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eiie's review
5.0
Loved this book so much! This right here is the kind of story I always hope to find whenever I pick up a book.
christajls's review
4.0
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
I love the amount of fantasy titles that are on my radar this year. The Gypsy King is my second and it’s still January! I sat down with high expectations for this novel and I was overall really pleased with the fun, adventure filled story I got lost in.
I particularly liked Persephone as a heroine. Having grown up a slave, she was a little rough around the edges and developed a thick skin. But despite her unfortunate circumstances she still had a lighter, pleasant side. She’s quick with a laugh or a sarcastic comment. She also talks to and names all the animals she encounters. As an animal lover myself, I am instantly drawn to those who love them too.
I thought Persephone was at her best when she was interacting with Azriel. I loved the back and forth between them. There is a romance present but there’s so many other things going on, their relationship is placed on the back burner. I think this is a positive because it gave them more time to get to know one another and to grow alongside each other. They’re incredibly cute and they absolutely make me laugh. The one drawback was that I didn’t appreciate her all too frequent lies to him. This made their relationship seem a little one sided and at times I wanted her to get over herself.
But while I really enjoyed the protagonists of this story, I have mixed feeling about the villain - the Regent Mordecai. He was creeptastic. Don’t get me wrong. He was truly a horrible human being and his presence could give you goosebumps. But at times he felt a little two dimensional. He reminded me a lot of Jafar, from Aladdin. We know he’s bad, we know he wants power and control but we don’t know how and why he became so ruthless. I love complex villains and the Regent just didn’t do it for me.
I also found that some things felt a little too…convenient. I don’t mind the odd coincidence but when they start cropping up on a regular basis it takes me out of the story. In The Gypsy King animals are always showing up exactly at the moment when needed. Or a character happened to be a perfect pool of water right beside where she fell in the mud etc.
Like many first books, The Gypsy King, left me with a lot of questions. I want to know more about the kingdom, the Gypsy lifestyle, the circumstances that left to the genocide of their people. I don’t think the answers were missing from this book. It’s already 400 pages, there would have been no way to smoothly include all that surplus information. But these type of questions have made me really, really excited to read book two and get absorbed within this world again.
Recommendation: A fun fantasy adventure, with an excellent pair of protagonists but a few notable flaws. Recommended for those looking for a light hearted read that is still packed with adventure.
I love the amount of fantasy titles that are on my radar this year. The Gypsy King is my second and it’s still January! I sat down with high expectations for this novel and I was overall really pleased with the fun, adventure filled story I got lost in.
I particularly liked Persephone as a heroine. Having grown up a slave, she was a little rough around the edges and developed a thick skin. But despite her unfortunate circumstances she still had a lighter, pleasant side. She’s quick with a laugh or a sarcastic comment. She also talks to and names all the animals she encounters. As an animal lover myself, I am instantly drawn to those who love them too.
I thought Persephone was at her best when she was interacting with Azriel. I loved the back and forth between them. There is a romance present but there’s so many other things going on, their relationship is placed on the back burner. I think this is a positive because it gave them more time to get to know one another and to grow alongside each other. They’re incredibly cute and they absolutely make me laugh. The one drawback was that I didn’t appreciate her all too frequent lies to him. This made their relationship seem a little one sided and at times I wanted her to get over herself.
But while I really enjoyed the protagonists of this story, I have mixed feeling about the villain - the Regent Mordecai. He was creeptastic. Don’t get me wrong. He was truly a horrible human being and his presence could give you goosebumps. But at times he felt a little two dimensional. He reminded me a lot of Jafar, from Aladdin. We know he’s bad, we know he wants power and control but we don’t know how and why he became so ruthless. I love complex villains and the Regent just didn’t do it for me.
I also found that some things felt a little too…convenient. I don’t mind the odd coincidence but when they start cropping up on a regular basis it takes me out of the story. In The Gypsy King animals are always showing up exactly at the moment when needed. Or a character happened to be a perfect pool of water right beside where she fell in the mud etc.
