Book Review - Ride the Wind

Happy Monday! Yeah, I've been a busy reader this year already, and I'm almost done with Cress, book three of the Lunar Chronicles, so that review will be coming this week, too. But that's another story (see what I did there?). Today, we're talking about Starla! My daughter got three of Starla Huchton's books for Christmas: Shadows on Snow, Stillness of the Sky, and Ride the Wind. Needless to say, I stole one and read it (because I love Starla's books). Once I'd read Lex Talionis, her new adult book, I was hooked. Now that you know what a die-hard fan I am, let's get going!

About the book up for review today:

Title: Ride the Wind: A Flipped Fairy Tale
Author: Starla Huchton
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Fairy Tale
Length (print): 226 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Blurb:
Once upon a time, I made a promise to a stranger. Though I'd never seen her face, I cared for her above all others.

Once upon a time, I broke my vow. In trying to save the one I loved, I condemned her to a cursed life and stripped her of all freedom in a single, misguided step.

Once upon a time, I set out on a journey. Though it might never earn me forgiveness, I would set her free or die trying.

I bought a set of the entire Flipped Fairy Tale collection in paperback from Starla Huchton for my ten-year-old daughter's Christmas gift. Of course, being a fan of Shadows on Snow, I knew I'd likely sneak and read all the stories behind her trusting little back. I managed to make it through one of two before she caught me, and you all have a review as a prize for my dastardly ways. Now that you know where I got the book, let's dive into the review.

From a Reader's Perspective:
I'm a fairy tale nut. From The Princess and the Pea to Hans and the Little Iron Man, I've read hundreds. Huchton's retellings always leave me with that same sense of child-like awe the originals did. I dive in, getting lost in the carefully crafted stories, hoping against hope the guy ends up with the girl. Well, this novel didn't disappoint me. Ride the Wind is such an intricate story of faithfulness, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, shaking the main character, Lukas, when I can see the detrimental mistake he's about to make. I was talking to the book in my hands as though he could hear me. Then, he goes and does it anyway. No, I can't tell you what "it" is, but I can tell you from that moment on, he fights with everything in himself to make it right. A perfectly flawed hero. I loved it. Why? Because he felt so real to me. Huchton never leaves you bored, and her pacing was spot on. World building was perfect. I could see it all, but she didn't go on and on with bog-you-down description.

One of the things I enjoyed most was finding characters from Shadows on Snow making their appearance. I didn't put it together right away, and was pleasantly surprised when I unraveled the clues. Brilliantly done.

From an Editor's Perspective:
Nothing noteworthy. I didn't stumble, shake my head, or get annoyed with errors. Gorgeous editing.

Rating:
1 Star for twisting yet another fairy tale so beautifully and keeping me engaged
1 Star for world building without overwhelming me
1 Star for pacing
1 Star for intertwining the books together so seamlessly
1 Star for editing
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars. Solid. Highly, highly recommended for anyone looking for an excellent escape, a great read, or a new twist on an old tale.

Have you guys read it? What did you think?

Be SURE and come back tomorrow, because I have a book being featured you won't want to miss.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo