Hi guys! I introduced you to this story (stories) last month and now I'm back again to give you my thoughts on True Love's First Kiss by Heidi Garrett.
(The Queen of the Realm of Faerie, Books 1-3)
By: Heidi Garrett
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication date: June 18th 2013
Publication date: June 18th 2013
Book Description:
In
the Enchanted World, true love’s first kiss is magic.
Nandana’s Mark, Book 1: When two half-faeries—Melia and her younger sister—are cursed under dreadful circumstances, true love’s first kiss is the remedy.
The Flower of Isbelline, Book 2: Nothing but true love’s first kiss can save Melia’s younger sister from blind ambition and ruin.
The Dragon Carnivale, Book 3: Melia must choose the freedom she cherishes or true love’s first kiss—and a relationship that promises to secure her place in the Whole.
The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fairy tale fantasy series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie.
When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.
As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her world view.
True Love’s First Kiss is a compilation of the first three books in this ongoing series.
Nandana’s Mark, Book 1: When two half-faeries—Melia and her younger sister—are cursed under dreadful circumstances, true love’s first kiss is the remedy.
The Flower of Isbelline, Book 2: Nothing but true love’s first kiss can save Melia’s younger sister from blind ambition and ruin.
The Dragon Carnivale, Book 3: Melia must choose the freedom she cherishes or true love’s first kiss—and a relationship that promises to secure her place in the Whole.
The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fairy tale fantasy series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie.
When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.
As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her world view.
True Love’s First Kiss is a compilation of the first three books in this ongoing series.
Buy it : Paperback | Kindle My Thoughts :
True Love's First Kiss is a combination of Books 1-3 in the Queen of The Realm of Fairies books. Rather than trying to break it down into each book, I'm going to give my review on the whole of the three books as if it were one. Reading it like this, it really felt like one big story. I am fairly sure if I had read each book separately, I would have been peeved when one ended and I had to wait for the next one to be released! Oh the joys of coming into an already formed series!
I had a hard time getting into the beginning. It wasn't until Chapter three that I was hooked and ready for some serious reading time! I haven't been able to pinpoint what took so long to get me into it, but believe me when I say that it is worth it in the end.
We follow Melia (a half-faerie living in the Enchanted World) who has had a pretty rough life so far. When her mortal father broke his troth (a vow he made upon wedding her mother) Melia , her sisters & her mother return to the Enchanted World leaving behind the Mortal World and her father. In the Enchanted World, everyone knows secrets but no one will tell them. Melia and her family are shunned. Melia is made fun of and would be completely miserable if not for her friend Tatou (a pixie).
Due to some unfortunate turn of events, Melia's mother curses all three of her daughters and the only cure will be True Love's First Kiss. Determined to save her younger sister (who in my opinion is a spoiled brat), who's curse is to fade away into nothing- Melia sets out on a journey that becomes one of self-discovery. She learns more and more about herself and with the help of some unlikely allies, she manages to let go of some of her guilt and find inner peace with things she has struggled with for years. Her own 'curse' is to become a bird at every sundown. She has always longed to fly- being a half- faerie, she had no wings. She will struggle with the freedom that her curse gives her and the pull of true love. Over and over, you want to point her along the way but are always reminded that this choice is one she must make on her own, in her own time. I enjoyed the friends made along the way, especially the most unlikely ones!
Struggling with evil that wants to overtake her and discovering the power she holds within, we sit and wonder how this series will end....
I am looking forward to continuing this series when the next book comes out. If you enjoy epic fantasy books with lots of action , some romance and tons of fantasy creatures I think you'll like this one!
Before I leave today, I wanted to share with you my favorite quote from the book. This is between Melia & one of her unlikely friends Bertille (a Nixie).
Melia rubbed the back of her neck. "It's a lot like I felt at the top of the cliff."
Bertille nodded. "And how did you feel the first time you dived?"
Melia's eyebrows lifted. "I felt free. Alive. Like I could do anything. I felt joy."
"So when you see this person that you're having a hard time trusting, dive."
"You make it sound so easy."
"Was it easy the first time you dived off the clifs?"
"No."
"This won't be easy, either. Dive anyway."
The last was the actual quote but I felt I needed to give you a little more background there. I love that quote. Life , especially those things worth having, aren't always easy. You just have to take the risk and dive in! Those things that you risked all for, usually end up being the very best you have!
Heidi
Garrett is the author of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series. Her personal
message to all her readers is: Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world, too…
May you always see the magic in your life.
The Queen of the Realm of Faerie includes many strong female characters within an intricate fantasy land. It is also a fairy tale fantasy.
The first book, Nandana’s Mark, is one of those free ebooks; the second book, The Flower of Isbelline, is now available; and the third book, The Dragon Carnivale, will be released in June 2013.
Heidi's hope is that when you read her books, you will rediscover the enchantment in your own life.
She currently resides in Eastern Washington State with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Being from the South, she finds it very magical.
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Kelly, thank you so much for reading and reviewing such a big book! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. I love the quote you picked out. It's a pleasure to work with you, Heidi
ReplyDeleteGreat review. Thanks for participating :)
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