New Book: Beast Charming by Jenniffer Wardell

A new Beauty and the Beast-themed young adult novel, Beast Charming by Jenniffer Wardell.

Summary:  "Beast Charming tells the story of Beauty, who works as a temp at an agency run by a high-tempered dragon. To avoid running into her conniving and desperately-craving-for-nobility father—conveniently named Noble—she takes on a peculiar job that will force her to converse with a violent beast named, well, Beast. The rest of the story develops into a hysterical tale of a classic fairy tale romance gone modernly awry"

And from this review by Angela Carter (...not THE Angela Carter):

"...when a vague job request comes in from the butler of a large estate, Beauty takes it without a second thought. Her task is to help James Hightower — the master of the house who was cursed a year ago by his ex-fiancée who has vanished — find a hobby. Thus ensues a battle of tempers and stubbornness, and both end up with more than they bargained for, especially as James gains more confidence to go out in society and discovers his ex-fiancée may not be as far away as they thought.

Salt Lake City author Jenniffer Wardell's novel "Beast Charming," a funny and clever retelling of the beloved "Beauty and the Beast" fairy tale, is a surprisingly modern story with just enough fairy-tale elements to keep it whimsical. With plenty of banter, romance and just enough deviations from the original tale to keep things fresh, "Beast Charming" can easily fulfill all of a reader's fairy-tale escape needs while sharing some lovely themes as well.

There are a few slightly violent scenes (Beauty must chase off the simpering girls who wander on to James' property in hopes of breaking his curse, and James frequently breaks stone sculptures), but the book is free of profanity, sexual innuendo and violence overall.

Wardell is the author of "Fairy Godmothers, Inc.," a Cinderella story that takes place in the same world as "Beast Charming." "

The book only has a few reviews so far, but so far they're very positive!

Also, the above review had a link to an article about the Cinderella movie called Are Modern Princess Tales Ditching the Damsel in Distress?. I have yet to see the film myself, but if you're up for another review, it had some...interesting things to say. More on the whole war on Princess culture that isn't exactly new. I can't really share my opinion until I've seen the movie myself though.

Also, thank you to Gypsy for letting me know about the book!

Five Glass Slippers: A Collection of Cinderella Stories

Published last year, Five Glass Slippers has received good reviews so far, averaging 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads. It's a collection of Cinderella-inspired short stories, but each with a different approach and with something for everyone. And it appears that the stories published were winners of a contest-mostly quite young and some never published before, yet readers seemed happy overall. One comment on Amazon I found interesting, and something we fairy tale lovers may come across, was a one star review titled "Who needs 5 rewrites of Cinderella-especially all in one collection?"

Obviously I feel very differently, otherwise I wouldn't have a fairy tale blog, and if you're reading this you probably also love looking at fairy tales from all different angles. I mentioned a few years ago that I had come across this question from a friend and readers shared that they've had the same experience-some people find that one fairy tale is all they need. So for those of us who find we can never get enough, official description with more details on each story in the collection below:

Ella Dolbear Lee

"What happens when Cinderella is so painfully shy that she cannot bear the idea of attending the royal ball? Or when the slipper fits . . . but on the wrong girl? What happens when Cinderella is determined to oust an imposter prince from her rightful throne? Or when she is a cendrillon miner working from a space station orbiting a cthonian planet? What happens when Cinderella, a humble housemaid, is sent with a message for a prisoner trapped in a frightening fairy circus?
Here is Cinderella as you have never met her before, wearing glass slippers and off on unforgettable adventures!"

WHAT EYES CAN SEE: Elisabeth Brown
Painfully shy Arella begs her stepmother to let her stay home from the prince’s ball. But kindly Duchess Germaine is determined that her beautiful stepdaughter should be presented at court along with her own two daughters. So, dressed in a gorgeous gown and a pair of heirloom slippers, Arella catches the eye of the crown prince . . . and finds her life suddenly far more complicated than she ever desired.

Margaret Tarrant

BROKEN GLASS: Emma Clifton

The slipper fits . . . but on the wrong girl! Rosalind never once danced with Prince Marius at the ball, for she is in love with his brother Henry. If only Rosalind and Marius would stop bickering long enough to invent a scheme, perhaps the three of them can find the real mystery lady. But they must work quickly, for dark deeds are afoot, and the kingdom is poised on the brink of disaster.

THE WINDY SIDE OF CARE: Rachel Heffington
Alisandra is determined to have her rights. She knows that she is the king’s secretly dispossessed daughter, the true heir to the throne. Prince Auguste is an imposter, and if she plays her cards right, Alis will prove it to the world! That is, if charming Auguste doesn’t succeed in winning her heart before she gets her chance . 

Hermann Vogel

A CINDER’S TALE: Stephanie Ricker
It’s a dangerous life, yet Elsa wouldn’t trade this opportunity to work at Tremaine Station, mining cendrillon from the seething surface of planet Aschen. Nevertheless, when a famous deep space explorer and his handsome son dock their starcraft at the space station, Elsa finds herself dreaming of far galaxies beyond Aschen's blistering heat. There is no time for dreaming, however, when danger threatens the space station, and Elsa and her fellow miners are tested to the limits of their courage.

THE MOON MASTER’S BALL: Clara Diane Thompson
After her terrifying experience there several years ago, the one place young housemaid Tilly longs to avoid is Bromley’s Circus. But when kindly Lord Hollingberry begs her to deliver a message to the mysterious Moon Master hidden away among the circus dwellers, Tilly can’t refuse . . . and finds herself ensnared in a web of enchantment cast by the loathsome Mrs. Carlisle and her beautiful goddaughter.

A Tour of Tales of Faerie (With Once Upon a Blog as Guest): [4] The Library

"Oh! Beast, how you frightened me!" she cried. "I never knew how much I loved you till just now, when I feared I was too late to save your life."
"Can you really love such an ugly creature as I am?" said the rich beast faintly. 
... She answered softly, "Yes, dear Beast."As she spoke a blaze of light sprang up before the windows of the castle; fireworks crackled and guns banged, and across the avenue of orange trees, in letters all made of fire-flies, was written: "Long live the prince and his Bride."
(Madame de Villeneuve)

The shadows are getting longer already and I have a special anniversary dinner planned with my Prince, so this will have to be our last stop on the tour, but it's a good one, I promise.

K: Don't these doors look just enormous?

G: The carving on these is gorgeous but they are intimidating.

K: Wait till you see what's inside. Close your eyes for a minute.

G: Seriously? OK then. *closes eyes, puts one hand over as show of good faith*

K: Good. *whoosh of air then takes Gypsy's hand, guides her forward* Step this way, step, step, left a little, now stop. Ok -open.

G: *blinks and gasps in astonishment* Oh you weren't kidding! This place is amazing! Look at your collections! OK, talk me through the goodies. What are your favorites here?

K: Oh, there's so many! When it comes to Beauty and the Beast research, every scholar needs a copy of Betsey Hearne's Beauty and the Beast: Visions and Revisions of an Old Tale, and Jerry Griswold'sThe Meanings of Beauty and the Beast: A Handbook. 

G: Great choices. And is that a computer I see over by the window?

K: Why yes! In this day and age the internet is a pretty important resource in researching fairy tales. I still rely heavily on the Surlalune main site, as well as the many wonderful blogs that help to cover so many aspects of fairy tales in history and the way they are being reshaped today! (My link list can be seen to the right)

G: And how many versions do you REALLY have of the Beauty and the Beast tale? (Not counting the whole SurLaLune book on the subject, that is, because, that's a given if you're serious about the fairy tale.)

K: Here is my Beauty and the Beast book collection: I have picture books by Friere Wright, Eleanor Vere Boyle, Marianna and Mercer Mayer, and my very favorite, Angela Barrett and Max Eilenberg. I have the SurLaLune collection as well as the Oryx Multicultural Folktale Series collection. Of course there are a couple Disney versions in there, including the "Making of" book by Charles Solomon. Some of my most unique books are the French text of Villeneuve's story (even though I'm not even close to fluent in French...), a copy of the Charles Lamb poem, and an old linen picture book from 1897.

G: I just... *whispers* wow! If I come over again and disappear, you should probably look for me here first.

K: *smiles* That's pretty much what I tell Beast as well. Why don't we have some fresh coffee and rest our feet after that hike? *hands Gypsy a full cup*

G: Ah! You read my mind. *takes a grateful sip* So, apart from your Beauty and the Beast research, what are your other main go-to resources when you begin researching fairy tales home?

K: I also really love Marina Warner's From the Beast to the Blonde: Fairy Tales and their Tellers, really anything by Maria Tatar, and the whole series of SurLaLune's Tales from Around the World. 

*clock chimes five*

G: Oh my. Time flies in this place! I'd better get back. And you have a dinner to get to! *gets to feet* Thank you SO much for the tour today. I feel so honored to have been brought into your beautiful, private fairy tale here. I love everything about it.

K: *blushes* Thank you for coming. We should do this again some time. And soon.

G: Yes let's. But first, I'm going to need some help finding my way home...

K: Ooh - here. You'll love this: push on that lion's head finial on the stair there... *Gypsy pushes, two bookshelves move outward and fold back on themselves, revealing secret door*

G: *jumps up and down with delight* Are you kidding me!! This is possibly my favorite thing yet! Where does that door lead to?

K: *grinning* It's s shortcut to the front courtyard. Your horse is already there waiting for you.

G: Oh wonderful, thank you! *quick hug* This has been the best day. It's your anniversary but I get all the presents! Thank you! 

K: You're welcome. Ride safe!

G: I will! HAPPY FIFTH BLOG-A-VERSARY! *waves as exits* Oh man - secret door... I have to get me one of these...

*door slides closed once she's through it*

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoyed this little peek into Tales Of Faerie! 

I appreciate every one of your visits, your reading the blog and your comments. Tales Of Faerie has become so special and I've met so many amazing people because of it. What makes blogging so exciting is the opportunity not just for me to spout my own ideas, but to have conversations with all sorts of wonderful people and learn from you as well!

Thank you for all your support over five years. I can't wait to see what the next five will bring.

Catch you on the blog later!

Note: All illustrations used, unless otherwise indicated, are from the picture book version of Beauty and the Beast, written by Max Eilenberg, Illustrated by the amazing Angela Barrett (2006).

_________________________________________________________________________________

LATE UPDATE:

 Received a letter via bluebird from Gypsy after she left. Many thanks to all of her hard work in making this tour happen!

From the Forest

By chance, I happened to come across two completely different websites that described the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing (more on that below), on the same week I received the book From the Forest: A Search for the Hidden Roots of our Fairy Tales, by Sara Maitland. A sign perhaps?...unfortunately, my favorite forest preserves have all been recently buried under more than a foot of snow so it'll be a while before I can actually benefit from them.

Forests play a huge part in fairy tales, symbolically and historically. The tales are set in the past, before industrialization, when man struggled to tame and subdue the wild in order to survive. Understanding more of the cultures of long ago will help shed light on how we view and interpret fairy tales.

The book is arranged in twelve sections, one for every month of the year. In each one, Maitland travels through a different forest, and records her reflections and thoughts as they pertain to fairy tales. In this aspect the book was a bit different than I expected-from the subtitle, "A Search for the Hidden Roots of our Fairy Tales," I was expecting a more historical, research based approach to early fairy tales, something like the writings of Graham Anderson or Ruth Bottigheimer, but somehow linked to forest imagery and facts. It's more like personal reflections, but Maitland does have some interesting insights into the tales of the brothers Grimm, and each section concludes with a fairy tale-inspired short story.

Knockman Wood, one of the forests visited by Maitland

My goal is to read it throughout the year; each month read the corresponding section. Already I've read January and February (which are, interestingly, the last two chapters). I'll be sharing some of the thoughts I have as I read through, but of course leaving enough to inspire you to buy the book yourself! To be honest I wasn't impressed with the Sleeping Beauty story, but really liked the Twelve Dancing Princesses story, which had a refreshingly dark approach. (Not that other fairy tales haven't been given dark treatments, but it seems like Twelve Dancing Princesses-inspired fiction tends to be more traditional, and Maitland helped me think differently about some aspects of the story...)

