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The Fractured Faery #1
Box of Frogs
One corpse. Several bizarre looking attackers. Some very strange magical powers. And a severe bout of amnesia. Madrona is not having a great week. It’s going to be okay though. All she has to do is find out who she really is, protect a soap star from being attacked by a stalker and work out why so many people seem so afraid of her. Because surely she’s a good person.
Right?
This is book one of a new urban fantasy trilogy and does contain an edge of your seat cliffhanger
Right?
This is book one of a new urban fantasy trilogy and does contain an edge of your seat cliffhanger
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2018
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1636 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
July 9, 2018
Box of Frogs (The Fractured Faery #1) by Helen Harper is a fun fantasy but nothing like her Lazy Girl's Guide to Magic, I just loved that series! Nothing can be better than that one! This was still good! Filled with mystery, exciting craziness, creatures, (vampires and fairies mostly), an interesting plot and characters. It was a hazy ending so I am glad I preordered the next book, next two really. Looks like another winner series!
November 24, 2020
This was pretty rocky for the start of a series that leads into another series. I'm interested in the second series, but the completionist in me drove me to seek this out. I'm a little sad that I did.
The heroine, and sole PoV, is known as an evil, betraying jerk. Only she has no memory of life before waking up with a dead body on a golf course. So she's all trying to figure things out, knowing only that she has some weird powers and people after her.
The thing is, her actions start of kind of stupid. The whole superhero episode was dumb to the point of idiocy and I was glad when information started dripping down like rain from the heavens. And the story started creeping up on me and I got interested and not least because Morgan was kind of cool and I liked him and wanted to know what Maddy had done to betray him and if they could recover.
Only then the book ends on one of those abusive cliffhangers that I hate. And true, I was warned so I was braced. But it still hit me upside the head and it stung enough for all that earlier resentment to resurface. So I'm giving this one star even though I fully intend to read the next book and I sincerely hope that Harper has gotten cliffhangers out of her system. I've never known her to do it before and I've read a dozen or more of her books.
A note about Chaste: Maddy doesn't remember anything and pretty much everybody hates her. So there's no romance, though a pretty good kiss does crop up.
The heroine, and sole PoV, is known as an evil, betraying jerk. Only she has no memory of life before waking up with a dead body on a golf course. So she's all trying to figure things out, knowing only that she has some weird powers and people after her.
The thing is, her actions start of kind of stupid. The whole superhero episode was dumb to the point of idiocy and I was glad when information started dripping down like rain from the heavens. And the story started creeping up on me and I got interested and not least because Morgan was kind of cool and I liked him and wanted to know what Maddy had done to betray him and if they could recover.
Only then the book ends on one of those abusive cliffhangers that I hate. And true, I was warned so I was braced. But it still hit me upside the head and it stung enough for all that earlier resentment to resurface. So I'm giving this one star even though I fully intend to read the next book and I sincerely hope that Harper has gotten cliffhangers out of her system. I've never known her to do it before and I've read a dozen or more of her books.
A note about Chaste: Maddy doesn't remember anything and pretty much everybody hates her. So there's no romance, though a pretty good kiss does crop up.
July 29, 2018
A woman awakes on a golf course next to a headless body and with people trying to kill her. Only she has no memory of why, who she is or why she appears to have super powers.
I came to this after enjoying the humor in the Lazy Girl's Guide to Magic books. The main character in this one is nowhere near as absurd as Ivy, but she's close. Which is a bit odd, because this series seems to be playing the whole thing much straighter.
This was ok, but the clash of styles here feels out of place. Is it absurdist comedy? Or the type of book where the bad guy talks about the heroine in terms of training her like a pet?
I came to this after enjoying the humor in the Lazy Girl's Guide to Magic books. The main character in this one is nowhere near as absurd as Ivy, but she's close. Which is a bit odd, because this series seems to be playing the whole thing much straighter.
This was ok, but the clash of styles here feels out of place. Is it absurdist comedy? Or the type of book where the bad guy talks about the heroine in terms of training her like a pet?
July 23, 2018
“No wonder I’d chosen to be evil; working out the most heroic path to take was much harder than simply going hell for leather and being bad”
Imagine waking up and not knowing who you are or where you are. You look over and there’s a dead guy next to you with a sword. You get attacked by his friends, and somehow slow down time and get away.
You would think like our main character does, clearly you’re a superhero and try to figure out what other superpowers you have. After figuring out your name, where you live, etc.
Well she quickly finds out her name is Madrona and people seems to be afraid of her. That makes no sense, surely she’s a good person, right?
So now she’s got to figure out who she is, why people are after her, and why some people seem to hate her. She meets Morgan, who knows her past and wants her out of his life. But she can’t remember why and keeps falling into trouble.
This book is funny. It’s not quite as funny as Sloth Witch, the first book I read by Helen Harper. It’s a great start to a new series. It ends on a cliffhanger, but the second book is out now and book three will be out at the end of July. So if you don’t do cliffhangers, wait until August to start this series and go read Sloth Witch because it’s hilarious.
Imagine waking up and not knowing who you are or where you are. You look over and there’s a dead guy next to you with a sword. You get attacked by his friends, and somehow slow down time and get away.
You would think like our main character does, clearly you’re a superhero and try to figure out what other superpowers you have. After figuring out your name, where you live, etc.
Well she quickly finds out her name is Madrona and people seems to be afraid of her. That makes no sense, surely she’s a good person, right?
