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Spicy romantasy. NOTE: This is the previous edition and is no longer available. For the revised second editions of this series with 18+ explicit adult content, changes to worldbuilding, magic systems, and character development, plus rebranded covers, GO HERE
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2018
About the author
Natalia Jaster
23 books1,648 followersNatalia Jaster is a romantasy author who routinely swoons for the villain.
She lives in a dark forest, where she writes spicy fantasy romance tales about rakish jesters, immortal deities, and vicious faeries.
Wicked heroes are her weakness, and rebellious heroines are her best friends.
AMAZON: www.amazon.com/Natalia-Jaster/e/B00OE...
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/nataliajaster
NEWSLETTER: www.nataliajaster.com/newsletter
TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@nataliajasterauthor
WEBSITE: www.nataliajaster.com
She lives in a dark forest, where she writes spicy fantasy romance tales about rakish jesters, immortal deities, and vicious faeries.
Wicked heroes are her weakness, and rebellious heroines are her best friends.
AMAZON: www.amazon.com/Natalia-Jaster/e/B00OE...
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/nataliajaster
NEWSLETTER: www.nataliajaster.com/newsletter
TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@nataliajasterauthor
WEBSITE: www.nataliajaster.com
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October 9, 2018ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review!!
I LOVED TRICK SO MUCH OMG AGH! Here we go!
I LOVED TRICK SO MUCH OMG AGH! Here we go!
October 5, 2021
05.10.2021: I'm getting so nostalgic rereading this series, it's just so beautifully written and oh, the feels!
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*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
I'm...wow. I have been waiting months for this book and I can say with surety, it was worth it. Natalia Jaster has proven once again why she's one of my very favourite authors. The worlds she builds are interesting and vivid, the characters are intriguing, flawed and engaging and the love stories are never easy but always tugging at your heartstrings.
This has been a very VERY solid 4.5 star read for me (I rounded up to 5 since I liked it slightly more than "Dare" but it's not quite 5-star level of "Trick"). Now, onto why I loved this book and why everyone should read it!
(this might turn spoilery so read at your own risk!)
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*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
I'm...wow. I have been waiting months for this book and I can say with surety, it was worth it. Natalia Jaster has proven once again why she's one of my very favourite authors. The worlds she builds are interesting and vivid, the characters are intriguing, flawed and engaging and the love stories are never easy but always tugging at your heartstrings.
This has been a very VERY solid 4.5 star read for me (I rounded up to 5 since I liked it slightly more than "Dare" but it's not quite 5-star level of "Trick"). Now, onto why I loved this book and why everyone should read it!
(this might turn spoilery so read at your own risk!)
October 20, 2018
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Natalia Jaster has done it again. Every time i think she can’t get any better she’s like “hold my beer.”
The very first book I read of hers was Trick and her writing blew my mind and hasn’t stopped. The way she illustrates the characters and their storylines it’s SO eloquent it’s like reading poetry.
This book was no different. I have read and watched a lot of Pinocchio’s retellings but never seen a female version of the story before which I really appreciated. I loved how Aspen despite being made of wood didn’t look like a twig, she was mentioned as curvy! That was such an important detail for me. She was shrewd, cunning, unashamed and a big liar making her the polar opposite of Aire who was a self righteous prick. Cue my most favorite trope, enemies to lovers.
I really enjoyed their characters individually as much as together. The girl who thought couldn’t be loved for who she was and the boy who was scared to love again. They were like fire and ice and their forbidden love, the will they or won’t they was extremely hot and sexy and had me glued to the book the entire time.
What cemented my love for this book was the ending. Of course Aspen turning into human and living happily ever with Aire would be the perfect Disney ending but it was 500 shades of wrong for me !!! Her turning back into wood again because she finally accepted and loved herself for who she was so damn powerful. (FYI they still lived happily ever after)
One of the best surprises of this book was Nicu and his friendship with with Aspen and Aire. Them being super protective of him like Briar and Poet was adorable. I can’t wait for his own book with lyrik. Did I mention this book had BRIAR AND POET AND THEY WERE PERFECT. I MISSED THEM SO MUCH.
My only problem with this book was it was slow at times and it felt a bit dragged at the end but everything else made up for it.
Natalia if you’re reading this please write another book on Poet and Briar and I can’t wait for Nicu’s Anger’s (Selfish Myths series) book !!!
Natalia Jaster has done it again. Every time i think she can’t get any better she’s like “hold my beer.”
The very first book I read of hers was Trick and her writing blew my mind and hasn’t stopped. The way she illustrates the characters and their storylines it’s SO eloquent it’s like reading poetry.
This book was no different. I have read and watched a lot of Pinocchio’s retellings but never seen a female version of the story before which I really appreciated. I loved how Aspen despite being made of wood didn’t look like a twig, she was mentioned as curvy! That was such an important detail for me. She was shrewd, cunning, unashamed and a big liar making her the polar opposite of Aire who was a self righteous prick. Cue my most favorite trope, enemies to lovers.
I really enjoyed their characters individually as much as together. The girl who thought couldn’t be loved for who she was and the boy who was scared to love again. They were like fire and ice and their forbidden love, the will they or won’t they was extremely hot and sexy and had me glued to the book the entire time.
What cemented my love for this book was the ending. Of course Aspen turning into human and living happily ever with Aire would be the perfect Disney ending but it was 500 shades of wrong for me !!! Her turning back into wood again because she finally accepted and loved herself for who she was so damn powerful. (FYI they still lived happily ever after)
One of the best surprises of this book was Nicu and his friendship with with Aspen and Aire. Them being super protective of him like Briar and Poet was adorable. I can’t wait for his own book with lyrik. Did I mention this book had BRIAR AND POET AND THEY WERE PERFECT. I MISSED THEM SO MUCH.
My only problem with this book was it was slow at times and it felt a bit dragged at the end but everything else made up for it.
Natalia if you’re reading this please write another book on Poet and Briar and I can’t wait for Nicu’s Anger’s (Selfish Myths series) book !!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2018
Actual rating: 3.8/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love that this story takes place in Mista (the kingdom of Autumn) and we got to revisit old favorite characters from Trick. And I love that it’s a retelling of Pinnochio but with a girl - and a romantic twist. I really enjoyed the continued theme of opposites attract in this series. I liked the new characters - Aspen; the girl made of wood who steals from the crown, and Aire; the noble knight who chases after her (even though Aire frustrated me sometimes 😅).
And I’m really happy that we got to see more of Nicu as he grows into a young man, and tries to claim his independence. He’s still so adorable.
I also like how Mista is a peaceful kingdom and you can see the results of Poet and Briar’s efforts to encourage tolerance and equality in their kingdom. I hope to see more progress there in the fourth book.
I really enjoyed the characters, the romance, the friendships, the setting... Recommended, especially if you’ve read the first book (and the second too, maybe).
I love that this story takes place in Mista (the kingdom of Autumn) and we got to revisit old favorite characters from Trick. And I love that it’s a retelling of Pinnochio but with a girl - and a romantic twist. I really enjoyed the continued theme of opposites attract in this series. I liked the new characters - Aspen; the girl made of wood who steals from the crown, and Aire; the noble knight who chases after her (even though Aire frustrated me sometimes 😅).
And I’m really happy that we got to see more of Nicu as he grows into a young man, and tries to claim his independence. He’s still so adorable.
I also like how Mista is a peaceful kingdom and you can see the results of Poet and Briar’s efforts to encourage tolerance and equality in their kingdom. I hope to see more progress there in the fourth book.
I really enjoyed the characters, the romance, the friendships, the setting... Recommended, especially if you’ve read the first book (and the second too, maybe).
October 24, 2018
Trick, the first book in Natalia Jaster’s Foolish Kingdoms series, was an interesting read. I wasn’t obsessed with it in the way I had expected to be, but it was enjoyable enough to leave me wanting more. Dare, the second book in the Foolish Kingdoms series, had me addicted. It left me more than a little desperate to dive into Lie. As I’d hoped, I adored Lie. It was a fabulous third book and has left me in dire need of Dream. In fact, a drowning man is less in need of oxygen than I am of Dream after all the fun I had with Lie.
Although you do not need to read the prior books in the series to understand this one, I would certainly recommend doing so. You’ll appreciate references much more if you understand what happened in the prior books, and it will help you to understand certain elements of the story. That being said, Lie works perfectly fine as a standalone novel if you’re simply interested in a fairy-tale retelling that is wonderfully unique.
In Trick and Dare we were introduced to a fantasy world that wasn’t focused around magic. With Lie, however, magic is a vital part of the story. As a big lover of magical systems, I really enjoyed the magic that came to life in this story. Through it, we got a unique twist of the Pinocchio story.
Yes, you heard that right: this is a Pinocchio retelling. I cannot say I have read many – in fact, off the top of my head I can think of no names, but I have recollections of reading at least one such story in my past – yet Lie is certainly a tale to read. If nothing else, it has set my standard for future Pinocchio retellings pretty high, as this one leaves a mark.
It’s a story that sucks you in deep, pulling you in on so many levels. You’ll be addicted to the magic. You’ll be addicted to the romance (both the main storyline and the one that introduces us to the romance of Dream). You’ll be addicted to the emotion. You’ll be addicted to the drama. Natalia Jaster has a way with words that leaves you addicted to the story, more than willing to power through the pages at a rapid pace. You fall in love with the characters and the events, ensuring the book sticks with you a long time after reading.
I think the only thing I expected more of was the fool element of the story. It played a vital role in books one and two but seemed to take a bit of a backseat with book three. It was still there, but it did not have the same powerful role in this book. It was vital to certain elements of the story, but we were not wrapped up in it in the same way as we were in the two prior books. I loved getting to know the magic of the world, but a part of me would have liked to see a bit more of the fool aspect on a larger scale in the way of books one and two.
Nevertheless, I adored Lie. It was a great third book in the series, and I cannot begin the describe how desperately I need Dream. With all that goes down in Lie, with the things we get to see, I’ll be thinking about the characters and what is to come until I can get my hands on their story.
Bring on Dream!
Although you do not need to read the prior books in the series to understand this one, I would certainly recommend doing so. You’ll appreciate references much more if you understand what happened in the prior books, and it will help you to understand certain elements of the story. That being said, Lie works perfectly fine as a standalone novel if you’re simply interested in a fairy-tale retelling that is wonderfully unique.
In Trick and Dare we were introduced to a fantasy world that wasn’t focused around magic. With Lie, however, magic is a vital part of the story. As a big lover of magical systems, I really enjoyed the magic that came to life in this story. Through it, we got a unique twist of the Pinocchio story.
Yes, you heard that right: this is a Pinocchio retelling. I cannot say I have read many – in fact, off the top of my head I can think of no names, but I have recollections of reading at least one such story in my past – yet Lie is certainly a tale to read. If nothing else, it has set my standard for future Pinocchio retellings pretty high, as this one leaves a mark.
It’s a story that sucks you in deep, pulling you in on so many levels. You’ll be addicted to the magic. You’ll be addicted to the romance (both the main storyline and the one that introduces us to the romance of Dream). You’ll be addicted to the emotion. You’ll be addicted to the drama. Natalia Jaster has a way with words that leaves you addicted to the story, more than willing to power through the pages at a rapid pace. You fall in love with the characters and the events, ensuring the book sticks with you a long time after reading.
