The End

Dear Imaginary Readers,

I am not delusional enough to think that anyone actually reads this blog regularly. However, if there is someone, I do apologize. That being said, I think it is time to bring The Unseelie Realm to a close. I will leave it up in case I decide to return--really though if anyone actually reads this blog leave me a comment or something so I know that you exist and/or are alive. Never fear, my blogging career has not completely ended. If you feel so inclined you can find my writing alive and well on the blog I am co-writing with Irritating Paramour. Here's the website: http://eyeforaneyepiece.wordpress.com so feel free to follow us! Nevertheless, I do warn you that Chromatic Aberration Everywhere is almost entirely different from The Unseelie Realm and therefore my writing style is drastically different as well. I'm much nicer there ;)! I wish you all the best and hope that you continue your pursuits into the fantasy and paranormal genres.

Snails and Puppydog Tails,

Adriana Ivy

Wildwood Dancing (Wildwood #1)- Juliet Marillier

In the woods of Transylvania live five sisters and their father. The second oldest, Jena spends her time exploring the forests and enjoying her freedom accompanied by her unusual pet frog. Inside the castle where the girls live is a portal to the magical Other Kingdom. Every full moon, the girls pass through the portal and dance through the night with the inhabitants of this world. Their visits are filled with joy up to the point that the eldest daughter, Tatiana, falls in love with one of the more dangerous inhabitants of the Other Kingdom. However, there is little at stake until when their father falls ill and their cousin Cezar comes in and takes control of the household while their father travels south to recover. Cezar tries to prevent the girls from returning to the Other Kingdom to partake in their monthly revelries. Jena will be tested to see if she can save her sister from the clutches of her dangerous paramour and if she can stave off Cezar until her father recovers and returns home.

Overall Merit: This book was filled with standard fairytale elements and the female protagonist was strong yet flawed at the same time--Marillier has a talent for these sorts of leads. The fairytale elements drew a good amount from mythology, but it seemed a bit muddled at times as if she couldn't decide which pantheon she wanted to draw from. The fairy world she crafted was vague, but I guess that was the point. For the most part, it was an enjoyable read even though it used the typical fairytale story structure, quests and true love included, as a crutch. There was a definite "Twelve Dancing Princesses"feel to the novel, but to name that the central thematic fairytale would be a fallacy due to the overwhelming amount of fairytales present. The main thing that bothered me about the story was that it seemed to convenient for the father to be sick and unable to communicate with his daughters, thus leaving an opening for Cezar to come in and take control.  Score-8

Characters: I understand that Jena was the main character, but it would have been nice to flesh out Tatiana and the other sisters a bit more. Tatiana was a moonstruck teenager and didn't progress past that--she didn't need to overcome anything to end up with Sorrow, all the work was done on his end. Jena's flaws were what made her strong, but when the big reveal about her love interest comes to pass, her response was confusing and out of character. Cezar would have been a better antagonist if his motives were more believable. I didn't buy that he was holding on to a grudge from so many years ago and that he still hadn't gained closure from a trauma that occurred so many years in the past. It's fine to have a vendetta or something like that, but the intensity of this one and the reasoning behind it did not   Score- 6

Blush Factor: Gogu and Jena were a cute couple, even with the whole enchanted frog thing going on. However, the Tatiana and Sorrow romantic arc seemed a bit forced. I wasn't getting any chemistry from that couple. I know that Marillier was trying to complicate the romantic arc for Jena and Gogu and make it more hard-won, but there were better ways to go about it. Both Gogu and Jena behaved in ways that were very uncharacteristic. There wasn't any major chemistry in the couplings, unlike in some of Marillier's other novels where the reader is rooting for the lovers the entire time. Not to say that the romantic aspect was bad or unsatisfying, there were just some aspects that were disappointing or unrealistic. Score- 7

Plot: There seemed to be a ton of different plot elements going on at the same time and while they all seemed to stick to the same story, I thought that having so many conflicts going on at the same time was incredibly distracting. The companion book, Cybele's Secret, had the same problem. Mariller had characters running around on quests right and left and trying to dodge Cezar at the same time. It was just way too much going on. None of the elements were inherently bad, but when put together in a slapdash manner it was confusing and disorienting. Score- 6