So now she’s got to figure out who she is, why people are after her, and why some people seem to hate her. She meets Morgan, who knows her past and wants her out of his life. But she can’t remember why and keeps falling into trouble.
This book is funny. It’s not quite as funny as Sloth Witch, the first book I read by Helen Harper. It’s a great start to a new series. It ends on a cliffhanger, but the second book is out now and book three will be out at the end of July. So if you don’t do cliffhangers, wait until August to start this series and go read Sloth Witch because it’s hilarious.
January 24, 2020
I like Helen Harper, I have read two different series of hers so I'm kind of used to her style of story telling, the kind where each mystery is solved in each book in a series. As I read this book which I enjoyed at the beginning-give me an amnesiac anyday-it got more and more annoying towards the end and while I kept thinking I'll finally have everything answered , it didn't happen.
I am disappointed even though I have KU and can get the book with no worries I just did not like the unresolved ending. I'm going to read the next one though because I am curious.
I am disappointed even though I have KU and can get the book with no worries I just did not like the unresolved ending. I'm going to read the next one though because I am curious.
August 19, 2021
Mon avis en français
My English review
J’étais très curieuse de découvrir ce premier tome de Helen Harper. C’est une auteure dont j’entends toujours du bien ! J’avais apprécié le premier tome de Ivy Wilde, alors pourquoi pas ne pas tenter celui-ci ?
Madrona se réveille sans aucun souvenir sur un terrain de golf, à côté du cadavre d’un homme décapité. Que faire ? Et en plus, deux hommes essaient de la tuer ! Alors qu’elle essaie de comprendre qui elle est, elle va découvrir qu’elle possède des pouvoirs. Peut-être qu’elle est finalement une super-héroïne ?
Déterminée à découvrir qui elle est, elle va déchanter en apprenant la vérité à son sujet. Mais elle n’est plus celle qu’elle était et elle est prête à tout pour prouver à tout le monde qu’on peut compter sur elle.
J’ai apprécié découvrir ce monde et ces personnages avec Madrona. Par contre, j’ai été un peu déçue par le roman. L’héroïne m’a lassée au fil de l’histoire. Elle se comporte souvent comme une enfant et j’ai eu envie à plusieurs reprises de la secouer.
C’était un roman correct, mais je m’attendais à mieux.
My English review
J’étais très curieuse de découvrir ce premier tome de Helen Harper. C’est une auteure dont j’entends toujours du bien ! J’avais apprécié le premier tome de Ivy Wilde, alors pourquoi pas ne pas tenter celui-ci ?
Madrona se réveille sans aucun souvenir sur un terrain de golf, à côté du cadavre d’un homme décapité. Que faire ? Et en plus, deux hommes essaient de la tuer ! Alors qu’elle essaie de comprendre qui elle est, elle va découvrir qu’elle possède des pouvoirs. Peut-être qu’elle est finalement une super-héroïne ?
Déterminée à découvrir qui elle est, elle va déchanter en apprenant la vérité à son sujet. Mais elle n’est plus celle qu’elle était et elle est prête à tout pour prouver à tout le monde qu’on peut compter sur elle.
J’ai apprécié découvrir ce monde et ces personnages avec Madrona. Par contre, j’ai été un peu déçue par le roman. L’héroïne m’a lassée au fil de l’histoire. Elle se comporte souvent comme une enfant et j’ai eu envie à plusieurs reprises de la secouer.
C’était un roman correct, mais je m’attendais à mieux.
July 9, 2018
DNF 90%
This just got more and more silly, and at the end I couldn't take it anymore.
This just got more and more silly, and at the end I couldn't take it anymore.
July 11, 2018
Actual rating 3 1/2 stars. RTC.
September 14, 2018
Fun, snappy heroine.
November 19, 2018
This story begins with Mad's having amnesia. She wakes up on a golf course with some very strange things going on, and she has no clue who she is, or what she was doing there. But, she starts to learn that things aren't looking so good, and she must figure it out before it is too late.
This book had me laughing my ass off through about 40% of it. I mean seriously, the heroine was crazy funny, and just plain crazy at times. This was the first book in the series, and it opened us up to a whole new world filled with Faeries and other things. It also has these great characters with a unique and interesting back story that I can't wait to figure out what happens next.
The hero and heroine are also really great together, although it seems they have a past that the heroine can't remember, but I loved this, and they were great.
The ending was a cliffhanger that left me screaming at the book and wondering why the author did this to me. :) But, I'm even more excited now to read more in this series. I cannot wait for those books!
This book had me laughing my ass off through about 40% of it. I mean seriously, the heroine was crazy funny, and just plain crazy at times. This was the first book in the series, and it opened us up to a whole new world filled with Faeries and other things. It also has these great characters with a unique and interesting back story that I can't wait to figure out what happens next.
The hero and heroine are also really great together, although it seems they have a past that the heroine can't remember, but I loved this, and they were great.
The ending was a cliffhanger that left me screaming at the book and wondering why the author did this to me. :) But, I'm even more excited now to read more in this series. I cannot wait for those books!
February 24, 2020
I love books that start like this, they pull you into the story from the first page and how many books allow you to get to know the character as they not only discover what happened to them when they wake up on the ground next to a decapped corpse but also trying to find out who they are because they have amnesia and can't remember anything about their life.
June 27, 2018
Box of Frogs was everything I’ve been looking for since reading The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Magic series. Helen Harper has once again built a magical world that leaves you hungering for more.
