ARC Review: Soul in Darkness by Wendy Higgins

Soul in Darkness

By Wendy Higgins

Standalone

YA Mythology Retelling

February 12, 2019 by Wendy Higgins

Blurb:

People travel from afar to the small isle in the Aegean Sea hoping for a single glimpse of Princess Psyche. Their adoration for the mortal woman is so all-consuming that citizens begin to shower her with the very gifts and offerings they once left at the alter of Venus, goddess of love and beauty.

But gods are known for their jealousy.

Cupid, the god of love, takes pleasure in causing strife and mischief in the lives of humans. He uses love as a weapon, humoring in the weakness of people at the whims of their feelings. When his mother Venus approaches him about punishing the human girl who dares to steal her offerings and affections from the people, Cupid gladly accepts.

Psyche's punishment is to be given to a mysterious creature who only comes to her in the dark of night under the pact that she will never lay eyes on him. She is terrified of this stranger, who the oracle described as a serpent. Her mate, however, is masterful in his dealings with his bride. He takes his time, morphing her fears into different sensations completely.

Based on the Roman/Greek mythology of Cupid and Psyche by Lucius Apuleius, New York Times bestseller Wendy Higgins brings the tale to life, weaving layers that show exactly how a sacrificial lamb can be enchanted by an unseen monster.

Adult Historical Fantasy. Standalone.

My Review:

I feel conflicted about this one. I usually love this author's books, even going so far as to say I'd read and love anything she wrote. Then I read Soul in Darkness.

I'll start off by saying that even though I love mythology, I'm not familiar with the Cupid and Psyche myth. When I first heard about this book I was excited about the premise and I still think it's kind of a cool idea and I liked the setting, I just was not fond of Psyche. I found her really immature and annoying at times. In the beginning of the novel it gets old real quick that Psyche's thought wave is basically "everyone thinks I'm beautiful so I can get away with anything" and even though she claims to hate being treated that way she uses it to her advantage.

Despite this being by my favorite author I nearly DNF'd it a couple time, finally forcing myself to get to the halfway point before deciding to keep going or stop.

At times the story dragged and was a bit predictable but it does get better (more exciting) toward the end of the book which redeemed it enough for me to give it 3 stars.

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟

3 of 5 Stars!

Book Review: Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones

Shadowsong (Wintersong Duology #2) by S. Jae-Jones

Blurb:

Six months after the end of Wintersong, Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother’s and her own musical careers. Although she is determined to look forward and not behind, life in the world above is not as easy as Liesl had hoped. Her younger brother Josef is cold, distant, and withdrawn, while Liesl can’t forget the austere young man she left beneath the earth, and the music he inspired in her. 

When troubling signs arise that the barrier between worlds is crumbling, Liesl must return to the Underground to unravel the mystery of life, death, and the Goblin King—who he was, who he is, and who he will be. What will it take to break the old laws once and for all? What is the true meaning of sacrifice when the fate of the world—or the ones Liesl loves—is in her hands?

My Review:

Shadowsong picks up six months after Wintersong. Liesl is back in the world of the living working in the inn alongside her mother and sister Kathe, Josef is still away with his mentor Master Antonius and his beloved Francois, their father is newly dead, their grandmother Constanze is growing madder by the day, and people in the village are dying off - found dead in their beds without a clear cause of death aside from blue on their lips and frosty slashes on their throats. 

Liesl is adrift, mourning the end of her relationship with The Goblin King and she's unable to compose anything let alone finish The Wedding Night Sonata. When the family receives a troubling letter from Josef and another correspondence from a mysterious new benefactor Liesl and Kathe leave Bavaria for Vienna to start their lives over and be reunited with Josef. But Josef is changed, he's no longer the child Liesl grew up doting on but a cold, withdrawn young man full of resentment. 

Tensions are high as they settle into life in Vienna and soon questions begin to arise about their mysterious benefactor. Why did the Count bring them all to Vienna? What does he really want with them? Are the things people say about the Count, wild stories about sacrifices and opium laden parties, true?

Liesl, Josef, Kathe, and Francois are about to learn that their unseen patron has a very specific need for Liesl - one that has nothing to do with music and everything to do with the Underground world she left behind. 

Shadowsong is beautifully written, lyrical prose that drew me back into the world I fell so in love with in Wintersong. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting of the sequel, it was so much more. Where Wintersong was about Liesl discovering who she is and coming to terms with it (and of course our introduction to the sexy Goblin King), Shadowsong is about the bonds between siblings and the rifts that can tear us about, about love and loss, depression and despair. It felt rich with myth and legends, like the stories passed down from generation to generation to explain mundane things like winter and the changing of the seasons in mythical ways, like I was back in school studying mythology.

Maybe because I love someone who suffers from depression, but this book spoke to me in a way that almost moved me to tears in its realistic beauty. I thought the feelings of Liesl, Josef, The Goblin King, and the people who loved them were well plotted. I felt like I could understand and relate to all of the characters at one point or another. 

