Title: How to Break an Evil Curse (Chronicles of Fritillary #1)
Author: Laura Morrison.
Format: E-ARC (Thanks to Netgalley, all opinions are my own)
Publisher: Black Spot Books.
Page count: 410.
Release day: October 13th 2020.
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy.
Rating: DNF.
What is it about? (Summary from GoodReads)
Princess Julianna may be cursed to dwell in darkness, but she’s no damsel in distress.
How to Break an Evil Curse is the first book in a fantasy series about a princess who may be cursed to live in darkness, but refuses to let her curse define her life.
The King of the Land of Fritillary has incurred the wrath of his ex-bestie, the evil wizard Farland Phelps. Farland curses the King’s firstborn to die if touched by sunlight, and just like that, Julianna must spend her life in the depths of a castle dungeon (emptied of prisoners and redecorated in the latest fashion, of course). A young woman of infinite resourcefulness, all she needs is a serving spoon, a loose rock in the wall, and eight years of digging, and Julianna is free to explore the city—just not while the sun is out!
Warren Kensington is a member of a seafaring traveling theater troupe and the unwitting magical cure to the curse. When the pirate ship he’s sailing on is damaged in stormy seas, he goes ashore and bumps into Julianna on the streets of the capitol. The pair accidentally set in motion a chain of events that uncovers Farland’s plans to take over the throne. Julianna, Warren, and some friends they meet along the way are the only ones who can save the monarchy.
But the farther they go along their increasingly ludicrous journey, and the more citizens they meet, the more Julianna wonders whether her dad’s throne is worth saving. From an evil and greedy wizard? Well, sure. But from the people of Fritillary who are trying to spark a revolution? The people suffering in poverty, malnutrition, and other forms of medieval-esque peasant hardship? It doesn’t take Julianna long to find that the real world is far more complicated than a black-and-white fairytale.
My thoughts:
Unfortunately I DNF’ed this book after reading 100 pages.
According to NetGalley this book is Middle Grade but according to GoodReads it is YA. And to be honest I have no idea how to classify this either. But since I was just very confused while reading this, I would say this is YA, because probably it is too confusing for too young readers. But then again, it was also too confusing for me.
So in this book we switch perspectives A LOT! Way too often. And in such a way that it is not always clear that the perspective has switched. So sometimes I only realized it after a couple of sentences and had to go book for those sentences to make sense. This really took me out of the story.
And as I said there were so many perspectives, and most of them did not make much sense to me. I did not see how the different perspectives were related. And I don’t mind that in the beginning of the book, since the plot still has to start. But after 100 pages, I like to kinda understand the book!
For some characters I did see how they were connected, or would be later on, but also the plot itself I couldn’t really follow.
I was just not enjoying my time reading this, so I decided to stop..
I do hope the plot makes more sense to other readers, and that they will enjoy it!
Sorry this one didn’t work out for you, hope your next read is better!
Thanks 🙂
I feel like I saw this one on there and decided to not request it. It’s a shame that everything is so boggled down and quite confusing!
Yeah it was asd 🙁
Aaaaw I’ve got an ARC of this one too, but hopefully, I enjoy it? *fingers crossed*
I considered checking this out but haven’t heard to best things about it. I’m sorry you had to DNF it! I hate when books change POV with no warning and then you have to guess who’s POV you’re reading from. I hope your next read is better! 😀
-Amber
I don´t mind it happening once in a while, but it happened way to often. In that way you didnlt really get to learn anyone..
Ah well, it’s a shame but but you gave it a fair shot.
Lynn 😀
Yeah always sad to DNF a book..!
But I feel like 100 pages/25% is a fair chance indeed!
The synopsis sounds really good and I can see the younger-YA market from the tone, however I can understand why the switching perspective too often can confuse reader. Personally, I always hate it especially if it happens very early where we haven’t familiarize with the character’s voice. I hope your next read will be better!
It did sound very good!
That was exactly my problem! Since we shifted so often I couldn´t connect with anyone or any plot point!