I think the only thing I expected more of was the fool element of the story. It played a vital role in books one and two but seemed to take a bit of a backseat with book three. It was still there, but it did not have the same powerful role in this book. It was vital to certain elements of the story, but we were not wrapped up in it in the same way as we were in the two prior books. I loved getting to know the magic of the world, but a part of me would have liked to see a bit more of the fool aspect on a larger scale in the way of books one and two.
Nevertheless, I adored Lie. It was a great third book in the series, and I cannot begin the describe how desperately I need Dream. With all that goes down in Lie, with the things we get to see, I’ll be thinking about the characters and what is to come until I can get my hands on their story.
Bring on Dream!
December 7, 2018
Same Review Also Posted On My Blog: Dreamy Addictions
I love fairytale-ish romance novels and I'm a great fan of Natalia Jaster's Foolish Kingdoms series. Besides love, this series also focuses on mental disabilities which is very rare in fantasy books. Lie is a third installment in the series. This book can be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend you to read the first two books because they're amazing. I loved Trick, Flare, and now Aspen. I absolutely love the new covers which are stunning! This book is actually a fantasy romance inspired by Pinocchio. I've never read a Pinocchio retelling and this book was a delight to read. Although it wasn't as amazing as the first two books in the series, I enjoyed the storyline, the magic, and the characters. I can't believe I finished it in two sittings.
In the Kingdom Of Autumn, Eighteen Year Old Aspen was a wooden puppet girl who was brought to life by a magical Acorn. She's a wood Carver's daughter and she can't lie. Lying makes her nose grow, but she learned ways of telling the truth without telling the whole truth which made her an artful liar. When her mother takes ill, she decides to steal the magical acorn from the crown so that she could save her ailing mother who was starting to lose her mind. Then her path crosses with the honorable knight named Aire who sees through her treachery and starts to hunt her. Hence begins the magical romantic journey between a thief and a honorable knight.
All the characters in this book were flawed and fun. I loved the main characters Aspen and Aire. Aspen was fierce, snarky, bold, and clever. She's a curvy girl and not like the other typical fantasy heroines who're slender and slim. I seriously loved her character. She was a liar and sometimes a bit selfish and that's what makes her so real. Aire was sweet, honest, noble, brave and broody. I really liked him but there's one scene at the end where I hated him. He acted like a cold jerk. I enjoyed the slow burn romance between Aspen and Aire and also their character development. Coming to the side characters, I liked Nicu and Lyrik. Yeah, Nicu is in this book and he's grown up into an adorable seventeen year old boy who's currently in a rebellious phase and wants to be independent. Lyrik was pretty fun but also a mystery. I can't wait to read his story. And last but not the least, we have Aspen's awesome sidekick named Punk who is actually a woodpecker. She's Aspen's reluctant crime partner and cares for her timber friend. She's so sweet and righteous. I loved all her cute antics.
This book was mostly a character driven story and romance was the central focus of the plot. Even though it's not my favorite book in the series, I devoured it in two sittings because the story was just addicting. I enjoyed the cameo appearances of Poet and Briar, the main characters of the first book. This book has some magic unlike the first two books in the series. The concept was refreshing and very fairytale-ish. I loved the lore of the magical acorns. The pacing was good and there was never a dull moment. The writing was beautiful and lyrical. It's one of the best things I love about this series. The book was written in first person dual POV. The whole book was set in Autumn kingdom and It was really a fascinating world. I really want to explore more of this world and its magic.
Overall, It was a good addition to the series and I really liked it! It was an entertaining read filled with romance, friendship, family, adventure, and magic. The complex characters are what makes this series so good. I can't wait to read the final book in this series which is Nicu and Lyrik's story.
I love fairytale-ish romance novels and I'm a great fan of Natalia Jaster's Foolish Kingdoms series. Besides love, this series also focuses on mental disabilities which is very rare in fantasy books. Lie is a third installment in the series. This book can be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend you to read the first two books because they're amazing. I loved Trick, Flare, and now Aspen. I absolutely love the new covers which are stunning! This book is actually a fantasy romance inspired by Pinocchio. I've never read a Pinocchio retelling and this book was a delight to read. Although it wasn't as amazing as the first two books in the series, I enjoyed the storyline, the magic, and the characters. I can't believe I finished it in two sittings.
In the Kingdom Of Autumn, Eighteen Year Old Aspen was a wooden puppet girl who was brought to life by a magical Acorn. She's a wood Carver's daughter and she can't lie. Lying makes her nose grow, but she learned ways of telling the truth without telling the whole truth which made her an artful liar. When her mother takes ill, she decides to steal the magical acorn from the crown so that she could save her ailing mother who was starting to lose her mind. Then her path crosses with the honorable knight named Aire who sees through her treachery and starts to hunt her. Hence begins the magical romantic journey between a thief and a honorable knight.
All the characters in this book were flawed and fun. I loved the main characters Aspen and Aire. Aspen was fierce, snarky, bold, and clever. She's a curvy girl and not like the other typical fantasy heroines who're slender and slim. I seriously loved her character. She was a liar and sometimes a bit selfish and that's what makes her so real. Aire was sweet, honest, noble, brave and broody. I really liked him but there's one scene at the end where I hated him. He acted like a cold jerk. I enjoyed the slow burn romance between Aspen and Aire and also their character development. Coming to the side characters, I liked Nicu and Lyrik. Yeah, Nicu is in this book and he's grown up into an adorable seventeen year old boy who's currently in a rebellious phase and wants to be independent. Lyrik was pretty fun but also a mystery. I can't wait to read his story. And last but not the least, we have Aspen's awesome sidekick named Punk who is actually a woodpecker. She's Aspen's reluctant crime partner and cares for her timber friend. She's so sweet and righteous. I loved all her cute antics.
This book was mostly a character driven story and romance was the central focus of the plot. Even though it's not my favorite book in the series, I devoured it in two sittings because the story was just addicting. I enjoyed the cameo appearances of Poet and Briar, the main characters of the first book. This book has some magic unlike the first two books in the series. The concept was refreshing and very fairytale-ish. I loved the lore of the magical acorns. The pacing was good and there was never a dull moment. The writing was beautiful and lyrical. It's one of the best things I love about this series. The book was written in first person dual POV. The whole book was set in Autumn kingdom and It was really a fascinating world. I really want to explore more of this world and its magic.
Overall, It was a good addition to the series and I really liked it! It was an entertaining read filled with romance, friendship, family, adventure, and magic. The complex characters are what makes this series so good. I can't wait to read the final book in this series which is Nicu and Lyrik's story.
November 12, 2018
This just didn't do it for me, and I rather enjoyed Trick and Dare.
I think the issue I had was that this story felt so forced. I kept trying to understand what lesson Jaster was trying to teach us in this besides the obvious. It didn't grip my heart like Dare, nor was it whimsically written like Trick. It tried so hard to be something that it ended up not really working.
This was a story about a puppet who came to life, who couldn't lie who wanted to be real...or did she want to save her mother? I honestly don't know. This was a riff off of Pinocchio, but I don't think that it worked out too well. This took place in the same world as the first 2 and we even had some familiar characters.
Aspen can't lie. If she does her nose grows, so she has learned ways of telling the truth without telling the whole truth. But...she still can't lie. Her plan from the beginning has been to save her mother whom I believe is starting to suffer from dementia and would be labeled as a fool. Aspen knows how to bend the truth, but she never outright lies and her intentions always remain honorable. Which when she is called a liar, I had to start scratching my head because it made no sense.
Aire is...interesting. I didn't entirely like him, nor did I really get his deal. It felt forced and I wasn't buying it. I get that his wife died tragically and he blamed himself for it. I get that he still loved her, part of him will always love her. He was still so boring to me and there was nothing intriguing about him other than he was honorable. Jaster tried to make him into this mysterious, damaged and brooding Knight in shining armor type character...but it didn't worked out.
And there was the INSTA-connection that we had between Aire and Aspen. Right off the bat they had the hots for one another and in their POV's they talked about how they had the hots for one another. There was no build up, no intrigue, no angsty are they aren't they relationship. There was no bond between them other than they found each other attractive. They hardly had anything in common. I wanted something more, expected something more. Aspen was an hormonal teenager and Aire was...I don't know what he was. He was about as dull and boring as Aire from The Bachelor.
I also wanted more about them. I wanted to know their lives before. I wanted more magical history. We got tiny glimpses but most of the plot revolved around Aspen and Aire's awkward relationship.
There was such a juxtaposition between Aire's tone and formality and Aspens lack there of that didn't work. I didn't like it. So, Aspen was edgy and spunky because she swore, had a casual tone and was a perpetual flirt? I didn't buy it and I don't know that it worked well. It took away from the whimsy of a "fairytale" story.
I hated Lyrik. He was a complete asshole to just about every character and mostly Nicu. I have no interest in reading their story in Dream because he is literally the worst kind of character. Treating people like crap should never be romanticised.
I liked that we got to see Poet and Briar along with an adolescent Nicu. I liked the backstory about Autumn and its magic. Everything else just didn't really work for me. I liked Nicu best of all, and his story in Lie, and that is probably because I knew about him before. Where he came from, who his parents are and I felt the struggles he might have gone through and his struggle for his own identity and right to decisions.
I think the issue I had was that this story felt so forced. I kept trying to understand what lesson Jaster was trying to teach us in this besides the obvious. It didn't grip my heart like Dare, nor was it whimsically written like Trick. It tried so hard to be something that it ended up not really working.
This was a story about a puppet who came to life, who couldn't lie who wanted to be real...or did she want to save her mother? I honestly don't know. This was a riff off of Pinocchio, but I don't think that it worked out too well. This took place in the same world as the first 2 and we even had some familiar characters.
Aspen can't lie. If she does her nose grows, so she has learned ways of telling the truth without telling the whole truth. But...she still can't lie. Her plan from the beginning has been to save her mother whom I believe is starting to suffer from dementia and would be labeled as a fool. Aspen knows how to bend the truth, but she never outright lies and her intentions always remain honorable. Which when she is called a liar, I had to start scratching my head because it made no sense.
Aire is...interesting. I didn't entirely like him, nor did I really get his deal. It felt forced and I wasn't buying it. I get that his wife died tragically and he blamed himself for it. I get that he still loved her, part of him will always love her. He was still so boring to me and there was nothing intriguing about him other than he was honorable. Jaster tried to make him into this mysterious, damaged and brooding Knight in shining armor type character...but it didn't worked out.
And there was the INSTA-connection that we had between Aire and Aspen. Right off the bat they had the hots for one another and in their POV's they talked about how they had the hots for one another. There was no build up, no intrigue, no angsty are they aren't they relationship. There was no bond between them other than they found each other attractive. They hardly had anything in common. I wanted something more, expected something more. Aspen was an hormonal teenager and Aire was...I don't know what he was. He was about as dull and boring as Aire from The Bachelor.
