J.M. Stengl's Blog, page 2

A DANCE OF SILVER AND SHADOW by Melanie Cellier - Review

Today I am spotlighting book 1 in the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series by my Author of the Month pick, Melanie Cellier. Have a closer look at . . . When Princess Liliana and her twin sister set sail for new lands, she hopes to find adventure and romance. But the people of Marin live under the shadow of a curse--one powerful enough to destroy entire kingdoms. To protect them all, Lily and eleven other princesses are forced to participate in a mysterious and secret tournament. Lily spends her nights competing in a magical underground realm and her days unraveling the dangers of this new court. Although she needs the help of the Marinese prince, Lily knows she can't let herself grow too close to him. There's no time for romance when the duchy is about to fall to the encroaching darkness and the winner of the tournament faces a terrible fate.One problem with retellings of this particular story is how to give twelve different princesses their own distinct identities and still have room to develop one central heroine and give her a hero worth having. Not to mention creating a believable scenario and gripping plot to keep a reader glued to the page.Well, this author has succeeded for sure! I loved having three princesses we already know (from earlier stories) immersed in the drama of a princess tournament--with no choice in the matter--along with nine other unwilling participants from other countries. I like Lily, her prince is lovable, and the side dramas worked very well. Yep, it's a really fun book!Next I'll be reviewing book 2 in the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series. Don't miss it . . . and don't miss the giveaway coming at the end of the month,exclusively for my mailing list subscribers!

THE PRINCESS GAME by Melanie Cellier - Review

Today marks the second of my Author of the Month featured reviews. I hope you will enjoy hearing about . . .Celeste has been cursed since her sixteenth birthday--just not in the way the rest of the kingdom thinks. All they see is her breath-taking beauty, marred by her foolishness. Only she knows that she retains her brilliant mind. And it’s a secret she must keep at all costs. Over the years she’s grown accustomed to the necessary deception. After all, her life depends on it. And she’s even found a way to protect her kingdom, working from the shadows. But now a dangerous new threat has emerged, one that Celeste can’t defeat alone. She needs the help of a newly-arrived prince. One who’s altogether too handsome and too charming. Somehow she needs to keep her secret, save her kingdom and find a way to free herself from the curse. The last thing she has time to do is sleep.What a clever way to allow the "sleeping beauty" to be an action heroine! This Four Kingdoms story includes the usual cast of lovable characters and evil villains, an exciting adventure tale, and a mystery to be solved. Also a sweet romance.Don't miss it!And don't miss any of my featured reviews for Melanie Cellier's wonderful tales. There's a giveaway coming up at the end of the month as well, exclusively for my newsletter subscribers!

THE PRINCESS FUGITIVE by Melanie Cellier - Review

And I'm back with another Author of the Month featured review, this time spotlighting another one of Melanie Cellier's delightful Four Kingdoms novels. And that novel is . . .Princess Ava used to be a weapon - sharp, strong and beautiful. But when she fails at her most important task, she's forced to flee from her own family. Only her personal bodyguard, Hans, remains loyal. Hans claims to know the real Ava but she finds that hard to believe - after all, she's been the villain so long that she can't remember anything else. Deep in exile, Ava learns her kingdom needs a hero and she might be the only one who can save it. The catch? She'll have to ally herself with the very people she blames for her downfall. But in a game of life and death where the stakes are an entire kingdom, winning over her enemies will only be the beginning. Can one fugitive save her people, her kingdom and, hardest of all, herself?The Princess Fugitive is my favorite of the Four Kingdoms stories, I think. I loved the character growth in our heroine, and Hans . . . well, I kind of fell for the guy. He would be hard to resist! Lots of action and intrigue and suspense here, a thrilling climax, and a happy-sigh-inducing romance.If you enjoy romantic fairy tales and haven't yet picked up this series, what are you waiting for?Don't miss any of my featured reviews for Melanie Cellier's amazing fairy tale retellings. Plus there will be a giveaway at the end of the month,exclusively for my mailing list subscribers!

THE PRINCESS COMPANION by Melanie Cellier - Review

Today I am featuring the first of my Author of the Month reviews! Allow me to present to you . . .One dark and stormy night, lost and alone, Alyssa finds herself knocking on the door of a castle. After a lifetime spent in the deep forest, Alyssa has no idea what to expect on the other side. What she finds is two unruly young princesses and one very handsome prince. When Alyssa accepts the job of Princess Companion she knows her life will change. What she doesn't know is that the royal family is about to be swept up in unexpected danger and intrigue, and that she just might be the only thing standing between her kingdom and destruction. This retelling of the classic fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea, reimagines the risks and rewards that come when one royal family goes searching for a true princess.The Princess Companion is lovely beginning to this series of fairy-tale retellings set in a vivid fantasy world. This story gives depth and meaning to a lesser-known tale, and the character development is delightful! The three bridal "contestants" for the prince are intriguing, and I was delighted to discover that each of them has her own follow-up book.A reader will find it easy to sink into this story world and forget all else. Fun reading. Highly recommended!Don't miss any of my upcoming Author of the Month featured reviews. There's a giveaway coming at the end of the month as well, exclusively for my subscribers, so be sure to subscribe if you haven't already!

Featured Author of the Month

I'm very excited to introduce my choice for September's Author of the Month. She is a popular and prolific name in the fairy-tale retelling world, and I have personally read and enjoyed numerous of her many works. So this September, I'll be sharing with you the tales of . . . Melanie Cellier is an Australian novelist who makes her home with her family in Adelaide. She is the author of the Four Kingdoms series and the ongoing Beyond the Four Kingdoms series. Both series are made up of stand-alone YA fairy tale retellings, featuring classic stories such as "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Princess and the Pea." You can keep up to date on her latest works and release by subscribing to her mailing list.I'll be posting my reviews of Melanie's books throughout the month. Let me tell you, there are some real beauties to share! And at the end of the month I'll be offering a giveaway exclusively to my mailing list subscribers, so be sure to sign up for my newsletter if you haven't already. (You'll get a free story from me when you do too!)

Fairy Tales Rediscovered - My Interview with Brittany Fichter

Hi, everyone! I'm so excited to be able to share with you my interview with my Author of the Month choice for August--the fabulous Brittany Fichter. I've been enjoying her books for a few months now, and I'm delighted to have a chance to get to know her better--and to share with all of you!Be sure to stick around after the interview to see how you can enter the giveaway for a beautiful Brittany Fichter novel!INTERVIEWHi, Brittany! So, let’s start at the beginning. When did you start writing stories, and how did you first start publishing?Brittany: I’ve written for…as long as I could write. I was definitely a 90’s child, so my first story journal was one of those pink Lisa Frank notebooks with the puppies eating ice cream, the kind you lose the key to and hope you didn’t actually lock it. (But you might have…because you hope your brothers don’t decide to be smart Alecs and “help” your story along.) I started publishing myself, however, when I was pregnant with my first child and realized that if I didn’t do it myself, it wasn’t getting done, not within the next few years. And working for myself has been such a gift of God that I’ve never looked back.As a wife and mother, do you keep a routine to allow blocks of time for writing, or do you sneak in writing spurts where possible—or both?Brittany: I write when my kids sleep…which isn’t nearly as much as I’d like these days! (Baby is teething.) Because of my son’s health problems this last year, however, I’ve had to really scrounge out every moment I can get. That often meant writing my manuscript on my phone with my thumbs. But I praise God every day that I have a job with flexibility. I’ve been able to take my manuscript with me to the ER to work on while the baby sleeps. When I ended up in the hospital myself, I was able to rearrange work as needed. And whenever life gets too hectic, I can remind myself that my children will never be this young again, and as a military wife, my husband can technically deploy at any time. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to do what I love when it’s best for me.Do you find that your life experiences affect your story ideas? If so, can you give us an example?Brittany: I have Tourettes, chronic anxiety, and OCD tendencies. Most people don’t know it, as I’m pretty good at managing my symptoms, but writing allows me to channel my anxiety. Because of that, a lot of my characters have “quirks” that were inspired by my tics and anxieties. Katy, my fairy in The Autumn Fairy, has power that tries to escape and destroy things. It travels through her fingers, and she often has to clench and unclench her hands to keep her power at bay. I took this from my experience with tics and how to move other parts of my body in order to cover them up.Similarly, Isa, my Beauty character from Before Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast, has a limp and is seen as the town outcast for it. It was easy to channel the way I felt broken because of my disorders as a teen and put them into her (in an exaggerated way, of course). I think it’s because of this reason that I have readers that have told me they can connect with my characters. We all know what it’s like to be broken. We all know what it’s like to hope someone will see past it to find the real us. Do you ever base your characters (even partially) on people you know?Brittany: I do, though only those who know me intimately would be able to spot them. For instance, I based Launce, Isa’s younger brother, on one of my younger brothers. He’s kind, smart, and loyal to a fault. King Everard was based on my other brother. It’s never an all-out character copy. Each character has his or her own personality and history. But using characters in my life makes it easier to pull in real dialogue, beats, and choices that seem authentic.Why do you write fantasy in particular?Brittany: As I said earlier, I’ve lived with anxiety my entire life. I latched on to fairy tales from the moment I first heard them read to me because there was always a happy ending. (Maybe not in some of the originals, but the ones my parents read…) The characters face trials, and they must overcome them and turn out stronger in the end. To me, magic is a picture. It’s a way to understand real life. My stories aren’t about the magic, but about what the right frame of heart can do with it. They’re about what can happen when we learn to grow the way God made us to.Have certain authors inspired your work or given you jump-off ideas for your stories?Brittany: When I was little, my grandfather gave me a set of fairy tales for children, the big kind with dozens of stories and colorful pictures in each. I always wanted to know more about the characters and why they made the choices they did. So when I discovered Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, my world got infinitely bigger. And then it multiplied again when I found Robin McKinley’s books. I also greatly enjoyed the Legends of the Guardian-King series by Karen Hancock. Every time I feel like my writing well is running dry, all I need to pick up another book, and the creative juices are off and running again…as soon as I finish the book.Thank you for taking time for all these questions, Brittany! It was really fun to launch my new Author of the Month feature with you and your stories.Reader friends, be sure to visit Brittany's website today. She's got some free stories available for those of you who'd like to sample her work. And now . . . One lucky winner is going to get a paperback copy of The Autumn Fairy, book one in Brittany's new series. Isn't it pretty? It's a wonderful story too.This giveaway is EXCLUSIVELY for my mailing list subscribers. If you are already a subscriber, be sure to check your inbox for a link so you can participate! If you're not, head over to THIS page and sign up today (you'll also get a free story from me!)Be sure to leave a comment for Brittany. She was very kind to take time out of her busy schedule to feature on my website today. Let her know if you've enjoyed any of her books already (We authors always need to hear it!).

THE AUTUMN FAIRY by Brittany Fichter - Review

Here is my final review spotlight for my Author of the Month pick, Brittany Fichter. Take a look at this gorgeous cover for The Autumn Fairy:Katrin knows little about her origins, but whatever she is, it's certainly not human. On an island where humans have banned magic and hunt all who possess it, the dark power within her has become too strong to hide. With each passing day, the threat grows. For if she cannot master her terrifying abilities soon, everyone around her will suffer. And that's something she cannot accept. While Katrin is willing to sacrifice herself to save others, Peter, her childhood friend and protector, is not. But when he promises to save her at all costs, jeopardizing his own kingdom in return, he finds that his failure will mean either Katrin’s death or the isle’s doom. And if unraveling the source of Katrin’s power isn’t difficult enough, a mysterious and powerful stranger from the forest reveals that he has plans of his own for Katrin…and the rest of the isle. To protect their home, Katrin and Peter must face not only their worst fears about who and what they are but their true feelings for one another as well. For if they don't, everything they love will perish...What a lovely book, filled with intrigue and mystery and romance! I would call this a fantasy/action/romance book, with main characters that learn and grow throughout the book to become truly heroic . . . although there is still room to grow and learn in the follow-on books! I'm excited to read what comes next, when Peter and Katy travel to the other islands and learn more about themselves, their roles, and their history and future! Highly recommended to all lovers of fay-fantasy books with lots of sweet romance, action, and suspense.Don't miss out on the giveaway launching on Monday! I'm running a raffle for a print copy of The Autumn Fairy, but it's exclusively for my mailing list subscribers. If you'd like a chance to win Brittany's lovely book, be sure to subscribe today. (You'll get a free story from me as well just for signing up!)

BLINDING BEAUTY by Brittany Fichter - Review

Today I'm featuring my second Author of the Month book! Allow me to present Blinding Beauty . . .Beauty might have married the Beast, but vows never promised anyone a simple life, least of all, the king and queen of Destin. It has been only five months since their wedding, but Ever and Isa are already being torn apart. Duty to the kingdom keeps Ever occupied, while Isa struggles to master the Fortress's mysterious fire. So when the young couple is invited to an ally's betrothal ceremony, they go in hopes of enjoying the honeymoon they never had. Upon arrival, however, something is sorely amiss. A glass hill, an ancient enchanter, and the mysterious tribute paid to Isa's younger brother, Launce, quickly dash their hopes of rest, and it's not long before Ever and Isa must fight to protect the Fortress, their neighbors, and even the very love that binds them.You know I love fairy-tale retellings--I read them voraciously and write my own! But seldom do I find one about a married couple. This quality alone sets Blinding Beauty apart, and I love the way Ms. Fichter portrayed the struggles of these two strong, loving, yet very disparate characters fumbling their way through their first months of married life. I found it both magical and realistic. After all Isa has been shy and retiring most of her life, and Ever is the ultimate alpha male. Is it any wonder they have trouble relating to each other, let alone communicating clearly? Great stuff here. The side-story, a retelling of "The Glass Mountain," is also great fun. Launce and Olivia are very young, but they both know it and seem to have realistic expectations of the difficulties involved in a match between them. I enjoyed watching Launce's change of heart toward Ever as the story unfolds. The villain of this tale is so convinced of his own rightness that he will kill to accomplish the changes he believes the Maker intends. This kind of religious fanaticism makes for a chilling villain! This is not a fast read, but it is well worth reading, filled with beautiful description and fascinating dialogue. I love the Fortress and its symbolism, and I look forward to seeing these characters in further stories. Highly recommended!Don't miss the third of my feature reviews for Brittany Fichter's work, coming next week. And next week also marks the beginning of the Author of the Month Giveaway! I can't wait to share more fun fairy tales with all of you.

BEFORE BEAUTY by Brittany Fichter - Review

Today I'm featuring the first book in my Author of the Month series for August. Take a look at this lovely . . .Prince Everard’s father spent the boy's youth forging the prince into a warrior. Upon the king’s death, however, Everard realizes he’s lost himself somewhere along the way, and in his pain, makes a decision that brings a dark curse upon both him and the great Fortress that has so long guarded the people of Destin. The prince's sin doesn’t simply affect those of his citadel, however. Isa, the daughter of a local merchant, has suffered the prince’s hasty temper before, and it changed her life forever. When Everard’s final outburst cuts off his people’s source of protection with the curse, he demands that she, a crippled commoner, come to help him break it. All the while, Destin’s northern enemy crouches at the foot of the Fortress’s mountain, waiting for the right moment to capture the stronghold that has stood for a thousand years.I have always loved "Beauty and the Beast," and I enjoy reading retellings that add backstory and variety to the tale. This one has a fantastic magical world--I loved the Fortress with its lovely hint of allegory. The main characters each must grow to understand their purpose and accept their roles, and I appreciated the author's artistry in painting their struggles and successes.I highly recommend this lovely tale to all "Beauty and the Beast" lovers. It makes for a wonderful introduction to Brittany's writing and worlds.Don't miss the rest of my featured review for Brittany Fichter's books! And keep your eyes open for the giveaway at the end of the month, exclusively for my newsletter subscribers.

Author of the Month - August

Hi, friends! I'm starting a new monthly feature which I'm very excited to share with all of you. Each month I'm going to pick an Author of the Month to spotlight here on my blog! Always an author of the fun, clean, fairy-tale fantasy we love.I'll be posting reviews of my chosen author's books (those that I've read, anyway), and at the end of the month, I'll host a giveaway for one of those books, exclusively for my newsletter subscribers.So allow me to present my chosen Author of the Month for August . . .Brittany lives with her Prince Charming and their little fairy in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the Air Force has most recently placed them. When she's not writing, Brittany can be found with her family (including their spoiled black Labrador), doing chores (she'd rather be writing), going to church, belting Disney songs, exercising, or decorating cakes. You can find more of her work at her website BrittanyFichterFiction.com.This talented and prolific author has multiple series to her name, including The Becoming Beauty Trilogy, The Classical Kingdoms Collection, The Autumn Fairy, and a story featured in The Entwined Tales. I haven't even begun to read all of her many works yet, but I've loved the three I have read, and I'll be featuring those here on my blog this month.I hope you will all enjoy this new spotlight feature! I'm excited to introduce you to some of my new favorite fairy-tale finds.