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The Breedling and The City in the Garden Book Review and Giveaway

Sometimes, I am simply drawn to a book by the cover. I loved the cover of The Breedling & The City in the Garden--and then realized that the book is a young adult fantasy/historical fiction blend that I found interesting as well. What is my review of The Breedling & The City in the Garden by Kimberlee Ann Bastian?

I received a complimentary ebook copy of this novel for use in my review. Readers may enter to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 

Quick Summary of The Breedling and The City in the Garden by Kimberlee Ann Bastian. Absolute obedience, servitude, neutrality. These were the laws that once governed Bartholomew, an immortal soulcatcher, until one ill-fated night when he was forced to make a choice: rebel against his masters or reveal an ancient, dangerous secret.

He chose defiance.

Imprisoned for centuries as punishment for his decision, Bartholomew wastes away—until he creates an opportunity to escape. By a stroke of chance, Bartholomew finds himself in the human world and soon learns that breaking his bonds does not come without a price. Cut off from the grace that once ruled him, he must discover a new magic in 1930s Chicago.

Armed with only a cryptic message to give him direction, Bartholomew desperately tries to resume the mission he had started so long ago. Relying on the unlikely guidance of the streetwise orphan Charlie Reese, Bartholomew must navigate the depressed streets of the City in the Garden. But in order to solve this riddle, he must first discover if choice and fate are one in the same.

This book serves to set the stage for the series. The Breedling and The City in the Garden has a slower start. This book required a bit of focus and patience on my part as the author introduced the characters and described her worlds and settings. There were points, especially early on, when I felt that the details were overwhelming--but, the need for those details become a little more evident as you move along. If you feel a bit bogged down at the beginning; keep reading--the story does pick up pace, the characters become more involved and the storyline pulls together.

The characters carried the story for me. I enjoyed the characters in this book. I enjoyed their interraction and their individual stories. When the narrative slowed, my interest in the characters kept me interested in the overall outcome of the book.

Readers will not find a lot of resolution in this first book. While there is a bit of a small story that finds some closure--readers will find that the book ends rather sharply with a lot of remaining questions left unanswered. Since this is a series, I would certainly begin at the beginning and follow through as the author's writing style is a bit mysterious and vague.

Would I recommend The Breedling and The City in the Garden by Kimberlee Ann Bastian? While I had some difficulty settling in for the story initially, I became quite drawn to the characters. This book is a unique blend of historical fiction--with fantasy, mythology and the modern world mixing at times. Plan to read with a little more focus than you may usually require for a young adult novel as the author's fantasy worlds may be a bit confusing to follow at times. I did enjoy the characters and I am certainly invested in following the rest of their adventures as the series moves forward. I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction--who also enjoy fantasy elements.

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Meet the Author:
Kimberlee Ann Bastian has a unique love affair with American nostalgia, mythology, and endless possibilities. This melting pot of elements is what prompted the creation of her epic ELEMENT ODYSSEYS series, starting with the reboot of her debut novel now titled THE BREEDLING AND THE CITY IN THE GARDEN.

When she is not in her writer's room, working her current "day job", or consuming other literary worlds, she enjoys hiking and cycling around the bluffs of your Southeastern MN home and catching up on her favorite pop culture. ​

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~Pinterest  ~ Instagram

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1 Comments

  1. Angela~ Thank you kindly for your review and for being apart of my book tour. Your feedback as well has been most welcomed.
    Happy Reading and happy holidays to you and yours.
    Regards, Kimberlee

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