Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: December 2009
ISBN: 9781599904306
Source: Library
Nimira is a music-hall performer who left her home country behind for a new life. When Hollin Parry, a sorcerer invites her to perform with a unique piano-playing automaton, she thinks it can only be an improvement to her current life. But, Nim is surprised to discover the automaton is housing a cursed fairy prince and she is determined to save him. Will she be able to save him in time to prevent an imminent war from erupting?
Things I Liked:
It really was a unique story. I've never read a love story where the heroine falls in love with a fairy prince trapped in an automaton's body. It was pretty refreshing to not have a typical paranormal love story. I liked Nimira and Erris, though I think I liked Anni the most. There were a lot of details about the world Dolamore created that I wanted to know more about. I was intrigued by the different races, the different countries, and the magical elements. Here are some interesting tidbits:
"Every person has a reason to walk the earth, Mother always said. Sometimes the path leads in strange directions." p 93
"Some old women you can never imagine young, but you could picture Miss Rashten in an awkward sort of youth. I guessed she had not been happy, probably the type who couldn't flirt and never seemed to dress right, who came into her power when she got past the time when such things mattered." p 167Things I Didn't Like:
I think it could have used more details. I thought there were unique things that she could have developed more, particularly the romance which was sweet, but not much else. The writing was just ok for me, but I definitely will be reading more from Dolamore in the future. I liked it and it showed lots of potential.
Read-alikes:
It had a bit of a Beauty and the Beast feel to it, so maybe Beauty by Robin McKinley
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few (I think)
mrg-factor: X
some minor implied things
v-factor: none
Overall rating: ***
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