Peasreads: A Magic Deep and Drowning by Hester Fox

 Set in the Dutch Golden Age this story has the fun storytelling, magic, and folklore woven into the reimagining of The Little Mermaid. Smart and beautifully done.

Clara, the main character, was likeable and I cheered for her. I could relate to her and understand the reasoning behind many of her decisions. Her people, her wonderful nursemaid, I liked them. Without giving any spoilers away, I think if Clara knew from the start how her beautiful home was procured she would have been a force to be reckoned with from the start. The great thing is that with the knowledge learned along the way, she was smart, brave, and resilient. She loved her people, but she could also see the wrong done to others for her to have the life she lived. Maurits is the other main character. I enjoyed his charm and care, until he just got sappy. Yes, be in love, but be smart about it.  His flowery words were almost too much for me. I could see how his being so enamored by the human world made things easy for his brother, the antagonist. Maurits was irresponsible, and it was hard to reconcile my feelings for him with how things turned out. I would have liked him more if the book were longer. If more time were taken to develop his character, and give him more depth and maturity. The magical creatures and folklore were such great additions. This story is an entertaining, fun read. It is also a read that makes you think about climate change, slavery, and oppression.  Hester Fox didn't write the topics of climate change, slavery, and oppression into the book in a glaring way; they are woven in seamlessly, and they are the foundation of how the town was built and how it thrived. They are what the wealthy stand on. There is no way to gloss over that. 

Description: Set in the waning days of the Dutch Golden Age, this enchanting, lu rsheimagining of The Little Mermaid is perfect for fans of Jesse Burton’s The Miniaturist and Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar.

The Dutch Republic, 1650. One fine spring day in Friesland, twenty-year-old Clara van Wieren is faced with an ill omen: a whale, beached and rotting in the noonday sun. But Clara doesn’t believe in magic and superstition, and this portent is quickly dismissed when a proposal from a wealthy merchant arrives, promising Clara the freedom she seeks from her mother’s overbearing rule.

When her attempts at overseeing the household at the family’s estate lead to her chance encounter with a young man with russet hair and sparkling eyes the color of the sea, she finds herself strangely drawn to him. As Clara grows closer to Maurits, she must choose between the steady, gentle life she has been raised for and the man who makes her blood sing.

But Maurits isn’t who he seems to be, and his secrets, once hidden beneath the waves, threaten to rise up and drown them both. And when an ancient bargain, forged in blood between the mythical people of the sea and the rulers of the land, begins to unravel, Clara finds herself at the heart of a deadly struggle for power.

What can you expect in A MAGIC DEEP & DROWNING?
Lush & Enchanting
Gender-swap of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid
Historical Fantasy
Set in 17th Century Netherlands
Family Secrets
Atmospheric Vibes 

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are  my own.  

Peasreads: Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

 

Dragonfruit

Dragonfruit is a Pacific Island mythology inspired tale. It has dragons, pirates, magic, and mystery. I absolutely enjoyed reading this story. The description says romance, it has a little romance which to me was not the focus and that made it great. It is so much more. This is such a great story about family, friendship, belonging, forgiveness, and strength.

The main characters were likeable. I wanted them to succeed.  The word building beautiful and lush 

It is a clean read. Great for YA and Teens also.

Description: 

From acclaimed author Makiia Lucier, a dazzling, romantic fantasy inspired by Pacific Island mythology.

In the old tales, it is written that the egg of a seadragon, dragonfruit, holds within it the power to undo a person's greatest sorrow. An unwanted marriage, a painful illness, and unpaid debt...gone. But as with all things that promise the moon and the stars and offer hope when hope has gone, the tale comes with a warning.

Every wish demands a price.

Hanalei of Tamarind is the cherished daughter of an old island family. But when her father steals a seadragon egg meant for an ailing princess, she is forced into a life of exile. In the years that follow, Hanalei finds solace in studying the majestic seadragons that roam the Nominomi Sea. Until, one day, an encounter with a female dragon offers her what she desires most. A chance to return home, and to right a terrible wrong.

Samahtitamahenele, Sam, is the last remaining prince of Tamarind. But he can never inherit the throne, for Tamarind is a matriarchal society. With his mother ill and his grandmother nearing the end of her reign, Sam is left with two choices: to marry, or to find a cure for the sickness that has plagued his mother for ten long years. When a childhood companion returns from exile, she brings with her something he has not felt in a very long time-hope.

But Hanalei and Sam are not the only ones searching for the dragonfruit. And as they battle enemies both near and far, there is another danger they cannot escape...that of the dragonfruit itself.

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I received this book from NetGalley and Clarion books. I was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this per the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thank you NetGalley and Clarion books for this galley. All opinions are my own, I was not expected to give a review. 

Peasread: Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White (Song of The Last Kingdom, Book 2)

The Song of The Last Kingdom books have been some of my favorites to read this year. If you've read my review for Song of Silver, Flame Like Night you already know what the author Amelie Wen Zhao's writing style is. It is poetic, and lush, and brings to mind the landscapes of the Last Kingdom beautifully. Storytelling that will have glued to your seat and not wanting to stop until you've reached the end. Even then, you'll want more.

This book starts off from where we last left Zen and Lan. They have gone their separate ways. They have the same goal. Eradicate the colonizers and restore their people. While they both want the same thing, both believe in different methods of achieving their goals. Lan refuses to use the power of the Silver Dragon bound to her believing that the Demon God and its counterparts bring nothing but death and destruction. Zen believes the only way to rid the land of the Elantions is to use the power of the Demon Gods. He has made a deal with the one who dwells within him. One that will cost not only his body and mind but in the end, his soul. 

Who is right? Who is wrong? In the end, will either of them be able to save what they hold most dear to them?

Peasread: A Fairy King

Hello everyone! My 12/13 year old has agreed to reviews some great books for me. Here's one from C.J. Brightley called A Fairy King, it's a novella. My teen LOVES this series and is anxiously waiting for the next book. It is not a tween/teen/young adult book. It's a story that adults and teens will all enjoy.

It is summer here so less food blogging, no school lunches, but we'll try to get these book reviews up!

Here's the review:

Peasread: Beauty Begins

Beauty Begins is a Christian/Biblical living book about true beauty. It is about God's definition of beauty, beauty as He created it/US to be. The book talks about how we have lost sight of what true beauty is and are looking at ourselves and those around us through the world's eyes. Instead of seeing that we are created in God's image and are perfect we start letting what society defines as beautiful creep into out thoughts. After a while we forget that true beauty is reflecting God's image, His love, grace, mercy, kindness.
We can never reach the world's standards on beauty, trends change, we're all made differently (fearfully and wonderfully), we can't all fit into one mold.  But God is unchanging. He is constant, and He has made us perfectly, for a perfect purpose. To love well, and reflect him. It's so important that we remember this and Beauty Begins is a helpful reminder that we need to "Make peace with our reflection" and focus on what's important and what is eternal.