A Charming Tale of Love and Self-Discovery in 'The Bride of November'
Hey everyone! I'm excited to share my thoughts on 'The Bride of November' by Lia Arden, a fantasy novel that caught my attention despite not being a huge fan of the genre. I'd seen it featured in book collections and read a few reviews on Aibooks, so I decided to give it a try.
First of all, I loved the cover design - it's beautiful and evocative of the Slavic theme that runs throughout the book. The front features a stunning girl with long, flowing hair and a headpiece, which immediately drew me in.
The book itself is a hardcover with a sewn-in binding, which I always prefer. It's just more comfortable to read, and the book lies flat when you're done with it. The only downside is that the ink used for the annotations and blurbs on the back cover didn't age particularly well - some of the colors have faded, possibly due to moisture exposure.
Despite that, the overall design still makes a positive impression, and the leaves on the back cover are still swirling in the air, with the girl's hair flowing all the way down.
November Bride book reviewsI was really impressed with the internal design of the book - the cover has vibrant illustrations of rowan branches, and the pages themselves have small illustrations at the bottom that add to the story's atmosphere. The chapter headings are in big, storybook-style letters, which is a nice touch. Plus, at the beginning of the book, there's a map of the fictional landscape where the story takes place. I've always loved looking at these kinds of maps, even if the place is entirely made up.
At 448 pages, the book isn't huge, and the font is nice and big, so it's easy to get through. I did notice a few typos, but to be honest, I'm not too fussy about those in a work of fiction - as long as the story's engaging, I'm happy to overlook a few minor errors.
Age restriction: 16+
Despite being a fantasy story, I think this one's more geared towards older readers - and personally, I think it would appeal more to girls than guys.
The Bride of November Book ReviewsNow, I want to dive into the book's summary - let's take a look at what it's all about.
The story follows a girl named Yara, who's shunned by society because of her unusual birthdate - she was born on the cusp of November and December. People are afraid of her, and she's forced to live on the outskirts of town. But Yara's a kind and gentle soul, and she's desperate to find acceptance and love.
The author, Lia Arden, has an interesting concept - each month has its own unique characteristics and traits, and people born under specific months are said to possess certain qualities. It's a fascinating idea, and I enjoyed reading about how the author developed the 12 brothers - the months of the year.
What I loved most about the book was the way the author described people born under specific months, giving them common traits and characteristics. It's also an interesting concept that each month becomes a sort of protector or guardian for the person born under it.
The main storyline really caught my attention - I was hooked from start to finish, eager to know what would happen and how it would all wrap up. The author presents a unique interpretation of the importance of the cycle of the year and what can happen if we don't restore balance.
Bride of November book reviewsBut 'Bride of November' is, of course, a fantasy novel on a Slavic theme. And, as it happens, the author also writes quite extensively about the daily life and customs of people back then. Like how brides would weave flowers into their hair when searching for a husband, how they'd give wreaths to the ones they chose, what kind of clothing they wore, what their homes looked like, and so on.
There were a few sad and melancholic moments in the book, too. At one point, I was so moved that I even cried while reading it. I'd never cried reading true stories, but this fictional tale got to me.
Despite the sadness and melancholy, the book has a good ending that I found a bit too sappy. However, that doesn't detract from the book at all, and it actually leaves you with a positive feeling. And, coincidentally, late November to early December is the perfect time to read this book. If you're still deciding on what to read, this is a great option.
FINAL THOUGHTS
'The Bride of November' by Lia Arden is essentially a magical, fairy-tale story for adult women who are looking for a romantic read that might even make them tear up. I think guys might find this book a bit dull. I personally loved it, though - the story that unfolded before my eyes was enchanting, and it had just the right amount of emotional depth. The ending was a bit sappy, but overall, I'm glad I read it and wouldn't lower my rating.
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I recommend checking out these reviews:
The Disappearance of Madeleine. Anthony Summers, Robbyn Swan
Breathless. Emily MacIntosh
Ask Me to Stay. Jennifer McMahon
Grandma Said Sit Quietly. Nastassia Renzina
Take care, and thanks for reading!