saddly, most of them are antagonists. Some w/w couples, women in position of power… In the country they are in, women and men are on the same level, but it is not the case everywhere in the world, and it allows the characters to speak about the issue of treating men and women differently and preventing them to marry who they want. I really like these books with a non heteronormative society, it’s really refreshing.
It was a great fairy tale built of fairy tales.
November 25, 2016
This was a great winter story to curl up with. The newlywed Tsesarevich and firebird’s journey through snow-covered lands gives an almost tangible sense of winter and its grim beauty. It was a refreshing, subtle romance where jumping into bed with somebody or even showing affection for them doesn't mean you're hopelessly devoted to them, and where significant conflicts of interest between the main couple take the better part of the book to be resolved. I was actually very pleasantly surprised with how the relationship was handled, especially the issues with consent and autonomy that would've been really squicky if not addressed. It was also wonderful to get a fantasy romance where the romance didn't constitute the whole of the plot.
I've been reading Naomi Novik's Uprooted and was really intrigued by the parallels between the two. Both novels are inspired by Slavic folklore and include a struggle between a human world and a natural, untamed, magical one. But where Novik casts the Wood as the villain, in The Firebird’s Tale Faerie’s inhabitants are people (even if non-human people) with their own points of view. Ow’s skilled retelling of more traditional firebird stories reimagines the firebird as a man and the prince’s quest to capture the bird as romantic possession, thereby questioning both the impulse to imprison a living thing for our own pleasure and the heternormativity of usual fairy tale narratives. We are invited to examine stories themselves - how and why we tell them, to what ends - which I think will appeal to fans of Neil Gaiman, Catherynne M. Valente, and folklore more generally.
I thought this was a great, high-stakes set up for the series, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
**I received a copy for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I've been reading Naomi Novik's Uprooted and was really intrigued by the parallels between the two. Both novels are inspired by Slavic folklore and include a struggle between a human world and a natural, untamed, magical one. But where Novik casts the Wood as the villain, in The Firebird’s Tale Faerie’s inhabitants are people (even if non-human people) with their own points of view. Ow’s skilled retelling of more traditional firebird stories reimagines the firebird as a man and the prince’s quest to capture the bird as romantic possession, thereby questioning both the impulse to imprison a living thing for our own pleasure and the heternormativity of usual fairy tale narratives. We are invited to examine stories themselves - how and why we tell them, to what ends - which I think will appeal to fans of Neil Gaiman, Catherynne M. Valente, and folklore more generally.
I thought this was a great, high-stakes set up for the series, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
**I received a copy for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
November 25, 2017
4 stars.
I have never felt so conflicted in rating a book before. I loved it a lot but I also hated it. It had this very fantasy/fairy tale oldey(?) vibe to it that I loved, incorporating common fairy tale stories with a twist that reflected (probably) the real origins of fairy tales that didn't always end happily.
I loved and hated the main characters relationship that at times felt very right and at times felt nearly toxic. There was understanding and there was no understanding. I could relate to Aleksei's frustration and got angry at Nazar's almost indifference but at the same time I could kind of see where Nazar was coming from.
Their relationship looked like a train wreck with Nazar's goal at the end clearly against any kind of HEA. It was beautiful and very, very tragic. I could not look away from it. And the ending was a HFN, I almost want to demand a sequel as something extremely big was about to happen.
Overall, this book frustrated me endlessly but it was nonetheless a beautiful read.
I have never felt so conflicted in rating a book before. I loved it a lot but I also hated it. It had this very fantasy/fairy tale oldey(?) vibe to it that I loved, incorporating common fairy tale stories with a twist that reflected (probably) the real origins of fairy tales that didn't always end happily.
I loved and hated the main characters relationship that at times felt very right and at times felt nearly toxic. There was understanding and there was no understanding. I could relate to Aleksei's frustration and got angry at Nazar's almost indifference but at the same time I could kind of see where Nazar was coming from.
Their relationship looked like a train wreck with Nazar's goal at the end clearly against any kind of HEA. It was beautiful and very, very tragic. I could not look away from it. And the ending was a HFN, I almost want to demand a sequel as something extremely big was about to happen.
Overall, this book frustrated me endlessly but it was nonetheless a beautiful read.
January 23, 2019
I think I understand why people mostly didn’t like this book, but I did enjoy it in my own way. It was too slow, and I’m not entirely sure the dynamic between Nazar and Aleksei was a healthy one, but I still liked it well enough.
January 5, 2017
Fairytales within a fairytale and I completely enjoyed it. This isn't a romance and it isn't a quick and easy read; it's a beautifully written story that needs to be savored and I did.
