Lisa Dawn's Blog: The Princess Blog, page 16

Review: Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice

Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice by Everly Haywood is the second book from the Sacrificed Hearts series, which contains six books by different authors about maidens falling in love after being sacrificed to monsters. This book follows a different formula from others I've read so far in that the monster sacrifice happens very late in the book and is not the same character as the love interest featured on the beautiful cover art. In fact, this book has three love interests, which is even more than a typical love triangle and makes it unnecessarily convoluted. I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters because the princess was introduced to so many suitors in such a short period. This book also contains a healthy helping of pirate lore, which has never been my cup of tea, as well as krakens, elves, and siren songs all packed into a fairly short novel.

Reva is a fiercely independent princess of a struggling kingdom. She is left with no choice but to make a reluctant marriage alliance with Felix, a prince whom she considers a coward after he abandons his companions during an attack on their ship. After multiple rescues at sea that blur the lines between saving and kidnapping, Reva is also swept into the arms of Rency, a swashbuckling pirate, and Prince Jareth, a sea elf who wishes to rescue his kingdom. Reva's rebellious nature makes it difficult to trust any of the three men who crash-land in her life, and it doesn't help matters that someone is clearly trying to kill her. Too independent to find solace in someone else's arms, she encounters a cute baby kraken that eases her worries and soon learns that it belongs to Prince Jareth. Her feelings toward Jareth become complicated after he uses the siren song to save her from drowning, and she is torn between her heart and her duty to her kingdom which pushes her toward Felix.
I had trouble getting into this book because it goes in so many different directions at the same time. It was hard to root for the main couple for several different reasons. For one, Felix and Rency were featured just as prominently in the story as Jareth and eventually proved that they had no ill intent toward Reva despite taking turns with some questionable actions toward her. Also, Reva does not start developing feelings toward Jareth until after he rescues her from drowning with a siren kiss. Since sirens are known for making people fall in love with them, she, along with the reader, spends most of the book wondering whether or not her feelings are genuine. Reva herself matches the stereotype of a modern princess who doesn't need a man so well that it almost feels wrong to tie her down to anyone, even an attractive sea elf with a whimsical underwater kingdom.
Though this book does not follow the same formula as the other Sacrificed Hearts books in which the monster turns out to be friendly, it does take place in an expansive fantasy world with lots of lore that has yet to be explored, possibly in future Everly Haywood books outside of the series. Jareth's kingdom in particular is very interesting in that it was powered by a sort of sea goddess who is dying and needs to be revived to save the kingdom. The monster that Reva fights at the end is an evil kraken, and there are also cute friendly ones that expand upon the world's nautical lore. Since there was siren magic, I was hoping for a mention of mermaids, but the sea elves are a self-contained race that combines siren and elven lore to create something uniquely original. In certain ways, all three of Reva's suitors could be interpreted as reformed monsters due to their unconventional rescue methods.
While Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice throws a lot of fantastical elements and potential love interests at the wall, it doesn't quite stick the landing. The fast pace and Reva's strong personality make it a unique read, but it can be hard to connect with the romance or root for Jareth due to the rumors surrounding the siren kiss in this book and actual mythology. However, the worldbuilding with its sea elves, baby krakens, and a dying sea goddess leaves plenty of room for exploration. If you enjoyed the unique elements and vast world introduced here, then you'll definitely want to stay tuned for future reviews of other books in the Sacrificed Hearts series, which has been released in full as of this weekend!

Review: Mountain of Dragons and Sacrifice

As a member of the street team for the Sacrificed Hearts series, I have been eager to read these books about unexpected romance from many of my favorite authors. The series plays on the trope of sacrificial maidens who learn that their "captors" are not what they appear to be and grow to love them. In other words, they can be interpreted as loose retellings of "Beauty and the Beast," one of the most beloved love stories. The first book in the series, Mountain of Dragons and Sacrifice  by Tara Grayce, is a quintessential starting point for this series. I recently reviewed Netflix's Damsel, which had a similar premise but was marred by modern agendas and stereotypes of what it means to be a princess today. In many ways, this story is the opposite of Damsel, taking a damsel who believes her life will be threatened by a fearsome dragon before learning she doesn't need physical strength to defeat it and that what is inside her heart is already enough.

