Welcome to my book-blog. I spend as much time as I can within the pages of a book and hope you'll get some reading inspiration from my library. Catch me on Instagram as well as books.tea.and.me – I'm always looking for recommendations!
For every girl who has ever doubted she has what it takes…
Mini Review – YA Fantasy novel
My thoughts…
‘Thorn’ by Intisar Khanani is a really lovely fairy-tale retelling, linked to ‘The Little Goose Girl’ tale. The story centres around Princess Alyrra who had a difficult, restrictive and abusive (brother physical and mother emotional) upbringing. Her journey only becomes more desperate when she is betrothed to a stranger from another land. Magic and power becomes a dominant theme when a powerful sorceress strips Alyrra’s identity. I loved how she takes advantage of this to start her life afresh, and by living a more simple life finds genuine friendship, and an understanding of who she wants to be. The theme of responsibility, betrayal and justice are explored as Alyrra is drawn into a fight to save the Kingdom, and of the troubled Prince that is slowly capturing her heart.
The romance is a sweet one; the pace is steady, it does hold your attention throughout. A YA fantasy read that comes recommended from me: charming, creative and inspiring, a wonderful jump back into the fairy tales of your childhood.
Publishing today is ‘The Stars We Steal’ by Alexa Donne. It’s a new standalone, set in the farthest reaches of space and earth is remembered as ancient history. Described as a sci-fi romance that ’embraces the idealism that true love exists under the most cutthroat of scenarios’.
Blurb
Engagement season is in the air. Eighteen-year-old Princess Leonie “Leo” Kolburg, heir to a faded European spaceship, has only one thing on her mind: which lucky bachelor can save her family from financial ruin?
But when Leo’s childhood friend and first love, Elliot, returns as the captain of a successful whiskey ship, everything changes. Elliot was the one who got away, the boy Leo’s family deemed to be unsuitable for marriage. Now he’s the biggest catch of the season and he seems determined to make Leo’s life miserable. But old habits die hard, and as Leo navigates the glittering balls of the Valg Season, she finds herself falling for her first love in a game of love, lies and past regrets.
My thoughts
This is a charming and entertaining YA fantasy read, set in space many years after the earth is made uninhabitable by an environmental disaster. It’s also charming, as it’s a reinvention of Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’. The tragic relationship between Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth is brought to life again through Princess Leo and Eliott on-board a spaceship.
If you’re unaware of Austen’s ‘Persuasion’ then in a nutshell, it’s about second chances and regrets of the past being healed; it’s a beautiful love story. In Alexa Donne’s version love is at the heart of this narrative too. ‘The Stars We Steal’ begins with a space version of a marriage mart, where Leo is being forced to attend to attract the attention of a potential husband. It some becomes clear that there’s trouble ahead, particularly when she meets Elliot, and their past bitterness causes new conflict.
This YA fantasy book will suit readers who enjoy an enemies to love story line; Sci-fi, (although there’s not too much of this in the action, it serves more as the setting) a bit of political intrigue and plotting, with a large dash of adventure.
Out now from @Titanbooks
Also out today is ‘Double Feature’ by Donald E. Westlake – publishing for the first time in 40 years! I’ll be chatting about this book soon.
The movie star and the movie critic – how far would they go to keep their secrets buried?
books.tea.and.me 