More of a 3.5, but we're gonna rate this up because I really liked Bristal.

At some point I got it into my head that this was a middle grade, which it's not really. Bristal is 16 at the start and she undergoes some terrifying moments both during her apprenticeship and later when she's out in the wider world.

The beginning dragged however - there was a lot of info dumping in obvious ways that annoyed me. It ruined some of the tension between Brack and Tamarice, leeching the discord between them.

The beginning is also heavy handed about "good" vs "evil" vs "right" vs "wrong". You KNOW that neither Tamarice nor Brack is approaching their job as elicromancers correctly. Whether born of centuries of just them or willful ignorance to avoid past mistakes, they're both so obviously not going to compromise I found it hard to understand how they survived together.

Things pick up later when Bristal goes off to join up with Prince Anthony and his merry band of warriors.

Bristal's cleverness and resourcefulness are on full display during that part. And while I didn't believe she'd go dark, I appreciated the fact she tried her abilities as much as possible.

Overall I enjoyed this book and loved West's style. ( )

Would likely appeal to fans of Mercedes Lackey books. Didn't hold my attention well. ( )

An enjoyable fairytale mash-up combining elements of Sleeping Beauty, Mulan, and Cinderella. My main complaint was that I found the supporting characters more interesting than the main character, and the love story was quite boring and predictable. Overall, a fun read. ( )

Bristal discovers that she is an elicromancer, a rare type of immortal destined to help the world of mortals. Caught between the agenda of the only other two elicromancers, Bristal uses her transformation ability to protect a cursed princess and help a prince prepare for war. She must decide what is more important, the fate of the world, or her own heart.

DNF at Chapter 4, page 55. The captivating cover (by Dan Burgess) and the irresistible fairy-tale title are what landed West's debut novel on Mt. TBR. Seriously, look at that cover and tell me you don't want to jump into that forest and follow its path to the story!

Unfortunately, I was not in the right mood for this particular brand of fantasy. The setup seems like the typical "Chosen One" storyline with a mash-up of fairy-tale retellings as the backdrop, yet I couldn't connect. I was miffed by the repeated use of "ladylike" to describe a female's physical appearance. And I'm pretty certain Tamarice is going to be the "bad" to Bristal's "good." But I think the biggest disconnect, for me personally, was that it seemed as if this was the second book in a series instead of a debut standalone -- there was just something off. Too many other books to read to continue with one I'm sure will end in "meh" territory.

Summary: "Sixteen-year-old Bristal discovers she is a shapeshifter, one of three remaining elicromancers tasked with guarding the realm of Nissera against dark magic while manipulating three royal families to promote peace."