Lisa Dawn's Blog: The Princess Blog, page 39

It's a Good Year to Be a Little Mermaid Fan!

Disney has been very kind to my favorite fairy tale over the past few years. It had an impressive 30th anniversary reception at the D23 Expo, a live televised concert, and an upcoming live-action movie that has unfortunately struggled with a few unexpected setbacks. Now fans of the redheaded Disney Princess have even more treats to look forward to. The Disney Wish, the newest Disney cruise ship setting sail this summer, will feature an all-new Little Mermaid stage show. Details for the show have just been revealed along with an exciting new collection of Little Mermaid-printed merchandise from Vera Bradley. On top of that, , the voice of Ariel, recently announced she will release her autobiography, Part of My World: What I've Learned from The Little Mermaid about Love, Faith, and Finding My Voice, this September!

Sometimes it's hard to please a superfan, and I found myself sorely disappointed with the 2007 Broadway production of Disney's The Little Mermaid. That said, I'm always willing to give the Disney creatives another chance, and this new Little Mermaid show onboard the upcoming Disney Wish might be just that. The show is described as a "modern-day retelling" in which "audiences will rediscover the iconic scenes, acclaimed music, and beloved characters of the film, as a cast of contemporary storytellers put their own spin on the timeless tale." Like most Little Mermaid stage shows, "Under the Sea" is planned to be a huge production with puppets resembling the ones used in Voyage of The Little Mermaid at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Many of the "modern twists" appear to draw inspiration from the upcoming live-action movie, such the actress in the concept art baring a resemblance to Halle Bailey, our newest Ariel. Another modern twist is that we will hear Ariel's thoughts during scenes where she has no voice. Her "inner voice" is reported to "play an important and meaningful role" in the "Kiss the Girl" sequence. With extra songs and dialogues for Ariel, this show has the potential to add an even deeper layer of meaning to the mermaid's burning passion that is so relatable to young people.

Another recent announcement comes from an unlikely place. Vera Bradley, a company renowned for adding feminine prints to luggage and storage supplies, just released a limited edition Little Mermaid collection! These fun new prints featuring Ariel, Flounder, Sebastian, and lots of pink sea flowers on an ocean blue background, are available for purchase on the vast majority of Vera Bradley's products. My personal favorite is the ID holder keychain, which comes in two different varieties--one that features a colorful splattering of fish and flowers from the show-stopping "Under the Sea" number, and another with a large embroidered print of Ariel and a seashell-shaped keychain. The collection also includes keychains, sandals, notebooks, and beach towels--everything you'll need to carry you belongings with you to your dream vacation destination! It's too bad this collection came out right after my trip to Hawaii or I would have invited Ariel, Flounder, and Sebastian to join the fun.

Last but certainly not least, Jodi Benson, the woman who provided Ariel with her incredible voice, announced last week that she obtained a publishing deal with Tyndale Publishing to release a new book for all of her fans. She posted on her Instagram that fans have been asking questions "for 30+ years...about The Little Mermaid, about Broadway, about my life" and that this book is her "love letter" to those of us who have been inspired by Ariel since we were children. Her autobiography will encompass her roles on Broadway as well as her work in the recording booth with Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, which can be seen in old production videos of The Little Mermaid. After being such a successful performer for so long, I wish Jodi Benson the best of luck in her new career as an author and look forward to reading Part of My World: What I've Learned from The Little Mermaid about Love, Faith, and Finding My Voice  when it hits shelves on September 13th.

I feel very fortunate to be a fan of one of the most popular Disney Princess movies that gets loads of attention from the company. Ariel gave me the courage to chase after my dreams and the inspiration to continue forward even when things didn't go the way I planned. I always felt seen by the Walt Disney Company as a fan of this film and have countless ways to express my passion for it through clothing and merchandise such as this beautiful posable Nendroid that I received as a belated birthday gift. What's your favorite Disney movie? Do you feel like Disney gives it the attention it deserves? What princess show or product are you looking forward to the most this year? Let me know in the comments!

I Channeled Moana and Went on a Hawaiian Adventure!

Though not technically a princess, Moana lives an adventurous lifestyle that would be coveted by many other Disney Princesses. I wanted to do something special for my five-year wedding anniversary, so we decided to check out Hawaii and go on our own adventure! At first, I did some research on Aulani, Disney's hotel on the island of Oahu but ultimately decided against it when I realized that one night at the cheapest room there would cost as much as my entire round-trip plane ticket from Texas. Plus, lunging around a hotel isn't much of an adventure, so I set my sights on other options. My husband wanted to check out the volcanoes, so I looked into accommodations on the Big Island, which is the only one that still has an active volcano, Mt. Kilauea. In doing so, I discovered a really neat Airbnb called Lava Lookout, which is built directly on top of a field of hardened lava. What a way to start off our adventure!

The best adventures involve an equal amount of planning and spontaneity, so our first day was dedicated to exploring the Big Island. We saw a waterfall, went to a beautiful park overlooking the ocean, visited a rainforest zoo, and got some enormous snow cones, which is how they make them in Hawaii. I was hoping to catch some rainbows at the famous Rainbow Falls, but sadly, none were visible. It was still a beautiful view as was everything else on the island. The Liliuokalani Gardens had some particularly breathtaking scenery with Japanese-style architecture, exotic trees, and a bridge leading to a tiny island called Coconut Island, where some children were playing at the beach and celebrating a birthday party. The oceanside views and relaxing island breeze made me forget my troubles for a while and succumb to the serenity of nature. Our next stop was the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo, a free zoo with some neat animals including a rare white tiger and some colorful birds. I loved how all the benches in the zoo were sculpted and painted to look like real animals.

You can't go to Hawaii without attending a luau! The only ones I could find were on the west side of the island, which was, unfortunately, opposite from where we were staying. All of the luaus are presented as entertainment options in ritzy hotels, and I selected the Hawaii Loa Luau at the beautiful Fairmont Orchid because it used to be known as the Gathering of the Kings, and we all know I'm a sucker for royalty. The luau was named after Hawai'iloa, who discovered the islands of Hawaii. Throughout the night, we were bestowed with beautiful songs, stories, food, and dancing that encompassed the breadth of Hawaiian culture. There was even a hula dancing lesson! The food was delicious, and the talented performers made me feel like they were embracing me into their culture. I especially enjoyed wearing a real lei, which is different from the plastic ones you get a children's parties. The fragrant pink petals cushioned my neck and felt like a soft pillow. It was also nice to mask my sweat from our adventures with the scent of pretty flowers.




The next day, it was time to check out the volcanoes, and there's no better place to do that than Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. For a small admission fee, drivers can visit the best viewing sites for previous volcano eruptions and craters on the Big Island for a full week. There are lots of hiking trails on the tour, but I'm more of a stay-around-the-castle kind of princess, so I opted for Shaka Guide's Hawaii Volcanoes National Park audio tour, which hooked up to our phone's GPS and guided us around the park telling us stories about each landmark and the best places to stop. Most of the tour was great, but there was one point near the end where it recommended a stop at the Pu'uloa Petroglyphs to view some ancient Hawaiian rock carvings, which sounded really neat at the time. However, the audio guide did not tell us how treacherous the walk would be. There was no path, only strategically placed piles of rocks to guide us across the enormous field. We were forced to leap across giant boulders on uneven ground with fierce winds blowing our hair so hard that we could barely see. Someone could have easily broken their leg on this hike, and no one would have been around to see them. If you do visit Volcanoes National Park, I recommend skipping this landmark unless you are looking for a good challenge.

A name that came up constantly during our trip was Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess who was likely the inspiration for both Te Fiti and Te Ka from Moana. Ancient Hawaiians believed that Pele created the volcanoes and islands of Hawaii. Though her creations are beautiful, she has a fierce temper. The audio tour told us a story of a man Pele fell in love with. She became angered that he was already with another woman, so she killed them both and later turned his body into a tree and his lover's body into the flowers on the tree that can be seen around the park. Pele is also rumored to bring bad luck to people who take home lava rocks as souvenirs. I guess we'll be testing that theory now. Pele must have been in a good mood during our journey because she shared many beautiful things with us, including a chance to see active lava coming out of the pu'u o'o vent on Mt. Kilauea. This was a relaxing experience that rejuvenated me as I return to my royal duties back home. After seeing them for myself, I can understand why the Hawaiian islands are such a popular vacation destination for so many people.

Review: The Sultan and the Storyteller

In honor of National Tell a Fairy Tale Day last weekend, all of the books from the Villain's Ever After series went on sale, so I decided to add one more to my collection. The Sultan and the Storyteller by Lichelle Slater caught my eye because instead of doing the obvious choice of reimaging "Aladdin," it is an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights, a myth that rarely gets much attention. Lichelle Slater's previous books were just okay for me, so I wasn't too sure what to expect from this one. Still, I was eager to read something new. I found it adequate, but not as enjoyable as some of the other books in this series, considering that they are all written by different authors.

In this rare adaptation of One Thousand One Nights, the role of Shahrazad is taken by a young lady named Shahira, who has the unique ability to prophesize the future by speaking it out loud in the form of a story. Such a powerful ability could allow her to change the world in a single night, but she rarely uses it due to a traumatic experience from her childhood that resulted in her mother's death. Shahira lives in a kingdom ruled by a sultan who takes on a new wife every night only for her to die the next morning. It is Shahira's desire to end this senseless string of murders, which made me wonder why she never took advantage of her powers by telling a story about the sultan's wives living long and prosperous lives. Instead, she chooses to sacrifice herself in order to save her friend, Jade, who was selected as the sultan's next victim. This Hunger Games -inspired tactic leads to a series of revelations about Shahira's past that she could never have imagined in her stories.

