Lisa Dawn's Blog: The Princess Blog, page 19

Review: The Silent Prince

The Silent Prince by C.J. Brightley was one of my most eagerly anticipated books from the Once Upon a Prince series. I've read many other retellings of "The Little Mermaid," but never one about a merman. Doing a gender-bent adaptation for this assignment instead of going the easy route of retelling the same story from the prince's perspective really breathed new life into a classic tale. Though the story is simple and direct for what it is, the portrayal of a merman in the role of the little mermaid comes off as fresh and original. It has a cute romance, plenty of action, and a healthy dose of comedy. All in all, it is a fun read and an exemplary addition to the series.

Kaerius is a confident merman prince who is proud of his incredible singing voice. One day, he rescues a human princess from drowning. From that moment on, he becomes obsessed with her. He swims to the surface frequently and learns that her name is Princess Marin, that she is lonely, and that she also enjoys singing and music. Soon enough, he determines that he is in love with Marin and trades his voice to the Kraken in exchange for legs. However, the devious Kraken gives him a one-month deadline to earn Marin's love. If he succeeds, he will get his voice back as well as the ability for both of them to switch between human and mer forms as they please. If he fails, his human lungs will expire, ending his life. Kaerius agrees to these terms and proceeds to find Marin on land and court her. Of course, a naked man washing up on shore and trying to get the attention of a woman can have very different implications from a naked woman washing up on shore and trying to get the attention of a man. Fortunately, the author leaves the more uncomfortable aspects of this to the reader's imagination, focusing instead on Marin's concern for the shipwrecked stranger and his new sensations of having legs, toes, and feet.

The communication mechanics in this book are pretty interesting. I have read other adaptations of "The Little Mermaid" where she learns to write or sign. Here, Kaerius has his own version of sign language used among the merfolk that no one on land can understand but him. Those who take the time to know him such as Marin and her guard slowly begin to learn his signals after seeing them frequently. Kaerius's behavior on land is also endlessly entertaining. He is a typical "fish out of water," confused by everyday concepts like clothing or soap, but he acts so confident that it comes off as absurd at times. His behavior is similar to that of Marvel's Thor. He never fails to lay on the charm when it comes to Marin, which motivates her to ask him to act as her suitor at a royal dance to throw off the advances of those with more malicious intentions. He takes on this task gladly, always placing Marin's safety before anything else, and gains an even deeper reverence for the politically troubled princess

The relationships in this book are simple but acceptable. The author tries to break the "love at first sight" trope by having Kaerius realize that he barely even knew Marin when he first thought he was in love with her. Yet, there are no groundbreaking revelations here as getting to know her better only makes him love her even more. The most interesting relationship in the book is the friendship between Kaerius and Brighton, Marin's guard. Just as the little mermaid often needs a female maid to teach her the ways of human etiquette and clothing, Kaerius meets Brighton soon after arriving on shore, and he does his best to make him not look ridiculous to other humans. They don't get along well at first because Brighton's duties of guarding the princess pose a potential threat, but Kaerius warms up to Brighton as soon as he learns he is married. Brighton is also the quickest to pick up on Kaerius's hand gestures and comes the closest to figuring out his true identity.

In the enchanting retelling of "The Little Mermaid," C.J. Brightley's The Silent Prince provides a fresh take on the classic tale, casting the protagonist as a confident and endearing merman prince. The choice to pivot from the well-trodden path of retelling the story from the prince's perspective to a gender-bent narrative injects a breath of novelty into the familiar storyline. The transformation of Kaerius, the merman prince, as he navigates the dual worlds of sea and land, introduces fascinating dynamics and challenges. Kaerius's unique sign language adds an intriguing layer to the story, fostering connection and understanding between the characters. This book's narrative brims with a delightful mix of romance, adventure, and humor, creating an engaging and enjoyable read that stands out as a commendable addition to the Once Upon a Prince series.

Review: The Awakened Prince

For my next book review, I was planning to cover The Silent Prince by C.J. Brightly, a gender-bent retelling of "The Little Mermaid" that was released on Black Friday, but I unexpectedly received an ARC for The Awakened Prince by Alora Carter, another book from the Once Upon a Prince series that I had not read yet. Based on the title, I was hoping this would be a gender-bent adaptation of "Sleeping Beauty." Instead, it was a direct retelling of the Disney movie from the prince's perspective that adds very little to the original story. Though some of the names and lore were altered to avoid copyright issues, I could see that the author was inspired mainly by the most popular version of the story and took very little liberty with the many other fairy tale adaptations out there. The book provides everything a reader would expect from a fairy tale retelling--romance, fantasy, and a bit of medieval history with nothing new or insightful to offer.

