Lisa Dawn's Blog: The Princess Blog, page 11

Review: Marian and the Elf

Marian and the Elf is the second book in the Elves & Legends series by Anabelle Raven. The books in this series are loose fairy tale retellings set in a high fantasy world of humans and elves with magical powers. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, Ella and the Elf, so I decided to give this one a try. Although I don't usually enjoy Robin Hood-inspired stories as much as princess ones, this book had both! This version of Marian is a rebel princess who becomes a pirate in an attempt to escape her cruel father. Generational trauma is something that this book shares with its prequel and will likely be an ongoing theme throughout this series. Another continuing theme is prejudice. Both books tell love stories between a human and an elf in a world where the two races are at odds with each other. This one is more action-packed than the gentle Ella's story, so it appeals to a more adventuresome audience.

Although Marian and the Elf is inspired by the Robin Hood legends, there are no references to the elf named Robin being a vigilante hero who steals from the rich to give to the poor. Instead, he is a mercenary who is cursed to get a bad taste in his mouth when someone lies, including himself. Marian is not a generous and sheltered maiden but instead a troubled princess with an abusive father who forces her to commit crimes for him including murder. Despite its lack of ties to Robin Hood, this book is a swashbuckling original adventure with a steamy no-spice romance. When Marian's ship is attacked by a storm, she is rescued by a band of elves who intend to kidnap her. Fearing for her life, she withholds her identity as a princess and pretends to be a pirate named Mary. Robin quickly develops feelings toward her that he didn't realize he was capable of having with a human.

Some elements of this book are difficult to take in, so I would not recommend it for a younger audience despite having a clean love story. Marian suffers from years of abuse from her father and struggles with night terrors that she has trouble waking from. Robin suffers from a difficult childhood, and his binding elven magic forces him to keep his promise to capture and surrender Marian to the bad guy despite his feelings for her. This creates a huge obstacle in their relationship that is difficult to overcome. I can't say it's the most romantic book I've ever read, but it is one of the most sincere. Both Marian and Robin fully understand the consequences of their actions and must find a way to redeem themselves so they can be together. It is not a light-hearted romance, but it is a powerful one.

One of my favorite things about fairy tale adaptation series is how all the books in a series tie into each other. Altair and Ella, the main couple from the previous book, Ella and the Elf, make more than just a cameo appearance at the end of this story. They play a vital role in the book's climax forcing Robin and Marian to earn their trust for the sake of their kingdoms. Since both couples consist of a male elf and a human woman who both had to overcome prejudice within their races, it was interesting to see them interact with each other. They don't trust each other immediately despite their similar circumstances, but after the ordeal they face together, they become good friends. Anabelle Raven has created a rich fantasy world to retell these classic stories. It is a unique setting filled with magic and many obstacles for interracial couples to overcome together.

Marian and the Elf is a swashbuckling retelling of the Robin Hood legend, set in a rich high fantasy world of humans and elves with magical powers. With its themes of generational trauma, prejudice, and forbidden love, this book takes a darker and more action-packed approach than its predecessor, Ella and the Elf. Despite its connections to Robin Hood, this book carves its own path, introducing a rebel princess turned pirate and a cursed elf mercenary whose love story is fraught with obstacles. While dealing with heavy themes, the book remains a sincere and powerful romance, and its ties to the previous book in the series add a delightful layer of depth. I highly recommend this series to fans of fantasy and fairy tale retellings, but note that this book may be more suited to adult readers due to its mature themes. Overall, Anabelle Raven has crafted a compelling and immersive world, and I eagerly look forward to seeing how the series continues to unfold.

Review: The Cursed Beauty

I recently had the exciting opportunity to review an ARC of The Cursed Beauty, the newest fairy tale adaptation by Valia Lind. This book is part of her Skazka Fairy Tales series, which is about a Russian-inspired fantasy world with a heavy focus on romance. As the first full-length novel I've read that takes place in this world, I found it refreshingly sweet. The Cursed Beauty is a retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" that places more focus on the love story than the magical elements of the fairy tale. It's a straightforward romance about a princess and her bodyguard and the class differences that stand in their way. I liked that the book didn't use unrealistic feminist standards and gave an accurate representation of how this type of relationship could have played out.

