Scan barcode
flowersofquiethappiness's review against another edition
4.0
Well now! I am quite impressed with the imaginations of these six authors to take well known fairytales and spin them so differently, yet keep enough of the familiar so that one recognizes the basic storyline. I've seen each of them around the web and was thrilled to finally get a chance to taste a bit of their writing. Let me just say that I will definitely be checking out more from each of them. (Also, can I mention that I loved Rachel Heffington's preface? It set the stage so perfectly for me to begin reading!) Every single one of these stories is so very well-written, and seriously, the creativeness involved in displacing these familiar characters on new and exciting adventures is fabulous. Kudos, ladies! Y'all have a new fan. :)
Each story is quite different from the others. Ms. Foley clearly excels in writing westerns, as that genre doesn't usually interest me, yet I got swept away and anxiously wondered how things were going to turn out. I shouldn't have worried! Ms. Heffington's story was by far the one I was uncertain about the most. Not her writing, but just the fact that there was an overall sadness surrounding the characters. I kept hoping that somehow my desired happy ending would come! Turns out it was more of a hopeful ending than a happy one, but that didn't take away from the imaginativeness she used. I was quite intrigued with the world she created! Ms. Pennington's ended up being my favorite of the six, I have to admit. I absolutely loved the slow burn romance and how sweet Byron was. And the automatons and machines that Amanda created!
Ms. Putzke gave her story a very bittersweet feeling. But the alternating chapters between present time and past was so well done! As were the descriptions of how horrible it was for the Jews during WWII. I kept hoping just maybe a happy ending would come, but ultimately I figured out that wouldn't have worked. Ms. Putzke knew how the journey needed to go. I definitely appreciated the hopefulness that infused the overall storyline though. Ms. Rowntree's story was certainly a fascinating one! I kept trying to figure out who I should trust and who I shouldn't and still wasn't totally right by the time the clues all came together. She created a unique setting, I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I started chapter one, so my curiosity was high. While not my favorite, I have to say I was invested to know what would happen! And finally, Ms. Wand's story was a sweet way to end the book. While not every scene involved sweetness necessarily (there were harsh moments where the roughness of war needed to be made clear), ultimately it made me grin over the adorable romance. Also I liked the fact that Nella's struggles weren't magically over at the end. She made huge strides in overcoming, but time was still needed for complete healing. Which is very true of life!
Altogether, these stories are a wonderful and easy read. While not the fluffy bits of entertainment one usually associates with fairytales, each writer added a few of those moments somewhere in her story. Enough to satisfy a fairytale lover like me! :) These six stories are truly worth your time to read, friends. When you're in need of a quick story to while away a couple hours, one that will make you smile and keep you on your toes, this little book is perfect. Trust me! :)
**I received a complimentary copy from the authors. All opinions expressed are my own.
Each story is quite different from the others. Ms. Foley clearly excels in writing westerns, as that genre doesn't usually interest me, yet I got swept away and anxiously wondered how things were going to turn out. I shouldn't have worried! Ms. Heffington's story was by far the one I was uncertain about the most. Not her writing, but just the fact that there was an overall sadness surrounding the characters. I kept hoping that somehow my desired happy ending would come! Turns out it was more of a hopeful ending than a happy one, but that didn't take away from the imaginativeness she used. I was quite intrigued with the world she created! Ms. Pennington's ended up being my favorite of the six, I have to admit. I absolutely loved the slow burn romance and how sweet Byron was. And the automatons and machines that Amanda created!
Ms. Putzke gave her story a very bittersweet feeling. But the alternating chapters between present time and past was so well done! As were the descriptions of how horrible it was for the Jews during WWII. I kept hoping just maybe a happy ending would come, but ultimately I figured out that wouldn't have worked. Ms. Putzke knew how the journey needed to go. I definitely appreciated the hopefulness that infused the overall storyline though. Ms. Rowntree's story was certainly a fascinating one! I kept trying to figure out who I should trust and who I shouldn't and still wasn't totally right by the time the clues all came together. She created a unique setting, I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I started chapter one, so my curiosity was high. While not my favorite, I have to say I was invested to know what would happen! And finally, Ms. Wand's story was a sweet way to end the book. While not every scene involved sweetness necessarily (there were harsh moments where the roughness of war needed to be made clear), ultimately it made me grin over the adorable romance. Also I liked the fact that Nella's struggles weren't magically over at the end. She made huge strides in overcoming, but time was still needed for complete healing. Which is very true of life!
Altogether, these stories are a wonderful and easy read. While not the fluffy bits of entertainment one usually associates with fairytales, each writer added a few of those moments somewhere in her story. Enough to satisfy a fairytale lover like me! :) These six stories are truly worth your time to read, friends. When you're in need of a quick story to while away a couple hours, one that will make you smile and keep you on your toes, this little book is perfect. Trust me! :)
**I received a complimentary copy from the authors. All opinions expressed are my own.
vitskapsdama's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
carina_shephard's review against another edition
5.0
Read in 2020
Although I liked some better than others, all of the stories were very well written. There's quite a variety.of settings, historical periods, writing styles, and characters, so you'll definitely find at least one that you love!
In order of least to most favorite:
-Sweet Remembrance
A retelling of Little Matchstick Girl set during WWII... yeah, it is about as depressing as it sounds. It's not a bad story, and I guess you could say it has a happy ending? It just wasn't my cup of tea.
-Mountain of the Wolf
I'll have to re-read this, since it was the first story in the book. Has a very heavy emphasis on the "historical" part as opposed to "fairytale" since the fairytale elements don't come into play until the very end.
-She But Sleepeth
A fascinating and completely unique take on Sleeping Beauty with a bittersweet ending.
-With Blossoms Gold
A fantastic retelling of Rapunzel.
-Rumpled
J Grace Pennington is one of my favorite authors, and this is the story I was looking forward to most out of the collection! Definitely the most fantasy oriented out of the six, and I really enjoyed the steampunk elements. A close tie with Death Be Not Proud for my favorite.
-Death Be Not Proud
After I read it, it really stuck with me, and I had to read through it again. The fairytale elements are subtle and the foreshadowing is on point. I'm ashamed to say how long it took me to figure out what fairytale it was retelling. I love the plot twists and the mystery sort of aspect.
Content Concerns:
So, it has been a while (5-6 months) since I've read this, so unfortunately I don't remember what the content level was like. I feel like there was some mild swearing in a few stories, but not sure. There are some darker magical elements in She But Sleepeth to be aware of. I'll update this part of the review when I read through the anthology again.
Although I liked some better than others, all of the stories were very well written. There's quite a variety.of settings, historical periods, writing styles, and characters, so you'll definitely find at least one that you love!
In order of least to most favorite:
-Sweet Remembrance
A retelling of Little Matchstick Girl set during WWII... yeah, it is about as depressing as it sounds. It's not a bad story, and I guess you could say it has a happy ending? It just wasn't my cup of tea.
-Mountain of the Wolf
I'll have to re-read this, since it was the first story in the book. Has a very heavy emphasis on the "historical" part as opposed to "fairytale" since the fairytale elements don't come into play until the very end.
-She But Sleepeth
A fascinating and completely unique take on Sleeping Beauty with a bittersweet ending.
-With Blossoms Gold
A fantastic retelling of Rapunzel.
-Rumpled
J Grace Pennington is one of my favorite authors, and this is the story I was looking forward to most out of the collection! Definitely the most fantasy oriented out of the six, and I really enjoyed the steampunk elements. A close tie with Death Be Not Proud for my favorite.
-Death Be Not Proud
After I read it, it really stuck with me, and I had to read through it again. The fairytale elements are subtle and the foreshadowing is on point. I'm ashamed to say how long it took me to figure out what fairytale it was retelling. I love the plot twists and the mystery sort of aspect.
Content Concerns:
So, it has been a while (5-6 months) since I've read this, so unfortunately I don't remember what the content level was like. I feel like there was some mild swearing in a few stories, but not sure. There are some darker magical elements in She But Sleepeth to be aware of. I'll update this part of the review when I read through the anthology again.
maecave15's review
4.0
The Mountain of the Wolf (Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood): This story was just interesting enough to keep me going but by the end all I thought was "meh." The love story portion wasn't very believable to me and the whole story itself was a unique take on the original fairytale but not an overtly exciting version. 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
She But Sleepeth (Retelling of Sleeping Beauty) : This story was better than the last one, but I did not like the ending. It felt pointless and unnecessary. I did enjoy the premise surrounding her sleeping curse and how it tied in with the history of Romania. 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Rumpled (Retelling of Rumpelstiltskin): This one is the most immediately intriguing and one of my favorite stories in this collection. I love that each chapter is titled appropriately and from different fairytales. This unique futuristic retelling of Rumpelstiltskin is honestly really cool! I love the AI theme, the backstory for Rumple, and just the entire story. 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sweet Remembrance (Retelling of Han's Christian Anderson's The Little Match Girl): This was a sweet and heartachingly sad story. I enjoyed it, but I don't know this particular fairytale so to me it was just a tragic holocaust love story. 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Death Be Not Proud (Retelling of Snow White): This modern retelling set in New Zealand was interesting and the ending was good. I enjoyed it overall but there is nothing special about it to me. 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
With Blossoms Gold (Retelling of Rapunzel): This is my favorite story in the entire collection, and probably one of the my favorite retellings in general. I absolutely love the backstory changes that the author made for Rapunzel and her grandmother. The way she meets the prince, and how their love grows is really sweet. Then the ending is different but so good! I absolutely love this story and highly recommend it!! 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✨✨✨✨✨✨
I would love to own this in a paperback so I can reread my favorite stories on paper.
She But Sleepeth (Retelling of Sleeping Beauty) : This story was better than the last one, but I did not like the ending. It felt pointless and unnecessary. I did enjoy the premise surrounding her sleeping curse and how it tied in with the history of Romania. 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Rumpled (Retelling of Rumpelstiltskin): This one is the most immediately intriguing and one of my favorite stories in this collection. I love that each chapter is titled appropriately and from different fairytales. This unique futuristic retelling of Rumpelstiltskin is honestly really cool! I love the AI theme, the backstory for Rumple, and just the entire story. 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sweet Remembrance (Retelling of Han's Christian Anderson's The Little Match Girl): This was a sweet and heartachingly sad story. I enjoyed it, but I don't know this particular fairytale so to me it was just a tragic holocaust love story. 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Death Be Not Proud (Retelling of Snow White): This modern retelling set in New Zealand was interesting and the ending was good. I enjoyed it overall but there is nothing special about it to me. 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
With Blossoms Gold (Retelling of Rapunzel): This is my favorite story in the entire collection, and probably one of the my favorite retellings in general. I absolutely love the backstory changes that the author made for Rapunzel and her grandmother. The way she meets the prince, and how their love grows is really sweet. Then the ending is different but so good! I absolutely love this story and highly recommend it!! 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✨✨✨✨✨✨
I would love to own this in a paperback so I can reread my favorite stories on paper.
cmbohn's review
4.0
Looking for a little fairy tale magic this season? This collection offers six stories which are both distinct and unique. From steampunk to western to WWII, this little book offers something for every reader. Not all of them end happily ever after, and as usual with such an anthology, I liked some stories better than others. I didn't like the Snow White story as much, but they were all good stories. I wasn't completely crazy about any of them, but I did like them each enough that I want to see how a full length story by these authors stands up.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion is my own. Verdict: worth checking out!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion is my own. Verdict: worth checking out!
victoriousmariner's review
3.0
I've been interested in reading this collection for a while, and a few months ago when it was on a discount price I snatched a copy. I finally found time to sit down and read it, and in effort to provide good feedback, I'll review each story separately.
The Mountain of the Wolf by Elizabeth Grace Foley
-- two stars
As a disclaimer, I mostly skimmed through this one. The Wild West isn’t my favorite aesthetic and setting to begin with, and I found this story rather slow and dull. The characters didn’t grab my interest, and their development was rather wooden. The story was also plagued by a lot of info-dumping and lack of subtext. The climax was also somewhat weak, and the chemistry between the two main characters was somewhat unconvincing.
Regardless, I think the plot concept was definitely unique, and the setting was an interesting choice for it. The execution of the concept could’ve been much better, but I’m sure the author will definitely improve her skill.
She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington
-- three stars
This one was probably the one I enjoyed the most. Maria and Heath, the two main characters, were fun and engaging, and the humor was smoothly blended in. I loved the settings and situations, both the modern-day one and the one in the past. Time-travel and magic was certainly a unique concept. Being Eastern European myself, I was thrilled at how accurate the cultural details of Romania were. I could tell the author herself had been to Eastern Europe and was conscious of portraying it well.
My complaints are that I was rather confused about some elements of the story, particularly about the villain and her evil plans, if you will. Also the climax and ending seemed rather out of place with the tone and mood of the rest of the story, and were rather rushed. It was still a fun story that didn’t try to be more than what it was.
Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington
-- three stars
This one was really sweet. At first I was a little bothered by how it was basically just the story of Rumpelstiltskin but everything switched out for a steampunk aesthetic, but then I ended up liking the simplicity of the plot. The love story was sweet and the techy-sciencey-engineeringy aspects were fun and unique. The author also did a good job of handling touchy, mature things very gracefully.
However info-dumps, bad characterization, and rushed, unrealistic development all plague it. I feel the author could have benefitted from taking her time and using ambiguity and subtext with many of the plot developments. Despite this, I found myself rooting for the characters at the end and enjoying the story very much.
Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke
-- four stars
I’ve always had a hard time ingesting anything Holocaust-related, but thankfully I made it through this story. It’s one of those stories that make me think of poetry; not really a plot, but more a study, if you will, on humanity. I felt the despair and ugliness of man’s depravity as it was contrasted by the main character’s memories of light and love. It’s a beautiful retelling of an unusual fairy tale, and the author handled the darkness and the light very well.
Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree
-- four stars
I read this story on its own last year, so I opted to skip it this time, but I remember I enjoyed it a lot. The setting and the time period and the main character were all very unique and engaging. The plot worked together very nicely. My only complaint was with the character who was the prince-figure; he seemed pushy and controlling, and those aren’t exactly qualities I’d paint in a good light, but other than that, it’s an enjoyable story.
With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand
-- two stars
Like the first story of this collection, this one certainly had an interesting concept. However, the author was trying to do way too much in too little space. The plot was rushed and all over the place, and the characters were inconsistent and unrealistic. The info-dumping was almost unbearable; instead of showing us what the characters are like, the author instead told us through bad-quality dialogue that a character is arrogant or stubborn or whatever it is, and it simply wasn’t convincing.
It was just rushed, badly-developed, and the writing style seemed a little juvenile. I think if the author had taken this concept and setting and used it in a full-length novel, it would have worked out much better.
--
In the end, it's a fun collection of unique and interesting retellings, good for a rainy afternoon. Even though some of the stories lack quality, they are still a fun read, and I have no doubt the writers will keep improving their skills.
The Mountain of the Wolf by Elizabeth Grace Foley
-- two stars
As a disclaimer, I mostly skimmed through this one. The Wild West isn’t my favorite aesthetic and setting to begin with, and I found this story rather slow and dull. The characters didn’t grab my interest, and their development was rather wooden. The story was also plagued by a lot of info-dumping and lack of subtext. The climax was also somewhat weak, and the chemistry between the two main characters was somewhat unconvincing.
Regardless, I think the plot concept was definitely unique, and the setting was an interesting choice for it. The execution of the concept could’ve been much better, but I’m sure the author will definitely improve her skill.
She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington
-- three stars
This one was probably the one I enjoyed the most. Maria and Heath, the two main characters, were fun and engaging, and the humor was smoothly blended in. I loved the settings and situations, both the modern-day one and the one in the past. Time-travel and magic was certainly a unique concept. Being Eastern European myself, I was thrilled at how accurate the cultural details of Romania were. I could tell the author herself had been to Eastern Europe and was conscious of portraying it well.
My complaints are that I was rather confused about some elements of the story, particularly about the villain and her evil plans, if you will. Also the climax and ending seemed rather out of place with the tone and mood of the rest of the story, and were rather rushed. It was still a fun story that didn’t try to be more than what it was.
Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington
-- three stars
This one was really sweet. At first I was a little bothered by how it was basically just the story of Rumpelstiltskin but everything switched out for a steampunk aesthetic, but then I ended up liking the simplicity of the plot. The love story was sweet and the techy-sciencey-engineeringy aspects were fun and unique. The author also did a good job of handling touchy, mature things very gracefully.
However info-dumps, bad characterization, and rushed, unrealistic development all plague it. I feel the author could have benefitted from taking her time and using ambiguity and subtext with many of the plot developments. Despite this, I found myself rooting for the characters at the end and enjoying the story very much.
Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke
-- four stars
I’ve always had a hard time ingesting anything Holocaust-related, but thankfully I made it through this story. It’s one of those stories that make me think of poetry; not really a plot, but more a study, if you will, on humanity. I felt the despair and ugliness of man’s depravity as it was contrasted by the main character’s memories of light and love. It’s a beautiful retelling of an unusual fairy tale, and the author handled the darkness and the light very well.
Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree
-- four stars
I read this story on its own last year, so I opted to skip it this time, but I remember I enjoyed it a lot. The setting and the time period and the main character were all very unique and engaging. The plot worked together very nicely. My only complaint was with the character who was the prince-figure; he seemed pushy and controlling, and those aren’t exactly qualities I’d paint in a good light, but other than that, it’s an enjoyable story.
With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand
-- two stars
Like the first story of this collection, this one certainly had an interesting concept. However, the author was trying to do way too much in too little space. The plot was rushed and all over the place, and the characters were inconsistent and unrealistic. The info-dumping was almost unbearable; instead of showing us what the characters are like, the author instead told us through bad-quality dialogue that a character is arrogant or stubborn or whatever it is, and it simply wasn’t convincing.
It was just rushed, badly-developed, and the writing style seemed a little juvenile. I think if the author had taken this concept and setting and used it in a full-length novel, it would have worked out much better.
--
In the end, it's a fun collection of unique and interesting retellings, good for a rainy afternoon. Even though some of the stories lack quality, they are still a fun read, and I have no doubt the writers will keep improving their skills.
justasking27's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this collection of novellas. Favorites were "The Mountain of the Wolf" and "Rumpled", though I enjoyed all but one. I skipped the last part of "She But Sleepeth" - just didn't like the characters at all. The rest were enjoyable, with only a few minor editing issues in one or two. I especially liked how "The Mountain of the Wolf" and "Death Be Not Proud" redid their fairy tales - subtle, but with lots of little clues once you thought to look for them.
hannacolwrites's review
4.0
Fairytale retellings have quickly become a favorite of mine. For many of these stories it’s my first exposure to the fairytale, but I love them and the themes that always seem to be intricately woven into their very structure. When I learned my favorite indie authors were collaborating to release a collection of retellings together, I was ecstatic. And then I was given the opportunity to read them in exchange for a review. Cue happy dance.
The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley starts out the collection of stories and ended up probably being my favorite of the six retellings. It is an atmospheric western retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that showcases my favorite aspects of Foley’s writing— a character driven plot, compelling characters, and a satisfying ending.
The second story She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington I found less to my liking. While the Romanian setting and its historical background intrigued me, the story just did not click for me personally. Something that should not in the least reflect on Miss Heffington. Her writing is something to savor and I have loved everything else I have read of hers.
Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington was unusual for me. I rarely ever venture into the world of steampunk, but I enjoyed this foray into the genre and it confirmed my desire to read more of Miss Pennington’s work.
I knew going into Emily Ann Putzke’s Sweet Remembrance it was going to hurt and it did. Set in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII, she retells the story of the Little Match Girl with heartbreaking vividness and reality. You can feel the cold seeping under your skin and you can feel her character’s pain. It is a tearjerker.
Suzannah Rowntree can weave a story like no one else. She has a way with words that is stunning to behold and this vibrant fast paced mystery set in Jazz era New Zealand does not disappoint. Death Be Not Proud kept me glued to the page from start to finish.
I did not know what to expect going into Hayden Wand’s With Blossoms Gold but was delighted by its sweet story and what I found to be a somewhat different take on the tale of Rapunzel.
I have to hand it to these ladies. They are excellent at their craft and masters of description. Each story came to life in its own unique way that made it memorable. I would highly recommend this collection to lovers of fairytales and historical fiction, or anyone who loves a good story.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley starts out the collection of stories and ended up probably being my favorite of the six retellings. It is an atmospheric western retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that showcases my favorite aspects of Foley’s writing— a character driven plot, compelling characters, and a satisfying ending.
The second story She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington I found less to my liking. While the Romanian setting and its historical background intrigued me, the story just did not click for me personally. Something that should not in the least reflect on Miss Heffington. Her writing is something to savor and I have loved everything else I have read of hers.
Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington was unusual for me. I rarely ever venture into the world of steampunk, but I enjoyed this foray into the genre and it confirmed my desire to read more of Miss Pennington’s work.
I knew going into Emily Ann Putzke’s Sweet Remembrance it was going to hurt and it did. Set in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII, she retells the story of the Little Match Girl with heartbreaking vividness and reality. You can feel the cold seeping under your skin and you can feel her character’s pain. It is a tearjerker.
Suzannah Rowntree can weave a story like no one else. She has a way with words that is stunning to behold and this vibrant fast paced mystery set in Jazz era New Zealand does not disappoint. Death Be Not Proud kept me glued to the page from start to finish.
I did not know what to expect going into Hayden Wand’s With Blossoms Gold but was delighted by its sweet story and what I found to be a somewhat different take on the tale of Rapunzel.
I have to hand it to these ladies. They are excellent at their craft and masters of description. Each story came to life in its own unique way that made it memorable. I would highly recommend this collection to lovers of fairytales and historical fiction, or anyone who loves a good story.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
ladylegerwood's review
4.0
this book/boxset/anthology was placed into my paws for free, the only unspoken condition being that I should be honest in my review. This is my review. It has honesty. I rate it at three-and-half-to-four-let's-call-it-three-point-seven-five-stars
The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley confused me at first. I didn't know which fairytale it was inspired by and so assumed that it was an obscure German one. (It wasn't.) Despite the fact that Westerns aren't always my cup of tea, this grew on me and I found myself enjoying it. Rosa Jean was stubborn though, maybe I missed something, but logic, girl, logic.
Also, there is a horse called Pheasant. I approve of the name. (As an irrelevant side note: if you are ever out driving in the English countryside at night you'll find that pheasants have suicidal inclinations.)
She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington was an adventure. (All books are adventures but still ...) Things happened in quick, breath-taking succession and my only complaint was that it felt as though it needed a little more time. Things were accepted too quickly. I needed more time with certain characters to fully feel the KAPOW! of the *cough* spoiler *cough*
But this was a fairytale re-telling. Allowances shall be made. I liked the ending. (Isn't that ambiguous? But seriously. I liked it.)
Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington reconciled me to a fairytale that I've never really liked. I wasn't sure that I would like the heroine but, y'know, character development happened. I was immensely proud of her when she started on the dusters and hoovers and KitchenAids.
Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke was bitter-sweet. Somewhere Only We Know (sung by Lily Allan) fitted my mood reading this perfectly. Only ... I'm still not certain which fairytale it was inspired by.
Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree puzzled me at first. Which fairytale WAS it? But then I realised. And then I felt awfully smug for putting the puzzle pieces together. This has a touch of Mary Stewart and a dash of Poirot (look, I felt I was in a good and proper 'who dunnit' okay?). Quite the read.
The more I read With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Ward the more I became enchanted by it. It reminded me a little of Melanie Dickerson's writing, but I enjoyed it more (forgive me, Dickerson fans!). The story fit its length well, the characters grow, the back-stories are well fleshed out and I want the heroine's tower. And library. And cat. Is that too much to ask? No. No, it's not.
Review on my blog. I have gifs and no cookies. I apologise for the deficiency of the latter
The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley confused me at first. I didn't know which fairytale it was inspired by and so assumed that it was an obscure German one. (It wasn't.) Despite the fact that Westerns aren't always my cup of tea, this grew on me and I found myself enjoying it. Rosa Jean was stubborn though, maybe I missed something, but logic, girl, logic.
Also, there is a horse called Pheasant. I approve of the name. (As an irrelevant side note: if you are ever out driving in the English countryside at night you'll find that pheasants have suicidal inclinations.)
She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington was an adventure. (All books are adventures but still ...) Things happened in quick, breath-taking succession and my only complaint was that it felt as though it needed a little more time. Things were accepted too quickly. I needed more time with certain characters to fully feel the KAPOW! of the *cough* spoiler *cough*
But this was a fairytale re-telling. Allowances shall be made. I liked the ending. (Isn't that ambiguous? But seriously. I liked it.)
Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington reconciled me to a fairytale that I've never really liked. I wasn't sure that I would like the heroine but, y'know, character development happened. I was immensely proud of her when she started on the dusters and hoovers and KitchenAids.
Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke was bitter-sweet. Somewhere Only We Know (sung by Lily Allan) fitted my mood reading this perfectly. Only ... I'm still not certain which fairytale it was inspired by.
Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree puzzled me at first. Which fairytale WAS it? But then I realised. And then I felt awfully smug for putting the puzzle pieces together. This has a touch of Mary Stewart and a dash of Poirot (look, I felt I was in a good and proper 'who dunnit' okay?). Quite the read.
The more I read With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Ward the more I became enchanted by it. It reminded me a little of Melanie Dickerson's writing, but I enjoyed it more (forgive me, Dickerson fans!). The story fit its length well, the characters grow, the back-stories are well fleshed out and I want the heroine's tower. And library. And cat. Is that too much to ask? No. No, it's not.
Review on my blog. I have gifs and no cookies. I apologise for the deficiency of the latter
chocolatebooksthunderstorms's review
4.0
(Note: I received a free copy of Once in exchange for my honest review.)
The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley -- one star
Elisabeth's story is a Little Red Riding Hood retelling set in the old west, following the mysterious history behind a lonely young woman named Rosa Jean.
I hate giving any book a one-star review, particularly the first in a collection. Though the writing style was good, it was a little too descriptive for my taste, and I just didn't love it. I also wasn't particularly fond of the plot, or of any of the characters. Sadly, this was a did-not-finish, for me. :(
She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington -- two stars
Rachel's Sleeping Beauty retelling begins in modern LA, following the determination of a young set designer and her handsome intern as they venture to Romania to study the complex history of Peles Castle.
I must say, though Rachel's writing style is as rich as fudge, there were a few aspects of the story that bothered me.
For one, the amount of sorcery. Though magical content doesn't typically bother me, the way that it was presented made it seem more realistic than fictitious, and it just didn't sit well with me.
Secondly, the swearing and use of God's name in vain. Though She But Sleepeth was not drenched in such words and phrases, the amount used -- by a Christian author -- did not seem appropriate.
The beginning was a bit slow and the ending rather sudden. I also wasn't a huge fan of the romance, and didn't really connect much with any of the characters.
One of the things I did like about the book was the concept... which I would go on about (as well as Queen Elisabeth, because I would've loved to have seen her story expanded more), but... spoilers. ;)
You may want to know: There was violence, swearing, and the usage of God's name in vain, as well as rather strong magical elements.
Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington -- five stars
Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. (*whispers*) That was amazing.
J. Grace's Rumpled is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin (or The Miller's Daughter, if you'd rather), little tributes to Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast weaved in. It follows the adventure of Amanda, a young woman whose father is determined to secure her future, from the point when a governor -- looking to hire a scientist who can build high-functioning artificial intelligence -- stops at their mill.
Rumpled was wonderful -- intriguing, clever, and unique.
In some ways, it seemed to nod it's head to Marissa Meyer's Cinder, but... I think this is so much better.
Rumpled was a bit like several of my favourite TV shows had a meeting and decided to turn themselves into one single book: There were elements of Once Upon a Time, Poldark, and even Downton Abbey; yet Rumpled remained a story all its own.
The writing was outstanding. J. Grace's voice is musical and refined, with just the right amount of description.
When it came to the characters-- Oh, the characters! They were so real, so alive, so human. The protagonist was very relatable, and what a bundle of fun she was!
The plot was incredible. I'm not a huge fan of Rumpelstiltskin, but J. Grace won me over completely with-- Well, I'm not going to say what. You'll have to find out for yourself. ;) I highly doubt you'll regret it. :)
And the romance was awesome-sauce! (*squeals*) It did seem a little unrealistic towards the very end, it was still splendid the rest of the way through, and oh-so-sweet.
The steampunk setting threw me off a little bit at first, but by the second or third chapter I was obsessed. The elements were handled very well, and I thought it very interesting how the early days of the US were recreated!
Overall, it was wonderful (and I've managed to start repeating myself, now :P ). So yes. Just yes.
You may want to know: There was mild kissing, very minor implications, and the use of the "d-word" once.
Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke -- five stars
Oh my stars... Where to begin?
Emily's retelling of The Little Match Girl takes place on the streets of Poland during World War II, where a twenty-one-year-old woman struggles to survive.
I'm not even sure how to write this review; there hardly seem adjectives great enough to describe it.
First off: This book captured my heart from the first page. Emily is an amazing writer. She described everything perfectly, so well that I felt the emptiness, the silence, and the love drifting through the pages; so well that I felt I was there.
Secondly: The plot. Wow-sers. Sweet Remembrance was the perfect length, and the romance was absolutely wonderful. And oh, how it tugged at my heartstrings!
Thirdly: The characters. Each character was so unique, so individual, yet meshed together so expertly with the others. It was outstanding.
You may want to know: There was violence and the one-time usage of the "ba-word."
Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree -- one star
Suzannah's Snow White retelling, Death Be Not Proud, is set in 1920s New Zealand, and is the story of a young woman with a strange connection to another girl... but what if the other girl was dead?
I really wanted to like this story, but I wasn't a huge fan of the setting, the characters, or the plot, though the writing style was good. Sadly, I'd have to say that this is another did-not-finish. :(
With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand -- four stars
Hayden's story is set in renaissance Italy, a Rapunzel retelling of a young maiden locked in a tower, and a prince who just wants to find and rescue a damsel in distress.
I love Hayden's writing voice; it's so very clear yet so very elegant. In With Blossoms Gold, she delivers a story that's true to the original fairytale, but wanders off just enough.
With Blossoms Gold was witty but sweet. The characters were sensible but still a little headstrong, and I loved the quips and good-natured arguments that went on between the two protagonists.
The plot seemed ever so slightly slow at first, but soon sped up, putting an intriguing new spin on the Rapunzel story.
You may want to know: There is violence and warfare. A family is falsely accused of witchcraft, and there is the implied unfaithfulness of a character's betrothed.
The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley -- one star
Elisabeth's story is a Little Red Riding Hood retelling set in the old west, following the mysterious history behind a lonely young woman named Rosa Jean.
I hate giving any book a one-star review, particularly the first in a collection. Though the writing style was good, it was a little too descriptive for my taste, and I just didn't love it. I also wasn't particularly fond of the plot, or of any of the characters. Sadly, this was a did-not-finish, for me. :(
She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington -- two stars
Rachel's Sleeping Beauty retelling begins in modern LA, following the determination of a young set designer and her handsome intern as they venture to Romania to study the complex history of Peles Castle.
I must say, though Rachel's writing style is as rich as fudge, there were a few aspects of the story that bothered me.
For one, the amount of sorcery. Though magical content doesn't typically bother me, the way that it was presented made it seem more realistic than fictitious, and it just didn't sit well with me.
Secondly, the swearing and use of God's name in vain. Though She But Sleepeth was not drenched in such words and phrases, the amount used -- by a Christian author -- did not seem appropriate.
The beginning was a bit slow and the ending rather sudden. I also wasn't a huge fan of the romance, and didn't really connect much with any of the characters.
One of the things I did like about the book was the concept... which I would go on about (as well as Queen Elisabeth, because I would've loved to have seen her story expanded more), but... spoilers. ;)
You may want to know: There was violence, swearing, and the usage of God's name in vain, as well as rather strong magical elements.
Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington -- five stars
Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. (*whispers*) That was amazing.
J. Grace's Rumpled is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin (or The Miller's Daughter, if you'd rather), little tributes to Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast weaved in. It follows the adventure of Amanda, a young woman whose father is determined to secure her future, from the point when a governor -- looking to hire a scientist who can build high-functioning artificial intelligence -- stops at their mill.
Rumpled was wonderful -- intriguing, clever, and unique.
In some ways, it seemed to nod it's head to Marissa Meyer's Cinder, but... I think this is so much better.
Rumpled was a bit like several of my favourite TV shows had a meeting and decided to turn themselves into one single book: There were elements of Once Upon a Time, Poldark, and even Downton Abbey; yet Rumpled remained a story all its own.
The writing was outstanding. J. Grace's voice is musical and refined, with just the right amount of description.
When it came to the characters-- Oh, the characters! They were so real, so alive, so human. The protagonist was very relatable, and what a bundle of fun she was!
The plot was incredible. I'm not a huge fan of Rumpelstiltskin, but J. Grace won me over completely with-- Well, I'm not going to say what. You'll have to find out for yourself. ;) I highly doubt you'll regret it. :)
And the romance was awesome-sauce! (*squeals*) It did seem a little unrealistic towards the very end, it was still splendid the rest of the way through, and oh-so-sweet.
The steampunk setting threw me off a little bit at first, but by the second or third chapter I was obsessed. The elements were handled very well, and I thought it very interesting how the early days of the US were recreated!
Overall, it was wonderful (and I've managed to start repeating myself, now :P ). So yes. Just yes.
You may want to know: There was mild kissing, very minor implications, and the use of the "d-word" once.
Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke -- five stars
Oh my stars... Where to begin?
Emily's retelling of The Little Match Girl takes place on the streets of Poland during World War II, where a twenty-one-year-old woman struggles to survive.
I'm not even sure how to write this review; there hardly seem adjectives great enough to describe it.
First off: This book captured my heart from the first page. Emily is an amazing writer. She described everything perfectly, so well that I felt the emptiness, the silence, and the love drifting through the pages; so well that I felt I was there.
Secondly: The plot. Wow-sers. Sweet Remembrance was the perfect length, and the romance was absolutely wonderful. And oh, how it tugged at my heartstrings!
Thirdly: The characters. Each character was so unique, so individual, yet meshed together so expertly with the others. It was outstanding.
You may want to know: There was violence and the one-time usage of the "ba-word."
Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree -- one star
Suzannah's Snow White retelling, Death Be Not Proud, is set in 1920s New Zealand, and is the story of a young woman with a strange connection to another girl... but what if the other girl was dead?
I really wanted to like this story, but I wasn't a huge fan of the setting, the characters, or the plot, though the writing style was good. Sadly, I'd have to say that this is another did-not-finish. :(
With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand -- four stars
Hayden's story is set in renaissance Italy, a Rapunzel retelling of a young maiden locked in a tower, and a prince who just wants to find and rescue a damsel in distress.
I love Hayden's writing voice; it's so very clear yet so very elegant. In With Blossoms Gold, she delivers a story that's true to the original fairytale, but wanders off just enough.
With Blossoms Gold was witty but sweet. The characters were sensible but still a little headstrong, and I loved the quips and good-natured arguments that went on between the two protagonists.
The plot seemed ever so slightly slow at first, but soon sped up, putting an intriguing new spin on the Rapunzel story.
You may want to know: There is violence and warfare. A family is falsely accused of witchcraft, and there is the implied unfaithfulness of a character's betrothed.