The majority of my experience with rhyming books, involved stories targeted for toddlers
to juvenile-aged children. I consider myself to have excellent comprehension skills in my work
and personal life, but this book challenged me in a way I have not previously experienced. I did a
lot of re-reading pages to glean the storyline from the lovely waterfall of words on each page. The
cover is absolutely gorgeous, and is a perfect representation of the flourish and beautiful details
contained in the book. If you are a reader who loves words, with an emphasis on adjectives and
descriptors, you will love this book! The author has created art, and pictures in my mind that areas colorful and full of life as the cover depicts.

For a while, Flavia’s character wasn’t very likeable to me, but her character development over the course of the book was a great change in pace. She turned out to be a complex, personable protagonist, even if her descriptions are slightly overwritten, specifically in the beginning of the book.

The highlight of the book is how the author executed the time-travel scenes. The description in these moments is beautifully written, showcasing the imaginative visual style. This is further enhanced by the illustrations in the book, which caught my eye every time. Throughout the book, there were eye-catching lines that are both memorable and captivating—phrases like “a spirit of divine origin that steals mortal breaths” and “Greener than a vine leaf would his cheeks turn, seeing my heart stolen by a thief.” It’s this capability of wonderful imagery that shows just how strong the narrative can be. Other characters, such as Nevian, Idona, and Netius, are similarly well-drawn, adding to the depth of the overall story.

Unfortunately, there are a large number of issues with pacing, grammar, editing, and formatting. The struggles are the lack of cohesive tone and switching between modern vocabulary and elevated, high-fantasy vocabulary. As the book is written entirely in rhyme, it results in forced rhymes, nonsensical words (such as “mysterial”), and confusing grammar. Additionally, the inclusion of onomatopoeia throughout feels out of place alongside the high-fantasy tone, coming across as humorous or cartoonish, rather than atmospheric. For example: “Chomp! Chomp! I petted him on the nuzzle, having already trained him to adhere well to the call of my hand motions.” This sentence also portrays misuse of a word(nuzzle) when it should be “muzzle.”

Mazarine Dreamer is rich in potential, but needs heavy editing to smooth out sentence structure and word choice. Even so, beneath these flaws there is a deeply creative story. Readers who enjoy quirky, highly atmospheric fantasy with a romantic edge will still find plenty to appreciate here, especially as it can be compared to the gothic tones in “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe and the poetic drama in Shakespeare’s work.

The ending was passionate and exciting and wrapped things up well; I felt that the poetry and rhyme did help to elevate the lovemaking scenes and the dramatic flair of the trial parts. The story was long, but fairly consistent in details and characterization, and the color symbolism (mazarine blue, pure white, fiery red) stood out very well within the rhyming format.

The book suffers a bit from its constraints, but it has a full-bodied storyline and unique characters. I did appreciate, however, the dictionary reference pages at the end, which would help to alleviate some of the vocabulary confusion for the readers.

character. As well as the personality of the female lead seem to be lacking in a way. But I was excited to see the male leads past selves and present selves were swapped that to me was the most interesting aspect. I did feel it was repetitive especially when it came to descriptions scenes and situations so much so it took me out of the story. Over all I did enjoy the book. And am looking forward to reading more from you..

atmosphere. The language feels vivid and immersive, especially in moments like Flavia’s passage through the mysterious Mazarine fog, which captures the sensation of drifting between realities. The illustrations also complement the story beautifully and enhance the book’s fairy-tale aesthetic.

At times, reading the novel feels comforting, almost like revisiting an illustrated storybook, while still maintaining the emotional tension and romantic drama of young adult fantasy.

That said, the rhyming structure can occasionally make the narrative harder to follow. Dialogue sections sometimes become quite long, and it is not always immediately clear which character is speaking. In some moments the writing seems to prioritize rhythm and expression over clarity, which can briefly interrupt the flow of the story.

The emotional heart of the novel lies in its tragic, fated relationships. The sense that certain bonds may endure across centuries adds a melancholic tone that fits well with the story’s themes of destiny and reincarnation.

Overall, Mazarine Dreamer offers a creative and very unique reading experience. Readers who enjoy poetic storytelling, illustrated fantasy, and romantic themes of past lives and fate will likely find this book especially intriguing.

I have posted a review of this book on my bookstagram: @fantasticw0rds for anyone interested!

her back in time. She is then forced to confront the misdoings of her past life and becomes caught once again in the middle of a scandalous series of events. The book consists of tried and true themes of betrayal, love triangles, and mystery. Will Flavia be able to reconcile her past life and return to the future?