Hey all. So sorry I've been AWOL this week- I just started my new job and have just finished reading this massive book for the tour:) To all the newcomers: Hi and welcome! Look around and enjoy, and if you like what you see please follow using whatever you want (my preferred method is GFC, but everything's good)!
Heidi Garrett
Romance, Fantasy
In the Enchanted World, true love’s first kiss is magic.
In the Enchanted World, true love’s first kiss is magic.
Nandana’s Mark, Book 1: When two half-faeries—Melia and her younger sister—are cursed under dreadful circumstances, true love’s first kiss is the remedy.
The Flower of Isbelline, Book 2: Nothing but true love’s first kiss can save Melia’s younger sister from blind ambition and ruin.
The Dragon Carnivale, Book 3: Melia must choose the freedom she cherishes or true love’s first kiss—and a relationship that promises to secure her place in the Whole.
The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fantasy fairy tale series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie.
When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.
As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her world view.
True Love’s First Kiss is a compilation of the first three books in this ongoing series.
First thing you should know about this book- it is biiiig. Took me longer than I expected to get invested into the story and even longer to finish it. Second thing you should know is that there are cliches in abundance- if words like true love's kiss, enchanted world, love at first sight etc bother you, this is probably not your book.
Still here? Congratulations, you're a hard core reader. Not to worry, it's worth the perseverance. True Love's First Kiss features many strong female characters- Flora, Tatou, Melusine and Sevondi were some of my favorites. Fighters all the way:)
I also enjoyed how the book explored relationships between sisters, mothers and daughters, old lovers. In my opinion more could have happened in that front- but I immensely enjoyed what there was. The motives were it's strongest point- you could really see how everyone acted out of love, desire for revenge, or to save their world. I look forward to the next books- I'm interested to hear more about the Albiana and Melia's mother.
In the spirit of the book tour, here is an excerpt of a chapter I liked: (I cut a bit from the middle)
'Plantine, wait!'
In a heartbeat, her sister was gone.
'No!'
Melia's single word dissolved in a gale force that whipped the trees, threatening to rip the vines from her grip. The cycloning winds turned icy. Her teeth chattered.
'Come and get her,' the dark voice challenged.
'You can count on that,' she whispered.'
About the Author
Heidi Garrett is the author of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series. Her personal message to all her readers is:
Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world, too…
May you always see the magic in your life.
The Queen of the Realm of Faerie includes many strong female characters within an intricate fantasy land. It is also a fairy tale fantasy.
The first book, Nandana’s Mark, is one of those free ebooks; the second book, The Flower of Isbelline, is now available; and the third book, The Dragon Carnivale, will be released in June 2013.
Heidi's hope is that when you read her books, you will rediscover the enchantment in your own life.
She currently resides in Eastern Washington State with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Being from the South, she finds it very magical.
Hope you guys enjoyed the tour! The author is a lovely woman who you should definitely contact through twitter!
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Esty, thank you so much for having me on Boarding with Books, and being part of the tour. I appreciate your perseverance in reading and am glad that you ended up enjoying it, cause it is biiiig:) Heidi
ReplyDeleteGood review & excerpt. Thanks for participating :)
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