Weekend Reads: Love and Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean

 

Source: Goodreads.com

Love & Other Great Expectations, Becky Dean's debut novel is one of my favorite books of 2022 and ranks high among all books I've read. It's so fun and engaging! I had to force myself to put the book down to eat, work, sleep, and generally adult.
It's rare that I identify with heroines and a non-bookish athlete is not one I expected to find such a connection. And yet I did. Probably because our heroine is a thinks-before-she-speaks extrovert. So many authors are introverts and consequently, so are YA heroines often spilling more about themselves with pens or keyboards except for the dystopian chosen ones. Then their few words flip Shakespeare and swords take on the might of their authors' pens. But Britt wields neither pen nor sword but a soccer ball. Or at least she used to...

Britt Hanson is neither bookish nor brawny. She's a wounded athlete with no hope of attending UCLA once her soccer scholarship is pulled after a career-ending injury. That is until her English teacher invites Britt, her former best friend, an ambitious classmate, and an annoying one on a literary scavenger hunt in England.

Equipped with only a battered gym bag with a less than sturdy construction, Britt becomes an international traveler. Albeit one with a rather embarrassing baggage claim arrival. Whisked off to a posh London townhouse, Britt with her rule-following "babysitter" she sets off on a series of literary quests.

At their first stop, an orphanage, Britt meets Luke a bookish and very cute British boy with a future as uncertain as Britt's. Through their scavenger hunt (Luke can't help - that's against the rules), the clues teach Britt about Dickens, Chaucer, Austen, and other things she didn't learn in English class. But this is a competition with one winner, and all competitors have reasons they need the prize.

While unraveling the clues they experience a sword fight, high tea, and a camping trip with a quirky family. But someone is determined to win at all costs, and Britt is put in danger. One stop forces Luke to encounter the place of his greatest pain.

All the while, Britt's key to victory, completing a journal of her adventures, eludes her and may keep her from her dreams. She's a YA heroine. She has to be born to write great things and win the day. Except Britt is "not like every girl" (er, YA heroine) in a great twist on this classic trope. Writing is not her thing. And even as a writer, I love her for it.

But lest you think Britt is nothing but a vapid chatterbox, the pool under her churning waters is deep. Britt hides a soccer-career ending medical condition, not the obvious ACL-surgery scar but one that runs literally to her marrow. It's in that depth she connects with Luke the kind boy who is good with the written word. And in her enthusiasm, she pulls Luke out of his own pain.

Labor Day is around the corner, and this is the perfect weekend read. And feel free to pass it to the teenage girls in your life. It's a clean read with PG content. There are late-night talks and a few kisses but no heat, and I don't recall any objectionable language or content.

Weekend Reads: Asperfell by Jamie Thomas (Laurie)

We made it to another weekend! I don't know about you, but in our house that feels like a major accomplishment these days :) And since it's Friday, I get to share a book recommendation with you! 

Last week, Sarah reviewed a Regency-era fantasy called Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal. I thought I'd continue in that vein by sharing about another Jane Austen-esque fantasy - Asperfell by Jamie Thomas!

Briony spent much of her childhood far from home, raised apart from the dangerous court intrigues of a king whose fear and intolerance of magic caused him to banish his own brother to Asperfell, an indestructible prison in a different realm designed specifically to hold the most threatening mages. When her father's participation in a rebellion is discovered, Briony finds herself face to face with the vicious king, sentenced to death for possessing magic her parents had desperately tried to keep hidden. In a last-ditch attempt to procure the king's downfall, the rebellion saves Briony by instead sending her to Asperfell, hoping she can find a way back with the mage-prince who should've inherited the throne. In Asperfell, Briony struggles to unearth the secrets of the prison and her own magical talents, all while suffering the indifference and snide remarks of Prince Elyan and the cruelty of her fellow prisoners. But just as she settles in with a new set of alliances and a distinctive use for her newly-discovered magic, a betrayal sends her on the run once more, making her quest all the more urgent.

This book was so beautifully written! I loved the lush prose, vivid descriptions, and sophisticated writing style. The prison of Asperfell was a fascinating concept, as were the various types of mages in the fantasy world. Briony was a fun character to adventure with, and I appreciated the complexity and dynamics of the secondary characters throughout the book. Although a certain gentleman made me frustrated on numerous occasions, the hints of romance did make me grin :) The opening chapters were a little on the slow side since there was a fair amount of back story, but even then the hints of mystery kept me reading, and once Briony reached Asperfell I could hardly put it down! Based on something I saw on Goodreads, Book Two is expected to release sometime in 2021 - I'm very much looking forward to it!

(While this was a clean read as a whole, there were a few descriptions that were a bit graphic, especially an instance of unwanted sexual advances. They were handled well and central to the story, but if you prefer to avoid such content this might not be the book for you.)

What have you been reading lately? Do you have any Jane Austen-style fantasy books to recommend?

Thanks for reading!

