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312th out of 607 books
—
1,997 voters
The Salamander Spell (The Tales of the Frog Princess #5)
by
E.D. Baker (Goodreads Author)
In this prequel to the Tales of the Frog Princess, Grassina is a young princess-in-training. But as the younger sister to Princess Chartreuse, Grassina is not expected to do much beyond behave herself. When a terrible spell stops her mother from being the good Green Witch, and the Kingdom of Greater Greensward seems to teeter on the brink of terror, Grassina sets off on an...more
Hardcover, 250 pages
Published
August 21st 2007
by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
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This book is the prequel to a bunch of other books, but I never read them, and it read fine on it's own. For what it was. Which is a VERY young teen book. Maybe even a children's book.
Grassina is the second fiddle princess to her sister Chartruese, in the Kingdom of Greensward. Noticing a pattern, yet? Don't - that's pretty much as far as it goes. Except to say that Greensward has always been protected from mythological creatures by a good Green Witch: usually the first born of the girls in the...more
Grassina is the second fiddle princess to her sister Chartruese, in the Kingdom of Greensward. Noticing a pattern, yet? Don't - that's pretty much as far as it goes. Except to say that Greensward has always been protected from mythological creatures by a good Green Witch: usually the first born of the girls in the...more
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!! i like it sooooo much more than "the frog princess". idk y, i think mostly becuz i knew wut happened to Grassina next, i knew that she and Haywood worked hard to get a happy ending, and that they both had a hard life.(until Grassina was the green witch) and mostly cuz Haywood IS SOOOOO SWEETTTTTT!!! GRASSINA IS SOOOOOO LUCKY, and when they met, there was a spark; but when emma and edric met... no offense to edric but he was kinda a jerk. i didn't like it when Haywood and...more
Apr 27, 2010
Paige
added it
The Salamander Spell
By: E.D. Baker
Review By: Paige Tornow
The Frog Princess Series is back with another amazing story. Emma's aunt Grassina stars in the book, The Salamander Spell. Grassina is about fifteen years old, and is living in her sisters shadow...already. Her sister Chartreuce has it all. Looks, suitors, the kingdom, and even magic, or so it's thought. Life seems almost bearable for Grassina, until her parents have a fight. To make up for it. her father brings her mother a beautiful...more
By: E.D. Baker
Review By: Paige Tornow
The Frog Princess Series is back with another amazing story. Emma's aunt Grassina stars in the book, The Salamander Spell. Grassina is about fifteen years old, and is living in her sisters shadow...already. Her sister Chartreuce has it all. Looks, suitors, the kingdom, and even magic, or so it's thought. Life seems almost bearable for Grassina, until her parents have a fight. To make up for it. her father brings her mother a beautiful...more
1 like · like · see review
Cute and interesting prequel to the Tales of the Frog Princess. In this story, we read about Grassina and Chartreuse (Emma's aunt and mother) as they come of age. We see first-hand the transformation of Olivene into the wicked witch she is when the Tales of the Frog Princess first begin and the problems this causes for the kingdom. It was a nice change in perspective for the stories and I think Grassina was a good choice for the focus of the prequel. The one thing I was surprised to see was that...more
I think this is the best of the series yet!! Or at least, it's in the same rank as Once Upon a Curse!! I loved this one so much because it was unique and different from all the others. I loved how it went back before the first book, and took a look at Grassina's and Chartreuse's past. I never would have guessed that Chartreuse used to want to do magic; it seems really hard to believe that she hates it so much now! I love how the book showed how things came to be in the series of the Frog Princes...more
A prequel to the series.
Grassina: a young princess. 2nd daughter. Loves nature.
Chartreuse: older sister who will become queen and the Green Witch, though she hasn't shown any signs of magic.
Pippa: a talking, venomous snake who is Grassina's friend.
Haywood: a boy wizard who lives on the marsh island. Befriends Grassina when she runs away.
He uses his red salamander to light fires to rid enemy monsters.
A spell has overcome her mother who now is a crazy witch an no longer the Green Witch.
Dragons an...more
Jul 23, 2011
$Am!3
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everybody
Recommended to $Am!3 by:
School librarian
Shelves:
library-books
Hi!!!Ok. So this is the 5th book in the series. I first found out about this series because my school librarian recomended it to me. This book is a very good book. If you have read the series then you know that in this book they are going back in time (The first 4 books are based on Emma this one is based on her aunt Grassina when she was young). So in this book you are going to find out how she realized she had magic and later began the Green Witch of Greater Greensward. This is a series for an...more
The book was okay. It was rather unnecessary, but I suppose it was fun seeing where the characters came from, and how they got to be what they were.The plot itself was sort of bland. Mostly it was just Grassina finding out something we already knew and its sort of frustrating that way. I just sort of wanted to shout "Your the Green Witch! Let's move on now." If there's anything I really liked about the book, it was the ending. The irony of their optimism and certainty was pretty great. So I thin...more
1 like · like · see review
Fantasy is a good escape from what you _should_ be doing - especially with the (slim) excuse of keeping track of what your child is reading.