Summary:
What’s worse than waking up with amnesia? Waking up with amnesia next to a dead body and having no clue of the events that led up to said dead body. Madrona, or Maddy for short, finds herself in this very situation. It’s immediately clear that Maddy isn’t having the best week, and there is no end in sight. With some truly ugly attackers hot on her trail and the appearance of strange magical powers, Maddy comes to the obvious conclusion. She’s a superhero. Being a superhero, she’s obviously meant to help people, but that mission would be a lot easier if she knew who she was and what she could really do. Amidst running for her life and rescuing a soap opera star from a stalker, Maddy hunts for clues to who she is. Should be easy enough, except Maddy’s experiences with others is less than desired. Everyone she questions seems to be wary and afraid of her. It doesn’t make sense. She on the side of good, right?
*************************
I absolutely loved this book. Maddy was truly something else. She had me laughing obnoxiously loud through at least half the book! There were times, I couldn’t even fathom the crazy, unpredictable things she’d do or say. I adored that she could use humor to temper everything else going on in her life. Because of the amnesia, Maddy portrayed a duality to her personality that had her struggling with who she really was, waffling between what she felt in a given situation and what people expected of her. That in turn, had us wondering what qualities we could rely on. It made for an interesting ride with a unique heroine. As for our intended hero (maybe possible love interest), Morgan, methinks he doth protest too much. I like him, but his continuous harping on who Maddy was, annoyed me after a little while. Reflecting on the story, I wonder now if he did that to give himself a reason not to be tempted. He seemed a bit of a goody, goody, but his clear protectiveness of Maddy was gratifying. I also appreciated the fact that he had some moves when needed. Maddy and Morgan were good together. I enjoyed their banter and liked watching their chemistry spark and grow. Supporting cast were relatively few, but I liked who we met. Julie has the potential for the role of bubbly best friend. She was funny and a bit crazy herself. I also liked Finn, and feel he would add to the witty repartee. Overall, I didn’t want to put this book down. The storyline was unique and kept me guessing through the entire book. We get a wide variety of supernatural creatures to learn about, and just like Maddy, they each have a backstory that unfold piece by piece as we read on. Helen Harper has did an excellent job with the world building. It wasn’t overwhelming or complicated and essentially, we learned right alongside Maddy. And that cliffhanger ending? Let’s just say, my eReader took some verbal abuse in the name of a good book. Lol. I’m champing at the bit to read not only book two, but also the rest of the series to find out where Maddy and her ragtag crew end up. ♡
Summary:
What’s worse than waking up with amnesia? Waking up with amnesia next to a dead body and having no clue of the events that led up to said dead body. Madrona, or Maddy for short, finds herself in this very situation. It’s immediately clear that Maddy isn’t having the best week, and there is no end in sight. With some truly ugly attackers hot on her trail and the appearance of strange magical powers, Maddy comes to the obvious conclusion. She’s a superhero. Being a superhero, she’s obviously meant to help people, but that mission would be a lot easier if she knew who she was and what she could really do. Amidst running for her life and rescuing a soap opera star from a stalker, Maddy hunts for clues to who she is. Should be easy enough, except Maddy’s experiences with others is less than desired. Everyone she questions seems to be wary and afraid of her. It doesn’t make sense. She on the side of good, right?
*************************
I absolutely loved this book. Maddy was truly something else. She had me laughing obnoxiously loud through at least half the book! There were times, I couldn’t even fathom the crazy, unpredictable things she’d do or say. I adored that she could use humor to temper everything else going on in her life. Because of the amnesia, Maddy portrayed a duality to her personality that had her struggling with who she really was, waffling between what she felt in a given situation and what people expected of her. That in turn, had us wondering what qualities we could rely on. It made for an interesting ride with a unique heroine. As for our intended hero (maybe possible love interest), Morgan, methinks he doth protest too much. I like him, but his continuous harping on who Maddy was, annoyed me after a little while. Reflecting on the story, I wonder now if he did that to give himself a reason not to be tempted. He seemed a bit of a goody, goody, but his clear protectiveness of Maddy was gratifying. I also appreciated the fact that he had some moves when needed. Maddy and Morgan were good together. I enjoyed their banter and liked watching their chemistry spark and grow. Supporting cast were relatively few, but I liked who we met. Julie has the potential for the role of bubbly best friend. She was funny and a bit crazy herself. I also liked Finn, and feel he would add to the witty repartee. Overall, I didn’t want to put this book down. The storyline was unique and kept me guessing through the entire book. We get a wide variety of supernatural creatures to learn about, and just like Maddy, they each have a backstory that unfold piece by piece as we read on. Helen Harper has did an excellent job with the world building. It wasn’t overwhelming or complicated and essentially, we learned right alongside Maddy. And that cliffhanger ending? Let’s just say, my eReader took some verbal abuse in the name of a good book. Lol. I’m champing at the bit to read not only book two, but also the rest of the series to find out where Maddy and her ragtag crew end up. ♡
June 2, 2019
Could not get into this. I seem to be in a slump for Harper lately. Either that or my tastes have changed.
February 6, 2019
This was such a strange book. At first, it was hard to follow since the main character has amnesia and doesn't know anything. She was basically wandering around getting into all sorts of trouble for the first half. It was amusing until she kept having to tell this same dude she had amnesia. Both the Mad Hatter and I were very much annoyed at Dark & Dangerous, or whatever acronym she gave Morganas.
Around 50% we finally start getting some answers. We also find out that Mad Hatter or Madroma, is supposedly evil. She then continues on and has some pretty fun adventures while trying to be evil. I really enjoyed that part, especially when her new boss tells her "Villains move the plotline forward". And it's so true! Villains do something so that the heroes or protagonist of the story can react to it and "save the day". It was kind of nice to see that twisted on its head.
