Charlie’s life goes from average high school plodding along to amazing when he hears a dog barking and saves an old man’s life. Yes, now he’s a hero, Charlie’s life goes from average high school plodding along to amazing when he hears a dog barking and saves an old man’s life. Yes, now he’s a hero, but there’s so much more. Because Mr. Bowditch isn’t just a grumpy old man; he has an incredible secret.
King gives us a cornucopia of fairy tale magic in this book. Princes and princesses, giants, monsters, and a magical quest are all here. Charlie, already a hero, must save an entire world from a horrifying fate. Only Stephen King has the imagination and storytelling chops to come up with this complex and satisfying tale.
There’s also the sweet story of a boy and his dog. What more can you ask for....more
I would like to give this book a 3.5 but half ratings aren’t an option and I won’t upgrade it to a full 4. The story was a good one, but it didn’t havI would like to give this book a 3.5 but half ratings aren’t an option and I won’t upgrade it to a full 4. The story was a good one, but it didn’t have any surprises or reveals to add interest.
Our heroine has a good heart and is loyal and faithful. She works hard to find a way to end her mother’s eternal imprisonment on the moon for a rather low grade offense. The Celestial Emperor and Empress appear callous and greedy in their handling of the affairs of the Kingdom. Their own petty interests color their decisions, as Xingyin discovers after serving in their army for many years.
The one thing that really irked me about this story is the lack of background story on Minister Wu, The Empress’ right hand man who seems to have a real grudge against the Moon Goddess and her daughter. Xingyin herself ponders this question; unfortunately the author doesn’t feel it important to give us any answers. I was left unsatisfied with the ending, wondering if the Royals would pursue their vendetta against the two women.
A unique twist on fairy tales that goes well beyond the “happily ever after” phase. The father of Snow White has abdicated his kingdom to his son afteA unique twist on fairy tales that goes well beyond the “happily ever after” phase. The father of Snow White has abdicated his kingdom to his son after the gruesome execution of his queen for her attempts to kill his daughter. Living alone in the forest, he is called back to affairs in his former kingdom when Snow White, who has left her prince to return to the house of the seven dwarves, is murdered with a pickaxe to the skull. And so it begins.
Other fairy tale characters are murdered; teenage Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Tom Thumb, Cinderella, and others. Each murder is marked with a Roman numeral counting down from X. It’s the duty of the Pauper King and the Burgermeister to solve the mystery and stop the murders.
The introduction of the Inquisition into the investigation only brings out the worst in the villagers. The cruelty and double-dealing of the inquisitors turn the people against each other, with everyone willing to sell out their neighbors to keep their own necks out of the noose.
The fairy tales all have sordid endings and the people hardly seem worth saving, but the Pauper King is determined to bring the culprit to justice. A fascinating novel about the dark side of happily ever after, this is a fascinating read....more
An interesting twist on Beauty and the Beast that incorporates the French Revolution, misogyny, and the brutality of man. Isabelle is the daughter of An interesting twist on Beauty and the Beast that incorporates the French Revolution, misogyny, and the brutality of man. Isabelle is the daughter of a sheep farmer outside a small French village who has long been considered the “possession” of the local swain Jean. Although Belle appreciates Jean’s protection against the village bullies, she has no intention of becoming just another trophy for a young man who cultivates his image of a mighty hunter among the local barflies.
When Jean returns from the revolution in the capital, it is with stories of prowess in killing a new sort of prey; the nobility. He regales the villagers with stories of all the nobles he helped execute, stories that have no backup. He attempts to further impress his fans by inciting their fears of a new monster wolf, similar to one that preyed on village women and children twenty years earlier. Jean gathers a group of hunters, including Belle’s father, to kill this huge predator but the only one killed is Belle’s father.
Belle is driven to try to kill the wolf herself, but is instead knocked from her horse and carried off to a derelict castle in the woods by an unusual young man who goes by the name Howl. She becomes friends with Howl and the pack of wolves he controls until she learns the truth of the master of the castle and Howl’s own history.
Caught between a young man who has been labeled a monster, and another who is a monster behind his glamour of civility, Belle must decide where true evil lies and how to see through it....more
Ms. Saunders presents a new twist on fairy stories where a boy named Tom wakes one morning to find his mother missing, his father on the run to avoid Ms. Saunders presents a new twist on fairy stories where a boy named Tom wakes one morning to find his mother missing, his father on the run to avoid the Fairy Police, and a Fairy-Godmother he didn't know he had in the kitchen with a jar of sun-dried tomatoes. Okay, you have my attention.
Tom has no idea that his father is actually a fairy who broke the law by marrying a mortal woman and producing a son, a demisprite. He has also been clueless about the existence of his Fairy-Godmothers, two of whom have failed to answer the emergency summons his dad left before he went into hiding. Rest assured they are located and the three guardians turn out to be as different from one another as possible.
The book is a pleasure, filled with the author's wry humor and a host of fairies, both good and bad. Tom adapts quickly to his new reality, and the Godmothers eventually all step up to the plate and do their best to help him reunite his family.
A quick and fun read for children and adults alike....more
Riley is the kid-lit version of Gregory Maguire. He reimagines not just one fairy tale, but a whole book full of them. When May is suddenly kidnapped Riley is the kid-lit version of Gregory Maguire. He reimagines not just one fairy tale, but a whole book full of them. When May is suddenly kidnapped and dropped into a storybook world, she's in for a huge culture shock. Her grandmother is gone and she's tasked with trying to find her with the help of a rather uninspiring young hero who believes she's the princess he's been trained to rescue.
Jack is the most recent in a long line of Jack's. He doesn't have a beanstalk, but he does have his grandfather's magic bag full of enchanted items he has no idea how to use properly. Together, Jack and May set out on a quest that will introduce them to witches, dragons, giants, knights, fairies, and even a true Prince.
The story gallops along with Mr. Riley's patented brand of humor and snarkiness, and adventures abound. I will say that I was disappointed that May is so unrelentingly sarcastic and mean to Jack, who is only trying to help her find her grandmother. She could be a bit less prickly and still get the job done.
Overall, however, I loved the book and highly recommend it to children and adults alike....more
The premise of this book is quite clever; a reform school for young delinquents in the land of Enchantasia, run by famous formerly-evil characters sucThe premise of this book is quite clever; a reform school for young delinquents in the land of Enchantasia, run by famous formerly-evil characters such as Cinderella's stepmother, the Wicked Queen from Snow White, the Sea Witch from the Little Mermaid, and the Big Bad Wolf. Gillian Cobbler, the eldest of the Cobbler siblings, has again been caught stealing. Gilly isn't taking things for her own enjoyment, she steals food for her poor family and trinkets from wealthy royals who don't need them (sort of Robin Hood style).
Unfortunately, the Dwarf Patrol doesn't see things her way and off she goes to Fairy Tale Reform School. Things at the school aren't quite what they're cracked up to be in the Happily Ever After Scrolls. Getting thrown into the school is simple; getting released is not. Gilly immediately questions the true motives of Flora, evil stepmonster turned school headmistress, as well as Madame Harlow, who appears to be as evil as she ever was when she tormented Snow White.
Strange things are brewing at FTRS, what with gargoyles coming to life and attacking people, the headmistress sneaking off to the forbidden woods, and a magic mirror spying and informing on students. And it appears that someone is planning a nasty surprise for the four princesses (Ella, Snow, Rose, and Rapunzel) at the ball to be held in their honor at the school.
It's up to Gilly and her new friends, Kayla the fairy, Ollie the Elf, Maxine the Troll, and Jax the escape artist, to unravel the mysteries and keep the school safe.
I enjoyed the story, but it provided few surprises. Anyone other than Gilly and her posse could figure out where this book was going, with the good and bad characters clearly lined up for the final confrontation. A fun, quick read, but nothing to get excited about....more
Everyone knows the stories of the Little Mermaid and the Ugly Duckling, but I found that I knew very little of Andersen's other stories and nothing atEveryone knows the stories of the Little Mermaid and the Ugly Duckling, but I found that I knew very little of Andersen's other stories and nothing at all about the man himself. This volume provided new translations that are true to the original Danish in which Andersen wrote, along with notes on each story explaining certain phrases and usages as they applied in the author's time. To me, this brought the stories to life in the manner intended by Andersen.
Also included is an introduction giving insight into this talented storyteller's personal story and how it impacted his writing. Vain, but at the same time humble, desperate for public acknowledgement of his gift and always craving the attention of royalty and celebrities of the time, Andersen's stories are often taken from his own experiences and perceived slights. More than fairy tales, these are parables of life in 19th century Denmark and Europe, complete with moralistic lessons tacked onto the end.
Some of the stories seemed quite odd to me, but the notes at the end helped me understand why people would be drawn to them and how they reflected the thinking of the time. Altogether a fascinating volume of folk tales that every reader can enjoy....more
Yolen has revisited the story of Snow White in a unique and beautiful story set in depression era West Virginia. Young Snow in Summer (the name her moYolen has revisited the story of Snow White in a unique and beautiful story set in depression era West Virginia. Young Snow in Summer (the name her mother for some reason chose for her) is learning about grief from her father after the untimely death of her mother during childbirth. Lem completely unravels when his wife dies but, fortunately for Summer, her Aunt Nan is there to pick up the pieces and try to bridge the gulf that develops between the distraught father and his sensitive daughter. Enter a truly wicked Stepmama, a witch by any definition, with designs on the family property that necessitate the removal of both Lem and Summer.
All the traditional elements of the original tale are here, but in a fresh new narrative that is thoroughly enjoyable even though we can't help but know how it will end. It's the women who make this tale work; young Summer, who is forced to lose her innocence long before her time; Aunt Nan, a kind and generous spirit whose love for Lem and Summer spurs her to try to keep the witch from destroying them; and Stepmama, a vain and greedy woman who sees everyone around her as a means to gaining what she desires.
An American classic as only Jane Yolen can produce. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fairy tales, or just a good, old fashioned yarn....more
Number seven in the October Daye series has Toby, as usual, trying to sort out a fairy realm in turmoil. Someone is distributing goblin fruit, which iNumber seven in the October Daye series has Toby, as usual, trying to sort out a fairy realm in turmoil. Someone is distributing goblin fruit, which is pleasurable for pure bloods but highly addictive and deadly to changelings and humans. Unfortunately, the person responsible is the chronically insane Queen of the Mists. Worse still, when Toby petitions her to stop the sale of the fruit the Queen banishes her from the Kingdom of Salt Mist.
With only three days to settle her affairs, Toby is set on the trail of the true heirs to the kingdom, King Gilad's missing children. She must find the prince and princess and place them on the throne before the Queen and her minions can silence them, and Toby, forever.
One of the best in this series, we are treated to a fast-paced mystery with twists and turns enough for any die hard fan. A great mixture of both detective stories and fairy tales....more
I'm addicted to retellings of fairy tales that turn the story upside down. For all that I love Tanith Lee and Terri Windling's Fairy Tale Series, thisI'm addicted to retellings of fairy tales that turn the story upside down. For all that I love Tanith Lee and Terri Windling's Fairy Tale Series, this book was too dark by far. Snow White has always been a rather bloody story but this version takes it to a new level of nasty.
The women in this book are brutalized in every way possible. They are raped, imprisoned, discarded and left to die while the powerful male characters move on to destroy lives with impunity. Lee's storytelling is beautifully lyrical, but even her evocative prose can't cover up the misogyny rampant in the story. This is a world I don't ever want to visit.
I also found that the inclusion of a myriad of literary elements, including fantasy, folklore, mythology, and pagan religious ceremonies, created a rather muddled novel that seemed to be going in several directions at the same time. Perhaps choosing one or two of these styles would have made this a more enjoyable read for me.
This is not the best example of Tanith Lee's genious, but for any fan of the author it is worth a look....more
Won this as first reads giveaway and so glad I did! Brought to mind Gregory Maguire's "Wicked" with it's delightful redefinition of a beloved childrenWon this as first reads giveaway and so glad I did! Brought to mind Gregory Maguire's "Wicked" with it's delightful redefinition of a beloved children's tale. Loved it from beginning to end and I'd highly recommend it....more
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