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A review by readwithmesashamarie
Spring Song by Cassia Hall
4.0
Thank you to Reedsy Discovery for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Spring Song is the first story in a novella-esque prequel series. When I first started reading this story, I had no idea it was a prequel, and was understandably confused. The author was kind enough to include a glossary of sorts, which did help me assimilate to the writing style and very specific dialect used by these characters.
This story is first and foremost about fated love, as well as past lives. I really enjoyed watching these characters find each other again in this lifetime, and how they navigated the challenges that came with not only seeing the other person for who they truly were, but accepting them as well. One of our couples includes LGBTQ+ characters, which is a theme throughout the first and second stories in this series.
The author also took the time to compose and record songs for this work of fiction, which made the world building feel complete. After listening to one of the songs on the YouTube channel provided in the book, I felt myself settle into the story and begin to really enjoy the ride.
What I liked so much about this story was that we followed the seemingly mundane day to day lives of certain characters, all the while in the background a major plot point is looming. This world consists of Travelers, who are tasked with duties to different kingdoms. One Traveler brings a High Lord and two wild children to stay with their Grandma (or Grand Aunt). While the children run amok, causing chaos and mini disasters wherever they go, our High Lord discovers the reason he felt compelled to come to this place was a person - a stable lad.
It's my understanding as the reader that everyone in this world has a magical ability to some degree, whether that's communicating with animals, growing plants, healing, music, telekinesis, shape shifting, or traveling between worlds. While we watch two couples find each other again in this lifetime, we're also waiting for the other shoe to drop. The wild children's mothers are missing, and their fathers and unknown (to the reader). The suspense of this mixes so effortlessly with the day to day lives of everyone around the children that the setting becomes idyllic, despite their tantrums and squeals from page to page.
The magic system and language used in this novel could be confusing at times, but I do think it's worth it to push through. I'm very curious about the main series for this story, and hope that readers would pick these books up after reading those for a more enjoyable experience, and easier transition. I really enjoyed the aspects of the love stories, as well as how developed these characters were. Their nuances, faults, and redeeming qualities really shine throughout this story, and blended together so naturally with discussions of music, nature, and animals.
There are so many different aspects to this world I think readers would love, and I hope more people discover this series and give it a chance.
Spring Song is the first story in a novella-esque prequel series. When I first started reading this story, I had no idea it was a prequel, and was understandably confused. The author was kind enough to include a glossary of sorts, which did help me assimilate to the writing style and very specific dialect used by these characters.
This story is first and foremost about fated love, as well as past lives. I really enjoyed watching these characters find each other again in this lifetime, and how they navigated the challenges that came with not only seeing the other person for who they truly were, but accepting them as well. One of our couples includes LGBTQ+ characters, which is a theme throughout the first and second stories in this series.
The author also took the time to compose and record songs for this work of fiction, which made the world building feel complete. After listening to one of the songs on the YouTube channel provided in the book, I felt myself settle into the story and begin to really enjoy the ride.
What I liked so much about this story was that we followed the seemingly mundane day to day lives of certain characters, all the while in the background a major plot point is looming. This world consists of Travelers, who are tasked with duties to different kingdoms. One Traveler brings a High Lord and two wild children to stay with their Grandma (or Grand Aunt). While the children run amok, causing chaos and mini disasters wherever they go, our High Lord discovers the reason he felt compelled to come to this place was a person - a stable lad.
It's my understanding as the reader that everyone in this world has a magical ability to some degree, whether that's communicating with animals, growing plants, healing, music, telekinesis, shape shifting, or traveling between worlds. While we watch two couples find each other again in this lifetime, we're also waiting for the other shoe to drop. The wild children's mothers are missing, and their fathers and unknown (to the reader). The suspense of this mixes so effortlessly with the day to day lives of everyone around the children that the setting becomes idyllic, despite their tantrums and squeals from page to page.
The magic system and language used in this novel could be confusing at times, but I do think it's worth it to push through. I'm very curious about the main series for this story, and hope that readers would pick these books up after reading those for a more enjoyable experience, and easier transition. I really enjoyed the aspects of the love stories, as well as how developed these characters were. Their nuances, faults, and redeeming qualities really shine throughout this story, and blended together so naturally with discussions of music, nature, and animals.
There are so many different aspects to this world I think readers would love, and I hope more people discover this series and give it a chance.