Aside from helping us to reflect on fairy tales and their settings, forests actually have scientifically proven to be beneficial:

"Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese term that means "forest bathing" ...The idea being that spending time in the forest and natural areas is good preventative medicine, since it lowers stress, which causes or exacerbates some of our most intractable health issues. As MNN's Catie Leary details, this isn't just a nice idea — there's science behind it: "The "magic" behind forest bathing boils down to the naturally produced allelochemic substances known as phytoncides, which are kind of like pheromones for plants. Their job is to help ward off pesky insects and slow the growth of fungi and bacteria. When humans are exposed to phytoncides, these chemicals are scientifically proven to lower blood pressure, relieve stress and boost the growth of cancer-fighting white blood cells. Some common examples of plants that give off phytoncides include garlic, onion, pine, tea tree and oak, which makes sense considering their potent aromas." "

Starre Vartan

Killian Schonberger, Brothers Grimm's Homeland

"Studies have confirmed that spending time within a forest setting can reduce psychological stress, depressive symptoms, and hostility, while at the same time improving sleep, and increasing both vigor and a feeling of liveliness," write Eva Selhub and Alan Logan in their book Your Brain on Nature (Collins; 2013). "Japanese researchers found that 20 minutes of shinrin-yoku—compared with 20 minutes in an urban setting—altered cerebral blood flow in a manner that indicated a state of relaxation."

Stephanie Vozza

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Little Red Riding Hood

I keep coming across references to scholarly people discussing the show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in relation to fairy tales, especially as a modern retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood". Last year Heidi Anne Heiner of Surlalune shared the schedule for the American Folklore Society's Annual Meeting, and it included a session titled "What's in the Basket Little Girl?: Reading Buffy as Little Red Riding Hood." I remember reading that and thinking I could almost teach that session (not really, but Buffy is one of my go-to Netflix shows to have on while I do chores and by now I've seen every episode at least once). There are of course some obvious connections-the transformation of Little Red, a helpless girl being overtaken by monsters, to Buffy, a powerful young woman whom the monsters themselves fear. And of course there's the episode where Buffy dresses up as LRRH for Halloween.

But there's more to delve into. The book Buffy in the Classroom: Essays on Teaching With the Vampire Slayer, edited by Jodie A. Kreider and Meghan K. Winchell, includes a chapter called "Little Red Riding...Buffy?" The chapter outlines a unit that can be taught to college literature students, covers a thorough history of the famous tale, and encourages students to compare and contrast the themes found in LRRH and a specific episode of Buffy. Sample pages can be read online and it's clear from those that using television as a teaching tool doesn't mean your lesson plan is dumbed down! The chapter also includes discussion questions which  could be used outside of a classroom-perhaps a book club or other discussion group.

Buffy and connections to fairy tales are also discussed in the book Channeling Wonder: Fairy Tales on Television (Series in Fairy-Tale Studies). Apparently using Buffy in academic contexts is nothing new or unusual. According to Wikipedia,
Buffy is notable for attracting the interest of scholars of popular culture, as a subset of popular culture studies, and some academic settings include the show as a topic of literary study and analysis.^[107][108] National Public Radio describes Buffy as having a "special following among academics, some of whom have staked a claim in what they call 'Buffy Studies.'"^[109] Though not widely recognized as a distinct discipline, the term "Buffy studies" is commonly used amongst the peer-reviewed academic Buffy-related writings.^[110]

I also really like the episode "Gingerbread," which has an interesting way of looking at "Hansel and Gretel"...

Beauty and the Beast by K.M. Shea

Browsing Kindle for classics you can download for free (you have to search for them, but they're there, even if you don't pay for Kindle Unlimited! Including several public domain fairy tale books!), I was surprised to find a novel version of Beauty and the Beast I haven't heard of before, by K.M. Shea.

Beauty and the Beast (Timeless Fairy Tales Book 1) is apparently only available on a kindle version, but it's only $2.99 and anyone without a kindle can read it on your computer.

