Start On: October 27, 2023
Finished On: October 31, 2023
Format: Kindle/eBook

Falling for Fables, Book #1
Get the book here (paid link)

Tropes:
Grumpy Sunshine
Forced Proximity
Dragons & Magic

Book Summary:

Trapped in a tower by the emperor who conquered her homeland, Daella yearns for an escape. But as one of the few half-orcs left in the world, she knows she’ll never be free, much less find her own happily ever after.

Destiny takes an unexpected turn when the emperor offers her a deal. To earn her freedom, she must journey to the mysterious Isles of Fable and track down wielders of outlawed dragon magic. Eager to seize her chance, Daella agrees.

When a brutal storm tosses her ship off course, she washes up on the wrong island—right at the feet of Rivelin, a gruff but handsome elven blacksmith, who seems more likely to stab her than help her. To her surprise, he offers her shelter until the next ship passes through in six weeks’ time.

Daella soon realizes he’s hiding something big. It could be the very magic she’s been tasked to hunt down—the key to her long-awaited freedom. But as they bicker over the flames of his forge, her heart kindles with something she’s never felt before. 

When his secrets finally come to light, Daella must decide what’s more her freedom from the wicked crown or the desires of her heart.

(Summary from Goodreads)

“For so much of my life, I’d never had a home. Somehow, despite everything, I’d found one. With him.” 

Daella Sigursdottir (Forged by Magic)

Review/Thoughts:

This book was fun, cozy, and cute. 

This book was a good pallet cleanser between longer, more intense fantasy series. I loved the cozy, fairytale vibes. I liked Daella and Rivelin and the concept of the Midsummer Games was intereging. 

But, it ended up falling a little flat. The writing style was awkward and clunky. It felt like the author was trying to do too many different things, and none of them came together completely. I also struggled the pacing. The story seemed to drag on and then everything felt rushed to wrap up at the end.

It was fine, nothing amazing or memorable.