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Live Like Legends
Princess Kalista has known her role from birth. She’s spent her entire life preparing to be the socialite wife of a prince from a peaceful kingdom. But on her big day, she is shocked when she is instead forced to marry the warrior prince of a cursed land, who is as cold as the wintry kingdom he’ll one day rule.Carson has a throne no princess wants to share with him. An immortal beast ravages their land, and he’ll do anything to stop it, even marry a complete stranger on the day she was supposed to wed her betrothed. Let her hate him for it, but Kalista is his only hope for peace.Kalista knows she’s just a pawn on the chessboard of politics, but now she’s expected to kill an unstoppable creature because of some legend about her bloodline that Carson believes as truth. He trains her how to fight, and when lessons in swordplay lead to lessons in love, her destiny puts more than just her life at risk.How far is she willing to go to save the prince she never wanted…but can’t imagine living without?
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2020
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May 19, 20202020 is my year for the arranged-marriage trope and so far it’s been the best thing this year has to offer and I am so okay with that 🙌🏼😭🤣
May 20, 2020
While this book was certainly not the most original thing I've ever read. I'm not ashamed to admit I still found it quite entertaining. It's very on-brand for Entangled Teen, which, from my experience, is romance-centric, light fantasy.
The world-building and writing itself were rather average. The romance decidedly predictable, but there was just something rather endearing about watching our two main leads struggle and fumble through trying to communicate with each other. Watching them slowly fall for each other despite their cultural differences and the major language barrier was just sweet and satisfying.
That being said, if you're looking for a well-rounded fantasy definitely look elsewhere. The fantasy portion of this was rather weak and flimsy. The villainous reveal was not terribly surprising, but strangely confusing. It made no sense to me why the man (the villain) in question made the deal that he had, or why his main accomplice helped him. The original story of Kalista's ancestor, the famed monster hunter, and the bargain he made was also not revealed by the book's end.
Character-wise everyone could have used more development. It was never explained why Emmet did not trust the people of Estral. Instead, it was randomly thrown in there after he'd been forcibly sent away.
There were moments in this book that made me laugh and had me smiling, so I think that's why I can kind of see past a lot of its shortcomings.
To sum things up, this book is like a cup of tea that has not been given enough time to steep. It lacks depth, complexity in flavor. It's certainly still drinkable but it's not living up to its potential.
I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thank you to Entangled Publishing!
The world-building and writing itself were rather average. The romance decidedly predictable, but there was just something rather endearing about watching our two main leads struggle and fumble through trying to communicate with each other. Watching them slowly fall for each other despite their cultural differences and the major language barrier was just sweet and satisfying.
That being said, if you're looking for a well-rounded fantasy definitely look elsewhere. The fantasy portion of this was rather weak and flimsy. The villainous reveal was not terribly surprising, but strangely confusing. It made no sense to me why the man (the villain) in question made the deal that he had, or why his main accomplice helped him. The original story of Kalista's ancestor, the famed monster hunter, and the bargain he made was also not revealed by the book's end.
Character-wise everyone could have used more development. It was never explained why Emmet did not trust the people of Estral. Instead, it was randomly thrown in there after he'd been forcibly sent away.
There were moments in this book that made me laugh and had me smiling, so I think that's why I can kind of see past a lot of its shortcomings.
To sum things up, this book is like a cup of tea that has not been given enough time to steep. It lacks depth, complexity in flavor. It's certainly still drinkable but it's not living up to its potential.
I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thank you to Entangled Publishing!
June 2, 2020
I was sold on the blurb. This book was totally up my street. A princess, a prophecy and a legend.
Kalista has been training to be the perfect betrothed since she was a child. She learnt a new culture and language. After an ancient prophecy is set in stone everything she hasn’t learnt becomes useless. Her arrange marriage is to a Prince from another land but not the one she expected. Now she must learn the legend and navigate a new path.
Kalista thinks monsters are just stories but she was wrong.
This is a romance novel with a touch of magic and horror.
I really enjoyed this book although felt it was slow in parts. The relationship between the princess and her prince was sweet and I liked the language barrier. It has a happy ever after and a kickass heroine.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Kalista has been training to be the perfect betrothed since she was a child. She learnt a new culture and language. After an ancient prophecy is set in stone everything she hasn’t learnt becomes useless. Her arrange marriage is to a Prince from another land but not the one she expected. Now she must learn the legend and navigate a new path.
Kalista thinks monsters are just stories but she was wrong.
This is a romance novel with a touch of magic and horror.
I really enjoyed this book although felt it was slow in parts. The relationship between the princess and her prince was sweet and I liked the language barrier. It has a happy ever after and a kickass heroine.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2020
Check out the review on my blog: https://sophsbookworld.wordpress.com/...
Rating: 4 / 5
Although this took me quite a long time to finish, I ended up enjoying it quite a lot. I was craving YA fantasy and this was just what I needed.
It is a story about a girl who has been prepared her whole life to marry a prince from other kingdom (making her basically a peace baby), but instead of that, she becomes a propechy bride to the prince of a monster country. And she is prophesized to be the end of the monster.
Even though she’s never seen her new husband before (and they speak different languages and don’t understand each other) they still fall in love. I loved the language aspect of it, it was quite interesting and unique. Even without words they seemed to understand each other through gesturs and emotions. That is such a cute love story. Also I loved the kindness of prince Carson and the way he loves and protects Kalista at all costs.
The plot building is very gradual and towards the ending there was a huge turn of events I didn’t expect at all but I found it very interesting (much more than the first half of the book), hence the fact I flew through the second half.
Kalista’s characters was a bit annoying at some points because of how guilty she felt for not being the perfect princess, not knowing language and other things, when her situation was just ridiculous as they basically stole her and she had to marry someone she never even met. But I guess it was because her only ‘job’ in her life was to marry and she would never enjoy herself or live life to the fullest.
My biggest problem is the ending, although it’s very action-packet and interesting, I wished it were a bit more descriptive. This way everything felt somehow rushed and unfinished. I thought this was a series but as I was looking through Goodreads I couldn’t find any information about that, so it seems it’s actually a stand-alone.
All in all, I liked it. It was an interesting read with beautiful romance but it would definitely be better if the ending wasn’t as rushed.
Rating: 4 / 5
Although this took me quite a long time to finish, I ended up enjoying it quite a lot. I was craving YA fantasy and this was just what I needed.
It is a story about a girl who has been prepared her whole life to marry a prince from other kingdom (making her basically a peace baby), but instead of that, she becomes a propechy bride to the prince of a monster country. And she is prophesized to be the end of the monster.
Even though she’s never seen her new husband before (and they speak different languages and don’t understand each other) they still fall in love. I loved the language aspect of it, it was quite interesting and unique. Even without words they seemed to understand each other through gesturs and emotions. That is such a cute love story. Also I loved the kindness of prince Carson and the way he loves and protects Kalista at all costs.
The plot building is very gradual and towards the ending there was a huge turn of events I didn’t expect at all but I found it very interesting (much more than the first half of the book), hence the fact I flew through the second half.
Kalista’s characters was a bit annoying at some points because of how guilty she felt for not being the perfect princess, not knowing language and other things, when her situation was just ridiculous as they basically stole her and she had to marry someone she never even met. But I guess it was because her only ‘job’ in her life was to marry and she would never enjoy herself or live life to the fullest.
My biggest problem is the ending, although it’s very action-packet and interesting, I wished it were a bit more descriptive. This way everything felt somehow rushed and unfinished. I thought this was a series but as I was looking through Goodreads I couldn’t find any information about that, so it seems it’s actually a stand-alone.
All in all, I liked it. It was an interesting read with beautiful romance but it would definitely be better if the ending wasn’t as rushed.
June 1, 2020
Title: Live Like Legends
Series: Standalone
Author: Kate Cornell
Release date: June 1, 2020
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: YA fantasy romance
Princess Kalista was groomed from birth to marry the princeling of Latak, a match that would end a century of war between their kingdoms. She prepared her entire life for the union by studying their culture and learning the language without complaint like a dutiful daughter. There's no resentment on her part over having no control over her own life, she accepts her fate for the good of the people. The book begins on her wedding day when she discovers that her groom and entire future has been switched without anyone bothering to inform her. In an instant, her lifetime identity as the peacemaker bride has changed to the savior bride. The royals of Estral believe she is the one person who is fated to kill the monster who slaughters their people. It's a tall order for someone who up to that point didn't even believe that monsters exist.
The trip to Estral with her new husband Carson has a suspenseful action scene that effectively pulls you into the story. The opening pages were a little bit awkward, as the internal dialogue of the heroine felt clunky. There were parts that were explained strangely or not at all, leading me to re-read passages to try to understand. Specifically, how Carson came to replace her arranged groom at the last minute. She walks in, sees him there, and it's unclear if he's broken in with armed men at her ceremony, has permission from her parents, or what. I'm just as much in the dark as her. At her first sight of him at the altar, she thinks, "Who is this?" Immediately after, this confusing paragraph:
There'd been a change, an occurrence, something strange uncovered in a faraway land. A prophesy, or something. Vague, but I fit the description and was disposable.
So...the doors open and she's clueless, she walks down the aisle and she has vague information on what happened? Then standing at the altar she also thinks this:
The man next to me was a prince too, yes, but he was next in line for the throne. I was going to be queen. All of a sudden, I mattered.
I'm sorry, but how does she know this? Do you see how this can be confusing? However, immediately after the ceremony, they depart on their journey to her new home and the wrinkles started to smooth out. One thing in particular that I found to be interesting and challenging for the romance was that Carson and Kalista were not able to verbally communicate with each other. She spoke several languages, but none of them were his native language. There was a monk companion assigned to her whose duty was to translate when necessary, but he did not translate substantial chunks of conversation. It was generally a few sentences at a time. Kalista used a lot of body language and single words to try to get her point across. This lasted for most of the book. Remember, she's having to study and learn a new language from the ground up, so realistically that's not going to happen overnight. It makes sense.