Though Prince Killian takes on the same role as Prince Phillip from the Disney movie, he differs in personality. He lacks confidence in himself and his ability to someday lead his kingdom, believing that his father prefers his best friend, Phineas, over himself as the future king. Instead of a cheeky horse named Samson, Killian has a magic wolf companion named Jax, whom he is able to communicate with telepathically. Jax was the most interesting character in this book with everyone else being watered-down counterparts of characters from the animated Disney film. Raela, the lost princess, is very similar to Aurora--a graceful, dreamy beauty raised by three fairies in the woods who lead her to believe they were her aunts for most of her life. There is a language barrier between Killian and Raela when they first meet, but this is overcome rather quickly thanks to Jax's translations and the fact that Killian is so captivated by Raela's beauty that he isn't all that interested in what she has to say. That might be the reason this book falls short in the romance department.
While it is common for fairy tales to have love at first sight, novels give the audience a look at the inner workings of the characters' minds, deepening even the most superficial romances. This book fails to do so by portraying Killian as so lovesick with Raela despite not speaking the same language that he is willing to give up his throne and his arranged marriage to a mysterious long-lost princess just to be with her. Yet, we have no idea what they have in common or what they see in each other aside from basic attraction. While this is exactly what happens in the Disney movie, I would expect more from a novel, even one that is a direct novelization of the film, which this is not. There seemed to be little reason to root for them to get together, even after Raela's sleeping curse set in, which was not foreshadowed in the book and felt like it was simply going through the motions of the fairy tale it was based on.
To be fair, The Awakened Prince did have some decent world-building. It was not a direct copy of the kingdom where the Disney movie took place. This is a world with other cultures, languages, talking animals, and lots of dark magic. Killian's lack of confidence in himself was caused by a traumatic incident from his childhood in which he brought him a cursed knife that killed his mother, making cursed objects more commonplace in this world than in other versions of the fairy tale. The magical bond that allows him to communicate with his wolf companion is an intriguing addition to the story. In addition, the book does something a little bit different and unexpected with one of the three fairies that raised Raela. It introduces the villain in an unexpected way but fails to give her a unique personality and motivation outside of the original fairy tale. Overall, this story does a much better job of developing the setting than it does with the characters.
In The Awakened Prince, readers are taken on a familiar journey through a reimagined world inspired by the classic tale of "Sleeping Beauty." However, the story falls short of delivering a fresh perspective, heavily relying on the well-known Disney adaptation. Though the book introduces intriguing elements such as the protagonist's insecurities and a magical bond with his wolf companion, it struggles to breathe new life into the romance and character dynamics. Despite its commendable world-building, the novel's portrayal of the romance lacks depth, overlooking the opportunity to delve into the inner complexities of the characters' emotions and connections. For more imaginative retellings of "Sleeping Beauty," I recommend The Rose and the Briar by J.M. Stengl or Dreamer of Briarfell by Lucy Tempest.

Review: Wish (Disney 100 Celebration)

In recent years, it has become trendy for everyone to criticize the Walt Disney Company as much as humanly possible. In many cases, it is justified, but these criticisms are unfounded regarding Wish, Disney's tribute film to their 100-year animation legacy. This is a movie that provides Disney fans with everything they have been asking, begging, and wishing of the studio for years. It is a beautifully animated original story that is all heart with no pandering and is neither a sequel nor a remake. Since the movie is also an homage to the Disney animation of the past, it is packed with subtle Easter eggs that only true Disney fans will notice and are not obnoxiously in your face like some of their previous attempts with Wreck-It Ralph 2 or Chip'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. In fact, this movie was so entertaining that it got me thinking about the characters on a deeper level than the writers may have even intended long after I left the theater.

As previewed in the trailers, Wish tells the story of Asha, an ordinary girl living in the extraordinary kingdom of Rosas, where the people's wishes are regularly extracted from their souls and given as offerings to Sorcerer King, Magnifico, in the hopes that he will one day grant them. Asha has a botched interview to be Magnifico's new apprentice with the somewhat self-serving motivation of granting her grandfather's wish for his 100th birthday when she learns that Magnifico has no intention of granting most of the wishes he collects. Instead, he keeps them safe in his castle so their owners can forget them and not have to experience the pain of longing for something that will never happen the way that he did in his childhood. Magnifico and Asha have different perspectives on what is best for Rosas. Though neither of them is entirely wrong, learning the truth prompts Asha to summon a magical wishing star with the potential to return the people's wishes, rousing Magnifico's wrath and turning him into a classic Disney villain when he is corrupted by dark magic from a forbidden book.

There are many things to love about this movie in addition to the unique plot that is inspired by Disney's history of heartfelt musicals about chasing your dreams rather than an old fairy tale. The CGI animation is blended with a unique watercolor-inspired filter to give the movie more of a classic look that is reminiscent of the hand-drawn films of the past that many people grew up with, myself included. Watching it on a big screen enhances this effect through a subtle canvas-like paper texture underneath every frame that is virtually invisible when viewing it on a smaller screen. There are also faint outlines around each character and object, creating a similar effect to the first season of Sofia the First. Many visuals throughout the film weave in references to memorable scenes from the animated Disney movies of the past hundred years, including Princess Aurora's enchanted dress, the glowing green hands that ripped out Ariel's voice, the Fairy Godmother's cloak and wand, and the opening title screen of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The film is a visual feast for anyone who has ever enjoyed a Disney movie in the past. It even includes a subtle nod to Disney Television Animation.

