I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Purple Haze by Andrew Einspruch Series: The Western Lands and All That Really Matters #1
Genres: Fairy Tales & Folklore
Format: eARC
Source: Provided by author for honest review
Goodreads
A slightly OCD princess. A kidnapped twin. A journey to find her.
Eloise is Future Ruler and Heir to the Western Lands and All That Really Matters. Her life is structured by Protocol and full of things that help her get through her day despite her "habits." But when her twin sister sister is kidnapped, she must leave home for the first time and try to get her back.
Traveling with her champion (a chipmunk), her guard (a human), and their two horses, Eloise follows an increasingly cold trail across three realms in search of her sister. The only way she can go home is if her sister is with her.
The Purple Haze is a humorous YA novel set in a unique fantasy world that features weak magic, equality between species, and töö mänÿ ümläüts. It's a funny, witty book that's been called "funny and witty," as well as "Pratchett-esque." If you like quirky, clever characters, lively dialog, and a fun fantasy setting, then you'll love this fabulous debut novel from Andrew Einspruch.
Julie’s Review:
The Purple Haze was an interesting fantasy novel where there are several kingdoms/queendoms and animals can speak. This makes for some hilarious characters, fun banter, and silly rules.
Characters: I really liked the characters, both human and animal, because they all had their quirks and their charm. The Latino singing horse might be my favorite, just an overall happy dude. I have mixed thoughts about the champion chipmunk. I liked the future ruler; she is brave and kind and definitely worthy despite her quirks and discomfort. Her second-born twin sister? Well, I definitely understand her feelings of loneliness and boredom.
Setting: Being set in the old days before technology and instant communication is what drives this whole story. The kingdoms and queendoms are their own world, not set in our world, though we have the same languages. And songs that sound just a bit familiar in their titles. The land is wide and difficult to cross by horseback or carriage, and that allows a sinister character to send us on a wild goose chase. The Purple Haze itself is both a landmark and an ominous being. No one knows what is beyond it, and no one who goes in has returned.
Plot: Unfortunately this is where I get lost, as the journey from here to there is monotonous and gets boring. Despite the comedy and crazy issues they run into, the overall go here and go there and oops, we were tricked, let’s go somewhere else got a bit old. However, right at the end, it got really good. It’s suspenseful and scary, and yes, while it ends on a cliffhanger, it really sets up for what comes next. As I see, this is a full series.
Cover: I like the cover; it really got me in. The purples, obviously my favorite color, the drawing of the kingdom, even the champion chipmunk. I am not sure who the creature is on the right side or why we do not have our princess depicted on the cover, but it is still an interesting cover. The haziness to it fits with the haze.
Comedy: Going to end this review with the comedy aspect, which is the biggest part of the book. Everything is goofy, silly, and strange (if you’re prattled, you speak in 3s). And I loved that. Even the lands our princess is from – called The Western Lands and “all that really matters” is an example of the sarcastic silly things throughout. We have silly jesters and performers with the weirdest songs. We have rules upon rules of absolute absurdity. That was most enjoyable and would have me want to read the next book.
I would read the next installment. I absolutely must know what is beyond the Purple Haze and what our Princess will discover while going in to save her sister!
