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A Wild and Unremarkable Thing
Cayda has spent her entire life training to slay a Fire Scale. Now the time has come to leave her dragon-ravaged village behind, march into the Summer Alps, and reap the rewards of a Champion. But the road between poverty and prosperity is rife with beasts, betrayals, and baser temptations. Sensible Cayda soon discovers she’s not the only Champion with her eye on the prize, or the only one wearing a disguise.
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing pits girl against dragon in a stunning blend of Greek mythology and medieval lore. Don’t miss the thrilling novella that readers are calling poetic, enchanting, and a must-read for fans of fantasy!
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing pits girl against dragon in a stunning blend of Greek mythology and medieval lore. Don’t miss the thrilling novella that readers are calling poetic, enchanting, and a must-read for fans of fantasy!
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2017
4 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Jen Castleberry
3 books181 followersJen Castleberry resides in Virginia Beach with her husband and pets. Her background is in Communications and Animal Welfare. All of her pets are named after superheroes!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
September 21, 2024
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing by Jen Castleberry is a young adult fantasy novella that I was lucky enough to win in a giveaway from the publisher, The Parliament House. A bit of a medieval tale involving dragons with some Greek mythology mixed into it.
Cayda was a young girl that fell victim to her father’s cruelty when one day she even had to give up her name and identity with her father telling her she was to be presented as a boy and known as Cody. Cody spent all the time training to slay a Fire Scale (dragon) but finds the road to becoming a champion was not what Cody thought it would be.
First I’ll mention that Jen Castleberry is a very talented writer with often being even a bit poetic when telling the story. However, for myself I wasn’t a huge fan of the sometimes overly descriptive and often wordy style as it’s not a favorite of mine but especially in a novella that I feel needs to move at a quicker pace. I would be curious as to what she would come up with in a full length novel though as the story was certainly interesting and a creative world built in the shorter time.This would be one that seemed to be a lot packed into the short read but a lot left that a fuller book could have led to revealing if going deeper into the world so I was left a bit on the fence with this one thinking it was just and Ok read for me in the end.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Cayda was a young girl that fell victim to her father’s cruelty when one day she even had to give up her name and identity with her father telling her she was to be presented as a boy and known as Cody. Cody spent all the time training to slay a Fire Scale (dragon) but finds the road to becoming a champion was not what Cody thought it would be.
First I’ll mention that Jen Castleberry is a very talented writer with often being even a bit poetic when telling the story. However, for myself I wasn’t a huge fan of the sometimes overly descriptive and often wordy style as it’s not a favorite of mine but especially in a novella that I feel needs to move at a quicker pace. I would be curious as to what she would come up with in a full length novel though as the story was certainly interesting and a creative world built in the shorter time.This would be one that seemed to be a lot packed into the short read but a lot left that a fuller book could have led to revealing if going deeper into the world so I was left a bit on the fence with this one thinking it was just and Ok read for me in the end.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
January 26, 2018
Poetic, adventurous and romantic!
I received an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Review and blog tour can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
This book was one hell of a hidden gem! I had seen the blog opportunity and I couldn't have signed up faster! The story takes place in a kingdom where every fifteen years, dragons appear to the skies in order to mate. Then, it's the chance for the Champion to appear, the strongest one who will slay a dragon and become rich and famous. Cayda is a girl who is forced by her father to become Cody, the boy who will slay the dragon and take revenge on their destroyed city.
When the call comes for all Champions to gather, Cody will travel towards the gathering place...and encounter a strange man in the process. There is also, a prince, a scholar, and their spoiled girl friend. There are many POVs here and all are examples of the human nature.
Love, envy, vanity, lust, desperation all together come in an amazing circle around the story where the dragons and Cayda take the main role. I loved the writing style and the blooming romance; I liked the bisexual prince who was funny and a little spoiled. And while the book seems to be stand-alone I would surely enjoy a companion novel of this book!
I received an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Review and blog tour can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
This book was one hell of a hidden gem! I had seen the blog opportunity and I couldn't have signed up faster! The story takes place in a kingdom where every fifteen years, dragons appear to the skies in order to mate. Then, it's the chance for the Champion to appear, the strongest one who will slay a dragon and become rich and famous. Cayda is a girl who is forced by her father to become Cody, the boy who will slay the dragon and take revenge on their destroyed city.
When the call comes for all Champions to gather, Cody will travel towards the gathering place...and encounter a strange man in the process. There is also, a prince, a scholar, and their spoiled girl friend. There are many POVs here and all are examples of the human nature.
Love, envy, vanity, lust, desperation all together come in an amazing circle around the story where the dragons and Cayda take the main role. I loved the writing style and the blooming romance; I liked the bisexual prince who was funny and a little spoiled. And while the book seems to be stand-alone I would surely enjoy a companion novel of this book!
October 20, 2017
*I recieved an ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing follows the story of Cody, a girl who is being trained by her father to become a Fire Scale slayer after an attack on her town that has forever altered the balance of her family. Her mother has a drinking addiction, her younger sisters are forced to work in a brothel and Cody must leave behind all dreams to become the slayer that her father wants her to become. However, forgetting who she was is not easy, especially when Cody does not want to forget.
What I immediately loved about A Wild and Unremarkable Thing is the writing. It was the perfect balance of simplicity and eloquence. I found it almost poetic, and the images that it conjured were vivid and enchanced the fantasy setting of the story.
Another element I enjoyed and that I found to be singular was the way the chapters were written. None of the chapters in this novella were very long, which not only made the story flow quickly, but it gave me the feeling of seeing this world and learning about the characters in quick flashes. All the information that was provided was essential to the plot so there was no dull moment in the storytelling!
However, the only flaw I can find in this book is that it was a little too short. The ending felt a little bit rushed to me, so maybe a few more pages could have helped for a better closure.
Overall, I loved this book. I highly recommend it to lovers of fantasy and dragons.
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing follows the story of Cody, a girl who is being trained by her father to become a Fire Scale slayer after an attack on her town that has forever altered the balance of her family. Her mother has a drinking addiction, her younger sisters are forced to work in a brothel and Cody must leave behind all dreams to become the slayer that her father wants her to become. However, forgetting who she was is not easy, especially when Cody does not want to forget.
What I immediately loved about A Wild and Unremarkable Thing is the writing. It was the perfect balance of simplicity and eloquence. I found it almost poetic, and the images that it conjured were vivid and enchanced the fantasy setting of the story.
Another element I enjoyed and that I found to be singular was the way the chapters were written. None of the chapters in this novella were very long, which not only made the story flow quickly, but it gave me the feeling of seeing this world and learning about the characters in quick flashes. All the information that was provided was essential to the plot so there was no dull moment in the storytelling!
However, the only flaw I can find in this book is that it was a little too short. The ending felt a little bit rushed to me, so maybe a few more pages could have helped for a better closure.
Overall, I loved this book. I highly recommend it to lovers of fantasy and dragons.
November 17, 2018
Cody, Wolfe, Penn and the supporting staff of characters make up a strong ensemble. The event that the adventure takes place around is a classic and fun literary idea and provides a wonderful stage to see everyone at work. I think every reader will find at least one of the characters somewhat relatable. The many different creatures are well crafted and the description helps unnerve the reader. The only negative thing I can say is that the love story portions of the book slow you down from the real star of the show: The plot. Overall I think this book is a brilliant quick read and I give it 4.6 Stars for being an unexpected surprise.
ARC via The Parliament House
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ARC via The Parliament House
For more book content follow our Bookstagram: @literpairy on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/literpairy/
March 8, 2018
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing was such a joy to read. It's not often I find a book that I can't put down, and this is one of the few that had me sneaking in a few chapters during the work day. Jen has created a beautiful world, with characters who are driven toward their purpose, and living their lives to the fullest. The imagery was clear and beautiful. The characters were all so different and beautifully designed. This was like nothing I have read before, and was so refreshing!
I can't wait to read more of Jen's work and hope there are more adventures to come for Cody (and Cayda)! *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I can't wait to read more of Jen's work and hope there are more adventures to come for Cody (and Cayda)! *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
January 13, 2018
If you are a fan of; fantasy; dragons; gods; heroes; and tragic back stories, then congratulations you have just stumbled upon your favorite Novella of all time.
In the grand scheme of things, I really enjoyed this novella, it was well-written (poetic even), and followed a great plot.
First of all, let’s talk about the plot. There’s A LOT of stuff going on in this novella, the world is simply magical and fresh. But I find it better to delve into this without knowing a lot about it, so I am only going to give a basic story line; this Novella follows Cayda aka Cody, who ever since she was 5 has been training to one day slaughter a Fire Scale. I personally loved the plot and the way it developed, it was my favorite thing about this novella.
Secondly, the writing style; the prologue gave me shivers! Jen’s writing style in this novella was so enchanting and intriguing. It’s one thing to simply have a ‘nice’ writing style, but this was magnificent. It made the world, if possible, even more magical. I found myself completely mystified to her poetic words.
