Super cute and fun read. I loved have a little deep dive into more Gravity Falls lore. Told from the perspective of Bill Cipher, this book gets a littSuper cute and fun read. I loved have a little deep dive into more Gravity Falls lore. Told from the perspective of Bill Cipher, this book gets a little wacky, a little raunchy, and a little spooky. The illustrations were incredible and the writing was hilarious (I may or may not have woken my boyfriend up by laughing so hard). It's definitely meant for older readers, as it says on the cover; there's some stuff said that I DID NOT expect to come from a book about a Disney Channel show, but I'm here for it 100%.
If you liked Gravity Falls at all, read this book. It made me want to go a rewatch it!...more
A cute little read that's along the lines of Tao of Pooh. It used metaphors from A. A. Milne's works to explain meditation. I love the concept that toA cute little read that's along the lines of Tao of Pooh. It used metaphors from A. A. Milne's works to explain meditation. I love the concept that to be like Pooh means to be at peace. He teaches us to move a bit slower through life and take the time to enjoy the world's beauty. ...more
I read the Tao of Pooh a few years back and loved that one. This one was pretty similar in writing style and flow, it just focuses on the concept of TI read the Tao of Pooh a few years back and loved that one. This one was pretty similar in writing style and flow, it just focuses on the concept of Te (deh), or essentially, virtue. Piglet exemplifies virtue through A. A. Milne's work as he is the only character to grow in a sense. Though piglet is small, timid, and often fearful of his surroundings, he will do what he needs to do in order to help his friends.
Hoff also talks about "Eeyore-ness" and "Tigger-ness" in this book which is basically a cycle of negativity and overenthusiasm respectively. He talks a lot about how western societies, specifically America, tend to exhibit more Eeyore and Tigger tendencies rather than Pooh and Piglet tendencies.
One qualm I did have was that the last chapter was 20 pages of complaining about the "current" (1992) state of affairs in America. Very Eeyore-like if you ask me, but I get why he included that, to show that we have a lot of work to do before our society can calm down and develop a more Taoist nature. I will say though, it's pretty fuckin sad that everything he complained about in that last chapter is still relevant today. Issues from 1992 are STILL REVELANT IN 2024! What is actually wrong with this country?? ...more
Oh jeez, I love these Twisted Tales so much. This is the fourth one I've read so far, and it might be one of my favorites.
Once Upon a Dream is the reOh jeez, I love these Twisted Tales so much. This is the fourth one I've read so far, and it might be one of my favorites.
Once Upon a Dream is the reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, with the prompt of "What if the Sleeping Beauty never woke up". However, the whole story is still about Aurora and follows her trying desperately to escape her dream prison. This book really brings a new light to Aurora and Phillip and gives them multiple dimensions, even touching on depression and suicidal tendencies. There's a definite trigger warning that I would put around the last 150 pages or so. ...more
This one is the best in the series, in my opinion. Amicus Arcane is retiring as the Mansion's librarian and is looking for a replacement. He picks PruThis one is the best in the series, in my opinion. Amicus Arcane is retiring as the Mansion's librarian and is looking for a replacement. He picks Prudence Pock, a recurring author mentioned in the series. Think Stephen King meets Agatha Christie. She is a terrifying person! The shorts in this book are my favorites, and Prudence's side chapters are excellent. They occur in an asylum; she's telling the stories to a doctor who is screening her. The twists be twisting in this volume though, the ending is not something I expected, but was pleasantly pleased by. ...more
This wasn't my favorite, but it was still very fun. The first story is very creepy and definitely one of my favorite short stories in the series. This wasn't my favorite, but it was still very fun. The first story is very creepy and definitely one of my favorite short stories in the series. ...more
I love these books. While not the scariest stories I've ever read, they are spooky for sure. I like that the format is anthological, with the main "stI love these books. While not the scariest stories I've ever read, they are spooky for sure. I like that the format is anthological, with the main "story" happening in between the stories being read. This one centers on a young man looking to commune with his dead sister. (view spoiler)[ (who is one of the kids from the fearsome foursome in the first book!) (hide spoiler)] The last story in this book gave me the absolute willies, though! Roaches man, I can't stand stories about bugs. I have the creepy-crawlies all night! ...more
I've read a few of these Twisted Tales, and for the most part, they're mild. A simple reimagining of the story we already know. But THIS ONE????? ThisI've read a few of these Twisted Tales, and for the most part, they're mild. A simple reimagining of the story we already know. But THIS ONE????? This one was WILD. It was like a horror story almost. There was some graphic murder scenes, war, and an army of the undead. This book was very dark, I loved it. ...more
I am a die-hard Disney fan. This book was an incredible eye-opener for me. I love to see how much women truly did for the Disney company, but I hate tI am a die-hard Disney fan. This book was an incredible eye-opener for me. I love to see how much women truly did for the Disney company, but I hate to see how hard they had it and how nonexistent their recognition was. It's disheartening the way that women were treated by a man and company that I have revered for a lifetime. I love how Nathalia Holt wrote about these; she was incredibly detailed, and I love that she talked about their lives and careers as a whole and not just how they contributed to Disney. It really rounded these women out and let them be seen as actual humans instead of just cogs in the Disney Machine....more
This book was cute, for sure, but I just wanted more from it. I wanted it to be a little spookier. I will say it held my attention, but there were sevThis book was cute, for sure, but I just wanted more from it. I wanted it to be a little spookier. I will say it held my attention, but there were several parts where I just kind of rolled my eyes. This book was more of a "find yourself" kind of book, where Sally is forced to go on this journey of self-discovery, and boy, did she find herself. I didn't like the back story the author gave her, though, I think her Halloween Town origin would've been much better, but I digress. I also felt that the conflict of the story got resolved way too fast and was pretty weak. Then, everything that happened within the book that was supposed to be definitive just resolved itself in the end, and everything was back to "normal". Idk, this book had a lot of potential that got wasted in my opinion. But for what it was, it was good, I won't deny that.
Honestly, I think I'm just in the mood for horror books rn and this book, while horror adjacent, didn't cut it.
I will read the second book in this series, because the story is interesting. I'm intrigued by these ancient realms that are being discovered.
PS. I know this review is very vague, but I don't want to spoil the story itself by complaining about what it was versus what I wanted. Again, the story as written is fun and interesting, just not what I was looking for. I would still suggest this book to people, so read for yourself if you want clarity!...more
Goddamn this Twisted Tale was a good one! It takes place post Little Mermaid, but instead of the happily ever after, Ursula won and married Prince EriGoddamn this Twisted Tale was a good one! It takes place post Little Mermaid, but instead of the happily ever after, Ursula won and married Prince Eric, and Ariel went back to Atlantica, where he sisters made her take the crown and rule in her father's stead. So King Triton is still a sea polyp in captivity, Prince Eric is still under Ursula's spell and deemed "The Mad Prince", and Ariel still has no voice. This book is about 5-6 years in the future and Ariel gets word that her father, whom she thought was dead, is still alive, so she returns to the surface to try to find him. Things lead to other things and the book progresses, as it does.
My favorite thing about this book is Ariel's introspection. After several years of not being able to speak, she learns to slow down and observe more. She also grows up, she's the Queen of the Sea. The ending of this book is not the happily ever after that one would expect because Ariel is able to actually thing about the realities of her and Eric's lives and futures. Great read, definitely one of my favorite Twisted Tales so far!...more
I am absolutely in love with these Twisted Tales. I'm a huge Disney fan, and Frozen is my number 1 favorite movie! This is such a fun and interesting I am absolutely in love with these Twisted Tales. I'm a huge Disney fan, and Frozen is my number 1 favorite movie! This is such a fun and interesting take on the original story. I love how in this series, the beats are pretty much the same as the movies, but the story itself is a complete 180 from the original. I loved this book, and I will definitely be reading the whole series. ...more
I say this every single time I read another Twisted Tale, but dayum, this one might be my favorite! This book centers around Mulan. She has to travel I say this every single time I read another Twisted Tale, but dayum, this one might be my favorite! This book centers around Mulan. She has to travel to the underworld, Diyu, in Chinese mythology, to save Shang's life. They fight demons, climb mountains made of knives, and have to look inwards to see their true reflection (get it? like the song and book title). This book was amazing, and I feel that we get to see Mulan's turmoil better than in the movie. In the end, they make it out and head to the Emperor's place to receive praise for defeating the Huns. Shang discovers that Mulan is a girl in Diyu and promises to tell the Emperor the truth so she can be properly honored.
I think that this is my favorite Twisted Tale thus far. This one felt different than some of the others that I've read, because, instead of it being aI think that this is my favorite Twisted Tale thus far. This one felt different than some of the others that I've read, because, instead of it being a different version of the story we already know, it was more of a prequel to Pinocchio. I really liked that we got an entire story about the Blue Fairy. We didn't even really see the Pinocchio parts until like, the last 100 pages. It was very well written, and very heartfelt. 10/10 would read again. 10/10 now has a weird obsession with Pinocchio. ...more
I liked this book; it was fun, and we got to see a bit more of the inner thoughts/emotions from Anna and Hans. However, this book was basically just aI liked this book; it was fun, and we got to see a bit more of the inner thoughts/emotions from Anna and Hans. However, this book was basically just a written version of the movie, even down to the dialog. Luckily, Frozen is one of my favorite movies....more