I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Moontangled by Stephanie Burgis Series: The Harwood Spellbook #2.5
Published by Self Published on February 3 2020
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQ+
Pages: 71
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
The nitty-gritty: A sparkling and witty story set in Stephanie Burgis’s Harwood Spellbook series, full of romance and magic.
Stephanie Burgis’ Harwood Spellbook series is a delight, and each new novel or novella expands on her world by focusing on different characters and situations. I’ll admit I’m a little behind on this series, but that didn’t stop me from jumping into Moontangled, which focuses on the characters of Juliana Banks and Caroline Fennell. If you love stories about magic and the fey world, or if you just appreciate interesting characters and tangled political situations, then I highly recommend trying this series.
Juliana Banks is twenty-three and a student at Thornfell College of Magic. She’s been secretly betrothed to Caroline Fennell for some time, but Caroline wants to wait until her political career is firmly secured before she announces her feelings for Juliana to the world. Unfortunately, Caroline’s aunt, the formidable Honora Cosgrave who has been priming Caroline to take her position someday, has suddenly stepped down from her high profile job, after a scandal rocked the Boudiccate. Now Caroline’s future career is in jeopardy.
Trying to save Juliana from the fallout, Caroline decides the best thing to do is to break off the engagement. But when Juliana hears her plan, she’s angry and distraught, and without thinking, runs off into the nearby woods. Caroline runs after her, but both girls stray from the path in the woods without thinking and invoke the ire of the guardian of the woods, an old fey who has agreed not to harm the students of Harwood, provided they never stray off the path. The only thing that can save them is to strike a bargain with the guardian, a bargain they must win in order to survive the night.
At its heart, this is a lovely romance that focuses on the miscommunications that easily arise in relationships, those seemingly small things that quickly spiral out of control unless they are dealt with. Both girls are madly in love, yet each has a different interpretation of the other’s motives. In real life, these situations are no fun at all, but in fiction they can be great fun! And that’s exactly what Burgis has done: created a deliciously entertaining scenario with a loving relationship at stake, complicated by magic and politics. I loved the way the fey has a hand in this story, and these scenes also give the reader a brief glimpse into the magic of this world.
Burgis is fond of “happily ever afters,” but she writes them in such a way that the reader doesn’t take them for granted. I know these characters have many more adventures in store, and I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next. This isn’t necessarily the best place to start with this series, as so much has already happened, but if you’ve already dipped your toes in the waters of The Harwood Spellbook, there is a lot here to love.
Big thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.
So glad you enjoyed this one! I’d really like to read Thornbound and Moontangled this month. Great review!
Jess @ Jessticulates recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | 5 star TBR predictions!
I hope you enjoy them:-)
I’m a big fan of adult fantasy so I’m really glad you loved this one. The entire series sounds pretty damn amazing actually ^_^
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Audiobook Review: A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer
I think you’d enjoy this, Stephanie:-)
Thanks for sharing your review. I haven’t read much adult fantasy, but this series sounds pretty fun.
Priscilla Bettis recently posted…#FirstLineFriday
It’s really fun. When you need a break from the heavier books:-)
I think I own one of two of these on my Kindle but have never gotten to them. I’ve been seeing this one around and probably should give it a go one of these days!
They are pretty short and quick fun reads:-)
Oh myyyyy, this cover is stunning, and I want to know where I can get a purple dress like that, please and thanks. xD I want to live in this world, if this is how people get to dress.I’m gonna have to look into this series. OF COURSE I love complex characters and tangled political situations. What’s not to love about them?
Sammie @ The Writerly Way recently posted…Tropes I Hate in Books I Love || They Obviously Did It Right
Me too, the dresses are amazing! It’s set in sort of a Regency time period setting but with magic, so much fun!
Great review Tammy! It’s been awhile since I’ve read anything Fey (I read a lot of the Fever series, and then it sort of burnt me out). I’ll keep an eye out for this one though.
The fey aren’t really the main focus, more of an element, so you don’t have to worry about burn out.
Ahh I see! Thanks!
I keep seeing this book everywhere and was told to get it. So it’s exactly what I’m doing right now going to grab this series.
Ooh enjoy!
I love the premise and idea of this series – but when I went to check it out, I was a bit dismayed at how very short each book is… These days I want something a bit longer to escape into. A wonderful review, though, if only the books were longer!
That’s true. Even the novels are short ones, and Moontangled is really more of a long short story. But I supposed you could binge read them and it would be an immersive experience.
There is indeed something to be said about this series if a non-romantic like me can totally enjoy the romantic entanglements presented in the stories: could it be some sort of spell? 😉
Great review, thanks for sharing!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…AUBERON (an Expanse Novella), by James S.A. Corey
I think there is so much else going on besides the romance, there’s something for everyone:-)
I am once again reminded that I should have started this series a long time ago…I know I’m totally missing out!
I think the cover in enchanting, and the premise of this book sounds really interesting! I also love the fact that the author writes her “happily ever afters” in a way that we don’t take them for granted, kudos for that!! I’ll check the series out, thanks, Tammy 😀
Absolutely beautiful cover and it sounds like the story would grab my attention, as well 🙂 I really enjoyed your review and look forward to diving into this new-to-me author. Happy reading!
Megan | Ginger Mom & Company recently posted…Bookish and Blogging Goals | 2020 Edition
Glad to see you enjoyed this one, I thought it was a nice fun read.
This was a fun read – particularly when you consider I don’t usually read romance or short stories. I look forward to seeing what comes next.
Lynn 😀
such a gorgeous cover and this looks so enticing, but WOE, a novella? nooo, give me 200 pages of this, plz ;__;
While a short read, it seems like it is such a good story and takes a time to work deep into the romance so it doesn’t feel too quick or unrealistic. I love that even though the happily ever after is guaranteed, you second guess it because the characters have to work through so much.
Olivia Roach recently posted…A Curse So Dark and Lonely [Book Review]
I didn’t know about this series; thanks for the review.