Now, I am going to be honest and say that there were two things I didn’t like about this novella, which is why I only gave it 3/5. I didn’t like most of the characters, they needed more development, and reasonable motivations for what they were doing. I especially felt that with three characters that I nicknamed the ‘royal trio’; most of the time they really frustrated me, and had me going like ‘why the hell would you do that?’
The second thing I didn’t like was the ending. Overall, I thought this novella needed to be a full novel, it had an epic storyline, a magical world, characters that needed more development, and scenes that I wished we had. But the ending had me really disappointed, and I think it could have been so much better.
All in all, the novella was a nice, poetic read, that I would recommend to anyone into fantasy and well-written novellas.
In the grand scheme of things, I really enjoyed this novella, it was well-written (poetic even), and followed a great plot.
First of all, let’s talk about the plot. There’s A LOT of stuff going on in this novella, the world is simply magical and fresh. But I find it better to delve into this without knowing a lot about it, so I am only going to give a basic story line; this Novella follows Cayda aka Cody, who ever since she was 5 has been training to one day slaughter a Fire Scale. I personally loved the plot and the way it developed, it was my favorite thing about this novella.
Secondly, the writing style; the prologue gave me shivers! Jen’s writing style in this novella was so enchanting and intriguing. It’s one thing to simply have a ‘nice’ writing style, but this was magnificent. It made the world, if possible, even more magical. I found myself completely mystified to her poetic words.
Now, I am going to be honest and say that there were two things I didn’t like about this novella, which is why I only gave it 3/5. I didn’t like most of the characters, they needed more development, and reasonable motivations for what they were doing. I especially felt that with three characters that I nicknamed the ‘royal trio’; most of the time they really frustrated me, and had me going like ‘why the hell would you do that?’
The second thing I didn’t like was the ending. Overall, I thought this novella needed to be a full novel, it had an epic storyline, a magical world, characters that needed more development, and scenes that I wished we had. But the ending had me really disappointed, and I think it could have been so much better.
All in all, the novella was a nice, poetic read, that I would recommend to anyone into fantasy and well-written novellas.
January 2, 2019
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing is truly a remarkable story. My biggest fear while reading was that the book would not be long enough. And it wasn't!
We follow Cody/Cayda, who has been trained by her father for the past fifteen years to be able to kill a Fire Scale; one of the dragons that come out every fifteenth year to mate. She has lived her life like a boy for just as long, because no girl could ever hope to claim the winning prize for slaying a Fire Scale.
The story is an incredible page-turner and from the moment you turn the first page you will have entered the spectacular world of A Wild and Unremarkable Thing, where you will find yourself until you turn the very last page.
I really found this story enthralling and I love the way Castleberry has woven her sentences together. It creates a dynamic read and keeps the story fast paced. Moreover, I enjoyed the multiple point of views that add a certain "layeredness" to the story, since we follow different people's thoughts, actions and descriptions of characters we already know from following them.
Cody/Cayda is very easily loved and really brings a lot of character to the story. I hope there will be more to read about her some day.
My only complaint is that the book ended when it did. It felt too rushed, and I could have also easily read an entire new book about what would happen next.
We follow Cody/Cayda, who has been trained by her father for the past fifteen years to be able to kill a Fire Scale; one of the dragons that come out every fifteenth year to mate. She has lived her life like a boy for just as long, because no girl could ever hope to claim the winning prize for slaying a Fire Scale.
The story is an incredible page-turner and from the moment you turn the first page you will have entered the spectacular world of A Wild and Unremarkable Thing, where you will find yourself until you turn the very last page.
I really found this story enthralling and I love the way Castleberry has woven her sentences together. It creates a dynamic read and keeps the story fast paced. Moreover, I enjoyed the multiple point of views that add a certain "layeredness" to the story, since we follow different people's thoughts, actions and descriptions of characters we already know from following them.
Cody/Cayda is very easily loved and really brings a lot of character to the story. I hope there will be more to read about her some day.
My only complaint is that the book ended when it did. It felt too rushed, and I could have also easily read an entire new book about what would happen next.
October 23, 2017
This Fantasy short story involves many themes enjoyed by lovers of the genre: dragons, quests, a smattering of romance. It is sure to please readers of all walks and genders. The descriptive word choice is often so vivid you almost wish you could close your eyes and *see* the story instead of reading. It ended with a few loose strings, which may frustrate some, but I for one and hoping for more stories with these characters!
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
November 26, 2024
I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this story quite a lot. For its size it does a wonderful job with the narration and an even better one with the characters who felt very solid and very lived in. We have four povs which you’d think for a novella theyre too many but it never felt like it and she kept the pacing and the rhythm at the right spot which was very nice. Now, that being said there were some parts that made it not a five star read like the two mains first meeting which- I guess? Straight people? Are like that? I was horrified. I thought it was a big shame that the author didn’t play with the gender of our main character since she was raised to be a boy but born as a girl and it would’ve been so fun to explore that with her. Other things is a racial slur, sexual content and sexual language that was kind of unnecessary but I guess that’s on personal preference and the author mentioned the mc’s cinnamon skin so often that I honest to god started to believe she’d forgotten the word for brown.
March 19, 2018
I really enjoyed this book! The writing was poetic and beautiful.
I really liked the different POVs as it really helped with understanding the story.
Cody was fierce and brave but I loved that we got to see her doubts and fears too. She struggled between her responsibility and what she wanted in life and this made her so much more relatable.
I wasn’t a fan of Wolfe though. But the prince was so much more fun and interesting.
The descriptions of the dragons made them so interesting and I wished we got to see more of them in the book. I would’ve loved to learn more about them.
I really loved the pace of the story and how it developed but i did feel the ending was a bit rushed. Everything happened all at once and I wish there was a few more pages to tie everything up.
I also loved the world building and the vivid descriptions made it so easy to imagine the world.
If you like fierce female leads and dragons I would definitely recommend this book!
I really liked the different POVs as it really helped with understanding the story.
Cody was fierce and brave but I loved that we got to see her doubts and fears too. She struggled between her responsibility and what she wanted in life and this made her so much more relatable.
I wasn’t a fan of Wolfe though. But the prince was so much more fun and interesting.
The descriptions of the dragons made them so interesting and I wished we got to see more of them in the book. I would’ve loved to learn more about them.
I really loved the pace of the story and how it developed but i did feel the ending was a bit rushed. Everything happened all at once and I wish there was a few more pages to tie everything up.
I also loved the world building and the vivid descriptions made it so easy to imagine the world.
If you like fierce female leads and dragons I would definitely recommend this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2017
4.5/5
This fantasy follows a young girl, named Cayda, who has forever been forced by her father to disguise herself as a boy, Cody. If that doesn't interest you already, I don't know what would? Fifteen years ago, when The Emerging—a day when the Fire Scale is killed and a Champion, the slaughterer, is rewarded—had bought Cody's town, Ithil, to ashes and left her family to the hellhole of poverty and unhappiness, her father had decided that she would slay a Firs Scale. So she kept walking on the path he had engraved for her.
The story called to me within the first few pages itself, when Cody recalls her preparation for the past fifteen years; how her father chopped off her hair or how he lashed her for a single tear that would roll down her eyes. It all felt real to me and I understood one thing for sure: it's always the gender norms that makes boys hold back their emotions, especially tears. Anyway, the novella opens with a strong scene and hooks me right away.
The characters are well thought of, developed and best of all, diverse. Nobody is the same, they all have their own personalities and while the POV changes after every few paragraphs (with a heading at the top spelling out the character), there isn't any confusion that comes along with it. While Wolfe loves books and considers himself smart enough because of all the reading he does, Fares is a crown prince and loves everything that's easy.
Penn and Cody's relationship has got me rooting for them and I loved their scenes the most. They aren't a cliche and don't take every conversation or interaction toward a romantic possibility, which is why I enjoyed it so much. They would sit and talk, though the character would mention to themsleves how much they're liking the other one, they didn't go all cheesy about it. Basically, Penn wasn't just the love interest, he had his own role to play.
Which brings me to another one of the strong points: Cody remains the main character in this book throughout. She knows what she's getting into, she is focused and prepared; and while she appreciates Penn's presence, she doesn't always seek him and that appealed to me. I love strong females, not just for the action but mentally too, and The Wild And Unremarkable Thing gave me one.
In addition, the Greek mythology hints in the story is fascinating and it's hard to applaud it without giving away spoilers so let's just stick with it being another pleasant surprise to me. Plus, there isn't any drama. There isn't unnecessary world-building or long paragraphs about feelings—a major reason would be because it's a novella—and everything is sewn together in a simple yet efficient manner. Nothing remains left out but not everything is forced in the readers' face simultaneously.
Moving on to the ending. It was amazing and gave enough closure for the story but maybe the pacing could've been a bit better. Suddenly, there were short paragraphs and mere retelling of what occurred. I definitely understand how reading a novella can limit to the details offered, but at least the scene where Cody comes back to Ithil could've been more heart warming or heart wrenching, wherever you wanna go with that. Anyway, that's absolutely a personal preference and I wouldn't suggest anybody to think of this as a major problem in this story.
A Wild And Unremarkable Thing is the perfect mix of emotions, actions and a spellbound story.
This fantasy follows a young girl, named Cayda, who has forever been forced by her father to disguise herself as a boy, Cody. If that doesn't interest you already, I don't know what would? Fifteen years ago, when The Emerging—a day when the Fire Scale is killed and a Champion, the slaughterer, is rewarded—had bought Cody's town, Ithil, to ashes and left her family to the hellhole of poverty and unhappiness, her father had decided that she would slay a Firs Scale. So she kept walking on the path he had engraved for her.
The story called to me within the first few pages itself, when Cody recalls her preparation for the past fifteen years; how her father chopped off her hair or how he lashed her for a single tear that would roll down her eyes. It all felt real to me and I understood one thing for sure: it's always the gender norms that makes boys hold back their emotions, especially tears. Anyway, the novella opens with a strong scene and hooks me right away.
The characters are well thought of, developed and best of all, diverse. Nobody is the same, they all have their own personalities and while the POV changes after every few paragraphs (with a heading at the top spelling out the character), there isn't any confusion that comes along with it. While Wolfe loves books and considers himself smart enough because of all the reading he does, Fares is a crown prince and loves everything that's easy.
Penn and Cody's relationship has got me rooting for them and I loved their scenes the most. They aren't a cliche and don't take every conversation or interaction toward a romantic possibility, which is why I enjoyed it so much. They would sit and talk, though the character would mention to themsleves how much they're liking the other one, they didn't go all cheesy about it. Basically, Penn wasn't just the love interest, he had his own role to play.
Which brings me to another one of the strong points: Cody remains the main character in this book throughout. She knows what she's getting into, she is focused and prepared; and while she appreciates Penn's presence, she doesn't always seek him and that appealed to me. I love strong females, not just for the action but mentally too, and The Wild And Unremarkable Thing gave me one.
In addition, the Greek mythology hints in the story is fascinating and it's hard to applaud it without giving away spoilers so let's just stick with it being another pleasant surprise to me. Plus, there isn't any drama. There isn't unnecessary world-building or long paragraphs about feelings—a major reason would be because it's a novella—and everything is sewn together in a simple yet efficient manner. Nothing remains left out but not everything is forced in the readers' face simultaneously.
Moving on to the ending. It was amazing and gave enough closure for the story but maybe the pacing could've been a bit better. Suddenly, there were short paragraphs and mere retelling of what occurred. I definitely understand how reading a novella can limit to the details offered, but at least the scene where Cody comes back to Ithil could've been more heart warming or heart wrenching, wherever you wanna go with that. Anyway, that's absolutely a personal preference and I wouldn't suggest anybody to think of this as a major problem in this story.
I recommend this to those looking for an epic fantasy read with diverse characters and a quick story that would remain with you for a while.
Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC from the author herself in exchange of an honest review but that doesn't in anyway influence my rating or opinion.
Read this and more reviews on my blog.
January 23, 2018
Happy book birthday to AWAUT!
***I've received an ARC from the author in return for an honest review***
It's your typical a-parent-forces-a-girl-to-pretend-to-be-a-boy-to-slay-a-dragon sort of book.
Oh wait, so you haven't read anything like that before?
That's right, ladies and gents. Usually, we read about a girl dressing up as a boy to take part in so many great adventures. This story is different and it adds a whole new dimension of identity struggle to the plot that I believe will be extremely relatable to many.
My only compliant is that this book was so short.
Then I've noticed that it actually says "novella" on the cover, so I guess I can only blame myself for noticing it sooner. But as novellas go, this one is greately done. There is so much detail - both in all the characters and in the fantastical world that the author presents. The plot is well-planned and the action fast-paced. Honestly, you couldn't ask for more.
Why didn't you give it 5 stars, you ask? Well, I really don't tend to give 5 star rating to anything that isn't Harry Potter, so it isn't anything personal.
So, let's get down to it.
The World
It's not easy to build a proper fantasy world in such a short space but Jen Castleberry manages it wonderfully. There are no info-dumps, we are easily introduced to the new world where Fire Scales are the biggest threat and whoever kills one wins lots of money. The towns seem alive and there is even a complete and coherent belief system and mythology - a thing that cannot be said about many popular, long-running YA fantasy series.
The Characters
The narration is divided between a couple of characters which works really well here. It lets us see different perspectives on the emerging and enhances the world-building. Still, it's easy to pick out the main character - Cody/Cayda, which also happens to be my favourite. Her struggle is so well-written and I loved reading how she was discovering the female in her. At the same time, it was not an easy or quick change and I'm really happy about the way it was dealt with. There is also Wolfe, the prince's favourite, an book-lover who wants to write a story for himself, the prince himself, Fares, a bit of a player but a loyal friend, and, finally, my second favourite, Penn - the god of death. GOD OF DEATH. How cool is that? How many times have we seen that concept used apart from Death Note? (I'm not counting the various references to the Greek mythology cause it's way different). All the characters are well-rounded which once again is praise-worthy with the little space there is for the character-building.
Do I recommend it? Yes, yes I do. It's familiar enough but at the same time a breath of fresh air. I know there are plenty of indie fantasy authors but Jen Castleberry really need to be heard about and I sincerely hope that her next publication will be a full-length novel - though A Wild and Unremarkable Thing definitely reads as one.
***I've received an ARC from the author in return for an honest review***
It's your typical a-parent-forces-a-girl-to-pretend-to-be-a-boy-to-slay-a-dragon sort of book.
Oh wait, so you haven't read anything like that before?
That's right, ladies and gents. Usually, we read about a girl dressing up as a boy to take part in so many great adventures. This story is different and it adds a whole new dimension of identity struggle to the plot that I believe will be extremely relatable to many.
My only compliant is that this book was so short.
Then I've noticed that it actually says "novella" on the cover, so I guess I can only blame myself for noticing it sooner. But as novellas go, this one is greately done. There is so much detail - both in all the characters and in the fantastical world that the author presents. The plot is well-planned and the action fast-paced. Honestly, you couldn't ask for more.
Why didn't you give it 5 stars, you ask? Well, I really don't tend to give 5 star rating to anything that isn't Harry Potter, so it isn't anything personal.
So, let's get down to it.
The World
It's not easy to build a proper fantasy world in such a short space but Jen Castleberry manages it wonderfully. There are no info-dumps, we are easily introduced to the new world where Fire Scales are the biggest threat and whoever kills one wins lots of money. The towns seem alive and there is even a complete and coherent belief system and mythology - a thing that cannot be said about many popular, long-running YA fantasy series.
The Characters
The narration is divided between a couple of characters which works really well here. It lets us see different perspectives on the emerging and enhances the world-building. Still, it's easy to pick out the main character - Cody/Cayda, which also happens to be my favourite. Her struggle is so well-written and I loved reading how she was discovering the female in her. At the same time, it was not an easy or quick change and I'm really happy about the way it was dealt with. There is also Wolfe, the prince's favourite, an book-lover who wants to write a story for himself, the prince himself, Fares, a bit of a player but a loyal friend, and, finally, my second favourite, Penn - the god of death. GOD OF DEATH. How cool is that? How many times have we seen that concept used apart from Death Note? (I'm not counting the various references to the Greek mythology cause it's way different). All the characters are well-rounded which once again is praise-worthy with the little space there is for the character-building.
Do I recommend it? Yes, yes I do. It's familiar enough but at the same time a breath of fresh air. I know there are plenty of indie fantasy authors but Jen Castleberry really need to be heard about and I sincerely hope that her next publication will be a full-length novel - though A Wild and Unremarkable Thing definitely reads as one.
September 25, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I wish this book was longer! It left me wanting so much more. At times I could tell this was a novella cause things would happen just a little too quickly, but overall it was a great read.
I didn't really understand the premise of this book when I read the description but let me tell you, it is interesting and unique. Fire Scales (dragons) come out of hiding every 15 years; the last time they took to the sky, one of them destroyed Cayda's home, which forced her family into a life of poverty along with the rest of her town. There are so many books out there where the heroine disguises herself as a guy just so she'll be able to do the things that she wants to do. WELL! This is the first book I've read where it's the father who makes her become a boy so she can kill a Fire Scale at the next emerging and provide for her family with the insane amount of wealth it provide. So Cayda becomes Cody; she trains basically her entire life to take one down.
The characters were fun and flawed which made them so relatable:
-Cody is so hard to describe without giving anything away. She resents her father for forcing her into the role that she must play. She also seems to have an ability that wasn't explained at all. Cody is just so tough from her years of training, but she is also good.
