The Changeling's Fortune

Winter's Blight #1

by M.C. Aquila, K.C. Lannon

Previous cover edition of ASIN B07CGK7XRP

When Deirdre's destructive faery magic is unlocked, she must learn the truth of her parentage if she ever hopes to control it.

Seventeen-year-old orphan Deirdre moves to Neo-London, a city created after an attack by Unseelie faeries, and becomes caught in the tension between the city faeries and the human military.

After having her fortune told, Deirdre develops uncontrollable magical abilities—making her the target of Alan Callaghan, an extreme anti-faery general.

His sons, Iain and James, cross paths with Deirdre and are pushed towards the opposite sides of the conflict between humans and Fae. Iain is a rookie soldier in the Iron Guard trying to atone for past mistakes and keep his family together. James is a fourteen-year-old aspiring scholar fascinated by faeries and eager to leave his life in the city behind.

As Alan conspires to control the city, Deirdre and James plot to leave, seeking answers about her magic and James’s disappeared mother. However, when Deirdre is framed for a treasonous crime, their quest for answers becomes a desperate quest for freedom.

The Changeling’s Fortune is the first installment in the seven-book YA Urban Fantasy series, Winter's Blight.

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Young Adult, Amazon, Fairies

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2018

About the author

M. C. Aquila graduated from Winthrop University with a degree in English. She grew up in Pittsburgh, PA but currently resides in South Carolina. When she is not co-writing the Winter's Blight series, she tutors both native and ESL students in English, giving her a renewed love for the strange wonderfulness of the language. She also enjoys drawing daily, baking recklessly, hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, searching for the best red wine in existence, and reading any story with a villain she loves to hate.

Reviews

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read! I love the characters in this novel and the worldbuilding. Definitely a paranormal book you want to add to your TBR!

[Wealhtheow · Rating 2 out of 5]

A half-Roma boy and a secretly fairy girl become friends at school in Neo London. I like the idea behind the world: after a cataclysm, fairies are back to uneasily living side by side with humans. But the writing felt too clunky and the girl character was so naive she was annoying, so I gave up 25% of the way.

[C.P. Cabaniss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the first in a projected six book series (books two and three are already released). This first installment acts as an introduction to the world and characters, introducing the mysteries and magic that promise to make a fascinating and fun adventure.

Each of the main characters is distinct with clear motivations. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters.

There was also a death in this that was really well done. I won't go into detail, but I found this portion of the story very powerful.

I'm looking forward to reading the next installment!

[Wordwizard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! I look forward to future volumes. For YA and adults.

Winter's Blight is a six-book series, of which two volumes have been published so far, THE CHANGELING'S FORTUNE and THE RENEGADE SON, by M.C. Aquila and K.C. Lannon. This is a joint review of both, spoiler-free. This is epic fantasy done right. Book 1 ends at a satisfying stopping point, although the story obviously continues. Book 2 ends with a cliffhanger, but if you enjoyed Book 1 enough to read Book 2 (and you will!), you are already hooked. It is set in a future England with a past Cataclysm necessitating a Neo-London and faeries with magic. There are quests to find the parentage of orphans and abandoned children, and to save humanity from the machinations of both humans and faeries.

We follow three main points of view in third person, those of Deirdre, for the most part at age 17; James, age 14; and his brother Iain, age 17. However, there are a few sections following the point of views of both Kallista and Alan, James and Iain's parents, and in Book 2, Alvey, a 17 year old half-elf, is added to the mix. This gives us a reasonable number of people to keep track of while showing different outlooks, opinions, strengths, and weaknesses. Each character is an individual; there is no difficulty keeping track of who is whom.

The first two chapters of Book 1 give essential background for the main story. Later events give a more full picture of what I had only partly understood earlier. Book 2 skillfully brings a reader who has not read Book 1 up to speed with no boring repetition.

I received an ARC of THE CHANGELING'S FORTUNE and THE RENEGADE'S SON, Books 1 and 2 of the Winter's Blight series by M.C. Aquila and K.C. Lannon for the purpose of writing a review of Book 2. I voluntarily wrote a joint review of both.