May 29, 2017
3,5 stars really.
Interesting story with multiple layers. An enjoyable read but not something that I will ever reread most likely so not quite worth 4 stars.
Interesting story with multiple layers. An enjoyable read but not something that I will ever reread most likely so not quite worth 4 stars.
March 1, 2017
3.5
Still not sure if I like to round it up or down. Suppose it depends on my final assessment of the romance part. The story definately is some kind of romance in a world of fading magic and scheming royalties but the romance is subtle and a lot of times I wasn't sure if it was only one-way.
At first I saw the reason for it in the language that reminds me a lot on Arabian Nights or some nordic saga. It's a new experience to find that kind of language in a romance and it took some time to get used to because it creates a certain distance between the reader and the story to give the reade space to reflect instead of feel but latest when Nazar started to tell his own stories where he interwove fairytales with historic facts how the war between Faerie and the human world started the language changed and I was back on common ground.
Now I believe my uncertainty about the romance is caused by the same reason why I believe this story something special. Here a firebird is a firebird is a firebird. It's not a human who shifts into a firebird or some kind of half-blooded creature like the remaining witches. He's a creature of magic, not really mortal, a surviver of the extinction of his world and he has a different view on life and love than humans do. The love of a firebird is not comparable to human love and that's something his husband, the tsarevitch, doesn't even consider and Anya Ow is excellent to let the reader feel that difference without always pointing it out.
Apart from that The Firebird's Tale has everything a fantasy story has to have and introduces a rare setting with it's base on russian folklore (sometimes I wished there was a glossary I could use to understand the different magical species). The end certainly is no HEA but it's agood one and what's more important for me: it's one I can believe in.
Still not sure if I like to round it up or down. Suppose it depends on my final assessment of the romance part. The story definately is some kind of romance in a world of fading magic and scheming royalties but the romance is subtle and a lot of times I wasn't sure if it was only one-way.
At first I saw the reason for it in the language that reminds me a lot on Arabian Nights or some nordic saga. It's a new experience to find that kind of language in a romance and it took some time to get used to because it creates a certain distance between the reader and the story to give the reade space to reflect instead of feel but latest when Nazar started to tell his own stories where he interwove fairytales with historic facts how the war between Faerie and the human world started the language changed and I was back on common ground.
Now I believe my uncertainty about the romance is caused by the same reason why I believe this story something special. Here a firebird is a firebird is a firebird. It's not a human who shifts into a firebird or some kind of half-blooded creature like the remaining witches. He's a creature of magic, not really mortal, a surviver of the extinction of his world and he has a different view on life and love than humans do. The love of a firebird is not comparable to human love and that's something his husband, the tsarevitch, doesn't even consider and Anya Ow is excellent to let the reader feel that difference without always pointing it out.
Apart from that The Firebird's Tale has everything a fantasy story has to have and introduces a rare setting with it's base on russian folklore (sometimes I wished there was a glossary I could use to understand the different magical species). The end certainly is no HEA but it's agood one and what's more important for me: it's one I can believe in.
November 21, 2016
I requested this from NetGalley because, frankly, there was never any possibility that I wouldn't. I once did a major art project on Stravinsky and The Rite of Spring, in amongst which I got totally sidetracked by the Ballet Russes and therefore The Firebird. Now, I don't really know the story of the Firebird (just the costume design and music), but once this indicated that it was based on it to a certain extent, I was sold.
EDITED TO ADD: I actually just looked up the Firebird itself because I realised I might be talking rubbish, given my lack of information about the plot, and I guess I am. Sort of. They're both based on myths or stories about this creature called the Firebird; Stravinsky's ballet brings in Koschei the Deathless too, who is mentioned in this but as I remember, isn't a major character. (Haha, now this is testing my memory... whoops.)
From the research I've just done, I'd hazard that it's not based on the Firebird but on the same sources that the Firebird is based on (in a similar way that LotR and Wagner's Ring Cycle are both drawing on Norse stuff to create differenht finished products). But given that the ballet interpretation of The Firebird that I saw performed was a weird new interpretation about global warming or something (I don't even know), it's somewhat hard to tell. Anyway. Back to the review.
The worldbuilding of this book is very interesting, actually. Anya Ow has combined elements of Russian folklore and fairytales with other fairytales, ones I'm not sure of their origins. (Like Rapunzel.) It's particularly interesting to see a Russian interpretation of a fairy realm when, as far as I'm aware from all my research into fairies, this isn't particularly a concept that enters Russian folklore.
However, it's not exactly Russia, either, but a Russia-inspired fantasy realm -- and excitingly, one where it's perfectly normal for a prince to marry another prince, if a little scandalous due to external circumstances. Other kingdoms, they mention, are more gendered and have more limitations on this sort of thing, which they're very dismissive of, but here, it's something of a free for all. This was refreshing to read, because not only is there the major Firebird / Aleksei romance, there were also several background queer relationships, so that they weren't isolated or unusual within the story itself.
Nazar, the Firebird, likes to tell stories, and while these sometimes related to the plot, in places I felt it slowed the book down. Other than these digressions, the story was generally fast-paced, and while there was a lot happening, it didn't do so in the whirlwind way that makes it hard to follow but nor was it too drawn out. As well as this, a lot of the writing was very beautiful, and I highlighted several quotes that I'll add to this review when I share it on my blog.
The relationship between the Firebird and Aleksei had very odd beginnings due to the story it's based on, and it's a little hard to believe that Nazar would go along with this arranged marriage so easily or that he wouldn't be more resentful of it to start with. However, as the relationship develops there are a lot of really lovely scenes between them, and Anya Ow walks the delicate line between explicit and implicit very well, with enough information given to evoke a sense of steaminess without any of the awkwardness of explicit sex scenes.
Aside from the slight pacing issues, my one complaint would be that I found the book a little confusing at first. Or rather, I was able to follow it, but I felt like it wanted me to know more than I did about the background to these stories, and there were a lot of references to past events that made me wonder for a moment if I had accidentally picked up a sequel. It became much clearer as the book went on, though, and reading it in one sitting probably helped me keep track of what was going on.
I picked this out from a large number of ARCs to be today's late night read (it's currently 2:30am) because it's due to be published relatively soon compared to the others, but I didn't have high hopes, especially as I've been finding it hard to enjoy books lately. However, while I didn't think this book was perfect, it was well-written with some gorgeous lines, as well as a fascinating mixture of worldbuilding that evoked all sorts of nerdy folklore feelings in me and drew me into the story.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to listen to some Stravinsky...
EDITED TO ADD: I actually just looked up the Firebird itself because I realised I might be talking rubbish, given my lack of information about the plot, and I guess I am. Sort of. They're both based on myths or stories about this creature called the Firebird; Stravinsky's ballet brings in Koschei the Deathless too, who is mentioned in this but as I remember, isn't a major character. (Haha, now this is testing my memory... whoops.)
From the research I've just done, I'd hazard that it's not based on the Firebird but on the same sources that the Firebird is based on (in a similar way that LotR and Wagner's Ring Cycle are both drawing on Norse stuff to create differenht finished products). But given that the ballet interpretation of The Firebird that I saw performed was a weird new interpretation about global warming or something (I don't even know), it's somewhat hard to tell. Anyway. Back to the review.
The worldbuilding of this book is very interesting, actually. Anya Ow has combined elements of Russian folklore and fairytales with other fairytales, ones I'm not sure of their origins. (Like Rapunzel.) It's particularly interesting to see a Russian interpretation of a fairy realm when, as far as I'm aware from all my research into fairies, this isn't particularly a concept that enters Russian folklore.
However, it's not exactly Russia, either, but a Russia-inspired fantasy realm -- and excitingly, one where it's perfectly normal for a prince to marry another prince, if a little scandalous due to external circumstances. Other kingdoms, they mention, are more gendered and have more limitations on this sort of thing, which they're very dismissive of, but here, it's something of a free for all. This was refreshing to read, because not only is there the major Firebird / Aleksei romance, there were also several background queer relationships, so that they weren't isolated or unusual within the story itself.
Nazar, the Firebird, likes to tell stories, and while these sometimes related to the plot, in places I felt it slowed the book down. Other than these digressions, the story was generally fast-paced, and while there was a lot happening, it didn't do so in the whirlwind way that makes it hard to follow but nor was it too drawn out. As well as this, a lot of the writing was very beautiful, and I highlighted several quotes that I'll add to this review when I share it on my blog.
The relationship between the Firebird and Aleksei had very odd beginnings due to the story it's based on, and it's a little hard to believe that Nazar would go along with this arranged marriage so easily or that he wouldn't be more resentful of it to start with. However, as the relationship develops there are a lot of really lovely scenes between them, and Anya Ow walks the delicate line between explicit and implicit very well, with enough information given to evoke a sense of steaminess without any of the awkwardness of explicit sex scenes.
Aside from the slight pacing issues, my one complaint would be that I found the book a little confusing at first. Or rather, I was able to follow it, but I felt like it wanted me to know more than I did about the background to these stories, and there were a lot of references to past events that made me wonder for a moment if I had accidentally picked up a sequel. It became much clearer as the book went on, though, and reading it in one sitting probably helped me keep track of what was going on.