-Penn comes off a little creepy at first but he kind of gets a get out of jail free card in my books But he's such a little muffin, all he wants to do is help Cody out while she's on her mission.
-Wolfe is a book nerd who's best friends with Fares, the Crowned Prince. He's tired of just tagging along and wants to be remembered for something great, so he decides that killing a Fire Scale is the best way to achieve this even though he's a total weenie. I called the ending, but it didn't happen the way I thought it was going to.
-I feel like Fares is more for comic relief than anything, he definitely lightened the mood of the book quite a bit. He does play more of a critical role towards the end.
I can't wait to read more from this author!
Thanks for sending me an ebook, Jen!
I wish this book was longer! It left me wanting so much more. At times I could tell this was a novella cause things would happen just a little too quickly, but overall it was a great read.
I didn't really understand the premise of this book when I read the description but let me tell you, it is interesting and unique. Fire Scales (dragons) come out of hiding every 15 years; the last time they took to the sky, one of them destroyed Cayda's home, which forced her family into a life of poverty along with the rest of her town. There are so many books out there where the heroine disguises herself as a guy just so she'll be able to do the things that she wants to do. WELL! This is the first book I've read where it's the father who makes her become a boy so she can kill a Fire Scale at the next emerging and provide for her family with the insane amount of wealth it provide. So Cayda becomes Cody; she trains basically her entire life to take one down.
The characters were fun and flawed which made them so relatable:
-Cody is so hard to describe without giving anything away. She resents her father for forcing her into the role that she must play. She also seems to have an ability that wasn't explained at all. Cody is just so tough from her years of training, but she is also good.
-Penn comes off a little creepy at first but he kind of gets a get out of jail free card in my books But he's such a little muffin, all he wants to do is help Cody out while she's on her mission.
-Wolfe is a book nerd who's best friends with Fares, the Crowned Prince. He's tired of just tagging along and wants to be remembered for something great, so he decides that killing a Fire Scale is the best way to achieve this even though he's a total weenie. I called the ending, but it didn't happen the way I thought it was going to.
-I feel like Fares is more for comic relief than anything, he definitely lightened the mood of the book quite a bit. He does play more of a critical role towards the end.
I can't wait to read more from this author!
Thanks for sending me an ebook, Jen!
January 4, 2018
**2.5 Stars**
I was about ready to put the book down and never pick it up again at about 50ish pages in because I just could not get into the book or care about the characters even a little. But next thing I know, Penn aka Xerxes the Death God shows up and due to him alone I continued reading the book (he was fun, enough said). I was still not super invested in the plot and I seriously cared nothing for Wolfe and Cody, the other two main characters, but I can I say I made it to the end of the journey with the book. Penn was enough to make a DNF book (which FYI, I hate not finishing books) into a 2.5 star story (yep, not great, but still better).
The story predominantly deals with Cody and Wolfe, both who are pretty one dimensional as characters go. Cody has been trained to be a boy since she was very young by her harsh father who wanted her to battle a creature (maybe dragon? the details are super hazy) and claim the prize money for the family, which she needed to be male for. Her father was gentle and kind to her two younger sisters (who oh, by the way, work as prostitutes at the brothel for money) yet beats and punishes Cody to make her tough and probably brainwash her to be a boy. The whole dynamic baffled me, to be honest (who said you can't kindly raise a strong boy anyway?) Oh and let's not forget the time Cody bathed naked and masterbated in a public pond while she knew someone was watching- way to keep your much guarded secret secret. And the fact she related to herself in two parts, as if she had two identities- awesome parenting creating a confused gender identity.
And then there was Wolfe, the pampered spoiled man-boy who has never had to work a day of his life due to the fact he is a "favorite" of the Prince, and instead is basically a kept man. Wolfe gets bored and decided to enter the challenge to slay said beast so he can have some of his own money. Keep in mind, he has no training, no skills, no experience... he barely had his own personality and was even dressed by his friend Zoe the Duchess like a pet (but he had a sick, weird obsession with knowing the color of Zoe's nipples- can you say uncomfortable?) I pretty much just skimmed over his chapters because I could care less. His bestie the Prince was an awesome character, full of personality and spunk so I enjoyed his encounters.
Overall I was not feeling this book and pretty much could not connect with anyone so this was not a good read for me. I am sure that other people will really enjoy this fantastical adventure.
I received this title in return for my honest review.
I was about ready to put the book down and never pick it up again at about 50ish pages in because I just could not get into the book or care about the characters even a little. But next thing I know, Penn aka Xerxes the Death God shows up and due to him alone I continued reading the book (he was fun, enough said). I was still not super invested in the plot and I seriously cared nothing for Wolfe and Cody, the other two main characters, but I can I say I made it to the end of the journey with the book. Penn was enough to make a DNF book (which FYI, I hate not finishing books) into a 2.5 star story (yep, not great, but still better).
The story predominantly deals with Cody and Wolfe, both who are pretty one dimensional as characters go. Cody has been trained to be a boy since she was very young by her harsh father who wanted her to battle a creature (maybe dragon? the details are super hazy) and claim the prize money for the family, which she needed to be male for. Her father was gentle and kind to her two younger sisters (who oh, by the way, work as prostitutes at the brothel for money) yet beats and punishes Cody to make her tough and probably brainwash her to be a boy. The whole dynamic baffled me, to be honest (who said you can't kindly raise a strong boy anyway?) Oh and let's not forget the time Cody bathed naked and masterbated in a public pond while she knew someone was watching- way to keep your much guarded secret secret. And the fact she related to herself in two parts, as if she had two identities- awesome parenting creating a confused gender identity.
And then there was Wolfe, the pampered spoiled man-boy who has never had to work a day of his life due to the fact he is a "favorite" of the Prince, and instead is basically a kept man. Wolfe gets bored and decided to enter the challenge to slay said beast so he can have some of his own money. Keep in mind, he has no training, no skills, no experience... he barely had his own personality and was even dressed by his friend Zoe the Duchess like a pet (but he had a sick, weird obsession with knowing the color of Zoe's nipples- can you say uncomfortable?) I pretty much just skimmed over his chapters because I could care less. His bestie the Prince was an awesome character, full of personality and spunk so I enjoyed his encounters.
Overall I was not feeling this book and pretty much could not connect with anyone so this was not a good read for me. I am sure that other people will really enjoy this fantastical adventure.
I received this title in return for my honest review.
December 6, 2017
I would actually give this book 4.5 if Goodreads and Amazon allowed half marks.
It took me a while to get into the swing of the narrative. This was caused partly by the prologue, which didn't have any characters and thus left me adrift in description with no reason to care, and partly because the book was written in present tense. Present tense always takes me a minute to adjust to since most books seem to be written in past, but the main issue I had with it in this case was that the immediacy of present tense seemed discordant with the distance of an omniscient narrator.
Once I got used to it, I fell right into the rhythm of the story. Castleberry's writing was beautifully descriptive without being heavy-handed, and this is the first book I've read in a while that didn't have me stumbling over typos and editing oversights. I connected with the main characters immediately, though I did grow to dislike Wolfe pretty quick. Each character, even supporting cast, was unique and well defined, with their own personalities and motivations.
The end of the book was not all that surprising -- I guessed as much would happen from the moment I learned of Penn's contract -- but that did not detract from the climax in the least. Where the book fell down was in the wrap up. A few short pages tie up the end of the story tidily enough, but they lack... well, anything. All these characters, who we've grown to care for, get the equivalent of "and they lived happily ever after." The one exception is Wolfe, whose ending makes sense. Especially Cody/Cayda would have had a lot of internal issues to work out at the end that didn't really get addressed. That said, the majority of the book does a great job portraying the internal conflict of Cody, both struggling with being a girl but forced to be a boy, and trying to live up to her father's expectations and save her family despite her deep fear of the creatures she seeks to face.
It took me a while to get into the swing of the narrative. This was caused partly by the prologue, which didn't have any characters and thus left me adrift in description with no reason to care, and partly because the book was written in present tense. Present tense always takes me a minute to adjust to since most books seem to be written in past, but the main issue I had with it in this case was that the immediacy of present tense seemed discordant with the distance of an omniscient narrator.
Once I got used to it, I fell right into the rhythm of the story. Castleberry's writing was beautifully descriptive without being heavy-handed, and this is the first book I've read in a while that didn't have me stumbling over typos and editing oversights. I connected with the main characters immediately, though I did grow to dislike Wolfe pretty quick. Each character, even supporting cast, was unique and well defined, with their own personalities and motivations.
