Stray audiobook

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***Stray by Elissa SussmanBook One of the Four Sisters seriesPublisher: GreenwillowPublication Date: October 7, 2014Rating: 4 starsSource eARC from EdelweissSummary (from Goodreads):“I am grateful for my father, who keeps me good and sweet. I am grateful for my mother, who keeps her own heart guarded and safe. I am grateful for my adviser, who keeps me protected. I am grateful for the Path, which keeps me pure. Ever after.”Princess Aislynn has long dreamed about attending her Introduction Ball, about dancing with the handsome suitors her adviser has chosen for her, about meeting her true love and starting her happily ever after.When the night of the ball finally arrives and Nerine Academy is awash with roses and royalty, Aislynn wants nothing more than to dance the night away, dutifully following the Path that has been laid out for her. She does not intend to stray.But try as she might, Aislynn has never quite managed to control the magic that burns within her-magic brought on by wicked, terrible desires that threaten the Path she has vowed to take.After all, it is wrong to want what you do not need. Isn’t it?STRAY is the first in a collection of intertwined stories, all set in a world where magic is a curse that only women bear and society is dictated by a strict doctrine called The Path. A cross between The Handmaid’s Tale and Wicked, with a dash of Grimm and Disney thrown in, this original fairy tale will be released October 7th, 2014 from Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins.What I Liked:Ah! Original fairy tale plus fantasy plus subtle romance equals win! So much win! This book was awesomeeeee! I'm not used to fairy tales being full-length novels, but that's how they originated (most of them, I believe?). However, I LOVED this story. I LOVED Aislynn's struggles as a maiden, as a fairy godmother, as a girl trying to find her way.Aislynn has really powerful magic. Her abilities sometimes spill over, getting her in trouble at her academy. She is a princess trying to push down her magic and find a suitable match so she can be married at sixteen and settle down. Everything is about staying on the Path, which is dictated by the headmistress of the academy, the Adviser of the family, even a little by the fairy godmother of the maiden... but not by the maiden. When Aislynn and her magic and her actions become too much for the academy, she is redirected to another academy, to be a fairy godmother (think NUN) of the lost and confused princess of two really important people (can't remember their names). Aislynn knows things aren't right, but she doesn't want to stray...I thought I was going to have a hard time with this one because there is heavy emphasis on the Path, and what is good for everyone. This idea is a lot like destiny, I suppose, but like, someone chooses everything for you, so it's not... I don't know but I didn't like this idea of the Path at all. But that's just it - the author does an amazing job of developing the idea of the Path, and basically making me hate it. It made me a bit angry how blindly Aislynn and all the maidens and fairy godmothers blindly followed the Path and the headmistresses and the Advisers and everyone - but again, this is a testament to how well Sussman built this world and constructed this idea. I hate the blindly following submissive thing, but I think the author did a really good job with this idea. It's one of those things that you hate, but then you're like, well, the author WANTS me to hate this.So basically... the author did a fantastic job with the world-building. This is an original fantasy world, so it had to be creative and unique, and it was (in my opinion). I've never read anything with fairy godmothers portrayed as basically nuns? Cold, heartless nuns, but that sort of thing. Sussman definitely captured my attention, when it comes to the world-building and craftsmanship! And the story did too, of course.I think I liked Aislynn, definitely more towards the middle and end of the book. Basically once she is out of the academy. I felt soooo bad for her when she was exiled to the next academy to be a fairy godmother. That's such an awful punishment, really. And the I hated the headmistress and her cruelty. I wasn't sure how to feel about Princess Linnea... in the end, I'm pretty apathetic towards the princess. Meh.The story itself is quite intriguing. I wanted to know how Sussman would tie in the overall story arc with Aislynn's banishment to another academy. How would Aislynn having powerful abilities influence the story, how would that come into play with the evil queen, how would it help/hurt the princess? Would Aislynn get her own happy ending?There is a subtle romance in this book. It's more like a friendship with romantic feelings. The only thing is, I sort of only saw Thackery functioning as a love interest. Was that the intent? I was hoping for more from the sexy gardener. He didn't do much besides tell jokes and pick flowers and help people escape sometimes... but that's okay, he's a fabulous love interest. I like how the romance is subtle but totally there but very underlying.The ending was good! It wraps up like a standalone should, but I'm curious to see if Sussman will write companion novels in this world. I know there will be more novels, since the summary of this book says so, but will they be sequel stories, or companion stories? Tricky tricky...What I Did Not Like:I might have already mentioned my dislikes in the likes section (how backward of me, I know). I didn't really have much to complain about or anything - I wanted more from Thackery, as a protagonist, and not just a love interest. I wanted him to play a more important role, or be more manly or something. I just feel like he was part of the background - there, but not something/someone to really notice. Kind of.Would I Recommend It:I really enjoyed this book, and I would totally recommend it! I mean, I would recommend anything fairy-tale-related, to be honest... I don't think I've read an original fairy tale that I didn't like. Fairy tale retellings - different ball game. But this one is an original fairy tale, and it's awesome, and it's fantasy, and you should read it!Rating:4 stars. An excellent debut novel! I hope to read (and love?) the next books by this author!!

