Customer Reviews

Aurelie: A Faerie Tale

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Once there where four friends, three human and one river dragon. Princess Aurelie, Garin, Netta and Loic. The three humans were gifted with the sight of the Fae, only on the condition that no one would ever know. Netta mistakenly recognizes a Fae when visiting the marketplace and consequently loses her sight. The four friends drift apart after the tragic event. Aurelie, Garin and Netta stop visiting Loic for fear of what might happen if he finds out about Netta. Garin's country is at war with Aurelie's, so he has returned to his home. And after the accident Netta moves into the country with her uncle.

Aurelie is deeply upset at the loss of her friends and the sting only sharpens when she loses her mother. Aurelie finds herself crossing the sea to Garin's homestead on a diplomatic mission, which inevitably brings the handsome Garin back into her life. Will the princess be able to bring her four friends back together and save her kingdom at the same time?

Aurelie: A Faerie Tale immerses its readers in a tale of magic and fascination. The narration of the story shifts from the four characters. Not only do readers get to know the Princess, but also the lives of the other characters. And they all intertwine meticulously. Aurelie is a beautifully written tale and I'm sure you will think so too! Readers will eagerly turn the pages full of vivid descriptions and surprising plot twists! I hadn't read Tomlinson's novel,The Swan Maiden, but I had heard great things about it. I am thrilled to have had the chance to read Aurelie!!

This was a fun, sweet read. I love a good fairy tale and Heather Tomlinson knows how to write one. This was clean and good and I want to read it with my girls.

The plot sounded interesting: an original fairy tale about four friends who can see magical creatures. Power struggles, war, and romance were promised. Unfortunately, the author isn't quite yet ready to deliver.

I stopped reading the book after about 70 pages (of 184) due mostly to the poor quality writing. Given what I read, I would have given the book 1 and a half stars, but I bumped it up a little to give it the benefit of the doubt for the pages I didn't read. The characters were flat and unappealing, the sentences stilted, and the plot seemed to be attempting to be something both more and less complex than it was. The author seemed to be trying to develop full and distinct cultures, but then other aspects of the story were too simplistic. The combination did not work well. I'm also not sure why this is described as a fairy tale, though maybe you have to read the whole thing to see why? The detail the author seemed to be trying to achieve with the court practices and differing cultures doesn't really go along with the genre of fairy tale, though, which is a much sparser and more imaginative type of story.

Though this isn't the author's first book, it reads like a first novel. The author shows promise, but she's not there yet. If you're looking for a good fairy tale, I recommend Jessica Day George's Princess of the Midnight Ball or Cameron Dokey's books in the Once Upon a Time series. If you're looking for fantasy with detailed cultures and peoples, then I recommend Jane Lindskold's Wolf series that begins with Through Wolf's Eyes or Sherwood Smith's Crown Duel/Court Duel. These are the books and authors Tomlinson should study up on.

Let me start by saying that I'm a 20-something and not the target audience of about 10-14. I average about two books per month, and two from the teen fiction genre a year. When I was a teenager, I enjoyed reading Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries and Harry Potter--but read everything I could get my hands on. Every now and then, I like to see what's new in teen fiction. I always enjoy when people do the pros and cons list, so here's mine.

Pros:
**Good plot. There's some drama mixed with mystery. Who started the fire? What is the Captain doing with a Fae?
**Good characters. I find that most teen fiction characters seem to blend together. Each of the four main characters had very distinct, relate-able personalities.
**Good setting. I enjoyed the descriptions--especially of Skoe.
**Good storytelling. Tomlinson is nothing if not a good story teller. The story was easy and flowed, picked up and left off at just the right moments.

Cons:
**The Setup. We're thrust into this world with dragons and invisible creatures and there's no real guidance for the reader. We're just expected to know. I felt confused for the first several chapters. I think Tomlinson should have started the story a little earlier. Perhaps explaining how the children found the drac in the first place as a way of introduction to the reader. Also, explained why the children could see the invisible creatures in the beginning. The father drac's character was so short lived, it just seemed like an afterthought.
**While the plot was good, there seemed to be a lot of patched up holes. As though Tomlinson was writing the story not knowing what would happen next, then had to go back and throw in a word or two here or there about something. Particularly with the nurse whose character turns out to be... well, I won't spoil it for you... But suffice it to say that bits and pieces just didn't fit.
**The weird love story. I know I'm probably alone in feeling this way, but a girl kissing on a drac cries too much of bestiality for me and kind of gives me the heebie jeebies. I really, really could have done without that bit. And the love between the two human characters was contrived and unbelievable. I think a bit more character development might have made it more believable. Some more drama with Hui would have been nice as well.

I agree with the former reviewer who said this book reads like a first novel. Tomlinson has some really strong qualities as a writer, but definitely needs some fine tuning. I can't wait to see what a great writer she turns out to be. In spite of my three star review, I will pick up another book by her in the future. I just don't particularly recommend this one.

I wasn't certain what to think of when I first began Aurelie. I had thought it was based on a certain fairy tale, or several, but if it is I can't find any references to its original story. The alternating chapters between Netta, Aurelie, Garin and Loic was a good way to understand better the characters and motivations as well. I was kind of puzzled by the fact that the only character not to be told in first person was Aurelie herself. Netta (who has the fewest chapters I believe) is told in first person, Garin is and Loic as well, but for some reason Aurelie, who has the most chapters, is told in third person.

This book felt divided. On the one hand you have, until Aurelie returns from Dorisen at least, a very well thought out and intriguing adventure/mystery. Netta's brief recounting of why the foursome broke apart so suddenly two years prior is told in a resigned and heartfelt manner. Aurelie, both anxious and excited to be going to the city of her one time best friend Garin's homeland, does her best to be dutiful and strong. Garin's chapter is told in a completely different voice. Much less formal, much more excitedly and filled with a lot more slang and idioms.

I loved the book then. I loved watching as Aurelie tried to be the diplomat, be the friend, be the Princess all the while breaking inside because its not who she wanted to be. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, turns out well at all. And none of it is her fault. Unfortunately the book splintered once she left Dorisen and returned home to Luminelle.

Instead of getting a more comprehensive view of events as the chapter narrative shifted, things became fragmented. There was a lot more telling in the last half of the book. Aurelie tells us what is it like in Loic's world. Garin tells us what the suspicious behavior of Inglis is. Loic tells us about his former nursemaid. All of which was being slowly revealed through their memories and present, but then suddenly came out in rapid exposition. Not only that, but Loic's true motivations are muddled at best--he wants to revenge himself on his former friends who broke his heart, but then seems to have forgotten this. His father is no longer a threat, but we're not told how. It felt as if entire chapters of the book were being referenced that never existed in the first place.

Netta, perhaps because of what happened to her, does a better job in her narrative, but even then we're deprived of a reunion that was everything she wanted. We're told it went well and well now things are better. We're not shown how they came to this agreement, or what they talked about. It just...happened off scene.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes. I enjoyed reading about the foursome and how they won the day. I would have enjoyed it so much more if I didn't feel like half the pages were ripped out.