Review: Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Series: Wintersong #1

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling

Release Date: February 7, 2017

Format: Kindle

Source: Overdrive library loan

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, Mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. But when her sister Kathe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her. The Goblin King agrees to let Kathe go - for a price. In exchange for her sister's freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King and he accepts.

Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her - musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl's life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King's bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.

It's not often that I reach for fantasy. It's just not my genre. But every now and then a synopsis jumps out at me and I set aside my contemporaries for a walk into another world. (And naturally the mention of the Goblin King gave me David Bowie vibes in all his 1980's, eye-linered, choppy-haired, singing glory as Goblin King Jareth. - See: Labyrinth) Reading that Jae-Jones initially started Wintersong as a sort of Labyrinth retelling sealed the deal.

What I got from Wintersong was a mixed bag. Some things I loved, some not so much. While I caught only minor nods to Labyrinth, there was still plenty to enjoy. On the plus side, Liesl was not the typical beautiful YA heroine (finally!). She was described (many times) as plain - the homely sister of the village beauty. Thumbs up for having a lead who was not the devastatingly pretty girl that everyone fawned over. It made it easier to relate to Liesl's feelings of desire: the desire to be the pretty one, the desire to be special, the desire to be the one who garnered all the attention. Like the attention of the Goblin King. And he is where the real story and the real draw was for me. The Goblin King was so mysterious, so complex, and so enigmatic that I was desperate to know more. I would have loved to have had a dual POV in this one - to be inside the Goblin King's head. The mere thought makes me giddy. 

Despite my fascination with the Goblin King, Wintersong wasn't without its problems. There were a lot of times where I was just plain confused - trying to determine what was really happening, what was just a dream or hallucination, what it all meant. And I don't know if that was due to the execution, the writing style, or maybe it was just me. The writing had a hazy, dreamy sort of quality that, while beautiful, too often left me scratching my head wondering what exactly was happening. In addition, the in-depth passages about musical composition were so detailed and so frequent that it became tedious. As someone with no musical training or ability, it all went right over my head and was wasted on me. 

I will say that the ending got to me. It wasn't what I wanted or expected and therefore wasn't really satisfying, but it was emotional and left me a bit heartsick. So, despite the slow pace of this one (a lot of detail without a lot happening), I have no doubt that I will pick up the next book to learn the fate of Liesl and the Goblin King. 

3.25/5 STARS

Have you read Wintersong? What did you think?

Top 5 Wednesday: The Summer Vibe

Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey at GingerReadsLainey.

Click HERE for a complete list of participants and future topics.

This week's Top 5 Wednesday topic is all about summer. 

I'm going with books I've read that have a summer vibe. 

I'll Meet You ThereHeather Demetrios

Demetrios created a setting that was so realistic that I could almost feel the stifling heat inside Sky's trailer and see it shimmering off the pavement of the parking lot at the motel where she worked. 

Summer Sisters

Judy Blume

It's been almost 20 years since I read this one but I still remember how engrossed I was in this story of two friends who bonded every summer on Martha's Vineyard and how the book spanned years in their lives. Such a perfect beach read.

Fallen Too Far

Abbi Glines

The Rosemary Beach series is like my own form of book crack. They also scream summer to me. They're fast reads (most of them under 250 pages), they're addictive, and they're fun. 

The Edge of Juniper

Lora Richardson

I read this YA contemporary last summer after being approached by the author (always dicey) and ended up falling in love with this story. Taking place over the course of a summer, Fay is visiting her cousin in Juniper Indiana in what what becomes a pivotal summer in all their lives.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Ann Brashares

This whole series is based on a group of girls who, after being together all their lives, now find themselves spending the summer apart. I've reread the series a couple times and have mixed feelings about it, but it's still a quintessential YA summer read.

What book just screams summer to you?

Best In Books | April 2017

Best in Books is a monthly feature created by BookTuber Hope Ortego. 

A playlist of her Best In Books videos can be found HERE.

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Welcome to my Best in Books for April! Yeah, I'm a little late this month but better late than never. Maybe? Best in Books was created by my friend Hope and she was kind enough to let me join in on her feature (because she's awesome that way). Her BookTube channel is linked above and I hope you'll check her out. Now on to all the best bookishness in April...

Meg from Murder of Crows
Not only do I find The Others series to be unique and original, I feel the same about protagonist Meg Corbyn. Because of what she is, a cassandra sangue (or blood prophet), Meg maintains an almost child-like innocence and sweetness. Add that to the fact that she is new to navigating the world around her (after being held in a compound up to this point), and Meg is naive and many experiences are completely new to her. Despite all this, Meg maintains an almost dogged determination to learn, to understand, and to make a life for herself. She is so kind, she completely charms those around her, and I love reading about this sweet young woman. 

Nick from Forever With You 
Nick had been something of a mystery throughout other books in the series (it didn't help that I read the last couple out of order). So I loved getting his story and understanding who he was. He found himself in such unfamiliar territory when it came to his relationship with Stephanie, and yes he had a few missteps along the way, but when things got real he was amazingly supportive, said all the right things and basically was everything she needed. It was obvious Nick loved and adored Stephanie long before the actual words were said. Armentrout has always written book boyfriends that I love and Nick was no exception.

Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I re-read Wicked last month in anticipation of picking up the second book in the series and was reminded of how much I love Tink. The little brownie stole every scene he was in and provided such comic relief.

Grabbing a scarf off the chair, I threw it at him. 

He caught it, clutching it to his chest as he flew into the air. "You gave Tink a scarf. Tink is free!" He flew out into the hallway like a little cracked-out fairy, screeching, "Tink is freeeeee!"

Ren looked at me. "What the actual f**k?"

I sighed. "He's obsessed with Harry Potter. I'm sorry."

Tink darted back into the room, holding the scarf to his bare chest. "There is no reason to apologize when it comes to Harry Potter."

"You do remember what happened to Dobby, right?" I said.

"S**t." Tink's eyes widened and he dropped the scarf.

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
Not exactly a plot twist. And The Sea of Tranquility might not typically be a book you think of when it comes to twists and turns. But an OMG! Moment? Oh yes. The last two words in the book, actually. It made perfect sense, and there was a feeling of coming full-circle, but I also never saw it coming. Those last two words made my jaw drop. And I loved it.

Always by Sarah Jio

I downloaded the audio version of Always on a whim after seeing Grace at Rebel Mommy Book Blog review it. While I did have a couple issues with it (full review coming soon), overall I truly enjoyed this story of second chances and love that lasts. I loved the shifting timeline, I loved the mystery aspect, and I truly loved Cade. I'm so glad I took a chance on this one.

it rode in on

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

This took a little bit of thought because I had some really enjoyable reads in April, but Letters to the Lost was so much more than I was expecting. Kemmerer had me completely invested in the two main characters and my heart ached for their struggles. Tackling issues of grief and guilt, Letters to the Lost wasn't maudlin and didn't become mired down in schmaltz. Instead it showed the the loneliness and isolation grief could cause but also the healing power of reaching out and human connection. Add in the amazing character development and Letters to the Lost was a real stand-out read.  

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Now it's your turn: What was the best book you read in April? 

The Sunday Post #55

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's a chance to share news - a post to recap the past week on your blog, 

showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is

coming up on your blog in the week ahead. You can find the info here:

Sunday Post Meme

It was a busy week back at the office after a week away - but still good to get back into the regular routine. Yesterday was busy with errands (mother's day gifts, graduation gifts) and today has been the usual Sunday stuff - grocery shopping and laundry. We had breakfast with my parent's this morning so it started the day off right. :) Happy Mother's Day to those who celebrate!

 

Tuesday, May 9
Top Ten Tuesday:
Reading Wishlist - What I Want More of in My Books

Thursday, May 11
Review + Excerpt + Giveaway:
Your Alluring Love by Layla Hagen

FINISHED:

The Favorite (The Selection #2.6) - Kiera Cass

Wintersong - S. Jae-Jones

CURRENT: 

Chance at Redemption - Samatha Harris

Vision in Silver (AUDIO) - Anne Bishop

A Court of Mist and Fury (AUDIO) - Sarah J. Maas

(A little refresher before I dive into ACOWAR)

PHYSICAL BOOKS:

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things - Bryn Greenwood

(Because it's tied for my favorite book of the year and I needed my own copy)

KINDLE BOOKS:

Someone Like You - Lauren Layne

(Because it's Lauren Layne)

Goodbye Paradise - Sarina Bowen

(Because it's Sarina Bowen and I'm dying to read this one)

Sugar Daddy - Sawyer Bennett

(Because I'm so intrigued by the synopsis)

ARC FOR REVIEW:

Chance at Redemption - Samatha Harris

(Because I've been waiting for this third book in the series)

How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 

You know I want to hear about it! :)

Review + Excerpt + Giveaway! Your Alluring Love by Layla Hagen

Layla Hagen's YOUR ALLURING LOVE is available now! Get your hands on Alice and Nate's story. Find out more about it below, read an excerpt, and enter to win

 a $50 Amazon giftcard!

