Lisa Dawn's Blog: The Princess Blog, page 12

Review: Time Princess - Shadows of London Part 2

It has been three years since the Time Princess app released its Shadows of London visual novel that ended on a massive cliffhanger. Since then, fans have been demanding a proper conclusion, but it wasn't until last year that they released a second part to Saga of Viera, and it would still be another year before this one. Well, folks, the wait is finally over. Shadows of London Part 2 dropped earlier this week with a massive conclusion to the gothic vampire story that included a new companion and four new craftable outfits. After downloading the latest Time Princess update, Shadows of London became three times longer with two new chapters to explore. Was it worth the wait? Let's dive in and find out!

Shadows of London follows the story of Caroline Rayes, an inquisitive Victorian woman under pressure from her aunt to get involved with the social season. In the first chapter of this visual novel, she learns about a mysterious epidemic spreading throughout London. Two of the men she met on her visit were not who they appeared to be. Edward Grey, a stoic doctor, turned out to be a vampire hunter, and Edward Savile, a charming gentleman, was revealed to be a vampire. The second part of the story picks up while Caroline is still mourning the mysterious death of Jesse Lindvall, a kind-natured suitor who escorted her to many of the events of the social season. She also hopes to learn more about her parents' deaths after discovering a shocking secret about her lineage.

The new companion introduced in these chapters is not a new love interest for Caroline, but instead for her good friend, Priscilla, who was another companion in the first chapter. Priscilla grew on me throughout this story. At first, she comes off as a rebellious goth, but her gruff exterior turns out to be a ruse for her innocence about vampire activity and controversy around the epidemic. She is nothing more than a cosplayer with a playful fascination with the occult. Despite her lack of involvement in the main plot, she is a wonderful friend to Caroline and a perfect match for Roger Evans, an analytical detective. The new chapters reveal the complicated histories of Caroline's love interests, Vincent and Edward, and how their backstories overlapped with hers in ways that she never realized. Secrets are revealed and romantic endings can finally be pursued with either character.


It would have been hard to top the outfits available in the first chapter of this visual novel because those were some of my favorites. However, the new additions are unique and suitable for the period and setting. Since the first chapter contained elaborate gowns for Caroline to wear to formal balls for the season, these new chapters provide more casual options for her risky investigations that are still feminine and suit her personality. My favorite is the red Victorian nightgown-like dress with bell sleeves and lace accents that perfectly match the story's gothic setting. Another look includes glasses and a bookish green dress that gives off strong librarian vibes to match Caroline's analytical research. There is also a winter coat and a casual outdoor spring look.

The long-awaited Shadows of London Part 2 is a satisfying conclusion to Time Princess's gothic vampire visual novel. This update brings two new chapters, a new companion, and four new craftable outfits, making the story triple in length. The new chapters delve into the complicated histories of Caroline's love interests, Vincent and Edward, and reveal secrets that can lead to tragedy or romance depending on player choices. The new outfits focus on casual, feminine options for Caroline's investigations. Overall, the update is a great addition to the game, and fans will appreciate the resolution to the cliffhanger. The wait may have been long, but it was worth it. If you're a fan of visual novels, vampires, and Victorian-era mysteries, Shadows of London Part 2 is a must-play. So, dive back into the world of Caroline Rayes and uncover the secrets that have been hiding in the shadows.

Review: The Beggar Prince

Mission complete! The Beggar Prince by Kate Stradling was the final book I had to review from the Once Upon a Prince series of fairy tale retellings completing my quest to finish this series by the end of the summer. This book is a retelling of "King Thrushbeard," which was a great choice for a series focusing on male fairy tale protagonists since the male lead in this story takes more of an active role than in some of the other stories this series has covered. Still, the source material has some questionable elements including a husband who lies to his wife about his identity and a spoiled princess with an overly controlling father. Although this book is primarily a beat-for-beat retelling of the original fairy tale, it does a good job of humanizing both characters and handles the controversial aspects of the story with grace. If you're looking for an in-depth and accurate adaptation of "King Thrushbeard," this book is an excellent choice.

Thorben is a stressed-out prince who is busy planning his upcoming coronation as King. When he receives an invitation to be a suitor to the spoiled Princess Leonie, the last thing on his mind is marrying her. However, Leonie proves herself to be such a difficult match that her father insists on marrying her off to the next beggar who arrives at the castle. When Thorben shows up seeking shelter on a stormy night, he is mistaken for a beggar and plunged into marriage with Leonie. Embarrassed about his bedraggled state, he decides to keep up the charade of a beggar until he can get his marriage annulled, hopefully without Leonie learning his true identity.  He finds a small hut and puts the unfortunate princess to work, discovering that she has few viable skills for their new lifestyle.

