Title: Fantastical
Author: Kristen Ashley
Series: Fantasyland #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: self purchase
from Goodreads…
Cora Goode has woken up in a fairytale world where she can understand what birds are saying to her, men ride horses and have fluffy feathers in their hats and furniture zigs, zags and whirls in miracles of construction.
The problem is, she thinks she’s in a dream but she’s actually taken the place of the parallel universe Cora and without realizing it, our Cora does something that starts a centuries old curse that will sweep the land if she gets captured by the evil Minerva.
At this point, her dream world becomes a nightmare.
Luckily, hot guy, fantasyland Noctorno is there to save her from the clutches of the grotesque vickrants sent by Minerva to capture her. Unfortunately, hot guy, fantasyland Noctorno doesn’t like the Cora of his world all that much (to say the least) and he thinks our Cora is her. And no matter what our Cora says or does to try to convince him, he won’t be convinced.
But Cora needs Tor to keep her safe and guide her through this fantastical world as she hopes one day to wake up in her not-so-great apartment in her not-so-great life in her world. The problem is, the more time she spends with the gorgeous warrior Tor, the faster she falls in love with him
And with this tale, I’m all caught up with my Kristen Ashley books. It’s bittersweet. I love this series, I’m glad I read it but now what? I’m officially an inhabitant of Re-Read City? I have to wait? I’m at the mercy of her publishers? Crap…I’m a little sad, I might need a moment.
Moving on…
“My people, as yet, are unaware of what has befallen them. They are experiencing unpredictable weather patterns but, as far as I can tell, nothing more.”
Holy shit guys…has Minerva made her way to our universe? Did someone inadvertently set off the curse here? (I’ll bet it was Honey Boo Boo pissing off the magical gods. I blame everything on Honey Boo Boo…and crocs, god I hate crocs.)Is that what’s going on with this crazy ass weather we’ve been having lately? When I read that line, that’s all I could think about…what if some crazy ass Kristen Ashley magical shit is really going on around me…I keep expecting to see blue mist with some hot warrior looking guy on his noble steed to appear as I’m driving down the road…could you imagine. I’m pretty certain I’d pee my pants. I mean KA certainly writes things with such descriptions and insight, it seems perfectly plausible, no?!!? I wonder what my parallel universe Scandal would be like…loud, mean spirited, devoid of humor and asexual? God, that would suck, I don’t want to be a cold fish in any universe. Shit, I sound like other-Cora…well, that could have its advantages…hello, Noc?!!? Paging Noc! (fyi – Noc is Tor’s this universe twin)
But enough about Noc…who I do believe we haven’t seen the last of, at least I hope we haven’t seen the last of him yet! Let’s talk Tor. KA does it again with her growly, broody, tall dark and sexy, scarred badass alpha man. The guy has a lot going on and he’s not an easy nut to crack. He’s been hurt, he’s kinda’ broken that way, he’s literally missing half of his soul and he thinks the other half is maybe crazy, definitely no fun in the sack and an all around horrible person. That’ll do things to a fella. That will make you keep your guard up. Poor Cora…I mean good-Cora. The underlying heroine theme in this series is “tuck and roll and just keep doing you.” These ladies go through some shit, no? They get tossed into impossible circumstances, with no support structure, in highly unfriendly environments and they can only adapt and keep true to themselves. Good thing they all get knocked up quickly. With each book I read I thought, geez, getting your period over in that universe must really suck. Seriously, chamber pots and periods do not a happy woman make. Gross.
So, good-Cora accidentally set some shit in motion that could have far reaching and long lasting side effects. And her protector pretty much hates her and doesn’t believe a word she’s saying because they have a history and frankly, he shouldn’t believe a word she says. Bad-Cora is truly awful…basically unredeemable. In fact, the epilogue alludes to a Bad-Cora/Noc reunion. I feel bad for Noc, he seems like a really good guy…maybe he’s going to turn her shit around. It would be a shame for Noc to not get some scandalicious, headboard banging, pixie dust flying, orgasm roaring sexytimes. I want to read that shit. Damn, I keep coming back to Noc…how does that keep happening?
Tor is pretty damn delicious and completely sexy with his flirty bossy ways. At first I thought I was not going to love him making good-Cora “earn” her keep but oddly enough, I was kinda’ okay with it. Maybe I’m just a horndog and wanted to see Tor get down to business…you know, there are guys you can tell, just by looking at them that they know how to get down to business. Tor would be one of those guys. It’s an aura of confidence they exude. Tor exudes it just by planting his feet and crossing his arms over his chest. Hot damn I love a growly guy…
“Quiet,” he repeated on a growl, “I’m about to fuck my wife and the only words I want her saying when I do it are ‘yes’, ‘Tor’, ‘my prince’, ‘baby’, and ‘oh my God! Am I understood?’”
