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Waking Up the Sun
When Lander accepts a dare to go into the forest at night he thinks it’ll be easy. He just needs to walk in and then come out, right? But that’s easier said than done. It’s like the trees have a mind of their own, and they are stopping him from finding his way back. There were always stories of people getting lost forever in the forest, but Lander had never considered they might be true.
Yban has been in the forest a long time and he knows it like no other—but he comes with his own secrets. He disappears every day, and he won’t tell Lander where he goes. But during the dark hours Lander gets to know him and starts unwrapping the layers that surround him.
The fire that keeps them warm in the forest isn’t the only spark between them; will their growing relationship survive Lander’s determination to find the way out, or will Yban’s past mistakes keep them hidden in the forest forever?
Yban has been in the forest a long time and he knows it like no other—but he comes with his own secrets. He disappears every day, and he won’t tell Lander where he goes. But during the dark hours Lander gets to know him and starts unwrapping the layers that surround him.
The fire that keeps them warm in the forest isn’t the only spark between them; will their growing relationship survive Lander’s determination to find the way out, or will Yban’s past mistakes keep them hidden in the forest forever?
ebook
First published July 15, 2019
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90 people want to read
About the author
Laura Bailo
18 books72 followersLaura Bailo is an asexual Spanish author of queer romance. She’s an anxiety-ridden writer who, when not writing or reading, loves exploring the narrow streets of Pamplona and thinking about all the stories she wants to write in the future. She has a penchant for writing sweet stories with a Spanish flavor, be it fantasy or contemporary, and she’s still dreaming about writing her first historical.
She loves hearing from people and you can find her at:
https://www.facebook.com/laura.bailo
https://twitter.com/LauraBailo
https://www.laurabailo.com/
She loves hearing from people and you can find her at:
https://www.facebook.com/laura.bailo
https://twitter.com/LauraBailo
https://www.laurabailo.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 1, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Lander never seemed to fit in with the other boys in his village, was bullied for years, and even his own parents see him as a disappointment. He suffers from anxiety and has no support. He’s intrigued by Yban, first because Yban can keep him safe, but he’s also attracted to Yban and has genuine feelings for him. The men develop a bond being out in the forest and slowly grow their relationship to include intimacy.
Waking up the Sun is based on Basque myths and reads as a fairy tale. The men are sweet together and work as a team to overcome their circumstances to find their way to a future together. It is a shorter read and if you like touches of magic with the addition of mythological creatures, you may want to check this one out.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
Lander never seemed to fit in with the other boys in his village, was bullied for years, and even his own parents see him as a disappointment. He suffers from anxiety and has no support. He’s intrigued by Yban, first because Yban can keep him safe, but he’s also attracted to Yban and has genuine feelings for him. The men develop a bond being out in the forest and slowly grow their relationship to include intimacy.
Waking up the Sun is based on Basque myths and reads as a fairy tale. The men are sweet together and work as a team to overcome their circumstances to find their way to a future together. It is a shorter read and if you like touches of magic with the addition of mythological creatures, you may want to check this one out.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
June 26, 2019
I worry that people won't appreciate this little gem of a book because it's so quiet and low conflict. But that's why I loved it. I too would love to disappear into a magic forest, meet the perfect person for me, and heal some suffering creatures before returning to the normal world as a better version of myself. (Really, you had me at the magic forest part, but the rest of it is great too.)
This book also has such GREAT anxiety rep. Lander does not magically get better. His medicine is a necessary part of his life. A loving relationship eases his anxiety but doesn't erase it. His growth journey is about learning to love himself and then showing that love to other people his own way, and it was just... so nice.
This book also has such GREAT anxiety rep. Lander does not magically get better. His medicine is a necessary part of his life. A loving relationship eases his anxiety but doesn't erase it. His growth journey is about learning to love himself and then showing that love to other people his own way, and it was just... so nice.
tried-but-dnf
March 11, 2022I tried. Ultimately I’m not interested in wandering around the forest. Maybe if the protagonist started off with a stronger voice, I would have kept reading.
June 28, 2019
3.75 Stars
Sweet and low angst story. Kind of simple, but sometimes that’s refreshing. I enjoyed watching the blossoming slow-burn relationship between Lander and Yban and learning more about the mythical history of the forest. Also really enjoyed the representation of someone with anxiety and someone who (though not specifically stated) appears to be demi-sexual.
If you’re looking for an earnest and straightforward romance with a magical element definitely give this one a chance.
*ARC kindle provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Sweet and low angst story. Kind of simple, but sometimes that’s refreshing. I enjoyed watching the blossoming slow-burn relationship between Lander and Yban and learning more about the mythical history of the forest. Also really enjoyed the representation of someone with anxiety and someone who (though not specifically stated) appears to be demi-sexual.
If you’re looking for an earnest and straightforward romance with a magical element definitely give this one a chance.
*ARC kindle provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review*
July 13, 2019
This book has a lot of good aspects but for some reason just didn't work for me.
The basic plot is that an eighteen year old dude goes into an enchanted forest on a dare and then can't find his way out. He eventually meets another guy who appears to be about twenty-one but has actually been in the forest for twenty years without aging. Scary stuff. Neither of them can get out of the forest, which has a shifting landscape and is very spooky. Eventually they fall in love and try to work their way out.
