Review: Daedalus Is Dead by Seamus Sullivan

Daedalus Is Dead by Seamus Sullivan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided both an ARC and an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I love Greek mythology, and I'm a huge fan of the retellings that have been coming out recently.  This follows Daedalus, who is often mentioned as a side character in other tales.  This novella focuses on Daedalus' relationship with Icarus, but it also weaves in the tales that Daedalus supports.  We get to experience the creation of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, the invention of his famous wings and loss of Icarus, and his journey through the underworld in a new light.  The author takes some liberties with this retelling when it comes to Daedalus and his choices, some where creative and supported the darker narrative and other's were questionable.  I enjoyed the portrayal of the Minotaur in this retelling.

I found parts of the story confusing as the timeline shifts back and forth in time and between 1st and 2nd person POV.  The present time is during Daedalus' time in the underworld with the past being during his time in Crete under Minos' rule.  The story is told by Daedalus to Icarus after Icarus flies too close to the sun.  Daedalus is an unreliable narrator as he tells the story of Icarus' life from birth through childhood, his death at this hands of his father's invention, and then Daedalus explains his slow descent into madness due to his grief.  Icarus was a beloved child and his loss drives his father to make some questionable decisions especially after his own death.  Daedalus ultimately wants to know "why" Icarus flew too close to the sun, which drives him to reflect if he was a good man and a good father?  I enjoyed the dreamlike way the author develops Daedalus' version of his history to Icarus, in which he defends his actions as a way to deal with his grief.

Overall I enjoyed this.  The cover is stunning and the audio narrator was excellent.

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Review: Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a digital ARC of this book via Netgalley, and a print ARC via Bookish First.  Thank you to the publisher Sourcebooks for allowing me to read this wonderful retelling ahead of publication.  The original release date was set for today March 7, 2023, but I believe the US release has been moved to May 2.  As always all opinions expressed are my own.

As the title indicates this follows Clytemnestra, princess of Sparta and eventual queen of Mycenae.  She was raised to be a warrior and valuable member of her father's council.  In a world where women were not respected as leaders, Clytemnestra demanded the respect of the men around  and bides her time to enact vengeance on those who have wronged her.  This is filled with alot of content warnings and potentially triggering material, but if you are a fan of Green mythology you are likely familiar with the horrible things that were done in the original myths.  This particular story is filled with brutality, vengeance, and violence.  Some of the acts are done in the name of the gods while others are done purely for the sake of taking power and showing dominance.  

As with each of these new retellings we get a different take on what these characters were like and what they experienced.   This follows Clytemnestra from childhood through adulthood and we get to see how the events of her life shape her.  This focuses on the many tragedies  and betrayals she must endure, and the simmering hatred that she harbors until she is able to enact her plans for revenge for those acts of betrayal.  We see how this hardens her into a somewhat unlikable queen, but as she questions her counselors, had she been a mad she would have been worshipped as a hero and no one would have questioned her actions.  

This is a little slow paced and there are alot of characters to keep track of, that being said I found this captivating and hard to put down.  I appreciated that there was a glossary of characters at the beginning of the book and a glossary of Greek terms at the end of the book for easy reference.  This was really helpful and I used both often when I couldn't remember who a particular person was or if I couldn't figure out a particular term from context clues.  The author did a really good job spelling out the Greek terminology but if you forget what a term means, the glossary is nice to have.

I thought the author did a great job with the world building.  It isn't often that you are transported through the seasons in a book, but here we get descriptions of cold and mud which I really felt enhanced the storytelling.  It made the story come alive for me and made the characters and the setting feel real.  You could also feel Clytemnestra's hatred and anger throughout the book.  She has to endure so much, yet because of her gender and station she has to wait until the time is right to enact the justice she has been seeking for so many years.  I also thought the author did a great job making you really hate the villains of the book, and there are several of them.   

Overall, I really enjoyed this and look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

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Review: Pandora by Susan Stoke-Chapman

Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however I opted to listen to the final production version of the audiobook. This book was published in January 2023, so I'm a bit late with my review. As always all opinions expressed are my own.

This was a bit different that I expected. Many of the retellings I've been reading have been set in ancient times and told from the female perspective. Pandora is told from Dora Blake's perspective but it is set in London just as Napoleon is threatening to invade. I really like what the author did with the Pandora myth here by not setting it in ancient Greece, but using the original myth to inspire a completely new story with new characters in a different time period. The original myth is referred to often in the story so you can easily make

Dora as she is known, has grown up surrounded by antiquities, as her parents ran a shop filled with them and after their death's her uncle took over the shop and her care. When an ancient yet pristine vase show up at the shop, Dora can't help but be curious at the vase's origins and her uncle's strange behavior. She is also hoping that the vase might inspire her to sketch some new and interesting jewelry designs in the hopes of supporting herself and moving out from under her uncle's care. With the help of aspiring antiquarian Edward, Dora begins to uncover more information about the vase and with it information about her past that she was not expecting to find.

This was a fun retelling of the Pandora myth. I like the creativity that was used and the social commentary woven throughout. There was a good discussion regarding those with station (aka money) and those without. There was also good commentary regarding women like Dora and Lottie and their reliance on men to keep them fed and housed as there weren't many options for women's employment at the time. While I am of the mindset that artifacts should be returned to the countries of their origin, the book is accurate that black market trade and shops like the Blake's did exist for the sale of antiquities to be used as decoration for anyone with the means to purchase them. I also liked that Pandora struggled between the so called cursed vase causing all of the bad things happening around them and their being a completely logic explanation for every event.

I think this book would be perfect for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper and Anatomy: A Love Story. There is a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, some historical fiction, a hint of magic, and it is perfect for readers of all ages.

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Review: What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you enjoy gothic horror, I highly recommend this. This book is on the shorter side, but Kingfisher does a great job packing all of the creepy punches into this unique story. This is a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher: An Edgar Allan Poe Short Story, which I listened to right after finishing this, and while this is longer and has it's own unique spin it does keep faithful to the original work.

The Usher house is in complete disrepair much to Alex Easton's surprise when they come to visit childhood friends Madeline and Roderick. Easton received word that Madeline had fallen ill and may not have much time left in this world. Easton is not prepared for what they find on the Usher property from strange wildlife, oddities in the lake, as well as Madeline and Roderick's conditions. Easton is aided by Roderick's friend an American doctor and a woman who studies fungus. I enjoyed all of the characters, which is rare in a horror novel. Easton is a wonderful character who takes center stage trying to figure out what is wrong with Madeline and Roderick and a way to save them both. Ever a soldier, Easton always keeps their wits about them despite the strange happenings in and around the Usher house. I don't want to give too much away because it would spoil the story but this weird little book is great! I loved the dark, ominous feelings I got from the descriptions. The world building is excellent, Kingfisher does a great job describing things.

If you are looking for some other creepy books with a similar feel I also recommend Sorrowland and Mexican Gothic.

I was provided both a print and audio arc of this book via Netgalley, thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read this in advanced. As always, all opinion are my own.

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Review: Spear by Nicola Griffith

Spear by Nicola Griffith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. The audiobook is narrated by the author, which in this case works really well. The writing is very poetic, and she is able to capture the cadence of her writing in the way I feel only she could. With a retelling or fantasy such as this she was also able to pronounce the names of the characters the way she envisioned.


I've always been fascinated by Arthurian lore, and I really enjoyed the unique take on this one. It keeps the heart of the Arthurian legend while putting a new spin on it. Our main character Peretur is female and is called by visions to be a knight in King Artos' court. She grew up in seclusion with her mother who kept them warded in a cave. When she comes of age, Per ventures off on her own as she knows she has a destiny to fulfil and evil to fight. In order to gain the trust of the King she must prove herself worthy. Peretur gathers used armour and a broken spear as she ventures out beyond her cave to win accolades, prove her worth and see what fate has in store for her. This has all of the elements a retelling needs: a quest, action, magic, and a love story.


If you are looking for a great retelling and a queer one at that, I highly recommend this. It is well researched and the writing is beautiful. This did start out a little slow for me, mainly because I'm not usually one who enjoys a more poetic writing style, but after a few chapters I settled in and really enjoyed the story.

This book comes out tomorrow April 19, 2022.  

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Review: Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco

Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was really fun, and the chapter headings were some of the best I've seen. Chupeco takes fairy tale elements from some of the most beloved stories and uses them as elements in this adventure. She also weaves in her Filipino heritage and traditions into the story and characters in such a big way. I will say as someone not versed in that culture, I often had no idea what the characters were talking about when they were making reference to certain foods or things that would seem very natural to someone part of the culture. A bit of an explanation of what they were doing, eating, or wearing would have been helpful. It did make me go look all that stuff up, so if that was her goal, she succeeded in teaching me something.

Chupeco uses this novel to make a lot of social commentary and political statements. There are quite a few references to racial inequality, political corruption, and moral compass. While this does take place partially in a fairytale setting, there are some parallels with the real world. I think this is important for young readers especially if it gets them talking about big topics.

Because the author chose to utilize familiar fairy tale characters that we already know, there are a lot of characters to keep track of. I often find that when there are so many characters, they end up lacking development. This was the case here. I would have loved to see more development in the Bandersnatchers in particular. I hope to see them develop further in the next book. The plot meanders around quite a bit, causing the pace to lose steam in places. Everytime the group seems to be focused on their current task something derails them and no one seems to quite be in charge to get them back on track.

Overall, I really like the concept of this story and I'm looking forward to where it goes next. There are quite a lot of unanswered questions. The end was pretty unexpected, it was a pretty great twist that I don't think anyone saw coming.

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Review: Unhappily Ever After by Eric Hobbs

Unhappily Ever After by Eric Hobbs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have had a copy of this for review forever.  The author was kind enough to provide all three books in exchange for an honest review.  I have a copy of the conclusion and I'm really looking forward to finding out how it all ends.

This is the sequel to Little Boy Lost. We follow Taylor and Wesley after they were lost in the library the day before and they come to find out that their actions the day before have had consequences not only in Oz but in their own world as well. They head back to the library to find The Librarian to fix what they have broken and reset the story and get their lives back. When they arrive at the library, the find that the Librarian has already returned to Oz to set things to rights, but his assistant Hope is there to help them. Hope isn't exactly helpful though. Taylor figures out what she needs to do to fix her mistakes from the previous day and won't let anyone stop her.

Also in Oz are Randy and Douglas and Bones, who have their own agenda. I'm still not 100% clear on what Douglas is up to, but I'm hopeful that will be all cleared up in book 3. Bones and Randy don't really play much of a part in this Wizard of Oz retelling. This is definitely darker than the first book which was fun and whimsical. This has a more YA feel while the first one had a more middle grade feel. Then again I haven't read the original Oz books so I'm not sure how dark or violent it is so I'm not sure if it compares.

I like the original take on a classic tale. The characters are decent and the friendship between Wes and Taylor is great. This does end on a cliffhanger like book 1, but I do feel like the story this book has to tell was complete. They finished what they set out to do, and while there is more to tell this part of the story was told. Book 3 is out now, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the tale ends.

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Review: Blue Water by J.A. Armitage

Blue Water by J.A. Armitage
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.  This came out September 12, 2018.  I'm glad I finally got caught up and read it.  I'm also able to use this for a challenge prompt for a book title with my favorite color in it.  Only 9 more books to go to finish the challenge, no onto the review...

This story picks up shortly after the first book. The sea witch is dead and Ari and Erica are attempting to figure out how their relationship is going to work. Erica is still heir to her kingdom and preparing to be Queen one day, however she is bonded to Ari and exploring her feelings for him. The unofficial couple continues to spend as much time together as they can until Erica's father falls sick of an unexplained illness. When the mermaids of Havfrue and Erica's mother all fall sick unexpectedly, Erica expects that while the sea witch is dead her magic still lingers. Erica embarks on a quest to save both kingdoms and the people she is supposed to serve and protect as Queen.

As with the first book I really liked the mythology and magical aspect of the story line. It adds a nice twist to the reverse fairytale/retelling aspect of the story. This reads as YA, so the characters feel a bit impulsive and immature at times, but you have to remember that they are in fact just that. Their actions are fitting, and they do grow and develop from their experiences which is what I look for. The plot moves along at a decent pace as well. This is a fun story and I am enjoying where it is headed. I'm looking forward to Erica and Ari's next adventure in book 3.

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Review: The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel: A Story of Sleepy Hollow by Alyssa Palombo

The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel: A Story of Sleepy Hollow by Alyssa Palombo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  This is out already and if you like historical romances with a slight paranormal element I highly recommend it.  It is well written and well researched.

This was not at all what I expected. It was more of a historical romance than a paranormal romance. I was expecting the latter, but got the former. I was expecting magic to be a much more prevalent element of the story, and while I guess there was what you could consider magic present it is not what I consider magic or a magic system. I think had I read the description a little more closely I wouldn't have expected it to be so paranormal. That being said the book is a great retelling of the original Sleepy Hollow telling and I feel that Palombo did the original tale justice by keeping key elements and spinning her own tale around it.

As far as the romance goes, it was very insta-lovey. I really don't care for that in any romance and this being historically based it just didn't fit the theme. The propriety of the times and the characters just didn't fit their actions. Katrina, our main character, is supposed to be a feminist character for the time. She is well educated, reads all the time, and is headstrong and speaks her mind. From that perspective I can see why this would have a feminist spin. However she makes alot of rash decisions and often leads with her emotions.

Much like the original tale, Katrina is pursued by both Ichabod Crane and Brom Van Brunt until Ichabod's untimely demise. Every suspects our favorite pumpkin headed Hessian has spirited him off to the underworld but as the description of the book says, nothing is as it seems. Katrina and her best friend Charlotte vow to solve the mystery of Ichabod's disappearance. Along the way they find things they did not expect, and Katrina learns that her love may not have abandoned her afterall.

Overall, I think it is my fault that I thought this was a paranormal romance. It was a good romance, I just wasn't expecting it to be what it was. Once I realized it wasn't what I was expecting I was able to enjoy it for what it was. I also went on to read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving and the story made alot more sense to me. Palombo did a great job with this retelling.



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Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another Little Mermaid retelling, but it is not like the original or the Ariel and Eric version from the movie most of us are familiar with. It is dark and violent, and the main characters are not heroes. There are mermaids, but they aren't beautiful and kind, they are vile and violent. The main character Lira is a siren, daughter of the Sea Queen, and she is known as The Prince's Bane. Each year on their birthday a siren takes the heart of a human, Lira takes the hearts of a prince. Her next victim is the prince of Midas, the ruling golden kingdom. Elian is a prince, but he's also the Captain of a pirate ship. He and his crew travel the seas killing sirens, and the one that they are always on the lookout for is The Prince's Bane. She is the prize that they just can't seem to capture. Elian wants nothing to do with life at court, but he has his duties as heir to the throne. The sea calls to him just as it calls to Lira.

There are so many side characters that I would have liked to see more development of. We get pieces of their stories but I would have liked more. The main characters are well developed, but all of the side characters are so present and such a part of the story I just wanted a little more development for them. Lira and Elian are dark, violent, and reckless as are their crew. They are both sarcastic and snarky and complement each other nicely. They want to kill each other for most of the book, so much so you aren’t really sure their romance is going to happen. Their romance is a hate to love and it kind of just sneaks up on you. The Sea Queen was an amazing villain. She was dark and ominous and every time she entered a scene she was pure evil. I loved her as a villain.

The ending felt a little rushed. It takes quite a while for our characters to get where they are going and everything culminates in an epic battle. So much happens and it was hard to keep up with. I had to go back and reread sections to figure out who was doing what, who was fighting whom and who was winning. It was a great battle, just a lot to take in.

I highly recommend this retelling if you want a new take on an old classic.  I've read several Little Mermaid retellings this summer and I think this one is my favorite.  It is so unique and I really enjoyed it.


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Review: Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.  This comes out on July 31st.  If you are into retellings as much as I have been this summer and you want something a little different in the mermaid realm go check this out.

I really enjoyed this retelling of The Little Mermaid. This is more of an origin story than a retelling, though the end of the story ends where the story most of us know picks up. Where this retelling differs from most of the other ones I've read recently is that is the story about how the Sea Witch came to be, not about the mermaid. This isn’t at all what I was expecting. It isn’t a fast paced, dark mermaid story. It is heavy on the romance, and more focused on the friendships and betrayals that happened on land that eventually lead to the formation of the Sea Witch.

I also really appreciated that this is set in Denmark with Danish history and mythology woven into the story. This does a really good job mixing the original Hans Christian Andersen tale with the historical witch hunts and fear that occurred all over the world. I loved the originality that this brought to the story. I love mythology and I loved what this tale brings to the table.

The story follows childhood best friends Evie, the royal fisherman’s daughter, and Nik, the crown prince of Ørseund. They had a third friend Anna who drowned several years prior, and with her passing Evie and Nik have only become better friends. Evie is disliked by the townsfolk because she is a commoner, but she gets to spend all of her time with the prince. She is also a witch, but it is her most closely kept secret as witches are killed on sight in her kingdom. Her mother was a witch and used her dying breath to save Evie’s life, her aunt Tante Hansa is also a witch and only teaches Evie a little magic here and there. Hansa works as a healer so her magic is hidden well. Just before the annual festival, a strange girl appears out of nowhere, but she looks just like Anna and her name just happens to be Annamette. She is our mermaid and she must fall in love after a few days or forfeit her life. She teaches Evie a few things about magic. The two girls become instant friends as if Anna had returned from the grave. Its clear from the start that Annamette is hiding something, but you arne’t sure if it is her magic, her true identity, her intentions, or all of the above. Evie so desperately wants her friend back, she feels so much guilt from the day Anna drowned. Nik also feels guilty, but much to Annamette’s dismay he simply will not kiss the girl in time to make her human. There are several romantic plot points in the book, but the romance was not my favorite part of the plot. It was OK, but the mythology and magic is what drew me in.

I wanted more from the magic system. Henning kind of glosses over the magic system and Evie never really learns about it. She has books she borrows from her aunt, and the little bits she picks up from Annemette. I just wanted it to be a bit more developed; it was just kind of there. I think Hansa was trying to protect Evie by not teaching her, that part just isn’t explained well.

This is a bit slow paced for my tastes, but there is a huge twist about 70% of the way in that I didn’t see coming. From that point on I had to know what happened. I did like that this isn’t at all what I expected, but in a good way. I thought it was going one way, but it took some turns I didn’t expect and ended up somewhere I never expected. I really liked the ending and loved the writing.


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Review: Dark Water: A Little Mermaid Reverse Fairytale by J.A. Armitage

Dark Water: A Little Mermaid Reverse Fairytale by J.A. Armitage
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.  This is out already, so go check it out.

I actually took the time to read the original Hans Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid so I could speak to the accuracy.  I'm reading a couple of retellings this summer so I figured I should do my homework.

This is a reverse fairy tale retelling of The Little Mermaid. It stays fairly true to the original tale and has its own spin as any retelling should. This young adult tale follows Princess Erica who lives in a seaside kingdom, but she has been kept far away from the ocean for her entire life. Her mother is irrationally afraid of the water, she has a good reason but I won’t spoil why. On her 18th birthday, Erica ends up in the ocean and is rescued by Ari. Ari of course is the merman of her dreams.  The sea witch makes an appearance and the rest of the story, while not the same, kind of plays out like you would expect.

There is insta-love which is not my favorite and with any YA romance we have a lot of teenage drama going on. Overall, it’s not my favorite retelling and I found it fairly predictable and has a lot of YA tropes. That being sayd I liked the magical and fantasy elements and I did like it overall, and as a series it has potential.


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Review: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is another post I had drafted shortly after I finished the audiobook, but I never posted.  It has been sitting in my drafts folder for quite some time now, so I figured I'd dust it off and post it.  I did finish the entire series and I enjoyed it.

This is a really interesting story. It took me a while to adjust to an Oz where Dorothy is the bad guy. None the less I enjoyed this story. It follows Amy Gumm, a poor girl from Kansas, who's had a not so great life. On a particularly crappy day, Amy is swept away in a magic tornado, much the same way Dorothy was, and finds herself in Oz. Amy sets out down the yellow brick road toward the Emerald City, where she sees some strange things along her journey. When she finally gets to the palace and meets the famous Dorothy, she's surprised to see that Dorothy is not at all like the girl from the movie and the storybook. Upon hearing how Amy arrived to Oz, Dorothy throw's Amy in the dungeon to rot. Amy is rescued by Mambi, a wicked witch, sometime later and joins the Order of the Wicked in exchange for her freedom, but lines between Good and Wicked aren't exactly clear in Oz. Amy begins training to fight and learns magic from the resident Wicked Witches. Eventually Amy infiltrates the palace in an undercover mission to kill Dorothy, but things go wrong, covers are blown, and Amy questions her role in the Order of the Wicked. All she knows is Dorothy and her entourage has got to go, but she missed her chance to end things once and for all, but the fight isn't over and Amy is willing to do what needs to be done, but at what cost?

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Review: Winter Glass by Lexa Hillyer

Winter Glass by Lexa Hillyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.  This book will be released on April 10, 2018.

This picks up almost exactly where Spindle Fire leaves off. Much like with Spindle Fire there is alot going on in Winter Glass. There is almost too much to keep track of. This isn't just a Sleeping Beauty reimagining, there are bits of Cinderella and other fairy tale inspiration thrown in. I also needed a family tree to keep track of all of the characters. There were way to many perspectives in this book. Any time there are more than two perspectives in a book, I tend to lost track of what is going on and that definitely happened here. We get the perspective of the two main characters, sisters Aurora and Isabelle, several of the fae, and a few side characters. I felt like the side characters and fae didn't give us enough to be significant, but the material was relevant. I'm not sure how the information could have been delivered in a different way, but I didn't like the execution.

This book has a slower pace considering the decent amount of action going on. The war is underway, Isabelle and William are fighting from different angles and Malfluer is determined to take over. Aurora is fighting her own war to save the people she found in the alternate world of Sommeil, who are now in her world after Malfluer has taken down Belcour. (see what I mean about alot going on) Aurora teams up with Wren and the other survivors to fight Malfluer, but she gets captured and makes a bargain with the fae queen. Meanwhile, Isabelle is gathering soldiers to their cause and trying to find a way to protect her kingdom. She happens upon a glass slipper that might be the answers to all of their problem, but what she finds isn't what she was expecting. It turns out the slipper is made of Winter Glass, which isn't what it appears. I hesitate to say more without spoiling the book.

Overall, the book is entertaining. There is character growth, action, magic, and some romance. If you like fantasy and retellings I'd give this series a go.

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Review: Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer

Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very unique retelling of Sleeping Beauty. It has alot more action than the tale that most of us know and the fae have a much larger albeit darker part in the story. Aurora is the princess, who as expected falls asleep by a prick of a spinning wheel when she turns 16, this is all part of the story we know. Much of the rest of the story diverges from the beginning, Aurora cannot speak or feel, as the fae took her speech and ability to feel when she was a baby. The fae all have tithes that they take from humans to maintain and increase their magic. Aurora has a half-sister Isabelle who is blind, but her blindness doesn't keep her from being adventurous. The sisters are best of friends, yet Isabelle or Isbe for short, has always been made to feel inadequate and unworthy. When it comes time for Aurora's 16th birthday and impending wedding, Isbe is to be sent away to a convent. Ever the rebel, Isbe runs away and finds her own adventure. Aurora tries to go after her sister to make amends but finds the spinning wheel instead, and upon pricker her finger she finds herself in another world created by a faerie that everyone has long thought to be dead. Trapt in this dream world, Aurora must decipher the puzzle to not only find her way out but help the other people trapped in the Night Faerie's dream world. Back in the real world, Isbe finds that her sister and everyone in their kingdom has fallen ill with a sleeping sickness. She turns to a neighboring nation to find an ally and hopefully Aurora's true love to break the spell and wake her sister. Of course both sisters find a handsome boy to accompany them on their adventures.

The pacing of the story was a bit slow for my liking. I attribute part of that to the fact that the story jumps around through multiple perspectives. We get several different faerie perspectives and both Aurora and Isabelle's perspectives. The timeline doesn't feel cohesive either, sometimes we are in the past and we are in the present. I wish the backstory of the faerie sisters Malfluer and Belcour was a bit more cohesive. We get some of the information, but I felt like there was so much left out and I'm left wanting more of an explanation of their magic, their broken bond, and a hint at what needs to happen next. I'm just left kind of confused.

Overall, I think this was a decent first installment, and definitely a unique take on Sleeping Beauty. There is alot going on, and there is alot of unfinished business at the end. I'm anxious to see where the next installment takes us.  I have an ARC of Winter Glass which comes out in April, so look for that review to be posted soon.

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Review: Little Boy Lost (The Librarian #1) by Eric Hobbs

Little Boy Lost by Eric Hobbs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.  I'm not sure how I got on Eric Hobbs' email list, but I'm glad I did.  This book has been on my Amazon wishlist for a while now.  It showed up as a recommendation for fans of the Percy Jackson books.  I jumped on the chance to review books 1 & 2.  I need to get to book 2 so I can find out what happens.  This was a quick and enjoyable read.  Eric was nice enough to send me an autographed copy as well which I'm super excited to put with my actual books.  I highly recommend this for middle grade readers.  I think my 7 and 9 year old would really love this series.  They love watching Once Upon a Time with me on TV and seeing all the fairy tale character retellings.  I would highly recommend it for young readers who like adventure stories in a fantasy setting.

I enjoyed this book, and I'm anxious to get to book 2. Hobbs blends some of our favorite children's stories into this tale but gives them a distinct twist. Our main character Wesley finds himself on a field trip to tour a local library. Also on the trip are his best friend Taylor and worst enemy Randy. Wesley is regularly bullied by Randy and his crew of goons, while Taylor is always sticking up for him and telling him to stand up for himself. Wesley and Taylor break away from the history lesson on the tour and end up learning that the historical library is more than it seems. There are some truly magical things hiding in its walls. Randy's father is also on the trip with the class, but it turns out he wants to demolish the historical library and all its magic. While trying to stay out of Randy and his father's sights, Wesley finds himself drawn to a strange painting of Neverland. He also runs into Locke, who happens to be one of Peter Pan's Lost Boy's from Neverland. Locke is looking for the mysterious Librarian.

Wesley, Locke, and Taylor can't find the Librarian, but they do discover that Locke must get back to his own story. The kids end up in Oz and learn that once a story is written, it must not be changed. Taylor won't be swayed though and she is determined to help the Tin Man find his true love. If you know the rules of time travel, they kind of apply here, you don't mess with the timeline or it will have consequences. Eventually the kids face off with Randy and his dad to get the Neverland key back so Locke can go back. The find the Librarian and face off with the Headless Horseman. Wesley who is almost irritatingly weak throughout the story, finds his inner strength and starts to stand up for himself. He gets tired of being pushed around all the time which is a good lesson for young readers especially if they are in a similar situation with a kid like Randy. Locke heads back to Neverland, but Wes, Taylor, and the Librarian are left in the real world to deal with the mess they've made. The story ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, but not a bad one. I kind of saw it coming.

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Review: Charm (A Cinderella reverse fairytale) by J.A. Armitage

Charm (A Cinderella reverse fairytale) by J.A. Armitage
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from the author via instafreebie in exchange for an honest review.  This is out tomorrow, I recommend grabbing a copy if you like fairy tale retellings.

I really enjoyed this Cinderella retelling, but in reverse. It is like Cinderella meets the Selection, and I really liked the original fairy tale elements that the author wove into the story but with a new twist. Main character Charmaine must find a husband, much like the prince from the original fairy tale we all know. Charmaine isn't interested in getting married, becoming queen, or palace politics like her other sisters. Charmaine wants to read and explore and be comfortable. Tragedy has befallen her family and leaving Charmaine next in line, and duty calls for her to find a husband at the ball and hold a wedding that her parents have already started planning. Never really one to play by the rules, Charmaine finds herself in the kitchens after hours with a kitchen hand named Cynder. Cynder is a mage, who can use magic with the aid of a wand, but magic is highly regulated and pretty much illegal in the kingdom of Silverwood. Cynder and Charmaine become fast friends during their nightly cooking and dishwashing sessions. As the 100 suitors chosen by her parents begin to arrive, Charmaine finds herself wishing she could spend more time with Cynder than anyone else. After narrowing the men down from 100 to 5, Charmaine must decide who stays and who goes. As she gets to know the gentlemen, she also learns the reason the Magi are so restricted in society and why her mother and father have kept that information from her. When more and more strange things start to happen and the palace wrongfully blame the Magi for the violent acts, Charmaine realizes that she can use her royal position and the man she marries to make changes in the world. Things don't exactly go according to plan, and Charmaine finds herself not only fighting for love, but for her people.

I loved this. If you like fairy tales, Cinderella, or the Selection this is the book for you. Cinderella is one of my favorite tales and I loved the Selection. This unique retelling is well written, and kept me on my toes until the end. I can't wait until book 2 to see where things go next.  It comes out in December and I'll be patiently waiting.  This is the first book I've read by J.A. Armitage, but you can bet I'll be checking out more of her stuff.