From the reviews it doesn't look spectacular. It seems like a nice, light, fun read that pleased many people, although the biggest critics say the writing isn't that great and there are some big plot holes. The editing is also pretty poor, although I've found that to be true for any Kindle version of a book I read.

Book description: "Once upon a time Elle made a mistake. A small miscalculation sends her through the roof of an enchanted chateau. Stranded until her broken leg mends, Elle is forced to rely on the good will of the sour chateau owner --the cursed Prince Severin.

Prince Severin--the commanding general and staunch supporter of his brother the crown prince--is cursed to look like a beast until a maiden falls in love with him. However, he has given up all hope of shattering the curse after several painful and failed attempts to break it. As such he has only disdain for Elle, leaving her to the devices of his bossy servants. This suits Elle perfectly as she dislikes the entire royal family, Severin included.

Unfortunately for the unsuspecting pair, the chateau servants are determined to break the curse and spend the majority of their time pushing Elle and Severin together. After bonding over gardens, animals, and terrifying squirrels Elle and Severin show signs of friendship, and perhaps something more...

But not all love stories can end that easily. After all, Elle is not what she seems, and Severin's life is placed in danger when hostilities flare between his brother and the monarchs of a neighboring country.

If they really want the love of a lifetime Elle, a loyal liar, and Severin, an indifferent beast, will have to use every trick they know to survive.

Timeless Fairy Tales are loosely related stories that take place in
the same world. They can be read as a series, or as individual, stand
alone books."

Has anyone read this and have an opinion? Is it worth $2.99? One two-star review is entitled "Bah. Nothing like Robin McKinley's vastly superior work." Oh, Robin McKinley, you have ruined a generation of BATB loving book readers for life because NOTHING compares to that first adaptation...

Also, K.M. Shea has fairy tale adaptations of three other stories as well in the "Timeless Tales" series, including Wild Swans, Rumpelstiltskin, and Cinderella.

As Red as Blood

As Red as Blood, book one of the Snow White trilogy by Finnish author Salla Simukka, was one of the free options for Kindle owners a couple of months ago.

It's a young adult thriller with Snow White as the inspiration. The plot wasn't too complex and it was a fairly quick read, but be aware there are swears/a few f-bombs, plus references to the darker side of crime-violence, drugs, and murder, if you're considering recommending this to a younger reader. Other than that it's a good action story, easily readable yet still exciting and fun, with clues and plot unfolding at a good pace.

I wasn't sure if there would be only a vague Snow White reference (the main character's name, Lumikki, means "Snow White" in Finnish) but I was excited to find multiple fairy tale references all throughout the story-more than passing mentions, but allusions to certain plots, motifs, and symbols. The story culminates in a mysterious fairy tale-themed ball in a house in the middle of the woods.

The main character is the classic action heroine. She's not the most realistic or relatable, especially as a 17-year old high schooler, but the type of cool, level-headed, quick-thinking-in-a-tight-situation character that we all like to vicariously live through at times (I kept being reminded of Sydney Bristow from Alias). Lumikki is already an expert in disguise, physical fitness, stalking and shaking off stalkers, but you do learn throughout the book that she experienced some dark episodes in her past that led to her intentionally studying such survival techniques/martial arts.

It's a great book if you're in the mood for an exciting thrill that won't be too confusing or require too much time, but what made it most exciting for me were watching for all the fairy tale references (and Grimm versions too, not just Disney), and other themes Simukka highlighted. It seemed that she had really thought about "Snow White" and wanted to extend the same themes in a new story while still making use of the classic fairy tale.

Wonderlandnoir-etsy

One of the most notable aspects of Snow White is the importance of color, especially red, white, and black. I noticed what seemed like intentional references to color, especially these three (the titles of each book in the series is one of these colors). I also noticed that most of the characters, and sometimes the settings, were also characterized by certain colors. Elisa was pink and black, Natalia white, etc.

The significance of color also led into some of the other themes in the story. In "Snow White," beauty is an obvious theme, but linked to that is the ideas of identity and disguise. The Queen finds her identity in her physical appearance, so much so that she is willing to put on a disguise to trick Snow White. As scholars have pointed out, the things the witch tempts Snow White with-stay laces, pretty comb-are all forms of beautification/changing your appearance.