The Cursed Beauty starts out exactly like "Sleeping Beauty." Princess Alyona was cursed by an evil fairy at her birthing ceremony to fall into a death-like sleep that would affect the whole kingdom by her 19th birthday. Just as the fairy tale goes, one of the fairies who came to grant her a blessing revised the curse so she could be awakened by true love's kiss whenever it took place. In preparation for what was to come, Alyonka's family locked her away from the world and gave her a group of capable soldiers to protect her. When she came of age, they held a competition to find the right prince to form a strong bond between their two kingdoms and eventually break the curse. However, Alyonka has little interest in any of the competitors. Her heart was captured long before by her bodyguard, Nikolai, whom she had known for many years. Although Nikolai shares her feelings, he must do his best to keep them hidden so that he can properly perform his duty.

While it works well as an adaptation of "Sleeping Beauty," The Cursed Beauty excels the most when it focuses on romance. Every chapter is told from both Alyonka and Nikolai's perspectives giving us a clear picture of their feelings toward each other. I've read many other books that alternate between the perspectives of two love interests in the past. Although I can understand why it was done, there were times that it would switch perspectives while narrating a scene from the same place at the same time, which occasionally made me forget whose point of view I was reading from. Regardless of this minor confusion, Alyonka and Nikolai have wonderful chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the excitement and awkwardness they shared when they were alone together and wanted to confess their feelings but had to hold back for the sake of the kingdom and breaking the curse. All of this builds up to a predictable yet satisfying ending.

The author of this series put a great deal of effort into her world-building. Skazka is heavily influenced by medieval Russia, complete with Russian-inspired language, culture, and fashion. The fantasy elements are equally well-written. A stand-out supporting character from the book is Alyonka's secret dragon friend, Chudo, who can communicate with her telepathically and has mysterious powers that help her. The fairies are similar to the ones from the original fairy tale but fit well into the fantasy world that Valia Lind has created as well. Although I was able to figure out the identity of the villain early on, she was a powerful foe who posed a suitable match for the heroes of this story. Since Alyonka was facing a curse as opposed to a physical threat, she did not need to be physically strong in the same way as other modern princesses and was able to focus on more feminine personality traits.

The Cursed Beauty by Valia Lind is an enthralling fairy tale adaptation that shines in its romantic portrayal of "Sleeping Beauty." With its dual perspectives, the novel masterfully captures the sweet and tender moments between Alyonka and Nikolai, making their love story the true highlight of the book. The author's world-building skills are equally impressive, transporting readers to a richly detailed Russian-inspired fantasy world. While some minor quirks in the narrative perspective may cause brief confusion, the story's predictable yet satisfying ending and memorable supporting characters make up for it. Overall, The Cursed Beauty is a charming addition to the Skazka Fairy Tales series, perfect for those seeking a romantic and dreamy fairy tale adaptation.

Review: Time Princess - Alice: Ideal Wonderland

The Time Princess app recently added a new type of visual novel that has gotten a lot of pushback from players. Traveler's Notes stories are quite possibly the most unanimously disliked new feature in the game. These stories contain fewer clothing items and no companion relics, which have enhanced the player experience in Time Princess since it began. Although I played the first Traveler's Notes visual novel, I didn't bother writing about it because there was nothing in it that piqued my interest. The new one, Alice: Ideal Wonderland, is inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, a story that is often considered a fairy tale and sometimes even a Disney Princess story. Although it isn't one of my favorite fairy tales, the Once Upon a Time in Wonderland series that it inspired in 2013 is one of my favorite television shows of all time. There are so many different ways to interpret this story that there's usually something in it for everyone.

Like many Alice in Wonderland retellings, Alice: Ideal Wonderland strays away from the Lewis Carroll novel in favor of an older Alice with more potential for romance. The two love interests are the Mad Hatter and a human version of the Cheshire Cat. This version of Alice finds herself in Wonderland after following a white rabbit in search of her sister, Lily, after she disappeared from a party. The designs and story are closer to Tim Burton's 2010 theatrical version of Alice in Wonderland. In both of these adaptations, the characters in Wonderland acknowledge Alice's world as a place that they are aware of, and both stories involve a conflict between two sisters who are queens. Instead of a Red Queen and a White Queen, Alice: Ideal Wonderland features a Black Queen and a White Queen, which is a more literal interpretation of the playing pieces on a chess board. Ideal Wonderland is named after the White Queen's attempt to create a utopia where everything is perfect after banishing her sister, the Black Queen. Alice's job is to bring about change and return Wonderland to its original chaotic state so everyone can get back their freedom.

The Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat's backstories in this version are different from other interpretations. They are devoid of their usual humor and mystery so they can offer a more traditional romance for Alice. The Mad Hatter is an adventurer who wants to explore Alice's world but feels stuck following the rigid rules that the White Queen set in place for her Ideal Wonderland. The Cheshire Cat or "Gentleman Cat" is a magician whose family worked for the queen. His cat-like features came from a mistake on a transformation potion that he was never able to fix. He is very dapper and acts like a traditional Victorian gentleman. Unlike the characters from the original novel or other companions in the Time Princess's stories, these two love interests are rather shallow and serve only the most basic requirements to provide romance for Alice. Because of this, it's pretty easy to get a happy ending with either one of them without having to go back to previous chapters and changing a lot of decisions.

Since this is a Traveler's Notes story, implying minimal effort on the part of the game developers, there are only two outfits available throughout the visual novel. However, I was pleased with the quality of these two ethereal fantasy gowns inspired by Victorian fashion. One outfit is based on the White Queen and contains gorgeous regal jewelry, a grand sweeping white ballgown with glittering adornments, and a floating chessboard accessory. The other, which is made of single-piece items, is a more traditional Alice dress. Because Alice is aged up in this story, the dress is a full gown that would be typical of women from this period. It includes lace-up boots, stunning jewelry, and a choice between a white bonnet or a bluebonnet crown. Though they were few in quantity, I was so happy with the lovely aesthetic of these dresses that I wish this story could have been a full visual novel to unlock even more similar-looking outfits.

Alice: Ideal Wonderland, the new Traveler's Notes story in the Time Princess app, offers a unique and visually stunning interpretation of the classic Alice in Wonderland tale. While it deviates from the original story and lacks the depth of previous visual novels in the game, its ethereal fantasy gowns and romantic storyline make for an enjoyable experience. The two love interests, the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat, provide a traditional romance for Alice, and the story's themes of freedom and change add a thought-provoking layer to the narrative. Although the story is somewhat shallow and lacks the complexity of other Time Princess visual novels, its beauty and charm make it a worthwhile play. Hopefully, future updates will bring more substance and depth to the Traveler's Notes stories, but for now, Alice: Ideal Wonderland is a delightful addition to the game.

Review: The Wolf Gate

I don't read a lot of retellings of "Little Red Riding Hood" because they usually change the wolf character into a werewolf and eliminate the theme of trusting strangers (which is why I wrote my own version). However, since I enjoyed The Rose Gate by Hanna Sandvig because of the unique modern-day setting and fae worldbuilding, I decided to check out its prequel, The Wolf Gate. This book contains the expected werewolves, but it also does a good job of conveying the theme of trust and stands out from other fairy tale adaptations due to its modern high school setting. It reminded me of Twilight due to its teenage target audience, so I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read it at a younger age.

The last thing Audrey expects after getting chased in the woods is to be rescued by her ex-boyfriend who abandoned her at prom. Nor is she expecting to learn that he is a werewolf from the fae world and that he abandoned her due to his magical responsibilities. However, there isn't much time for her to absorb all this new information before her rebound ex, who also happens to be a werewolf, decides to try to capture her for the Unseelie Queen. Her magical red cloak isn't enough to protect her because it only shields her from people who don't know she's there. That means she must let Gavin help her and come to terms with her repressed feelings toward him.

Like Twilight, the main character in this book has some Mary Sue-ish tendencies. It is made abundantly clear that Audrey's attraction to Gavin is superficial, at least at first. There are many descriptions of his bulging muscles and sexy Irish accent and how amazed she was the first time she found out he wanted to date her. That amazement was shared by me as a reader because there is very little written about her that would be likely to attract a magical being from another world. She has few defining personality traits or interests, and it seemed to be sheer luck that she went to school with a sexy werewolf who decided to protect her with his life. Her successor, Isobel from The Rose Gate was more fleshed out.

My favorite thing about The Wolf Gate is that it is a quick and easy read. This is a great book for someone with a busy schedule since I think stories about escapism should be relaxing. The plot is straightforward, and the modern-day setting makes it easy for readers to relate to. Its main love story is simple and alluring, which allows them to dive right into the romantic fantasy. This book is also a fantastic introduction to the fae world from the Faerie Tale Romances series, inspired by Celtic mythology with the Seelie and Unseelie courts as well as the anime isekai genre, which involves people from modern realistic settings stumbling into magical fantasy worlds.

The Wolf Gate by Hanna Sandvig is a delightful read that offers a unique modern-day retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood." While it may not stray far from the stereotypical werewolf trope, it successfully conveys the theme of trust and stands out with its high school setting. Audrey, the main character, may lack depth, but the story's lighthearted and romantic tone makes it an enjoyable escape. This book is perfect for those seeking a relaxing read and an introduction to the fae world, which is expertly woven in with Celtic mythology and anime inspirations. If you're looking for a quick escape, The Wolf Gate is a great choice, and its sequel, The Rose Gate, is equally enchanting.