I was eager to read this book from the Sacrificed Hearts series in particular because I already knew that Tara Grayce had a talent for writing post-nuptial romance from her other books such as Fierce Heart  and Stolen Midsummer Bride . Although Mountain of Dragons and Sacrifice does not begin with a marriage, the formula of the protagonist being unwittingly thrust into the arms of a man she would grow to love remains the same. Like the world presented in Netflix's Damsel, Nessa is a girl living in a village that performs regular rituals of sacrificing maidens to appease a hungry dragon and keep their land safe. Five years prior to the start of the book, Nessa's best friend Clarissa had been chosen as a sacrifice. Now, it is Nessa's turn. What she expects to be a swift and painless death turns out to be a confusing journey to a fae world in which she searches desperately to find her place as well as the identity of the mysterious dragon who comes to visit her each evening.
Instead of a horrifying trial of fear, pain, and obeying orders, the only thing that Nessa has to fear is the rumor spread by her village about the dragon. The experiences she has with him are nothing like what she was warned about. Instead, she is immediately wrapped up in the warmth of a blanket, brought to a comfortable room, fed, and given a simple task to perform. To her surprise, the dragon's servants and kind and loyal, looking out for her best interest and treating their master with respect rather than fear. Evander, the dragon's steward, gives Nessa a tour of his "eyrie, a mountainous castle, and gives her free reign to explore on her own terms. In time, she begins to question everything she was told and realizes that no one was actually harmed by the dragon sacrifices. She is even given an opportunity to revisit the people she misses to check on them.
Sacrificed Hearts is a series of clean romances, so Nessa's romance is gradual and understated. After realizing that she cannot return to her village which is plagued by superstition, she begins to question her place in the world and finds that her life is incomplete without love. The problem is, that she is too overwhelmed by her fear of the unknown to see what is already in her heart. When she learns how good the dragon actually is and how hard he has worked to try to end the sacrifices, she realizes how lucky she is to have won him over. The story has a true fairy tale ending in which justice is served without violence or killing. I also enjoyed how deeply Nessa valued her friendship with Clarissa to the point where couldn't even think about romance until she learned what became of her after her sacrifice and that she was safe.
Tara Grayce's Mountain of Dragons and Sacrifice proves to be a delightful subversion of the classic sacrificial maiden trope. Unlike Netflix's Damsel which stumbles under the weight of modern agendas, this novel celebrates the power of inner strength and defies expectations. Nessa's transformation from a fearful village girl to a woman discovering love and her own agency is a captivating exploration of the core themes within the Sacrificed Hearts series. This captivating retelling not only emphasizes the importance of challenging assumptions but also highlights the power of kindness and understanding. Readers seeking a clean romance woven with enchanting world-building and a dash of magic need look no further than the heartwarming adventures that await within the Sacrificed Hearts series.

Review: Time Princess - The Underground City

Where Infinite Shimmer, the last visual novel in Time Princess, encompasses everything romantic and girly in a seemingly misplaced cyberpunk setting, The Underground City: Stirring Shadows does quite the opposite. Although the dystopian world of The Underground City is so similar to Infinite Shimmer that it could have easily been a spinoff about a different character living a different life, Sera's circumstances are not nearly as appealing as Aurora's. This visual novel takes everything a player would expect from the genre instead of twisting it into a Barbie-like setting. While this is great for fans of dark gritty dystopian worlds, it feels out of place for such a bright girly game as Time Princess that features a fairy who gives the protagonist the power to become anyone. While not appealing to my personal tastes, this novel demonstrates the game's versatility to players who enjoy all types of stories.

Underground City players are transformed into Sera, a tragic figure trying to survive in a world of violence, drugs, false gods, and classism. She grew up with Ren, a rebel fighting for freedom, and was raised by a woman named May without knowing where she really came from. The visual novel was released in two parts. The world is so vast and detailed that it takes a long time to learn the full story and unlock all its secrets. However, I found everything so dreary that it was difficult for me to focus on the plot, and I'm certain I missed many key points due to my mental wiring that compels me to escape to happier stories when things get too dark. The Underground City offers four companion characters, which is more than many of the other visual novels in the game, but none of them offer potential for romance, and all except one are quite violent and cold, making it difficult to relate to most of them.

Ren is the companion that Sera has known the longest, which should make him the most trustworthy, but he is later revealed to be a psychopath who was corrupted by the struggles of the society they were brought up in. He butts heads with Ranae, another rebel who has a different perspective from him and was brought up in a more affluent area of the city. One potential story branch allows Sera to cross paths with Yates, who trains her in a specific style of fighting. Since it is possible to play through certain branches of the story without encountering Yates at all, I thought he was an odd choice for a companion compared with several other recurring characters who appear more often and have more relevance. My favorite companion is Apolonia, a timid girl who wishes to help free the troubled victims of the underground world but doesn't have the physical strength to do so and depends on others to help her. Though she has some interesting secrets that are revealed later, she is not in the story for long either.

As far as the dress-up elements of the game, The Underground City provides a wide variety of outfits to appeal to every possible taste. From long flowing gowns to armor-clad warriors, this visual novel has it all. It's a little odd for a story about a ragtag team of penniless rebels fighting for their lives to have such an interesting and diverse line of fashions to choose from, but at least something good could come from such a depressing story. My favorite outfit is a long flowing purple and lavender gown with frilly sleeves and gold accented overlays reminiscent of Princess Zelda's iconic skirt. The story also features a variety of unique headpieces including one that looks like a winged unicorn and another that is similar to the spiky crowns used in Six. There are dress, skirt, and pant options to suit every preference and provide motivation to complete the four grueling chapters in the story.

The Underground City: Stirring Shadows caters to a specific niche within the Time Princess player base. It offers a richly crafted dystopian world brimming with intricate details and a complex plot that will undoubtedly appeal to those who enjoy dark narratives. However, players who typically gravitate towards the lighter content and romantic elements that Time Princess is known for might find this story's relentless focus on a bleak and oppressive society to be a stark departure from the usual experience. The extensive clothing customization options stand out as a surprising yet welcome juxtaposition to the story's dark tone, offering a bit of lightheartedness through an impressive variety of outfits for players to collect and style their character with.

Happy International Mermaid Day!

Today is International Mermaid Day, and it comes with big news for mermaid fans. I recently shared a leaked promo video for Disney Junior's Ariel that was taken down shortly after. Today, in honor of International Mermaid Day, an official teaser was launched containing only footage from the show without any of the interviews from its creators. There was also an update from Rainbow SpA's upcoming animated series, Mermaid Magic, which is scheduled to release around the same time period as Ariel. Finally, my friend Kae-Leah Williamson's Wattpad book, The Siren Queen, was recently completed along with a lovely romantic prequel set in a fictional mer-universe called The Servant Girl and the Sea Prince.

Though it does not have a specific release date yet, the first official teaser for Disney Junior's Ariel took the internet by storm today. It is reported to premiere sometime this summer on Disney Junior and Disney+. The teaser featured new footage of characters that had been introduced previously in press releases including brand new Caribbean-inspired redesigns for Ariel, King Triton, Ursula, and Ariel's two new friends, Lucia and Fernie. The teaser also reveals animation of Ariel's tail glowing and changing colors her emotions, which directly mirrors the emotion-powered crystal dress from Elena of Avalor. The end of the teaser plays a clip of the show's theme song, emphasizing the Caribbean-inspired instruments and repetitive lyric of the title to appeal to its younger target audience. Although I'm excited to see new footage after a very small promotional campaign, I'm still a little disappointed by all the changes it has made to the world and characters of the original series from the '90s.

From the creators of Winx Club, Mermaid Magic is a series that has undergone numerous changes since its announcement a few years ago. It was originally going to be titled Mertropolis and got stuck in pre-production for a while with very little information released to the public. In honor of International Mermaid Day, the Italian animated series has revealed a first look at its three main characters, Princess Merlinda, Nerissa, and Sasha, to the public along with a more detailed summary. This summer, Merlinda and her friends will embark on a quest to save the undersea kingdom of Mertropia from the wicked pirate Barbarossa and his Sea Monsters. It promises adventures both under the sea and in the surface world, which means there's a good possibility for some beautiful new transformation sequences. Though Merlinda shares the same color scheme as Princess Peach's mermaid form from the new Showtime! game, it's a little less shimmery and dramatic and has more of a generic look reminiscent of a fashionable teenage girl who happens to have a tail. Her friends Nerissa and Sasha add some refreshing diversity to the show with tail colors reminiscent of other famous mermaids of the past. The show will premiere on Netflix worldwide around the same time as Disney Junior's Ariel.

Finally, I have two new book recommendations, and they are both completely free of charge! Kae-Leah Williamson's The Siren Queen is a short retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" set in an original mermaid world in which merfolk are vegetarians and have telepathic abilities with sea creatures. It is a lovely romance about a mermaid princess named Nerissa whose fiancé, Zale, gets kidnapped by his jealous aunt. Though it is set in an original world, the book follows the plot of "The Snow Queen" closely and jumps through each stage of the fairy tale with little time spent on side characters. It contains a non-threatening villain, which makes it a good choice for people who don't like dark books with a lot of torture. Its prequel, The Servant Girl and the Sea Prince, is a "Cinderella" story that reveals the background of Nerissa's mother, Melinda, who started her life as a human servant before being rescued by the merman prince, Poseidon. The book contains a lot of detail about both the undersea and mermaid kingdoms, exhibiting a great display of historical knowledge. Though the romance is understated, it is a sweet story that depicts a common romantic fantasy amongst young women who love mermaids.

In honor of International Mermaid Day, we took a deep dive into the world of mermaids with a sneak peek at some exciting new content! From Disney Junior's Ariel to Rainbow SpA's Mermaid Magic, there's a mermaid adventure waiting for everyone this summer. Which one are you looking forward to more? Let me know in the comments! If you're looking for a captivating read, check out Kae-Leahs two enchanting free novels, The Siren Queen and its prequel, The Servant Girl and the Sea Prince. What are your favorite mermaid stories? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Review: Princess Peach Showtime!

I was late to the party with my review of Super Princess Peach, so I decided to be more timely with her latest installment, Princess Peach™: Showtime! for the Nintendo Switch that launched last Friday. The game is a mix between the dress-up elements of Time Princess and the gameplay elements of Disney Princess Enchanted Journey/My Fairytale Adventure. Although it provides more of a challenge than the Disney Princess games of the past as one might expect of a Super Mario Bros. title, it can easily be completed in a full day, which makes the steep price tag questionable. Still, Princess Peach's newest title is visually pleasing, entertaining, and fun to play.

The game begins with Princess Peach entering a large theater run by the Sparklas, generic muppet-like creatures that populate the Showtime! worlds. As soon as she arrives, a magic tornado blasts her tiara off her head. A talking star named Stella appears and replaces it with a magic hair ribbon that allows her to transform into starring roles in the various shows that the theater performs. She soon learns that the tornado was caused by the wicked Madame Grape, who has sent grape-like minions from the Sour Bunch to terrorize every show in the theater. It is Peach's job to use the powers of the roles her magic hair ribbon provides to defeat the Sour Bunch, rescue the original Sparklas in each role, and restore the theater to its former glory.
There are ten primary "roles" that Peach can transform into with a surprise bonus role at the end. Each play has two main acts and a finale in the basement, where she rescues its original Sparkla star. Though this game is clearly targeted toward girls, roughly half the roles that Peach transforms into are action-oriented, likely to avoid the same criticism that Super Princess Peach received for using emotion-based powers in the only female-led Super Mario Bros. title at the time. However, the non-fighter roles, which include a baker, a mermaid, a figure skater, and a detective have the most variety and visual appeal. My favorite transformation is a shimmery pink and blue mermaid that allows Peach to use her siren song to control the fish around her to rescue mer-Sparklas trapped in giant clamshells to perform in a concert.


This game is relatively easy with each show in the theater taking roughly 10-15 minutes to complete. It provides less frustration than its predecessor, Super Princess Peach, but it is not impossible to lose like it is in the Disney Princess Enchanted Journey/My Fairytale Adventure duology. The game offers assistance to players who are struggling by offering a Heart Charm to provide extra health or even an option to spend all your coins to complete a level. While this may be considered cheating, it is a boon to players who don't care about certain roles and only want to unlock the floor that contains their favorite role. The game encourages replay by adding post-credit minigames like a Sparkla that hides within each show and an extra shop to buy decorations for the theater, but there isn't much reason to repeat stages unless you are a completionist who wants to find every star and hidden item.

The biggest appeal of Showtime! is the visuals. It is a dress-up game first and foremost and does an excellent job of portraying stylized costumes for Peach in each role. The surprising lack of pink prevents her from looking too similar to Barbie, another famous character who has taken on a large variety of roles, but fans of Peach's signature pink dress will enjoy the variety of new fabrics that can be purchased for her and Stella's default looks at the theater's store. Another cute visual in this game is that every time Peach transforms into a new role, her signature dress glows pale blue, making it look almost identical to Disney's Cinderella, who is widely considered the OG transforming princess. There is also ample opportunity for Peach to show off her unique looks with magic spotlights that appear in each level where she can strike a post and be transported to a bonus area to collect additional rewards.