I also wanted more about them. I wanted to know their lives before. I wanted more magical history. We got tiny glimpses but most of the plot revolved around Aspen and Aire's awkward relationship.
There was such a juxtaposition between Aire's tone and formality and Aspens lack there of that didn't work. I didn't like it. So, Aspen was edgy and spunky because she swore, had a casual tone and was a perpetual flirt? I didn't buy it and I don't know that it worked well. It took away from the whimsy of a "fairytale" story.
I hated Lyrik. He was a complete asshole to just about every character and mostly Nicu. I have no interest in reading their story in Dream because he is literally the worst kind of character. Treating people like crap should never be romanticised.
I liked that we got to see Poet and Briar along with an adolescent Nicu. I liked the backstory about Autumn and its magic. Everything else just didn't really work for me. I liked Nicu best of all, and his story in Lie, and that is probably because I knew about him before. Where he came from, who his parents are and I felt the struggles he might have gone through and his struggle for his own identity and right to decisions.
October 8, 2019
Don't you dare ever stop writing love stories, Natalia. Never ever. Forever ever.
I am literally the worst at writing reviews, I can only say that, once again, Natalia has written and expanded on an evocative, magical world. Her exploration of people and their flaws always tugs at my heartstrings and makes me Grinch out by making my heart grow three times its size.
I laughed. I cried. I swooned. What more could you need?
I am literally the worst at writing reviews, I can only say that, once again, Natalia has written and expanded on an evocative, magical world. Her exploration of people and their flaws always tugs at my heartstrings and makes me Grinch out by making my heart grow three times its size.
I laughed. I cried. I swooned. What more could you need?
November 14, 2018
3.5/5 Stars
January 14, 2021
These books are just so damn good and they always blow me away with the unexpected. I like this one because it was a loose retelling of Pinocchio but Aspen is a female. The way the author was able to blend that fairytale and twist it in her own way, it worked so well.
In the third book of Foolish Kingdoms, Aspen is a thief and a liar. Aire is a devoted knight and firm believer in honesty. While on a mission to save her mother and stealing from the Crown, she makes friends with the Royal sweetheart, Nicu, who I adore. But along the way, she and Aire build a relationship. It had the perfect amount of slowburn and pining while also keeping you on the fence for her crimes and how she’ll get exposed.
This unlikely pair, just as it was with Briar & Poet, and Jeryn & Flare, go from enemies to lovers. They all come from different backgrounds but after getting to know each other, they come to understand and love one another for all that they are, and Aspen was specially unique because she’s part real girl, part puppet.
My favorite part of these books is how everything happens in the same universe, in the same time. You meet the previous couples and struggles in Mista and the development of their world. It’s always fun seeing Briar and Poet, they’re such strong believers of love and acceptance. I only wish Jeryn and Flare made an appearance but this book sets up the story for book 4, Dream, with Nicu and Lyrik.
This is truly a really good series and I recommend to anyone who is a fan of enemies to lovers.
In the third book of Foolish Kingdoms, Aspen is a thief and a liar. Aire is a devoted knight and firm believer in honesty. While on a mission to save her mother and stealing from the Crown, she makes friends with the Royal sweetheart, Nicu, who I adore. But along the way, she and Aire build a relationship. It had the perfect amount of slowburn and pining while also keeping you on the fence for her crimes and how she’ll get exposed.
This unlikely pair, just as it was with Briar & Poet, and Jeryn & Flare, go from enemies to lovers. They all come from different backgrounds but after getting to know each other, they come to understand and love one another for all that they are, and Aspen was specially unique because she’s part real girl, part puppet.
My favorite part of these books is how everything happens in the same universe, in the same time. You meet the previous couples and struggles in Mista and the development of their world. It’s always fun seeing Briar and Poet, they’re such strong believers of love and acceptance. I only wish Jeryn and Flare made an appearance but this book sets up the story for book 4, Dream, with Nicu and Lyrik.
This is truly a really good series and I recommend to anyone who is a fan of enemies to lovers.
July 12, 2019
The Pinocchio-esque reimagining, which featured a female with "a nose that grew" if/when she lied, coupled with the fantasy vs. honesty POV split is what gave this book an innovative twist. I also liked how Aspen's journey and growth as a character came down to her learning to love herself, curvy (not twiggy) woodskin and all. She and Aire were diametrically opposed at the beginning with her being cast as mouthy, unapologetic, and manipulative; and him being honest and honorable to a fault, but their mutual attraction continued to blur the lines between them as the plot progressed and I enjoyed uncovering the ambiguity as they did. Jaster's lyrical expressions and descriptions, a trademark of this series overall, added a magical aura which helped to underline the fantastical elements of the original fairy tale.
Want to Read
October 11, 2018I better love this as much as I loved Trick.
October 23, 2018
ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Having loved Trick, and enjoyed Dare, I was super excited to jump into this book and I was not disappointed. Full of fairytale goodness, I adored the writing, plot and characters in this story, and was full to the brim of happiness when I finished.
My thoughts:
This book is the third book in the Foolish Kingdoms with this series quickly becoming one of my favourites. I absolutely adored Trick when it came out and often find myself rereading it in moments where I need comfort, and I enjoyed Dare last year when it came out. When I heard there was a third book in this series, I was a bit apprehensive but pleased when I got given an ARC to review. There was absolutely no need to be apprehensive.
Lie was an amazing book.
Natalia Jaster does a phenomenal job in the world of the Foolish Kingdoms. Separated into Seasons, this story is based in Autumn, where there are different and familiar characters sprinkled throughout the story. I loved it being based in Autumn and it extending the world that the characters knew and lands they don't. As the reader you discover it along with them, and the journey it takes you on is cyclical and adventurous, keeping you guessing from the very beginning to the very end.
This story follows Aspen, a timber-girl - a Pinocchio inspired character - and the honest First Knight, Aire. Told from the first-person perspectives of Fantasy and Honesty, you really get to see into the characters and see how the characters progress and change throughout the plot. I really loved Aspen's character - she's loud and abrasive but struggles with so many things like who she is and where's she's come from; and Aire's character is so complex and wonderful, struggling with a pain he can't move on from. Neither of them are perfect, they both make mistakes and say the wrong thing to each other but the chemistry between the two of them? You can feel it through the pages (or the Kindle in my case.) It's one of the best hate-love stories I've read.
I loved the reappearance of Poet, Nicu and Briar in this book, my favourites from the first book in the series. Nicu is a key character in this story as he moves the plot along and I love that despite the years it's been since Trick, the characters are the same yet different too. Poet and Briar steal every scene that they are on the page, and I really loved learning more about Nicu and Lyrik, a character I wasn't expecting to like, but now must know more about.
The writing is gorgeous and lyrical - Aire and Aspen have such different voices as you read. It truly feels like you are in a fairytale world, and are completely swept into the tale. The beginning was a bit hard for me to get into, but once the story left the city of Autumn, I was enthralled, desperately wanting to know more. What I felt Dare lacked, this book brought in force - it's enchanting and magical and enthralling.
This book tackles themes of love, loss, belonging, mental illness, family and so much more. It's a gorgeous novel that leaves you wanting more - more of the world, more of the romance, and more of the characters. I can't wait to see how the author concludes the series with the next book, Dream.
Recommended for: fantasy lovers, romance lovers, anyone who loves a hate-to-love story. This story has a lot of smut (a lot) so best to avoid if you don't like that, or if under 17.
Quotes:
"You own the soil and drink the sun."
"Nestled in blankets, Nicu whispered, "Hug the stars, Aspen." "Goodnight to you too."
"I am inconsistent in your presence."
"Poet's green eyes cartwheeled between us. "Enemies to lovers." HIs face swung toward the princess. "This looks familiar."
"If it were that simple it wouldn't be love."
"There are thousands of shades of love, each one occurring at its own pace. For some, the greatest of emotions can take years to blossom, or mere days, for there is no rule -" he smirker, "-or rhyme." He mused, "Is that not what makes every love story tried and true? Be that story foolish, dangerous, or dishonest?"
I love it when you get sent a book to review, and you honestly love it so much you want to read it again immediately. I will definitely be purchasing a copy of this book as soon as I can.
Having loved Trick, and enjoyed Dare, I was super excited to jump into this book and I was not disappointed. Full of fairytale goodness, I adored the writing, plot and characters in this story, and was full to the brim of happiness when I finished.
My thoughts:
This book is the third book in the Foolish Kingdoms with this series quickly becoming one of my favourites. I absolutely adored Trick when it came out and often find myself rereading it in moments where I need comfort, and I enjoyed Dare last year when it came out. When I heard there was a third book in this series, I was a bit apprehensive but pleased when I got given an ARC to review. There was absolutely no need to be apprehensive.
Lie was an amazing book.
Natalia Jaster does a phenomenal job in the world of the Foolish Kingdoms. Separated into Seasons, this story is based in Autumn, where there are different and familiar characters sprinkled throughout the story. I loved it being based in Autumn and it extending the world that the characters knew and lands they don't. As the reader you discover it along with them, and the journey it takes you on is cyclical and adventurous, keeping you guessing from the very beginning to the very end.
This story follows Aspen, a timber-girl - a Pinocchio inspired character - and the honest First Knight, Aire. Told from the first-person perspectives of Fantasy and Honesty, you really get to see into the characters and see how the characters progress and change throughout the plot. I really loved Aspen's character - she's loud and abrasive but struggles with so many things like who she is and where's she's come from; and Aire's character is so complex and wonderful, struggling with a pain he can't move on from. Neither of them are perfect, they both make mistakes and say the wrong thing to each other but the chemistry between the two of them? You can feel it through the pages (or the Kindle in my case.) It's one of the best hate-love stories I've read.
I loved the reappearance of Poet, Nicu and Briar in this book, my favourites from the first book in the series. Nicu is a key character in this story as he moves the plot along and I love that despite the years it's been since Trick, the characters are the same yet different too. Poet and Briar steal every scene that they are on the page, and I really loved learning more about Nicu and Lyrik, a character I wasn't expecting to like, but now must know more about.
The writing is gorgeous and lyrical - Aire and Aspen have such different voices as you read. It truly feels like you are in a fairytale world, and are completely swept into the tale. The beginning was a bit hard for me to get into, but once the story left the city of Autumn, I was enthralled, desperately wanting to know more. What I felt Dare lacked, this book brought in force - it's enchanting and magical and enthralling.
This book tackles themes of love, loss, belonging, mental illness, family and so much more. It's a gorgeous novel that leaves you wanting more - more of the world, more of the romance, and more of the characters. I can't wait to see how the author concludes the series with the next book, Dream.
Recommended for: fantasy lovers, romance lovers, anyone who loves a hate-to-love story. This story has a lot of smut (a lot) so best to avoid if you don't like that, or if under 17.
Quotes:
"You own the soil and drink the sun."
"Nestled in blankets, Nicu whispered, "Hug the stars, Aspen." "Goodnight to you too."
"I am inconsistent in your presence."
"Poet's green eyes cartwheeled between us. "Enemies to lovers." HIs face swung toward the princess. "This looks familiar."
"If it were that simple it wouldn't be love."
