The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Golden Braid
(Hagenheim #6)
AUTHOR: Melanie Dickerson
PUBLISHER: Thomas Nelson
PUB DATE: Nov 17 2015

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man around. And her skills as an artist rival those of any artist she’s met. But for a woman in medieval times, the one skill she most desires is the hardest one to obtain: the ability to read.

After yet another young man asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides they need to move once again, but this time to a larger city. Rapunzel’s heart soars—surely there she can fulfill her dream. But Mother won’t let her close to a man. She claims that no man can be trusted.

After being rescued by a knight on the road to the city, and in turn rescuing him farther down the road, Rapunzel’s opportunity arrives at last. This knight, Sir Gerek, agrees to educate Rapunzel in order to pay back his debt. She just has to put up with his arrogant nature and single-minded focus on riches and prestige.

But this Rapunzel story is unlike any other and the mystery that she uncovers will change everything—except her happily ever after.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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"We all have a choice, after all, to be our own person, to be the person we wish to be."

I've come to enjoy Melanie Dickerson's novels. In fact she was the first author who introduced me to Christian romance books, and immediately became one of my 'go to' authors for this genre. Even though this is only the third book I've read from her. I'm definitely watching out for more of her books.

And this here, The Golden Braid, is what I felt was missing from The Princess Spy! This was a story that simultaneously happened while all the events from The Princess Spy occurred. I've always felt like there was something I wasn't seeing with TPS and here was the answer!

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Princess Spy
(Hagenheim #4)
AUTHOR: Melanie Dickerson
PUBLISHER: Zondervan
PUB DATE: Nov 4 2014

A new suitor. A shocking discovery.

Margaretha has always been a romantic, and hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to the castle, claiming to be an English lord who was left for dead by Claybrook's men. She convinces herself "Lord Colin" is just an addled stranger, until Colin retrieves an heirloom she lost in a well and asks her to spy on Claybrook as repayment. Margaretha knows she could never be a spy---not only does she tend to talk too much, she's sure Colin is completely wrong about her potential betrothed. But she soon discovers her romantic notions may have been clouding her judgment about not only Colin but Claybrook as well. She soon finds herself running for her life--and it may be up to her to save her father and her family from one man's wicked plot.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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A whole lot of 'princess' but not enough 'spying'.

Melanie Dickerson has immediately caught my eye with The Fairest Beauty. While I know that it's the third book from the Hagenheim series, it's the first book I've read from her. I liked it enough that it encouraged me to read The Princess Spy when I chanced upon an ARC on NetGalley.

Sadly this one fell rather short for me. I am aware that this is a fairy tale, but the whole gushy instant romance just wasn't working. While the author did put effort to build the romance within the entire book, it still lacked the spark I was hoping for.

Compared to The Fairest Beauty, the characters of The Princess Spy were not as appealing. I found it hard to like Collin and Margaretha. What is up with their planning and execution skills? I feel like they're the worst sort for things like that. Nothing went accordingly. Ha! Ha! I still want them together as a couple though, because well, who else is there to pair them up with?

Spinning Starlight by R.C. Lewis [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Spinning Starlight
AUTHOR: R.C. Lewis
PUBLISHER: Disney-Hyperion
PUB DATE: Oct 6 2015

Sixteen-year-old heiress and paparazzi darling Liddi Jantzen hates the spotlight. But as the only daughter in the most powerful tech family in the galaxy, it's hard to escape it. So when a group of men show up at her house uninvited, she assumes it's just the usual media-grubs. That is, until shots are fired.

Liddi escapes, only to be pulled into an interplanetary conspiracy more complex than she ever could have imagined. Her older brothers have been caught as well, trapped in the conduits between the planets. And when their captor implants a device in Liddi's vocal cords to monitor her speech, their lives are in her hands: One word and her brothers are dead.

Desperate to save her family from a desolate future, Liddi travels to another world, where she meets the one person who might have the skills to help her bring her eight brothers home-a handsome dignitary named Tiav. But without her voice, Liddi must use every bit of her strength and wit to convince Tiav that her mission is true. With the tenuous balance of the planets deeply intertwined with her brothers' survival, just how much is Liddi willing to sacrifice to bring them back?

Haunting and mesmerizing, this retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Wild Swans strings the heart of the classic with a stunning, imaginative world as a star-crossed family fights for survival in this companion to Stitching Snow.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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"Slower doesn't sound better, but really, sometimes it is. If you give your mind a quiet moment, that's when the best ideas come."