E.D. Baker's creativity continues to take the fairy tale creatures and spin them out in a new, vibrant world. The family dramas and disagreements make this accessible, the adventures make it fun, and the romance is sweet. (The books have convinced by 8-year-old that romance in real life is gross, but romance in books is fun. A classmate she's had a "crush" o...more
E.D. Baker's creativity continues to take the fairy tale creatures and spin them out in a new, vibrant world. The family dramas and disagreements make this accessible, the adventures make it fun, and the romance is sweet. (The books have convinced by 8-year-old that romance in real life is gross, but romance in books is fun. A classmate she's had a "crush" o...more
I am re-reading this favourite series as a comfort measure. Still hormonally over-sensitive from the birth of my fifth child, I need to safe reassurance of the known.
I like the humour of this series. The Salamander Spell is the fifth book of The Tales of the Frog Princess series but chronologically preceeds the first book, The Frog Princess. After my first reading of the series, I felt that the books are best read in the publishing order and that is how I am re-reading them. However, 3/4 of the...more
I like the humour of this series. The Salamander Spell is the fifth book of The Tales of the Frog Princess series but chronologically preceeds the first book, The Frog Princess. After my first reading of the series, I felt that the books are best read in the publishing order and that is how I am re-reading them. However, 3/4 of the...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Reviewed by Jeremey for TeensReadToo.com
No, this is not a story about Princess Emeralda and Prince Eadric.
This new story, which is a prequel to THE TALES OF THE FROG PRINCESS, visits Princess Emeralda's aunt....as a teenager!
Living in Greater Greensward with her mother, father, and sister, Chartreuse, Grassina is not expected to do much. Chartreuse was first born, which means she will be both Queen and Green Witch. All Grassina is expected to do is to marry a prince.
When the King gives their...more
No, this is not a story about Princess Emeralda and Prince Eadric.
This new story, which is a prequel to THE TALES OF THE FROG PRINCESS, visits Princess Emeralda's aunt....as a teenager!
Living in Greater Greensward with her mother, father, and sister, Chartreuse, Grassina is not expected to do much. Chartreuse was first born, which means she will be both Queen and Green Witch. All Grassina is expected to do is to marry a prince.
When the King gives their...more
A prequel to Tales of the Frog Princess. Grassina, as the second oldest princess, is told she must content herself to her life as it is, while her older sister Chartreuse is trained to rule the kingdom. But when a curse turns their mother, The Green Witch, into a disagreeable hag, Grassina finds unexpected means and powers to help defend the kingdom from lurking threats. A charming book, and one I had no trouble following despite never had read any of the other books in the series. It's for pret...more
Originally reviewed - 5/21/08
Refurbished Fairy Tales are another one of my weaknesses, so I wasn't too surprised when I fell in love with The Frog Princess series. This story was great but I finished the book so quickly I was shocked when I realized that I was on the last chapter of the story. Like I said before, I liked reading Grassina's story. But I felt her adventure paled in comparison to that of her niece's adventures. I guess I expected more. But that's just me.
Refurbished Fairy Tales are another one of my weaknesses, so I wasn't too surprised when I fell in love with The Frog Princess series. This story was great but I finished the book so quickly I was shocked when I realized that I was on the last chapter of the story. Like I said before, I liked reading Grassina's story. But I felt her adventure paled in comparison to that of her niece's adventures. I guess I expected more. But that's just me.
Fantasy Grade 5 (age 10)
I liked how well the story moved along and many of the ideas in the book. This is a really good suggestion for girls who like adventure stories; especially relating to princesses, castles, and spells.
I wish the male characters were more developed; like her father and especially the boy Haywood. He could be so much more in this story. While the sister character, Chartreuse, could have been a bit less in the story.
I liked how well the story moved along and many of the ideas in the book. This is a really good suggestion for girls who like adventure stories; especially relating to princesses, castles, and spells.
I wish the male characters were more developed; like her father and especially the boy Haywood. He could be so much more in this story. While the sister character, Chartreuse, could have been a bit less in the story.
This book was pretty good, although it had to lead up to a lot of tragic points in history—so it probably wasn't quite as light of a read as the other stories.
After a while, I found certain portions of the book harder to follow than the other books. I kind of missed the characters that aren't yet born in this book, although it was cool to learn more about the others.
The narration was great.
After a while, I found certain portions of the book harder to follow than the other books. I kind of missed the characters that aren't yet born in this book, although it was cool to learn more about the others.
The narration was great.
I was disappointed by this book. I enjoyed the other "Frog Princess" books. Although the writing was always just good and never great, it was fun, light reading with enough clever twists to keep me engaged.
This book was supposed to be the prequel to the Frog Princess series. Maybe I don't understand how prequels are supposed to work. But, I really felt like she had explained so much of what would happen in this story in her other books, that making this story into a whole book was pretty pointle...more
This book was supposed to be the prequel to the Frog Princess series. Maybe I don't understand how prequels are supposed to work. But, I really felt like she had explained so much of what would happen in this story in her other books, that making this story into a whole book was pretty pointle...more
I really wanted to give this a 4, but there's just one or two things that could have been written better, I'm not sure how to describe it. I'd probably give this a 3.4 or so. Rather enjoyable, enough so that I'm going to check out the others in the series (this is a prequel, it says it's book five but it's before the others). Hopefully, as I've been discovering, many authors' further books in a series are better than the first. We'll see!
I had high hopes for this book, as I enjoyed all the other books of the series. However, I found this one lacking, unfortunately. I found it fairly predictable and a little dramatic and sentimental. I would have liked to see more showing versus telling, as I found a lot of the story summative in nature.
Even so, I did like knowing the backstory of Grassina, Chartreuse, and Olivene.
Even so, I did like knowing the backstory of Grassina, Chartreuse, and Olivene.
Things just seemed to happen randomly in this book, starting with when Grassina's mother turned into a hag. It was just completely out there, and the curse hadn't been mentioned prior to it happening (plus, it seemed like a really random curse) and it was never explained. Things happened for no reason. The title doesn't make a whole lot of sense because the spell concerning the salamander was just a small part of the story at the end. It also seemed like the author added stuff because she couldn...more
Aug 15, 2012
Elevetha Houre
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Lovers of fairytales retold, reimagined, or twisted on it's side
Recommended to Elevetha by:
Miss Clark
3 1\2 stars. Prequel time!! This is Grassina's story. I would suggest reading this first but it doesn't really matter either way. Chartreuse is perfect and allowed magic lessons. Grassina: not so much. But, of course, Grassina ends up saving the kingdom. It is her story after all. Cute and fun. I loved getting more backstory. Quite good.
Very fast near the end, almost abrupt ending and hook up btwn girl and boy. Odd story line that I almost thought was gonna save me from what was lacking in the last book I finished . . . but no. Fell short. I'm thinking this is a prequel that is more for the readers' benefit and backstory, written after the series was started.
My pre-teen read this series and *begged* me to read this b/c she loved it. In the interest of good parenting, not turning down an invitation into my daughter's world, etc., I read it. :-) I can see why a nearly 12 yo girl would love it. I would have been all over this series at her age, too.
Grassina is tired of watching her older sister Chartuse try to do magic over and over again with no success and when her mother is turned into a hag by a curse, Grassina doesn't think it could get any worse. When Grassina's father dies, she runs off to live in a swamp and lives with a mystyrious boy, but when werewolves attack, who will defend the kingdom?
I liked that you could see Emma's ( The Frog Princess, Dragon's Breath, Once Upon a Curse, No Place For Magic,) aunt Grassina as a young gir...more
I liked that you could see Emma's ( The Frog Princess, Dragon's Breath, Once Upon a Curse, No Place For Magic,) aunt Grassina as a young gir...more
I just finished reading this book, and oh my goodness, this is such a great read! I absolutely adored it. Short but still sweet. The only thing that unsettled me about it was all the sappiness near the end. A definite must-read, as long as you've read all the books before! :)
This is a prequel to The Frog Princess series. I liked reading about Grassina and Haywood's story and how it began. If I had known there was a prequel before I started the series I might have read it first, but it still was great where it was is the order. Another good book.
For a while there, this was getting to be a G-rated version of Blue Lagoon. Only in a swamp. Oh my god, it's just too, too tragic, even if you know the ending. At least it explains the pet names.
But I do have some questions about the ethical treatment of werewolves.... 11.23pm
But I do have some questions about the ethical treatment of werewolves.... 11.23pm
Jul 26, 2011
Ingrid Morris
added it
All of E.D Baker's books are perfect for the tween set. They are hilarious, upside down fairytale adventures that feature strong females that don't sit around waiting for a prince to rescue them. Easy and fun.
This is the prequel to the tales of the frog princess. The main protagonist is Emma's aunt Grassina when she was young. This is an AMAZING book and definitely worth reading. I read this book 5 times!:)
This book is about Grassina as a child. It goes through the events of when her Mother is cursed by the family cursed and how Grassina discovers her magic. If you want to read The Frog Princess series I recommend reading this one first cause it explains a lot that you find out through books 1-4. A perfect Prequel to the Frog Princess Tales!
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E.D. Baker (Elizabeth Dawson Baker) made her international debut in 2002 with The Frog Princess, which was a Texas Lone Star Reading List Book, A Book Sense Children's Pick, a Florida's Sunshine State Readers List pick & a 2006 Sasquatch Book Award nominee. The Princess and the Frog, is loosely based on this novel.
Elizabeth was born in Buffalo, New York and spent most of the next eighteen yea...more
More about E.D. Baker...
Elizabeth was born in Buffalo, New York and spent most of the next eighteen yea...more
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“She was suddenly aware of him in a way she hadn't been before. Hayward was good-looking in a sweet and wholesome way.”
—
11 people liked it
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Jan 06, 2013 11:44am