"There are thousands of shades of love, each one occurring at its own pace. For some, the greatest of emotions can take years to blossom, or mere days, for there is no rule -" he smirker, "-or rhyme." He mused, "Is that not what makes every love story tried and true? Be that story foolish, dangerous, or dishonest?"
I love it when you get sent a book to review, and you honestly love it so much you want to read it again immediately. I will definitely be purchasing a copy of this book as soon as I can.
July 16, 2026
Every book in this series has gotten a 5 star from me so far, some even 6 stars! But as you can see from my rating, this one wasn't my favourite.
I'll start this review with everything I loved about this book, as with Natalia Jaster being my favourite author, there is of course a lot that I still loved!
I loved:
• natalia jaster's lyrical prose and stand out unique voice
• the ungodly yearning this author excells in writing 😩
• the exquisite tension and temptation
• the verbal (and physical 🤭) sparring
• teenage nico stealing my heart even more than child nico
• lyrik's quiet acts of service for nicu - I can't wait to learn more about his character!
• being back at the magical treehouse
• poet and briar's cameos 🎭
Yet despite everything I loved about this book and the authors writing talent in general, something felt missing.
𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
This book was originally published in 2018, so this 2026 edition is the rewritten version. I went back to look at some of the first editions reviews to gain a grasp on what had changed from it to now, and found that a lot of the issues I had with this book were ones that readers had in the first edition too - namely the plot.
It felt too loose, vague, and undeveloped - despite this being the revised version. I couldn't get a grasp on how to explain the plot if I were to describe the book to someone else. In a way I felt like nothing really happened. I didn't feel like it contributed to the overall plot of the series, and it felt lacking in direction.
When I'm reading Natalia Jaster's words I forget I'm even reading - the story just flows through me and suddenly it's 3am - but without direction in this book, I felt lost.
The conflicts were also quite anticlimactic. I felt like Aire forgave Aspen too easily after discovering her secret. It should have been explosive; similarly with the whole clan learning the truth - I expected Aspen in chains in a cell and a trial!
We don't even get to see the clan deliberating Aspen's fate.
𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰
As much as I loved the treehouse enclave setting, I wished we could have adventured more and explored different settings. We stayed in one place the whole time 🫤
𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓸𝓬𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰
I also discovered from reading old reviews that this book was originally a pinocchio retelling - which makes a lot of sense!
Something that must have been slightly altered from the previous version instead of removed entirely was Aspen's reluctance to lie. In the 2018 version, her nose would grow, so she had to alter her lies and learn how to decieve people. It stood out to me that she constantly added truths to her lies in this book, and now I know why!
The biggest reason I went back to read old reviews was for one very specific aspect of this book - which was Aspen's character description. I believe that in the 2018 version, she was "wooden". In the 2026 version of 'Lie' - as well as in official character art - she has 'normal' pale skin with "foliage tattoos".
I was surprised when the fanart for this book was revealed, as the Aspen I had imagined in my head from the new versions of 'Burn' and 'Dare' had skin like tree bark.
It took me quite a while to trace back through the prior books to find reference to Aspen's skin, but I did it!
I found three separate instances her skin is described like bark:
- "the grainy patterns in her skin, reminiscent of bark"
- "the grainy texture of her skin"
- "the grains lacing her skin".
This is definitely an inconsistency and I'm sad it was suddenly altered as I found it a unique and fun character trait that added interest to Aspen's character and made her stand out.
𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
I couldn't really figure out the why behind these characters' feelings for each other - they were predominantly lust filled. Their feelings were strong and the way they worshipped each other was so intense, yet still somehow it fell flat.
By all accounts, these two should have been the most legendary lovers of all of this author's pairings. A loyal soldier and a traitorous spy is the most sublime pairing ever, but it didn't give what it needed to for me.
The battle of desires vs duty was executed well, but I definitely think it could have been so much more!
We definitely without a doubt got yearning, but I wish it had been drawn out more ( especially spaced to fit the 570 pages of this book ) before our two love interests stopped resisting one another and gave in to their desires.
I didn't feel like the age gap between them really came into play either. It almost felt unnecessary to include at all if Aire wasn't going to be wrestling with this whole other complicated and strained layer of his feelings for Aspen.
If you love spice, this author's books are some of the spiciest I've ever read and do not disappoint, but I craved and needed romantic depth from these characters. The spice overshadowed the romance.
𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼
I never felt like I got a grasp of Aspen's character, and although Aire had many personality traits - gallant, loyal, selfless, noble - I still found him a bit bland too.
Their personalities just didn't stand out to me.
I felt like we got barely any backstory for our two mc's. I really needed more development from Aspen's bond with her mother so I could justify her motivations for deceiving her friends; and likewise with Aire and his brother.
I just couldn't feel the characters.
This was a surprise for me as I was really looking forward to their love story together based on the snippets, hints, and teases of their tension in the previous books. There was so much to work with, but it didn't deliver for me.
𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰
I feel like I maybe would have gotten on better with the romance in this book if I had 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 more of it. I felt like I was more so being told that they were deeply in love with each other, rather than getting to see the details that made this feeling grow.
Their connection was portrayed better in "Burn" and "Dare" for me, but in this book, they didn't really draw on many memories from their connection 7 years prior.
Lots of conversations and events were also described in detail as having happened, but we don't actively see them. This was especially prevalent when characters would ("off screen") recap things to other characters who hadn't been present.
This gripe is slightly more nickpicky, but I've always especially loved Nicu's magical way of speaking, but I was frustrated with the way it was being translated to the reader and repeated so it was 'easier' to understand.
The special bond between reader and character was dampened for me by these translations.
After so many books featuring Nicu, I feel close to his character and his intricacies. He wasn't difficult to understand.
And even if I couldn't quite understand him, I still would have preferred to work out what he was saying myself or for it to remain a slight mystery to keep the whimsy.
In general, so much of this story felt explained to me rather than something I experienced.
~
This author's other books were all so emotional and impactful for me that they took my breath away.
The Foolish Kingdom series so far is one of my god tier series - it's been the most phenomenal reading experience - so my standards are going to be quite high for sequels. And sadly this one didn't live up to my expectations, especially with all the tension that had been built up in books 3 and 4 between these two characters.
I absolutely adore this author, so I just wish I could have loved this book more.
I still have plenty of quotes highlighted from this book that were absolutely stunning however!
♣︎ 𝓶𝔂 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ♠︎
“I’m not perfect.” You are to me.
Brazen. F*cking. Creature.
“There is no one like you.”
“You are the most meddlesome creature I’ve ever known.”
“Touch me, Noble Knight.”
“You drive me to distraction.”
“You are a blight upon my peace. And a flame to my soul.”
“You keep everyone else safe. But who does the same for you?”
“You are the source of every dream and fear I have. No matter where I look, I picture your face. No matter the distraction, my thoughts return to you.
“Please. End this for good. Order me to stand down.”
Despite every lie, she still owned me.
“Aire of Autumn doesn’t break laws.”
“I do for you.”
🦊🪓🛡⚔️🍎🍂
Thank you ever so much as always to the author for the arc! I'm eagerly awaiting the final instalment and am so sad for this series to be over. I already plan on doing a reread from the start soon!
* this is my honest and voluntary review of an advance readers copy (arc) of this book provided by the author *
I'll start this review with everything I loved about this book, as with Natalia Jaster being my favourite author, there is of course a lot that I still loved!
I loved:
• natalia jaster's lyrical prose and stand out unique voice
• the ungodly yearning this author excells in writing 😩
• the exquisite tension and temptation
• the verbal (and physical 🤭) sparring
• teenage nico stealing my heart even more than child nico
• lyrik's quiet acts of service for nicu - I can't wait to learn more about his character!
• being back at the magical treehouse
• poet and briar's cameos 🎭
Yet despite everything I loved about this book and the authors writing talent in general, something felt missing.
𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
This book was originally published in 2018, so this 2026 edition is the rewritten version. I went back to look at some of the first editions reviews to gain a grasp on what had changed from it to now, and found that a lot of the issues I had with this book were ones that readers had in the first edition too - namely the plot.
It felt too loose, vague, and undeveloped - despite this being the revised version. I couldn't get a grasp on how to explain the plot if I were to describe the book to someone else. In a way I felt like nothing really happened. I didn't feel like it contributed to the overall plot of the series, and it felt lacking in direction.
When I'm reading Natalia Jaster's words I forget I'm even reading - the story just flows through me and suddenly it's 3am - but without direction in this book, I felt lost.
The conflicts were also quite anticlimactic. I felt like Aire forgave Aspen too easily after discovering her secret. It should have been explosive; similarly with the whole clan learning the truth - I expected Aspen in chains in a cell and a trial!
We don't even get to see the clan deliberating Aspen's fate.
𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰
As much as I loved the treehouse enclave setting, I wished we could have adventured more and explored different settings. We stayed in one place the whole time 🫤
𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓸𝓬𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰
I also discovered from reading old reviews that this book was originally a pinocchio retelling - which makes a lot of sense!
Something that must have been slightly altered from the previous version instead of removed entirely was Aspen's reluctance to lie. In the 2018 version, her nose would grow, so she had to alter her lies and learn how to decieve people. It stood out to me that she constantly added truths to her lies in this book, and now I know why!
The biggest reason I went back to read old reviews was for one very specific aspect of this book - which was Aspen's character description. I believe that in the 2018 version, she was "wooden". In the 2026 version of 'Lie' - as well as in official character art - she has 'normal' pale skin with "foliage tattoos".
I was surprised when the fanart for this book was revealed, as the Aspen I had imagined in my head from the new versions of 'Burn' and 'Dare' had skin like tree bark.
It took me quite a while to trace back through the prior books to find reference to Aspen's skin, but I did it!
I found three separate instances her skin is described like bark:
- "the grainy patterns in her skin, reminiscent of bark"
- "the grainy texture of her skin"
- "the grains lacing her skin".
This is definitely an inconsistency and I'm sad it was suddenly altered as I found it a unique and fun character trait that added interest to Aspen's character and made her stand out.
𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
I couldn't really figure out the why behind these characters' feelings for each other - they were predominantly lust filled. Their feelings were strong and the way they worshipped each other was so intense, yet still somehow it fell flat.
By all accounts, these two should have been the most legendary lovers of all of this author's pairings. A loyal soldier and a traitorous spy is the most sublime pairing ever, but it didn't give what it needed to for me.
The battle of desires vs duty was executed well, but I definitely think it could have been so much more!
We definitely without a doubt got yearning, but I wish it had been drawn out more ( especially spaced to fit the 570 pages of this book ) before our two love interests stopped resisting one another and gave in to their desires.
I didn't feel like the age gap between them really came into play either. It almost felt unnecessary to include at all if Aire wasn't going to be wrestling with this whole other complicated and strained layer of his feelings for Aspen.
If you love spice, this author's books are some of the spiciest I've ever read and do not disappoint, but I craved and needed romantic depth from these characters. The spice overshadowed the romance.
𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼
I never felt like I got a grasp of Aspen's character, and although Aire had many personality traits - gallant, loyal, selfless, noble - I still found him a bit bland too.
Their personalities just didn't stand out to me.
I felt like we got barely any backstory for our two mc's. I really needed more development from Aspen's bond with her mother so I could justify her motivations for deceiving her friends; and likewise with Aire and his brother.
I just couldn't feel the characters.
This was a surprise for me as I was really looking forward to their love story together based on the snippets, hints, and teases of their tension in the previous books. There was so much to work with, but it didn't deliver for me.
𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰
I feel like I maybe would have gotten on better with the romance in this book if I had 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 more of it. I felt like I was more so being told that they were deeply in love with each other, rather than getting to see the details that made this feeling grow.
Their connection was portrayed better in "Burn" and "Dare" for me, but in this book, they didn't really draw on many memories from their connection 7 years prior.
Lots of conversations and events were also described in detail as having happened, but we don't actively see them. This was especially prevalent when characters would ("off screen") recap things to other characters who hadn't been present.
This gripe is slightly more nickpicky, but I've always especially loved Nicu's magical way of speaking, but I was frustrated with the way it was being translated to the reader and repeated so it was 'easier' to understand.
The special bond between reader and character was dampened for me by these translations.
After so many books featuring Nicu, I feel close to his character and his intricacies. He wasn't difficult to understand.
And even if I couldn't quite understand him, I still would have preferred to work out what he was saying myself or for it to remain a slight mystery to keep the whimsy.
In general, so much of this story felt explained to me rather than something I experienced.
~
This author's other books were all so emotional and impactful for me that they took my breath away.
The Foolish Kingdom series so far is one of my god tier series - it's been the most phenomenal reading experience - so my standards are going to be quite high for sequels. And sadly this one didn't live up to my expectations, especially with all the tension that had been built up in books 3 and 4 between these two characters.
I absolutely adore this author, so I just wish I could have loved this book more.
I still have plenty of quotes highlighted from this book that were absolutely stunning however!
♣︎ 𝓶𝔂 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ♠︎
“I’m not perfect.” You are to me.
Brazen. F*cking. Creature.
“There is no one like you.”
“You are the most meddlesome creature I’ve ever known.”
“Touch me, Noble Knight.”
“You drive me to distraction.”
“You are a blight upon my peace. And a flame to my soul.”
“You keep everyone else safe. But who does the same for you?”
“You are the source of every dream and fear I have. No matter where I look, I picture your face. No matter the distraction, my thoughts return to you.
“Please. End this for good. Order me to stand down.”
Despite every lie, she still owned me.
“Aire of Autumn doesn’t break laws.”
“I do for you.”
🦊🪓🛡⚔️🍎🍂
Thank you ever so much as always to the author for the arc! I'm eagerly awaiting the final instalment and am so sad for this series to be over. I already plan on doing a reread from the start soon!
* this is my honest and voluntary review of an advance readers copy (arc) of this book provided by the author *
November 13, 2018
It is so wonderful to be back in the Foolish Kingdoms, and I have to say that after reading the synopsis, I was so excited to read Lie and get to know Aspen and Aire. Since reading Trick, the first book in the series, I had hoped that we would get to spend more time in the Autumn Kingdom and I was not disappointed! Lie was just as incredible as I had hoped.
It's a lose, genderbent retelling of Pinocchio, and Aspen is an incredible protagonist. She firmly believes she is not the kind of girl who deserves her own fairytale. Only she definitely does! Lie is a fairy tale for those that don't fit in to the box, for those who are different.
The writing style of Lie is incredible and as with the earlier books in the series, Natalia Jaster really creates a story of two very different halves. Both Aspen and Aire had very distinct voices, and even without their chapter headings of Fantasy and Honesty it's immediately clear whose voice we are listening too.
I feel that Lie is very much driven by the character development of both Aspen and Aire, and it is done so incredibly well. Aspen is a girl after my own acorn heart. I love that she was bold but yet vulnerable. Aire was just as compelling as a character, he was so broken and yet he manages to piece himself back together. I love that despite the fact that romance is a large focus of Lie, the two main characters do not save each other. They, instead fight so hard to save themselves, to realise their mistakes and try to make amends.
Lie is a real emotional rollercoaster, it broke my heart and then healed it. The emotions of both Aspen and Aire are so vivid, they escape from the pages of the book. I don't want to spoil anything but there is a scene at the towards the end of the book, from Aspens point of view, in which she talks about what she would remember, and couldn't see for the tears. It was so heartfelt and saw raw. To be honest I found myself reading Lie so slowly because I didn't want the fairytale to end.
My favourite character in the series is Poet, I loved his chapters in Trick, and I love that we got to see him again in Lie. It was so wonderful to see Poet, Briar and Nicu again. I loved that Poet is still very much himself, and the years in Autumn haven't changed him one bit. It was also incredible to see the person that Nicu has grown in to. It's so interesting to see how the books are all woven together, even though they focus on different characters.
The Foolish Kindgom books are all incredible, they are a celebration of characters who are so completely unique and yet so relatable too. I cannot wait of the next book in the series, Dream.
I would definitely recommend Lie, and the other books in the series to any fans of fantasy, fairytale retellings and romance.
It's a lose, genderbent retelling of Pinocchio, and Aspen is an incredible protagonist. She firmly believes she is not the kind of girl who deserves her own fairytale. Only she definitely does! Lie is a fairy tale for those that don't fit in to the box, for those who are different.
The writing style of Lie is incredible and as with the earlier books in the series, Natalia Jaster really creates a story of two very different halves. Both Aspen and Aire had very distinct voices, and even without their chapter headings of Fantasy and Honesty it's immediately clear whose voice we are listening too.
I feel that Lie is very much driven by the character development of both Aspen and Aire, and it is done so incredibly well. Aspen is a girl after my own acorn heart. I love that she was bold but yet vulnerable. Aire was just as compelling as a character, he was so broken and yet he manages to piece himself back together. I love that despite the fact that romance is a large focus of Lie, the two main characters do not save each other. They, instead fight so hard to save themselves, to realise their mistakes and try to make amends.
Lie is a real emotional rollercoaster, it broke my heart and then healed it. The emotions of both Aspen and Aire are so vivid, they escape from the pages of the book. I don't want to spoil anything but there is a scene at the towards the end of the book, from Aspens point of view, in which she talks about what she would remember, and couldn't see for the tears. It was so heartfelt and saw raw. To be honest I found myself reading Lie so slowly because I didn't want the fairytale to end.
My favourite character in the series is Poet, I loved his chapters in Trick, and I love that we got to see him again in Lie. It was so wonderful to see Poet, Briar and Nicu again. I loved that Poet is still very much himself, and the years in Autumn haven't changed him one bit. It was also incredible to see the person that Nicu has grown in to. It's so interesting to see how the books are all woven together, even though they focus on different characters.
The Foolish Kindgom books are all incredible, they are a celebration of characters who are so completely unique and yet so relatable too. I cannot wait of the next book in the series, Dream.
I would definitely recommend Lie, and the other books in the series to any fans of fantasy, fairytale retellings and romance.
October 18, 2018
Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I have always been in love with Natalia Jaster’s lyrical writing style and the moral message within in. Once again, she teaches us to overcome our insecurities and embrace our differences, even if we are considered different from the society. Her writing is truly astounding. The contrast of Aspen’s modernized narrative and Aire’s poetic, period language shows her true abilities as a writer. (Lowkey hoping Natalia will write historical fiction someday, cause the writing will be so on point).
Overall, I actually give the story 3.5 stars. Her style is that the story progresses reaaally slow, and it wasn’t until the 1/3rd last part of the book that things began to pick up and become exciting (to me at least). Those who loves a slow developing romance with less adventure would love this book. But the presence of Poet, Briar, and Nicu completely won me over. They even had bigger roles than in the second book. Nicu especially ;)
Thank you so much, once again, for the ARC. Looking forward to the fourth installment now. :)
Spoiler:
Could Lyrik be Jeryn and Flare’s son???
I have always been in love with Natalia Jaster’s lyrical writing style and the moral message within in. Once again, she teaches us to overcome our insecurities and embrace our differences, even if we are considered different from the society. Her writing is truly astounding. The contrast of Aspen’s modernized narrative and Aire’s poetic, period language shows her true abilities as a writer. (Lowkey hoping Natalia will write historical fiction someday, cause the writing will be so on point).
Overall, I actually give the story 3.5 stars. Her style is that the story progresses reaaally slow, and it wasn’t until the 1/3rd last part of the book that things began to pick up and become exciting (to me at least). Those who loves a slow developing romance with less adventure would love this book. But the presence of Poet, Briar, and Nicu completely won me over. They even had bigger roles than in the second book. Nicu especially ;)
Thank you so much, once again, for the ARC. Looking forward to the fourth installment now. :)
Spoiler:
Could Lyrik be Jeryn and Flare’s son???
December 22, 2018
I love Natalia Jaster. Her grasp of the complexities of varying mental illnesses is amazing. She is one of the few authors I have EVER seen incorporate these into stories. She reminds us that people with physical and mental disabilities have their own talents. That we are all born differently and we all contribute something vitally important to the world.
I loved the characters in this story. Aspen is an unapologetic liar and Aire sees the world as black and white with no moral gray areas. They both learn things about themselves, each other, and the world around them that change them for the better. Jaster's characters are wonderfully complex and her stories are beautifully written.
Jaster has a way with words that is unprecedented in my book. She doesn't write stories - she weaves them. Her stories are intricate, poetic, and beautiful, while revealing basic truths about humans and our faults and virtues.
I think so many more people should read the Foolish Kingdoms series. It reminds me that there is true love, hope, and compassion in the world.
I loved the characters in this story. Aspen is an unapologetic liar and Aire sees the world as black and white with no moral gray areas. They both learn things about themselves, each other, and the world around them that change them for the better. Jaster's characters are wonderfully complex and her stories are beautifully written.
Jaster has a way with words that is unprecedented in my book. She doesn't write stories - she weaves them. Her stories are intricate, poetic, and beautiful, while revealing basic truths about humans and our faults and virtues.
I think so many more people should read the Foolish Kingdoms series. It reminds me that there is true love, hope, and compassion in the world.
July 25, 2019
I usually really love the books of Natalia Jaster, but for some reason I didn't love this one as much. Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed it, I just didn't love it. I have been wondering why, and I don't really know why I didn't love it . Maybe the story went too slow or not really much happened. Oh well, I still really enjoyed reading it.
January 7, 2020
Ooh, giving this three (possibly 3.5) stars hurts my reader soul. But, I was prepared going in that this may be an interesting read. To be fair, making a gender bent Pinocchio into a romantic fairy tale is a bit of job for anyone, but Natalia Jaster gives it her all. If anyone's seen my 2020 year in books, I'm going a bit fast, and after the beautiful work that was Dare, I purposefully put off picking this one up (I'm not looking to get a reading slump before the month is out), even though it's part of the same series. Let's start with the good, shall we?
Pinocchio is a fairy tale that is oft forgotten in the retelling realm. It was nice to see Ms. Jaster incorporate elements from the OG story (Aspen is a girl made of wood by a human mother, and yes, her nose grows if she tells a lie) while creating a new character
Aspen is unlike any of Natalia Jaster's heroines in that she's feisty; her closest comparison is Briar from Trick, but Briar wasn't brash, she was snobby; Briar had to learn to open up/speak her from her heart to feed her own desires. Aspen has no filter, and learns through friendship with Nicu, more so than her romance with Aire, that having friends beats lackeys any day.