A. H. Watson

In "As Red as Blood," Lumikki realizes that colors and scents are all part of a person's identity, and because she wants to be invisible, blending in and adaptable, she intentionally wears neutral colors and no scents. The only times she wears colors are when she is in disguise. She muses-a little too judgementally, in my opinion-on the shallowness of other high schoolers, and the type of girls that wear makeup and fashionable clothes. But it does make you think about how much our clothes and preferences are part of our identity, and how much are they just masks that we wear? Is each character's "color" integral to them, or how they've chosen to represent themselves? Lumikki is able to slip on false personalities in her mannerisms and body language as well as clothing and makeup.

Andrea Clare, PhotoReverie-Etsy

At times, multiple characters fit the image of Snow White, but other fairy tales are referenced, especially Snow Queen, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, even (I think) The Boy Who Learned Fear. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I kind of want to compare the fairy tale references I found with someone else who's read the book and see if anyone else caught some that I missed.
At times, Simukka cleverly subverts classic fairy tale scenes. For example, Little Red Riding Hood is known for her red cloak-as some people see it, the bright and bold color probably helped draw the wolf towards her and was part of her own downfall. In one scene in the book, Lumikki has borrowed another character's red hat, and some of the con men start chasing her, believing her to be the other girl (again, disguise). But she realizes that the hat betrayed her, and instead of being prey to the bad guys, she tosses the hat off in another direction and climbs a tree, leading her pursuers down the wrong path, and using the red as a weapon instead of it being her weakness.

Jessie Wilcox Smith

In another scene, she is trapped in yet another life-threatening situation, and is aware of the similarity between herself and her namesake:
"Snow White in a glass coffin. Sleeping her eternal sleep.
"No, she refused to let someone else write her story."

Anyone else who read this book, it would be fun to discuss more details in the comments!

The Runaway Princess

This isn't a new book, but a student of mine had brought Kate Coombs' "The Runaway Princess" to her lesson the other day and of course it caught my attention. She described it as "a mixture of Brave and Rapunzel"-the main character resists arranged marriage and as a result is trapped in a tower.

Rapunzel image by Ellyn Lusis

This excerpt gives us a taste of the book-clearly the heroine is a more modern, feminist-approved and active Princess, although the dialogue seems aimed towards younger readers:


She went to the window again and leaned over the ledge. Below her she could see the pale top of someone's head. Hanak had black hair like Dilly's. "Hello," she called.
      Whoever it was stepped away from the tower wall. "Nort?" Meg said, shocked. "What are you doing down there?"
      Nort held up an oversized spear. "Guarding you. What does it look like?"
      "You are not my guard!" Meg cried.
      "Am too."
      "Are not."
      "Am too."
      Meg paused. "Where's Hanak?"
      "He's busy at the castle," Nort said. "You've got me. Royal orders."
      "I'll give you a royal order, Nort the Short," Meg announced. "Go shoot yourself in the knees with a crossbow!"
      Nort laughed. "Come down and make me."
      With a furious strangled noise, Meg withdrew into the tower. She took a deep breath and surveyed her new domain. There had to be a way to get out of this place.

Seems cute-has anyone read this? Available for Kindle or in hardcover. There is also a sequel, The Runaway Dragon. It features fairy tale elements such as magic carpets, as well as the cast from  Runaway Princess.

The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures

I  heard about this book on Surlalune, The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures by Sebastian Gregory, and because it was so cheap and had gotten such good reviews overall, I ordered the Kindle version for myself (Currently only $2.30!).

There was a time when I would have looked forward to reading any dark, creepy collection of fairy tales, but because they've become so trendy, we've seen lots of dark fairy tale retellings and not all of them are the best of quality, so I was wary of this book that was just published but already so cheap. But I was pleasantly surprised-it reminded me a bit of Tanith Lee or Angela Carter-very dark, violent, and gory, but it gave you different ways to think about fairy tales or the certain elements of the stories (This book has no sexual content, though, although still definitely not for children, despite the cartoonish cover).

