Book Review: The Forgotten Fairytales by Angela Parkhurst

The Forgotten Fairytales – Angela Parkhurst

*Warning – may contain spoilers*

Author: Angela Parkhurst

Publisher: Smashwords Edition

First published: 2014

Edition: ePub

Pages: 360

Blurb:    (Taken from goodreads)

               A psychotic, shoe obsessed Princess.

               A not-so-charming, alcoholic Prince.

               A hot Big Bad Wolf she absolutely cannot fall for – no matter how well he kisses.

               If seventeen-year-old Norah Hart had known she’d be attending a boarding school for the nut job reincarnations of fairy tale characters, she would have insisted on going to Moscow with her father. But getting out isn’t as easy as she thought. Especially once Norah realizes she, too, is a storybook character. An Unknown. The first one in one hundred years.

Soon Norah learns she can help others break free form the story binding them. But in doing so puts everyone’s Happily Ever After in jeopardy. Some princesses will do whatever it takes to protect their endings. Even if it means betraying the one closest to you.

History of my copy: I received a copy of The Forgotten Fairytales through YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

In all honesty, this is the kind of book I should adore. I am a huge fan of fairy-tale retellings, especially those with a twist. To me, it sounded like a high school version of the hit TV show Once Upon A Time, of which I am a huge fan of. Although The Forgotten Fairytales wasn’t a bad book, I think that my high expectations kind of ruined it for me when it turned out to not live up to them.

Plot: We follow Norah Hart and her sister as she enters boarding school whilst her dad moves to Moscow. However, this isn’t an ordinary school – it’s a school where all the students are an ‘alternative’ version of fairy-tale characters. It is also very cliquey where the princesses stick together, as do the heroes, villains, sidekicks, etc. It turns out that Cinderella, of all people, is evil and so Norah and her best friend turned boyfriend Wolf have to stop her whilst not getting killed.

Setting: One thing I did enjoy about The Forgotten Fairytales is the setting. The castle-turned school may feel a little Hogwarts-y, but it certainly suited the fairy-tale nature of the book. I do wish Pankhurst had given it a little more character and description though as it had the potential to be a fantastic setting.

Characters: Whilst the main characters of the book were all individual, none of them really connected with me. The protagonist, Norah, was sometimes a bit if a bad-ass, but became a complete wuss when it came to her sister. She just felt a little two-dimensional and flat, and had no outstanding personality.

               Wolf was another conundrum. Starting off as a broody, humorous person, he became all soft and sweet as soon as he and Norah became a thing. That just felt too fake. In fact, their whole relationship was just a little too cliché and fake if I’m honest.

               Then there is Cinderella because, of course, the innocent, kind, angel of a girl definitely is evil.. right? Pankhurst did explain it well and did it justice but it just felt a little too far gone. It felt very much ‘let’s take the kindest person and make them evil!’

To read or not to read: Not read. Whilst The Forgotten Fairytales was far from a terrible book, it just really didn’t live up to my expectation. It was such a brilliant idea but I think it fell a little flat, with perhaps too much effort going into making the characters ‘different’ from the traditional tales. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still an alright book, but I wouldn’t go recommending it to anyone in a hurry.

Book Review: Red: The Untold Story by Angela M. Hudson

Red: The Untold Story – Angela M. Hudson

*Warning – may contain spoilers*

Author: Angela M. Hudson

Publisher: Smashwords

First published: 2016

Edition: eBook

Pages: 394

Blurb:    (Taken from goodreads)

From the award-winning author of the Dark Secrets series, Bound, and Willa Wicked, comes this powerful YA spin on a classic tale.

Once every twenty years, pack alpha Luther takes a new wife. On the day of Selection, Red is chosen. Just as her family always planned. Just as she always planned. Until she met Alex Plain.

Alex took Red to worlds she never imagined, where the ordinary is seen as magical, and the upright is abstract. With the help of this new friendship, Red begins to see a future for herself outside of the pack. But, unfortunately, Alex Plain came along too late.

Red is obligated to marry Luther now, and taken to live in the mysterious Ravenswood Mansion, where truth lies and the walls have eyes. What Red learns there about her alpha will ignite some burning questions—ones that, when answered, could undo the entire order of the pack:

What happened to all the children born there? Why hasn’t this mansion left the seventeenth century? And where are all his previous wives?