Nicu is back and sweeter than ever! Like, precious cargo doesn't even begin to cover him. It's nice to see Nicu's journey from sheltered born fool child in Trick, to a rebellious Royal son; his reaction to living such a sheltered life is the most realistic thing in this story; poor Poet... he means well.
This isn't something I liked seeing happen, but Lyrik leaving Nicu made for great set-up for Dream as well as bringing Nicu's abandonment issues to the forefront: Poet was only able to be with Briar because he was a single teenage father, and he only became that because Nicu's birth mother couldn't handle Nicu being a born fool. Lyrik's leaving reinforces the idea that he's unworthy of love. No wonder our songbird ceased singing.
But, that's kind of where the good ends.
When you're more interested in the side story than the main couple, you've kind of made a mistake. I was much more invested in Nicu's personal growth, as well as his budding romance with Lyrik, than I was with Aspen's quest for acorn (more on that in a minute) or sadly Aire's grievances.
Aspen goes on about how everyone knows the story of the three acorns, and I'm reading that going "did I miss something in the last two?" Pretty sure acorns and their mystical prowess was never mentioned prior. And she does go on to vaguely explain the prophecy/why she needs to steal (her mother is ill with what I believe is dementia, and once she succumbs to it, the Seasons will label her a fool). But the fact that this acorn bit is stated early on as something we should know all about just kind of made me feel.. stupid, I guess?
The romance was very run of the mill, typical hate to love and even a deceased spouse is tossed in to bring on the cliche. Not much to say about Aire (sad, because Aspen is a complex heroine with real growth, and he seems to have two default settings: protector and lover). Also, the puppet/wooden aspect made that aspect very awkward/confusing. Like, ok... she's made of wood, but has anatomically correct female parts? Perhaps she shape-shifted and I just spaced...
Aspen's dialogue was a bit eye rolling at times. Pamela Anderson Barb Wire-esque.
Honestly, this is the lowest rated of the series (and that's only a 3.99) and the longest so far. Does it need to be? Probably not. The others in the series I knocked out in a day, day and a half tops. This wasn't a bad book, just a lower point of the series (middle book syndrome, I suppose?) However, this doesn't deter my excitement for Dream.
Pinocchio is a fairy tale that is oft forgotten in the retelling realm. It was nice to see Ms. Jaster incorporate elements from the OG story (Aspen is a girl made of wood by a human mother, and yes, her nose grows if she tells a lie) while creating a new character
Aspen is unlike any of Natalia Jaster's heroines in that she's feisty; her closest comparison is Briar from Trick, but Briar wasn't brash, she was snobby; Briar had to learn to open up/speak her from her heart to feed her own desires. Aspen has no filter, and learns through friendship with Nicu, more so than her romance with Aire, that having friends beats lackeys any day.
Nicu is back and sweeter than ever! Like, precious cargo doesn't even begin to cover him. It's nice to see Nicu's journey from sheltered born fool child in Trick, to a rebellious Royal son; his reaction to living such a sheltered life is the most realistic thing in this story; poor Poet... he means well.
This isn't something I liked seeing happen, but Lyrik leaving Nicu made for great set-up for Dream as well as bringing Nicu's abandonment issues to the forefront: Poet was only able to be with Briar because he was a single teenage father, and he only became that because Nicu's birth mother couldn't handle Nicu being a born fool. Lyrik's leaving reinforces the idea that he's unworthy of love. No wonder our songbird ceased singing.
But, that's kind of where the good ends.
When you're more interested in the side story than the main couple, you've kind of made a mistake. I was much more invested in Nicu's personal growth, as well as his budding romance with Lyrik, than I was with Aspen's quest for acorn (more on that in a minute) or sadly Aire's grievances.
Aspen goes on about how everyone knows the story of the three acorns, and I'm reading that going "did I miss something in the last two?" Pretty sure acorns and their mystical prowess was never mentioned prior. And she does go on to vaguely explain the prophecy/why she needs to steal (her mother is ill with what I believe is dementia, and once she succumbs to it, the Seasons will label her a fool). But the fact that this acorn bit is stated early on as something we should know all about just kind of made me feel.. stupid, I guess?
The romance was very run of the mill, typical hate to love and even a deceased spouse is tossed in to bring on the cliche. Not much to say about Aire (sad, because Aspen is a complex heroine with real growth, and he seems to have two default settings: protector and lover). Also, the puppet/wooden aspect made that aspect very awkward/confusing. Like, ok... she's made of wood, but has anatomically correct female parts? Perhaps she shape-shifted and I just spaced...
Aspen's dialogue was a bit eye rolling at times. Pamela Anderson Barb Wire-esque.
Honestly, this is the lowest rated of the series (and that's only a 3.99) and the longest so far. Does it need to be? Probably not. The others in the series I knocked out in a day, day and a half tops. This wasn't a bad book, just a lower point of the series (middle book syndrome, I suppose?) However, this doesn't deter my excitement for Dream.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2020
**may contain spoilers**
Although I liked the characters in this novel I was disappointed with the plot, the characters didn’t seem to do anything, rather romance was the focus more than say the second novel which to me seemed to focus on the island which proved to be a character in its own right.
I am certainly impressed with Jaster’s ability to create unique voices, with Poet, the chapters were lyrical and full of hidden content, likewise in ‘Dare’ Jaryn’s scientific voice is paired with Flare’s hopeful one. Here in ‘Lie’ the voices were not as distinguished, but the characters themselves did have a uniqueness about them, Aspen is grounded and sassy, and Aire appears to be a winged avenger more at home with the wind than the earth. I did love the cameos of previous characters and I look forward to the fourth book as Nicu possesses a language unique and beautiful. This was a struggle to get through I believe purely as the plot didn’t go anywhere, Aspen goes on a journey to find an answer, but we don’t see much else happening. Compared to Poet and Jaryn, Aire seems less of a dominant figure, perhaps deliberately done given his name and features.
I also liked the links back to Pinocchio, Jaster has wonderfully adapted this tale to one in her own right, but alas I doubt this will be a re-read as nothing particularly memorable about it.
Free on kindle unlimited.
Although I liked the characters in this novel I was disappointed with the plot, the characters didn’t seem to do anything, rather romance was the focus more than say the second novel which to me seemed to focus on the island which proved to be a character in its own right.
I am certainly impressed with Jaster’s ability to create unique voices, with Poet, the chapters were lyrical and full of hidden content, likewise in ‘Dare’ Jaryn’s scientific voice is paired with Flare’s hopeful one. Here in ‘Lie’ the voices were not as distinguished, but the characters themselves did have a uniqueness about them, Aspen is grounded and sassy, and Aire appears to be a winged avenger more at home with the wind than the earth. I did love the cameos of previous characters and I look forward to the fourth book as Nicu possesses a language unique and beautiful. This was a struggle to get through I believe purely as the plot didn’t go anywhere, Aspen goes on a journey to find an answer, but we don’t see much else happening. Compared to Poet and Jaryn, Aire seems less of a dominant figure, perhaps deliberately done given his name and features.
I also liked the links back to Pinocchio, Jaster has wonderfully adapted this tale to one in her own right, but alas I doubt this will be a re-read as nothing particularly memorable about it.
Free on kindle unlimited.
January 5, 2021
3,5.
Basically a Pinocchio retelling with an enemies to friends to lovers to enemies again to lovers trope thrown in. The romance was pretty good, Natalia Jasper obviously knows and likes this trope, too. The plot was very thin and got resolved quickly at the 75% mark, that actually was what I liked from the past book but in this one it worked against the story. I wanted more action and ✨ magic ✨ but the author relied more heavily in the romance and the characters.
The story would have benefited from having only one pov, Aspen's (she was the one doing the actions and driving the plot) and not the other which basically only gave repetitive insight into Aire's thoughts. In another occasion would have been fine because hellooo a True Knight facing morally ambiguous decisions? grieving his dead wife while feeling Something for Aspen? but the character was so transparent that one kinda knew what was happening already. I still liked his character a lot, though, I'm a sucker for knights.
Basically a Pinocchio retelling with an enemies to friends to lovers to enemies again to lovers trope thrown in. The romance was pretty good, Natalia Jasper obviously knows and likes this trope, too. The plot was very thin and got resolved quickly at the 75% mark, that actually was what I liked from the past book but in this one it worked against the story. I wanted more action and ✨ magic ✨ but the author relied more heavily in the romance and the characters.
The story would have benefited from having only one pov, Aspen's (she was the one doing the actions and driving the plot) and not the other which basically only gave repetitive insight into Aire's thoughts. In another occasion would have been fine because hellooo a True Knight facing morally ambiguous decisions? grieving his dead wife while feeling Something for Aspen? but the character was so transparent that one kinda knew what was happening already. I still liked his character a lot, though, I'm a sucker for knights.
February 16, 2021
1) Trick ★★★★☆
2) Dare ★★★★☆
"There are thousands of shades of love, each one occurring at its own pace. For some, the greatest of emotions can take years to blossom, or mere days, for there is no rule or rhyme."
So far, I've only given 3 and 4 stars ratings to Natalia's books, so I'm sad about this one but unfortunately this is so far the only book from this author I was disappointed in. Natalia's writing is still beautiful, but my favorite thing about this book was that (as usual in Natalia's series) we get cameos from main characters of the previous novels.
Aspen and Aire weren't bad characters, but I didn't feel as strongly about them than the main characters of Trick and Dare. Their romance was also way too rushed for me, I couldn't feel the connection and chemistry between them because there was very little build-up in their relationship.
I only have the last book in the Foolish Kingdoms to read and I'll have read all Natalia's novels so far, so I'm hopeful I'll love Dream as much as Trick and Dare.
2) Dare ★★★★☆
"There are thousands of shades of love, each one occurring at its own pace. For some, the greatest of emotions can take years to blossom, or mere days, for there is no rule or rhyme."
So far, I've only given 3 and 4 stars ratings to Natalia's books, so I'm sad about this one but unfortunately this is so far the only book from this author I was disappointed in. Natalia's writing is still beautiful, but my favorite thing about this book was that (as usual in Natalia's series) we get cameos from main characters of the previous novels.
Aspen and Aire weren't bad characters, but I didn't feel as strongly about them than the main characters of Trick and Dare. Their romance was also way too rushed for me, I couldn't feel the connection and chemistry between them because there was very little build-up in their relationship.
I only have the last book in the Foolish Kingdoms to read and I'll have read all Natalia's novels so far, so I'm hopeful I'll love Dream as much as Trick and Dare.
February 5, 2021
Every book keeps getting better and better! I loved this story almost as much as Trick. Don’t let the “Pinocchio” bit fool you. This story is so beautifully done, and had me ugly crying several times.
