Once upon a time there was a girl who fell for a gorgeous cover and just had to read the book. So thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and it reminded me of the TV show Once Upon A Time but with the darker, original themes to the fairy tales. The author has definitely put in the work on the research of these tales and that really shone in the writing and world building.

I loved the characters and the dialogue between them was brilliant however I found the inner monologue of the FMC a little repetitive and this slowed the pace down for me. I would definitely read more of this series as I would love to explore other characters like Kella.

There are quite a few trigger warnings for this book and you should definitely check those before deciding to read.

Sometimes you need to write your own fairytale

Our main character Loren is thrusted back into the town her family originated from. She is unaware of the Magic that resides there and it quickly makes itself known after setting Loren’s destiny in motion. However, Loren does not want to repeat her family’s tale, but going against destiny can’t be that hard, right?

This story almost starts in the middle the exposition. It takes about 20ish percent to have a firm grasp of the world, the Magic, and what is at play. Since this is all told through Loren’s perspective, and she herself is trying to make sense of this, it doesn’t feel as frustrating. There are times that some of explanation feels high level, but it does fit into the characters and our heroine feels overwhelmed herself! It felt like her thoughts were captured nicely in streams of consciousness as well. Sometimes this was a little much for me, but it also made Loren more relatable at times.

Overall, the plot and world is interesting. While I am familiar with different fairytales, I still found twists and turns that kept me reading. Llyr did her research and it shows! She did not just take from Disney or the Brothers Grimm, but added other versions to the mix as well. I also loved the idea that if enough people believe in it, it can become real. I would love to see that idea played out more in the series. While a retelling at its core, Llyr made it more unique and fun. The story did not feel predictable at every turn. I hope to return to this world soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and Auden Lyrr LLC for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm about 10% in and feel like I've missed so many chapters. There doesn't seem to be any build up or character building, its as though I'm half way through the story with the explanations, not the start of the book.
This is too confusing at this time

Thank you NetGalley for providing this e-ARC, all opinions are my own.
I love the cover and the plot idea for this book. However reading it I realized this book just wasn't for me. The first half of the book was really boring to me, especially the planning of events. In the beginning the whole fairytale town reminded me a lot of the Once Upon a Time TV show. In addition the relationship with Henry made me very uncomfortable, I assume this was the point but had this not been an arc I would have DNFed the book at that point in the story. The ending felt a bit like just taking/trying out what or who was left to me.
I did however enjoy the painting and talk about Lorens art and nature.
I think people that enjoy seeing fairytales from different angels and like the idea of cursed fairytale towns and magic that influences people's lives could enjoy this book.

Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Spell Borne is a unique spin on fairytale retellings. It reminded me of The Princess Diaries and Once Upon A Time while taking a fresh approach. It took me a while to wrap my mind around the magic and how things worked, but once I did, it was such an enjoyable read. I loved Loren and her friends. The ending was so beautiful and my favorite part of the story.

I was really interested in this book the moment I heard about it. I don't think I've ever read something like this before and it was a nice read.
If you like fairy tales mixed with the modern world this is definitely for you!
This book is filled with so many different things and there is a lot of different things the MC has to go through.
I was able to guess most things that happened but I didn't mind at all!

It does have some trigger warnings so be sure to check those out!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Auden Llyr LLC for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my gosh, Becky, look at this cover.

Spell Borne by Auden Llyr is a fantasy novel with a bunch of fairy tale retelling, bundled into one novel. Loren wants nothing more then to finish her thesis and attend some seminars in Lointaine. But everything goes awry when the quaint little town is pulled straight out an anthology of Grimm's Fairy tales, in all their bloody glory. And Loren has a part to play as the town's version of sleeping, Try as she might, trying to avoid her fairy tale, nothing but bad things start to happen. Is there anyway Loren can make it out alive?

I REALLY wanted to love this book, with how much I love fairy tale retellings. But I just couldn't get past the writing style. Though that isn't to say I won't try another book by Auden Llyr. Just not this one for now.

Okay I DNFd this at chapter 7 I just can't do it anymore. I was trying to go a for more chapters but it didn't happen. I started this days ago and I just can't keep my attention on this at all. It feels like I haven't went anyway with it. I don't know if it's supposed to be this slow paced or what. I'm okay with slow paced stuff so that's not the problem. I feel like the writing is all over place. You get all these big explanations all at once as soon as you start and the main character Loren goes off rambling about nothing honestly. I'm not connecting with any of the characters what little had been introduced anyway. The big science-y words and stuff is hard follow when you don't what half of that is. I feel like it would have been easier to follow along with if everything was explained as the story moved along not all at once like it is. I feel like by chapter 7 the romantic interest should have interacted with the main character a little when she's fully awake and coherent unlike in the prequel. I might revisit this in the future but right now it's a no from me.


Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

A well written fantasy however, I found it was slightly convoluted and confusing and does take a while to get into and understand what is happening. I also recommend taking the Trigger Warnings very seriously as there is some very explicit sexual assault in this. However this is a unique twist to the usual fairy-tale retellings and I found the romance really cute and the characters were really well written.

✨Book Thoughts✨
Spell Borne by Auden Llyr
Pub Date:
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5

I really enjoyed the overall idea of this book. The town reminded me a little of Once Upon a Time, but with a different spin on it. I was hooked by the story right away. This book is all magic and the world building done by Auden Llyr is incredible. It is clear that Auden Llyr is knowledgeable about fairy tales. That knowledge had me thinking of picking up Grimm’s Fairy Tales to brush up on them. This book gives us the very clear message that “you are in charge of your own fate” and that we have to go out there and make it. As a math teacher I took pleasure in the statistical connections the characters were making with the fairy tales.
I found the epilogue a little confusing and I’m not sure what it meant. I can see a series coming from this book. There were two characters that I wish had more of a presence in the book so here’s to hoping there’s more.

There are trigger warnings to go along with this book so please read them before deciding to read.

Thanks to Net Galley and Auden Llyr for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

2.5
While the cover and concept are solid, the narrative is impossibly dippy. This is mainly (though not entirely) due to the MC's constant, ridiculous, deeply repetitive inner monologue. By the end, I legitimately wanted bad things to happen to her so she would shut the fuck up and let someone else tell the story.

2 - ⭐️⭐️

Massive TW for SA. There is on-page rape of the FMC by the LI (up to that point) described in vivid detail that I was not expecting or prepared for going in.

Based on the synopsis of the book, I really thought this was something I would enjoy more. A story where the residents of a town are bound to a fairytale and cursed to live them out? I was expecting a whimsical adventure filled with magic and love, perhaps ending with the FMC breaking the town’s curse and finally allowing the residents to have their happily ever after. I was unfortunately very, very wrong.

The book opens with a prologue from an unknown character’s point of view that takes place before the beginning of the book. It felt confusing to be thrown into, but being the first few pages, I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt. Disappointingly, this disjointed feeling carries into the rest of the book. Context and backstory for the characters and events is not given until several chapters in, and even then, we are told and not shown these things. There is a sequence where the main character recounts the events leading up to the start of the book that lasts for pages and pages. I really wish that the book had begun there instead so that we could follow along with these events and have a better understanding of them instead of merely being told about them later and trying to catch up. The trend of telling instead of showing is something that pops up throughout the rest of the book as well, where there are multiple events that happen off-page for us only to be told about later.

The main character, Loren, was very difficult for me to connect to. Her inner dialogue was all over the place and it made following her thought process quite frustrating. Even now after having finished the book, I still feel like I never really got to know anything about her, and yet throughout the whole book the other characters are talking about how amazing she is. As the reader, I really would’ve loved to have seen this side of her too!

The story was difficult to follow and I think this was largely due to the lack of world-building. This world has both “magic” and “Magic.” No, I cannot tell you the difference between the two. It’s unclear how magic (of either kind) works or what its limitations are. This resulted in stakes feeling either incredibly low or non-existent, since magic could theoretically come in at any time and save the day. Along with that, the plot felt very stilted. A plot point would be introduced and we would ruminate on that for a bit before moving onto the next one, oftentimes without any sort of resolution. At one point, it’s mentioned that someone owns dragons - huh? Loren basically just goes, “wow, that’s crazy, anyways-” Sorry, no one wants to address that?

Regarding the trigger warnings, I will say that I appreciated that the author included a list at the beginning of the book. It’s pretty lengthy due to including warnings that a lot of people wouldn’t necessarily think to include, which I was impressed and thankful for. My issue is that I don’t believe listing “sexual assault” as a warning to describe what takes place in this book is sufficient. The rape scene (because that’s what it is) goes on for several pages. It’s sudden, awful, extremely descriptive, and was really hard to get through. If you are also a survivor, I want to sincerely warn you about not only the scene, but the aftermath. Loren’s trauma, her feeling of numbness, loss of agency, and struggle with identity are very realistic and discussed throughout the rest of the book. There’s also a decent amount of victim blaming by secondary characters. If this is in any way upsetting to you, please take care of yourself and think about skipping this one. Books are supposed to be fun and it’s not worth sacrificing your mental health or wellbeing for.

I really wanted to like this more, but overall, I can’t give this more than two stars. The author clearly did extensive research for this book and there were sections discussing fairy tales that were very interesting. The concept was fun and the characters’ attempts to break away and change their fate resulted in some enjoyable moments. But I think everything ended up being overshadowed by my issues with the writing, world-building, and insufficient trigger warnings. I see that this is meant to be a part of a series, and while it could have potential to pick up from here, I don’t think I can bring myself to read the next installment.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A fairy tale that deconstructs the fairy tale. A story about fate, free will and self-fulfilling prophesies. An exploration of trauma and its place in the history of our stories. A jab at the lack of representation in the common zeitgeist. You’ll find all these in Spell Borne by Auden Llyr, following protagonist Loren as she recovers from a concussion and is accosted by family secrets.

I honestly don’t want to tell you much more about the plot than you get from the book blurb already. A lot of the fun of this book is being brought along as the plot unfolds and takes unexpected twists and turns.

