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The Sorceress and the Squid
In the magical land of Perth, divisions between the Old Kingdom and the New have waged for centuries. The humans have long harbored a mistrust of the spell-casting Fae and vice versa. In the midst of this conflict, Estrella the Sorceress lays waste to the Training Academy for Human Warriors, making an enemy in the soldier, Jalen. During their standoff, Jalen is turned into a squid and Estrella, unable to restore him to his original form, takes pity on him and travels west across the Sea to bring him to the Wizard in hope he can be saved. But is there more to the unrest in Perth than meets the eye?
- GenresFantasy
280 pages, Paperback
Published June 18, 2017
2 people are currently reading
261 people want to read
About the author
Emily Mundell
3 books22 followersEmily Mundell is a 20-something author, artist, horsewoman and lover of the wonders of the wide world. She hails from the Great White North of Canada and has spent her life growing up in the heart of rural Alberta in a close-knit farming community - though she has often entertained fantasies of inhabiting the Shire.
Writing is her true passion – though horses and art take a close second. With fantasy as her primary genre, Emily has been writing stories since the tender age of eight when she finished her first “book.” In 2017, she completed her Creative Writing Certificate through the University of Calgary. An avid bookworm, true country-mouse, and unconventional tree-climber, Emily can usually be found on a horse, working on one of her half-dozen projects, chasing a loose cow, or being swept off her feet by the man she calls her own personal “hobbit.”
Writing is her true passion – though horses and art take a close second. With fantasy as her primary genre, Emily has been writing stories since the tender age of eight when she finished her first “book.” In 2017, she completed her Creative Writing Certificate through the University of Calgary. An avid bookworm, true country-mouse, and unconventional tree-climber, Emily can usually be found on a horse, working on one of her half-dozen projects, chasing a loose cow, or being swept off her feet by the man she calls her own personal “hobbit.”
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 23, 2017
I knew the moment I read the synopsis that I had to read this thing, and on the very same day that I got the ARC I finished it (which is saying a lot because that was a very busy day with house cleaning and a birthday party!). This book was gripping and exciting and I enjoyed every moment of it!
All the great things:
- Let's just begin with this: how unique is the idea? A squid? Of all the animals Jalen could have been turned into, it was a squid!? I love that!
- Now for the characters. Estrella is a sorceress, and while I don't usually consider sorceresses as "good" characters, in this book it was something like the female equivalent of "wizard". So we have a girl "wizard" as the main character. I LOVE wizards. In this case I loved the sorceress. And Estrella is proud, strong, clever, powerful, and a bit grumpy at first plus sarcastic. Haha. Jalen brings two word to mind for me - talkative, and blue. (Because squid = water = blue.) So yes, he's quite fantastic and how can I not love talkative characters (being one myself) and he's being a squid is quite hilarious and awesome! And of course I really liked how the POV was split between them. Also, everyone else was very unique and interesting to meet because of the different races. And yes I loved the villain but can't give you much information on that because that would spoil it for you. ;)
- The different races were amazing! There were spirits and goblins and fae and humans and nymphs and dryads and vampires and just WOW. It would have been nice to get to know them all better, but you know how it is when the book is a standalone. (I think it's a standalone. Isn't it, Emily?)
- The world of Perth was a beautiful fantasy world. Goodness, from page two I knew I loved it and I could see it all and there's so much left for imagination and exploration. I seriously want to go to Perth someday!
- The twists. Just one point here - they didn't shock me. That may be just me. Perhaps I have just read so much fantasy that I'm not easily surprised anymore, or the author included such great foreshadowing that I picked up all the clues (both, I think). But I still admire and love all the twists and turns and unexpected events! Let's just say nothing is as simple and easy as it first seems to be and things get complicated and difficult and so on :D
- This is a huge plus - the book was never boring even though there was a lot of traveling! And that's because they were always meeting people and having interactions and a lot was going on.
- It was quite epic for a standalone, actually! I admire how the writer did ALL THAT in 18 chapters. How even? Wow.
