Lisa Dawn's Blog: The Princess Blog, page 15

Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure Is the Best RPG Trilogy You've Never Played!

Around the year 2000, I was browsing the video game section of a department store and discovered a PlayStation RPG with a beautiful angel on the cover. The back of the box described it as a fairy tale musical adventure, which sounded like it was right up my alley! Little did I know that would be the only time I would ever see a physical copy of Rhapsody in a store. When I asked about it at a Game Stop shortly after, the salesperson gave me a perplexed look and thought I was saying "Rap City." The game had a few quiet releases many years later for the DS and some other platforms but was widely considered rare in the West. It wasn't until very recently that I learned that not only were there two sequels but also that they were localized for English-speaking countries just last summer under the name Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles! After nearly 20 years, the opportunity had finally arisen for me to play the complete series and learn about all three generations of magical princesses that resided in Marl Kingdom.

Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure is similar to many other Japanese RPGs from the late '90s. It uses turn-based combat, forces players to grind through endless random encounters to get strong enough to defeat the bosses, and has a series of cutscenes that weave together to tell a story. The graphics use pixelated sprites that would be considered outdated by today's standards but have enough detail to tell the characters apart. Each game also includes a full collection of anime-style illustrations that players can find to see the character designs in more detail. What makes this series stand apart from other RPGs from this period is that each game contains a full setlist of musical numbers performed by many different characters. After hours of tedious grinding, players get to sit back and watch the character sprites sing and dance about their desire to find true love in whatever form that might be. Though the musical numbers are very endearing, only the first game includes English versions of the songs. The other two games require players to read the translations of the Japanese lyrics, which takes away a little from the enjoyment of the performances despite having English voices in other parts of the games.

The Rhapsody games follow a family of princesses who can talk to "puppets," which are essentially dolls that are scattered throughout the world. Throughout the trilogy, each girl inherits a Mysterious Horn as a family heirloom, which allows her to recruit puppets to help her fight, usually for the sake of saving her future husband. The first game follows the adventures of Cornet, a girl raised in a small village who falls in love with a prince who gets captured by a witch named Marjoly. In the second game, Ballard of the Little Princess, Cornet has married the prince and gives birth to a daughter named Kururu who wants to fall in love with a prince like her mother. Little does she know that the boy she will cross paths with has a mysterious connection to her family's past. The third game, Memories of Marl Kingdom, is a prequel that allows players to experience events in the lives of all three girls but focuses mainly on the mysteries behind Cornet's mother, Cherie, including why she has angel wings and how she went from being the princess of an ancient civilization to a simple village girl.

Although the endless number of random encounters in the games can get tedious at times, they are an irreplaceable piece of lost nostalgia for fans of princesses and RPGs. Most video games about princesses have the difficulty level dumbed down to avoid frustrating young audiences, especially games like Disney Princess Enchanted Journey and My Fairytale Adventure. The Rhapsody games are not afraid to be challenging and include multiple difficulty levels and New Game+ challenges for experienced RPG players. Yet, they also include story elements that appeal to the little girl in all of us such as charming musical numbers and the desire to become a fairy tale princess. There is some adult humor as well, particularly when it comes to the scantily clad witches, but it's all in good fun. The game rarely takes itself too seriously, featuring talking cats as minions to the villains with their own cute little side stories. Despite that, Cherie's story in the third game is emotionally poignant and left me teary-eyed both times I played through it.

The Rhapsody trilogy is a hidden gem in the world of RPGs, offering a unique blend of musical numbers, fairy tale charm, and challenging gameplay. While its pixelated graphics and grinding mechanics may seem outdated, the series' heart and soul shine through in its lovable characters, engaging storylines, and memorable musical performances. With its wide appeal to fans of princesses, RPGs, and nostalgia, Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure and Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles are a must-play for anyone looking to experience a classic gaming trilogy that will leave you humming its tunes and rooting for its endearing heroines. So, grab a gaming console of your choice and embark on this enchanting journey. Your inner princess (or prince) will thank you!

Review: Of Seafoam and Saltwater

MerMay is still in full swing! For my second mermaid book this month, I decided to check out Of Seafoam & Saltwater  by Kay Leyda. This is a "lost princess" archetype story about a seemingly ordinary girl who discovers she's a mermaid and dives into a new world of undersea adventure and intrigue. Although this plot has been done many times before in books such as The Tail of Emily Windsnap , movies like Barbie in a Mermaid Tale , and independent works like Nerissa Sanderson, The Part-Time Mermaid , it's presented differently each time. This book is the author's premiere novel and the first in a series called The Piscea Chronicles. It's easy to see that she intended for it to be a series because there are a ton of characters, kingdoms, and concepts thrown at the reader to the point where the book can be difficult to follow at times.

