{Review): Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon

Title: Cinder and Ella
Author: Melissa Lemon Website | Twitter
Genre: YA Fairy Tale Retelling
Publisher: Bonneville Books (November, 2011) 
Hardcover: 208 pages
ISBN: 9781599559063
Source: NetGalley*
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository

Description from GoodReads:

After her father's disappearance, Cinder leaves home for a servant job at the castle. But it isn't long before her sister Ella is brought to the castle herself. What Ella finds there starts a quest that will change her life and the entire kingdom. Cinder and Ella is a Cinderella story like no other, and one you'll never forget.

My Review:

{Review}: ARC Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Title: Between the Sea and Sky
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore Website | Twitter
Genre: Fantasy/YA Fiction
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Hardcover:  240 pages
ISBN: 9781599904344
Source: Good Choice Reading Book Tour
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository

Description from GoodReads:
For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.


My Review:
Mermaids are slowly becoming my favorite paranormal creature. Jaclyn Dolamore does a great job at creating a magical world where not only do mermaids exist but so does a race of winged people and they interact with humans on a daily basis. I would have liked to see more of the winged people's traditions like we see with the mer-people. 


Between the Sea and Sky takes us on a journey to find Dosinia (Esmerine's sister), and discover if the love Esmerine and Alandare share is strong enough to keep them together. 


Esmerine is a strong determined girl that will go through a lot including physical pain ( it hurts her to walk on land) to assure that her sister is well. She is also in a constant struggle with what she feels like doing and what she should do. She wants to be on land and read and be with Alandare but at the same time she loves the sea and cannot imagine not being able to go back. It made me feel a bit sad because I could not imagine how they would be able to be together.


I absolutely loved the idea that Esmerine and Alandare's love for books brings them together. I like that Jaclyn made them childhood friends because the story does not allow them to really get to each other but it makes sense if they already did and are just rekindle-ling that friendship and turning it into love. 


An entertaining and different take on a mermaid fairy tale. The ending was not much of surprise. You can see how it is going to end but that does not deter it from being quite enjoyable. 


Recommended for those who enjoy fairy tales. 

{Review}: Beastly by Alex Flinn

Title: Beastly
Author: Alex Flinn
Genre: Fairy Tale/YA Fiction
Publisher: HarperTeen (Oct,2007)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN: 9780060874162
Source: Library
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository

My Rating: 5/5

Description from GoodReads:

I am a beast.
A beast!
Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright. I am a monster.
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll, stay this way forever ruined unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly.

My Review:
Before you read this review let me inform you that I am 100% biased because I absolutely love Beauty and the Beast and everything to do with it. So, by this being a retelling of that story I was sure to love it. Let me just tell you what I liked and you be the judge as to whether it is something you might enjoy.

The story is told from the Beast's perspective. We get to see how he was before he became a beast. I also liked the setting of New York City and how the characters and the story line were changed to match the present setting. It was as believable as you can get in a fairy tale.

I also liked beast's friends, what can I say, I just love fairy tales. There were also a few references to great books and movies which made it more enjoyable for me. Even though I already had a basic idea of what was going to happen it was still a joy to read. It had nice changes and additions that made this a fresh take on Beauty and the Beast.

I could not help but picture Alex Pettyfer as Kyle Kingsbury because of the movie preview I saw before reading the book. The combination of Alex's looks and the romantic personality described in the book resulted in me falling in love with the beast once again. Who wouldn't love a guy that reads books that he knows you are reading just so he can talk to you about them?

I won't say more because it might ruin the story. If you like Beauty and the Beast then this is a must read.

I have not watched the movie and I am looking forward to it. Has anyone seen it and read the book? What were your thoughts on the movie?

{Review}: Entwined by Heather Dixon

Title: Entwined
Author: Heather Dixon
Genre: YA Fiction/Fairy Tale Retelling
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Hardcover: 480 pages
ISBN: 9780062001030
Source: Library
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository

My Rating: 4/5

Description from GoodReads:

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

My Review:
I have not read the Twelve Dancing Princesses but I enjoyed this retelling of it. Azalea is the oldest of 12 sisters. Azalea is of age and should be looking for a suitable husband to become king. Yet, her world is turned upside down when her mother dies and her distant father, the king, is not there to help. It is up to her to help her sisters overcome the pain and move on. They stumble across an enchanted passage in their room where they can dance and laugh, things that are prohibited in their home because they are in mourning. They escape every night to their magical place but all is not what it seems.

Entwined had very likable characters. The twelve sisters were amazing they each had their own personality. The girls were very innocent and naive because they never wonder what Mr. Keeper would ask in return. They just cared about dancing and having fun. Mr. Keeper, who likes to keep things, was also a great character. He really added a lot to the story. Lord Bramdford was also great because he was not the perfect incredible handsome prince charming. If I understood correctly he had a huge nose. :)

I liked that this book was about family relationship. Azalea and her strong need to protect her sisters. Azalea and her suitors, trying to find someone that is both good for her and the kingdom. The growth in the girls relationship with their father was what made this story a great one for me.

Overall, a very enjoyable story. I was a little disturbed in certain parts because for the most part it is a sweet fairy tale and then some not so sweet parts occur and it's just disturbing but still enjoyable. I recommend this book to those who enjoy fairy tale retelling and stories about the power of family.

{Review}: Cat's Tale: A Fairy Tale Retold by Betty Sharpe

Title: Cat's Tale: A Fairy Tale Retold
Author: Betty Sharpe
Genre: Romance, Fairy Tale
Publisher: Carina Press (June 27th 2011)
Kindle Edition: 272 KB
ASIN: B004XVTS14
Source: NetGalley*
Available on: Amazon

My Rating: 3.5/5

Description from GoodReads:

Once upon a time there was a scheming, lying tart who cared for nothing but her own pleasures and her shoe collection.Once the peerlessly beautiful Lady Catriona, consort to the king, Cat's fortunes fall far when her aged husband dies. The king's wizard turns her into a cat and tries to drown her in the mill pond. Fortunately Cat is a clever survivor and enlists the help of Julian, the miller's youngest son, in her plan for revenge.
She originally sees Julian as a mere pawn for her plans to break her curse, but as they work together Cat comes to know and care for him. Even if the curse can be broken, can a good-hearted man love a woman who has been as vain and selfish as Cat?

My Review
Not what I was expecting. I was expecting a sweet romantic retelling of The Puss'N Boots. Instead I got a explicit take on it. This book is a bit explicit since it is a romance book. Since I am warning you, you will not be surprised like I was when the first love making seen appears.

Even though it was not what I expected I still enjoyed it. I really liked Lady Catriona, she was selfish, and smart, and shameless. It's great when an author can make you like a horrible character.

A light fast read that is sure to keep you entertained.

*Disclosure: This e-ARC was provided by the publisher (Carina Press via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.

{Review}: Mermaid: A twist on the classic tale

Title: Mermaid: A twist on the classic tale
Author: Carolyn Turgeon
Genre: Fairy Tale
Publisher: Crown Publishing (March, 2011)
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN: 9780307589972
Source: Borrowed from Library
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble

My Rating: 3/5

Description from GoodReads: 

The story of two very different women, one mortal, one mermaid, and the clash between worlds best kept apart... It is a cold day at the end of the world when a young woman, a princess in hiding, looks out across a Northern sea and sees something she could not have seen. It looks...it can't be. It looks like a mermaid's tail. And, as she looks more closely, she sees that the mermaid is dragging a drowning sailor in her arms. Because, only hours before, another princess, the daughter of the sea queen, has decided to risk everything and take a look at the world above the sea: the world of mortals. And there she finds a storm, a shipwreck, a sailor, and sets in train events which will change both women's worlds forever.

My Review:


I grew up loving the Disney version of the Little Mermaid. I remember when I was young I came across a different version where the little mermaid suffered and disliked it because the prince ended up marrying the princess not the mermaid. Well this story is more like the one I came across in my childhood than the Disney version.

Carolyn Turgeon's version of The Little Mermaid is full of pain, suffering and sacrifice. What I enjoyed the most is that we get to see the princess's point of view in this version. The princess believes that the mermaid brought her the prince so she can marry him and ensure peace in their kingdoms. As we all know, that is not the case. The mermaid goes to the sea witch and trades her voice for legs so she can be with the prince. Then the trouble begins as both girls try to win the prince and live their happily ever after.

I like the story but I didn't like the main characters. The mermaid just lets the prince do as he pleased with her and sacrificed everything for him. I never understood why the princess liked him, I think for her it was more duty than love. The Prince, (uhg!) he was my least favorite character. He was more like a typical medieval womanizer than Prince Charming.

Overall, I enjoyed this story because I love Fairy Tales but I would be a little hesitant to recommend it. Read this book if you love Fairy Tales or if you want a different take on Hans Christian Anderson's version of The Little Mermaid. 

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by The Story Siren, held usually on Sundays that encourages bloggers to share what they bought, borrowed, or begged for this week.

Title: Mermaid: A twist on the classic tale
Author: Carolyn Turgeon
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tales
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (Feb 2011)
Hardcover: 240 pages
Borrowed: Library

Description from GoodReads:

The story of two very different women, one mortal, one mermaid, and the clash between worlds best kept apart... It is a cold day at the end of the world when a young woman, a princess in hiding, looks out across a Northern sea and sees something she could not have seen. It looks...it can't be. It looks like a mermaid's tail. And, as she looks more closely, she sees that the mermaid is dragging a drowning sailor in her arms. Because, only hours before, another princess, the daughter of the sea queen, has decided to risk everything and take a look at the world above the sea: the world of mortals. And there she finds a storm, a shipwreck, a sailor, and sets in train events which will change both women's worlds forever.

 Title: The Thirteenth Tale

Author: Diane Setterfield

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Atria (Jan, 2006)

Hardcover: 406 pages

Borrowed: Library

Description from GoodReads:

Biographer Margaret Lea returns one night to her apartment above her father's antiquarian bookshop. On her steps she finds a letter. It is a hand-written request from one of Britain’s most prolific and well-loved novelists. Vida Winter, gravely ill, wants to recount her life story before it is too late, and she wants Margaret to be the one to capture her history. The request takes Margaret by surprise–she doesn’t know the author, nor has she read any of Miss Winter’s dozens of novels. 
Late one night while pondering whether to accept the task of recording Miss Winter’s personal story, Margaret begins to read her father’s rare copy of Miss Winter’s Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. She is spellbound by the stories and confused when she realizes the book only contains twelve stories. Where is the thirteenth tale? Intrigued, Margaret agrees to meet Miss Winter and act as her biographer. 
As Vida Winter unfolds her story, she shares with Margaret the dark family secrets that she has long kept hidden as she remembers her days at Angelfield, the now burnt-out estate that was her childhood home. Margaret carefully records Miss Winter’s account and finds herself more and more deeply immersed in the strange and troubling story. In the end, both women have to confront their pasts and the weight of family secrets. As well as the ghosts that haunt them still.

This is what I borrowed this week. I am so behind on my reading. I don't know why I keep getting more books.  Yes, I do... The reason I keep getting more books even though I have a pile of them on my desk is because they are awesome! :)

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