By the end of the story, a lot of the gaps are filled in, but we still don't have a complete picture of everything that is going on. While I was mildly annoyed for parts of this, it wasn't completely horrible. I will try to get the second one since I need answers and I want to see what our villain/hero will do next!
Around 50% we finally start getting some answers. We also find out that Mad Hatter or Madroma, is supposedly evil. She then continues on and has some pretty fun adventures while trying to be evil. I really enjoyed that part, especially when her new boss tells her "Villains move the plotline forward". And it's so true! Villains do something so that the heroes or protagonist of the story can react to it and "save the day". It was kind of nice to see that twisted on its head.
By the end of the story, a lot of the gaps are filled in, but we still don't have a complete picture of everything that is going on. While I was mildly annoyed for parts of this, it wasn't completely horrible. I will try to get the second one since I need answers and I want to see what our villain/hero will do next!
July 12, 2018
Au top cette nouvelle série de Helen Harper! Dans la continuité de style de la série Lazy Witch tout en étant très différent: nouvel univers, nouveaux personnages, nouvelle magie ^^
Une héroïne qui a tout oublié, c’est toujours un bon point de départ. J’ai suivi Mad avec régal dans la recherche de son passé mais aussi de son identité.
C’est fluide, drôle et entraînant.
Et c’est même couinant! hihi
« Like I couldn’t imagine life without you. »
Et comme toujours, on adore les dialogues de cette auteur!
Alors certes il y a quelques facilités, mais c’est une lecture divertissante de qualité!
Bonne nouvelle: Toute la trilogie est publiée sur le mois de juillet. Et tout à fait accessible en VO. Bel été!! B-)
« Speak on, Snail Boy. »
Une héroïne qui a tout oublié, c’est toujours un bon point de départ. J’ai suivi Mad avec régal dans la recherche de son passé mais aussi de son identité.
C’est fluide, drôle et entraînant.
Et c’est même couinant! hihi
« Like I couldn’t imagine life without you. »
Et comme toujours, on adore les dialogues de cette auteur!
Alors certes il y a quelques facilités, mais c’est une lecture divertissante de qualité!
Bonne nouvelle: Toute la trilogie est publiée sur le mois de juillet. Et tout à fait accessible en VO. Bel été!! B-)
« Speak on, Snail Boy. »
August 24, 2018
I always take a point off for cliffhangers as there are excellent series that don't have to resort to this type of endings for their stories (that said, some list themselves as episodes or other nomenclature that let you know the books utilize cliffhangers and those I don't mark down).
I LOVED the Slouch Witch series. This series didn't work for me. I simply didn't consider it humorous - but see some think that. The only humor (the main character's irreverent dialogue) hit me as something elementary or middle schoolers might laugh at. But, given that some flip out at the thought of that group reading a few details about sexual encounters - I'll guess this wasn't directed to them. Otherwise, it would be a great very-young-adult targeted series.
I LOVED the Slouch Witch series. This series didn't work for me. I simply didn't consider it humorous - but see some think that. The only humor (the main character's irreverent dialogue) hit me as something elementary or middle schoolers might laugh at. But, given that some flip out at the thought of that group reading a few details about sexual encounters - I'll guess this wasn't directed to them. Otherwise, it would be a great very-young-adult targeted series.
July 8, 2018
Disappointing
I was very disappointed with this book it doesn't live up to the Bloodfire series I read and I hate hate hate clifhangers I only gave it 2 stars just because I could bear it to the end but i don't know if I'll bother with the next one or anymore of her books some writers only have the one good series of books and all down hill from then on it seems this author is one of those this is the second dud series of hers I've endured I don't recommend this book or her witch ones either try Kim Harrison if looking for a great read
I was very disappointed with this book it doesn't live up to the Bloodfire series I read and I hate hate hate clifhangers I only gave it 2 stars just because I could bear it to the end but i don't know if I'll bother with the next one or anymore of her books some writers only have the one good series of books and all down hill from then on it seems this author is one of those this is the second dud series of hers I've endured I don't recommend this book or her witch ones either try Kim Harrison if looking for a great read
July 5, 2018
Damn that cliffhanger. I usually can’t stand the amnesia stories but this one was intriguing and funny. The mad hatter is off her rocker, naïve superhero wannabe and its really entertaining. Julie is complex and adds a certain wit to the story. Morgan is dangerous and sweet. Really want to find out what happens next.
September 27, 2021
https://songedunenuitdete.com/2021/09...
Est-ce que j’avais hâte de commencer cette nouvelle histoire ? Oh, que oui ! Nous faisons la connaissance de Madrona alors qu’elle-même ne sait plus qui elle est. La seule chose dont elle est certaine, c’est qu’elle se réveille à côté d’un mort. Comment ? Pourquoi ?
Très vite notre héroïne qui a tout de l’anti-héroïne en fait, va se rendre compte qu’elle n’est pas normale et a même des pouvoirs incroyables. Madrona pense alors qu’elle est une superhéroïne qui doit sauver son prochain. Bon, rien ne se passe comme elle le veut et en plus de ça, elle se retrouve à devoir gérer un homme super canon du nom de Morgan. Ce dernier la connait très bien et pour cause, c’est son ex et il ne semble pas l’apprécier des masses. Pire que tout, il lui avoue qu’elle n’est pas quelqu’un de bien.
