ARC Review: The Neverland Wars

Magic can do a lot—give you flight, show you mermaids, help you taste the stars, and… solve the budget crisis? That’s what the grown-ups will do with it if they ever make it to Neverland to steal its magic and bring their children home.

However, Gwen doesn’t know this. She’s just a sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a powerful crush on Jay, the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn’t know her little sister could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that she might have to chase after her to bring her home safe. Gwen will find out though—and when she does, she’ll discover she’s in the middle of a looming war between Neverland and reality.

She’ll be out of place as a teenager in Neverland, but she won’t be the only one. Peter Pan’s constant treks back to the mainland have slowly aged him into adolescence as well. Soon, Gwen will have to decide whether she’s going to join impish, playful Peter in his fight for eternal youth… or if she’s going to scramble back to reality in time for the homecoming dance.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you read my reviews regularly you will know I hate giving bad reviews, I find it really difficult and hate saying bad things about someone’s hard work but unfortunately this is one of these times where I got to just try to write what I feel.

I am not sure how to put it politely, but this book bored me, not one bit of it interested me, I felt like I was trudging through just to finish so I wouldn’t have to read anymore. I just want to point out that I had a look on goodreads and most people enjoyed this book, I seem to be in the minority who didn’t like this book. I suppose not everyone can like every book.

Books with magic should be exciting and full of wonder, this had explained and technical magic, without explaining anything at all. It’s about a young girl who just doesn’t want to grow up, but instead showing this it was explained and it felt jarring to the story. It’s only saving grace was that it was set in Neverland, which is what drew me in, in the first place. I felt like nothing happened in the story, it was all just filler with no action.

Peter wasn’t exactly what I expected, he was untrusting and too childish and too adult at the same time, his character was too much of an oxymoron for me. I just felt like he was juvenile, yet in charge of a bunch of kids and somehow managing to survive.

Gwen’s character was the worst for me, she was unlike typical teenager which is a good thing but instead of being a little childish and still liking cartoons or something she seemed to repress growing up. I know she was fighting her adventurous side but she should have tried harder to get her little sister home soon. She is 16, she should know right from wrong, she didn’t seem to question the things she should have at that age like hygiene, or the fact the young kids were threatening to kill her and her little sister didn’t seem bothered.

As you can guess I will not be continuing with this series. But since so many people like this book I would suggest to check out other reviews before making your mind up, I am seem to be one of the very few that didn’t enjoy it.

2 out of 5 stars

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ARC Review: Princess of Tyrone

Apolline is happy hunting magical creatures on her pirate infested outer-perimeter planet. She is a fantastic shot, and doesn’t flinch at the blood and guts of her kills. Never once did she consider she could be the missing Princess of Tyrone.

All her life, she has heard the story of the Princess, cursed to sleep for eternity, unless her betrothed, the Prince of Oran, gave her true love’s kiss. Although Apolline knows she is betrothed, she thinks her fairy guardians arranged it out of ignorance of human ways. The thought she could be a princess is inconceivable.

Then Allard appears. Handsome, charming—but he’s not hers to have. He’s betrothed, too. Her guardians warn her against her new found friendship, but she and Allard meet in secret anyway. Despite her rough exterior, he sees beyond her gun-slinging bravado, and their love blossoms.

But the deadline for the sleeping curse is approaching. If Apolline falls in love with the wrong person, she could end up sleeping forever.

A quirky, adventurous retelling of Sleeping Beauty, with a less than princess-ly princess!

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book really interesting, I thought the space parts would put me off a little but they didn’t, they made the book more unique and quirky. I did find it strange how the planet that Apoline lived on, came off as a more of a small village rather than a planet. It sounded like everyone in the whole planet knew each other.

Apoline was spunky and a very strong female character who knew her own mind and tried not to let anyone tell her what to do.But she was a little dense sometimes, there were coincidences staring her in the face yet she didn’t put the pieces together. The book was very predictable, I worked out what was going to happen very early on. There were a few clever moments that I didn’t expect, which made me smile.