Princess Peach: Showtime! is a visually stunning and entertaining game with a mix of light action and dress-up elements. Its light story allows plenty of opportunities for humor and gags, especially in the detective levels. It is a very different game from Super Princess Peach in terms of both story and gameplay. While the short playtime and hefty price tag might give some gamers pause, it's a delightful and frustration-free experience for fans of casual gaming and princesses. What did you think of Princess Peach Showtime? Did you have a favorite transformation? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Review: A Spark of Storms

A Spark of Storms by Susannah Welch is a gender-bent retelling of "Aladdin." This is far from a new concept for me, so the obvious Disney influence on the cover was what first attracted me to this book. The Disney version of Aladdin is very different from the original fairy tale. The author uses that story as inspiration and makes it her own in a clever way while building a female-empowered fantasy world that gives a strong start to her Heart of the Queendom series. Though the feminist messaging of this book is a little overstated, it aligns perfectly with the archetype of Princess Jasmine feeling trapped by her culture and its treatment of women. In this case, it's a prince named Jaemin who feels trapped in a world where only female heirs can ascend the throne.

Alanna is a street rat who uses her charms to manipulate those around her for her own survival. Her life takes a surprising turn when she is rescued by a mysterious pink-haired woman. Geeni, her rescuer, offers her a magic lamp that will turn her into a princess in exchange for the diary of an old queen in the castle library. One of the few conditions for the exchange is that she is not allowed to fall in love with any of the princes, as a single touch will break her disguise. Alanna accepts the deal and is given a handmaiden named Hidalsa, who is also an actress and quickly becomes a trusted friend. The only problem is that after encountering Prince Jaemin in her "street rat" form, she feels an immediate bond with him that only makes her long for him more after disguising herself as Princess Aliyabeth.

The nods to Disney's Aladdin are mostly given through naming conventions. Alanna and Jaemin sound like gender-bent variations of Aladdin and Jasmine, and Alanna even has a pet monkey named Bibi as a counterpart to Abu. The kingdom's hierarchy is a direct reversal of Agrabah, with princesses being given the birthright of queenhood while princes are seen only as bargaining chips for political alliances, which creates a problem for the queen after she only gives birth to sons. That is where the similarities end. This story takes a completely different direction with the villain and magical elements. Though there is a lamp and a character named Geeni, there are no actual genies, and the magic system is specific and detailed as opposed to being able to wish for almost anything.

After spending some time as the princess, Alanna begins to realize that Geeni selected her for this task for a reason. As the purported "diamond in the rough," it turns out that Alanna has special powers that she was never aware of. Jaemin is the one who opens her eyes to these abilities, and she decides to use them to help her mother who developed a form of dementia after being used as a medical guinea pig in a monastery of healers. That's when the book diverts the most from its source material. While Aladdin is usually portrayed as either an orphan or the son of a single mother, Alanna has a mother who she cares about but is helpless and doesn't remember her. This can be a heavy topic for a fairy tale book, but it is handled tastefully.

Susannah Welch's A Spark of Storms cleverly subverts the expectations of a familiar Disney tale. Gone are the simple wishes and clear-cut lines between good and evil. Here, Alanna wrestles with her identity, hidden magic, and a mother in desperate need. The magic system is intricate, and the power dynamics are flipped, placing the women at the forefront. While the nods to Aladdin and Jasmine are present, the story ultimately carves its own path. Does Alanna unlock her true potential and rewrite her destiny? Does she defy Geeni's bargain and find love with Jaemin? Dive into this captivating novel to discover if she can become the queen she was always meant to be.

Review: Framed in Florals

There are so many retellings of "Cinderella" that one would think it would be impossible for a new version of it to be fresh and original. Yet, Abigail Manning proves that it is possible with Framed in Florals, a lovely and suspenseful adaptation of "Cinderella." This book is most similar to Amazon Prime's 2021 Cinderella jukebox musical only much better. Both adaptations feature Cinderella as an entrepreneur who attends the ball to pursue her career ambitions with the handsome stranger she'd encountered previously as a bonus perk. Both Cinderellas are enchanted so their stepfamilies won't recognize them, but the prince knows exactly who she is. Framed in Florals goes a step further by throwing some truly devious and fearsome villains into the mix for a thrilling climax that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

As far as wicked stepmothers go, this book really takes the cake. Sapphira is the most horrible and abusive woman any orphan girl could possibly be cursed to have as a guardian. She takes pleasure in destroying Kalina's few worldly possessions for no other reason than to torment her and flaunts the special treatment she gives her own two daughters at every available opportunity. This is not one of those retellings where one of the sisters is actually nice. The villains in this book are every bit as sinister as they appear. If her family wasn't already bad enough, Kalina finds herself in the middle of an assassination plot after attending the prince's ball that puts her life in danger and adds a clever hidden meaning to the book's title, which I originally thought was a reference to the "sunset in a frame" line from the Disney movie.

It isn't all gloom and doom, though. Despite the high stakes for Kalina's survival, the development of her romance with the prince is sweet and charming. Prince Jasper is a fully fleshed-out character with his own personality and goals, which is a refreshing change from most fairy tale princes. He has a hilarious "meet cute" in which he accidentally flings Kalina into a huge puddle of mud in the royal gardens while hurrying to attend a meeting with his father. Although the two are not able to see each other's faces after getting caked in mud, they bond over their shared love of flowers and begin a cryptic relationship in which they hide letters for each other inside flower patches based on the individual flowers' meanings. This is such a cute way to form a relationship and provides some rare information about the language of flowers.

Framed in Florals gives a completely original twist on the Fairy Godmother character. Instead of a magical being whose sole purpose is to help Cinderella's wishes come true, Camille is a brash tavern wench who gets stuck with an enchanted dress and a dangerous task that she decides to hand off to a complete stranger at the first chance she gets. Camille is the only person in the entire book who is neither purely good nor purely evil. She is merely a victim of circumstance and makes a poor choice to recruit Kalina as the next victim of something more dangerous than either of them could possibly imagine. This makes it understandable that Kalina isn't sure whether Camille is her friend or enemy after the ball, but she makes the most selfless compassionate decision she can in the end, remaining true to the fairy tale archetype.

Abigal Manning's Framed in Florals is the third book in her Emerald Realm fairy tale series that masterfully reinvents "Cinderella." Manning throws out the tired tropes, crafting a suspenseful novel with complex characters. The villainous Sapphira and the nefarious assassin at the ball ensure danger and intrigue. Prince Jasper is a refreshing change, boasting his own goals and a sweet connection with Kalina. The story's depth caters to a wide audience, offering romance, suspense, and a touch of floral whimsy. Framed in Florals is a must-read for those seeking a fresh take on a classic.

Review: Damsel (Netflix)

A year and a half after Hulu's The Princess, a film about a generic fairy tale princess picking up a sword and saving herself, is owned by Hulu, Neflix decided to take on their own version of the trope with Damsel, a film about a general fairy tale princess picking up a sword and...saving herself? Though these two films share similar themes, the primary foe in Damsel is a mythological dragon instead of a greedy conqueror, giving Netflix's take on the overdone plot more of a fantasy feel. However, the sweet taste of magic is as fleeting as the film's promise of happiness to its sacrificial brides. Like The Princess, Damsel is a gritty action flick with little levity. I found The Princess enjoyable enough for what it is, and Damsel, though generic, has its moments as well. The first act is particularly eye-pleasing with breathtaking imagery of castles, gowns, and indulgence in the royal life before the film's visuals and plot plummet into a dark pit.

