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The Pathways Tree #3
The Princess And The Orrery
Seven, the last surviving genie, is out for revenge.
Betrayed by the woman he loves, kidnapped, tortured, and separated from the source of his power, Seven's only goal is to punish the people who have wronged him.
That is, until he is forced to work with Amelia.
Amelia is bright, precocious and does not have time for his vendetta. She is working on a machine designed to map the planets, an orrery, and has been promised a permanent home with the Sisterhood of Cultivators if she succeeds. The only problem is, the orrery is a lot more than a simple machine – it is also a doorway. And when a door is left open, anything might come through…
When Seven realises what it is Amelia is building and the danger it presents, he must make a choice – the hardest choice he has ever faced: to act selflessly.
Can Seven put aside his own wishes in order to play the hero and save the world?
And, more importantly, does he even want to?
Betrayed by the woman he loves, kidnapped, tortured, and separated from the source of his power, Seven's only goal is to punish the people who have wronged him.
That is, until he is forced to work with Amelia.
Amelia is bright, precocious and does not have time for his vendetta. She is working on a machine designed to map the planets, an orrery, and has been promised a permanent home with the Sisterhood of Cultivators if she succeeds. The only problem is, the orrery is a lot more than a simple machine – it is also a doorway. And when a door is left open, anything might come through…
When Seven realises what it is Amelia is building and the danger it presents, he must make a choice – the hardest choice he has ever faced: to act selflessly.
Can Seven put aside his own wishes in order to play the hero and save the world?
And, more importantly, does he even want to?
The Princess And The Orrery is the third novel in The Pathways Tree series. It heralds the return of the ever-charming genie, Seven, along with fan favourites Bea, Melly, Hemmings, Joan, Mistasinon and Chokey as they pit themselves in a race against time to save the world. Set in the spaces between fact and fiction, myth and modernity, The Princess And The Orrery will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next!
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2018
35 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
F.D. Lee
7 books93 followersF D. Lee is the author of the internationally bestselling fantasy series, The Pathways Tree, and the award-winning SF novel, In the Slip.
A lifelong fantasy and science fiction fan, Faith is an advocate of self- and indie-publishing and has a PhD in English Literature and Creative Writing. She has been featured in The Independent, appeared on Radio 4 to talk about her research into genre fiction, and has given a mini-TED talk on why stories matter.
Faith is online and always happy to chat! Facebook, Instagram, Threads: @fdleeauthor (Facebook is the best place to catch her!). Visit Faith's website (www.fdlee.co.uk) to read her work, including free short stories and sample chapters.
A lifelong fantasy and science fiction fan, Faith is an advocate of self- and indie-publishing and has a PhD in English Literature and Creative Writing. She has been featured in The Independent, appeared on Radio 4 to talk about her research into genre fiction, and has given a mini-TED talk on why stories matter.
Faith is online and always happy to chat! Facebook, Instagram, Threads: @fdleeauthor (Facebook is the best place to catch her!). Visit Faith's website (www.fdlee.co.uk) to read her work, including free short stories and sample chapters.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 7, 2018
Loved it - It's a beautiful continuation of a series I adore - lovely characterisation, believable interaction between them, interesting setting, engaging plot - who could ask for more?
December 13, 2020
There isn't a single straight character in any of these books and NO ONE can convince me otherwise!
December 6, 2018
If, like me, you find yourself immediately suspicious of self-published novels, F.D. Lee's Pathways Tree sequence is a shining beacon of good hope, and brilliant proof that it can be done with genuine creativity and high editorial standards (at this point it's tempting to make a snide remark about Amazon's Thomas & Mercer outfit, but I digress).
Anyway, The Princess and the Orrery is the third novel in the series, following on from The Fairy's Tale and The Academy. If you're not familiar with Lee's universe, the fundamentals are that fairy tales are a manipulative form of magic that help a frankly sinister organisation maintain power, and all of the characters in the books are reacting to this manipulation - be they the fairy creatures that run the tales or the humans caught up in them. Already some of you will be thinking this is utterly bonkers, but at their heart these are still great adventure stories, with a surprising depth to the darkness that runs beneath the flowery fairy tale conventions Lee is mucking about with. Fairy tales have always been dark, here you get a hint of just how dark.
