Review: Fantasy adventure
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 18, 2014
Sarah Petty, a poor blacksmith, can't believe her luck when she is approached by a mysterious and wealthy woman, Raven, to start a business together.  It seems too good to be true when Raven promises Sarah her own shop, top of the line tools, and an endless expanse of wealth plus an apartment! To escape her impoverished life Sarah agrees and later finds out that Raven is actually Lady Branwyen Chandlish of Valentria.  At first Sarah is suspicious that a royal would want to do business with her but quickly develops a friendship with Raven and her sisters.While dealing with the shenanigans of the Chandlish sisters and running a successful blacksmith shop, Sarah also becomes caught in the middle of conflict between the Chandlish family and the neighboring entity- The Protectorate.  As if that wasn't enough Sarah also learns that an ancient demon resides within Raven and is looking for its way out.  Will Sarah make it in her new world unscathed or is wealth and success her final downfall?Windows was unlike any book I've ever read and while filled with fantasy and humor, this is definitely NOT a young adult book.  It may be okay to be considered a mature young adult but there is some dark subject matter.  The author builds a new world that has similarities to our current world such as fashion sense and night clubs, but there are also many elements of a fantasy world such as a lovable yet fierce pet dragon and various forms of magic.  Although at times I felt there was just too much going on, there were no loose ends and everything tied together.I enjoyed meeting new characters in this book- Raven, a flame-haired sorceress, and Sarah, a lovable blacksmith.  Both heroines were fierce, loyal, and had a great sense of humor.  Although I enjoyed the characters I did have trouble connecting with Raven. I felt Raven's nickname was too far-reaching when her real name was Branwyen and both names were used throughout the book.  Sometimes I found this interchangeable name use confusing and interrupted the flow of my reading.The romance in this book isn't explicit but I could sense the connection between Raven and Sarah as it was built and developed.  Their friendship grew to adoration and adoration to love- the best kind of love in my opinion.This is one of those books that really isn't just a "book" but an adventure and a true escape novel.  I would highly recommend this to those who enjoy classic fantasy, fun-loving heroines, and a fantastical fairy tale.