An epic fantasy with phenomenal worldbuilding

I honestly don't know how I ended up reading all these fairy/fae novels when they're not exactly a fantasy subgenre I particularly like, but here I am, and so far, Talia: Heir to the Fairy Realm is one of the most unique. While it's said to be an epic fantasy retelling of a popular fairytale, Sleeping Beauty, it feels nothing like it at all.

The world and character building are phenomenal. So much thought went into creating the fairy realm, the different cultures, the rituals and magic system, and the huge cast of characters. While I first thought the story ran really long, that actually worked out well in the end. Because instead of just dumping heaps of information on us, the author lets us experience the world and go on a grand adventure with the characters, who are all delightful and not mere stereotypes. There's a lot of representation too. And court intrigue. What's a fairy story without court intrigue?

(So I actually read a blog post somewhere that this and the sequel, Talia: On the Shore of the Sea, was supposed to be just one book, but ultimately had to be split because of the total length. So, yeah, it's chonky. The author really takes his time telling the story, so if you're looking for something more fast-paced, this might not really be your thing. But if you love worldbuilding and character development, then this might be for you!)

As for the audio performance, it took a little getting used to, but that might just have been me not having listened to a lot of audiobooks yet. Once I got acclimated to the style, however, I found myself easily swept into the world every time I tuned in. I even looked forward to doing chores (I listen to audiobooks while cooking or doing the dishes or folding the laundry) as I wanted to join Talia and her ladies and her guard on the next leg of their adventures.

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