In comparison to the other books in this series, this one is mid-range. Though it doesn't alternate between Tor and Leonie's perspectives, there is enough information to know what Leonie is thinking most of the time, and the major decisions in the story rely primarily on Tor. The one improvement that the book adds to the fairy tale is an explanation as to why Leonie never recognizes Tor after spending so much time with him just because he grew a beard. I don't want to spoil it, but it is a common enough disability that I found it relatable in my own life. Thorben eventually discovers Leonie's secret, and the two rely on each other to the point that an annulment starts to seem more inconvenient than it's worth.

I enjoyed this book for the most part, but the lack of conflict prevents it from being one of the best in the series. It follows the fairy tale so closely that there is nothing new or unexpected to keep readers invested in this particular adaptation. Although there is an antagonist, he is warded off so easily that I was expecting him to turn up again later, but he doesn't. The ending is so rushed that there is a lot more these two could have overcome together before everything was resolved such as spending more time to deal with the mistrust in their relationship. If Tor hadn't kept putting off telling Leonie the truth about his identity, the book could have ended even faster. When Leonie ultimately learns the truth, she seems a bit too forgiving.

The Beggar Prince by Kate Stradling is a solid addition to the Once Upon a Prince series, offering a faithful retelling of "King Thrushbeard" with some tasteful tweaks to humanize the characters. While it may not be the strongest entry in the series due to its lack of conflict and rushed ending, it still provides an enjoyable read for fans of fairy tale retellings. Thorben and Leonie's story is a sweet and relatable exploration of growth, trust, and acceptance, even if it doesn't break new ground. Overall, this book is a great choice for those looking for a straightforward adaptation of "King Thrushbeard" with some pleasant character development

Disney Announces Sofia the First: Royal Magic!

Almost two years ago, Disney announced that they were working on a spinoff series to Sofia the First. The best place to reveal new updates about this mysterious series would have been the D23 Expo, which took place in Anaheim last weekend. Instead, Disney Jr. quietly posted on Instagram today that we can expect to see the new series, Sofia the First: Royal Magic on Disney+ in 2026. This is fantastic news if it's true, but Disney has broken promises on many other upcoming shows over the upcoming years, so it's a good idea to take all their announcements with a grain of salt until there is something more substantial like a trailer or release date. Still, it's exciting to have a title and more information about the series. Unlike the original announcement about it being a spinoff like Elena of Avalor, the show will now be a direct sequel that continues Sofia's adventures after graduating from Royal Prep.

The official summary is as follows: "Sofia the First: Royal Magic follows Sofia as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, where princes and princesses from across the EverRealm will continue their royal studies and also learn all types of magic. During her time at Charmswell, Sofia discovers she is the most magical princess in the realm and must learn how to master her powers while making new royal friends. Each episode will contain two 11-minute stories, each with a new original song." The shorter format may help with the show's younger target demographic but takes away the opportunity for the more intricate plot development that made the original show so beloved beyond its target audience. Sofia is likely to be aged up a bit now that she is attending a new school, which might account for some changes in her character design. Hopefully, she will look better than she did at Elena's coronation!

Disney Jr. has been quietly building up to this announcement on their social media pages by featuring more content from Sofia the First over the past few months despite the original show having ended six years ago. Series creator  states "I’m incredibly excited for the chance to return to Sofia’s enchanted world and tell the next chapter in her story. At a new school specializing in royal magic, Sofia will learn how to master her magical abilities while discovering the power of friendship and teamwork from her new royal classmates. Over the years, I have heard countless stories of how much the original series meant to young viewers and I’m hoping the new show will delight the next generation of preschoolers." This means that Disney intends for the show to continue to target the preschool demographic despite likely featuring an older Sofia.

In a world that has very little original content to offer, Sofia the First is a wholesome and positive influence to introduce to a new generation of young people. I see children at my workplace get excited when they recognize my paper doll of Sofia regularly, so the character is still very recognizable to children despite how much time has passed since the show aired. Unlike the Ariel show, which attempts to rewrite history, Sofia the First: Royal Magic will continue to add to the character's canon allowing us to return to the realm of Enchancia for new adventures that pick up where the original show left off. It's also encouraging that the new series will continue the tradition of featuring original songs in every episode, which was a terrific benefit of the first show, giving viewers something new to look forward to each week.

