Month: October 2023

Audiobook ARC Review: Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the LeftLeave a comment

Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publishing Info: Audiobook by Bolinda Audio, narrated by Katy Sobey

Star Rating: 3/5

Back Cover Summary:

To some, Emri – the adopted heir and daughter of two queens – is just a living reminder that her birth father tried to usurp the Edaran throne. About to come of age, and faced with changes beyond her control, she must also grapple with a Court visit from her estranged cousin, Melisande. But when they’re attacked by a magical force and spirited away, they must put their differences aside when Emri comes face to face with a goddess she’s always considered a myth: Lady Winter.

Trapped deep within a mountain temple alongside other captured young royals, they face a race against time to complete Lady Winter’s trials…or die.

Thank you so much to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for providing an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is a standalone sequel to Queen of Coin and Whispers, and follows a princess who must face the gods and magic she believed no longer existed. The book is set fourteen years after Queen of Coin and Whispers and includes several characters from that book, including the two protagonists. Our main character for the sequel is their adopted daughter. It’s been a couple of years since I read the last book, and though this is meant to be a standalone, I found myself straining to try and remember what had happened before and struggling to understand everything. I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first book more recently.

The novel opens well with plenty of court intrigue, introducing us to this world and our protagonist, Emri. The first third of the book was good, and Lady Winter’s introduction was dramatic and tense. This was definitely the most impactful scene. I loved the descriptions of all the gods, their different personalities, and how even the nicer ones felt remote and magical. They were beautiful and powerful, and the author excellently portrayed how different they are from mortals.

Unfortunately, the bulk of the book was slow and not as engaging as the first third. It also wasn’t what I was expecting. Lady Winter’s trials are more psychological and emotional, and for a ‘race against time’ there is little urgency. The characters spend a lot of time wandering inside the mountain, eating and sleeping, and not really knowing what it is they are meant to do. A lot of scenes, descriptions and internal thoughts felt repetitive. If the novel had been edited down a bit, and unnecessary or repeated details trimmed a little, the pace would have been improved.

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Audiobook Review: Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the LeftLeave a comment

Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes

Genre: Fantasy, Romance  

Publishing Info: Audiobook by Podium Audio, narrated by Emily Lawrence and Tim Campbell

Star Rating: 4/5

Back Cover Summary:

Though she is the oldest daughter, Princess Faraine lives in the background, shunned from court and kept out of sight. Her chronic illness makes her a liability to the crown, and she has learned to give place to her beautiful, favored younger sister in all things.

When the handsome and enigmatic Shadow King comes seeking a bride, Faraine is not surprised that her sister is his choice.

Though not eager to take a human bride, King Vor is willing to do what is necessary for the sake of his people. When he meets the lively Princess Ilsevel, he quickly agrees to a marriage arrangement.

So why can’t he get the haunting eyes of her older sister out of his head?

Passionate and alluring, Bride of the Shadow King is an arranged marriage tale with dual points-of-view (his and hers). The first book in a new fantasy romance series, this sweeping tale of love and betrayal is perfect for listeners looking for a touch of spice to go with the sweet in their next swoony, slow-burn romance.

The first book in a trilogy, Bride of the Shadow King is an alluring, beautifully described and well-plotted romantasy novel. With fantastic chemistry between the two protagonists, high stakes and plenty of mystery and intrigue, this was a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy romance. Sylvia Mercedes’ writing flows very well and drew me in right from the start. The audiobook narration is also performed brilliantly, bringing all the characters to life.

From their first meeting, I knew I would be rooting for Faraine and Vor. The time they spend together at the start of the book, as they get to know each other and learn the customs and cultures of their people, was my favourite part. When they were apart, I was longing for them to be back on the page together again. There was one spicy scene in this first novel, though I imagine there may be more to come in the rest of the series.

I liked that though Faraine is not a warrior, assassin, spy or other similar type, she is still a strong character. While I love seeing women being badass fighters in books, it’s also good to see other kinds of women and other kinds of strength represented. There is also chronic illness representation, with Faraine’s magical gift to sense others’ emotions having a cost. The emotions of others can overwhelm her, especially when she is around lots of people or when they make physical contact, leaving her in pain.

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