I picked this out from a large number of ARCs to be today's late night read (it's currently 2:30am) because it's due to be published relatively soon compared to the others, but I didn't have high hopes, especially as I've been finding it hard to enjoy books lately. However, while I didn't think this book was perfect, it was well-written with some gorgeous lines, as well as a fascinating mixture of worldbuilding that evoked all sorts of nerdy folklore feelings in me and drew me into the story.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to listen to some Stravinsky...
December 9, 2016
Reviewed for Just Love. ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed The Firebird’s Tale, a high fantasy novel set in a kingdom not unlike Russia called The Ironlands. It takes place during a time not long after magic had been burned from the lands and magical creatures are all but extinct. The book, which draws inspiration from fairy tales and Slavic folklore, offers some political intrigue and a sweet romance as the newlyweds Aleksei and Nazar embark on their new journey together – quite literally, as it turns out, as Aleksei is compelled to help Nazar on a quest to find a missing key.
As the blurb suggests, our two heroes are thrown together in a cheeky fairy tale spin-off whereupon – as is wont in fairy tales – they are married by some arbitrary royal decree. The Firebird’s Tale puts the “And they lived happily ever after” on pause and explores life after the royal wedding – in this case, the inherent threat Aleksei and Nazar pose to each other and the slow burn of their fragile courtship.
“Interesting, isn’t it? How your people seem to treat their progeny as currency?”
“Stories are stories.”
“Says the Tsesarevich wedded on the back of a smile.”
I adored Nazar’s character. He’s mischievous and impertinent and is the perfect match – or foil – to the serious and stoic Aleksei. Inherently free-spirited with a wanderer’s old soul, Nazar feels trapped by the marriage despite his growing fondness for Aleksei. His is a complicated character and I thought the author did a wonderful job showing us his true colors; I really felt his internal struggle and sympathized with his plight. By comparison, Aleksei took a while for me to warm up to. His affections may have run hot and cold at times, but I loved watching him fall slowly but surely under Nazar’s spell.
One of the highlights of the book for me was the many stories told during their journey across the Ironlands, which included fables, allegories, and some interesting twists on familiar fairy tales. Not only did I look forward to each tale and the accompanying exchange between the newlyweds, but the stories also helped speed up some of the slower parts of the book. The stories became a way for our two vastly different heroes to find common ground – although not always – but most importantly, the tales provided precious insight into their world and how things came to be.
Overall, I found The Firebird’s Tale to be beautifully written and the fantasy world well-crafted. However, I did find it difficult to keep track of the multitude of magical species that came up, and I wasn’t sure if it was because I wasn’t well-versed in fantasy, Eastern European folklore, or a combination of the two. Regardless, I personally would have loved a glossary or footnotes for words like leshy, vucari, indriks, vodnanoy, etc – especially when the plot thickened and some of these creatures and entities came into play.
To be perfectly honest, I first jumped at the chance to review this author’s debut novel after reading a powerful F/F sci-fi short story by her titled The Mourning Hour. The Firebird’s Tale did not disappoint, and I was charmed by the story and overall premise, and the ending left me wanting more. The book closes on somewhat of a loose end – not a cliffhanger, mind you, but it certainly wasn’t “And they lived happily ever after.” All in all, it was a thoughtful and compelling read that I’m happy to recommend.
I really enjoyed The Firebird’s Tale, a high fantasy novel set in a kingdom not unlike Russia called The Ironlands. It takes place during a time not long after magic had been burned from the lands and magical creatures are all but extinct. The book, which draws inspiration from fairy tales and Slavic folklore, offers some political intrigue and a sweet romance as the newlyweds Aleksei and Nazar embark on their new journey together – quite literally, as it turns out, as Aleksei is compelled to help Nazar on a quest to find a missing key.
As the blurb suggests, our two heroes are thrown together in a cheeky fairy tale spin-off whereupon – as is wont in fairy tales – they are married by some arbitrary royal decree. The Firebird’s Tale puts the “And they lived happily ever after” on pause and explores life after the royal wedding – in this case, the inherent threat Aleksei and Nazar pose to each other and the slow burn of their fragile courtship.
“Interesting, isn’t it? How your people seem to treat their progeny as currency?”
“Stories are stories.”
“Says the Tsesarevich wedded on the back of a smile.”
I adored Nazar’s character. He’s mischievous and impertinent and is the perfect match – or foil – to the serious and stoic Aleksei. Inherently free-spirited with a wanderer’s old soul, Nazar feels trapped by the marriage despite his growing fondness for Aleksei. His is a complicated character and I thought the author did a wonderful job showing us his true colors; I really felt his internal struggle and sympathized with his plight. By comparison, Aleksei took a while for me to warm up to. His affections may have run hot and cold at times, but I loved watching him fall slowly but surely under Nazar’s spell.
One of the highlights of the book for me was the many stories told during their journey across the Ironlands, which included fables, allegories, and some interesting twists on familiar fairy tales. Not only did I look forward to each tale and the accompanying exchange between the newlyweds, but the stories also helped speed up some of the slower parts of the book. The stories became a way for our two vastly different heroes to find common ground – although not always – but most importantly, the tales provided precious insight into their world and how things came to be.
Overall, I found The Firebird’s Tale to be beautifully written and the fantasy world well-crafted. However, I did find it difficult to keep track of the multitude of magical species that came up, and I wasn’t sure if it was because I wasn’t well-versed in fantasy, Eastern European folklore, or a combination of the two. Regardless, I personally would have loved a glossary or footnotes for words like leshy, vucari, indriks, vodnanoy, etc – especially when the plot thickened and some of these creatures and entities came into play.
To be perfectly honest, I first jumped at the chance to review this author’s debut novel after reading a powerful F/F sci-fi short story by her titled The Mourning Hour. The Firebird’s Tale did not disappoint, and I was charmed by the story and overall premise, and the ending left me wanting more. The book closes on somewhat of a loose end – not a cliffhanger, mind you, but it certainly wasn’t “And they lived happily ever after.” All in all, it was a thoughtful and compelling read that I’m happy to recommend.
December 9, 2016
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews.)
“On Morenasaday, the Tsesarevich—famous in the Ironlands for never smiling—did so, and caused an instant uproar. Later he would protest in vain that he had not, in fact smiled; smiling involved a given amount of joy, or at least mirth, while what he had actually felt was a certain degree of schadenfreude. The Tsar had blithely ignored this opinion, since it had not suited him to like it.”
The Firebird’s Tale was one of those books that I picked up on a whim because the blurb sounded good. A prince smiles at a man and they have to get married. Quite the twist on the traditional fairy tales. The paragraph above is the first paragraph of the book, and I knew already I would have some pronunciation issues.
The story begins when Aleksei, the prince, spots a thief stealing his father the Tsar’s money purse. Aleksei smirks at the thief’s gall, and unfortunately the smile is seen. The Tsar had previously decreed that whomever could make his son smile, would be wed to the Prince. They didn’t really figure on a man named Nazar, who isn’t even a human, to be the one to cause that smile. Of course, no one knows at the time that Nazar is from Faerie.
The book goes on to detail the story of what happens to Aleksei and Nazar after the smile. The story is set in a place called ‘The Ironlands’, which is a world based partially on ancient Russia in my opinion, with the story borrowing heavily in parts from Russian Folklore and other Slavic Folklore, with lots of stories within the story. Those side stories ranged across the gamut of fairy tales. A couple examples would be Snow White and Rapunzel. I had no idea why they were where they were in the story, although in some cases the author seemed to try to tie them to the Ironland’s history, or even Aleksei’s family history. Those side stories just didn’t work for me and kept throwing me out of the current story line.
There are also references to Baba Yaga (the wicked witch of Russian folklore), who is thrown in as one of the side characters for this current installment. The end of the book lead me to believe maybe Baba Yaga will be a bigger character in upcoming sequels. I read another book last year that was also based heavily on Russian Folklore, so I was familiar with the Baba Yaga character. Some of the other characters from Folklore and Faerie though, not so much. As such, a lot of the names and words didn’t exactly flow easily through my mind. I’ll be honest, I think the story kind of suffered for it. Every time I’d be reading along and things would start flowing smoothly, I’d come to a word or Faerie being type that would throw me out of the story line yet again, when I stumbled over the pronunciation in my mind.
I think the story was well written and it was well edited. I’m going to keep it honest though and tell you that I personally struggled with the read. There was a lot going on, with a lot of words I couldn’t pronounce. More importantly, I never really got comfortable with the story as a whole. It seemed muddied in places, like I could almost grasp who some of the side characters were and how they fit together, and then it would shift focus and I wouldn’t be sure. I know that it is the first book in a series, so this book might have been more about set-up of the story line and characters, but it left me a little unsatisfied. I’m not sure that I would consider reading more in the story.
“On Morenasaday, the Tsesarevich—famous in the Ironlands for never smiling—did so, and caused an instant uproar. Later he would protest in vain that he had not, in fact smiled; smiling involved a given amount of joy, or at least mirth, while what he had actually felt was a certain degree of schadenfreude. The Tsar had blithely ignored this opinion, since it had not suited him to like it.”
