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This Will Be Fun
The Princess Bride meets People We Meet on Vacation in this cozy quest romantasy about a group of friends who once defended their magical land together but haven’t spoken since, reuniting to attend a royal wedding, and ending up on a new adventure to save the realm—and hopefully themselves.
Ten years ago, they saved the realm. It ruined their lives.
Everyone in Mythria knows the story of how best friends Beatrice and Elowen, handsome ex-bandit Clare, and valiant leader Galwell the Great defended the land from darkness. It’s a tale beloved by all—except the former heroes. They haven’t spoken in a decade, devastated by what their quest cost them.
But when they receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . . . and a reunion for the ages, with Clare secretly not over his long-ago fling with Beatrice, Beatrice fighting the guilt she feels over how everything ended, Elowen unprepared for the return of her former flame (the cunning Vandra), and all of them lost without Galwell’s presence. And if reuniting with old friends and lovers wasn’t perilous enough, dark forces from their past have returned, plotting a domination that only Mythria’s one-time defenders can stop. Maybe.
Dusting off old weapons and old instincts, they face undead nemeses, crystal caves, enchanted swords, coffee shops, games of magical Truth or Dare, and, hardest of all, their past—rife with wounds never healed and romances never forgotten.
This time around, will their story end in happily ever after?
Ten years ago, they saved the realm. It ruined their lives.
Everyone in Mythria knows the story of how best friends Beatrice and Elowen, handsome ex-bandit Clare, and valiant leader Galwell the Great defended the land from darkness. It’s a tale beloved by all—except the former heroes. They haven’t spoken in a decade, devastated by what their quest cost them.
But when they receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . . . and a reunion for the ages, with Clare secretly not over his long-ago fling with Beatrice, Beatrice fighting the guilt she feels over how everything ended, Elowen unprepared for the return of her former flame (the cunning Vandra), and all of them lost without Galwell’s presence. And if reuniting with old friends and lovers wasn’t perilous enough, dark forces from their past have returned, plotting a domination that only Mythria’s one-time defenders can stop. Maybe.
Dusting off old weapons and old instincts, they face undead nemeses, crystal caves, enchanted swords, coffee shops, games of magical Truth or Dare, and, hardest of all, their past—rife with wounds never healed and romances never forgotten.
This time around, will their story end in happily ever after?
416 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 29, 2024
About the author
E.B. Asher
1 book94 followersE. B. Asher is the pen name for authors Bridget Morrissey, Emily Wibberley, and Austin Siegemund-Broka. Bridget Morrissey is the author of the romance novels That Summer Feeling, A Thousand Miles, and Love Scenes, as well as two novels for teens. She lives in Los Angeles, where she coaches gymnastics. Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka are the authors of the romance novels The Roughest Draft, Do I Know You? and The Breakup Tour, as well as several novels for teens. Married, they live in Los Angeles, where they continue to take daily inspiration from their own love story.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
July 19, 2024
This Will Be Fun book review by E.B Asher
"The Princess Bride meets People We Meet on Vacation"
A group of ex-friends who once saved the realm a decade ago are invited to their Queen's wedding. Despite 10 years of unspoken words and tension, the group is tasked with one last adventure to save the realm again. Will they succeed or will their broken friendship get in the way?
Thoughts
What a sweet mix of comedy and adventure in this cozy romance novel! You get a lick of steamy scenes after the super long drought of a slow burn from both couples.
I very much enjoyed reading this book. It took me a slow bit to finish however, I'm so glad I did it!! I love a hea and you truly will get one at the end. I was not expecting the wide range of personality that the characters have. Nor can I choose which one is my favorite.
You've got Elowen the moody closed off friend; Beatrice the one stuck in the past; Clare the overly optimistic friend that wants the gang back together; and lastly Vandra the hot lesbo assassins that looks like they can kill you but is really a cinnamon roll!! All so different but fit together so well.
I for sure got Shrek mixed with the Scooby Doo gang vibes from this story. Which I love so much!! Give me a fantasy with a good bit of humor and a splash of adventure that doesn't end in a heartbreak. I might have to add this to my recs list for anyone that needs recommendations for what to read next. It's just a fun book to read with a nice escape from the real world.
Small Mention
Wagons-For-You (Fantasy version of Uber Ride Share)
This had me cackling for no reason. I love the small drops of modernity that the author added into the story. It was a fun twist that I rarely see in fantasy books.
Quotes
~ “He wanted her to be the living proof that he was worth loving.”
~ “If he could prove himself to Beatrice, the woman who’d once known him best, he might finally feel like the hero the rest of the realm deemed him.”
~ “Elowen found herself not just moved by all she learned but deeply invested in Vandra’s hope for a better life.”
Song that summaries the book
I’m a Believer by Smash Mouth
[Verse]
I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams
[Chorus]
And then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
And not a trace of doubt in my mind
I'm in love, I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins publishing for allowing me to give an honest review in exchange for this arc!!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
pre-read:
PRAY THAT THIS BOOK IS GOOD PLEASEEEE
pre-review:
the description of the plot seems really cute so far so I'm hoping this pulls through.
"The Princess Bride meets People We Meet on Vacation"
A group of ex-friends who once saved the realm a decade ago are invited to their Queen's wedding. Despite 10 years of unspoken words and tension, the group is tasked with one last adventure to save the realm again. Will they succeed or will their broken friendship get in the way?
Thoughts
What a sweet mix of comedy and adventure in this cozy romance novel! You get a lick of steamy scenes after the super long drought of a slow burn from both couples.
I very much enjoyed reading this book. It took me a slow bit to finish however, I'm so glad I did it!! I love a hea and you truly will get one at the end. I was not expecting the wide range of personality that the characters have. Nor can I choose which one is my favorite.
You've got Elowen the moody closed off friend; Beatrice the one stuck in the past; Clare the overly optimistic friend that wants the gang back together; and lastly Vandra the hot lesbo assassins that looks like they can kill you but is really a cinnamon roll!! All so different but fit together so well.
I for sure got Shrek mixed with the Scooby Doo gang vibes from this story. Which I love so much!! Give me a fantasy with a good bit of humor and a splash of adventure that doesn't end in a heartbreak. I might have to add this to my recs list for anyone that needs recommendations for what to read next. It's just a fun book to read with a nice escape from the real world.
Small Mention
Wagons-For-You (Fantasy version of Uber Ride Share)
This had me cackling for no reason. I love the small drops of modernity that the author added into the story. It was a fun twist that I rarely see in fantasy books.
Quotes
~ “He wanted her to be the living proof that he was worth loving.”
~ “If he could prove himself to Beatrice, the woman who’d once known him best, he might finally feel like the hero the rest of the realm deemed him.”
~ “Elowen found herself not just moved by all she learned but deeply invested in Vandra’s hope for a better life.”
Song that summaries the book
I’m a Believer by Smash Mouth
[Verse]
I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams
[Chorus]
And then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
And not a trace of doubt in my mind
I'm in love, I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins publishing for allowing me to give an honest review in exchange for this arc!!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
pre-read:
PRAY THAT THIS BOOK IS GOOD PLEASEEEE
pre-review:
the description of the plot seems really cute so far so I'm hoping this pulls through.
