Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Review: White Hart by Sarah Dalton

Title: White Hart (White Hart #1)
Author: Sarah Dalton
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Release Date: March 5, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Mae never asked to be craft-born. She never wanted that burden.

The realm needs magic again, and the the King of Aegunlund has been waiting for the first craft-born girl to marry his son, Prince Casimir.

In Mae's town of Halts-Walden, the ambitious miller claims his daughter Ellen is craft-born. Mae knows this is a load of hogwash, but she's glad Ellen will have the unfortunate pleasure of becoming queen instead of her. All she has to do is sit back and wait until Casimir and Ellen are married, then she will finally be free of the threat of her fate. But on that day an event so shocking and terrible occurs that Mae finds herself entering the neighbouring cursed forest on a quest she never thought she'd have to follow. 

Join Mae as she rides her white stag through the Waerg Woods with a pampered prince at her heels. She's out for revenge and nothing, no one, will get in her way.



White Hart is a phenomenal story.  There's magic, a prince, a haunted forest, and frightening creatures all waiting inside.  I love that the hero of the story, and the one doing most of the saving, is a girl.  Mae doesn't always think of herself as strong, but she's smart and resourceful when it's needed most.  I loved her relationship with her stag, Anta.  I'm always more attached to a character that has a good bond with a favorite animal.

Prince Casimir, on the other hand, was not what I would call your typical fantasy prince.  He wasn't the amazing good hero saving the day, but he also wasn't the evil prince out to destroy the world.  He just...was.  The only thing he really seemed to have a strong opinion on was that he had to marry the craft-born girl - who he believes to be Ellen.

Much of this story takes place in the Waerg Woods.  It's full of creatures - some I had heard of and some I hadn't, but all had a very unique twist.  I absolutely loved the birds!!!  They had the perfect creepy factor going for them.  The groups of people they encounter in the woods are also very diverse and really help to push Mae along her emotional journey.

This story had plenty of action and was a very quick read.  It does end with one heck of a cliffhanger though and I don't see a release date for book two yet.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*


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