Sometimes what you call to you isn’t quite what you wanted. But this girl is stuck with it anyway.
This story was kind of disturbing. And by kind of. I mean
seriously. And confusing. Really, really confusing. There was a hermaphroditic vampire
thing that beat the crap out of her convert. There was blood puke on the floor
and there was a lot of weirdness that was super uncomfortable.
Although, if you read this story, there is no way in hell
that you are going to want to become a vampire. Or really think that they are
dreamy and sexy. So I kind of liked it. It was so sick and disturbing. Yet fun
and interesting. Also impossible to put down or look away from. Kind of like a
really horrific car crash… or gory and horrible horror movie…
Title: Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen Author: Serena Valentino Series: Villains #1 Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Fantasy, Villains Dates read: 4th – 16th January 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Disney Press Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: Given what Snow has already told us of them, I would advise we keep a close watch on the sisters, for I do not trust them.
The tale of the young princess Snow White and her evil stepmother the Wicked Queen is widely known. Despite a few variations from telling to telling, the story remains the same – the Queen was jealous of the girl’s beauty, and this jealousy culminated in the Queen’s attempt on the sweet, naive girl’s life.
Another tale far less often spoken of is the one that explains what caused the Queen to become so contemptuously vile. Still, some have attempted to guess at the reason. Perhaps the Queen’s true nature was that of a wicked hag and her beautiful, regal appearance a disguise used to fool the King. Others claim that the Queen might have hated the girl for her resemblance to the King’s first wife. Mostly, the Queen is painted as a morally abhorrent woman who never loved another being during the course of her miserable life.
In fact, the theories about exactly what caused the Queen’s obsessive vanity and jealous rage are too numerous to catalogue. This book recounts a version of the story that has remained untold until now. It is a tragic tale of love and loss, and it contains a bit of magic. It is a tale of the Wicked Queen…
I bought the first three books of this series on a whim
because I saw their pretty covers on someone’s Facebook page. Normally I do a
little research into a series before I do this. But I mostly just got a little
bit too overexcited and just went for it. And I’m really glad that I did! This story
takes the original Disney version of Snow White and gives it so many glorious
twists and turns that leaves you understanding and sympathising with the
villain. One of the scariest villains of my childhood for that matter – the
Wicked Queen.
I was expecting a story that justified the Queen’s actions
in the well-known Disney version fairy tale. What I wasn’t expecting was for
the story to continue on beyond her turning, and to her actual decision making that
occurs throughout the entire movie. And even continued on beyond the
happily-ever-after. It gave the story a much more intense and intriguing storyline
that I just wasn’t expecting.
Although you know that there isn’t really going to be a happily ever after, you still kind of hope for one. Valentino is just that good at inspiring sympathy for a villain. I haven’t had the fortune to read many villain-based tales and I thought that this was a great start into the sub- genre. Especially when considering that this is based on one of the best-known fairy tales. And it uses the Disney version which is the retellings most commonly recognised.
Throughout this story, my heart bled for the Queen. I was so incredibly attached to her and loved that although she turns evil as expected, you could understand more and more why she ended up that way. I can’t wait to pick up The Beast Within and find out how Valentino spins that tale.
Title: The Root of the Matter Author: Gregory Frost In: Snow White, Blood Red (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Villains Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Signet Year: 1993 5th sentence, 74th page: The Others had seen it coming much sooner.
Mother Gothel and Rapunzel tell their stories in this slightly horrific and intense retelling of Rapunzel. Not for the young… or the faint of heart.
As with many of the retellings in Snow White, Blood Red, The Root of the Matter was filled with a sexuality that is almost missing from the traditional fairy tales. I say almost because it does kind of linger in the originals, but it’s possible to ignore and read in total innocence. You can’t read The Root of the Matter in total innocence. You can’t read it in any semblance of innocence for that matter.
Rapunzel has always been a fairy tale that I’ve enjoyed. And
when I finally discovered the full version as an adult (the one with the
blinding and wondering the desert), it made me love it all the more. There is
just something about this story. And the fact that there is an eventual happy
ending, even though there is a lot of suffering simply endears it to me all the
more. After all, I tend to find that the happiest and sweetest of endings come
from the sufferings. Can’t see the light without the dark and all of that
nonsense. So it was really nice that although this was a very adult version of Rapunzel, it still had that happy ending. The
living forever after together after both had faced their trials.
This is definitely a short story and retelling that is going
to linger. It is almost the original, but with a much more adult spin on it
that both disturbs and works beautifully.
Title: After the Gloaming Author: Leah Marie Brown In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Celtic, Scottish romance Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: The emaciated man’s chest rattled with each tortured breath and his blue eyes, yellow with jaundice, darted frantically back and forth as if terrified at the thought of dying alone.
Conrad has returned to the homeland to say goodbye to the father that he never knew. But in doing so, he might find a future for himself that he never expected. And break the ancient curse on his family at the same time.