Elodie is an adventuresome girl living in the village with her father, stepmother, and little sister, Floria. One day, she comes home to learn that her father made an agreement to marry her off to a prince from a kingdom she's never heard of before. Not wanting to cause a family squabble, she goes along with it and is whisked away into a glittering sunlit tower brimming with delicious food, beautiful clothes, and a gentle prince who seems eager to get to know her. It has all the makings of a beautiful fairy tale, but there is an underlying sense of dread behind it even if you haven't already seen the twist revealed in the trailer. The rooms are just a little too bright, the wedding gifts are a little too generous, and the royals are just a little too easygoing. After a lovely wedding ceremony that leaves her little sister in awe, Elodie is taken to a strange blood ritual after which the prince throws her into a dark pit where a fearsome dragon awaits its prey. "Oh, Anna, if only there was someone out there who loved you."
Damsel is entertaining for what it is, but there are far too many similar films for it to be memorable enough to stand on its own. Its opening narration about how this isn't like other stories where the damsel in distress gets rescued is particularly tone-deaf considering that all the princess movies from the past decade have the exact same message. Even the film's "all is lost"/"dark night of the soul" element is exactly the same as the one used during the climax of The Princess. It's a little embarrassing to admit that this script was written by someone who took the same screenwriting program I did when I wrote my princess screenplay. Even the film's official synopsis, which states "she soon realizes that no one is coming and this 'damsel' must save herself," is a blatant lie. It might not be the person you would expect if you haven't watched a film with a female lead since 2004, but someone does come to help bail her out despite the film's strong messaging about women rescuing themselves.
Even though I went in knowing this was a gritty movie about survival, I did find the second and third acts of this film as enjoyable as the first one. After Elodie is tossed into the pit, things get very dark literally and conceptually. Elodie is the only person on screen for a good portion of the film, reducing most of the dialogue to grunts and mutterings to herself as she tries to find a way out of the cave before the dragon eats her for lunch. Even the design of the dragon was rather dark, possibly to account for budgeting issues. Its teeth were its most defining feature while its dark scales and eyes blend in with the background of the cave. Like most modern princess stories, the dragon, which was once a mother, turns out to be misunderstood, and it is up to Elodie to set things straight. It was never explained why it took centuries of countless sacrificial brides for this to happen, but at least everything worked out in the end.
While Netflix's Damsel attempts to offer a fantastical spin on the "damsel in distress" trope, its execution falls flat. The initial allure of a charming prince and a grand wedding quickly unravels, revealing a tired plot twist and a descent into darkness. The film relies heavily on a single character for long stretches, and the "hero's journey" feels derivative of countless recent princess narratives. For those seeking a more original and engaging adventure, look no further than the newly released Sacrificed Hearts multi-author book series. These epic fantasy books promise a refreshing blend of romance, loyalty, and magic, whisking readers beyond the overused themes of Damsel.

Review: CPHS Princess Tea - Ariel's Treasure Hunt

The best time of the year is back! Every year, the Cedar Park High School Choir gets together to write a brand-new show filled with princesses, songs, and games for its annual Princess Tea. This year's show, Ariel's Treasure Hunt, is the third one I attended since moving to the area. Many things remained the same such as the lobby set up with fairy tale photo ops, royal souvenirs, and the castle entryway, but there were plenty of surprises to be found during the performance as well. The female choral group, known as the Seasons, dominated this year's show with a wide array of Disney Princesses, while the male singing group, Pitch Black, cosplayed various Disney heroes, supported the princesses, and performed several group numbers during the intermission. I sat at the Cinderella table, which was adorned with an old storybook, an autographed note, and a clock stuck at midnight.

This year's show, which is freshly written by students each year, revolves around Ariel wanting to give Eric the perfect gift for their anniversary, but none of the princesses can remember who had it last! So they must fly all around the world on Jasmine's borrowed Magic Carpet to each princess's kingdom in search of an old compass that Ariel found in the ocean and wants to return to Eric. The sets for each kingdom are pretty simple, mostly consisting of a background poster and table containing some recognizable trinkets from that princess's story. Throughout the show, we travel to France, Mount Olympus, Corona, Arendelle, and finally back to Atlantica. Each journey involves the princesses sitting in front of the stage on a roll-out magic carpet (until it gets stolen back by Aladdin) and harmonizing to beautiful Disney songs. Their first performance, an a capella rendition of "Colors of the Wind" was my favorite from the show.

Though the previous Princess Teas I attended had bigger surprises, including appearances from non-Disney Princesses like Fiona and Anastasia as well as my favorite lesser-known Disney Princess, Sofia the First, this show also had some charming moments. A few fun highlights include Aurora curling up under the Magic Carpet to take a snooze during one of several audience interaction moments, a complete reenactment of the famous scene from Wreck-It Ralph 2  in which Vanellope von Schweetz convinces the Disney Princesses that she is one of them, and a charming finale featuring "Lava," the underrated Pixar short that premiered before Inside Out . I love that the Princess Tea has a new theme each year, keeping it fresh and motivating audiences to come back year after year. This year's show featured my favorite Disney Princess, Ariel, in the spotlight. While it turned out her role wasn't much bigger than the others, there was a solo rendition of "Part of Your World" and a surprise appearance from Sebastian near the end.