Allard was a good character but didn’t seem all that princely to me. Definitely not like someone who would soon be King, he took too many risks for that in my opinion. But I did think he was a nice Prince Charming, a little weak but you gotta give the Prince a break every once in a while.

The three fairies were interesting characters. I did get the dynamic of them wrong at first, the one who I thought was in charge wasn’t, it was one of the ones who seemed less domineering. I know they were only trying to protect Apoline but they should have trusted her more by her 20th year.

Other than being a little predictable and a few inconsistencies, I really enjoyed this book and will be reading more from this author, especially in this series. I did love how the author tied lots of fairytales together, it was nicely done.

4 out of 5 stars

 

ARC Review: Charmed

Charmed is the exciting sequel to the wildly popular Flunked — second in the brand new Fairy Tale Reform School series where the teachers are (former) villains. “Charming fairy-tale fun.” -Sarah Mlynowski, author of the New York Times bestselling Whatever After series.

It takes a (mostly) reformed thief to catch a spy. Which is why Gilly Cobbler, Enchantasia’s most notorious pickpocket, volunteers to stay locked up at Fairy Tale Reform School…indefinitely. Gilly and her friends may have defeated the Evil Queen and become reluctant heroes, but the battle for Enchantasia has just begun.

Alva, aka The Wicked One who cursed Sleeping Beauty, has declared war on the Princesses, and she wants the students of Fairy Tale Reform School to join her. As her criminal classmates give in to temptation, Gilly goes undercover as a Royal Lady in Waiting (don’t laugh) to unmask a spy…before the mole can hand Alva the keys to the kingdom.

Her parents think Gilly the Hero is completely reformed, but sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. Sometimes it’s good to be bad…

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I lapped up the first in the series, like it was the only water in a huge desert. This book didn’t quite live up to it’s glory, don’t get me wrong it was good and I enjoyed it, just not quite as much as the first.

The problems I had with this were: Gilly had gone from a great fun character to a whiny character that was extremely full of herself. She was mean to people who were meant to be her friends and nice to people who had never before given her the time of day.

The storyline was a little jumbled. It felt a little all over the place. Maybe that was just me, but it didn’t feel quite as put together as the first book.

The writing was good and the story moved swiftly and did not linger on boring parts.

There is room for another in the series, not convinced I will read it, but I will see when and if it comes out.

3 out of 5 stars

Review: Flunked

Would you send a villain to do a hero’s job? An exciting new twisted fairy tale series from award-winning author Jen Calonita.

Full of regret, Cinderella’s wicked stepmother, Flora, has founded the Fairy Tale Reform School with the mission of turning the wicked and criminally mischievous into upstanding members of Enchantasia.

Impish, sassy 12-year-old Gilly has a history of petty theft and she’s not too sorry about it. When she lifts a hair clip, she gets tossed in reform school-for at least three months. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there’s more to this school than its sweet mission. There’s a battle brewing and she starts to wonder: can a villain really change?

I loved this book!! It was funny, fresh and addictive. I struggled to put this book down and since I am currently moving house that’s a bad thing, but it was oh so good!

I adored the setting and all the characters. The Fairy Tale Reform School is genius and the plot left me guessing as to who was good and who was bad and most of what on earth was going to happen!

The scrolls were a great addition, added some more fun to the book and loved reading the little snippets.

Gilly was a fantastic main character, I loved how much she grew through out the book. I didn’t think she was 12 though, I think she acted older. Oh and Jax, I am guessing some romance is happening in later books?

Now I know I said I loved this book but I am only giving it 4stars, why you may ask, well this was a fast paced book, which worked  well for most of the book, but at the action I wish there was a little more on it, it was rushed and left me reeling. Saying that, I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

4 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Gathering Frost

Will his kiss be enough to revive her frozen heart?

Once Upon A Time meets La Femme Nikita in GATHERING FROST, a dystopian romance from bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis that reimagines the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.

Jade was only a little girl when the earthquake struck. Before her eyes, half of New York City disappeared, replaced by a village that seemed torn out of a storybook. Horses and carriages. Cobblestone streets. A towering castle. And, above all, a queen with the magical ability to strip emotions away.