I love that each book following Trick adds just a little to Briar and Poet’s cause. What excited me the most was seeing Nicu beginning to grow and evolve into an intelligent and wonderful young man who just wants to be seen as a person. And to make his own choices and have control over his own life. Not only do you get a love story between Aire and Aspen, you’re also seeing a much older Poet learning he can’t always keep his son close. As a parent, he’s on that road of learning to let go so Nicu can establish a life of his own.
This story hit me with all the right feels, some hitting closer to home. Now to start reading “Dream” and see how Nicu’s story ends. I’m just sad it’s ending so soon!!! This series has come to mean so much to me.
I love that each book following Trick adds just a little to Briar and Poet’s cause. What excited me the most was seeing Nicu beginning to grow and evolve into an intelligent and wonderful young man who just wants to be seen as a person. And to make his own choices and have control over his own life. Not only do you get a love story between Aire and Aspen, you’re also seeing a much older Poet learning he can’t always keep his son close. As a parent, he’s on that road of learning to let go so Nicu can establish a life of his own.
This story hit me with all the right feels, some hitting closer to home. Now to start reading “Dream” and see how Nicu’s story ends. I’m just sad it’s ending so soon!!! This series has come to mean so much to me.
February 8, 2021
A really beautiful retelling of Pinocchio with a bold and dishonest heroine I enjoyed much.
It took me quite a time to get into the story and the plot isn’t much adventurous but I enjoyed Aspen and I loved to read more about Nicu and how he had grown up to a young man with his own needs and desires. Of course, I also enjoyed to meet Poet and Briar again and to see how their family has grown and how much they still love each other.
What I really love about this series is how it show the different forms of love and dealing with people with special needs (this time an elderly person).
Another topic I really appreciate is how “Lie” and “Dare” tell the love stories of couples who can’t conceive children on their own and that it doesn’t affect their feelings.
All in all a lovely story.
It took me quite a time to get into the story and the plot isn’t much adventurous but I enjoyed Aspen and I loved to read more about Nicu and how he had grown up to a young man with his own needs and desires. Of course, I also enjoyed to meet Poet and Briar again and to see how their family has grown and how much they still love each other.
What I really love about this series is how it show the different forms of love and dealing with people with special needs (this time an elderly person).
Another topic I really appreciate is how “Lie” and “Dare” tell the love stories of couples who can’t conceive children on their own and that it doesn’t affect their feelings.
All in all a lovely story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2021
Really enjoyed this book! It's not my favourite of the Foolish Kingdom books, but certainly wonderful and a classic Natalia Jaster full of lessons and happy endings. I love her writing style. The reason for 4 stars is the characters weren't my favourites, I couldn't reach the depths I usually do with them, and the storyline wasn't as gripping as the others. Still a very enjoyable read and would recommend!
Did Not Finish
July 13, 2026Damn i forgot how loooooooong and i mean LONG these books are in this series😭 imma comeback to this later i think when i have the brain energy. Natalia i love u but my god do these have to be this freaking long with the endless inner monologue😭
December 21, 2023
**I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
#REVIEW
Well, I'm three for three now - 'Lie' by Natalia Jaster has managed to exceed my sky-high expectations! The first book 'Trick' stole my heart right from the beginning. 'Dare' took a little bit longer to warm up to but I was smitten by the end. 'Lie' however grabbed me by my shirt collar and refused to let go until I had admitted defeat. I was completely and utterly swept up in this tale - I can safely say now that Natalia Jaster is an auto-buy author for me.
This series is simply magical and I am so glad I stumbled upon it. I am eagerly anticipating the fourth (and final) book in the series but I will be very sad to let go of these wonderfully endearing characters. Still, it is not over yet! Here is my review of the third amazing entry in the Foolish Kingdoms series.
'Lie' is a retelling of Pinocchio with a twist - the wooden boy is in fact a wooden girl - and her name is Aspen. Aspen is a girl brought to life by her wood-carver mother via magic. Stories abound in the Autumn Kingdom of magical acorns that hold the key to life itself. Aspen knows the truth behind these tales, her own humble beginnings are intrinsically tied to these legends. When someone she loves begins to ail, she knows her only chance could be to obtain one of these mythical acorns.
This timber girl is an accomplished liar and sometime thief. But when she absconds with something precious to the crown; she finds herself in hot pursuit from a chivalrous and honest knight named Aire. Thrown together by circumstance; these two opposites initially clash but later find common ground.
However, their tremulous fledgling relationship will soon be put to the test when Aspen's treachery is discovered. Will Aire ever forgive her? Can Aspen learn to accept things as they are and not what she wishes they could be?
Honestly, I cannot think of any two character more polar opposites than Aspen and Aire. I'm not often convinced that two opposites can ever truly make a relationship work and yet, these two somehow seem to be the exception to that rule.
Aspen is not necessarily the most likable character. She is devious, selfish, confident and brazen. Yet, I found myself drawn to her almost instantly. I love how flawed she is and the fact that she owns her shortcomings. I also love the fact that she is no slim and slender heroine; she is curvy and she owns that too!
Aire is noble, kind, courteous and fair. He is exactly the type of character I normally find boring and self-righteous; priggish and stuffy. However, I love Aire almost as much as I love Aspen. In a lesser writer's hand he could encapsulate all the characteristics I normally find insufferable but in Natalia Jaster's capable hands, he becomes a well-rounded and swoon-worthy hero.
Like 'Trick' and 'Dare' before it, 'Lie' is another fine fantasy tale, full of wonder and endearing characters who steal your heart. I was so happy to see Nicu play such a massive role in this book. I adored his character as a small boy and he has grown up into an even more lovable young man. Lyrik was another intriguing character - I am looking forward to seeing more of his story. I would also be remiss not to mention Punk! Instead of a cricket, Aspen's companion and sort-of conscience is a woodpecker. Punk is a darling creature and I loved her antics.
I also some getting some cameos from characters from previous books - it was an absolutely joy to see Poet and Briar again. I am very much looking forward to seeing them again in 'Dream' which is going to be Nicu's story.
The writing is every bit as gorgeous as the first two books in the series. Natalia Jaster has an almost lyrical quality to her prose which is especially fitting for the fairy tale retelling theme. Aire's speech patterns and tone are particularly formal and flow almost like a story or song. It could have been a distraction but I felt it gave the character a very strong voice and made his chapters feel very different from Aspen's point of view.
Overall, this was another beautiful and enthralling story. I love Aspen and Aire's story and romance - it felt very natural and sweet. Equally fascinating (perhaps even more so) was the other love story bubbling away in the background. Cannot wait to see how that develops in the next book!
I cannot say enough good things about this series. I have well and truly become enamoured with the setting, the world-building, but most importantly with the amazing characters. Although I am eagerly awaiting the release of 'Dream', I am sad that this spells the end of this fantastic series. One things for sure though, I will be snapping up any other books/series by this author as soon as they are released!
#REVIEW
Well, I'm three for three now - 'Lie' by Natalia Jaster has managed to exceed my sky-high expectations! The first book 'Trick' stole my heart right from the beginning. 'Dare' took a little bit longer to warm up to but I was smitten by the end. 'Lie' however grabbed me by my shirt collar and refused to let go until I had admitted defeat. I was completely and utterly swept up in this tale - I can safely say now that Natalia Jaster is an auto-buy author for me.
This series is simply magical and I am so glad I stumbled upon it. I am eagerly anticipating the fourth (and final) book in the series but I will be very sad to let go of these wonderfully endearing characters. Still, it is not over yet! Here is my review of the third amazing entry in the Foolish Kingdoms series.
'Lie' is a retelling of Pinocchio with a twist - the wooden boy is in fact a wooden girl - and her name is Aspen. Aspen is a girl brought to life by her wood-carver mother via magic. Stories abound in the Autumn Kingdom of magical acorns that hold the key to life itself. Aspen knows the truth behind these tales, her own humble beginnings are intrinsically tied to these legends. When someone she loves begins to ail, she knows her only chance could be to obtain one of these mythical acorns.
This timber girl is an accomplished liar and sometime thief. But when she absconds with something precious to the crown; she finds herself in hot pursuit from a chivalrous and honest knight named Aire. Thrown together by circumstance; these two opposites initially clash but later find common ground.
However, their tremulous fledgling relationship will soon be put to the test when Aspen's treachery is discovered. Will Aire ever forgive her? Can Aspen learn to accept things as they are and not what she wishes they could be?
Honestly, I cannot think of any two character more polar opposites than Aspen and Aire. I'm not often convinced that two opposites can ever truly make a relationship work and yet, these two somehow seem to be the exception to that rule.
Aspen is not necessarily the most likable character. She is devious, selfish, confident and brazen. Yet, I found myself drawn to her almost instantly. I love how flawed she is and the fact that she owns her shortcomings. I also love the fact that she is no slim and slender heroine; she is curvy and she owns that too!
Aire is noble, kind, courteous and fair. He is exactly the type of character I normally find boring and self-righteous; priggish and stuffy. However, I love Aire almost as much as I love Aspen. In a lesser writer's hand he could encapsulate all the characteristics I normally find insufferable but in Natalia Jaster's capable hands, he becomes a well-rounded and swoon-worthy hero.
Like 'Trick' and 'Dare' before it, 'Lie' is another fine fantasy tale, full of wonder and endearing characters who steal your heart. I was so happy to see Nicu play such a massive role in this book. I adored his character as a small boy and he has grown up into an even more lovable young man. Lyrik was another intriguing character - I am looking forward to seeing more of his story. I would also be remiss not to mention Punk! Instead of a cricket, Aspen's companion and sort-of conscience is a woodpecker. Punk is a darling creature and I loved her antics.
I also some getting some cameos from characters from previous books - it was an absolutely joy to see Poet and Briar again. I am very much looking forward to seeing them again in 'Dream' which is going to be Nicu's story.
The writing is every bit as gorgeous as the first two books in the series. Natalia Jaster has an almost lyrical quality to her prose which is especially fitting for the fairy tale retelling theme. Aire's speech patterns and tone are particularly formal and flow almost like a story or song. It could have been a distraction but I felt it gave the character a very strong voice and made his chapters feel very different from Aspen's point of view.
Overall, this was another beautiful and enthralling story. I love Aspen and Aire's story and romance - it felt very natural and sweet. Equally fascinating (perhaps even more so) was the other love story bubbling away in the background. Cannot wait to see how that develops in the next book!
I cannot say enough good things about this series. I have well and truly become enamoured with the setting, the world-building, but most importantly with the amazing characters. Although I am eagerly awaiting the release of 'Dream', I am sad that this spells the end of this fantastic series. One things for sure though, I will be snapping up any other books/series by this author as soon as they are released!
January 27, 2019
I received an ARC of this book through the author in exchange for an honest review!
Since I started reading Natalia Jaster's work, which was truthfully at the beginning of the year on the recommendation of a fellow reader, I have fallen deeply in love with her talent and the true craftsmanship of her stories. Every read, including this one, leaves me in tears, astonished at the characters, the world, the love, and the dedication woven into these books by a true writer. And with "Lie," the same rings true again.
