Book Review: Heartless Hette by ML Farb

Author: M.L. Farb

Title: Heartless Hette

(Hearth and Bard Tales #3)

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, & historical fiction 

Format: ebook

Expected publication: October 18th 2021

Where I Got It: Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion

Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub

Summary: 

Come to Germania, where a clockwork heart rules and a fool advises--and a laugh can bring both to their knees.

When Princess Hette refuses a sorcerer's proposal, he retaliates by stealing her heart--literally. Desperate to resist his influence, Hette makes herself emotionless, stifling all feelings until she can find her heart and win it back.

The Court Fool is the only one who knows where to find the sorcerer, and he has his own curse to battle.

Riddles and magic plague their path, but if Hette can't find the sorcerer in time, her heart will be the least of her losses

Review:

Awwww I am in love with the series. They are all connected in a way, but you can read them separately or in any order you want.

Here we are in Germania where Princess Hette refuses a sorcerer's proposal of marriage. In revenge, he casts a curse. He steals her heart. Desperate to resist his influence, Hette makes herself emotionless and stifles any feeling until she can find get her heart back. The Court Fool is the only one who knows where to find the sorcerer and he has his own curse to battle, so they team up. Riddles and magic plague their path, but if Hette can't find the sorcerer in time not only will she remain heartless, she may lose more. 

This was so good. It started off a little slow for me, but then I was hooked and finished reading this in a couple of sittings. 

I had no idea what was going to happen or how this team was going to break these curses. I was on the edge of my seat. Especially when we find out the Fools curse and everything he has at stake (won't spoil it!). 

Awwww I loved watching Hette grow and find the meaning of love. She had always been heartless in a way even before the curse. She hated love and didn't feel like love was important for her personally or for her future role as queen. She had a great personal journey and it made me happy to see her fall in love with a certain someone and make great friends. It was nice to see her grow and learn and survive these perils. I loved it.

Loved, loved her little team! They were all so different but so similar. An unlikely group of friends that is for sure. I especially adored Konard our Fool. He was my favorite character methinks. 

OOooOOOoooOOOOO that ending got me! I was literally holding my breath. I was so worried. 

In the end, this was my favorite of the three books so far. I really enjoyed our heroes and their journey. Such a good read to start off October. It's a must-read. 5 stars for sure. 

Book Review: Fourth Sister by M.L. Farb

Author: M.L. Farb 

Title: Fourth Sister (Hearth and Bard Book 2)

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal

Format: ebook

Expected publication: February 10th 2021

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

Shi, shi, fourth and death.

Fourth sister and twin to death.

Brother born silent.

Blamed for her twin brother’s death, Shisei, the outcast fourth of seven sisters, apprentices herself to a mask maker; but when the local Kazoku accuses the youngest sister of killing his son, Shisei must lead her sisters in a deception that will either save the youngest or condemn them all.

Fourth Sister is a Japanese fairy tale retelling with sparse poetry and gold-mended brokenness. A Studio Ghibli type story which invokes reflection.

Review:

I've enjoyed previous novels by this author so I was excited to check this one out!

The story follows Shisei who is the fourth of seven sisters. She blames herself for all the bad things that have happened to her and her family. She leaves and becomes an apprentice to a mask maker. When the local Kazoku accuses Shisei's youngest sister of killing is son, Shisei must take the lead and save her sisters.

What a beautifully written book. This was so enchanting and intriguing! This author really knows how to weave an enchanting story for the readers. I couldn't put this down. I honestly finished this in just a couple of sittings because I had to find out how all this was going to end. 

I really enjoyed the mixture of Japanese lore, culture, mystery, and fantasy elements. It all came together perfectly in the end. 

I felt so bad for Shisei. She feels like a curse. I just wanted her to find her happiness!

**2/8 EDIT

You can for sure read this as a standalone! I read book 1 and that was good. I didn't realize Vasilisa was technically "book 1". That one was really good too. :) 

Overall, I loved this book. It was so good. It was enchanting and intriguing. I couldn't put it down. I for sure recommend this. 5 stars. 

Book Review: Vasilisa by M.L. Farb

Author: M.L. Farb

Title: Vasilisa

Genre: Fantasy
Format: ebook

Pages: 272

Published:  May 18th 2020 

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

Vasilisa has always been strong. She’s strong enough to break the arm of the bully that daily taunts her. She won’t because she and her mother are servants at the Orlov manor, and her mother would be punished for her retaliation. Instead Vasilisa bides her time until she is sixteen and can return to the forest.

Only Staver, the master’s son, shows her kindness. His friendship pulls as strong as the forest, but their classes are divided forever by law. She is a forest born, fatherless servant and her future at the manor holds mockery filled drudgery.

War threatens. The forest calls. Will she stay to protect the one who can never be more than a friend, or flee to the peace that the forest offers?

Review:

I've enjoyed other books by the author so I was super excited to check this one out. 

The story follows Vasilisa who is much stronger than anyone in the village. She could easily break the arm of her bullies, but she won't because she and her mother are servants at the Orlov manor and they would be punished. Vasilisa is just bidding her time until she is sixteen and is ready to return to the forest and live free. The master's son, Staver, is her only friend and this love has a huge pull as well as to why she waits to run away. There could be more between them but there is no hope because of their class difference. 

I really adored this! I loved Vasilisa and I felt so bad for her but I never worried for her. She is strong and smart and clever. She is a great character and I can see teen Carole looking up to her. I did worry, though, about what she was going to do. Should she stay at the manor but be terrorized by the mistress and the village....but she would someday be free when Staver takes over OR she can try and escape to the forest with her mom and have to hunt for her own food and survive out there....and never see Staver again.

