I love this book. It starts with us knowing just as little as Aspen does but oh so quickly we learn more about the world Aspen has forgotten about. The writing is fun, and the characters are wonderfully complicated. The majority of the book is first person from Aspen’s POV and I did find myself screaming a few times at the screen for her NOT TO TRUST THEM. But did she listen? No, she’s stubborn and wonderful and human and determined. Well she did listen, but that didn’t stop her doing what needed to be done anyway. I adore Rachel Rener’s writing voice and her humour is fabulous. Can’t wait to read the next book. This first one ended perfectly, enough things tied up to make this reader happy and satisfied while opening up a whole other can of WTF so that I NEED the next book.
Six months on from the end of book 1 the fate of stars, we find Tallorah miserable. Things move quickly as a seemingly natural disaster turns out to be anything but. S d simpers writing is as beautiful as ever. We are pulled back into the world of characters that I adored and get introduced to a few extra for good measure. The balance of heartbreak, humour (I saw those tongue in cheek little mermaid references), and steam are balanced perfectly. The juggling of events making an intriguing story as we try to piece together motives and mysteries. Love the themes of trust, loyalty, and responsibility. But the end. Oh hell, I have no choice but to run off and get book number 3 …
Second book in the bridge series. I just adore the world of these books. The writing is enjoyable enough but at times it felt a little repetitive about information we have already learned. This might be more helpful if people read them out of order etc. but reading them in the series as a whole it got a bit annoying at times.
I keep falling more in love with the characters and absolutely adored getting a second POV for this book 😁
There were lots of chuckling moments throughout this read and once again, a brilliant urban fantasy bringing in new takes on many myths. I may have rubbed my hands together many times and muttered ‘hmmm the plot thickens’ more than once. I love the breadcrumbs and hints of more for the overarching story.
What a collection. Charlotte langtree explores the strength of the female through fantastical worlds and many with myths based on older gods. It’s delicious. The writing is wonderful with an emphasis on happy endings but not without some sacrifices and struggles. My thoughts about each of the stories in the collection.
Drummer girl – brutal and beautiful rhythm of words. Two time periods that jump back and forth
The Falar Path – dripped in to the middle, scrambling to learn more. Gods and promises, trees and torture. A Devine story. One of my favourites. Who is the boy? Are we supposed to assume?
Once a Queen – the ferryman and gods and battles … what a rush and an amazingly well written story
The changeling’s sword – Intense and bloody and full of revenge and anger. Fae and human. Ended a bit quickly. I would love more story in this world.
Cwenhild – tribal warriors, blood, tricksters and dragons. Brilliantly balanced with action, story, and personal risk and reward.
Wind-Dancer – this was an intense and well developed adventure. Of all the stories this one hints at something else to come. And oh how I hope so.
The Sleeping God – an interesting read. Well written and lighter in some ways despite the apocalypse. Hinting at a life remembered of the sleeping god.
Him, Her, and Lavender Lylah – intriguing and intense. The writing gave me Stephen King’s Rose Madder vibes … divine and building, knowing shits only going to get worse.
And then boom just like that Langtree pulls the thread she has sewn through this collection and my mind is blown next level.
I love the world building in this book. It’s fun and complete. Schubach’s play on fairytales and myths are always fun. The characters are awesome. Kick arse sapphic warrior types and of course a side character who takes much offence with being called small. It’s a Fae and human world with a curse Kane never wanted and a history that she holds a lot of anger and resentment over. The start is a bit shaky, but then we time jump and oh the story flies by with Kane’s learning she is not crazy, and never has been. Erik Schubach’s worlds are my go to lightish fantasy that helps get me smiling and is almost a palate cleanser between the heavier epic fantasies. I am loving this series of his and will dive into the rest of the bridge books soon.
Sapphic Speculative Fiction at it’s finest. The Fate of Stars is book one in a series that I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of. A slow burn, enemies to lovers adventure in a world where Gods and demons and celestials simply are. And boy are they all levels of complicated and petty, beautiful and vicious. And then, lets throw in mermaids as well for extra gigs. This book is truly beautiful. From the writing to the heartbreak. The fighting and torture (yep, there is some of that) to the gentleness and twisted caring. Everything about this is wonderful and addictive. The characters, though mythical creatures, were such realistic people that their trials and struggles hit all the right oomphs in the feels. No one, not even Celestials are perfect or infallible. The characters don’t always win the battles or the struggles. And I love the uncertainty of the characters’ fates. At every turn I honestly wasn’t sure just what would happen next, and I loved every minute of it. The ending, oh my the ending, was phenomenal. It sets up book two in all those perfect ways and I will be diving in to book two as soon as I can.
