2.5 stars. This book was mediocre at best. The MCs (Myra and Dylan) and their interactions were unbelievable at times. Also, they weren't terribly lik2.5 stars. This book was mediocre at best. The MCs (Myra and Dylan) and their interactions were unbelievable at times. Also, they weren't terribly likable--Dylan was mostly a jerk with anger management issues, and Myra was a spineless ninny. Yes, N-I-N-N-Y. I don't think I've ever called someone a ninny in my entire life, but that is what she was.
BUT, the characters weren't the biggest problem for me. I have this pet peeve about books . . . it only seems to happen in indie books (at least I can't recall it happening in a traditionally published book). Anyway, this pet peeve concerns when a major question presented at the beginning of a book is still unanswered at the end of the book. I. Hate. This. I'm not talking about will they/won't they (live HEA?). I don't particularly care for that either, but at least that's somewhat expected, especially if the book isn't a stand-alone. But no, I'm talking about the fact that Dylan has been traumatized by something in his past, and this trauma is the root of his behavior. The root that explains his thus far inexplicable behavior. The root that brings the story full circle, so that you can look back and understand the. whole. fricking. story.
Yeah. That question doesn't get answered. It's set up to be answered in the next book in the last few pages of this book, but can you really trust that? I mean, it seemed like the author was setting up for the answer at least half a dozen times (that's the only reason I kept reading), but never actually got around to it. Maybe she'll just keep putting it off in the next book too. Who knows?
Merged review:
2.5 stars. This book was mediocre at best. The MCs (Myra and Dylan) and their interactions were unbelievable at times. Also, they weren't terribly likable--Dylan was mostly a jerk with anger management issues, and Myra was a spineless ninny. Yes, N-I-N-N-Y. I don't think I've ever called someone a ninny in my entire life, but that is what she was.
BUT, the characters weren't the biggest problem for me. I have this pet peeve about books . . . it only seems to happen in indie books (at least I can't recall it happening in a traditionally published book). Anyway, this pet peeve concerns when a major question presented at the beginning of a book is still unanswered at the end of the book. I. Hate. This. I'm not talking about will they/won't they (live HEA?). I don't particularly care for that either, but at least that's somewhat expected, especially if the book isn't a stand-alone. But no, I'm talking about the fact that Dylan has been traumatized by something in his past, and this trauma is the root of his behavior. The root that explains his thus far inexplicable behavior. The root that brings the story full circle, so that you can look back and understand the. whole. fricking. story.
Yeah. That question doesn't get answered. It's set up to be answered in the next book in the last few pages of this book, but can you really trust that? I mean, it seemed like the author was setting up for the answer at least half a dozen times (that's the only reason I kept reading), but never actually got around to it. Maybe she'll just keep putting it off in the next book too. Who knows?...more
ALSO, having finished LEGACY OF KINGS, I can now state with authority that you really should read this before the first full book. Otherwise,3.5 stars
ALSO, having finished LEGACY OF KINGS, I can now state with authority that you really should read this before the first full book. Otherwise, you'll have no idea why what's happening is happening. Neither do the MCs (yet), so you'll be ignorant together, but, personally, I prefer not to be ignorant.
Entertaining content, but told in third person present tense (which I HATE). Also, the writing was periodically . . . juvenile? Overly simplistic? Like instead of going for substance, a character simply says:
"Look at all the nice things we have."
*frowns*
Or instead of describing an emotion, one simply "feels helpless."
Still, overall I enjoyed it, and I did adjust to the POV. Definitely worth a gander.
Merged review:
3.5 stars
ALSO, having finished LEGACY OF KINGS, I can now state with authority that you really should read this before the first full book. Otherwise, you'll have no idea why what's happening is happening. Neither do the MCs (yet), so you'll be ignorant together, but, personally, I prefer not to be ignorant.
Entertaining content, but told in third person present tense (which I HATE). Also, the writing was periodically . . . juvenile? Overly simplistic? Like instead of going for substance, a character simply says:
"Look at all the nice things we have."
*frowns*
Or instead of describing an emotion, one simply "feels helpless."
Still, overall I enjoyed it, and I did adjust to the POV. Definitely worth a gander....more
When I took Shakespeare in college, I wrote my research paper on Edmund. I argued that he had little chance Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
I love KING LEAR.
When I took Shakespeare in college, I wrote my research paper on Edmund. I argued that he had little chance to be anything but a villain given the thoughtless mistreatment of bastards at that time. He wore his illegitimacy like a scarlet letter, and even more than Hester Prynn’s, his crime was not a crime.
So of course when I heard that Tessa Gratton’s THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR was a fantastical retelling of KING LEAR, I leapt at the opportunity to read it for review. And when I started reading it, and the Edmund-like character, now called Ban the Fox, appeared to be less villainous and more heroic, of course I was ecstatic.
BUT.
I was 2% into it, and I should know better than to make assumptions, especially about a retelling of anything by Shakespeare.
Tackling Shakespeare is a challenging endeavor. It’s freaking Shakespeare. How do you retell a story written a master? The master?
To attempt it requires more courage than the average writer can muster. But to attempt it AND rewrite it to suit your purposes, to imagine your version of events superior?
That, friends, would be HUBRIS. #shameonme
I’ve seen several reviews where the reader has said things like, after the first couple chapters, they just couldn’t get into it, and that, to me, is baffling.
TQOIL has one of the best prologues I’ve ever read.
First line:
It begins when a wizard cleaves an island from the mainland, in response to the king destroying her temple.
What begins?
Just that easily, I was hooked.
The spectacular prologue was immediately followed by an introduction to a character and an island that were so vivid, so magical, that I wanted to jump up and down shrieking, “I want to talk to trees! I want to see a bird’s dreams! I want the wind to be my messenger!”
