I’m DNFing this one at 12%, it’s probably a perfectly fine book but I just don’t think it’s for me.

I will say it started in the middle of some action and I felt like I was playing catch-up, trying to figure out what was happening and my brain just couldn’t do it.

Regardless, thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me an advanced copy of this book.

So, I’m going to just say this up front: I mistook this author for another “Melissa” author when I initially requested this book on NetGalley. I’ve only read one other book by de la Cruz, and to say it wasn’t a favorite is probably an over-statement. I think it might be one of my lowest rated books on the blog, actually. That said, even after I realized, I still wanted to give this one a shot. Over the last year or so, I can think of a few examples where I’ve really loved books by authors who didn’t work for me the first time around. So, who knows? This could have been another situation where, with a new project, my mind could be changed.

All of that nice intro just to find out…nope, turns out everything that I disliked about the first de la Cruz book was more a feature of her writing than a bug. Ah, well, worth the shot I guess! But, as always, let’s talk a bit at first about the things that did work for me. Really, not much did. But I can see more where things would work for other readers whose tastes differ from mine. I did like the elements that were drawn from Filipino mythology (I especially appreciated the author’s note about this), and I wish there had been even more of these elements included on the whole. By the end, I still felt like we’d only scratched the surface of what could have been a rich fantasy tapestry. I also think that many of the choices made with regards to characterization and plot will appeal more to younger YA readers, so they may find more to like in this book than I did.

But for me, this was really a disaster of a read. Both the characters and the plot felt like cardboard cut outs of the most stereotypical elements of storytelling that on could cobble together. From the ridiculousness of the “magical royal school” setting, to the plot quickly devolving from MJ taking seriously her task to learn to take the throne in only a month’s time to instead partaking in juvenile bickering and drama. And to people these scenes, we have all of the stereotypes you can imagine: quirky best friend? Check. Mysterious romantic interest? Check. Hot girl that the main girl must hate? Check. This last one was most disappointing to see. I vaguely remember having problems with this in the other book by de la Cruz I read, this propensity to making the main female character seem special by degrading the other women around her. It was distasteful then, and it’s pretty depressing to still see it popping up here in YA fiction years later.

Beyond this, it felt like the book didn’t know what it wanted to be. You have, of course, the boarding school aspect. But the story also has elements of a fantasy thriller and then a murder mystery is introduced. And yet, even with all of these elements, I found myself so, so bored while reading this. Not being able to connect to any of the characters is always an uphill battle as far as engagement with a book goes, but it also felt like the pacing of this one was simply very slow. It felt like nothing was really happening for large chunks of the story. And as it went, it was easy to guess exactly where every plot line was going which sucked any tension out of the experience. And then we get to the end and what do we get? A cliffhanger!

I really disliked this book. The writing felt limited, the plotting was questionable, and the characterization could be reduced to stereotypes. All of that said, I know this author is popular with a lot of readers, so if you’re a fan of her previous books, take all of this with a massive grain of salt. Also, if you’re very dedicated to checking out a book that draws from Filipino mythology this might be worth a shot, though, I have to say, I feel like there have to be better examples out there than this. Overall, while I’m glad I gave this author another shot in the service of not having fixed opinions of an author based on one reading experience, after finishing this one, I’ll think I’ll call it quits.

Rating 5: At best it doesn’t stand out from the pack of other YA fantasy stories, and at worst, it’s a muddled mess of stereotypes and predictable plot lines.

(Link will go live on The Library Ladies blog on March 20)

Based on the premise, this book sounded very exciting and unique to me. The potential for the promised world building made me want to read this gorgeous book. However, this book just fell flat for me and here's why:

1) I was expecting a young adult book based on the point of view character's age, but as I was reading I mistakenly thought I was reading middle grade

2) The plot was everywhere and no where simultaneously; it started off as a fantasy thriller, then moved to a royal school story, then romance, then a murder mystery, and felt more of a surface tale in which the magical system aspects were assumed and events happened conveniently

3) I felt the romance was not authentic and too insta-love with no chemistry

4) MJ needed to find her talent to become queen, but never did anything to try to find it and when the last seconds were ticking away, she just happened to find her talent just in time

5) The murder mystery didn't have enough red herrings/false leads

6) The characters lacked depth and all felt like cardboard cutouts, giving me nothing about them to care about and cheer them on

Overall, middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy may like this book. The ending leaves a small cliff hanger telling me there will be a sequel and makes me curious what feature book two will focus on--the romance, the mystery?

I made it through 16 chapters with this one, but I just couldn't do anymore. The book was trying to be too many things at once - mystery, coming of age, enemies to friends, missing people, fairies - and it was just too much. It didn't seem like it had a clear direction.

