H L BurkeReseñas
Autor de Fantastic Creatures: A Fellowship of Fantasy Anthology
Reseñas
Thank you so much to NetGalley an Uncommon Universes Press for allowing me to read and review this lovely myth retelling by H.L. Burke. This was, I believe, actually based off a Greek myth, but also has strong elements of "Beauty and the Beast" incorporated. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It takes place in a mythical island kingdom where twin princesses have been cursed shortly after birth. One is incredibly lovely, and only grows lovelier every time she is cruel to someone or something. Her twin has a sort of opposing power, the power to heal, but is physically ugly, and every time she uses her power, a new wart or other blemish appears. Laydra, the shunned sister, is forced to live under veils and kept away from anyone who might see her. Eventually, her parents send her away to another island where another pair of male twins is also cursed, Calen, the "worse" twin of the pair turning into a giant snake anytime someone sets eyes on him.
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As you can imagine, a touching and sweet romance ensues, and I genuinely enjoyed the way the author developed their relationship despite the challenges and insecurities both carried. The secondary characters and political machinations were also interesting to read. Overall a very nice fairy tale retelling.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
This collection has such a fun variety of worlds compacted into stories.
I think my favorites of these would be Cinders, At the Corner of Elm and Main, and King or Beggar. The first is a delightful twist on Cinderella involving cats and a storyline that seems so impossible you can't help but hold your breath as it unfolds, the second involves a kind lamppost given the gift of adventure, and the third is a humorous take on King Thrushbeard with a heroine whose motivation rings true and whose character arc is very satisfying.
Nyssa Glass and the Cutpurse Kid lives up to the promise of the series with a self-contained story that builds on the previous tales. It delivers a trouble-filled adventure with easy-to-love characters. Nyssa and Ellis are good people who do the right thing even when it requires helping someone who has done them wrong, whether a mother who believes rumors or a boy who stole from them.
Establishing themselves as respectable shop-owners offering repair services for all things electric and mechanical is harder than Nyssa and Ellis expected. Their circumstances reflect those of Nyssa in her first story, or would if they could only get some customers. It’s not enough to reach safety from the false charges laid against Nyssa. What funds Ellis brought with them will not last forever, especially after purchasing the shop and attached house. And hiring a housekeeper Nyssa has grown to appreciate despite her initial awkwardness.
It would be a mundane beginning if not for Nyssa and Ellis’s attempts to navigate their courtship, something which offers adorably excruciating conversations and embarrassed moments throughout. Their love for each other shows in both action and word, but though they are more worldly than most, they’re sheltered in terms of relationships, making them awkward.
Nor does Nyssa leave her tinkering behind or Ellis his wild inventions. The repair shop is not window dressing for the story. Nyssa works on repairing and stripping parts from mechanical objects purchased from the junkman while Ellis plays with electricity with startling, and effective, results. The continued innovation necessary to make Ellis able to get around offers some wonderful suggestions that either already exist or absolutely should.
The ongoing themes of chosen family and making the right choices persist while everything starts to go wrong from the moment a pickpocket snags Ellis’s pocket watch. Or maybe when Nyssa’s uncle appears and demands his cut of her life. It’s bad enough she’s running from false charges. He knows things the police might take seriously, but Nyssa’s determined not to give in to his demands. If she can hold firm, he must give up and go away, or so she believes.
The story has parallels both to the first book and Nyssa’s background, but it’s far from the same. There are many twists to keep this one on a fresh track. Then there are the friends they’ve made in this and previous books who are willing to stand up for them. Nyssa and Ellis are far from alone.
I enjoyed spending time with fun characters and seeing how they overcame the obstacles, whether gossip, stairs, or something much worse. While the steampunk elements are not as grand, they are present, and Nyssa’s conflict between her current position in life and where she fell after her parents died is critical. I suspect Nyssa and Ellis will never settle into the mundane life they crave, and I plan to be there to see how they conquer each challenge.
Baby dragons of course!
Especially baby dragons set in a world that feels kinda like the 1950s.
