Wildest Dreams (Fantasyland Series) Paperback – November 11, 2015

I will start by stating that I will buy any romance book that Ms. Ashley publishes. She is a talented writer and if I am completely honest, any other author I would have given them two stars for this book instead of three. Alas, this book still held some of the characteristics that I love but I cannot ignore the misogynistic undertones in this book. I read tons of romance books, they are a great escape and for the most I am guaranteed a happy end. So I am not a stranger to the weak doormat character that infects many books but this one was not ok on many levels.The book starts off great. Finnie wants an adventure so she finds a witch and transports herself to another world. She switches positions with her twin of that world and lands smack in the middle of getting married to the H, Frey. It becomes obvious that the H really doesn't like the h and drops her off in a dirty cabin to fend for herself all the while acting like a complete jerk. Of course she is sweet and nice at every turn and our H quickly realizes that the Finnie that he marries is a completely different person. He then chooses to bind her to his world, taking away her scheduled return date without her knowledge. This was fairly early on in the story and I settled in for the drama to unfold. It wasn't until half way through the book that it all started going soooo wrong for me. ***Possible Spoilers*** Finnie finds out that the H had a fling with one of her maids. This was before the H and h were together but of course Finnie is still hurt by this. Frey is upset that she is upset. This is what I love about this author's writing. Both characters are very justified in their feelings. The author conveys the angst so well that I was right there with both characters during the heated argument. However, the H loses the high road when he specifically requested the maid (the lover in question) to serve him his dinner in front of Finnie's family despite the fact that their affair had been widely known. After dinner, he further retaliates by informing Finnie that he can do whatever with whoever and will not be questioned. He answers to nobody. He elaborates by stating that maybe one day it'll change but that is just how it is. Our Finnie does all woman proud by standing up to him. He is infuriated, tells her how hot Viola is and that he is off to do other woman. Some time goes by without any resolution to this. This is when the h's inner monologue starts twisting everything around to be her fault which I am completely baffled/enraged by. Grrr!!! Then the h gets the "stand by your man" talk from her mother which made me want to throw my Kindle up against the wall. Shortly after that, Frey goes to inform Finnie that he is leaving her again for a month, walks in on her in her underwear he says mean stuff to her again, makes her cry then they have sex. And that was how that was resolved. There was no talking about the MONUMENTAL issues that were still there. NOTHING WAS RESOLVED! So the h was perfectly fine being in a relationship where the H had a free pass to do whatever he wanted, disrespecting her, setting out to purposely hurt her and she was just going to suck it up and take it. I was so annoyed I couldn't read the sex scene. He never apologized for any of it! They both just moved on like nothing happened. Whatever. Later on in the story he does state that he did not go and have sex with anyone else that night.He admitted that he acted out of anger when he asked the maid to serve him. However, during that conversation, our h acts like it is not a big deal and ignores all of the other issues such as his wife not having the right to expect a monogamous relationship or how disrespectful he was to her or how he humiliated her. The nail on the coffin for me with this book was when Finnie found out about how Frey tying her to his world AND replacing her birth control with placebos. Finnie yells at Frey and just as I thought the h backbone was going to show, there is an attack on them, taking the focus away from the most important issues. When it is finally brought up again by Frey, Finnie says, "we don't need to talk about it" What?! WHAT?!!! WTH?!! Frey insist on discussing it and does this by stating "I was in love with you when I ordered the elves to bind you to me." The h responds with glee to hear this and again as the reader I am holding back from throwing my kindle to the ground and jumping up and down on it. Let's not forget that this H declared that he could do whatever with who ever AFTER he tied Finnie to this world. So he loves her so deeply that he can't bear losing her but he has no problem telling the same woman that he can go off and F whomever he wants and she better not throw a "tantrum." OMG! Could women vote in this alternate universe or was that off the table too? Add to that that he deceived her into conceiving a child even though the h had already discussed waiting to conceive. Let me be clear, my problem was not that all of this happened because it made for a great story line. My problem with it was that the h ignored being disrespected and treated badly by the H. She never held the H's feet to the fire on all of the issues that were glaring. She was fine with being manipulated and having no say in her future. The only time that she actually stood up for herself, she turned it around to it being her fault. Just writing about this is getting me worked up again. :) ***End of spoilers***Here is the thing...as a female, I find it insulting when female characters who are suppose to be butt-kicking h's have no backbone when dealing with their partner. Finnie in particular was written as this adventure-seeking, positive, fearless female yet under her man she held no strength other than what he permits her to have. Humans and in turn characters reflecting the human condition should not be absolutes. So I love that the h had some weakness and she showed her vulnerability. The problem was that she never found strength to voice her hurt and address the issues. She did not hold her partner accountable for ANY of his actions. She completely ignores his misdeeds and chooses to play with bow and arrows instead. It takes little strength to be a hero to a weak female. The challenge is to write a hero that rises to being a hero to a strong female without loosing his own strength. This was equally frustrating with Finnie's mother. She was also written as a smart, strong female and then gives the "stand by your man" speech. It is degrading to women for ANOTHER WOMAN to be telling them that they should suck up whatever their husbands actions are and fight for him. I just can't fathom that woman still believe this. That entire "we women carry many burdens" philosophy is, I'm sorry, a load of manure.

Since Kristen Ashley appears to be a huge fan of lists, let's explore this review with a list of my own: Reasons Why I Did Not Like This Book.1. Even better than a list? A list within a list. Let's just keep adding lists for the heck of it. People love reading lists! Let's make a book composed mostly of lists!I'm sorry, Miss Ashley, but enough is enough. There were so many lists in this book (both from Finnie's and Frey's perspectives) that every time I saw the word "first" or "firstly" I would audibly groan. It didn't matter where the characters were or what the topic was about, Kristen Ashley was determined to give us their thoughts in list form, particularly when it came to a character's thoughts or feelings on a particular idea. This consistent habit stems from one overarching problem of this book: telling vs. SHOWING. Don't have the characters list out a set of reasons why they feel about something. SHOW us. Give more credit to your readers and yourself by describing facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, conversation etc. to describe how a character feels about something."I did this because, first, my dad in this world sounded a lot like my dad in my world...Second, I did this because I was super happy he was already considering taking me with him."2. Telling is not only saved for characters; however, as their clothing is written out in such excruciating detail that your mind wanders off and prays that no one changes clothes ever again. We learn more about her outfits than we do any characters' emotions, feelings, and mannerisms."An ice-blue velvet gown that had this kick-freaking-ass sheen at the tip of the pile that looked iridescent white, like the shimmer on top of new snow.The neckline was square, had thick, braided embroidery around the edge and it shoved my breasts up so I was giving some serious cleavage.The sleeves of the dress hugged my body from shoulder to wrist, a sharp point of embroidered-edged material coming down my hand that hooked at the end around my middle finger. The top of the dress, from bosoms to hips, skimmed my body to perfection.The skirt had a slight flare and when I tested it by kicking out at the back, a slight train too."I'll stop there, but there are a good three additional paragraphs about this particular dress that she barely wears. If only this time and attention could have been given to character development. In a way, this is the same as a list—the author is simply listing off features of the dress. This again presents a lack of SHOWING vs. telling. Don't tell us that the dress has a long train: maybe she tries to walk away but keeps tripping on it, or her fingers keep getting caught in the sleeve, or she feels the fabric cling to her as she grazes her hands along her waist and hips.Despite the long list of descriptions, the book also consistently uses the word "so" to describe something when it could, again, very easily be described by ACTION."I stared into his eyes, so beautiful, so close and felt his arms, so strong, so tight, and his body, so big, so powerful, all of it making me feel so...very...safe..."3. This book tries to come off as modern, but ends up as annoying as that annoying friend who taps you on the shoulder constantly on a 10-hour car ride. Even if the lists were taken out, I would still rather hear a neutral third-person narrator than the constant catch phrases and blurps from Finnie. I used to use words like "freaking" and "crap" all the time, but now they are ruined for me.Freaking appears 80 times.S*** appears 129 times.Oh God appears 28 times. (and not even in a sexual way)Oh My God appears 37 times.Uh appears 87 times.Cool appears 83 times.Fantastic appears 22 times.Holy Moly appears 18 times.Wow appears 14 times.Crap appears 11 times.The last two don't seem too bad, but it was used enough that I felt the need to include it here. It doesn't help that Ashley prefers to use some of these in a single paragraph or line for emphasis, but this just kept happening and happening and happening. Finnie's mind was made up of these phrases and lists, and that was about it. I understand that Finnie is from today's world and maybe Ashley wanted to portray her in a stereotype or thought that people would connect with her, but it was too heavy-handed and became annoying. It also seemed to offer another way for Ashley to dodge showing us how Finnie felt and just saying OhshitohGodohshit instead of showing Finnie with shaking hands or even a trail of nervous thoughts. I mean, sure, sometimes I might think like that, but it was too stream of consciousness and again, just came off as annoying.4. Perhaps if Finnie were given an altered internal monologue, I would like her character more, but her voice, acceptance of everything, and lack of struggle throughout most of the book were too much. Despite Finnie moving to an alternate universe, everything still came off as incredibly easy for her. Random, scary-looking guy who is your husband drops you off at a remote cabin after hours of driving a sleigh? No problem. Just sweep, clean, put some flowers in a vase, and you're all set. Nothing made her question her choices or made her struggle.Sure, her character prided herself on handling any adventure, but there are many basic things that should have made her stumble a little bit. One simple thing: the clothes. I don't care how many adventures she's been on, that doesn't mean she could figure out the dresses and hairdos that are complicated enough to require four maidservants. Or how she was easily able to intermingle with the townspeople without having to change whatsoever? In a place full of magic, dragons, and elves, they would still be flabbergasted by someone who says "cool" all the time. She's lucky that the land is full of magic so that they would believe her when she said she's from an alternate universe. The Sjofn in modern world is lucky she isn't put in jail if she doesn't alter or hide any part of her past life."...as princess of this country, I should know. It didn't occur to me once that this was weird. Not once. In fact, that thought didn't enter my mind."Of course it didn't, because Finnie does not need to think or barely work to get anything done. It's all just incredibly easy and no one thinks it's weird. Last word on this (maybe), but everyone conveniently finds out that she's from an alternate universe and is completely fine with it."By the way, Kell, like all of Frey's closest men, knew who I was and where I'd come from."That is all we are given about Frey telling his closest allies about Finnie, but it's fine, because everyone is totally fine with it and everything is fine and freaking fantastic.5. Lastly, and most importantly, there are some uncomfortable plot lines in Ashley's books that should not be treated as lightly or sensitively as they are by the characters, writing, and readers; mainly, the matter of female consent. Female consent and control of her own body are major issues in both worlds, but it is given a simple standard and the heroine comes to accept/ignore it because of her grief. A petty apology for a horrendous assault on the woman he supposedly loves. No. That is not okay. Yet, just as the characters brush it aside, we are expected to as well.Based on the description and preview for the second book, it is obvious that Ashley uses female consent again as a tool for initial conflict that is quickly pushed aside and forgotten. The female character is apparently raped and falls in love with the guy, but we as readers are expected to just accept it because it's completely normal in their world. I don't care what world you are from or trying to create as a writer, but loving relationships with someone's rapist should not be encouraged or romanticized in any shape or form. The idea makes me nauseous. I've seen some reviewers compare these two to Game of Thrones, but there is a huge difference. George R. R. Martin is not someone trying to write love stories or characters that other people should want to be or have in their life, yet people are drinking it in like nothing is wrong, and that frightens me.This book left me completely and utterly disappointed. I was extremely excited by the concept and the number of rave reviews, but I finished the book feeling cheated and wanting my money back. The only thing that kept me reading this book was that I loved the concept so much—right up my alley of new adult fantasy. However, this book lacks consistent writing, descriptions that SHOW us what is happening or what is there, character development, and a lack of struggle that didn't make it worth its 500 pages.

I hesitated for years whether to read this series or not. I’ve read everything else by this author. I have a love/hate relationship with her it seems. She can knock it out of the ball park with some of her books, (beginning of everything series) then there are others that make me want to rant at her. (Motorcycle man) Most of her books have a male lead that acts like a caveman and then the heroine falls under their spell to the point where they’re actually apologizing to the man instead of the other way around! This by the way happens in this book.😒Yeah, the other negative reviews on this are accurate. The male lead behaves badly. This includes (spoilers)……..He binds the fmc to his world forever thru some magic, he switches out her birth control for some placebos, and in general tells her how she’s going to live.I don’t have a problem with an anti hero or a mmc who does wrong and then has to grovel his way back into graces. What I have a problem with is that the fmc is outraged at first, (rightly!) then after a whole lot of drama, her attitude turns into “yeah, I understand that this is the law of your land”I love you so much, it’s ok.My bad🤷🏻‍♀️I wanted to throw my kindle not at the mc, but to her!If this type of woman doesn’t bother you, then you’ll probably love this story. It’s an entertaining read and I’ve already bought the whole series but I’m going to probably need some meds or alcohol to get thru it cuz from what I’ve gathered, the rest of the series is going to be more of this kind of chauvinism. The writing is good, there’s all the elements I like (suspense, fantasy, romance) but I’ve taken just a star off for the air headed/blinded by love weakness of the female lead. Now…on to the next one. 📚🌹

So I managed to finish the book because I liked the ideas presented but the style of writing was annoying. The author insist on telling everything, nothing is left to the imagination even down to the characters getting out of bed or moving from one place to the next. Then there was the highly repetitive use of the characters speaking 'softly' 'whispering' and my least favourite 'muttering'. Everyone mutters!There was also too much description of the environment and buildings - whilst world building should be part of the story, I don't need to know how many fireplaces and how exactly the furniture is arranged in every single room!So I won't be reading the rest of the series as a result of this.

Kristen Ashley you are just to awesome for words 💗 this book was pure brilliance I loved every single second of it and could go back and re read this book right this very second even after only just finishing it. The leading male frey is the ultimate alpha and the leading female finnie is sweet and headstrong. The storyline is gripping with twists and turns and a steady flow of information. The secondary characters are all well thought out basically I just loved this read its the best book iv read all year (easily). I'm so excited for book 2 and what iv read so far sounds like a great start I can not wait to read the rest in this series 😀 5 stars from me more if I could. Kristen Ashley is becoming a fast favorite of mine right up there with Suzanne wright and gena showalter 💗🌟💗🌟💗🌟💗🌟💗🌟

This book surpassed all my expectations. Wildest Dreams is the first tale in Ms Ashley's Fantasyland series and if you enjoy being sucked into a whole new world then this book will knock your socks off! Yes you have to believe in magic as right from the start the author throws her readers straight into this fantastical story but if romance and adventure are what you are seeking then this tale delivers in spades!Finnie lost her parents as a teenager, she's wealthy, single and still looking for that certain something to satisfy her soul. Discovering a witch can send her to an alternate reality where her parents are still alive Finnie arranges to switch places for one year with her 'twin'. Crazy? Oh yes but what if the other Finnie has reasons of her own for wishing to switch?Finnie arrives to discover she is getting married IMMEDIATELY! Her groom is Fray Drakker, a huge intimidating angry man who clearly has no love for the Finnie of his world. Frey drags Finnie off and literally dumps her in a run down lodge alone for six weeks but Finnie is not exactly the lazy hot house flower Fray was expecting.Finnie is a fun character with a runaway mouth and a lust for life. She seems to charm nearly everyone ( which is odd as at times she acts/sounds very juvenile) but is somewhat nonplussed by her new husbands reaction. So not the best start to a marriage but there's no doubt that sparks fly between the couple. Fray is autocratic and frankly rather crass initially but as the story progresses we see a sweet side to him, I'd go as far as to say this alpha male is almost gentle, scary but gentle! So we have an adventurous heroine with gumption, backbone and a good heart. Our hero is drool worthy, at times a total armpit but when he's good oh boy does he melt this readers heart. Mixing a kooky modern heroine with an almost barbaric hero just sounds so cheesy and yet I was so pulled in I resented having to put this book down at times. Magic, elves, dragons and political machinations as well as plots to assassinate Finnie! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this romantic adventure and can't wait to dive into the next book Golden Dynasty

Finnie Wilde is an orphan who parents told her to take deep breaths and have adventures, she has a few close friends as people only seem to want her for her money. When Finnie discovers that there is a parallel universe where she has a twin and in that world her parents are still living Finnie decides this is the ultimate adventure to take and with the help from Valentine the witch she gets "dropped" into the Winter landscape of Lunwyn where she discovers she is about to leave for her own wedding. Its at this point she realises that the notes and instructions she left for her twin had not be reciprocated.Frey Drakkar is angry, he doesn't want this marriage but for political reasons only it goes ahead. He hates Seoafin who has actually told him she prefers women in her bed but from the point of their first marriage kiss he realises that this Finnie, who he later nicknames his wee Finnie is not the ice princess but a free spirit who wants nothing more than to face adventures, much like himself.The Drakkar decides to bind his bride to his world via the elves, he proceeds to make other decisions regarding Finnie's life which he may later regret!Fabulous series, I am off to read 2 and 3 now!

I am a big fan of anything paranormal and have read abundant series in the genre . And let me tell you something - Fantasyland Series by Kirsten Ashley of one of the best ! I have just finished reading all the five 5 books and each one carries it own magic (though my favourite is Golden Dynasty)Set in a parallel world where there’s magic , dragons , witches and elves, it revolves around our heroine Finnie transported there from her own world . And hence the story follows .It’s got abundant romance , angst moments and fearsome alpha male Frey and yes, as with all of Kirsten’s book you have to persevere and be patient initially as she slowly builds up the world around and the simmering chemistry between the two. It’s absolutely beautiful and I actually felt despondent upon finishing the last book and bidding farewell to this realm.