Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Woods (After the Forest) enchants in this sophisticated fairy tale that riffs on both "The Little Mermaid" and "Cinderella." Lucinde "Luce" Léon is the youngest adoptive daughter of Jean-Baptiste Léon, a distinguished ship owner in 1758 Saint-Malo, Brittany. All her life, Luce has suffered from her misshapen feet, which cause her immense pain with every step. This ache is only soothed when she escapes into the sea, often secretly exploring its depths and retrieving stolen treasures from shipwrecks alongside her dear friend Samuel Thorner, a roguish smuggler. One day, Luce rescues an unconscious stranger near shore and they share an unforgettable kiss before she flees. The man tuns out to be Morgan de Châtelaine, the dashing son of another influential ship-owning family and captain of the recently wrecked Dauphin. To celebrate Morgan's return, the de Châtelaines throw a ball, and all the local maidens flock at the chance to win the young captain's heart. This night could finally lead Luce to a happily ever after--but she has too many dark secrets plaguing her, and every day danger draws closer to their harbor. Woods pays loving tribute to two classic tales while crafting an intricate coming-of-power plot that is entirely its own. Readers will be enthralled. Agent: Julie Crisp, Julie Crisp Literary. (Feb.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
The adopted daughter of a Bretagne merchant, Lucinde dreams of setting sail to new destinations. For now, she assists her smuggler friend Samuel and sneaks to the shore, constrained by overprotective parents and the pain in her disfigured feet. Then she rescues a nearly drowned sailor: Morgan, son of another powerful family. Suddenly Luce's horizons expand, drawing her into a world of glamor and seduction. But conflict is brewing at home and at sea, and Lucinde must call on talents she didn't know she possessed to chart her own future. Woods's (After the Forest) historical fantasy weaves together elements of "Cinderella" and "The Little Mermaid" to create a wholly original tale. Lucinde's Bretagne is filled with magic found in the land, its Fae inhabitants, and even her own past. Readers will root for Luce as she chafes against her confines and discovers long-buried truths about herself. An English invasion looms, and tension brews between Morgan and Samuel's opposing livelihoods, until everything comes together in a fittingly explosive climax. VERDICT This vividly reimagined fairy tale will enchant those who enjoy historical fantasies with a romantic streak, such as Leigh Bardugo's The Familiar.--Erin Niederberger
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