Structure: This was largely Jena's story and while it's fine to leave the supporting characters to be not as fleshed out, I felt there was an imbalance to the amount of backstory each one got. For example, we get a lot of information on Cezar, Gogu, and Tatiana (to a certain extent), but the other sisters are somewhat ignored as well as many of the other characters who seem thrown in there, but don't serve much of a purpose. As I mentioned earlier, my main issues with the story were the unrealistic aspects. I know that women were supposed to be married young during the approximate time-period of this story, but fifteen seemed a bit too young to me. Jena also didn't really act like a fifteen year old--she seemed to be more around seventeen. Score- 6

Vervain Says: If you liked Marillier's other books then you may as well go ahead and read this one too.

The Marvelous Land of Oz (Oz #2)- L. Frank Baum

Hello non-existent readers! I am back from an extremely long hiatus--my sincerest apologies. It is only now that I have finished writing my infernal papers at University that I have the chance to read books again and share my oh so humble opinions. Shut up Vervain. Yea well right back at you. Sorry about that, she's a bit tetchy today. Nevertheless, I hope you are all having a lovely time with the return of the sun. I, for one, am displeased, but the weather does not seem to hold my opinion in very high regard. Anyway, I'll retreat to my library now and leave you with the following review:

My dear readers, if you have any knowledge about the Oz books that follow The Wonderful Wizard of Oz then you have my temporary respect and perhaps I shall let you live another day. L. Frank Baum--a horrible mortal I'm sure--actually wrote fourteen Oz books all of which I read in my childhood. Since it is summer and the pesky Seelies grow ever bolder, I picked it up again so that I could stay cloistered in my library. True, it is a children's book, but a classic nonetheless and I advise any fantasy readers to look to it for nostalgic value.

The story starts with a boy named Tip who is the ward of a wicked witch named Mombi. He hates his 'foster mother' (for lack of a better term) and decides to play a trick on her. Tip creates a man with a pumpkin for a head and sets him up to frighten Mombi. Mombi, of course isn't frightened and instead uses some of her 'life powder' to bring the man to life. The man is christened Jack Pumpkinhead. Later that night, Tip steals Mombi's life powder and brings a sawhorse to life so he can escape with Jack Pumpkinhead. As all good stories in Oz begin, they decide to run away to the Emerald City. They arrive in the City and all is well until a group of greedy and selfish girls armed with knitting needles invade the city and take over. Their leader, General Jinjur, declares herself queen and kicks out the Scarecrow (anyone who read the first book instead of just watching the movie will know that the Scarecrow was named king of the Emerald City after the Wizard left). The companions must travel through the land of Oz and seek help from the Tin Woodsman and eventually Glinda the Good to put the rightful ruler on the throne of the Emerald City.

Overall Merit:  The word I would use to describe this book, and all the books in the series is: charming. They are adorable and whimsical and although they are written for children (most likely Seelie children unfortunately) I still enjoyed every minute of it. Of course, there isn't a whole lot of action and the enjoyment relies heavily on suspension of disbelief, but it is still a wonderful read (no pun intended, this comment is aimed at someone who knows exactly who he is). I would highly encourage you to read the original Oz book if you haven't already. Score-7 (for sheer nostalgia/charm factor)

Characters: Oh this book. My non-existent feminist readers are going to hate this part of the review. However, I'll preface this by saying that fans of the movie might be disappointed to discover that Dorothy is not a character in this book, but never fear, she shows up later in the series. The main group of characters are just the right combination of quirky and lovable. Now for my feminist readers you will hate the depiction of General Jinjur and her army of foolish, vain girls. For my non feminist readers, you will hate them because they are annoying and stupid (let's keep in mind that this was written in 1904). Mombi was a standard one dimensional villain, in fact all the characters were one dimensional. But my dear readers, it's Oz be a little forgiving. I'm biased of course--these books were a major contributing factor to my childhood. However, when my father discovered that I was indulging in Seelie literature, I was beaten thoroughly. Score- 5 (I'm trying to be realistic)

Blush Factor: N/A

Plot: The plot was predictable, you knew what was going to happen from the very beginning although there was a surprising twist at the end. I won't spoil it for you since it does end up being a large factor in the subsequent books. However, if you are looking for something convoluted and intense you are reading the wrong thing. The plot may be sugarcoated, but it still makes you happy to read it just because it is so lighthearted, which makes it difficult to find fault in it. Score-5

