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Just the Way You Are
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Just the Way You Are by Allison M. Lewis

Four Stars

At first the story was interesting because hello how many fairy tales do you hear about where the princess is disabled. I was excited for the story to build up young girls spirits who didn’t believe they could. It did do that some what but I feel like it was corny and unrealistic. I liked how Derrick built her up and pushed her to believe in herself. How Misty stood up to her father and demanded he listen. There was no demand on a sexual nature between them and it was refreshing to read about a couple not dominated by sex. The direction the author wanted was somewhat there but the flow of the story was lacking. Conversations didn’t have the believable quality at all. Overall it was a good story so I would read more from this author.
  
Beholden (The Fairest Maiden #1)
Beholden (The Fairest Maiden #1)
Jody Hedlund | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Have I mentioned how much I love Fairy Tales?

Well, I really do, especially clean, romantic, mentality stimulating, and engaging ones. Beholden hits all the right notes for me. The quote I shared above sums up and yet barely scratches the surface of the emotions and actions of the characters of this book. Vilmar and Gabrilella have such care for each other and the others around them, they are tested and grow visibly as characters throughout the book. I was sad to see the story end. You have no idea how much. But I am hoping the next book in the series keeps giving my glimpses of these two wonderful characters! And lets not even start on this amazing cover!

I could rave about this book all day, but Id rather you read it to! 5 out of 5 stars for this beautiful retelling of Cinderella’s Story.
  

"As a young girl growing up in northern Michigan, Estes felt most at home in the woods where she often heard wolves howling. Instead of scaring her, the animals’ cries comforted her in a way she was later able to express in this book. Wolves and women share many qualities: playfulness, strength, curiosity, bravery, they are adaptive, and each care deeply for their young. But both wolves and women have suffered a similar fate of being hounded, harassed, exhausted, marginalized, accused of being devious and of little value. How does one reconnect with our deepest, most true selves when today’s world demands us to conform to ridiculous expectations? Estes retells ancient myths and fairy tales from around the world and in doing so shines a light on a path which leads us back to our natural state — and help us restore the power we carry within us."

Source
  
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
J.K. Rowling | 2008 | Children
6
8.2 (38 Ratings)
Book Rating
"The Tales of Beedle the Bard": a series of five 'in universe' short stories first mentioned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and portrayed as having being discovered amongst Professor Dumbledore's belongings (following the events of the Harry Potter series), and with each of theses stories as being annotated by the Professor himself.

The version I 'read' was the Audible version, narrated by several of the stars of the films themselves, so I obviously can't comment on the (supposedly magnificent) illustrations: indeed, I didn't even know until just now that this was as illustrated book!

The stories within include:

The Wizard and the Hopping Pot
The Fountain of Fair Fortune
The Warlock's Hairy Heart
Babbity Rabbity and her Cackling Stump
The Tale of the Three Brothers

and are, like their muggle fairy tale counterparts, designed to pass on moral lessons to the young reader.
  
Trying to Live Happily Ever After
Trying to Live Happily Ever After
Clive Lilwall | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Humor & Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Booksirens and Clive Lilwall for this opportunity.

I was very intrigued by the concept of Trying to Live Happily Ever After: bringing fairytales into the modern age is right up my street and, on the whole, Clive Lilwall did not disappoint.

With 17 short stories in total I must admit I did not enjoy every tale.

Cinderella, in my opinion, was just as vapid as her stepsisters and it felt like her owning an old model of a mobile phone justified her to get "the prince". Granted, this may have been Lilwall's aim to show how we associate technology with social standing. However, I would have appreciated a stronger role model as opposed to the slightly kinder but still materialistic Cindy we received.

Unfortunately some of the fables were also lost on me but that may be because I am not familiar with the originals.

Nevertheless, some of Lilwall's tales will possibly stay with me forever. Red's granny getting saucy under a wolf skin; Hansel and Gretal getting fat and baked in a whole new way and, of course, the blunt, shameless, no-holds-barred adaptation of The Emperor's New Clothes, starring a certain "president".

The writing is overly simplistic at times but this only highlights the roots of these tales as stories and fables.

The writing does not need to be complex when human actions and consequences are under the spotlight in such a humorous, satirical and thought provoking manner.

These are not the fairy tales you remember, they're not even revolting-rhymes-sort-of-for-kids. Not in the slightest. You have been warned.