Dragonspire Book Corner: Petticoats, Piracy, and Faerie!

Since I’m too chicken to see How to Train Your Dragon 3 (more on that next week) I’m going to talk about a few bookish things instead 🙂

When I’m not reading Gotham fanfiction based on Psych episodes, I read books. This month it was The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy. I’ll also talk about Dark Desires, an upcoming dark fantasy short story that mixes faerie and high school. Everything will be spoiler free, except for mild GGTVV spoilers, and maybe the comments section.

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Mackenzi Lee)

Out now!

I read The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in April last year, and when I heard there was going to be a sequel I awaited it eagerly.

Lady’s Guide follows Monty’s sister Felicity as she tries to become a doctor in a time period where men dominate the medical field. It has dragons (who doesn’t love dragons?), pirates, an aro/ace heroine (who I adored), three very different, strong, sassy female characters, and Monty and Percy (from GGTVV) make an appearance. Everything I love in one neat little package!

The first line had me hooked, and it’s rare I’ll pick up a book and finish it so quickly:

I have just taken an overly large bite of iced bun when Callum slices his finger off.

Felicity is stubborn and excellent at what she does. Joanne has a soft spot for dogs. Sim is an adventurous pirate. They are an awesome team, and the best part? The focus is on friendship, other than Felicity’s brother Monty and love of his life Percy (Who are too adorable for words!).

Lady’s Guide is a whirlwind adventure of friendship, chasing your dreams, and overcoming adversity. I think that’s why I liked it so much. It might not appeal to those who like complicated plots, but if you love great characters it will. (And if a book nearly moves me to tears I know it’s a good book!)

4 stars: Excellent.

Dark Desires (Ronel Janse van Vuuren)

Released 12^th March 2019.

In September last year I beta read a short story for Ronel, and it was an awesome read that kept me guessing. That short story is being released next month 🙂

Hiding in the human realm, in high school no less, Tasha navigates the corridors of teenage life, with the added fear she may be unmasked as otherworldly. When disaster strikes and true selves are revealed, Tasha has to make a choice: Will she save her fellow students from the curse and reveal her true nature, or will she leave them to die and stay safe?

I loved this magical tale. Ronel effortlessly blends the world of the fae with themes any high school student, current or previous, would relate to, from crushes to hiding who you are to fit in. Tasha is, like Felicity from Lady’s Guide, a strong female character with an entertaining inner monologue. If you like folklore and YA short stories, you’ll love this.

4 stars: Excellent.

Check out Ronel’s website for more faerie and folklore, as well as her life as a Rottweiler mum.

Thanks for reading!

Coming soon to the book corner: Dear Evan Hansen, Vicious, and Beyond the Throne!
Next week, my February updates post!