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The Chronicles of Faybl #2
Mistress of Blades
Why let slumber rule your destiny when waking is your fate?
A sword, a kiss, a king, a kingdom—a prophecy that put a nation into unyielding sleep. The only hope of her countrymen, Aurora returns home to find that the exiled people of Penzelle have been poisoned. Alongside her guardian Artyrus, she learns the wicked truth when Merlin, the trusted Seer of Chamelaute, reveals that the king has put her people into a deadly slumber.
Despite Merlin’s best efforts to keep the pair in the realm of consciousness, a broken spindle carries them deep into a unified dreamscape, where their only aim is to get everyone out alive. When a series of trials are set to begin within their new reality, an opportunity to pull the vaunted sword Excalibur is revealed, leading Aurora to participate in the hopes that its deliverance will wake Penzelle.
Otherlande presents perils of its own, leaving Aurora and Artyrus contending with subconscious anomalies that would otherwise only exist within the confines of their minds. But combating the dream is merely half the battle, for, in the realm of the conscious, a full-scale rebellion brews.
Tensions peak when a jilted ex-queen joins forces with the growing insurgency, and their very future lies with the sleeping beauty and her warrior chaperone. A revelation, a crown, a princess, a divine destiny—it will take more than true love to awaken a revolution.
A sword, a kiss, a king, a kingdom—a prophecy that put a nation into unyielding sleep. The only hope of her countrymen, Aurora returns home to find that the exiled people of Penzelle have been poisoned. Alongside her guardian Artyrus, she learns the wicked truth when Merlin, the trusted Seer of Chamelaute, reveals that the king has put her people into a deadly slumber.
Despite Merlin’s best efforts to keep the pair in the realm of consciousness, a broken spindle carries them deep into a unified dreamscape, where their only aim is to get everyone out alive. When a series of trials are set to begin within their new reality, an opportunity to pull the vaunted sword Excalibur is revealed, leading Aurora to participate in the hopes that its deliverance will wake Penzelle.
Otherlande presents perils of its own, leaving Aurora and Artyrus contending with subconscious anomalies that would otherwise only exist within the confines of their minds. But combating the dream is merely half the battle, for, in the realm of the conscious, a full-scale rebellion brews.
Tensions peak when a jilted ex-queen joins forces with the growing insurgency, and their very future lies with the sleeping beauty and her warrior chaperone. A revelation, a crown, a princess, a divine destiny—it will take more than true love to awaken a revolution.
345 pages, Paperback
Published October 25, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 29, 2023
You will like Mistress of Blades if you like:
Fairy tale retellings
Enemies to lovers
Nontoxic romance
Strong female characters with combat skills
Bodyguard trope
High fantasy
Arthurian fantasy
Complex and twisty family/heir dynamics
Mistress of Blades is book 2 in a fantasy series entitled The Chronicles of Fayble (book 3 is on the way!) by sisters Britt Cooper and Erin Dulin. Like book 1 (Queen of Shadows), MoB takes a beloved fairy tale and infuses it with creative twists and a modern take on characterization – no damsels in distress here! The plot and characters are inspired by Sleeping Beauty infused with Arthurian legends, creating a rich story mash-up that will appeal to both fairytale and high fantasy lovers.
Main characters Aurora and Artyrus are thrown together at the end of Queen of Shadows, as Artyrus has been charged by Merlin to guard Aurora, returning her safely to the kingdom of Chamelaute. Their adventures in the Wylewoode are packed with sparks-flying conflict and banter, danger, fun, and romantic tension. But as they reach the exiled people of Penzelle, the stakes become significantly higher.
Both main characters must fully realize their destinies to prevent evil king Luther from consolidating his grip on the kingdoms through a cruel sleeping poison. This poison has created a phantasmic sleep world, a place of infinite everchanging fates, influenced by villain and hero alike. Not to spoil too much, but the setting of this sleep world, called the Otherlande, along with Aurora and Artyrus’ choices, is what sets this fairytale retelling apart – the authors are magnificently creative! I absolutely loved the way they made a sedate tale like Sleeping Beauty so much more engaging and heroic.
This is a complex and creative tale, with familiar elements that fantasy nerds will love (Excalibur, dragons, Maleficent, prophecies, Romani-inspired nation, medieval tournaments). The love story will melt your heart, and doesn’t have the cringy toxicity present in many enemies to lovers novels (hot but wholesome). The main characters are truly heroes, in that they make sacrificial choices for the good of all, which is something I particularly enjoy about Britt and Erin’s novels. And there are plenty of twists and turns that ramp up the tension until the HEA (because this is a fairytale after all!). Overall, five happy stars from this fantasy enthusiast. Looking forward to book 3!
Fairy tale retellings
Enemies to lovers
Nontoxic romance
Strong female characters with combat skills
Bodyguard trope
High fantasy
Arthurian fantasy
Complex and twisty family/heir dynamics
Mistress of Blades is book 2 in a fantasy series entitled The Chronicles of Fayble (book 3 is on the way!) by sisters Britt Cooper and Erin Dulin. Like book 1 (Queen of Shadows), MoB takes a beloved fairy tale and infuses it with creative twists and a modern take on characterization – no damsels in distress here! The plot and characters are inspired by Sleeping Beauty infused with Arthurian legends, creating a rich story mash-up that will appeal to both fairytale and high fantasy lovers.
Main characters Aurora and Artyrus are thrown together at the end of Queen of Shadows, as Artyrus has been charged by Merlin to guard Aurora, returning her safely to the kingdom of Chamelaute. Their adventures in the Wylewoode are packed with sparks-flying conflict and banter, danger, fun, and romantic tension. But as they reach the exiled people of Penzelle, the stakes become significantly higher.
Both main characters must fully realize their destinies to prevent evil king Luther from consolidating his grip on the kingdoms through a cruel sleeping poison. This poison has created a phantasmic sleep world, a place of infinite everchanging fates, influenced by villain and hero alike. Not to spoil too much, but the setting of this sleep world, called the Otherlande, along with Aurora and Artyrus’ choices, is what sets this fairytale retelling apart – the authors are magnificently creative! I absolutely loved the way they made a sedate tale like Sleeping Beauty so much more engaging and heroic.
This is a complex and creative tale, with familiar elements that fantasy nerds will love (Excalibur, dragons, Maleficent, prophecies, Romani-inspired nation, medieval tournaments). The love story will melt your heart, and doesn’t have the cringy toxicity present in many enemies to lovers novels (hot but wholesome). The main characters are truly heroes, in that they make sacrificial choices for the good of all, which is something I particularly enjoy about Britt and Erin’s novels. And there are plenty of twists and turns that ramp up the tension until the HEA (because this is a fairytale after all!). Overall, five happy stars from this fantasy enthusiast. Looking forward to book 3!
November 5, 2022
Summary: Book two in the Chronicles of Fayble series
Why let slumber rule your destiny when waking is your fate?
A sword, a kiss, a king, a kingdom—a prophecy that put a nation into unyielding sleep. The only hope of her countrymen, Aurora returns home to find that the exiled people of Penzelle have been poisoned. Alongside her guardian Artyrus, she learns the wicked truth when Merlin, the trusted Seer of Chamelaute, reveals that the king has put her people into a deadly slumber.
Despite Merlin's best efforts to keep the pair in the realm of consciousness, a broken spindle carries them deep into a unified dreamscape, where their only aim is to get everyone out alive. When a series of trials are set to begin within their new reality, an opportunity to pull the vaunted sword Excalibur is revealed, leading Aurora to participate in the hopes that its deliverance will wake Penzelle.
Otherlande presents perils of its own, leaving Aurora and Artyrus contending with subconscious anomalies that would otherwise only exist within the confines of their minds. But combating the dream is merely half the battle, for, in the realm of the conscious, a full-scale rebellion brews.
Tensions peak when a jilted ex-queen joins forces with the growing insurgency, and their very future lies with the sleeping beauty and her warrior chaperone. A revelation, a crown, a princess, a divine destiny--it will take more than true love to awaken a revolution.
Review: this is the second in the Chronicles of Fayble series but can be read as a standalone. The dreamscape created in this story is rich in detail and the perfect setting for the main characters Aurora and her companion Artyrus to peel back the layers of their past as well as attempt to forge a path into the future.
@write_sisters succeeded again in writing an original and captivating retelling of timeless fairytales.
December 28, 2022
I loved Queen of Shadows (first in the Chronicles of Fayble), but Mistress of Blades I loved even more! Mistress of Blades is an original reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and Sword in the Stone. The references to each fairytale was like a nod to the reader, and kept me wanting to know how the authors were planning on incoporating the characters into the story... and I was not disappointed! There are also plenty of references to the first book and the next, as the characters for each overlap, which are some of my favorite aspects of this series. I can't wait to read Daughter of Neverwoode!
I loved the world-building in this story. Otherlande was a mysterious, compelling place, and if you like the theme of not falling into apathy (or the Lotus Eaters in the Odyssey), you'll love the concept of Otherlande too. Rory and Artryus are two snarky, loveable protagonists who I enjoyed from beginning to end. I loved their romance and the details surrounding their destiny, as there were twists I was not expecting. The villains in this story kept me on my toes... for you never know quite what's going to happen next. Out of the two book these authors have written, Mistress of Blades is my favorite, so if you loved Queen of Shadows, you'll need to check out this book next!
I loved the world-building in this story. Otherlande was a mysterious, compelling place, and if you like the theme of not falling into apathy (or the Lotus Eaters in the Odyssey), you'll love the concept of Otherlande too. Rory and Artryus are two snarky, loveable protagonists who I enjoyed from beginning to end. I loved their romance and the details surrounding their destiny, as there were twists I was not expecting. The villains in this story kept me on my toes... for you never know quite what's going to happen next. Out of the two book these authors have written, Mistress of Blades is my favorite, so if you loved Queen of Shadows, you'll need to check out this book next!
October 26, 2022
This book is an absolute fantasy romance powerhouse. A take on both Sleeping Beauty and Arthurian legend, Aurora and Artyrus barely tolerate one another as they travel together… until circumstances change and they wind up in the Otherlande, a dreamscape that’s as magical as it is deadly.
Aurora is a force. Brave, strong, and imperfect, she beeches steadfast Artyrus’s defenses, making this enemies-to-lovers romance as sweet as it is action-packed.
The stakes are high. Not only are Artyrus and Aurora’s hearts on the line, but so is their country. And their lives too, because if they die in the Otherlande, they die in their sleeping state as well.
Can they save their people, and each other?
All I can tell you is, you’re going to want to read this to find out. I already want to re-read it just to experience this incredible story again! Run and get your hands on this one, folks.
Aurora is a force. Brave, strong, and imperfect, she beeches steadfast Artyrus’s defenses, making this enemies-to-lovers romance as sweet as it is action-packed.
The stakes are high. Not only are Artyrus and Aurora’s hearts on the line, but so is their country. And their lives too, because if they die in the Otherlande, they die in their sleeping state as well.
Can they save their people, and each other?
All I can tell you is, you’re going to want to read this to find out. I already want to re-read it just to experience this incredible story again! Run and get your hands on this one, folks.
November 16, 2022
This book combined my two favorite stories of all time and I am absolutely here for it! Sleeping Beauty meets King Arthur? How does that alone not immediately draw someone in? I loved Rory and Artyrus, their budding friendship slowly turning into more. My favorite part was seeing what elements the authors would take from the original tales and how they would weave them together into one. And while they may have done my beloved Prince Phillip dirty, I can easily forgive thanks to the wonderful protector Artyrus. Now that this one is done, I'm already ready for book three!
January 14, 2023
4.5
This second installment of the Fayble series focuses on Rory from the first volume. Fantastic mash-up that combines this time Sleeping Beauty Aurora and Camelot's King Arthur and Merlin. I love that the characters embark into another "realm" for this mission, making it a portal adventure. I was very attached to Ella from the first book and had a hard time passing the annoying bickering between this new couple. Their enemies to lover journey get better and this fast pace adventure it's just great. Overall I found these characters more caricatured than in the first book but really excited to see what next these authors have to present us.
This second installment of the Fayble series focuses on Rory from the first volume. Fantastic mash-up that combines this time Sleeping Beauty Aurora and Camelot's King Arthur and Merlin. I love that the characters embark into another "realm" for this mission, making it a portal adventure. I was very attached to Ella from the first book and had a hard time passing the annoying bickering between this new couple. Their enemies to lover journey get better and this fast pace adventure it's just great. Overall I found these characters more caricatured than in the first book but really excited to see what next these authors have to present us.
November 30, 2022
After reading book one, Queen of Shadows, I knew I was hooked for the whole series! I bought Book Two, Mistress of Blades, the day after I finished the first book, knowing that I would enjoy it, and boy oh boy was I right!
Book Two continues in the same world as the first book, and follows a character readers were introduced to previously. Rory, or Aurora, is the fated sleeping beauty but with blades a plenty. She's accompanied by Artyrus, her stubborn, yet faithful knight in shining armor (Round Table anyone?). Together, they are thrown into danger, deceit, adventure, and a chance for love. When Aurora's people are put into an enchanted sleep, Artyrus and Aurora must enter the Otherland (a dream like world in which readers themselves must question reality). This book is filled with adventure, intrigue, betrayal, enemies-to-lovers, and more! I LOVED reading this book and I am impateintly waiting for the next installment.
Readers who loved Queen of the Shadows may find Mistress of Blades to be a less straightforward read (due to the whimsical Otherlande), but it is well worth the ride! One of my favorite bits of the entire series is finding the Easter eggs hidden along the way that nod back to the orignal tales while spinning them in fantastical new ways.
Stop reading my review; go read the book!
Book Two continues in the same world as the first book, and follows a character readers were introduced to previously. Rory, or Aurora, is the fated sleeping beauty but with blades a plenty. She's accompanied by Artyrus, her stubborn, yet faithful knight in shining armor (Round Table anyone?). Together, they are thrown into danger, deceit, adventure, and a chance for love. When Aurora's people are put into an enchanted sleep, Artyrus and Aurora must enter the Otherland (a dream like world in which readers themselves must question reality). This book is filled with adventure, intrigue, betrayal, enemies-to-lovers, and more! I LOVED reading this book and I am impateintly waiting for the next installment.
Readers who loved Queen of the Shadows may find Mistress of Blades to be a less straightforward read (due to the whimsical Otherlande), but it is well worth the ride! One of my favorite bits of the entire series is finding the Easter eggs hidden along the way that nod back to the orignal tales while spinning them in fantastical new ways.
Stop reading my review; go read the book!
August 18, 2023
I was so excited to continue this series and loved this one even more than the first! Rory and Artyrus were such well-written characters, I wanted even more time with them. They were my favorite part of the book which surprised me with so much going on in the plot. The way most of the book happened in a contained setting was a fun element. Any tropes present were welcomed and not cliche. Such a unique adventure that I couldn’t put down, can’t wait for the next one! Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews