lochnessmonster's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
spicycronereads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Oof. This one just did not hang together for me. It started out really promising but as things were revealed the plot quickly became convoluted. I am still not really sure what happened. And not in that eerie supernatural kind of way, but in a “I have no idea what is happening” kind of way. It is like the author had multiple
Ideas for how the story could go and she decided to use all of them.
Penelope and her backstory are interesting as a main character and River is a dashing figure. Given things that are revealed, I can see how he has maybe been pining for her. However, it didn’t really make sense how quickly she moved past revealed events and fell in love with him (faster than you can say “enemies to lovers.”)
The secondary characters didn’t do much to add depth to the MCs or plot.
There is diverse representation in that the novel’s characters are mostly from the Dominican Republic. One of the tertiary characters is queer.
The spicy scenes were okay. They were a bit more euphemistic than I prefer. So I’d give it really only 🌶️ or 🌶️🌶️. There isn’t even really much romance either.
Overall, I don’t think I would recommend this one.
There as enough potential here though that I am willing to try another book by this author. I think this is one of her earlier ones and subsequent ones may be better.
Ideas for how the story could go and she decided to use all of them.
Penelope and her backstory are interesting as a main character and River is a dashing figure. Given things that are revealed, I can see how he has maybe been pining for her. However, it didn’t really make sense how quickly she moved past revealed events and fell in love with him (faster than you can say “enemies to lovers.”)
The secondary characters didn’t do much to add depth to the MCs or plot.
There is diverse representation in that the novel’s characters are mostly from the Dominican Republic. One of the tertiary characters is queer.
The spicy scenes were okay. They were a bit more euphemistic than I prefer. So I’d give it really only 🌶️ or 🌶️🌶️. There isn’t even really much romance either.
Overall, I don’t think I would recommend this one.
There as enough potential here though that I am willing to try another book by this author. I think this is one of her earlier ones and subsequent ones may be better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
kfriend's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve always found Claire Contreras to bring a different spin to romance. She’s always infused a variety of creative influences and thematic elements in ways that are novel and interesting. Fable and Other Lies, though, is in a league of its own. In a sea of tired tropes and repurposed plots, this is a story that stands out for its uniqueness.
Set on a mysteriously cursed island, our story starts with a funeral and a carnival with a cast of characters who are somehow familiar but strangers, characters reconciling fact with fiction, history and myth. Those contrasts set the tone- and tone plays a heavy hand in this Gothically-infused mystery, that dark, melancholy, foreboding quality that draws you in and grasps tight well beyond the final page.
Articulating plot details too much beyond that, dear readers, would be a betrayal of your experience. But know this- this is not your normal romance. This is not a story about characters, about chemistry, about a relationship. This is not a story with a traditionally constructed plot. And despite its Gothic roots, this isn’t really even a story about solving a mystery. Though- we have all those things. This is not a story about the people who love, rather this is a story about love itself. This story, the very personification of it.
This won’t be the type of story all romance readers are used to- nor what anyone expects. But, that is what makes this book feel fresh. Claire excels in the marriage of Gothic sentimentality and the moralistic fable-like allegory. Because like the fables it is inspired by, the moral, the creative meaning, behind Fables and Other Lies transcends the story itself. We may not know all there is to know, we don’t even know much about our characters, and we might not even have all the mythical elements fully unraveled- but again, this isn’t your traditional romance. What matters aren’t the details of the story, what matters are the insights we glean from its heart. What matters is the clarity that metaphorically lies beyond the mysterious clouds of Dolos island. The myth itself, whether truth or lies, matters not- but the message about selfless, generous love does. A love that means sacrifice, a love that requires forgiving, a love that requires intuition. Underneath it all, that’s this story’s truth.
Fables and Other Lies is certainly creatively inspired- and I love nothing more than authors taking creative risks, exploring new facets of their writing, and finding new ways to tell us stories about love. Kudos to Claire for doing just that.
Set on a mysteriously cursed island, our story starts with a funeral and a carnival with a cast of characters who are somehow familiar but strangers, characters reconciling fact with fiction, history and myth. Those contrasts set the tone- and tone plays a heavy hand in this Gothically-infused mystery, that dark, melancholy, foreboding quality that draws you in and grasps tight well beyond the final page.
Articulating plot details too much beyond that, dear readers, would be a betrayal of your experience. But know this- this is not your normal romance. This is not a story about characters, about chemistry, about a relationship. This is not a story with a traditionally constructed plot. And despite its Gothic roots, this isn’t really even a story about solving a mystery. Though- we have all those things. This is not a story about the people who love, rather this is a story about love itself. This story, the very personification of it.
This won’t be the type of story all romance readers are used to- nor what anyone expects. But, that is what makes this book feel fresh. Claire excels in the marriage of Gothic sentimentality and the moralistic fable-like allegory. Because like the fables it is inspired by, the moral, the creative meaning, behind Fables and Other Lies transcends the story itself. We may not know all there is to know, we don’t even know much about our characters, and we might not even have all the mythical elements fully unraveled- but again, this isn’t your traditional romance. What matters aren’t the details of the story, what matters are the insights we glean from its heart. What matters is the clarity that metaphorically lies beyond the mysterious clouds of Dolos island. The myth itself, whether truth or lies, matters not- but the message about selfless, generous love does. A love that means sacrifice, a love that requires forgiving, a love that requires intuition. Underneath it all, that’s this story’s truth.
Fables and Other Lies is certainly creatively inspired- and I love nothing more than authors taking creative risks, exploring new facets of their writing, and finding new ways to tell us stories about love. Kudos to Claire for doing just that.
megplantparm's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. It does a beautiful job of being exactly what it is. It’s a short slightly paranormal gothic romance. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer because I really loved the characters and setting. It’s dark and sweet and a little sexy and fun. I recommend for a quick gothic escape.
Also: I love the cover.
Also x2: This is the second book I’ve read by Contreras and they have been completely different and both really good.
Also: I love the cover.
Also x2: This is the second book I’ve read by Contreras and they have been completely different and both really good.
car155a's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lovethyshelfie's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
A good story for spooky season. I definitely wouldn’t classify this as a romance, though. The romance is a secondary plot line and felt like an afterthought.
TW: There is on page SA and no trigger warnings are included in the audiobook: the FMC is molested by her cousin and her family disowns her because they don’t want the drama.
TW: There is on page SA and no trigger warnings are included in the audiobook: the FMC is molested by her cousin and her family disowns her because they don’t want the drama.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Incest
thewanderingbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
Short, sweet, and to the point. If you are looking for a quick, gothic romance this is the book for you! Love a story about curses, a mysterious manor, strange deaths/disappearances, an estranged daughter, and a devilishly handsome man? If the answer is “yes”, then I definitely recommend this book.
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I loved that the author was inspired by her grandmother’s folklore retellings from the Dominican Republic(originating from Africa).
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The only thing that I felt I missed out on was the background into the history of the curse and the families. I wish that part had been a little more in depth.
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I loved that the author was inspired by her grandmother’s folklore retellings from the Dominican Republic(originating from Africa).
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The only thing that I felt I missed out on was the background into the history of the curse and the families. I wish that part had been a little more in depth.
beyond3va's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pennireadstoomuch's review against another edition
Couldn’t get into the audiobook. Narrator had a thick accent that I couldn’t understand without concentrating and I listen at work. I’ll just read the book instead.