À travers Madrona, nous découvrons un univers foisonnant où les créatures magiques, les Fey, sont vivent dans notre monde. Mais voilà, la vie de Madrona n’est pas des plus simples : amnésique, elle va devoir enquêter sur ce qui se trame autour d’elle et retrouver le fameux Rubus, un super vilain avec qui elle se serait acoquinée et qui ne lui veut pas que du bien.
Durant toute ma lecture, je me suis demandé dans quel camp était vraiment Madrona, parce qu’elle n’est pas méchante pour un sou. Bien au contraire ! C’est une héroïne exubérante, drôle qui n’a pas sa langue dans sa poche. Elle fait vivre à elle toute seule tout le roman. A contrario, je trouve Morgan assez passe-partout. Il ressemble à tous ces héros masculins sombres et torturés et finalement, je n’ai retenu de lui que les qualificatifs que lui trouve Madrona. J’attends de voir avec la suite s’il se peaufine un peu.
Dans l’ensemble, j’ai passé un super moment avec Madrona, ses déboires et sa quête de vérité, le tout servi par un décors mélangeant notre monde moderne et le côté conte et légendes propres aux fées et aux créatures fantastiques. C’est drôle, sans prise de tête, bref, j’ai largement apprécié et j’ai hâte de savoir la suite des aventures de notre si charmante superhéroïne.
Est-ce que j’avais hâte de commencer cette nouvelle histoire ? Oh, que oui ! Nous faisons la connaissance de Madrona alors qu’elle-même ne sait plus qui elle est. La seule chose dont elle est certaine, c’est qu’elle se réveille à côté d’un mort. Comment ? Pourquoi ?
Très vite notre héroïne qui a tout de l’anti-héroïne en fait, va se rendre compte qu’elle n’est pas normale et a même des pouvoirs incroyables. Madrona pense alors qu’elle est une superhéroïne qui doit sauver son prochain. Bon, rien ne se passe comme elle le veut et en plus de ça, elle se retrouve à devoir gérer un homme super canon du nom de Morgan. Ce dernier la connait très bien et pour cause, c’est son ex et il ne semble pas l’apprécier des masses. Pire que tout, il lui avoue qu’elle n’est pas quelqu’un de bien.
À travers Madrona, nous découvrons un univers foisonnant où les créatures magiques, les Fey, sont vivent dans notre monde. Mais voilà, la vie de Madrona n’est pas des plus simples : amnésique, elle va devoir enquêter sur ce qui se trame autour d’elle et retrouver le fameux Rubus, un super vilain avec qui elle se serait acoquinée et qui ne lui veut pas que du bien.
Durant toute ma lecture, je me suis demandé dans quel camp était vraiment Madrona, parce qu’elle n’est pas méchante pour un sou. Bien au contraire ! C’est une héroïne exubérante, drôle qui n’a pas sa langue dans sa poche. Elle fait vivre à elle toute seule tout le roman. A contrario, je trouve Morgan assez passe-partout. Il ressemble à tous ces héros masculins sombres et torturés et finalement, je n’ai retenu de lui que les qualificatifs que lui trouve Madrona. J’attends de voir avec la suite s’il se peaufine un peu.
Dans l’ensemble, j’ai passé un super moment avec Madrona, ses déboires et sa quête de vérité, le tout servi par un décors mélangeant notre monde moderne et le côté conte et légendes propres aux fées et aux créatures fantastiques. C’est drôle, sans prise de tête, bref, j’ai largement apprécié et j’ai hâte de savoir la suite des aventures de notre si charmante superhéroïne.
June 27, 2018
This new trilogy from Helen Harper is going to be an absolutely hilarious one if this first book is anything to go by. I loved the main character and the whole idea of her story. As always with Helen's writing, this book moves quickly with plenty of background information, but not too much to overload. The characters all interweave really well and there is never a dull moment throughout!
Madrona, aka The Madhatter, wakes up on a golf course next to a headless body and a sharp sword. She has no idea who that is, where she is, why she is there or even who she is! She has amnesia and cannot remember anything at all. When some other men begin to shoot at her, she runs but has no idea where to. She just cannot recall anything about her life before waking up and is completely lost. When she accidentally discovers her strength, she believes she must be a superhero, so dresses up as one, cape and all, and tries to do some good deeds, but no-one needs her help.
Luckily, or not so at times, others recognise her and slowly she begins to piece parts of her life together. She's not a superhero, sadly, but a fae stuck in the earthen realm and for all said and done she was not a particularly nice person before. The shooters are still after her and she has no idea whose side they are on, or which side she should be on, if there are any sides to choose.
She manages to land a job as a bodyguard for a famous TV star and soon realises that there is more to this world than she could have imagined. She manages to get help from some people that know her, but she cannot trust them, even if the things they are saying about her are true. Fortunately her amnesia is not permanent, but neither is it a quick fix. She has to just ride it out until she begins to remember things again.
Madrona was a brilliant character, full of fun and laughs. I loved the way she wanted to desperately prove that she wasn't the evil character she had previously been and wanted to show she could change, even if it was the amnesia making her make choices she might not have done before. There is a possible love interest, but as her ex I'm not sure how far that relationship will go, but will be fun to find out.
Thank you to Helen for sending me an ARC of this book to review. This review is, however, all my own!
Madrona, aka The Madhatter, wakes up on a golf course next to a headless body and a sharp sword. She has no idea who that is, where she is, why she is there or even who she is! She has amnesia and cannot remember anything at all. When some other men begin to shoot at her, she runs but has no idea where to. She just cannot recall anything about her life before waking up and is completely lost. When she accidentally discovers her strength, she believes she must be a superhero, so dresses up as one, cape and all, and tries to do some good deeds, but no-one needs her help.