At first I thought Spinning Starlight was a continuation of Stitching Snow, which I've said in my review was an 'okay' story and was better left a standalone book. So when I saw Spinning Starlight, I was hesitant to read it. Stitching Snow had a fitting ending all on its own, what more could you tell of that book? That was my reaction when I saw the cover design and author's name on Spinning Starlight, and yes, I did jump to conclusions without reading the synopsis yet. Pardon my impulsive retort.

It was a very bold move of the author to choose a fairy tale that isn't as popular as Cinderella, Snow White, and the like - and guess what, it worked!

If you're not familiar with Hans Christian Andersen's The Wild Swans, you may find yourself a little lost. That is, if you're hoping for some fairy tale familiarity of the classics that often get remade and reimagined. This isn't one of those. But get ready for a spectacular sci-fi fairy tale experience! This may even make you want to check out the original.

There are a lot of complexities in Spinning Starlight. Complex setting. Complex time differences between worlds, and what is up with those moons? Complex jump rope game (that's a lot of rules for a kid's game). Complex scientific terms. Heck even their alphabet is also complex! What kind of language does this world have? But do not fear! Lewis does not leave her readers blind. For example, the planetary system of Liddi's world was a lot to take in but the author provides vivid descriptions that readers can fully immerse themselves into these details.

Such Sweet Sorrow by Jenny Trout [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Such Sweet Sorrow
AUTHOR: Jenny Trout
PUBLISHER: Entangled Teen
PUB DATE: Feb 4 2014

Never was there a tale of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo…But true love never dies. Though they’re parted by the veil between the world of mortals and the land of the dead, Romeo believes he can restore Juliet to life, but he’ll have to travel to the underworld with a thoroughly infuriating guide.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, may not have inherited his father’s crown, but the murdered king left his son a much more important responsibility—a portal to the Afterjord, where the souls of the dead reside. When the determined Romeo asks for help traversing the treacherous Afterjord, Hamlet sees an opportunity for adventure, and the chance to avenge his father’s death.

In an underworld filled with leviathan monsters, ghoulish shades, fire giants and fierce Valkyrie warriors, Hamlet and Romeo must battle their way through jealousy, despair, and their darkest fears to rescue the fair damsel. Yet finding Juliet is only the beginning, and the Afterjord doesn’t surrender souls without a price…

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet mash up!

If you've read [or know of] these Shakespeare stories, you know they end in tragedy. As most of his plays do I suppose. Anyway, get ready to see a whole new twist to these stories.

Such Sweet Sorrow is one of those books that reel you in with such a great and unique idea for a story. So I didn't find it surprising that I took it upon myself to request for a copy on Netgalley.

While Shakespeare's plays came off gloomy and well, tragically, Jenny Trout's take on them was lighter and rather spunky.

I didn't really find the original Hamlet to be a likable protagonist but, Ms. Trout's version of him was one I prefer. A teen rightful king Hamlet with a cheerful personality, although impulsive most of the time, was definitely an interesting take.

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Princess of Thorns
AUTHOR: Stacey Jay
PUBLISHER: Random House Children's
PUB DATE: Dec 9 2014

Game of Thrones meets Grimm in a twisted continuation of the Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess, who must fight to reclaim her throne in a politically fraught fantasy world.

Known for reimagining traditional fairy tales, Stacey Jay delivers a fast paced romantic fantasy adventure twisted in a feminist direction, featuring the fairy blessed warrior princess Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty's daughter, who doesn't take life lying down.

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, mercy, and yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of a handsome cursed prince in order to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years before.

In spite of being uncertain of who to trust, Aurora grows close to Prince Niklaas during their arduous quest. Still nothing will stop her from reclaiming the crown that is rightfully hers and gaining control over her future. Will they triumph over evil and reach her brother whose days are numbered? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will forever keep them from finding their one true love?

- Source: NetGalley

Rating:

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“Last night was what love is supposed to feel like, terrifying and beautiful and so close you're afraid you'll lose a piece of yourself, but you don't. You gain a piece of the person you love instead, a piece that makes you stronger and happier than you could have imagined possible.”

Beautiful!

I feel the need to give this book a standing ovation after I finished it. It was just so darn sweet!

Now when I glanced upon the name “Aurora” I immediately thought this would be a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. And I oh, so love retellings, don’t I? So yes, I must read Princess of Thorns!!! But Stacey Jay had other plans. While this book did involve Sleeping Beauty, it wasn’t exactly a retelling. This story involved Sleeping Beauty’s children rather than herself. And although this is a fairy tale, might I warn you that even though Sleeping Beauty met her prince, it didn’t turn out exactly a happily ever after. Not that I’m such a party pooper, but it’s kind of nice to see a fairy tale that showed an unhappy ending for the princess. Change is good sometimes, right?

I also appreciated that this book was focused on more than one fairy tale. It was fascinating to see how well the author was able to merge the two stories in one. Cleverly done, my friend.

Grimm Fairy Tales: Robyn Hood Legend by Patrick Shand [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Grimm Fairy Tales:
Robyn Hood Legend
AUTHOR: Patrick Shand
PUBLISHER: Zenescope
PUB DATE: Sep 16 2014

Everyone's favorite female archer is back! Robyn thought she lost everything, but when the villainous Guy of Gisbourne makes his way to Earth, Robyn is faced with a choice. Return to Myst to save the people of Nottingham once and for all, or live life as a normal person. The final volume of the fan-favorite Robyn Hood trilogy begins now!

Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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I started reading The Grimm Fairy Tales: Robyn Hood comic book out of sheer need for artwork inspiration. Finding an interesting story behind the artwork, I then continued on because I wanted to see how the story would evolve. Now, I’ve come to see how it would end (well, on this chapter of Robyn’s life at least).

Let’s cut to the chase, this comic book nearly ripped my heart out! So much that I had to send out a tweet to Patrick Shand telling him: “For a moment there you gave me hope… and then you crushed it!”

Oh that bitter ending!

After all that Robyn had been through, I was hoping so badly to see her have even an ounce of happiness in the end. Damn! It was too much to hope for. And yet in spite of that, I really enjoyed reading this. The action and drama that went on throughout the story was a worthwhile read.

Although, as much as I enjoyed this, I was still left with some unanswered questions about Robyn’s past, was that done intentionally since she has other stories to be released? Or was it not as important to provide closure to? Like who where Robyn’s real parents? Why were people after Robyn during her birth and who was the man trying to protect her then (events that occurred in the first volume)? Did I overlook something?

Nevertheless, out of the three Grimm Fairy Tales: Robyn Hood comics (not counting her titles with a different adventure), I’d have to say this one was the best, albeit most painful, among the volumes.

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*Thank you, Diamond Book Distributors, Zenescope and NetGalley for granting my request to view Grimm Fairy Tales: Robyn Hood Legend.

The Stepsister's Tale by Tracy Barrett [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Stepsister's Tale
AUTHOR: Tracy Barrett
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen
PUB DATE: Jun 24 2014

What really happened after the clock struck midnight?

Jane Montjoy is tired of being a lady. She's tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother's noble family-especially now that the family's wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It's hard enough that she must tend to the animals and find a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane's burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family's struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane's stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled child her every desire.

When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate...

From the handsome prince to the evil stepsister, nothing is quite as it seems in Tracy Barrett's stunning retelling of the classic Cinderella tale.

Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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“You’ll still be beautifully yourself when that pretty kitten has grown up to be a nice-enough cat and the wildflower has faded.”

I am one to never pass up a chance to read a fairy tale retelling. So it comes to no surprise that I just had to read The Stepsister’s Tale. A Cinderella story told in the eyes of the “wicked” stepsister? This should be interesting.

The Stepsister’s Tale indeed have quite an intriguing opening; how expectations of high society could push a person to deceive and live in denial.

Jane was a receptive character, it’s not hard to feel compassion for someone who refuses to stick to what is expected of her or what society dictates, and choose to do what it takes to take care of her family. I wouldn’t say the same for Jane’s younger sister, Maude, and her mother though. They felt a bit insignificant unless needed, but I can see that there really isn’t much for their characters to do in the story.

Grimm Fairy Tales: Oz by Joe Brusha [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Grimm Fairy Tales: Oz
AUTHOR: Joe Brusha
PUBLISHER: Zenescope Entertainment
PUB DATE: Mar 18 2014

The world faces a gathering storm that threatens to drown it in darkness. The only hope to stop the coming evil rests on an unlikely hero: a Kansas farm girl named Dorothy Gale.

Unbeknownst to Dorothy, highborn blood flows through her veins and with it, the power to save Earth and the realms of power that surround it. But Dorothy must first learn to use her unharnessed abilities before the witches of Oz destroy her and everyone else that stands in their way.

Zenescope Entertainment presents another incredible tale of adventure and fantasy with this mesmerizing and epic re-imagining of a classic!

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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Have I ever mentioned how much I love retellings? If you’ve read some of my blog entries about other books I’ve read, I may have mentioned it a few times... okay maybe more than a few. And you may be already annoyed. Sorry. Let’s move on...

While I may not be much of an Oz fan, I didn’t pass up the chance to read Grimm Fairy Tales: Oz. I’ve read a few Grimm Fairy Tales since this one, and I really liked most of them. So it is with deep regret that I felt differently for Oz. I still love the art and creativity that went to every aspect to create this story, not to mention a fascinating darker version of the classic, but this just didn’t do it for me.

Oz had an interesting set of characters much like the original, there’s Dorothy, Toto, Glinda the Good Witch, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow, and most of all, who could forget, the Wicked Witch. They are all looking stunning, albeit little scantily clothed females, appearing all gallant and significant, some even have pasts too dark to revisit, and I was just dying to know more about each one. Alas, it was a disappointment. The flashbacks were rather shallow and didn’t dig deep enough to trigger an empathizing bone in my body – I’m a bleeding heart, so I should have been one of the easiest people to appease on that department.

The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Shadow Prince
(Into the Dark #1)
AUTHOR: Bree Despain
PUBLISHER: Egmont
PUB DATE: Mar 11 2014

Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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“I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know how or if we’ll get through this. But for the first time in my life, my destiny is in my own hands.”

When I read the synopsis, I was drawn to the reimagining of the mythological story of Hades and Persephone, and yet I was sceptical about reading The Shadow Prince. I’ve read Bree Despain’s The Dark Divine, I knew it was a part of a series and reading that first book, I knew I wouldn’t be reading the next ones. I just didn’t like it. It wasn’t my kind of story – but The Shadow Prince is! Mythology and retellings? That’s hard to say no to. Well, color me surprised. This turned out pretty good!

I can’t say that Daphne upheld stunning characteristics other than her advanced musical talent. She didn’t strike me to be an epic protagonist, but well enough to keep me interested. Haden, on the other hand, was awesome! Never mind that he turned out a bit stoic and emo (sometimes), I realized his ignorance over women and all things human once I got to the part where he revealed that there were no females being born in the Underrealm. Well, no wonder you were clueless boy. What I was awed most about Haden was his abilities. Wouldn’t it be cool to learn anything and everything just by watching how they are done once and get to do it like you’ve been working on the skill for years?

Grimm Fairy Tales: Robyn Hood + Grimm Fairy Tales: Robyn Hood: Wanted by Patrick Shand [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Grimm Fairy Tales: Robyn Hood
AUTHOR: Patrick Shand
PUBLISHER: Zenescope
PUB DATE: Mar 12 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"In the land of Myst, a tryant rules the city of Bree with an iron fist, leaving its citizens living in fear and terror. But all hope is not lost as a young orphan girl from another world discovers her destiny and becomes the legend she was meant to be. The creators of Grimm Fairy Tales, Wonderland, and Neverland bring you the next great hero in the Grimm Universe!"

Rating:

I have to admit that the main reason I requested to view this title on Netgalley was because of the artwork. I’m a CG artist by profession so gathering inspiration and viewing all sorts of artwork comes with the job. When I came across the cover of Grimm Fairy Tales: Robyn Hood, I was incredibly drawn to it. It’s fantastical, bad-ass, and sexy, albeit a little bloody; it was just alluring!

The story itself was dark and... Well, bloody; definitely living up to what that gorgeous cover seems to promise. As most comics/graphic books go, this was a short read, and the story was laid out as a typical vigilante plot, you know, thirst for justice and whatnot. Accompanying this was the mystery of Robyn’s past and all the prophecy talk that I happen to be still as just clueless about in the beginning up until the end.

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson [REVIEW]

TITLE: The Fairest Beauty
AUTHOR: Melanie Dickerson
PUBLISHER: Zondervan
PUB DATE: Jan 8 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"A daring rescue.
A difficult choice.

Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother's jealousy, and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie's one chance at freedom—but can she trust another person to keep her safe?

Gabe defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl's inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible—she is his brother's future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else—he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what.

When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven, they find help—but also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them—they must also protect their hearts."

Rating:

It’s all about the love story. I’ll get to that a bit more later...

The Fairest Beauty is a retelling of the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. The beginning of the story was the typical starter for fairy tales, with once upon a time, the damsel in distress, blah, blah, blah... but it was a strong introduction. The setting was vivid and clear, and the characters showed promise.

Duchess Ermengard was an outstanding character. Okay, so mainly because her name sounds so much like the memes going around with the words: ERMAHGERD! I just couldn’t stop myself from chuckling and imagining this:

See what I mean? It’s a foreign name to me so you’ll have to forgive me on this one.

Let’s move on, shall we?

Splintered by A.G. Howard [REVIEW]

TITLE: Splintered (Splintered #1)
AUTHOR: A.G. Howard
PUBLISHER: Amulet Books
PUB DATE: Jan 1 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family.

She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own."

Rating:

There is always a trend in everything, and trends do happen with books. One example would be retellings or reimagining s of the classic stories and fairy tales.

Behold, Splintered – on of the many reimagined stories of our generation. But wait, it’s not just some random reimagining; it takes us back to the story of our beloved Alice Lindell from Lewis Caroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. And it seems that Wonderland wasn’t that all of such wonder... it’s a dark and twisted world. And Caroll’s story was made to appease children to happily dream of this land. There is no white rabbit, but rather white Rabid and there is nothing dreamlike about Wonderland. The truth is, it’s a nightmare. And Alyssa Gardner (a descendant of the Alice herself) is just about step into this horrendous land.

I must say the premise was quite tempting. I’m a sucker for retellings after all so this was definitely a high priority on my to-read list.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer [REVIEW]

   

TITLE: Scarlet
            (The Lunar Chronicles #2)
AUTHOR: Marissa Meyer
PUBLISHER: Feiwel and Friends
PUB DATE: Feb 5 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner."

Rating:

*Gasps* Wolf! *dreamy-eyed*

Wolf... *giggles*

Oh, dear Wolf... *sighs heavily*

Oh. What? Review? *wide eyed* Whoops! Sorry. I... I’m just... you see... *sigh* Wolf!

Okay... I’m snapping out of this trance – for now. Ha! Ha! Ha!

Wow! This was such spectacular book! What an adventure! I can’t stop admiring it. I can’t stop myself from smiling every time it crosses my mind or whenever I see it on my shelf. I can’t stop thinking about how much fun it was to read. I can’t stop fan-girling over Wolf! (I’m sorry. I know I said I’d snap out of my trance but it’s. Just. So. Hard! LOL).

I had loads of fun reading Cinder, the first book from the Lunar Chronicles, but Scarlet just put all that awesomeness to a whole new level! The characters are even more striking than before. Of course, I’m really glad to see Cinder and Kai again. But the addition of Thorne, – I’m sorry, that’s Captain Thorne – Scarlet and Wolf just made the story more exciting.

Meeting Thorne made Cinder’s journey, although strenuous and filled with danger, amusing and worth looking forward to. Thorne is one of those characters that would be loved by many despite being a wanted criminal. As for Scarlet and Wolf, they are just oh-so lovable. I say “Scarlet and Wolf” because it doesn’t feel right describing one without the other. If there’s one couple I’d strongly “ship”, it would be Scarlet and Wolf. They’re just perfect for each other.

The World Above: A Retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk" by Cameron Dokey [REVIEW]

The World Above: A Retelling of
"Jack and the Beanstalk"
(Once Upon a Time)
by Cameron Dokey

Summary from Goodreads:

“Gen and her twin brother, Jack, were raised with their mother's tales of life in the World Above. Gen is skeptical, but adventureous Jack believes the stories--and trades the family cow for magical beans. Their mother rejoices, knowing they can finally return to their royal home.When Jack plants the beans and climbs the enchanted stalk, he is captured by the tyrant who now rules the land. Gen sets off to rescue her borther, but danger awaits her in the World Above. For finding Jack may mean losing her heart...”

Rating:

When I first saw the World Above [seeing a girl on the cover], which was described as a retelling of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” I thought the retelling was going to go something like this: Jack is really a girl who disguised herself as a boy then went up a beanstalk. Well, I couldn’t be more wrong; my bad. Turns out the World Above is actually a retelling in which Gen, our main character, is the twin sister of Jack. And this is supposedly the true story of “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

Now let me give a little intro on how the book started off:

"...Whose name do you see there? Just Jack's. It doesn't mention me at all. Not only that, it gives you the impression there was only one beanstalk, when in fact, there were many. I'm thinking it's time to set the record straight. To share the true story...It begins with the way all good tales do. With Once upon a time..."

Glitches by Marissa Meyer [REVIEW]

        

Glitches (Lunar Chronicles #0.5)
by Marissa Meyer

Summary from Goodreads:

"Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. In “Glitches,” a short prequel story to Cinder, we see the results of that illness play out, and the emotional toll that takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch..."

Rating:

After reading Cinder, I still felt like there’s still a lot that I don’t know about the protagonist. The book already dove into the present life of Cinder; working as a mechanic.

So I was ecstatic to find Glitches!  It’s nice to see how exactly Cinder got to become a mechanic and how she ended up with Adri, her stepmother. We also get a glimpse of her stepfather, Garan: a man of mystery, and an ever-devoted husband and father to his family.

Most of all, it’s nice to see a different side of our villain. If you read Cinder first before this prequel, you probably hate Cinder’s stepmother. Now this book may not exactly sway your impression and feelings about her but it does let you see a side of her that can gain your empathy.

Readers also get to see how Cinder gains a friend with the help of her newfound cyborg ability.

Glitches will hardly take up much time so if you are thinking about giving Cinder a shot, start on this one first to give yourself a prologue of sort.  

Cinder by Marissa Meyer [REVIEW]

     

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)
by Marissa Meyer

Summary from Goodreads:

"A forbidden romance. A deadly plague. Earth's fate hinges on one girl...

Cinder, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She's reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen - and a dangerous temptation.

Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth's future."

Rating:

You know that feeling when you see a book’s cover art and find it sooo appealing that you just had to know what it’s about? Or sometimes, you just grab it off a bookstore’s shelf and buy it without knowing what it’s about? Well I didn’t feel that way with Cinder. I wasn’t completely sold on the cover; I’m not saying it’s awful, I just don’t find it extremely striking or attention grabbing. Then I read the title, and I tell myself, “Cinder? Hmmm… Looks like a retelling of Cinderella… with some sort of… robotic feature?!”

I cringe at the idea. Is that even possible? That’s a bold move, Marissa Meyer; but it doesn’t seem convincing. So I let the book go and moved on to looking at other books.

After some time, I came across several blogs that received copies of Cinder… so I decided to check the book’s synopsis and I thought, “huh. Sounds interesting enough…”

Still skeptical yet curious, I decided to give Cinder a shot and… BOY, DID IT BLOW ME AWAY!

I curse myself for not getting this book sooner!

Marissa Meyer’s Cinder is like no other retelling of Cinderella. If you think you’ve read, seen or heard every possible remake or reiteration of this story, well get ready to be proven wrong. It’s amazing what really creative authors can do, and I can strongly say that Marissa Meyer is an author to watch out for.

The plot of this book is something I find unique and refreshing. It’s not completely based on the classic but the important details or the commonly known facts of Cinderella [the stepmother and stepsisters; Cinder being forced to work by her stepmother; the whole prince and the ball event, not to mention the leaving behind the slipper thing] were of course, presented in this adaptation (if you’re thinking of the Disney version, note that there’s no fairy godmother here, sorry), and yet you’ll be surprised with how those things will turn out. And did I mention this is set in a futuristic world? Pretty cool, huh? Wait ‘til you get to actually read about it ‘coz this author has one hell of an imagination!

Now Cinder’s character is rather interesting. Being a cyborg and having a built-in internet-like system within your vision is enough to keep me turning page after page, after page. Add the fact that she’s the best mechanic in all of New Beijing considering she’s a girl, bravo on that idea! Sadly, I feel like I didn’t get to know Cinder that well. Her personality’s still a bit vague to me. Maybe she’ll grow as this series progresses so I’ll be keeping an open mind about that.

Are you waiting to find out about Cinder and the Prince (his name’s Kai by the way)? Hmm… Let’s just say there are few bittersweet moments to watch out for.  By few I mean waiting for the next book to come since the relationship is still in the process of development. Bummer!

So I did mention that the fairy godmother has gone AWOL, but that doesn’t mean we’re short on villains too. Cinder is already taking in the wickedness of her stepmother and a particular stepsister when she also catches an evil queen’s attention. Poor, Cinder… and to think the journey to a happily ever after ending has just begun.

Did I just say: “begun”? Yes, you read that right, because you better be prepared for a major, and I mean MAJOR, cliffhanger. Seriously?! These authors are deliberately cruel! Why? Why must you torture your readers? *Wailing uncontrollably* LOL.

Needless to say, I absolutely love this book. It’s an enchanting book that successfully gives this classic story a new and invigorating twist that’ll keep you wanting more.

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen [ARC REVIEW]

        

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Summary from Goodreads:

"Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for."

Rating:

Scarlet is a wonderful twist to the classic Robin Hood tale!

Will Scarlet is part of Robin Hood’s band of thieves. He’s cunning and quick. He can easily blend into a crowd and he’s one heck of a spy. But he also has a secret, he is actually a she. That’s not the only secret she’s keeping and that secret haunts her everyday… what’s worse, it has come back to claim her.

I don’t know much about the story of Robin Hood; I just know the basics: he’s a thief who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. What I know doesn’t go further than that… unless you count the Robin Hood cartoon by Disney. LOL.

Anyway, I’ve always been a fan of books showing women empowerment, so it’s really no surprise that Scarlet caught my attention, and the retelling bit was an added bonus.

 Gaughen’s version of the classic was a very delightful read. Never had I imagined the possibility of this story to evolve into something different and yet still stick as strongly as probable to how the original tale was created. I really admire how she threaded all her research into a story worth reading.

Scarlet’s attitude was something I don’t like about a person.  She’s rude, impulsive, and secretive among other things. There’s too much negative energy around her and yet, I love her. Her imperfection just makes her a more interesting character. At first I was really annoyed at her for evading all the issues Robin wants her to open up about but when I found out the truth, I couldn’t help but shed a few tears for the girl. She’s been through a lot.

I had mixed feeling about Robin and Little John’s characters. There are times that I liked them and times that I wished the story to move on because they were just annoying. Still, I have to commend the uniqueness of them both. They’re memorable and strong, so kudos!

The plot of this story was really interesting and every chapter of this book was entertaining. I love the balance of romance, action and narrative that Gaughen has provided readers with.

The only reason I didn’t give this book a perfect rating was the ending. Oh sure I love how Scarlet’s relationship went into but there’s still a lot of unfinished business. If this is ever a standalone then it may cause disappointment. There’s got to be more to this… Please!!! *Doing the puppy eyes*

Well I still think Scarlet is an incredible novel and I highly recommend this to readers who are suckers for classic retellings.  

The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey

        

The Snow Queen
(Five Hundred Kingdoms #4)
by Mercedes Lackey

Summary from Goodreads:

"Aleksia, Queen of the Northern Lights, is mysterious, beautiful and widely known to have a heart of ice. But when she's falsely accused of unleashing evil on nearby villages, she realizes there's an impostor out there far more heartless than she could ever be.

And when a young warrior disappears, Aleksia's powers are needed as never before.

Now, on a journey through a realm of perpetual winter, it will take all her skills, a mother's faith and a little magic to face down an enemy more formidable than any she has ever known…."

Rating:

Ever since I read the Fairy Godmother, the first book of the Five Hundred Kingdoms series, it became my goal to read all of these books. As of today, the only books I haven’t read are One Good Knight, Harvest Moon which is a novella and the upcoming 6^th book, Beauty and the Werewolf.

So with that in mind, I feel like this series is a little inconsistent. I enjoyed reading The Fairy Godmother, Fortune’s Fool was even better but Sleeping Beauty wasn’t much of a standout. And I’ve read reviews that One Good Knight was not so appealing, which I hope isn’t true. And now for The Snow Queen, I’m really sad to say that I did not enjoy.

I really like the way Mercedes Lackey created her stories from the well-known fairytales we’ve loved when we were kids. In fact, The Snow Queen was the first of the series that I wanted to read. I think it was a good thing that I came upon a copy of the Fairy Godmother first before this book; else I wouldn’t have such a strong urge to read the rest.

I think the characters and the setting were excessively narrated. Too much information really isn’t so good. I was already happy with what I know of the Ice Fairy and the other protagonists but was it really necessary to go over so much detail that really didn’t give much help on what they needed to accomplish?

You know the one thing that really bothered me? This isn’t very much a spoiler, I promise. There’s this part that described a character performed shape shifting. Now I’m all good with the idea but I really don’t think the hunting for prey and feeding off of them needed to be described occupying almost half of a chapter… twice!

Okay, yes, with Lackey’s style of writing, I should’ve expected long narratives but this was just a little too much. Adding that there was not even any romance going on. Sure they have love interests but no sweet scenes or whatever. It was more on the planning and journey side that wasn’t as eventful as I expected.

I don’t question the author’s creativity, and I know she’s an amazing fantasy writer but I guess this book just wasn’t one that I’m in favor of. 

The Sleeping Beauty by Mercedes Lackey

        

The Sleeping Beauty
(Five Hundred Kingdoms #5)
by Mercedes Lackey

Summary from Goodreads:

"Like any other princess, Rosamund just wants to believe in fairytales. Unfortunately, those velvety dreams dissolve in smoke when poor Rosa is chased by savage hunters and then unceremoniously held by some very impolite dwarves. At this point, our frantic princess takes an extreme measure: She agrees to submit to an incantation from, you guessed it, her stepmother, which brings her, first, sleep, and then a very touchy-feely stranger. What is a young girl to do?"

Rating:

A Sleeping Beauty tale with not much sleeping in it!

Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed this book.

For those who vaguely know about the Five Hundred Kingdoms series by Mercedes Lackey, most of the time the characters from each book try their best to outsmart The Tradition, a very powerful but unconscious force that entails kingdoms to have fairy tale happenings.

Lackey’s books tend to be very descriptive and state the “this and that” of some events, which can be annoying sometimes, but I find it bearable this time. It’s not very eventful at first but the progress of the book had a very nice flow to it. I also like how witty this book turned out to be. It wasn’t outright laugh-your-head-off, but definitely entertaining. I love that it had a nip of action in it too.

Although I do find that the love interest between Siegfried and Rosa kind of obvious and Leopold being in the picture wasn’t much of a rival of sort.

I’m sorry for being too ambiguous over the details but if I start going over what I’m talking about specifically then I’ll just be spoiling the whole story, because despite the 400 pages of the book, it’s actually a quick story. It’s an easy book to read and a good break from all the dark tales I’ve been reading and I appreciate the happily ever after feel and ending of Sleeping Beauty.

I’m definitely looking forward to the next book. 

Wild Orchid: A Retelling of "The Ballad of Mulan" by Cameron Dokey

        

Wild Orchid: A Retelling of
"The Ballad of Mulan"
by Cameron Dokey

Summary from Goodreads:

"Wielding a sword as deftly as an embroidery needle, Mulan is unlike any other girl in China. When the emperor summons a great army, each family must send a male to fight. Tomboyish Mulan is determined to spare her aging father and bring her family honor, so she disguises herself and answers the call.

But Mulan never expects to find a friend, let alone a soul mate, in the commander of her division, Prince Jian. For all of Mulan's courage with a bow and arrow, is she brave enough to share her true identity and feelings with Prince Jian?"

Rating:

Not exactly a tale that I find memorable and exciting. I appreciated the first parts of this book but as the story progressed, I came to notice how shallow and uneventful it turned out to be.

I didn’t get to know the characters very well. Mulan’s character was fairly established but as for everyone else, I just got a glimpse or two of their names and not much of their personality. I also find that Mulan’s love interest, Prince Jian (…is that his name? correct me if I’m wrong.) a very unreal character. It feels forced when the author made them connect with each other, because first of all, we know Mulan pretended to be a boy so when they were having this deep conversation about their feelings, do you seriously believe guys would have that deep of a heart-to-heart talk when they’ve only met for like a couple of hours ago?

I’m really bothered by the pacing of the story. Almost half of the book talked about Mulan’s childhood, which was good but cannot really suffice for the lack of incidents that occurred with the remaining pages of the book. The events that followed was the preparation for war and the war itself which felt like a speeding car zooming across the highway, so fast that you didn’t even get the chance to see what kind of car passed by. Totally frustrating.

I also feel like there weren’t any challenging events for Mulan. Yes, they are on the verge of war and there are issues between the princes of the kingdom but there wasn’t any groundbreaking climax.

In spite all that, I do have to say that it wasn’t all bad. I love Mulan’s voice and the enriching relationship she was able to develop with her father and her stepmother. I love the idea of willing to sacrifice yourself for the happiness of your loved ones.