The Firebird’s Tale was one of those books that I picked up on a whim because the blurb sounded good. A prince smiles at a man and they have to get married. Quite the twist on the traditional fairy tales. The paragraph above is the first paragraph of the book, and I knew already I would have some pronunciation issues.
The story begins when Aleksei, the prince, spots a thief stealing his father the Tsar’s money purse. Aleksei smirks at the thief’s gall, and unfortunately the smile is seen. The Tsar had previously decreed that whomever could make his son smile, would be wed to the Prince. They didn’t really figure on a man named Nazar, who isn’t even a human, to be the one to cause that smile. Of course, no one knows at the time that Nazar is from Faerie.
The book goes on to detail the story of what happens to Aleksei and Nazar after the smile. The story is set in a place called ‘The Ironlands’, which is a world based partially on ancient Russia in my opinion, with the story borrowing heavily in parts from Russian Folklore and other Slavic Folklore, with lots of stories within the story. Those side stories ranged across the gamut of fairy tales. A couple examples would be Snow White and Rapunzel. I had no idea why they were where they were in the story, although in some cases the author seemed to try to tie them to the Ironland’s history, or even Aleksei’s family history. Those side stories just didn’t work for me and kept throwing me out of the current story line.
There are also references to Baba Yaga (the wicked witch of Russian folklore), who is thrown in as one of the side characters for this current installment. The end of the book lead me to believe maybe Baba Yaga will be a bigger character in upcoming sequels. I read another book last year that was also based heavily on Russian Folklore, so I was familiar with the Baba Yaga character. Some of the other characters from Folklore and Faerie though, not so much. As such, a lot of the names and words didn’t exactly flow easily through my mind. I’ll be honest, I think the story kind of suffered for it. Every time I’d be reading along and things would start flowing smoothly, I’d come to a word or Faerie being type that would throw me out of the story line yet again, when I stumbled over the pronunciation in my mind.
I think the story was well written and it was well edited. I’m going to keep it honest though and tell you that I personally struggled with the read. There was a lot going on, with a lot of words I couldn’t pronounce. More importantly, I never really got comfortable with the story as a whole. It seemed muddied in places, like I could almost grasp who some of the side characters were and how they fit together, and then it would shift focus and I wouldn’t be sure. I know that it is the first book in a series, so this book might have been more about set-up of the story line and characters, but it left me a little unsatisfied. I’m not sure that I would consider reading more in the story.
November 3, 2016
Also posted on my blog.
ARC acquired through Netgalley.
I wasn’t expecting much from The Firebird’s Tale for one single reason: I had never heard of it before when I found it browsing through NetGalley. I requested it on a whim, but I’m happy to say I don’t regret it one bit.
The Firebird’s Tale has everything I love in a fantasy book that has romance as one of its driving forces: good characters, good writing, original worldbuilding, an engaging plot plot and a relationship that makes sense. I loved both Aleksei (the prince) and Nazar (the thief) though they could’ve been flashed out more, and even though I’d have liked it better if their relationship took more time to develop I still loved it.
Weird, right? Usually romance is either hated it because it’s instalove or loved it because it’s slow burn/makes sense for me, but here in The Firebird’s Tale the author managed to convince me of Aleksei and Nazar’s love in a very short amount of time. Or pages.
The story does take some time to get going, but honestly, it didn’t bother me in the least. I do love slow paced books, so there is that, but it probably happened because I enjoyed the writing a lot and loved the worldbuilding (it’s inspired by Russian & Germanic folklore if I’m not mistaken) so even the more slow, almost-nothing-is-happening moments were interesting to me. The end comes with a bang, though, which only makes everything better.
And I felt so bad for Aleksei in the last chapters of the book. So bad. I thought for a moment that the book would have a sad ending, but I’m glad it didn’t. The characters were so charismatic I couldn’t help but feel for them, and a sad ending would have hit me hard.
My only complaint is that The Firebird’s Tale seems to be a standalone – I would love for it to a series because there is SO much potential. Both on the romance side of things and on the fantasy side. Honestly, I’d kill to know what’s going to happen in The Firebird’s Tale‘s world after what happened in the last chapters. 4.0 stars.
ARC acquired through Netgalley.
I wasn’t expecting much from The Firebird’s Tale for one single reason: I had never heard of it before when I found it browsing through NetGalley. I requested it on a whim, but I’m happy to say I don’t regret it one bit.
