Review of Book 1 of True Loves First Kiss by Heidi Garrett

General Analysis

Book Title: True Love's First Kiss (The Queen of the Realm of Faerie Books 1-3)

Author:  Heidi Garrett

Publish Date: July 18, 2013

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Plot (from Goodreads):  ~ Book 1 - NANDANA’S MARK ~

Melia longs to fly like the fullblood faeries...

Her mortal father plots to bring war to the Enchanted World...

Her faerie mother practices black magic behind closed doors...

Tainted by her father’s ambitions, Melia seeks aid from the Illustrator. She receives a strange mark on her forehead meant to bring her help. Before it arrives, tragedy strikes—and Melia’s dreams of flying coming true.

~ Book 2 - THE FLOWER OF ISBELLINE ~

When a dark power seduces Melia’s sister...

And the keys to power are at risk...

The cost of denying true love will be apocalyptic...

Melia races against time to stop her sister from pursuing their father’s damning legacy.

~ Book 3 - THE DRAGON CARNIVALE ~ 

  

In Illialei… A light queen practices black magic. 

In Tyrannis… The dragonwitch rises to power.

In the Mortal World… Umbra pursues the halfbloods as vessels of incarnation.

Energies in the Enchanted World are shifting and new alliances are forming; the Battle of Dark and Light has begun. Melia is desperate to make things right with Ryder, the young priest from Idonne, but first she must warn the halfbloods in the Mortal World that Umbra is coming for them--and face the powerful Dragonwitch and her spectacular Dragon Carnivale.

Why I Read this Book: I signed up to get a free review copy on Candace's Book Blog and I received no compensation for my honest review.

About the Author

When Heidi Garrett was a child, her mother was the most magical person she knew. Unfortunately, they were separated by evil forces and her mother died a premature death. However, Heidi never forgot Louise, so when she had the opportunity to reconnect with her beloved grandma she seized it, even though the price of that choice was exile from the land where she'd grown up. 

Her risk was was rewarded when she found herself, once again, in a world so unusual that it had to be enchanted. After all, her grandma, Elva, was an elf. When Elva joined her daughter, Louise, in the Unknown Beyond, Heidi was inspired to write fantasy stories that would remind anyone who read them what she'd never forgotten-- 

Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world… 

She currently resides in Eastern Washington State with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Being from the South, she finds it very mystical.

Review

I was sent a compilation of the first three books in this series.  So far, I have read the first book in the series and intend to read the other books in the series very soon!

To be honest, I have not read a fairy based fantasy book in a long time, but I am so glad that I decided to pick up this book!  The setting is a world filled with fairies, pixies, mages, and elves.  The story follows Melia, a half-fairy whose mortal father was banned from the fairy world for breaking his vows he made when he was married.  Melia, who is often teased for being half-fairy but having no wings, longs to live in the mortal world again where she will be seen as wonderfully unique instead of being made fun of for not being able to fly. But is everything truly as it seems?

As I said before, I have not read a fairy based fantasy in a long time and I found it hard to follow the story line at first because there were so many things that are not found in our world that were hard to keep up with, for instance the features of all the fantasy races and all the places.  What started out as confusing and slow progressing, turned out to be a wonderfully developed novel.  I enjoyed learning about the fairy world and about all the different characters presented in this first book.  I cannot wait to continue the series and learn about what happens after the cliff hanger ending of the first novel.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  Any age

Overall Rating: 4/5