Ten years later and Jade has forgotten what it is to feel, to care…even to love. Working as a member of the queen’s guard, she spends most of her time on the city wall staring at the crumbling skyscrapers of old New York. But everything changes when the queen’s runaway son, Prince Asher, returns. Jade is tasked with an unusual mission–to let the Prince capture her, to make him trust her, and then to betray his secrets to the crown. In return, she’ll earn her freedom. But life outside the queen’s realm is more than Jade bargained for. Under Asher’s relentless taunts, her blood begins to boil. Under his piercing gaze, her heart begins to flutter. And the more her icy soul begins to thaw, the more Jade comes to question everything she’s ever known–and, more importantly, whose side she’s really on.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a little while to get into this book, the premise was a little odd and it took me a while to get my head around it. But after that it was pretty good. I liked the idea of the two worlds meeting, but I would have preferred a little more explanation as to how it happened.

I liked Jade as a character and how she grew as a person. But some of her decisions were a little strange. And her inner monologue was irritating at times.

Asher was a good character but how he managed to get respect from everyone without telling the truth about who he was, was very unclear.

The ending was good and there was plenty of room for a sequel but it seems that the next one in the series is going to be about a different fairytale entirely. Looks good but I want more on this one, there’s so much unfinished. Especially since many major details were only revealed at the very end and they would have been better at the beginning, better to understand the story.

3.5 stars out of 5

Review: The Captive Maiden

Happily Ever After…Or Happily Nevermore?

Gisela’s childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father’s death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela meets the duke’s son, Valten–the boy she has daydreamed about for years–and learns he is throwing a ball, she vows to attend, even if it’s only for a taste of a life she’ll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten’s eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.

This book got off to a strong start but steadily got worse and worse, the ending was a little better but not enough to redeem it. There was too much religion, praying, repetition and dawdling. How many times can two characters get themselves into the same situation and luck themselves out again and again.

It was a very loose interpretation of Cinderella, which is why I was interested, so I was a little disappointed.

I am getting sick of the ugly pretty girl/plain pretty girl cliche. There are other ways to make a character.

Overall this was an okay book with brilliant hook but it didn’t live up to expectations for me.

3 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: The Ugly Stepsister

When Kat accidentally rips apart an old picture book, she’s magically transported into the world of Cinderella–as Katriona, one of the ugly stepsisters! Life turns upside down now that she’s a highborn lady and must learn how to survive the social season, including how to get through the door in a huge metal hoop skirt. To get back, she’ll have to complete the story, right to the end of happily ever after. But the odds are huge: the other stepsister is drop-dead gorgeous, the fairy godmother is nowhere to be found, and the prince, despite being insanely hot, openly dislikes balls. Can she ever return to the modern world?

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Being a lover of fairytale retellings, I lapped this book. It was a little different than any other i have ever read, since the main character knows she has been sucked into a fairytale and it’s a little different from the original. She has to make the happy ending happen.

The beginning was great and I was loving the story and wondering how on earth she was going to pull it, if she was at all. The middle dragged a little for me, it just felt like the author wasn’t sure where it was going and was just plodding along until she was. But the end picked up again and I was praying it would end how i wanted it to. It did mostly, but I can understand why the author did it this way and it probably wouldn’t have made sense anyway.

I loved the setting but would have liked a little more world building. Kat was an amazing main character and she is the kind of person you want as your friend, although she does doubt herself an awful lot.

I also would have liked a little more explanations as to what Katriona was like before Kat was in her body, rather than just they are different.

But overall this is a great retelling of Cinderella with great characters and a sweet story.

4 stars out of 5

Review: Fairest of All: Whatever After #1

A fresh, modern spin on a classic fairy tale–from bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski!
Mirror, mirror, on the basement wall . . .
Once upon a time my brother and I were normal kids. The next minute? The mirror in our basement slurped us up and magically transported us inside Snow White’s fairy tale.
I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.
But hey — we’re heroes! We stopped Snow White from eating the poisoned apple. Hooray! Or not. If Snow White doesn’t die, she won’t get to meet her prince. And then she won’t get her happy ending. Oops.
Now it’s up to us to:
– Avoid getting poisoned
– Sneak into a castle
– Fix Snow White’s story
And then, fingers crossed, find our way home.

I really enjoyed this messed up fairytale. I know fairytale retellings are nothing new but this was. The premise was that two young kids accidentally got sucked into Snow White’s fairytale and ended up changing what happens.

Whilst trying to fix their mistake and get home, they cause even more problems, have an adventure and generally getting int funny situations. I loved the seven dwarfs they were not at all what I expected.

A fun book aimed at younger children, it was fun, maybe a little simple for me, but I would read it to my kids. I would read more of the series, they are quick fun reads 🙂

4 out of 5 stars

 

Review: My Name is Rapunzel

Tags

challenge, fairytale retelling, Rapunzel

My tale has been told again and again, and I’ve heard each one. Except for my hair, I barely recognize the pitiful renditions. Muddled versions, crafted to entertain laughing children…but the children wouldn’t have laughed if they’d known the real story. It wasn’t their fault. They didn’t know the truth. Nobody did.

My name is Rapunzel. I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.

I am a massive fan of fairytale retellings and this one did not let me down. It was full of curses, threats, dragons, love and secrets. What more could I want?

The story developed well, it was a pleasure to read. I felt for Rapunzel from the word go. Her story was filled with heartache and a very interesting read. I would not have been able to stand being cooped up for eternity, okay she had some freedom but not that much. What’s freedom when you cannot go out past dark? When no one can visit?

It wasn’t really full of adventure or when I think back not too much really happened, except that you got her ‘true’ story. What would it be like to see your true love die for you and have to live forever with the pain?

The way her story was told was clever and enjoyable. I would read more from this author.

4 out of 5 stars

This book has been voted for on if list, click the link if you want to vote for your favourite actors to play characters you love, all in the name of fun. http://iflist.com/stories/mynameisrapunzel

I am using this book for MY for June in the keyword challenge. http://bookmark2blog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/2015-monthly-key-word-challenge-sign-ups.html

ARC Review: Grim

Grim by a variety of authors.

Inspired by classic fairy tales, but with a dark and sinister twist, Grim contains short stories from some of the best voices in young adult literature today:

Ellen Hopkins
Amanda Hocking
Julie Kagawa
Claudia Gray
Rachel Hawkins
Kimberly Derting
Myra McEntire
Malinda Lo
Sarah Rees-Brennan
Jackson Pearce
Christine Johnson
Jeri Smith Ready
Shaun David Hutchinson
Saundra Mitchell
Sonia Gensler
Tessa Gratton
Jon Skrovan

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, it had a lot of different takes on the fairy tales. Some were brilliant and truly inspired, some others did not hit the mark for me. None were terrible, just some were not for me and I only read them to get to the next one. I found the varying inspiration for the stories, time periods and settings really refreshing. I am only going to give a brief overview of 5 stories, I though 17 was too many. I tried to vary the stories as much as possible.

Overall 4 out of 5 stars.

The Twelfth Girl – Malinda Lo – This was a great story, a modern take on myths written in an enchanting way. I thought the modern setting was great, and there was enough mystery there to keep me satisfied.  5 out of 5 stars.

The Raven Princess – Jon Skovron – Nice message, really intriguing, loved the giants. Would love to see what the ravens find in the distant lands. 4 out of 5 stars.

Before the Rose Bloomed – Ellen Hopkins – It was okay. It did not flow well for me. I was left feeling slightly confused at times. 3 out of 5 stars.

Light it up – Kimberly Derting – Based on Hansel and Gretel. This story is set in modern times. It is brilliant. I loved how the writer got little bits of the original story in but still made it her own. 5 out of 5 stars.

Beauty and the Chad – Sarah Rees Brennan – Wow, what a story. It was fun, quirky and just down right amazing. My favourite of all the stories.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes fun exciting takes on fairytales.