I loved that this book was written in multiple POVs, in the perspectives of not just Liesl but Josef, The Goblin King, and even occasionally Kathe and Francois and that there were also passages where we could peek into The Goblin King's past. It made for a richer reading experience, at least for me. I also greatly appreciate the glossary at the end of the book. It was the one thing that I had wished I'd had with Wintersong because although I can understand a little French, my German is very limited. 

Overall, I really loved this book. It was better than I could have hoped for and the ending was perfect. I wouldn't have wanted it to be any other way.

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

5 of 5 Stars!

About the author:

S. JAE-JONE (called JJ) is an artist, an adrenaline junkie, and erstwhile editrix. When not obsessing over books, she can be found jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, co-hosting the Pub(lishing) Crawl podcast, or playing dress-up. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she now lives in North Carolina, as well as many other places on the internet, including Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, and her blog.

Book Review: Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Blurb:

Deep in his terrifying realm underground, the cold and forbidding Goblin King casts a dark shadow over nineteen-year-old Liesl. Her grandmother had always warned her to follow the old laws, for every year on the longest night of winter the Goblin King will emerge into the waking world in search of his eternal bride. Sensible and plain, Liesl knows it's her duty to keep her beautiful sister safe from harm, but she wishes only to indulge in her wild, captivating music, composed and played in secret in the Goblin King's honor.

When her beautiful sister Käthe is stolen by the Goblin King, Liesl knows she must set aside her childish fantasies to journey to the Underground and save her. Drawn despite herself to the strange, beautiful world she finds--and the mysterious man who rules it--she finds herself facing an impossible choice. With time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

Set at the turn of the 19th century, when young upstart composers like Beethoven were forever altering the sound of music, S. Jae-Jones' richly imagined debut spins a spellbinding tale of music, love, sisterhood, and a young woman's search for self-actualization.

My Review: 

Nineteen-year-old Liesl has always set aside her wants and needs for the wants and needs of others, namely her younger siblings, Josef and Kathe. Liesl is a talented composer but since her father doesn't believe women are capable of being great composers and musicians she hides her talent behind her talented, virtuoso brother, Josef who takes her compositions and brings them to life on his violin. And Liesl has always deferred to her younger, prettier sister Kathe who is betrothed to Liesl's secret crush, Hans. 

Liesl has put off her own happiness for so long and completely forgotten about her stolen childhood moments in the Goblin Grove and the playmate she spent hours playing with there. But her playmate, the Goblin King, has not forgotten Liesl, nor has he forgotten the games and promises they once shared. 

When Liesl spots an elegant stranger in the market and then Kathe goes missing, her superstitious grandmother, Constanze tells her the only way to get her back is to travel to the Underground and rescue her from the Lord of Mischief himself, the Goblin King. It won't be an easy task but Liesl will persevere - not giving up until she finds herself in the Underground. But saving Kathe won't be as easy as striding in, grabbing her, and racing home. Will Liesl be able to break the Goblin King's hold on Kathe's mind and get her safely into the world above? Can she pass the tests the Goblin King sets before her? Or will Liesl have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save her sister? 

The ultimate sacrifice - a life for a life. As Liesl selflessly gives herself up to the Goblin King and becomes his wife, his Goblin Queen, she believes it is the worst thing that has ever happened. But as she's about to learn, it may be the only way to finally free herself of the constraints she's place around herself. In the Underground she'll find love, passion, and above all - she'll find herself. But with her life slipping away, will she be able to enjoy her non-life to the fullest before it's too late? 

Wintersong is a truly beautiful novel. It's sexy, romantic, and shows the true love of a sister who would do anything for the siblings she loves. Alternately, the Goblin King is a broken, bitter creature that's afraid to allow himself to love until Liesl comes along and gives him hope. I think I was half in love with the Goblin King from the Overture at the beginning of the book and I loved watching he and Liesl (called Elisabeth later in the book) interact and fall in love. 

I thought all the mentions of music in the book to be well researched, leading me to believe the author is either an accomplished musician or composer or someone that really did a lot of great, in depth research on the topic of composing. I thought the storyline was beautiful and rich with mythology, reminding me heavily of the Persephone myth, with a slight variation. 

The only issues I had with the book were the sections that were written in German. I would have been so much more appreciative if there had either been a footnote, or a glossary at the end of the book, or even a translation in English after the word or phrase was uttered to explain what it meant. Also, there were a few grammatical errors that I felt got overlooked and I had to double check (since I got Wintersong from the library) that it was a finished copy and not just an ARC that hadn't gone through the final stage of editing. 

Overall, I loved this book and I think it will stick with me for quite a while. By the time I got to the end I was pretty much bawling and I hope there's going to be a sequel, because I'd really like a happy ending for Elisabeth and her Goblin King. I also felt that it left it open for book two because the Goblins and the Changelings want Josef after all... that can't go without some kind of plot in a sequel. 

My Rating:

4.5/5 Stars!

