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egbella's reviews
245 reviews
A Noble Heart: A Rapunzel Retelling by Jewel Windall
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Oh my heart, this book is beautiful.
I absolutely love Peter Pan retellings, and this is such a sweet one. Surprisingly, I enjoyed both POV characters' perspectives (usually I have a major favorite), and was rooting for both of them to get their happily ever after. The setting is original, and I adore how the author wove so many nods to the original tale into the story without using any kind of magic! The themes were my favorite.
So characters first. Ella is a very fun nod to Tinkerbell (very subtly done - I enjoyed the occasional mentions of how pixie-like she was), and I could relate to her struggles and feelings of disconnection and questioning God. Though her choices occasionally made me wonder what in the world she was thinking (haha), she was such a strong, spunky, and introspective character, and I enjoyed her. Her strong faith over the course of the book inspired me.
James is precious. His struggle was even nearer to my heart, and I was really drawn into his journey and his exploration of God's promises and presence. The way he felt always responsible for those around him, and the guilt he felt at any failure hit hard, and as he learned how God felt about those struggles, I learned with him. I really appreciated his character arc, and would love to spend a day with him. I just want to give him a hug.
Shoutout to Slightly <33 What an adorable lil guy. I have a brother nearly the same age, and I kept picturing him in that place. Such a cutie.
Overall, the characters were all so unique, likable or at least interesting, and fun. Again, I loved how the author wove in so many subtle references to the original Peter Pan stories, either through names, character descriptions, very brief cameos or dialogue, etc. It felt like a treasure hunt, discovering another reference. I also appreciated that the romance was so lightly-handled, and that it ended on a hopeful note, rather than a committed relationship one. It felt realistic, and made me happy for them, knowing what will probably happen. I'd love to read more about these characters!
The plot was fairly simple, but still fast-paced and intriguing, and gave plenty of room for the characters to grow as they needed to. I wasn't expecting a couple of the end twists and couldn't put it down! I absolutely loved the nautical Peter Pan/PotC setting for the majority of the story as well. It was well-written, beautifully described, and overall, just very fun. The occasional mythical elements, such as sirens!, were excellent, and in fact, the siren scene is one of my very favorites.
And best of all were the themes and writing style. The author's writing style is absolutely beautiful, flowing, descriptive, and poignant, and her themes were well-explored. Themes such as trusting God, believing in Him and not ourselves, allowing yourself to receive help, forgiveness, strength, and family. I have SO MANY highlights in my ebook, all beautiful lines that made me stop and either tear up, smile, or even thank God because I could see how those truths apply to my own life.
If you enjoy Peter Pan retellings with beautiful and engaging prose, powerful biblical themes, intriguing characters, and fun nautical/pirate settings, this is a book for you! I highly recommend, and look forward to reading more from this author.
I'll end with some quotes I loved...
~ "Hugs...why does everyone want hugs?...I'm a wounded man."
~ "If you do not have Me, you will constantly be trying to find purpose in things what will give you nothing."
~ "Hey...why are you laughing?"..."Why are you not?"
~ The blade, not the bearer, was always covered in the most blood when the battle was over.
~ Hugs were affection cages from a person.
Note: the author's note at the end of this book is so sweet and inspiring, especially as an author who has struggled with many of the same heart postures. Thank you for sharing your story, Jewel!
Content to mention: Mild peril, fighting (with swords, knives), mentions of executions, mild descriptions of blood and wounds, character deaths, nightmares and emotional turmoil, characters question God. No explicit romantic material, swears, or gore!
** I received an ARC copy of this book, but was not required to leave a review - much less a positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own. **
I absolutely love Peter Pan retellings, and this is such a sweet one. Surprisingly, I enjoyed both POV characters' perspectives (usually I have a major favorite), and was rooting for both of them to get their happily ever after. The setting is original, and I adore how the author wove so many nods to the original tale into the story without using any kind of magic! The themes were my favorite.
So characters first. Ella is a very fun nod to Tinkerbell (very subtly done - I enjoyed the occasional mentions of how pixie-like she was), and I could relate to her struggles and feelings of disconnection and questioning God. Though her choices occasionally made me wonder what in the world she was thinking (haha), she was such a strong, spunky, and introspective character, and I enjoyed her. Her strong faith over the course of the book inspired me.
James is precious. His struggle was even nearer to my heart, and I was really drawn into his journey and his exploration of God's promises and presence. The way he felt always responsible for those around him, and the guilt he felt at any failure hit hard, and as he learned how God felt about those struggles, I learned with him. I really appreciated his character arc, and would love to spend a day with him. I just want to give him a hug.
Shoutout to Slightly <33 What an adorable lil guy. I have a brother nearly the same age, and I kept picturing him in that place. Such a cutie.
Overall, the characters were all so unique, likable or at least interesting, and fun. Again, I loved how the author wove in so many subtle references to the original Peter Pan stories, either through names, character descriptions, very brief cameos or dialogue, etc. It felt like a treasure hunt, discovering another reference. I also appreciated that the romance was so lightly-handled, and that it ended on a hopeful note, rather than a committed relationship one. It felt realistic, and made me happy for them, knowing what will probably happen. I'd love to read more about these characters!
The plot was fairly simple, but still fast-paced and intriguing, and gave plenty of room for the characters to grow as they needed to. I wasn't expecting a couple of the end twists and couldn't put it down! I absolutely loved the nautical Peter Pan/PotC setting for the majority of the story as well. It was well-written, beautifully described, and overall, just very fun. The occasional mythical elements, such as sirens!, were excellent, and in fact, the siren scene is one of my very favorites.
And best of all were the themes and writing style. The author's writing style is absolutely beautiful, flowing, descriptive, and poignant, and her themes were well-explored. Themes such as trusting God, believing in Him and not ourselves, allowing yourself to receive help, forgiveness, strength, and family. I have SO MANY highlights in my ebook, all beautiful lines that made me stop and either tear up, smile, or even thank God because I could see how those truths apply to my own life.
If you enjoy Peter Pan retellings with beautiful and engaging prose, powerful biblical themes, intriguing characters, and fun nautical/pirate settings, this is a book for you! I highly recommend, and look forward to reading more from this author.
I'll end with some quotes I loved...
~ "Hugs...why does everyone want hugs?...I'm a wounded man."
~ "If you do not have Me, you will constantly be trying to find purpose in things what will give you nothing."
~ "Hey...why are you laughing?"..."Why are you not?"
~ The blade, not the bearer, was always covered in the most blood when the battle was over.
~ Hugs were affection cages from a person.
Note: the author's note at the end of this book is so sweet and inspiring, especially as an author who has struggled with many of the same heart postures. Thank you for sharing your story, Jewel!
Content to mention: Mild peril, fighting (with swords, knives), mentions of executions, mild descriptions of blood and wounds, character deaths, nightmares and emotional turmoil, characters question God. No explicit romantic material, swears, or gore!
** I received an ARC copy of this book, but was not required to leave a review - much less a positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own. **
A Noble Grace: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling by E.G. Bella
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
PARENTS'/CONTENT GUIDE
I would recommend this book for readers roughly 12+ and up.
PROFANITY: None.
SEXUAL CONTENT: Very mild. One kiss, and several brief hugs. Spoiler for scene-specific explanations.
- The protagonists share a non-described wedding kiss.
- The protagonists embrace several times, after attacks on one another's lives.
- Characters routinely walk arm-in-arm.
- The protagonists share a ballroom dance, and placing a hand on the woman's waist is mentioned.
- A protagonist briefly rests her head on her love's shoulder.
VIOLENCE: Sword fights, injuries (mildly described), death, physical harassment, usage of spears. See spoiler for scene-specific details.
- Several characters die in non-described ways (due to being hit with a spear, and pierced by a sword)
- Occasional mention of injuries (One character falls from a horse and hits her head, one is choked, one's thigh is hit by a spear, one is slapped, and one's side is roughed up by a sword - blood briefly mentioned, but nothing more)
- Fights (with swords, spears, and verbiage)
TOUGH TOPICS: Death, depression, parent loss, grief. See spoiler for more specifics.
- Several non-major characters die (not described) on the page, and past losses are grieved.
- A character fell into an isolated, depressed state after a tragedy in their life (in the past).
- A character grieves a potential marriage without love.
- A parent lies to their children, and two others passed away before the story.
- Betrayal from a likable character
- A character revisits their family's house burning down in an attack.
Readers, if I've forgotten anything, please let me know!
Thank you, and happy reading!
I would recommend this book for readers roughly 12+ and up.
PROFANITY: None.
SEXUAL CONTENT: Very mild. One kiss, and several brief hugs. Spoiler for scene-specific explanations.
- The protagonists embrace several times, after attacks on one another's lives.
- Characters routinely walk arm-in-arm.
- The protagonists share a ballroom dance, and placing a hand on the woman's waist is mentioned.
- A protagonist briefly rests her head on her love's shoulder.
VIOLENCE: Sword fights, injuries (mildly described), death, physical harassment, usage of spears. See spoiler for scene-specific details.
- Occasional mention of injuries (One character falls from a horse and hits her head, one is choked, one's thigh is hit by a spear, one is slapped, and one's side is roughed up by a sword - blood briefly mentioned, but nothing more)
- Fights (with swords, spears, and verbiage)
TOUGH TOPICS: Death, depression, parent loss, grief. See spoiler for more specifics.