The end of the book was not all that surprising -- I guessed as much would happen from the moment I learned of Penn's contract -- but that did not detract from the climax in the least. Where the book fell down was in the wrap up. A few short pages tie up the end of the story tidily enough, but they lack... well, anything. All these characters, who we've grown to care for, get the equivalent of "and they lived happily ever after." The one exception is Wolfe, whose ending makes sense. Especially Cody/Cayda would have had a lot of internal issues to work out at the end that didn't really get addressed. That said, the majority of the book does a great job portraying the internal conflict of Cody, both struggling with being a girl but forced to be a boy, and trying to live up to her father's expectations and save her family despite her deep fear of the creatures she seeks to face.
February 11, 2018
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing is that kind of novella you want to read, read and read until the end. That style of writing will catch you at the very beginning and won’t let you go till the last word. It is so easy, so gentle and delicate written. You don’t have to go through demanding descriptions; you just fly through this adventure full of Fire Scales, Night Beasts and extraordinary characters.
The main plot is really easy and direct with many action and thrilling scenes and some surprises but unfortunately it is predictable a lot.
We can watch the story with the eyes of a few main characters. At first Cody/Cadya is one of the most interesting one. A girl raised as a boy who finally deny hers female substance. Cody is the type of character you will pity, love and support. You will want to know everything about her/him and it won’t be enough. On the contrary there is a Wolfe who you will hate nearly from the first chapter. He is so coddled, selfish and hardly adaptable. He thinks a lot about himself. And the last very impressive one was Penn. Dark, sensitive, creepy and kind – that everything at once.
There was a huge potential in the story, in these characters and a world but I don’t think that the author give enough in it. Yes, there were fine characters, fine plot, but I missed the whole infrastructure. I missed this world, missed the history, traditions and I missed the Fire Scales too. Author only gave us a direct story and I think that characters deserved much more time to go through all of it. You start to like some of them and then there is very end.
At the end there are certain lessons to learn from one of those characters. I can’t say that I’m disappointed, but with that huge potential which is behind this story there should be and could be more of it.
The main plot is really easy and direct with many action and thrilling scenes and some surprises but unfortunately it is predictable a lot.
We can watch the story with the eyes of a few main characters. At first Cody/Cadya is one of the most interesting one. A girl raised as a boy who finally deny hers female substance. Cody is the type of character you will pity, love and support. You will want to know everything about her/him and it won’t be enough. On the contrary there is a Wolfe who you will hate nearly from the first chapter. He is so coddled, selfish and hardly adaptable. He thinks a lot about himself. And the last very impressive one was Penn. Dark, sensitive, creepy and kind – that everything at once.
There was a huge potential in the story, in these characters and a world but I don’t think that the author give enough in it. Yes, there were fine characters, fine plot, but I missed the whole infrastructure. I missed this world, missed the history, traditions and I missed the Fire Scales too. Author only gave us a direct story and I think that characters deserved much more time to go through all of it. You start to like some of them and then there is very end.
At the end there are certain lessons to learn from one of those characters. I can’t say that I’m disappointed, but with that huge potential which is behind this story there should be and could be more of it.
October 16, 2017
Reading A Wild and Unremarkable Thing was the perfect escape to an incredible adventure. The author had such detailed descriptions of the town and it’s characters I feel like I’ve traveled there myself, and honestly, I wish I could go back! It makes me want to keep reading it over and over again just to have that experience again.
I fell in love with Cody, the main character, immediately because of her drive and ambition. Being in her mind while she was pushed to her limits by her father was exhilarating. I loved her strong character while still maintaining her feminism.
This story threw me for a loop. When I first started reading I thought I had everything mapped out, when in reality I was extremely wrong. I thought this would be your typical strong girl falls in love with smart guy (Wolfe) and they kill the dragon and live happily ever after kind of thing. I am so glad of how wrong I was. When Penn (Xerxes) was introduced to the story it was the perfect amount of mystery and awe to keep you dying for more. As the story moves along Wolfe became the most annoying character. His prissiness and mood swings were just frustrating enough that his fate was most satisfying.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Fares (the crown prince) character. His free spirit, his open sexuality, and over all enjoyment of life was the perfect amount of light to a dark time for the fast approaching emerging which had many of the other characters in battle mode. His story was a great little side of romance, heartache, and an ending that I won’t giveaway.
This book was an incredible read and I highly highly recommend you read and share as well.
Thank you Jenn for such a fun and adventurous story! I look forward to reading more from you.
I fell in love with Cody, the main character, immediately because of her drive and ambition. Being in her mind while she was pushed to her limits by her father was exhilarating. I loved her strong character while still maintaining her feminism.
This story threw me for a loop. When I first started reading I thought I had everything mapped out, when in reality I was extremely wrong. I thought this would be your typical strong girl falls in love with smart guy (Wolfe) and they kill the dragon and live happily ever after kind of thing. I am so glad of how wrong I was. When Penn (Xerxes) was introduced to the story it was the perfect amount of mystery and awe to keep you dying for more. As the story moves along Wolfe became the most annoying character. His prissiness and mood swings were just frustrating enough that his fate was most satisfying.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Fares (the crown prince) character. His free spirit, his open sexuality, and over all enjoyment of life was the perfect amount of light to a dark time for the fast approaching emerging which had many of the other characters in battle mode. His story was a great little side of romance, heartache, and an ending that I won’t giveaway.
This book was an incredible read and I highly highly recommend you read and share as well.
Thank you Jenn for such a fun and adventurous story! I look forward to reading more from you.
January 16, 2018
Every fifteen years a Fire Scale comes, destroys, and kills. But there is great reward for the one that can kill a Fire Scale. Cody was born Cayla, the eldest daughter, but her father turned her into a boy at a young age. He has trained Cody to be a dragon killer. If she can kill the dragon then she can save her family. Her mother is a drunk and her sisters work in a brothel all hoping for her to save them all.
But she is not the only one out to kill the Fire Scale. Along her journey she meets several people with many secrets of their own. She starts to questions things about herself yet has to stay strong to save her family.
This book instantly drew me in with the beautiful description of a dragon destroying a city. From there it jumps to Cody remembering how she had been turned into a boy. There is so much pressure on Cody’s shoulders at a time when she is unsure of herself. There is a variety of people that you meet. Some wonderful and are a great addition to the story. Other’s are needed in the story but you will love to hate them.
This is a quick but remarkable read. I loved this story and can’t wait to read more from Jen Castleberry. I have added Cargo to my list of books to purchase.
I received A Wild and Unremarkable Thing from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
But she is not the only one out to kill the Fire Scale. Along her journey she meets several people with many secrets of their own. She starts to questions things about herself yet has to stay strong to save her family.
This book instantly drew me in with the beautiful description of a dragon destroying a city. From there it jumps to Cody remembering how she had been turned into a boy. There is so much pressure on Cody’s shoulders at a time when she is unsure of herself. There is a variety of people that you meet. Some wonderful and are a great addition to the story. Other’s are needed in the story but you will love to hate them.
This is a quick but remarkable read. I loved this story and can’t wait to read more from Jen Castleberry. I have added Cargo to my list of books to purchase.
I received A Wild and Unremarkable Thing from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
October 25, 2017
Wow! I honestly did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I went in with very few expectations, and I was hooked from the very beginning. I loved the characters and the poetic, fairytale like writing style. I was also pleasantly surprised by how funny it was! Very few books make me laugh out loud, but this one did. I also enjoyed the romantic side of A Wild and Unremarkable Thing (side note: that title is GORGEOUS).
The only reason that I’ve given the book four stars rather than five is that I felt like some of my expectations of the ending weren’t quite met. I don’t want to spoil things, but there’s something I was really looking forward to that didn’t quite happen.
Overall though, I was very happy with this book and I can’t wait till it’s officially released so that I can get my hands on a physical copy!
Thanks again to The Parliament House and Jen Castleberry for the eARC.
The only reason that I’ve given the book four stars rather than five is that I felt like some of my expectations of the ending weren’t quite met. I don’t want to spoil things, but there’s something I was really looking forward to that didn’t quite happen.
Overall though, I was very happy with this book and I can’t wait till it’s officially released so that I can get my hands on a physical copy!
Thanks again to The Parliament House and Jen Castleberry for the eARC.
February 15, 2018
A wild and Unremarkable thing is a story rich in diversity and themes. The main character is a girl forced by her father to become a boy and through the book we see her struggles in trying to understand what she really is, she's divided between the need of forgetting her original identity and the want to exploreit more deeply.
all the characters are well developed although I expected more of a growth from some of them. in fact, in certain points their development felt a little rushed and sudden.
the plot is well constructed and was easy to follow although I'd have liked to see a more extensive narration of the part of the story set during the "Emerging".
The writing was beautiful and whimsical in certain points.
overall I really enjoyed this novella and would highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in reading something creative and original!
all the characters are well developed although I expected more of a growth from some of them. in fact, in certain points their development felt a little rushed and sudden.
the plot is well constructed and was easy to follow although I'd have liked to see a more extensive narration of the part of the story set during the "Emerging".
The writing was beautiful and whimsical in certain points.
overall I really enjoyed this novella and would highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in reading something creative and original!
May 19, 2019
I really enjoyed this story.... loved that it had several POV so you got different characters views... was not what I expected the story to be but really enjoyed it! Really enjoyed the writing style! And loved how everything came together!
January 9, 2018
Could not put this book down. The strong female lead character is the driving force behind this powerful story. From beginning to end you will be routing for Cayda and her quest to achieve her destiny
September 23, 2019
“Small of stature, gentle of heart…You might write your own story, Cody. But men will write stories about you too.”
An unfortunate girl masking as a boy seeking to uphold her duty. An orphan favored by royalty seeking purpose. A debaucherous heir seeking companionship. A mysterious man seeking the gift of uncertainty. The Emerging is upon us, and it carries promises of glory and a brighter tomorrow for those skilled – and lucky – enough to survive until the rising dawn.
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing is an elegantly crafted novella penned by author Jen Castleberry, and is an incredible account of obligation and perseverance. With heightened focus on the prosperity of kindness and togetherness, this tale of desperation, longing, and defying the norm is one that took me by surprise in the best way possible. Despite its length, it’s notably developed and refined, and packs quite a punch. It’s been a while since a book has made me pause just to admire the beauty of a line spoken or an event unraveled, and I only wish I could experience this magical story for the first time all over again.
The writing is simply stunning. A gorgeous, poetic, and almost singsong prose makes it feel as though we’ve stumbled upon a tale being told, rather than a book being read. The use of third-person present tense allows readers to share in the festivities, completely immersing us in a mystical world full of beasts and shadow and hope. Charming morsels pepper the pages, and even seemingly insignificant instances, such as the gifting of a bar of soap, are done with such poise and heart.
She unwraps the soap – a slick, softly cut bar. She holds it in cupped palms beneath her chin like an injured bird. It smells of spruce and leather – like Penn.
My note for this passage: “I love this book”. A whimsical prologue primes the structure of the story well, and we’re soon introduced to short, bursting chapters of alternating points of view, which keep the pace moving quickly and allow us to experience events unfold from every angle. Diverse characters are surprisingly complex and easy to love (or hate). The sensual, blossoming romance is tastefully executed and utterly captivating.
She calls it violent and magnificent. Penn says that it’s perfect.
The concept of this story is rather straightforward – slay the beast, earn the winnings, and save the family – however, there is nothing rudimentary about how Castleberry composes this dazzling narrative. The worldbuilding is superb as settings, customs, and legends are colorfully expressed with attention to the most minute of details. You can smell the pine on the mountain breeze, and feel the excitement of the flowing crowds as the first Fire Scales take to star-strewn skies. I can’t even begin to express how handsomely this book is illustrated – just go read it.
As with others, I did feel the ending was a bit rushed, and would’ve like to spend more time in this beautiful place with these beautiful people. I can only hope this isn’t the last we see of this striking world Castleberry has created. A Wild and Unremarkable Thing, which I would characterize as a modern fairytale, is a book that I feel anyone with a love for tales of danger and tender romance will appreciate and savor. I’m excited and immensely looking forward to seeing where we’re taken next.
Note: A huge thank you to The Parliament House for a complementary copy of this book.
An unfortunate girl masking as a boy seeking to uphold her duty. An orphan favored by royalty seeking purpose. A debaucherous heir seeking companionship. A mysterious man seeking the gift of uncertainty. The Emerging is upon us, and it carries promises of glory and a brighter tomorrow for those skilled – and lucky – enough to survive until the rising dawn.
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing is an elegantly crafted novella penned by author Jen Castleberry, and is an incredible account of obligation and perseverance. With heightened focus on the prosperity of kindness and togetherness, this tale of desperation, longing, and defying the norm is one that took me by surprise in the best way possible. Despite its length, it’s notably developed and refined, and packs quite a punch. It’s been a while since a book has made me pause just to admire the beauty of a line spoken or an event unraveled, and I only wish I could experience this magical story for the first time all over again.
The writing is simply stunning. A gorgeous, poetic, and almost singsong prose makes it feel as though we’ve stumbled upon a tale being told, rather than a book being read. The use of third-person present tense allows readers to share in the festivities, completely immersing us in a mystical world full of beasts and shadow and hope. Charming morsels pepper the pages, and even seemingly insignificant instances, such as the gifting of a bar of soap, are done with such poise and heart.
She unwraps the soap – a slick, softly cut bar. She holds it in cupped palms beneath her chin like an injured bird. It smells of spruce and leather – like Penn.
My note for this passage: “I love this book”. A whimsical prologue primes the structure of the story well, and we’re soon introduced to short, bursting chapters of alternating points of view, which keep the pace moving quickly and allow us to experience events unfold from every angle. Diverse characters are surprisingly complex and easy to love (or hate). The sensual, blossoming romance is tastefully executed and utterly captivating.
She calls it violent and magnificent. Penn says that it’s perfect.
The concept of this story is rather straightforward – slay the beast, earn the winnings, and save the family – however, there is nothing rudimentary about how Castleberry composes this dazzling narrative. The worldbuilding is superb as settings, customs, and legends are colorfully expressed with attention to the most minute of details. You can smell the pine on the mountain breeze, and feel the excitement of the flowing crowds as the first Fire Scales take to star-strewn skies. I can’t even begin to express how handsomely this book is illustrated – just go read it.
As with others, I did feel the ending was a bit rushed, and would’ve like to spend more time in this beautiful place with these beautiful people. I can only hope this isn’t the last we see of this striking world Castleberry has created. A Wild and Unremarkable Thing, which I would characterize as a modern fairytale, is a book that I feel anyone with a love for tales of danger and tender romance will appreciate and savor. I’m excited and immensely looking forward to seeing where we’re taken next.
Note: A huge thank you to The Parliament House for a complementary copy of this book.
January 29, 2018
A Wild and Unremarkable Thing is a fascinating tale about a young woman’s journey to fulfill a task that she has been raised for...to kill a Fire Scale, a dragon-like creature that hibernates or hides and only comes out during an event that happens every 15 Years known as the Emerging.
Thanks to her father’s harsh training and determination, young Cayda is gone and where she once stood is now a tough, young “man” named Cody. Cayda has been forced by her father to act as a male because “girls shouldn’t kill” Fire Scales and her family needs the money killing one during the next Emerging would bring. When her father is injured, Cody must make the dangerous journey alone to the tournament in hopes of helping her struggling family. Cody faces dangers not just from nature, but also man. If her secret is revealed it could be dangerous.
Along the way we learn more about Cody, but we also meet some other fascinating characters such as Penn, a man with a fascinating secret past, Wolfe, who is more at home in a library than a battleground but who yearns to prove himself, and Wolfe’s friend, Fares, the crown prince who just wants to have a good time. All are on their way to the same destination...the site of the next Emerging. Each of the four have secrets they don’t want to share and their own reasons for traveling to the Emerging.
The first half this beautifully-written and at times emotional story focuses on the journey to the Emerging. There is not a lot of excitement really, but it gives us a chance to get to know our main characters a bit and see how they interact with one another and reading the different viewpoints allows us to see the other characters in a different way. I was never quite sure what to expect or think, however, when it came to the prince...he’s a tough one to figure out at times. But as I said they all have interesting and distinct personalities and it slowly becomes clear just why each has taken this journey.
As for the second half, things start to pick up as they near their destination and the Emerging approaches. Secrets are revealed, relationships are forever changed, and more. Plus, our characters finally come face-to-face with some of the beasts and creatures hinted at in the first half including the Fire Scales. There are even a few unexpected twists thrown in as well...or at least, I didn’t expect them.
I really loved the author’s incorporation of both fantasy and mythology to tell this story. It definitely made it more interesting and the elements she chose to use raised the stakes a bit for some of the characters making their success during the Emerging even more critical. I can’t say too much because I am trying not to spoil the story, but it was definitely fascinating.
Overall, A Wild and Unremarkable Thing was just what I had hoped it would be...an entertaining read with likable characters and a world I wouldn’t mind seeing more of someday.
*I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Thanks to her father’s harsh training and determination, young Cayda is gone and where she once stood is now a tough, young “man” named Cody. Cayda has been forced by her father to act as a male because “girls shouldn’t kill” Fire Scales and her family needs the money killing one during the next Emerging would bring. When her father is injured, Cody must make the dangerous journey alone to the tournament in hopes of helping her struggling family. Cody faces dangers not just from nature, but also man. If her secret is revealed it could be dangerous.
Along the way we learn more about Cody, but we also meet some other fascinating characters such as Penn, a man with a fascinating secret past, Wolfe, who is more at home in a library than a battleground but who yearns to prove himself, and Wolfe’s friend, Fares, the crown prince who just wants to have a good time. All are on their way to the same destination...the site of the next Emerging. Each of the four have secrets they don’t want to share and their own reasons for traveling to the Emerging.