*A sizzling romance from a USA Today Bestselling Author*

Alice Bennett has been holding a torch for her older brother’s best friend, Nate, for more than a decade. He’s a hotshot TV producer who travels the world, never staying in San Francisco for too long. But now he’s in town and just as tempting as ever… with a bossy streak that makes her weak in the knees and a smile that can melt ice—or at the very least, her defenses. As a successful restaurant owner, Alice is happy with her life. She loves her business and her family, yet after watching her siblings find their happy ever after, she can’t help feeling lonely sometimes—but that’s only for her to know. Nate has always had a soft spot for Alice. Despite considering the Bennetts his family, he never could look at her as just his friend’s little sister. She’s a spitfire, and Nate just can’t stay away. He loves making her laugh… and blush. Their attraction is irresistible, and between stolen kisses and wicked-hot nights, they form a deep bond that has them both yearning for more. But when the chance of a lifetime comes knocking at his door, will Nate chase success even if it means losing Alice, or will he choose her?

Add YOUR ALLURING LOVE on Goodreads!

Find YOUR ALLURING LOVE here:

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Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2pvokh9

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2qqQgE8

Apple: http://apple.co/2p7t0HF

Nook (B&N): http://bit.ly/2qwSAqk

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2qxheXX

WANT TO WIN?

Layla Hagen has a giveaway just for you!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read an excerpt from YOUR ALLURING LOVE

“Let me do the dirty work from time to time. You’re mine, Alice. That means I’ll protect you from anyone, even if you don’t want me to. I’ll protect you especially when you don’t want me to because it’s when you need it most.” Before I can reply, he steps right in front of me. “You understand? You are mine.”

I shake my head. “You’re stubborn and possessive.”

“Sounds like I’m a catch.”

“I didn’t mean those as compliments,” I inform him, crossing my arms over my chest.

“That’s how they sounded to me.”

“How do you figure?”

“You can easily rephrase that to determined and protective. Both positive traits.”

Despite my annoyance, my lips twitch with a hint of a smile.

“I won’t apologize for wanting to protect you.”

“I wasn’t really expecting you to,” I reply, disarmed by his passion and honesty. “But I’m warning you, I’m still mad at you.”

“I’m counting on it, darling. In fact, hold on to the anger until we get home. Unless you want to leave now?”

“No, the event isn’t over.” I’m a little suspicious of his sudden good mood. “Why do you want me to hold on to the anger?”

“Because there’s a kind of sex I’m dying to try with you.”

“What kind is that?”

He wiggles his eyebrows, leaning in. “Make-up sex.”

My Thoughts on YOUR ALLURING LOVE

Alice has had feelings for Nate for years but, as a longtime friend of the large Bennett family, she's certain that he considers her as nothing more than a friend, or his best friend's younger sister. But when Nate spends several weeks in town while waiting for a new project to start, the time they spend together proves that her feelings aren't so unrequited after all.

Your Alluring Love is the third book I have read in the Bennett Family series and it was great to return to this large close-knit clan and watch as another sibling found her happily ever after. Alice was a strong and capable woman, owning two of her own restaurants and opening a third with her brother. I appreciated the fact that she was ambitious and hard-working and didn't feel like her life was on hold, or somehow less, just because there wasn't a man in her life. Nate was devoted to his career as a television producer and steered clear of relationships after enduring the fall-out from his mother's two failed marriages. I loved that, despite that, he didn't fight his feelings for Alice every step of the way. He pursued her and was open with how he felt. 

While this wasn't my favorite of the Bennett Family series and I didn't fully connect with Alice and Nate as well as some of the family members, this was still a completely enjoyable read and a welcome continuation to the series. And while Your Alluring Love is the sixth in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. Fans who enjoy their contemporary romance on the lighter side, without a lot of drama and angst, will appreciate Your Alluring Love and all the books in the Bennett Family series.

Want to catch up on the Bennett Family series? Grab them now!

Your Irresistible Love (The Bennett Family Series, Book 1):
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2dbUS7s
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1071839236
Nook (Barnes and Noble): http://bit.ly/2cQ8OI3
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/your-irresistible-love
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2booehV
The AUDIO version: http://amzn.to/2dsVfw4

Your Captivating Love (The Bennett Family Series, Book 2):
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1RISb9k
B&N: http://bit.ly/23bz3ck
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1071941774
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/your-captivating-love
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2doRv2q
The AUDIO version: http://amzn.to/2dH85WD

Your Forever Love (The Bennett Family Series, Book 3):
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cQaAcb
B&N: http://bit.ly/2bN7Smx
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1105596243
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2aHQd0x
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2ar1ooN
The AUDIO version: http://amzn.to/2dbWMF7

Your Inescapable Love (The Bennett Family Series, Book 4):
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2fT7PIZ
Apple: http://apple.co/2eDGLaQ
Nook (B&N): http://bit.ly/2el8bqG
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2eUBCMB

Your Tempting Love (The Bennett Family Series, Book 5):
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2lp9HKM
Apple: http://apple.co/2kvjGyW
Nook (B&N): http://bit.ly/2lNp8gS
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kXJ0vY

About Layla Hagen

Layla Hagen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She fell in love with books when she was nine years old, and her love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

She writes steamy and romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

She is represented by fabulous Louise Fury (The Bent Agency)

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