Because You Love to Hate Me edited by Ameriie

Buy here*

Publication date: 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 339
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 16+

What is it about some villains that make them so intriguing? How did villains become villains? What is it that the villains really want? Through 13 different short stories we find the answers.

Each short story in this collection was inspired by a question asked by a book blogger, who then includes commentary after that story.

I had two favorite stories: "The Sea Witch" by Marissa Meyer, which shows how the sea witch who provides the Little Mermaid with legs came to be the sea witch. The other was "Beautiful Venom" by Cindy Pon. Pon takes the Greek myth about Medusa and transplants it into China in one of the best ways possible. I think the reason I liked both of these stories so much is that it really does show how these familiar villains became who they are. In the case of Meyer's story, the sea witch was an outcast who thought she found love only to be heartbroken. In "Beautiful Venom," Pon focused more on the part of the Medusa story that we tend to glaze over.

I was a little disappointed in some of the stories because I was expecting all of them to be like the ones I mentioned above—the origin stories of villains. Which did happen in some of the stories, but a lot of them turned the villains into heroes.

I did like the commentary from the bloggers; in fact, some times those where my favorite parts.

One of the stories does use the f-word repeatedly.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Frogkisser! by Garth Nix

Buy here*

Publication date: 2017
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 372
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 13+

All Princess Anya wants to do is read books and become a sorcerer. But then a prince who was courting her sister is turned into a frog by her evil Stepstepfather, and to turn him back she must embark on a quest. What starts out as a simple quest turns into something much bigger as Anya collects more companions along the way.

Those familiar with Nix's previous books will find the same kind of rich world building in Frogkisser. But, as the exclamation point may hint at, it's not as serious as the the Old Kingdom books. Because of this, this is a fun book for everyone, especially younger kids with a higher reading level.

Frogkisser takes some familiar fairy tales and creatures and twists and turns them around, making sure that the reader is pleasantly surprised at every turn. There is also the inclusion of characters like the Gerald the Heralds that are a lot of fun to read.

There is no language or sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Buy here*

Publication date: 2016
Publisher: A Feiwel and Friends Book
Pages: 449
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 13+

Despite being the daughter of a marquess, Catherine only wants to be a baker. Her tarts are known throughout Hearts, and have even earned her the attention of the King of Hearts. However, it's the joker who has caught her eye, and who shows her a world completely different from the Hearts she has known.

I love Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I feel that many people don't understand it's importance in literary history, or pass it off as some kind of drug-induced dream (my opinions of this theory are strong and could fill another post on its own). I think that Meyer has the same kind of love and admiration for Carroll's most popular work, because it showed in Heartless.

The kingdom of Hearts is just as strange as we see in Wonderland, with caterpillars and penguins who talk and work, but seen through the eyes of Catherine, who is from Hearts, it is all completely normal. Which is a great way to treat it, and I was pleased to find everything also seemed normal to me. I like how straight from the start, I could pick out familiar characters and see how they fit into the story I already knew.

Catherine is presented as a sympathetic character, with strengths and faults, who experiences things that turns her into a character we are all familiar.

A great one-off story from an author who wrote a series I love.

No language or sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Anderson; illustrated by Sanna Annukka

More info*

Publication date: 2012
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Pages: 45
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 8+

The young fir tree in the forest wants nothing more than to grow up. As it grows, it sees men come and get the tall majestic trees, and the small beautiful trees, and it wonders where they go and dreams of traveling.

I've read quite a bit by Hans Christian Anderson, but never this story. Like most of his fairytales, The Fir Tree is a moral story. The tree doesn't enjoy its youth or the small moments in life. The ending is actually rather sad.

Annuka's illustrations in this edition are gorgeous. The modern geometric pictures perfectly complement Anderson's 19th century story in a way that wouldn't seem possible at first.

This is a quick, bittersweet little story that should be added to everyone's Christmas reading list. As the rays of sunlight tell the tree, "Enjoy your youth!"

There is no language or sex.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

Buy here*

Publication date: 1992 (first edition), 2016 (this edition)
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 261
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 16+

Becca grew up with her grandmother telling her the story of the Sleeping Beauty. Her grandmother's dying wish was for Becca to find the castle and the prince from the story. During her search, Becca learns about her past, her grandmother's past, and the fate of hundreds of thousands of people that no one knows--or will talk--about.

Yolen is one of those names that I know from my childhood. She had written a huge variety of books, from historical fiction, to board books, to fantasy. So, when I saw this book at the bookstore (and intrigued by the Sleeping Beauty retelling), I bought it sight unread.

This was a fascinating way to learn about a part of the Holocaust that I think very few people know about, all framed within the familiar (and yet unfamiliar) tale of Sleeping Beauty.

While marketed to teens, and being an appropriate read for teens, it's a bit different than most YA books. The main character is in her early 20s, instead of being a teenager, though I think that she is still relatable to teens, especially when it comes to her family relationships.

Very light language and vague mentions of sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Dead Upon a Time by Elizabeth Paulson

Buy here*

Publication date: 2015

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 211
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 12+

When her Nan goes missing, orphan and local outcast Kate Hood is determined to find her. Her only clues are the frightening weavings of children in terrible situations. Her only companion is Jack, the other outcast from their village. Is Kate just walking into a trap? And what do her visions mean?

I think we all know by now that I love me some fairy tale retellings, and this one was pretty interesting, using characters that we are familiar with in a different way. However, the title is a little bit of a misnomer. I was expecting something really dark, but it wasn't at all. In fact, I don't think that *spoiler* there is a death at all in the book . . .

When I wasn't reading it, I couldn't wait to get back to reading it, but when I finished I felt a little unsatisfied. There was so much left hanging. What happened to Kate's parents? What about the queen and her daughters? It was too short and I feel like maybe to get it done, the author cut things that weren't necessarily important to the story, but there were things left in that made me wonder. The other option is that there is going to be another book that explores some of those things. I guess I'll have to see.

No language or sexual situations.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Mirrored by Alex Flinn

Buy here*

Publication date: 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 374
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 13+

After her mother is tragically killed, Celine's father marries Violet--a beautiful, attentive, and loving stepmother. Until Celine gets older and then it seems that Violet becomes jealous of her. Celine tries to stay away from home when she can, but when she is home, the cats and even the appliances seem to attack her. All Celine wants is to make friends and get away from her stepmother. Neither is as easy as it seems.

It's a story we have all heard before. Beautiful queen threatened by a younger, more beautiful girl. The queen tries to kill her, but the girl escapes to live with little people. But Flinn turns the story of Snow White on its head in this modern retelling, introducing new twists and interesting characters.

I have long since liked Flinn, since I read Beastly. She has the unique capability of placing fairytales in a contemporary setting, put magic in them, and yet still have the characters believable and empathetic. However, I did feel that there were a few inconsistencies in the character of Kendra, who has appeared in most--if not all--of Flinn's retold fairytales, including the mention of turning a boy into a beast (from Beastly), but saying that in the 1980s. I haven't double checked, but since part of Beastly is told in a chatroom, I'm pretty sure that it happened after the events at the beginning of the novel.

Despite that, the novel is fun with interesting twists and turns. It isn't necessary to read Flinn's books in the order they were written, though I think Beastly should be read first.

No language and no sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon

The Time Chamber by Daria Song

More info*

Publication date: 2015
Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications
My rating: 4 stars
Pages: 80
Ages: all ages

The red haired fairy wonders what the world is like outside of her Time Garden. Once the girl falls sleep, the fairy creeps out and discovers many wonderful things.

I wasn't sure how much a "story" this book would have, since it's also a coloring book. And while there aren't very many words, the story is lyrical. Song's drawings just add to the magical feeling of the story about the red haired fairy.