The first thing that drew me into this book was the beautiful artwork on the cover. I read many indie novels about fairy tales, mermaids, and lost princesses, but I've never seen one with a cover in such a lovely art style. The close-up of the main character with her gentle purple locks flowing in the current, warm brown skin, anime-inspired eyes, and whimsical underwater kingdom backdrop make the book feel like a work of art before even turning to the first page. I wondered if it would read more like a manga due to the art style on the cover, but it is definitely a novel and a fairly lengthy one at that. From the moment Cari's life collides with the ocean, she is thrown into an overwhelming world of culture shock with royal names, traditions, and a life-altering quest to save her family. She dives right into her training without question, ready to reclaim her status as the lost mermaid princess. This is truly the start of a long fantasy epic and is not for those seeking a light mindless read.
Although the worldbuilding gets much stronger after Cari turns into a mermaid, the writing in the first few chapters is some of the weakest in the book. There is very little detail about Cari's life on land, and she isn't turned into a mermaid due to some great catastrophe or because someone came looking for her. Instead, she randomly decides to conquer her fear of the water one day after avoiding it for almost her entire life. After she dives in, her legs merge into a purple tail, and she meets a prince who immediately recognizes her as the lost Princess Emiynn. The other iterations of these types of stories usually include a protagonist who struggles to balance her life on land with her secret undersea escapades. It seems that Cari cares very little about the people who raised her. She makes no effort to return to land or contact them in any way. The moment she learns her true identity, she decides to forgo her other life and immerse herself in this one. There is so much detail about the undersea kingdoms that I wondered if it was even necessary for her to have grown up on land for the story to work.
Though the rest of the book is written well, I had a hard time keeping up with all the characters and settings among the merfolk. It seemed like every other chapter was introducing a new merperson, but there was never enough time to become emotionally attached to any of them. Even Cari, the main character, had few interests or personality traits and only wanted to reclaim the life that was taken from her and find her true family just like every other lost princess. What should have been a straightforward rescue mission was convoluted by side plots, a revolving door of new characters, and endless worldbuilding. The ending was an obvious tease to read the next book, but I did not feel emotionally involved enough with the characters to get excited about it. I think this book would have worked better if it had been told entirely from Cari's perspective, and each merperson that was introduced had been given their own book in The Piscea Chronicles.
Of Seafoam & Saltwater by Kay Leyda is an ambitious start to The Piscea Chronicles, offering a unique take on the 'lost princess' archetype. While the beautiful cover art and vivid worldbuilding are definite strengths, the novel's pacing and character development struggle to keep up. With a vast cast of characters and intricate underwater kingdoms, the story feels overwhelming at times, making it difficult to become emotionally invested in Cari's journey. Despite its potential, the book's weaknesses in writing and character development hold it back from being a truly engaging read. However, fans of epic fantasy and mermaid tales may still find it worth exploring, especially if they're willing to commit to the entire series. With refinement and focus, future installments could truly shine.

Review: My Fair Mermaid

There are many fun mermaid books on sale this month for MerMay. One of the ones that stood out to me was My Fair Mermaid by Sarah Beran. It seemed like such a novel idea to combine the story of "The Little Mermaid" with Pygmalion/My Fair Lady. Although the book could have taken any number of directions to have an arrogant man convert a mermaid into human society, it turned out to be a pretty literal interpretation of the source material by creating a world where mermaids speak differently from humans due to living underwater and must improve their diction to be understood. I wasn't a huge fan of turning the original "Little Mermaid" character into a villain, but I did enjoy the story's unique focus on a related mermaid who followed her to land out of concern for her, which was similar to the "Sisters of the Sea" visual novel in Time Princess.

Maribel is a mermaid with the unfortunate luck of being a cousin to Naia, the spoiled and selfish princess of the sea. When the two of them rescue a human prince from drowning, Naia is determined to follow him onto land and become his wife. She pressures Maribel into becoming her unwitting accomplice in a deal with Llyra, a mermaid with magical powers, who gives them each enchanted shell jewelry with the power to turn them both human. The terms of the bargain are somewhat convoluted, but the gist is that they must choose between being able to speak or having terrible pain in their new legs each time they walk. Naia decides that Maribel must bear the burden of the pain so she can comfortably stalk Prince Freddy until she manages to seduce him away from his fiancée.