Seriously, that’s a great line and I’m pretty sure if it were said to me, in a rumbly voice, I’d come right there on the spot…no touching necessary.
Of course Tor has to go and be a dick. I mean I get his hesitation, I understand why he’s Cora-gun shy but damn…the way she found out…and the red velvet cake. I love red velvet cake…never diss the bearer of red velvet cake, that’s sacrilegious. I love the way Tor is completely unflappable in our universe. Don’t you just love a guy like that? Need a new lock on your door…well, give me a second to acclimate to your new fangled tools and I’ll sort your shit out. Tor is all man, 100% alpha from the driving to the remote hogging to holy shit the playing a song on repeat for fucking ever (sorry, My Guy drives me nuts with that!!!) I guess some alpha guy attributes are trans-universal. That gives me the warm and fuzzies.
Fantastical is just that, fan-fucking-tastic. It’s far less “heavy” than The Golden Dynasty. It’s light and has lots of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. All of it. The world building KA has going on with this series is absolutely amazing. I swear I feel transported when these couples travel from universe to universe. The character development is beautiful to watch. I’m a sucker for watching couples grow, sort out their shit like grown ups, talk it out, say what they’re thinking. Like Tor said, they have enough working against them, they don’t have time to bicker, they need to trust each other and their love. And have no fear, KA gives us an epilogue that opens lots of doors. Oh man, Apollo’s story is going to be fucking awesome. Apollo is one of those guys, you know he knows how to work the sexytimes. God I can’t wait to see that happen, and his story is so heartbreaking already, I think I’m going to love his tale most of all. And the bad guys, teaming up to wreak havoc. Damn it’s gonna be so good. And all of our couples are under the same roof right now, with their babies – how cool is that? You know there’s gonna be a lot of sex in that castle! Do you think good-Cora is going to discover some latent magical power? I think so, the other heroines have it…Cora just hasn’t needed it yet. I can’t wait! If you’ve not read this series, I implore you to read it. Even if PNR isn’t your usual genre, KA builds her worlds in such a way, you’ll be okay. It’s magical, and amazing and beautiful. Don’t delay, just read it.
Fantasyland Series Reading Order
Fantastical
Fantasyland #4 – soon…hurry up!
Fantastical Purchase Links
amazon | b&n | smashwords
Kristen Ashley
twitter | facebook | website | goodreads
“It would be a shame for Noc to not get some scandalicious, headboard banging, pixie dust flying, orgasm roaring sexytimes.”
This totally had me giggle-snorting. Not attractive but sometimes that shit just happens. (Like at least once when I read your reviews. At least.) I can’t even talk on the phone while reading them because I end up cracking up and, like today, the person (in this case my sister) think I’M cracking up because I cannot even explain! (She needs to read KA but she’s all “meh” about alphas. I swear we were switched at birth cause what is THAT about?!)
Anyways, great review. Tor and Noc–I’d so be willing to be the middle of that particular sandwich. Can you imagine?!
As for the epilogue, and with how much I hated bad-Cora, I was like “holy hell how is KA going to redeem that woman?!”. I have this teeny wish (okay, more than teeny) that Noc would get together with the Circe of the other world who I thought -but I could be wrong- is now in “our” world. (Wasn’t it in Wildest Dreams that we hear how badly she has been broken and then she switched with the Circe of our world who ended up with Lahn?) Noc could so totally fix her up! I have faith he’d be up for that challenging.
The description of Apollo so far, and what he has been up to, intrigues me. I have a bad feeling that what he is trying to do will backfire in a particularly huge way. Hopefully he is up for the challenge and dear god I hope he uses A LOT of sexytimes to bring his woman around.
I do what I can Kat, bringing the silly snort out in you makes my day! I’ll be your sister from another mother if it makes you feel better!! I mean, I love the way you think, Tor/Noc sandwich – be still my panties!