Structure: This was lovely, there is no other way I can describe a return trip to Oz. While the characters weren't complex or conflicted, they were still very creative--I want to spend time with a Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug who spends his time making bad puns and acting better than everyone else. It is a goofy and silly book, but that is what makes it so enchanting. The world that Baum creates is both ridiculous and brilliant at the same time and that is a major factor in what makes the book so thoroughly enthralling. Score- 7

On a side note, I will be writing a guest post for Irritating Paramour's blog, which you can check out here: http://eyeforaneyepiece.wordpress.com. Be warned, his posts are dry as burnt toast, but I plan on adding a bit of butter to them, possibly jam too if he lets me. Until next time, which I promise will be soon!

Vervain Says: It had better be soon, Adriana, or I'll set fire to your skirts.

The Ruins of Ambrai (Exiles #1)- Melanie Rawn

How to begin with a summary of this book...

A millennium ago, Mageborns fled to a planet called Lenfell to escape persecution, but Lenfell was soon devastated by the Magewars. Magical factions battled against each other and unleashed horrific creatures called Wraithenbeasts. Centuries after the war, the world is recovering--the Mageborns are allowed to practice magic, but with severe constrictions and the tension between the classes has culminated in agonizing tension. The novel follows the story of three sisters, separated from each other as children, yet all powerful in their own right. They will fight against each other for power, all the while ignorant of the familial connection. In this female dominated society the men act as pawns to the strong-willed and petulant females, but the three sisters rise above the rest to assert positions of the highest authority.

Something like that. It was 900 pages and I only got through 3/4ths of it before giving up--cut me some slack.

Overall Merit: I am loathe to give up on a book, even when it's exorbitantly long like this one is, but in this case I couldn't bring myself to finish. I felt like I was reading a history textbook for the majority of the story and to be honest I didn't connect with any of the characters. The only reason I picked up this book was because it was highly recommended from several sources and I did like some of Rawn's other work, but this one was a disaster. I guess in theory it could have been a good story, but then again I have no idea, I didn't finish it. I mean this is especially saying something since my irritating paramour somehow roped me into reading the entire Fifty Shades trilogy (I'm debating whether I should post about those books or not even though they're not entirely relevant). Anyway, point being: I really did not like this book. It did have some merits, but I would not advise reading it. Score: 3

Characters: I hated all the characters. This was my biggest gripe with the book. Maybe it's because I am so not a feminist by any definition of the word (here comes the hate) anyway, but the women were obnoxious. The men weren't much better. I did not connect with a single character and even though the book kept switching perspective between primarily the three sisters Cailin, Sarra, and Glenin none of the perspectives were better than the others. Usually I can find at least one character to link with--I am currently reading Game of Thrones and I don't like all the characters, but at least some of them are palatable. Score- 2 (because there were actually characters)

Blush Factor: Sure there was awkward sex in this book in which it was considered kinky if the guy was on top. Best line ever: "'Damn Garon!' she raged weakly. 'Damn him to Geridon's Hell!' In that legendary location, men who were promiscuous, sexually importunate, or a bed sheet burden to the women who married them were condemned to the exquisite torment of a constant, total, eternally unrelieved erection." Essentially I've decided that Rawn is a man-hater, which I guess is cool, but come on she didn't cut them any slack. There was nothing romantic about anything in this book. Score- 0 I can't give a score to something that didn't exist. 

Plot: Convoluted and insane. I was being dragged from one place to another without a chance to catch my breath. This book was way too long and should have been divided into at least two novels--maybe it would have been less of a hassle to read that way. Anyway there were a million things going on at the same time and I had an extremely difficult time keeping all the plot threads straight in my head, which is why I gave up because it got to the point where I didn't even understand what was going on anymore. Score- 3

Structure: I don't have a problem with female dominated societies, in fact my favorite guilty pleasure books happen to be just that (check out the Black Jewels Trilogy if you have the time), but this was excessive. There was no love, no romance the men were literally treated either like chattel or they were ridiculed if they had any sort of status. I mean I understand this is sometimes common treatment for women in books, but it just felt so alien doing it to men and it didn't really add anything to the plot. I felt like Rawn had too many components in the book and if she had stuck to fewer oddities the story would have been more coherent and cohesive. Score- 3

Vervain Says: "I couldn't tell if this was Science-Fiction or Fantasy, I feel like that's a problem in and of itself. It's ok when there's genre crossover, but this one just confused me."