Since Maribel is the only one of the two mermaids who can speak, Prince Freddy's friend Hadrian, a translator who is obsessed with diction, gets to work attempting to fix her diction so she can be more presentable in royal company. He makes a friendly wager with Freddy over a pair of slippers that he can pass Maribel off as a duchess by the next ball. Maribel struggles to pronounce certain human consonants with her mermaid tongue, but she improves over time and notices that she is growing feelings toward Hadrian in the process. Hadrian is a more likable character than Henry Higgins in this book. He is given a relatable backstory and often apologizes when he is called out on bad behavior. Maribel is easy to relate to as well, though it is a bit disheartening to see the selfless "Little Mermaid" character transformed into a wicked cousin.

The love story in this book is surprisingly charming. I never would have thought My Fair Lady would have made much sense if the main character was a mermaid, but somehow it works. There is a brief description of the mermaid world at the beginning of the story before the two are whisked away to fend for themselves on land. They are treated by the queen as two homeless women that the prince brought to the castle for some reason, which is not that far from the truth. Without being aware of their lineage, Hadrian gains respect for Maribel over time when he sees her organizational skills and her devotion to hard work. However, he refuses to believe she and Naia are mermaids no matter how many times she tries to explain it to him. Naia, on the other hand, is presented as manipulative, selfish, and completely unreasonable. Though I love "The Little Mermaid" and admire most interpretations of the character, I did not think Naia was worthy of redemption by the end of this book.

My Fair Mermaid by Sarah Beran offers a fresh and captivating twist on the classic tales of "The Little Mermaid" and Pygmalion. While it takes some creative liberties, the story charms with its unique focus on Maribel's journey and her unlikely romance with Hadrian. Despite some drawbacks, such as the villainous portrayal of Naia, the book shines with its well-developed characters, engaging plot, and sweet love story. If you're looking for a fun and imaginative read this MerMay, My Fair Mermaid is definitely worth diving into. With its lighthearted tone and entertaining premise, it's a great addition to your reading list. So, take the plunge and discover the magic of this underwater-inspired tale!

Review: Time Princess - Twilight's Crown

I was elated to learn that the next visual novel in Time Princess would be a return to noblebright stories about royalty! The now massive smartphone app originally premiered with a visual novel about Queen Marie, so it was only a matter of time before it returned to its roots. Twilight's Crown is a mix of history and fantasy, with a disclaimer that any relevance it has to real-life events is purely coincidental. However, the game is packed with references to famous princesses and queens. Its main character, Eleanor, shares a similar backstory to Queen Elizabeth in regards to living in a world where primogeniture laws favor male heirs over female ones and a series of unlikely events that lead up to her becoming a sovereign queen after her brothers die young. Her royal gowns feature a red and green flower insignia that strongly resembles one used on the iconic necklace from Anastasia to prove her regal lineage. There are also visual and plot-related nods to "Beauty and the Beast," one of the most iconic princess stories.

Twilight's Crown begins with the coronation of Princess Eleanor, who becomes the unlikely Queen of Calvert after the male heirs pass away in a war. On the day of her coronation, her kingdom is struck with fear of a monstrous beast known as the Liontaur. However, when Eleanor goes to investigate the disruption, the Liontaur is revealed to be a gentle creature who is loyal to the crown. Throughout the story, she discovers the Liontaur's true identity and how he came to be cursed in the body of a beast and decides to help him. To do this, she enlists in the aid of Christian, a merchant with a dark secret, and Ophelia, her adoptive sister. The story touches on themes of female empowerment and sexism in the Middle Ages, but it is not long enough to explore these themes fully. Though I was more personally engaged in this story than in the previous grimdark visual novel, The Underground City, the developers put a great deal more time and effort into that story than they did for this one. Twilight's Crown has a simple plot, with similar endings, giving players little power to control the main character's fate.