2.75 stars

This is the second time recently I’ve picked up a book by this author because of my love for her older work and felt it just wasn’t for me, which is disappointing but also kind of my own fault. Fool me once, etc etc etc. I did find it refreshing and interesting to read a fantasy based on different lore than most fae-related stories. I’m not familiar with Filipino myths and legends, but that world-building was by far the best part of this book.

MJ is half human and half encanto (basically a type of fae). Her encanto father is king of their realm, making her heir to the throne, but she and her human mother live in our world, constantly relocating to avoid being chased by magical threats who are after her for reasons. Until one day, immediately at the start of the book, MJ’s father is dead and she has to go to the magical world RIGHT NOW to take the throne. Also for reasons.

So MJ goes to magical royal school to learn about the realm’s history and how to be queen, where she meets the quirky best friend, the mysterious love interest, and the romantic rival, who she calls a skank. Are we still calling other girls skanks for liking the same boys as us in 2024? Felt very 2008 to me, which is ironically when I started reading this author’s work. So again, maybe on me for being surprised.

There’s a mystery element here as MJ learns that of course her father was murdered and obviously there are insurrectionists trying to keep her from the throne, and she must solve this with the help of quirky best friend and mysterious love interest.

It all unfolded in the way you’d expect, and I didn’t feel connected enough to any of the characters for them to make up for how formulaic this story felt. If you’re looking for a lower-YA targeted book, and specifically if you’re interested in Filipino fairy tales, you may have better luck with this one. Such is the possibility when reading YA, but I definitely felt too old for this, and probably won’t pick up the second in the duology when it’s out. Thanks to Penguin Teen and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

MJ and her mother are always moving. They have been on the run because MJ is the only child of King Vivencio of the Sirena Court. After her father dies, she is tasked with returning to his realm and taking her place as the heir. Unfortunately, she is half human and many do not feel she has the right to become ruler and she only has one month to get ready for the throne. Will she discover her magic in time to demonstrate her power? Will she be able to survive the numerous attempts on her life?

The Encanto’s Daughter is the first book in the series with the same title. This fantasy novel is nothing like de la Cruz’s other books, yet this fast-paced book was a wonderful distraction. Readers will quickly find characters they love and hate as the story develops and climaxes. The Encanto’s Daughter would be a great introduction to the fantasy genre.

What a fun story! I’ve read several of Melissa De La Cruz’s older books years ago when I was a teenager and I always had a fun time with them. This story was no different for me. Right from the first page, I was sucked into this fun YA fantasy world that also seemed modern because of our FMC being from the normal world. I did cringe a little at the mention of twerking but it didn’t take me long to get over that.
This story was like a palate cleanser for me, nothing too crazy and easy to read. I felt like the story was very fast paced and I never felt bored. The plot was a little all over the place, but I expected that from a YA and it never felt like too much. I liked the MMC and how boyish he seemed. I did think the romance came a little out of left field and I don’t really think it was necessary for the story. I would’ve liked it more if the romance had been developing from the beginning, but it didn’t really start blooming until the middle of the book. I liked Lucas as a character, but I didn’t feel like he was necessary as a love interest.
Our FMC, MJ, was very frustrating to me. I tried not to be too hard on her because of her age, but sometimes I wanted to grab her and shake her. This book is meant for young adults, and they make frustrating decisions like MJ did, so I tried not to be too hard on her.
Overall, I had a fun time with this one. Will I read the second book? Maybe. With the ending of this one, the probability is high. I can’t wait to see the drama and angst that come out of the next one.

I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Encanto's Daughter" by Melissa de la Cruz is an engaging story demonstrating excellent world-building in a Filipino-inspired fantasy.

I absolutely loved the incorporation of Filipino mythology and magic into the narrative. While the general idea of the story focused on the basic premise of Fae courts, de la Cruz was able to bring new life to the idea through the use of Filipino mythology throughout. I don’t think I’ve read a YA book centered around Filipino mythology, so I loved reading more about the magic and creatures from the culture. I also appreciated MJ's character development, where she started as a bit lacking in confidence but quickly changed into a semi-fit ruler. Seeing MJ come into her own as the princess actually reminded me a bit of “The Princess Diaries.” The plot was was also engaging as I spent the book trying to unravel the mystery behind MJ's father's death just like MJ, and I think de la Cruz provided the perfect number of clues to help the reader.

The romance between MJ and Lucas is fast-paced. It’s almost like enemies-to-lovers, but it quickly developed beyond the troupe, and I did enjoy the banter between the two. In their relationship, MJ was a bit immature, especially in the beginning, though she definitely did grow as a character throughout the book.

The tone and overall writing style, however, seemed to be more suited for a middle grade audience or a lower YA audience rather than what some may assume is upper YA considering MJ’s age. Some of MJ’s character development and plot points were a bit juvenile (like the stereotypical mean girl character bullying the main character). And there were some slow parts in the book where not much was happening even though MJ was in the middle of a murder mystery. However, if you like slice-of-life moments in books, you would definitely enjoy that aspect of the book.