Want to win some super cute STRAY swag? Enter our international giveaway! Every now and then, I surprise myself by reading something I wouldn't normally pick up (based on the cover, yes. Cover snob, right here!) and find that I've discovered a gem. That's how Stray was for me. The cover's a bit dull, and while the synopsis is interesting, it wouldn't be something I'd have on my must read immediately! list. It's been getting a few mediocre ratings and reviews as well.Boy, was I pleased to find out that Stray was such an intriguing and elegant read. I wasn't expecting to finish this as quickly as I did, but I was seriously drawn into the world Elissa Sussman created. I'm a sucker for all sorts of fairy tales with dark mysteries, whimsical worlds, confusing (in a good way) characters with their own stories, and Sussman definitely gave me what I was looking for.There are no truths, only stories.My favorite aspect of Sussman's debut is definitely the world building. Although we don't really get a huge background of the world (like how things became the way they did and such), I still thoroughly enjoyed reading about this magical and whimsical world Sussman brought me to. Again, many things were left unexplained, which is why I was so intrigued with the world's system: they had fairy godmothers (not the funny ones Disney always gives us, but ones with more depth), family advisers, kings, queens, and all those stuff I absolutely love.There are some things you can never return from. Some things you can never undo.The writing definitely added to the authenticity of the book. It was very light, the kind of writing you'd expect from a fairy tale or retelling. I felt like I was floating into the world... am I still making sense? Well, that's how I felt.While all women are wicked, not all are weak.The book also teaches readers many things. My favorite life lesson probably has to be one related to the quote above: We all have our wicked sides, but the people around us, those who really love us, will embrace our wickedness. We don't need to really expel our bitterness--it will always be there. Maybe we don't always have to be good (but please still try, people. We don't want the universe to explode). Sometimes we can't help it.Aislynn is the perfect example of that. She tried to be the good girl, but eventually learned to use her magic and "wickedness" to her advantage. At first, she came off as a bit stuck-up, but she grew throughout the novel and I came to at least respect her by the end. It definitely helped that there were many interesting characters around her. There's her fairy godmother, Tahlia, who has a dark past of her own. Bridget, a friend, shares kindness whenever she can. Thackery was such an adorable and sweet love interest. And of course the infamous Queen Josetta who we have yet to meet.Overall, Stray's definitely worth the read. But if you're expecting a lot of magic, adventure, intense action and all that, you won't find it here. I think this first book was meant for self discovery, and as sort of a build up for the books to come. Now that you know what to expect, PICK THIS BOOK UP. Please and thank you.*Thank you to HarperCollins/Greenwillow for the eARC! (And boy, was it a gem.) All quotes were taken from the uncorrected proof and are subject to change on the finished copy.

I LOVED that Stray is an original fairy tale. I loved Aislynn and I loved the writing. I loved this book. I did feel like at times I was so caught up in how much I loved the concept, that I forgot to be critical. It was really great that I was so caught up in the story but I think that the concept carried me though most of the book. It was pretty slow at times and even a little boring. I didn't notice while I was reading but looking back, it was pretty slow in the middle. I'm really curious to see what happens in the next book so I'll definitely be checking it out.

