Ten years ago, they saved the realm. It ruined their lives.
Everyone in Mythria knows the story of how best friends Beatrice and Elowen, handsome ex-bandit Clare, and valiant leader Galwell the Great defended the land from darkness. It’s a tale beloved by all—except the former heroes. They haven’t spoken in a decade, devastated by what their quest cost them.
But when they receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . . . and a reunion for the ages, with Clare secretly not over his long-ago fling with Beatrice, Beatrice fighting the guilt she feels over how everything ended, Elowen unprepared for the return of her former flame (the cunning Vandra), and all of them lost without Galwell’s presence. And if reuniting with old friends and lovers wasn’t perilous enough, dark forces from their past have returned, plotting a domination that only Mythria’s one-time defenders can stop. Maybe.
Dusting off old weapons and old instincts, they face undead nemeses, crystal caves, enchanted swords, coffee shops, games of magical Truth or Dare, and, hardest of all, their past—rife with wounds never healed and romances never forgotten.
This time around, will their story end in happily ever after?
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First line:
Galwel the Great was almost sad they would be saving the realm tomorrow.
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Source:
Source:
Netgalley eARC in exchange for an honest review
---------------------Rating:
2 Heroes out of 5
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Release Date:
September 10, 2024
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This is a cozy fantast that tries to give Princess Bride vibes, but doesn't quite make it to that beloved status. It is very cheesy, which at times it great, but at other times is just a little too much.
The book is an interesting dive into trauma and how it affects different people. Elowen, Clare, and Beatrice have all experienced a great trauma in their quest to save the realm. It has affected them all differently and none of them have healed from it.
I am a little annoyed that the blurb has spoiled stuff that happens more than halfway through the books. The blurb I had read spoke of them having to go on another quest to save the realm which does not come up until more than 40% through the book. So I got a little bored on the way while waiting for that to happen.
In my opinion, the pacing was also a little off. I wanted something a little bit faster paced. And the revealing of what happened in the past was just spread out too much. I also hated the ending with Beatrice's last memory recall. I feel it ruined the whole point of the book being about healing from past trauma.
There are some fun elements to the book. I loved the fantasy versions of video chatting, Starbucks, Uber, and soap operas. Pulling these things into a fun fantasy world definitely made me smile and I enjoyed reading such creativity.
I'm a mood reader and I think part of my issue with the book was I was not in the mood for a cozy fantasy when I picked it up. I do think other people will enjoy it more than I have, with it's fun (if sometimes over the top) banter and modern conveniences turned into fantastical things.
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