Curioser And... by Jillian Maria
7 Nov 2024The Book
Synopsis:
For sixteen years, Ashlyn Jones has heeded her parents’ warnings and followed their rules. But after taking a tumble in the forest, she awakens in a strange land where there are no rules—where signs lack direction, the sky hovers on the edge of night, and all paths lead to the glittering red palace of a wicked queen. Although she’s told there’s no way home, Ashlyn is determined to find one, enlisting the help of a dreamy girl found sleeping in a tree.
But everyone is a little mad here, from the smiling cat to the whimsical man in the top hat. And the more she interacts with this strange land and its stranger inhabitants, the more Ashlyn questions the life she’s fighting so hard to get back to. Maybe she was just as trapped in her role as the dutiful daughter as she is here.
Unfortunately, she’ll be even more trapped if the queen gets ahold of her…
My Review
Curioser And... is an interesting young adult portal fantasy novella, written by Jillian Maria. Kind of inspired by Alice in Wonderland and Over The Garden Wall, we will be following the adventure of a girl, Ashlyn, after she decides to take a tumble in the forest, leading her to a magical world where she must find the way home.
However, despite taking this classical approach to the genre, Maria uses to opportunity to explore many themes such as self-expression, the opposition to authority and authenticity while telling her story. We can clearly see the inspiration from the classics into some of the characters, but always with her own twist.
The narrative is clear and concise, perfect for the age that is being targeted; the images used are also familiar to the intended public. I also appreciate how this story is well paced, and focused around the sapphic coming of our main character; now, more than ever, queer fiction is needed.
Curioser And... is an excellent proposal, really recommended if you are looking for a new look over a classic portal fantasy. I would love to revisit the world shown in this novella, as there is a great amount of potential.
Note: The following review contains only my personal thoughts as a judge and does not reflect the views of the team as a whole. No cuts or semi-finalists will be announced until Team Bookend Elves has read all of our books!
The Author/s
Jillian Maria
Jillian Maria enjoys tea, pretty dresses, and ripping out pieces of herself to put in her novels. She writes the books she wants to read, prominently featuring women who are like her in some way or another. A great lover of horror, thriller and mystery novels, most of her stories have some of her own fears lurking in the margins. When she isn't willing imaginary people into existence, she's pursuing a career in public relations and content marketing. A Michigan native, Jillian spends what little free time she has hanging out singing along with musical numbers and crying over how cute her cat is