The game of nobility was what I was trained in, what I’d practiced at. I was bred and raised to navigate, manipulate, and influence. Without language, I couldn’t do any of it. Without language, I couldn’t even say good night.
Kalista is not a romantic woman with expectations of true love with her husband. In fact, she resists falling in love or exposing her emotions to him. I think their inability to have long, deep conversations with each other hampered her ability to see him in a new light. But as a reader, we see signs of respect and concern for each other's well being grow. We know when she starts to fall before she's even aware of it or able to acknowledge her feelings.
Kalista had a strength of character that was admirable. She's plucked from everything she's ever known at home, dropped in an unfamiliar, dangerous environment where she can't communicate, and is expected to slay a monster that has virtually wiped out the royal family. She discovers that her monk translator, Emmett is what's called a Winnower. This is described as a special sect that "winnows out" those that commit the highest blasphemies. An assassin in the name of their God Aris, though this is pretty vaguely described as well. She eventually decides that Emmett must train her to be a winnower so she has the necessary skills to protect herself and fulfill the prophesy. This decision is agreed on with reservation, and they agree that it must be done in secret.
This plot point never really made sense to me, to be honest. Exactly what is so wrong about her learning the skills to do what the kingdom expects of her? Is she to kill a monster without any preparation beforehand? Her husband Carson gives every impression of being proud of her archery skills, and boasts that she is a worthy wife because of it. I don't know, for me it didn't quite add up.
There was a character with secret, corrupt intentions which admittedly I recognized immediately. In the end, there's a final showdown between Kalista, the monster, and this unnamed character. I really liked how the action played out and the conflicts were ultimately resolved. But the book could have used more consistent action to keep the story flowing faster through the middle. For a solid chunk, things seemed to just be routine. She would train, have brief attempts at talking to her husband, and study. Day starts over and repeats. I need a little bit more, but on the positive side I did appreciate the unique aspect of falling in love with your husband without being able to speak. To recognize what's inside their heart through their actions and warmth. I also loved both main characters and thought they were well developed.
In summary, although this wasn't the perfect YA fantasy for me, it was a decent read, especially for a debut. I enjoy the author's writing style quite a bit, and would like to read more from her in the future.
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June 3, 2020
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REVIEW :
DISLAIMER : Thank you, Netgalley and Entangled Teen for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Live Like Legends is a typical starter YA fantasy with a stronger focus on romance. The story is a fun, entertaining, and engaging read that you can easily pick up and finish in a day. While the world-building and character arcs are not fleshed out to their fullest extent, the story still managed to capture my attention and keep me interested till the end. I liked how the story took two characters from different cultures, backgrounds, and languages and used the marriage of convenience trope to fulfill a prophecy. The whole idea of an immortal beast destroying the country by killing the royal family added to the dark theme of the book. Kalista and Carson's interactions were interesting to watch. The storytelling would have been more effective when it comes to understanding their conflicts and emotions if we had Carson's POV as well. Emmett was my favorite character in the book and I wish we had more time with him. The lack of the complete story of the beast, Kalista's ancestor, and connections to another character caused the story to feel a little incomplete in my opinion. Overall the story is interesting and engaging and I would recommend it to newer fantasy readers. If you are looking for an entertaining and quick light fantasy read with less world-building this book will suit you. I gave the book 3 stars and I enjoyed reading it.
REVIEW :
DISLAIMER : Thank you, Netgalley and Entangled Teen for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Live Like Legends is a typical starter YA fantasy with a stronger focus on romance. The story is a fun, entertaining, and engaging read that you can easily pick up and finish in a day. While the world-building and character arcs are not fleshed out to their fullest extent, the story still managed to capture my attention and keep me interested till the end. I liked how the story took two characters from different cultures, backgrounds, and languages and used the marriage of convenience trope to fulfill a prophecy. The whole idea of an immortal beast destroying the country by killing the royal family added to the dark theme of the book. Kalista and Carson's interactions were interesting to watch. The storytelling would have been more effective when it comes to understanding their conflicts and emotions if we had Carson's POV as well. Emmett was my favorite character in the book and I wish we had more time with him. The lack of the complete story of the beast, Kalista's ancestor, and connections to another character caused the story to feel a little incomplete in my opinion. Overall the story is interesting and engaging and I would recommend it to newer fantasy readers. If you are looking for an entertaining and quick light fantasy read with less world-building this book will suit you. I gave the book 3 stars and I enjoyed reading it.
May 19, 2020
I absolutely loved this book! I have to say that the title doesn't really match with a YA fantasy (it feels more like contemporary or maybe even sci-fi, but not straight up fantasy) or the cover, but I'm glad I read the synopsis and gave this a try! I couldn't put it down, literally read in one day. The MC's Kallista and Carson are both great- they both want their last-minute arranged marriage to work though they'd never met before and don't even speak the same language. It's a hurdle but not impossible- they both make the effort to communicate and work together. I had a few minor problems with the plot, but it was still very enjoyable. I liked how the author stroked a balance between pointing out the cultural differences without overdoing it. And I loved Emmett! He was probably my favorite character and I would've loved to know more about him. I recommend this to everyone- and plus, it's a standalone.
October 11, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Live Like Legends was one book that was way too easy to devour. At least for me. I mean how could you not want to dive into a princess with a prophecy and legend? Heck yeah, sign me up!
In it, you will meet Kalista. Now she has been training to be the perfect bride since birth. If you give her a culture or a new language, she wont hesitate to practice until she was practically perfect in all things. Well, that was until the day a prophecy was set in stone and then... everything she knew was worthless and useless. Like poof! - nothing matters anymore.
Now she is to be married to a prince that lives in a land full of monsters. Of course they had an instant connection once the met one another. It was pretty cute to see them adapting to a language that they could both understand. I will admit that Carson and Kalista were just adorable throughout the book and fiercely protective as well.
In the end, the only thing I would change is the ending. I just felt like so much was happening throughout the book that the actual ending just underwhelmed me.
Live Like Legends was one book that was way too easy to devour. At least for me. I mean how could you not want to dive into a princess with a prophecy and legend? Heck yeah, sign me up!
In it, you will meet Kalista. Now she has been training to be the perfect bride since birth. If you give her a culture or a new language, she wont hesitate to practice until she was practically perfect in all things. Well, that was until the day a prophecy was set in stone and then... everything she knew was worthless and useless. Like poof! - nothing matters anymore.
Now she is to be married to a prince that lives in a land full of monsters. Of course they had an instant connection once the met one another. It was pretty cute to see them adapting to a language that they could both understand. I will admit that Carson and Kalista were just adorable throughout the book and fiercely protective as well.
In the end, the only thing I would change is the ending. I just felt like so much was happening throughout the book that the actual ending just underwhelmed me.
June 2, 2020
Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for sending me a complementary e-arc of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I would give this book 4.5 stars.
Princess Kalista was promised to marry a prince from the peaceful land of Latak at a very young age. Since then, she spent her days learning the language and customs of Latak and preparing to the perfect bride for prince Byron. But everything changes when Kalista finds out that she instead has to marry the prince of the cursed land, Estrel.. Suddenly Kalista's years of training and education feels completely pointless. She knows nothing about the land of Estrel or it's customs and language. Prince Carson is just as much of a mystery to her. On the top of that, the prophecy predicts that she would be the one to slay the monster that haunts the land of Estral and lift the curse.
I absolutely loved this book. Kalista is a fun character to read about and I adored her relationship with Carson. I love marriage of convenience romances and this book delivered that beautifully. I loved how awkward they were with each other initially. That felt very realistic. The language barrier between them was kind of frustrating to read but it was beautiful and immensely satisfying to see them learning to communicate and understand. each other without words. It was a slow burn romance and I enjoyed every bit of it.
However, this book fell a little short in the fantasy aspect. There was not much world building and I would have prefered to know a little more about the origin of the monster or a clear explanation to what it actually is.. The character also lacked depth and complexity- I want to know more about Carson, Emmett and Luke. I feel like I barely know them. I was not a huge fan of the writing. Some of it felt pretty vague.
That being said, this book was very enjoyable. I loved every minute of it. I was so invested in the relationship that I did not care much about the other aspects of the book.
If you are looking for a beautiful marriage of convenience romance, I would highly recommend this book. But if you want a fantasy, this is probably not the best choice.
I would give this book 4.5 stars.
Princess Kalista was promised to marry a prince from the peaceful land of Latak at a very young age. Since then, she spent her days learning the language and customs of Latak and preparing to the perfect bride for prince Byron. But everything changes when Kalista finds out that she instead has to marry the prince of the cursed land, Estrel.. Suddenly Kalista's years of training and education feels completely pointless. She knows nothing about the land of Estrel or it's customs and language. Prince Carson is just as much of a mystery to her. On the top of that, the prophecy predicts that she would be the one to slay the monster that haunts the land of Estral and lift the curse.
I absolutely loved this book. Kalista is a fun character to read about and I adored her relationship with Carson. I love marriage of convenience romances and this book delivered that beautifully. I loved how awkward they were with each other initially. That felt very realistic. The language barrier between them was kind of frustrating to read but it was beautiful and immensely satisfying to see them learning to communicate and understand. each other without words. It was a slow burn romance and I enjoyed every bit of it.
However, this book fell a little short in the fantasy aspect. There was not much world building and I would have prefered to know a little more about the origin of the monster or a clear explanation to what it actually is.. The character also lacked depth and complexity- I want to know more about Carson, Emmett and Luke. I feel like I barely know them. I was not a huge fan of the writing. Some of it felt pretty vague.
That being said, this book was very enjoyable. I loved every minute of it. I was so invested in the relationship that I did not care much about the other aspects of the book.
If you are looking for a beautiful marriage of convenience romance, I would highly recommend this book. But if you want a fantasy, this is probably not the best choice.
May 28, 2020
3.5 Stars in my Sky!
I enjoyed Kalista's story. It's a short and sweet fantasy full of drama and YA-friendly romance.