The first half this beautifully-written and at times emotional story focuses on the journey to the Emerging. There is not a lot of excitement really, but it gives us a chance to get to know our main characters a bit and see how they interact with one another and reading the different viewpoints allows us to see the other characters in a different way. I was never quite sure what to expect or think, however, when it came to the prince...he’s a tough one to figure out at times. But as I said they all have interesting and distinct personalities and it slowly becomes clear just why each has taken this journey.
As for the second half, things start to pick up as they near their destination and the Emerging approaches. Secrets are revealed, relationships are forever changed, and more. Plus, our characters finally come face-to-face with some of the beasts and creatures hinted at in the first half including the Fire Scales. There are even a few unexpected twists thrown in as well...or at least, I didn’t expect them.
I really loved the author’s incorporation of both fantasy and mythology to tell this story. It definitely made it more interesting and the elements she chose to use raised the stakes a bit for some of the characters making their success during the Emerging even more critical. I can’t say too much because I am trying not to spoil the story, but it was definitely fascinating.
Overall, A Wild and Unremarkable Thing was just what I had hoped it would be...an entertaining read with likable characters and a world I wouldn’t mind seeing more of someday.
*I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.*
May 16, 2019
I was gifted this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, but as this is going to be a critical review, I think I have to add a disclaimer right away that this review is not in any way meant to offend the author or the publishers and that this is not meant to be taken as a personal attack against anyone, I'm just reviewing a book I've read.
The premise of the novella makes it seem like a perfect read for fantasy fans, a medieval world with dragons and thrilling adventures with a blend of Greek mythology. These are all things I love so you can imagine I was excited to read this. So what went wrong?
Let's start with the characters. There are 4 POV's, which is a lot to execute well for a full book, but this was a novella with just a bit over 150 pages. Needless to say, the 4 main characters were not very distinct, except for Wolfe, who was only easy to tell apart because he was written to be an unlikable character and that he was without really being anything else. The other characters (Cody or Cadya, Penn and Fares) only seemed to be there to fulfil their purpose in the story, which they sort of did, even though at the end of the book that purpose was not clear to me anymore. And why does Zoe's character exist? She took up quite a bit of story at the beginning and then we never saw her again? Another thing that was lacking besides character depth was action reasoning. In most cases reasons for characters' actions were not explained, only stated as facts, which often seemed illogical and made story-telling confusing.
The writing style was not my cup of tea. It appeared to be trying to be very dramatic with A LOT of short sentences and jumping to the next line, which didn't have the desired effect because it was overused, especially when the story wasn't that dramatic or action-packed. There also was a lot of telling instead of showing, which always weakens the effect of story-telling.
The plot also left me disappointed. The beginning was very confusing and slow and the action only picked up a bit more in the last third of the story, which is not great for what's promised to be a thrilling novella. Most of the time I was bored and really had the urge to DNF the book, but I couldn't just give something one star without even finishing it, I had promised a review after all and I kept hoping it would get better. Talking about the construction of the plot, it was comfortable and anticlimactic, so was the ending. I think what made it not work was the author's choice to include so many main characters, create an arc for each of them and connect those arcs in such a way that didn't seem realistic to me. Having too many arcs to execute in a novella made it hard to develop the plot in a more interesting way and create a clear image of characters and their development, in my opinion.
Another thing that was missing in the novella was world-building. The world that the characters lived in was what seemed very interesting to me, especially I wanted to know more about the system of religion and the history and structure of the country and, of course, dragons. But the fact that it's dragons that we read about is never actually even stated in the book itself. The main character keeps repeating that she "needs to slay the Fire Scale", but descriptions of these creatures are super hazy so it could as well be anything and we do not get any background on them or the slaying competition that is happening. I was also excited about Penn's (or Xerxes) character, the Death God concept seemed very interesting to me and I kept waiting to find out more about the gods (because it's implied in the story that there's more of them) and how this religion system works, but this was only mentioned in one scene and we never come back to it. I also kept hoping to find out more of some kind of background about the country and the structure of society but it was not given. Overall I think the story suffered from the lack of world-building.
Another thing that bothered me was the excessive amount of sexual content both in the story and in characters' minds and talks. Most of the time it was just very unrealistic that this is what they would think or do in the kind of situations they were in. What is more, I did not think that a romance storyline was needed at all because there had been a lot of storylines already and because the way characters first met was kind of creepy.
THE SPOILER SECTION!
I want to mention a couple specific things that I didn't like about the novella.
Ok here goes spoilers now.
The way two of the main characters first met was when Cody or Cadya was masturbating in a pond and Penn was watching her without her knowledge or consent, like how is that not weird and creepy? This was also never addressed between them in the story even as their romance proceeded. I don't think it was the author's intention to romanticize this kind of behaviour but I still think the way it was done was wrong.
Cody or Cadya, who from her childhood was forced to "become" or take the role of a boy by her father from her childhood does not seem to struggle with her trauma at all. It would have been interesting to see her figuring out her identity and I think this is something a lot of people (non-binary for example) could relate to.
And the last thing is that Cody or Cadya her whole life has trained so much and so hard for this one goal of slaying a Fire Scale in the competition. This is how the story begins and it keeps being repeated how important of a task it is to her and the whole book basically centers around her trip going to the competition, waiting for it then participating. So does she do it, does she kill the Fire Scale? No, she barely even attempts it. Yet at the end she still becomes rich because of the prince liking her sisters and giving money to her family and her love interest sharing his prize with her. Girl power, huh?
END OF THE SPOILER SECTION!
I really REALLY wanted to love this book but sadly, I just can't recommend it.
Then again, seeing other reviews, plenty of people enjoyed this novella so it might just be a preference thing, that is why I tried to explain my reasons for not liking it in this review.
The premise of the novella makes it seem like a perfect read for fantasy fans, a medieval world with dragons and thrilling adventures with a blend of Greek mythology. These are all things I love so you can imagine I was excited to read this. So what went wrong?
Let's start with the characters. There are 4 POV's, which is a lot to execute well for a full book, but this was a novella with just a bit over 150 pages. Needless to say, the 4 main characters were not very distinct, except for Wolfe, who was only easy to tell apart because he was written to be an unlikable character and that he was without really being anything else. The other characters (Cody or Cadya, Penn and Fares) only seemed to be there to fulfil their purpose in the story, which they sort of did, even though at the end of the book that purpose was not clear to me anymore. And why does Zoe's character exist? She took up quite a bit of story at the beginning and then we never saw her again? Another thing that was lacking besides character depth was action reasoning. In most cases reasons for characters' actions were not explained, only stated as facts, which often seemed illogical and made story-telling confusing.
The writing style was not my cup of tea. It appeared to be trying to be very dramatic with A LOT of short sentences and jumping to the next line, which didn't have the desired effect because it was overused, especially when the story wasn't that dramatic or action-packed. There also was a lot of telling instead of showing, which always weakens the effect of story-telling.
The plot also left me disappointed. The beginning was very confusing and slow and the action only picked up a bit more in the last third of the story, which is not great for what's promised to be a thrilling novella. Most of the time I was bored and really had the urge to DNF the book, but I couldn't just give something one star without even finishing it, I had promised a review after all and I kept hoping it would get better. Talking about the construction of the plot, it was comfortable and anticlimactic, so was the ending. I think what made it not work was the author's choice to include so many main characters, create an arc for each of them and connect those arcs in such a way that didn't seem realistic to me. Having too many arcs to execute in a novella made it hard to develop the plot in a more interesting way and create a clear image of characters and their development, in my opinion.
Another thing that was missing in the novella was world-building. The world that the characters lived in was what seemed very interesting to me, especially I wanted to know more about the system of religion and the history and structure of the country and, of course, dragons. But the fact that it's dragons that we read about is never actually even stated in the book itself. The main character keeps repeating that she "needs to slay the Fire Scale", but descriptions of these creatures are super hazy so it could as well be anything and we do not get any background on them or the slaying competition that is happening. I was also excited about Penn's (or Xerxes) character, the Death God concept seemed very interesting to me and I kept waiting to find out more about the gods (because it's implied in the story that there's more of them) and how this religion system works, but this was only mentioned in one scene and we never come back to it. I also kept hoping to find out more of some kind of background about the country and the structure of society but it was not given. Overall I think the story suffered from the lack of world-building.
Another thing that bothered me was the excessive amount of sexual content both in the story and in characters' minds and talks. Most of the time it was just very unrealistic that this is what they would think or do in the kind of situations they were in. What is more, I did not think that a romance storyline was needed at all because there had been a lot of storylines already and because the way characters first met was kind of creepy.
THE SPOILER SECTION!
I want to mention a couple specific things that I didn't like about the novella.
Ok here goes spoilers now.
The way two of the main characters first met was when Cody or Cadya was masturbating in a pond and Penn was watching her without her knowledge or consent, like how is that not weird and creepy? This was also never addressed between them in the story even as their romance proceeded. I don't think it was the author's intention to romanticize this kind of behaviour but I still think the way it was done was wrong.
Cody or Cadya, who from her childhood was forced to "become" or take the role of a boy by her father from her childhood does not seem to struggle with her trauma at all. It would have been interesting to see her figuring out her identity and I think this is something a lot of people (non-binary for example) could relate to.
And the last thing is that Cody or Cadya her whole life has trained so much and so hard for this one goal of slaying a Fire Scale in the competition. This is how the story begins and it keeps being repeated how important of a task it is to her and the whole book basically centers around her trip going to the competition, waiting for it then participating. So does she do it, does she kill the Fire Scale? No, she barely even attempts it. Yet at the end she still becomes rich because of the prince liking her sisters and giving money to her family and her love interest sharing his prize with her. Girl power, huh?
END OF THE SPOILER SECTION!
I really REALLY wanted to love this book but sadly, I just can't recommend it.
Then again, seeing other reviews, plenty of people enjoyed this novella so it might just be a preference thing, that is why I tried to explain my reasons for not liking it in this review.
January 2, 2019
This book was just OK, definitely not something I would re-read. There was way too much build up to the main story so the first 30% of the book dragged on. I did think it got better once we met Penn and reached the town where all of the champions needed to meet before the Emerging. The multiple POV’s were interesting but too much time was spent in their hometowns before they each finally started on their journey. There were some sections where the wording was overly descriptive which made it seem like they were there to make the story longer. Penn and Cody/Cayda were both likeable characters and their interactions were fun to read. It was also interesting to see the competitions in town showing how well Cody and the others trained. There was so much build up about how strong Cody was even though she was a girl pretending to be a boy. Unfortunatly, that made the outcome of the Emerging offputting which I feel devalued Cody even though I do understand why the author chose that route.
I received an eARC via the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I received an eARC via the publisher. All opinions are my own.
March 16, 2020
*I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*
This was a very quick and easy read, but I found myself lost through a lot of this book. I feel like the world building could have been a lot stronger because it felt like nothing was explained and we were just thrown into this society and world that has a specific way of doing things and no context about what was going on. It talked about slaying Fire Scales, but we never really got an idea of what those were, so the entire time I was wondering what these Fire Scales looked like and what they were most likely to resemble.
If you're looking for a quick fantasy read, then I'd say give this one a shot, but I'd check out some other reviews to see if it sounds like something you'd probably like before diving in. Hopefully others who pick this up in the future can follow the storyline better than I could.
This was a very quick and easy read, but I found myself lost through a lot of this book. I feel like the world building could have been a lot stronger because it felt like nothing was explained and we were just thrown into this society and world that has a specific way of doing things and no context about what was going on. It talked about slaying Fire Scales, but we never really got an idea of what those were, so the entire time I was wondering what these Fire Scales looked like and what they were most likely to resemble.
If you're looking for a quick fantasy read, then I'd say give this one a shot, but I'd check out some other reviews to see if it sounds like something you'd probably like before diving in. Hopefully others who pick this up in the future can follow the storyline better than I could.
March 11, 2019
3.5. There were some loose ends that I would have liked to have seen tied off as well as some things in the beginning that didn't really leave my head while I was reading.
It reminded me a lot of Eyes of the Dragon, but with better pacing.
Overall it was a really fun little read.
It reminded me a lot of Eyes of the Dragon, but with better pacing.
Overall it was a really fun little read.
March 1, 2018
This was a fantastic adventure that had the classic, old school fairytale feel. The writing was remarkably stunning. The tragic past from which the plot takes flight is a magnificent foundation, and the characters are flawed and human. A short read with an abrupt though satisfying ending, I loved every page!
January 20, 2018
One from a background of privilege, one poorest of the poor, two young people set out to make their fortunes slaying a Fire Scale.
Every fifteen years, the great flame-scaled dragons emerge for a brief time to mate and eat, before sealing themselves back into their lairs among the Summer Alps. During the last Emerging, Cayda’s home of Ithil, a city of scholars, was utterly destroyed. After that time, Cayda’s father dressed her as a male, calling her Cody, and training her to slay a Fire Scale. Slaying the beast will bring a fortune to raise Cody’s family up, removing her sisters from working in the brothels. An attack in the forest by a Night Beast that leaves her father near death prompts Cody to set out for Yurka, and her sister Hayden further afield in hopes of making money to pay a doctor.
Wolfegang Hande is a favoured companion of Crown Prince Fares, and the Duchess Zoe. Disillusioned with his place in life, Wolfe decides to take his life in his own hands and become a Champion in this Emerging. Crown Prince Fares travels with Wolfe to Yurka, one of the Lair Towns. Along the way they meet up with Cody, and her mysterious companion, Penn. As Night Beast attacks begin happening in daylight, in the heart of towns, the Emerging takes on far more urgency than even Cody or Wolfe know.
I loved Cody and her sisters. I felt for Cody and her struggle between the identity her father has given her as a male, and her own feminine nature. But only a !ale can register as a Champion, and keep their Fire Scale prize. Cody’s ability with animals shows she has a good heart. The scene with her and the Fire Scale was so touching. Despite the poverty, and the need for rough occupation, Cody, Hayden, and Emilia keep their gentle caring. Hayden helps strangers on the road without a second thought. Cody has empathy that allows her to gentle animals, and she is fiercely protective.
I really rather loathed Zoe, and to a lesser extent Fares, at first. Both caused Wolfe to second-guess himself, and neither seemed to be true friends. Zoe was just horrible in her behaviour. She was calculatingly cruel. Fares was more oblivious than anything. As the story went on, however, I came to dislike Wolfe just as much. Away from the privileged life, his behaviours got worse and worse.
Fares proved to have a certain carpe diem attitude to be admired. Nothing at all seems to faze him. Penn, too, though Penn seems more Zen natured. I love how Fares grows through the story, and matures.
This had the feel of an old fairy tale, and the writing made me think of Le Guin’s Earthsea and Dragon’s Winter Elizabeth A Lynn. Penn certainly added to that feel, as did the choice Wolfe must make. I do think that the use of action beats to break dialogue, and the use of other dialogue tags besides 'says’ would improve the writing. 'Says’ was used even when the dialogue was a question. I found this annoying at first, but the story itself was so engaging that I soon put it out of mind.
***This book was reviewed via Silver Dagger Blog Tours
Every fifteen years, the great flame-scaled dragons emerge for a brief time to mate and eat, before sealing themselves back into their lairs among the Summer Alps. During the last Emerging, Cayda’s home of Ithil, a city of scholars, was utterly destroyed. After that time, Cayda’s father dressed her as a male, calling her Cody, and training her to slay a Fire Scale. Slaying the beast will bring a fortune to raise Cody’s family up, removing her sisters from working in the brothels. An attack in the forest by a Night Beast that leaves her father near death prompts Cody to set out for Yurka, and her sister Hayden further afield in hopes of making money to pay a doctor.
Wolfegang Hande is a favoured companion of Crown Prince Fares, and the Duchess Zoe. Disillusioned with his place in life, Wolfe decides to take his life in his own hands and become a Champion in this Emerging. Crown Prince Fares travels with Wolfe to Yurka, one of the Lair Towns. Along the way they meet up with Cody, and her mysterious companion, Penn. As Night Beast attacks begin happening in daylight, in the heart of towns, the Emerging takes on far more urgency than even Cody or Wolfe know.
I loved Cody and her sisters. I felt for Cody and her struggle between the identity her father has given her as a male, and her own feminine nature. But only a !ale can register as a Champion, and keep their Fire Scale prize. Cody’s ability with animals shows she has a good heart. The scene with her and the Fire Scale was so touching. Despite the poverty, and the need for rough occupation, Cody, Hayden, and Emilia keep their gentle caring. Hayden helps strangers on the road without a second thought. Cody has empathy that allows her to gentle animals, and she is fiercely protective.
I really rather loathed Zoe, and to a lesser extent Fares, at first. Both caused Wolfe to second-guess himself, and neither seemed to be true friends. Zoe was just horrible in her behaviour. She was calculatingly cruel. Fares was more oblivious than anything. As the story went on, however, I came to dislike Wolfe just as much. Away from the privileged life, his behaviours got worse and worse.
Fares proved to have a certain carpe diem attitude to be admired. Nothing at all seems to faze him. Penn, too, though Penn seems more Zen natured. I love how Fares grows through the story, and matures.
This had the feel of an old fairy tale, and the writing made me think of Le Guin’s Earthsea and Dragon’s Winter Elizabeth A Lynn. Penn certainly added to that feel, as did the choice Wolfe must make. I do think that the use of action beats to break dialogue, and the use of other dialogue tags besides 'says’ would improve the writing. 'Says’ was used even when the dialogue was a question. I found this annoying at first, but the story itself was so engaging that I soon put it out of mind.
***This book was reviewed via Silver Dagger Blog Tours
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