June 21, 2024
Here me out: do you ever hear people in a feudal society talk about magazines? Stag parties? Hook ups. Other language that would be thrown around in a modern world? You haven't, right? But it's in here and it bothered me - a lot. It bothered me to the point where it took me out of the book.
I read the acknowledgement and realized that THREE different people worked on this. That's quite a lot, and usually - to me - when three or more people work on a screenplay, by my standards, it was a mess and one that went through a ton of re-writes.
This book was more of a focus on 'friends' than the actual 'quest'. Hell, it was a book all about Beatrice and Clare hooking up again, when will they hook up again, and how can the world survive if Beatrice and Clare don't hook up again.
The summary of the book is enough, because that's exactly what happens. The ending of the book - in my opinion - made no sense and in-evaluated the entire story.
I feel like four people got their ideas from watching Shrek attempted to write a book but forgot the most important part - the plot.
I read the acknowledgement and realized that THREE different people worked on this. That's quite a lot, and usually - to me - when three or more people work on a screenplay, by my standards, it was a mess and one that went through a ton of re-writes.
This book was more of a focus on 'friends' than the actual 'quest'. Hell, it was a book all about Beatrice and Clare hooking up again, when will they hook up again, and how can the world survive if Beatrice and Clare don't hook up again.
The summary of the book is enough, because that's exactly what happens. The ending of the book - in my opinion - made no sense and in-evaluated the entire story.
I feel like four people got their ideas from watching Shrek attempted to write a book but forgot the most important part - the plot.
Read
June 22, 2024tl;dr
A cozy romantasy that spotlights two second chance romances. World building flounders a bit.
Thoughts
Dang. Gonna have to file this one under "not for me." The world is tongue-in-cheek modern: there are cell phones, video calls, web boards, streaming TV, Uber, and fandom conventions, all painted over with the thinnest veneer of magic explanation. (Other reviewers liken it to Shrek.) And while I don't mind a playful nod, it mostly made me wonder why there weren't magical analogs for other modern things. In a world with internet, why is everyone still fighting with swords? Why are they still riding horses and camping in a forest instead of using a magical flying "not airplane?" Why can't they track down the villain after ten years? Shouldn't they also have magical satellite imaging or CC TV by now? Am I overthinking this? Of course I am! But I prefer world building in a fantasy story to hold a certain amount of consistency, and no amount of coy winking at the camera about fantasy Amazon deliveries is going to make me stop wondering why the queen didn't kit out our heroes with a fantasy GPS tracker they could stick on the bad guy. I'm well aware I'm the curmudgeon here, and I am sorry. But the flippant approach to the world sure did make it feel like the part about the world ending doesn't matter that much. Fight scenes feel perfunctory compared to the time and energy spent on lovemaking scenes. One of the biggest wins happens off screen and is summarized in a single sentence later. And perhaps that's the point. Sure the world may end tomorrow, but what about the relationships? What about the people? What about the LOVE? We've got two second chance pairings here, with plenty of history, drama and a quick hit of spice. They're all likable characters, so your enjoyment will hang entirely on how you feel about second chance romance. Unfortunately, I am ambivalent, so it's another miss. But if you love firey anger that melts into firey passion, or pages upon pages of sexy yearning, there's plenty in here for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
A cozy romantasy that spotlights two second chance romances. World building flounders a bit.
Thoughts
Dang. Gonna have to file this one under "not for me." The world is tongue-in-cheek modern: there are cell phones, video calls, web boards, streaming TV, Uber, and fandom conventions, all painted over with the thinnest veneer of magic explanation. (Other reviewers liken it to Shrek.) And while I don't mind a playful nod, it mostly made me wonder why there weren't magical analogs for other modern things. In a world with internet, why is everyone still fighting with swords? Why are they still riding horses and camping in a forest instead of using a magical flying "not airplane?" Why can't they track down the villain after ten years? Shouldn't they also have magical satellite imaging or CC TV by now? Am I overthinking this? Of course I am! But I prefer world building in a fantasy story to hold a certain amount of consistency, and no amount of coy winking at the camera about fantasy Amazon deliveries is going to make me stop wondering why the queen didn't kit out our heroes with a fantasy GPS tracker they could stick on the bad guy. I'm well aware I'm the curmudgeon here, and I am sorry. But the flippant approach to the world sure did make it feel like the part about the world ending doesn't matter that much. Fight scenes feel perfunctory compared to the time and energy spent on lovemaking scenes. One of the biggest wins happens off screen and is summarized in a single sentence later. And perhaps that's the point. Sure the world may end tomorrow, but what about the relationships? What about the people? What about the LOVE? We've got two second chance pairings here, with plenty of history, drama and a quick hit of spice. They're all likable characters, so your enjoyment will hang entirely on how you feel about second chance romance. Unfortunately, I am ambivalent, so it's another miss. But if you love firey anger that melts into firey passion, or pages upon pages of sexy yearning, there's plenty in here for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
September 26, 2024
There are a lot of fun elements in this book, and I especially appreciate the emphasis on friendship to make this romantasy more cozy. That said, it felt like all the different elements didn't come together cohesively for my tastes. I think the book summary is very accurate to WHAT the book is about, so if it appeals to you, it's worth giving a try to see if the HOW (it's tone and execution) works better for you than me
September 5, 2024
I was really drawn to the premise of this book. The idea of former heroes, once beloved and now fractured by the aftermath of their quest, being forced back together for a royal wedding—and perhaps one last mission—had so much potential! The pacing was a bit off, with slow introductions that made it hard to care about the plot in the beginning. However, once things picked up, I started to appreciate the light romance, the fun banter, and the character growth, which kept me reading.
I liked how each character developed as they grappled with their past and present, and I thought the subtle romance that ran through the book was really lovely. There were some intriguing levels of tension created by Clare's ongoing obsession with Beatrice and Elowen's unresolved feelings for her ex-lover, Vandra, but I wish more time had been spent developing these relationships. I thought the novel relied a little too much on dialogue. It would have been easier to relate to the characters more deeply if there had been more introspection and more emotional depth.
Although I enjoyed the setting, I thought the world-building was a little basic. Though I didn't feel totally immersed in it, Mythria had potential, and the fantasy aspects may have been expanded on. It felt as though the tone was a little erratic at times because of the combination of magical caverns, charmed swords, with other elements (such coffee shops and magical games).
Despite its flaws, I did enjoy the book. The cozy, light fantasy atmosphere, mixed well with themes of friendship, loyalty, and second chances, made it an entertaining read. It had a lot of potential that wasn’t fully realized, but it was still a pleasant read.
I liked how each character developed as they grappled with their past and present, and I thought the subtle romance that ran through the book was really lovely. There were some intriguing levels of tension created by Clare's ongoing obsession with Beatrice and Elowen's unresolved feelings for her ex-lover, Vandra, but I wish more time had been spent developing these relationships. I thought the novel relied a little too much on dialogue. It would have been easier to relate to the characters more deeply if there had been more introspection and more emotional depth.
Although I enjoyed the setting, I thought the world-building was a little basic. Though I didn't feel totally immersed in it, Mythria had potential, and the fantasy aspects may have been expanded on. It felt as though the tone was a little erratic at times because of the combination of magical caverns, charmed swords, with other elements (such coffee shops and magical games).