The announcement of Sofia the First: Royal Magic is exciting news for fans of the original show. While Disney's track record of keeping promises is spotty, the reveal of a title, summary, and 2026 release date on Disney+ is a promising start. The new series will follow Sofia as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, learning to master her powers and making new royal friends. With a focus on teamwork, friendship, and original songs in every episode, this show has the potential to delight a new generation of preschoolers. As someone who has seen firsthand the impact of Sofia the First on young viewers, I'm hopeful that this sequel series will continue to offer wholesome, positive content that builds on the character's canon. Do you think Disney will deliver on their promise? Are you excited to see Sofia's next chapter? Let me know in the comments below!

Review: A Fairy Tale After All

There aren't many arthouse movies that incorporate fairy tale or princess themes since Disney holds the monopoly on most of them. When one of my readers recommended A Fairy Tale After All, a film that was released by Premiere Entertainment Group, I was curious what an original fairy tale-inspired indie flick might look like. This movie stands apart from the 2018 indie adaptation of The Little Mermaid and its spiritual sequel, Anastasia Once Upon a Time, because it tells an original story using different creative mediums including animation, puppets, and music. The overall quality is on par with other indie attempts at adapting fairy tales, but I appreciate that the filmmakers tried to do something different with commonly used princess tropes. The story has an important message about grief and accepting loss.

Sky is an imaginative teenage girl suffering from the loss of her father and struggling to fit in at school. To cope with these struggles, she escapes to a fantasy world called the "Dreamension" where she is a princess in a fairy tale on a quest to rescue children from the wicked Madame Mizrabel and reunite with her father. Most of the movie takes place in this world and only spends time in the real world to let the audience know that the story exists in her imagination. It has some scathing reviews due to the convoluted plot and endless expository dialogue about the history of the fantasy kingdom. Although I can understand where these reviews are coming from, the world's backstory doesn't need to make sense considering that it takes place in the imagination of a grieving teen. The concept of using fantasy to deal with grief has been done in movies like  Bridge to Terrabithia  and the WandaVision series, and A Fairy Tale After All is upfront with the audience about its intent.

The story, acting, and cinematography are messy, but the film still has its redeeming qualities. There was a lot of effort put into combining various visual styles to create a dream-like feel. The live-action imagery makes full use of costumes, makeup, and Jim Henson-like puppetry to capture its viewers' imaginations. It switches to different mediums throughout the film including storybook illustrations, Flash animation, and black-and-white filmography. My favorite aspect is its soundtrack. Unfortunately, the poor audio mixing made the songs difficult to enjoy to their fullest potential. The songs were written and performed by Australian-based artist Chelsi Hardcastle. She is very talented and has an ear for musical theater with songs that give off strong Dear Evan Hansen vibes, so I place full blame on the audio mixers for all the songs sounding like they were coming out of a tin can.

With a 72-minute runtime, A Fale Tale After All is a quick watch even for viewers who don't enjoy it. It could benefit from some extra time showing Sky in the real world and how the "Dreamension" scenes parallel her life. Near the beginning of the movie, Sky goes to an empty school theater to try on costumes and is shown doing ballet in between the fantasy sequences, but it isn't clear if her character is actually a performer or if she likes to imagine herself as one. One way to fix the story issues would be to make the fantasy world part of a school play that Sky was performing in, and due to her grief over her father, she gets so lost in the story that she thinks it's real. With the way the movie is presented, it's difficult to tell what her life is like at all in the real world aside from the loss of her father. However, the power of escapism is a relatable plot when it comes to princess fans.

A Fairy Tale After All is an original indie movie that attempts to breathe new life into the fairy tale genre. Despite its messy plot, acting, and cinematography, the film has its redeeming qualities, such as its creative use of various visual styles and beautiful original songs. While it may not be a perfect movie, its exploration of grief, loss, and escapism makes it a relatable watch for fans of princess movies. If you're looking for a unique, arthouse take on the fairy tale genre, A Fairy Tale After All is available to stream on Amazon Prime. Just be prepared for a convoluted plot and some audio mixing issues. With a 72-minute runtime, it's a quick watch that might leave you appreciating the filmmakers' efforts to do something different with commonly used princess tropes.

The D23 Expo Is Here With Lots of Disney Princess Announcements!

Disney fans from all of the world are gathering at the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend to celebrate the D23 Expo, the ultimate Disney fan event. The Expo contains all the biggest announcements about upcoming Disney shows, experiences, and merchandise, and it is an absolute blast to experience in person. Its most anticipated event, the Disney Entertainment Showcase, took place Friday night. A whole slew of trailers, performances, and exclusive footage was revealed for all of the upcoming Disney movies over the next three years. Three of these included Disney Princess franchises – Snow White, Moana 2, and Frozen 3 and 4. However, the vast majority of the announcements consisted of sequels, remakes, and spinoffs, meaning there is still no update on the Penelope movie that was announced two years ago.