Another dashing adventure as Nyssa attempts to flee a false accusation of murder along with her new friend Ellis, who has his own reasons for leaving. A pair of upper-crust runaways, though, take their forged papers at gunpoint before they can get off the ground. Trouble is, when Nyssa and Ellis catch up with the would-be Romeo and Juliet after stowing away in the zeppelin, their problems only mount. The pair is hiding something, and Nyssa and Ellis aren’t alone in seeking them. Quick thinking, and their unusual talents, are all the two can count on as Nyssa and Ellis struggle to survive long enough to embark on a new life together.
The above is my version of the blurb. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll say only their fate ends up entwined with perhaps the most frustrating and self-centered couple in existence. This steampunk tale has everything you’d expect: a zeppelin and daring aerial acrobatics, an aristocrat or two caring little for those lower on the social scale, and a melodramatic edge to the runaways that defies all logic and sensibility.
Nyssa and Ellis could have fought for a legitimate life after the first book, but the risks were still there between Nyssa being framed for murder and people wanting to lay claim to Ellis’ father’s work. I am not surprised to find them planning to leave for good. It’s where things start to go bad only a few pages in that makes this a Nyssa Glass story. She has a bullseye printed on her back for all she intends to leave her past behind.
While Nyssa is much the same in this book, Ellis plays a different role, as does his handicap. I like how his limitations were not brushed aside but rather integrated into the story. In the first book, he was isolated in his father’s home. In this one, he is out in the world. We learn both how people react to him and how he interacts with strangers and those known to him.
I enjoy the main characters and find the overblown drama of the secondary characters amusing, but it’s the intricate puzzles that draw me the most. Between the two of them, Nyssa and Ellis have a remarkable set of skills. Figuring out what each situation calls for is the hard part. Nor do they always succeed, leaving me feeling the tension until I see proof of success.
The characters and story stick with me in the way only good books do, offering an entertaining steampunk romp with airships and scoundrels for the enjoyment of all.
I liked the fact that the stories are a mix of humorous and dark. Not all of the creatures are out for blood....some just want to play. Others are just....well, evil.
My favorite tale was The Kappa by Lelia Rose Foreman. Sometimes rescuing a hungry, wet kitten can bring unforeseen blessings. The story is short, but made me smile. I foster rescue kittens, so the subject was near and dear to my heart. Another favorite was Absolutely True Facts about the Pacific Tree Octopus. While on a weekend trip to the Olympic Peninsula, Leisel is bound and determined to prove the Pacific Tree Octopus is a real animal. What she learns is astonishing and heart-warming. Quite the adventure for an 8 year old!
Included in the anthology are:
Three Steaks and a Box of Chocolates - A.R. Silverberry
Snapdragon - Lee Doue
The Golden City Captives - Julie C. Gilbert
Seekers - Intisar Khanani
Mystery of Asgina Lake - Caren Rich
Skin Deep - Morgan Smith
The Last Chronicle of Pete Mersill - Cave Yates
Priscilla, The Magnificent Flying Squid - L. Palmer
An Adventurer's Heart - Nicole. Zoltack
Destiny's Flight - Frank B. Luke
The Kappa - Lelia Rose Foreman
Celebration - Arthur Daigle
The Netherlands - Cave Yates
Talori and The Shark - Jessica L. Elliott
Reviving the Sword - Kandi J. Elliott
Mother's Night Out - D.J Driver
The Mage and the Spotted Wyvern - Craig J. Price, Jr
The Very Last Dragon - Katy Huth Jones
The Adventures of Zero: The Quest for Wormsroot - Vincent Trigilli
Ishkah's Garden - Bokerah Brumley
Absolutely the True Facts about the Pacific Tree Octopus - H.L. Burke
I definitely recommend this story anthology to fantasy fans and animal lovers. :) I enjoyed all 20 stories! Each tale was the perfect length. All are well-written. There is nothing in any of the stories that a middle school aged child couldn't read....no sex, nothing too gory or traumatizing. Definitely PG-13. All in all, a great anthology!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**
This series has come up in conversation a time or two in the steampunk groups I follow online, and its fans are dedicated. Having read the first book, I understand why. Nyssa Glass is a genuinely nice person with a quick mind and a generous heart. She has strong skills both mechanical from her training and in burglary thanks to falling upon hard times as a kid.
