For most of Kelsey’s life, her mother has told her stories of Rellainia - a dimension and world existing alongside our own. Mysteriously, every night her mother also disappears without explanation, but Kelsey doesn’t know why...until a trip to the barely used basement sends her spiraling through time and space to Rellainia. Kelsey quickly realizes the stories she’s heard about the beautiful and fair Queen who ruled the land were not only about her mother - they were also anything but accurate.Kelsey must now decide between assuming her rightful place as Princess, or sinking back into her old life and convincing herself that everything she’d learned was just a story.
I received this E-ARC via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. A friend of mine just finished this. It looked good so I requested it. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.
While the plot was somewhat engaging the many point of views switch was odd. Also it was so fast paced you didn't even get to really know any of the characters.
This is a very engaging, beautifully written fantasy novel about a princess unaware. Kelsey is a teen who grew up on her mother's stories about the magical world Rellania. When she accidentally enters a portal to Rellania in a basement she is amazed it is a real place- not just a story- and her adventure begins. Her mother may have been wrong about a few things... Kelsey is confused at first (and rightfully so) but grows into a strong, capable and brace young woman who is determined to do what is right in a world of magic and manipulation.
The ending leaves room for a second novel and I'm hoping the author with continue Kelsey and Rellainia's story!
If you love fantasy in the vein of Narnia, Harry Potter, & The Princess Bride then you will enjoy this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for letting me read the book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
This book had me hooked from the beginning because I love stories about magic and I love some sassy characters. They're more real for me especially when Kelsey's mom asks her if she's in love. Thank you for a more real idea of love here! If there's a book 2 it's near the top of my list of books I'll be waiting for.
I feel bad that this book has such bad review. Because it is seriously not that bad. It is fast paced and edgy. The storyline was new and the characters were sassy.
Yes it could have had better character development but all in all it's a pretty good book and I for one would very much like a sequel.
Sometimes people put too much emphasis on the book needing to be perfect and proof read before they read it. But the whole point of books on here is that you are giving your honest opinion of books that are sometimes unaltered and need correcting before release to the public. Which Is true with this book. There are spelling issues and missed words. But I am more then happy to over look all of that and to enjoy the great story that is Rellainia. It's certainly doesn't deserve a 2 score rating on Goodreads.
All of Kelsey's life her mother has told her stories of Rellainia. A world that exists alongside earth. Every evening Kelsey's mother disappears. Coming back excuasted in the morning. Kelsey starts getting suspicious asking question to her parents all of which go unanswered. Which only fills her curiosity.
That is until the day Kelsey decided to go into the basement and winds up in the world of her childhood stories. But the stories she has heard as a child have been fabricated and couldn't be further from the truth. It is up to Kelsey to decide if she wants to take her rightful place as princess or stay on earth.
I would like to thank Netgalley, the publishers and Micaela Turcotte for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This may not be for everyone as the story is so fast paced, not leaving a lot of time for character development or a strong storyline. But I have to say this is a easy read and a good Teen Fantasy with a twist. Sorry if this feels contradictory but this is my honest opinion.
I found this book by chance at Indigo, only one copy nestled in between other books on the shelves. I wanted to give it a go, seeing as it was by a debut author and a Canadian one at that. There was a lot of cool elements to the story and the world and the characters. I'm intrugued to find out where the plot will go next, especially with that ending. Also, this cover is gorgeous.
A book that young adults and adults alike can enjoy. Imagine finding out you're actually a princess in a dimension paralleling the one you've lived in all your life. Would you ever want to go back to your old life? Or would you rather take up your royal duties? A book you won't want to put down!
Thank you to Netgalley and Sands Press for giving me the opportunity to read this novel!
There were many errors and misused words in the novel (using "manor" instead of "manner"). I would have thought that it would have been corrected, but it apparently had not been.
The pacing was too fast and did not allow for true character development to occur. The romance between Liam and Kelsey was rushed and didn't feel realistic at all. The characters did not seem to be real or life like at all. I found myself rolling my eyes at the grand gestures that the king would make so that he sounded more like an evil king. He would throw people across the room and it was almost comical. That's not how an evil king would act.
The writing seemed weak, you can definitely tell that this is the author's first novel. It could have used a few more eyes to look over it before it is published.
I honestly found this book to be as good or better than most of what is on the market in the young adult genre right now. Michael Turcotte, to her credit, writes in a clear way. Sometimes I find authors in the young adult genre to be a bit repetetive, as if they are afraid their young readers will forget the details they have shared in other books. Or maybe they are just trying to make up a word count.
In any case, Turcotte writes in a clear and direct way, and I found the subject she treats on to be interesting as a fantasy reader. The story concerns a young girl who finds that she can slip into another world, and (without giving spoilers) the book ends in a way that demands more.
Recommended for the young adult reader, as well as the young adult at heart.
Wow, this was really bad. I mean, makes you angry you read it-bad. The writing is terrible, the pacing is terrible, the character development is non-existent (much less the world building). And the randomly thrown in (and completely unfounded) "filthy whore" regarding the main character were enough to turn me off of this book. It's such a shame that a BEAUTIFUL cover was wasted on this hot mess of a book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sands Publishing for allowing me to read this book!
DNF
An honest, short opinion-
I really wanted to like this book. I really did. I love fantasy and have students that love magic and romance. However, the poor writing got in the way of truly enjoying this story to the point that I could not finish it. The story was rushed, the characters were cliche, and it felt very forced. I feel with the right editing, this could have been a winner.
Kelsey is your normal clumsy teen, but also Princess of the fairytales her Mother spun. Rellainia exists just not as the happy land which her mother idyllically spoke of. This book is action packed and fantasy full. Hopefully there will be another to follow as I was left with a lot of questions after reading this.
Not really a bad book. Needed polishing. I think if the author goes back and decides to flesh out the world, the politics, and the characters, it'll be better. As it stands now, it seems rushed and ends on a cliffhanger.
This is basically almost every fantasy world out there. Normal girl dumped into this new world? Check. Normal girl who happens to be royalty? Check. The only thing unusual was that the mother was alive. But really, Kelsey is boring, and utterly useless. She does nothing, and she is gifted. Do I want to read about someone like her? No.
I gave up at 70% since I didn’t want to suffer through the last 30%. Again, this book lacks almost anything that stands out. And again that it fails to bring anything unqiue or interesting to the fantasy genre. Same set of characters, girl who doesn’t know who she is. Some prince whose name I can’t even bothered to remember. And a bunch of utterly unoriginal characters.
There is no charm in this book, I can’t even keep myself reading at all. And hence, I’m dropping this book at this percentage. Because I don’t give a damn for any of the stakes here or the characters. The Queen did have some potential, but it was so wasted since Kelsey was the main character and well, frankly she’s boring.
My recommendation, read this if you’re new to the genre or don’t really get tired of reading the same thing. I am tired of reading this, and that is really why I cannot finish this book, there isn’t really anything wrong with, it just wasn’t to my taste.
I tried. I really tried but I simply could not finish this book. while I think the premise is good and promising, the execution has left much to be desired. The story starts with a girl whose mother disappears every night. Her parents tell her that her mother works evenings and she accepts their explanation until she becomes older and they refuse to answer further questions. While searching the basement she comes across a cabinet and ends up in another world. It is at this point that the plot quickly starts to circle the drain. There's a lot of dramatics on the part of the protagonist and action that is confusing and out of sync. The main characters histrionics reduce the other characters to one dimensional stereotypes. It's at this point that I abandoned the book out of frustration and exasperation. Again, I think the idea for the story is great but not developed well at all.
This book was a nice read story wise - i liked the plot and the ideas relating to it, but i just didn't like the characters. I found them to be annoying and unrealistic, in particular Kelsey and her mum.
I found Kelsey annoying as she over reacted to many situations or became angry too quickly at all the wrong things. For example, why after being locked up and tortured would you refuse the comfort of your mum. Even if you thought her a vision, you would not be angry at her - she of all people would be the person you turn to the most if you have been hurt - not some stranger wizard that you are not supposed to understand as you are in a strange world with strange people !
Then the mum, the queen, was just too soft for a queen. She is supposed to be fair and just and a judge as well, yet she cries all the time and breaks down often. A judge and a queen would be strong and would be able to control their emotions and think rationally - not act like a teenage girl on her period !
I would say the evil characters, the prince in particular, were better portrayed. They were far more believable in the way they were presented and their actions fully justified through the writing.
As such, i think this book needs work in order to make it better.