 

The Snow White trailer was one of the last to be revealed during the Disney Entertainment Showcase due to it being one of the most heavily anticipated (or dreaded, depending on your stance) projects of Disney's upcoming itinerary. The trailer contained the first official footage of this film released, confirming that Rachel Zegler's cartoony-looking dress leak was in fact her official costume. Although this film's very existence makes a mockery of the historical impact of the first fully animated feature film of all time, the trailer does a good job of recreating some of the most iconic moments of the original film in live-action. It teases glimpses of Snow White at the wishing well, Gal Gadot as the jealous even queen, the impending threat of the apple, and Snow White's gentle nature when she flees from a deer in the forest thinking it's a monster and then befriends it. The cozy look of the film with its warm sunlight, lush greenery, and whimsical-looking CGI dwarves create a feeling of magical realism, which makes sense for this story but takes away from the magic of the original hand-drawn medium.

Another clip that was revealed exclusively at the Expo was a full performance of the song "Whistle While You Work." Unlike the trailer, this scene had many differences  in comparison to the original film. Since Rachel Zegler is a talented singer, I was surprised that the sang the song in a low pitch compared to her more Snow White-like performance in the 2021 remake of West Side Story. There are noticeable lyric and story changes to this scene that unnecessarily detract from Snow White's femininity. In the original film, she gave some commands to her animal helpers and finished with "I'll take the broom." Here, she gives the same commands to the dwarfs, implying that she has already met them before she began cleaning their house, and tells Happy "You take the broom," which he responds to with his usual cheer. This sets Snow up as a strong independent woman who doesn't need to do menial tasks to earn her keep. The new Snow White tells the dwarfs what to do and doesn't need their permission to stay in their home. The line from the original song about imagining that the broom is someone that you love has also been changed because true love is now a bad thing that modern princesses don't need.

Earlier in the showcase, the full-length trailer for Moana 2 was released along with an exclusive performance from Auli'i Cravalho. The trailer introduces Moana's new little sister, Simea, securing the modern status quo for Disney Princesses valuing sisterly love over romantic love. This footage reveals more of the plot than the teaser did, but it still sounds similar to the original film. Once again, there is a supernatural threat that forces Moana to set sail across the sea to protect her people, and she must reunite with Maui. It even shows her encountering the coconut enemies from the first film again. The biggest difference in this movie is the presence of Simea, which gives Moana someone to protect and foreshadows that Moana 2 might have a similar climax to Netflix's Damsel and Hulu's The Princess. Instead of embarking on this quest alone, Moana leads a team of new wayfinders who she likely trained in her village, giving the film Raya and the Last Dragon vibes.

The final set of princess-related announcements from the Entertainment Showcase revolved around Frozen, a movie that I have a love/hate relationship with. Not only are the two more sequels in the works for this box office blockbuster, but there is also a pro-shot of the Broadway musical coming to Disney+ next year. I am personally more excited about the pro-shot than I am about the sequels. Frozen the Musical is by far my favorite Disney on Broadway adaptation of an animated film. Since not everyone has the budget to take themself and their family to see live theater, I support the professional filming and distribution of these shows to make them available to a wider audience. I am less eager to see another mediocre sequel that will end on a cliffhanger in anticipation of yet another sequel to come at a later time. Wicked seems to have started a trend of two-part movies amongst the musical community, and we are not amused. Frozen 3 is scheduled for 2027, so it's too early for any footage, but the panel presented a beautiful concept art of Anna and Elsa riding horses in what appears to be an enchanted glen. Though the film promises to present stunning visuals, the convoluted plot of the second installment is likely to get even more unnecessarily complicated by a two-part story.

Aside from the Entertainment Showcase, there were many princess performances and displays for fans to enjoy. The D23 Expo did not present a panel with more news about the Tiana series that was announced four years ago, but they did have a beautiful display on the exhibit floor to remind fans that it might still happen someday. In honor of this iconic character, there was a new performance of "Almost There" by Coco Jones and a Sunday panel detailing her history. Another exciting presentation was an exclusive performance of Disney Princess: The Concert featuring a star-studded cast of , Paige O'Hara, Jodi Benson, Syndee Winters, and Courtney Reed. Lucky fans who waited in line for the Shop Disney booth had a chance to purchase some of the newest additions to the Midnight Masquerade collection, which premiered at the Expo I attended in 2019. The Limited Edition Designer Dolls were inspired by new artwork by Steve Thompson. In addition to these limited edition dolls, the Shop Disney website recently released a gorgeous replica of Ariel's music box from the animated version of The Little Mermaid that is available right now in honor of the film's 35th anniversary.