History of my copy: I received a copy of Red through YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Find out more about the book here.

Red is one of the best books I have ever read. Hands down. It’s up there with Harry Potter, Raised by Wolves and The Lunar Chronicles, which is a pretty big achievement. Whilst I often highly rate books, it has to be flawless to make it as one of my all-time favourites.

Plot: Although a re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood, much like recent retellings I have read (The Lunar Chronicles and A Court of Mist and Fury), it doesn’t entirely feel like a retelling. Yes, I can pick out similarities between this adaptation and the original tale, but often it feels like its own story.

         We follow April, more commonly known as Red, as she discovers herself with the help of stranger Alex, before it’s all taken away as she marries alpha Luther, who hides away in his mansion with lots of dark secrets.

         Forced out of her comfort zone and with few people to rely on, Red must make sacrifices and do what she believes best for the future of her pack. Eventually she returns home, but finds the Plain family in pieces after the death of Alex’s brother, George. Whilst re-building herself, she helps the family pull through and, eventually, the pair find where they truly belong.

Setting: Hudson also excels in describing the setting. Very rarely do I come across an author who can create an image so perfectly that when you close your eyes, you can even smell the world. Red completely drew me in, from the magical Plain house to the dark forest. I could almost feel the wind flying past me as the wolves ran. It was wonderful.

Characters: Red was a great character. She was stubborn and brave, but also felt human (although she is half-wolf). She stayed true to herself and tried her hardest to make things better for everyone. She was there for Alex when he really needed her.

               Alex was also a pretty awesome character. I could relate to him so much come the end of the book, and it felt like I knew both him and Red on a personal level. He compliments Red so well as her complete opposite – shy and a little awkward to her boldness.

               I’m really intrigued by Luther and his other wives. I would love to read stories set in different eras featuring the different women, to see how he ended up the way he was.

To read or not to read: Read immediately. Red is a fantastic story of friendship, sacrifice and dealing with your demons, both physically and mentally, with the added twist of werewolves. It is hands down one of the best books I have ever read, and words just don’t even sum up how much I loved it!

Book Review: The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse

The Neverland Wars – Audrey Greathouse

*Warning – may contain spoilers*

Author: Audrey Greathouse

Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing

First published: 2016

Edition: eBook (The cover is stunning!)

Pages: 244

Blurb:    (Taken from goodreads)

Magic can do a lot—give you flight, show you mermaids, help you taste the stars, and… solve the budget crisis? That's what the grown-ups will do with it if they ever make it to Neverland to steal its magic and bring their children home.

However, Gwen doesn't know this. She's just a sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a powerful crush on Jay, the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn't know her little sister could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that she might have to chase after her to bring her home safe. Gwen will find out though—and when she does, she'll discover she's in the middle of a looming war between Neverland and reality.

She'll be out of place as a teenager in Neverland, but she won't be the only one. Peter Pan's constant treks back to the mainland have slowly aged him into adolescence as well. Soon, Gwen will have to decide whether she's going to join impish, playful Peter in his fight for eternal youth… or if she's going to scramble back to reality in time for the homecoming dance.

History of my copy: I received a copy of The Neverland Wars though YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Let it be said now that I’m not too familiar to the tale of Peter Pan. I haven’t even seen the Disney movie (or if I have I can’t remember). My familiarity with the story has literally come from a panto I saw back in 2008 (which starred Emu) and its inclusion in Once Upon A Time. So yep, a pretty much a Neverland newbie over here. That being said, I don’t think that took anything away from the story.

Plot: The Neverland Wars follows Gwen, a typical teenage girl who is caught up in school and crushes and is stuck at that annoying point in life where you’re too old to be a kid and too young to be an adult.

         When her younger sister Rosemary goes missing, she is brought into the secret that Neverland exists, Peter Pan really does take children, and that magic is what makes the adult world go round.

         Joining her sister in Neverland, Gwen is catapulted into a world very different from her reality and is seemingly paradise, until the bombings happen, a shocking reminder that reality and Neverland are at war.

The Neverland Wars ends with Gwen returning home and attending a party, which magic soon invades. In a spur of the moment decision, she finally decides to stick with Peter and see whether she can remain a child forever.

