I'm not really sure which came first: my love of Irish folklore fantasy or my love of Juliet Mariller's books. I suspect the latter likely lead to the former. Either way, through no real study on my part, I've become fairly familiar with Irish mythology, legends, and folk tales/characters, so whenever I spot a book purporting to be about these topics, I'm always eager to check it out and see how it compares to the other stories I've read. But, while I'm a big fan of both Hannah Whitten and Rebecca Ross, I sure do wish that Marillier would get her due for books like this! While I can see the similarities to those authors, Marillier's works are a perfect read-alike to this author's style and general concept. Plus, she's a very under-the-radar author who I just wish more fantasy readers were aware of, so I'll do my part and plug her here now!

I will say, subjectively, I very much enjoyed this one from start to finish; that said, objectively there are some quibbles to be found with parts of it. The style of the writing (very lyrical and fairytale-feeling) is just the sort I enjoy, with sweeping prose and beautiful turns of phrase. Like the best fairytales, the style could take on the tone of a how one might imagine a storyteller presenting the fable to an audience around a fire at night.

However, on the other side of this, there were many blatantly anachronistic aspects to the writing and world-building. These are always tough things to point out about historical fantasy books like this, because if you wanted to, almost every book in the subgenre likely strays outside of the strict boundaries of historical accuracy. Plus, one can always say it's fantasy, so are there really any historical rules to be applied here and isn't this just nit-picking? Healy writes in her author's note that she was conscious of these anachronisms and left them in intentionally, using pretty much this exact reasoning about fantasy. But, on the other hand, she chose to seemingly set this in the "real world" and even included the exact year before each chapter (needed for plotting reasons that we'll talk about next) which firmly and repeatedly sets it in the reader's mind that this is in fact taking place at a specific point in history.

I wish, instead, that she had simply created a new world and year system. Really, no great world-building or changes would have needed to be made. Just come up with the name of a fantasy world, make an obviously different calendar system, and ta da! Many of these anachronisms go away! As it stands, many of them will only really be noticeable to those who know a lot about the time period and the import histories of things like chocolate. But others, like the repeated use of the word "okay" in dialogue, really do stand out as distracting.

The inclusion of the years at the start of each chapter heading are very important however, whether using a fictitious calendar system or not, as the story is told in a very non-linear fashion with many jumps forward and backward in time. Now, I'm on record through my various reviews as enjoying this sort of fragmented story-telling. I enjoy meeting characters who clearly have a long, complicated history with one another and then jumping around through their stories to slowly piece together how they came to be in this state. I think, when done right, it can create some excellent stakes to the plot right from the start. But it also requires the reader to trust that the author will bring answers eventually and be patient with not understanding exactly why characters say and do what they do currently. So, for some readers, this may be a challenging read, as the story does very much jump around in time between the current situation, the past, and then, even more strange, a several-centuries-long jump that comes about halfway through the book. Even for me, this half-way-through jump and the introduction of new characters was a big ask on the author's part. It all ties together nicely, but I think some readers might struggle to stick it through.

I also do not like the fact that this book has been marketed as a gender-swapped "Beauty and the Beast." If you squint, yes, you can see how the promoters got there, but there are really no elements of the actual plot of that tale to be found in this book. It's more, we seem to have come to the point where anytime there is ever a vaguely (reallllly vague sometimes) monstrous character and a love story, marketers can't help but shout "Beauty and the Beast re-telling!" at the top of their voices, forgetting that a "re-telling" implies that the story itself should be similar to the original fairytale. It's misleading to readers to call books like this re-tellings and more likely to result in disappointed readers leaving negative reviews and thus out-pacing any gains that had been hoped for in using this fairytale as a lure in the first place! It's even more frustrating in this case because there are actual Irish folklore characters that are obviously the inspiration for much of this book.

So it's tough to sum this all up. I did enjoy this book, overall. I think the writing was fairly high for a debut novel, and I'm especially looking forward to any future books by the author when, perhaps, some of my quibbles will be improved upon. I think there were a few stylistic choices that a good editor could help with. And then, as far as the plotting, I do think it will be challenging to some readers, but it worked for me, so it's something to keep in mind going in, whether or not this will work for you!