Do Princess Stories Need to Be Historically Accurate?

Over the past several years, I have reviewed various princess media. The majority of the shows, books, and movies I've discussed have been rooted in fantasy with a few exceptions. Historically, princesses were the daughters of real-life monarchs and other leaders, but most of their appeal is rooted in legends, myths, and fairy tales. Sometimes, the lines between fantasy and reality can become blurred when using real historical figures as protagonists. In the case of media like Anastasia, Reign, or Six, audiences understand that the primary function of these presentations is to entertain them while throwing in some historical nuggets to do their own research on later if they so choose. It has recently come to my attention that there is a stigma revolving around Disney's Pocahontas, a movie I greatly enjoyed as a child, due to its numerous historical inaccuracies. Is it inherently immoral to enjoy a piece of historical fiction that colors the character's lives in a brighter and more pleasant light than their reality? Let's explore.

 

Much of Pocahontas's history has been lost to time, but there are some facts we do know about her life that contradict the events of the Disney movie. For instance, her family did not always refer to her as "Pocahontas" as her true name was Amonute, and her private family name was Matoaka. "Pocahontas" was a nickname meaning "playful one" due to her mischievous nature, which was captured beautifully in the film. It is also known hat the Disney movie aged her up a bit so they could turn the film into a tragic love story. In actuality, she was closer to ten years old around the time the events of the movie took place, but John Smith allegedly had a great deal of respect for her a truly believed she saved his life according to his own account, whether or not it was actually accurate. Since the story took place in the late 1500s, there is not as much recorded history from the time period than there would be with today's technology. Her story became a legend based on only a select few witness accounts.

Other changes include that Pocahontas actually did marry Kocoum, her fiancé who was killed in the film before they had a chance to say their vows. The Native American princess was later kidnapped and brought to England, where she was forced to marry John Rolfe after bearing his child and given a Christian name of Rebecca. The sequel, Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World loosely follows this timeline by creating more of a consensual relationship between Pocahontas and John Rolfe. After this, she passed away on a ship back to Virginia at the age of only 21. The sequel gets criticism from both sides as more accurate by portraying a romance with someone that Pocahontas actually married and simultaneously less accurate by portraying her trip to England and successive marriage as a decision she made of her own volition. However,direct-to-video sequels of the early 2000s are generally not given the same amount of attention or respect as Disney's theatrical classics, so this Pocahontas 2 does not suffer the same level of scrutiny as the original.

When I was a child, I absolutely adored Pocahontas. I learned all of the songs, which were famously composed by Alan Menken, who wrote the soundtrack of the Disney Renaissance, and Stephen Schwartz, who later composed Wicked, one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time. I saw Pocahontas herself as a spirited and compelling character with a great deal of depth who used her positive feminine traits of kindness and forgiveness to end a war without resorting to violence. The film also had a positive environmental message that was conveyed through Pocahontas's respect of Grandmother Willow, a talking tree that was definitely not rooted in historical accuracy. Pocahontas was one of the eight original Disney Princesses. Although she took a backseat to the main six, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine in the early years, she was still heavily featured on a wide variety of merchandise.

Another movie I greatly enjoyed as a child was Anastasia, which presented a "What if?" scenario loosely based on the case of Anna Anderson, who claimed to be a survivor of the genocide of the Romanov family in the early 1920s. Although these claims were later proven false, Don Bluth used them to weave together a beautiful romantic fairy tale with some of the best hand-drawn animation ever seen theaters. This legend has gone on to inspire a Broadway musical and a Kickstarter game with very little push-back. For some reason, online naysayers are not as bothered by romanticizing the murder of the real Anastasia as they are of romanticizing the life of Pocahontas. I grew up admiring both of these characters and knew that the animated films were fantasy and that their real history was available through libraries and other educational resources if I became curious about the source material. Knowing that these magical tales had just a touch of reality in them made them all the more enchanting to watch.

The debate surrounding historical accuracy in princess media raises important questions about the responsibility of creators and the agency of audiences. While some argue that romanticizing historical figures is inherently immoral, others see it as a harmless exercise in creativity. As someone who grew up enchanted by Pocahontas and Anastasia, I believe that it's possible to appreciate these stories as fantasy while also respecting the real people behind the legends. By acknowledging the blurred lines between history and fantasy, we can continue to enjoy these tales while also seeking out the facts and respecting the complexity of the past. Ultimately, it's up to each individual to decide how to navigate these complexities, but by doing so thoughtfully and critically, we can ensure that these stories continue to captivate and inspire us for generations to come.