- The romance was just enough and not too much. And I ship them! Most of it is discreet and implied and you can read it between the lines and a lot of it is what we all know is to come .
- I actually dreamed I was in this book! That has happened only with one other book previously. I think I was fighting the academy soldiers, and maybe was Estrella? So I totally relate to being in her shoes!
- This was my first ARC ever, so obviously I will remember it for ages to come! Plus I know the author and she's Canadian, and we have so many other things in common :D Also I love the cover and the formatting and font used for chapter titles and the style!
- I understood all the magic! I am so happy because there are times I understand zero about how the magic works in other fantasies and it drives me crazy. :)
Anything I didn't like?
Nope. Like I said, I wasn't shocked by the twists and some things that happened I have seen before (some people might think them a bit cliche), but I liked it all. This book was amazing!
So all you guys, you got to go read this thing! Put it on your tbr, and get it ASAP ! You won't regret it!
All the great things:
- Let's just begin with this: how unique is the idea? A squid? Of all the animals Jalen could have been turned into, it was a squid!? I love that!
- Now for the characters. Estrella is a sorceress, and while I don't usually consider sorceresses as "good" characters, in this book it was something like the female equivalent of "wizard". So we have a girl "wizard" as the main character. I LOVE wizards. In this case I loved the sorceress. And Estrella is proud, strong, clever, powerful, and a bit grumpy at first plus sarcastic. Haha. Jalen brings two word to mind for me - talkative, and blue. (Because squid = water = blue.) So yes, he's quite fantastic and how can I not love talkative characters (being one myself) and he's being a squid is quite hilarious and awesome! And of course I really liked how the POV was split between them. Also, everyone else was very unique and interesting to meet because of the different races. And yes I loved the villain but can't give you much information on that because that would spoil it for you. ;)
- The different races were amazing! There were spirits and goblins and fae and humans and nymphs and dryads and vampires and just WOW. It would have been nice to get to know them all better, but you know how it is when the book is a standalone. (I think it's a standalone. Isn't it, Emily?)
- The world of Perth was a beautiful fantasy world. Goodness, from page two I knew I loved it and I could see it all and there's so much left for imagination and exploration. I seriously want to go to Perth someday!
- The twists. Just one point here - they didn't shock me. That may be just me. Perhaps I have just read so much fantasy that I'm not easily surprised anymore, or the author included such great foreshadowing that I picked up all the clues (both, I think). But I still admire and love all the twists and turns and unexpected events! Let's just say nothing is as simple and easy as it first seems to be and things get complicated and difficult and so on :D
- This is a huge plus - the book was never boring even though there was a lot of traveling! And that's because they were always meeting people and having interactions and a lot was going on.
- It was quite epic for a standalone, actually! I admire how the writer did ALL THAT in 18 chapters. How even? Wow.
- The romance was just enough and not too much. And I ship them! Most of it is discreet and implied and you can read it between the lines and a lot of it is what we all know is to come .
- I actually dreamed I was in this book! That has happened only with one other book previously. I think I was fighting the academy soldiers, and maybe was Estrella? So I totally relate to being in her shoes!
- This was my first ARC ever, so obviously I will remember it for ages to come! Plus I know the author and she's Canadian, and we have so many other things in common :D Also I love the cover and the formatting and font used for chapter titles and the style!
- I understood all the magic! I am so happy because there are times I understand zero about how the magic works in other fantasies and it drives me crazy. :)
Anything I didn't like?
Nope. Like I said, I wasn't shocked by the twists and some things that happened I have seen before (some people might think them a bit cliche), but I liked it all. This book was amazing!
So all you guys, you got to go read this thing! Put it on your tbr, and get it ASAP ! You won't regret it!
February 26, 2018
I received this book as a gift from a dear friend who was a beta reader, so I knew it HAD to be good. She promised that even though fantasy isn't my thing, I would enjoy this fun, quirky story.