Despite its flaws, I did enjoy the book. The cozy, light fantasy atmosphere, mixed well with themes of friendship, loyalty, and second chances, made it an entertaining read. It had a lot of potential that wasn’t fully realized, but it was still a pleasant read.
August 14, 2024
When I say that I was beyond excited for this book, believe me because The Princess Bride is one of my top five favorite movies, and I have a whole shelf in my library dedicated to the movie and the book, including a board game, bobble heads, Funkos, wine bottles from the special screening at Alamo Drafthouse, etc. I am a HUGE fan, so when I saw the comps for this book, I knew I had to check it out.
So it is with the greatest of regret that I tell you I just could not get into this story. I only read about 30% of it before setting it aside, and I just never felt compelled to pick it back up again. Instead, I chose to re-read some other favorites for comfort because every book I picked up after this one was also not a winner. I wish I could say it was just me, but I'm fairly certain, at least in this book's case, that I'm not alone.
First off, there was such an undercurrent of sadness throughout, with the remaining hero and heroines not feeling triumphant at all in the wake of losing their fearless leader and having to face their queen as the ten year reunion of their victory loomed large. For a book that is supposed to be "fun", none of us were having any.
Secondly, the anachronisms drove me nuts. I can get behind magic making a medieval-type setting more favorable, but not when it leads to magic tapestries that act like texting devices. And don't even get me started on the Starbucks-like "brew" shops on every corner, the "shadow play" dramas that were beamed into homes via magic, or the ride-sharing service for carriages to and fro. I don't want modern inventions and conveniences in my cozy fantasy by way of magic.
Also, I did not realize until I cracked the book open and saw the copyright that E.B. Asher is actually three people. Yes, this lent individuality to each of the three main characters, but I think it might have been to the detriment of the story because it didn't feel cohesive. Well, except for how depressed each of them seemed.
I can admit I was a little charmed by Clare, the erstwhile hero and rogue who was loosely based on Westley. His commentary was humorous and his banter with Beatrice was a nice balance to her pithy retorts. But his character alone could not save this book for me...
So it is with the greatest of regret that I tell you I just could not get into this story. I only read about 30% of it before setting it aside, and I just never felt compelled to pick it back up again. Instead, I chose to re-read some other favorites for comfort because every book I picked up after this one was also not a winner. I wish I could say it was just me, but I'm fairly certain, at least in this book's case, that I'm not alone.
First off, there was such an undercurrent of sadness throughout, with the remaining hero and heroines not feeling triumphant at all in the wake of losing their fearless leader and having to face their queen as the ten year reunion of their victory loomed large. For a book that is supposed to be "fun", none of us were having any.
Secondly, the anachronisms drove me nuts. I can get behind magic making a medieval-type setting more favorable, but not when it leads to magic tapestries that act like texting devices. And don't even get me started on the Starbucks-like "brew" shops on every corner, the "shadow play" dramas that were beamed into homes via magic, or the ride-sharing service for carriages to and fro. I don't want modern inventions and conveniences in my cozy fantasy by way of magic.
Also, I did not realize until I cracked the book open and saw the copyright that E.B. Asher is actually three people. Yes, this lent individuality to each of the three main characters, but I think it might have been to the detriment of the story because it didn't feel cohesive. Well, except for how depressed each of them seemed.
I can admit I was a little charmed by Clare, the erstwhile hero and rogue who was loosely based on Westley. His commentary was humorous and his banter with Beatrice was a nice balance to her pithy retorts. But his character alone could not save this book for me...
August 13, 2024
Well, this book certainly did not live up to its title! I admit, though, that it follows loosely, vaguely "The Princess Bride," and those parts were interesting to figure out. (I loved the movie!). I have to say that adding a modern twist to this sort of novel was intriguing and kept me on my toes. For instance, having an ancient type of Uber or Lyft, using a tapestry as a cell phone, and various other technological/magical instances of modern meets magic.
Now comes the complaining part - If you don't mind that over 50% of the book is the three main characters bemoaning about how they hate themselves or angsting about their love lives or lack thereof, then jump right in. Even when a couple of them do finally get together for some nookie, they are still miserable. And that "quest" that the Queen asks them to go on seemed to be just haphazardly thrown in to keep us reading. Although, in the end, the fighting and the magic bits were quite interesting.
I would have given up on this very frustrating and, dare I say, sometimes boring novel if it wasn't for a hint I got in another reviewer's spoiler.
It is interesting to note that E.B. Asher is really three different author's, and it does show.
*ARC was supplied by the publisher Avon/HarperCollins, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks to all.
Now comes the complaining part - If you don't mind that over 50% of the book is the three main characters bemoaning about how they hate themselves or angsting about their love lives or lack thereof, then jump right in. Even when a couple of them do finally get together for some nookie, they are still miserable. And that "quest" that the Queen asks them to go on seemed to be just haphazardly thrown in to keep us reading. Although, in the end, the fighting and the magic bits were quite interesting.
I would have given up on this very frustrating and, dare I say, sometimes boring novel if it wasn't for a hint I got in another reviewer's spoiler.
It is interesting to note that E.B. Asher is really three different author's, and it does show.
*ARC was supplied by the publisher Avon/HarperCollins, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks to all.
August 13, 2024
3/5 stars
eARC provided by NetGalley
This book kind of felt like a lot of unfinished ideas put together. The world building could use more work and I do not normally like world building but there was things that I just did not understand cause it was relying on me assuming it was like our world but with magic. Which the magic was not really explained just started that different types exist. At least that it what it felt like. It also felt like a sequel book but it is not. I wish we did not repeat so much at the beginning. It was like they had word/page counts we had to reach so we just kept saying the same feelings over and over again when it was no longer adding to the story. Miscommunication was relied on heavily for this story as well and that is the trope that makes me want to fight. The end of the book was the best part. I would have been very interested in seeing more of how particularly one person readjusted to life after all of that.
eARC provided by NetGalley
This book kind of felt like a lot of unfinished ideas put together. The world building could use more work and I do not normally like world building but there was things that I just did not understand cause it was relying on me assuming it was like our world but with magic. Which the magic was not really explained just started that different types exist. At least that it what it felt like. It also felt like a sequel book but it is not. I wish we did not repeat so much at the beginning. It was like they had word/page counts we had to reach so we just kept saying the same feelings over and over again when it was no longer adding to the story. Miscommunication was relied on heavily for this story as well and that is the trope that makes me want to fight. The end of the book was the best part. I would have been very interested in seeing more of how particularly one person readjusted to life after all of that.
June 15, 2024
chosen ones but make it cozy fantasy ending
Want to read
July 14, 2024A group of friends who once defended their magical land together but haven’t spoken since, reuniting to attend a royal wedding, and ending up on a new adventure to save the realm
Oh I'm exited.
Oh I'm exited.
August 5, 2024
I received this DRC from NetGalley.