"The Encanto's Daughter" had well-detailed magical elements, character development, and romantic subplot. I definitely can’t wait to read the next book after the cliffhanger at the end of this one.

MJ Rodriguez has spent her life in hiding with her human mother. She is the only child of King Vivencio of the Sirena Court. and when he dies, under suspicious circumstances, MJ is taken to Biringan, where in just a short time, she will be crowned queen and where she will have to display her magic. Only one small problem, MJ does not know what her powers are. On top of that, she once again is a new student in school, where rivals for the throne are willing to anything to remove MJ from her rightful place. She reluctantly joins forces with Sir Lucas, a classmate and member of the Sigbin Court, to access her magic and to try to solve the mystery behind the death of both King Viencio and Sir Lucas's father. Another wonderfully crafted novel by Melissa de la Cruz.

This is YA fantasy, and I liked the author did Filipino mythology, it was filled with magic, mythical creatures, and the world building was fast paced. I could picture everything that was happening, and the cliffhanger has wanting book 2 already! Thank you penguin teen for the arc!

This YA fantasy was awesome. The MC is half human and half encanto. She lives in the human world with her mother but after her father (the King) passes away she returns to his land after narrowly escaping the insurgents and entering a portal. She then goes to a school. You have your regular high school drama with added political drama as she learns all the things she needs to in order to become the Queen of the land and avoid war. Add in a murder plot, and a hunt for a witch. It was a fantastic read and I enjoyed every minute.

An enjoyable read, even though I found the main char kinda weak at points. The mythology was utterly gorgeously used. Thanks for the arc!

A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!! I really enjoyed this book; definitely something I will tell my friends about!

This book had a lot of potentially and just fell so short of the mark.

Given that MJ is 17 going on 18, I feel like this should have been a middle to upper Ya book. It read closer to middle grade or at best lower ya. The plot was fairly flat and easygoing. Often times things just seemed to conveniently occur. The characters themselves didn’t have a lot of depth.

MJ knows she has a month to get her act together before she becomes queen. Yet she spends literally of her time doing nothing.

I was excited to see a Filipino inspired fantasy world and while we saw use of Filipino words and some mythology, I just didn’t really get the vibe the author was going for. It just felt like any other fae world for the most part.

This book was amazing! I loved the setting of the book and that it was inspired by mythology that is usually not used. The writing was beautiful and I would highly recommend this book!

I am SO HAPPY a Filipino mythology story FINALLY EXISTS in the world of young adult novels. As a Filipino, I felt a special connection with this story, Is it weird to say it felt like home? The world the author created based on legends was amazing. Everything from the different creatures, the wardrobe, the court, all of it was so vivid in my. mind. AND ON TOP OF THAT the author left us hanging with the hugest cliff hanger. C'MON I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. I can't wait for the second book!!

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Encanto’s Daughter by Melissa de la Cruz is YA royal fantasy brimming with Filipino mythology and court intrigue.

This story was fast moving and full of elements I look for in a book like a confident MC and unique plot. However, in this instance I wish the book would have taken a slower approach and really flushed out the world-building and relationships.

Overall I gave this book a three star rating because while I loved the premise and the main character, the book definitely lended itself to a younger audience.

I was really excited about this book and got so happy when I was approved to get the digital copy from Netgelly.
This story is more for younger YA audience. I could definitely see my 14 year old self devouring this book in one sitting. It has element of mystery, along with fantasy. It kind of reminded of the stories I grew up reading and I did enjoy that aspect. One thing that I feel could have been better was character development. I wish we got more emotions out of the main character esp in the beginning. Not sad emotions but you know what I mean. Anything to help really picture her other than just dialogues that she is uttering.

But I think that's what makes it more younger YA.

Overall it was not for me but I think if you do fall into younger audience you would enjoy it.


I received a digital copy of this book through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
#TheEncantosDaughter #NetGalley

Firstly, I love this gorgeous purple cover with the crown, it is eye-catching & fits the book's vibes very well.

I really enjoyed this Filipino mythological fantasy by Melissa de la Cruz! I love learning about lore and mythos from other cultures and thought Melissa did a great job with this book.
Full of mystery, court intrigue, witches, fairies, and our MC, MJ Rodriguez, rising to the occasion and overcoming insecurities and doubts, this book is great for the YA crowd! I am much older than the intended audience, but still found it an enjoyable read. Looking forward to book two, since book one ends on a cliffhanger.

Tysm for letting me be an ARC reader for this, Penguin Teen!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book before the official release. I enjoyed my time with this book, but ultimately it wasn't meant for me. I found the pacing too slow, which kept my attention constantly drifting away. The idea of the story was great, but I felt like it was geared for someone younger than I was expecting it to be.