- A character fell into an isolated, depressed state after a tragedy in their life (in the past).
- A character grieves a potential marriage without love.
- A parent lies to their children, and two others passed away before the story.
- Betrayal from a likable character
- A character revisits their family's house burning down in an attack.
Readers, if I've forgotten anything, please let me know!
Thank you, and happy reading!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and War
A Dream of Home by Kate Willis
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I didn't know what to expect from this sweet short story, especially as I don't read much sci-fi outside of Star Wars novels, haha. But I really enjoyed it! It's so unique and I was drawn in from the very first page. I cared about the protagonist and her growing child and was really rooting for them.
I love the setting and how well the author created such a vivid atmosphere in a very short story. I got the sense that the universe was very large and well-developed, and it was neat to see all of the planet and people names and gather hints about each. The Jewish influences woven throughout were very cool too! Especially the prayers and customs sprinkled in.
The kindness of Adrian to the protagonist was very sweet, and I liked him immediately. I know this novella is a prequel to another story and this definitely makes me want to read more, so hopefully I can learn more about these characters! The protagonist's love for her unborn child was also extremely refreshing and inspiring. I loved her drive and determination to reach a better life. And the story ended with just the right amount of hope and longing. Such a beautiful little story, and I'm so glad I got to read it!
CW: protagonist is a newly pregnant refugee, mentions of vomit and nausea/motion sickness, references to slavery, mild peril and prejudice.
I’d Recommend It To: readers who enjoy quick-read sci-fi stories with interesting and vivid characters, space travel, sweet themes, and Jewish influences!
I love the setting and how well the author created such a vivid atmosphere in a very short story. I got the sense that the universe was very large and well-developed, and it was neat to see all of the planet and people names and gather hints about each. The Jewish influences woven throughout were very cool too! Especially the prayers and customs sprinkled in.
The kindness of Adrian to the protagonist was very sweet, and I liked him immediately. I know this novella is a prequel to another story and this definitely makes me want to read more, so hopefully I can learn more about these characters! The protagonist's love for her unborn child was also extremely refreshing and inspiring. I loved her drive and determination to reach a better life. And the story ended with just the right amount of hope and longing. Such a beautiful little story, and I'm so glad I got to read it!
CW: protagonist is a newly pregnant refugee, mentions of vomit and nausea/motion sickness, references to slavery, mild peril and prejudice.
I’d Recommend It To: readers who enjoy quick-read sci-fi stories with interesting and vivid characters, space travel, sweet themes, and Jewish influences!
Straw into Gold: A Rumpelstiltskin Faerie Tale Retelling by Carol Beth Anderson
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 stars!
While I was uncomfortable with some of the content, this is a well-written and creative spin on the classic Rumplestiltskin tale. In this one, Rumplestiltskin is a female Fae, trapped by another in a cruel romance. The writing style was beautiful and easy-to-read, and I was engrossed from the start by the unique twists. I sympathized with both protagonists, and strongly disliked the character I was supposed to. I would have read a full-length novel with these characters. Overall, a solid story!
CW: My hesitations would be the fairly frequent usage of language (d*mn, b*stard, etc.) and hints of sexual content (references to being taken advantage of, etc.). I also didn't really enjoy how much the protagonist dwelled on the physical features/attractiveness of both male protagonists. It was a bit more than necessary, but I don't like really any spice in my fiction so take that as you will.
While I was uncomfortable with some of the content, this is a well-written and creative spin on the classic Rumplestiltskin tale. In this one, Rumplestiltskin is a female Fae, trapped by another in a cruel romance. The writing style was beautiful and easy-to-read, and I was engrossed from the start by the unique twists. I sympathized with both protagonists, and strongly disliked the character I was supposed to. I would have read a full-length novel with these characters. Overall, a solid story!
CW: My hesitations would be the fairly frequent usage of language (d*mn, b*stard, etc.) and hints of sexual content (references to being taken advantage of, etc.). I also didn't really enjoy how much the protagonist dwelled on the physical features/attractiveness of both male protagonists. It was a bit more than necessary, but I don't like really any spice in my fiction so take that as you will.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping
A Noble Match by Kirsten Fichter
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is one of the best books I've read this year - no exaggeration. I loved this story! I've never read a Thumbelina retelling before, but this one was masterfully done. Very unique and engaging, with just enough tie-backs to the original tale that I couldn't help but smile when I caught them. I have a feeling there were some that I missed, they were so cleverly woven in!
The characters... my heart <3 Firstly, I adore the protagonist, Miette. She is so sweet and optimistic and lovely, and I was very convicted by her joy even in the midst of grief. As someone who's lost an older brother, I found myself relating to her very much, except I wish I could remain as faithful and joyful as she does! She is the sweetest thing and I was rooting for her the entire time.
Also, the love interest, Gavin (unrelated: the names in this book are superb), was such a fantastic and interesting character. I loved their grumpy x sunshine dynamic and that they both had things to teach one another throughout the story. Their care for one another, and the way they both valued duty and responsibility was inspiring. I was very sad when I thought they might not end up together, haha.
Also! Honorable mention to the last suitor, Warren. His character is AMAZING. I loved him so much, and would have read an entire book with him as a protagonist haha. I don't have coherent thoughts to share, I just loved his character.
Although this was a sweet love story, this book also has great tension and intrigue! I was genuinely not expecting some of those plot twists, and my husband can attest that I was /stressed/ near the end. I knew deep down that there must be a happy ending, but the circumstances kept getting worse, and I didn't know how they were going to pull it off. Ultimately, the ending was perfect. Short, sweet, satisfying, and it made sense. I really didn't notice any loose ends left behind.
The faith element was also masterfully woven in. I never felt it was pushy or cheesy, but it was prominent enough to believe that the characters truly believed what they were saying when they spoke of their Lord and Creator. The themes of grief, love, duty, and hope were powerful.
Lastly, there wasn't a ton of time spent on the world-building aspect of this story (it would have been too long otherwise), but what was there was excellent! I enjoyed the references to the war and rebellion, the different kingdoms, and also the unexpected elements, such as flying suits! I wasn't expecting that at all, but it was a very fun twist on a typical medieval fantasy setting. I pictured them as jet packs of sorts. The descriptions and writing style of it all was gorgeous.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Thumbelina retellings or just medieval fantasy in general, Christian themes, sweet love stories, tension and intrigue, and a beautiful writing style. I absolutely loved it and would honestly read an entire series about these characters! This is one I'm going to keep coming back to as a lovely comfort read <3
Note: the story of the author's nieces at the end made me cry. What a sweet duo and they are in my prayers. The themes in the book definitely reflect the emotional journey that they're all on together.
Content to mention: Mild peril, fighting, talks of war, political tension, non-described injuries/burns, betrayal, mentions of characters swearing but no specific words, brief mention of a possible hanging, themes of grief and loss, discussions of a pre-story family death. No explicit language, spice, gore, or excessive violence!
** I received an ARC copy of this book, but was not required to leave a review - much less a positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own. **
The characters... my heart <3 Firstly, I adore the protagonist, Miette. She is so sweet and optimistic and lovely, and I was very convicted by her joy even in the midst of grief. As someone who's lost an older brother, I found myself relating to her very much, except I wish I could remain as faithful and joyful as she does! She is the sweetest thing and I was rooting for her the entire time.
Also, the love interest, Gavin (unrelated: the names in this book are superb), was such a fantastic and interesting character. I loved their grumpy x sunshine dynamic and that they both had things to teach one another throughout the story. Their care for one another, and the way they both valued duty and responsibility was inspiring. I was very sad when I thought they might not end up together, haha.
Also! Honorable mention to the last suitor, Warren. His character is AMAZING. I loved him so much, and would have read an entire book with him as a protagonist haha. I don't have coherent thoughts to share, I just loved his character.
Although this was a sweet love story, this book also has great tension and intrigue! I was genuinely not expecting some of those plot twists, and my husband can attest that I was /stressed/ near the end. I knew deep down that there must be a happy ending, but the circumstances kept getting worse, and I didn't know how they were going to pull it off. Ultimately, the ending was perfect. Short, sweet, satisfying, and it made sense. I really didn't notice any loose ends left behind.
The faith element was also masterfully woven in. I never felt it was pushy or cheesy, but it was prominent enough to believe that the characters truly believed what they were saying when they spoke of their Lord and Creator. The themes of grief, love, duty, and hope were powerful.
Lastly, there wasn't a ton of time spent on the world-building aspect of this story (it would have been too long otherwise), but what was there was excellent! I enjoyed the references to the war and rebellion, the different kingdoms, and also the unexpected elements, such as flying suits! I wasn't expecting that at all, but it was a very fun twist on a typical medieval fantasy setting. I pictured them as jet packs of sorts. The descriptions and writing style of it all was gorgeous.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Thumbelina retellings or just medieval fantasy in general, Christian themes, sweet love stories, tension and intrigue, and a beautiful writing style. I absolutely loved it and would honestly read an entire series about these characters! This is one I'm going to keep coming back to as a lovely comfort read <3
Note: the story of the author's nieces at the end made me cry. What a sweet duo and they are in my prayers. The themes in the book definitely reflect the emotional journey that they're all on together.
Content to mention: Mild peril, fighting, talks of war, political tension, non-described injuries/burns, betrayal, mentions of characters swearing but no specific words, brief mention of a possible hanging, themes of grief and loss, discussions of a pre-story family death. No explicit language, spice, gore, or excessive violence!
** I received an ARC copy of this book, but was not required to leave a review - much less a positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own. **
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, and War
Trim Healthy Mama Plan: Keep It Simple, Keep It Sane by Serene Allison, Pearl Barrett
3.5
This is a re-read to refresh myself on some of the plan's science and guidelines. Overall, the chatty style of how it's written and lack of editing in some sections still rubs me the wrong way, but I do agree with most of the plan's principles. I've seen the lifestyle work well for many of my family members, and it worked wonderfully for me for several years as well (until I got "too busy" and stopped). I'm looking forward to working back into this lifestyle, but with a focus on balance, rather than so rigidly following it that I develop unhealthy habits.
(Note: this is a much more manageable read than their original 600+ page tome, haha!)
(Note: this is a much more manageable read than their original 600+ page tome, haha!)
Belle & Beast: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Rebecca Fittery
3.5
3.5 stars!
I went into this book completely blind. I was new to the author and the series, but received it during a Black Friday sale and was intrigued by the premise. I'm always interested to see how other authors tackle retellings, especially of such widely-known fairytales.
Setting: The author clearly put a lot of time and thought into her worldbuilding - so much so that I was honestly pretty lost for the majority of the book. Just when I thought I was settling into the place that she was describing, her characters went to a new part of her world, and the pattern seemed to repeat every time I was close to gaining an understanding. That said, I'm notoriously bad at mental maps, so it could just be me. In addition, I had no idea that series is apparently merging the worlds and characters of a lot of different fairytales so had I realized that sooner, I probably wouldn't have been so thrown off by appearances of Sherwood, etc.
Pros were that although I had a hard time keeping track of specific names, layouts, and countries, the author captured the general feel of each place well. Especially her descriptions of the castle and other nobility residences felt very rich and authentic. She handled the large amounts of details that would go into the royal days well, and I could absolutely picture myself in the midst of the extravagance and bustle.
Characters: Being a very character-focused reader, this is where I struggled the most. I have very mixed feelings about the protagonist, Belle. On one hand, I greatly admire her courage, drive, perseverance, attention to detail, and ability to get what she wants in order to keep herself and her family happy. But there were also times where I had trouble rooting for her because she could come across as cold, haughty, and/or uncaring. In general, she was a strong protagonist, and I did enjoy the softening and growth she experienced by the end.
The prince also started off very seemingly uncaring and cold, but I guess I expected that (he is the Beast after all), so it didn't really bother me. He grew on me quickly, and I respected his hard work for his kingdom, his attempts to keep Belle and his mother happy, and the way he cared for his kingdom. His temper was often too hot for my liking, but he also grew by the end. (yay character arcs!)
If anything, I think that Hazel, Belle's father, and the prince's mother were my favorite characters. They were all kind, resourceful, easy to like, and seemed to be living their own lives but also willing to help the protagonists with theirs. The "Gaston" character threw me for a loop. I liked him (honestly more than Belle) for a good chunk of the book, but wasn't impressed by his rashness and inability to stop and think at the end.
Plot: The plot was very fun. Having recently read up on a lot of the original fairy tales for Beauty and the Beast (like original, original), I enjoyed seeing how much of them the author drew inspiration from. I'd say it was about 50/50 inspired by the original fairy tales vs the Disney version. Much to my surprise, some of the character names were the exact same as the Disney characters, but even if they weren't, you could easily still pick them out. I like the spin that the author put on the original tales - adding a lot more political intrigue and backstory into the history and wars. There was a lot more emphasis on the magic system later on than I expected, but it all mostly made sense. And I anticipate that the author will be explaining more of that in later books.
In terms of flow, the plot moved along pretty well. There were sections that I skimmed, where it was a lot of day to day descriptions or summary, and especially at the beginning, I struggled to stay interested. But by about the 25% mark I'd say, I was interested to see how everything turned out. The farther into the book, the harder it was to put down.
I feel like I really haven't given a good reason for the three star rating, and to be honest, I didn't NOT like this book. I enjoyed the read, and am glad I read it. The take on the original tales were very fun, as were the alludes to the Disney version. I rooted for some characters, disliked others, and wanted them all to have their rightful endings. And I think I'll be reading it again in the future!
My main hesitation is simply that it still felt like an early draft. Some of the story questions that were brought up and not answered, some loose threads, some inconsistent actions by the characters, and some overall roughness to the writing style and prose made me wonder how amazing this book could be with just a little more tweaking. But I can still honestly say that it's worth a try if you enjoy clean and romantic fairy tale retellings! I'm interested to read more from this author. 3.5 stars.
Themes: Family, true love, courage, determination, learning to love, honesty, and forgiveness.
Content warning: Fantasy magic system (animal-like transformations/"were-wolf" esque, objects moving themselves, blood ceremony during marriage, moonlight vigils, etc.). Brief alludes to wedded intimacy (nothing shown or described, and it never happens during the story). A fantasy-world religion similar to Christianity in how it's practiced, with the exception of some elements that reminded me of Catholicism. Light kisses. Mildly-described violence (nothing graphic, but war fighting, injuries, etc.)
I'd recommend it to: Readers 13+ that enjoy fairy tale retellings - especially of Beauty and the Beast - and want to try their hand at an in-depth and politically-rich twist.
I went into this book completely blind. I was new to the author and the series, but received it during a Black Friday sale and was intrigued by the premise. I'm always interested to see how other authors tackle retellings, especially of such widely-known fairytales.
Setting: The author clearly put a lot of time and thought into her worldbuilding - so much so that I was honestly pretty lost for the majority of the book. Just when I thought I was settling into the place that she was describing, her characters went to a new part of her world, and the pattern seemed to repeat every time I was close to gaining an understanding. That said, I'm notoriously bad at mental maps, so it could just be me. In addition, I had no idea that series is apparently merging the worlds and characters of a lot of different fairytales so had I realized that sooner, I probably wouldn't have been so thrown off by appearances of Sherwood, etc.
Pros were that although I had a hard time keeping track of specific names, layouts, and countries, the author captured the general feel of each place well. Especially her descriptions of the castle and other nobility residences felt very rich and authentic. She handled the large amounts of details that would go into the royal days well, and I could absolutely picture myself in the midst of the extravagance and bustle.
Characters: Being a very character-focused reader, this is where I struggled the most. I have very mixed feelings about the protagonist, Belle. On one hand, I greatly admire her courage, drive, perseverance, attention to detail, and ability to get what she wants in order to keep herself and her family happy. But there were also times where I had trouble rooting for her because she could come across as cold, haughty, and/or uncaring. In general, she was a strong protagonist, and I did enjoy the softening and growth she experienced by the end.
The prince also started off very seemingly uncaring and cold, but I guess I expected that (he is the Beast after all), so it didn't really bother me. He grew on me quickly, and I respected his hard work for his kingdom, his attempts to keep Belle and his mother happy, and the way he cared for his kingdom. His temper was often too hot for my liking, but he also grew by the end. (yay character arcs!)
If anything, I think that Hazel, Belle's father, and the prince's mother were my favorite characters. They were all kind, resourceful, easy to like, and seemed to be living their own lives but also willing to help the protagonists with theirs. The "Gaston" character threw me for a loop. I liked him (honestly more than Belle) for a good chunk of the book, but wasn't impressed by his rashness and inability to stop and think at the end.
Plot: The plot was very fun. Having recently read up on a lot of the original fairy tales for Beauty and the Beast (like original, original), I enjoyed seeing how much of them the author drew inspiration from. I'd say it was about 50/50 inspired by the original fairy tales vs the Disney version. Much to my surprise, some of the character names were the exact same as the Disney characters, but even if they weren't, you could easily still pick them out. I like the spin that the author put on the original tales - adding a lot more political intrigue and backstory into the history and wars. There was a lot more emphasis on the magic system later on than I expected, but it all mostly made sense. And I anticipate that the author will be explaining more of that in later books.
In terms of flow, the plot moved along pretty well. There were sections that I skimmed, where it was a lot of day to day descriptions or summary, and especially at the beginning, I struggled to stay interested. But by about the 25% mark I'd say, I was interested to see how everything turned out. The farther into the book, the harder it was to put down.
I feel like I really haven't given a good reason for the three star rating, and to be honest, I didn't NOT like this book. I enjoyed the read, and am glad I read it. The take on the original tales were very fun, as were the alludes to the Disney version. I rooted for some characters, disliked others, and wanted them all to have their rightful endings. And I think I'll be reading it again in the future!
My main hesitation is simply that it still felt like an early draft. Some of the story questions that were brought up and not answered, some loose threads, some inconsistent actions by the characters, and some overall roughness to the writing style and prose made me wonder how amazing this book could be with just a little more tweaking. But I can still honestly say that it's worth a try if you enjoy clean and romantic fairy tale retellings! I'm interested to read more from this author. 3.5 stars.
Themes: Family, true love, courage, determination, learning to love, honesty, and forgiveness.
Content warning: Fantasy magic system (animal-like transformations/"were-wolf" esque, objects moving themselves, blood ceremony during marriage, moonlight vigils, etc.). Brief alludes to wedded intimacy (nothing shown or described, and it never happens during the story). A fantasy-world religion similar to Christianity in how it's practiced, with the exception of some elements that reminded me of Catholicism. Light kisses. Mildly-described violence (nothing graphic, but war fighting, injuries, etc.)
I'd recommend it to: Readers 13+ that enjoy fairy tale retellings - especially of Beauty and the Beast - and want to try their hand at an in-depth and politically-rich twist.
The Treasure Hunt by Kate Willis
4.0
This is absolutely adorable. Such a cute, quick read with light and wholesome feels. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Setting: The setting honestly took me back to my own childhood. The running around our large yard, playing outside, time with siblings, and making our own adventures especially. I could relate to the young children in those ways, while also relating to the "Boring" older kids as well, being the oldest daughter. So all that to say, the setting was super vivid, and I enjoyed the warm, calm summer aesthetic of the entire story.
Characters: For such a short story, I couldn't keep track of all of the children and their names as well as I wanted to, but I understood enough. The younger, adventuring children were cute and likeable and I enjoyed their antics. The parents made brief cameos as a loving mom and dad working their own lives, while also doing a great job of caring for their kids. And the older sisters were sweet to take some time from their pursuits to make an adventure for the youngers.
Plot: Speaking of, the plot was fast-paced, but light and wholesome. I did find myself confused at times by all of the different clues, and wondered how in the world the kids figured certain clues out - so fast, and even at all. But overall, it was a cute mystery, and something I would have loved to experience when I was that age.
Themes: Nothing too obvious (it was so light and quick), but family and sibling bonds were strong in this one. As was working together and supporting one another.
Content Warning: Nothing! This was completely clean. I'd read this to my younger siblings.
I'd recommend this to: Readers MG-aged and older that enjoy light mystery stories, quick reads, and fun summery vibes.
Setting: The setting honestly took me back to my own childhood. The running around our large yard, playing outside, time with siblings, and making our own adventures especially. I could relate to the young children in those ways, while also relating to the "Boring" older kids as well, being the oldest daughter. So all that to say, the setting was super vivid, and I enjoyed the warm, calm summer aesthetic of the entire story.
Characters: For such a short story, I couldn't keep track of all of the children and their names as well as I wanted to, but I understood enough. The younger, adventuring children were cute and likeable and I enjoyed their antics. The parents made brief cameos as a loving mom and dad working their own lives, while also doing a great job of caring for their kids. And the older sisters were sweet to take some time from their pursuits to make an adventure for the youngers.
Plot: Speaking of, the plot was fast-paced, but light and wholesome. I did find myself confused at times by all of the different clues, and wondered how in the world the kids figured certain clues out - so fast, and even at all. But overall, it was a cute mystery, and something I would have loved to experience when I was that age.
Themes: Nothing too obvious (it was so light and quick), but family and sibling bonds were strong in this one. As was working together and supporting one another.
Content Warning: Nothing! This was completely clean. I'd read this to my younger siblings.
I'd recommend this to: Readers MG-aged and older that enjoy light mystery stories, quick reads, and fun summery vibes.
Before Beauty by Brittany Fichter
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
4.5 stars!
I'm still on my Beauty and the Beast retellings kick, and this is one of the best that I've read so far! From almost the very start, I was engrossed in the story, and continued to be drawn in throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the characters, the romance was sweet, and the worldbuilding had just enough depth to interest me without confusing me with endless details.
Setting: As I said above, I enjoyed the setting! It didn't take me long to form a mental map of the story world, which can be a struggle for me sometimes. The author didn't bog down the storytelling with a ton of details about the world, but she did give enough for me to get a good glimpse into the country's politics, royalty system, magic system, and castes. This is obviously personal preference so if you like your stories to have lots of hard details, you might not appreciate this aspect. I personally enjoy this light-handed approach, and didn't feel it was a detriment to the story at all.
Characters: The characters were immediately either likable or sympathetic. I empathized with both Ever (whose name confused me for the first couple of chapters, admittedly), and with Isa. They both were thrown into their prospective lives with poor guidance and treatment from those closest to them, and I could understand why they both behaved as they did. That said, seeming them learn, grow, and come together despite the challenges was sweet. I'm not always completely on board with the romances in these stories, but theirs was slow, gentle, and honestly very cute.
I really liked Garin as well. I didn't see certain things coming about him, but he was a favorite character of mine from the start. The rest of the servants were fun, and seemed very sweet. The villain was also well-written, and while I puzzled at some of her motivations, she was truly a terrifying character to think of fighting. Overall, I'd say the characters were the strongest point of the novel.
Plot: Being familiar with a lot of the original Beauty and the Beast fairytales, I recognized influences from many of them in this retelling. There were a couple of sporadic Disney-themed ones, but mostly, I recognized elements of the originals, which was fun. It kept it fresh and unique, while also expertly weaving in familiar threads of story. I really enjoyed the way the author twisted them and created her own story.
The plot itself moved along steadily, I felt. It seemed to swing from being a much slower pace (time in the castle, getting to know one another, dancing, etc.), to all-out high stakes (impending war, running away, curses, etc.), which may bother someone, but I didn't ever feel that it grew boring or too hard to follow. The only exception would be the end. It seemed slightly rushed in the last chapter, and I would have loved a slight bit more time to dive into exactly what happened. Everywhere else, I could follow along, and enjoyed the pacing and story events.
I've seen some people complain that the story wasn't developed enough, and I could see why they would say that, due to their not being a lot of explanation surrounding the central magic system (i.e. The Fortress). That said, I know this series continues, so I was willing to forgive any leniency here, because I felt that enough was explained for me to still enjoy the very first book. Again, this will vary based on what kind of a reader you are. I'm more character-focused so I was happy.
Themes: true love, finding your strength, patience, working together, forgiveness, family, and trust (while there wasn't any explicit Christian material, themes of trusting the higher power were strong, and as a Christian, I loved that element).
Content warning: a magic system (the Fortress is characterized as able to trust, interact, and feel), the villain can enter people's dreams, mild kisses, depiction of insanity, war, loss, light descriptions of injury.
I'd recommend it to: readers 13+ that enjoy sweet and slow romances, light magic systems, political intrigue, Beauty and the Beast retellings, and meaningful themes.
I'm still on my Beauty and the Beast retellings kick, and this is one of the best that I've read so far! From almost the very start, I was engrossed in the story, and continued to be drawn in throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the characters, the romance was sweet, and the worldbuilding had just enough depth to interest me without confusing me with endless details.
Setting: As I said above, I enjoyed the setting! It didn't take me long to form a mental map of the story world, which can be a struggle for me sometimes. The author didn't bog down the storytelling with a ton of details about the world, but she did give enough for me to get a good glimpse into the country's politics, royalty system, magic system, and castes. This is obviously personal preference so if you like your stories to have lots of hard details, you might not appreciate this aspect. I personally enjoy this light-handed approach, and didn't feel it was a detriment to the story at all.
Characters: The characters were immediately either likable or sympathetic. I empathized with both Ever (whose name confused me for the first couple of chapters, admittedly), and with Isa. They both were thrown into their prospective lives with poor guidance and treatment from those closest to them, and I could understand why they both behaved as they did. That said, seeming them learn, grow, and come together despite the challenges was sweet. I'm not always completely on board with the romances in these stories, but theirs was slow, gentle, and honestly very cute.
I really liked Garin as well. I didn't see certain things coming about him, but he was a favorite character of mine from the start. The rest of the servants were fun, and seemed very sweet. The villain was also well-written, and while I puzzled at some of her motivations, she was truly a terrifying character to think of fighting. Overall, I'd say the characters were the strongest point of the novel.
Plot: Being familiar with a lot of the original Beauty and the Beast fairytales, I recognized influences from many of them in this retelling. There were a couple of sporadic Disney-themed ones, but mostly, I recognized elements of the originals, which was fun. It kept it fresh and unique, while also expertly weaving in familiar threads of story. I really enjoyed the way the author twisted them and created her own story.
The plot itself moved along steadily, I felt. It seemed to swing from being a much slower pace (time in the castle, getting to know one another, dancing, etc.), to all-out high stakes (impending war, running away, curses, etc.), which may bother someone, but I didn't ever feel that it grew boring or too hard to follow. The only exception would be the end. It seemed slightly rushed in the last chapter, and I would have loved a slight bit more time to dive into exactly what happened. Everywhere else, I could follow along, and enjoyed the pacing and story events.
I've seen some people complain that the story wasn't developed enough, and I could see why they would say that, due to their not being a lot of explanation surrounding the central magic system (i.e. The Fortress). That said, I know this series continues, so I was willing to forgive any leniency here, because I felt that enough was explained for me to still enjoy the very first book. Again, this will vary based on what kind of a reader you are. I'm more character-focused so I was happy.
Themes: true love, finding your strength, patience, working together, forgiveness, family, and trust (while there wasn't any explicit Christian material, themes of trusting the higher power were strong, and as a Christian, I loved that element).
Content warning: a magic system (the Fortress is characterized as able to trust, interact, and feel), the villain can enter people's dreams, mild kisses, depiction of insanity, war, loss, light descriptions of injury.
I'd recommend it to: readers 13+ that enjoy sweet and slow romances, light magic systems, political intrigue, Beauty and the Beast retellings, and meaningful themes.