Three of the heroes acted like whiny teenagers for a lot of the build up. They get overly dramatic and overwhelmed by their emotions and then also get really horny. Vandra was the most sensible one, and thus my favorite. Regardless, the underlying story of what's going on was interesting enough. The ending should have had some consequences that could have at least been hinted at, if there's going to be another book. If it was supposed to be just a way to tack on a happy ending, it could have been better, especially since it kind of undermines any growth the characters had in coming to terms with the past. As for the humor, it's done with the use of cliché phrases and some corny puns. And, it also does the thing where they make up a unique exclamation that people use too much, so that it feels like another world.
Three of the heroes acted like whiny teenagers for a lot of the build up. They get overly dramatic and overwhelmed by their emotions and then also get really horny. Vandra was the most sensible one, and thus my favorite. Regardless, the underlying story of what's going on was interesting enough. The ending should have had some consequences that could have at least been hinted at, if there's going to be another book. If it was supposed to be just a way to tack on a happy ending, it could have been better, especially since it kind of undermines any growth the characters had in coming to terms with the past. As for the humor, it's done with the use of cliché phrases and some corny puns. And, it also does the thing where they make up a unique exclamation that people use too much, so that it feels like another world.
August 19, 2024
4.75 rounded up!
August 22, 2024
After the death of their leader and friend Galwell, while saving their realm a decade ago, three friends are torn apart by guilt and grief. Beatrice, Elowen, and Clare are then reunited for the wedding of the queen of Mythria. As they battle their memories of the past and their negative feelings towards each other, the force that took the life of their friend returns with a vengeance, once again threatening the survival of the realm. They are forced to work together or face death alone.
This story reads like a fantasy / romance novel hybrid. It's has some of the best of both worlds, but overall, there was not enough of either to hold me. It didn't have enough world building for fantasy, and its explanation of magic was vague and inconsistent. The romance side threatened on romantic comedy in places but fell a bit short.
Even though this book wasn't my favorite, I do feel like there is potential. I would read this authors next book, hoping for growth in the storyline, world building, and flow of the story. I do like the idea of a romantasy comedy, so I have my fingers crossed!
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy of This Will be Fun in exchange for an honest review.
This story reads like a fantasy / romance novel hybrid. It's has some of the best of both worlds, but overall, there was not enough of either to hold me. It didn't have enough world building for fantasy, and its explanation of magic was vague and inconsistent. The romance side threatened on romantic comedy in places but fell a bit short.
Even though this book wasn't my favorite, I do feel like there is potential. I would read this authors next book, hoping for growth in the storyline, world building, and flow of the story. I do like the idea of a romantasy comedy, so I have my fingers crossed!
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy of This Will be Fun in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2024
I think my problems with this book can be best summarized through a specific example: the messaging tapestry. Early on, there are two important scenes where Elowen has to communicate through a "messaging tapestry," which is, presumably, supposed to fulfill the function of a computer or phone. Except, it is barely described. We don't know what it looks like, how big it is, how it functions. Is it floppy and woven like a real tapestry? If so, how do you send messages on it? Do you type them or write them or think thoughts in its direction? I couldn't picture how this world worked, and it was frustrating me. However, suddenly, a quarter of the way through the book, the messaging tapestry disappears and is never mentioned again, since it is no longer relevant to the plot.
The world, the story, and its stakes all seemed, to me, to lack cohesion. If we exist in a lighthearted, cozy world, why did the villain just kill an entire village of people? Once you introduce this type of violence, why do we then immediately return to wacky Fantasy Vegas antics? The book could have still had a satisfying narrative arc if the characters needed to process their grief to move forward, but, instead, It did not help that the writing was, at points, incomprehensible. "Beatrice, who'd done exactly what he wished he could not have predicted." Excuse me??? What on earth are you talking about?
I can see how someone would enjoy this book if they loved the characters since their interactions are at the heart of the story. I loved Vandra and ended up liking Clare. However, if you strongly dislike at least one of the protagonists, it can result in a pretty insufferable reading experience. They all have pretty self-serving motives, which isn't helped by the tendency to "tell" rather than "show." What do you MEAN Beatrice is selfless? You can't just tell me that, a third of the chapters are from her perspective and she is obsessed with herself!
I'm mad because the premise sounded interesting, Vandra deserved better, and the ending made everything feel pointless.
Anyway, thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
The world, the story, and its stakes all seemed, to me, to lack cohesion. If we exist in a lighthearted, cozy world, why did the villain just kill an entire village of people? Once you introduce this type of violence, why do we then immediately return to wacky Fantasy Vegas antics? The book could have still had a satisfying narrative arc if the characters needed to process their grief to move forward, but, instead, It did not help that the writing was, at points, incomprehensible. "Beatrice, who'd done exactly what he wished he could not have predicted." Excuse me??? What on earth are you talking about?
I can see how someone would enjoy this book if they loved the characters since their interactions are at the heart of the story. I loved Vandra and ended up liking Clare. However, if you strongly dislike at least one of the protagonists, it can result in a pretty insufferable reading experience. They all have pretty self-serving motives, which isn't helped by the tendency to "tell" rather than "show." What do you MEAN Beatrice is selfless? You can't just tell me that, a third of the chapters are from her perspective and she is obsessed with herself!
I'm mad because the premise sounded interesting, Vandra deserved better, and the ending made everything feel pointless.
Anyway, thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 6, 2024
The Princess Bride meets People We Meet on Vacation in this cozy quest romantasy about a group of friends who once defended their magical land together but haven’t spoken since, reuniting to attend a royal wedding, and ending up on a new adventure to save the realm—and hopefully themselves.
🏰 Medieval Fantasy
🥰 Romance Subplot
🗺️ Beautiful World Building
This book was a trip! It started out really strong with all the amazing world building, but towards the middle it really slowed down for me and I had to push myself to finish it. The ending was beautiful and I loved it, but just be aware - there is definitely a lull in the middle of this book! The characters are great and I loved the multiple POVs.
I LOVED how the authors added in modern day ideas but made this medieval-esque ex: Wagons For You which is Uber. It was such a cute touch and really added to the atmosphere!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC of this book!
This comes out Sep 10, 2024 so pre-order this one if it sounds good to you!
🏰 Medieval Fantasy
🥰 Romance Subplot
🗺️ Beautiful World Building
This book was a trip! It started out really strong with all the amazing world building, but towards the middle it really slowed down for me and I had to push myself to finish it. The ending was beautiful and I loved it, but just be aware - there is definitely a lull in the middle of this book! The characters are great and I loved the multiple POVs.
I LOVED how the authors added in modern day ideas but made this medieval-esque ex: Wagons For You which is Uber. It was such a cute touch and really added to the atmosphere!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC of this book!
This comes out Sep 10, 2024 so pre-order this one if it sounds good to you!
April 22, 2024
It was indeed very fun!
August 28, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Going into this book, I will be honest and say that I kept my expectations low. This isn’t because of the premise of the book or by any fault of the author, but I knew that me and cozy fantasy don’t always jive. I find that I end up bored or waiting for something *more exciting* to happen, which.. kind of defeats the point of a cozy fantasy. That’s totally on me.
That being said, I loved this one. I laughed out loud, often. I adored every character regardless of their faults/flaws and I loved even more watching them develop as the story went on.
I’m also a huge sucker for merging storylines and rekindling friendships. Watching each of them live their lives while also grieving the loss of their friend and old friendships was interesting, and seeing each of them run into each other was entertaining. I actually don’t think I have anything bad to say about this book.
