(mini) ARC Review: Venturess by Betsy Cornwell

Hello! Today I have a wondering book that I’m doing a mini review! Let’s hop right into it!

Happily ever after is just the beginning.

Nicolette’s Cinderella story is over, and she’s finally living her own fairy tale happy ending. She’s a successful inventor now, free of her horrible stepfamily, and content in her loving friendship with Caro, a palace servant, and Fin, the prince of Esting.

Then she receives a message from her long-lost housekeeper, now a revolutionary, begging her to bring the prince to Faerie for a diplomatic meeting. Nicolette fears a trap, but decides that the chance to end the bloody war waged by their kingdom is worth the risk.

Together with Fin and Caro, she ventures across the monster-filled ocean to the lush continent she’s always dreamed of visiting. There, mechanical armies and dark magic await as they uncover devastating secrets about the past and fight for a real, lasting happily-ever-after for two troubled countries—and themselves.

A special thanks to Tara from the publicity department of HMH Teen for sending me an ARC to read and review!

If you haven’t read the first book, Mechanica, you should definitely read that first. Mechanica is a Cinderella retelling, but “Cinderella”, or in this case Mechanica, is a mechanic and all she wants to do is go the technological exposition in order to escape the clutches of her step-family. Venturess is about what happens after Nick starts up a very successful business.

This story has many unexpected twists which kept me on my toes when reading this! I loved learning about Faerie and all the inhabitants when Nick, Fin, and Caro venture there to possibly negotiate a peace treaty with the fae. I loved this story even more than the first because it continued the story of “Cinderella” whereas most Cinderella retellings stop after Happily Ever After.

Highly recommend this story to anyone who likes fairy tale retellings!

Anelise

Anelise is a complete weirdo who loves to read. Aside from reading, she loves to listen to and play music. One of her favorite quotes is “I’m young but I’m not stupid.” She is a former co-blogger of Bookwyrming Thoughts.