Aspen is a liar, indeed. She likes to be ahead of the curve, intimidating, and will lie in exchange for for things that benefit herself (as well as others!). In the same vein, Aire, a knight, is brutally honest and holds honesty to a truly black-and-white standard. Both of them have flaws amidst their many beautiful traits, and those flaws are what make them so admirable and worthy characters to fall in love with and to watch fall in love with each other. They change each others minds, challenge each other, do things that alter their views in both good and bad ways. Never once did I not believe in them or not wish to see them succeed, because they deserve the happy ending, lies and truths and all.
The side characters and surprise visits from characters from past books were also a delight to see. I never not love my court jester, or my Autumn princess, or their lovely emerald-eyed boy, so seeing them again as well as getting to meet a few new people was also riveting. Every character is appealing and multi-faceted and you want to take every piece of their stories and never let go.
If I haven't mentioned already, the worldbuilding is astonishingly impeccable. This is the third book in a series, so we do understand parts of these kingdoms already, but Natalia always infuses something new into each setting and gives the reader more to understand and love about every specific part of the world. The lore, the tales, and the beautiful specifics of each land are what makes these places shine so much, and I could not enjoy it more.
Of course, do I need to say again the writing is remarkable? Natalia has a knack for writing in the style of this time and setting, but the characters do not have interchangeable voices at all, and the way they view the world in their words is entirely up to them. The way they live and talk and think is different in every way, and Natalia doing this while keeping every other part of the story at the same exceptional level is all down to the way she writes. If she struck any deals to weave this kind of magic, I would love to know!
Another part to the Foolish Kingdoms series wowed me again. However, to not lie, I wasn't surprised one bit. Natalia continues to confound me with the way all of the pieces of her story stand at a subpar level, greater than any of the stories I have read in my nineteen years of life. And you could say I still have a lot of reading to do, but I wholeheartedly believe no matter the authors and the stories I read from here on, I will go back to these books and the books Natalia continues to write after Lie and know this is the work of a magical writer; these are the books I will turn to and know I strive to create even an ounce of the beauty that these books have.
Since I started reading Natalia Jaster's work, which was truthfully at the beginning of the year on the recommendation of a fellow reader, I have fallen deeply in love with her talent and the true craftsmanship of her stories. Every read, including this one, leaves me in tears, astonished at the characters, the world, the love, and the dedication woven into these books by a true writer. And with "Lie," the same rings true again.
Aspen is a liar, indeed. She likes to be ahead of the curve, intimidating, and will lie in exchange for for things that benefit herself (as well as others!). In the same vein, Aire, a knight, is brutally honest and holds honesty to a truly black-and-white standard. Both of them have flaws amidst their many beautiful traits, and those flaws are what make them so admirable and worthy characters to fall in love with and to watch fall in love with each other. They change each others minds, challenge each other, do things that alter their views in both good and bad ways. Never once did I not believe in them or not wish to see them succeed, because they deserve the happy ending, lies and truths and all.
The side characters and surprise visits from characters from past books were also a delight to see. I never not love my court jester, or my Autumn princess, or their lovely emerald-eyed boy, so seeing them again as well as getting to meet a few new people was also riveting. Every character is appealing and multi-faceted and you want to take every piece of their stories and never let go.
If I haven't mentioned already, the worldbuilding is astonishingly impeccable. This is the third book in a series, so we do understand parts of these kingdoms already, but Natalia always infuses something new into each setting and gives the reader more to understand and love about every specific part of the world. The lore, the tales, and the beautiful specifics of each land are what makes these places shine so much, and I could not enjoy it more.
Of course, do I need to say again the writing is remarkable? Natalia has a knack for writing in the style of this time and setting, but the characters do not have interchangeable voices at all, and the way they view the world in their words is entirely up to them. The way they live and talk and think is different in every way, and Natalia doing this while keeping every other part of the story at the same exceptional level is all down to the way she writes. If she struck any deals to weave this kind of magic, I would love to know!
Another part to the Foolish Kingdoms series wowed me again. However, to not lie, I wasn't surprised one bit. Natalia continues to confound me with the way all of the pieces of her story stand at a subpar level, greater than any of the stories I have read in my nineteen years of life. And you could say I still have a lot of reading to do, but I wholeheartedly believe no matter the authors and the stories I read from here on, I will go back to these books and the books Natalia continues to write after Lie and know this is the work of a magical writer; these are the books I will turn to and know I strive to create even an ounce of the beauty that these books have.
October 14, 2018
*DISCLAIMER* I HAVE RECEIVED A FREE COPY VIA THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION*DISCLAIMER*
It was amazing. I loved it. The characterization. The arcs. The growth. The autumn-ness. It was, I dare say, her best book yet.
There were problems of course. I didn’t like that Aire was a bit of an asshole during that one scene but besides that it wasn’t very problematic. The book as a whole was a journey. Instead of taking you to the fairytale, it brought the fairytale to you and in a whole new way. The feelings of each character were so in depth and so sincere, I thought I might be able to reach out and touch their tears.
The whole series has been amazing and is completely inclusive. This one was even more so. It introduced a possibility of the next book’s main characters. And I can’t wait for their story. It promises to be a very good one. The compassion and sympathy that Briar and Poet show towards the end, when they make an appearance, was so perfectly them that I couldn’t help but think of the other time we had seen them.
The growth shown by all three main characters, cause don’t fool yourself there are three, is astounding. Natalia Jaster is definitely a master at this. Aspen starts off thinking herself less than others and overcompensating to overcome this “obstacle” that only she herself can see. Aire is constantly held back by what happened to his loved one (trying to avoid spoilers) that he can’t stand what Aspen is at the beginning of the book. But throughout the course of Lie, it becomes clear that one of them brings out the best in the other.
And the third main character. Nicu. His journey and defiance at the beginning of the book is what starts the whole thing. And Natalia Jaster does an amazing job setting up what I think is going to be an amazing fourth book. But she never forgets what has happened in books one or two. No, it’s insinuated and brought up subtly throughout the book. Which makes me think something huge is going to happen if everybody is being interconnected like this. Nicu and his somewhat, not really clear, I have to think of a cute ship name, love interest are adorable to watch.
Honestly, if you hadn’t ever heard of Natalia Jaster until now, I think you should get caught up reading all of her books. This one is amazing and her other three books are just as amazing as this one.
It was amazing. I loved it. The characterization. The arcs. The growth. The autumn-ness. It was, I dare say, her best book yet.
There were problems of course. I didn’t like that Aire was a bit of an asshole during that one scene but besides that it wasn’t very problematic. The book as a whole was a journey. Instead of taking you to the fairytale, it brought the fairytale to you and in a whole new way. The feelings of each character were so in depth and so sincere, I thought I might be able to reach out and touch their tears.
The whole series has been amazing and is completely inclusive. This one was even more so. It introduced a possibility of the next book’s main characters. And I can’t wait for their story. It promises to be a very good one. The compassion and sympathy that Briar and Poet show towards the end, when they make an appearance, was so perfectly them that I couldn’t help but think of the other time we had seen them.
The growth shown by all three main characters, cause don’t fool yourself there are three, is astounding. Natalia Jaster is definitely a master at this. Aspen starts off thinking herself less than others and overcompensating to overcome this “obstacle” that only she herself can see. Aire is constantly held back by what happened to his loved one (trying to avoid spoilers) that he can’t stand what Aspen is at the beginning of the book. But throughout the course of Lie, it becomes clear that one of them brings out the best in the other.
And the third main character. Nicu. His journey and defiance at the beginning of the book is what starts the whole thing. And Natalia Jaster does an amazing job setting up what I think is going to be an amazing fourth book. But she never forgets what has happened in books one or two. No, it’s insinuated and brought up subtly throughout the book. Which makes me think something huge is going to happen if everybody is being interconnected like this. Nicu and his somewhat, not really clear, I have to think of a cute ship name, love interest are adorable to watch.
Honestly, if you hadn’t ever heard of Natalia Jaster until now, I think you should get caught up reading all of her books. This one is amazing and her other three books are just as amazing as this one.
November 10, 2018
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review ....
So, this book started off a lot slower than I'm used to with Jaster's books, and at first, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. Aire's voice didn't really work for me even though I got where Jaster was coming from in terms of his personality. At about 50 pages, the characters of Aspen and Aire grew on me enough that I cared about their story which is when I really couldn't put the book down.
What I liked? I enjoyed the story or back story behind how Aspen was born; I liked the slow burn of her relationship with Aire; the fox mavens and Puck; the fact that we get to see more of Autumn because we really didn't see much in Trick; and I really enjoyed the Nicu side story which (I hope) turns into the next book in this series (it seems to be headed in that direction). I actually think that Nicu was by far the most interesting character for me as the story unfolded, and I kept wanting to get more glimpses into what was going on with him.
What I didn't like (as much)? I was always confused about Aspen's lies. She kept saying she was a liar and that her nose grew when she lied, but I found she this made her the more honest character. Clever of Jaster because it then made Aire seem more dishonest in many ways even though he was supposed to be the honest one. But it took too much work for me to realize that. I also found there was (gasp) too much Poet and Briar in this book.
Don't get me wrong. It was fun to catch up with Poet and Briar quite a few years after the end of Trick. And they were definitely needed because Nicu was such a key player and Aire is part of their court.
Of the three Foolish Kingdoms books so far, this is probably the one that I struggled with the most. But it's better than most of the books I've read this year and is still worth the 5 star rating. If you haven't picked up one of the previous books, I'd suggest you start with Trick first. This is one that really can't stand alone, and Trick provides a lot of context for who Nicu is and his relationship with the Queen and her daughter.
All told, I really liked this book. And the style of the covers are awesome. I'll be buying a copy to add to my shelf.
So, this book started off a lot slower than I'm used to with Jaster's books, and at first, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. Aire's voice didn't really work for me even though I got where Jaster was coming from in terms of his personality. At about 50 pages, the characters of Aspen and Aire grew on me enough that I cared about their story which is when I really couldn't put the book down.
What I liked? I enjoyed the story or back story behind how Aspen was born; I liked the slow burn of her relationship with Aire; the fox mavens and Puck; the fact that we get to see more of Autumn because we really didn't see much in Trick; and I really enjoyed the Nicu side story which (I hope) turns into the next book in this series (it seems to be headed in that direction). I actually think that Nicu was by far the most interesting character for me as the story unfolded, and I kept wanting to get more glimpses into what was going on with him.
What I didn't like (as much)? I was always confused about Aspen's lies. She kept saying she was a liar and that her nose grew when she lied, but I found she this made her the more honest character. Clever of Jaster because it then made Aire seem more dishonest in many ways even though he was supposed to be the honest one. But it took too much work for me to realize that. I also found there was (gasp) too much Poet and Briar in this book.
Don't get me wrong. It was fun to catch up with Poet and Briar quite a few years after the end of Trick. And they were definitely needed because Nicu was such a key player and Aire is part of their court.
Of the three Foolish Kingdoms books so far, this is probably the one that I struggled with the most. But it's better than most of the books I've read this year and is still worth the 5 star rating. If you haven't picked up one of the previous books, I'd suggest you start with Trick first. This is one that really can't stand alone, and Trick provides a lot of context for who Nicu is and his relationship with the Queen and her daughter.
All told, I really liked this book. And the style of the covers are awesome. I'll be buying a copy to add to my shelf.
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