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He Runs the Moon: Tales from the Cities
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He Runs the Moon is a collection of wonderfully atmospheric stories of life in the rundown Capitol...
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Jun 5, 2022
A Brief History of Misogyny: the World's Oldest Prejudice
10.0
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In this compelling, powerful book, highly respected writer and commentator Jack Holland sets out to...
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated TaleSpins in Books
Jun 7, 2018
(This review can be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).
I love alternate takes on fairy tales, so I was super happy when I was asked if I wanted to review TaleSpins (TaleSpins #1-3) by Michael Mullin! I must say that I loved this book!
The three stories are all short and are written in rhyming verse and can be bought individually. TaleSpins (TaleSpins #1-3) is just the collection of three stories in one place.
I must say that I do like the cover! It has to do with the story of 8th Dwarf.
For my review, I will be reviewing each story individually.
*
8th Dwarf
This is a retelling of Snow White. In this story, there was an eighth dwarf called Creepy who was locked int he basement so he'd be out of sight and out of mind. He was disfigured and lived up to his name. Creepy tells us the story of what really happened.
I enjoyed the story of 8th Dwarf. I felt bad for Creepy though because all he wanted was to be treated like a normal person and not like a criminal. He tries to save Snow White from the evil witch so many times, yet Snow White is too thick to realize that the witch is taking advantage of her. I enjoyed the rhyming, and I loved the font changes and little pictures during the story. I don't know if this is included in the ebook version, but it is in the paperback version.
8th Dwarf gets a 5 out of 5.
*
The Plight and Plot of Princess Penny
This is the story of a 15 year old princess named Penny who is bullied at school by a girl named Darcy. Penny is tired of being bullied by Darcy and seeks out a witch to help her get back at Darcy. Along the way she meets a troll named Jink. Jink warns her to stay away from the witch, but Penny will not listen. When Penny steals from the witch, Penny is taken prisoner by her. It's up to Jink to help Penny.
The Plight and Plot of Princess Penny references many fairy tales. I enjoyed all the references because it took me back to back to my childhood, especially the reference to Hansel and Gretel. While I didn't find this story as interesting as 8th Dwarf, it was still fun to read. Sometimes, I felt as if it had gotten to be a bit long winded and found my eyes were starting to glaze over. However, the pacing would pick back up, and I'd be enthralled in the story once again. I believe this story helps to teach us that nothing is ever as it seems.
The Plight and Plot of Princess Penny gets a 3.75 out of 5.
*
Jack'd
Jack'd is a take on the original Jack and the Beanstalk story. A doctor comes home to find a valuable treasure of his has been stolen by a teenager named Jack. While trying to locate Jack, the doctor comes across an elf like person who spray paints choices as doors for the doctor to make/take. The doctor becomes responsible for what happens to Jack.
Wow, wow, wow! This is definitely my favorite story in the book! Mr. Mullin sure did save the best for last! Jack'd read like one of those old film noir detective stories....at least, that's how it read to me. I found it interesting the way that the doctor had the choice as to what would happen to Jack...kind of like those choose your own ending books. I also loved how the verse was written in this story. I never even saw the plot twist coming!
Jack'd gets a definite 5 out of 5.
*
TaleSpins (TaleSpins #1-3) is a fantastic take on classic fairy tales. Michael Mullin brings in his own style of writing to make the fairy tales we've all come to know become fresh again.
I'd recommend this book to anyone aged 8+ (except Jack'd due to the theme. Jack'd, I'd recommend to those age 13+) who wants to get a thrill out of fairy tales again.
TaleSpins (TaleSpins #1-3) by Michael Mullin gets a 4.5 out of 5 overall.
(I received a free paperback copy of this title from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).
I love alternate takes on fairy tales, so I was super happy when I was asked if I wanted to review TaleSpins (TaleSpins #1-3) by Michael Mullin! I must say that I loved this book!
The three stories are all short and are written in rhyming verse and can be bought individually. TaleSpins (TaleSpins #1-3) is just the collection of three stories in one place.
I must say that I do like the cover! It has to do with the story of 8th Dwarf.
For my review, I will be reviewing each story individually.
*
8th Dwarf
This is a retelling of Snow White. In this story, there was an eighth dwarf called Creepy who was locked int he basement so he'd be out of sight and out of mind. He was disfigured and lived up to his name. Creepy tells us the story of what really happened.