The beginning was a little slow for me because I was a little unsure of where everything was leading to. I was unsure of Staver myself. I fell for him eventually especially after helping Vasilisa. Love him! 

The Russian lore mixed with fantasy and romance worked really well and it made the story so much fun! The author did fantastic with blending everything together. 

That ending was awesome! I was on the edge of my seat! 

I hope to see more of these two! They were fantastic and I loved this world. More please! 

Overall, I'll give this 4 stars! A great YA fantasy for the Holiday season.

 

Book Review: The King's Shadow by ML Farb

Author: M.L. Farb
Title: The King's Shadow
(The King Trials #2)
Genre: Fantasy
Format: ebook
Pages: 410
Published:  December 21st 2019
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/published) 

Summary:
Two princes lead a war-broken people. One rules while the other serves in the shadows, haunted by encroaching death.

Halavant overthrew his queen mother to save his people from slavery, and now she seeks his life. Yosyph acts as the new king's eyes and ears, but being invisible comes at great cost and his life is slipping away.

To save his closest friend, Halavant travels to the land of the skin-carving Carani, leaving Yosyph to rule a troubled people despite his ill health and the nobles on the verge of rebellion.

Unless Halavant can survive in the land of his enemies to find a cure and Yosyph can unite the frightened and starving people against a second war, both will die and their budding democracy will crumble under a new tyrant.



Review:

I was excited to get my hands on this since I really enjoyed book 1. 

We continue on the journey of Halavant and Yosyph. The queen mother is overthrown and the people are saved from slavery. However, the battle is not over. Yosyph is the new King's eyes and ears, but being invisible is putting his life at risk and he is wasting away. To save him, Halavant has to travel to the land of the skin-carving Carani and find a cure. While he's gone Yosyph has to try and rule the troubled people who are the verge of rebellion. 

They cannot have a moment of relaxation and peace! I feel for them for sure, but I figured it wasn't going to be easy taking over these people and bringing peace. They were under the queen's thumb for so long. Poor people. 

I do like how you can read this as a standalone okay, but I do highly encourage reading book 1 to fully see everything and watch our characters grow. Totally worth it. 

There was a romance mixed in, but it didn't take over the story which made me happy. They have enough on their plates! But yes - we do get to see some resolution and love that I've been rooting for since book 1. NO spoilers at all. SOOO I will stop there ;)

I will also applaud the author for not letting Katrin and Elise fall in the background and be damsels. They had a huge part in the story too. I like both of them a lot too and I was worried that now that were going to be left behind and not included since the boys have their power. Yayy. 

This was a quick read. I got this done in 3 sittings. I really couldn't put it down. I was sooooo worried about Yosyph (who is my absolutely my favorite). Eeee! SAVE HIM DON'T LET HIM WASTE AWAY! WAAH! 

The ending was good. It made me cheer!

Overall, I really liked this as much as book 1. The characters have really continued to grow and the adventure is not over for our team. I couldn't put this down. I highly recommend this series if you are looking for a good fantasy. Maybe there will be a book 3 ;). I'm going to stamp this with 4 stars. 

Book Review: The King's Trial by M. L. Farb

Author: M. L. Farb 
Title: The King's Trial
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: ebook
Published:   June 27th 2019 
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)



In a land where stories of the Shadow Demon keep children shivering in bed and tales of the Yorel bring hope to the commoner, Yosyph is both the reason for their fear and their hope. 

By day Yosyph appears nothing more than a mute tavern-hand. By night he plans a revolution and slips through shadow, rescuing those marked for death by the xenophobic queen.

When he learns that thousands of his people will be sent as slaves to the mines, he must choose—fight the royal army with an ill-prepared rebellion or journey to the land of his ancestors through the deadly King's Trial. If he succeeds, he'll win his kins' loyalty and their help.

His journey grows complicated when he rescues a maiden and enrages a prince, but if he doesn't return with help in time, the people he's loved and secretly served will be gone. 

I was a little iffy going into this one since I've had such meh luck with YA fantasies lately. I was worried for sure. But this gave me hope for the genre!

The story follows Yosyph who seems to be just a mute tavern-hand that people do not notice. However, he is planning the revolt against the evil, xenophobic queen. Things get a touch complicated as his journey goes on. Should he fight head on with his ill-prepared rebellion or attempt the deadly King's Trial and earn his kins' loyalty and their aid in his rebellion. 

I was hooked from page one. I finished this in two sittings! I simply could not put this down. Sooooo good. 

Yosyph was a fun character even though there were times I wanted to shake him. His POV was the best. The rest were okay and necessary to moving the plot along, but eh. I want more of him! 

The world building was okay. I wanted more of this too. I still have some questions about the world. Hopefully more will be answered in the upcoming book. This was a lot of character-building and getting the story going. A lot more story to come, so hopefully we get more world-building in the next. 

Oooooo that ending! AAAAH! I need to know what is going to happen next. I have some worries that I won't share since I don't wanna give away spoilers. But I am a touch worried especially with that twist there. We shall have to wait and see I suppose. I can't wait to get my hands on book 2. 

Overall, a good story and good characters. I liked Yosyph a lot. The world-building was lacking a touch for me. I am hopeful we'll get more in the next book. If you need a breath of fresh air of the YA fantasy genre, this is the book for you. It gave me hope for the series. A quick read for sure, but I was so invested in everyone here. I can't wait for book 2! Soon I hope! I'll give this 4 stars.