Like many first books, The Gypsy King, left me with a lot of questions. I want to know more about the kingdom, the Gypsy lifestyle, the circumstances that left to the genocide of their people. I don’t think the answers were missing from this book. It’s already 400 pages, there would have been no way to smoothly include all that surplus information. But these type of questions have made me really, really excited to read book two and get absorbed within this world again.
Recommendation: A fun fantasy adventure, with an excellent pair of protagonists but a few notable flaws. Recommended for those looking for a light hearted read that is still packed with adventure.
ashleymarreads's review
3.0
I realized from the beginning that The Gypsy King, by Maureen Fergus, is a quirky action packed novel, with pacing trouble. The idea for the novel about sixteen year old Persephone’s attempts at escaping enslavement, were all there but often became lost in Fergus’s need to make the novel 434 pages long. Causing it to be dull at times and when action arose, the chapter often ended and the perspective changed, making you wait even longer for the action.
Fergus sets the medieval era scene by narrating in old English that is still understandable. The novel’s young adult characters also fit the setting— and are refreshing— because of their lack of using the word “like” in unnecessary places, as many YA characters do.
Persephone’s desire to escape is one of the driving forces of the story and is how Fergus displays Persephone’s independence and determination. Though, her attempts at escaping get old the second time when she just makes more trouble for herself and the people trying to help her, which makes her infuriating to read about. She becomes more likable when she discovers that her own freedom could mean the end of other’s. Yet, she remains naïve in believing that everything will work out, making her seem more real in her refusal to change; which turns into an admirable quality of hers.
Azriel; Persephone’s side kick; her polar opposite; the humour of the story. He isn’t the typical tall, dark and everything-always-goes-my-way type, just a charming misfit that ends up with the unfortunate job of trying to protect Persephone. He’s the nothing-ever-goes-my-way type, which makes him more desirable in an underdog sort of way. He was the character you couldn’t wait to read about because of his wit and unpredictability.
But my favorite character was the infamous Regent Mordecai. Cold to the core; Mordecai is manipulative and conniving. His body is crippled, in an Igor like manner, giving him the perfect villainous appearance. The way that Fergus portrays him is phenomenal! You want to hate him because he is so evil— killing the Gypsies and scalping people— but you read his perspective and the more you learn about him the more you begin to pity him and root for him subconsciously.
Though it was slow at times and somewhat underdeveloped, The Gypsy King was enjoyable overall and thought provoking. It would be A Fool’s Errand not to pick up the second book.
Fergus sets the medieval era scene by narrating in old English that is still understandable. The novel’s young adult characters also fit the setting— and are refreshing— because of their lack of using the word “like” in unnecessary places, as many YA characters do.
Persephone’s desire to escape is one of the driving forces of the story and is how Fergus displays Persephone’s independence and determination. Though, her attempts at escaping get old the second time when she just makes more trouble for herself and the people trying to help her, which makes her infuriating to read about. She becomes more likable when she discovers that her own freedom could mean the end of other’s. Yet, she remains naïve in believing that everything will work out, making her seem more real in her refusal to change; which turns into an admirable quality of hers.
Azriel; Persephone’s side kick; her polar opposite; the humour of the story. He isn’t the typical tall, dark and everything-always-goes-my-way type, just a charming misfit that ends up with the unfortunate job of trying to protect Persephone. He’s the nothing-ever-goes-my-way type, which makes him more desirable in an underdog sort of way. He was the character you couldn’t wait to read about because of his wit and unpredictability.
But my favorite character was the infamous Regent Mordecai. Cold to the core; Mordecai is manipulative and conniving. His body is crippled, in an Igor like manner, giving him the perfect villainous appearance. The way that Fergus portrays him is phenomenal! You want to hate him because he is so evil— killing the Gypsies and scalping people— but you read his perspective and the more you learn about him the more you begin to pity him and root for him subconsciously.
Though it was slow at times and somewhat underdeveloped, The Gypsy King was enjoyable overall and thought provoking. It would be A Fool’s Errand not to pick up the second book.
alrautio's review
5.0
I read this book in 6 hours and i couldn't put the book down! Can't wait until the next instalment of this series! I Loved the ending and i couldn't believe that i'd finished the book so fast!
roshni22's review
4.0
i absolutely LOVED this book the first time that i read it. definitely a bit more porn-like than i remembered....
still a pretty good plot though, won't lie
still a pretty good plot though, won't lie
siobhan27's review
4.0
I was told by a friend that this book was fantastic, and since I love getting recommendations for books I would normally not pick up on my own, I was all over it. And I am so glad I read it because it was absolutely amazing. I will be honest and say that cover does not do this book justice, and I think that it might be a reason why people might not pick this book up, but you should! Because it is an epic fantasy adventure that you will want to escape into from the beginning.
We start of with a young girl names Persephone who has spent most of her sixteen years as a slave to many men who think nothing of her, and her skills. Then one day she meets a young chicken thief named Azriel who changes her life forever. It is only when she learns that Azriel thinks she has a special destiny that Persephone plots her escape from her very handsome capture.
I love fantasy and this book is full of it, it really is an epic story of a girl trying to find her way in life and having to chose between what she thinks she wants and what her heart wants. Not only was there an absolutely amazing love story in this book (full of sexual tension and 'almost moments' that will make you angry haha) but it also has some absolutely amazing writing. The way Maureen writes makes you want to devour every page. Her ability to have this high quality writing without losing the YA voice is amazing. She is a talent that I am so glad I can share with everyone, because she deserves it.
This book blew everything I expected out the window and made me fall in love with every character, even the ones that you love to hate. Please pick up this book if you have the chance, the characters are amazingly done, and you feel a connection to Persephone right away, and you will root for her from beginning to end. A great Fantasy adventure that will leave you breathless at its end.
We start of with a young girl names Persephone who has spent most of her sixteen years as a slave to many men who think nothing of her, and her skills. Then one day she meets a young chicken thief named Azriel who changes her life forever. It is only when she learns that Azriel thinks she has a special destiny that Persephone plots her escape from her very handsome capture.
I love fantasy and this book is full of it, it really is an epic story of a girl trying to find her way in life and having to chose between what she thinks she wants and what her heart wants. Not only was there an absolutely amazing love story in this book (full of sexual tension and 'almost moments' that will make you angry haha) but it also has some absolutely amazing writing. The way Maureen writes makes you want to devour every page. Her ability to have this high quality writing without losing the YA voice is amazing. She is a talent that I am so glad I can share with everyone, because she deserves it.
This book blew everything I expected out the window and made me fall in love with every character, even the ones that you love to hate. Please pick up this book if you have the chance, the characters are amazingly done, and you feel a connection to Persephone right away, and you will root for her from beginning to end. A great Fantasy adventure that will leave you breathless at its end.
sarahcmk's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
tynga's review
4.0
Persephone has been ill treated her whole life. A slave born and bred (as she likes to say), her life has never been glamorous, but it got much worst when her owner lost her in a game of cards. Beaten, forced to work in the mines without seeing the sun for years, her life wasn’t all that bad when she ended up working for a despicable farmer, if you don’t mind a wiping here and there, that is. Her life is about to change once more when Azriel, the beautiful thief, enters her life and plans to stay in it.
I am a fan of fantasy novels and even though the cover leaves a lot to be desired (bad Photoshop much?), I decided to give this Canadian author a shot and I was not disappointed! When I read fantasy, I can’t help to compare the novel to those of Kristin Cashore and Maria V. Snyder. The Gypsy King isn’t quite up there, but it’s not far behind. Maureen Fergus is a great entertainer and I truly enjoyed her writing!
The third person narration alternated between Persephone and the evil Regent, Mordecai. It was a genius decision to pick those two characters, instead of Azriel for example, because the Regent’s twisted perception of the world is definitely worth a pound of gold! One chapter you see what really happens from the hero’s point-of-view, and the next you have the Regent’s alternate perception of the very same event. It was funny in a strangely disturbing way. Furthermore, Miss Fergus stayed true to old English and her writing made for a very seamless read.
Maureen blessed us with highly likeable characters. Persephone has a quick mind and a sharp tongue and Azriel is right there to butt heads with her. Their frequent banter was very entertaining and I loved that humour was on the menu. So often fantasy novel are very serious, I liked the The Gypsy King had, on occasion, a light spirit despite the dark circumstances the characters had to face. King Finnius was a young idealistic man and his naivety was endearing. I really hope he has a bright future in front of him. Regent Mordecai is sick and dreadful, and even though he has a hard part, I couldn’t muster any compassion for him. Truth being said, I hope he rots in hell!