Luckily, or not so at times, others recognise her and slowly she begins to piece parts of her life together. She's not a superhero, sadly, but a fae stuck in the earthen realm and for all said and done she was not a particularly nice person before. The shooters are still after her and she has no idea whose side they are on, or which side she should be on, if there are any sides to choose.
She manages to land a job as a bodyguard for a famous TV star and soon realises that there is more to this world than she could have imagined. She manages to get help from some people that know her, but she cannot trust them, even if the things they are saying about her are true. Fortunately her amnesia is not permanent, but neither is it a quick fix. She has to just ride it out until she begins to remember things again.
Madrona was a brilliant character, full of fun and laughs. I loved the way she wanted to desperately prove that she wasn't the evil character she had previously been and wanted to show she could change, even if it was the amnesia making her make choices she might not have done before. There is a possible love interest, but as her ex I'm not sure how far that relationship will go, but will be fun to find out.
Thank you to Helen for sending me an ARC of this book to review. This review is, however, all my own!
February 13, 2022
Encore une série qui s'annonce déjantée et trépidante à suivre ! La nouvelle héroïne de Helen Harper est amnésique et potentiellement méchante. Du moins, c'est ce qu'on prétend. Pour sa part, Madrona s'imagine comme une âme bienfaisante et un brin extravagante.
Or, voilà qu'elle vient de se réveiller sur un terrain de golf, avec un cadavre à ses côtés. Trois types louches sont à ses trousses. Elle a également été empoisonnée et risque de mourir si elle ne trouve pas l'antidote dare-dare.
Sauf que tout se confond dans sa tête, même quand la vérité éclate. Madrona n'arrive pas à croire qu'elle fait partie des méchants et qu'elle a déjà trahi sans honte. Haha. Laissez place à la terrible Madhatter. Ça va saigner. Elle peut toujours courir pour se racheter et décrocher le bénéfice du doute maintenant !
Réfugiée dans un motel minable, elle mène son enquête, croise son ex et se fait embaucher comme garde du corps d'une actrice en vogue. Oui, ça va très vite. Helen Harper nous a déjà habitués aux cocktails action & humour. C'est encore le cas et c'est très bien fait.
Les débuts sont certes un peu chaotiques et confus, mais c'est rafraichissant à lire. Madrona est déterminée à poursuivre son aventure. Elle est hyper drôle, les dialogues et les répliques font mouche. Pour l'instant l'histoire pose les bases et ressemble à un méli-mélo rempli de bonnes intentions. Les personnages racontent ce qu'ils veulent, les pistes sont brouillées et sèment le trouble. La fin est d'ailleurs un vrai supplice !
La suite arrive en mars, puis septembre pour le dernier tome de la série. Il paraît que la patience est la plus grande des prières. Amen.
Or, voilà qu'elle vient de se réveiller sur un terrain de golf, avec un cadavre à ses côtés. Trois types louches sont à ses trousses. Elle a également été empoisonnée et risque de mourir si elle ne trouve pas l'antidote dare-dare.
Sauf que tout se confond dans sa tête, même quand la vérité éclate. Madrona n'arrive pas à croire qu'elle fait partie des méchants et qu'elle a déjà trahi sans honte. Haha. Laissez place à la terrible Madhatter. Ça va saigner. Elle peut toujours courir pour se racheter et décrocher le bénéfice du doute maintenant !
Réfugiée dans un motel minable, elle mène son enquête, croise son ex et se fait embaucher comme garde du corps d'une actrice en vogue. Oui, ça va très vite. Helen Harper nous a déjà habitués aux cocktails action & humour. C'est encore le cas et c'est très bien fait.
Les débuts sont certes un peu chaotiques et confus, mais c'est rafraichissant à lire. Madrona est déterminée à poursuivre son aventure. Elle est hyper drôle, les dialogues et les répliques font mouche. Pour l'instant l'histoire pose les bases et ressemble à un méli-mélo rempli de bonnes intentions. Les personnages racontent ce qu'ils veulent, les pistes sont brouillées et sèment le trouble. La fin est d'ailleurs un vrai supplice !
La suite arrive en mars, puis septembre pour le dernier tome de la série. Il paraît que la patience est la plus grande des prières. Amen.
January 20, 2022
Wahou, alors ça, c'est de l'urban qui décoiffe !! Bon j'avoue avoir été larguée une bonne partie du livre, j'étais au moins aussi paumée que notre (apprentie) super-méchante sur ce coup-là, cerveau en crumble de covidée oblige.
Ce 1er tome de Super Madrona, c'est une histoire foutraque, absurde, complètement farfelue et foisonnante. Ça fuse dans tous les sens, et on se retrouve avec une héroïne amnésique qui semble bien différente de celle qu'elle était avant d'avoir perdu la mémoire (comme ça, on dirait que ce que je dis n'a aucun sens, mais ça résume bien l'esprit du livre ^^). Madrona est drôle et attachante, légèrement casse-cou, elle n'a pas froid aux yeux, et même si elle ne comprend rien à ce qui se passe autour d'elle, elle fonce dans le tas quand même !
Helen Harper nous propose de l'urban fantasy fun et feel good, et j'aime beaucoup ça. On s'évade dans un univers magique, il y a de l'action, de l'aventure, on rit beaucoup, c'est de l'urban fantasy mais le côté sombre et parfois gore qu'on peut trouver dans la branche principale de ce genre.