That said, this third novel seems to focus more on the story and the characters, leaving the darkness to fester at the edges. It starts slowly, and though you don't have to have read the others to enjoy this book, you will have to stick with it for a few pages, as there's no blindingly obvious recapping here - Lee commendably preferring the reader to exercise their little grey cells and take a few things on faith, rather than launching into detailed explanations immediately. I like this in an author, but I guess it won't be for everyone.
The characters are fun and well realised, the plot - appropriately - compelling, and once the story gets going it rips along at a great pace. To me it's got a bit more of the Pratchett about it than the previous books, which again I like, and the ending brings a satisfying conclusion, even as it confirms there will be more Pathways Tree stories to follow. I'm really looking forward to reading them.
Anyway, The Princess and the Orrery is the third novel in the series, following on from The Fairy's Tale and The Academy. If you're not familiar with Lee's universe, the fundamentals are that fairy tales are a manipulative form of magic that help a frankly sinister organisation maintain power, and all of the characters in the books are reacting to this manipulation - be they the fairy creatures that run the tales or the humans caught up in them. Already some of you will be thinking this is utterly bonkers, but at their heart these are still great adventure stories, with a surprising depth to the darkness that runs beneath the flowery fairy tale conventions Lee is mucking about with. Fairy tales have always been dark, here you get a hint of just how dark.
That said, this third novel seems to focus more on the story and the characters, leaving the darkness to fester at the edges. It starts slowly, and though you don't have to have read the others to enjoy this book, you will have to stick with it for a few pages, as there's no blindingly obvious recapping here - Lee commendably preferring the reader to exercise their little grey cells and take a few things on faith, rather than launching into detailed explanations immediately. I like this in an author, but I guess it won't be for everyone.
The characters are fun and well realised, the plot - appropriately - compelling, and once the story gets going it rips along at a great pace. To me it's got a bit more of the Pratchett about it than the previous books, which again I like, and the ending brings a satisfying conclusion, even as it confirms there will be more Pathways Tree stories to follow. I'm really looking forward to reading them.
December 12, 2019
I though this was a trilogy. I didnt realize that this was an on going series. Book 4 isnt on goodreads yet. I will have to look into book 4
December 8, 2018
Faith Lee created an absolutely marvelous tale of fae and humans in this third book in her The Pathways Tree series. The first two books are great but this one surpasses even them. I highly recommend it to anyone that breathes but, be kind to yourself and begin with book one, The Fairy's Tale. I am so excited there book 4 is being written now, because I am anxious to discover what happens next! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Disclaimer : I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given review.
Disclaimer : I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given review.
August 8, 2023
Third in F. D. Lee's Pathways Tree series, 'The Princess and the Orrery' is a fantasy novel continuing the story of cabbage fairy Bea, elves Melly and Hemmings, genie Seven, and the mysterious Mistasinon. The plot picks up after Seven's disappearance at the end of the first book, and introduces a new character, human twelve year old genius Amelia. Amelia is working - at the behest of the evil Baron's sickly brother, Joseph - on an orrery (a clockwork solar system model). Unbeknown to her, Joseph's plans for the orrery are very bad indeed, and require the forced help of Seven to bring to fruition....
Building upon the events of the first two volumes in the series, but with a slightly different tone due to the focus being on different protagonists (Bea is a minor character in this book, rather than being the main protagonist as she was in the others), which I felt worked very well and gave it a fresh new feel. The wit of the series remains mercifully intact, and the world gained new levels of complexity, with the promise of more to come in book four.
A great read, recommended. I am now waiting impatiently for the fourth volume!
Building upon the events of the first two volumes in the series, but with a slightly different tone due to the focus being on different protagonists (Bea is a minor character in this book, rather than being the main protagonist as she was in the others), which I felt worked very well and gave it a fresh new feel. The wit of the series remains mercifully intact, and the world gained new levels of complexity, with the promise of more to come in book four.
A great read, recommended. I am now waiting impatiently for the fourth volume!
December 9, 2018
When I read The Fairy’s Tale I knew I had discovered a gem and I was delighted to find that The Academy was no second novel disappointment. So I leapt at the chance to read and early ecopy of The Princess and the Orerry.
This series just keeps getting better; flawless, crisp writing, incredibly dense interwoven plotting and humour too! The characters are developing as we read along and are given real emotional depth as we learn more about them and share the suspense of their triumphs and disasters.
This third in the series deftly weaves and expands on the narratives of the previous two without missing a beat so imagine my delight on completing the book to discover that there is a fourth in the offing! Ill definitely be preordering that one. This is a writer on top form!
Do give it a try. Highly recommended
This series just keeps getting better; flawless, crisp writing, incredibly dense interwoven plotting and humour too! The characters are developing as we read along and are given real emotional depth as we learn more about them and share the suspense of their triumphs and disasters.
This third in the series deftly weaves and expands on the narratives of the previous two without missing a beat so imagine my delight on completing the book to discover that there is a fourth in the offing! Ill definitely be preordering that one. This is a writer on top form!
Do give it a try. Highly recommended
August 12, 2019
Mixed Feelings
I absolutely love the first two books and want to love the third. The story started well but I think it had a lot more potential then what was delivered, some parts drag out and my mind frequently wondered off or I fell asleep. Something that happens in the end fills me with disappointment knowing that it's not the end of it and it'll surely be part of the next book. I'm not looking forward to it. There's a character I want to love but their character is weakening with every book - from hero to zero. This book had a lot of potential, but I think what happened could have been said in half the amount of pages.
I absolutely love the first two books and want to love the third. The story started well but I think it had a lot more potential then what was delivered, some parts drag out and my mind frequently wondered off or I fell asleep. Something that happens in the end fills me with disappointment knowing that it's not the end of it and it'll surely be part of the next book. I'm not looking forward to it. There's a character I want to love but their character is weakening with every book - from hero to zero. This book had a lot of potential, but I think what happened could have been said in half the amount of pages.
May 14, 2024
A good time up of the happenings in book 2, while still leaving intrigue about how the magic mirror problem will be fixed. There was very little Bea in this story but her character was greatly advanced.
The genie is proving what I have said for years: Wishing us evil.
This is somehow a slow series, enjoyable but only okay.
The genie is proving what I have said for years: Wishing us evil.
This is somehow a slow series, enjoyable but only okay.
November 21, 2024
This series is my obsession! I loved this book!! I loved the audio narrator. I love the relationships the characters have with each other. I love how the world keeps evolving and the addition of new players in the scene. Truly spectacular and always shocked how so many people do not know this series but I will spread the good word as far as I can!
April 18, 2019
Good story
I loved the continuation of the story and the fast pace. It's a shame that the kindle edition has quite a few editorial errors in it but that's certainly not the authors fault. Would recommend this series
I loved the continuation of the story and the fast pace. It's a shame that the kindle edition has quite a few editorial errors in it but that's certainly not the authors fault. Would recommend this series
November 28, 2019
I loved this book, I want more. I was totally engrossed in this book with seven's story , Amelia's story and my favourite cabbage fairy Bea. Brilliant story, lots of hold my breath moments while I figured out where the story was going. Can't wait for book 4
April 6, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, It was very different from the first two. I enjoyed the introduction of new characters but loved that the characters from book 1 & 2 were still included. I couldn't predict where the story was going or what was going to happen. I'm eagerly anticipating the 4th!
August 10, 2021
Another good one.
A lot of twists and turns that took a while to get into. The beginning felt like a lot with all the different characters. (Melly & Hemings, Bea & Joan & Mistasion, Chokey, John & Ana, Amelia & Joseph & Naima)
A lot of twists and turns that took a while to get into. The beginning felt like a lot with all the different characters. (Melly & Hemings, Bea & Joan & Mistasion, Chokey, John & Ana, Amelia & Joseph & Naima)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2023
This one started off slow. I didn’t love the shift in focus from Bea to Amelia and the Orrery. Although the book eventual picked up, I slogged through most of the Orrery scenes in order to get back to Bea and her friends.
April 23, 2019
I must confess I thought this series was a trilogy, but I'm happy to discover there's still more to come
(Disclaimer, I am friends with the author)
(Disclaimer, I am friends with the author)
May 29, 2019
Absolutely brilliant book, cannot wait for the fourth installment!
June 4, 2019
Enjoyed reading the series so far, looking forward to the next installment
October 24, 2019
Can’t wait for book 4! Nuff said.
October 12, 2020
Urgh. Had to fight my way to the end of this one. Not reading any more of these, too drawn out, not interesting enough, bored of all the characters.
May 8, 2019
This one actually might have been my favorite of the series so far, adding a lot of interesting layers to all the characters from book 1 and 2; Seven, Mistasinon, Bea, Melly, Joan, Hemmings, etc. The addition of villains like Joseph, and the adorable, talented Amelia were great.
Still as quirky and cleverly-written as the first two, but the richness of the characters made this one even more enjoyable. Some interesting discoveries are made, regarding the past of certain characters and creatures. Really recommend reading this one!