One unique element that Wish introduced is a love interest for the villain. There was so much potential for Queen Amaya to provide a compelling story of heartbreak and the power of true love that had never been done in a Disney movie before. Unfortunately, this opportunity was squandered by making her a one-note MacGuffin who showed very little remorse toward Magnifico's transition to evil or the inevitable punishment that resulted from it. As a long-time fan of Sofia the First, I have been very compelled by the idea of a story in which an innocent maiden is able to reform an evil sorcerer, but this was not that story. I hope that the inclusion of a love interest for the villain can lay the groundwork for more complex relationships in future Disney movies. Though Amaya falls flat as a character, I loved that both Asha and Magnifico wanted to do what was right for Rosas and could have easily switched roles as the hero and villain of the story if their circumstances had been different. Asha initially wanted to benefit her own family and performed some questionable actions when she decided to betray Magnifico. Likewise, Magnifico was misguided by his traumatic past and thought he was doing what was right for Rosas and might have succeeded if Amaya had gotten through to him.

Wish stands as a refreshing departure from the wave of criticism facing Disney in recent years. The movie offers fans a heartfelt and original story, free from the overbearing references that have characterized some of the studio's past works. The homage to Disney's animation legacy is woven into the film's DNA, evident in its beautifully animated original story and subtle Easter eggs that remain true to the spirit of Disney. The film's unique visuals, blending CGI animation with a watercolor-inspired filter, provide a classic look reminiscent of hand-drawn films of the past. Furthermore, Wish introduces unique elements, such as a love interest for the villain, hinting at the potential for more complex relationships in future Disney movies. Despite some missed opportunities in character development, the film's exploration of the conflicting perspectives of its main characters adds depth and nuance to the narrative, leaving viewers pondering the story long after leaving the theater. Overall, Wish serves as a testament to Disney's ability to evoke nostalgia while forging new ground, offering a visually stunning and thought-provoking experience for audiences.

I Hosted an Event for National Princess Day!

It seems like every interest has an official holiday each year, but for the longest time, there wasn't any day to celebrate our love of princesses. In 2017, the newly retired Swan Princess series declared the film's anniversary date of November 18th to be National Princess Day. Since the date was coined by one of the few princess franchises that was not bought out by Disney, the Mouse House does very little to celebrate and instead started its own World Princess Week at the end of each August beginning in 2021. However, the rest of us can still get together to celebrate our love of princesses for National Princess Day on November 18th. This is a significant time period for not just The Swan Princess, but many other animated princess movies which historically always come out right before Thanksgiving to generate optimal sales. The next Disney Princess movie to follow this tradition will be Wish , which comes to theaters on Wednesday. In honor of all these princess movie anniversaries, I decided to host an event at my local library to celebrate National Princess Day on the official date.

After gaining some experience holding storytime sessions for young children, I decided to hold National Princess Day in a similar format consisting of a story, music, and an appropriately themed craft. However, this special event had a twist. Instead of a plain old storybook with flat illustrations, the library provided a beautifully intricate pop-up book of "Cinderella" complete with sliding panels and transformations. Even though the large dioramas took up the majority of each page, the book was rather long and detailed, including original dialogue for the classic Fairy Godmother, Stepmother, and Stepsister characters. The words were on smaller flaps located on the sides of each page that opened up like mini storybooks to reveal fun surprises including a rat that turned into a footman, Cinderella's ballgown transforming back to rags at the stroke of midnight, and a very smooth animation of the glass slipper sliding onto her foot. Children and parents alike were awed by the lovely craftsmanship of the book, though some of the younger princesses had trouble focusing on the detailed wording of the story.

National Princess Day included an interactive element in which all of the girls were encouraged to dress up as their favorite princesses. The library provided tiaras and light-up rings to help them accessorize. They all went above and beyond with this portion of the event. Each girl arrived in a glamorous full-length gown accented with jewels and glitter. One of them even dressed her teddy bear up as Rapunzel! As expected, Elsa was the most popular choice for costumes, but we also had a Belle, Cinderella, Anna, and a few others. I wore an Ariel dress and tiara with the Amulet of Avalor from Sofia the First as an accessory and made sure to curtsy to each princess as she made her royal debut. After storytime was over, I let the girls choose which songs they wanted to perform for an interactive sing-along. The selections were "Belle," "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," and "The Princess Dance" from the often-overlooked Disney Princess Tea Party album, which contains some excellent interactive song selections for children's parties performed by the original voice artists. I led the princesses in the dance instructions that were given in the song. Although they were a bit shy, I tried my best to encourage them to twirl around and have a good time.

For the craft, I wanted to do something extra special. This was the part that they would be taking home with them as a souvenir for months or maybe even years to come. After many hours of research, I discovered Red Ted Art's Princess Paper Doll Ornaments, which are fairly easy to make and prepare. Setting them up for the event required only a printed sheet of paper and eight circle cutouts from colored paper that would be glued together to form the princess's dresses. I did my best to guide the group through the craft, but there was a bit of confusion because there were so many people working on it at the same time, which made it difficult to explain specific instructions to every princess through the chaos. Though most of the parents did the majority of the work, some of the ornaments turned out better than others. Fortunately, National Princess Day falls just a few days before the holiday season, making this craft the perfect decoration for the family's holiday tree. Once the ornaments were done, I encouraged the princesses to twist their paper dolls around on the string to make them dance and twirl as they were portrayed in the tutorial videos on YouTube.