Rescued by Azriel to launch on a mission even more dangerous, our young hero will supposedly help crown a Gypsy King. The Gypsies have been hunted down like animals for generations and Persephone is convince it’s all fantasy. She plays along in hopes of freedom and will end up playing the role of a noblewoman in the castle. The situations she has to face were at time comical, painful and breathtaking. I would lie if I said I enjoyed this book from the start, but the more I read, the more I was engrossed in the story, having a hard time putting the book down. Maureen’s fantasy story kept a good pace and the end is like a bomb!
Sweet and innocent, the romance really spoke to me. I love how naive Persephone is in matters of love and her quick blush amused me. The relationship between her and Azriel was very touching and I hope the best for them!
Suspenseful, engrossing, with a speck of humour, The Gypsy King proved to be a great read and I honestly can’t wait for the sequel. I can’t find any information about it right now, but I sure hope it will release soon! Maureen Fergus was a new-to-me author and I suggest you give her a try :)
I am a fan of fantasy novels and even though the cover leaves a lot to be desired (bad Photoshop much?), I decided to give this Canadian author a shot and I was not disappointed! When I read fantasy, I can’t help to compare the novel to those of Kristin Cashore and Maria V. Snyder. The Gypsy King isn’t quite up there, but it’s not far behind. Maureen Fergus is a great entertainer and I truly enjoyed her writing!
The third person narration alternated between Persephone and the evil Regent, Mordecai. It was a genius decision to pick those two characters, instead of Azriel for example, because the Regent’s twisted perception of the world is definitely worth a pound of gold! One chapter you see what really happens from the hero’s point-of-view, and the next you have the Regent’s alternate perception of the very same event. It was funny in a strangely disturbing way. Furthermore, Miss Fergus stayed true to old English and her writing made for a very seamless read.
Maureen blessed us with highly likeable characters. Persephone has a quick mind and a sharp tongue and Azriel is right there to butt heads with her. Their frequent banter was very entertaining and I loved that humour was on the menu. So often fantasy novel are very serious, I liked the The Gypsy King had, on occasion, a light spirit despite the dark circumstances the characters had to face. King Finnius was a young idealistic man and his naivety was endearing. I really hope he has a bright future in front of him. Regent Mordecai is sick and dreadful, and even though he has a hard part, I couldn’t muster any compassion for him. Truth being said, I hope he rots in hell!
Rescued by Azriel to launch on a mission even more dangerous, our young hero will supposedly help crown a Gypsy King. The Gypsies have been hunted down like animals for generations and Persephone is convince it’s all fantasy. She plays along in hopes of freedom and will end up playing the role of a noblewoman in the castle. The situations she has to face were at time comical, painful and breathtaking. I would lie if I said I enjoyed this book from the start, but the more I read, the more I was engrossed in the story, having a hard time putting the book down. Maureen’s fantasy story kept a good pace and the end is like a bomb!
Sweet and innocent, the romance really spoke to me. I love how naive Persephone is in matters of love and her quick blush amused me. The relationship between her and Azriel was very touching and I hope the best for them!
Suspenseful, engrossing, with a speck of humour, The Gypsy King proved to be a great read and I honestly can’t wait for the sequel. I can’t find any information about it right now, but I sure hope it will release soon! Maureen Fergus was a new-to-me author and I suggest you give her a try :)
nelsonseye's review
4.0
Some awkward writing/pacing in terms of the development of the romance, but overall an engaging read. I was not expecting that conclusion.
bstaats's review
5.0
You know what this book is? This book is a good old-fashioned adventure story in all its glory. Fans of Tamora Pierce and Kristin Cashore will love The Gypsy King! (I say that as a fan of both of those authors.) I want there to be high stakes, sinister villainy, swoon-worthy romance, tongue-in-cheek humour, and a pinch of magic added in my books. Check and mate to The Gypsy King for having it all for me. :)
So it's pretty clear that The Gypsy King is a great new read for seasoned fans of fantasy books, but for those of you who aren't quite as well-acquainted or are a little iffy when it comes to this genre I think this is a book that you should give a chance. It's a little bit lighter on the fantasy, and the writing and story is strong enough to hold your interest. Trust me on this one!
Reasons to Read:
1. Wit & excitement from the first page:
The first chapter of The Gypsy King pretty much sets the tone and gives you a glimpse of what the rest of the book will be like - Persephone perpetually finds herself in trouble of one kind or another, and is never willing to back down. And once in a while, that actually works out VERY well for her. I love a book that instantly hooks me, and the first chapter did just that and only increased as the story moved along.
2. Characters (and an author) with a great sense of humour:
I always enjoy reading books when the author writes in a few humorous scenes or includes a clever character to make those jokes. That's exactly why I loved reading the banter between Persephone and Azriel, and I have to say that their relationship kind of reminded me of George and Alana from The Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce (which, if you haven't read it, is a GOOD thing and you should make sure to read that series as well)!
3. Strong character relationships:
I loved the diversity in characters we're introduced to in The Gypsy King (including animals), and how they interacted with each another. Strong friendships are a huge plus for me when reading, and I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Persephone and Azriel and her furry friends because of this!
As much fun as I had with this book, I could definitely tell that it wasn't as complex of a read as I normally look for and expect from fantasy books. There are a number of tricky situations that the characters conveniently walk away from, which makes The Gypsy King a bit more simplistic than other books. The positive aspect of this is that it means The Gypsy King could appeal to younger readers as well.
But The Gypsy King felt like the YA fantasy I used to read years ago, as a younger teen, and I loved that! As much as I appreciate darker fantasy books, fun ones like this book are so enjoyable and Maureen has such a fantastic sense of humour that really comes across well in her writing. And there are some darker aspects to it, that I think are going to be more important in the next books of this series. The Gypsy King is a new favourite of mine and exactly what I've been missing in YA lately.
ARC received from Penguin Canada for review; no other compensation was received.
So it's pretty clear that The Gypsy King is a great new read for seasoned fans of fantasy books, but for those of you who aren't quite as well-acquainted or are a little iffy when it comes to this genre I think this is a book that you should give a chance. It's a little bit lighter on the fantasy, and the writing and story is strong enough to hold your interest. Trust me on this one!
Reasons to Read:
1. Wit & excitement from the first page:
The first chapter of The Gypsy King pretty much sets the tone and gives you a glimpse of what the rest of the book will be like - Persephone perpetually finds herself in trouble of one kind or another, and is never willing to back down. And once in a while, that actually works out VERY well for her. I love a book that instantly hooks me, and the first chapter did just that and only increased as the story moved along.
2. Characters (and an author) with a great sense of humour:
I always enjoy reading books when the author writes in a few humorous scenes or includes a clever character to make those jokes. That's exactly why I loved reading the banter between Persephone and Azriel, and I have to say that their relationship kind of reminded me of George and Alana from The Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce (which, if you haven't read it, is a GOOD thing and you should make sure to read that series as well)!
3. Strong character relationships:
I loved the diversity in characters we're introduced to in The Gypsy King (including animals), and how they interacted with each another. Strong friendships are a huge plus for me when reading, and I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Persephone and Azriel and her furry friends because of this!
As much fun as I had with this book, I could definitely tell that it wasn't as complex of a read as I normally look for and expect from fantasy books. There are a number of tricky situations that the characters conveniently walk away from, which makes The Gypsy King a bit more simplistic than other books. The positive aspect of this is that it means The Gypsy King could appeal to younger readers as well.
But The Gypsy King felt like the YA fantasy I used to read years ago, as a younger teen, and I loved that! As much as I appreciate darker fantasy books, fun ones like this book are so enjoyable and Maureen has such a fantastic sense of humour that really comes across well in her writing. And there are some darker aspects to it, that I think are going to be more important in the next books of this series. The Gypsy King is a new favourite of mine and exactly what I've been missing in YA lately.
ARC received from Penguin Canada for review; no other compensation was received.