I haven't read much fairy tale like books, if you don't count the ones I read as a child. Actually, I'm pretty sure I haven't read any. I don't know why I picked up Stray, but I guess I just wanted to bring a little diversity into my reading, and with the beautiful cover that Stray has, I ended up reading it. I am surprised by how much I enjoyed Stray. It's a kind of fairy tale interlaced with a really great world-building and fantasy elements & a cute and subtle romance. Aislynn is currently attending Nerine Academy in which she shall learn everything there is about her future life and finding a proper husband, but also how to control her magic. She is to follow the Path. On the night of her Introduction Ball where she is supposed to choose her husband, an uncontrolled outburst of magic happens, and she is redirected. Meaning, she won't have the chance of living a normal life and starting a family, but she is to be a fairy godmother (read: she'll help other girls on following the Path). Is Aislynn going to continue with her schooling as a fairy godmother, or will she stop following the Path and stray?Like I already mentioned, the strongest part of this book is the world-building. Elissa Sussman does such an amazing job at describing and creating the world that is so magical and intriguing and you just can't help it, but be sucked right into it. The whole idea of the Path is very unique in my opinion. There is a set of rules that you're supposed to follow, a certain way to live your life, and if you don't follow all the rules, you stray, and with that you lose every privilege you previously had, like food or a place to sleep. You're up on your own in a world in which it's not easy to survive. "I will accept the Path I am taking. I will not stray. I will not yearn for what I cannot have. I will heed the words of my advisers and guard my loving heart against cursed magic. Ever after."Another thing that I really enjoyed in Stray, is the romance. It is very subtle, but still very present. It never gets into the way, but it's always there and it's a nice thing when you don't have to read an awesome book, but it gets ruined with an awful lot of romance parts, or even worse, with insta-love!Stray is the first book in the Four Sisters series, and even though every book is supposed to be a standalone, I am really glad they are placed in the same world. I must admit that I am really excited to read them. I think Stray would be a great read for everyone who likes retellings or fairy-tales. But even if you're not that much into it, maybe you should give this one a try and discover that this genre also has a lot of potential.If you want to read more reviews like this, visit my blog Anatea's Bookshelf.

Ooo this sounds like the YA version of Mercedes Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms! YES PLEASE.

What a breath of fairytale fresh air! A riveting account of ever after as seen through princess who may be redirected to a role of fairy godmothers. I absolutely adore fairy-tale re-tellings. I never get tired of reading a book that enraptures me in its fracture retelling finery. I’m always ready to read a good (or watch) a good dose of ‘Ever After’ This book’s scope of retellings focused on murky characters such as ‘fairy godmothers.’ Stray, in essence, was a wondrous bibbidi bobbidi boo of YA magic: The plot is a intricate weave of unanswered questions concerning this world, spotty characters, and Aislynn's purpose. Sussman's questions and even plot points are being set-up for future novels and remain unresolved, so their lack of finite execution has yet to worry me. After reading the first Shadow and Bone (Leigh Bardugo) and Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Laini Taylor)---I feel that, I don’t mind going ‘WTF?!’ for any length of time (I think I'm conditioned now to the point of expecting fantasy books as 'series' rather than stand-alones)---the point being: as long as my questions are answered further down the line---and there are no outstanding plot holes, I'm okay with reading in the pursuit of answers. Sussman's writing is captivating enough to ask that, quite frankly, next time I would appreciate the author to.... The world-building, and setting is fascinating. The layer of guessing, just adds to either your (frustration, or enjoyment) of this book. While plot purposes could be held questionable (and to some definitely accountable), my main enjoyment was character connection. Sussman did a fantastic job of bringing Aislynn, her problems, her connection to her world---ALIVE. She breathed life into Linnea, Thackery, Brigid---and other secondary characters. I enjoyed experiencing their world through Aislynn's eyes, as she (albeit fretfully) decides whether to stay on the path or stray. In essence, if you like fairytale re-tellings, some action-adventure, and great characterization---Stray is a fabulous read. I will have plenty of readers who will EAT THIS BOOK ALIVE (or at least cradle it to their chest in HUGS)----and I’m genuinely excited for the sequel. Needless to say, If I’m ever set on a path (or given the option to stray from it) in order to achieve my ever after: Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC!

