My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Summary from Goodreads
“Sparkles with beauty, intrigue, and romance.”—Kiera Cass, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Selection series
Selah has waited her whole life for a happily ever after. As the only daughter of the leader of Potomac, she knows her duty is to find the perfect match.
But after an excruciatingly public rejection, Selah’s stepmother suggests an unthinkable solution: Selah must set sail across the Atlantic to visit a series of potential suitors—and if she doesn’t come home engaged, she shouldn’t come home at all.
From the gardens of England to the fjords of Norge, Selah’s quest will be the journey of a lifetime. But her stepmother’s schemes aren’t the only secrets hiding belowdecks…and the stakes of her voyage may be higher than any happy ending.
Lush landscapes, dazzling romance, and captivating intrigue await in this stunning alternate historical YA debut—perfect for fans of The Selection or Caraval.
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REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Don't let my three stars discourage you. Anna Bright creates and delivers a lush world filled with tiny hidden gems of retellings, intrigue, and romance! Also, Once upon a Time meets Odyssey and the Bachelorette.
Selah lives in Potomac a country independent from England in a parallel world where fairytales and history are woven together. After a public rejection, which really was very humiliating, her step-mother suggests that Selah must sail over the Atlantic, spend two weeks in another country in search for a groom. Three are brought forth, one in England, one in Norge and one from the equivalent of the Russian Empire here...only that it's ruled by Baba Yaga...
I enjoyed the descriptions and how Anna Bright spend time to make me, as a reader, connect with the environment but my missing stars go to the lack of action and a little bit to Selah's character development. I prefer action in my fantasy books and that was a slow read for me. But what kept me going was the book Selah carried with her, which had many tales inside it, featuring also, "Beauty and the Beast". And some of the chapters had openings from great tales, like Homer's Odyssey (I READ ANCIENT GREEK!), Snow White and also code names like Hansel and Gretel.
I did feel that the second groom was the best match for her and I didn't like how the book ended. For those who also love Norse mythology, you'll get a nice surprise too! I also hope that Selah will reunite with her one love (who I'll hope be the one I'm thinking of.)
About the author:
When I'm not reading or writing on my couch, I'm dragging my husband off on an adventure, communing with Salem (my kitten/spiritual familiar), or causing trouble at One More Page Books, where I work.
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