In honoring the tradition of celebrating National Princess Day, the event at the local library was nothing short of enchanting. From the exquisite pop-up book of "Cinderella" with its mesmerizing illustrations to the dazzling array of princess costumes and interactive sing-along, every moment was filled with magic. The craft activity, albeit a bit chaotic, resulted in delightful paper doll ornaments that will surely bring joy to many families in the coming holiday season. As the princesses twirled and danced with their creations, it was evident that the spirit of princesshood and togetherness truly flourished, creating lasting memories for all who attended. National Princess Day is a time of whimsy, creativity, and the enduring power of fairy tales. Did you do anything to celebrate National Princess Day this year? Let me know in the comments!

Both This Year's Broadway Musicals Featuring Cinderella Were Flops!

Two new Broadway musicals featured Cinderella as a leading lady this year, and neither of them lasted for even four months on the Great White Way.  The first was Bad Cinderella, adapted from Andrew Lloyd Webber's short-lived Cinderella musical on the West End. The other was the Britney Spears jukebox musical, Once Upon a One More Time, which sounded like a bad idea from its inception. Both shows suffered from poor ticket sales, backstage drama, and criticism over the long-running trend of modernizing old fairy tales. Yet, the problem is not with the character of Cinderella herself, who has been a long-standing icon of fortune, romance, and glamour, but rather with the media's obsession of correcting popular stories to fit a standardized feminist narrative. After all, the most famous Cinderella musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, has enjoyed great success for many decades with numerous adaptations and revivals, one of which is allegedly still on the way.

Between the two of these shows, I personally feel that Bad Cinderella is less problematic and stays true to many of the values of the original story. However, the way it was marketed suggested otherwise, causing people who may have enjoyed the show to be unwilling to give it a chance. With its flashy colors, punk rock aesthetic, and updated title and musical numbers, Bad Cinderella sold itself as a show about a militant feminist who wanted to stick it to the patriarchy by vandalizing property and creating riots. In actuality, the show wasn't all that different from the original fairy tale. It was about a girl who was ostracized by her society for being different and just wanted to find love and happiness to escape from her abusive family. Without Prince Sebastian by her side, acting out was her only means of escapism. The marketing for the original West End version of the musical was more accurate to the sentimental feminine themes of the show, but I guess Andrew Lloyd Webber thought American women hate sentiment, which is obviously ridiculous. If marketed correctly, this show could have been a refreshing change from the hard-as-nails Disney Princess formula of today. Since Bad Cinderella's Marketing team spray-painted all over the true message of the show to the point where it lost any potential interest, I guess we'll never know.

On the other hand, Once Upon a One More Time was a true dumpster fire that incorporated everything that Bad Cinderella pretended to be. Featuring Betty Friedan as the "Original Fairy Godmother" or "OFG" for short, the show panders hard to modern feminists by showing public domain versions of famous Disney Princesses who choose to reject their stories that were written by bad men and tell their own tales. The notion of fairy tale characters rejecting their narrator because they don't like the story he's telling hearkens back to Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods. Yet, that show saw more success thanks to its original score. Once Upon a One More Time shoehorns in the early 2000s pop tunes of Britney Spears in a feeble attempt to appeal to its audience's nostalgia despite the fact that these songs have very little to do with the story. The show presents Cinderella as an actress who is forced to perform the same story over and over again every time a little girl reads it. In a tired old cliché, Prince Charming turns out to be a jerk who isn't worth her time, forcing her to rewrite her own story to find a happy ending. The problem is that the fairy tale already had one, so the show doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The narrative of taking back your own story makes more sense in a show like Six because Henry VIII was already known throughout history to be horrible toward women and wasn't written that way to fill a checkbox, which accounts for why that show was so much more successful.

"Cinderella" is a story that will be told and retold until the end of time. It is a hopeful and empowering tale of finding light in a dark situation. However, the sales of this year's two Broadway shows that attempt to rewrite her story prove that it was never in need of fixing. In the case of Bad Cinderella, it was more of a marketing issue, while the problem with Once Upon a One More Time rests within the show itself. Meanwhile, the Rodgers and Hammerstein version, which, in my opinion, is the best adaptation there is, continues to celebrate endless success with an upcoming Jennifer Lopez series, a reprise of Brandy and Paolo Montalban's roles from their made-for-TV adaptation of the show, and many popular performances at schools and community theaters. This long-lasting success proves that the fairy tale was already perfect the way it was and never needed a feminist update. If  Bad Cinderella hadn't been promoted as the "bad" one, perhaps it could have prompted a resurgence of love for the original story. The failure of both of 2023's "Cinderella" adaptations is something Disney can learn from for their upcoming "Snow White" movie, which many people are already boycotting due to the anticipated changes to the point that a more accurate adaptation is being made just to compete with it.

The recent Broadway adaptations of Cinderella have shed light on the challenges of modernizing beloved fairy tales. While both Bad Cinderella and Once Upon a One More Time faced difficulties, they showcased different issues. Bad Cinderella suffered from misleading marketing, potentially obscuring the genuine themes of the original story that could have resonated with audiences. In contrast, Once Upon a One More Time struggled with a narrative that felt disconnected from the core essence of Cinderella's timeless tale, attempting to incorporate Britney Spears' songs without a strong tie to the storyline. The enduring success of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella serves as a testament to the timeless appeal of the classic narrative, demonstrating that attempts to force a feminist update may not always be necessary or well-received. The failures of these adaptations offer insight for future reimaginings of classic tales, urging a careful balance between relevance and authenticity. These lessons could be crucial for Disney's upcoming Snow White amidst concerns about potential deviations from the original story. Ultimately, the struggles of these Broadway adaptations underscore the enduring charm and relevance of Cinderella's timeless tale, while also emphasizing the importance of staying true to the essence of beloved classics when considering modern interpretations.

Review: Unicorn Academy (Netflix)

As soon as I saw the previews for Netflix's new animated series, Unicorn Academy, I couldn't get over how similar it looked to Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders. Teenagers forming magical bonds with unicorns to save the world from evil? Yes, please! With a Jewel Riders graphic novel on the horizon, this is the perfect time to revisit that premise. Unicorn Academy is loosely based on a book series of the same name that got picked up by Netflix and recently aired its first season. The premiere movie and successive eight episodes follow six unicorns and their riders on their quest to protect the magical realm from the evil Ravenzella, who performed reprehensible acts to previous generations, including the father of the main character, Sophia. The show contains a lot of teen angst and drama as well as rainbows, sparkles, and magic.

Although Unicorn Academy features an entire school full of unicorn riders training to be protectors, it only focuses on the six students living at the Sapphire dorm. Aside from some key scenes in the premiere and finale, the show rarely includes any background characters, possibly due to budget costs. Sophia, the main character, is entirely new to the world of Unicorn Academy and spends most of the premiere in awe at learning that unicorns are real and her father used to train with them. She bonds with Wildstar, the same unicorn that her father had bonded with before he was defeated by the wicked Ravenzella. Ava, who rides a unicorn named Leaf, immediately becomes best friends with Sophia, creating the foundation of the show's later drama revolving around forgiveness. Ava's personality is very similar to Glimmer from Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and so is the drama revolving around her obsession with friendship. My favorite unicorn rider was Layla, a shy bookish nerd who bonds with an ice unicorn and must slowly come out of her shell to protect her friends. There was also a token "mean" girl, a token boy, and a token tomboy.
With its continuous storyline and darker themes, Unicorn Academy is geared toward a slightly older audience than Netflix's recent preschool series, Princess Power, though most kids beyond elementary school age probably won't get much out of it. It has a plot in which most of the problems could have easily been resolved with a simple conversation. The show's greatest weakness is its villain. Though Ravenzella is certainly threatening, she is a very one-note stereotypical Saturday morning cartoon villain with no apparent motivation. All she wants to do is hurt people for the sake of hurting people, which is something she has done for decades without remorse. The press release for this show compares itself to Winx Club, but the Trix are more interesting villains due to the fact that there are three of them and that they attended a rival school and attacked the main characters to prove that their school was better. In fact, in some of the later Unicorn Academy episodes, Sophia felt like a bigger villain than Ravenzella because her pride often stood in the way of everyone else's success.
My favorite thing about Unicorn Academy is its design aesthetic. I would have preferred if it was 2D animation instead of CGI, but I guess that's just the style nowadays. The diverse cast is distinctive and relatable. Although there are no magical transformation sequences, each student gets bright rainbow-colored hair streaks when they bond with their unicorn, creating a vibrant effect that would be difficult to recreate in real life. The unicorns have sparkly rainbow-colored magic that is pleasant to watch and reminds me of the magical beams that the Jewel Riders shot from their enchanted jewels. The Unicorn Academy itself is a stunning building housed on a magical floating island that is reminiscent of Alfea, the fairy school from Winx Club. The show's bright and girly color palette makes it a charming escape from the more muted tones of everyday life, giving it a psychedelic aesthetic that can only be found in female-oriented fantasy shows. Who doesn't love seeing sparkly unicorns?
Unicorn Academy offers an enchanting blend of nostalgic elements and contemporary storytelling. While the focus on the main characters at the Sapphire dorm sometimes overshadows the larger school setting, the dynamics between the riders create a compelling foundation for drama and personal growth. The character designs with their magical rainbow-themed aesthetics add to the show's visual appeal. However, the one-dimensional villain and occasional lack of depth in conflict resolution prevent Unicorn Academy from fully reaching its potential. For younger fans of magical unicorn-themed series, this show provides an enjoyable and visually captivating escape into a world of sparkles, rainbows, and teenage friendships.

After Nearly 30 Years, Jewel Riders Is Getting a Graphic Novel!