Rating 7: Overall, a very solid debut book, though I do wish some work around had been used for the anachronism, either changing the world itself or editing out some of them.

Review will go live on The Library Ladies on January 12.

I really wanted to love this book, but ultimately it fell flat for me. It felt like it was trying to be too many things at once.

1. It didn’t really feel like a beauty and the beast retelling. It felt like the most superficial elements of a beauty and the best retelling were pulled. I wish it would have been marketed as an Irish inspired story and I would have gone into it with different expectations.

2. Part 1 was very hard to get through. We’re thrown into Rozi and Jamie’s story right in the middle of it and expected to play along and just go with it while their POV’s alternative every chapter - with Jamie being the present and Rozi the past. It was jarring to wade through and it left me uninterested in either of them. Part 2 then flip flops who is present and past while also introducing new POVs. Their voice sounded the same and it sometimes took me a bit to remember who was narrating each chapter. I will say I liked Part 2 more, but was ultimately left wanting so much more.

3. The stakes never felt high. We’re introduced to so many different pieces of folklore with the monsters that are introduced, and all are defeated within a page or two. There was no trying to figure out how to overcome the current obstacle. Just okay hey there’s this monster, guess I’ll slash it with my claws and kill it now. I wish there would have been more struggle and it would have felt more believable.

I could go on and be picky about lack of descriptions of setting and how dialogue didn’t match the time setting, but ultimately those elements weren’t my biggest issues. I feel like this book could have been great, and I’m sure others will love it, but I really was left wanting more.

Yes, I will read anything that compare itself to Beauty and the Beast. And when they are as good as this, I will be happy with my actions. Rozlyn is both the beauty and the beast, in a genuinely fantastic reworking of the fairytale. You'll find yourself both cheering for her to find true love and kind of hoping she never does so she can keep her magic. This hits all the right notes, even if the pacing is a smidge slow at times. Secrets are kept for good reasons (critical for me), and the story unfolds with what I'm going to call inevitable surprises.

Unbound is a fascinating homage to Irish folklore, with a little gender swapped Beauty and the Beast vibes thrown in for good measure. Christy Healy does a tremendous job hooking the reader from the opening page, layering curiosity seeds in a field of witty banter between the two protagonists.

While the novel exists in a lush world of mythological gods and monsters, the heart of the story is the romance arc between Roslyn and Jamie, a relationship fraught with stubborn pride and deception yet also the knowledge that they’re each other’s perfect match.

The book is also beautifully written, masterfully crafted in such a way where you don’t dare skip over any word or sentence for fear of missing something truly brilliant.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to read an advance copy on NetGalley, and I wish Christy the best of luck with her upcoming release.

eARC Review: Unbound by Christy Healy 🏰

There have only been two books in my life that have stirred and latched onto my soul, and I’m so happy to say that this upcoming book is one of them. 🥹

This was a lush Irish retelling of both the Beauty and the Beast tale, but also a reimagining of the myth of Midir and Étain. I’m absolutely enamored with the way that Healy weaved in both well known Irish myths, but also incorporated figures from Irish folklore. This made not only my academic heart happy, but it like Jamie and his charismatic ways, this book wormed its way into my heart and hasn’t let it go. 🔥

I loved the complexity of Rozlyn’s characterization. As a woman in her early 30’s, it’s rare getting this kind of representation in fantasy and it shows just how much it needs to be done. I found her aloofness and inability to let people in understandable due to the isolation and treatment she experienced as a child. Her begrudging pride though was something that I struggled with, but not all characters can nor really should be likable. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The relationship between Jamie and Rozlyn was a perfect enemies to lovers (and technically lovers to enemies) arc. I loved their banter and that they see their relationship in a game like manner that’s not often shown with most relationships. The revealed history of their relationship makes it even more tragic (and honestly endearing) to me, and I won’t lie that it left me a little teared up. 🏹

I will admit that the use of castles and other little historically inaccuracies made me curious as to why they were included, but again, this is why reading the Author’s Note is SO STUPID IMPORTANT!! It definitely helped resolve some of my lingering questions about artistic choices. ✨

In the end, I fell completely in love with this book and its beautiful usage of Irish myths and folktales. This should definitely be on the radar for fans of Shauna Lawless and/or those looking for a fantasy set in Medieval Ireland and steeped in the mythology and folklore of the island. 🍀

HUGE thank you again goes to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for accepting my desperate request in exchange for an honest review. And to the author, Christy Healy, for writing such a beautiful story. ❤️

Pub. Day: January 16!!

Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️

When I think "Beauty and the Beast", I usually think of the more modern interpretations of the story, and that's what I was expecting here. Instead I was greeted with some elements of older tales with similar themes (Cupid and Psyche, and The Brown Bear of Norway come to mind instantly) mixed up with a very hefty dose of Celtic mythology. A surprise, but not an unpleasant one.

Where the book really shines is all of the little everyday and adventure details. The banter between the two main characters, the descriptions and interactions with side characters and different creatures of the world were a delight to read and I truly wish we had gotten more of that. Similarly any action sequences turned into a quick page turner for me.

It's contrasted by the longer downtime passages. While they are beautifully written, they do tear you out of the rest of the story with how they are paced and how much they contrast with the rest of the passages, it feels less like how I'd imagine Jamie telling a folk tale and more like him reading a book where they were written down.

Overall, it's an enjoyable story, but it definitely subverts your expectations.

This book features a main female character in her early 30s and the estranged husband who loves her. She was cursed at birth and has lived a difficult life of pain, guilt, and loneliness. This is a story of trauma healing, of hearts mended, of love conquering all. This is the adult story featuring adult issues but without the excessive spice. This is a plot central story with sprinkles of sweet and not so sweet moments, the bitter of life with the sweet, reminiscent of Gaelic folklore and fairytales.

I freely admit to being a bit confused when I started reading this book. Most of the chapters are at different points in the timeline of the main characters relationship, and it took some getting used to. BUT by the midpoint, I was completely invested and absolutely devoured the second half of the book!

Content Warning: attempted r*pe, low spice, child ab*se (locking away, forced marriage, manipulation), child kidnapping (and mentions of child deaths, perpetrators are all unalived), death, memory gaps, violence

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

DNF @25%

Unfortunately I couldn't get into this one. I do love Beauty and the Beast retellings, but retellings can also be difficult for me to get into as well. I felt like the beginning was a bit jarring and I wasn't fully able to grasp everything that was going on and because it got off to a rocky start I didn't find myself enjoying it the further I got on.

A riveting debut and bold, original take on a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I love the way this weaves Irish mythology into the age-old tale. The world and characters feel so lush and this was a great debut from Christy Healy!

3.5⭐️

This was a pretty solid book for a debut. It was unique story with different timelines.

I really liked the mythical and folklore feeling of this story. I'm not sure trust I really connected with this being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I saw someone's comment that this is more in line with a Celtic folklore. This really is intriguing to me and really brought more to story for me.

I'm interested to see what else Christy Healy creates in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

Thank you so much to the publisher for giving me access to this arc. I wanted to love this story but the plot wasn’t really working for me. I felt that the beginning was really what drew me in but ultimately the rest of the storytelling fell flat for me.

I have finally found a book where the main couple is in their early 30s, have some relevant life experiences, are in a complicated relationship, and all within a fantasy setting. So first, the relationship. This is so Dramione-coded with the banter, the bickering, and the competition. Jamie knows how to push Rozi’s buttons to get her out of her shell. Rozi knows how to keep Jamie enthralled with her wit and hard-to-get playfulness. But the pain of their complicated past is very real and very destructive. Told from past and present POVs, Rozi has every right and reason to not trust her husband’s approach to her magic and his intentions. As the story unfolds, Jamie has every right and reason to keep chasing Rozi and convince her of his intentions no matter how hard she denies him.

Plot-wise, Part I ebbs and flows wonderfully full of monster hunting and dramatic tension building, but Part II hits like a train and you really don’t know how this story will end or how their relationship could unfold when Rozi and Jamie have their own competing agendas for breaking the curse. Ultimately, I don’t know if I agree with the ending of the story. It is decisive to say the least, but the journey was so much fun with monster slaying, magic, and drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

I loved the premise of this book - the beast is the beauty or the beauty is the beast - and I loved the setting of it, but I found it incredibly overwritten. The amount of purple prose and excessive adjectives made it hard to wade through, but I think it has great bones and just needs a little editing. I'm interested to read more from this author, and for a debut, it was well done!