She was right! I was a little skeptical going in, but Mundell pulls the reader into the action immediately and doesn't give much time to breathe throughout the entire story. Unexpected plot twists happened at every turn, the pacing was perfect for this ADHD brain, and I LOVED IT!!!! Adorable romance, compelling characters ... *sigh* So beautiful.
She was right! I was a little skeptical going in, but Mundell pulls the reader into the action immediately and doesn't give much time to breathe throughout the entire story. Unexpected plot twists happened at every turn, the pacing was perfect for this ADHD brain, and I LOVED IT!!!! Adorable romance, compelling characters ... *sigh* So beautiful.
June 19, 2017
Casting her spell-bounding novella into the familiar land that we humans call ‘earth’, Emily Mundell has successfully completed and released her debut publication: The Sorceress and the Squid.
Mundell, nineteen, is juggling her Certificate of Creative Writing (University of Calgary), marriage preparations and maintaining the oh-so-honorable reputation as ‘Dad’s favourite farm hand’. The fact that she found time to dream up such an intricate and enticing fantasy is a mystery within itself.
Evidently, inspiration came from the people closest in her own life; the blood, sweat and tears depicted in the characters’ experiences encapsulates the heart and soul poured into both the story and her family and friends (although I still can’t imagine where the idea of transforming the leading male into a… squid? … came from. None-the-less, it worked!). My favourite character was the leading lady, Estrella: the development of her personality from pride and determination, to deplete and sacrifice, to humility, acceptance and a renaissance of persistence was captivating. Her enemy-turned-king, Jalen, deemed less wavering, always possessing an essence of humour and arrogance yet also apologetic, empathetic compassion. Other highlights included the beautiful features of the mythical maidens and the comic relief provided by the goblins Birk and Jirrick.
The movements performed by each character was carefully assessed. This visualisation of the story progression is enticing; it would further benefit with shorter sentences in the fast-paced scenes and more description of the newly-imagined scenery.
On a side note, the adventurous, young-at-heart illustrations by Micah Jonsson (though few) married well with Mundell’s language style. Maps of the New and Old Worlds would be advantageous to future prints.
Mundell has an alluring way of keeping readers engaged and guessing possibilities, yet enticing them with unpredictable surprises that work extremely well in the mythical land she’s created. With its romanticism and fantasy, it is a brilliant read for all ages. A thrilling bedtime story for very bright, mature children. The length, scope for analysis and language is brilliant for young teenagers. As a young adult, I thoroughly enjoyed the novella as a refreshing tale with flavors of old-time-favorite films and texts such as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.
The Sorceress and the Squid is a charming, exciting read for lovers of fantasy. My congratulations go out to the talented young author on her debut publication. I eagerly anticipate her future creations and hope to see a series in the making within the near future.
Finally, may Emily and her ‘squid’, Jonathon, live happily ever after, “to the end of their days.”
Mundell, nineteen, is juggling her Certificate of Creative Writing (University of Calgary), marriage preparations and maintaining the oh-so-honorable reputation as ‘Dad’s favourite farm hand’. The fact that she found time to dream up such an intricate and enticing fantasy is a mystery within itself.
Evidently, inspiration came from the people closest in her own life; the blood, sweat and tears depicted in the characters’ experiences encapsulates the heart and soul poured into both the story and her family and friends (although I still can’t imagine where the idea of transforming the leading male into a… squid? … came from. None-the-less, it worked!). My favourite character was the leading lady, Estrella: the development of her personality from pride and determination, to deplete and sacrifice, to humility, acceptance and a renaissance of persistence was captivating. Her enemy-turned-king, Jalen, deemed less wavering, always possessing an essence of humour and arrogance yet also apologetic, empathetic compassion. Other highlights included the beautiful features of the mythical maidens and the comic relief provided by the goblins Birk and Jirrick.
The movements performed by each character was carefully assessed. This visualisation of the story progression is enticing; it would further benefit with shorter sentences in the fast-paced scenes and more description of the newly-imagined scenery.