The custom for this series is to take a classic villain and reveal that they were simply misunderstood, a tradition that was first made popular with Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The sultan who killed his wives in One Thousand and One Nights is not exactly an infamous villain among fairy tale lore, but his actions are certainly despicable. This book provides an alternative explanation as to why all of his wives died until he met the storyteller. In this version, the true villain is Shahira's father, who is a cookie-cutter copy of Jafar from "Aladdin," which is one of the stories that Shahrazad told in the original One Thousand and One Nights. He is a Grand Vizier with a magic staff, so it's pretty easy to connect the dots from there.

This book presents itself as somewhat of a romance, but I have to admit I wasn't really feeling it. There are lots of defenses against the Stockholm Syndrome theory for "Beauty and the Beast," and I feel like it's a lot harder to argue against that theory with this story. At least Belle didn't agree to marry the Beast until she fell in love with him. Shahira marries Zayne within the first few chapters of The Sultan and the Storyteller despite believing that he killed his wives. Even when she learns the secrets of their pasts and the truth behind the mysteries, it doesn't feel enough to justify the love between a husband and wife. It's almost as though Shahira decided to stay with Zayne because it was easier than trying to get out of the marriage once she realized that she wasn't going to suffer the same fate as his other wives. She even had someone else she was in love with, but she had to give him up to save her friend.

Overall, The Sultan and the Storyteller is just fine for what it is, but it is certainly not the best book in the Villain's Ever After series. It was interesting to read an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights and even more interesting that the author intends to expand it into a longer series with a preview for an upcoming sequel at the end. However, the book has too many plotholes for me, and I didn't find the characters all that interesting. For someone who could literally change the world with a single story, Shahira still doesn't use her powers to save the lives that came before her. Even when she decided to give in and use them, it doesn't feel like the powerful magic that you usually see in the climax of a fairy tale. This is the most underwhelming story I've read so far in A Villain's Ever After.

I Attended a Princess Tea Party at a Local High School!

As Disney Princess - The Concert continues its national tour, there are smaller venues making their own special magic across the nation. I was pleased to learn via Facebook that my new castle is located within driving distance of one such venue. Cedar Park High School is performing a show called Princess Tea this weekend, which they have apparently been doing for the past fifteen years. What a magical tradition! The show features high school choir students performing as various princesses, princes, and sidekicks from animated movies that are not entirely limited to Disney. This year's cast included Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Megara, Rapunzel, Anna, Elsa, Anastasia, and Fiona on the girls' side and Prince Charming, Jaq, Gus, Flounder, Prince Adam (the unofficial fan name for the transformed version of the Beast), Flynn Rider, Dimitri, Donkey, and Olaf for the boys.

Considering that this was a local show, I was extremely impressed with the production level that the cast and crew put into it, especially after attending an "official" Disney Princess concert a few weeks ago. There were plenty of activities for princess fans of all ages to see and do from the moment I stepped into the lobby. A small cardboard castle was placed up front and center to greet attendees followed by a pink Instagram-ready photo background with a flattering ring light, stands selling wands and crowns, and friendly volunteer hosts in Mickey Mouse ears who were ready to greet party guests and show them to their tables. Each table was named after a different princess, each seat included a complimentary goody bag filled with goldfish, popcorn, and other goodies. During the intermission, the hosts came around and served glittering cupcakes with sugar roses on top. I wish Disney Princess - The Concert had put this much effort into making their guests feel welcome and hyped up for the show!



Cedar Park High Schools' Princess Teas have had various themes throughout the years such as The Royal Academy, Aurora's Sleepover, or Elsa's Snow Ball. This year's theme is A Winter's Ball, so of course, the show started with Anna and Elsa doing a brief rap from Hamilton. The corresponding songs throughout the show were woven together by a loose narrative about the princesses getting ready for a ball without realizing that their princes and sidekicks lost the key to the storage closet containing the decorations. Most of the performances were split between songs and skits from the girls and the boys. I was surprised to find that the boys in the show had some of the funniest antics and best singing voices, though, of course, I was still entertained by the princesses in their detailed high-quality costumes and hoop skirts. It was a treat to hear some obscure princess songs that aren't owned by Disney as well, including "I Know It's Today" from Shrek The Musical and "To Be a Princess" from one of my personal favorites, Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper . You can listen to some of these performances below.
 
Of course, the show included plenty of Disney hits as well such as "How Far I'll Go," "I Won't Say I'm in Love," "Let it Go," "Almost There," "When You Wish Upon a Star," and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" The 10-minute intermission was preceded by the rest of the high school choir performing an impressive medley of classic Disney villain songs. Like any Disney Princess event, many little girls in attendance were dressed up as their favorite princesses. They received special attention at several points during the show such as when the princesses came into the audience to dance with them. They even did a makeover contest at one point! This show had a lot more guest interaction than many official princess shows I've seen in recent years, which is something that Disney could really benefit from bringing back. My favorite performance of the afternoon was "Almost There" from The Princess and the Frog which had excellent harmonizing and choreography among the princesses.

An added bonus was being able to watch this show on National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. If you've been following my Facebook page, you've probably seen me share numerous posts throughout the week for Once Upon 2022: A Celebration of All Things Fairy Tale. This is an annual event in which indie fairy tale authors come together to share games and tidbits about their books, culminating in the biggest fairy tale book sale of the year. If you want to refresh your princess reading list or grab some of the books I've reviewed here for free or deeply discounted, check out the fairy tale sales that will be happening all weekend long. The best princess entertainment does not always come from billionaire corporations. It comes from passionate people with a desire to make others happy. Be sure to check out your local and independent princess contractors. You might be surprised by what you find. Let me know in the comments if you have discovered any hidden gems near where you live!

Review: Time Princess - Ghost Manor

It might be a little late for Halloween, but that didn't stop Time Princess from adding a new visual novel about a haunted house. Ghost Manor draws some inspiration from the new TV series Ghosts, as both stories are about a young woman who inherited an old mansion from a dead relative that finds out there are a bunch of ghosts living there. The visual novel is a little heavier than the show since much of the plot revolves around the protagonist trying expand her business to pay off a ridiculous inheritance tax. Ghost Manor is probably the most challenging visual novel in Time Princess to date. There are many possible endings and other events that don't show up on the story's flowchart, which makes it nearly impossible to complete at 100% without asking for help. As much as I love the gorgeous new song with English lyrics that plays on the story map for Ghost Manor, I started to get sick of it after replaying the same levels 20 or so times hoping I would unlock something new.

In Time Princess's most meta visual novel yet, Stella is a fashionista who developed a dress-up app called Magic Mirror. The story has many Time Princess Easter eggs and is the first to acknowledge the main character's ability to travel into other books within a story. Stella intends to use her new app to raise money so she can keep her late aunt's property and watch over the ghosts who live there. Is it just me, or is having to pay the cost of a mansion as a tax for inheriting it no different from just plain buying one? Anyway, Stella has a great app, but no business savvy to market it. That's where Finn comes in. Finn is a shy lawyer who is always there when Stella needs, even if it's just for emotional support. She hires him to assist her with her business plan as well as the challenge of paying off the gargantuan tax she owes to inherit her aunt's mansion. On top of that, she must grant the last wishes of the five ghosts living there to ensure that they can move on peacefully in case it gets bought out and turned into a hotel.

Like the other visual novels in Time Princess, Ghost Manor has two potential love interests, who make the story feel bloated with everything else that's going on. For me, Finn is the only viable love interest for Stella. He is reliable, kind, and mature. I thought it was sweet how shy he was about asking her out and that there is a lot more to him than just his business. He reminds me a bit of Phoenix Wright. The other love interest is Ryan Bergman, an ancestor of the long-lost lover of one of the ghosts. Ryan comes off as a college frat boy who is too young and immature for Stella. Following in the footsteps of Ancient Dreams, this story contains two additional companions in the form of two ghosts in the manor. However, they are not the two I would have picked. There are five ghosts that Stella must help come to terms with their pasts, and I'm not why these two in particular were singled out for companion status. My favorite ghost is Sage, a scientist who masters the internet in a matter of hours and hacks Stella's tablet. I also like Jim, who waited a hundred years for his lost love, Cynthia.

After my disappointment with the fashions in the last modern-day story, Whispers of the Rain, I feel like the developers must have been taking notes because the clothes in Ghost Manor are a vast improvement. They take the idea of modern fashion and add a sense of whimsy and fun to it, which is something I had come to expect from this game up to that point. It's clear that Stella has an eye for fashion from her fully coordinated casual and formal wear. Her outfits look like magically enhanced versions of modern clothing with fun little accents that make them larger than life such as flowers, butterflies, or ruffles. My favorites include a pale lavender flowing skirt and peasant top set that look a modern version of a fairy tale princess dress and a multi-layered gold and white evening gown with floral and butterfly accents. Most of the outfits are rewarded so late in the book that I found I was dressing Stella in her formal business attire for most of it, which is also very pretty and feminine. However, I would have appreciated an opportunity for more variety while I was playing through the story.

Ghost Manor is a bold move for Time Princess. It's a fully packed interactive visual novel with many possible outcomes. I can't say I was particularly invested in all the business scandals that Stella was researching for the ghosts, but I liked Finn as a love interest and thought the ghosts were fun, especially Sage. Though there are a few touching moments, it is frustrating to try to complete every possible outcome. I love the variety of fashions and think it was cute that the story included several nods to the app that it came from such as a Time Princess billboard in one of the backgrounds, incorporating the player's ability to enter stories, and creating a character who wants to use a dress up app to solve her problems. As much as I personally prefer playing as a princess or queen rather than a businesswoman, I can understand why that would be a more realistic option for modern settings since royal families are mostly figureheads today. Still, I am far more eager to play the next story, Catherine the Great, than I was for this one.

Review: The Enchanted Rose by R.M. ArceJaeger

The next book on my "Sleeping Beauty" recommendation list was The Enchanted Rose by R.M. ArceJaeger. This book is an adaptation of both "Sleeping Beauty" and "Beauty and the Beast" in equal parts. After reading the description, I wondered how Beauty could fall in love with the Beast if she was asleep, but the book wisely saved her sleeping curse until the end. While "Beauty and the Beast" adaptation overpowers much of the middle section of the book, the author still manages to expand on the "Sleeping Beauty" elements by making a good chunk of the opening section about the lives of the fairies, how the princess and prince were cursed as babies, and the kings and queens' reactions to the curse. I must also commend this book for being extremely thorough. It doesn't waste a single page dragging out an individual character's storyline. Instead, it fleshes out the emotional arc of everyone involved equally.

Like most "Sleeping Beauty" adaptations, The Enchanted Rose begins with the christening of the newborn princess, where several fairies have arrived to present their gifts. This book does not merely use the fae as plot devices, however. Instead, it assigns personalities, hopes, dreams, and motivations behind each fairy's decision, creating a more complete understanding of why Sleeping Beauty's curse turned out the way it did. Not only does it expand on the perspectives of the fairies in attendance, but the book also cleverly inserts fictional thesis articles in between each chapter to create a stronger understanding of the fairies' history and how their magic works. Moraga, the wicked fairy who curses the princess to die on her 21st birthday, is a rare form of fae known as a "ghastly," a wicked breed that is thankfully dying out in this enchanted kingdom. An act of greed on the king's part forces the adult fairies to use up their magic before they have an opportunity to reverse the curse on the young princess, leaving that responsibility in the hands of a child fairy named Liliath, who has a sweet crush on the cursed prince, Ari.
Anyone who is familiar with the story of "Beauty and the Beast" knows that Beauty was not raised in a castle. That difference was likely the first challenge that the author faced in her attempt to combine it with "Sleeping Beauty," who is a princess in almost every version of her story. She gets around this obstacle by having the fairies lose the newborn royal in their attempt to save her from Moraga. The baby princess is then discovered by a merchant, who adopts her and raises her in the same manner as the "Beauty" character we are familiar with. Everyone knows what happens next. One day, the merchant gets lost in the woods and happens upon an enchanted castle, where he attempts to take a rose for his daughter, who he appropriately named Rose. The beastly master of the castle is angered by this act of theft and demands that the merchant either becomes his prisoner or brings Rose to live there in his place.
My favorite new character in this story is the fairy, Liliath, who was with Prince Ari when he was cursed to become a beast and devotes the rest of her life to finding a way to break his curse. It is she who enchants his castle so that he can be as comfortable as possible during his years of captivity. She reminds me of rival love interests from Saban cartoons of old who usually have darker hair and are misguided in their actions. For most of the book, I wanted Liliath to end up with Ari instead of Rose because she seemed more deserving of his love, but I was glad that she didn't come to a tragic end like many of these types of characters tend to do. Even though The Enchanted Rose uses up a lot of pages focusing on the parents, most of the adults in this story are wholly unlikable, and many of the tragic circumstances could have been prevented if they had made different decisions. Perhaps this is why the characters who are children in the first section of the book--Rose, Liliath, and Ari, are so much easier to relate to and root for.
The Enchanted Rose is a well-thought-out retelling of both "Sleeping Beauty" and "Beauty and the Beast" that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to worldbuilding or character development. I was impressed by the ease with which the author was able to combine both of these beloved fairy tales in a way that doesn't take any of the major elements away from either one. Another gem in this book is the "scientific" articles about how the fairies function in this society, which makes it easy to understand their decisions and lives without a heavy amount of exposition. The Enchanted Rose is a must-read for lovers of unique fairy tale adaptations.

Review: Disenchantment - Part 4

The fourth season of Disenchantment is one of several princess surprises that were released on Netflix over the past couple of months. The new season even contained a reference to another recent princess release on Netflix called The Royal Treatment. I'm not sure if this reference was intentional, but it sure seemed that way since both projects are produced by the same popular streaming service. I had low expectations for Disenchantment after a disappointing third season last year, but I was pleasantly surprised this time. It seemed like the writers either learned from their mistakes or read a lot of reviews that were similar to mine. Either way, this season had much stronger continuity and character development, and felt less disjointed than the previous releases. It's probably the best season of Disenchantment so far.

The season begins with Bean, who is now Queen of Dreamland, being forced by her wicked mother to marry the devil. The troubled royal teen takes the show back to its roots by running away from her wedding yet again. This time, however, she has learned from her past mistakes and escapes the doomed marriage by outsmarting both Satan and her mother. Where her first wedding was an awkward series of embarrassing and dire mishaps, this one was so cleverly executed that it had me shouting "You go girl!" to the TV.  The season also addressed Bean's pent-up feelings for Mora the mermaid, who made a few minimal appearances including a subtle nod to "The Little Mermaid." The rest of the season presented a healthy helping of growth for the rest of the show's cast as well including Elfo, Luci, and King Zog. Per her usual pattern, Queen Dagmar acted as bookends for the season and continued her pattern of cameo appearances in only the first and last episodes.

Unlike other seasons which floundered in the middle, this one did a fantastic job of taking all the major events that happened in the characters' lives so far and portraying how they have changed over the last four years. Elfo learns more about the true identity of his mother after the revelation that she wasn't an elf, while Luci must come to terms with how his friendship with Bean made him so good that he now a demon who fits in neither Heaven nor Hell. Even King Zog has a spiritual awakening when he visits a monastery and realizes that the most important thing in his life is the people he cares about, leading up to unexpected reunion with a bear selkie he had a fling with previously. Everything that happened to these characters define who they are today, no matter how random they may have seemed at the time.

Not only did this season reveal secrets about the characters, but it also expanded upon the lore of the kingdom of Dreamland. The "dream" aspect of the kingdom is taken quite literally here as the season's climax requires Bean to come to terms with a recurring dream that forces her to face her inner demon (which is not Luci). Her father insinuated that he is also familiar with the magical dreams created by the kingdom that likely led to its namesake. There were also deeper revelations that seemed reminiscent of the plot of Frozen 2 about how humans conquered Dreamland from the elves in the distant past. It even expanded upon the secret magic buried within Dreamland that caused the figureheads of Steamland to want to steal it, although that particular revelation left me with more questions than it did answers. As expected, this season ended with yet another cliffhanger, but one tgat was not nearly as frustrating as many of the previous ones.

The writers of Disenchantment have taken criticisms of the show gracefully and learned from their past mistakes. The disjointed format of the first few seasons worked well for 's other shows that are in syndication like The Simpsons or Futurama, but modern streaming shows that are made to be binged in chronological order need more of an overarching thread that I believe this latest season accomplished. Underneath all the zany jokes and gratuitous shock value, the series found its heart by giving each character someone to fight for. Like any good princess story, all the humor in the world is empty without true love to give it meaning.

Review: Disney Princess - The Concert

It's been ten months since Disney launched the Ultimate Princess Celebration when they announced that they had acquired the Broadway Princess Party and retooled it into Disney Princess - The Concert. After several cast changes and the cancellation of the entire 2021 leg of the tour, I was fortunate enough to attend one of the first successful performances at the Bass Concert Hall. Initially, I was excited to see Anastasia's Christy Altomare, but she was replaced with , who played Chelsea Daniels in That's So Raven and Raven's Home. Aisha Jackson, who understudied Anna in the Frozen musical, was replaced by Syndee Winters, who played Nala in the Broadway version of The Lion King. Finally, Broadway Princess Party alumni , who originated the role of Princess Jasmine in the Aladdin musical, was replaced by Arielle Jacobs, the second actress to acquire the role. That leaves  as the only alumni from the original Broadway Princess Party. Though I've known about these changes for several months after purchasing my ticket, I think it's worth noting how interchangeable the cast is in case anyone is planning to see a particular actress perform live.

I've been pretty vocal about my issues with Disney over the past few years, and their recent revamp of the Broadway Princess Party showcases many of those frustrations. They've been hard at work remaking all of their old movies instead of coming up with as many original animated titles as they used to, and now they are also taking an intimate independent show that already had a successful tour and marketing it under the Disney name. This show is very similar to the Broadway Princess Party aside from a few tweaks that make it feel corporate and overproduced. I bought the lowest tier VIP ticket, which granted early access to merchandise and a weird goody bag that included a cheap fiber-optic light stick, a sleep mask, stickers containing just the princess's names (no pictures), and a fanny pack. The early access shopping experience turned out to be a single table of overpriced t-shirts and a magnet with a logo of the show. There wasn't even an official program!. Though the attendants at the concert hall were extremely friendly and helpful, there were no decorations or activities set up to keep us entertained while we were waiting for the theater to open. The higher-tier ticket supposedly included some pre-show activities, but I have no idea where they were located.

As nice as the theater was, it used the same projection technology that I've grown to dislike in recent years after seeing how it watered down the Anastasia musical and the Frozen stage show at Disneyland. A giant movie screen towered over the actresses displaying larger-than-life images from the movies that they were singing to. There were only one or two times that the images on the screen were used to enhance their performances in a creative way. The rest of the time, they served as an enormous distraction from the actors. The D23 Expo uses this technology during panels to help people sitting in the back see the faces of the performers, which I feel would have been a better use for it. Still, I  enjoyed the opening performance of the new Disney Princess anthem, "Starting Now," which you can watch below. It was the only performance that use minimalist lighting techniques to draw attention toward instead of away from the singers. Benjamin Rauhala, the "fairy godfairy" co-founder of the Broadway Princess Party with Laura Osnes, maintained his role as the host and pianist as he introduced the show and accompanied the four princesses on the piano.

Despite the corporate undertones, Disney Princess - The Concert is still an entertaining evening for princesses of all ages. Just like at the original Broadway Princess Party, each actress shared an anecdote about how she got the role that made her famous in the Disney history books. However, there was an element missing when they were sharing these stories to a big auditorium and addressing the audience as a single unit instead of regaling their tales to a group of invested onlookers in an intimate restaurant setting. Many of the attendees dressed in costumes, but I found it even less worthwhile to do so this time since no special attention was given to them, and they more or less blended into the crowd once the show got rolling. I'd recommend saving your fanciest gown for the next D23 Expo. Since it's an official Disney show now, there were of course far more children in the audience, and they had less appreciation for references to Disney names and events that happened before their time, which gave Susan Egan fuel to make a few jokes about her age. I felt my own age showing when I was the only person in the entire theater who cheered at the mention of Disney legends Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.
 
The show ran for two hours with a 15-minute intermission. It covered most songs from the Disney Princess roster and had a single costume change during the intermission in which the princesses swapped out their short casual dresses for floor-length evening gowns. Anneliese van der Pol covered most of the non-Disney on Broadway songs, including a medley of the original three princesses' songs, both of Rapunzel's songs, and "Journey to the Past" from Anastasia , which was likely meant to be sung by Christy Altomare before she was cut. Susan Egan reprised her greatest hits as both Megara and Belle. Arielle Jacobs covered some songs from Mulan , Moana , and the Broadway and live-action versions of Aladdin, and Syndee Winters sang "Shadowland," "Love's an Open Door," and "Almost There." The song "Soon" from Thumbelina was not included in this version of the show even though it was in the original Broadway Princess Party and is currently owned by Disney, nor was any of the music from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, which was covered in the Broadway Princess Party by co-founder . This version was more scripted and did not include a surprise guest star, which was a fun staple of the original show that kept it fresh and exciting at every performance.

Disney Princess - The Concert is a perfectly fine show for princess fans who want to hear their favorite Disney songs performed by professionals. It is lacking in comparison to the intimate night that the Broadway Princess Party originally represented, which allowed fans to get up close and personal with some of their favorite performers and listen to their stories as peers. One of my favorite parts of the original show was being able to line up to meet the three actresses afterward without needing to buy a special pass like the new version requires. Disney Princess - The Concert still met my expectations as I figured they were going to project Disney movies to the audience in a way that made it feel more like a commercial than an up-close and personal experience. The thing that probably disappointed me the most was the pre-show experience with the useless goody bag and overpriced t-shirts made me feel less hyped by the time I was finally seated. It would have been great if they produced some exclusive dolls or tiaras for the event, but I would have settled for a souvenir program at the very least.

Review: A Kiss in Time

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn is one of several "Sleeping Beauty" adaptations that was recommended to me from the last adaptation I reviewed before moving into my new castle. You might say I was "sleeping" on the recommendations (queue the crickets). This book stood out to me because it sounded similar to the Fae Bloodlines duology that I just completed and loved. Both books are about a princess from a magical medieval world who falls in love with a modern-day teenage boy from our world. Fae Away is a better book overall with a deeper and more fulfilling love story. Still, A Kiss in Time is not without its charm. It's a fun and easy read that would appeal to younger readers than most of the other books I review and would be perfect for middle schoolers who want to get an early start on YA fiction.

This book begins just like "Sleeping Beauty." A princess named Talia is cursed to prick her finger on a spindle before she turns 16 and take the entire kingdom with her into a long sleep until she is awakened by true love's kiss. Three hundred years later, we meet Jack, your average modern teen boy who can't stand his parents and has no idea what he wants to do with his life. Jack discovers Talia's kingdom when he sneaks away from a European tour group that his parents forced him on for his summer vacation. He and his friend Travis react to the sleeping kingdom like most immature boys would. Travis wants to steal some of the crowns because the guards are all unconscious. He also makes lewd jokes to Jack about the sleeping maiden. Jack is annoyed by Travis's prodding, but he finds himself drawn to Talia and decides to kiss her. He doesn't expect her and the rest of the kingdom to spring to life the next the moment and soon gets thrown in the dungeon, where Talia propositions to run away with him.

This is a lighthearted story, and as such, there are of things in it that don't make sense if you think about them too hard. For instance, Disney and fairy tales exist in this world, but no one realizes that they are living out a well-known fairy tale. In fact, Jack thinks of Snow White as soon as he sees Talia, but never seems aware of the story of "Sleeping Beauty" or how freakishly similar it is to Talia's life. That may be because it would break the delicate suspension of disbelief the author created by adapting a well-known fairy tale into the real world, but it still feels like a plot hole. Though I don't want to spoil the ending, I also think the solution that Talia's father comes up with to bring Euphrasia into the 21st century during the resolution of the story feels a little like a dystopian nightmare.

The middle portion of the book is so realistic to the point that it sucks a lot of the fun out of the fantasy elements of the story. In films like Enchanted where the princess is brought into the real world, she usually takes some of the magic from her world with her. This book lacked that balance between magic and technology.  Jack gets into trouble with his promiscuous ex-girlfriend for running off with Talia, and Talia almost gets sexually assaulted at a wild teen party. Despite this risqué situation, the book comes off like it is written for pre-teens. Both Jack and Talia are extremely immature for their ages, which that is one of the reasons they get along so well. Jack teaches Talia not to worry so much about everything , while Talia teaches Jack how to listen to other people and wins his family over with her charms. Despite their faults, I found it refreshing to read about a fairy tale princess who knows she's beautiful.

This book isn't short, but it is a light and easy read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick escape. Fans of other time travel princess stories like Find Me in Paris would probably love it. Even with the risqué promiscuous teen party, I think it's a good option for younger readers who want to break into the fairy tale adaptation genre. The romance is cute and light, and it was fun to see the characters gain more maturity and insight over the course of the story. In the end, Talia comes to terms with the fact that she and Jack are not ready for marriage yet, but that doesn't mean they're not ready for love.

Review: Time Princess - Ancient Dreams

Right after last month's triple whammy, Time Princess released another visual novel called Ancient Dreams. This is the third story to take place in China following Tang Dynasty Hunter and White Snake. The plot of Ancient Dreams is similar to Tang Dynasty Hunter. Both stories are about young ladies who can see spirits that reside within inanimate objects and must help the spirits resolve issues from their pasts through the reincarnations of their previous owners, but I enjoyed Ancient Dreams more. Its three chapters allotted plenty of wiggle room for additional character development and depth. The story takes place in a different era than Tang Dynasty Hunter, which allows for lots of fun new outfits. I didn't notice if the year was stated in the book, but the fashion and technology are reminiscent of the early 20th century, the same era that Taishō Adventures and Gotham Memoirs take place.

The protagonist in Ancient Dreams is Gu Yunting, the granddaughter of a renowned restorer of antiques, who desires to follow in her grandfather's footsteps. Like the protagonist in Tang Dynasty Hunter, Yunting has a secret ability that allows her to hear the voices of spirits that live inside the antiques that she restores. She uses her ability to help these spirits resolve issues with their past owners and move on to homes where they can live long and happy lives. Most of the antiques in Yunting's shop are happy to be around someone who understands them so well, especially Xiaojing, a little girl who manifested from one half of a vase that Yuntig restored. Yunting acts as a mother figure to Xiaojing, taking care of her and buying her cakes to make sure she is happy while she secretly investigates the mystery of what happened to Xiaojing's long-lost sister, the other half of the vase.

This story is somewhat bloated when it comes to companions. It is the first story since the original trilogy to have more than three companions, which can make it a challenge for newer players to raise enough goodwill to meet the book's ending requirements. There are two potential love interests, but so much of the story revolves around Xiaojing and finding her sister that any romantic elements feel extraneous. Pei Jingli is the first potential love interest. He hires Yunting to restore a copy of a painting for him. I had very little interest in romancing him until the end of the story because he comes off as a creepy stalker at first. He always knows where Yunting is going to be, anticipates all of her needs, and answers none of her questions. It wasn't until I figured out his secret that I trusted him and wanted them to end up together. Commander Huo Shao is more straightforward and is the key to finding Xiaojing's long-lost sister, Lan.

My favorite thing about Ancient Dreams is the beautiful artwork that resembles old Chinese paintings. They are so pretty and unique compared to the art from other recent visual novels. The fancy border and transition into Chinese text add a sense of authenticity to the context of Yunting as an antique restorer and breathe life into this mystical world of spirits. The dresses are another form of beautiful art in this world. While Tang Dynasty Hunter's ancient robes all looked pretty similar, Ancient Dreams has a wide variety of long dresses, short dresses, and casual skirts and tops. Many of the formal gowns are dripping with glittering beadwork that is reminiscent of the roaring 20s. There are also a few looks that remind me of the Japanese Lolita style with big ruffled sleeves and dramatic floral patterns. One of them even includes a rotating pinwheel as a handheld accessory.

I think this is the best Chinese-inspired visual novel in Time Princess so far. The writers probably spent more time on it than Tang Dynasty Hunter or White Snake. The story is fully fleshed out with a satisfying number of potential endings that don't leave any loose strings. I loved how each chapter introduces a new spirit object with their own backstory that Yunting must help them resolve. Xiaojing's carefree attitude gave it a unique sense of innocence that strengthened her bond with Yunting and made it a pleasure to reunite her with her sister. To top it all off, the gorgeous artwork and fashions cemented the visual novel's setting. I would recommend Ancient Dreams to Time Princess players that have completed one or two of the early stories and are looking for more of a challenge.