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just binge read through The Changeling's Fortune and The Renegade Son, the first two books of M.C. Aquila and K.C. Lannon’s Winter's Blight series. What a fantastic - and totally addictive - trip. Im not going to try to summarize this wonderfully convoluted and complex tale so far as I don’t want to either mess up the description or spoil anything by accident. Instead go read the publisher’s blurbs as they give you what you’ll need. Instead I will simply note that Deirdre, Iain and James, the leads here, are beautifully complex characters that are a pleasure to follow as they experience everything thrown at them and develop. The rest of the cast, from Alan Callaghan (Iain and James’s father and the leader of the Iron Guard) on down are equally well crafted, the world-building with its Unseelie and Seelie Fae, and Neo-London (creates after the Unseelie attack), etc., is wonderfully imaginative and the perfect setting for this story which, despite its complexity, is easy enough to follow and loads of fun. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. These two books - and the series - definitely deserve it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that each book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series. My only complaint is that I have to wait for it.

[Karasmara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long story short : I LIKED IT! .7 STARSSSS

Short story long:

This story started with a background story and a very promising mystery to be solved by the readers as we go along the book. We follow not just Deirdre's perspective, but also James', Iain's, and both James' and Iain's father's point of views. Each has their own judgments and distinct characteristics. Each are intertwined in a raging political and military battle between humans and magical creatures.

The Changeling's Fortune has a complex world building that combines the modern world with fantasy world. Faes, fairies, trolls, and many unique creatures living in a high technological but also magical world. It is such a raw and original idea of a world building. Most books I have read about faes and fairies use middle ages background setting. I have to say, Aquila and Lannon nailed their world building. It was colorful, detailed, and imaginative.

What I love about this story is that they provide the background of how the main characters was brought up. Hence, since the beginning, readers were able to empathize with the main characters. It was like seeing children grow up so quickly and you are proud of them!

The progression of the story itself, however, was too slow for my liking. It was only until I have passed half of the book that the story picked up a bit. It became more interesting and the mystery became more daunting.

Although, I find that the main character, Deirdre, was too gullible for a heroine. I am biased at this point since I prefer independent and strong heroines. Deidre's character made me want to just hug her right there and protect her from the monstrosities that humans could do, from the war and hate waging around her. She was too fragile as a heroine.

Last but not least, I applaud the authors' imaginations on creating the creatures and the plot of the story. This is a great book for Young Adults, fantasy-loving readers.

[J.R. Schuyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I wrote this review last year but forgot to publish it.)

The Changeling’s Fortune is an endearing tale about Deidre, a seventeen-year-old orphan, and her adventures in Neo-London and beyond. First of all, I have to say that I LOVED the characters. All of them. Deidre has a peppy personality, which is usually hit or miss for me, but in this book it was definitely a hit. The brotherly banter between James and Iain was excellent, too, as were their interactions with other characters. It was thoroughly enjoyable to watch them grow over the course of the book, and I’m excited to see where the rest of the series takes them.

The writing itself was wonderfully descriptive, but not so much so that it bogged down the narrative. There’s plenty of action, conflict, and character building—a combination that ensured I was never bored. The style of writing wasn’t as “tight” as the books I typically read, but that’s actually a good thing. It gave the narrative a slightly whimsical feel that added to the atmosphere instead of detracting from it.

The first book in a series has to really impress me to convince me to continue reading, and I’m pleased to say The Changeling’s Fortune has knocked it out of the park.

[Dalia D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy.
I was a bit hesitant when starting this book, as i've never read an ARC before (not a final version that would be sold to the public.)

That being said, i do think that this is a good fantasy book and i definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.

The world that Lannon and Aquila created is very interesting, and the worldbuilding was good, in my opinion, especially considering that this is the first book in the series. It combines the modern world with fantasy world, trolls and fairies with high technology. I have to say, i haven't read much fantasy books in such setting so it was very unique and colorful to me.

This book has different POV’s, which i also liked, as we got a chance to follow many other characters perspectives throughout the book, not just Deirdres. I did really enjoy reading the heroins parts a lot, especially because she wasn't, in my opinion, portrayed to be incredibly brave, strong etc, because i feel like i could really relate to that. The only thing that i found not to my liking, was the pacing and the lack of action. It took me a while to properly get into the story.