And not only that, I think that this is the first cozy fantasy that I’ve read that had enough adventure and questing in it for me to be entertained the entire way through. I realize a lot of the lure of cozy fantasies is how relaxing they are and being able to watch the heroes like.. run a bakery or something, but seeing all of our heroes rekindle relationships AND go on one last quest together before returning to normal life was heartwarming and honestly a little rewarding.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a sweet, cozy fantasy. And I double recommend it if you haven’t been thrilled by any of the others that you’ve read. 5/5, easy.
Going into this book, I will be honest and say that I kept my expectations low. This isn’t because of the premise of the book or by any fault of the author, but I knew that me and cozy fantasy don’t always jive. I find that I end up bored or waiting for something *more exciting* to happen, which.. kind of defeats the point of a cozy fantasy. That’s totally on me.
That being said, I loved this one. I laughed out loud, often. I adored every character regardless of their faults/flaws and I loved even more watching them develop as the story went on.
I’m also a huge sucker for merging storylines and rekindling friendships. Watching each of them live their lives while also grieving the loss of their friend and old friendships was interesting, and seeing each of them run into each other was entertaining. I actually don’t think I have anything bad to say about this book.
And not only that, I think that this is the first cozy fantasy that I’ve read that had enough adventure and questing in it for me to be entertained the entire way through. I realize a lot of the lure of cozy fantasies is how relaxing they are and being able to watch the heroes like.. run a bakery or something, but seeing all of our heroes rekindle relationships AND go on one last quest together before returning to normal life was heartwarming and honestly a little rewarding.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a sweet, cozy fantasy. And I double recommend it if you haven’t been thrilled by any of the others that you’ve read. 5/5, easy.
October 5, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
Reading the acknowledgments at the end and realizing that this book had three authors made me better understand one of the things I enjoyed most about it. THIS WILL BE FUN captures the magic of collaborative storytelling and feels like immersing oneself into a D&D campaign that balances the serious sacrifices involved in world-saving with humorous bits like a convention of impersonators mimicking the great hero of the realm. This book reminded me of the joy of building a world with my friends and letting the dice decide what happens—and of the way that stories can be methods for processing the past that sometimes haunts us.
Reading the acknowledgments at the end and realizing that this book had three authors made me better understand one of the things I enjoyed most about it. THIS WILL BE FUN captures the magic of collaborative storytelling and feels like immersing oneself into a D&D campaign that balances the serious sacrifices involved in world-saving with humorous bits like a convention of impersonators mimicking the great hero of the realm. This book reminded me of the joy of building a world with my friends and letting the dice decide what happens—and of the way that stories can be methods for processing the past that sometimes haunts us.
July 11, 2024
An absolute delight! Did you know rom-quest was a thing? Well it is and I would like another dozen asap. Thank you very much.
June 22, 2024
For someone who never likes fantasy novels, THIS is a fantasy novel I LOVED. It reads much more like a romantic comedy with fantasy and magic elements. Ten years ago four friends saved the realm, then their relationships were fractured. Due to a series of events, the band must get back together to fight evil forces. Several simultaneous romances, friends to lovers trope, witty banter. Someone described this as “for fans of shrek” and I COMPLETELY see that. I laughed a lot.
I find it difficult to follow fantasy and to understand the rules of the universe. This one was easy to fall into. I hope the author(s) will write more in Mythria.
Book to be released September 10,2024.
Thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for the ARC.
I find it difficult to follow fantasy and to understand the rules of the universe. This one was easy to fall into. I hope the author(s) will write more in Mythria.
Book to be released September 10,2024.
Thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for the ARC.
August 30, 2024
2.5 stars. The story is super fun but the pacing and worldbuilding are ALL over the place.
I really enjoyed the central storyline and characters: the author did a good job of creating characters who struggled to recover from the events of ten years ago. The interpersonal relationships were incredibly important to the plot and drove the action.
But the pacing - it took FOREVER for the actual plot to kick in, and then we kept getting sidetracked by silly interludes. The fights leading to the big bad lacked tension - and since the story sped through these parts, there wasn’t a satisfying ending.
Overall it felt like they tried to cram in as many fantasy versions of real life things that they forgot to make the plot drive. Very disappointing, as the story and characters are super fun.
Thank you to NetGalley, E.B. Asher, and Avon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the central storyline and characters: the author did a good job of creating characters who struggled to recover from the events of ten years ago. The interpersonal relationships were incredibly important to the plot and drove the action.
But the pacing - it took FOREVER for the actual plot to kick in, and then we kept getting sidetracked by silly interludes. The fights leading to the big bad lacked tension - and since the story sped through these parts, there wasn’t a satisfying ending.
Overall it felt like they tried to cram in as many fantasy versions of real life things that they forgot to make the plot drive. Very disappointing, as the story and characters are super fun.
Thank you to NetGalley, E.B. Asher, and Avon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2024
Ten years ago, Clare, Beatrice, Elowen, and Galwell saved Mythria from foul magic and power summoned by the Fraternal Order, but the cost was high. The realm’s beloved hero Galwell the Great was slain, and the three remaining warriors of the Four didn’t cope well. Now the trio has been reunited on their way to attend the Queen’s wedding, but when they arrive, they discover the groom has been kidnapped. Do these washed up champions have it in them to save the realm once more?
This Will Be Fun is a highly entertaining questing adventure filled with laughs, hard truths, and magic. There is so much to enjoy… a fun fantasy realm with a noble quest, tarnished heroes who are given a second chance, two second-chance romances. I loved watching Beatrice, Clare, and Elowen learn to forgive themselves and grow to love again. The entire story is a journey of reflection and forgiveness for each of the three. They must look inward and examine why they’ve made the choices that led to their separation and isolation from one another. They need to forgive their own choices while understanding and forgiving each other.
This Will Be Fun is shared from the alternating third person POVs of Beatrice, Elowen, and Clare so the reader is privy to the thoughts and feelings of each main character. The story starts with a look at how each hero has spent the past decade, consumed by their person demons of guilt, shame, and loneliness. Elowen retreated to her trees living in isolation and staying away from experiencing others’ feelings. She feels betrayed by Bea and life. Bea married a nobleman to compensate for growing up poor, and she didn’t take the queen’s retirement package because of guilt. She spends every night reliving Galwell’s death in perfect detail because she feels she doesn’t deserve forgiveness. Clare took on the public mantel of Hero because he enjoys it, but more to save the others from having to. He overplays it purposely to keep attention on himself and away from the others. But here’s the thing - none of them take the time to understand the actions of the others. Each assumes horrible things because that is easier than facing the truth.
As the story continues, the three are forced to spend time together and each slowly learns more about the others and themselves. But it’s not a straightforward journey, and each backslides into lashing out rather than opening up and forgiving. And then they realize that they must protect the realm again, regardless of where they’ve been and what’s ahead. Eventually, they learn to laugh together. They become a team that has fought their demons and come out stronger on the other side. It took ten years of misery to finally learn what it means to care and love another. To clear the air of old hurts.