The Firebird’s Tale has everything I love in a fantasy book that has romance as one of its driving forces: good characters, good writing, original worldbuilding, an engaging plot plot and a relationship that makes sense. I loved both Aleksei (the prince) and Nazar (the thief) though they could’ve been flashed out more, and even though I’d have liked it better if their relationship took more time to develop I still loved it.
Weird, right? Usually romance is either hated it because it’s instalove or loved it because it’s slow burn/makes sense for me, but here in The Firebird’s Tale the author managed to convince me of Aleksei and Nazar’s love in a very short amount of time. Or pages.
The story does take some time to get going, but honestly, it didn’t bother me in the least. I do love slow paced books, so there is that, but it probably happened because I enjoyed the writing a lot and loved the worldbuilding (it’s inspired by Russian & Germanic folklore if I’m not mistaken) so even the more slow, almost-nothing-is-happening moments were interesting to me. The end comes with a bang, though, which only makes everything better.
And I felt so bad for Aleksei in the last chapters of the book. So bad. I thought for a moment that the book would have a sad ending, but I’m glad it didn’t. The characters were so charismatic I couldn’t help but feel for them, and a sad ending would have hit me hard.
My only complaint is that The Firebird’s Tale seems to be a standalone – I would love for it to a series because there is SO much potential. Both on the romance side of things and on the fantasy side. Honestly, I’d kill to know what’s going to happen in The Firebird’s Tale‘s world after what happened in the last chapters. 4.0 stars.
December 21, 2016
Originally published on The Book Unicorn
The Firebird's Tale was a fun read. It reminded me a little bit of Arabian Nights, which I'm a huge fan of. And I loved the incorporation of Russian folklore. I felt like I was reading a fairy tale.
I really enjoyed this book. But at the same time, I constantly found myself wanting more. More world building, more backstories, more explanations for why things were happening...just a bit more. This had so many great elements, but I felt like too many things were glossed over and skipped. I think a big reason why I felt like this was because I loved what I did see so much. This is an absolutely fascinating world and I really wanted to learn more about it. I'm not entirely sure if there will be a second book in the series. I'm assuming so, because it didn't feel as if the story truly concluded. Hopefully there is a second book and some of my issues with history and world building will be resolved.
Despite my complaints, I still found plenty in this book to rave about. The characters, for example. I adored the characters so much. Aleskei and Nazar were adorable together and Svetlana was so awesome and sassy. Even though I wished there would have been more details about the world and it's history, the fact that I loved the characters so much made me willing to overlook a lot of that.
I'd recommend reading The Firebird's Tale. It's a short, delightful story that made my heart melt. I'm interested to see what else Anya Ow comes out with in the future!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Firebird's Tale was a fun read. It reminded me a little bit of Arabian Nights, which I'm a huge fan of. And I loved the incorporation of Russian folklore. I felt like I was reading a fairy tale.
I really enjoyed this book. But at the same time, I constantly found myself wanting more. More world building, more backstories, more explanations for why things were happening...just a bit more. This had so many great elements, but I felt like too many things were glossed over and skipped. I think a big reason why I felt like this was because I loved what I did see so much. This is an absolutely fascinating world and I really wanted to learn more about it. I'm not entirely sure if there will be a second book in the series. I'm assuming so, because it didn't feel as if the story truly concluded. Hopefully there is a second book and some of my issues with history and world building will be resolved.
Despite my complaints, I still found plenty in this book to rave about. The characters, for example. I adored the characters so much. Aleskei and Nazar were adorable together and Svetlana was so awesome and sassy. Even though I wished there would have been more details about the world and it's history, the fact that I loved the characters so much made me willing to overlook a lot of that.
I'd recommend reading The Firebird's Tale. It's a short, delightful story that made my heart melt. I'm interested to see what else Anya Ow comes out with in the future!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2016
I recommend The Firebird's Tale to anyone looking for a unique romantic fantasy.
Aleksei and Nazar are good characters. Their romance is bittersweet, definitely not a typical fairy-tale romance, despite how their story starts out. I'm especially intrigued by Nazar's complexity. His personality is really shown through the stories he tells to anyone who will listen.
The world that's created in this novel is rich and detailed. Nazar's stories portray an interesting interplay between history and myth and provide good food for thought as well-known stories are re-framed.
Although there are a few somewhat explicit sex scenes, I don't consider this a highly erotic story.
Although I enjoyed this, I wasn't completely engaged. I didn't have a strong emotional connection with the characters.
*I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Aleksei and Nazar are good characters. Their romance is bittersweet, definitely not a typical fairy-tale romance, despite how their story starts out. I'm especially intrigued by Nazar's complexity. His personality is really shown through the stories he tells to anyone who will listen.
The world that's created in this novel is rich and detailed. Nazar's stories portray an interesting interplay between history and myth and provide good food for thought as well-known stories are re-framed.
Although there are a few somewhat explicit sex scenes, I don't consider this a highly erotic story.
Although I enjoyed this, I wasn't completely engaged. I didn't have a strong emotional connection with the characters.
*I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
December 29, 2016
This was so good ❤️ I loved everything about it. It seems to draw a lot on Russian and/or Eastern European fairy tales and folklore - I don't know much about it, but I recognise some things from other stories I've read (uprooted, in particular, springs to mind). I loved the tales the firebird told and how they were all connected, and how they were also real and connected to history (the history of this world, anyway, not the real one I live in...). I loved the way they slowly fell in love and dealt with it, with them having vastly different natures and world views and ways of loving, and I love that nazar came back. I find myself wondering if there'll be a sequel - if we'll get to see how the world changes and what'll happen in the new world, and how aleksei and nazar fit into it...
Highly recommended for anyone who loves fairytale inspired fantasy and romance. This was wonderful. ❤️
Highly recommended for anyone who loves fairytale inspired fantasy and romance. This was wonderful. ❤️
December 11, 2016
From Magnolia Reviews: Four Petals
I really enjoyed reading this story. The plot was layered and had so much depth that it transported me to the world in the story. I could have used a touch more description to really understand the magic and the characters, but overall I do recommend this story.
Read the full review on Maggie's website: http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/rev...
I really enjoyed reading this story. The plot was layered and had so much depth that it transported me to the world in the story. I could have used a touch more description to really understand the magic and the characters, but overall I do recommend this story.
Read the full review on Maggie's website: http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/rev...
Read
December 2, 2016I tried really hard with this book. I know it was supposed to be reminiscent of 1001 Arabian Nights with the stories-within-a-story trope, but it just got bogged down by too much of the storytelling. I didn't connect with the characters and i finally decided to just pass and try to find something else to enjoy.
December 8, 2016
This was quite cute. Read the full review here!
May 2, 2021
Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2017/10/22/...
Rating: 2 Stars – it’s a struggle to finish the damn book
Rating: 2 Stars – it’s a struggle to finish the damn book
February 7, 2023
I have a problem not finishing a book once I start reading it unless it is really bad. I plowed through it but was not overly excited about it. It was offered for free on Reddit so I gave it a try.
June 29, 2018
The Firebirds Tale by Anya Ow begins with the end of a familiar story: a Prince who never smiled, and by Imperial decree, has to marry the one who managed to make him do so. Except that it was all an accident, and the Prince would say he didn’t actually smile at the thief who dared to rob a Tsar, and the thief was not even a woman—or, as it turns out, even human.
The Firebirds Tale is set in a world based upon European and Eurasian folklore. I liked seeing well know, and lesser known, folklore pulled together and woven through the book. I also like that it is clear the author did her research and got Russian names and titles correct, which is not always the case. I found the sexual ambiguity and openness to be well done. It fed into the slow relationship building between Aleksei and Nazar, which made the story so sweet and left me wondering what the resolution might be until the very end. Watching the bond being forged, and fought, was very well done, but it is far from all the book is about. There are fairy tale retellings woven together to form a bigger picture. There is a good deal of commentary on politics and human nature as well, the desire for more, and to rule. The nature of war, and the destruction and pain it causes along side the drive some have for making it happen. Every now and then I did get a little overwhelmed with the amount of things going on, and it felt a little wandering on occasion.
The Firebirds Tale had a slow start for me, but when I finally sat down and power through it I found thing I really loved about the story, and some things that did not work quite so well for me.
The Firebirds Tale is set in a world based upon European and Eurasian folklore. I liked seeing well know, and lesser known, folklore pulled together and woven through the book. I also like that it is clear the author did her research and got Russian names and titles correct, which is not always the case. I found the sexual ambiguity and openness to be well done. It fed into the slow relationship building between Aleksei and Nazar, which made the story so sweet and left me wondering what the resolution might be until the very end. Watching the bond being forged, and fought, was very well done, but it is far from all the book is about. There are fairy tale retellings woven together to form a bigger picture. There is a good deal of commentary on politics and human nature as well, the desire for more, and to rule. The nature of war, and the destruction and pain it causes along side the drive some have for making it happen. Every now and then I did get a little overwhelmed with the amount of things going on, and it felt a little wandering on occasion.
The Firebirds Tale had a slow start for me, but when I finally sat down and power through it I found thing I really loved about the story, and some things that did not work quite so well for me.
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