On a side note, the adventurous, young-at-heart illustrations by Micah Jonsson (though few) married well with Mundell’s language style. Maps of the New and Old Worlds would be advantageous to future prints.
Mundell has an alluring way of keeping readers engaged and guessing possibilities, yet enticing them with unpredictable surprises that work extremely well in the mythical land she’s created. With its romanticism and fantasy, it is a brilliant read for all ages. A thrilling bedtime story for very bright, mature children. The length, scope for analysis and language is brilliant for young teenagers. As a young adult, I thoroughly enjoyed the novella as a refreshing tale with flavors of old-time-favorite films and texts such as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.
The Sorceress and the Squid is a charming, exciting read for lovers of fantasy. My congratulations go out to the talented young author on her debut publication. I eagerly anticipate her future creations and hope to see a series in the making within the near future.
Finally, may Emily and her ‘squid’, Jonathon, live happily ever after, “to the end of their days.”
May 27, 2024
Loved this story.
You know you’ll learn to love the two main characters from the moment they’re introduced, and that their journey is going to grow their character and hearts. I personally love when authors give a glimpse into more than one mind in their writing, which is what you get in this book.
Big fan of the magic and fantasy world, I found it simple to follow but still had depth and lore surrounding it.
I honestly felt eager the entire book to know what would happen next, there are no dull moments and a few twists you wouldn’t be able to guess!
Can’t wait for what’s next!
You know you’ll learn to love the two main characters from the moment they’re introduced, and that their journey is going to grow their character and hearts. I personally love when authors give a glimpse into more than one mind in their writing, which is what you get in this book.
Big fan of the magic and fantasy world, I found it simple to follow but still had depth and lore surrounding it.
I honestly felt eager the entire book to know what would happen next, there are no dull moments and a few twists you wouldn’t be able to guess!
Can’t wait for what’s next!
February 26, 2024
UPDATED REVIEW AFTER SECOND READ:
This book is reminiscent of Narnia and the other fantasy works of C.S. Lewis. This tale is perfect for fantasy fans, as it twists and turns on a wild, unpredictable adventure.
This whimsical yet thought-provoking tale is a must-read! With everything from vampires to wood-nymphs to princesses, this book will take you on a magical journey through the incredible land of Perth, containing surprising plot twists, dark conspiracies, and maybe even a little romance. I highly recommend both the book, for it's enchanting story, and the author, for her charming and entrancing style of writing!
This book is reminiscent of Narnia and the other fantasy works of C.S. Lewis. This tale is perfect for fantasy fans, as it twists and turns on a wild, unpredictable adventure.
This whimsical yet thought-provoking tale is a must-read! With everything from vampires to wood-nymphs to princesses, this book will take you on a magical journey through the incredible land of Perth, containing surprising plot twists, dark conspiracies, and maybe even a little romance. I highly recommend both the book, for it's enchanting story, and the author, for her charming and entrancing style of writing!
June 19, 2017
The Sorceress and the Squid is epic, adventurous, and original. The characters deal with issues that are very relevant today, such as, struggling to find a sense of belonging and the importance of trusting others even when it makes you feel vulnerable. The author strikes the perfect balance between substance and lightheartedness. There were a few moments where I actually laughed out loud! As a huge fan of Terry Brooks it's very exciting to find another author that incorporates that sense of humour into their books!
I also love stories that include an original "mythology" and this one did not disappoint. Although at the beginning of the novel I worried that the book may not carry too much substance, I now realize that the substance was just cleverly concealed in order to serve as a greater reveal down the line. All said, The Sorceress and the Squid is a must-read for fantasy lovers!
I also love stories that include an original "mythology" and this one did not disappoint. Although at the beginning of the novel I worried that the book may not carry too much substance, I now realize that the substance was just cleverly concealed in order to serve as a greater reveal down the line. All said, The Sorceress and the Squid is a must-read for fantasy lovers!
May 27, 2021
This book is a exciting read right from the start! Highly recommend!