Review: The Soulless Slipper

 One good "Cinderella" retelling deserves another. The Soulless Slipper is the second of three "Cinderella" adaptations by Abigail Manning. They say you shouldn't tell the same story twice, but when you can do so in such a unique and masterful way, then why not? The Soulless Slipper is part of Abigail Manning's Fairmyth Chronicles, which seamlessly combines classic fairy tales with famous Greek myths. This book gives the story of Hades and Persephone a romantic fairy tale flair. When I was in a creative writing class years ago, I wrote a short story that retold this myth with the twist that Persephone was secretly in love with Hades and ate the pomegranate seeds of her own free will so she could stay with him. The Soulless Slipper reinforces my girlish romantic fantasies and takes them a step further by weaving in the elegance and majesty of "Cinderella."

Priscilla has been forced to spend most of her life toiling away in the fields for her wicked stepmother. She suffers vast injuries and depends on the magic of her nymph friends to survive from day to day. When a selfish prince named Aaron becomes infatuated with her, he sends his uncle, Hayden, to go and fetch her. However, Hayden takes pity on Priscilla for her stepmother's mistreatment and comes to respect her a great deal after she rescues him. When Aaron tries to trick Priscilla into binding her soul with his at a royal ball, Hayden must intercept his nephew's ploy before it's too late. For her protection, he brings Priscilla to the "Underworth," this series' version of the Underworld, where he is bound. There, she learns the truth about her powers, her past, and the people who have been trying to take advantage of her for her entire life.

When I started this book, it felt like the author was trying to develop a traditional fae world where everyone has powers and travels through portals to other realms. Once it set in that it was based on Greek mythology, everything instantly fell into place. I realized that the characters were all alter egos of Greek gods hidden in plain sight in the first letter of their names. Priscilla starts with a "P" like Persephone, Hayden is obviously Hades, Zion is Zeus, Aaron is Ares, and both Priscilla's mother and stepmother's names start with a "D" like Demeter. The story became more enjoyable when I made this connection instead of just focusing on the "Cinderella" aspects. After it became apparent that this is more of a retelling of the Persephone myth than of "Cinderella," everything fell into place.

The romance in this book is swoon-worthy and different from any other "Cinderella" retelling. In this version, Prince Aaron wants to place the enchanted slipper on Priscilla's foot for nefarious purposes, and it is up to Hayden to protect her from him and the rest of the world. Priscilla falls for Hayden pretty quickly, which allows her to see through Aaron's ruse before he has the chance to claim her. She learns that she is more powerful and important than she realizes and is given far more agency than either Cinderella or Persephone had in their origin stories. As the ruler of the "Underworth," Hayden's dark yet reassuring presence gives off "Beauty and the Beast" or Phantom of the Opera vibes, making him a dark brooding love interest with a heart of gold.

The Soulless Slipper by Abigail Manning is a swoony retelling of "Cinderella" and "Hades and Persephone" that masterfully combines elements of both stories. With its unique blend of fairy tale romance and Greek mythology, this book is a must-read for fans of romantic folklore. Manning's writing is engaging, and her characters are well-developed and complex, with Priscilla being a strong and empowered protagonist. The romance is alluring, and Hayden's dark and brooding presence adds a delicious layer of complexity to the story. Overall, The Soulless Slipper is a fantastic read that will leave you spellbound and eager for more fairy tale mythology mash-ups.

LoliRock Revisited

It's been ten years since LoliRock first took the stage on Netflix, and rumors of a potential third season inspired me to watch the show again as I did with Winx Club, which recently previewed its upcoming reboot in Italy. LoliRock is a French Magical Girl show about a lost princess who must master her new powers while trying to liberate a mysterious faraway kingdom. It hits all the right plot notes to fit the Magical Girl algorithm, but poor writing prevents it from being a memorable entry in the genre. One thing that makes LoliRock unique is its focus on music. The three main characters aren't only magical princesses from other worlds but members of a hit rock band that performs full-length music videos at the end of each episode. Unfortunately, the overly synthesized sound of these songs is not very appealing to me, and I ended up skipping over them during my rewatch.

The main character in LoliRock is Iris, a beautiful girl who loves to sing that was raised by her aunt without knowing her true parents. Her crush, Nathaniel, works at a smoothie shop and encourages her to audition for a new band. The audition turns out to be a ruse set up by Talia and Auriana (which I thought was spelled Arianna until very recently) to find the lost princess of Ephedia. Iris turns out to be that princess, and her whole world turns upside down when she must suddenly navigate her newfound crystal powers, fighting bad guys, and becoming a rock star. The working title for this show was Star Princess, which does a better job of emphasizing these themes. The premise is very intriguing for fans of princesses, magical girls, and music, but the show plays it so safely that it never crosses the line from being a good show for girls to a great one.

