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An up-all-night read

Broken Dove  - Kristen Ashley

I found Kristen Ashley earlier this year while searching for a new book to fall in love with. Law Man tumbled me head first into an obsessive need to read and re-read every Kristen Ashley book ever written. Seriously. It took a while to get used to her writing and the way she phrases things, but once I did--I'm an addict. 

 

I put off reading her Fantasyland series for last. I wasn't sure I'd like it. I think I have re-read Wildest Dreams and The Golden Dynasty more than any of her other books. And I have been craving Apollo's story since he payed Valentine at the end of Wildest Dreams. 

 

Holy-rip-my-heart-out. Two weeks ago I read the first three chapters on Kristen Ashley's website and I've been jonesing for this story since. I bought the book at midnight-fifteen and stayed up till almost 6 am to finish it. 

 

Apollo's wife Ilsa died years before the beginning of Wildest Dreams. So in love with her, he mourns her still. Then he finds out she has a twin in a parallel (our) world and pays Valentine (a kick ass witch with powers beyond almost anything on either world) to find her. Now you know this isn't going to go well. 

 

It goes worse. The Ilsa in our world's husband is an abusive criminal. She's been on the run from him for years. So now you know it's going to really not go well.

 

Broken Dove opens with the Apollo (Pol) of our world finding the Ilsa of our world. Holy bad guy, batman. Douche, jerk...I could go on into four-letter-curse-word territory, but you get the drift. The good Apollo shows up in time to rescue Ilsa and chop off Pol's hand. Valentine transports them back to the fairytale world.

 

Then, because there's a war brewing, Apollo lashes out at Ilsa and abandons her in this new world--the abandonment understandable because, well, there's a war brewing. The lashing out kind-of understandable because she's the spitting image of his dead, beloved wife and absolutely nothing like her. 

 

The book progresses (trying to avoid spoilers) and Ilsa changes her name to Madeleine. As it goes in Kristen Ashley books, Maddie and Apollo become, um, intimately acquainted and begin to develop a relationship. Hurdles arise, intrigues occur and Maddie and Apollo fight and make up. And Maddie has to deal with Apollo's children with the deceased Ilsa--children who Maddie lost in our world, children she never got to have. Cristophe has a hard time dealing with his mom's twin; Elan wasn't old enough to create memories of her mom so she falls head over heels in love with Maddie.

 

There's a fight where Apollo says things that, to me, would be very unforgivable. And that it takes two days for him to apologize...that's the only reason I gave this book 4.5 stars instead of 5. He says, almost, the right things to make it better, but really, he couldn't have said anything more hurtful if he tried. He pulled the bow back and hit a bulls eye with that arrow. But, I'm a sucker for a happy ending, so I go with Maddie's flow and forgive him, too. This is probably the only thing I don't like about Apollo--his reasons for lashing out and the words he says. They don't mesh with me, they don't sit well at all. Then taking the time it does--and only after Maddie sort of comes to him--yeah, I had to knock 1/2 a star off for that. 

 

Now--the reason I freaking love this book: the arrival of all the couples from the previous books and their kids. I sat in bed next to my sleeping husband, giggling into my hand because I seriously love all those characters and I loved watching them interact with each other. 

 

It gets a little confusing with the whole cast of characters involved--there's a lot of names thrown around. Fortunately I've devoured the other books enough times that I'm able to keep everyone straight. 

 

Kristen Ashley has delivered to me another book that I will read and re-read. Then I'll start over from the beginning of the series and read through all the books, again.

 

Now, for a tease. At the end of Fantastical, Valentine goes to the Noctorno of our world and tells him the good Cora needs him. And boy does he deliver! The last page teases that there'll be one more book in the Fantasyland series. From Kristen Ashley's website, I think it'll be the Noctorno (Noc) of our world...but I guess we'll have to wait and see. Damn it (the waiting, not the seeing).