Mostly, I was eager to start coloring and make the book and story my own in a way. So I pulled out my colored pencils and colored while catching up on my TV shows. One thing I learned what that I need to sharpen nearly all my pencils. Another was that once I made a color decision, I was going to have to stick to that throughout the entire book, if I wanted to appease any sort of perfectionism. Also, my fingers got a little tired from coloring.

The drawings are intricate and detailed, not at all like your child's coloring book, meaning that it could provide you with hours of relaxation and entertainment as you decide on color schemes and watch the drawings come to life.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodges

Buy here*

Publication date: 2015
Publisher: Balzar + Bray
Pages: 436
My rating: 4 stars
Ages:14+

At fifteen, Rachelle had to choose between death or murder. Choosing to live, three years later she is a bloodbound, doomed to become a servant of the Devourer. But Rachelle is determined to fight against her destiny and kill the Devourer, which means that when she is assigned to guard the king's illegitimate son, she's annoyed. But there is something more to the prince than what's on the surface . . .

I loved Hodge's debut novel last year, and this one did not disappoint. Using the tale of little red riding hood and 17th century France as her inspiration this time around, Hodge weaves a story that is new and fresh. She is able to create a world that is new, yet easily understood and familiar, never "talking down" to her readers. I think she does this by using elements that we are already familiar with, but she bends and infuses it with new and interesting things which is what makes it feel so real.

The twists and turns in the story are echoed in the cover design. All the characters are rich and complicated, with history and reasons for everything they do. The world is full and complete. I think that Hodge is definitely an author that I will continue to read.

There is an off the page sex scene, but no language.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund

Buy here*

Publication date: 2015
Publisher: Zondervan
Pages: 254
My rating: 2.5
Ages: 12-15

Since she was fourteen, Rosemarie has done two things: 1) ruled her land, 2) prepared to enter the convent on her eighteenth birthday. With a month to go for her birthday, she is faced with a decision. She can enter the convent like she had planned,  or attempt to find true love with one of the three knights she is presented with. But with murder plots and a sacred vow, Rosemarie isn't sure how to make the right choice.

I'm not exactly sure where to start with this book. I don't think I've ever read anything else by Hedlund, but she seems to be a pretty well loved author, which is why I was surprised by this book. I found the story predictable and some of the writing choices questionable.

The Point of View for most of the book is first person, by Rosemarie. But about every seven chapters, the font and POV changes. The first time it happened I thought the font change was a mistake. It wasn't until I was halfway down the page that I even realized that the POV had changed. And I didn't really see the point, since I didn't learn anything that I couldn't have learned from Rosemarie.

The ending made it seem like this story is going to be continued in another book.

The writing is technically good, but I just felt that the story could have gone deeper and been more mysterious, keeping me guessing. That's why I have put the age limit where I did, because I think that younger teens would get more enjoyment out of it than anyone older. There is no swearing or sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas

Buy here*

Publication date: 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 337
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 13+

When Aurora is woken by a kiss, she discovers that 102 years have passed, though it only seems a night. With her awakening comes a fiancé and the knowledge of a destiny. But after meeting a barkeeper and another prince, Aurora has become confused about what she should do and if she even has a choice.

This is, not exactly a retelling but a more of an extension, to the Sleeping Beauty tale. It answers the question of What happens when Sleeping Beauty wakes up? It can't all be as simple as "happily ever after," not when a hundred years has gone by. This also isn't your typical retelling--it's unpredictable, full of political plots and uncertain romance.

I don't know if this was meant to be the beginning of a series, but the ending left me unsatisfied. I didn't feel that there was any real resolution to the problems that Aurora was faced with throughout the novel. There was so much given to us that I would have liked the book to either be about 100 pages longer or to have cut out some of the subplots.