The book description:
 "Once upon a nightmare…

Long ago, in a land where imagination meets the darkest nightmares, they built the asylum. Surrounded by a forest of thorns, it holds the most twisted minds in the fairy tale kingdom: a terrible collection of evil creatures and forgotten souls. Imprisoned within its walls, they are doomed to spend forever after telling their tales… and serving as a warning to others.

Now, you are invited to accompany Blood Red Riding Hood into the depths of this strange place – where you will meet its even stranger inhabitants. But be warned: walls this thick were built to withstand the darkest magic… so once you’re inside, you might just find yourself living horribly ever after… and wishing you were indeed in a land far, far away."

Image from here

The premise deals with the fact that the plots of fairy tales really, truly, are dark and disturbing. If we really take the tales at face value we realize each of the characters has gone through something extremely traumatic-a wolf attack that also killed your grandmother, your stepmother and sisters making you a slave, being isolated from the world in a tower.  (See my recent post on the effects of verbal abuse that Cinderella might have dealt with). If you really think about the effect these situations would have on a person, many of those characters really might lose their sanity just from the trauma-not to mention that some people wouldn't believe your incredible story and assume you lost your mind.

I liked the writing style; it hooked me in. It's decidedly creepy. This book gives you all the chilling aspects of a creepy ghost story-considering the fact that October's not far away now and we tend to be more inclined to like spooky stories this time of year, it would definitely be worth checking out if you tend to like the more chilling aspects of fairy tales. Plus it's a pretty short read.

Benjamin Koenig/Sperber

I was kind of surprised to find many obvious punctuation errors, they must have been cheap on editing? It was a little distracting but not too much so.

The beginning of the Introduction, "Once Upon a Time":
"Once upon a forever more, a long time ago in the dark place where imagination and nightmare met, they built the asylum. Surrounded by a forest of dense thorns and crumbling on a precipice falling to an infested monster sea, the asylum held the most insane in the entire fairy tale kingdom.

To be poor abandon children in the forest, left to the whims of the nearby witch in her gingerbread house-imagine how frail your mind would become. Imagine the trauma of finding a house inhabited by bears who think they are people. How about being a boy made of wood who can think and talk yet is ridiculed and shunned. Or a girl given to a reclusive beast by her own father. It would be enough to drive a person to madness. And so many of the fairy tale creatures went skipping into the comfort of insanity."

Heather Dixon's Entwined

I recently read Jessica Day George's Princess of the Midnight Ball because I wanted to read more interpretations of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". I reviewed it and overall found it a light, fun read, pretty much true to the fairy tale but giving an interesting explanation for how the curse came to be.

In the comments, reader Claudia McCarron recommended I check out Heather Dixon's Entwined. It would actually be really interesting to compare and contrast the two novels, they have a lot in common while each takes unique approaches, but I won't give away spoilers or go too much into detail with an audience that hasn't necessarily read either book (although feel free to comment below for a more in depth discussion on either book if you wish!)

The book summary:

Just when Azalea should feel that everything is before her—beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing—it's taken away. All of it. And Azalea is trapped. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. So he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late. "Readers who enjoy stories of royalty, romance, and magic will delight in Dixon's first novel."—Publishers Weekly

Image from the book trailer

Whereas the fairy tale usually begins after the Princesses have already been going to the underground Kingdom for a long time already, the most intriguing part about this book was that it showed how the sisters discovered it, and why they became trapped in such a dangerous place. It includes a magical history of their castle that is quite dark, but the book also explores familial relationships at the same time we're unraveling the mystery, which gives it added depth.

In my opinion, the weakest part of the book is the final sequence. It became really confusing, and I'm not actually sure what happened to the villain. To be fair, it's incredibly difficult to create a world of magic with structure and consistency.

Overall though it was a really interesting read. It's a little more creepy and complex than Princess of the Midnight Ball, so good for slightly older readers, although they're both categorized as young adult novels.  Also, it appeared to me (from my little knowledge) that Dixon had done research into court dances of Europe, and fun fact-she has four brothers and six sisters. So she more than most of us has an idea of what it would be like to be raised in a family so large.

Any opinions on either book? Any other recommendations?