I’ve read a great many fairy tale retellings and quite a lot of the originals, I’ve seen all the Disney movies, I’ve watched Once Upon A Time and The 10th Kingdom. I thought I knew my fairy tales quite well, I didn’t think this book would give me anything more that I hadn’t read or seen before. I didn’t expect how it would use the fairy tale to turn the readers eye towards how our choices affect our society and how that then affects us in turn. I didn’t expect an academic deconstruction of fairy tale tropes or how incredibly effective use of the lamp-shading technique could turn tired tropes into active plot beats.

I loved that this book surprised me not in its final destination but in the long winding journey it took to get there, including a few very dark turns (please take the content warnings the book gives seriously). I loved that I wasn’t just told that Loren was smart, the book took the time to prove it to me. I love that the ‘make a stupid decision for the sake of plot’ or the ‘I will not give you important information because plot!’ tropes never made an appearance. I love that Loren was scatter brained and the trait was present through the whole novel and didn’t just disappear or peter-out. It was endearing.

In short, there wasn’t much I didn’t love but it wasn’t quite perfect either. There was one issue I felt wasn’t as well explored as it could have been to service the plot. I won’t actually say which as I feel that would be too much of a spoiler. It is an issue that enters the story quite late in the game so perhaps there wasn’t enough time or maybe the author will tackle its many intricacies in a sequel. I’m still giving this book a full five stars though because it is closer to perfect than not. I highly recommend it, whether you love fairy tales or not.

Book Name: Spell Borne
Author: Auden Llyr

ARC
Thank you to Auden Llyr LLC and Netgalley forARC of Auden Llyr’s book Spell Borne

DNF at 30%

- DNF
- Reads Like Fanfiction
- Extensive Internal Monologue (distracting)
- Intriguing Premise
- Tell > Show

This is an unfair review.

The extensive internal dialogue particularly how it was switching tenses was beyond distracting and kept pulling me out of an otherwise good story. I am fully aware that this is a personal pet peeve and completely my own bias. My dislike for this author’s writing style has NOTHING to do with the story or the ability of the author to communicate and write effectively, therefore I will not be posting this review on any other platform.

Firstly, I loved the concept of the book! Its a fairytale come to life but not just the normal disney fairytale, a different , darker version of them. It had a slow start but once things started to unfold it was easier to understand the premise. I wanted to love this book but did not fall into it or connect with the characters like I was hoping.

First of all I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for sending me the digital arc copy of this book.

Spell Borne is a story tied to fairy tales and fables. Everything is set in the town of Lointaine, where a spell turns people into characters of fairy tales.
In particular our protagonist Loren needs to help the spell to find a happy ending suitable for her. She doesn't want to become the Sleeping Beauty and therefore with the help of her friends she starts to try different kind of tales. Like the Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and even Red Riding Hood.

The style of author is fluid and simple to read. I really liked the idea and the plot, but probably I found it a little bit too confused. I had some difficulties to understand how the spell works and why the family of Loren is involved.

The ending was particular, even though I would have preferred to know more about Connor.

In conclusion, I liked the novel and I suggest to readers who want a book that entertains them. And also to readers that like fairy tales and fantasy books.

This book was so unique! How her mind came up with this Amazing concept is beyond me! The beginning was a little confusing for me cause of all the French and psychological terms. Felt like I was sitting through a lecture but it’s in a ancient language I couldn't understand. Other than that it was amazing! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Right when you think the happy ending is coming there is another obstacle to get over. This was such a fun read I never knew was was gonna happen next. Also the end melted me I was a literal puddle. I couldn’t be happier with Loren’s happily ever after.

I received a free e-arc through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

I would give this a 3.5 stars out of 5 . This book starts off chaotic and not in a good way. It's confusing and has great premise but execution needs work. It jumps right into the story without any background and made it so hard to follow and until maybe 50/60% into the book. I didn't realize the FMC was in her early 20s until I saw her birthday and then like 30% later it mentions the year the book is suppose to be in. There is "science" in the book to "help explain" what is happening but it just makes it more confusing. It kind of gets better around 60% and the introduction of Henri's storyline which is why I gave it a 3.5. the fmc storyline is very confusing and has lots of potential. The story was interesting in itself but would I recommend not really. I'm not even sure if this is suppose to be a standalone with the ending. I will say there is a sexual assault scene for those with triggers. Overall decent.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.
I really wish that I loved this book but unfortunately I didn't and this book just wasn't for me. It's marked NA but I think it reads a bit more like a YA in my opinion.
It was obvious from the start that Llyr has lots of research for this book.
I was kind of thrown at the start with the change of POVs, and it kind of felt like the prologue and first chapter could be cut out and it wouldn't do much to the story in whole. I think in general that this book could have benefited from multiple povs.
I almost put the book down at 30% because I think it was so slow going at that point and I didn't know how it would be able to catch my interest again.
I think Llyrs concept of the book is fresh and I just think it could have been executed a bit differently or would have benefited from some different editing.
Again, I really really wish I loved this book.