Setting: One thing that really impressed me about The Neverland Wars is Greathouse’s writing style. She captivates the child innocence of each and every character wonderfully, but also recognises that children can be wise beyond their years. On top of this, she has an excellent way of describing the settings – I honestly felt like I was in the paradise of Neverland myself! Although not a new world, she has so wonderfully crafted her own version of Peter’s homeland.

Characters: I really loved Peter in The Neverland Wars. The idea that he has aged a little each time he returned to reality created an interesting point in this retelling, as Peter was now a lot older than the lost kids (rather than boys). Because of this, I couldn’t help but feel that Peter and Gwen should have ended up becoming a little closer, even if just because they were closer in age than they were to anyone else.

               Gwen herself was quite an interesting character too. She was typical in every shape and form, but without trying hard to be so. It was refreshing to actually read an entirely relatable character, and one that portrayed the difficulty of growing up so well.

To read or not to read: Read. I’m not sure if Greathouse is intending to write a sequel, but The Neverland Wars certainly feels part of a series. There are some monumental future-seeing events that hint at future books, and then there is the blatant fact that this book had so little fighting compared to its title. Despite this, I would recommend the story to anyone, especially those who love fairytales. It is fantastic at dealing with adolescence problems and the inevitable process of growing up, so is a great read for any tween not sure where they belong in the world.

Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J. Maas

*Warning – may contain spoilers*

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury

First published: 2015

Cover: Paperback

Pages: 416

Blurb:    Feyre is a huntress.

She thinks nothing of slaughtering a wolf to capture its prey. But, like all mortals, she fears what lingers mercilessly beyond the forest. And she will learn that taking the life of a magical creature comes at a high price…

Imprisoned in an enchanted court in her enemy’s kingdom, Feyre is free to roam but forbidden to escape. Her captor’s body bears the scars of fighting, and his face is always masked – but his piercing stare draws her ever closer. As Feyre’s feelings for Tamlin begin to burn through every warning she’s been told about his kind, an ancient, wicked shadow grows.

History of my copy: I got A Court of Thorns and Roses, along with its sequel A Court of Mist and Fury as part of my book haul back in May. ACOTAR is a hugely popular book in the Bookstagram community, which is one of the reasons why I bought it. Although I was rather disappointed with Maas’ Throne of Glass, I decided to give her another try and I am so glad that I did!

I actually finished ACOTAR over a month ago at the beginning of June, but as I mentioned before, I was so busy with exams that I’m only now getting around to the reviews.

Plot: A Court of Thorns and Roses is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, one of my all-time favourite stories. I wasn’t much of a Disney Princess girl as I grew up (blame that on my pop-punk skateboarding brother), but their version of the fairy-tale was one of my favourite films growing up. I’m eagerly anticipating the live-action version, although I dislike Emma Watson as Belle.

I’m a huge fan of fairy-tale retellings, especially those with a twist, but I was apprehensive of ACOTAR due to it being a retelling of my favourite story – there was a lot of pressure for it to be good!

That being said, I was impressed. I adored ACOTAR. Whilst it loosely followed the traditional story (girl has to live in captivity with ‘beast’, they fall in love, etc.), Maas gave it some fantastic twists and embellished the story with a whole cast of brilliant characters.

The story was perfectly executed throughout. In fact, my only qualm is what happens to Feyre at the end. But, we shall see how that works for the sequel, ACOMAF.

Setting: Well-written story? Check. Beautiful fantasy setting? Check! The Mortal Land where Feyre originates is separated from Prythian, one of the Faerie Realms, by The Wall. Within Prythian, there are 7 courts (Night, Day, Dawn, Winter, Summer, Autumn and Spring) along with Under the Mountain. Whilst the land is hardly explored in ACOTAR, I have high hopes that we will get to see more in the remaining two books of the trilogy.

               Maas describes the settings wonderfully, further evidence that she has grown much as a writer since Throne of Glass.

Characters: Feyre is actually a really interesting character. She is clearly brave and willing to accept the consequences of her actions, but at the same time you can see that she is scared too. Whilst she suffers a little from ‘way-too-badass-female-lead’ syndrome, it’s not so bad that I’m constantly rolling my eyes at high unbelievable her actions are.

               Tamlin! I am a huge(!) Tamlin fan! He is the perfect Beast. He has lost hope and all but given up, but once he warms up to Feyre you can see how kind he is at heart. He compliments Lucien well, who I also adore. They have a great bond and it’s great seeing their friendship with each other, and Feyre, develop throughout the book.