Over all, 4 stars

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received this novel from one of the authors. This novel is perfect to read to my future children before they go to sleep. The conflict reminds me of X-Men. But, the authors have used faeries not mutants. I may have outgrown the characters because I’m too old already, but I am sure the children can relate to the very interesting and well-developed characters. I find it very interesting the way their mother disappeared; it is very mysterious because no one knows what happened to her. I love the dialogues between the characters; it relaxes my mind and makes me laugh. However, I find this novel a very long read; a few editing can give this novel a consistent flow that will make it very hard for me to put down this book. The ending of this novel is like a Marvel movie; it gives us a very interesting snippet to make us wait eagerly for the next novel of the series.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and exciting book! I loved the characters and the unique world it was set in. It was interesting to see the foundation for the series and as the book ends, you can see how exciting the series will become. It leaves you interested to find out more about what will happen to the characters and to find out more about the world the novel is set in. I liked the different POV's and how it let you see more of the story than if it was told only by the main character. Each character had a unique past that was interesting to find out about and I am sure more will be discovered in future books. I am excited for the next book and to see where the characters will end up by the end of the series.

[Ginna Roupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the world that Lannon and Aquila have created here. The first in the series, this book is your ticket to enter into a world torn by a war between faeries, with humans caught in the middle. This book explores the world through the eyes of Deidre a young woman entering the iron clad city of Neo-London for the first time and from the perspectives of the two young men she meets there. Together the three discover secrets about their past and the world they live in. The book sets the scene for many adventures to come and will leave you counting the days until the sequel is released.

[Written In Red Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written and was a first read for me by this author. This is not my typical type of read but it was good. I recommend it to those who like this type of genre.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising and engaging

I honestly didn’t expect to like this story but found myself quickly caught up in the diversity of characters and unusual plot. I’m actually a little upset by this. If this is your usual genre (it is far from mine) you should enjoy it immensely. For everyone else, don’t skip it thinking it’s just some flimsy piece of work with a bunch of fanciful creatures running around. There are lots of magical critters, sure. (Kind of goes with the territory, yeah.) The best books to me have characters that learn and grow and in the end are changed, usually for the better. So far, this series shows great promise in delivering. Now I’ve got to go and buy the rest the series, much to my chagrin!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

This is an interesting dystopian type novel set in a future where the city of London has been obliterated and Portsmouth (of all places) is the new (neo) London. It's an interesting start but fairly long winded in places but I'm hoping the reasons for that will become apparent in the next one.

[Dana Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. There were too many characters that were introduced and the focused jumped around to 4 different MC. The father was not well developed other than he hated fairies. No reason was given for his strange treatment of either of his sons. It was as if he was bi polar. I liked the girl MC but again not enough development. The world building was confusing as well.

[Azinad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

I can’t wait to get started on book number two! The story is the life of two young boys as they grow up and their interaction with magic and magical creatures and cultures. Their father is a militant leader who turns into a really controlling character and how these two young men come of age under these circumstances.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more interesting than I thought it would be. A fairy child raised in a human orphanage unaware of her heritage. I liked the world that this book set up and the motivations of the characters. I would read more in this series.

[CK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did briefly forget that I'd read this one until I saw it in my recent books, which is not a great point in its favor, but it was still nice to read and I can enjoy any story where 'cops are bad' is a plot point. It might be something more memorable with the addition of the sequels!

[Mark Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of The Changelings Fortune from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Great read and good characters - a couple of twists and turns in this the first book in the series. Looking forward to reading the next book to see where the story takes Iain, James and Deidre.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading and I really enjoyed and can’t wait to start book two. Great for both YA (these type boos were missing for me growing up) and adults.

[Holly Mavigliano · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

Interesting book, but moves really slowly and I wasn't really immersed in the story. I ended up quoting about half way through

[SA Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow beginning. But excellent world building and it helps in understanding the characters and the choices that they make. Any fantasy reader would thoroughly enjoy the story.

[Gail Beth Le Vine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faeries

An interesting mix of Romany and Faery characters. Two young people helping each other find a way to learn about their heritages.

[Laura Haslett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This book was very fun to read, even for this older than YA reader. The world building is interesting and the book moves along nicely. Bring on book 2!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enchanting read. The world built in this book is amazing. The book seemed slow in some parts but the story was just unfolding. I really like this book and cant wait to read the next one.

[Flewts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Bookbub freebie. It's the start of an epic journey...

[barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down. Low evenly and is believable. Bought book 2 immediately after finishing.

[Valerie Worster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

Maybe a little slow for me. And writing in a “tell me” style rather than “show me”. I don’t think I’ll continue.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. All the great reviews had me very excited. But, I just could not get into it.
I found it so incredibly slow, boring and mostly forgettable.

[Kathy spence]

Good book

The book marked some of my favourite book genres fantasy and adventure.I love how I'm ends in a cliff hanger too.