Laurie

Top 3 Romance Book Quotes (Julie)

One week from now I will be married and on my honeymoon!! It's such an exciting (and nerve wracking) time! Here's what goes on in my head: is it going to rain on our outdoor wedding (very possible on a tropical island)? Or will there be a typhoon? Will everything look nice? Will the flies stay out of the food? Yes, those are the issues that we will have to deal with when/if they come up. But despite all of those "if's", I am super excited for a wonderful day no matter what.

One important thing I still need to do is write my vows (here's looking at you, Google)
  
In honor of the writing of vows and all the knee-buckling, swooning, butterfly inducing words to be written, here are three romantic quotes from books:

3)Pride and Prejudice ( of course something from a Jane Austen book had to be on here=)

“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”

2) Although the story is sad, it's a beautiful line from Nicholas Sparks's The Notebook:

 “I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough.”

1) This one surprised me considering it comes from a beloved kid's story/series, but A.A. Milne, through the wonderful voice of Winnie the Pooh, said this:

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you." 

Do you have any swoon-worthy, knee-buckling lines from books that you love?

"A Blundering of Blue Sparkles" (Curse and Consequence Blog Tour)

We are so excited to welcome Savannah Jezowski to Lands Uncharted today as part of her Curse and Consequence Blog Tour! My path first crossed with Savannah when we both had stories published in the Mythical Doorways anthology, and when I heard her latest book described as "Jane Austen meets dragons," I just had to know more! I'll share all the details about Curse and Consequence and the blog tour below, but first here's Savannah telling us about the magic system in her story! Enjoy!

The warm glow continued until only a thin strand of blue sparkles coiled around Hugh, like a weak chain desperately fighting to keep him contained.

(Excerpt from Curse and Consequence) 

Magic has fascinated readers for generations.

I am no exception. I grew up watching Disney fairy tales and reading classics by C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Diana Wynne Jones, Gail Carson Levine, and Lloyd Alexander. I loved the feeling of being myself enchanted as I entered these fantastical worlds filled with magic rings and oracular pigs.

Magic can be tricky to write, because it has to make sense within your story world. It needs to have its own rules and boundaries, or else it comes across as trite and too convenient. You also have to decide what your magic will look like: is it all smoke and shadows? Lightning strikes and flashes of light? Is it invisible? What does it sound like? What does it smell like? How is it conjured? By a snap of the fingers? A magic wand? A thought?

For my story, I decided to go with sparkles and glowing lights. My design clients will tell you that I love sparkles—they’re so shiny and sparkly and make everything more exciting. For my light-hearted, humorous tale, sparkly just seemed to make sense. I didn’t want anything too grim or sinister.

When I set out to design the magical system in Curse and Consequence, I also wanted something a little more complicated than Girl Touches a Magic Spindle and Boy Saves Her with a True Love’s Kiss. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…but I love character driven stories. I love personality conflicts and misunderstandings, and I wanted my story world to reflect this.

In Curse and Consequence, like many fairy tales, you’ll find the basic curse that needs breaking, as well as the spiteful soul who casts the spell—in this case, a greedy faery. Unlike many story worlds, however, such as Harry Potter or Howl’s Moving Castle, you won’t find any magic wands or complicated spells. You won’t find magical orbs or pools of enchanted water.

There are no oracular pigs.

The magical system in Dragonshire is more genetic in nature: only those with faery heritage possess it. It’s not something that can be learned or obtained through a magical object like a talisman. Either you have it, or you don’t.

Most importantly, magic is directly related to the emotions and thoughts of the characters.

Is it the kiss that breaks the curse or actually the intentions behind the kiss? Similarly, is it the caster or the emotion driving the curse that truly matters in the end?

(Excerpt from Curse and Consequence) 

It’s difficult to say much more on this subject without giving away awful SPOILERS. I should probably just tell you that curses affected by the intents of the heart are much more difficult to break than one that simply requires two bat wings and the essence of a unicorn.

You can’t just go to the faery supermarket and buy yourself a remedy.

So if you decide to visit Dragonshire in the near future, just don’t run amuck of any faery curses.

They’re terribly complicated to get out of.


Thank you so much for sharing with us, Savannah! Doesn't Curse and Consequence sound like fun? Here's the back cover blurb:

When Love visits Ravenhead Hall, sparks fly…quite literally.

Miss Rea Abernathy only wants to honor the family who has taken her under their wing, rescuing her from a life of poverty. But thanks to two determined suitors, she finds herself in a state far worse than the one from which her benefactress saved her.

When Mr. Sedgwick Whitby sets his sights on his mother’s sweet-tempered pig keeper, his orderly life is thrown into chaos: Rea’s station is less–than-desirable, and another gentleman may be pursuing her. Hoping to get his annoyingly charming twin brother out of the way, Sedgwick purchases a simple curse from a disreputable faery which consequently plunges them all into a misfortune far more serious than troubles of the heart.

With time running out to break the curse and tempers flying high, can Sedgwick and Rea set things right and find love after all? Jane Austen meets dragons in this frolicking fantasy romance about a comely pig keeper, two wealthy gentlemen, and the curse binding them all together. Perfect for fans of Diana Wynne Jones and Gail Carson Levine.




I love it! You can find Curse and Consequence on Amazon and Goodreads. And here's a little more about the author:

Savannah Jezowski lives in Amish country with her Knight in Shining Armor and a wee warrior princess. She is the founder of Dragonpen Designs and Dragonpen Press, which offers author services such as cover design, developmental edits, and interior formatting. Her debut novella “Wither” is featured in Five Enchanted Roses, an anthology of Beauty and the Beast, and is a prequel to The Neverway Chronicles, a Christian fantasy series filled with tragic heroes and the living dead. She is also the author of When Ravens Fall, a Norse Beauty and the Beast retelling. She is featured in several Fellowship of Fantasy anthologies, including Mythical Doorways, Tales of Ever After, and Paws, Claws, and Magic Tales. When she isn’t writing, Savannah likes to read books, watch BBC miniseries, and play with cover design. She also enjoys having tea with her imaginary friends.




You can connect with Savannah on her website, newsletter, Facebook page, Facebook group, Twitter, and Amazon author page. Make sure to catch the rest of the blog tour stops! Here's the full schedule:


Monday, June 1st

- Katherine Brown Books: Book Review
- C O Bonham: Book Review
- Beka Gremikova: Book Review & Book Excerpt


Tuesday, July 2nd

- Jessica Belmont: Book Review
- Lands Uncharted: Guest Post on Magic
- The L. Palmer Chronicles: Guest Post on Themes of Curse and Consequence


Wednesday, July 3rd

- Paper, Ink, Lizard: Book Review
- Baroness’ Book Trove: Book Review


Thursday, July 4th

- She Hearts Fiction: Guest Post on Themes of Curse and Consequence & Book Review
- Flowers of Quiet Happiness: Book Review


Friday, July 5th

- Annie Louise Twitchell: Book Review
- Selina J. Eckert: Book Spotlight
- Kyle Robert Shultz: Book Review & Author Interview
- Pooled Ink: Book Review


Saturday, July 6th

- The Rustic Reading Gal: Book Spotlight
- Bold Reads: Book Review & Book Excerpt


Sunday, July 7th

- Unicorn Quester: Blog Tour Wrap-Up

Book Review: Heartstone by Elle Katharine White (Lizzie)

They say a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay—and Merybourne Manor has plenty of monsters.

Heartstone by Elle Katharine White

I was surprised and curious when I heard about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but I wasn't curious enough to deal with the grotesque additions to Austen's beloved story. So when a friend recommended a fantasy retelling of Pride and Prejudice because the author's style was similar to mine (meaning we were both influenced by Austen) and it had dragons, I decided to read it. I'm glad I did. Elle Katharine White's Heartstone passes the test for this picky Jane Austen fan and is a good story in its own right.

The Island of Arle is home to many creatures. Some creatures are friendly to humans. Some are not, and between these monsters--gryphons, banshees, lamias, and more--and humans stand the Riders, an elite class of warriors, proud and deadly. They are aided by the tougher of the friendly creatures--dragons, wyvern,  and beoryns. Alistair Daired, dragon rider, belongs to this group of warriors. You've probably already guessed that this is the Darcy character and that Elizabeth Bennett's character, Aliza Betaine, is not from among the Riders. Aliza meets Daired, and Brynsey and Charis (Bingly and sister), when they are hired to rid her area of gryphons after a gryphon kills her sister (Kitty's character). Unfortunately, the battles to keep the Tekari (the unfriendly creatures) at bay ultimately becomes a war for the entire land of Arle when the Greater Lindworm is awakened.

 White's story world is intriguing with its blend of adorable garden hobgoblins, fearsome lamias, friendly dragons, and powerful forgewights (I really liked these), as well as an interesting culture that is in some ways similar to Austen's and in some ways utterly White's own. The title refers to the stone each Tekari  has in its heart. These stones, jewels, are used as engagement stones. Kinda creepy, but it fits the warrior culture. There is violence and death and sorrow, but it is not too much and is not graphic.

Not only did I like the world White set the story in, I also like how she blended Austen's story into that world. Austen's characters were easy to spot with cleverly similar names. For a fun addition, Mr. Collins's character's first name was Wynce. Wynce Curdred. She also softened some of the characters, redeeming even Mr. Collins's character in a way fitting to Austen (Aliza realizes she misjudged Collins, that despite his flaws, he's a kind, wise magistrate). However, Wickham's character is suitably corrupt, but there is never much of a connection between him and Aliza, as there is in Austen's story. Aliza is likable and brave. She's surprisingly prone to eavesdropping, not a typical trait of an Austen heroine. She's also a healer, a skill I always reading about. To my great satisfaction, Daired is more than the handsome, rich, madly-in-love hero some reduce him to. White purposely portrays him as a man of good character who changes when he recognizes his faults--a true Darcy.

In conclusion, if you like fantasy with a cool world (and dragons), if you like Pride and Prejudice, then you should add Elle Katharine White's Heartstone to your reading list--somewhere near the top of it.

Also, White has a sample chapter and several story extras on her website, including character profiles and a few pages of Mari's bestiary with illustrations of some of the story's monsters, if you'd like a sneak peak.

Have you read any Pride and Prejudice retellings that you'd recommend? Or do you have any favorite magical creatures?