I loved this one far more than I expected to. The dual timelines were intriguing and really enjoyed how the story is told through the perspectives of both characters, Rozlyn in the past and Jamie in the present, for the beginning parts of the book, and that the slow build up to the major reveals in both Parts One and Two were well done. Rozlyn was a fantastic female heroine and I especially enjoyed the subversive flip of a common romantasy trope at the very end. Will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advanced copy to read and review.

"Unbound" is an adult fantasy novel written by Christy Healy.

I have conflicted feelings toward this book! I loved the setting so much, steeped in Irish mythology and folklore, embellished by evocative, lyrical and at times poetic writing. I was captivated by the fact that it is a retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," in which the female protagonist plays the role of the Beast! This is not something I read often, so I appreciated it! The main problem, to my personal taste, are the protagonists. Unfortunately, I was not able to bond with them and this prevented me from becoming passionate about their stories. Rozlyn and Jamie, both with their respective third person povs, are not bad characters. In general I found them complex and tormented, carefully analyzed, just didn't convey anything to me. They seemed to me cold, detached, with interactions that left me lukewarm. Which is a great pity! In the end their relationship is sort of enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers, with the addition of second chance and slow burn! All elements I love and with the potential to blow my mind! But it didn't happen. I don't know, I didn't feel involved, I didn't feel any sizzling chemistry. Perhaps, in part, it depends on the prose, which is excellent in terms of descriptions and setting, but rather slow and at times heavy in the narration. The story in fact takes place on different timelines, alternating between past and present, with some situations I found rather boring.

All in all, it was still an enjoyable and interesting novel, although I expected more!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A romantic gender bent retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in historical Ireland will appeal to reader who love Irish inspired fantasy. For fans of Rebecca Ross' A River Enchanted.

I think Christy Healy wovem a very lyrical, delicate story of what is a monster and what is love. Parts based on Irish folklore and Celtic mythology were dear to me, as well as the ending. It was certainly my favourite part. I would love to love this book, but it's an okay story. Absolutely not bad nor dull, just... okay. I had fun reading it, I was pleasantly surprised, but that's about it. Doesn't regret reading it, though.

Loved the mythology and history flawlessly woven into this novel! The smaller stories that are told throughout are as captivating as the bigger novel,

A great retold tale of love through the centuries!

Rozlyn has been locked in the castle forever, waiting for the one person who can set her free and release her people from the grip of terror that was set as a curse at her birth. Only once she can find the one man who can love her despite the curse will the deaths stop. Is the mysterious Jamie the one to break that curse?

This took a little to get into as I felt like there was a lot of background to catch up on, and it was also a little difficult for me to follow the different timelines and keep those separated in my mind. However, once that started to come together, the character development and motivations started to come through a little easier and the story began to flow easier. Jamie and Rozlyn's love story was enjoyable to read and will definitely find a willing audience.

Unbound by Christy Healy

A feminist Beauty and the Beast retelling told through the lens of Irish mythology, this debut adult fantasy was a pure delight to read. The author’s beautiful writing and clever plot had me hooked from start to finish. Chronicled through alternating timelines, we follow the unfolding love story between Rozlyn and Jaimie. Protagonist Rozlyn is a princess cursed with a terrible power. The only hope from her curse is to marry a man who will love her darkness. Jamie, once an immortal God now trapped in the body of a mortal, believes he is this man. The pair end up wedded, but when Rozlyn realizes his love will come at the cost of her power, she flees. Instead of relying on him to free her, she embraces her power, learning to control it. But when she realizes that her magic is awakening equally monstrous creatures as she once was, the pair are forced to reunite in order to defeat them.

The last section of the book was perfection, as the author connected the kernels she had been leaving throughout the plot. I was impressed by how well the story unfolded. I also loved the evolution of Rozlyn from the start of the book, as a scared child, to the end, as a woman owning her identity and not forsaking herself for the love of a man. She didn’t want to yield her true self, which I found empowering and fresh. I highly recommend this novel, and I can’t wait to read other things from the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to read this advanced copy.