Book: Emmaline: a story of love in the vale by Kristen Coar
Reviewed by Your_bookish_fantasy
Rating: 0.5/5
๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ข
โ๏ธ๐ป๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐๐จ ๐ ๐- Emmaline
๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ, ๐ข๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฌ ๐ข ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค.
โ๏ธโ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ค-
(out of 5 stars, my rating scale is at the end)
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ โญ๏ธ DNF
โ๏ธ๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐ :
Genre- Fantasy Romance
๐ 337 ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐
๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฉ
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ- July 23, 2026
๐ฃ๐น๐ผ๐ or ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ driven? ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐โฏ๐
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ & ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ป๐ผ- a story of love in the vale
๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ on ๐๐จ? โ ๐ดโฏ๐
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ- unsteady
๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ? โ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐๐, ๐โด.
๐๐พ๐น ๐พ โฏ๐๐ฟโด๐ ๐๐ฝ๐พ๐?โ
๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ ๐พ ๐โฏ๐ถ๐น ๐๐ฝโฏ ๐โฏ๐๐ ๐ทโดโด๐ ๐พ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐พ๐ ๐โฏ๐๐พโฏ๐?โ
๐ฒโด๐๐๐น ๐พ ๐โฏ๐ถ๐น ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฝ๐พ๐๐ โฏ๐๐โฏ ๐ท๐ ๐๐ฝ๐พ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ฝโด๐?โ
โ๏ธ๐โ๐โ๐ผ๐
๐ฆน๐ผโโ๏ธ She's the stalker
๐ฏโโ๏ธ Girlie Smurder Squad
๐ Grumpy/Unhinged
๐ฎโโ๏ธ Brat tamer
๐ Revenge goals
๐คFated mates
๐ชTouch her and die (except the girl gang is coming after you, not the MMC)
๐ฅฐFound family
๐คฃBanter and Groveling (but make it bratty)
๐ฆฎAnimal Bonds (Corgis)
๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐:
DNF @ 29%
I really wanted to enjoy Emmaline . The premise sounded like something Iโd usually love, and I was intrigued enough to pick it up. Unfortunately, by 29% I realised I just wasnโt enjoying the experience, and forcing myself to continue was not an option.
My biggest issue was the writing style. It never quite clicked with me. Scenes often felt underdeveloped, and there were multiple occasions where the story seemed to stop halfway through an event only to jump to a completely different place or another day without much transition. Those abrupt time skips constantly pulled me out of the story and made it difficult to stay immersed.
I also struggled with the lack of world-building. There were interesting ideas here, but I never felt like I understood the world I was reading about. The magic, the Vale, the history surrounding mates, and the wider lore all felt lightly touched upon when I was hoping for much more depth. As someone who loves fantasy, I wanted enough detail to lose myself in the setting, but I never reached that point.
I also didnโt find the humour landed for me. Iโd heard this was supposed to have dark comedy woven throughout, but within the portion I read, none of it really resonated. Thatโs obviously subjective, but it wasnโt something that helped balance the story.
Overall, I think the book has an interesting premise and I can absolutely see why readers who enjoy chaotic heroines, fast-moving romantasy, and unconventional main characters may have a great time with it. Sadly, between the writing style, the limited world-building, the abrupt pacing, and my inability to connect with Emmaline, this simply wasnโt the right book for me.
Sometimes a book just doesnโt click with a reader, and unfortunately Emmaline was one of those books for me.
๐งโโ๏ธ โ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ค:
Unfortunately, Emmaline herself was where the book really lost me.
From the beginning, she is utterly convinced that Caelith is her fated mate despite having virtually no evidence to support that belief. Everyone around her questions it, points out obvious flaws in her reasoning, and even highlights his appalling behaviour, but she dismisses every concern as though nobody else understands him. Rather than coming across as hopelessly romantic, it felt as though sheโd created an idealised version of him in her own (very unstable) mind and refused to acknowledge reality.
I found it incredibly difficult to connect with her because so many of her choices felt irrational rather than emotionally driven. Instead of making mistakes I could understand, she repeatedly made decisions that simply left me wondering, โWhy would you do that?โ Her behaviour often felt reckless, and I became increasingly frustrated that the people around her didnโt challenge or protect her more.
Ironically, what frustrated me even more was how quickly she seemed willing to move on from the man sheโd spent so much time believing was her destined mate. The emotional shift happened so easily that it completely undermined everything Iโd already been asked to believe. I needed far more internal conflict, communication, and emotional development before accepting that change.
The supporting characters honestly interested me more than the main character. Several of them felt like they had far more personality, and I found myself wishing the story spent more time developing them instead. I would have at least liked to know who these friends are and how they met.
๐ชง๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค:
DNF @ 29% ๐
Emmaline had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately the writing style just wasnโt for me. The abrupt time jumps, lack of world-building, and limited lore made it difficult to stay immersed, while I really struggled to connect with the FMC and her decision-making. Her unwavering obsession with her supposed mate felt unconvincing, and the quick shift in her feelings only made me more disconnected from the story. I can see why readers who enjoy chaotic heroines might love this one, but sadly it just wasnโt the right fit for me.
๐น๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ;
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
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๐๐ช โ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐ค:
โญ๏ธ DNF
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!