Sabriel (Abhorsen #1)- Garth Nix

Ha! I have not forsaken this blog as of yet. I will not fail you, imaginary readers!


Sabriel is the story of a young woman who was sent to boarding school in Ancelstierre by her father who decided that would be a more suitable environment for a young lady. While she does learn magic at school and her father teaches her to channel her necromantic powers, nothing can prepare her for her journey into the Old Kingdom. During her final semester at school, her father, the Abhorsen goes missing and Sabriel must enter the Old Kingdom to find him before the Dead overrun what is left of the kingdom. Her companions include, Mogget--a free magic entity in the form of a cat--and Touchstone, a charter mage imprisoned for centuries by magic. The three of them travel through the Old Kingdom in a desperate search for her father's body in hopes that he has not crossed too far into the world of Death to be retrieved. 

Overall Merit: This book was awesome. When it was first recommended to me, I was a bit reticent because I figured it would be the story of a young girl on a dangerous mission. Nope, Sabriel is all of eighteen years old and wickedly talented. One thing I really enjoyed about the book was the unique magic system. Sabriel uses a collection of bells to control and dispel the Dead. Very different from the traditional wand-waving, spell-casting cliches of fantasy literature. I mean of course you can see the romance coming from a mile away, but maybe that's because I've read way too many books with the same formula. The characters were great and I loved the story. Definitely a to-read book. Score- 10 

Characters: Good job Nix. I enjoyed Sabriel's character and therefore was willing to follow her story wherever it led. Mogget was nothing short of hilarious, at least in his cat form. Touchstone was interesting, he was a little too angsty in the beginning, but I suppose that was to be expected. I didn't feel like his character arc was all that it could have been, but overall not bad. Score- 8 

Blush Factor: This was cute, but might have been the only major issue I had with the book. I mean this might be because I'm a secret romantic (don't tell anyone), but there wasn't enough lead up for me. The characters kind of plodded along and then it was wham-bam I love yous at the end. I did like the coupling though so I'm not going to judge it too harshly, but I stick by my conviction that it needed more of a substantial lead up. Score- 8

Plot: I mean true it was a bit of a cliche--the slighted prince who rises from the ashes to rescue his ailing kingdom, the plucky heroine with her magical sidekick who may be his only hope--nothing too original. I did like the bit about the walking dead (they weren't exactly zombies, but close enough) it was an interesting element to draw into a fantasy novel seeing as they're usually reserved for post-apocalyptic stories. Score- 9 

Structure: Straightforward, not a whole lot to report. I would have liked a bit more clarification on the differences between the Old Kingdom and Ancelstierre and how the division between the two worlds had come to pass. It wasn't crucial to the story and maybe it is clarified in one of the later books in the series, but it would have been a bit easier to understand the mechanics of the story with some more background regarding the world itself. Score- 8

Vervain Says: "Adriana and I definitely have plans to read the next book in the trilogy." 

Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad #1)- David Eddings

Greetings, Imaginary Readers. Sorry for taking so long to post something new. I've been incredibly busy in University and working on some of my own writing projects. Forgive my laxness in adhering to my own schedule.

Snails and Puppydog Tails,

Adriana Ivy

Garion is a normal farm boy--or so he thinks. He spends his days getting into trouble with his friends and giving his Aunt Pol a headache. All is fine until one day a storyteller named Wolf appears and tells Garion and his aunt that they should leave the farm immediately. Garion learns the secrets of his long hidden past and is thrown into an adventure that he could never have imagined or desired. I mean I think that's what happened. I don't really remember.


