Princess Celine has accepted an invitation from the two princesses of Eldon, despite their strange behavior at the Princess Tournament. She wants to fPrincess Celine has accepted an invitation from the two princesses of Eldon, despite their strange behavior at the Princess Tournament. She wants to figure out why they seem so nonchalant about everything. When she and the princesses are both kidnapped on her way from the ship to the castle, she gets her first inkling of the problem. With the help of a young girl, she manages their escape, with the aid of Crown Prince Oliver, something that surprises her. Celine has recently been given the gift of "fire" from her fairy godmother, and accidently uses it against Oliver, but ends up waking him up from the curse. Then she's able to wake Princess Giselle, but no one else. The three plot to find the missing magic mirror and figure out why the country is bathed in snow and ice in spring and everyone is becoming less and less concerned about anything. The three follow a young man who "lives" in a mountain village, hoping to find their answers. Instead, he's the same person who's escaped in the two previous books, and he's now working for the Snow Queen. Oliver is subdued again by the queen, but Celine is able to free him and melt the Snow Queen's ice castle, ending the curse. And, they get their HEA.
This fractured fairy tale started a bit slower, and took me longer to get excited about, but it ended up a good clean tale.
2022 - 52 book challenge #14 - a book with superhuman ability - Celine can draw actual fire through her hands as well as warm gales of wind....more
Princess Sophie leaves alone for the journey to her betrothed in Palinar. She's comforted by her mental connection with her twin, Lily. That connectioPrincess Sophie leaves alone for the journey to her betrothed in Palinar. She's comforted by her mental connection with her twin, Lily. That connection is broken however, when she enters the grounds of Prince Dominic's castle. And there doesn't appear to be anyone else in the castle besides the beast, Prince Dominic. Gradually, she comes to realize that the staff is invisible to her, but that she can hear them, thanks to the abilities she honed with her mental connection with Lily. Gradually, she makes herself comfortable in the castle, but she's still unsure how to break whatever spell has taken over Dominic and the country. When the troublemaker from Marin appears in Palinar, they discover that the curse is coming to an end, one way or another. When Sophie leaves for the capitol to play out the farce with the troublemaker, Dominic risks his life to follow her, and together they finally break the spell to get their HEA....more
Twin Princesses Lily and Sophie of Arcadia (who can communicate non-verbally as their twin gift) are excited to be travelling to the Duchy of Marin, aTwin Princesses Lily and Sophie of Arcadia (who can communicate non-verbally as their twin gift) are excited to be travelling to the Duchy of Marin, a city state that had only existed in memories until a ship appeared requesting a delegation return with him. They're travelling with Princess Celine from Lanover. When they arrive, they find themselves immediately thrust into a Princess Tourney called by Prince Dominic of Palinar aka "the Beast" who hasn't been seen in years. The three girls find themselves with 9 other princesses between 12-17 competing in an unknown competition to become betrothed to Dominic. Every third night until the first day of summer, there's a ball (12 dancing princesses), and then the princesses go into a room where a hole opens in the floor, they descend a ladder, go through forests of silver, gold and diamond, cross a lake and enter an empty reversed replica of the castle above, and complete a task. When it's over, they can return above, but are unable to talk about what they've been through. Some tasks are done using teamwork, some are individual. Some are dangerous and girls are injured or become sick. Sophie and Lily determine one of them must win, to avoid the younger girls being chosen. Meanwhile, they become friends with the attending princes. In particular, Lily and Prince Jon of Marin become close, but his country is economically faltering from the "darkness" that has been invading all of the lands. Eventually, Jon figures out a way to secretly go with the princesses the final night, and destroy the magic kingdom, but Sophie ends up winning the tourney. Jon and Lily become betrothed at the same time Sophie and Dominic do, and Marin is saved from the coup, but Sophie heads alone to Palinar and becomes the subject of the next book in the series. Well done fractured fairy tale.
2022 - 52 book challenge #49 - book title startes with the same letter as your first name....more
The first book in this fractured fairy tale series is a spin on the Princess and the Pea. Alyssa is the only daughter of a merchant's daughter and a woThe first book in this fractured fairy tale series is a spin on the Princess and the Pea. Alyssa is the only daughter of a merchant's daughter and a woodcutter, and she's spent her first 17 years in the woods with her four older brothers and parents. On her way to the capital city to live with her aunt, she gets lost in the woods in a rain storm and ends up at the door to the Winter Palace. She's taken in a put in the princess room, where her delicate skin is significantly affected by the pea the Queen has had put under the mattress. The next morning, when she meets the Royal family, she's too polite to complain. She's also successfully entertained the 11-year-old twin princesses (Lily and Sophie), so King Henry hires her to be the Princess Companion. Max is their 19-year-old brother, and Alyssa is instantly attracted. However, there is danger afoot in the kingdom. Prince Max is going to be hosting foreign princesses in the summer to choose a "proper" princess bride to try to get the kingdom properous again - it has to be a love match or crops fail, the economy falters, etc. When Alyssa overhears a traitorous conversation by a servant, they discover there may be more at stake. When they return to the Summer Palace and start entertaining the princesses, Alyssa is tasked with observing and trying to determine the guilty parties. She does, and eventually saves the day and gets her HEA. Clean, fun retelling of the story.
I read book one of the continuation series first, but came back to this to understand the backstory better. Not necessary to enjoy either, but it makes it more enjoyable.
2022 - 52 book challenge #27 - Includes a map of the Four Kingdoms....more
Michael, or the star-gazer, a poor cow-boy finds out why the 12 princesses always have holes in their slippers when they are supposedly locked in theiMichael, or the star-gazer, a poor cow-boy finds out why the 12 princesses always have holes in their slippers when they are supposedly locked in their room. He gets to marry the youngest princess and the spell is broken over all the other princesses.
The figure illustrations are relatively simple, but bright and gay... possibly water colors....more
Snow White and Rose Red are two lovely, gentle, and loving sisters. They become friends with a bear who turns into a prince after he kills the dwarf tSnow White and Rose Red are two lovely, gentle, and loving sisters. They become friends with a bear who turns into a prince after he kills the dwarf that bewitched him. All live happily ever after.
Retelling of a Slavic fairy tale in which the Month Brothers' magic helps Little Sister fulfill seemingly impossible tasks which prove the undoing of Retelling of a Slavic fairy tale in which the Month Brothers' magic helps Little Sister fulfill seemingly impossible tasks which prove the undoing of her greedy stepmother and stepsisters.
The King of the Storks grants the drummer three wishes for carrying him across the river. When the drummer decides to win the hand of the princess, whThe King of the Storks grants the drummer three wishes for carrying him across the river. When the drummer decides to win the hand of the princess, who is really a witch, the King of Storks helps him and he makes the princess behave the rest of her life.
Fascinating fairy tale with detailed color pictures....more
Translated from Swedish, this is a delightful book for a younger reader. It's imaginative and colorful, but probably not very popular because it doesnTranslated from Swedish, this is a delightful book for a younger reader. It's imaginative and colorful, but probably not very popular because it doesn't deal with current problems and isn't realistic. It would be read purely for escape and enjoyment....more
**spoiler alert** When a baby laughs for the first time, the laugh flies to Neverland and becomes a fairy... sometimes. Prilla is the newest fairy, bu**spoiler alert** When a baby laughs for the first time, the laugh flies to Neverland and becomes a fairy... sometimes. Prilla is the newest fairy, but she doesn't seem to have a talent like all of the other fairies. Tinkerbell is a pots and pans fairy. This explains a lot of Peter Pan - where fairies come from, how fairy dust is made, and why no one ages in Neverland.
A storm/hurricane hits Neverland and Mother Dove is blown off her nest and her egg is broken. Prilla and two other fairies go on a quest to capture Captain Hook's double cigar silver holder, a mermaid's comb and the golden feather of the golden hawk as gifts to the dragon Kyto, so he'll fix her egg with his heat. The 3 fairies succeed, take the gifts to Kyto and he fixes the egg but spits init making it bad. Mother Dove is dying and if she dies so does Neverland. Prilla goes to the mainland and gets children to clap and save Mother Dove. Prilla's talent becomes "Mainland Visiting Clapping". Fun illustrations and explanation of Peter Pan....more
Beauty is the youngest of three daughters of a wealthy shipping merchant. When the family suffers a reversal of fortune, they move to the country. TheBeauty is the youngest of three daughters of a wealthy shipping merchant. When the family suffers a reversal of fortune, they move to the country. They settle in with the middle daughter's husband. When the father gets lost on a journey home and ends up in an enchanted castle, he picks a rose for Beauty. The Beast requires she or the father come live with him in payment. Beauty goes and gradually comes to appreciate and finally love the Beast, a prince who was enchanted 200 years earlier. He lets her visit her family, but when she fails to return on time, he begins to die. When she realizes her love for the Beast and returns, she is able to break the enchantment and they live HEA.
Interesting retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story that would appeal to teens. Beauty is NOT a beauty at first, but hard work, selflessness, and love make her beautiful....more
Lucy Pickett is a researcher for the Botanical Aid Society of London, looking for ways to counteract the "Anti-Vampiric Assimilation Aid" when she goeLucy Pickett is a researcher for the Botanical Aid Society of London, looking for ways to counteract the "Anti-Vampiric Assimilation Aid" when she goes to visit her newly married cousin Kate. Kate has written to say she's not feeling well - something unusual for her. As she's married the younger brother of the Earl of Blackwell, whose wife of a month died 6 months earlier followed the next day by the death of his sister Marie, Lucy is concerned. The Earl is not in residence when she arrives, but the house is dark and sinister feeling, and Kate is definitely unwell. When Lucy encounters the ghost of Marie, who obviously wants her to do something, she knows all is not how it should be. The Earl has secrets, but as he's good friends with her own brother, she begins to trust him. There's a vampire on the loose, someone is poisoning Kate, and the Earl is a shapeshifter. Together they overcome the problems and uncover the truth. Steampunk version of Beauty and the Beast - clean and well done....more
This is an expanded take on the Wild Swans fairy tale. Lord Colum of Sevenwaters (Ireland) is the 7th son. He has 6 son and then a daughter Sorcha. ThThis is an expanded take on the Wild Swans fairy tale. Lord Colum of Sevenwaters (Ireland) is the 7th son. He has 6 son and then a daughter Sorcha. The mother dies from Sorcha's birth, and Colum begins to ignore his children, concentrating on his military campaigns to win back 3 sacred islands now conquered by the hated Britons. Sorcha and her brothers grow up fairly wild in their forests which are all inhabited by the wee folk. Taught to read by a monk, they still believe in the old ways. Sorcha, at a very young age, becomes a skilled healer. When she's about 12-12, her father remarries a very wicked woman to casts a spell on the 6 boys turning them into swans. To overcome the spell, Sorcha spends the next 3 years knitting shirts out of briars to reverse the spell. During this time, she cannot verbally make any sound so she's only able to speak in her mind to two of her brothers when they can reappear in human form twice a year. She gets taken to Briton, married Red or Hugh of Harrowfield and finally mostly breaks the spell and returns to Ireland. Red follows and the brothers set off on new paths. VERY good, clean....more
I'm generally not a big fan of steampunk, but I do love a twisted fairy tale, and this version of Sleeping Beauty was a fun one. Dr. Isla Cooper is a I'm generally not a big fan of steampunk, but I do love a twisted fairy tale, and this version of Sleeping Beauty was a fun one. Dr. Isla Cooper is a feisty, talented heroine and Daniel Pickett is a great knight in shining armor. The steampunk elements were believable, but didn't overwhelm the story. Good enough to get me to go back and read the first in the series. Clean but romantic....more
Really a 3.5. A bit of a slow start for me, but once Beauty goes hunting for her father, it picked up. Interesting retelling of Beauty and the Beast wReally a 3.5. A bit of a slow start for me, but once Beauty goes hunting for her father, it picked up. Interesting retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a funky twist of the Firebird thrown in....more