This story is true to my favorite aspects of Victorian and steampunk fiction, economic inequality and mechanical technology, respectively. Nyssa embodies both the poor and a growing middle class with her former life as a thief, or more accurately a burglar, and her new one working in the equipment and repair shop of her benefactor. He is responsible for plucking her from the den of thieves and sponsoring her engineering training. Her past leaves her vulnerable, despite a full pardon, to those who would exploit both of her skills. This is where the story begins with her history shared in fragments relevant to the moment until we come to understand the whole, and it’s not exactly what you might think.
Part of how I came to know Nyssa is in her relationships with others. Her mentor, Mr. Calloway, is a good example. He could have been a taskmaster, she could have resented him, or they might have shared his small repair shop with no common feeling. Instead, he’s more like family. They understand each other’s quirks that stems from a long time working together and enjoying the company. For example, Nyssa tries to restrain Mr. C’s distraction by giving everything a specific place, but her affectionate frustration when she fails says more than anything else how connected they are.
The world building reveals an alternative history that mixes steampunk into the traditions of the Victorian Era. As part of her pardon and reform, Nyssa was sent to Miss Pratchett’s School for Mechanically Minded Maids. Just in the name, we understand finishing schools to be a thing, that women are trained for mechanical jobs, and there is a path for former thieves to re-enter society. This is only one example of the way things that come up naturally, and the phrasing used, work to build the world she lives in.
I quickly became engaged with the overall story in addition to the main character. It is full of intriguing questions, and Nyssa’s lack of a clear view only makes it more so. That she’s being manipulated is never a question for Nyssa or the reader, but the puzzle to be unraveled is overwhelming in its attraction. The story reminds me of a heist film, combining superior skill with complex technology to achieve the unachievable. Except there is more at stake than monetary gain. There are many surprises to come once she’s forced to accept the second offer to recover lost items in an abandoned mansion if she’s to avoid the straight blackmail of the first. Nyssa escaped her criminal life once and has little choice beyond employer if she’s going to avoid a return.
The story could easily have become a tinker’s adventure as she used her thieving skills in combination with her repair training and tools to carry out a dangerous heist. That is definitely an aspect, but hardly the whole. We learn a lot about Nyssa through her interactions along the way, how she approaches challenges, and her reaction to what she uncovers. She’s smart and talented, but this does not make her prideful. While not arrogant, she knows her way around technology and is willing to figure out what she doesn’t know.
One of the deeper notes in the story surrounds the moral concerns when inventing while another looks at how the physically handicapped are treated. There are some dark (even horrific) moments I didn’t expect when beginning the read any more than the sweet ones. But, the plot seeds are there for all important elements making them feel solid whether you caught on early or at the reveal.
Ultimately, this is an entertaining story despite what lies hidden beneath the fun technology and puzzles. The main cast is small, and some of those are almost incidental, but the key players are well drawn and engaging. The final attraction for me is how the story looks deeper than the surface to engage some important questions. For those concerned about cliffhangers, the book ends on a solid note with this tale completed even as the series continues, making me wonder what else Nyssa will get up to.
A bit Victorian, with horses and lords and Fey, but with touches of modernity. Not very deeply plotted. Suitable for all ages.
The magic system could use a little more explanation and/or development. Maybe in the next book.
I will try the next book. A solid recommendation, but I’m not ready to commit to buying yet.
A bit Victorian, with horses and lords and Fey, but with touches of modernity. Not very deeply plotted. Suitable for all ages.
The magic system could use a little more explanation and/or development. Maybe in the next book.
I will try the next book. A solid recommendation, but I’m not ready to commit to buying yet.
This is a lovely novella, perfect for children and adults to enjoy. It has all the requisites for the perfect fairy-tale: ogres, dragons, a fairy godfather, princess, and knights. Every character is finely drawn; Percy does his best as a knight and Matty is a practical princess. The villains are more unlikeable than evil. Anyone who likes fairy tales will enjoy this story.
