Allyson's Literary Lounge
What have I been reading lately?
Audiobook: I love listening to audiobooks in the car, and this past month, I’ve been listening to Chiara’s Choice by Chalon Linton. It’s another Regency romance, but the FMC is Italian. At first, I was hesitant with this story because Chiara is very headstrong and is a force to reckon with. She’s also spoilt and it’d showed in her interactions. Luckily, I stuck it out, and her character softened, and she became more vulnerable and opened up to the MMC. Their relationship is all about trust, which does get shattered because that’s life. But they learn to forgive and all is made right. It’s a fun read with lots of banter.
The side characters are really great as well, and it seems like it may overlap with some previous books. I haven’t had a chance to look yet. But I quite enjoyed the siblings of the Jamison family, and how they love and care for one another but will still tease when the need arises. It’s very realistic and helps the reader (or listener in this case) become immersed in the story.
Dark, alluring, inviting. This retelling of Red Riding Hood is a fun twist on the classic fairy tale. It’s set in a dystopian world where everyone pays homage to the god of the living (the Mother) and the god of the dead (the Wolf). Because of the nature of the society, this book has a lot of sensitive topics. But if you step back and really look at the message and theme of the book, it’s telling how power corrupts, and how we should never let one group have all the power. It’s all about balance. I appreciated that aspect of the book and was able to recognize this. I also love that the magic of the world involves music and singing. I believe music can help lift our spirits, so this was a really neat interpretation of that concept.
Rowan and Conor are a great pair and really struggle with insecurities, which gives them a good way to build trust with one another. I also appreciate how Rowan struggles with wanting to be accepted, as that’s human nature.
There are some sad moments so just be prepared for it! But overall, I quite enjoyed the story. I recommend it!
If you loved The Cruel Prince, you’ll love this one! This dark fantasy romance is all about redemption and righting the wrongs. The author did a wonderful job, like she did with The Starlit Prince, in creating a gorgeous world. I really felt immersed in the story, and could feel the hatred towards the fae, or their selfish court. It really pulls you in! I also love that Zara is a flamenco dancer, since I enjoy dancing myself. It’s always fun when you have a connection with the character. Her arc is different from the MMC, Cas, since she’s trying to survive the Shadow Court and eventually help overthrow the king. Cas has a redemption arc, whereas Zara has a flat arc, but one that changes her surroundings. It’s a good combo.
Their relationship works, and the slow-burn romance kept me coming back to read. I wanted to see a couple more scenes where they interacted more, just to help the love develop. It’s a tricky thing to bring a murderer back to be redeemed, even if he was compelled to do it. But overall, the author did a really good job with it, and I found myself rooting for both Cas and Zara.
This book is perfect for this Halloween season, so I highly suggest it!
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