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Stray is an enchanting original fairy tale that will completely captivate you. It surprisingly covers a lot of realistic issues in a fun and interesting way. I can honestly say that I have never read anything quite like this before!Opening Sentence: Aislynn’s hands were bleeding.The Review:Princess Aislynn has never really felt like she was good enough. She is a princess so she figured she would grow up to be graceful, beautiful, and the curse would never be a problem, but that’s not what happened. There is magic inside her that is always fighting to get out and she doesn’t always have the purest thoughts. Girls that don’t learn to control their abilities are much more likely to stray from the sacred path that has been put in place to protect everyone.All girls of noble birth are introduced to society at the age of 16 and if they aren’t married by the time they turn 17 they are sent to become fairy godmother’s to other noble girls. It is finally Aislynn’s 16th birthday and she couldn’t be happier to be introduced to society. But something terrible goes wrong at her ball and instead of meeting prince charming she is shipped off to become a fairy godmother. She is assigned to Princess Linnea, an orphaned girl that has had a rough childhood. As they get to know each other Aislynn comes to realize that she wasn’t as different as she thought and that maybe magic isn’t such a bad thing. There is so much Aislynn doesn’t understand, but she knows that there are people out there that will do anything to make sure she doesn’t stray!Aislynn is a very interesting character to get to know. She has some wonderful traits but at the same time lots of flaws as well. She is a very caring person and she is always trying to do the right thing, but at the same time because she is so naïve she makes a lot of mistakes. In a lot of ways this was really a coming of age story and I enjoyed watching Aislynn grow into a woman. Even though she started out as a shy girl that was easily influenced, she quickly learned that if she wanted to be happy she was going to have to pave her own path. She was a very easy character to like and connect with.I adored Thackery and he was probably my favorite part of the story. He is sweet, clever, brave, and stubborn. Pretty much from the first moment I met him I was completely taken with him. To be perfectly honest there isn’t really a lot of romance in the story but there is just enough to make you want more. Their relationship developed slowly and it was done so perfectly. For the most part, Thackery is a pretty minor character in the story, but I am hoping that we will get to see him a lot more in the next book.Stray is a beautiful dark fairy tale that completely captivated me. To be totally honest, there were parts of the story that dragged and some things were a little confusing. So it obviously wasn’t perfect, but I found that its flaws were easy to overlook because the story was so intriguing. I loved the characters, they were engaging and easy to connect with. The idea was very unique and I can honestly say I haven’t ever read anything quite like this before. It did start out a little slow but it caught my interest enough that I wanted to keep reading and I found that my interest never wavered throughout the story. The ending was pretty abrupt and I am glad that there is going to be another book because I still have lots of unanswered questions. I wouldn’t say that this book is for everyone, but if you like fairy tales or want a unique young adult book, I would recommend you give this one a try!Notable Scene:Madame Moira held the glass jar aloft. Inside was a glowing orb, pulsing and blinking like a firefly. Its bright blue light filled the room. The headmistress quickly sealed the jar and, with a ring of keys, unlocked one of the doors in the wall. She placed the jar inside, the glowing thing that had once been a part of Aislynn swiftly locked away.Aislynn waited for pain. She waited for a sense of loss, of unfathomable sadness, but nothing came. She felt the same. Had it worked? She glanced over at the apple on the headmistress’s desk. The heat that had been there earlier when she had thought about Thackery was gone. She thought about Everett too, and there was no twinge, no ache. Her heart beat steadily on, no longer stopping at the thought of him.It felt wonderful.FTC Advisory: Greenwillow/HarperTeen provided me with a copy of Stray. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Stray has a very unique fairy tale quality of its own, while also incorporating fun, subtle connections to other fairy tales that we know and love. In the kingdom where Princess Aislynn resides, the use magic is forbidden. That is, unless you are a fairy godmother. Becoming a fairy godmother is not an aspiration to hold, however. "Isn't it your responsibility to make sure that the tea remains hot? Isn't that your very purpose? Does The Path not say 'Give me a fairy godmother, so I may not wish. Give me a fairy godmother, so I may not want'?" The use of magic is considered sinful, forming a label over the perpetrator's head as a stray, a rejection of the devoted path chosen by the Academy. Princess Aislynn must follow her path towards finding a suitable husband by the end of her sixteenth birthday, or risk having her path redirected to the Order of Fairy Godmothers. Due to her uncontrollable magic during times of distress, the path for Princess Aislynn is redirected where she finds herself as a fairy godmother to the Princess Linnea. Initally the thought of a princess being forced out of her original duties seemed absurd. Surely these rules are unjust and would lead to countless rebellions, especially with the fairy godmothers permitted to use magic. The history surrounding the paths and fairy godmothers was definitely unique and intricate, however, and the punishment for not following your assigned path is severe. The duty of a fairy godmother is much like a servant, while also ensuring their assigned maiden remains on the proper path for the rest of her life. There were moments reminiscent of Cinderella, as well, which I really enjoyed. Of course, the relationship between the maiden and her fairy godmother is really special, and complex. I especially enjoyed Aislynn's connection with her own fairy godmother before she is redirected. Aislynn was a pushover, in a way. Her fear of magic forced her to remain within her duties rather than live her life willingly. Her obedience kept the story more character driven as she embosses her life as a fairy godmother, but the action definitely builds up along the way, as well as the formation of wonderful relationships.The romance formed in Stray is adorable. Thackery, which is totally an unfortunate name, is quite charming, but also a little insecure, and I enjoyed his curiosity towards Aislynn. What I enjoyed most about the romance, however, is that his occupation is a gardener. Not a prince. Not a guard. A gardener. Their relationship is more of a slow burn for the majority of the book, too, which is my personal favourite.There is quite a few villains along the way, and although some were predictable, others were not. The mention of an Evil Queen and her huntsmen is incorporated throughout the story, as well. Although the Evil Queen has an underlying purpose to the plot, her character is not fully introduced in Stray. I'm anticipating the second installment, Burn, will combine her path with Aislynn's, which will provide further explanation of the magic system.