I enjoyed the story of 8th Dwarf. I felt bad for Creepy though because all he wanted was to be treated like a normal person and not like a criminal. He tries to save Snow White from the evil witch so many times, yet Snow White is too thick to realize that the witch is taking advantage of her. I enjoyed the rhyming, and I loved the font changes and little pictures during the story. I don't know if this is included in the ebook version, but it is in the paperback version.
8th Dwarf gets a 5 out of 5.
*
The Plight and Plot of Princess Penny
This is the story of a 15 year old princess named Penny who is bullied at school by a girl named Darcy. Penny is tired of being bullied by Darcy and seeks out a witch to help her get back at Darcy. Along the way she meets a troll named Jink. Jink warns her to stay away from the witch, but Penny will not listen. When Penny steals from the witch, Penny is taken prisoner by her. It's up to Jink to help Penny.
The Plight and Plot of Princess Penny references many fairy tales. I enjoyed all the references because it took me back to back to my childhood, especially the reference to Hansel and Gretel. While I didn't find this story as interesting as 8th Dwarf, it was still fun to read. Sometimes, I felt as if it had gotten to be a bit long winded and found my eyes were starting to glaze over. However, the pacing would pick back up, and I'd be enthralled in the story once again. I believe this story helps to teach us that nothing is ever as it seems.
The Plight and Plot of Princess Penny gets a 3.75 out of 5.
*
Jack'd
Jack'd is a take on the original Jack and the Beanstalk story. A doctor comes home to find a valuable treasure of his has been stolen by a teenager named Jack. While trying to locate Jack, the doctor comes across an elf like person who spray paints choices as doors for the doctor to make/take. The doctor becomes responsible for what happens to Jack.
Wow, wow, wow! This is definitely my favorite story in the book! Mr. Mullin sure did save the best for last! Jack'd read like one of those old film noir detective stories....at least, that's how it read to me. I found it interesting the way that the doctor had the choice as to what would happen to Jack...kind of like those choose your own ending books. I also loved how the verse was written in this story. I never even saw the plot twist coming!
Jack'd gets a definite 5 out of 5.
*
TaleSpins (TaleSpins #1-3) is a fantastic take on classic fairy tales. Michael Mullin brings in his own style of writing to make the fairy tales we've all come to know become fresh again.
I'd recommend this book to anyone aged 8+ (except Jack'd due to the theme. Jack'd, I'd recommend to those age 13+) who wants to get a thrill out of fairy tales again.
TaleSpins (TaleSpins #1-3) by Michael Mullin gets a 4.5 out of 5 overall.
(I received a free paperback copy of this title from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).
Path of Night (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #3)
Book
It's not easy being half-mortal, half-witch. At least, not for Sabrina Spellman. She just discovered...
AW
A Wicked Thing (A Wicked Thing, #1)
4.0
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Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of what happens after happily...
A Shade of Kiev (A Shade of Kiev, #1)
8.0
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From the million-bestselling author of the A Shade of Vampire series, comes an enchanting new tale...
Mekkin B. (122 KP) rated Howl's Moving Castle (2004) in Movies
Sep 17, 2017
Beautiful, but MASSIVE Disservice to Original Story
Contains spoilers, click to show
I would like to preface this by saying that I am generally not one to complain about movies differing from their source material. I recognize that they are different mediums and so, must employ different strategies to tell stories. My particular gripe with this movie is the unnecessary and
fundamental changes it has made to the source material that serves to remove so much agency and power from the protagonist, Sophie, for reasons that continue to baffle me.
That said, if you like Miyazaki films, you will like this one.
The following is a rant replete with spoilers for both the movie and the book.
OKAY SO
1. In the book, Sophie is not cursed because of the witch's jealousy over seeing her with Howl, but because unbeknownst to Sophie, SHE IS AN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL WITCH IN HER OWN RIGHT, and the Witch of the Waste is incredibly aware of this.
2. In fact, she is successful as a hat-maker because she's subconsciously ENCHANTING THE HATS THAT SHE MAKES.
3. The reason that Howl cannot uncurse her and make her young again is because Sophie is secretly quite comfortable in her guise as an old woman and is keeping the curse in place because she is ACTUALLY MORE POWERFUL THAN HOWL.
4. She is able to save Howl at the end only because she is finally willing to come to terms with her own incredible power. It's not the power of love. It's HER OWN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL WITCHCRAFT.
In the book, Sophie is a magical equal to Howl in every way. Her journey is about unlearning the idea that she is a plain nobody and cannot be destined for greatness in the way that Howl is, and seizing control of the magic she has always had.
The entire war plot was shoved in, and I could have gotten behind it if it didn't involve stripping Sophie of her witchcraft. Made me so angry I couldn't really enjoy the movie, although I do recognize its objective merits.
fundamental changes it has made to the source material that serves to remove so much agency and power from the protagonist, Sophie, for reasons that continue to baffle me.
That said, if you like Miyazaki films, you will like this one.
The following is a rant replete with spoilers for both the movie and the book.
OKAY SO
1. In the book, Sophie is not cursed because of the witch's jealousy over seeing her with Howl, but because unbeknownst to Sophie, SHE IS AN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL WITCH IN HER OWN RIGHT, and the Witch of the Waste is incredibly aware of this.
2. In fact, she is successful as a hat-maker because she's subconsciously ENCHANTING THE HATS THAT SHE MAKES.
3. The reason that Howl cannot uncurse her and make her young again is because Sophie is secretly quite comfortable in her guise as an old woman and is keeping the curse in place because she is ACTUALLY MORE POWERFUL THAN HOWL.
4. She is able to save Howl at the end only because she is finally willing to come to terms with her own incredible power. It's not the power of love. It's HER OWN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL WITCHCRAFT.
In the book, Sophie is a magical equal to Howl in every way. Her journey is about unlearning the idea that she is a plain nobody and cannot be destined for greatness in the way that Howl is, and seizing control of the magic she has always had.
The entire war plot was shoved in, and I could have gotten behind it if it didn't involve stripping Sophie of her witchcraft. Made me so angry I couldn't really enjoy the movie, although I do recognize its objective merits.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Witches of Bourbon Street (Jade Calhoun #2) in Books
Jul 21, 2020
129 of 200
Kindle
Witches of Bourbon street ( Jade Calhoun book 2)
By Deanna Chase
Jade Calhoun was never fond of her empath abilities. Now she’s discovered she has another gift she’d rather not unwrap—magic. But when her mentor, Bea, becomes gravely ill and insists Jade’s the only one who can help, she’s forced to embrace her witchy side.
It’s too bad she spent a decade shunning the magical community and never learned to harness her powers. Because time’s run out. A trapped spirit has revealed a clue to Jade’s long-lost mother. The resident angel has gone rogue and disappeared with Jade’s boyfriend, Kane. And if that wasn’t enough, her ex appears to be possessed.
To save any of them, Jade will need to find a way to control her inner white witch—without succumbing to black magic. Otherwise, she’ll lose everything…including her soul.
I think this series is brigand I love the author! I’ve always loved New Orleans and I’d just love to visit and reading good books like this makes me want to go more. We follow Jade facing yet more personal demons quite literally and she finally gets a few answers to others behaviour. Definitely recommended
Kindle
Witches of Bourbon street ( Jade Calhoun book 2)
By Deanna Chase
Jade Calhoun was never fond of her empath abilities. Now she’s discovered she has another gift she’d rather not unwrap—magic. But when her mentor, Bea, becomes gravely ill and insists Jade’s the only one who can help, she’s forced to embrace her witchy side.
It’s too bad she spent a decade shunning the magical community and never learned to harness her powers. Because time’s run out. A trapped spirit has revealed a clue to Jade’s long-lost mother. The resident angel has gone rogue and disappeared with Jade’s boyfriend, Kane. And if that wasn’t enough, her ex appears to be possessed.
To save any of them, Jade will need to find a way to control her inner white witch—without succumbing to black magic. Otherwise, she’ll lose everything…including her soul.
I think this series is brigand I love the author! I’ve always loved New Orleans and I’d just love to visit and reading good books like this makes me want to go more. We follow Jade facing yet more personal demons quite literally and she finally gets a few answers to others behaviour. Definitely recommended
A Vampire Possessed (Deathless Night #3)
8.0
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Sacrifices had to be made for the greater, bloody good. At least that’s what vampire Aiden...
Paranormal Romance