I really liked the use of a bean sidhe in this Scottish romance. It took that sense of surreal
otherworldness that I’m falling in love with within the genre and partnered it
with the modern-day real world. Especially considering the fact that the story begins
in yesteryear and then flashes forward to today. The use of a cursed woman and bean sidhe just echoed that perfectly.
The only reason I took half a star off of my rating for this
tale was that I thought it ended too quickly. The introduction took up about
three quarters of the story. Then suddenly the two characters are obviously in
love and trying to break the curse. You flip the page and the curse is broken. I
felt that the amount of work and awesome storytelling that had gone into the initial
introduction, could have extended out the ending a little and made you wonder
about happily ever after for just that little bit longer.
From national bestselling author Jeanne C. Stein comes “Blood Debt,” in which bounty-hunter-turned-vampire Anna Strong is visited by three witches who ask her to right an old magical wrong. Anna will have to live up to her last name to make it through alive.
Most of the time, when I find novellas in a short story
collection, they stand up fantastically on their own. Sometimes you even forget
that they are part of a greater series. This isn’t quite like that. It is a
tale all about the repercussions of a crime obviously committed in a previous
story. That’s not to say that this wasn’t a ridiculously enjoyable novella, but
it was one that I constantly felt like I needed to have read about the original
“crime” to fully understand what was happening.
I really like the idea of a bounty-hunter-turned-vampire and I can’t wait to get my grubby little hands onto this series. It sounds like one that is going to pull you in straight away. And that isn’t with the consideration of the idea of being the Chosen One. Again, I need to actually read the series to completely understand this, but Stein did a very good job of outlining all of the background information enough to not make me feel completely lost and confused.
Unlike the rest of the novellas in this collection, Blood Debt had a bit of a love connection. It had this fun budding relationship that makes you want to yell out loud in joy as the story concludes. Now I just have to find the time and money for the rest of this series… I want to see how the couple develops!
Title: The Morning After Author: Claude Bolduc In: Evolve (Nancy Kilpatrick) Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Vampires Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Edge Year: 2010 5th sentence, 74th page: She could have chosen another.
A woman wakes up blind and alone, now she just has to figure out exactly what happened to her…
I mostly enjoyed the premise of this story. It was just
obvious that it was a translated short story, and I think that in that it lost some
of its oomph. The general, fun gist of this story was great – but as I said,
there were many moments that felt like they could have been more interesting,
but there was something that just didn’t make it across translation…
I like that in this journey to remembering who she is, the young
woman seems to be finally getting her feet under her. There is a sense of completion,
and this idea that maybe she has a slightly interesting immortal life ahead of
her. Until the end. When you realise that she really doesn’t have all that much
time left after all.
Title: Harry Potter: A History of Magic Author: J.K. Rowling & Others Series: Harry Potter Illustrated Editions Companion Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Illustrated, Urban fantasy, Witches Dates read: 19th November 2018 – 2nd January 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Non-fictional text Publisher: Bloomsbury Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: Harry, Ron and Hermione left the castle together, crossed the vegetable patch and made for the greenhouses, where the magical plants were kept.
Harry Potter: A History of Magic is the official book of the exhibition, a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between Bloomsbury, J.K. Rowling and the brilliant curators of the British Library. It promises to take readers on a fascinating journey through the subjects studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – from Alchemy and Potions classes through to Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. Each chapter showcases a treasure trove of artefacts from the British Library and other collections around the world, beside exclusive manuscripts, sketches and illustrations from the Harry Potter archive. There’s also a specially commissioned essay for each subject area by an expert, writer or cultural commentator, inspired by the contents of the exhibition – absorbing, insightful and unexpected contributions from Steve Backshall, the Reverend Richard Coles, Owen Davies, Julia Eccleshare, Roger Highfield, Steve Kloves, Lucy Mangan, Anna Pavord and Tim Peake, who offer a personal perspective on their magical theme. Readers will be able to pore over ancient spell books, amazing illuminated scrolls that reveal the secret of the Elixir of Life, vials of dragon’s blood, mandrake roots, painted centaurs and a genuine witch’s broomstick, in a book that shows J.K. Rowling’s magical inventions alongside their cultural and historical forebears. This is the ultimate gift for Harry Potter fans, curious minds, big imaginations, bibliophiles and readers around the world who missed out on the chance to see the exhibition in person.
I bought this because my sister wanted it and it had something to do with Harry Potter. Mostly because it had something to do with Harry Potter… I have a sickness.
And I’m really glad that I did. This was an incredibly interesting and engaging alternate look into the world-famous world created by J.K. Rowling. And as someone who couldn’t get to this great exhibit in England (you know, being that I’m in Australia and all), it was a great way to imagine really being there.
I love the intertwining of history and fantasy in anything
that I read. The modern day with ancient mythologies. So the idea of a book all
about these combinations and a world that I am more than a little obsessed
with… it worked perfectly for my happy, geeky little brain.
Title: Troll Author: Jane Yolen In: Troll’s-Eye View (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Villains Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Firebird Fantasy Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: But Troll, having no imagination, could not fathom what that splash and crash meant.