It's no secret that Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders was my absolute favorite cartoon as a kid. There are few others who share this passion with me as the show is still obscure even in an era of countless nostalgic reboots, so when I first heard that Mad Cave Studios was partnering with 41 Entertainment to make a series of Jewel Riders graphic novels, I was skeptical. A few days ago, my cynicism was laid to rest when a press release revealed the cover art and release date for the novel. It's really happening! On May 28, 2024, the first issue of the brand new YA Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders graphic novel will be available wherever graphic novels are sold. It's even available to pre-order on Amazon right now! Take a gander at the gorgeous new official cover art below that stays true to show's color palette and art style while adding a modern manga-inspired flare.

I am absolutely in love with this new Magic Girl anime-style cover art that features Fallon, Princess Gwenevere, and Tamara in slightly updated versions of their original jewel armor proudly holding up their enchanted jewels in cutesy poses. The book is described as "an updated YA take on the classic 90s animated hit, encouraging the magic of female friendship and perfect for fans of fantasy adventures." I love how few references there are to the second season, opting for the more popular designs and storylines from season one. Gwen's fiance is implied to be Drake, her original love interest before the show shoehorned a whirlwind romance with a werewolf named Ian in the second season. Even though it takes into account the better portion of the show, the official summary of the graphic novel follows the three girls when they are a bit older and take on new responsibilities, which is exactly what fans are eager to see. Gwenevere must face her responsibilities as the future queen of Avalon, Fallon becomes the new leader of the Pack, and Tamara questions her place in the world. That last one is a bit questionable, though, since I had always assumed that Tamara would eventually take over her parents' duty of raising magical animals at Heartland Farm after she retires from being a Jewel Rider.
This isn't the first time that the plot of Jewel Riders has migrated from the screen to the page, but it is the first time it has done so using the characters and setting from the original animated series. In 2008, Rachel Roberts released a respectably long-running series called Avalon: Web of Magic, which borrowed the rights to Jewel Riders to develop a similar story about three ordinary girls wielding enchanted jewels with ties to the magical land of Avalon. While it was a decent fantasy series in its own right, the three teenagers from the real world--Emily, Adriane, and Kara, fell flat in comparison to the regal Gwenevere, heartfelt Tamara, and adventurous Fallon, who grew up in a world of magic, friendship, and wonder that was so much gentler than our own. I am far more eager to learn about the twists and turns that the Jewel Riders' lives took after their adventures in the show than I would be to read more about the Avalon: Web of Magic girls, who felt more like reader-insertion characters than fully fleshed-out people. For many years, I thought that the Web of Magic books were the closest thing we would ever get to new adventures with the Jewel Riders, especially after celebrating the show's 25th anniversary a few years ago with my friends from the Jewel Riders Archive, but this is so much better!
The only vague thing in the graphic novel's description is who the new villain will be. It alludes to "a foe the Jewel Riders thought they'd once vanquished." As there were only two villains in the show, this can only mean either Lady Kale, Princess Gwenevere's aunt, or Morgana, the evil sorceress from Arthurian lore that the girls faced off against in the second season. Given how many references the graphic novel contains to the show's first season, Kale would make more sense as the new villain. However, Morgana was a more powerful and dangerous threat, which would make her a better choice despite the weak writing in the last season. Leaving this detail up in the air only makes me more excited to read the graphic novel next May to find out who it is and how they managed to return after the Jewel Riders defeated them. The summary also mentions Merlin acting strange as a result of wild magic, implying that a new rescue mission might be in order, resuming their primary goal from the series to free Merlin and sustain peace in the kingdom of Avalon.

The upcoming Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders graphic novel is a dream come true for fans of this beloved '90s animated series. Despite the show's obscurity in recent years, the collaboration between Mad Cave Studios and 41 Entertainment is set to bring the magic and nostalgia of this girl-powered cartoon back to life. The cover art and release date announcement have already captured our attention, showcasing updated versions of our favorite characters in their jewel armor. With a focus on the magic of female friendship, this YA take on the classic cartoon promises to return fans to the colorful and charming world of Avalon. While the return to the original characters and setting is highly anticipated, the mystery surrounding the villain's identity and Merlin's strange behavior only adds to the excitement. With May 28, 2024, just around the corner, I can't wait to delve into this new chapter of Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders and continue the quest for magic, friendship, and peace in the kingdom of Avalon. Do you plan on reading this brand-new graphic novel series when it comes out? Let me know in the comments!

Review: Time Princess - Magpie Tower

Magpie Tower is the newest visual novel in the Time Princess app. It came alongside a massive update that made the game even bigger and more comprehensive than it was already. This story is not based on any pre-existing property, so it isn't obvious what it will be about without playing through it. The story takes place in modern-day Korea like a few of Time Princess's previous visual novels and includes free Korean voices for several of the main characters during key scenes. It is a disability-friendly story that focuses on the hardships of living with numerous difficulties that are not obvious at first glance. Though it does not contain any royal characters due to its modern realistic setting, the story focuses on one of the most important themes of what it means to be a fairy tale princess: kindness and compassion.

Magpie Tower takes place from the perspective of Ha-yeon, who runs a fried chicken restaurant called Yummy Fried Chicken. While this setting seems a bit random for a princess game about dress-up, it emphasizes the story's theme that everyone matters no matter who they are or what they do. The key players in the story are regular customers at Ha-yeon's restaurant. Ha-jun is a visitor who comes to Ha-yeon in search of a job, Ga-eun is a workaholic with OCD who depends on Yummy Fried Chicken to get through the day, and Seon-woo is a male ballet dancer who also enjoys fried chicken. Ha-yeon enjoys helping people get through their day with delicious food. One day, she discovers a secret tower where she can do even more to make a difference in the lives of those around her. The premise is similar to the '90s show Touched by An Angel. Ha-yeon also has a unique ability that gives her super strength, but similar to the Marvel character Jessica Jones, she considers this strength more of a hindrance than a superpower and rarely uses it.

As much as I would have loved to see Ha-yeon get together with Ha-jun, this story is not a romance. Each companion has their own secret disability that they must overcome. Instead of romancing them, Ha-yeon's goal is to help them get through their problems and live their best life. Ha-jun, the character that introduces Ha-yeon to Magpie Tower, has a sensitivity to metal due to a traumatic incident from his past, which makes it difficult for him to interact with everyday objects. Ga-eun's OCD causes her to lash out irrationally when the things around her aren't perfectly neat and tidy. This makes it difficult for her to form relationships because most people who get too close to her have trouble putting up with all of her rules. Seon-woo has a rare case of male breast cancer that he is so embarrassed about that he wants to quit his career as a dancer. He also has a difficult relationship with his father. As a new inductee to Magpie Tower, it is Ha-yeon's job to help everyone overcome these difficulties.

Since this story takes place in modern day, the costumes are nothing special. There is a rare chef's outfit that represents Ha-yeon's uniform for Yummy Fried Chicken and one cute dress. After so many elaborate costumes from the more fantastical visual novels in Time Princess, this one seems rather lacking. The story focuses more on the morals of kindness and acceptance than it does on the fashions. The outfits range from kind of cute to downright sloppy, and nothing lives up to the glitz and glamour of many of the other stories in this game. The one thing I can say in its favor is that it offers some variety in terms of modern dress that appeals to different tastes. Aside from the work uniform, there is a pants outfit, a skirt and top ensemble, and a slightly more formal dress. All of these look rather ordinary in comparison to the other clothing options in the game.

In the world of Time Princess, Magpie Tower stands out as a refreshing departure from the enchanting tales of royalty and grandeur. This modern-day visual novel introduces us to Ha-yeon, a kind-hearted restaurateur, and her unlikely companions who grapple with hidden disabilities. Through acts of compassion and understanding, Ha-yeon strives to make a difference in their lives. While the costumes may lack the dazzle of other Time Princess stories, Magpie Tower excels in its exploration of themes such as kindness and acceptance. With its relatable characters and emphasis on personal growth, this visual novel reminds us that true beauty lies not in extravagant attire, but in acts of genuine empathy and support. Play this story to discover the power of compassion in Magpie Tower and unlock the potential of everyday heroes.

The Snow White Situation

I've been stepping around the controversies regarding Disney's new Snow White movie for some time now. Several new revelations have come out in the past few days, so it's time to discuss it. Everything about this movie has gone up in flames, sometimes quite literally. The fact that Disney is remaking the first feature-length animated movie of all time in live-action was already a sign of poor showmanship. After adding the fact that the lead actress Rachel Zegler seems to hate the original film and that the leaked photos so far have been less than flattering, many people are wondering if it's a good idea for this movie to still happen at all. As it turns out, so is Disney. As of today, Snow White has been officially delayed from its March 2024 release date to March 2025. Although Disney is blaming the Hollywood strikes for this more so than the controversy, it does give them some extra time to smooth out the movie's rough edges that have had countless fans up in arms about the mockery it has made of Walt's first cinematic masterpiece. One good thing that came out of this announcement is that it was accompanied by the first official promotional image of the film.

Following the tradition of Disney's other live-action remakes, the photo features a dimly lit room that requires the viewer to squint if they want to make out any details of the characters' facial expressions. Snow White sits in a chair in the dwarfs' cottage wearing her classic yellow and blue dress surrounded by seven crudely rendered CGI dwarfs that vaguely resemble the ones from the original movie. There was much conspiracy over whether or not the dwarfs would retain their original image or be replaced by seven "magical creatures" following some backlash caused by actor Peter Dinklage. The initial leaked image of the characters that represented the seven dwarfs portrayed something very different from this official photo and was never confirmed by Disney as the final look of the characters. However, this CGI catastrophe is allegedly the final look of the film in which Disney again opts for the easy way out with lazy animation instead of casting real actors with dwarfism who rarely have opportunities to portray such iconic characters.

The backlash against this movie has blown up so much that the conservative conglomerate The Daily Wire decided to make their own version of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" to retaliate against Disney's. Their direct-to-streaming independent production, Snow White and the Evil Queen, was set to release the same week as Disney's until Disney announced the delay on their film earlier today. As much as I love the idea of new princess media, I personally do not think the best solution to an unnecessary film based on "Snow White" is to make another one. Even if they attest that this is not the Disney version but instead an alternate retelling of the fairy tale, this character has already been portrayed in many other films and media outside of Disney, so there is no need for another one outside of pure spite. If the Disney movie retained its original release date, the year 2024 would have been a repeat of 2012, in which there were two very different theatrical versions of "Snow White" out at the same time, Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman. You can watch the trailer for Snow White and the Evil Queen starring below and form your own opinion.

As far as the reason I haven't made a post every time a new controversy came out revolving around Disney's Snow White, I don't think spite is very princess-like. Snow White teaches us to be gentle and optimistic. However, everything revolving around this upcoming movie and its star has been anything but. I believe that the original Disney version of this character would welcome any new adaptations of her story with open arms and an open heart, embracing all types of women to play her role. Unfortunately, Rachel Zegler seems to have the exact opposite attitude, slamming the 1937 animation with any opportunity she gets, creating the majority of backlash around the film. At the same time, I don't think a new version of the fairy tale is the best response to this problem when there are so many other great ones out there. 's portrayal of Snow White in ABC's Once Upon a Time is one of my personal favorites. The 10th Kingdom  also provided some diversity with a rare plus-sized version of the character in .

The controversies surrounding Disney's new Snow White movie have caused quite a stir and raised doubts about its success. The decision to remake the first feature-length animated film in live-action already sparked criticism, and leaked photos of the film have not helped the situation. The delay of the movie's release gives Disney additional time to address the concerns raised by fans and smooth over any rough edges. However, the backlash against the film has been so significant that it led to the creation of an alternative version by The Daily Wire. While it's encouraging to see new adaptations, the abundance of existing portrayals of "Snow White" suggests that another film may not be necessary. It's important to embrace the spirit of Snow White's character, which teaches us to be gentle, optimistic, and inclusive, while also considering the diversity of interpretations already available. What are your opinions on these upcoming adaptations? Are you planning to see one of them, both of them, or rewatch some of the older classics instead?

Review: Feathers of Snow

I received Feathers of Snow by Alice Ivinya in a book promotion some time ago and recently got around to reading it. After reading her ARC of The Golden Prince I knew that Alice Ivinya was an expert at fantasy worldbuilding. This book is a retelling of "The Goose Girl" that puts a unique spin on it by switching the role of the oppressed protagonist from the princess who was forced to work as a goose girl to the lady-in-waiting who was forced to be a princess against her will. Though the princess role swap is an overused trope, it is less common for a girl to be forced into the role of a princess unwillingly. That said, the plot of this book is nearly identical to Camille Peters' Identity only with less focus on romance, making it less of an emotional journey.

Brianna is a lady-in-waiting to the spoiled and selfish Princess Elyanna who loves to manipulate people and get her own way. When a political marriage alliance is proposed for Elyanna to Prince Jian, whose family has a reputation for being violent brutes, she decides to send Brianna in her place. She shows no remorse about this and makes sure to make Brianna's journey as uncomfortable as possible, which includes a rare reference in fantasy adventure stories to periods. Brianna reluctantly goes along with it because she is terrified of her princess, especially after a traumatic incident she had experienced because of her when they were younger. Much of the book revolves around Brianna trying to get to know Jian while pretending to be Elyanna. She struggles with this immensely because Jian is cold and closed off due to trauma from his own past. As a result, the pacing of their relationship is not ideal.

I felt mostly neutral about both Brianna and Jian as characters. They don't have strong personalities, but their motivations are understandable enough to move the story along. Brianna wants to do what she is told for the sake of self-preservation and because she hates confrontation, and Jian is a soldier who learned to close off his emotions due to his difficult memories. Brianna's relationship with her horse, Falada, who is a direct reference to the original "Goose Girl" fairy tale, is far more interesting than her relationship with Jian. This is a problem for people who are picking up this book in the hopes of a fairy tale romance, although it might be a pleasant surprise to animal lovers. She is bonded to Falada due to her Old Blood, which allows her to understand him when most others cannot. Those who are familiar with the original story already know to expect a tragic outcome for the pair.

This book is a weak introduction to the Kingdom of Birds and Beasts trilogy. Though it ended on a cliffhanger, I did not feel emotionally attached enough to the characters to want to read the next book. The ending is somewhat predictable considering the circumstances. Though the author was most likely saving Elyanna's villainy for the rest of the series, her presence would have made this book much stronger. There are few evil princesses in fiction, and I would have enjoyed learning more about Elyanna's motivations and how she turned into the soulless psychopath that she became. "Princess Switch" stories work best when both characters are explored equally so the reader understands what they need to learn about their new lives when the roles are reversed. Even though Elyanna took on the role of the goose girl from the fairy tale, it is only revealed in dialogue near the end of the book, robbing viewers of the opportunity to experience her misadventures as a commoner.

Feathers of Snow by Alice Ivinya offers a fresh take on the classic tale of "The Goose Girl" by swapping the roles of the oppressed protagonist, presenting a lady-in-waiting forced to be a princess against her will. The plot resembles other princess swap stories with a lesser focus on romance and revolves around Brianna reluctantly standing in for Princess Elyanna in a political marriage alliance with Prince Jian. Their slow-building relationship and Brianna's unique connection with her horse, Falada, add intrigue, but overall character attachment is limited. The book serves as a weak introduction to the Kingdom of Birds and Beasts trilogy, with a predictable ending and missed opportunities to explore Elyanna's villainous motivations.