The Wish Collector

4 Stars My first book for 2019 and I have to say this was a pretty enjoyable one for me!! Love Mia Sheridan's writing, and it felt like it's been a long time since I've picked up one of her books but in reality, I think it's only been about a year. Anyways, here I am once again being swept away by another one of her beautiful stories, though that isn't too surprising because I usually love her books. Personally, It took a while to get into the dual stories and timeline so for a while I felt detached from the past events. However, once I did it start to get interested in both stories it added to the overall reading experience. I didn't have as strong of a connection as I usually have with her book characters, that might be because of the way it was written in 3rd person but other than that I had a good time reading this one.

2.25 ⭐ I'm not sure what to say. It was an easy read, but it felt as if something was lacking, as if it was incomplete. The concept was great, but the execution just didn't do it justice. All in all, it's just meh. Not bad, but not good either.

Is there a word for when a book leaves you speechless and yet it deserves all the praise in the world? This is The Wish Collector for me, in a nutshell. To be completely, shamefully honest, I haven't heard about Mia Sheridan before reading this. I knew about her Archer's Voice but this was it. I am a huge fan of romance books but good writers of this genre are pretty much everywhere (and I am blessed!) so I always struggle with my next read. I am so glad it was this. One thing about myself during these days is that I am terribly busy and sometimes even 10 minutes dedicated to reading make me feel guilty. But this book? I couldn't put it down! I spend 3 days on 3 hours night sleep because I had to know what will happen next! And I admit it being all on me- chapters don't end in cliffhangers, the pace is gentle, the book has a quiet, charming beauty so, you know, it isn't cheating to make you read more and more. What it has, though, is a heartwarming quality. It's a very cosy read and, while reading for me is mostly a visual experience, I appreciated this book a lot for I could feel the warmth of it permeating my body, which was nice and addictive in a very wholesome way. The book, however, starts as awful as possible, the first chapter is just bad writing- quite intentionally made to seems so, as I have eventually figured out. Focused on the past of the main character, the prologue deals with his former cocky, proud-blinded persona, outlining the reasons which lead to his downfall. Moving forward, in Clara's voice, the narrative tone becomes more refined and detail-oriented. This is not a book of enchanted metaphors or magical writing, although I think the description makes it seem so. But I liked the style. It was sparse and to the point and yet infused with emotions pouring between the lines. Both main characters are not experts as expressing themselves but their actions speak louder than words. What did I like about this book? Saying everything wouldn't be a lie. - I adored Clara and Jonah together. The slow burn, the progressive development of their relationship revolving around the symbol of a threshold between two worlds, that of guilt and that of forgiveness. The romance was simply perfect, there was no bump in the road, the progression was organic, with each achievement beautifully celebrated - I loved the main character! I get that he is a bit controversial- and I could (kinda) see why, but not really. Yes, his past could be used against it but - even though in a very saviour- like cliche- he makes up for his mistakes and I think we can wholeheartedly forgive and forget once we found out a few more things about the whole affair - I like the mystery surrounding the former plantation and the star crossed lovers of the past. It was so, so predictable, yes, but it was also extremely satisfying. -I loved the LOVE. The whole Thisbe and Pyramus connection, separated by the wall as the threshold between the worlds. And those Phantom of the Opera undertones (the mask, the half scarred face, the isolation, the fire)- I admit hating that this book was sold as something of a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Nevertheless, I was always rooting, in the original novel, for Erik and Christine to end up together, and now they have FINALLY done it and I couldn't stop just swooning for the entire book. But Clara wasn't like Christine, weak, naive and indecisive. She was, despite her vulnerability, a fighter and I loved her to the bits for it. And I loved Jonah, he was kind to the core, although terribly misguided in his youth and he wholesomely deserved his redemption arc 100%. The only flaw I could find with this book is not being long enough, despite its hefty 500 hundred pages. Don't get me wrong, it didn't *feel* short but I just wanted it to never end and I wish I had the chance to be reading again the first time, I do. I have underlined so many quotes, how could I even name one? The book was beautiful, just beautiful in its entirety and a great reading experience I would recommend to everybody. --- Copyright for the image goes to the amazing luna-wannabe on Deviant Art portraying Pyramus and Thysbe.

TBH I feel a bit conflicted about this one. I did 'like' it, but from the start, I had some niggles about the 'slave plantation' narrative as I mostly do when such a backstory is used a plot device, especially when used in a story where the MCs are not descendants of slaves. Especially when the obvious rape of a slave woman by the master of the plantation is not named as such on the page. Then came the Beauty and the Beast vibe, and The Phantom of the Opera vibe and also at the start I had a really strong vision of Keanu Reeves (be still my beating heart!) in The Devils Advocate going through my head. The prologue could literally have been a rewrite of the beginning of that movie! And at the time of writing this, I'm thinking of Cate Blanchett in Benjamin Button (because she was a ballet dancer in NO). Anyway, the moral of all that was that it seemed like A LOT was going on. And then there was the historical storyline, of Angelina and John going on too, and sorry to say it, the whiff of 'white savior' going on throughout... However, unlike some others, I was invested in the love evolving between the MC's, and felt invested in Joshua's redemption. Also, I'm a crybaby, so it didn't take much to bring forth the tears so to speak, and this of course happened at many a point in the story but at the same time, I still had some niggles about some of what was going on. Hence only 3 stars.