Though I initially remembered Iris as a ditz who was more interested in her crush on Nathaniel than learning about her culture as an Ephedian princess, a second watch changed this perception. Throughout both seasons, Iris regularly writes in her diary about her curiosity of her true heritage and the struggles of living two very different lives. The problem is that the writers never let her explore this dichotomy. Instead, both seasons of LoliRock are extremely formulaic, following the Magical Girl format to a T. In almost every episode, Iris's necklace lights up to tell her someone is in trouble, and she finds the person and tries to help them. Then the twin troublemakers Praxina and Mephisto attack, the girls transform and defeat them, and an "Oracle Gem" is sent back to the crown of Ephedia, which needs an unspecified number of gems to restore its power and save the kingdom from the wicked Greymoor.

The show comes close to taking risks and introducing new ideas but takes the safest way out each time, which usually involves pressing a "reset" button at the end of the episode. For instance, there is one episode where Nathaniel sees Iris transform and learns her secret, which would have changed the entire dynamic of their relationship and set a new standard for romance in the Magical Girl genre. Instead, Iris turns back time so Nathaniel forgets everything and refrains from telling him her secret again even though he was very supportive. The second season introduces two new magical princesses, Carissa and Lyna, which could have given fans a chance to pick a new favorite character, but these two were rarely in the show as though the writers forgot they added them to the team. Another missed opportunity is when Iris learns late in the second season that her Aunt Ellen who raised her was from Ephedia all along. She could have been a mentor character from the beginning of the show, but her history is not brought up again until the final episode.

If I had never seen another Magical Girl show, I might have been amazed by the story and animation behind LoliRock. However, it came out when many other shows had used similar concepts more compellingly, making this a more forgettable one. That said, I love the designs of the characters both in and out of their Magical Girl outfits and the transformation sequences. Iris's pink and sparkly outfit stands out as one of the most tasteful and aesthetically pleasing Magical Girl looks of all time. If the rumors of a third season are true, my suggestion to the writers would be to spend more time in Ephedia and explore the life that Iris could have had if her kingdom hadn't been conquered when she was born. I would also like to learn more about the other princesses' kingdoms like Xeris and Volta, which are barely addressed in the two seasons that are out now.

What do you think, readers? Can LoliRock improve in a potential third season, or is it too late to make a lasting impact in the Magical Girl genre? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

World Princess Week Concludes with a New Disney Princess Anthem!

Yesterday was the last day of World Princess Week. The week itself was mostly uneventful. Instead of celebrating squarely within the rigid August 25th-31st timeline, Disney had pop-up events throughout the month in anticipation of it. However, they topped the week off with a grand finale in mind by drawing attention to a short YouTube series that may have otherwise fallen under the radar. The series, aptly titled after the new Disney Princess brand campaign, is called "Create Your World: Making a Disney Song." As you may have guessed, the title of the new song is "Create Your World." The web series released a 10-minute webisode once a week for six weeks leading up to the final performance in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland on the last day of World Princess Week.

I was not particularly invested in this web series when it started, so I "binged" all six webisodes on the final day. They portray an enthusiastic performer named Riley grouping four talented young girls, Aubrey, Charlee, Claire, and Ardy to perform the newest Disney Princess anthem in front of the castle at Disneyland. Throughout the webisodes, the girls learn about singing, dancing, and creating an image for themselves. I know this is going to make me sound old, but this series had way too much energy for me. It may be exciting to be able to perform a new song, but the level of excitement in these videos was off the charts. Everyone seemed like they were on a permanent sugar rush. Maybe that's what it takes to keep kids engaged these days?

Some touching moments radiated positive princess values like friendship and support. In one webisode, Riley helped to encourage Aubrey, who was feeling nervous, by telling her stories about how her co-stars helped her get through difficult performances by covering for her mistakes. The girls were encouraged to work together through several team-building exercises, and they all seemed to get along great with no drama. There was a lot of strategic Disney Princess product placement, especially when Riley used princess dolls to demonstrate her anecdotes about performing. I enjoyed seeing the girls work together and share their unique tastes with each other in the episode where they formed their image and came up with a band name, 2C2A Dream, based on the first letters of their names.

