Jes Drew

This was a fairy tale Retelling of Wild Swans about Nadja, her seven brothers, and her childhood sweetheart Maxmillian. I really enjoyed reading about Nadja and Maxmillian and hearing them reminisce about their childhood when they were reunited at the beginning of the story before Nadja's father married their stepmother. This was an enjoyable retelling of this fairy tale and I look forward to reading more from this series of standalone fairy tale retellings.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.… (altro)

Genre: fantasy romance, Greek mythology influences
Age: new adult
Series/Standalone: Part of a connected series by many authors, read as a standalone
Tropes: arranged marriage
Content: non-detailed fade-to-black between a married couple

The first thing I noticed about this book was the cover. And then the illustrations scattered throughout the novel. Both are quite detailed and added to the story.
Next, I liked how the book was divided into sections based on the types of love: storge, philo, eros, and agape. During each part, the term of the section was a central focus of the theme. The clear progression also helped with the character development as the couple got to know each other.
For those of you who like more descriptive and flowery writing, this book is perfect for you.
I went into this one mostly blind and did not realize how much of an influence mythology would have on the story. (Yes, I know that it is a retelling of a Greek myth but that often doesn't mean much for most retellings.)
And now for my only complaint: the ending. I will admit that I am not great when it comes to more intricate fantasy worlds. I like to keep the worldbuilding light and the plot simple. As such, I was slightly lost at the climax. I do not believe that this will have any negative impact for most other readers though.
All that said, I am glad that I gave this book a try and will be sure to read more by Jes Drew in the future.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

*I received a copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.… (altro)

This is a steampunk take on Sleeping Beauty. This adventurous and romantic story follows two characters, one of whom has a connection with another fairytale and the other whose brother has a connection with another fairytale. Aurora juggles her relationship with Henry as she attempts to rescue her brother, Aladdin, while her family has influence on her mission. The book is written in the present tense so readers read the narrative in real-time. A personal pleasant way to read since nothing in the future can be foreseen and readers learn what happens at the same time as the characters.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.… (altro)

This is a steampunk take on Aladdin where Rani juggles being a princess by day and a genie at night, but she doesn't remember in the day that she's cursed. This makes for a complex read. The book is written in the present tense so readers read the narrative in real-time. A personal pleasant way to read since nothing in the future can be foreseen and readers learn what happens at the same time as the characters.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.… (altro)