Your in-this-word-Circe and Noc is a fantastic idea. And Apollo, LInnik called him the Mace of the group and she’s totally right…which explains my immediate attraction to him. Apollo more than intrigues me and I’m certain his plan is going to backfire and pretty much go to hell in a hand basket…then he’ll get all growly and the sex will happen and it will be phenomenal and I’ll jump My Guy and…mmmmm, Apollo.mmmm Mace…
Wait! Wasn’t the woman who was Apollo’s dead wife’s double in a relationship with an abuser? OMG, my brain is going to explode! That sounds like some convoluted family tree thing happening! And I’m thinking a Noc/Tor smore…. (que Homer Simpson drool here)
I think Apollo is going to have his work cut out for him on winning over his woman. No matter how much Apollo is the opposite of her abuser, that would be some tough shit to get over any time he got close.
Can’t wait to see what she does with his story and I think the Noc/Circe 2 idea would be outstanding!!!
yes, you are remembering that correctly Petra…and yes, Apollo knows this going in and still wants her there – he’s making it his mission to sort her shit out…and get his dead wife’s twin in his bed – I swear Apollo is so broken, I just want to hold him and tell him it’ll be ok.
Broken = Malkom in IAD… fuck!
You’ve destroyed any timelines and plans for anything I had to get done in the past two weeks.
I know, right?!!? It’s an awesome series and Malkom is so completely broken…and Carrow…and Ruby…oh man, I need to re-read this series – it’s too much awesome…did you finish it? What’s next?
I told you so. There you have it.
I love Tor. I was so pissed at him, but he figured out pretty quick he fucked up and set about fixing it. Wasn’t sure how I was gonna feel about this one at first, what with all the Cinderella-esque talking, dancing Tra-la-ing and shit, but it was my favorite of the series.
GOD I hope Noc gets a better woman than Other-Cora. I don’t think that bitch is redeemable.
Apollo–ooh, the Mace of the group, broody-hot Apollo. I worry for his heroine, but I think this one will be shit-hot.
And I make a kick-ass red velvet cake, BTW.
Oh my god, you are so right…that’s why I love him so hard, Apollo is totally the Mace of the group. Fuck me, why didn’t I see that?!!? I so have a type!
I like Kat’s idea above you with Noc and Circe who’s here now getting together…that sounds like an excellent idea – Noc does not deserve a cold fish like other/bad-Cora. KA has her work cut out for her if she’s gonna make me like that shrew!
MMMMMM, red velvet cake
What Linnick said….
yes but did she say anything else after Mace? I kinda’ swooned out after Mace…haha
Y’all need some help.
Everybody knows LUKE STARK is the hottest of the Hot Bunch.
Linnik, it’s a good thing I love you so much ’cause you’re crazy…to use the lingo of a very wise women, Mace is the MFM – mother fucking man! Maybe we could double.
I don’t wanna date him. There will be no DATING involved. He’s a freebie. Ya know what that means.
Ha! That’s TWO in less than a week!
LUKE STARK?!?! Not a fan of the ‘stache! I am however, willing to use Hank! HA! And I love me some Tor…
sweet! we all have our own Hot Bunch freebie so we don’t have to fight…now, about Tor and Noc…
I’m calling dibs on Tack or Hector…. you can all fight it out for Mace and Luke. They’re hot…. like volcanic, but I need a little more rough around the edges….
But, god damn… the stache
You can have Noc, Scandal. He’s got this Jersey Shore thing going on with his lingo and I’m not feeling it.
way to kill the Noc quiver for me Linnik…now I can only think of him Jersey Shore style…and I totally don’t feel that shit!!
Ummmm Hector….just saying!
Or maybe Brock……………..sigh!
You didn’t catch the very NJ-esque speech? Maybe my country ass is too sensitive to Yankee-speak…..
it didn’t register at the time but since you mentioned it, I went back to look it over and motherfucker – I think you might be on to something. Even if you’re wrong, it’s an earworm in my head now…kinda’ like the jury being told to disregard a testimony – that bell can’t be un-rung.
Hiya honey; I just wanted to extend my sympathies and welcome you to Re-Read City.
Fortunately we have only 25 more days to hang around here until Raid arrives.
K
Thanks for the warm welcome Kyle…it’s good to know we have each other! Can we still be friends if I tell you I’ve already read Raid? It’s awesome by the way, you’re gonna love it!
Envy tends to be ugly my friend, so I’ll just refrain from making any ‘you lucky bi-atch’ comments and just further extend my sympathies because now you have to wait until April-ish for your next fix. Now that wasn’t too Nanny Nanny foo foo of me was it?
xoxox
no, that wasn’t too Nanny Nanny foo foo at all, I’m proud of your restraint Kyle.
Smooches to you!!
Why don’t you just add a Boo-Yah to the end of that and be done with it?
I’m more of a Ba-BAM! girl, than a Boo-Yah, don’t ‘cha think?