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A review by ladytiara
Dearest by Alethea Kontis
4.0
Dearest is the latest installment in the saga of the Woodcutter sisters.This time it's the story of Friday Woodcutter, and the tale takes its inspiration from the Grimm Brothers' story "The Six Swans." This series is quite delightful, and Dearest is the best one yet.
Friday is the sister whose gift is love. She's more interesting than Sunday and less impulsive than Saturday (the previous two heroines). A heroine who is beloved by everyone could be insufferable, but Friday is charming. Everyone loves her because she puts so much love out into the world and she tries to take care of everyone around her. When the book opens, Friday has just washed up at her sister and brother-in-law's castle. The massive magical storm caused by her sister Saturday has resulted in much of her brother-in-law Rumbold's kingdom being under water, and the castle is filled with refugees. One night, Friday discovers seven young men sleeping in a tower in the castle. At dawn, they turn into swans. Friday has a instant bond with one of the young men, Tristan.
This isn't a strict retelling of the Grimm Brothers' story, and the author uses it more as a starting point for her own story. Yes, there's an enchantment and a curse, but the tale plays out a bit differently than expected. The focus is as much on Friday as it is on the seven brothers and their cursed sister. Friday realizes that she and Tristan have a deep connection and that she has a role to play in breaking the curse.
The stakes are high in this story. The kingdom is in bad shape because of the terrible storm and food is running low. The seven swans and their sister are in terrible danger from the people responsible for their enchantment. And through it all, Friday, best known for her excellent sewing skills, becomes a strong heroine and a leader. I really liked her, and while the romance happens fairly quickly, it worked within the context of the book. The high stakes and the magical goings on have a hand in the fast development of the relationship. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm interested to see where the series goes next.
I received an ARC from Amazon Vine.
Friday is the sister whose gift is love. She's more interesting than Sunday and less impulsive than Saturday (the previous two heroines). A heroine who is beloved by everyone could be insufferable, but Friday is charming. Everyone loves her because she puts so much love out into the world and she tries to take care of everyone around her. When the book opens, Friday has just washed up at her sister and brother-in-law's castle. The massive magical storm caused by her sister Saturday has resulted in much of her brother-in-law Rumbold's kingdom being under water, and the castle is filled with refugees. One night, Friday discovers seven young men sleeping in a tower in the castle. At dawn, they turn into swans. Friday has a instant bond with one of the young men, Tristan.
This isn't a strict retelling of the Grimm Brothers' story, and the author uses it more as a starting point for her own story. Yes, there's an enchantment and a curse, but the tale plays out a bit differently than expected. The focus is as much on Friday as it is on the seven brothers and their cursed sister. Friday realizes that she and Tristan have a deep connection and that she has a role to play in breaking the curse.
The stakes are high in this story. The kingdom is in bad shape because of the terrible storm and food is running low. The seven swans and their sister are in terrible danger from the people responsible for their enchantment. And through it all, Friday, best known for her excellent sewing skills, becomes a strong heroine and a leader. I really liked her, and while the romance happens fairly quickly, it worked within the context of the book. The high stakes and the magical goings on have a hand in the fast development of the relationship. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm interested to see where the series goes next.
I received an ARC from Amazon Vine.