The three companions in this story are vital to breaking the Liontaur's curse alongside Eleanor, and each of them tests her abilities as queen. Ophelia lost her family in a fire and grew up alongside Eleanor. She lives vicariously through Eleanor because she believes she is not capable of making a difference in her own noble house due to the laws against women learning magic. Eleanor must help Ophelia to see her own potential so both women can grow into strong female leaders. The Liontaur, the first of two love interests, is visually similar to the Beast from "Beauty and the Beast." He is a gentle soul who fell under unfortunate circumstances that caused him to become trapped in the body of a monster. Due to her lineage, Eleanor is the only one who can understand him and is therefore the only person capable of helping him break the curse. Christian is another potential love interest, but the game is not long enough to get to know his true personality. Though he introduces himself as a traveling merchant, his real identity can be revealed if the player can earn his trust by making the right choices.

Like most visual novels in Time Princess, Twilight's Crown has stunning aesthetics. The story's art style resembles a mix of medieval tapestries and old storybook illustrations. The costumes are every bit as extravagant and gorgeous as one would expect from a story about royalty, but they are limited in quantity. There are only three outfits that can be unlocked by playing through the story alone. The first is a regal red coronation gown featuring the iconic "Find Me in Paris" flower insignia from Anastasia, an extravagant fur-trimmed cloak, a ruby-encrusted crown, and long flowing red hair. The second is an Elizabethan-inspired muted gold dress with similar floral accents and a more practical design, while the third is a formal peasant dress designed for travel and comfort. In addition to the story's visual splendor, there is a beautiful Disney Princess-like ballad that can be heard on the main story map, which contains some visual similarities to the Disney Parks.

Twilight's Crown is a delightful return to noblebright stories about royalty in Time Princess's ever-expanding library of visual novels. With its beautiful medieval-inspired art style, extravagant costumes, and nods to beloved princess stories like "Beauty and the Beast" and Anastasia, this game is a must-play for fans of the genre. While it may be a simpler story compared to other visual novels in the series, its themes of female empowerment and sexism in the Middle Ages are timely and impactful. Though the story's potential outcomes are similar, the journey to get there is full of engaging characters, stunning visuals, and a captivating storyline. Overall, Twilight's Crown is a lovely addition to the Time Princess series, and I look forward to seeing what other noblebright stories the developers have in store for us.

Review: Song of Vines (Singer Tales)

Song of Vines is the thrilling finale of the Singer Tales series by Deborah Grace White. With an inspired gender-bent retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk," a star-crossed romance, magical mishaps, and a big reunion of familiar faces, this book hits all the right notes to bring the series to an exciting crescendo. I enjoyed this book a lot more than its prequel, Song of Trails, which felt off compared to the other Singer Tales stories. The heroine in this book is particularly relatable to Millenials as a curious and hopeful young lady who has fallen on hard times financially. Song of Vines manages to bring together the events that took place in all the other books and wraps up the intricate world of elves, giants, and song magic that has been expertly woven into the DNA of the Singer Tales.

Jacinta has fallen on hard times after her parents lost their esteemed jobs at the castle before her father's passing. Gone are the carefree days of her childhood when she would play games with Prince Matthias and Princess Mariella at their summer estate. Now, it's a struggle just to ensure that she and her mother have enough food to survive each day. Things get so desperate that she is forced to go to the market and sell their prized cow where she unwittingly makes a deal with an elf for some beans that are allegedly magical. Thinking she was conned, Jacinta returns home in defeat to find that the beans actually did possess magic and open a secret passage into Kjemper, the fearsome kingdom of the giants. After following the beanstalk's path, she is given a message from a rebellious giant to take back to her king. When she does so, she is reunited with Prince Matthias and must face the obstacles that stood in the way of their relationship over the years.
One might think that after reading so many fairy tale romances, they would lose some of their appeal but I loved the love story in this book. It reminded me of Andrew Lloyd Webber's underrated "Cinderella" musical in which she and the prince were childhood friends who grew apart over the years due to their drastic differences in status. The prince's parents in this book are horrid, doing everything in their power to keep the two star-crossed lovers apart and constantly plunging Jacinta into danger, which she repeatedly faces head-on out of loyalty to her kingdom. Fortunately, Matthias's headstrong sister, Mariella, goes out of her way to prove to Jacinta that their parents' prejudice does not apply to them and to make her feel as welcome as possible in the castle in the hopes that Jacinta and Matthias can rekindle their old flame. Mariella is a wonderful friend and a bright light throughout the dangers and uncertainties of Jacinta's circumstances.

This book does an excellent job of tying together all the elements of "Jack and the Beanstalk" while also bringing the events of the other books in the Singer Tales to a satisfying conclusion. Although some of the whimsy of the fairy tale is lost when the beanstalk grows in a northward path instead of extending up into the clouds, it is made up for through the clever use of an invisible tunnel that only Jacinta has access to. The kingdom of the giants, which was introduced in Song of Winds, is described in great detail, emphasizing the brutish nature of the mythical race and how different their culture is from the elves and humans who reside in this world. Valwynn, the elf who trades Jacinta's cow for magic beans, is an excellent source of comic relief, always showing up at unexpected times and offering some of the most amusing quips in the book.

Song of Vines is a triumphant finale to the Singer Tales, masterfully weaving together the threads of previous books and fairy tale inspirations. Deborah Grace White's clever retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk" shines with a star-crossed romance, magical mayhem, and a grand reunion of beloved characters. With its expertly crafted worldbuilding, heartwarming relationships, and thrilling adventures, this book is a must-read for fans of the series and fairy tale retellings alike. The satisfying conclusion to the Singer Tales series will leave readers with a sense of wonder and a reminder that even in the darkest times, love, loyalty, and friendship can conquer all.

Review: Song of Trails (Singer Tales)

After reading Deborah Grace White's Sacrificed Hearts book, Island of Secrets and Sacrifice , I decided to check out Haiden's origin story in the Singer Tales after reading most of the other books in the series. Song of Trails is a retelling of "Hansel and Gretel" set in the world of the Singer Tales. Though "Hansel and Gretel" has never been one of my favorites, this book featured Prince Otto as a love interest, who I had previously admired as Rosa's stepbrother in Song of Moonrise . With so many familiar characters, this book should have been the perfect storm to improve upon the original fairy tale. However, it follows a "road trip" format that drags on and on to the point where nothing interesting happens until close to the end.

Gisela and Haiden are troubled children whose mother regularly tried to abandon them in the woods after an elf prophesized that Haiden would use his singer powers to take down a kingdom someday. Overly protective of her brother, Gisela does everything she can to keep them safe, even when that means running away from their childhood home and surviving on their own in the woods. Years later, when they get lost among the many enchanted even trails dotting the forest one day and cross paths with Prince Otto and his traveling party. Otto's heart goes out to the two beleaguered siblings, and he offers to let them travel with him. The group continues traveling through the woods getting to know each other better in the process, while Gisela keeps her guard up to try to prevent Otto from learning about the prophecy. Much of the book continues his way with little action or progression to the story.
In the final third, the traveling party encounters a wicked woman who kidnaps singers. This is meant to tie into the wicked witch character from "Hansel and Gretel," but there is no magical gingerbread house or oven. In fact, the ties to "Hansel and Gretel" are rather vague and mostly metaphorical. Between the two stories, the original fairy tale is more interesting than this generic road trip that ends with a stereotypical fairy tale romance. This is unusual for Deborah Grace White's books. Many of her other Singer Tale retellings improve upon the original fairy tales. Since "Hansel and Gretel" was not originally a love story, the romance comes off as forced. Prince Otto admires Gisela for her determination to protect her brother, and she must learn to let her guard down to trust him. Their dynamic is similar to the love story in "The Wild Swans," which may have provided a better basis for this book than "Hansel and Gretel."
Like the other books in the Singer Tales, this story has a strong cast of supplemental characters. The side romance between Valerie and Monty, who travel with the group, is in some ways more interesting than Gisela and Otto. There is also a lot of drama with the elf family and their unique system of values and government. Deborah Grace White's development of the elves in the Singer Tales as a neuro-divergent magical race with their own morals and speech patterns is similar to how she builds up dragon culture in several of her other series. She excels at worldbuilding, and this book is no exception. However, so much of it consists of nothing but characters walking and talking that it couldn't hold my interest like some of the more action-packed books I have read from her in the past.
Song of Trails falls short of its potential as the penultimate entry in the Singer Tales series. Despite featuring beloved characters and a richly detailed world, the book's meandering "road trip" format and forced romance between Gisela and Prince Otto make it a disappointing read. While Deborah Grace White's worldbuilding and supplemental characters shine as always, the story's slow pace and lack of meaningful plot progression hinder its ability to engage. Compared to other books in the series, Song of Trails fails to improve upon the original fairy tale of "Hansel and Gretel," making it a skippable entry in the Singer Tales series.

Review: Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice

Well, folks, this is it. Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice by C.F.E. Black is the final book in the Sacrificed Hearts series about maidens' hearts being sacrificed to monsters. What sets this book apart from the other five is that the monster here is not a creature of legend but a mythical place of madness and nightmares controlled by mind magic. The book reads as a cross between Labyrinth and Alice in Wonderland with a supplemental love story built in. Due to the nature of the labyrinth, which is powered by mental and emotional trauma, this book is one of the darker ones in the series. It serves as a strong conclusion that allows readers to explore alternate possibilities of what it means to be sacrificed aside from being thrown into a pit with a monster.

Vera hoped to live a quiet life away from the magic that corrupted her bloodline, especially if she had inherited her grandmother's mind magic, which was gravely feared throughout the kingdom. Hoping she would harness her latent abilities as a fire mage, her mother entered her into an arranged marriage in which she would need to cast a simple fire spell to pass her future husband's test. Sadly, her paltry spellcasting ability fails, forcing her to reveal the horrifying possibility that she has mind magic. She is immediately plunged into the nefarious labyrinth as punishment. Wandering around aimlessly, Vera encounters and handsome stranger named Ash who insists that she is interfering with the labyrinth's powers even though she is certain she isn't doing anything out of the ordinary.
Though this book is a fascinating psychological journey into the unknown, the lack of information lessens the impact of many important plot details throughout the story. For instance, after getting to know Ash, Vera discovers his identity as a well-known historical figure from her world. However, that historical figure was never referenced at any point before in the book, rendering the impact of her discovery meaningless for the reader. There is a lot of talk about people losing their minds and dying in the labyrinth, but we don't experience this in the book aside from a close call near the climax that is quickly resolved. Though I appreciate that the author spared readers triggering language to avoid making the book too dark to enjoy, it made the already mysterious labyrinth feel even more abstract than it needed to.
As far as romance, the biggest connection factor between all six books in the Sacrificed Hearts series, there is a strong connection between Vera and Ash from the onset. Though Ash is initially angry with Vera for disrupting the flow of the labyrinth's powers, he could never bring himself to hurt her. Over the time Vera spends warding off monsters and fleeing for her life, she comes to recognize Ash as a source of comfort and protection and eventually gains an even more powerful understanding of him and the labyrinth than he has himself. He is not the only person for her to cling to as Vera makes other friends within the labyrinth and even finds someone she thought had been lost to her long ago. The ending is particularly touching and proves Vera's devotion to Ash beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged finale to the Sacrificed Hearts series. While it falls short in providing crucial context and emotional impact, the book's unique exploration of mental and emotional trauma, mind magic, and the metaphorical labyrinth of the mind makes for a compelling and darkly captivating read. The romance between Vera and Ash shines bright, offering a beacon of hope and comfort amidst the chaos. Ultimately, this book serves as a fitting conclusion to the Sacrificed Hearts series, encouraging readers to ponder the complexities of sacrifice, trauma, and the power of the human mind.

Review: Assassin of Fire and Sacrifice

Assassin of Fire and Sacrifice by Mary Mecham is the second to last book in the Sacrificed Hearts series, which I have been binging for the past three weeks. This book is a little different from the others. It is the only one in which the main character voluntarily sacrifices her heart by responding to a marriage request from her worst enemy with the intent to kill him and liberate the people she was brought up with. As a result, the romance in this book is fraught with anger and mistrust, making it less of a "cozy" love story than the others. The "monster" in this book is the legendary phoenix, but he spends most of his time as a man, and a rather meek one at that. Though such a hard-hitting premise appealed less to my personal taste than some of the others in this series, I had very few qualms with the writing itself, which was full of twists and drama.

Azora is an orphaned soldier with an immunity to fire due to her ancestry. Similar to Avatar: The Last Airbender, the fire nation in this world is violent and feared. When an opportunity arises to marry a prince from the fire kingdom of Pyren, Azora sees a valuable opportunity to eliminate him and possibly others who have hurt or enslaved the citizens of Termarth. She volunteers to be his bride and brings two of her closest companions to Pyren to ensure the job is done properly. However, upon meeting Tarquin, she realizes he is nothing like she expected. Not only does he have very little political power, but he is so gentle he wouldn't even harm a fly, let alone murder her people. All he wants is to have a nice happy marriage that might bring peace to their lands, which becomes rather challenging after her constant reminders of how much she hates him and wants to do him in.

Some people would find this type of love story endearing, but I am not one of them. Though some "enemies-to-lovers" resonate with me, these two did not seem to be a great match for each other. Tarquin is clearly terrified of Azora from the very beginning and is too naive to see through any of her lies, leaving him feeling brutally betrayed when he finally learns the truth. On the other hand, Azora is so fierce and hateful that she is lucky Tarquin is willing to forgive her at all. Their tepid romance is surrounded by murder and political conspiracies that make it difficult for the two to have time to get to know each other at all, let alone fall in love. I understand that they were supposed to get closer by supporting each other through loss and hardship, but I didn't feel like Azora was very supportive of Tarquin for most of the book. He deserved better.

The biggest strength of this book is its worldbuilding. There was a lot of thought put into the cultures of both Termarth and Pyren, and the conspiracies around Azora's past that were revealed at the end were shocking yet believable. In fact, these conspiracies and revelations were far more interesting than Azora's relationship with Tarquin. As a result, this book stands out as an entry in the Sacrificed Hearts series, which consists mostly of powerful love stories. Most of the drama in the book revolves around deception and who to trust. Though the big traitor reveal at the end made sense without being too predictable, the one issue I had with it was that after the character's true nature was revealed, their personality devolved into a Saturday morning cartoon character complete with an evil monologue. The exact same thing happened in To Defy a Dream, another Mary Mecham book I reviewed, so this might be one of her writing staples.

Assassin of Fire and Sacrifice is a unique installment in the Sacrificed Hearts series, offering a complex and intense storyline that deviates from the typical "cozy" love story. While the worldbuilding and plot twists shine, the romance falls flat due to the mismatched characters and Azora's relentless anger and mistrust. Despite being well-written, this book didn't resonate with me as much as others in the series, but fans of "enemies-to-lovers" tropes and political intrigue may find it captivating. The reveal of Azora's past and the conspiracies surrounding it are expertly woven, making this book a compelling read, even if the romance doesn't quite hit the mark. Overall, it's a solid addition to the series, showcasing Mecham's skill in crafting intricate worlds and plots. Stay tuned for my review of the final book in this series!

Review: Island of Secrets and Sacrifice

Of all the Sacrificed Hearts books I've reviewed so far, Island of Secrets and Sacrifice by Deborah Grace White was the one I was looking forward to reading the most. She is the author of my favorite mermaid series, The Vazula Chronicles, and this book had a similar premise only without the mermaids. It takes place in the same world as the Singer Tales, one of my favorite fairy tale anthologies, and has a relatable protagonist and charming love story with undertones of "Beauty and the Beast." Suffice to say, this book had a lot of thought put into its setting, plot, and characters, and it shines through its strong worldbuilding, relatable themes, and compelling yet easy to follow narrative.

Ember is a stubborn redhead who was raised in a dystopian society cut off from the rest of the world. She has a strong desire to be free from the confines of her island and learn the secrets of the outside world as well as the truth behind the maidens who are sacrificed from her home every five years to a mysterious monster. Her wish is granted when she is unexpectedly chosen as a last-minute sacrifice and rushed off the island. After narrowly escaping a murder attempt, she encounters the monster that she believes had facilitated the sacrifices. However, the more she learns about Haiden, the less everything she thinks she knows makes sense. Even though he looks like a monster and is regularly visited by maidens attempting to break his curse, the timeline doesn't line up, nor do his human-like appendages align with the beastly visage she sees, which is described similarly to an augmented reality (AR) skin.

Haiden is a difficult person for anyone to get close to due to his gruff and standoffish demeanor. I thought I would have trouble rooting for him with Ember, but he grew on me. He does everything in his power to brush her off just like he does with all the other maidens who visit him thinking they can be the "beauty" that transforms the "beast" back into a prince and live happily ever after. Ember's lack of knowledge about his curse makes her different from the others, but he still feels disinclined to help her until he learns just how desperate her situation really is after barely escaping the island with her life and having no means for survival outside of his humble little shack. None of his usual attempts to push away work on her, and he is forced to begrudgingly accept her into his life, uncovering all the lies that she was told by the leaders of her community in the process.

The magic system in this book was refined and believable since it in this book had already been developed in the Singer Tales series. It helps to have previous knowledge of the Deborah Grace White's other series, but this book works well as a standalone as Ember stands in for readers who are unfamiliar with the singer lore when Haiden teaches her how to harness her powers. Although not a direct retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," the climax of this story is very similar, which makes it a satisfying ending for most fairy tale fans, whom the Sacrificed Hearts series was written to appeal to. Ember was such a relatable character for many reasons beyond just having curly red hair (which is always a plus). She is brutally honest to a fault and curious enough to fight for the truth behind the hypocrisy of her society or die trying. I also have to give props to her for seeing Haiden's true nature beyond his gruff exterior.

In Island of Secrets and Sacrifice, Deborah Grace White weaves an enchanting tale of self-discovery, love, and the power of truth. Ember's journey from a sheltered islander to a strong, independent heroine is inspiring, and her relationship with Haiden is a beautiful exploration of looking beyond appearances and finding the beauty within. With its rich worldbuilding, relatable characters, and engaging plot, this book is a must-read for fans of fairy tale retellings and fantasy romance. White's writing is masterful, and her ability to craft a story that is both familiar and fresh is a testament to her skill as a storyteller. If you prefer audiobooks, you're in luck! This book along with the rest of the Sacrificed Hearts series are all coming to Audible beginning with Mountains of Dragons and Sacrifice. Stay tuned for my reviews of the final two books.

Review: Mask of Deception and Sacrifice

I am more than halfway through the Sacrificed Hearts multi-author series of books about maidens falling in love after being sacrificed to "monsters." The third book in the series is Mask of Deception and Sacrifice by Callie Thomas. This book is a perfect blend between The Phantom of the Opera and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde . It follows the premise of the series more closely than Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice but not quite as literally as Mountain of Dragons and Sacrifice . The story boasts a compelling romance full of drama and passion between two characters who were forced to hide their faces from the world. Its gorgeous artwork is a tribute to the drama and mystery within. This is the darkest story from this series so far, but the author provides a considerate trigger warning at the beginning of the book to prepare readers for the more disturbing parts of it.

Fiona is a lost princess from a kingdom that was conquered by prejudice against those with the ability to use illusion magic, which is revealed by their hair color. She disguises her face before she is kidnapped by the enemy so they would not recognize her as the missing princess, but her dark hair gives away her magical potential, which they use as an excuse to torture her. She is starved, beaten, and stripped of all dignity with virtually no justification outside of her ability to create illusions. When she is thrown into a room with a mysterious masked "monster" and told to make him drink an unidentified liquid, the two prisoners come to realize that they have more in common than they realized. The "monster" turns out to be a man who suffers from a magical form of dissociative identity disorder. Once she gets to know the two sides of his personality, both Zee, his violent half, and Alizar, his gentle half, develop feelings for Fiona, and she in turn cares for both of them as though they were one person.

The Phantom of the Opera influence in this book is obvious and intentional. Zee/Alizar is a musician who plays a song for Fiona inspired by "Music of the Night," and there a few direct references to the musical. The parts of the story that veer from Phantom are a little murkier. For instance, it isn't clear where the tonic that Fiona must give him came from or why the people who gave it to her believed that it would remove his mask and break the curse on him. It is not entirely explain why mask cannot be removed or how it is tied directly to the curse that splits his personality into two. Although it is later explained why Zee/Alizar was locked up and provided numerous "sacrifices" to try to remove his mask, it still feels forced, especially when they would give a prisoner as seemingly insignificant as Fiona an opportunity to take on such an important task.

The strongest element of this book by far is the love story. Fiona and Zee/Alizar complement each other perfectly. Both are torn away from affluent backgrounds to be tortured and imprisoned and forced to hide their true identities from the world. Zee/Alizar comes up with a cute nickname for Fiona and becomes determined to protect her at all costs after learning how she was treated in captivity. By the end of the book, both characters' hidden pasts collide allowing them to live out the lives they were destined for and form an alliance that culminates their deep feelings and understanding toward each other and the world around them. This is a moving story of love being used as a sanctuary from the darkness of the outside world.

Callie Thomas's Mask of Deception and Sacrifice emerges as a captivating blend of dark fantasy, forbidden romance, and gothic legends. Drawing inspiration from The Phantom of the Opera and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the novel weaves a complex plot with a loose ends. The true heart of the story lies in the compelling love story between Fiona and Zee/Alizar. Their shared experiences of torture, imprisonment, and concealment of their true selves forge a powerful bond. Zee/Alizar's determination to protect Fiona, coupled with his desire to share his art with her, reveals a tenderness that blossoms amidst the darkness. Ultimately, Mask of Deception and Sacrifice transcends its gothic influences, presenting a moving testament to the power of love as a sanctuary from the world's cruelty and prejudice.