3.5/5 I had no idea that Stray was about fairy godmothers before I started it, so finding out was a nice surprise. I can't say I completely loved this book. It had some issues that prevented me from doing so, but I still thought the world Stray was set in was interesting and I'm curious to find out more about it in the subsequent books.Aislynn as a heroine was interesting, but I can't say she was the kind of character who would stand out to me. She had this fierceness to her that I thoroughly enjoyed and I liked watching her character develop, but she was missing a little something special to make her really spark as a character. I did want her to fight a bit stronger when it came to societal norms that were placed upon her, but I think that came about from me being a new generation who can't stand to see the mistreatment of women. Regardless, I thought Aislynn did mature a little as the story went by, which was more than enough to satisfy me. Thackery was the highlight for me. He was a sweet guy and he was Aislynn's love interest, but more than his romance with her, I loved seeing the shades of his character slowly being revealed to the reader. There were some surprises when it came to him and I'm excited to see how his story progresses along with the series.The plot in itself was something I enjoyed. I admit that in certain parts it felt like it was dragging, but overall the story was one that had me hooked. I also thought the world that Elissa Sussman has created is a complex one with a lot of possibilities. I love that she derived her world from fairy tales, but still managed to make it unique. It's very much a misogynistic world and some scenes might make you uncomfortable, but it's also peppered with some realism and makes you grateful that you don't belong to such a society. There were some questions that I thought were left unanswered, but because this is a series, I'm holding out hope that they will eventually be answered. It has a fascinating concept, one that I thing could have done with a little more work, but it was still remarkable and I have no doubt that it will become stronger as the series progresses.Elissa Sussman's debut was a successful one for me. It was by no means perfect. It had its flaws, but it's a series that I believe will only get better. I'm excited for the prospect and I can't wait to see what the author has up her sleeves.

BEST.BOOK. OF.2016.SO. FAR.I LOVED HOW IT WAS AN ORIGINAL FAIRYTALE AND IT GAVE ME ALL OF THE FEELS.OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH

Nearly a perfect 5/5. I absolutely loved this book! I'm not usually into fantasy books, but the female protagonist and the fact that I didn't feel like the romance was really forced on the reader was great as was the plot. Of course, not every book is perfect, but I really really enjoyed this one. I'm seeing that a lot of reviewers are saying it's sexist, but my personal opinion is that it's meant to be. It's meant to reflect the world as it is now, and show how harmful these mindsets are. Another thing I saw a lot of people saying was that it didn't feel fleshed out, that a lot of things weren't expanded upon. I personally thought there was enough things left unexplored to leave me fiercely anticipating the next book. There's only so much you can explain and lay out for readers in terms of the story's universe before it starts to feel like the writer is just listing things. I think the setting was unfolded in a very natural way and I liked how realistically flawed Aishlynn was. Those things being said, I would definitely recommend Stray.

4/5 StarsStray was such a wonderful and refreshing novel to read. As a huge fan of renditions of fairy tale's and folklore I was drawn to this novel. This novel references many fairytales, yet stays as a completely original story. The ending also laves such a cliff hanger. In some novels of a series leave the ending's where if you don't want to continue the series you have enough details to imagine an ending, but not in this novel. I look forward to reading the second novel Burn.I also enjoyed the beautiful yet haunting image definitely captures what lays within. I recommend reading this novel @thesexylibrarian