Une réussite donc, maintenant je suis curieuse de lire la suite !
Ce 1er tome de Super Madrona, c'est une histoire foutraque, absurde, complètement farfelue et foisonnante. Ça fuse dans tous les sens, et on se retrouve avec une héroïne amnésique qui semble bien différente de celle qu'elle était avant d'avoir perdu la mémoire (comme ça, on dirait que ce que je dis n'a aucun sens, mais ça résume bien l'esprit du livre ^^). Madrona est drôle et attachante, légèrement casse-cou, elle n'a pas froid aux yeux, et même si elle ne comprend rien à ce qui se passe autour d'elle, elle fonce dans le tas quand même !
Helen Harper nous propose de l'urban fantasy fun et feel good, et j'aime beaucoup ça. On s'évade dans un univers magique, il y a de l'action, de l'aventure, on rit beaucoup, c'est de l'urban fantasy mais le côté sombre et parfois gore qu'on peut trouver dans la branche principale de ce genre.
Une réussite donc, maintenant je suis curieuse de lire la suite !
September 14, 2022
DNF at 13%
July 31, 2018
***3.5 ***
March 27, 2022
This author writes nice UF series with some humor and romance, and I find her plucky heroines quite entertaining. This was not on par with the Lazy Witch or the Highland Magic series, but close behind. Good audio narration, nicely done amnesia plot. The hero is, as always with her, exactly the same guy. But I got the impression that the quality of her writing is improving.
It ends on a cliffhanger, as is her wont with these interconnected books.
It ends on a cliffhanger, as is her wont with these interconnected books.
July 29, 2018
Well, that was some crazy journey and all the way through I thought I wouldn't make it. I was tempted to give up many, many times because the whole time I was like: What the f** am I reading here?!?
It all starts on a golf course, a beheaded corpse, a poisoned sword and a heroine who wakes up with amnesia. Then she is attacked by three strange guys who were all much bigger and stronger than her but somehow she defeats them and gets away with their money and car. The setting is Manchester and the heroine has no idea who she was but after the fight with the three guys thinks she is some kind of superhero and suddenly wants to save the world and starts with a strange costume to roam the streets of Manchester the next night. She meets a lot of people and has really strange encounters with them as the all want some stuff called dust and ask about someone named Rubus. It gets weirder page by page..
In the end it is about Faery and a world called Mag Mell where they are from but it was a long and rocky journey until you learn about the important stuff. It is clear from the beginning that there is some history between Madrona and Morgan and not all good. Somehow Morgan reminded me a bit of Jericho Barrons from the Fever series and I cannot even explain how that is - it just is. Their interactions were funny and part of why I did finish the book. Which ends with a really mean cliffhanger!! That was mean. Now I have to read the second book as well even though I'm still not convinced I liked what I read here. Do you know this feeling? When you feel like a bystander of an ugly accident and you don't even want to look but can't look away? Well, this was how I felt here.
Oh, and besides the faeries, there are some kind of ogres, a vampire with its respective hunters and, yes, dragons are obviously also some kind of involved. Well, the vampire is supposedly one of a few left and quite harmless, so don't get the wrong impression. I thought we could have done without it and it was not really an asset to the storyline but maybe there's a reason why we need vampires in this book and Helen tells us about it in the next book. Thank God, it's only a trilogy and the last book comes out in the next days. I give this story 4 stars as it was as funny as it was strange and somehow I really like Madrona and want to know how this ridiculous story ends.
It all starts on a golf course, a beheaded corpse, a poisoned sword and a heroine who wakes up with amnesia. Then she is attacked by three strange guys who were all much bigger and stronger than her but somehow she defeats them and gets away with their money and car. The setting is Manchester and the heroine has no idea who she was but after the fight with the three guys thinks she is some kind of superhero and suddenly wants to save the world and starts with a strange costume to roam the streets of Manchester the next night. She meets a lot of people and has really strange encounters with them as the all want some stuff called dust and ask about someone named Rubus. It gets weirder page by page..
In the end it is about Faery and a world called Mag Mell where they are from but it was a long and rocky journey until you learn about the important stuff. It is clear from the beginning that there is some history between Madrona and Morgan and not all good. Somehow Morgan reminded me a bit of Jericho Barrons from the Fever series and I cannot even explain how that is - it just is. Their interactions were funny and part of why I did finish the book. Which ends with a really mean cliffhanger!! That was mean. Now I have to read the second book as well even though I'm still not convinced I liked what I read here. Do you know this feeling? When you feel like a bystander of an ugly accident and you don't even want to look but can't look away? Well, this was how I felt here.
Oh, and besides the faeries, there are some kind of ogres, a vampire with its respective hunters and, yes, dragons are obviously also some kind of involved. Well, the vampire is supposedly one of a few left and quite harmless, so don't get the wrong impression. I thought we could have done without it and it was not really an asset to the storyline but maybe there's a reason why we need vampires in this book and Helen tells us about it in the next book. Thank God, it's only a trilogy and the last book comes out in the next days. I give this story 4 stars as it was as funny as it was strange and somehow I really like Madrona and want to know how this ridiculous story ends.
October 24, 2021
4/5
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
J’avais déjà bien aimé l’autrice avec sa série Ivy Wylde, c’est donc avec plaisir que je me suis lancée dans sa nouvelle série.