Cora is young, smart, and dragon-crazy. Any kid can buy dragon eggs at the local emporium, but it's not often that she can afford even the cheapest mayfly dragon eggs. Oh, mayflies are pretty and fun, they just don't live very long. She does the best with what she's got, though, experimenting with diet and living conditions, etc.
The rich boy in town torments her routinely, even going so far as to pepper her with unwanted dragon eggs at one point. Just when she's at her lowest, she unexpectedly comes into possession of an egg. From there, things get even more fantastic.
The Witching Hour - Cute story about a cat who is trying to get his princess bethrothed to a sweeper. Told by the cat, it was definitely interesting and fun to read. Great ending.
The Tail of Two Kitlings - Another great story of two Siamese kittens born with one tail attached. You see the traits of each kitten as they grow up and finally are tested to see who is fit to keep the tail. Good ending.
Black Knight - I laughed so much with this story, it was great! The story of a heroic cat trying to get a jingle toy for another cat.
Sulphur & Sunshine - This one was okay. Story about a cat who meets a fire animal and covers the sulphur up to get rid of the animal. Not my favorite in the book.
The Magic of Catnip - Lovely story of a woman buying magic catnip that makes the cat toys alive. Awesome ending! One of my favorite stories so far.
The Secret Treasons of the World - Enjoyable read about a girl who finds a big cat and saves its life. But at what cost? Loved the ending.
The Poor Miller and the Cat - Quick short story about a poor miller who gets a wish from a cat he saves. Although it's not the wish he wants but realizes its the wish he needs. Loved it.
Alex the Cat and Alex the Prince - Great fairy tale about a cursed princess and a poor prince with a talking cat. Great fighting and revenge. Awesome ending.
Whisker Width - Fairy tale about a single woman finding a magic cat that leads her to a very interesting person. Loved the story and the ending.
The Honorable Retrieval of Miss Sunbeam Honeydew - Two princesses are fighting over the same cat. Instead of the guard fighting another guard for the cat, they use their heads to figure out a solution to make everyone happy. Good story and ending.
The Witch's Cat - Really short story about a witch and a cat that brings bad luck to two people who should be in a relationship. Cute story.
The Cat-Dragon and the Unicorn - Great fantasy tale about a cat dragon and two unicorns who help each other trick the catdragon to assist them in fighting the bad guys. Good story all around.
Destined for Greatness - Funny story about a guy who has bad luck and finally finds the Fates. I was switching back and forth whether I liked Kendall or not but towards the end... nope didn't like him at all the way he treated the Fates. Karma got him in the end. Loved it.
Sammy's Secret - Great story about a girl who lost a ring and the fact that she can hear her cat talking to her is hilarious. The cat (and friends) are happy to help her find the ring. Cute all the way around.
Death Always Collects - Definitely a sad story where 3 cats exchange their lives for their's owner. Ending is inevitable but it is what it is.
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booklover3258 | Feb 1, 2019 |
booklover3258 | Feb 1, 2019 | 
This is an enjoyable YA or maybe MG fantasy, perhaps a little too young for me. The book has a slow start and action doesn't pick up until the middle of the story. I also wish it had been made clearer what the Strains actually were and how they worked; it's an interesting concept that was never really fleshed out.
Leilani is a great character, feisty and compassionate, but I never warmed up to Zeb. She came across as spoiled and whiney. I never felt she helped solve the mystery of the Strains; indeed, she often held Leilani back. I liked both Brick and Vickers, the two male characters who end up helping the girls.
I give this 3 and 1/2 stars.
Laidra carries half of a curse.
She and her sister were given a mirror curse at birth. For one, kindness makes her hideous. For the other, cruelty makes her beautiful. Laidra knows the boundaries of her curse, and yet she presses them, because she has an extraordinary gift and wants to help people. The two princesses are not the only mirror-cursed, seeking a cure. In a neighboring kingdom two brothers suffer from a more terrifying fate.