I do have two slight misgivings that occur near the end of the book and have to do with Beatrice learning something new about her powers. While the attempt puts a neat bow on the package, I felt it was unnecessary. Other than that, I absolutely adored This Will Be Fun. I highly recommend the story for fans of adventure stories, humor, and light fantasy.
My Rating: A-
Review originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by Netgalley
This Will Be Fun is a highly entertaining questing adventure filled with laughs, hard truths, and magic. There is so much to enjoy… a fun fantasy realm with a noble quest, tarnished heroes who are given a second chance, two second-chance romances. I loved watching Beatrice, Clare, and Elowen learn to forgive themselves and grow to love again. The entire story is a journey of reflection and forgiveness for each of the three. They must look inward and examine why they’ve made the choices that led to their separation and isolation from one another. They need to forgive their own choices while understanding and forgiving each other.
This Will Be Fun is shared from the alternating third person POVs of Beatrice, Elowen, and Clare so the reader is privy to the thoughts and feelings of each main character. The story starts with a look at how each hero has spent the past decade, consumed by their person demons of guilt, shame, and loneliness. Elowen retreated to her trees living in isolation and staying away from experiencing others’ feelings. She feels betrayed by Bea and life. Bea married a nobleman to compensate for growing up poor, and she didn’t take the queen’s retirement package because of guilt. She spends every night reliving Galwell’s death in perfect detail because she feels she doesn’t deserve forgiveness. Clare took on the public mantel of Hero because he enjoys it, but more to save the others from having to. He overplays it purposely to keep attention on himself and away from the others. But here’s the thing - none of them take the time to understand the actions of the others. Each assumes horrible things because that is easier than facing the truth.
As the story continues, the three are forced to spend time together and each slowly learns more about the others and themselves. But it’s not a straightforward journey, and each backslides into lashing out rather than opening up and forgiving. And then they realize that they must protect the realm again, regardless of where they’ve been and what’s ahead. Eventually, they learn to laugh together. They become a team that has fought their demons and come out stronger on the other side. It took ten years of misery to finally learn what it means to care and love another. To clear the air of old hurts.
I do have two slight misgivings that occur near the end of the book and have to do with Beatrice learning something new about her powers. While the attempt puts a neat bow on the package, I felt it was unnecessary. Other than that, I absolutely adored This Will Be Fun. I highly recommend the story for fans of adventure stories, humor, and light fantasy.
My Rating: A-
Review originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by Netgalley
July 10, 2024
I was hooked from "The Princess Bride meets People We Meet on Vacation" and I was NOT disappointed!! I will say, I am not usually a big reader of books in the "cozy" genre so at times the pacing was a little slower for me, but that did not deter me from finishing and enjoying this book! As a D&D player I was excited to get my hands on this digital ARC about a group of (former) best friends and adventurers navigating life after saving the realm. As expected, fame turns out to be kind to some and detrimental to others and not everyone is excited to reunite to face the past and potentially have to save Mythria (again).
There wasn't as much magic as I was expecting, but again, I wasn't disappointed. Character relationships are a heavy focus in "This Will Be Fun" and I found that that to be enjoyable, especially because of the humor and light-hearted nature of most of the characters. While it is fantasy, it doesn't read like most of the fantasy novels I've read - I'd put this somewhere closer to cozy fantasy romcom than outright fantasy or romance. If you enjoyed "Legends & Lattes" I think this is definitely the book for you! The characters are likable and even relatable through their thoughts and antics. I appreciate the modern twists on classic medieval times - think Ella Enchanted (the movie!). There are references to classic adventuring aspects with fun pop culture elements mixed in.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Collins for this digital ARC!
There wasn't as much magic as I was expecting, but again, I wasn't disappointed. Character relationships are a heavy focus in "This Will Be Fun" and I found that that to be enjoyable, especially because of the humor and light-hearted nature of most of the characters. While it is fantasy, it doesn't read like most of the fantasy novels I've read - I'd put this somewhere closer to cozy fantasy romcom than outright fantasy or romance. If you enjoyed "Legends & Lattes" I think this is definitely the book for you! The characters are likable and even relatable through their thoughts and antics. I appreciate the modern twists on classic medieval times - think Ella Enchanted (the movie!). There are references to classic adventuring aspects with fun pop culture elements mixed in.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Collins for this digital ARC!
May 28, 2024
5/16/24 - 5/22/24
Digital
This delightful romantasy, brimming with wit and second chances, transported me to the whimsical realm of Mythria! A world where enchanted truth or dare exists, coffee shops are commonplace, and bath bombs contain magic? Sign me up! Little things like "spell service" really sold the realm for me. Also, I just know Harpy and Hind's makes a delectable iced chai. I want t0 go to there.
"When life left one little to care about, one could care very deeply about very little."
The unique premise of a "successful" quest having devastating consequences for the heroes is refreshing. The aftermath explored the characters' trauma and subsequent growth in a believable way. Clare's transformation from people-pleaser to his authentic self was particularly satisfying. Clare's character arc specifically shines as he sheds the burden of expectations culminating in the hilarious Clare Convention. Beatrice's journey from quilt-ridden warrior to a woman embracing vulnerability resonated deeply. Her interactions with Clare sizzled with a Much Ado About Nothing/Anyone But You energy, a potent mix of past hurts and undeniable chemistry. Further. doing a sequel-esque story without actually having the first book is a tricky-task, which was executed skillfully in this book. The history of each character was made evident, and details of their past were revealed with excellent timing.
I didn't expect to fall in love with the characters quite as much as I did, but the felt incredibly real. And to find out after finishing this that the authors (yes, plural) don't have real experience in this genre? Just, wow. They honestly did an amazing job convincing readers that they are extremely capable romantasy writers. The seamless collaboration between three authors is a testament to their storytelling talent, leaving you eager for their next adventure.
"We've firmly established I'm no gentleman, Beatrice. Not with you."
With its witty dialogue, relatable characters, and surprising depth, This Will Be Fun is a must-read for fans of fantasy romcoms.
"We're not who we used to be."
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and E.B. Asher for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Digital
This delightful romantasy, brimming with wit and second chances, transported me to the whimsical realm of Mythria! A world where enchanted truth or dare exists, coffee shops are commonplace, and bath bombs contain magic? Sign me up! Little things like "spell service" really sold the realm for me. Also, I just know Harpy and Hind's makes a delectable iced chai. I want t0 go to there.
"When life left one little to care about, one could care very deeply about very little."
The unique premise of a "successful" quest having devastating consequences for the heroes is refreshing. The aftermath explored the characters' trauma and subsequent growth in a believable way. Clare's transformation from people-pleaser to his authentic self was particularly satisfying. Clare's character arc specifically shines as he sheds the burden of expectations culminating in the hilarious Clare Convention. Beatrice's journey from quilt-ridden warrior to a woman embracing vulnerability resonated deeply. Her interactions with Clare sizzled with a Much Ado About Nothing/Anyone But You energy, a potent mix of past hurts and undeniable chemistry. Further. doing a sequel-esque story without actually having the first book is a tricky-task, which was executed skillfully in this book. The history of each character was made evident, and details of their past were revealed with excellent timing.
I didn't expect to fall in love with the characters quite as much as I did, but the felt incredibly real. And to find out after finishing this that the authors (yes, plural) don't have real experience in this genre? Just, wow. They honestly did an amazing job convincing readers that they are extremely capable romantasy writers. The seamless collaboration between three authors is a testament to their storytelling talent, leaving you eager for their next adventure.
