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5.0étoiles sur 5
A satsifying fairy tale; pleasing to ones sensibilities, Jui 10 2004
This wonderful fairy tale is exactly the kind of book you'd want to curl up with in a comfortably cushioned chair with a cup of hot chocolate and a roaring fireplace on a cool night because everything about it is *just right*.The story centers around Corie, a natural daughter of a dead prince whose life, before her summers spent at Castle Auburn, was mainly humble and provicial. In Castle Auburn, she enjoys the luxuries and privileges of being a prince's daughter and is easily accepted by her uncle, cousins, half sister and the fey race known as the Aliora; all the while never forgetting where she came from. She is impressionable, intelligent and true to her heart, which is essential to the outcome of the events that unfold in her summer retreat. As Corie grows older, she comes to realize that all is not well in her fairy-summer world. And as is her wont, she sets about changing things for the better, her perception of things becoming clearer and clearer the darker things get. Everything about this book satisfies. It touches-down gently on strong human emotions; not overly dramatic, not at all bland. The characters feel real, even the fantastical Aliora. One could sympathize, and perhaps the reader would be delighted to find that the characters do not fall short of ones expectations of them, though they are by no means predictable. Realizations creep up on characters in the most pleasing fashion and in the end, everything pretty much comes full circle. The heroine, Corie, is someone everyone could relate to. She isn't a warrior with swords blazing, but she has strength that we should all strive to find in ourselves. She used her own resources to fight for her principles and her character remained consistent to the very end. I was quite involved with this book. I couldn't really say that the plot is terribly orignal, but it was presented so well, in such elegant prose, that it felt fresh and I didn't feel a hint of tedium. It was so simple it was brilliant. I couldn't help but think that this is somewhat a chick-book. It's not necessarily a bad thing. I suppose a guy could enjoy this book as well. But I would recommend this book to those who have grown tired of the Sword Weilding Warrior Woman; the cantankerous, ornery bitch; the poor, underdog young lad; the evil sister; the horrible step mother (there's a mother and she's not so nice, but she's not Fairy Tale Step Mother worthy, which is to say she isn't all that bad); the lovelorn prince; etc., etc. I recommend this book to lovers of romance but haters of mush. I recommend this book to those who'd like to see the good guys win, in one instance in the most un-good-guy fashion (you'll see).
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