This year's D23 Expo delivered a plethora of exciting announcements and performances for Disney Princess fans. The Disney Entertainment Showcase revealed exclusive footage and trailers for upcoming movies, including Snow White, which is coming out March 21st of next year, Moana 2, which is coming this November 27th and Frozen 3 in 2027, as well as a pro-shot of the musical in 2025. While some announcements were met with excitement, others, like the lack of updates on the Penelope movie, were disappointing. The Expo also featured princess performances, displays, and exclusive merchandise. Although there was no update on the Tiana series, the exhibit floor display and concert performance hinted at the possibility of its eventual release. Overall, the D23 Expo is a celebration of all things Disney, with a focus on nostalgia, magic, and the future of Disney Princesses.

Review: The Shoeless Prince

I'm close to my goal of completing the Once Upon a Prince series, and I can't believe it took me this long to get to The Shoeless Prince by Jacque Stevens! This has quickly become my favorite book in the series, encompassing everything I was expecting out of the premise. It is a retelling of a classic story with a princess that is told primarily from a male perspective and filled to the brim with magic and romance. It takes many familiar elements of "Puss in Boots" and blends them seamlessly with new lore creating a fresh take on a popular story with twists and turns around every corner. "Puss in Boots" was already a great contender for this series because it is one of few famous stories that has a male lead but still contains a love story and other elements that appeal to princess lovers.

 

Archie is a humble miller's son who never expected much out of life. When his father passed away, he wasn't surprised to learn that most of his family inheritance went to his older brothers, leaving him with a peculiar cat. Archie is observant enough to know that Leo is no ordinary cat and submits to his schemes in the hope that some good fortune might come from them. He gets more than he bargains for when he crosses paths with the down-to-earth Princess Ainsley, who is a perfect match for him, but he deems himself unworthy of her due to his social class. The more he gets to know Ainsley, the more he wishes he had been born royal or she had been born a peasant so it would be acceptable for them to be together. Ainsley, on the other hand, doesn't care where Archie came from and is determined to help him look good to her father so she can choose him as a suitor.

This book is a little different from the other novels in the Once Upon a Prince series. Although it is still told from a dual perspective, it switches viewpoints between Archie and Leo instead of Archie and the princess. This gives the reader some much-needed insight to Leo's personality. Unlike the original fairy tale, this version of Puss does not speak. That doesn't stop him from having a mind of his own and a great deal of inner struggle. Like many books I've read recently, this book takes place in a fae world with all the pitfalls that come with it. A few chapters in, it is revealed that there is far more to Leo than meets the eye, and he has a deeper connection to Archie and Ainsley than even he realizes at first. He also has his own love interest, giving the book not one, but two star-crossed couples.

This was not the first "Puss in Boots" adaptation I've read, but it was the most creative. It is not a one-to-one retelling of the story but instead a fantastical reimagining that is respectful of its roots. It removes many of the questionable elements of the fairy tale, including the cat lying to the king and princess about Archie's identity and adds some magical twists. I was both surprised and pleased to learn Leo's identity and loved how seamlessly it blended with the rest of the story. The last two chapters were completely original and brought everything together in a way that no other retelling has. Archie and Leo are extremely memorable characters. I love how this book adapts a classic fairy tale without relying heavily on the actions and views of the princess.

The Shoeless Prince by Jacque Stevens is an original take on "Puss in Boots" that exceeded my expectations in every way. With its fresh take on a classic tale, memorable characters, and seamless blending of new lore, this book has become my favorite in the Once Upon a Prince series. The unique perspective of Archie and Leo's viewpoints adds depth to the story, and the fae setting brings an extra layer of magic to the narrative. I appreciated the creative twists and removal of questionable elements from the original fairy tale, making this adaptation a standout above the rest. If you only read one book from the Once Upon a Prince series, this is the one to choose.

I Celebrated My Birthday at a Real Castle!

There's one day a year when every girl has the right to be treated like a princess – her birthday. That's why I like to find something fun each year that allows me to bring out my inner royal. Last year, I was regaled with a wonderful performance of Beauty and the Beast. This year, I decided to branch out and visit a local castle. Since my home castle is no longer within driving distance of any of the kingdoms, I discovered that there is another castle in Twxas that does tours. It didn't hurt that the town of Bellville happens to share the same name as the fantasy kingdom from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella, which I am a huge fan of. Newman's Castle is a hidden gem about two miles away from Austin that gives tours six days a week as well as private events. It isn't a true historical castle as it was completed in 1998, but it is built with 13th-century style medieval architecture.

I did my research in advance and had no issues with my visit, but there are a few things that newcomers should be aware of before planning their trip. Visiting the castle requires reservations, which can be easily accomplished with a quick phone call to Newman's Bakery. They called me the day before to confirm my headcount, and we stopped at the bakery to pay for the tour and get our wristbands. We were given directions to the castle, drove down an unpaved dirt road, and parked in the middle of the woods. If you're a nervous driver, this can be a bit of a harrowing experience, but it also made it feel like an isolated far-off kingdom. Children are welcome at the castle and visitors often bring kids, but it is not a theme park or a playground. Admission gets you a tour and a small lunch, and any other entertainment is based solely on your own explorations. It is not an accessibility-friendly venue for those who need special accommodations as there are steep winding staircases and ladders.



Upon my arrival, I was greeted by some friendly faces who were quick to help with taking photos, answering questions, and cracking jokes about getting locked in the tower and rescued by a brave knight. A nice man named Jeff took on the crown for the opening speech during which I learned some sad news. Mike Newman, the architect and "king" of the castle sadly passed away of a heart attack earlier this year. I knew from my research that he used to lead tours and used the castle as a private residence during its off hours, so I was expecting to meet him there. It was disheartening to learn about his untimely passing, but I appreciate that the castle's employees are still giving tours to share the joy of his labor with the local community. Jeff told us about all the rooms that Mike furnished and gave us a personal tour of the dungeon. It's a fairly small castle with several empty rooms that are unused or just for storage. There was also a lot of dirt, grime, and dead bugs stuck in the corners of the tight staircases, giving more of a gritty medieval feel as opposed to a polished modern fairy tale.

I got quite the workout climbing the winding staircases up and down the castle's towers in a long dress during the summer heat. It was entirely my idea to dress up for this trip, and I was the only person who did so to the delight of one of the little girls who was visiting. Someone asked me if I worked there, and I explained that I'm a blogger. The high towers were my favorite parts of the castle, so it was a little disappointing that the highest one only permitted guests to climb about halfway up before reaching a "Keep Out" sign. The inaccessible portion at the top had a big bell that could be rung by pulling a long rope at the base of the tower. The outer grounds contained some wood-carved medieval weaponry including a cannon, a trebuchet, and some fake wooden swords that kids could use to swing at a log dummy hanging on a chain near the entrance to the towers. There were a few living areas for when Mike resided in the castle including a living room with a TV hidden behind a medieval-looking cabinet, a bedroom with a four-poster canopy bed, and some comfy-looking leather couches offsetting the fancy wooden chairs in the dining hall. There was also some religious flare with a small altar and prayer area.

My visit to Newman's Castle in Bellville, TX, was a unique and enchanting experience that allowed me to embrace my inner princess on my special day. While it may not be a traditional fairy tale castle, its medieval architecture and charming atmosphere made for a unique adventure off the beaten trail. Despite a few unexpected twists, such as the passing of Mike Newman and the castle's structural limitations, the friendly staff and rich history of the castle made for a memorable experience. As I left the castle, I felt grateful for the opportunity to explore this hidden gem and excited to share my discoveries with fellow castle enthusiasts and fairy tale lovers. If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, Newman's Castle is definitely worth a visit – just be sure to make reservations and wear comfortable shoes for the winding staircases!

Review: The Poisoned Prince

In my quest to complete all the books in the Once Upon a Prince series, I decided to read its version of "Snow White,"  The Poisoned Prince  by Kristin J. Dawson. With a title like that, I was hoping for a gender-bent retelling, which would have been the first I'd read for this fairy tale, but it was more of a traditional retelling. Although the roles of the main characters were not reversed, it was an original and imaginative take on the story. The story alternates between Snow White and her love interest, who is the son of the huntsman, and takes place in a high fantasy setting with fae and dwarves like the ones you would find in DnD. I found the book charming and romantic overall, though, like others in this series, it places a lot of focus on the princess despite being called Once Upon a Prince.

This is one of the most unique interpretations I've read of "Snow White," focusing on tropes that are not typically incorporated into retellings of this story. For instance, it has a "Cinderella" vibe by making Snow White a servant who learns later in life that she is one of many illegitimate children of the king and was hand-picked by him to take the throne. Now, not only does Snow White have to escape a murder attempt from jealous family members, but she is also coming to terms with being royal for the first time. There is also a "Sleeping Beauty" element in which she is granted a magical fae gift as a baby. Thanks to that gift, the gentle Snow is an empath with the ability to magically read the emotions of those around her. This is a unique twist that is unfortunately not used to its full potential because it doesn't come up during any major plot points, including a very important one at the end that her ability could have unveiled earlier in the story.
Max, the huntsman's son, is supposed to be the main character of this book, but I felt like he faded into the background due to how important Snow was to the story. Though he is just as compelling a love interest as any other, the book doesn't take advantage of the series' premise by giving him any extra importance. He has strong feelings for Snow White before learning she is a princess and is wholly devoted to protecting her and upending any political schemes he hears about at court through his father. This book stands apart from the film Snow White and the Huntsman  because it is Max's father and not Max himself who is the huntsman sent to kill Snow. When Max learns about this, he becomes even more determined to protect her and find the king's other secret progeny for the safety and security of the kingdom.
This adaptation also has a new twist on the villain from the traditional wicked stepmother. I am not always a fan of twist villains, a trope that can come off as contrived or hoky at times, but it was done well in this book. The explanation for the twist made sense, and although I did not see it coming, I was not particularly surprised by it either. Due to the king's philandering nature, the book contains more espionage and political intrigue than the average "Snow White" retelling, so fans of that genre are likely to enjoy this book a lot. The story takes place in a magical world of fae and monsters, adding some whimsy to the tale. The dwarves who protect Snow White are interesting characters with their own unique culture, and several of them are female, giving Snow some positive female influences in her life while she is being hunted.
The Poisoned Prince by Kristin J. Dawson is an imaginative retelling of Snow White, offering a fresh take on the classic tale. With its high fantasy setting, fae and dwarves, and emphasis on political intrigue and espionage, this book stands out from other retellings. While it may not fully utilize the Once Upon a Prince series premise due to shining the spotlight on Snow, it still delivers a charming and romantic story. Snow White's journey from servant to royal, coupled with her unique empathetic gift, adds a delightful twist to the narrative. The villain's unexpected reveal and the incorporation of fae culture and strong female influences make this adaptation an intriguing read. Overall, The Poisoned Prince is a spellbinding retelling that will enchant fans of fantasy and fairy tale retellings alike.

Spellbound Releases Its First Trailer!

Spellbound is quickly becoming the most anticipated princess movie of the winter season. With its all-star cast, convenient streaming format, and apolitical plot structure, this movie is a lovely throwback to animated musicals of the past. Its nostalgic score is composed by Alan Menken, the musical pioneer of the Disney Renaissance. Until today, there were only a few clips of the movie available online along with a brief summary. As of this morning, is a complete trailer available to give us a better idea of what to expect when the movie launches on Netflix on November 22nd. Unfortunately, the trailer does not contain any clips of the anticipated musical numbers, but it does give a solid preview of the animation, plot, and characters that we can expect to see in Spellbound. Make your own judgements by watching it below.

The first thing I noticed about the trailer is that this movie is extremely aware of how much star power it has, possibly to its own detriment. Instead of trying to pull its audience in with a strong hook, it starts out by name-dropping all the classic Disney and Dreamworks films that its team worked on in the past. Since Skydance Animation is still a fairly new studio, they need to bank off the experience of their talent rather than their own established works. Considering Disney's current reputation, they may have something to gain from rounding up the skilled artists that worked on their great films of the past. Don Bluth did something similar when Disney was in another slump prior to their Renaissance era. Spellbound stars the controversial Rachel Zegler as its leading princess, who has unfortunately come to represent some of Disney's more questionable decisions. Despite this, Rachel is a talented performer, so her casting does not necessarily mean that Spellbound will be a bad movie.

The trailer does a good job of revealing the plot, which was revealed previously the initial press release. Princess Ellian summons two creatures to the castle to help her with a problem her parents are suffering from. They have mysteriously turned into monsters after a trip into a magical forest. The trailer proceeds to unleash a series of gags that may come up as a result of this situation, such as the kingdom's bravest knights trying to attack the monsters without realizing they are the queen and king and Ellian switching gears as a parental figure to get her parents to behave in their new monstrous forms. Many of the themes that I was hoping to see from this movie are there, including the strong bond between family, a princess who is more focused on love than independence, and the overall wholesome vibe of animated movies of old.

Some things that were notably missing from the trailer include the new Alan Menken songs, which it forgoes in favor of the old classic, "Don't Stop Believing" from Journey. It's hard to say if Ellian will follow the modern Disney Princess trope as she is portrayed mainly in situations where she is forced to act a certain way due to the circumstances, giving us few opportunities to see her true personality. When she summons the two creatures to the palace, she wears a traditional princess gown with comedically large pocket hoops that only flare out on the sides, giving her skirt the appearance of a curtain rod. She is portrayed later in more comfortable adventure ensembles but isn't shown fighting aside from when she uses a magical tool that she isn't familiar with to get a group of soldiers to drop their weapons. Overall, she seems far more motivated by helping her parents than to claim her independence or strength.

The trailer for Spellbound has finally arrived, offering a glimpse into the highly anticipated princess movie. While it may rely heavily on the star power of its cast and crew, the film's apolitical plot, stunning animation, and focus on family bonds and wholesome themes hint at a charming throwback to classic animated musicals. With the talented Rachel Zegler at the helm and Alan Menken's iconic compositions to come, Spellbound has the potential to captivate audiences of all ages. As we await its release on Netflix on November 22nd, one thing is clear – this movie is poised to cast a spell of delight on viewers everywhere.

Review: To Steal the Sun

To Steal the Sun  is the thrilling conclusion to Melanie Cellier's duology of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon." Like the first book, To Ride the Wind , the story is told between Gwen and Charlotte's alternating perspectives. Unlike most of Melanie's books, this one cannot be enjoyed as a standalone since it is a direct sequel to To Ride the Wind. I had only completed that book a month ago, but I still had a hard time jumping into this one right away because there was no recap or refresher at the beginning of this book, even a short one. For that reason, I would not recommend reading anything else in between these two books because it might be a struggle to jump back in. However, if you enjoyed To Ride the Wind, you will likely enjoy To Steal the Sun as well.

At the end of To Ride the Wind, Princess Gwen is reunited with her lost love, Easton, and Charlotte has been separated from her new husband, Prince Henry. To Steal the Sun picks up right where the first book left off with both couples plotting to defeat the wicked Queen Celandine, who is determined to force Gwen to marry Henry for her own gain even though he is already married to Charlotte. Although there was a brief explanation of why it had to be Henry in the first, it was not reiterated here, which made it difficult to understand why Celandine was so bent on forcing the marriage to take place. It was established that Gwen's fully consensual marriage to Easton would just as easily break the curse that turns the residents of her kingdom into bears every night. However, understanding a clearly deranged villain is not necessary to enjoy this book as it is mainly about Gwen's growth from a princess into a queen, which the book develops beautifully.
I've enjoyed just about all of Melanie Cellier's books, and this one contains the same elements that make her writing so thrilling. As Charlotte struggles to find a way to speak to Henry, Gwen and Easton plot with the kingdom's rebel force about how to overthrow Celandine. There are lots of secret passages, close calls, and exciting twists throughout their attempts to thwart the wicked queen's plans. The most important revelation comes when Gwen learns the truth about their relationship, which allows place her reservations at bay and step forward as a true queen. The book also contains plenty of romance, another staple of Melanie Cellier's writing. Both couples have already been established in the previous book, so this is a story of lovers overcoming challenges to be together long-term. Even though it wasn't about new love, the relationships between Gwen and Easton and Charlotte and Henry were charming and believable, and the friendship between Gwen and Charlotte added an extra layer.
Although this duology was more of an extension of the Four Kingdoms books than a conclusion, I still would have liked to see a reunion between Charlotte and Princess Daisy. Charlotte was first introduced in The Abandoned Princess, which was the official ending of all the Four Kingdoms series, and Daisy was distraught about not being able to find her at the end. A quick reunion to see Daisy's reaction to Charlotte's new husband would have been the perfect cherry to top off this princess-filled sundae. However, To Steal the Sun contains two epilogues and a detailed description of everything that happened to the major characters years after the story ended, so I can't complain too much. Overall, it was a satisfying conclusion to a two-part story about two very different princesses.
To Steal the Sun is a gripping conclusion to Melanie Cellier's duology, expertly weaving together the threads of Gwen and Charlotte's stories. While it may benefit from a refresher on the previous book's events, readers who recently completed To Ride the Wind will delight in the continued adventures of these strong-willed princesses. With its perfect blend of action, romance, and self-discovery, this book is a must-read for those who have been invested in the Four Kingdoms series all these years. Cellier's masterful storytelling brings Gwen's transformation from princess to queen to life, making for a truly satisfying conclusion.