I want to live in this world!
Characters that I’d thought I knew and knew well became infinitely more complex. More damaged. More covetous. Anger became fury. Thoughtless remained thoughtful but became loyal and well-intentioned as well. Good became naive, became heartbroken, became a strong and worthy queen.
And a story I already loved became something so much more.
Did it hurt?
Absolutely.
Tragedy is tragedy, and Shakespearen tragedy . . . WHUH.
But Gratton so expertly crafted this expanded version that despite the respect she clearly has for this tale and its creator, she was able to give us a less bleak future. Those left standing are worthy of their survival. They’ve learned from Lear’s mistakes and don’t repeat them. They are poised to let their island heal their wounds, healing their island in return.
THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR more than a tragedy. It’s life lessons. How shutting yourself off from the ones who love you can be the root of your own destruction. It’s about recognizing when someone can be saved and when they can’t. It’s hard choices and unbridled hope.
When I took Shakespeare in college, I wrote my research paper on Edmund. I argued that he had little chance to be anything but a villain given the thoughtless mistreatment of bastards at that time. He wore his illegitimacy like a scarlet letter, and even more than Hester Prynn’s, his crime was not a crime.
So of course when I heard that Tessa Gratton’s THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR was a fantastical retelling of KING LEAR, I leapt at the opportunity to read it for review. And when I started reading it, and the Edmund-like character, now called Ban the Fox, appeared to be less villainous and more heroic, of course I was ecstatic.
BUT.
I was 2% into it, and I should know better than to make assumptions, especially about a retelling of anything by Shakespeare.
Tackling Shakespeare is a challenging endeavor. It’s freaking Shakespeare. How do you retell a story written a master? The master?
To attempt it requires more courage than the average writer can muster. But to attempt it AND rewrite it to suit your purposes, to imagine your version of events superior?
That, friends, would be HUBRIS. #shameonme
I’ve seen several reviews where the reader has said things like, after the first couple chapters, they just couldn’t get into it, and that, to me, is baffling.
TQOIL has one of the best prologues I’ve ever read.
First line:
It begins when a wizard cleaves an island from the mainland, in response to the king destroying her temple.
What begins?
Just that easily, I was hooked.
The spectacular prologue was immediately followed by an introduction to a character and an island that were so vivid, so magical, that I wanted to jump up and down shrieking, “I want to talk to trees! I want to see a bird’s dreams! I want the wind to be my messenger!”
I want to live in this world!
Characters that I’d thought I knew and knew well became infinitely more complex. More damaged. More covetous. Anger became fury. Thoughtless remained thoughtful but became loyal and well-intentioned as well. Good became naive, became heartbroken, became a strong and worthy queen.
And a story I already loved became something so much more.
Did it hurt?
Absolutely.
Tragedy is tragedy, and Shakespearen tragedy . . . WHUH.
But Gratton so expertly crafted this expanded version that despite the respect she clearly has for this tale and its creator, she was able to give us a less bleak future. Those left standing are worthy of their survival. They’ve learned from Lear’s mistakes and don’t repeat them. They are poised to let their island heal their wounds, healing their island in return.
THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR more than a tragedy. It’s life lessons. How shutting yourself off from the ones who love you can be the root of your own destruction. It’s about recognizing when someone can be saved and when they can’t. It’s hard choices and unbridled hope.
After swearing off televised specials (b/c of the fiasco that the last one was in No Humans Involved), she gets roped into doing 3.5 stars
Poor Jaime.
After swearing off televised specials (b/c of the fiasco that the last one was in No Humans Involved), she gets roped into doing another one, but hopes to mitigate the potential fallout by including very specific demands in her contract.
Alas, she is thwarted . . .
SO. Apparently there are lots of WotO fans who hate Jaime. I'm not one of them. If you are, you might want to skip this one, but if you're on the fence . . . it might help you understand her a bit better. It offers insight into her and Jeremy's relationship, specifically, his influence helping her save the self-deprecation for the Hollywood types, which in turn explains why she does it all.
Beyond that, it was creeptastic. Seriously. Ghosts are never my thing, but this time . . . like I said, CREEPY.
Definitely worth a shot for the die-hard fan.
SIDENOTE: there are illustrations in a lot of Armstrong's novellas, and I've mostly found them to be . . . distracting. Not this time. Ever since I binge watched Bitten on Netflix, I haven't been able to get passed how creeped out I was by the actor playing Jeremy. While I found the sexy times to be a bit awkward, I definitely appreciated the pic of a very non-creeptacular Jeremy--it helped me break out of the mindset.
Merged review:
3.5 stars
Poor Jaime.
After swearing off televised specials (b/c of the fiasco that the last one was in No Humans Involved), she gets roped into doing another one, but hopes to mitigate the potential fallout by including very specific demands in her contract.
Alas, she is thwarted . . .
SO. Apparently there are lots of WotO fans who hate Jaime. I'm not one of them. If you are, you might want to skip this one, but if you're on the fence . . . it might help you understand her a bit better. It offers insight into her and Jeremy's relationship, specifically, his influence helping her save the self-deprecation for the Hollywood types, which in turn explains why she does it all.
Beyond that, it was creeptastic. Seriously. Ghosts are never my thing, but this time . . . like I said, CREEPY.
Definitely worth a shot for the die-hard fan.
SIDENOTE: there are illustrations in a lot of Armstrong's novellas, and I've mostly found them to be . . . distracting. Not this time. Ever since I binge watched Bitten on Netflix, I haven't been able to get passed how creeped out I was by the actor playing Jeremy. While I found the sexy times to be a bit awkward, I definitely appreciated the pic of a very non-creeptacular Jeremy--it helped me break out of the mindset....more
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