What really bothered me about this series was how disingenuous it felt. I'm not an expert on autotune, but during the segment where the girls were recording their vocals, it sounded like it was used to make their voices sound better during the recording process and then not used to make one of them sound worse to highlight a part where she was struggling. During the "live" performance, Riley commented about how well she sang her line at Disneyland, but I'm pretty sure they were lip-synching, having worked at similar events at the Disney Parks in the past. Overall, the series reminded me of the scene in The Cheetah Girls where Raven's character realized that the producer who hired them just wanted a group of diverse faces to perform his mass-produced corporate music and wasn't interested in letting them truly express themselves.
As far as the "Create Your World" song itself, is it just me, or do the Disney Princess anthems sound more AI-produced each time? Unlike the original anthem, "If You Can Dream," and the previous one, "Starting Now," this song includes no direct references to Disney Princesses and instead has a bland generic message about being anything you want to be. The opening lyrics, "You can be brave" and "You can be strong," push the message further in the direction of the modern Disney Princess brand, focusing on physical strength and independence over feminine traits like love and kindness that are considered outdated by today's standards. The repetition of the lyrics "We're dreaming" in the chorus makes it sound like even the songwriters are tired of repeating the same message again every year and are just going through the motions to keep the Disney Princess brand up to date.
While the "Create Your World" web series and song may have been a fun and energetic conclusion to World Princess Week, it left me feeling underwhelmed and skeptical. The over-the-top enthusiasm and blatant product placement made it feel more like a corporate marketing ploy than a genuine celebration of Disney Princesses. Additionally, the song's generic message and AI-produced sound were a disappointment. As someone who grew up with the original Disney Princess anthems, it's disheartening to see the brand prioritize modernity and commercialism over the timeless values and authenticity that once made it so beloved. Nevertheless, I'll always cherish the memories and magic of Disney Princesses, even if the latest iterations don't quite live up to my nostalgic expectations.

Happy World Princess Week!

We are two days into World Princess Week, the annual celebration of the Disney Princess brand, which takes place from August 25th to 31st this year. The beloved brand has moved on from its Ultimate Princess Celebration campaign to begin a new marketing campaign called "Create Your World." The campaign kicked off at the beginning of the month with a commercial entitled "The Magic Within" in which little girls imagine Disney characters and symbols popping into their ordinary lives so they can live the modern princess life. This particular brand campaign seems more consumer-based than "Live Your Story," which encourages incorporating princess traits like kindness and bravery in everyday life. "Create Your World" sounds like an invitation to buy lots of Disney merchandise and turn your home into a castle, which is on brand with modern Disney's questionable decisions that favor corporate greed over good storytelling.

Although World Princess Week started yesterday, most of the festivities around it took place earlier this month. For instance, Coco Jones performed her new World Princess Week cover of "Almost There" at the D23 Expo a little over two weeks ago. On August 13th, Disneyland Resort hosted "Create Your World: A Disney Princess Regal Experience" to showcase all the new merchandise they will be releasing over the next year to go with the campaign. The event looked absolutely magical with glitter, castles, gowns, surprises, and even a guest appearance from four famous princess actresses--Jodi Benson, Paige O'Hara, Linda Larkin, and . Lots of fun things were featured there, including makeup, dolls, and plushies. A similar event was held yesterday in Times Square so the magic of Disney Princesses could be celebrated from coast to coast.

World Princess Week usually takes place during the last week of August and features Disney Princess movie marathons on TV as well as lots of fun imagery of the princesses on social media. Unfortunately, this year's artwork was recycled from earlier World Princess Week events and had few new images to offer. One particularly fun revelation from this week is that the premiere movie of my favorite show, Sofia the First, Once Upon a Princess , is now free to watch on YouTube. This is super exciting because the movie rarely aired on television since its inception and was never on Disney+ despite the rest of the show being available there. The surprise release is likely in anticipation of the upcoming series, Sofia the First: Royal Magic to ensure that younger fans can watch the original story from the beginning before diving into the sequel.

World Princess Week is also being celebrated in Disney Parks worldwide. Disneyland Paris even has a special exclusive show for this magical week called "Live Your Story," inspired by the former Disney Princess anthem. Hong Kong Disneyland has a special themed walkway called "A Royal Walk with Princesses," and all of the parks have special princess-themed food items that are only available this week. If you don't have a Disney vacation planned in time for World Princess Week, never fear. ShopDisney is featuring a Royal Savings Event on their new "Create Your World" merchandise so you can bring some of the magic home. Disney Channel is showcasing a specially curated schedule of Disney Princess movies all week including Raya and the Last Dragon , Moana , The Princess and the Frog , Brave , Beauty and the Beast , Aladdin , and the Cinderella remake. Disney Jr is joining in the action as well by using the week as an opportunity to promote their new Ariel series.