Troll is small and doesn’t have much imagination. But that doesn’t stop him from making sure he has a decent meal every once in a while.
There’s something about trolls that is always… I guess
amusing. Probably because they are often cast as dumb, lumbering and far south
of thoughtful. And, this short story really doesn’t do anything to dispel those
ideas. What it does do is take a creature that is traditionally gross and
smelly and making him… well, kind of cute.
Although Troll is still kind of a villain in this story (he
keeps eating others), it’s hard to dislike him. That very cute, dopey characterisation
makes him seem like just a happy bystander to the eating of the goats and other
creatures. It doesn’t make it feel like a story in which there is really a bad
guy or a good guy. Rather a young fool trying to survive, and a heap of other
fools who keep going near him…
Title: Queen Rising Author: Danielle Paige Series: Stealing Snow #0.2 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Magic, Paranormal fantasy Dates read: 10th January 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Novella Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Year: 2016 5th sentence, 74th page: And she felt the gravity of the boy and the dress and the promise of being something new.
Enter a world of elemental magic, forbidden romance, and betrayal in this prequel to New York Times bestselling author Danielle Paige’s upcoming Stealing Snow.
Margot grew up as an apprentice to the witches Nepenthe and Ora, but she doesn’t possess the incredible magic that they have. So when the old Snow King asked her to kidnap Ora, she obeyed his command, hiding her true motives from the witches. Though the witches could kill Margot for her betrayal, they showed her mercy–and without her old friends at her side, she must find her own way.
Leaving the world she knows behind, Margot decides to put her affinity for thieving to use by embracing the Robber trade. But she is set for a much greater fate. . . and more of the prophecy foretelling Algid’s future will be revealed. Along the way, Margot must find her way from being a magic-less apprentice to be becoming a queen in her own right.
And Margot’s role in the prophecy is only just beginning. . . In the future, she is destined to cross paths with a girl named Snow, who will have the power to change Algid forever-for better, or for worse.
This was such an amazing novella. Which I was kind of expecting because I also thought that Before the Snow was amazing. Especially as a wind up to the actual novel and the first full-length story in this series. The only thing that annoys me about this is the fact that I decided to read Stealing Snow for my Around the Year in 52 books challenge… so I don’t get to read it until the 16th of July…. That’s a loooooong time to wait.
Queen Rising follows Margot through her journey to the cusp of adulthood. Although her life intersects with that of Nepenthe and Ora (who were featured in Before the Snow), this novella introduces you to an entirely different side of Algid. Which I thoroughly enjoyed, the multiple sides of a universe that are shown in two simple novellas. It makes me wonder how the novel will unfold – so much information has been crammed into the preceding tastes that have so thoughtfully been offered.
Title: Before the Snow Author: Danielle Paige Series: Stealing Snow #0.1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Magic, Paranormal fantasy Dates read: 8th – 9th January 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Novella Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Year: 2016 5th sentence, 74th page: “Call me Nepenthe,” she ordered.
Enter a world of elemental magic, forbidden romance, and betrayal in this prequel to New York Times bestselling author Danielle Paige’s upcoming Stealing Snow.
Young Nepenthe is half-princess, half-mermaid. Though she longs for the sea, her father wants her to stay on land. But only love can make a mermaid give up the water, and Nepenthe doesn’t love anyone the way her mother loves her human father. She wants to live as a mermaid and become the River Witch, like her mother.
Then Nepenthe meets Prince Lazar, the son of the all-powerful Snow King of Algid, and she can’t help but fall for him. After a horrible tragedy strikes, Nepenthe joins forces with a young fire witch named Ora to save Lazar and protect the kingdom. But it soon becomes clear that Ora loves Lazar just as much as Nepenthe does… And now Nepenthe must decide: inherit the power of the River Witch, or betray her friend to be with the boy she loves.
And Nepenthe’s role in the prophecy is only just beginning. . . In the future, she is destined to cross paths with a girl named Snow, who will have the power to change Algid forever-for better, or for worse.
I had no idea what to expect from this novella, or even what to expect from the rest of this series. I had just bought Stealing Snow because it was cheap in the Boxing Day Sales. And the cover looked pretty. And it was one of those stories that I’m so glad I did. At least, judging from the first novella (I haven’t got to the actual novel yet).
From the very beginning it is obvious that this is a great
origins story. Not just of the villain, but also there is the hint of a key
role that the River Witch is going to play in the greater series. Starting with
the prophecy that is obviously going to govern the rest of the series drew me
in from the very beginning. And the fact that the Prince (soon to be the
Twisted King) starts off as an innocent pulled me in even further.
There is something almost sinister about the prince from the
very beginning. Partly because there is a lust for power and triumph from his
very first moment, but as his relationship with both Ora and Nepenthe develops,
it become obvious that there is much more to it. And it isn’t until the final
scene that you realise he is already beyond redemption.
Earth and Skye 