Mirrored

By: Alex Flinn

Genre: Teen Retold Fairy Tale

Pages: 384

Published: 2015

Told in: First Person

Series: Kendra Chronicles, #3

(Can be read as a stand-alone)

Compare to:

My Fair Godmother, Janette Rallison

Saving Juliet, Suzanne Selfors

Rapunzel Untangled, Cindy C. Bennett

In a nutshell:

Violet grew up believing beauty was the key to happiness and power, so when she learns she’s a witch she makes herself beautiful. Celine hates being beautiful, especially because her step-mother, Violet, is jealous and cruel because of it. A modern retelling of “Snow White.”

What you may enjoy:

This book gives a view into the mind of the evil step-mother, helping the reader see both sides. The writing is fresh and the dialogue is realistic. Each character has a voice you can almost hear.  

What you may NOT enjoy:

Morally questionable, glossing over Violet’s violent tendencies. The focus on beauty is overbearing. The attitudes and actions of characters are often exaggerated. Predictable ending.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Boy kills bird; boys beat up a girl; birds attack boys; cat gets run over; dog mauls a girl; monkey attacks a woman, killing her; man dies in a car accident; woman holds a severed finger.

Sex and Nudity:

Boy and girl kiss (3 separate times); Man and woman kiss (at least 6 times); Mentions French Kissing; boy slaps girl’s bum; man touches wife’s bum

Language and Profanity:

B*tch (8 times); Omig*d (7 times); Bad*ss; batsh*t; G*d (9 times); *sshole (5 times); sh*t (7 times); d*mn; d*mmit; @ss (2 times)

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Water Song:

The Retelling of "The Frog Prince"

By: Suzanne Weyn

Genre: Retold Fairy Tale/Historical Fiction

Pages: 194

Published: 2006

Told in: Third Person

Series: Once upon a Time

In a nutshell:

Belgium was supposed to be a safe place for Emma and her mother, but when WWI is brought right to their doorstep Emma finds herself alone. Everything changes when she finds a wounded American soldier, Jack, seeking refuge in her well the same day a German army decides to camp on her estate. Now Emma is a prisoner pretending to be married to this strange frog-like man.

What you may enjoy:

This is a fun, light read. It has a unique twist and great ideas on the original “Frog Prince” story. The story has so much diversity with characters from very different cultural and racial backgrounds. Jack, the “frog prince” is an entertaining, lovable protagonist and Emma’s personality rounds out the story.

What you may NOT enjoy:

At times the dialogue and inner monologue is forced. It’s a good idea that could have been executed better. There are slow and disappointing moments that Weyn could have done a lot more with. Also, many find Jack’s consistent request for a kiss annoying and uncalled for.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Woman dies in an explosion, bleeding mentioned; bombed dropped in a field; shooting can be “heard” throughout the book; people screaming in pain; men in pain from poisonous gas; boy thrown from the impact of a bomb; possibility of being tanged in barbed wire, mentioned; poisonous gas burns man’s skin; man trips and is knocked unconscious; man’s eyes swollen shut; man’s skin is peeling off; ship blown up by a torpedo; girl threatened to be shot several different times; girl almost drowns; boy shot through the shoulder, mentioned; boy and two men tortured, mentioned; boy shot and pushed into a pond; two men killed, mentioned; girl shot in the arm; bullet grazes a girls head.

Sex and Nudity:

Girl and guy kiss; guy kisses girl; girl “showers” guy in kisses

Language and profanity:

Mentions cursing in French, G*d, G*d

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Sleeping Beauty

By: Jenni James

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Retold Fairy Tale

Published: 2013

Told in: Third Person

Series: Faerie Tale Collection, #2

In a nutshell:

While Aleyna sleeps her spirit walks the halls of her ruined castle, seeing only how it used to be, not knowing she is asleep. Prince Darien and his friends come along to solve the mystery of this haunting beauty and of the horrors that happened in the once beautiful palace.  

What you may enjoy:

A very new and unique twist on the classic story of sleeping beauty. If you like a light book that spins a new story from a well-known tale, this is for you. Part fantasy, part romance, part action. This book is a fun, and quick read; the kind of book you can enjoy in its simplicity. And don't worry, the series doesn't need to be read in any specific order.

What you may NOT enjoy:

If you are lactose intolerant don’t read this. It is all 5 layers of CHEESY. Love at first sight, sappy one liners, and a unicorn that fixes everything. And in depth characters? None. This is not a book for people who want a developed, feast of a book. Also, be warned, there are plenty of typos.

Warnings:

Violence: 

people’s limbs torn off, mentioned and non-graphic; blood smattered on walls, mentioned; skeletons lying about, mentioned; man dragged off by creatures; man’s bones shattered, mildly graphic; man tortured, mentioned; unicorn attacked by creatures, mildly graphic; men battle creatures, mildly graphic; girl stabs finger, non-graphic; woman stabbed through, non-graphic; hundreds of people killed, mentioned.

Sex and Nudity:

man and woman hold hands; man and woman kiss passionately, graphic; man physically aroused, alluded to; woman physically aroused, mentioned; man and woman intend to have sex, mentioned; man nibbles woman’s ear.

Language and profanity: 

None

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