In all, it was good writing and a nice take on a classic fairytale. No language and no sexual situations.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Stepsister's Tale by Tracy Barrett

Buy Here*

Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 260
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 13+

What was once the grand Halsey Hall has fallen into ruin, forcing Jane, her mother, and her sister, Maude, into just a few rooms. Though Mamma pretends that they are still living like ladies, Jane and Maude work hard to put a little food on their table and clothes on their back. When Mamma returns from a visit to the city with a husband, Harry, and new stepdaughter, Isabella, things start changing. There is a promise of a return to the life they had lived so long ago Jane can barely remember it. Then Harry dies and the winter is long and cold. Isabella doesn't help, and Jane wants to give up . . . and then the invitation to the ball arrives.

I love retold fairytales, and Cinderella has always been one of my favorites. Barrett's re-envisioning of the "wicked" stepmother and "ugly" stepsisters brings life and charm into the story. She keeps the basic elements, then adds in so much more to the story. I like how by the end, you like everyone. Everything was based off of a misunderstanding between people who came from different backgrounds and are proud.

Though the publisher might make you think differently, there is no sex, nor any mention of sex. I have read a few books published by Harlequin Teen and some of them have been good (like this one) with very little mention of sex, if any at all. Great for those teens that want some romance, but don't (or their parents don't want them) to be subject to sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

Buy here*

Publication date: 2012
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
Pages: 438
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 10+

Prince Charming is tired--tired of being called Prince Charming! There are four princes and none of them are called Charming; their names are Frederic, Gustav, Duncan, and Liam. All four have been immortalized in stories, but none of them get the credit they deserve. Together, they embark on an adventure sure to get them mentioned by name.

This is a really fun take on fairy tales, focusing on the princes instead of the princesses. Each of the princes have their little quirks that end up becoming strengths and being able to work together.

Though the book is long for middle grade at 438 pages, I think that advanced readers will be able to read it without any problem. I also think this would be a good read-aloud book for parents to share with their kids, as it has humor that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. There are cute illustrations throughout the book, showing not only what the princes and princesses look like, but also what trolls, goblins, and dragons look like. The narration is fun as the narrator will break in occasionally, giving spoilers, or hints of what is to come. I also think this would probably be a good book for boys and reluctant readers.

*I do not receive any compensation from Amazon. 

Cruel Beauty by Rosamond Hodge

Buy here*

Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 342
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 14+

Nyx was raised to do two things: to marry the Gentle Lord and to kill him. For 900 years her country has been ruled over by the demon they call the Gentle Lord and, as her father had bargained her away, Nyx is chosen to be the woman to defeat him and free Arcadia. The only thing no one counted on was that she might fall in love with her husband.

I passed over this book many times before I actually decided to get it from the library. I was wary about another Beauty and the Beast retelling, especially after the last one I read. But after having seen it recommended several places, I finally bit the bullet and got it.

This is not your typical retelling of a familiar fairytale. Taking place in a parallel world where the Grecko-Roman empire was destroyed, save for the island of Arcadia, Hodge intertwines Greek mythology with fairytale, creating something I wouldn't have expected. This isn't a story about a beautiful girl taming a wild beast, but a story of revenge, complicated love, and bargains that harm more than they help.

Since I had such low expectations going into the book, I finished it surprised. It's a debut novel, and I expect that Hodge's writing will just continue to get better. Nyx's jealous and dark hearted nature was a little wearing at times (I find it hard to believe that twins could be so blind to each other's true nature for seventeen years), but the characters grow in change throughout the novel which is always good. A good book for anyone who wants a new kind of fairytale, but it's not exactly the first title that will come to my mind when someone asks me for a recommendation.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Unraveled: A Tale of True Love by Julie Daines

Buy here*

Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Pages: 185
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 14+

Bronwyn has been crippled for years; her legs made weak by the same sickness that took her father and siblings. She knows she won't ever marry, and will instead live with her mother the rest of her life. Then a witch, the Gwyllion, comes to their home and leaves a pair of shoes that magically straighten and strengthen Bronwyn's legs. The future is finally open to her and she longs for love. But the lies she tells soon capture her in their web and she's not sure if she'll ever be free.

This book is a short, fast read. Which is good, because 50 pages in I already knew all of the major plot points and continued to read it just to make sure I was right. It's a new kind of fairytale, which is why I was so ready to read it, but I was disappointed with how predictable it was, without any sort of twist to make me doubt my predictions.

The writing is good, and the setting of a Wales-like country was intriguing. But I was glad it was so short. I was tired of Bronwyn's lies and her attempts to cover things up. I had to remind myself that she was only sixteen and therefore was prone to make some bad decisions. I think this will be good for younger teens, and those who want a quick, light read.

*I am not compensated by Amazon.

Cress by Marissa Meyer

Buy here* 

Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 550
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 14+
Series: The Lunar Chronicles, book 3

In this continuing story, Cinder, Scarlet, and the rest go to rescue Cress--a lunar "shell" being kept on a satellite orbiting earth. In the process of the rescue, the group is split up and must find each other again while coming up with a plan on how to stop the wedding between Emperor Kaito and Queen Levana.

There are few series that I'll read all of, and even fewer that I look forward to the next installment every year. The Lunar Chronicles is one of those. Each book is fresh, without feeling as if the story is being dragged on past its expiration point. I think this is because of the introduction of new characters and a new subplot in each book.

The Lunar Chronicles will be loved by sci-fi fans, as well as fans of fantasy, fairytales, and dystopia. Each new section has a sentence or two from the classic fairytale that book is focusing on, but Meyer presents the familiar stories in a unique and unexpected way--leaving you guessing what's going to happen next, and excited when you recognize a part of the fairytale we all know. The books may be long, but the pace is good, and for teens (even younger teens with a higher reading level) who have read Harry Potter, it will be easy for them to make it through. Book 4, Winter, will come out probably next January.

*I am not compensated by Amazon.

Roses by G. R. Mannering

Buy here*

Publication date: 2013
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Pages: 310
My rating: 2 stars (what does this mean? Look at my FAQs page!)
Ages: 14+

Beauty is despised and feared for her silver skin and violet eyes. When the Magic Cleansing happens in Pervorocco's capital city of Sago, she flees with her only friend, Owaine, to the Hillands, where she helps to train horses. When Owaine returns to their cottage sick and scared after coming across an enchanted castle in the woods and cursed for stealing a red rose, Beauty takes his place. Is the horrific Beast her captive, or her friend? And what is Beauty's destiny?

When I picked up this book to read, I was really excited about having another Beauty and the Beast retelling to read. Unfortunately, it wasn't at all what I was expected, but I soldiered on.

Mannering's prose is well written and cohesive, and I applaud her for trying to create a new version of such a well loved story. If Roses had been written (and publicized) as it's own story, not as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, I may have been more accepting of it. As it was, I had a hard time connecting to the world Mannering created and  her characters.

It takes the book nearly 200 pages before getting to the story that I was expecting from the beginning. Those first two hundred pages seemed mostly to be setting the scene and introducing characters and the intricacies of the world. Pervorocco and its surroundings was so different from any world that I am familiar with that I found it difficult to connect to it: from the money ("sticks") to the passage of time ("seasons") to the people within it ("magic beings" and "magic bloods"), the first 100 pages left me trying to sort out what it all meant so much that I wasn't immersing myself in the story, and even then I wasn't sure. The 100 pages that focus on the fairytale we know seems routine and predictable. In fact, much of the details reminded me of Robin McKinley's versions of Beauty and the Beast, Beauty and Rose Daughter.

The story is actually two different stories, and the combination of the two (what I'll call the "social unrest" and the "fairytale") seemed forced, especially in the end. By the time I got to the last ten pages I wondered how everything was going to be resolved, only to have one of Beauty's storyline resolved, with the other left completely open for another book (or two). As it was, I was left unsatisfied when I closed the book.

The writing is good, and plot and world deeply developed. The characters could be a bit more rounded out--I didn't feel a connection to any of them, not even Beauty. I think this novel would be good for those who enjoy more "epic fantasy" stories, not just fairytale re-imaginings.

*I do not receive any sort of compensation from Amazon, this link is for your convenience only.