Madrona se réveille amnésique sur un terrain de golf, avec des super pouvoirs, un cadavre sur les bras et plusieurs personnes à sa poursuite …
De la elle va devoir essayer de remettre les morceaux du puzzle en place. Mais ce qu’elle n’avait pas anticipé pour une super héroïne, c’est qu’il semblerait que la personne qu’elle était avant soit du mauvais coté …
Franchement, si on se prend au jeu et qu’on accepte de lâcher prise, il y a de quoi prendre de bonnes rigolades dans ce livre. Madrona est timbrée, excentrique, fofolle … Elle est totalement ridicule mais c’est super marrant.
Ce que j’ai aimé c’est qu’elle a tendance à prendre les informations au premier degré très sérieusement, mais sans se prendre totalement au sérieux non plus. Par exemple elle n’a pas hérité une seule second à aller se procurer un costume de super héros quand elle a compris qu’elle avait des super pouvoirs …
Vous vous imaginez bien les têtes des gens qui la reconnaissent et qui la considèrent comme la grande méchante de l’affaire. C’est hilarant !
Bon, c’est vrai que l’effet super marrant s’estompe au bout d’un moment, quand les éléments commencent à se mettre en place. Mais ça n’en retire pas l’intérêt de la suite, bien entendu. Parce qu’il y a de nombreux éléments à découvrir au fur et à mesure. Et on est loin d’avoir fait le tour à mon avis.
Je dirai que ce premier tome est vraiment un tome de mise en place. Madrona enquête pour comprendre la situation et nous avec.
Et le cliffhanger de fin donne vraiment envie de lire la suite !
En tout cas après avoir lu et apprécié Ivy Wylde, je confirme qu’on est vraiment sur le même genre d’Urban fantasy, fun et qui ne se prend pas au sérieux.
Une bonne découverte !
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
J’avais déjà bien aimé l’autrice avec sa série Ivy Wylde, c’est donc avec plaisir que je me suis lancée dans sa nouvelle série.
Madrona se réveille amnésique sur un terrain de golf, avec des super pouvoirs, un cadavre sur les bras et plusieurs personnes à sa poursuite …
De la elle va devoir essayer de remettre les morceaux du puzzle en place. Mais ce qu’elle n’avait pas anticipé pour une super héroïne, c’est qu’il semblerait que la personne qu’elle était avant soit du mauvais coté …
Franchement, si on se prend au jeu et qu’on accepte de lâcher prise, il y a de quoi prendre de bonnes rigolades dans ce livre. Madrona est timbrée, excentrique, fofolle … Elle est totalement ridicule mais c’est super marrant.
Ce que j’ai aimé c’est qu’elle a tendance à prendre les informations au premier degré très sérieusement, mais sans se prendre totalement au sérieux non plus. Par exemple elle n’a pas hérité une seule second à aller se procurer un costume de super héros quand elle a compris qu’elle avait des super pouvoirs …
Vous vous imaginez bien les têtes des gens qui la reconnaissent et qui la considèrent comme la grande méchante de l’affaire. C’est hilarant !
Bon, c’est vrai que l’effet super marrant s’estompe au bout d’un moment, quand les éléments commencent à se mettre en place. Mais ça n’en retire pas l’intérêt de la suite, bien entendu. Parce qu’il y a de nombreux éléments à découvrir au fur et à mesure. Et on est loin d’avoir fait le tour à mon avis.
Je dirai que ce premier tome est vraiment un tome de mise en place. Madrona enquête pour comprendre la situation et nous avec.
Et le cliffhanger de fin donne vraiment envie de lire la suite !
En tout cas après avoir lu et apprécié Ivy Wylde, je confirme qu’on est vraiment sur le même genre d’Urban fantasy, fun et qui ne se prend pas au sérieux.
Une bonne découverte !
November 9, 2018
If I hadn't been listening to this on audio, I am not sure I would have made it past the first couple of chapters, which would have been a shame as I ended up quite enjoying this book in the end. With a slowish beginning and a somewhat annoying yet also somehow likeable main character with amnesia, the answers for all of us seemed a little slow in coming at times, and Madrona's stubbornness, often slowed the down irritatingly further but the story line picked up steam towards the end and though it didn't end quite like I suspected, it did finish with me interested in moving on to book 2.
Overall a good start to what looks to be an interesting new series.
Overall a good start to what looks to be an interesting new series.
November 29, 2019
Hilarious heroine
What an exciting story with so much mystery. Madrona is hilarious but everyone is afraid of her. She was a villain before she become bespelled with amnesia. Even she admits that the things she does remember is weird. I would think she would remember the Fae even if she didn't remember she was a Fae. There are still mysteries but I like that her and Morgan eventually work together. I had a feeling that she was probably coerced by Rubus to leave Morgan in the past. You just can't be someone truly bad when your amnesiac self is good. It is a really suspenseful story with quite a cliffhanger at the end.
What an exciting story with so much mystery. Madrona is hilarious but everyone is afraid of her. She was a villain before she become bespelled with amnesia. Even she admits that the things she does remember is weird. I would think she would remember the Fae even if she didn't remember she was a Fae. There are still mysteries but I like that her and Morgan eventually work together. I had a feeling that she was probably coerced by Rubus to leave Morgan in the past. You just can't be someone truly bad when your amnesiac self is good. It is a really suspenseful story with quite a cliffhanger at the end.
January 26, 2019
Love this author, but absolutely could not get into this novel. The MC is too ridiculous to follow. I couldn't care less what happens next because of her absurd actions. Still, I love this author. So I'll add this to my DNF pile and see if I can pick it up again at another time. Until then, I'm removing it from my currently reading list.
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