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Tag: Fairytales (Page 2 of 2)

Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses

A Court of Thorns and Roses

A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J. Maas – Bloomsbury Children’s – Published 5 May 2015

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Synopsis

Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price.

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

My thoughts

I love beauty and the beast. Retellings of beauty and the beast are my absolute favourites, and this one ticked all the boxes. I was surprised by how enthralling this book was. It was incredibly rich in detail, sensual and also cruelly violent. The epic nature of this love story is matched by the clever plot and wonderfully strong characters. Totally addictive.

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Review: Crimson Bound

Crimson Bound

Crimson Bound – Rosamund Hodge – Balzer + Bray – Published 5 May 2015

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Synopsis

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless— straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.

Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing. In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

Inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Crimson Bound is an exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption.

My thoughts

If you are looking for a fairytale retelling that is original and breathtaking you need look no further than Rosamund Hodge’s beautiful books. Crimson Bound is no different. I was grabbed by the very first two lines – what a beginning. 

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Review: Stitching Snow

Stitching Snow

 

Stitching Snow – R. C. Lewis – Disney Hyperion – Published 14 October 2014

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So blazing good! Stitching Snow is a Snow White retelling that is intelligent and fun, has a clever and kickass heroine that can take care of herself, a romance that is meltingly heartwarming, twists and turns that keep you quickly paging through, a fantastic ending, seven very cute little drones, and a wonderful mix of sci-fi and adventure.

Essie lives on Thanda, a cold and barren planet, where she keeps to herself for her own protection, fights to earn money and stitches code, continually solving tech problems and updating her drones. She works hard to maintain the facade of ‘approach at your own risk’. A shuttle that crashes near her home is unexpected but poses no great risk, so long as the authorities don’t bother to investigate. The sole occupant of the shuttle, the very good looking and yet ‘terrifying’, Dane, carries a risk all of his own, and one Essie isn’t quite expecting. No matter, Essie plans to have both Dane and his damaged shuttle back in the air long before he has any impact on her quiet, but safe(ish) life.

I really enjoyed Stitching Snow. I found it captivating, drawing me in from the very start. The writing style is engaging and well done and the characters, even and perhaps especially the drones, are strong, charming and loveable. The plot has both surprising twists that keep you on edge and subtle yet familiar fairytale plot markers, making it a suspenseful and enjoyable read. Yes, there are many similarities to Cinder by Marissa Meyer, especially at the start, but I believe that Stitching Snow has its own credibility and differs enough to hold its own. I loved the Lunar Chronicles, but found that I enjoyed Stitching Snow even more than I did Cinder. I especially loved Stitching Snow’s ending (and the middle, actually pretty much all of it). Loved, loved, loved. There is certainly room for more story in a sequel, but it could equally be left right where it is. Either way I eagerly look forward to more of R.C Lewis’ writing. I highly recommend Stitching Snow for lovers of clever fairytale retellings, strong heroines, or great romance and adventure.

The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Juvenile Fiction: Ages 14 and up. Fairy Tales and Folklore.

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