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #62

I have a confession to make: I've been in a serious book slump lately. Last month I breezed through ten books in 31 days, but so far this month I haven't finished reading a single book I've started. I was beginning to worry that it was something wrong with me - maybe I've been reading too much lately, maybe I'm just not giving "insert name of book here" enough of a chance. At least 2-3 books have already hit the DNF pile so far this month. And then this amazing book came along and changed everything...

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Blurb:

Dark, romantic, and unforgettable, Wintersong is an enchanting coming-of-age story for fans of Labyrinth and Beauty and the Beast.

The last night of the year. Now the days of winter begin and the Goblin King rides abroad, searching for his bride…

All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind, her spirit, and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesl can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away.

But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds―and the mysterious man who rules it―she soon faces an impossible decision. And with time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

Rich with music and magic, S. Jae-Jones's Wintersong will sweep you away into a world you won’t soon forget.

Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far:

Wintersong was one of my most anticipated reads of this winter, so when I saw that I could put a hold on it through my local library I quickly did so. 

Have you ever read a book that when you started it you knew it would be an instant favorite? For me, Wintersong is one of those books. I fell in love with this story from the beginning and even though I'm just past a quarter into the book I'm already addicted. Will Liesl be able to rescue Kathe from the Goblin King without falling for him in the process? I'm dying to find out! The storytelling is wonderful and I don't want to put this book down. 

The only drawback I'm finding is the occasional random phrase in German. I'm having to use Google Translate just to understand some of it and if I could have offered a bit of advice, I like it when if an author uses a phrase or word in a foreign tongue they then explain what the word means in English. Or in the alternative, a footnote or end of the book glossary would be helpful. 

Book Review: Reawakened by Colleen Houck

Reawakened (Reawakened #1) by Colleen Houck

Blurb:

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification. And she really can’t imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe. But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world. 

My Review: 

17-year-old Lilliana "Lily" Young's well-controlled life is about to implode. Seeking a break from the decision her parents insist she must make during her spring break - pick a college and a major, starting college undecided is absolutely out of the question - she finds refuge in her favorite place, The Met. 

As she sits in the closed off Egyptian exhibit (a perk of her family being rich: not only does she have a lifetime pass, she also can hang out anywhere in the museum) she hears something in the curtained off area. Thinking it's a tourist lost in the exhibit Lily goes to investigate. 

What she doesn't expect to find is a gorgeous guy in a white pleated skirt looking for "his" canopic jars. When he can't find them he insists that Lily help him. Thinking he's a crazy person Lily attempts to leave but not before the guy has a chance to cast a spell on her binding them together. Lily manages to lose the guy, who calls himself Amon, for a little while but when he gets hit by a car Lily feels compelled to help him. 

At first, Lily thinks Amon is crazy or possibly sick, but soon what he's telling her and what he's able to do confirm what he is saying is true. Amon is a 1000+-year-old Egyptian demigod that is tasked with stopping the god of chaos, Seth from destroying the world. Amon needs Lily's energy because his canopic jars containing his organs have been stolen so she must travel with him to Egypt to reawaken his brothers so they can perform a ritual to stop Seth. 

As Lily reluctantly goes down the figurative rabbit hole with Amon, she finds herself changing. Prim, controlled Lilliana would have never accompanied Amon to Egypt but the person she's becoming is someone she likes a whole lot better. "Lily" is up for adventure and is embracing things as they happen. Not only that but her feelings for Amon are growing into something she never expected. Could a relationship between a mortal and a mummy/sun god ever really work out? Does Amon care for Lily the way she cares for him, and if so why does he keep pushing her away? 

Will Amon be able to reawaken his brothers and stop Seth? Will he drain too much of Lily's energy? Or will Seth finally succeed? 

Reawakened is an action-packed Egyptian adventure. At first, I wasn't sure I liked Lily because she reminded me a little of the uptight Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl, too concerned by what other people thought of her. But by the time Amon finally convinced Lily he wasn't crazy, sick, or lying I was hooked on the story. I needed to see what happened next. Amon's discovery of every new modern thing was hilarious.

When they reach Egypt the reader is swept into a place that is both the past and the present, filled with rich history and exciting Egyptian mythology. The story kept me riveted but the only thing I didn't like was that as Lily and Amon encountered new complications, woke his brothers, and their feelings for one another began to alter and grow, Amon became less and less of his cheerful self and more like a man that had the world resting on his shoulders. At that time Asten became the goofball of the group. I know it probably had to be that way for the plot to work but I loved seeing Amon's cheerful side. The end left me tearful and sad, but also hopeful that things will change in the next book. 

Overall, the characters and the story were easy to fall in love with, I thought the book was very well researched, and I can't wait to see if Amon and Lily will meet again in Recreated. 

Quotes I Loved From Reawakened:

"I do not understand. Then who will wash me?" - Amon, pg. 59

Amon rose immediately. "Yes. We will take a flying chariot to Egypt." - pg. 78

"I will not bend my body to fit into a chariot so small. My sarcophagus was more spacious." - Amon, pg. 102

My Rating: 

4.5 of 5 Stars