"We've firmly established I'm no gentleman, Beatrice. Not with you."
With its witty dialogue, relatable characters, and surprising depth, This Will Be Fun is a must-read for fans of fantasy romcoms.
"We're not who we used to be."
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and E.B. Asher for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
June 21, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
This exceeded all my expectations. I am not a cozy fantasy person, so I didn’t quite know if this would be up my alley, but I ended up loving this.
I loved this cast of characters, we watch people separate on bad terms, and they are all in completely broken parts of life afterwards. Each one suffering in silence. But what made this book so powerful, was that each person found a way to help heal themselves using the power of love, and friendship.
This was compared to The Princess Bride, which was why I applied for this ARC in the first place. I completely see that, and agree tenfold.
If you want a meaningful, fun book with Medieval vibes, and an amazing found family, look no further! I loved this book!
4.75 stars.
This exceeded all my expectations. I am not a cozy fantasy person, so I didn’t quite know if this would be up my alley, but I ended up loving this.
I loved this cast of characters, we watch people separate on bad terms, and they are all in completely broken parts of life afterwards. Each one suffering in silence. But what made this book so powerful, was that each person found a way to help heal themselves using the power of love, and friendship.
This was compared to The Princess Bride, which was why I applied for this ARC in the first place. I completely see that, and agree tenfold.
If you want a meaningful, fun book with Medieval vibes, and an amazing found family, look no further! I loved this book!
4.75 stars.
October 3, 2024
⭐️: 3
⚔️ fantasy
⚔️ heroes and villains
⚔️ “rom-quest”
⚔️ second chance
⚔️ sapphic romance
Fantasy is not my typical genre of choice, but the synopsis of this book caught my eye and I decided to give it a try. It was a medieval fantasy with hints of magic that felt very realistic and dare-I-say, modern day.
That being said, I didn’t love this book. I typically don’t mind when a story starts somewhere in the middle and the plot is filled in as you continue to read, but I found myself lost a few too many times. I would have much preferred to know the history of the characters and their decade earlier quest, up front. It almost felt like picking up the second book in a series with never having read the first.
I would still recommend this book to fantasy readers, as they may enjoy this more than I did.
♥︎ Thank you NetGalley, Avon and E.B. Asher for the ARC of This Will Be Fun.
⚔️ fantasy
⚔️ heroes and villains
⚔️ “rom-quest”
⚔️ second chance
⚔️ sapphic romance
Fantasy is not my typical genre of choice, but the synopsis of this book caught my eye and I decided to give it a try. It was a medieval fantasy with hints of magic that felt very realistic and dare-I-say, modern day.
That being said, I didn’t love this book. I typically don’t mind when a story starts somewhere in the middle and the plot is filled in as you continue to read, but I found myself lost a few too many times. I would have much preferred to know the history of the characters and their decade earlier quest, up front. It almost felt like picking up the second book in a series with never having read the first.
I would still recommend this book to fantasy readers, as they may enjoy this more than I did.
♥︎ Thank you NetGalley, Avon and E.B. Asher for the ARC of This Will Be Fun.
September 26, 2024
4.5 stars!!
this book is so quirky & fun!! it will have you laughing out loud i promise! if you like the princess bride, my lady jane, shrek, ella enchanted, you should absolutely read this book!! i could see this one becoming a movie & doing really well. it has so many moments that you're just like ??? but then you're laughing because it's so outlandish.
while this is not my usual type of book, i really enjoyed it. it had romance elements plus an epic quest while also being emotional at parts and of course hilarious! i loved how different and unique it was. if you can read this book without laughing....are you a robot?
thank you Avon Books for the arc!!
this book is so quirky & fun!! it will have you laughing out loud i promise! if you like the princess bride, my lady jane, shrek, ella enchanted, you should absolutely read this book!! i could see this one becoming a movie & doing really well. it has so many moments that you're just like ??? but then you're laughing because it's so outlandish.
while this is not my usual type of book, i really enjoyed it. it had romance elements plus an epic quest while also being emotional at parts and of course hilarious! i loved how different and unique it was. if you can read this book without laughing....are you a robot?
thank you Avon Books for the arc!!
October 2, 2024
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Despite my best efforts, I was just not able to get into this book. Different POV just hashed out the same things over and over. Very little happens and I just couldn’t get behind any of the characters. They just weren’t likable. This really lacked substance and cohesion, unfortunately. The cover, however, is fantastic!
Despite my best efforts, I was just not able to get into this book. Different POV just hashed out the same things over and over. Very little happens and I just couldn’t get behind any of the characters. They just weren’t likable. This really lacked substance and cohesion, unfortunately. The cover, however, is fantastic!
August 11, 2024
vibes: Shrek (but with some angst and lots of romance), Dungeons & Dragons, second chances all around, "we were doing so good and then reality happened'
Heat level: 5/10
The basics:
The heroic Four--Galwell the Great, his sister Elowen, their childhood friend Beatrice, and mercenary-turned-friend Clare Grandhart--are on the brink of saving the kingdom. And then they do... at the cost of Galwell's life. Ten years later, Elowen, Beatrice, and Clare haven't spoken since the funeral. But now, they're all obligated to attend the queen's wedding. Clare and Beatrice, whose tension-filled bickering turned to loathing after Galwell died, are begrudgingly on the same path. And Elowen is roped into going when the queen hires Vandra, an assassin she had a thing with on the last quest, into bringing her to the wedding. When all four crash into each other--compelled to save the day one more time--they have to deal with allllll the unresolved feelings. Romance! Adventure! Friendship! Pet eagles! YES.
The review:
Dude! This was so fun!
I was a little skeptical about whether or not this would actually be a romance. Short answer: yes it is, and you get two for the price of one. Two second chance romances for the price of one at that, which is always great for someone like me.
I didn't shelve this as a book with a secondary romance because for all intents and purposes, Clare and Beatrice's romance and Vandra and Elowen's romance really get almost equal time. They both have issues, they both have heat, they both have grand love confessions. The only thing that makes Clare and Beatrice a little more prominent is that there are three POVs in this book--Clare, Beatrice, and Elowen. Vandra doesn't have a POV, and while I get that she wasn't a part of the original Four... I would've liked it! She's on the page as much as the other three, and I loved her and her relationship with Elowen.
That quick critique aside: point is, as a romance reader you get a lot of different things, and it's great. You get Vandra cheerfully offering to consensually kidnap the introverted, awkward Elowen, and Elowen being unable to resist because like... Yeah dude. Vandra is just hot like that. You get Clare and Beatrice's unresolved "one night stand turned questmates falling in love turned people who aren't over each other but haven't been able to deal with their feelings ever since the big bad thing happened". Unresolved horniness! Intense feeling! It's all the type of shit a romance reader will gobble up.
However, the world is also a really great part of everything. It's very much fantasy by way of Shrek. Some of our characters speak to "heart healers", who can help them analyze their feelings. One watches "shadow plays", and boy is she into fandom. A heroine who once helped saved the world is kind of a messy bitch fresh off a divorce nowadays.