Still as quirky and cleverly-written as the first two, but the richness of the characters made this one even more enjoyable. Some interesting discoveries are made, regarding the past of certain characters and creatures. Really recommend reading this one!
September 8, 2023
Q: Where did Seven go after the incident with the Ball in Llanotterly?
Q: What happens to Bea's dream of becoming an FME?
Q: What's the effect of the Letheinate on Mistasinon?
This installment of the book as stated in the summary starts with events after the Ball and continue's to where Book 2 ended. Starting in the majorly mentioned City of Cerne Bralksteld. This city ad the Baron have been a major looming shadow in the last couple of books and finally reading about this 'technologically advanced' city clarified so much of why this Baron has such a stronghold on the surrounding kingdoms.
Bea, Mistasinon, Chokey and Hemmings, after leaving the Academy, and following the experience with West, decide to keep a distance until the dust settles. Here starts a new adventure, an amazing magical journey! Somewhere, making me draw a visual interpretation from Aladin's Genie, the steam machines of the 'Mortal Engine' movie..... it introduces a few move characters who are central to this book. Along the way we see
Mistasinon Struggles to come to terms with his individuality
Bea embraces her identity
Melly becomes a central character and we learn so much about her
Hemmings grows into his skin, find where he fits and gains confidence in 'thoughtsmithing'
Seven, central to this book, we learn about his source of magic and his roots. His history with the 'Countess' and how he ends up where he does. If you loved Book 1 & 2, you sure will love this new journey!
Q: What happens to Bea's dream of becoming an FME?
Q: What's the effect of the Letheinate on Mistasinon?
This installment of the book as stated in the summary starts with events after the Ball and continue's to where Book 2 ended. Starting in the majorly mentioned City of Cerne Bralksteld. This city ad the Baron have been a major looming shadow in the last couple of books and finally reading about this 'technologically advanced' city clarified so much of why this Baron has such a stronghold on the surrounding kingdoms.
Bea, Mistasinon, Chokey and Hemmings, after leaving the Academy, and following the experience with West, decide to keep a distance until the dust settles. Here starts a new adventure, an amazing magical journey! Somewhere, making me draw a visual interpretation from Aladin's Genie, the steam machines of the 'Mortal Engine' movie..... it introduces a few move characters who are central to this book. Along the way we see
Mistasinon Struggles to come to terms with his individuality
Bea embraces her identity
Melly becomes a central character and we learn so much about her
Hemmings grows into his skin, find where he fits and gains confidence in 'thoughtsmithing'
Seven, central to this book, we learn about his source of magic and his roots. His history with the 'Countess' and how he ends up where he does. If you loved Book 1 & 2, you sure will love this new journey!
August 12, 2020
I have Decided if i ever meet a Genie im not going to wish for anything because it hurts them ... however i could make my first wish that all my wishes didnt hurt the genie !? thne i could have two good ones couldnt i ?
I read the Fary's Tale & other Pathways Tree books literally one year ago & decided to read them again, however this time i got them on AudioBook !! ... the first time round i bought them on Kindle from Amazon then discovered if you've already bought it once you get it on Audible for £3.50 where it's normally over £20 - well worth it SUCH A BARGAIN ! I Find the Pathways tree series really relaxing and i have found that the more the books go along the better they get ! i have now finished book 3 on Audible (again £3.50) but mostly looking forward to listening to the fourth one (the thirs one so far is may favorite) ..... then onto the fourth book via kindle again (its not out on audio yet) . i dont normally read 'Fiction' books but i use this series to take a break and find them extremly relaxing
I read the Fary's Tale & other Pathways Tree books literally one year ago & decided to read them again, however this time i got them on AudioBook !! ... the first time round i bought them on Kindle from Amazon then discovered if you've already bought it once you get it on Audible for £3.50 where it's normally over £20 - well worth it SUCH A BARGAIN ! I Find the Pathways tree series really relaxing and i have found that the more the books go along the better they get ! i have now finished book 3 on Audible (again £3.50) but mostly looking forward to listening to the fourth one (the thirs one so far is may favorite) ..... then onto the fourth book via kindle again (its not out on audio yet) . i dont normally read 'Fiction' books but i use this series to take a break and find them extremly relaxing
June 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this but full disclosure - I am also friends with the author and read a 'beta' copy to provide extra feedback and/or catch typos.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews