Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard

Jan 22, 2014 Kathylill rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2014, fantasy, not-my-cup-of-tea, tonight-i-celebrate-my-love-to-you, reviewed

DNFed 15% into the story.

Reason number one:
Apart from the prologue and some vague mentions about Dragons and lost magic, there is no magic / fantasy in this story. Instead you are treated to a highly unconvincing historical, pseudo-medieval romance with insta-love and some such. This was really not what I expected or anticipated.

Reason number two:
The annoying female main character. Tam, wow I hate her. Never thought I would write this ever about anyone but she is so damn perfect, that I had ...more

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Dec 15, 2013 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: review-copy, fantasy, romance, dragons, magic, war, favorites

5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

Updated: Interview with author Anne Leonard at http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

Moth and Spark was one of my top anticipated novels of 2014. My gut instinct told me it was going to be a good one, and while my gut might not be the best guide for a lot of things, it has hardly ever steered me wrong when it comes to books. And I was pleased to see to that it was right once again. If anything, Moth and Spark gave me eve 5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

Updated: Interview with author Anne Leonard at http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

Moth and Spark was one of my top anticipated novels of 2014. My gut instinct told me it was going to be a good one, and while my gut might not be the best guide for a lot of things, it has hardly ever steered me wrong when it comes to books. And I was pleased to see to that it was right once again. If anything, Moth and Spark gave me even more than I bargained for.

To understand why I liked it so much, you also have to understand that I've been looking for a book like this for a long time. While I was reading Moth and Spark, a Goodreads friend of mine commented on one of my status updates with: "Fantasy with a romance sub-plot is rare." Indeed it is! Everyone who knows me knows I enjoy a good love story. And I would be reading a lot more romance, except I prefer it combined with other elements, especially from speculative fiction.

What I've always wanted to read was a meaningful and actively engaging romance in a high fantasy, but typically, most of the adult fantasy novels I enjoy merely scratch at the surface of romantic relationships. It's pretty much made me resign myself to the fact that I can only have one without the other. That is until this book came along and filled that void.

Moth and Spark is also different from a lot of romances. Yes, the love between the two main characters features heavily in this book, but at the same time it never lets you forget that both Corin and Tam are organically part of a much bigger story unfolding around them. Their relationship, as suddenly and swiftly as it occurred, is not merely the central focus with just the fantasy setting tacked on; it is part and parcel of the overall plot which involves a rich tapestry of courtly intrigue, back alley conspiracies and impending war, all culminating into a nation hanging in the balance. Together, the crown prince of Caithen and the commoner daughter of a renowned doctor must work together to save their homeland, combining their powers to free the dragons from their bondage to a mad emperor.

That's right, there are dragons. Just when you think things can't get any better, eh?

I think most of all, I loved this book for the wonderful characters that Anne Leonard has created. Call me a softie, but I like it when I see strong and inherently good, decent people find each other and fall in love. I like it when I see lovers like Tam and Corin sacrifice for each other, care for each other, and respect one another. I like that their romance is a partnership, where the chemistry is natural and mutual.

The author is also very adept at world building. She has a way of inserting very detailed information about the environment without encumbering the prose. For instance, I only noticed afterwards that there is actually a good amount of description in the text, but I hardly felt overwhelmed by them at all as I was reading. Anne Leonard accomplishes this by not laying out the background of the world all at once; instead, we gradually get to learn about things like the Empire's history or magical lore as the story progresses.

I could go on and on about a lot of the other aspects that I enjoyed, such as the magic, the dragons and their riders, the king's wizard-assassins (I really liked Joce, who was probably my favorite character after Tam and Corin), the court politics, the formal dances and elegant fashions, the sword fighting scenes and so on, but I should leave some of the more enchanting parts for people to discover for themselves. I will reveal though, that the ending involves quite a gripping scene of a duel on dragonback. Oh yes, this book gets my heart pounding in more ways than one!

Suffice to say I was very impressed with Moth and Spark, which is a debut for Anne Leonard. The novel's story of love and adventure struck the right chord with me, and it's going straight onto my shelf of favorites. I'll definitely be watching this author in the future for more. ...more

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Feb 26, 2014 Rebekah rated it it was ok

Original Review found at my blog: www.beawesomebeabooknut.blogspot.com

This was NOT what I was expecting. The story-Great! The romance-eye rolling... I knew there was going to be romance I didn't exactly know or understand that this was a ROMANCE novel.

This novel is written from duel perspectives, mostly Corin's and I did like that. The world building can be a little slow at first and a bit dragging but the author did a great job of making sure you understood everything about her world and what Original Review found at my blog: www.beawesomebeabooknut.blogspot.com

This was NOT what I was expecting. The story-Great! The romance-eye rolling... I knew there was going to be romance I didn't exactly know or understand that this was a ROMANCE novel.

This novel is written from duel perspectives, mostly Corin's and I did like that. The world building can be a little slow at first and a bit dragging but the author did a great job of making sure you understood everything about her world and what is going on. She made sure you understood each character and their part in the plot and their back story.

The romance was a bit ridiculous in my opinion, and too fast it was disappointing. Corin and Tam are all over each other within 24 hours of meeting and after LITERATLLY five days they are in love and eternally committed to each other by taking vows and making promises which made it all too fast and really disappointing, and I gagged a few times and did a TON of eye rolling. So much for character development in that arena. And what's with all the sex and innuendos! totally took away from what could have been an EPIC romance, in my opinion.

The story starts off with an amazing bang as revelation of a prophecy involving freeing the dragons from the emperor comes about which complicates everything in Corin's life, his quest to free the dragons and his duty to his country. Prince Corin has been chosen to release the dragons from the Empire and free them from bondage, but even though they've given him some of their power, they didn't give Corin much or any of their knowledge. Which complicates things. Yet, what was interesting was no one, not the dragons or their riders seem to know what keeps the dragons in the Empire’s control. huh. weird.

Tam started out sooo interesting, she was smart, strong, stubborn, beautiful, curious, and we later learn that she is a Seer-COOL! However, I felt she lost all sense of herself when it came to her romance with Corin.

So Tam and Corin try to work together in order to save their kingdom of Caithen from oncoming war.

Overall the fantasy side of the story was GREAT and well written! It had everything, prophecy, power, mystery, war, political intrigue. it was awesome! The romance killed it for me.

Sexual Content: heavy (lots of sex initiated from the female character)
Language: moderate (PG)
Violence: moderate (PG)
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate (PG)

*Thank you to Viking publishers for mailing me a copy of this book to read for an honest review. ...more

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Feb 01, 2014 Darth J rated it it was ok

Shelves: dragons, high-fantasy, slow, amazing-artwork, disappointing

Review originally posted at My Bookshelf is Ready.

This book has a seriously great cover and an interesting premise but

3/4 of the book is devoted to Mediaeval-ish social politics such as courtship and gossiping about royal suitors.

The characters are all dull, and the “intrigue” is nowhere near as interesting as the A Song of Ice and Fire series. It’s almost as if someone tried to bridge the gap between Eragon and A Game of Thrones, though less hackneyed than the former and way less developed than ...more

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Jan 24, 2014 Bob/Sally rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy-traditional

Although my taste generally runs more towards epic fantasy door-stoppers, with massive world-building and bloated casts of characters, Moth and Spark was an enjoyable diversion. I could have done with less romance and more dragons, and would have preferred to see the middle act shortened in favor of expanding the final act, but that's simply a matter of personal preference, and not a criticism of the book - which delivers on exactly what it promises.

Anne Leonard's writing style fluctuates a bit Although my taste generally runs more towards epic fantasy door-stoppers, with massive world-building and bloated casts of characters, Moth and Spark was an enjoyable diversion. I could have done with less romance and more dragons, and would have preferred to see the middle act shortened in favor of expanding the final act, but that's simply a matter of personal preference, and not a criticism of the book - which delivers on exactly what it promises.

Anne Leonard's writing style fluctuates a bit here, with the opening chapters actually coming across as stronger and more polished than the heart of the novel, but overall the entire book is solid. Corin is nicely established in the opening chapters as a capable leader, a young man with a good heart, who happens to be laboring under a compulsion. Tam is similarly established as a strong young woman, not just smart but clever, who aspires to rise above her caste. Both characters are a bit too perfect, a bit too pure, but while that might otherwise be a flaw, their romance works precisely because of it.

As for that romance, I thought it was very well played out, even if it was rushed. Their dialogue was natural - amusing at times, tender at others - and their relationship progressed very well. The fact that they complement each other so well, with Tam's newly revealed visions conveniently serving Corin's role in fulfilling the prophecy, was not surprising. What was surprising was the fact that, while the connection provided them with purpose, it was not relied on as the primary connection between them. I've seen that done before (I'm looking at you, Terry Goodkind), especially in stories where insta-love is necessary to the plot, and it always feels artificial.

The court intrigue and military drama surrounding them, however, wasn't nearly as strong or as detailed. There were glimpses here and there of a solid high-fantasy core, but Leonard always seemed to pull back just as I was getting into things. To be fair, that element clearly is not the focus here, but it did have an impact on how I read the story. As for the final act, make no mistake, there is some fantastic action and adventure in the closing pages. It approaches silliness at times, and there were a few plot/tactical holes that made me groan, but it was a heck of a lot of fun. The final chapters move along at a great pace, with some genuine moments of dramatic tension, and the ultimate climax more than pays off on the promise of the opening prophecy.

For those readers in the mood for a light, romantic fantasy, then Moth and Spark is a great pick. For those readers who come for the romance, but who walk away wanting more of the epic fantasy elements then it may just be the perfect gateway novel as well.

Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins ...more

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Jan 10, 2014 b.andherbooks rated it did not like it

Forget the glossy, beautiful hardcover; this should have been published as a mass market paperback in the romance section.

I was cautiously optimistic when I cracked this supposedly epic fantasy novel and found (yay) a map! But, when the author frequently mentions cities, countries, and other geographical features that I could not even find on said map what, really, is the point?

Frustrating.

Tepid world building, some dragons, some sort of magic, nothing really well explained, and of course a hot Forget the glossy, beautiful hardcover; this should have been published as a mass market paperback in the romance section.

I was cautiously optimistic when I cracked this supposedly epic fantasy novel and found (yay) a map! But, when the author frequently mentions cities, countries, and other geographical features that I could not even find on said map what, really, is the point?

Frustrating.

Tepid world building, some dragons, some sort of magic, nothing really well explained, and of course a hot prince who falls insta-in-love with the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

Prince Corin, most eligible bachelor, is caught up in a struggle between the Emperor that rules his country, some dragons who no one really knows too much about, some wizards, and an invading barbarian horde.

Corin is hot stuff and he knows it.
"The table-maid appeared a few minutes later and refilled the glass. his fingers brushed against hers as he took it...their eyes met. He thought she would not slap his hand away. He wondered if she knew who he was. He was tempted, but she was too young and too ignorant. It would not be fair."
Gag.

He also has had a bevy of lovers, including his current (married) mistress, but he quickly ousts her when he sees the most beautiful woman in the whole wide world, a girl who turns out to be a "commoner" (in fact a wealthy daughter of a doctor, just not a noble). Tam of course is unaware of her extreme charm and besides being gorgeous is a paragon of virtue and talent. Cue romance, balls, dresses squeeee, and long talks and smoochies. Tam falls desperately in love, and she can barely restrain herself from bonin' the brains out of Corin. So they don't wait very long. Honor and country be damned (don't worry it will all work out in the end).

Oh wait, what about the dragons? Apparently after getting the hots for each other, both Tam and Corin find out they have POWERS. Cue epic battles, lots of love making, worries about the future, and oh now the king says we can be married, yay happily ever after.

What just happened? I'm still not sure. ...more

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Mar 17, 2014 Branwen Sedai *of the Brown Ajah* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-science-fiction, romance, favorites

"I am not a poetess. Patient. Either brokenhearted or engaged. A good archer or rider. A spendthrift. A faithful correspondent. Uneducated. An older sister. Kind or a drunkard." She stopped. "Is that enough?"

"And which of those is a failing?" he looked amused.

"Lack of kindness, I suppose," she said. "I am not a nice person."

He grinned, a splendid and amazing smile that made her want to do nothing but look at him. "Of course you're not. Most of us aren't. You try though, don't you?"

"Yes, but some "I am not a poetess. Patient. Either brokenhearted or engaged. A good archer or rider. A spendthrift. A faithful correspondent. Uneducated. An older sister. Kind or a drunkard." She stopped. "Is that enough?"

"And which of those is a failing?" he looked amused.

"Lack of kindness, I suppose," she said. "I am not a nice person."

He grinned, a splendid and amazing smile that made her want to do nothing but look at him. "Of course you're not. Most of us aren't. You try though, don't you?"

"Yes, but sometimes it just slips out."

Corin is the crown prince of Caithen who has been destined for great things from birth. His destiny is somehow intertwined with the fate of the dragons that are imprisoned by a Hadon, a distant ruler who controls everything with an iron fist. Tam is a young common born woman with a keen mind and a sharp sense of honor. When they meet by chance, it seems like fate. Attraction sparks. Friendship flourishes. Love blossoms. And yet the dragons grow restless to be freed from the tyranny that enslaves them. Corrin has no idea what he is meant to do to save them, but with the help of his new love Tam, who has powers of her own, he just might stand a chance. Which is good because he is going to need all the help he can get; for war is coming.

"You know, I loved you from the moment I saw you, before I even knew who you were."

There are so many wonderful things for me to say about this book. First I want to talk about the aesthetics. I had no idea what this book was about or that it was even published until I came across it by chance when I was in the bookstore last a couple of weeks ago. The cover caught my eye and I was almost immediately mesmerized by its soft texture and beautiful image of a candle with black moths formed out of the smoke. When I read the back and learned it was about dragons I was immediately sure that I would love it. I mean, c'mon, dragons always guarantee a book to be amazing, right? :) Also I was intrigued that it was a stand-alone novel, since those are few and far between in the fantasy genre.

I was definitely not disappointed in my choice here, because this book was just a pure delightful read from start to finish. As much as I wanted to race through it (like I usually do when I find a book that I love this much) I found that I couldn't. The beautiful writing and fully descriptive scenes forced me to slow down and savor every single word on each page. There were a few passages that I ended up earmarking and then going back and re-reading them over and over because of how much I loved them. I wanted to disappear into this world, this world of dragons and wizards, of castles and true love. It was almost as if there were various storylines together intertwining into one beautiful and poignant story. There is the story of the dragons and how they were enslaved and the lengths that Corin has to go to free them, there is the story of the war, and there is the love story between Corin and Tam. But one part of the story didn't dominate any others, and that was another thing I loved about this book. You don't have to be a hardcore fantasy fan or a hardcore romance fan to enjoy this. I truly believe that it has something for everybody! :) There is just so much going on that kept me engaged and riveted and so excited to find out what happened next. I loved the writing style, loved the dialogue, loved the characters, and especially loved the dragons!

I loved this book so much! This is a must read! I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy books and/or romance books.

He burned for her, and she for him, and it was as unstoppable as rain in spring.
...more

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Mar 22, 2014 Cheryl rated it did not like it

This is another book that is supposed to be one of the most hyped about books of 2014. So I again had to check this one out. Ok, let me just say that all the talk in the world can not help a book if it can not stand up to the hype. I really wanted to like this book because it sounded intriguing, however I got to chapter four and put it down. It took me several days to come back to this book. Then when I did pick it back up, I was only semi interested. I skimmed chapter five and it was then that ...more

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Jan 25, 2014 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-or-review-copy, fantasy, read-in-2014, romance, war, audiobook, re-read, read-in-2015

At the end of the day you’ll want to read this book because you’re in the mood for some touching fall-in-love action between two characters that are inherently good. The added bonus is the vibrant, well-realized, believable, astounding court culture that Leonard subtly crafts throughout her book. The magic system and dragons takes some time to really matter too much, but by the end of the book, that will be as interesting as everything else you’ve read. If the ending suffers a little, Leonard ma ...more

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Feb 11, 2014 James rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, fantasy, i-own-ebook

Anne Leonard's debut novel, Moth and Spark , is an enjoyable surprise. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I read the blurb that described it as '... The Princess Bride meets Game of Thrones ... with a dash of Jane Austen.' but once i was reading it, it felt more like Game of Thrones meets Pretty Woman. Maybe that's because I've never read The Princess Bride or Jane Austen (view spoiler) – althou Anne Leonard's debut novel, Moth and Spark , is an enjoyable surprise. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I read the blurb that described it as '... The Princess Bride meets Game of Thrones ... with a dash of Jane Austen.' but once i was reading it, it felt more like Game of Thrones meets Pretty Woman. Maybe that's because I've never read The Princess Bride or Jane Austen (view spoiler) – although Jane Austen is thanked at the end of the novel for dialogue pointers. But, I've definitely read Game of Thrones and I've definitely seen Pretty Woman.

The Game of Thrones connection is obvious: it's fantasy, there are dragons, and it's got a prologue that has little, if any, connection to the rest of the novel. There's even a chap called Bron. Corin is the prince – wealthy, powerful and successfully avoiding marriage, or love, this far in his life. Tam is smart and sassy and not at all used to the social structures of court. Although they're from different worlds, they're destined to meet and fall in love. But obviously they cannot marry each other – an badly kept secret affair is all it can ever be. There's even a moment where the prince borrows an expensive necklace for Tam to wear to the ball – Pretty Woman.

The first few chapters felt a bit slow, but this is where the world building takes place. The characters are introduced and we find out who they are and what makes them tick. The dual narration style follows both Corin's and Tam's separate stories until the 'events' force their paths together. Tam witnesses a murder and suddenly finds herself with access to some of the highest people in court. The book really takes off at this point and Leonard's story really captures the imagination. Yeah, there are still some pacing issues; yeah, there is still some weirdly awkward dialogue; and yeah, the book sort of peters out at the end. But, I forgive her. It's a debut novel, and the story pays off in spite of those flaws. We have wizards and dragon-riders, dragons who exist outside of time, princes and commoners, and a remote evil empire. What's not to like?

My copy was an advanced copy – a rather poor PDF to Kindle conversion – but, the publisher was keen to point out that this was not the final version. The book hadn't been through it's final edit cycle, so not only would I absolutely expect the formatting problems to be resolved, I might well hope that some of the pacing and dialogue might even be tightened up in the final print. ...more

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Apr 18, 2014 Sarah rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: amazon-vine, 2014-debut-author, for-review-read, did-not-finish, read-in-2014, buddy-read

Buddy read with Sammee (who also DNFed the book but she didn't even make it past the first chapter!)

I'd like to point out that I HATE not finishing a book, I'm stubborn like that and I can nearly always find something positive to say about the books I read. I'd actually consider myself a fairly forgiving reader but you may not believe that after reading this review.

I picked up Moth & Spark expecting an awesome fantasy story full of dragons and magic but in reality I got an incredibly boring, ove Buddy read with Sammee (who also DNFed the book but she didn't even make it past the first chapter!)

I'd like to point out that I HATE not finishing a book, I'm stubborn like that and I can nearly always find something positive to say about the books I read. I'd actually consider myself a fairly forgiving reader but you may not believe that after reading this review.

I picked up Moth & Spark expecting an awesome fantasy story full of dragons and magic but in reality I got an incredibly boring, overly detailed story about court politics and an insta-love romance. Considering I made it to page 161 out of 368 (even if it did take me nearly a month to slog that far) I think I gave this book a fair shot. If you bear in mind that this story is supposed to be about a boy (Corin) who has been tasked with saving the dragons from slavery I think you'll be as surprised as I am to discover that nearly half way in there have only been three (yes I said THREE!) interactions with the dragons. Once in the prologue, then there is one incident where we see them flying in the distance and then a third slightly more exciting occasion when Corin actually gets to ride a dragon. What might surprise you is that while this book over describes every single thing that happens down to what everyone is wearing and what they had for breakfast, the event where he RIDES A DRAGON is over within a couple of pages. I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed I was - I'd waited so long to get to the good stuff and it was glossed over as if it was completely unimportant.

If I wasn't irritated enough by the complete lack of dragons the insta-love between Corin and Tam was enough to make me want to throw the book across the room. If you don't believe me on how quickly this romance happens here is a bit more information about their first 4 interactions:
1. He saw her across a crowded room and was impressed by her beauty (they didn't speak and were in the same room for less than 2 minutes).
2. They had a VERY brief conversation in the library (I'm talking less than 5 minutes but probably not even that).
3. After their five minute conversation he can't get her out of his head so he invites her to dinner where they spend a couple of hours talking and of course share a goodnight kiss.
4. The very next morning they meet in the garden and he's already ruminating on how madly he loves her (Quote from the book: "He had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. Before they'd even finished eating he had known he was hopelessly, entirely, in love" That was obviously quite some dinner the night before!).
From there onwards the couple can't keep their hands off each other and they're both constantly thinking how unfair it is that they are so in love but can never be a proper couple because he's a prince and she isn't a suitable bride.

I tried pushing on past that, you will never know how hard I tried, but another 40 pages in and I'm so bored I want to stab my eyes out with a fork just to stop the torture. Obviously looking at the other reviews you'll see I'm in the minority here so I don't want to put people off giving this a try. What I would suggest is getting your copy from the library so you haven't wasted your money if you end up disliking it as much as I did.

I had such high hopes for this book, I'm obsessed with anything dragon related and I couldn't wait to dive into this series. It pains me to write such a negative review but this book really is NOTHING like the blurb suggests and I was left so incredibly disappointed because of that. ...more

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Feb 10, 2014 Keertana rated it liked it

Moth and Spark is fantasy-lite. While it contains a plethora of intriguing ideas, the world-building, dragons, and magical elements aren't as deeply explored as the romance is. Quite simply put, though this could have easily been molded into an intense, political fantasy novel, it remains focused on the love story at hand. For an adult novel to push aside the intriguing political machinations of its universe, keeping its best qualities - dragons and magic - at bay, only compels it to dim in ligh ...more

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Feb 01, 2014 Anzu The Great Destroyer rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-something, lots-of-mushy-stuff, nope, fat-kitty-judges-you, dargons, big-fucking-nope, zzzzzzz

Too much boring too few dragons. I rock English.

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Jan 11, 2014 Anya rated it liked it

Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard tells the story of a commoner and a prince falling in love while war brews and mysterious prophecies about dragons come to light. If you are a fan of historical romance, then you will probably really enjoy the court intrigue and romance in Moth and Spark and this could be a great chance to try out some light fantasy ;-). While Moth and Spark takes place in a world with magic and dragons, it has a very strong romance plot, with the consequences of war and dragons on ...more

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Jan 24, 2014 Nathan rated it really liked it

Shelves: author-female, high-fantasy, rated-4-star, read-2014

Fantasy Review Barn

With a possible marriage proving important in Moth and Spark, debut novel of Anne Leonard, I decided to pigeon hold it into an old wedding superstition. Something old; a love story at the heart of war. Something new (at least to me); dragons that are not fully tied to humans nor completely independent, but rather a bit of both. Something borrowed; well, there is nothing completely original about rebellions, love stories or even dragon riders, is there? And something blue. Um, Fantasy Review Barn

With a possible marriage proving important in Moth and Spark, debut novel of Anne Leonard, I decided to pigeon hold it into an old wedding superstition. Something old; a love story at the heart of war. Something new (at least to me); dragons that are not fully tied to humans nor completely independent, but rather a bit of both. Something borrowed; well, there is nothing completely original about rebellions, love stories or even dragon riders, is there? And something blue. Um, I think lead female Tam wore a blue dress to the ball, didn’t she? If not go with the cover, it has a lot of blue on it

Immensely readable, hard to put down, and short in length – this is the type of story that I used to read in a single sitting when I actually had time to do so. Following only two major players; young prince Corin and his soon to be love interest Tam, the book fills the pages with a lot of happenings without any rush or bloat. We are given not boring build up; Corin is stopped by a dragon rider in the first few pages and it is soon known he shall lead them in a rebellion against the Emperor who controls them. From there we join him on a quest of war, rebellion, and love. Oh, and we meet a few dragons along the way.

By following only two characters a lot happens in this world but we only get to know what Tam and Corin know. This is not a book that forces you to memorize a map, know troop movements, or follow anything outside of these two characters world. This is a good thing; it allows the aforementioned short length without forcing a rushed ending and doesn’t make the world feel small by forcing the main cast to take care of everything. Tam and Corin must take care of their own important task while the world moves around them.

What I really appreciated about this book was the way it flirted with familiar tropes. It never actually left them behind, nor tried to subvert them entirely, but instead danced with them; using them when they were not broken and stepping outside of them when needed. I appreciated seeing a royal court that wasn’t pure back stabbing politics and cruel pranks on the new girl. Tam ran afoul of a few to be sure, but never did the court fall into ‘these people are evil’ and ‘these are the good people who will befriend our protagonist.’ Tam fits the action girl trope herself, always the smartest in the room and ready to speak her mind. But she stays believable throughout; in a world based around a patriarchy she does a lot and has no lack of agency; but does nothing that makes her seem like the exception to the gender-status rules. Tam is quick to take charge but isn’t suddenly swinging a sword around and fighting off trained soldiers. And the dragons themselves, though hard to talk about without spoilers, are manipulative without actually being unlikable.

There is a love story here which I am of two minds about. On one hand it is very rushed and requires a bit of a personality change in the prince that I am not sure about. But on the other hand I have no hard time buying that two people so young could have an infatuation as strong as they felt that would lead to every action they took. And as the entire story takes place in a fairly short time, without any annoying ‘happily ever after’ prologue, I am not forced to buy the fact that this was ‘one true love at first sight.’ So I am going to call this a success.

I must comment on how strongly this book managed to wrap up what was looking like too many threads into a conclusion that answered a lot of questions in a hurry without ever feeling rushed. Little plot points I was finding implausible suddenly made since; there was tension without throwing in something unexpected or implausible, and we got real resolution to the major story arc while letting us know that the author is well aware that not everything was solved but that was for other players in the game to deal with.

I have only a few quibbles. While I can’t call it a plot hole because the explanation was in there I am still confused on how the dragons became beholden in the first place (though how they were kept under control after was perfectly clear). And maybe it was intentional but there were a lot of real world allusions that raised an eyebrow; they shared a very similar set of fairy tales as we do for instance.

I rare book that I felt could be a bit longer, but solid throughout. Perfect for a lazy afternoon if you are a person who still finds time for those. It is somewhat rewarding to read a book that I know nothing about, and always cool to see a debut that shows so much potential.

4 Stars

Review copy provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own. ...more

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Jan 22, 2014 Charlie Lovett rated it really liked it

One of the nice things about being an author is that sometimes I get asked to read a new book before it comes out. That was the case Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard. The book is published by Viking, my hardcover publisher, but it was my agent (who also represents Anne) who asked me to take a look at this fun and beautifully crafted new novel. It’s Anne’s debut, and I have to say it is really impressive. The novel is something like a Russian nesting doll: it’s a Jane Austen novel inside a Princess One of the nice things about being an author is that sometimes I get asked to read a new book before it comes out. That was the case Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard. The book is published by Viking, my hardcover publisher, but it was my agent (who also represents Anne) who asked me to take a look at this fun and beautifully crafted new novel. It’s Anne’s debut, and I have to say it is really impressive. The novel is something like a Russian nesting doll: it’s a Jane Austen novel inside a Princess Bride type fantasy romp inside a much darker Tolkein-esque story of politics, war, magic, and dragons.
Anne is brilliant at creating the world of the novel—and she’s created everything: the details of rooms as varied as the sumptuous royal apartments in the palace to the simple cottages of the Wizard’s Valley; the landscape and geography; the costumes and customs. She not only gives us a world (something like medieval Europe) that we can see and hear and touch and smell and taste—but she gives us a thousand years of history leading to political entanglements that are imminently meaningful to our two heroes. And she creates a social order inspired (as she says) by Jane Austen, yet uniquely adapted to her own uses.
But it is really in the character of those heroes— the prince Corin and the commoner Tam—that the book is at its best. After I set Moth and Spark down, breathless from the pace of the thrilling conclusion, I had a long think about why I liked these to characters and their relationship so much. I think part of it is, as readers of The Bookman’s Tale will know, that I am something of a hopeless romantic and the love story woven between these two characters if both hopelessly romantic and romantically hopeless. But the likeability of these characters extends deeper than that. I think it’s that they are the sort of people that we all wish we could be. Yes, they love deeply and without selfishness, but they are also brave and afraid. They are practical yet dreamers. They are stubborn only in doing what they know is right and they are both willing to make supreme sacrifices—for each other, for their country, and for peace.
There is a lot in this book to talk about: dragon lore, a dying race of Wizards, intrigue at court, swordplay, weaponry, a mysterious murder, and the ordinary human process of courtship—with all its attendant conniving, backstabbing, and double crossing (though never for our heroes). But always at the center are these two remarkable young people—whether alone or together—whose characters and relationship draw us deeply into the narrative. Because we care so much for them, we care for everything else. Everything from the dragons to the politics becomes much more that just an exercise in world creating because we see all those things through the twin lenses of Corin and Tam.
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Apr 04, 2014 Althea Ann rated it really liked it

Awww, that was awfully sweet.

Tam Warin is a doctor's daughter who's been invited to the Season at Court through a family connection. However, she doesn't fit in very well with all the giggling well-bred girls in search of husbands.
Wandering idly around the palace on a rainy day, she happens to become a witness to a violent death, and unwittingly is drawn into a mysterious intrigue.

So far, so good. I loved it. Great set-up.

Then, a handsome man strides into Court, still rough and dirty with the gr ...more

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Feb 20, 2014 ☼Book her, Danno☼ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: where-is-the-next-book, young-adult

If Jane Austen wrote high-fantasy she might have penned MOTH AND SPARK.

Honestly, this book was so well written, I simply love it. It is, however, a Romance. So if you aren't in the mood for a romance, don't pick it up.

There are brilliant characters, wonderful world-building, and sophisticated politicking... not to mention, dragons and magic. But ultimately what is at heart of Anne Leonard's novel is a wonderful romance between a prince and a commoner.

I love the use of language in this book. I lo ...more

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Mar 02, 2014 Misty marked it as to-read · review of another edition

DRAGONS AND JANE AUSTEN, THIS CLEARLY BELONGS ON MY BOOKSHELVES.

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Jan 24, 2014 Seeing Double in Neverland rated it it was ok

2 out of 5 stars

I couldn't finish this book, it was not what I was expecting and was to drawn out! ...more

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Apr 01, 2020 Felicia Edens rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fairy-tales-folklore-fantasy

"A woman in one village had the Sight and predicted doom. There were always such stories somewhere; natural philosophy was still the province of the rich and educated. The poor would have their gods of tree and stream and hollow, their hedgerow cures and charms. But those things were not usually tossed about in tavern gossip. For them to come out now meant fear of something else that was too hard to face. He had seen the hex signs, the wardings, on the farmhouse doors and the roofs of barns. On ...more

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Apr 03, 2014 Victoria rated it did not like it

Shelves: fantasy-science-fiction, not-for-me

At first, this novel feels like a classic fantasy story - one of the main perspectives is that of the heir prince of a land bent under an oppressive empire. The dragons that belong in Corin’s country have been stolen away and on top of their quiet rebellion, a greedy neighbor threatens to conquer the country. Meanwhile, Tam, is a young woman (at one point 27 years old, another 20 years old...) with a wide range of experience and knowledge despite her commoner status. When her sister-in-law invit At first, this novel feels like a classic fantasy story - one of the main perspectives is that of the heir prince of a land bent under an oppressive empire. The dragons that belong in Corin’s country have been stolen away and on top of their quiet rebellion, a greedy neighbor threatens to conquer the country. Meanwhile, Tam, is a young woman (at one point 27 years old, another 20 years old...) with a wide range of experience and knowledge despite her commoner status. When her sister-in-law invites her to spend the summer at the Palace, her curiosity inspires her to leave behind her job working for her physician father. Unfortunately, once the two main characters meet the detail of setting up a classic fantasy landscape falls away to descriptions of architecture, gowns and wine. The instant love between Tam and Corin at first seems like lust, but on their second meeting, they are trading secrets like lifelong friends (probably not the best activity for the Heir Prince, but by this point the book resembles a bodice-ripper more than a fantasy novel and the only dragons that appear in this section are in the decor).

The immediate sensuality to their relationship seems almost at odds with all of the careful time and action of the previous pages that set up Corin’s country on the precipice of war. Even as the conflicts facing the country become more serious, it is obvious that readers should be more involved in this three day old romance. There are some odd references to fairy tales (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty) that almost make this book feel like it had originally been drafted in a setting more mundane. The relationship between the characters, though, is boring. There are few conflicts and the main class difference is hardly apparent and seems easily overcome (and don’t worry, it is).

Once their relationship is completely secure, the latter half of the novel suddenly picks back up on the war and with the dragons. The battle scenes that involve physical action are much more convincing and engaging than the confused scenes that deal with magic. Leonard’s odd version of magic makes little sense and the climatic scene falls flat accordingly. The epilogue neatly wraps up every aspect of the plot and though it isn’t a poorly written novel, it is not an enjoyable read. It feels bereft of any genuine conflict and the characters have no depth at all. The dragons are alien creatures that fail to charm readers and I wish that the focus had been less on the romance and more on the other aspects of the book. ...more

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Feb 24, 2014 Online Eccentric Librarian rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, historical, fantasy

More reviews at the Online Eccentric Librarian http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Moth and Spark was an interesting read: a mature, intelligent, Austen-influenced romance in the middle bookended by solid fantasy at the beginning and end. Unlike so many of the books written in either of those genres, the decisions made by the main characters are intelligent, there is a lot of admirable 'show, don't tell', and the romance aspect doesn't get soppy or over the top. With dragons, a touch of magic, and a
More reviews at the Online Eccentric Librarian http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Moth and Spark was an interesting read: a mature, intelligent, Austen-influenced romance in the middle bookended by solid fantasy at the beginning and end. Unlike so many of the books written in either of those genres, the decisions made by the main characters are intelligent, there is a lot of admirable 'show, don't tell', and the romance aspect doesn't get soppy or over the top. With dragons, a touch of magic, and a lot of interesting politics, this makes for a solid and very human set of characters and plot.

Story: Corin is a prince in a kingdom that has become a vassal to a larger and more powerful state. His family walks a tight political line, one about to be shattered when an invading horde begins to decimate neighboring countries. He had thought the dragons were done with his people, long since stolen away in the past. But they are back and he has been caught in a web from which he will have to fight to survive. At the same time, a quiet but intelligent daughter of a local doctor, visiting a sister who has married up in society, will find herself firmly thrust into the maelstrom of political and magical machinations. And the love of a man she can never marry. But she also may be key to discovering the need of the dragons.

In the acknowledgements section, the author notes that she borrowed Austen language liberally. This book has that feel - a quiet maturity that draws you in. Other than an unfortunately too-fast romance that teeters too closely to instalove, the romance never gets in the way of the plot and the characters never forget the dangers and whole picture in their interaction. If anything, they are painfully aware throughout, which is very refreshing in a sea of fantasy and urban fantasy romance in which the main characters seem to forget everything as soon as the cute guy comes along.

I've waited a long time for a book like this - a successful blend of romance and fantasy. Neither take back seat to the other and within each genre lies the strength of this book. The book may not be perfect but I enjoyed it greatly. Although this is a stand-alone title, I certainly hope the author writes more of the same in the future. I eagerly look forward to her next book.

Received as an ARC from the publisher. ...more

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Jan 29, 2014 ☕️Kimberly rated it really liked it

Leonard told the tale using dual POV’s, and it was brilliantly done. Unlike, high fantasy, the secondary characters were kept at a minimum. Some were fleshed out and others just enough for us to understand their role in the story that unfolds. Tam and Corin were wonderful as our hero and heroine. Both are young but share a love of knowledge and logic. They played off each others strengths and trusted in each other. All of this made their friendship and romance feel genuine. Their relationship de Leonard told the tale using dual POV’s, and it was brilliantly done. Unlike, high fantasy, the secondary characters were kept at a minimum. Some were fleshed out and others just enough for us to understand their role in the story that unfolds. Tam and Corin were wonderful as our hero and heroine. Both are young but share a love of knowledge and logic. They played off each others strengths and trusted in each other. All of this made their friendship and romance feel genuine. Their relationship developed quickly, but since she is a commoner and he a Prince both go into the relationship aware of its limitations. War, dragons and quests kept the flames burning but Leonard allowed them to develop a relationship beyond attraction and lust. The King and Queen were wonderful both as leaders and parents. Those attending the Summer Court added interest, conflict and humor to the tale. Corin’s security team and the wizard community added substance without pulling us away from our couple.

I love fantasy, and forbidden or impossible romances and Moth and Spark delivered. The countryside, dragons, court and castle, came to life in panoramic detail without slowing the pace. While there is a war, alliances, magic and quests our couple remain at the center of the plot. I adored both Tam and Corin as they worked together. They reminded me of Claire and Jamie from Outlander. Leonard’s description of the Dragons and their riders left me breathless. Communication between beast and man was beautiful, and I shall forever dream of flying. The world-building regarding the quest and war was well done and kept the tale light. The front of the book contains a map which further helped me see the fields, mountains and forests. For me, this was the type of novel that I didn’t want to end, EVER. I was disappointed that this doesn’t appear to be a series or trilogy. The climax and ending were beautifully render, and threads tied up but, and this is a minor but; I felt it was a tad rushed. For me at least this book could have handled another two hundred pages.

Fans of Austen, Outlander and romantic fantasy will find magic within the pages of Moth and Spark. Oh and there are Dragons! I want more, plain and simple and look forward to Anne Leonard’s next novel.

Copy received from publisher in exchange for unbiased review that originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ...more

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Aug 11, 2014 Junkie for the Written Word rated it did not like it

Shelves: books-i-didn-t-like

I read about 65% of this before giving up.

High fantasy, courtly love, and.... dragons! You would think I would have loved this book, *I* would have thought I would love this book, but sadly we would both have been mistaken.

Here's why I didn't:
* The story drops you off in the middle of an intrigue you don't know anything about and then doesn't make you care about it. Lots of description of the intrigues of court without making you want to know more. Like a fact sheet of shit you could care less I read about 65% of this before giving up.

High fantasy, courtly love, and.... dragons! You would think I would have loved this book, *I* would have thought I would love this book, but sadly we would both have been mistaken.

Here's why I didn't:
* The story drops you off in the middle of an intrigue you don't know anything about and then doesn't make you care about it. Lots of description of the intrigues of court without making you want to know more. Like a fact sheet of shit you could care less about.
* The love story, or whatever it is. Of course the hero and heroine fall in love instantly because that is a thing that happens all the damn time in romance novels and so why the hell not.
* The hero and heroine are both beautiful, talented, perfect, and I hate them.
* The world building. What the fuck is happening here? Get lots of description of smells but no real sense of the world at large. It's medievalish with dragons, but there seems to be indoor plumbing and Cinderella and gaslight... but none of this stuff is expanded upon, just mentioned like, "She went to run a hot bath." And then nothing else is said about it. What? Is there indoor plumbing? Did she literally run the hot water up the stairs in great big buckets? Or is "running a bath" a euphemism for some thing I don't know about. You can't have a story set in a the middle ages and then have indoor heated plumbing without explaining some shit. Or at least a little world building to let us know what technology they have.
*Whar logic? Whar? Nothing happens logically. It all just happens for no apparent reason. And not just illogical plot elements to move the story along because the author needs them to. Illogical random things just happen, just because.

So all this together made me not like the book but if it hadn't be for such a perfect and tidy "love story" I might have persevered. The "romance" was the camel that broke the straws back for me. It was just so perfect and sickening I wanted to punch someone in the face.

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Feb 13, 2014 Jess (Gone with the Words) rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2014

Read this review on my blog! --> Review: Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard

Moth and Spark was a different kind of read for me. I don’t read as much fantasy as I should. Especially since I enjoy it lots and lots. Moth and Spark is adult fantasy and I’ve yet to venture into that much but I’m totally game now!

I loved that the love story was so central to this fantasy story because it’s definitely what kept me glued to the end. I loved the main characters, Prince Corin and Tam, and immensely enjoyed the ...more

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Feb 12, 2014 Lisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Full Review: http://tenaciousreader.wordpress.com/...

This is very much a love story. It is about freeing dragons, saving the empire and winning love. And I won’t say that it is the boy’s story to do these things, because in this the romance is also a partnership. Together, what can be accomplished is much more than individually.

Dragons are being held and forced into servitude. The Emperor that holds them has gone a bit mad and Corin has been selected by the dragons as the one to free them. Only, ...more

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May 03, 2014 Jennifer rated it it was ok

Shelves: disappointing

I really didn’t like this book. I’m about to rant, because I read it on a plane and failed to bring another book with me. Therefore, I was forced to read past the point where it got boring and wound up hate-reading the rest of it. Usually, I just drop a book when it isn’t working for me.

It started out all right (not great- for some reason the writing didn’t really grab me). I was interested in the setup with the dragons and then the political intrigue with the kingdom being threatened on two sid ...more

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Feb 20, 2014 Fantasy Literature rated it liked it

Moth and Spark, Anne Leonard’s debut novel, is a member of a very specific and well-populated fantasy subgenre: a classic tale of high romance, sword fighting, dragon-riding, and faux-medieval politicking. It’s more or less the Anne McCaffrey and Patricia Briggs reading of my middle school years, read and re-read with all the critical discernment of a kid shoving cotton candy down her throat at the fair. Moth and Sparkwas cotton candy of the most typical sort — nothing but air and spun sugar, bu ...more

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kalina rated it it was ok
Dec 04, 2012

S. R. marked it as to-read
Jun 03, 2013

Kim marked it as to-read
Jun 18, 2013

Amy marked it as to-read
Jul 06, 2013

Heidi marked it as to-read
Jul 06, 2013

Jul 06, 2013 April rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, for-review, dragons, 2017-unhaul

This whole adding variety and reading adult books thing is really working out quite well for me. Moth And Spark by Anne Leonard is sort of out of the norm for me, considering that I typically read young adult books that take a day or two to get through. I will state that prior to blogging I would have been all over Moth And Spark in a heartbeat, given that it is a fantasy book with romance and dense and long. Just how far outside my comfort zone did I step? Well, this book took me about two week ...more

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Fire marked it as to-read
Jul 06, 2013

Ashley Kempkes marked it as to-read
Jul 09, 2013

Sherri marked it as to-read
Jul 11, 2013

Kara-karina marked it as to-read
Jul 14, 2013

Jul 18, 2013 Summer rated it it was ok

Shelves: did-not-finish, here-be-dragons, fantasy, magic, romantic-fantasy

I really wanted to like this book. It has a pretty cover and romance and DRAGONS. But alas it was not to be. It wasn't necessarily bad and the book sort of picked up for me about halfway through. However I just found that I didn't really care about the characters let alone what happens as far as plot. I would set it down and not particularly feel the urge to pick it back up again. ...more

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Kathy (Kindle-aholic) marked it as to-read
Jul 29, 2013

Conrad marked it as to-read
Jul 31, 2013

Jul 31, 2013 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it liked it

Shelves: finishedreviewcopy, oh-hai-instalove

Moth and Spark got my attention with that pretty cover. Then there was the blurb with dragons and romance. That sounds like so much a Christina book that I simply had to have it. Up front, I do want to warn you that, as the blurb suggests, romance definitely outweighs the fantasy plot line. If the romance aspect doesn’t interest you, this might not be the book for you.

Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions. ...more

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Suzanne Earley marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

B marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

Aug 01, 2013 Kelsey rated it liked it

Shelves: library

this is, above all, a romance novel. don't let the blurb fool you. while there are some fantastical elements, it cannot ring as a true fantasy novel. that being said, it was a decent book. some of the writing is off- it felt like I was reading what I would be saying instead of actual sentences. also a lot of unnecessary commas. good enough to read, but get it from the library. don't buy. ...more

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Gillian marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

Aug 01, 2013 Jessie (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it liked it

Shelves: owned-copy, arc, fantasy, 2014-reads, reviews-2014, print-arc, dragons-not-lizards, donated

More romance than fantasy, oddly written, but I kinda liked it?

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Katie marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

Arianne marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

Stories & Sweeties {Becky} marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

Summar Nassar marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

Aug 01, 2013 Nafiza marked it as zz-dnf

Shelves: source-library

Yep, the writing was not for me. And to be honest, neither was the female protagonist.

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Salma Deera marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

Denai Edwards marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

Ashley marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

Stephanie Parent marked it as to-read
Aug 01, 2013

Emma marked it as to-read
Aug 03, 2013

Laura marked it as to-read
Aug 04, 2013

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