An intriguing collection. I did enjoy the copper eyes that threaded the stories together alongside the broken skies. I enjoyed many of the stories but my top two were definitely Bring down the Sky by David Green and Topher the World by Derek Power. Two ultimate ends of the fantasy spectru0m. Here are a few notes (all my own personal opinion) about each of the stories.
Swampers: Interesting world building. A familiar past comes back to haunt you theme. Was a little jarring in places and think it might work better as a longer story, with characters developed more.
Darkwhale: Enjoyable and visual. I am such a fan of riders in stories. There is so much more to be discovered in this. I love to think Tom grew as a person to care more about his own acceptance rather than his fathers.
Topher the World: A chuckle of a read. Gave me complete terry Pritchett vibes. Loved it. Was a great break on the intense seriousness of the collection.
The righteous old guard: Pretty gory read. Well written but for me it dragged a little with the detailed battle. Vicious and brutal and felt as though it were perhaps a starting chapter to something bigger but on its own not complete.
Ocean Cloud: A good read with some enjoyable use of language. I liked the history of the world and the king, and it was an unexpected ending.
Bring down the sky: Oh my. This story is such a beautiful example of David Green’s writing. It’s brilliant and consuming, pulling you along while engaging the senses. I love Green’s characters in this story. The unwilling MC, not by any means a hero and complex baddies are definitely my cup of tea. Bravo! Easily my favourite story in the collection so far.
Stormchild: I enjoyed the writing and story, lots of description, though it felt a little out of place in the anthology. An epic adventure a little too long for the rest of the pieces of the anthologies puzzle.
Something wondrous: This is a fun, and quick read. Set in a prison in the past, we get into the story with brilliant skill from the author. And then, just when I was wondering how this fits in to the anthology. Boom! We get these answers and freakin twisted ties and turns. Some Never Ending Story vibes.
The ending was unexpected but it left me unsatisfied.
This book is so much darker than I expected it to be. Not sure if the cover gave me false ideas of the ‘cuteness’, or that it is considered a YA novel, but man did it hit hard in places. It was a really interesting experience. I enjoyed it, but not sure how to recommend it with such dark triggering things and yet, I want others to read it and talk to me about it. I want to discuss it until I see it on the back of my eyelids. The writing was truly magnificent and delicious, the story weaved perfectly together, and the world building was so real and tangible. Cruelty of the seas is a huge theme, while the characters fight against the binaries and seeming fates of their births. Betrayal and heartbreak, loss and revenge are also huge themes. As well as ideas of what makes family or loyalty, and what breaks them. I loved this read and will add it to my ever growing list of must have a physical copy of.
OMFG … I think I might have repeated this many many times throughout listening to this book, but I’ll try to real it back and go a little step by step. First, we have two smashing (Sapphic) main characters, stubborn and as similar as they are different. There’s an enemies to lovers, slow burn romance delicately balanced within fear and bravery and loyalty. With a whole lot of swearing, drinking, fantastic orgasms, and moments where the only way you can really react is by laughing out loud. The sex scenes were well worth the wait, and though there were not many of them the steaminess of the book was brilliant and intense. I also adored the brilliant way consent was handled. OMFG! The narrator, Lindsey Dorcus was incredible. I adore her skills at truly pulling you into the story, and damn if I didn’t find myself swooning along with several of the characters. The story itself was brilliant. From the very beginning you knew exactly what world you were diving in to. And that world is phenomenal. Pirates, sword fights, dragons, and magic. I mean, who am I to deny a OMFG here, really? Next we get these absolutely well rounded, contradictory and entirely realistic characters that you can’t help but love, no matter just how absolutely messed up they are. And the writing, oh the writing is absolutely freaking spectacular. The push and pull between action and emotion, information and clarification is so beautifully weaved together that yes, I do believe in this world and the reality of magic. And the ending …. OMFG!
A Sapphic fake relationship adventure set in a medieval fantasy world where dragons are real, and seers read prophecies of the future. A very fun and enjoyable read. I found it quite a light read, with lots and lots of steaaaaaaaaaaam.
I enjoyed the main characters and the banter between them as they got to know each other. I also loved the authors decision to only show the story from one of the characters perspective.
For all that there is a dragon, I was worried through the mid section of the book as we don’t see the dragon, though it is mentioned often. Extremely happy to see the dragon return in the second half of the book.
I got total old school dragons and knights vibes with the Sapphic twist I always needed. Not only are the two women in the fake relationship, and while it’s questioned it is more accepted than now. I also adored the play with gender in this world building. It is wonderful, refreshing, and made me smile through much of the book.
The audio was well done, though a little slow for my taste. Speeding it up to 1.5 fixed that for me though.
Neen Cohen 