Review: The Chaos Daughter by Sara Michaels

I'm starting off the month with a very unique, fairy tale retelling. This is the first in a series and rotates around the tale of Anastasia. I didn't really know much about this one before diving in but liked the idea that it is a retelling...it's been awhile since I've read one. Anastasia is also a direction I haven't visited in a long time, so it sparked my interest. Add that it's a quick read at around 180 pages, and...well...let's take a peek.

THE CHAOS DAUGHTER

The Jeweled Fairytale Retellings, Book 1

by Sara Michaels

Young Adult Fantasy

183 pages

When all magic is ruled by Order, being a child of Chaos is the ultimate danger.

Nastasya lives a sheltered, small-island life, hiding her Chaos magic and living quietly with her protective foster parents.

At the age of 18, she finally persuades them to let her venture across to the mainland… but what should be an exciting shopping trip quickly turns into much more than she bargained for, and events unfold that will change her future forever.

Nastasya has always been taught to hide her Chaos magic, but she’s never understood why.

Her past has always been a mystery to her, but her trip to the mainland leads her to question everything, and she knows she must learn more about her birth family and the power she possesses.

The Chaos Daughter is an action packed adventure of self-discovery inspired by the tale of Anastasia. Question everything, and trust no one: what Nastasya’s about to discover will change the world forever.

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

At 180-pages, this is a short read for the young adult audience, and it definitely keeps the pace up from start to end.

Nastasya accompanies her friend on a shopping trip to the mainland with the strict orders never to remove, touch, or even think of touching the scarf which hides the black and white jewel imbedded in her neck. But when the feared priests march through the market and spot her, her friend is captured and tortured. Wishing to help, Nastasya unleashes a forbidden magic that she didn't know she possessed, and now, needs to flee into the the desert and find out the secret behind her family.

The twist on the original Anastasia tale is really unique and takes place in a rich world with tons of possibilities. The plot leaps right into action as Nastasya is warned by her parents while preparing to head to the market across the water. It is easy to see that something is going to go wrong, but this doesn't ruin the fun, nor does it hint at the excitement which follows when things break into chaos. Nastasya has a kind personality, and she is easy to root for until the end. 

This promises to be an amazing world, and the basis for the magic and society hold a lot of richness. I wanted to learn more and experience more, but everything flies by and some aspects miss a bit more explanation. A lot of this is due to the shortness of the read and isn't necessarily a problem, since this one is adventure orientated and never leaves a boring moment. Still, part of me wishes it would have bloomed and completely met its potential.

The ending does wrap things up, while leaving enough room for curiosity about book two. So, I can recommend this one, especially for those who just want an enjoyable, quick read into a fantasy realm. 

Sneak Peek: The Glass Stone by Sara Michaels

The Glass Stone is a magical tale of hope and love inspired by the traditional story of Cinderella. Sometimes, just a little bit of magic is all you need to change the world. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and the tour runs from 5 till 25 April. You can see the tour schedule here.

The Glass Stone

The Jeweled Fairytale Retellings #3

by Sara Michaels

YA Fantasy/ Fairytale Retelling

5 April

 

Power can take many forms, but sometimes the greatest magic comes from inside you.

Asha has been a servant for the cruel Duke Bryce for as long as she can remember, and when he married Queen Ilma of the Wind Kingdom, she was dragged to the castle with him and his daughters.

Now, the death of the queen has thrown the castle into panic: if her son, Prince Aither, doesn’t marry before his 18th birthday, the throne will go to Duke Bryce.

Prince Aither knows he must choose a wife, and he’s resigned to his fate. But Duke Bryce has his own ideas about who his bride should be, and if he gets his way, no one will be happy.

Asha is used to watching everything unfold from her place in the kitchen, but she soon finds herself on an unexpected quest set to change her life forever.

Meanwhile, Prince Aither must find a way to make the best of what seems like a hopeless situation and use his powerful magic as a force for good in the kingdom.

The Glass Stone is a magical tale of hope and love inspired by the traditional story of Cinderella. Sometimes, just a little bit of magic is all you need to change the world.

Lose your head in the clouds with Asha and Aither on their magical journey.

Links:
- Goodreads
- Bookbub
- Amazon

SNEAK PEEK

Aither tugged Asha down the hallway with so much joy bubbling inside him, he couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face. A pit of anxiety settled in his stomach—what if she didn’t like it? Whatever he did, Aither knew he had to make her stay. Who else could be his queen?

They passed a maid walking up the stairs, and Aither nodded to her as he passed.

Lyra and Sera squealed as they followed closely behind them.

Asha followed in silence.

As Aither threw open the doors to the chamber beside Sera and Lyra’s joined rooms, his smile widened.

“What’s this?” Asha asked, looking around.

Exposed timber beams soared toward the cathedral ceiling that rose two stories up. Three sets of arched windows offered breathtaking views from three sides—one of which peeked across the courtyard toward Aither’s private chambers. A stripped, four-poster bed sat proudly on the opposite side of the room. Warm hardwoods covered the floor.

“You can decorate it any way you want,” Aither said.

Asha looked at him in utter shock. Her mouth dropped a little and her eyes watered as they scanned the room.

“It doesn’t get used much,” Aither went on, the anxiety in his gut sending his heart pounding. “And it’s what my mother would have wanted. This room should have been yours years ago.”

Asha’s eyes met his and the palpable gratitude reached for him even though neither of them moved. Moving toward the window, Asha looked out over the dark horizon, her eyes distant. Tears brimmed her eyes and streamed down her face. 

After what felt like an eternity, Aither stepped forward. Placing a hand on Asha’s shoulder, she flinched for a second before relaxing at his touch. “You’re always welcome here. Duke Bryce is out of the way, for good, and rest assured we’ll find him. He’ll pay for everything he did to you…”

Asha’s glossy eyes looked up at him, and a flood of familiarity washed over him. 

“But this is your place, your home, too.” Aither moved to the drawing desk along the southern wall. Turning back around to wave her farther into the room, he added, “At least, it is if you want it to be.” He flicked his gaze down to the desk. “We’ll get you fresh drawing supplies, new, imported from the Mountain Lands—whatever you want. We’ll fill your closet with whatever you like to wear. I want to give you everything you want, everything you need.” Aither closed the gap between them in three long strides and clasped her hands in his. “I want to give you all that stuff, and more.”

“That’s…” Asha started, her voice cracking and wet, but Aither hung on her every word. “I’m so grateful. It’s… It’s wonderful.” More tears streaked her cheeks, and Aither gently wiped them away. 

Earlier books in the series:

The Chaos Daughter (The Jeweled Fairytale Retellings #1) by Sara Michaels
The Chaos Daughter is an action packed adventure of self-discovery inspired by the tale of Anastasia. Question everything, and trust no one: what Nastasya’s about to discover will change the world forever.
You can buy The Chaos Daughter here on Amazon

The Order Revived (The Jeweled Fairytale Retellings #2) by Sara Michaels
The Order Revived is a thrilling quest into the unknown inspired by the empowering story of Mulan. When your true calling is so clear, the only thing you can do is follow your heart.
You can buy The Order Revived here on Amazon

About the Author:
Sara lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs. A lover of the written word from an early age, Sara reads everything from middle grade to young adult and adult novels. She loves genres ranging from science fiction and fantasy to contemporary and historical fiction, which is why she writes and plans to publish across several genres, including contemporary, romance, young adult fantasy, and science fiction.

When she’s not writing, you can find her playing video games, reading way too many books at the same time, singing to music, or riding her motorcycle around a beautiful Washington backdrop. She also writes for several online blogs and newspapers.

Author links:
- Website
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