It's all very tongue in cheek and snarky, but in a very WHOLE FEELINGS way. You can tell these authors fully love this kind of setting, things like The Princess Bride and Dungeons & Dragons. Fondness and emotion is a huge part of the story. So yeah, while there are antics, you never lost that sense of like... cuddly softness. I mean, Clare literally has extended inner monologues about how much he loves his pet eagle. It's the cutest thing.
Often, cuteness is used to dodge a need for plot and character development in recently published romance novels. Here, that's not the case at all. You can tell that a lot of love was put into differentiating these characters, sending up archetypes while also subverting them. These aren't perfect people. They fuck up sometimes. It's actually quite refreshing to me that Beatrice and Elowen in particular are kind of... poorly adjusted ladies in their early thirties who need to work on their shit. Appreciate that representation. But beyond that, survivor's guilt and PTSD somehow fit so nicely into what is ultimately a really funny and really sweet fantasy romance novel? My God, we really can have it all.
I feel like there was a great balance between like... quest plot, relationship plot (both romantic and platonic, no bond is neglected) and funny little sidebars and quotes that had me bookmarking pages for later. Balancing between saving the world, kissing, and a character saving the day by autographing swords kind of creates a great palate-cleansing blend.
The Sex:
You only get two sex scenes in this book, one for each couple, and while they're explicit they're still a light touch in that sense. However, I found both of them sexy, and there's a ton of chemistry and tension in both romances. You get "questmates with benefits" on one side, and "man doggedly pursuing woman who pretends she doesn't give a shit" on the other. We all win.
I loved settling into this world for a romp. You get a strong voice here, great characters, romcom antics, and yeah, a lot of heart. I'd love to read another book in the same world--and hell, I'd love to see a miniseries made out of this one. It's just a really good time without being stakes-less, and that's not always easy to find. Go on the quest, I'd say.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Heat level: 5/10
The basics:
The heroic Four--Galwell the Great, his sister Elowen, their childhood friend Beatrice, and mercenary-turned-friend Clare Grandhart--are on the brink of saving the kingdom. And then they do... at the cost of Galwell's life. Ten years later, Elowen, Beatrice, and Clare haven't spoken since the funeral. But now, they're all obligated to attend the queen's wedding. Clare and Beatrice, whose tension-filled bickering turned to loathing after Galwell died, are begrudgingly on the same path. And Elowen is roped into going when the queen hires Vandra, an assassin she had a thing with on the last quest, into bringing her to the wedding. When all four crash into each other--compelled to save the day one more time--they have to deal with allllll the unresolved feelings. Romance! Adventure! Friendship! Pet eagles! YES.
The review:
Dude! This was so fun!
I was a little skeptical about whether or not this would actually be a romance. Short answer: yes it is, and you get two for the price of one. Two second chance romances for the price of one at that, which is always great for someone like me.
I didn't shelve this as a book with a secondary romance because for all intents and purposes, Clare and Beatrice's romance and Vandra and Elowen's romance really get almost equal time. They both have issues, they both have heat, they both have grand love confessions. The only thing that makes Clare and Beatrice a little more prominent is that there are three POVs in this book--Clare, Beatrice, and Elowen. Vandra doesn't have a POV, and while I get that she wasn't a part of the original Four... I would've liked it! She's on the page as much as the other three, and I loved her and her relationship with Elowen.
That quick critique aside: point is, as a romance reader you get a lot of different things, and it's great. You get Vandra cheerfully offering to consensually kidnap the introverted, awkward Elowen, and Elowen being unable to resist because like... Yeah dude. Vandra is just hot like that. You get Clare and Beatrice's unresolved "one night stand turned questmates falling in love turned people who aren't over each other but haven't been able to deal with their feelings ever since the big bad thing happened". Unresolved horniness! Intense feeling! It's all the type of shit a romance reader will gobble up.
However, the world is also a really great part of everything. It's very much fantasy by way of Shrek. Some of our characters speak to "heart healers", who can help them analyze their feelings. One watches "shadow plays", and boy is she into fandom. A heroine who once helped saved the world is kind of a messy bitch fresh off a divorce nowadays.
It's all very tongue in cheek and snarky, but in a very WHOLE FEELINGS way. You can tell these authors fully love this kind of setting, things like The Princess Bride and Dungeons & Dragons. Fondness and emotion is a huge part of the story. So yeah, while there are antics, you never lost that sense of like... cuddly softness. I mean, Clare literally has extended inner monologues about how much he loves his pet eagle. It's the cutest thing.
Often, cuteness is used to dodge a need for plot and character development in recently published romance novels. Here, that's not the case at all. You can tell that a lot of love was put into differentiating these characters, sending up archetypes while also subverting them. These aren't perfect people. They fuck up sometimes. It's actually quite refreshing to me that Beatrice and Elowen in particular are kind of... poorly adjusted ladies in their early thirties who need to work on their shit. Appreciate that representation. But beyond that, survivor's guilt and PTSD somehow fit so nicely into what is ultimately a really funny and really sweet fantasy romance novel? My God, we really can have it all.
I feel like there was a great balance between like... quest plot, relationship plot (both romantic and platonic, no bond is neglected) and funny little sidebars and quotes that had me bookmarking pages for later. Balancing between saving the world, kissing, and a character saving the day by autographing swords kind of creates a great palate-cleansing blend.
The Sex:
You only get two sex scenes in this book, one for each couple, and while they're explicit they're still a light touch in that sense. However, I found both of them sexy, and there's a ton of chemistry and tension in both romances. You get "questmates with benefits" on one side, and "man doggedly pursuing woman who pretends she doesn't give a shit" on the other. We all win.
I loved settling into this world for a romp. You get a strong voice here, great characters, romcom antics, and yeah, a lot of heart. I'd love to read another book in the same world--and hell, I'd love to see a miniseries made out of this one. It's just a really good time without being stakes-less, and that's not always easy to find. Go on the quest, I'd say.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 31, 2024
If I could give it more stars, I would.
"This Will Be Fun" by E.B. Asher shows that group projects don't always suck. The three writers that come together to form Asher's writing have a blend of sharp wit, emotional depth, and a keen understanding of what makes a story fun while also tapping into some deeper emotions as well.
We follow Beatrice, Elowen, and Clare work through the complications of trying to save the realm without their leader, 10 years older, and all the other complicated feelings that go along with that. Hearing from all three perspectives keeps the pace moving quickly without rehashing each moment.
E.B. Asher has crafted a story that is not only entertaining but also emotional, making it a must-read for anyone who appreciates a romantasy with wit and adventure.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of this book! What a treat!
"This Will Be Fun" by E.B. Asher shows that group projects don't always suck. The three writers that come together to form Asher's writing have a blend of sharp wit, emotional depth, and a keen understanding of what makes a story fun while also tapping into some deeper emotions as well.
We follow Beatrice, Elowen, and Clare work through the complications of trying to save the realm without their leader, 10 years older, and all the other complicated feelings that go along with that. Hearing from all three perspectives keeps the pace moving quickly without rehashing each moment.
E.B. Asher has crafted a story that is not only entertaining but also emotional, making it a must-read for anyone who appreciates a romantasy with wit and adventure.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of this book! What a treat!
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