Charming

I have read a lot of Jane Washington books, mostly her RH series, but I hadn’t delved in the Bastan Hollow Saga yet and I am glad I listened to it on audio. I think overall the narrators helped bring this series to life and the concept was intriguing enough that I want to listen to the next ones that get made into audiobooks. It was not my favorite story of Jane’s, but I did enjoy the world and characters she created.

I liked a lot of the characters Jane created in this epic world of Bastan, Earth, etc. I think the faeries and goblins totally stole the show, along with some funny statues haha. I liked Lilou most of the time, sometimes she did get rather annoying but I think that was part of her charm haha. I was hot and cold with Arlo because of how he treated Lilou in the beginning. He definitely redeemed himself though. I was more intrigued by Slade, but I think I read he gets the next book so that will be something to look into haha. I thought some of the interaction and explanations about the rules, the calamity pool, and the names of the various being – enforcers, hollows, creatures, etc. weren’t as clear cut as I would have liked. I had drifted a little when there was a lot of those terms floating around and had to really think to be able to piece some of the plot together. I think that was why I couldn’t give it 5 stars. I think it would have been harder if I read the book, because the narrators did help bridge some of the gap. I also will say that the first time things happen romantically, its a FTB moment. For me, the first time, unless is awkward and drunk, should be the scene that gets more details, compared to the preceding sexy times, if you know what I mean. I totally respect authors who only do FTB, but Jane hasn’t and doesnt 100% do it every time they get together.

I thought Lindsey and Lance did great jobs doing all the different voices. I think some were a little cringeworthy, especially the Prince, but that was done on purpose haha so well done! I think I would have given it lower if if weren’t for these narrators. The inflections and pace were good. The accents weren’t too much.

Definitely a nice change of pace for me who normally reads and listens to RH and reads MM. I recommend this audiobook if you are looking for a fantasy, fairytale related story. I like that it wasn’t really a retelling, Cinderella and her Prince were nothing like those in the stories. Good job all-around by Jane and her narrators

Audiobook Obsession Reviewer

If you want to read a thoroughly enjoyable funny story…pick this up! This whole story has kept me laughing, smiling and chortling all day long! I really never know what is going to happen next! That is the beauty of this. It completely entertains me and keeps me guessing and wondering. I walk around with a giant smile on my face while listening. The characters…i have never read/listened to any others like these. Lilou is stubborn and really just trying to figure out how to do this insurmountable task. So she bumbles, breaks the rules and runs across the most amazing characters while getting herself out of hot water time and again. I know so already said this but I never knew what Lilou was going to do or say next!

The narrators of this book…ROCK! They NAIL all of these voices..time and time again! From all the Goblins and the Stone creatures to the college kids, fairy’s and enforcers. I am going to say these are new favorites for me! They make the noises/words for the characters and I can easily picture them in my mind. YAY! Lindsey Dorcus and Lance Rasmussen!

This is a first time author for me. How this author came up with this story I don’t know. But I can NOT wait for the next or even more in this series.

What I liked best about the book was the main character. There are too many books with main characters who are women struggling through change in the book and their emotional journey tends to make me as a reader question them as a strong female character. This book has what I would actually consider a strong female lead. There is no doubting Lilou Adler’s strength and ability to cope with difficult situations. It was great how she was spunky and sarcastic from the first page. I can relate so much to her sarcasm and I love it. I would have loved to meet Lucifer. I need myself some Lucifer in my life to help me with just about anything and everything, wait no…nothing at all while providing comedic release. This book had endless amounts of humor and a wonderful buildup of tension. I couldn’t help finding myself laughing while reading in bed at night. Surely my husband started to question my sanity. I really enjoyed how the worlds were constructed. It was extremely complex and not for the faint of heart. You really have to pay attention to understand the complexity of the magic, human, and fairytale worlds. However, once you understand the role each plays, it really makes you feel like you can be part of it all. I think there was plenty to this story. There was so much depth to it and the world created, which allowed me to really escape into the story. I wanted to dive right into a fairy meadow and try to make it out alive. Beware: You may get snatched up by the prince if you are found wandering around there. You can really tell that the author put so much effort into this book from the characters, to the world development, and even the creation of runes for the use of magic.

If I had the humor of a high school freshman, I might have loved it. There was talk about blow jobs, stealing a non-virgin’s virginity, and other ridiculous things that I found outdated and overused. For example:
“Everyone, this is Kendal,” I grumbled. “The worst friend a girl could have.”
“Don’t mind Lilou,” Kendal tittered, patting my head. “She hasn’t had sex in a while. It makes her cranky. It makes us all cranky, right, girls?” She looked around, waiting for the rest of the fairies to agree . . . except there weren’t any other fairies around. She shrugged it off. “Anyway, you should be famed for blowjobs,” she told Beth. “Beth the Blowjobber.”

The only characters I actually enjoyed were the adorable little goblin/troll things and the enchanted statues. I felt absolutely no connection to any of the other characters. The High Warlock and Lilou the Lawless—or more accurately Lilou the Lame—held no depth whatsoever. The instalove ruined any chance we had at learning more about them because their internal monologue and dialogue blabbed on and on about each other and nothing else of importance.

And I know other reviewers already mentioned this, but I want to say it myself: Why the hell was the Cinderella task given so much noteworthiness and said to be this huge deal, when in all reality it was only a big let down? I was expecting difficulty and maybe even a little bit of Lilou’s proclaimed badassery being unleashed, but no. Nothing. Happens. Everyone makes a big deal out of it, saying that a student in training couldn’t handle such a significant assignment, yet it literally could have been done within a day or two. This was lacking some serious amount of imagination and creativity. The prospect of the story is enticing but it needs more!

I wanted to love this book. I really really did. The cover is gorgeous. The excerpt was attention grabbing, and most importantly, it was written by Jane Washington, one of my favorite authors. I just couldn’t 🙁

What did I just read!? It was smart, inventive, hilarious and just plain entertaining!! Fairytales just became more delightful and delicious!! Jane Washington is stunningly brilliant!! Her creativity continues to astound and this is one spellbinding fairytale that’s utterly charming With parents that are slightly anxious, a kleptomaniac heroine, highly imaginative goblins, hormone driven fairies, a warlock who’s dark, dreamy and devastatingly powerful and a bit of a man whore prince, Lilou has her hands quite full! With a refreshingly witty charm and a propensity to power through situations, it’s up to Lil to save the worlds. She’s up against a dark force, but her group of misfits totally has her back! You simply have to go along on this adventure with Lilou and Arlo. This is one couple that you’ll be impatiently waiting for to fall in love because they are so obviously made for each other Bump this up to the top of your TBR pile!!