By himself, Calen is a kind and gentle soul. However, when anyone lays their eyes upon him, he turns into a terrifying beast. It is a cruel curse, and it has split the family in two. Calen's mother champions him while his father chooses his brother Volen, who only becomes a monster when alone. A kingdom, after all, needs an heir. Volen and his father will do whatever they must to secure his future... even if that means allowing a hideous princess to be devoured by a monster.
The Greek influence in this was delightful.
While this is definitely not a direct Greek myth retelling, there is the feel of Perseus and Hercules in these pages. You do see influences of Greek myth - I've seen other reviewers reference both Eros and Psyche and Beauty and the Beast, which is fair - but this story felt fresh. There is a Greek style pantheon and there are quests and gorgons and I thought it was delightful.
On the flip side of that, I will admit that the format of the story is very familiar. There's a boy meets girl story. There's a quest. The quest felt a bit rushed? I feel like Burke made good choices in the twists of this story, choosing to make the journey difficult for the protagonists when at some point maybe they could have caught a break.
Everyone loves a simple, light read.
As a 200-something page fairytale retelling, don't expect this book to be deep and philosophical. The subplots are few and the cunning of the villains is incredibly Disney-esque. All of these things are perfectly fine, but it's a good thing to know before you jump in. The YA/MG market is flooded with dark fairytale retellings lately, but this is definitely not one of them.
You can't help but to root for Laidra and Calen. Beyond any aspect of a love story, these are two tortured souls. They are good people who are ostracized because of their curse. They are not instantly in love and I think that's wonderful because it's interesting how much of insta-love is defined by looks. When two people cannot (or do not) see each other, then the love story is different. I thought it was sweet and well done.
I'd read this story to my younglings.
While not particularly intense, heartbreaking, or complicated, Coiled is a really lovely story. It's a great vision of fairytale and myth and completely accessible. Even as an adult, I thought it was charming.
I believe this book would be best suited to middle grade or YA readers on the younger end of the spectrum. While the characters are older, the way this book is written may leave more advanced readers wanting for more. It's a fun romp for fans of Greek myth, or for fantasy lovers that want something light and fluffy that won't make them want to vomit from all its cheesy goop.
Cute. Immediately engaging. A fun and spunky adventure that ends with a bang. A clean YA read.
Did I mention I love the name Nyssa?
This novel may be enjoyed without reading the first one. Great for teens and adventure lovers.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the world this author introduced. The division of the Highmost and the Common reminds me of the Uglies and the Pretties in the Pretties series, while the manor divisions reminds me of the different factions in Divergent. The Strains, of course, reminds me of the force. So this novel is able to cover the needs of fantasy, dystopian, and sci-fi lovers alike.
For the most part the novel flows. I love the main characters Leilani and Zeb. My favorite parts are how Leilani befriends Brick, one of the guards at the manors. Their relationship was perfect and delicious at the same time.
A few parts of the novel dragged. A few of the characters are whiny at times, but the world is intriguing and that makes up for the little things. Rest assured, the ending is action packed with a few surprises.
The last quarter of the novel was definitely my favorite.
Young adult readers will enjoy this novel the most, but it's well written and engaging enough for adults.
Reader Rated for ages 10
Set in the realms of mortal and fey, family dynamics on both sides are put in play.
Advanced Reader Copy review.
I especially enjoyed 'Three Steaks and a Box of Chocolates', 'The Very Last Dragon', 'An Adventurer's Heart', and 'Absolutely True Facts about the Pacific Tree Octapus', but there is something to like for everyone in this fantastical collection of stories.
A few stories have some violence and are marked as such for younger readers. I received this as an ARC and choose to give an honest review.
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Very good book! Strong female lead, understandably more interested in the visiting dragon than the knight who has sworn to kill it to win her hand in marriage. My kind of character. A few cliches and predictable plot points at the beginning suddenly spin into an engaging plot that I either didn't see coming at all, or only a paragraph in advance of the reveal. Very much enjoyed!
I have a passion for dragons, when written correctly, and this one is particularly good.
Nothing to dislike apart from a couple of proof reading errors and I felt the book could have been longer as some parts could have been drawn out more. The first book ends satisfactorily, with no cliff-hanger, but encourages the reader to continue onto the rest of the series, which I probably will.