The fantasy element and world-building are not overdone. I would have liked a little more information if I'm honest. I enjoyed the Lost in Translation elements and felt Kalista's anguish at not being understood or not being able to communicate with Carson.
The romance was a slow burn, at least to Kalista who seems confused by her feelings. The romance was hampered not just by the language barrier but corrupt courts and individuals serving their own purpose.
I figured out the monster element early on but where I usually find characters stumbling around missing the obvious annoying, here I found it endearing. There are still a few answered questions (don't worry no spoilers here).
I enjoyed seeing Kalista stand up for herself and becoming more than just the 'peace-child' to be sold off to forge alliances with other realms/countries. The reverse fantasy princess element worked well. Kalista is never going to be happy sitting around waiting for the prince to save her. I would have liked more character development with Carson. Plus the country of Estral is still something of a mystery.
Live Like Legends made me smile and wish I could have my own (monster free) adventure.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed Kalista's story. It's a short and sweet fantasy full of drama and YA-friendly romance.
The fantasy element and world-building are not overdone. I would have liked a little more information if I'm honest. I enjoyed the Lost in Translation elements and felt Kalista's anguish at not being understood or not being able to communicate with Carson.
The romance was a slow burn, at least to Kalista who seems confused by her feelings. The romance was hampered not just by the language barrier but corrupt courts and individuals serving their own purpose.
I figured out the monster element early on but where I usually find characters stumbling around missing the obvious annoying, here I found it endearing. There are still a few answered questions (don't worry no spoilers here).
I enjoyed seeing Kalista stand up for herself and becoming more than just the 'peace-child' to be sold off to forge alliances with other realms/countries. The reverse fantasy princess element worked well. Kalista is never going to be happy sitting around waiting for the prince to save her. I would have liked more character development with Carson. Plus the country of Estral is still something of a mystery.
Live Like Legends made me smile and wish I could have my own (monster free) adventure.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review!
June 13, 2020
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on my blog, *Milky Way of Books*
Finally a book in which the characters not only have to learn each other but also actually try to communicate with each other! Live like legends takes place in a fantasy kingdom in which Kalista has to marry prince Carson as there is a prophecy in which both play a role.
But they don't speak the same language at all and at the same time, there are cultural differences too that they have to overcome. I enjoyed this book very much as it introduced plot details that not many YA have and I wish I could see more.
It kind of reminded me of one of my most favorite mangas ever "From Far Away" where also the main heroine, Noriko, has a language barrier to overcome.
The missing star for me goes to the book being a YA. I would also be thrilled to read this as a standalone NA or even Adult book.
Overall this was very enjoying and I wish this little gem to get more recognition it deserves.
Finally a book in which the characters not only have to learn each other but also actually try to communicate with each other! Live like legends takes place in a fantasy kingdom in which Kalista has to marry prince Carson as there is a prophecy in which both play a role.
But they don't speak the same language at all and at the same time, there are cultural differences too that they have to overcome. I enjoyed this book very much as it introduced plot details that not many YA have and I wish I could see more.
It kind of reminded me of one of my most favorite mangas ever "From Far Away" where also the main heroine, Noriko, has a language barrier to overcome.
The missing star for me goes to the book being a YA. I would also be thrilled to read this as a standalone NA or even Adult book.
Overall this was very enjoying and I wish this little gem to get more recognition it deserves.
May 18, 2020
The marriage between Carson and Kalista is a marriage of convenience. At the last minute she is forced to wed a different prince from the one she had been groomed to marry.
The marriage is based on a prophesy that Kalista is meant to save the Estralian people.She is meant to destroy an immortal beast that has cursed Carson’s kingdom. Easy enough right? Well, no. Kalista is the most incompetent heroine I’ve read lately. Even at her best, she was ridiculous.
I didn’t care much for her or really, anyone in this book.The characters were shallow and unmemorable. None of them lived up to my expectations. I can’t even describe Kalista to you, to me she was just some princess.
The story itself dragged on and on. It’s reasonable for us to know about Kalista’s insecurities and fears, but surely not in every chapter. Reading from her point of view was so tedious I wished the author would have switched it up and included Carson’s POV.
Most of the action happened towards the end. The big “reveal” was anticlimactic and simplistic. At this point I was just glad to be done with the book. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone since the only reason I completed it was because it was an ARC.
The marriage is based on a prophesy that Kalista is meant to save the Estralian people.She is meant to destroy an immortal beast that has cursed Carson’s kingdom. Easy enough right? Well, no. Kalista is the most incompetent heroine I’ve read lately. Even at her best, she was ridiculous.
I didn’t care much for her or really, anyone in this book.The characters were shallow and unmemorable. None of them lived up to my expectations. I can’t even describe Kalista to you, to me she was just some princess.
The story itself dragged on and on. It’s reasonable for us to know about Kalista’s insecurities and fears, but surely not in every chapter. Reading from her point of view was so tedious I wished the author would have switched it up and included Carson’s POV.
Most of the action happened towards the end. The big “reveal” was anticlimactic and simplistic. At this point I was just glad to be done with the book. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone since the only reason I completed it was because it was an ARC.
May 23, 2020
Three and a half
Kalista is a Peace Baby which essentially means her parents only had her in order to form an alliance with another kingdom. She’s born to do her duty and knows who she will marry but this largely ignored Princess has her world shaken when a prophecy is revealed that means she has to marry Prince Carson . Carson comes from a country terrorised by an immortal Monster but Kalista knows magic and Monsters don’t exist or do they ?
Told from Kalistas point of view we become both enamoured and appalled by her life both previously and now. Kalista grew up in a regimented Court where females have no value, chastity is everything and everyone should know their place. Carson is from a land terrified of the Monster that devours Royalty and preys on commoners too yet they have a lust for life and gaiety that frankly baffles the uptight Kalista. Not knowing the language of her husband she turns to a Monk to aid her but poor Kalista still cannot reconcile the apparently heroic exploits of her ancestor with her place in the prophecy. Little does she know that deceit and betrayal underpin everything that’s happening to her and her new husband.
It’s hard to imagine how Kalista could be so confident and canny one moment and then totally downtrodden and submissive the next. She has used her brain to outwit others and become what they want whilst at the same time playing them at their own games. For this reader as intriguing as the story was it was sadly let down by the rather wooden Carson. He’s to inherit the throne one day and yet all he ever seems to do is drill and practice fighting. The author tried to show how much his people loved him but I wanted more warmth from him because it’s difficult otherwise to convince me that Kalista falls in love with him so quickly. As much as I did like the story in general I wanted a little more explanation at the end although there is a conclusion to this story.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Kalista is a Peace Baby which essentially means her parents only had her in order to form an alliance with another kingdom. She’s born to do her duty and knows who she will marry but this largely ignored Princess has her world shaken when a prophecy is revealed that means she has to marry Prince Carson . Carson comes from a country terrorised by an immortal Monster but Kalista knows magic and Monsters don’t exist or do they ?
Told from Kalistas point of view we become both enamoured and appalled by her life both previously and now. Kalista grew up in a regimented Court where females have no value, chastity is everything and everyone should know their place. Carson is from a land terrified of the Monster that devours Royalty and preys on commoners too yet they have a lust for life and gaiety that frankly baffles the uptight Kalista. Not knowing the language of her husband she turns to a Monk to aid her but poor Kalista still cannot reconcile the apparently heroic exploits of her ancestor with her place in the prophecy. Little does she know that deceit and betrayal underpin everything that’s happening to her and her new husband.
It’s hard to imagine how Kalista could be so confident and canny one moment and then totally downtrodden and submissive the next. She has used her brain to outwit others and become what they want whilst at the same time playing them at their own games. For this reader as intriguing as the story was it was sadly let down by the rather wooden Carson. He’s to inherit the throne one day and yet all he ever seems to do is drill and practice fighting. The author tried to show how much his people loved him but I wanted more warmth from him because it’s difficult otherwise to convince me that Kalista falls in love with him so quickly. As much as I did like the story in general I wanted a little more explanation at the end although there is a conclusion to this story.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
May 29, 2020
Kallista (such a beautiful name) is a peace baby. She is brought up to marry the prince of the neighboring country to end the conflict between them and keep the peace. She knows how to blend in. She learned his language, customs of his land, their history, etc. She seemed at peace with her fate, but suddenly everything changes and there is a completely different man in front of the altar. It´s prince Carson from a cursed land somewhere up north called Estral. Carson is tall, a well-built and handsome fighter.
Kallista is ought to marry him because she is a part of a prophecy that claims she will bring an end to a monster that is attacking people and killing royals of Estral. Kallista does not know anything about Estral so she is accompanied by a monk named Emmett who is supposed to help her and translate the language for her.
I´ve enjoyed this book so much. Sure, it could be more thought through and it´s quite predictable but I absolutely loved the arranged marriage trope with a language barrier between the main protagonist Kallista and her husband Carson. It was interesting, funny, and refreshing.
Kallista is a quick-witted, likable and funny character. I loved her conversations with Emmett and her relationship with Carson. It´s an absolute delight to see two characters connect and fall in love without words. Their interactions were not only funny, but they were also very sweet together. Because we did not understand Carson It was harder to see his character and development and maybe it would be better if it was told from both Kallista´s and Carson´s POV but I did not mind at all. I sympathized with Kallista´s attempts to get to know him. I know it must be hard not to understand the other person. I liked that we were in her head during the whole process.
I think I´ve never read something where the characters would not know the language of the other person AT ALL and I really enjoyed that. I couldn´t put it down. I finished the book at 5 am. I know there could be more action and worldbuilding because even though there were cultural differences (language, customs, food, etc) we did not see much of this world. I would appreciate more descriptions of Estral itself.
Overall, I've enjoyed it SO MUCH! I adored the bits and pieces of cultural differences, the language barrier between Kalista and Carson, and their slow-burn romance without words ♥. Even though the ending and its explanation could go a little bit deeper it was a very interesting conclusion of this great standalone.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. I´ve read it voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kallista is ought to marry him because she is a part of a prophecy that claims she will bring an end to a monster that is attacking people and killing royals of Estral. Kallista does not know anything about Estral so she is accompanied by a monk named Emmett who is supposed to help her and translate the language for her.
I´ve enjoyed this book so much. Sure, it could be more thought through and it´s quite predictable but I absolutely loved the arranged marriage trope with a language barrier between the main protagonist Kallista and her husband Carson. It was interesting, funny, and refreshing.
Kallista is a quick-witted, likable and funny character. I loved her conversations with Emmett and her relationship with Carson. It´s an absolute delight to see two characters connect and fall in love without words. Their interactions were not only funny, but they were also very sweet together. Because we did not understand Carson It was harder to see his character and development and maybe it would be better if it was told from both Kallista´s and Carson´s POV but I did not mind at all. I sympathized with Kallista´s attempts to get to know him. I know it must be hard not to understand the other person. I liked that we were in her head during the whole process.
I think I´ve never read something where the characters would not know the language of the other person AT ALL and I really enjoyed that. I couldn´t put it down. I finished the book at 5 am. I know there could be more action and worldbuilding because even though there were cultural differences (language, customs, food, etc) we did not see much of this world. I would appreciate more descriptions of Estral itself.
Overall, I've enjoyed it SO MUCH! I adored the bits and pieces of cultural differences, the language barrier between Kalista and Carson, and their slow-burn romance without words ♥. Even though the ending and its explanation could go a little bit deeper it was a very interesting conclusion of this great standalone.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. I´ve read it voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 13, 2020
Enjoyed very much reading this book. It was easy to read and never had a boring moment. It was so funny and sweet ❤️
Kalista is a princess born to marry a prince with no actual chance to get the throne. But nevertheless she performed her duties and learned for her entire life his language, customs, never to perform better than him in anything and always staying a few steps behind him.
Suddenly everything changes and she has to marry another prince - Carson, from a cursed land in the mountains, Estral. She knows nothing about him, his kingdom, the language and customs.
During her travel to her new home she meets the monk Emmet who begins to teach her few words and tells her the story about the immortal monster that attacks the people of Estral and especially the ones with royal blood. This representing also the reason why she was to marry Carson. She was part of a prophecy that claims she will kill the monster.
About Carson we learn that he is a good fighter, has a short temper but a very big heart. He is handsome, blond with blue eyes and has broad shoulders. He is her shadowbear 💞
“You think them ignorant?”
“You don’t have to be able to read, as long as you’re pretty.”
“You think Carson is pretty?”
My face burned. It was dark and I was veiled, so he was unlikely to see my blush.
About Kalista we know only that she almost as tall as Carson. I was hoping that along the way we will get some other hints about her looks but there was nothing else (or maybe it escaped me..).
Setting aside her physical appearance she is intelligent, quick-witted, strong, courageous and very very funny 🤣
She has the most enlightening and spiritual conversations with Carson:
By the time we reached my chambers, I was on the verge of collapse.
“Babble babble babble,” he said as I offloaded him onto my bed.
I attempted to remove his boot.
“Babble babble babble.”
“I’m sure what you’re saying is terribly important, but I’d like to remind you I have no idea what that might be,” I said as I finally twisted it off his foot.
He splayed his toes for inspection. “Babble, babble? BABBLE!” It had the cadence of a joke.
He let out a long, hearty laugh after that. “Babble?”
No, darling, I didn’t get it, but save it for later.
I learned that gesture usually meant nervousness, but now it seemed an affectation of his rage.
“Growl bark bark!” He threw out his arms. He paced the room, continuing his unintelligible rant, punctuating his list of gibberish by smacking the edge of one hand into the palm of the other. “Grunt clack rumble, hiss father croak.”
I caught one word, at least.
Family issues.
They are so funny when they are trying to talk to each other 🤣 But even with the language barrier they fall in love and are soo sweet together ❤️
Kalista has a special relationship with Emmet also. They understand each other so well:
“Do they kiss?”
“Of course.”
“In public?”
“Sometimes. Everyone kisses.”
I never had. Then again, I wasn’t a veteran of hand-holding, either. Most people kept their distance from royalty.
We sat in silence, bouncing and rocking with the carriage sway.
“Does that feel nice?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t know.”
At least I wasn’t the only one.
“Why are you here?” I asked Carson in Estralian.
He’d left us to our lessons. I hadn’t realized he even knew where we were.
Emmett glared at me.
“Follow,” Carson said. He turned without further comment.
“You two are the picture of romance. It warms my heart to see you bark at one another,” Emmett muttered in High Aris.
“Come,” Carson ordered and started off down the hall.
“He is quite the charmer,” Emmett remarked under his breath.
At some point Kalista overhears a private conversation which leads her to the way of finally killing the monster. Through out the book there are some clues related to this monster but not many. But, if you pay attention in chapter seven is something that will make you question everything in the future 🙄🤔😜
“Would it be so bad to live like a legend?” Emmett shrugged. “Monster slayer.” He smiled at me.
ARC received courtesy of Netgalley.
Kalista is a princess born to marry a prince with no actual chance to get the throne. But nevertheless she performed her duties and learned for her entire life his language, customs, never to perform better than him in anything and always staying a few steps behind him.
Suddenly everything changes and she has to marry another prince - Carson, from a cursed land in the mountains, Estral. She knows nothing about him, his kingdom, the language and customs.
During her travel to her new home she meets the monk Emmet who begins to teach her few words and tells her the story about the immortal monster that attacks the people of Estral and especially the ones with royal blood. This representing also the reason why she was to marry Carson. She was part of a prophecy that claims she will kill the monster.
About Carson we learn that he is a good fighter, has a short temper but a very big heart. He is handsome, blond with blue eyes and has broad shoulders. He is her shadowbear 💞
“You think them ignorant?”
“You don’t have to be able to read, as long as you’re pretty.”
“You think Carson is pretty?”
My face burned. It was dark and I was veiled, so he was unlikely to see my blush.
About Kalista we know only that she almost as tall as Carson. I was hoping that along the way we will get some other hints about her looks but there was nothing else (or maybe it escaped me..).
Setting aside her physical appearance she is intelligent, quick-witted, strong, courageous and very very funny 🤣
She has the most enlightening and spiritual conversations with Carson:
By the time we reached my chambers, I was on the verge of collapse.
“Babble babble babble,” he said as I offloaded him onto my bed.
I attempted to remove his boot.
“Babble babble babble.”
“I’m sure what you’re saying is terribly important, but I’d like to remind you I have no idea what that might be,” I said as I finally twisted it off his foot.
He splayed his toes for inspection. “Babble, babble? BABBLE!” It had the cadence of a joke.
He let out a long, hearty laugh after that. “Babble?”
No, darling, I didn’t get it, but save it for later.
I learned that gesture usually meant nervousness, but now it seemed an affectation of his rage.
“Growl bark bark!” He threw out his arms. He paced the room, continuing his unintelligible rant, punctuating his list of gibberish by smacking the edge of one hand into the palm of the other. “Grunt clack rumble, hiss father croak.”
I caught one word, at least.
Family issues.
They are so funny when they are trying to talk to each other 🤣 But even with the language barrier they fall in love and are soo sweet together ❤️
Kalista has a special relationship with Emmet also. They understand each other so well:
“Do they kiss?”
“Of course.”
“In public?”
“Sometimes. Everyone kisses.”
I never had. Then again, I wasn’t a veteran of hand-holding, either. Most people kept their distance from royalty.
We sat in silence, bouncing and rocking with the carriage sway.
“Does that feel nice?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t know.”
At least I wasn’t the only one.
“Why are you here?” I asked Carson in Estralian.
He’d left us to our lessons. I hadn’t realized he even knew where we were.
Emmett glared at me.
“Follow,” Carson said. He turned without further comment.
“You two are the picture of romance. It warms my heart to see you bark at one another,” Emmett muttered in High Aris.
“Come,” Carson ordered and started off down the hall.
“He is quite the charmer,” Emmett remarked under his breath.
At some point Kalista overhears a private conversation which leads her to the way of finally killing the monster. Through out the book there are some clues related to this monster but not many. But, if you pay attention in chapter seven is something that will make you question everything in the future 🙄🤔😜
“Would it be so bad to live like a legend?” Emmett shrugged. “Monster slayer.” He smiled at me.
ARC received courtesy of Netgalley.
May 25, 2020
Thank you for the eARC, NetGalley!
Insubstantial. Flat.
This was a real flop for me. The world building was near nonexistent, for the first few chapters particularly, the settings weren't described at all. The characters were all very flat, so I didn't really care what happened in their story. And the writing was quite average, and choppy. This was certainly not an empowering story for the modern feminist, it was more like a Disney fairytale, complete with a prince to save the day. I found the main character dull, vain, and rather pathetic. She spent most of the book whining about her lot, or fawning over the vague outline of a strong silent type love interest. She had an enormously over inflated sense of self, based on inconsequential, insufficient experience, and knowledge. There were inconsistencies with the portrayal of some of the characters, what was being said of them contradicted with the way they acted, a character always described as being reserved, and serious, was often laughing, and smiling. This made it even harder to connect with, and understand the characters. The plot "twist" near the end, I predicted from the moment the relevant characters were introduced, so also very predictable.
I guess I'm just not the target audience.
Insubstantial. Flat.
This was a real flop for me. The world building was near nonexistent, for the first few chapters particularly, the settings weren't described at all. The characters were all very flat, so I didn't really care what happened in their story. And the writing was quite average, and choppy. This was certainly not an empowering story for the modern feminist, it was more like a Disney fairytale, complete with a prince to save the day. I found the main character dull, vain, and rather pathetic. She spent most of the book whining about her lot, or fawning over the vague outline of a strong silent type love interest. She had an enormously over inflated sense of self, based on inconsequential, insufficient experience, and knowledge. There were inconsistencies with the portrayal of some of the characters, what was being said of them contradicted with the way they acted, a character always described as being reserved, and serious, was often laughing, and smiling. This made it even harder to connect with, and understand the characters. The plot "twist" near the end, I predicted from the moment the relevant characters were introduced, so also very predictable.
I guess I'm just not the target audience.
June 1, 2020
Thank you to Entangled for sending me a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this story! I liked the basics of the plot, and I liked the relationship between Carson and Kalista. I wish the characters would have been a little more fleshed out, but I can understand why Carson, especially, was such a mystery. Adding his POV might have added that extra element to the story that would have made it 5 stars for me because we would have been able to see who he really was, as well as his own motivations and fears.
Kalista is supposed to marry her betrothed, but when she walks down the aisle a stranger is waiting for her instead. A prophecy has been found that says Kalista can help rid the country of the monster that plagueus it, and so she is married to Carson.
Right away, there are problems. Kalista has spent her whole life learning the language and customs of her betrothed's country, and she knows nothing about Carson's. Carson comes from a country that is very isolated and keeps to themselves. Kalista and Carson have not only a cultural barrier, but a language barrier, and they can barely communicate without an interpreter. The language barrier made for some pretty funny moments while they were trying to get to know each other. I felt like the romance and humour elements were the main focus of the story, and I would have liked to see some more world building and get more explanations about their different countries, as well as more development with the whole monster plotline. I did figure out what the "twist" with the monster was so the plotline was developed enough for it to be logical.
Overall, I thought this was a good read. The language barrier was funny and realistic, and I enjoyed seeing how the relationship (and romance) between Carson and Kalista was able to work and evolve even through their communication issues.
I really enjoyed this story! I liked the basics of the plot, and I liked the relationship between Carson and Kalista. I wish the characters would have been a little more fleshed out, but I can understand why Carson, especially, was such a mystery. Adding his POV might have added that extra element to the story that would have made it 5 stars for me because we would have been able to see who he really was, as well as his own motivations and fears.
Kalista is supposed to marry her betrothed, but when she walks down the aisle a stranger is waiting for her instead. A prophecy has been found that says Kalista can help rid the country of the monster that plagueus it, and so she is married to Carson.
Right away, there are problems. Kalista has spent her whole life learning the language and customs of her betrothed's country, and she knows nothing about Carson's. Carson comes from a country that is very isolated and keeps to themselves. Kalista and Carson have not only a cultural barrier, but a language barrier, and they can barely communicate without an interpreter. The language barrier made for some pretty funny moments while they were trying to get to know each other. I felt like the romance and humour elements were the main focus of the story, and I would have liked to see some more world building and get more explanations about their different countries, as well as more development with the whole monster plotline. I did figure out what the "twist" with the monster was so the plotline was developed enough for it to be logical.
Overall, I thought this was a good read. The language barrier was funny and realistic, and I enjoyed seeing how the relationship (and romance) between Carson and Kalista was able to work and evolve even through their communication issues.
June 24, 2020
3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a hard one to rate and review. I enjoyed it, but it could have been SOO much better if for one simple fix which I discuss below. All in all, not a bad debut.
What I Liked
What I did enjoy was that the author explored the concept of cultural and language barriers ... which tbh is something most fantasy novels don’t even touch and now that it’s been brought to my attention ... it makes sense that there would absolutely be cultural and language barriers in these types of scenarios (arranged/forced marriages to faraway countries).
The concept and the world was very interesting. The characters were well written. And the plot was spot on. I also really enjoyed the romance. Toward the end, I was definitely invested in their outcome ... buuuuut ...
What I did not like
Honestly, if this had been a duel POV book, it could easily have been a 5 star read. Such a tragic missed opportunity. I don’t think it completely works as a single POV story. Still enjoyable but for the most part uneventful and boring. I did finally start to emotionally attach to the romance in the last 35% of the story, but I feel like it could have been an incredibly emotional story if ONLY FOR DUEL POV!!!
Imagine how much more emotion there could have been. Imagine how many more encounters with danger and turmoil we could have had. Imagine how many more characters we could have understood the complexities of!
Unfortunately, because it was only one POV, the main character couldn’t understand anyone else most of the time and therefore any connection I could have had to any of those character was also lost on me.
In conclusion
I enjoyed this read. It was quick and easy and intriguing. but DUEL POV!!! I hate that it could have been such a simple fix 😭
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a hard one to rate and review. I enjoyed it, but it could have been SOO much better if for one simple fix which I discuss below. All in all, not a bad debut.
What I Liked
What I did enjoy was that the author explored the concept of cultural and language barriers ... which tbh is something most fantasy novels don’t even touch and now that it’s been brought to my attention ... it makes sense that there would absolutely be cultural and language barriers in these types of scenarios (arranged/forced marriages to faraway countries).
The concept and the world was very interesting. The characters were well written. And the plot was spot on. I also really enjoyed the romance. Toward the end, I was definitely invested in their outcome ... buuuuut ...
What I did not like
Honestly, if this had been a duel POV book, it could easily have been a 5 star read. Such a tragic missed opportunity. I don’t think it completely works as a single POV story. Still enjoyable but for the most part uneventful and boring. I did finally start to emotionally attach to the romance in the last 35% of the story, but I feel like it could have been an incredibly emotional story if ONLY FOR DUEL POV!!!
Imagine how much more emotion there could have been. Imagine how many more encounters with danger and turmoil we could have had. Imagine how many more characters we could have understood the complexities of!
Unfortunately, because it was only one POV, the main character couldn’t understand anyone else most of the time and therefore any connection I could have had to any of those character was also lost on me.
In conclusion
I enjoyed this read. It was quick and easy and intriguing. but DUEL POV!!! I hate that it could have been such a simple fix 😭
February 24, 2022
I REALLY loved this book! It’s perfect for fans of Radiance by Grace Darven. It had a lot of the same elements without being a copy. I’ve been hungry for an arranged marriage trope where the couple has to overcome social, language, or cultural barriers. Oddly specific I know. This book scratched that itch! It probably could have used a little more world-building or depth but I loved the relationship aspect.
A few favorite things in common are. Both have an arranged marriage. Both Prince Carson and Princess Kalista enter this arrangement with maturity and a mindset to make the best of things. The first time they meet is at the wedding ceremony. Carson doesn’t even get to see her face till a few days into traveling to his kingdom due to her wearing a veil.
Kalista was previously engaged to a prince from a neighboring kingdom. Her whole education was learning to be that man's wife. Right before the ceremony, they changed the groom and her whole life's education was for nothing.
One of my favorite elements from this book is that Carson and Kalista come from different cultures and don’t even speak the same language. How can you get to know your husband when you can’t even communicate basic needs without an interpreter? I loved to watch their fumbling attempts at getting to know each other. It was also refreshing to have a budding relationship that doesn’t start with hard hearts or constant misunderstandings.
This book was mostly about those struggles, but Kalista is forced to change men because of a prophecy. The prophecy says she will be the one to end the monster that hunts her husband’s land. Kalista doesn’t even believe in monsters. So there is a really great fantasy element. I read this book a few days ago and haven't had a chance to sit long enough to write my review but this book has been floating in my mind ever since. I’m almost certain I’ll be buying a physical copy.
A few favorite things in common are. Both have an arranged marriage. Both Prince Carson and Princess Kalista enter this arrangement with maturity and a mindset to make the best of things. The first time they meet is at the wedding ceremony. Carson doesn’t even get to see her face till a few days into traveling to his kingdom due to her wearing a veil.
Kalista was previously engaged to a prince from a neighboring kingdom. Her whole education was learning to be that man's wife. Right before the ceremony, they changed the groom and her whole life's education was for nothing.
One of my favorite elements from this book is that Carson and Kalista come from different cultures and don’t even speak the same language. How can you get to know your husband when you can’t even communicate basic needs without an interpreter? I loved to watch their fumbling attempts at getting to know each other. It was also refreshing to have a budding relationship that doesn’t start with hard hearts or constant misunderstandings.
This book was mostly about those struggles, but Kalista is forced to change men because of a prophecy. The prophecy says she will be the one to end the monster that hunts her husband’s land. Kalista doesn’t even believe in monsters. So there is a really great fantasy element. I read this book a few days ago and haven't had a chance to sit long enough to write my review but this book has been floating in my mind ever since. I’m almost certain I’ll be buying a physical copy.
July 15, 2021
I read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a quick little read with an intriguing mystery. I found myself enjoying the characters despite the language barriers between them -- Kalista, Carson, Luke, and Emmett made for a pretty decent team. The plot was fairly twisty, which I appreciated, and I liked how all the details came together at the end to reveal the overarching plot.
I do wish the mystery was expanded upon, as I feel there are some details that could still be fleshed out or better linked back to the plot, but on the whole it was good and I liked it. I also found myself really enjoying the worldbuilding. Cornell does a fantastic job explaining the difference between Kalista and Carson's cultures and how these cultural clashes, combined with the language barrier, make it harder for both these characters to truly understand each other. I also appreciated all the little details wound into the cultures of both kingdoms, such as food, stories, and religion.
The romance is a fairly large part of the book, but I don't really have much comment to make here.
Overall, this is a quick fantasy read that I would recommend to readers who like romance, decent worldbuilding, and a solid mystery.
Rating: 3.0 stars
This was a quick little read with an intriguing mystery. I found myself enjoying the characters despite the language barriers between them -- Kalista, Carson, Luke, and Emmett made for a pretty decent team. The plot was fairly twisty, which I appreciated, and I liked how all the details came together at the end to reveal the overarching plot.
I do wish the mystery was expanded upon, as I feel there are some details that could still be fleshed out or better linked back to the plot, but on the whole it was good and I liked it. I also found myself really enjoying the worldbuilding. Cornell does a fantastic job explaining the difference between Kalista and Carson's cultures and how these cultural clashes, combined with the language barrier, make it harder for both these characters to truly understand each other. I also appreciated all the little details wound into the cultures of both kingdoms, such as food, stories, and religion.
The romance is a fairly large part of the book, but I don't really have much comment to make here.