Overall Merit: This book was dull. It was recommended to me by an acquaintance and I figured ok fine. I even looked it up on Goodreads to verify that it was indeed a good book. Everything checked out so I ordered it online. For a book with such promise it failed miserably. All I got was a lot of monarchial nonsense mixed with characters who failed to propel the story along at a proper rate. Yes, I know this is the first book in a series, but it didn't interest me nearly enough to make me continue reading. Score- 5

Characters: Eh. I didn't care about any of the characters. They were dull and I could not relate. Garion was far too much of a cardboard cutout of the ideal boyhood protagonist. Also, why the hell was I not given more backstory? I mean obviously you know from the prologue who the characters really are, but then they disappoint. Come on, I mean we're talking powerful sorcerers here and what I'm given is weak. There are maybe two displays of magic in the whole book and they were disappointing. None of them stuck out to me at all. It's amazing I even remember their names. Also, where is my antagonist? Sure the forces of evil are mentioned a few times, but you never see them in action. Score- 5

Blush Factor: N/A

Plot: What plot? The characters spend a whole lot of time running from place to place and there is talk of dangers and the prologue hints at said dangers, but I never see them. Not once do I fear for the characters and not once do they seem to be in peril? What kind of good writer does that? How can I link with the characters if I'm not given any emotions to speak of? Score- 4

Structure: The structure was straightforward. I don't have a whole lot to say on this matter. At least the narrative wasn't confusing or frustrating so kudos for that. However, Eddings failed to do anything interesting structurally so I do take some issue with that. Score- 6

Vervain says: "Don't waste your time with this book. Maybe the series gets better, but Adriana doesn't have the patience to find out."

Kushiel's Dart (Kushiel's Legacy #1)- Jacqueline Carey

In the land of Terre d' Ange, the mantra is "love as thou wilt", and the inhabitants execute this rule with due diligence. Phedre no Delaunay is a girl born with a scarlet mote in her eye, which marks her as the chosen of the god Kushiel, the god of punishment. She will forever experience pleasure and pain as one in the same. Phedre is born into the Night Court, but is sold into service of Anafiel Delaunay. He trains her to be his eyes and ears in the court, by means of scholarly arts and mastery in the bedchamber (a standard training in this world). However, when Phedre stumbles upon a plot that could be the undoing of Terre d'Ange she must do everything in her power to stop those who wish to upset the balance and beauty of her homeland.

Overall Merit: I love this book, and I thought I'd review it since I just finished rereading it. All of the Terre d'Ange books are brilliant and I think I picked the perfect length of time to wait before rereading them. The characters are excellent and I would willingly follow Phedre and Joscelin to the ends of the earth. Carey's alternative historical world is excellent and filled with lavish details that are a feast to imagine. These books are a perfect example of erotica done in a tasteful and effective manner. There is a legitimate storyline and the sexual interludes enhance the characterization and plot rather than distracting from the point. Score- 12

Characters:  Phedre is a great character, I love her to pieces. She is witty and intelligent and brings dignity to the profession of courtesan, that I've never seen in any other book. Joscelin is excellent as well and his character arc is the most dramatic of any of the characters. Other supporting characters like Hyacinthe shine through as well. The main villain is a femme fatale of the worst kind, you love to hate her, but at the same time are loath to hate her. Great characters overall, definitely will make you want to follow them through the rest of the series. Score- 12

Blush Factor: Phedre and Joscelin might be one of my all time favorite fantasy couplings. They complement each other so nicely with contrasting, but not clashing personalities. This book is definitely explicit so keep the children away. Sex is at the forefront of this world and of Phedre's character so keep that in mind. There is also a lot of BDSM so if that isn't your thing, it might be a bit off-putting, but if you can see past that to the excellent story then please try and read this book. Score- 10

Structure: This book follows Phedre's perspective in first person, but she is such a fascinating character that it is effortless and enjoyable to ride along with her. The world structure is fantastic and I love Carey's laissez faire attitude about things that in our world are considered so taboo. Excellent juxtaposition of romance/erotica with plot line. What can I say? I can't stop raining accolades down upon this book. Score- 13

Plot: Courtly intrigue and culture clash. Not much more you can ask for in a fantasy/alternate history book. The civilizations that Carey brings together are each unique and intricate. She definitely did her research for this series. There is just enough magic to keep the story in the realm of fantasy, but not enough so that I'd classify it as strictly epic. However, the present elements are well-executed and the story is tight. The plot is well-thought out and complex enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. Score- 11

Vervain says: "Phedre is a servant of both Namaah and Kushiel, two gods that are usually not juxtaposed. Josceline on the other hand, is a Cassiline, which adds even more absurdity in to the Phedre x Josceline coupling."