World Princess Week is a celebration of all things Disney Princess, and this year's "Create Your World" campaign is a call to action for young fans to embrace their inner princess and create their own magical world. While the campaign's focus on consumerism is questionable, the festivities surrounding World Princess Week are fun and engaging. From movie marathons to exclusive events, themed food, and special merchandise, there's something for every Disney Princess fan to enjoy. Here at The Princess Blog, we celebrate princesses every week, so stay tuned for more royal treatment all year round!

Review: Mermaid Magic

It's been a bit of a wait, but Rainbow SpA has delivered on their promise of an original animated mermaid show! From the creators of Winx Club, Mermaid Magic premiered on Netflix a few days ago with ten fun-filled episodes. Although the show didn't have quite as much underwater content as I was hoping for, it's a solid new Magical Girl series with beautiful animation and a female-empowering plot. I was thrilled to dive into the world of Merlinda, Sasha, and Nerissa and learn about their incredible powers on their journey to save Mertropia (originally called Mertropolis) pirates, witches, and toxic waste. The first season ended on a satisfying note with the potential for new adventures in future seasons.

Merlinda is the sheltered princess of Mertropia who leaps into action when she overhears a conversation about her father using up his life force to protect the kingdom. If she can travel to the dangerous surface world through a magic portal and recover five Neptune Pearls, she can save her his life and the rest of her kingdom. It's like an easy choice for a compassionate and headstrong princess to make. Merlinda grabs her two besties, Sasha, an outgoing social media influencer, and Nerissa, a dutiful royal guard, and enters the portal to find that the ocean on the other side has become a trash-filled wasteland. She is rescued by a friendly human named Tyler and his sister, Celia, who run a marine life rescue center together with their father. They become fast friends with the mermaids and help them acclimate to human life.

This show has all the makings of a traditional Magical Girl series. The three friends regularly transform into magic armor that can activate above or below the sea and fight the wicked pirate Barbarossa and his witchy companion, Tempesta, to recover the Neptune Pearls. The transformation sequences are underwhelming because their armored forms don't look very different from their regular ones. The mermaid elements of the show are also underwhelming. The city of Mertropia, including the castle, is housed above the water with its residents walking around on land unless they want to go for a swim, in which case their legs seamlessly transform into tails upon submersion. Although the mermaid-themed architecture and fashion are aesthetically pleasing with its clamshell beds, pearl-encrusted tops, and shiny pants, it is odd that so much of this mermaid society exists outside of the water.

Many Winx fans are disappointed that this show was completed before the highly anticipated 9th season of Winx Club. However, Mermaid Magic serves as Rainbow's answer to fans who wanted more from Winx's Sirenix season, which replaced the fairies' planned underwater mermaid transformations with more generic-looking aquatic wings. Mermaid Magic is a love letter to everyone who wants more mermaid action from their Magical Girl shows. As such, it shares similarities with Winx Club but also stands alone as an original series. Unlike Winx Club, where Bloom traveled from the real world to a magical school, Mermaid Magic has the three main characters travel from the enchanted mermaid kingdom to a place that closely resembles the real world. It is more of a "fish out of water" story where they must learn to blend in with regular people who act differently from those in their mermaid society.

One thing that makes Mermaid Magic unique from other modern princess shows is that it features a love triangle. However, it does not have enough time to develop a full love story for Merlinda during its 10-episode runtime because so much of it is devoted to getting the Neptune Pearls from Barbarossa and Tempesta. Although Tyler, Merlinda's new human companion, and Alex, her merman guard, are shown to have strong feelings toward her. Merlinda's desire to save her father and kingdom overpowers any feelings she might have toward them other than friendship. As a result, their love triangle is more about Tyler and Alex learning to work past their jealousy of each other than it is about Merlinda. Hopefully, there will be more time for romance in future seasons.

Mermaid Magic is a mermazing new Magical Girl sea-ries that makes a splash with its beautiful animation, empowering plot, and lovable characters. While it may have yet to fully deliver on its underwater promise, it's a great addition to the genre. With its unique blend of magic, friendship, and adventure, it's a show that will delight both old and new fans of Rainbow SpA's work. Although the first season wraps up nicely, there's plenty of potential for future episodes to explore new depths. So, dive into the world of Mermaid Magic and discover the wonders of Mertropia for yourself! Have you seen the first season yet? Share your thoughts in the comments below!