               Rhysand is a character that people rave over. Currently, I don’t see it. Yes, he’s dark and moody and probably sexy as hell, but he’s just arrogant and annoying. Whilst he does help Feyre, he’s not exactly nice to her! Team Rhysand confuses me; Team Tamlin all the way! However, I am intrigued to see the relationship between Rhysand and Feyre develop once I get round to starting ACOMAF.

To read or not to read: Read. A Court of Thorns and Roses is a fantastic retelling, making a unique story for itself out of the underlying plot of the traditional fairy-tale. The story is well-written, with interesting characters and a well thought out plot. I thoroughly recommend ACOTAR to anyone who loves fairytales and fantasy. 

Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet – Marissa Meyer

*Warning – may contain spoilers*

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Puffin Books

First published: 2013

Cover: Paperback

Pages: 452

Blurb: Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. The police have closed her case. The only person Scarlet can turn to is Wolf, a street fighter she does not trust, but they are drawn to each other.

Meanwhile, in New Beijing, Cinder will become the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive – when she breaks out of prison to stay one step ahead of vicious Queen Levana.

As Scarlet and Wolf expose one mystery, they encounter Cinder and a new one unravels. Together they must challenge the evil queen, who will stop at nothing to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner…

History of my copy: So this was the third book I got from Waterstones just after Christmas. (You can find reviews for the other two books, Reasons to Stay Alive and The Selection here.) Having read and loved Cinder, I knew I just had to get my hands on the next book in the series, and I am so glad I did.

I absolutely loved this book! I will admit that I found the beginning a bit slow and confusing as we were suddenly faced with the new character Scarlet, when all I cared about was Cinder escaping! But after a few chapters, I really did start to get into it and I ended up adoring this one more than Cinder. Now I just have to wait a long time to get my hands on Cress…

Plot: Probably my only major problem with Cinder was just how predictable it was. (I know, it’s based on Cinderella, but it still felt just a bit too obvious). So, of course, when I started Scarlet I was expecting Wolf to have killed Grandma and be horrible to Scarlet. Wrong! This book was hardly like the fairy-tale at all! Whilst it of course kept key parts (I especially loved Scarlet’s red hoodie, bringing a modern feel to the traditional red cloak), this book was nothing like what I expected. And the way it weaved into the story from Cinder was exquisitely done! I would have preferred a little more development on Wolf’s, Scarlet’s and Thorne’s character, but I’m hoping there will be a lot of that to come in the next books.

Setting: I am still so in love with the way Meyer has set these fairy tales to be in the future after the Fourth World War. It adds such an interesting spin to it all! And perhaps to give us hope that, even in a world of destruction, lunar wars and a horrendous plague, fairy tales really do still exist. As a fugitive, Cinder obviously cannot remain in New Beijing, and thus most of this book takes place in France, mainly Paris, which gives us a chance to see how other countries are faring in this modern world. Meyer is a brilliant writer at settings, and just truly makes you feel that you really are there alongside them.

Characters: Cinder still remains one of my favourite characters of course, and this book does well with showing how she is coping with her new found identity. If you read my review of the previous book, you will know that I wasn’t a huge fan of Prince Kai. However, throughout Scarlet, I have learned to like him a little more now that we get to see the side of him that’s running a country, not the side that’s of course, flirting with and falling in love with the main character.

             Captain Thorne and Scarlet are both new characters in this book, and two that I would like to know more about. At first, Thorne annoyed me, but he has grown on me, just as he has on Cinder. Scarlet, however, is much more likable, and I particularly like how well she and Wolf complement each other.

Which, of course, brings me to Wolf! He’s probably one of the most interesting characters I’ve discovered in a while. Is he good, or bad? Do I love him or hate him? Can I even trust him? Who knows! I need more of him in my life, and I really hope Meyer delves into his back story some more at some point so we can see just why he is the way he is.

Iko! How could I discuss the characters without mentioning my beloved Iko! She is still hilarious and just so Iko-like, despite now being in a much, much larger body. I’m so glad Iko came back, and we don’t have to lose her for a long time again any time in the future.

To read or not to read: Read. Read! Read! Read! Honestly, stop reading reviews and go buy the book right now. Even if you weren’t a huge fan of Cinder, go read Scarlet because, in my opinion, The Lunar Chronicles have just got even better!