                 
The Princess Tea does a better job than Disney at celebrating both the past and present of the company. Disney has been shamelessly attempting to change their image of what it means to be a princess over the past decade, effectively erasing their older masterpieces with mediocre live-action remakes. This show had a great female empowerment moment following Megara's performance of "I Won't Say I'm in Love." Throughout the show, Meg is portrayed as being stuck between her feelings for Hercules and her desire to be an independent modern woman, matching her perspective in the film as a damsel in distress who can handle it. After a bit of discourse with the other princesses, they come to the conclusion that Megara should do whatever makes her happy whether that means being in a romantic relationship with Hercules or staying independent. This was a great scene that Disney could learn from for their modern films instead of trying to forcibly change the narrative. However, the show also gives a nod to some of the modern Disney remakes with the costumes they selected for Cinderella and Prince Charming and a performance of "Speechless" from Princess Jasmine.



The Princess Tea is a magical experience that transcends generations. Whether you're a young child wide-eyed with wonder or an adult reliving the joy of your childhood, this event has something for everyone. This year's "Ariel's Treasure Hunt" takes audiences on a whirlwind adventure across various Disney kingdoms, with each princess showcasing their unique personalities and iconic songs. But the magic doesn't stop here! Did you attend this year's Princess Tea? Perhaps you have fond memories of a past show? Tell me if there are similar local events you cherish, share them as well! Let's create a space where the magic of princesses continues to sparkle and inspire. Together, we can keep the fairytales alive in our hearts and communities.

Review: The Net that Holds Me

The Net that Holds Me  by Scarlett Luna Strange is a bare-bones minimalist retelling of "The Little Mermaid" with virtually no stakes. I learned about it from the recent Valentine's Day book promotion and decided to throw in the anchor because I usually love "Little Mermaid" retellings and even wrote one of my own. The book is innocent and inoffensive for the most part, but it mitigates the majority of the tragic themes that make "The Little Mermaid" such a classic story and comes off as disrespectful toward the original protagonist at one point near the end. As a standalone YA romance, it's a short and sweet love story that can be finished in about two hours, but as a "Little Mermaid" retelling, it doesn't hold a lot of water.

Anyone who has read or seen a "Little Mermaid" adaptation knows the drill. Sage is a lonely mermaid who is bored with her life under the sea and thirsts for something more. One fateful day, she meets Elias, a human prince who also longs for something more than his life on land. These secret oceanside meetings continue for some time, but Sage keeps her tail obscured in the water, ashamed of her secret. Soon, she decides these meetings are not enough for her and seeks her beloved mentor, Tove, for a potion that will turn her human so she can explore more of Elias's world. The potion switches her between human and mer forms with the rising and setting of the sun and restricts her from telling Elias her secret. Spending more time with Sage makes Elias grow even closer to her. He eventually decides he wants to marry her even though his parents have already planned a political alliance for him.
This book gets props for including both the mermaid's and the prince's perspectives since the prince is often the most overlooked character from the original fairy tale. However, both protagonists' personalities are inconsistent and never quite reach the nuance breadth of a living breathing person. Sage claims to be shy but regularly visits Elias even before transforming into a human and has few qualms about talking to him about anything and everything. Like most fairy tale princes, Elias's personality revolves entirely around his fascination with Sage and his boredom with palace life. Even the sea witch, Tove, is a watered-down version of a villain who is kind and loving for the most part despite later revealing a confusing backstory with murky motivations that never result in any danger on Sage's behalf.
The book's biggest inconsistency is Sage's reaction upon learning that Elias is engaged. Despite claiming to be shy, Sage reacts like a typical siren and threatens to send the wrath of the ocean after him. This is the part I found most disrespectful to the fairy tale. The original little mermaid was going to die if the prince married someone else, but she still couldn't bring herself to act against him to save her own life because her love was so strong. Here, nothing would have happened to Sage if Elias married someone else. While it makes sense for her to be angry with him for not being honest with her, her reaction is so over-the-top that everything we've learned about her character leading up to this point sinks to the ocean floor. Elias's reaction is also confusing. He is more impressed by her ability to drown him with a flick of her wrist than he is fearful.

The Net that Holds Me is a light and quick read that offers a different perspective on a classic tale. While it provides dual narration and explores the prince's side of the story, its simplified plot, underdeveloped characters, and inconsistent portrayal of the mermaid ultimately leave it lacking the depth and emotional resonance of the original "Little Mermaid." Readers seeking a fresh and nuanced retelling may want to look elsewhere, but those seeking a quick and uncomplicated love story might find this a pleasant escape.