Overall, this is a quick fantasy read that I would recommend to readers who like romance, decent worldbuilding, and a solid mystery.
Rating: 3.0 stars
May 31, 2020
Princess Kalista spent her entire life preparing to become the wife of a prince in a neighboring kingdom. However, her predictable and controlled life changes when she is forced to marry a warrior prince instead. Prince Calder’s kingdom suffers under the wrath of a vicious monster, and a prophecy names Kalista as the kingdom’s savior.
Kalista is not a warrior, nor is she prepared to live in a cursed and cold kingdom surrounded by strangers. She doesn’t understand the language and customs of Estral, she can’t communicate with anyone save her monk companion Emmett, and she never expected to rule. However, as she grows closer to Calder, she learns that their feelings might just be worth fighting for. Can Kalista defeat the monster? Things are not what they seem in the kingdom of Estral, and Kalista must figure out the mystery of her new home before time runs out.
This is a coming-of-age story with a strong and independent young woman who is destined for greatness. Kalista has heavy burdens to bear, and she does all she can to fulfill them. However, she is so used to obeying and living by the rules that she doesn’t know what to do without them.
Kalista has never had any freedoms, and she likes to have control. She feels unnerved without it. It doesn’t help that she is dealing with major language barriers, she must take on responsibilities as the future queen, she is expected to slay a murderous monster, and she needs to conceive as soon a possible (at least, according to the King). This young woman has an awful lot on her plate!
The characters are interesting and Kalista’s character, in particular, is exceptionally well-developed. The author’s skill in developing dynamic characters without the benefit of dialogue is amazing. Often, when Carson speaks, we don’t know what he’s saying, much like Kalista doesn’t understand him. However, his facial expressions, gestures, and actions show his kind, warm-hearted, sometimes quick-tempered, and thoughtful nature.
Another aspect of Kalista’s character that I like is her perseverance. Used to being alone and often ignored, she is daunted by the attention she receives as the new princess, and she fears looking foolish. She is often frustrated with her inability to communicate and her ignorance of propriety. However, determined to succeed, she never gives up. This part of the story highlights the difficulties in acclimating to a new, and very different, world as well as the benefits of hard work and determination.
I also like the fun and witty banter between Kalista and Emmett. His guidance and unusual teaching tactics bring some levity to the story, and their sarcastic camaraderie is one of the highlights of the novel. Emmett is not a typical religious man. He teaches Kalista the customs and language of Estral, and he acts as a translator and chaperone when needed. Sure, he is wise and pious, but he is also acerbic, sharp, and lethal. Skilled in fighting, he trains Kalista to fulfill her role in the prophecy.
There some unexpected twists and surprises, but the majority of the story focuses on Kalista trying to understand the language and customs of her new husband, training to defeat the monster, and questioning her role and ability as the future queen of an unfamiliar kingdom. Though I expected more action throughout the piece, the enigma of the monster, the slow-burning romance, and Kalista’s personal journey make for an interesting read.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
https://onebookmore.com/2020/05/30/ar...
Kalista is not a warrior, nor is she prepared to live in a cursed and cold kingdom surrounded by strangers. She doesn’t understand the language and customs of Estral, she can’t communicate with anyone save her monk companion Emmett, and she never expected to rule. However, as she grows closer to Calder, she learns that their feelings might just be worth fighting for. Can Kalista defeat the monster? Things are not what they seem in the kingdom of Estral, and Kalista must figure out the mystery of her new home before time runs out.
This is a coming-of-age story with a strong and independent young woman who is destined for greatness. Kalista has heavy burdens to bear, and she does all she can to fulfill them. However, she is so used to obeying and living by the rules that she doesn’t know what to do without them.
Kalista has never had any freedoms, and she likes to have control. She feels unnerved without it. It doesn’t help that she is dealing with major language barriers, she must take on responsibilities as the future queen, she is expected to slay a murderous monster, and she needs to conceive as soon a possible (at least, according to the King). This young woman has an awful lot on her plate!
The characters are interesting and Kalista’s character, in particular, is exceptionally well-developed. The author’s skill in developing dynamic characters without the benefit of dialogue is amazing. Often, when Carson speaks, we don’t know what he’s saying, much like Kalista doesn’t understand him. However, his facial expressions, gestures, and actions show his kind, warm-hearted, sometimes quick-tempered, and thoughtful nature.
Another aspect of Kalista’s character that I like is her perseverance. Used to being alone and often ignored, she is daunted by the attention she receives as the new princess, and she fears looking foolish. She is often frustrated with her inability to communicate and her ignorance of propriety. However, determined to succeed, she never gives up. This part of the story highlights the difficulties in acclimating to a new, and very different, world as well as the benefits of hard work and determination.
I also like the fun and witty banter between Kalista and Emmett. His guidance and unusual teaching tactics bring some levity to the story, and their sarcastic camaraderie is one of the highlights of the novel. Emmett is not a typical religious man. He teaches Kalista the customs and language of Estral, and he acts as a translator and chaperone when needed. Sure, he is wise and pious, but he is also acerbic, sharp, and lethal. Skilled in fighting, he trains Kalista to fulfill her role in the prophecy.
There some unexpected twists and surprises, but the majority of the story focuses on Kalista trying to understand the language and customs of her new husband, training to defeat the monster, and questioning her role and ability as the future queen of an unfamiliar kingdom. Though I expected more action throughout the piece, the enigma of the monster, the slow-burning romance, and Kalista’s personal journey make for an interesting read.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
https://onebookmore.com/2020/05/30/ar...
June 2, 2020
What a super awkward love story! And that is what this is. An arranged marriage between two kingdoms that turned into a great, sweet romance- and there just happens to be a touch of action, danger and monsters. This is seriously like my favorite kind of historical romance novels- this one just so happens to have a monster to battle (and the sex scenes take place off the page even though you know they are happening) I don't even think I would call this YA, it very much felt like an adult novel due to the concept, it was just pretty pg and the characters were younger. I actually pretty much adore this book, just for your knowledge. I blew through the story in one day (I was up until 3am finishing the story, but that is basically the same day since I hadn't slept yet) since I had to know what happened and I was surprised to find I reached the end.
I can't remember reading a romance story (or really any book, to be honest) where there was a complete language barrier between the two characters. They do not share any words, or culture, have basically nothing in common, yet they are marriage at first sight and expected to make a go of it. It created so much conflict and uncertainty- but on the same hand, I loved how body language and tone came into play so much to help with intention. You could basically feel the frustration coming off Kalista at her lack of understanding, her desire to communicate freely, to understand what was going on around her. Yet, even with such a huge obstacle, a sweet love blossomed.
This story was just as much character driven as court intrigue/monster hunting driven. The author does a fantastic job developing her character, Kalista may be the only narrator, but there were so many fleshed out side characters that I appreciated. I really loved Emmett, the snarky assassin monk that is sent to be the interpreter/teacher for Kalista, who enjoyed his lessons through the trial and fail approach. He became the best friend needed in this scary situation and I loved the moments of levity that he brought to the dark story. Carson, the foreign prince turned husband was adorable- he approved of all Kalista was in his silent and steady way. As a side note, the villains in the story were so despicable and evil, they two were really well done and made me hate them.
Overall this was a fantastic debut novel that I love and recommend to anyone who loves historical romances- with a little bit of monsters and curses on the side. I can't wait to see what the author creates next.
I can't remember reading a romance story (or really any book, to be honest) where there was a complete language barrier between the two characters. They do not share any words, or culture, have basically nothing in common, yet they are marriage at first sight and expected to make a go of it. It created so much conflict and uncertainty- but on the same hand, I loved how body language and tone came into play so much to help with intention. You could basically feel the frustration coming off Kalista at her lack of understanding, her desire to communicate freely, to understand what was going on around her. Yet, even with such a huge obstacle, a sweet love blossomed.
“You need to wear a bell,” I said.
His head cocked.
Right.
Language. He spared a glance at his father, then drew me aside.
Strange time for advice, especially in a foreign language.
“Kalista,” he said. I nodded and made my eyes wide to show I was paying attention.
“Uh…” he said.
Sounds good. We should do that.
This story was just as much character driven as court intrigue/monster hunting driven. The author does a fantastic job developing her character, Kalista may be the only narrator, but there were so many fleshed out side characters that I appreciated. I really loved Emmett, the snarky assassin monk that is sent to be the interpreter/teacher for Kalista, who enjoyed his lessons through the trial and fail approach. He became the best friend needed in this scary situation and I loved the moments of levity that he brought to the dark story. Carson, the foreign prince turned husband was adorable- he approved of all Kalista was in his silent and steady way. As a side note, the villains in the story were so despicable and evil, they two were really well done and made me hate them.
“The staff thinks it’s good he found a wife.”
“Even if she’s foreign?”
“It doesn’t seem to bother them much. They say they like to see him happy.”
“That’s him happy?”
Emmett laughed. “I told you that you make him nervous.”
“For the love of Aris, he hunts monsters.”
“I’ve had to deal with you for a few days. I get it.”
“You’re an ass.”
Overall this was a fantastic debut novel that I love and recommend to anyone who loves historical romances- with a little bit of monsters and curses on the side. I can't wait to see what the author creates next.
June 2, 2020
Live Like Legends is a standalone young adult fantasy romance by Kate Cornell. This book is blurbed as being perfect for fans of Lindsay Duga's Kiss of the Royal and Sara Wolf's Bring Me Their Hearts series, which excited me to no end because those are some of my all time favorite fantasy romances. Entangled Teen does some of the best fantasy romances in my opinion. They always have the perfect recipe for a book that I just can't seem to put down. I loved Live Like Legends, I thought it had a great premise, wonderful characters, and a fantastic romance that was really interesting.
The romance was so interesting in this story because there was an element that I have not read before in young adult fantasies, but one that I feel like should come up much more often than it has. Because our main character, Princess Kalista is married off to a Prince from a foreign kingdom, it would stand to reason that such foreign kingdom's would not always speak the same language. Kalista and her betrothed Prince Carson do not speak the same language in more ways than one. First off, they literally do speak different languages. I loved this, and like I said earlier, I can't believe this doesn't come up more often, but they also are very different individuals. I loved watching their interactions and watching them try to learn to communicate with one another. It was an additional element to the story that really helped me connect with each of the characters in a new way. It also helped that Kalista has trained her entire life to be betrothed to someone else, but she is refreshingly realistic about her expectations of love. It made the connection and feelings that grew between her and Carson so much more satisfying. I also loved how fierce she became. She certainly had her fair share of whiny moments, but I don't fault her for that. It felt more genuine honestly, I would have a whiny moment...or two...if I found myself in a situation even way less scary than hers.
The plot of Live Like Legends was also great. While I did have a few moments of confusion throughout the story (mostly at the beginning) I do feel like almost all of my questions were answered by the end. I fell into the story early on, and once I got my groove I devoured this novel. There are monsters, prophecies and curses to deal with. There was never a dull moment in the novel. Some parts were action packed and others were very character development driven, and honestly I loved both aspects of the story equally. While Kalista and Carson are our main characters, and I adored both of them, there are also some other great secondary characters that I fell in love with. My favorite was Emmett, who among other things, acted as a tutor for Kalista and interpreter between her and Carson. He was super snarky and sarcastic and the perfect amount of comic relief.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a fantasy standalone that is romance heavy, then look no further than Live Like Legends. Live Like Legends is an impressive debut from author Kate Cornell. I can't wait to read her next novel!
The romance was so interesting in this story because there was an element that I have not read before in young adult fantasies, but one that I feel like should come up much more often than it has. Because our main character, Princess Kalista is married off to a Prince from a foreign kingdom, it would stand to reason that such foreign kingdom's would not always speak the same language. Kalista and her betrothed Prince Carson do not speak the same language in more ways than one. First off, they literally do speak different languages. I loved this, and like I said earlier, I can't believe this doesn't come up more often, but they also are very different individuals. I loved watching their interactions and watching them try to learn to communicate with one another. It was an additional element to the story that really helped me connect with each of the characters in a new way. It also helped that Kalista has trained her entire life to be betrothed to someone else, but she is refreshingly realistic about her expectations of love. It made the connection and feelings that grew between her and Carson so much more satisfying. I also loved how fierce she became. She certainly had her fair share of whiny moments, but I don't fault her for that. It felt more genuine honestly, I would have a whiny moment...or two...if I found myself in a situation even way less scary than hers.
The plot of Live Like Legends was also great. While I did have a few moments of confusion throughout the story (mostly at the beginning) I do feel like almost all of my questions were answered by the end. I fell into the story early on, and once I got my groove I devoured this novel. There are monsters, prophecies and curses to deal with. There was never a dull moment in the novel. Some parts were action packed and others were very character development driven, and honestly I loved both aspects of the story equally. While Kalista and Carson are our main characters, and I adored both of them, there are also some other great secondary characters that I fell in love with. My favorite was Emmett, who among other things, acted as a tutor for Kalista and interpreter between her and Carson. He was super snarky and sarcastic and the perfect amount of comic relief.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a fantasy standalone that is romance heavy, then look no further than Live Like Legends. Live Like Legends is an impressive debut from author Kate Cornell. I can't wait to read her next novel!
June 7, 2020
The author/publisher provided a free copy of the book for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a review copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore do not affect the opinion or content of the review.
Live Like Legends sounded like something right up my alley and was interesting, but it wasn't enough for me to finish the book. I DNFed Cornell's debut at 66%.
I like how this focuses on the language barriers between Kalista and Carson, and how they have to work on communicating around that barrier. It's not something I find in fantasy all that often and much of the novel is describing the body language used while communicating, which was vital to the book's execution. Cornell utilizes this very well; there isn't a moment that I'm confused about what Kalista and Carson were trying to communicate with each other.
While Cornell describes body language well, some of the word choice used is awkward. Some of it, I feel are intentional to the story as Kalista is shown to be ignorant early on as she is frustrated with the language barrier; she slowly changes as she begins learning how to navigate the various customs in Estral. Other times, like the quotes below, felt awkward and irritating.
Carson isn't specifically saying the words "snarl growl bark;" it's what he sounds like to Kalista, who is barely at elementary proficiency and can only catch a few words when spoken at normal or slow speed. While I understand the intention of doing this, it could have been better as a description than dialogue.
Carson isn't the one training her as the synopsis says. Emmett is. I don't know if this is an accident or if this happens near the end of the story, but up to where I stopped, Emmett is the one training Kalista on how to fight. And to add on to this, the pacing is slow, as Kalista is still in training when I stopped reading Live Like Legends. I'm not sure how long this will continue, but it feels like the ending is going to rush up and wrap up quickly.
Speaking of Emmett, I loved him! Kalista is quick with her words sometimes and funny, but Emmett is super blunt about his thoughts and he's funny. He's probably one of the only reasons why I read as far as I did.
The world-building is kind of, sort of there. Instead of the prince she was being prepared to marry, she gets forced to marry a prince that no wants because she is their savior from the beast that roams their lands according to a prophecy. Readers aren't aware of what this prophecy says exactly. There's also not much backstory of Reeves, where Kalista is from and who she was. We get snippets, but barely. We find out Reeves is a culture that seems to be a polar opposite from Estral, and that Kalista isn't well-liked at home.
I wish I could have enjoyed Live Like Legends more, but it just isn't my cup of tea.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
Live Like Legends sounded like something right up my alley and was interesting, but it wasn't enough for me to finish the book. I DNFed Cornell's debut at 66%.
I like how this focuses on the language barriers between Kalista and Carson, and how they have to work on communicating around that barrier. It's not something I find in fantasy all that often and much of the novel is describing the body language used while communicating, which was vital to the book's execution. Cornell utilizes this very well; there isn't a moment that I'm confused about what Kalista and Carson were trying to communicate with each other.
While Cornell describes body language well, some of the word choice used is awkward. Some of it, I feel are intentional to the story as Kalista is shown to be ignorant early on as she is frustrated with the language barrier; she slowly changes as she begins learning how to navigate the various customs in Estral. Other times, like the quotes below, felt awkward and irritating.
"Snarl growl bark!" Carson spit out words so angrily and quickly, even if I knew some of them, I couldn't catch them.
Carson isn't specifically saying the words "snarl growl bark;" it's what he sounds like to Kalista, who is barely at elementary proficiency and can only catch a few words when spoken at normal or slow speed. While I understand the intention of doing this, it could have been better as a description than dialogue.
Carson isn't the one training her as the synopsis says. Emmett is. I don't know if this is an accident or if this happens near the end of the story, but up to where I stopped, Emmett is the one training Kalista on how to fight. And to add on to this, the pacing is slow, as Kalista is still in training when I stopped reading Live Like Legends. I'm not sure how long this will continue, but it feels like the ending is going to rush up and wrap up quickly.
Speaking of Emmett, I loved him! Kalista is quick with her words sometimes and funny, but Emmett is super blunt about his thoughts and he's funny. He's probably one of the only reasons why I read as far as I did.
The world-building is kind of, sort of there. Instead of the prince she was being prepared to marry, she gets forced to marry a prince that no wants because she is their savior from the beast that roams their lands according to a prophecy. Readers aren't aware of what this prophecy says exactly. There's also not much backstory of Reeves, where Kalista is from and who she was. We get snippets, but barely. We find out Reeves is a culture that seems to be a polar opposite from Estral, and that Kalista isn't well-liked at home.
I wish I could have enjoyed Live Like Legends more, but it just isn't my cup of tea.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
May 25, 2020
This fantasy romance employs the arranged marriage trope with Kalista unexpectedly marrying Carson, a man with whom she does not share a language or customs. As a reader, we are dropped right into the wedding, with no build up or backstory.
Kalista was an easy to read narrator. I really enjoyed her banter with Emmet, the priest who served as her tutor and translator. Their friendship was a highlight of this book.
I couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the romance. There were some really sweet moments that made me swoon, and I especially appreciated the efforts Carson made to court Kalista even though they were already married.
I would have liked more character development. Kalista tended to be very negative and a bit of a pushover. She is not the strong-willed heroine I’m accustomed to in YA fantasy, despite her assassin training. Carson’s character development was a bit flat because of the language barrier, and the broken communication grew annoying as the book progressed. I wish we had an opportunity to get inside his head, but I understand why this reflect’s Kalista’s point of view.
I also thought the fantasy elements and the mystery surrounding the monster were underdeveloped and confusing. Kalista spends the entire book trying to learn about the monster and its magic by reading her ancestor Ronaldo’s journals, but she doesn’t find many answers. The villains’ plotting was revealed too late in the book, and while it was a good twist, I never fully grasped the motivations behind it, and the delivery was confusing.
I overall enjoyed this easy and quick read with a cute romance, even though the world building and storytelling were rather simplistic. I think this will appeal more to romance readers than fantasy readers.
Thank you to Entangled Teen and Netgalley for the eARC. All opinions my own.
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Kalista was an easy to read narrator. I really enjoyed her banter with Emmet, the priest who served as her tutor and translator. Their friendship was a highlight of this book.
I couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the romance. There were some really sweet moments that made me swoon, and I especially appreciated the efforts Carson made to court Kalista even though they were already married.
I would have liked more character development. Kalista tended to be very negative and a bit of a pushover. She is not the strong-willed heroine I’m accustomed to in YA fantasy, despite her assassin training. Carson’s character development was a bit flat because of the language barrier, and the broken communication grew annoying as the book progressed. I wish we had an opportunity to get inside his head, but I understand why this reflect’s Kalista’s point of view.
I also thought the fantasy elements and the mystery surrounding the monster were underdeveloped and confusing. Kalista spends the entire book trying to learn about the monster and its magic by reading her ancestor Ronaldo’s journals, but she doesn’t find many answers. The villains’ plotting was revealed too late in the book, and while it was a good twist, I never fully grasped the motivations behind it, and the delivery was confusing.
I overall enjoyed this easy and quick read with a cute romance, even though the world building and storytelling were rather simplistic. I think this will appeal more to romance readers than fantasy readers.
Thank you to Entangled Teen and Netgalley for the eARC. All opinions my own.
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May 19, 2020
LIVE LIKE LEGENDS is an absolutely fantastic YA fantasy romance. We follow Kalista, who is a princess born to be a peace baby, married off to another country's prince to keep peace. She has been raised and trained specifically for that purpose. However, she is suddenly surprised when she is instead wed to a different prince from a different land, owing to a prophecy that she may be able to save them from their monster.
Kalista goes to this land with her new husband, not speaking the language or knowing any of the customs. Estral is plagued by a monster who kills so many. Kalista believes this to be a legend until she barely escapes a terrifying encounter. She now has a new purpose to her life- to defend herself and those she cares about from this monster.
What I loved: I was completely engrossed in this story very quickly- it's an excellent page-turner and the pacing is absolutely perfect. Kalista is someone you can care about very quickly, and even though she does not speak the language, the romance is really well built, slow and beautiful. There is also the portrayal of PTSD from her encounter and the consequences of that, which add to the dimensionality of her experience.
There is also a really big twist towards the end that totally surprised me, and I absolutely love to be surprised. This is also a stand-alone read, and so it was really nice to have a contained novel. And what a read this is! I loved every second of it, and absolutely devoured it in a few hours- the mystery, the romance, the danger, the characters! Beyond Kalista, the other main characters, like her husband Carson, his cousin Luke, and her religious teacher, Emmett, are all also really compelling and easy to fall in love with.
There are also some interesting background themes about what is love/what makes a marriage, religion and its role in society, and politics/culture.
Final verdict: Highly devourable and compelling, LIVE LIKE LEGENDS is a fantastic romantic YA fantasy. I would recommend this for fans of THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US, THE WINTER DUKE, and GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Kalista goes to this land with her new husband, not speaking the language or knowing any of the customs. Estral is plagued by a monster who kills so many. Kalista believes this to be a legend until she barely escapes a terrifying encounter. She now has a new purpose to her life- to defend herself and those she cares about from this monster.
What I loved: I was completely engrossed in this story very quickly- it's an excellent page-turner and the pacing is absolutely perfect. Kalista is someone you can care about very quickly, and even though she does not speak the language, the romance is really well built, slow and beautiful. There is also the portrayal of PTSD from her encounter and the consequences of that, which add to the dimensionality of her experience.
There is also a really big twist towards the end that totally surprised me, and I absolutely love to be surprised. This is also a stand-alone read, and so it was really nice to have a contained novel. And what a read this is! I loved every second of it, and absolutely devoured it in a few hours- the mystery, the romance, the danger, the characters! Beyond Kalista, the other main characters, like her husband Carson, his cousin Luke, and her religious teacher, Emmett, are all also really compelling and easy to fall in love with.
There are also some interesting background themes about what is love/what makes a marriage, religion and its role in society, and politics/culture.
Final verdict: Highly devourable and compelling, LIVE LIKE LEGENDS is a fantastic romantic YA fantasy. I would recommend this for fans of THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US, THE WINTER DUKE, and GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
June 11, 2020
read the full review on my blog Kat from Minas Morgul
the good:
- the language barrier
- I really liked seeing the characters struggling because they don't speak the same language
the bad:
- the characters were flat
- problem of the language barrier: you don't get to know the characters
- oops
- I liked exactly one character
- the world building? where was it?
- how do the different countries and societies work?
- how do they grow oranges and coffee in the COLDEST COUNTRY
- thanks Carson fo the "I'll show you another day" but where is that day? It is not this day!
- *deep sigh* HOW can you CHRISTEN a child when there is NO JESUS CHRIST IN YOUR WORLD
- please just check the etymology of words, pls and thanks
- I was promised Carson teaching Kallista how to fight with a sword
- I was betrayed! Fooled by the synopsis!
- she held a sword ONCE and dropped it because it was too heavy
- and where was the political intrigues I thought I'd get
- W H E R E was everything
- I'm salty and tired and annoyed
the good:
- the language barrier
- I really liked seeing the characters struggling because they don't speak the same language
the bad:
- the characters were flat
- problem of the language barrier: you don't get to know the characters
- oops
- I liked exactly one character
- the world building? where was it?
- how do the different countries and societies work?
- how do they grow oranges and coffee in the COLDEST COUNTRY
- thanks Carson fo the "I'll show you another day" but where is that day? It is not this day!
- *deep sigh* HOW can you CHRISTEN a child when there is NO JESUS CHRIST IN YOUR WORLD
- please just check the etymology of words, pls and thanks
- I was promised Carson teaching Kallista how to fight with a sword
- I was betrayed! Fooled by the synopsis!
- she held a sword ONCE and dropped it because it was too heavy
- and where was the political intrigues I thought I'd get
- W H E R E was everything
- I'm salty and tired and annoyed
May 24, 2020
Live like Legends is a young adult fiction story. The focus is around Kallista, Carson,Emmett and Luke. Kallista is married of to the enemy prince, Carson. She goes with her new unknown husband, not speaking the language, knowing any of the customs or the monster who kills so many and is not a legend. But after a prophecy is Kallista the demon slayer who is able to save them from their monster.
For this book I stayed up until the sun rises to finish reading it. Do you know that gripping feeling? I could not put this story down!
What I liked about that book? I loved the romance between Kallista and Carson which is well told and beautiful. It is refreshing how these two communicate without sharing the same language and although fall in love with each other. Kallista is good main character who I liked and cared about really quickly.
It is a stand-alone and I loved every second of it. Towards the ending there is a really big twist which is masterfully written and surprised me. I really loved to be surprised and liked how it turned out.
I want to highly recommend that book. It is an easy read and a masterpiece at the same time. I love this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for an ARC of by Kate Cornell.
For this book I stayed up until the sun rises to finish reading it. Do you know that gripping feeling? I could not put this story down!
What I liked about that book? I loved the romance between Kallista and Carson which is well told and beautiful. It is refreshing how these two communicate without sharing the same language and although fall in love with each other. Kallista is good main character who I liked and cared about really quickly.
It is a stand-alone and I loved every second of it. Towards the ending there is a really big twist which is masterfully written and surprised me. I really loved to be surprised and liked how it turned out.
I want to highly recommend that book. It is an easy read and a masterpiece at the same time. I love this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for an ARC of by Kate Cornell.
May 23, 2020
To be published on June 1st, Live Kike Legends by Kate Cornell follows Kalista, a princess born in order to fulfill a treaty when she is married off to an enemy prince. But when a prophecy comes to light, she finds herself suddenly married to another prince, heir to the throne of a foreign kindgom, one that is plagued by a monster she is prophesied to rid them of.
I loved this book, it hooked me from beginning to end.
The world is beautifully built and the characters relatable and likeable. I felt I could understand and sympathise with their problems.
This is a tale of the heartbreaking reality of an arranged marriage into a foreign kingdom, of a princess thrust into a kingdom where she knows no one, does not speak the language, and where she is expected to save them all from a terrifying monster.
It's a tale of hope, and love, and a strong woman. Highly recommend, 5 stars.
I loved this book, it hooked me from beginning to end.
The world is beautifully built and the characters relatable and likeable. I felt I could understand and sympathise with their problems.
This is a tale of the heartbreaking reality of an arranged marriage into a foreign kingdom, of a princess thrust into a kingdom where she knows no one, does not speak the language, and where she is expected to save them all from a terrifying monster.
It's a tale of hope, and love, and a strong woman. Highly recommend, 5 stars.
May 14, 2020
You know a book is good when it keeps you up until three in the morning lol it also helped me get out of a bit of a slump, so that was nice!
I think this is a standalone (?) (it felt like one at least) so yay! While I do like a good series it’s always nice when everything is wrapped up in one book! I loved the world (even if we unfortunately didn’t get to see much outside of the castle) and the world building itself was really well done! I also adored the characters (Emmett is my favourite) and the romance is just incredibly sweet! The book also deals quite well with trauma and one thing that really caught my attention, was the language barrier and the cultural differences! The cultural differences is the main theme of plenty of books (I mean perfect set up for an enemies to lovers plot but anyway ... not what this is about lol), but the language barrier was definitely a new one for me and I liked that because so often we read about characters going to different kingdoms (sometimes worlds) and everything is fine, but it’s not always the case because places usually have different languages and I really liked seeing the MC struggle with that and how her relationship with the love interest grew despite that challenge. I do think one of my main issues was that sometimes dialogue would have ‘grumble grumble’ or like ‘cough’ or ‘growl growl growl’ to indicate a local speaking and her not understanding instead of descriptive text and I didn’t particularly liked that, but that could just be a me thing.
All and all I think it was a pretty solid read.
Thanks to entangled teen for my advanced reader copy!
I think this is a standalone (?) (it felt like one at least) so yay! While I do like a good series it’s always nice when everything is wrapped up in one book! I loved the world (even if we unfortunately didn’t get to see much outside of the castle) and the world building itself was really well done! I also adored the characters (Emmett is my favourite) and the romance is just incredibly sweet! The book also deals quite well with trauma and one thing that really caught my attention, was the language barrier and the cultural differences! The cultural differences is the main theme of plenty of books (I mean perfect set up for an enemies to lovers plot but anyway ... not what this is about lol), but the language barrier was definitely a new one for me and I liked that because so often we read about characters going to different kingdoms (sometimes worlds) and everything is fine, but it’s not always the case because places usually have different languages and I really liked seeing the MC struggle with that and how her relationship with the love interest grew despite that challenge. I do think one of my main issues was that sometimes dialogue would have ‘grumble grumble’ or like ‘cough’ or ‘growl growl growl’ to indicate a local speaking and her not understanding instead of descriptive text and I didn’t particularly liked that, but that could just be a me thing.
All and all I think it was a pretty solid read.
Thanks to entangled teen for my advanced reader copy!
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