June 18, 2017
A great first novel, The Sorceress and the Squid is a treat for those who love fairytale/ fantasy books. A good cast of characters with just the right mix of adventure, magic and humour. Enjoyable for young and old alike. Worth the read!
August 14, 2018
This book holds such a unique story! The cover alone is gorgeous, and the story inside is even better.
Emily did a fantastic job tying every detail up in the climax, and despite taking place in a fantasy world, everything seems realistic. She uses such unique elements to make the world her own. A few of my favorite elements:
- Jalen turning into a squid. Because how exciting is that? I LOVE that Emily picked an unusual creature, because now I will always remember Jalen: the soldier who was turned into a squid.
- The variety of powers. Aryn's ship and crew were my favorite!
- Jalen and Estrella's connection. Their friendship was so much fun to read and I couldn't wait for little heartfelt moments between them.
- The details. Just all of them.
- The twists. I expected a couple of them, but more often than not, I was surprised!
I wish we could have learned more about Estrella and Jalen's past, but Emily definitely gave us enough to make everything in the story realistic. I will definitely read it again - and I will have to read it aloud to my sisters soon too!
If you love magic, banter, and precious characters trying to constantly protect each other, definitely give The Sorceress and the Squid a read!
Emily did a fantastic job tying every detail up in the climax, and despite taking place in a fantasy world, everything seems realistic. She uses such unique elements to make the world her own. A few of my favorite elements:
- Jalen turning into a squid. Because how exciting is that? I LOVE that Emily picked an unusual creature, because now I will always remember Jalen: the soldier who was turned into a squid.
- The variety of powers. Aryn's ship and crew were my favorite!
- Jalen and Estrella's connection. Their friendship was so much fun to read and I couldn't wait for little heartfelt moments between them.
- The details. Just all of them.
- The twists. I expected a couple of them, but more often than not, I was surprised!
I wish we could have learned more about Estrella and Jalen's past, but Emily definitely gave us enough to make everything in the story realistic. I will definitely read it again - and I will have to read it aloud to my sisters soon too!
If you love magic, banter, and precious characters trying to constantly protect each other, definitely give The Sorceress and the Squid a read!
November 16, 2017
AUTHOR REVIEW
"The Sorceress and the Squid" is a heartfelt fantasy with a classic fairy-tale feel and a fun-filled, adventurous spirit. A medley of fascinating characters combined with a zig-zagging plot makes for an exciting read as you race towards the end to learn the fate of Estrella the Sorceress and Jalen the warrior-turned-squid. If you enjoy familiar fantasy with fun, new twists, this is the book for you!
"The Sorceress and the Squid" is a heartfelt fantasy with a classic fairy-tale feel and a fun-filled, adventurous spirit. A medley of fascinating characters combined with a zig-zagging plot makes for an exciting read as you race towards the end to learn the fate of Estrella the Sorceress and Jalen the warrior-turned-squid. If you enjoy familiar fantasy with fun, new twists, this is the book for you!
July 17, 2017
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Because seriously - even though I haven't written a review since I was last forced to in high school - maybe I should do more? because free books. *can't believe I didn't know this was a thing*]
The book: You know how e-books - particularly indie published e-books - are filled with formatting errors often enough that you now cringe at the thought of reading one? No? It's just me? (Fine.) But this book, THIS BOOK DID NOT. Words were not split across lines. There were no glaring typos. Formatting was consistent. Perhaps those are rather petty things to judge a book by, but you don't know what it means for my opinion of a book. I began The Sorceress and the Squid expecting the usual e-book problems, and it didn't have them.
The characters: Estrella, a sorceress, and Jalen, the warrior she turns into a squid, alternate POV. I'm not going to try to describe them for you; I'm going to give you quotes.
Estrella:
"It was a lovely morning for war-mongering." (First line. I mean, this is obviously a fascinating narrator voice.)
Second page: "Her attempt to stick her nose beyond the pages of her books was going very poorly."
I identify so much with the second quote... and it's even better because it comes so soon after the first one.
Jalen:
"Jalen grimaced - if a squid could grimace -"
"He tried to shrug, but realized quickly that was beyond his squid abilities."
"He made a low whistling noise, or tried to. It ended up being sort of a bubbly sound. Apparently squids couldn’t whistle."
I just love the whole frustrated-warrior-is-now-a-talking-squid thing. xD
The plot: I expected the plot would be simply a quest to find the Wizard, and I was concerned that the strain of holding that up for an entire novel would bring out the quest cliches. I was wrong, for two reasons:
1. Estrella complained enough about carrying the jar (fairly, I think, as it would have been terribly awkward) that the quest-journey flew past. Characters bickering and being snarky = yasss.
2. The journey ended; they got to the Wizard's island; and I thought, oh well, it's been a nice read - not terribly complex, but nice. And then- (I can't give any more details because spoilers.) And I realised that I was only half-way through. In the second half there's battles and new friends and tragedy and hope and magical duels and awesome stuff. (That's so vague. How do people even write good reviews without putting spoilers through the whole thing??)
The ending felt both a bit rushed, and satisfyingly true:
- I thought some some details could have been emphasised more - I took a while to figure out that , for example. And I thought it could have been more clearly stated that , although I suppose the circumstances made it obvious. Emotionally, I felt like Estrella and Jalen weren't quite ready to finish? She was still struggling, and he'd had a whole new element added to his character.
- Honestly, though, I think the ending for Estrella would have felt faked if that (spoilers!) had been somehow fixed? And it's so sweet that he's sticking around and helping her. (That last scene in the rain... adorable! *mushy heart eyes*)
The setting: I WANT ESTRELLA'S HOUSE, OKAY? It's on the top of a mountain, on the other side of a slightly magic forest, and it's a one-room building with lots of clutter and cupboards and a wall and a half of bookshelves. I could see it... and I'm terrible at picturing setting. Other settings include a boat and a semi-magic island - which were cool - and a battlefield, which I got a little confused over. But I typically get confused about setting, so it's probably mostly me?
Content: Magic and some battle scenes (nothing too graphic).
Adored: Estrella, Jalen, Estrella + Jalen, Estrella's house, her grumbling about carrying Jalen in the jar, Jalen being alternately "yep I'm a talking squid!!" and "nope squids don't talk haha that's ridiculous why would I talk??", the brief appearance of a magic carpet, the hopeless goblin gang, and the Gollum-like creature. Also the ending was sweet (/bittersweet).
Complaints: There was a bit about handholding that I thought could have been drawn out into more of a plot point. ...Okay, maybe I mostly wanted them to hold hands a bit more... but it still could have been a great plot point! I was picturing them , and I was a bit disappointed that never happened... ;)
Mostly, though, this book was at times sweet, snarky, heart-wrenching, and funny. (I mean, when they were waylaid by goblins, Estrella zapped their bottoms.) Four out of fivesquids spellbooks.
The book: You know how e-books - particularly indie published e-books - are filled with formatting errors often enough that you now cringe at the thought of reading one? No? It's just me? (Fine.) But this book, THIS BOOK DID NOT. Words were not split across lines. There were no glaring typos. Formatting was consistent. Perhaps those are rather petty things to judge a book by, but you don't know what it means for my opinion of a book. I began The Sorceress and the Squid expecting the usual e-book problems, and it didn't have them.
The characters: Estrella, a sorceress, and Jalen, the warrior she turns into a squid, alternate POV. I'm not going to try to describe them for you; I'm going to give you quotes.
Estrella:
"It was a lovely morning for war-mongering." (First line. I mean, this is obviously a fascinating narrator voice.)
Second page: "Her attempt to stick her nose beyond the pages of her books was going very poorly."
I identify so much with the second quote... and it's even better because it comes so soon after the first one.
Jalen:
"Jalen grimaced - if a squid could grimace -"
"He tried to shrug, but realized quickly that was beyond his squid abilities."
"He made a low whistling noise, or tried to. It ended up being sort of a bubbly sound. Apparently squids couldn’t whistle."
I just love the whole frustrated-warrior-is-now-a-talking-squid thing. xD
The plot: I expected the plot would be simply a quest to find the Wizard, and I was concerned that the strain of holding that up for an entire novel would bring out the quest cliches. I was wrong, for two reasons:
1. Estrella complained enough about carrying the jar (fairly, I think, as it would have been terribly awkward) that the quest-journey flew past. Characters bickering and being snarky = yasss.
2. The journey ended; they got to the Wizard's island; and I thought, oh well, it's been a nice read - not terribly complex, but nice. And then- (I can't give any more details because spoilers.) And I realised that I was only half-way through. In the second half there's battles and new friends and tragedy and hope and magical duels and awesome stuff. (That's so vague. How do people even write good reviews without putting spoilers through the whole thing??)
The ending felt both a bit rushed, and satisfyingly true:
- I thought some some details could have been emphasised more - I took a while to figure out that , for example. And I thought it could have been more clearly stated that , although I suppose the circumstances made it obvious. Emotionally, I felt like Estrella and Jalen weren't quite ready to finish? She was still struggling, and he'd had a whole new element added to his character.
- Honestly, though, I think the ending for Estrella would have felt faked if that (spoilers!) had been somehow fixed? And it's so sweet that he's sticking around and helping her. (That last scene in the rain... adorable! *mushy heart eyes*)
The setting: I WANT ESTRELLA'S HOUSE, OKAY? It's on the top of a mountain, on the other side of a slightly magic forest, and it's a one-room building with lots of clutter and cupboards and a wall and a half of bookshelves. I could see it... and I'm terrible at picturing setting. Other settings include a boat and a semi-magic island - which were cool - and a battlefield, which I got a little confused over. But I typically get confused about setting, so it's probably mostly me?
Content: Magic and some battle scenes (nothing too graphic).
Adored: Estrella, Jalen, Estrella + Jalen, Estrella's house, her grumbling about carrying Jalen in the jar, Jalen being alternately "yep I'm a talking squid!!" and "nope squids don't talk haha that's ridiculous why would I talk??", the brief appearance of a magic carpet, the hopeless goblin gang, and the Gollum-like creature. Also the ending was sweet (/bittersweet).
Complaints: There was a bit about handholding that I thought could have been drawn out into more of a plot point. ...Okay, maybe I mostly wanted them to hold hands a bit more... but it still could have been a great plot point! I was picturing them , and I was a bit disappointed that never happened... ;)
Mostly, though, this book was at times sweet, snarky, heart-wrenching, and funny. (I mean, when they were waylaid by goblins, Estrella zapped their bottoms.) Four out of five
December 21, 2024
Well, consider me surprised and impressed.
This was fun. Like, really, really fun. It gave me a similar feeling to series like The Enchanted Forest Chronicles; by Patricia C. Wrede, with a fairy-tale style world and magic.
The romance was cute, the characters were both engaging and funny, the world was cool, and honestly the concept is just hilarious.
Was it perfect? No. There were some flaws in the writing, some things could have been foreshadowed better, that kind of thing. But it's a self-published debut from an author who was nineteen at the time of writing it. I can forgive these things.
If you want a fun, fast story with fairy-tale vibes, give it a shot. It's a neat one.
This was fun. Like, really, really fun. It gave me a similar feeling to series like The Enchanted Forest Chronicles; by Patricia C. Wrede, with a fairy-tale style world and magic.
The romance was cute, the characters were both engaging and funny, the world was cool, and honestly the concept is just hilarious.
Was it perfect? No. There were some flaws in the writing, some things could have been foreshadowed better, that kind of thing. But it's a self-published debut from an author who was nineteen at the time of writing it. I can forgive these things.
If you want a fun, fast story with fairy-tale vibes, give it a shot. It's a neat one.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews