Tagged: fairytale retelling
Charming by Krystal Wade
(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)
They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and that’s great . . . as long as you don’t die.
Sixteen-year-old Haley Tremaine had it all: top-notch school, fantastic family, and a bright future, but all of that changed when an accident tore her family apart. Now, an alcoholic father, a bitter younger sister, and a cold headstone bearing her mother’s name are all she has left.
Chris Charming has it all: a powerful CEO for a father, a prestigious school, and a fortune at his fingertips, but none of that matters when he lands a reputation as a troublemaker. Struggling to follow in his father’s footsteps, he reaches out to the one person he believes truly sees him, the one person he wants: Haley.
Little do they know someone’s determined to bring the two together, even if it means murder.
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook in conjunction with the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.]
I’ve read all of Krystal Wade’s books since she debuted a few years ago, but I think Charming is pretty much my favourite out of them all.
Yes, it’s a Cinderella retelling, but it’s not like you’re thinking. There’s certainly a Prince Charming (named, of course, Chris Charming) but there’s far more depth to their relationship than in the original. Haley is a very put-upon Cinderella, what with her alcoholic father and her perfect sister who doesn’t see him for what he really is: an abuser who beats his own daughter because she looks like her dead mother. And there’s plenty of romance and even a ball, but it’s not so simple as that because not only is this a Cinderella retelling, it’s a mash-up of Saw as well. (So yes, it does get a little gory at the end.)
Haley was an awesome character for me. Her little sister hates her, thinking that Haley is always deliberately trying to annoy their dad and that she only thinks of herself. In truth, Haley is the one who takes her dad’s beatings and his verbal abuse so that Jocelyn herself doesn’t turn into a target. She pretends not to care at school, works late on school nights and then goes home to do several hours of chores caused by their alcoholic father’s natural messiness. It’s a pretty bad scenario but I was still pleasantly surprised that when Chris Charming turned his sights on Haley, she didn’t immediately fall head-over-heels for him. No, she didn’t even trust him to be a decent human being because that’s how bad her father’s abuse has shattered her trust. Their relationship takes a while to develop and it’s not all smooth, which is far more realistic considering both of their backgrounds.
For a book that’s largely character-driven in the beginning, Charming sure has a fast-paced plot. Just when you think things are winding down, we get a wildcard thrown into the mix and then Haley has to fight for the lives of her ungrateful family. The mysterious third man who wants to bring Haley and Chris together is around every corner watching, listening and waiting. He’s just the sort of character to bring a little zip back into the Cinderella story, so it sort of retains its original dark overtones.
To sum up, I just really loved Charming. After the sort of disappointment that was Shattered Secrets, I love to see that Krystal Wade is back to her classic style of writing (only improved!). This book is a great retelling of Cinderella and if you’re into very nontraditional retellings of your favourite fairytales, you’ll particularly enjoy it.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
The Golden Apple by Michelle Diener
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(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)
Kayla’s world has been turned upside-down . . .
Her father has made her the prize in a deadly, impossible tournament, and Kayla has retaliated in the only way she knows how; by choosing her champion beforehand. But taking control of the outcome changes the game completely, and when the real reason behind the strange test becomes apparent, Kayla realizes not just her life, but her entire kingdom is at stake.
Rane’s honor is torn in two…
In order to save his brother, Rane will do whatever he has to–including deceive and betray a princess. He knew nothing about this tournament would be easy, but when it turns into a deeper, far more sinister game, Rane is forced to see it through to the end, or leave his brother at the mercy of their enemy.
Now their fates are entwined, and they must venture into the deep, dark forest together . . .
Kayla and Rane are bound to one another by an enchantment and Kayla’s actions. But the sorcerer forcing them to do his will may have miscalculated, because no-one comes out of the Great Forest unchanged. No-one.
The Golden Apple is loosely based on the fairy tale The Princess on the Glass Hill.
[Full disclosure: I asked for and received a free ebook copy from Michelle Diener in exchange for an honest review.]
As you guys probably know by now, I’m not the biggest fan of fairytale retellings. Usually they’re simplistic, boring and utterly predictable. Usually.
The Golden Apple is anything but usual, however.
The thing I found most striking about this book is the complexity of the plot. This isn’t your typical straightforward quest where the heroes venture together, defeat the villain and come home to live their happily ever after. No, in this one Rane and Kayla are forced to confront their deepest fears, do things they never thought they would and work together to try to save their entire way of life as well as their lives. Just when you think Michelle Diener is going to wind things down for the conclusion she throws another wrench in the works. It’s definitely the kind of book that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I found the complexity of the plot surprising, but my favourite element of this book was the characters. Kayla isn’t your typical pampered princess but neither is she a kick-butt action hero. She is not always able to defend herself but she does try and eventually succeeds as her abilities grow. It’s nice to see a female character who learns she has an ability and seeks to control and manage it rather than deny its existence and whine about it. Rane is also interesting. He loves his brother Soren and he’s willing to manipulate Kayla to free him but then he begins to fall in love with her. It’s not an easy journey for both him and Kayla but I like how the viewpoints alternated to show their different perceptions of the world around them.
Finally, the world-building was some of the best I’ve ever seen in a fairytale retelling. I loved learning about the history of the kingdom of Gaynor in small chunks as well as learning about the powerful sorcerers that live in Michelle Diener’s world. How wild magic is actually created was fascinating, but it makes sense. How the sorcerers deal with wild magic is just so in line with human nature that I had to laugh when I learned how they contained it. I don’t want to give too much away, but I guarantee that once you learn who created wild magic and why it seems confined to the Great Forest you’ll laugh too.
Basically, this is a great book. It’s one of the best fairytale retellings I’ve ever read and although it doesn’t come out until March 24 I can’t wait for the sequel The Silver Pear already.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Spinning Gold by Vivi Andrews
(Cover picture courtesy of NetGalley.)
No princes need apply.
Juliana Ravel will do anything to save her innocent brother from the executioner, but what the supposedly charming prince demands is impossible. Spinning straw into gold? He might as well ask her to fly. Her only hope is a family heirloom – a gold medallion rumored to be the magic prison of one of the fabled golden fae.
Trapped inside the medallion for hundreds of years, Rue isn’t fool enough to trust Juliana, but he can’t help but be tempted by the feisty beauty. Even though she is the spitting image of the witch who betrayed and imprisoned him, Rue agrees to help her. For a price.
Entranced by the exotic, golden-skinned man, Juliana agrees to his terms, believing her worries are at an end. But when the tyrannical prince finds her surrounded by riches, he isn’t about to let her walk away – instead holding her prisoner within the corrupt court. Juliana’s only freedom is her nights with Rue, where their negotiations turn to seduction, and together they construct a desperate plot to escape a life where they must keep spinning gold… or die.
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
I’m generally suspicious of fairytale retellings, especially Rumpelstiltskin ones, but the blurb for Spinning Gold was irresistible. It sounded like a wonderfully unique retelling that was well-written with great world-building. For once my impressions from the blurb were right! Spinning Gold is a great Rumpelstiltskin retelling and it even explains how we got our ugly little man idea from the ‘real story’.
Unlike so many female main characters in fairytale retellings, Juliana is an amazingly strong narrator that carries the whole book on her shoulders. She’s not passive when her brother is accused of being a traitor and instead bargains with what is essentially her own life with the evil prince to save him. When she promises that she can spin straw into gold, she knows she may be only buying herself and her brother a trip to the executioner, but that night in her cell she discovers something amazing: her family amulet. When she cries on it, Rue springs forth and almost kills her, believing her to be her great-grandmother, the woman who trapped him inside it in the first place. Not exactly a great start to a relationship but they eventually work things out and Rue spins gold for Juliana, which brings her more trouble than she bargained for as now the evil prince wants to marry her.
Still, despite the threat to her life from being at court, she is drawn to Rue in her dreams and finds herself slowly falling in love with the mysterious man. At the same time, she tries to continue what her brother started with the rebellion to overthrow the prince. But being the prince’s fiance doesn’t make that easy in the slightest. So you can see why Juliana is one of my favourite narrators: she doesn’t just sit by. Rue is also one of my favourite love interests because he’s tortured and untrusting of Juliana but it’s actually for a good reason. As he slowly warms up to her, the romance between them explodes but remains believable.
The world-building in this is fantastic! I don’t want to spoil too much by saying that Rue’s bargain with Juliana is nothing like the Rumpelstiltskin story we know, but does actually resemble it in some aspects. So where did the Rumpelstiltskin legend we know today come about? Well, let’s just say that the un-charming prince and his adviser Torlemain were excellent spin doctors and leave it at that. As for how Rue is able to spin straw into gold, that’s also part of Vivi Andrews’ amazing world-building in her fantasy world.
The plot isn’t frantically paced, but rather slowly speeds up as the book goes along. For a short book that’s awesome and none of the character development or world-building is sacrificed in the process. At the same time, you won’t be able to put Spinning Gold down. The romance between Rue and Juliana is sizzling and there are so many plot twists your head will be left spinning by the end. Yet the plot twists still make sense and I love how Vivi Andrews hinted at them a little but not enough to spoil the fun at the end.
So to recap: Spinning Gold is a great fairytale retelling with believable characters, awesome world-building and a fast-paced plot that will keep you reading into the early morning hours.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)
The gold thread shimmers in the fading light.
It promises Charlotte Miller a way out of debt, a chance to save her family’s beloved woolen mill. It promises a future for her sister, livelihood for her townsfolk, security against her sinuous and grasping uncle. It might even promise what she didn’t know she needed: lasting hope and true love.
But at what cost?
To get the thread, Charlotte must strike a bargain with its maker, the mysterious Jack Spinner. But the gleam of gold conjures a shadowy past—secrets and bonds ensnaring generations of Millers. And Charlotte’s mill, her family, her friends, her love…What do those matter to a powerful stranger who can spin straw into gold?
In her brilliant debut, Elizabeth Bunce weaves a spellbinding fairy tale, spun with mystery and shot through with romance.
A Curse Dark as Gold completely exceeded my expectations, something that is incredibly rare in a fairytale retelling. Elizabeth Bunce gave the heroine of the story, called Charlotte in this version (usually she has no name) a lot more depth than the traditional Rumpelstiltskin legend does. And Rumpelstiltskin himself, although he’s never called that, is surprisingly sympathetic. He is a villain in the traditional sense of the word, but in this version there are no set roles; it is very ambiguous, especially at the end.
Elizabeth Bunce also added enough plot twists to give the plot depth while keeping readers in suspense. Throughout the story, you really get the feeling that this is Rumpelstiltskin but it’s different enough that you are in doubt about the traditional happy ending during the climax. What impressed me the most about A Curse Dark as Gold was how Elizabeth Bunce chose to set it in a fantasy world similar to Britain as the Industrial Revolution was kicking off. Of course, that would explain why the mill was so important and was threatened with closure because of the new, more efficient machines in the city.
I thought Charlotte fell in love with Randall a little too quickly, but that’s probably because I’m not a romantic. Other than that, I really had no complaints about the characters, which is incredibly rare in a fairytale retelling. If you had to read just one fairytale retelling, I would recommend this one. Try it; you won’t regret it.
I give this book 5/5 stars.