The imagery of the forest is nice, and I liked the concept of the story. Also, one of the dude's has anxiety, which is probably good representation. So these were good things, but I couldn't get into the story--kept on getting bored and putting it down. Maybe it's just that I couldn't connect with the characters, or that the plot was so straightforward.
So my opinions on this story are fairly neutral. It seems that other people are enjoying it more than me, so if you're looking for anxiety rep and some spooky forest stuff, it's not bad. I did not personally enjoy it, though.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for a review.
The basic plot is that an eighteen year old dude goes into an enchanted forest on a dare and then can't find his way out. He eventually meets another guy who appears to be about twenty-one but has actually been in the forest for twenty years without aging. Scary stuff. Neither of them can get out of the forest, which has a shifting landscape and is very spooky. Eventually they fall in love and try to work their way out.
The imagery of the forest is nice, and I liked the concept of the story. Also, one of the dude's has anxiety, which is probably good representation. So these were good things, but I couldn't get into the story--kept on getting bored and putting it down. Maybe it's just that I couldn't connect with the characters, or that the plot was so straightforward.
So my opinions on this story are fairly neutral. It seems that other people are enjoying it more than me, so if you're looking for anxiety rep and some spooky forest stuff, it's not bad. I did not personally enjoy it, though.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for a review.
June 30, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story was super sweet and had the fairy tale feeling that I was looking for. The forest felt like another character without being cheesy. The details about Lander's anxiety and his healing magic as well as Yban's backstory made them fully fleshed out characters. I loved watching them slowly getting more comfortable with each other as they each revealed their pasts and quirks.
Since it was mostly just the two of them in the forest for the majority of the story, I thought the relationship would feel forced (if you were lost/trapped in a forest with no signs of escape, wouldn't you cling to the first person that showed up?), but it wasn't at all. The passage of time felt real, as did their relationship.
This story was super sweet and had the fairy tale feeling that I was looking for. The forest felt like another character without being cheesy. The details about Lander's anxiety and his healing magic as well as Yban's backstory made them fully fleshed out characters. I loved watching them slowly getting more comfortable with each other as they each revealed their pasts and quirks.
Since it was mostly just the two of them in the forest for the majority of the story, I thought the relationship would feel forced (if you were lost/trapped in a forest with no signs of escape, wouldn't you cling to the first person that showed up?), but it wasn't at all. The passage of time felt real, as did their relationship.
dnf
October 3, 2019dnf @63%
January 8, 2022
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Waking Up the Sun, by Laura Bailo
★★☆☆☆
~
DNF'd at 13%
While there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the story, it wasn't for me. I think this is one of those books that you either love, or you just don't get it, and I was in the latter category. This is my first book by the author, and I don't think their style meshes well with what I like to read. I'd definitely say the majority of my problems came with the execution of the story rather than the content.
The story is told in 3rd person, single character POV (as far as I read) and deals with multiple issues, such as bullying, peer pressure and anxiety/panic attacks, all relating to the main character.
I think that's probably part of the reason I didn't enjoy it. The main character – Lander – was made to be so drastically unwanted, discarded by society and his parents, so “different” and unlike other people, that it was hard to relate to him at all. I get that there's some representation of anxiety and panic attacks, but it didn't feel natural – as someone who has dealt with both, that's my opinion, at least.
The story is also supposed to be fantasy? Urban fantasy? Fairy tale? I couldn't tell. It felt like the story itself didn't even know what it was meant to be. It had been at least two weeks between last reading the blurb and actually reading the book, and when I started I presumed it was a general contemporary story, and this normal teenager would discover a magical wood. That was the vibe I was expecting...but it's not what I got. Even the blurb hints at my expectation, saying nothing about how this was an EXISTING magical world, with magic already abound. Because of that, I found the whole forbidden woods, magical trees aspect to be far less engaging and exciting than I was expecting.
On top of that, it took 3% for us to find out that magic already existed in this world. For a book of 113 pages, that's three whole pages where the story felt like one thing, only to be revealed as another. At the same time, within the first page it's mentioned that there are “men” goading Lander into this dare, and making fun of him. Yet, later it's revealed that these are teenage bullies, not grown men as it was implied. Introducing them as “men” set up a false impression – which was a sense I felt really epitomised my feelings about this book. I was drawn in by false impressions, or left with false impressions of what was promised.
For me, the author tried VERY hard to make Lander an overly sympathetic main character, but it rubbed me up the wrong way. The repetition of how unwanted he was, how mistreated and teased and bullied, the unnecessary overemphasis of his pathetic loser status, and the constant reminders of his panic and anxiety felt far less like casually mentioning an important fact and more like it was being rammed down our throat to say “look how great and brave he is, despite these faults.”
Again, my impression only. Totally my opinion, and I know others have loved the book. But, to me, it just felt stuffed full of moments where I was being TOLD and not SHOWN who Lander was, what his situation was, and why it was important. I get that he's on his own for a long time, but there are ways of showing and not telling, even in that situation.
Remember I mentioned that the story didn't know what it wanted to be? It's perfectly shown in the mixed language use. One minute, Lander had “medicine/medication” he takes for his panic attacks, then next it's “a potion”. We all know what a potion is, so there's no need for this mix of language. It felt so much like even the author wasn't sure which choice to pick. But that's the point – pick one and stick to it!
I'm sorry to say that, although I only read 13% of the book, that was just ONE chapter. It felt ENDLESS to read, because there were no scene breaks, no pauses to collect myself or take a breather from the constant barrage of info dumps and repetition. The pacing was super sloooow, and that made the whole story drag on forever.
When I stopped reading, Lander had only just met Yban. Literally, the next page on from where I stopped was their first conversation, and when I skimmed, it still took PAGES for them to introduce themselves to each other. Unfortunately, by this point, I didn't care enough to keep reading.
I didn't connect with Lander. The pacing was glacial. The chapters were needlessly, endlessly long. Nothing had happened. Literally, in that 13%, nothing of interest had happened to Lander except that he got lost in the woods and spent endless pages searching for a way out that didn't exist.
And here's what also bugged me about that...not once in those pages of endlessly giving detailed accounts of Lander's every move did he search for or make a) shelter, b) water, or c) food. So, he literally spent two FULL nights and one entire day in this forest without anything to eat or drink!
…...
Yeah.
Then there were quotes like this:
“It was the second night, which meant he hadn't had his medicine for as long as that.”
and
“It was starting to look as if finding his way out may take him a while.”
Um...you think? I mean, Lander's only been LOST for TWO DAYS. I'm pretty sure that whole 'this might take a while' feeling should have set in around, oh...say, hour three of day one?
~
Sorry, I digress. As you can see, it didn't work for me and these are the reasons why. Maybe if Lander had experienced *anything* of note, while spending those two nights and day in the forest... Maybe if there had been some breathing space, a scene change or a chapter divider, to help me escape that feeling of endless reading... Or maybe if there had been a little more care taken to set up the world-building right from the start... I could have given it more than 13%. Unfortunately, there were too many things that just wore me down.
Waking Up the Sun, by Laura Bailo
★★☆☆☆
~
DNF'd at 13%
While there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the story, it wasn't for me. I think this is one of those books that you either love, or you just don't get it, and I was in the latter category. This is my first book by the author, and I don't think their style meshes well with what I like to read. I'd definitely say the majority of my problems came with the execution of the story rather than the content.
The story is told in 3rd person, single character POV (as far as I read) and deals with multiple issues, such as bullying, peer pressure and anxiety/panic attacks, all relating to the main character.
I think that's probably part of the reason I didn't enjoy it. The main character – Lander – was made to be so drastically unwanted, discarded by society and his parents, so “different” and unlike other people, that it was hard to relate to him at all. I get that there's some representation of anxiety and panic attacks, but it didn't feel natural – as someone who has dealt with both, that's my opinion, at least.
The story is also supposed to be fantasy? Urban fantasy? Fairy tale? I couldn't tell. It felt like the story itself didn't even know what it was meant to be. It had been at least two weeks between last reading the blurb and actually reading the book, and when I started I presumed it was a general contemporary story, and this normal teenager would discover a magical wood. That was the vibe I was expecting...but it's not what I got. Even the blurb hints at my expectation, saying nothing about how this was an EXISTING magical world, with magic already abound. Because of that, I found the whole forbidden woods, magical trees aspect to be far less engaging and exciting than I was expecting.
On top of that, it took 3% for us to find out that magic already existed in this world. For a book of 113 pages, that's three whole pages where the story felt like one thing, only to be revealed as another. At the same time, within the first page it's mentioned that there are “men” goading Lander into this dare, and making fun of him. Yet, later it's revealed that these are teenage bullies, not grown men as it was implied. Introducing them as “men” set up a false impression – which was a sense I felt really epitomised my feelings about this book. I was drawn in by false impressions, or left with false impressions of what was promised.
For me, the author tried VERY hard to make Lander an overly sympathetic main character, but it rubbed me up the wrong way. The repetition of how unwanted he was, how mistreated and teased and bullied, the unnecessary overemphasis of his pathetic loser status, and the constant reminders of his panic and anxiety felt far less like casually mentioning an important fact and more like it was being rammed down our throat to say “look how great and brave he is, despite these faults.”
Again, my impression only. Totally my opinion, and I know others have loved the book. But, to me, it just felt stuffed full of moments where I was being TOLD and not SHOWN who Lander was, what his situation was, and why it was important. I get that he's on his own for a long time, but there are ways of showing and not telling, even in that situation.
Remember I mentioned that the story didn't know what it wanted to be? It's perfectly shown in the mixed language use. One minute, Lander had “medicine/medication” he takes for his panic attacks, then next it's “a potion”. We all know what a potion is, so there's no need for this mix of language. It felt so much like even the author wasn't sure which choice to pick. But that's the point – pick one and stick to it!
I'm sorry to say that, although I only read 13% of the book, that was just ONE chapter. It felt ENDLESS to read, because there were no scene breaks, no pauses to collect myself or take a breather from the constant barrage of info dumps and repetition. The pacing was super sloooow, and that made the whole story drag on forever.
When I stopped reading, Lander had only just met Yban. Literally, the next page on from where I stopped was their first conversation, and when I skimmed, it still took PAGES for them to introduce themselves to each other. Unfortunately, by this point, I didn't care enough to keep reading.
I didn't connect with Lander. The pacing was glacial. The chapters were needlessly, endlessly long. Nothing had happened. Literally, in that 13%, nothing of interest had happened to Lander except that he got lost in the woods and spent endless pages searching for a way out that didn't exist.
And here's what also bugged me about that...not once in those pages of endlessly giving detailed accounts of Lander's every move did he search for or make a) shelter, b) water, or c) food. So, he literally spent two FULL nights and one entire day in this forest without anything to eat or drink!
…...
Yeah.
Then there were quotes like this:
“It was the second night, which meant he hadn't had his medicine for as long as that.”
and
“It was starting to look as if finding his way out may take him a while.”
Um...you think? I mean, Lander's only been LOST for TWO DAYS. I'm pretty sure that whole 'this might take a while' feeling should have set in around, oh...say, hour three of day one?
~
Sorry, I digress. As you can see, it didn't work for me and these are the reasons why. Maybe if Lander had experienced *anything* of note, while spending those two nights and day in the forest... Maybe if there had been some breathing space, a scene change or a chapter divider, to help me escape that feeling of endless reading... Or maybe if there had been a little more care taken to set up the world-building right from the start... I could have given it more than 13%. Unfortunately, there were too many things that just wore me down.
July 31, 2019
Waking Up the Sun By Laura Bailo
Reviewed by Shee Reader for Boy Meets Boy Reviews
Find us on the web at www.boymeetsboyreviews.com
Rating 5 Hearts
Blurb:
When Lander accepts a dare to go into the forest at night, he thinks it’ll be easy. He just needs to walk in and then come out, right? But that’s easier said than done. It’s like the trees have a mind of their own, and they are stopping him from finding his way back. There were always stories of people getting lost forever in the forest, but Lander had never considered they might be true.
Yban has been in the forest a long time and he knows it like no other—but he comes with his own secrets. He disappears every day, and he won’t tell Lander where he goes. But during the dark hours, Lander gets to know him and starts unwrapping the layers that surround him.
The fire that keeps them warm in the forest isn’t the only spark between them; will their growing relationship survive Lander’s determination to find the way out, or will Yban’s past mistakes keep them hidden in the forest forever?
In this fantasy novella, Lander is a social outcast, or so it seems from the little we know of him before he ends up in the enchanted forest after dark.
Dared to go in to the forest by bullies, he embarks on a life changing adventure. Little did he know he would not be able to just walk out of the magical world, as the mystical and charmed forest has taken him captive. One night, Lander meets Yban who we learn has been trapped in the forest for many years, and Yban begins to help take care of Lander, and guide him in learning how to exist in the half light of the forest.
Lander and Yban’s connection is sweet and charming, and Lander’s anxiety is so tangible, I felt my own chest tightening as I read. Yban visits every night with Lander and they have little adventures until Lander dreams significant dreams. The voyage they begin together in finding their way out, and then onward in life together is both adorable and satisfying.
Lander’s family situation seems complex and the writing is sensitive and charming. There are so many currents and themes rolling through this story that I can imagine many more to form a series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Shee Reader for Boy Meets Boy Reviews
Find us on the web at www.boymeetsboyreviews.com
Rating 5 Hearts
Blurb:
When Lander accepts a dare to go into the forest at night, he thinks it’ll be easy. He just needs to walk in and then come out, right? But that’s easier said than done. It’s like the trees have a mind of their own, and they are stopping him from finding his way back. There were always stories of people getting lost forever in the forest, but Lander had never considered they might be true.
Yban has been in the forest a long time and he knows it like no other—but he comes with his own secrets. He disappears every day, and he won’t tell Lander where he goes. But during the dark hours, Lander gets to know him and starts unwrapping the layers that surround him.
The fire that keeps them warm in the forest isn’t the only spark between them; will their growing relationship survive Lander’s determination to find the way out, or will Yban’s past mistakes keep them hidden in the forest forever?
In this fantasy novella, Lander is a social outcast, or so it seems from the little we know of him before he ends up in the enchanted forest after dark.
Dared to go in to the forest by bullies, he embarks on a life changing adventure. Little did he know he would not be able to just walk out of the magical world, as the mystical and charmed forest has taken him captive. One night, Lander meets Yban who we learn has been trapped in the forest for many years, and Yban begins to help take care of Lander, and guide him in learning how to exist in the half light of the forest.
Lander and Yban’s connection is sweet and charming, and Lander’s anxiety is so tangible, I felt my own chest tightening as I read. Yban visits every night with Lander and they have little adventures until Lander dreams significant dreams. The voyage they begin together in finding their way out, and then onward in life together is both adorable and satisfying.
Lander’s family situation seems complex and the writing is sensitive and charming. There are so many currents and themes rolling through this story that I can imagine many more to form a series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2019
I had a hard time figuring out if I liked this book or not. To be honest, I'm still not sure.
I liked the world and the premise, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The casual fantasy/magic, the magic forest, the creatures that inhabit it: everything was great. I actually wanted more of that strange forest and more creatures, but it wasn't the focus of the story (and that's okay).
I liked the rep, too. I loved how important Lander's anxiety was. Important might not be the word, but what I mean is that it was always there in the background, and Lander spends quite some time trying to make his medicine again to help him deal with his anxious brain. It was really great. Same with the demisexuality rep, the discussion around Yban's sexuality was nice, and it made his demisexuality quite explicit.
I have nothing against low-stakes, sweet stories, so I don't think that's what held me back. I didn't really connect to the characters, though, which doesn't happen to me very often but almost always spoils my reading experience. It *might* also have to do with me being in a period where romance doesn't sit well with me (I'm aro, my receptiveness to romance tends to fluctuate wildly).
One of my other problems was the writing style that felt monotonous, especially at the beginning. I'm not too mad about this, though, because I'm pretty sure the author is bilingual like me and I know how hard writing in your second language can be, but I still wasn't in love with the writing.
The story did have its interesting parts, and I loved the world (even if I wanted more of it) and the rep (anxiety and also a side character is trans). But I didn't love the characters and characters really tend to make or break a book for me.
TW: explicit sex, anxiety & panic attacks, mentions of transphobia, bullying and emotional abuse/neglect, mention of minor violence.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
I liked the world and the premise, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The casual fantasy/magic, the magic forest, the creatures that inhabit it: everything was great. I actually wanted more of that strange forest and more creatures, but it wasn't the focus of the story (and that's okay).
I liked the rep, too. I loved how important Lander's anxiety was. Important might not be the word, but what I mean is that it was always there in the background, and Lander spends quite some time trying to make his medicine again to help him deal with his anxious brain. It was really great. Same with the demisexuality rep, the discussion around Yban's sexuality was nice, and it made his demisexuality quite explicit.
I have nothing against low-stakes, sweet stories, so I don't think that's what held me back. I didn't really connect to the characters, though, which doesn't happen to me very often but almost always spoils my reading experience. It *might* also have to do with me being in a period where romance doesn't sit well with me (I'm aro, my receptiveness to romance tends to fluctuate wildly).
One of my other problems was the writing style that felt monotonous, especially at the beginning. I'm not too mad about this, though, because I'm pretty sure the author is bilingual like me and I know how hard writing in your second language can be, but I still wasn't in love with the writing.
The story did have its interesting parts, and I loved the world (even if I wanted more of it) and the rep (anxiety and also a side character is trans). But I didn't love the characters and characters really tend to make or break a book for me.
TW: explicit sex, anxiety & panic attacks, mentions of transphobia, bullying and emotional abuse/neglect, mention of minor violence.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
April 5, 2020
This honestly bored me a lot. Where the premise is interesting and I’m all for indulging in LGBT+ literature, everything about this was like trying to swallow a pack of saltines to me. I don’t know if it was because of the pacing or the fact that I couldn’t connect to the characters in any way, it just didn’t work for me.
TL;DR — eighteen-year-old Lander goes into a magical forest on a dare and can’t find his way out. Eventually, he meets Yban, who has also been stuck in the forest for twenty years without aging (which is a little strange regarding the weird? age gap thing? I don’t know, maybe that’s just me). With time, they start to fall in love with each other and learn to overcome their circumstances. The shebang.
In theory, it’s an intriguing book because it’s written like a fairy tale so it’s whimsical and the imagery is actually great. In practice, something just. Fell flat for me. It’s delivered in massive paragraphs and the pacing is turtle speed and it really just didn’t keep my interest in any way. I found myself constantly putting it down and not coming back to it unless I forced myself because I hate DNF’ing ARCS.
I’m definitely not saying that it’s not for someone because I’m more than aware that there’s a lot of great reviews. It has good anxiety rep and although not flat out said, I’m pretty sure one of the characters was at least demisexual. I’m not saying it’s a bad book at all. I’m just saying it wasn’t for me. Which could be my overall impatience because that is just who I am as a person now, in all fairness, so take everything I say with a grain of salt because I give my reviews so value.
So anyway yes! I would recommend it to anyone that’s looking for something magical and reads like a fairy tale with a slow burn relationship and low angst and GAY.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
TL;DR — eighteen-year-old Lander goes into a magical forest on a dare and can’t find his way out. Eventually, he meets Yban, who has also been stuck in the forest for twenty years without aging (which is a little strange regarding the weird? age gap thing? I don’t know, maybe that’s just me). With time, they start to fall in love with each other and learn to overcome their circumstances. The shebang.
In theory, it’s an intriguing book because it’s written like a fairy tale so it’s whimsical and the imagery is actually great. In practice, something just. Fell flat for me. It’s delivered in massive paragraphs and the pacing is turtle speed and it really just didn’t keep my interest in any way. I found myself constantly putting it down and not coming back to it unless I forced myself because I hate DNF’ing ARCS.
I’m definitely not saying that it’s not for someone because I’m more than aware that there’s a lot of great reviews. It has good anxiety rep and although not flat out said, I’m pretty sure one of the characters was at least demisexual. I’m not saying it’s a bad book at all. I’m just saying it wasn’t for me. Which could be my overall impatience because that is just who I am as a person now, in all fairness, so take everything I say with a grain of salt because I give my reviews so value.
So anyway yes! I would recommend it to anyone that’s looking for something magical and reads like a fairy tale with a slow burn relationship and low angst and GAY.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2019
Waking Up the Sun was a cute romance set in a dark yet enchanting forest where two people, the only two people in the forest, gradually fall in love with each other.
My favorite part about this was the mental illness representation. The main characters panic attacks, combine with his description of his cycles of anxiety and depression, felt true and relatable.
More importantly, both the main character and the narrative voice had a positive attitude towards medication. The main character had a potion that helped him manage his mental illness. When he was in the forest without it, he coped, but realized he did better with it, and took the initiative to make more of it. Once he was back on the medication, his symptoms were clearly easier to manage. They didn’t disappear, but they were more manageable, which made it feel very authentic.
I read so many stories where medication is portrayed in a negative light, that I was happy to see a book where it was shown as something helpful.
I also enjoyed the forest setting. That, combined with the story itself, had a fairy-tale feel.
At times, the story and dialogue felt a little contrived to me, but I often find myself thinking that when I read romance. I wasn’t always as engaged with the voice as I wanted to be and I would have liked a little more tension or high stakes.
Still, it was a nice relaxing read after a stressful week. Waking Up the Sun is a good choice if you are looking for a calm, sweet fairy tale or something to help you unwind after a busy day.
My favorite part about this was the mental illness representation. The main characters panic attacks, combine with his description of his cycles of anxiety and depression, felt true and relatable.
More importantly, both the main character and the narrative voice had a positive attitude towards medication. The main character had a potion that helped him manage his mental illness. When he was in the forest without it, he coped, but realized he did better with it, and took the initiative to make more of it. Once he was back on the medication, his symptoms were clearly easier to manage. They didn’t disappear, but they were more manageable, which made it feel very authentic.
I read so many stories where medication is portrayed in a negative light, that I was happy to see a book where it was shown as something helpful.
I also enjoyed the forest setting. That, combined with the story itself, had a fairy-tale feel.
At times, the story and dialogue felt a little contrived to me, but I often find myself thinking that when I read romance. I wasn’t always as engaged with the voice as I wanted to be and I would have liked a little more tension or high stakes.
Still, it was a nice relaxing read after a stressful week. Waking Up the Sun is a good choice if you are looking for a calm, sweet fairy tale or something to help you unwind after a busy day.
July 2, 2019
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Welp, that was a bummer... My first EARC provided by NetGalley that I DNF'd. Sadly, I couldn't continue this book primarily because of its writing style. I hated the continuous "he did this... then he did this...he picked up this...". I missed internal monologues and diverse sentence structures to create some sort of mystical feel to, not only the forest in which Lander is stuck but also his own character as he is, apparently, a mage of some sort? Or he has some kind of healing power at least.
The reason why I at least gave this book 3 stars despite DNF'ing it is because of the anxiety rep. I did like Lander's character being angsty and needing some kind of "potion" to keep his anxiety under control. However, that's about it. I disliked Yban's character from the gecko. His first conversation with Lander by the fire is just him trying to shut up Lander and shaming him for being too eager to flipping trying to make sense of what's going on? They're talking about this flower when Lander wants to know why it's hanging on everyone's door and all Yban says is "will you let me finish?" GOD, SURE DAD. I don't know. Characters like that always rub me the wrong way.
Is it a "it's not you, it's me" kind of book? I don't know. I guess, considering the other reviews published about this book? Still, I didn't care for it.
Welp, that was a bummer... My first EARC provided by NetGalley that I DNF'd. Sadly, I couldn't continue this book primarily because of its writing style. I hated the continuous "he did this... then he did this...he picked up this...". I missed internal monologues and diverse sentence structures to create some sort of mystical feel to, not only the forest in which Lander is stuck but also his own character as he is, apparently, a mage of some sort? Or he has some kind of healing power at least.
The reason why I at least gave this book 3 stars despite DNF'ing it is because of the anxiety rep. I did like Lander's character being angsty and needing some kind of "potion" to keep his anxiety under control. However, that's about it. I disliked Yban's character from the gecko. His first conversation with Lander by the fire is just him trying to shut up Lander and shaming him for being too eager to flipping trying to make sense of what's going on? They're talking about this flower when Lander wants to know why it's hanging on everyone's door and all Yban says is "will you let me finish?" GOD, SURE DAD. I don't know. Characters like that always rub me the wrong way.
Is it a "it's not you, it's me" kind of book? I don't know. I guess, considering the other reviews published about this book? Still, I didn't care for it.
July 3, 2019
Waking Up The Sun reads like a fairy tale or a parable. It’s a fairly simplistic plot (it’s less than a hundred pages), but what it lacks in complexity it makes up for with sensitivity and diversity. Lander is a lovely young man who has been bullied in his home town. It’s bullying that leads him to accept a dare that sends him into the woods.
Once Lander is alone in the forest he’s heard so much about, the reader is made aware that he lives with panic and anxiety. Bailo does a great job of describing the sense of impending doom with no real cause that can be a symptom of panic and anxiety disorders. I loved the author’s description of the beginning of one of Lander’s attacks as his body reacting as though something is wrong even when there’s nothing there to be afraid of.
The diversity in this story is great! Lander is a young gay man who has always perceived himself to be different from other men. Lander is primarily raised by his Aunt who is a trans woman. She has experienced transphobia but is the person closest to Lander. Yban is demisexual and it is explained in a very sensitive and gentle way.
Ultimately, this story has a great message about using your talents and skills to be yourself. If you are yourself, you will find the path that you are meant to be on. This is a warm and emotional happy-ever-after. It has some very spicy sex scenes too!
Once Lander is alone in the forest he’s heard so much about, the reader is made aware that he lives with panic and anxiety. Bailo does a great job of describing the sense of impending doom with no real cause that can be a symptom of panic and anxiety disorders. I loved the author’s description of the beginning of one of Lander’s attacks as his body reacting as though something is wrong even when there’s nothing there to be afraid of.
The diversity in this story is great! Lander is a young gay man who has always perceived himself to be different from other men. Lander is primarily raised by his Aunt who is a trans woman. She has experienced transphobia but is the person closest to Lander. Yban is demisexual and it is explained in a very sensitive and gentle way.
Ultimately, this story has a great message about using your talents and skills to be yourself. If you are yourself, you will find the path that you are meant to be on. This is a warm and emotional happy-ever-after. It has some very spicy sex scenes too!
July 25, 2019
This was an interesting story. Lander has grown up a victim of bullying because he's different and doesn't seem to posses much magic in a world where magic is essential. Tired of the bullies and lonliness, he takes them up on a dare to enter a forrest where people disappear. Once inside, he finds the old tales are true. At least for him. After wandering for an undetermined amount of time, he almost injures himself and stumbles upon Yban. He seems to know things about the forrest and sets out to help Lander. He disappears in the daytime and has secrets. Lander also has issues with a panic and times of deep unhappiness. He has learned to make himself medicine to combat it. Yban expresses to Lander that he only feels physical attraction to someone he has a deep emotional connection to. Eventually we come to the realization that while Yban has been Lander's hero, so in turn Lander has been led to and held hostage by the forest because he is necessary for Yban's rescue. I really enjoyed how the idea of mental health illness and sexuality were presented in this alternate world. I would truly enjoy a follow-up, either with these characters or others in this world.
January 4, 2020
Absolutely loved this book! I don't want to spoil the story, but it is a very sweet short story, featuring magic, mystery and romance.
The main character suffers from anxiety, which I believe was tactfully and somehow beautifully described. He is relatable, and quite genuine. I enjoyed the fact that the main character was not all-powerful in the way that most characters tend to be.
The romance progresses gently, but I could not help cheering for the characters when they finally got together! I may add here it does not start off with a romantic undertone, the relationship progresses as the two main characters spend time together, which is always a plus in my eyes.
The story depicts a demisexual character, as well as a trans character, making the movie quite diverse.
There are some very steamy parts so I don't recommend you read it at work!
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet LGBT romance featuring fantasy elements!
The main character suffers from anxiety, which I believe was tactfully and somehow beautifully described. He is relatable, and quite genuine. I enjoyed the fact that the main character was not all-powerful in the way that most characters tend to be.
The romance progresses gently, but I could not help cheering for the characters when they finally got together! I may add here it does not start off with a romantic undertone, the relationship progresses as the two main characters spend time together, which is always a plus in my eyes.
The story depicts a demisexual character, as well as a trans character, making the movie quite diverse.
There are some very steamy parts so I don't recommend you read it at work!
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet LGBT romance featuring fantasy elements!
July 17, 2019
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review
I wasn’t as into the characters. I felt they were pretty bland and had no personalities. I was never really into romance stories unless I really connected with at least one of the characters.
This probably could have been much better of a fantasy story. Like how Lander grew up? What made his parents hate him so much? Was it really because of the way his brain worked? Where and how did Lander get his powers? Did other people have this ability too? What about the spirits of the forest I would like to know more about them and their legends. What made the god and goddess of the forest different from each other?
What about the way Yban grew up and learned all the legends? Why in just a short period of 20 years was it forgotten? This is just some of the plot points in the story that I would have rather read about then Yban and Lander mooning over each other.
I wasn’t as into the characters. I felt they were pretty bland and had no personalities. I was never really into romance stories unless I really connected with at least one of the characters.
This probably could have been much better of a fantasy story. Like how Lander grew up? What made his parents hate him so much? Was it really because of the way his brain worked? Where and how did Lander get his powers? Did other people have this ability too? What about the spirits of the forest I would like to know more about them and their legends. What made the god and goddess of the forest different from each other?
What about the way Yban grew up and learned all the legends? Why in just a short period of 20 years was it forgotten? This is just some of the plot points in the story that I would have rather read about then Yban and Lander mooning over each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2019
This is going to be a short review, because I don’t have a lot to say about this one.
I just...don’t think this was for me, which is disappointing because I thought I would be THE target audience. I mean the pitch was queer MCs, romance, with a fantasy element; what more could I possibly want?!
Unfortunately I didn’t find the beginning compelling. The characters were a bit ‘whatever’ and the writing itself wasn’t for me. It read a little too young for me. Overall, it was all just a little too average and with so many amazing books out there waiting to be read, I don’t know that this one is should worth the time...
I was given an ARC copy of Waking up the Sun via Netgalley for an honest review.
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Connect with me
Instagram: @inkorkeys
Goodreads: H. Taylor
I just...don’t think this was for me, which is disappointing because I thought I would be THE target audience. I mean the pitch was queer MCs, romance, with a fantasy element; what more could I possibly want?!
Unfortunately I didn’t find the beginning compelling. The characters were a bit ‘whatever’ and the writing itself wasn’t for me. It read a little too young for me. Overall, it was all just a little too average and with so many amazing books out there waiting to be read, I don’t know that this one is should worth the time...
I was given an ARC copy of Waking up the Sun via Netgalley for an honest review.
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Connect with me
Instagram: @inkorkeys
Goodreads: H. Taylor
January 8, 2022
Laura Bailo has written a kickass fairy tale that any adult would enjoy. It is indeed a love story but one that is woven together with hope, courage, redemption, and bravery. The story is told for the most part through the eyes of Lander, who has been taunted and shunned his entire life for being different. Lander becomes trapped in a magical forest where he meets Yban, who has lived with shame and regret for a very long time.The novella chronicles their journey as they grow emotionally, facing fears and renewing hope.
Ms. Bailo has a very laid back and comfortable writing style. She draws you in immediately to a well-paced story which will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. Kudos to the author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ms. Bailo has a very laid back and comfortable writing style. She draws you in immediately to a well-paced story which will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. Kudos to the author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 17, 2019
I received a copy of Waking Up the Sun by Laura Bailo via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review. This story is a fun blend of traditional fairy tales and myths and the reality of noncis people. I especially liked how Yban’s sexuality was introduced in a very natural way, fitting for one who has lived in the woods for twenty years. I figured Lander would wind up using his talents to eventually free them but did not anticipate a few necessary steps for it to happen. Their life in the forest helped both to realize who they really are and gave them the strength to move forward. An entertaining fast read.
January 7, 2020
I actually read this one a while ago and am catching up on reviews so I'm afraid I won't do it justice, but as soon as I finished I wanted to read again. Just one of those stories. Lander is such awesome anxiety rep to me, I related so much. No magic cure, no "love fixed me." I have read so many books like that lately and it hurts, but this one I would fully recommend to someone like me because it's safe. And the romance really blossomed in such a beautiful way between the MCs! I liked how non-angsty it was, just a really soft and fascinating development of feelings. One of my comfort reads for sure.
January 8, 2022
I loved this story. It was mysterious and captivating and I couldn't put it down. The forest was intriguing and I loved slowly learning more about its magic the more I read. I loved the characters. Lander was unique in that I haven't read about anyone like him. And Yban was mysterious and I loved getting to know him and see him open up to Lander. Their story was an adventure and a sweet romance. They both grew emotionally by their own convictions and with the other's support as the story went along. The ending was beautiful and felt complete. This story was a real treat to read. It was the first book I've read by this author, but it won't be the last. Excellent! 5 stars.
July 3, 2019
A sweet and simple short story.
I enjoyed how Lander and Yban took a little bit of time before starting a relationship, and that they listened and trusted one another no matter what was said. Yban was just so sweet and I felt bad for his situation, but I’m so glad Lander didn’t back down from the stupid dare and the two got to meet in a magical forest.
There’s not a lot of action in this story and very low angst, but I found myself engaged in Lander and Ybans story. I wanted to see if they would get their HEA and how.
I enjoyed how Lander and Yban took a little bit of time before starting a relationship, and that they listened and trusted one another no matter what was said. Yban was just so sweet and I felt bad for his situation, but I’m so glad Lander didn’t back down from the stupid dare and the two got to meet in a magical forest.
There’s not a lot of action in this story and very low angst, but I found myself engaged in Lander and Ybans story. I wanted to see if they would get their HEA and how.
August 27, 2019
This is a wonderfully sweet M/M romance novella, especially notable for the way it portrays anxiety and demisexuality. The setting, with all the elements of Basque mythology woven in, is absolutely enchanting, and I wish we could learn more about the forest and all its secrets as yet undiscovered.
I also loved the inclusion of a trans secondary character that is so important to the MC, Lander.
I'm more than ready for a series of stories set in the same world, exploring the myths and legends of this part of fairy-tale Europe.
I also loved the inclusion of a trans secondary character that is so important to the MC, Lander.
I'm more than ready for a series of stories set in the same world, exploring the myths and legends of this part of fairy-tale Europe.
May 20, 2021
Getting lost in the woods conjures up all manner of fairy-tale inspired dread ... strange dwellings in clearings, getting stalked by dangerous creatures, stumbling across strange enchantments or deadly curses, the despair of never getting back home. Th advertising blurb for this fantasy novella hinted at all that but doesn't deliver on any - with not much happening by way of danger or excitement. The slow burn romance between the MCs is mildly sweet but nothing to shout about - 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
August 7, 2019
The anxiety representation is good, but I do think that's probably the best part of the story for me. It's a fairly short read but I still feel like we could have gotten to know the characters a little more. The story seemed a little two dimensional at times and read more with the feel of a fairy tale but with too much realism to really work as a fairy tale. It's a bit hard to describe but I'll just say I guess the writing wasn't really for me.
June 29, 2019
A sweet simple story and refreshing read I really enjoyed this book and it stayed with me after i finished its. I do like a slow burn fantasy book and this ticked all the boxes. I loved Lander and Yban and there romance was so sweet I would really recommend this book.
I received this book from netgallery in exchange for a honest review
I received this book from netgallery in exchange for a honest review
June 29, 2019
This was a very enjoyable low-angst story. Lander and Yban were such interesting characters and I loved how the author dealt with Lander's anxiety. The storyline was well-written and had great character growth, it was a very enjoyable read.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*
July 5, 2019
Although I thought the end was a bit anti-climatic, it was a sweet and interesting story. The anxiety rep was really thought out and well done. I loved learning about the history of the forest and I hope she writes more about the world she created in the future.
July 15, 2019
This is the best book for when you want something quiet and honest and low on the angst scale. It’s soothing and real but full of mythology and fairy tale components. Thoroughly enjoyed.
A+ anxiety rep and demi or ace rep
I received this arc from Netgalley, etc etc
A+ anxiety rep and demi or ace rep
I received this arc from Netgalley, etc etc
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