Lisa Dawn's Blog: The Princess Blog, page 8

Review: Ella & the Seven Dwarves

I was completely enamored by Beauty in the Tower , the first book I read in the Realms of Caelia series by Sara Farnsworth, so I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of her newest book, Ella & the Seven Dwarves, which comes out on April 4th. This book is a combined retelling of "Cinderella" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" with elements of "Swan Lake" and "The Wild Swans" that are incorporated from the previous Realms of Caelia book, Lake of the Wild Swans . This breathtakingly magical series combines the lore of many fairy tales and myths to create a world of enchantment and wonder. Sara Farnsworth also does a great job building up love stories that feel organic and heartwarming.

Princess Ella seems to have it all--a loving father, a royal lineage, and a handsome prince who cares about her dearly. Everything goes wrong when her father marries a greedy woman with two vain daughters and falls ill shortly after. When Ella's love, Prince Oberon, goes missing, her father starts to forget important details of his past. If that alone isn't enough to drive anyone into a royal frenzy, Ella is forced to work in the kitchens and become a servant in her own home. After numerous attempts on her life taken straight out of the original "Snow White" fairy tale, Ella runs away, changes her name to Snow, and seeks protection with a family of seven dwarves. Things get even more complicated when Prince Oberon finds her, knowing that her life could be at risk if her true identity is revealed.
The best thing about this series is the level of expertise on the fairy tale lore within the Realms of Caelia. Just about every name, spell, and location come from famous fantasy stories that are seamlessly woven together to create a magical world that feels both familiar and new. Oberon comes from a family in which everyone's name starts with the letter "O," nearly all of whom are legendary figures from Odette to Odin. When I started reading this, I didn't realize taht the book that came before this one was a retelling of "Swan Lake" and "The Wild Swans," so I thought several key details were missing from those sections until I realized they were probably all in the previous book, Lake of Wild Swans. Still, I enjoyed being able to experience at least some portions of that book in this story as well.
"Cinderella" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" are two stories that blend together seamlessly. Both contain a kind and selfless protagonist who suffers with parental abuse, evil stepmothers who are jealous of them, and a chance for a better life by marrying a prince. The main difference is that Cinderella wasn't born a princess. This book gets around that by having Ella's stepmother gradually strip away all the benefits of being a princess until there was nothing left. The love story is beautifully crafted, taking elements from all the best versions of "Cinderella" by making Ella and Oberon childhood friends that grew into something more over time. There's a little conflict over which kingdom they would rule due to Oberon being the crown prince of his kingdom and Ella being the sole heir of hers, but it is resolved quickly when Ella becomes the only hope of liberating her kingdom.
Ella & the Seven Dwarves is an enchanting retelling of beloved fairy tales, woven together with meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of the source material. Sara Farnsworth's masterful storytelling brings the Realms of Caelia to life, immersing readers in a richly magical world that breathes new life into old fairy tale lore. With its beautifully crafted love story, memorable characters, and expertly blended fairy tale elements, this book is a must-read for fans of fantasy, romance, and fairy tale retellings. I eagerly await the next installment in the Realms of Caelia series, and I have no doubt that it will be just as enchanting as the ones I've already read.

Review: CPHS Princess Tea - Mulan's Camp of Courage

Today marks the fourth consecutive year that I have attended the Cedar Park High School Choir's annual Princess Tea, and it was just as magical as ever! From the Chinese dragon photo station to the red lanterns on the stage and the tables, the high school theater was transformed into ancient China. Mulan hosted this year's concert of princesses and heroes for Mulan's Camp of Courage. Although the boys of the Pitch Black choral group had astounding harmonies and many comedic moments, they took even more of a backseat than previous years to the princesses of the evening who were performed by the Seasons. The show consisted of well-known Disney songs loosely woven together by a competition of courage led by Mulan.

The biggest surprise characters of the evening were Princess Leia and Han Solo of Star Wars fame. Although they didn't perform a solo number, there were lots of fun quips about the time they spent on other planets. Leia surprised everyone with her recipe for chocolate cupcakes, which apparently comes in handy no matter what planet you're on. This year's show didn't have as much inter-kingdom traveling as previous years and took place in Mulan's home country of China. During the first scene, the boys ran off to explore the Great Wall of China and only came back a few times, primarily for a lovely interlude of "When She Loved Me" right before the intermission. The rest of the time, Mulan led the princesses in a statue competition, drawing contest, and relay race while hyping them up with energetic Disney hits like "Zero to Hero" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You."

My favorite performance of the evening was "Be Out Guest," an ensemble dance number that everyone participated in, even the "Fairy Godmother" who runs the events. The choreography was excellent. The whole group sounds incredible when they all harmonize together as Soundwave. The other stellar ensemble number was "Remember Me" from Coco, which was performed in both Spanish and English. This was the second to last song of the show in which the group bid everyone farewell until next year, which can't possibly come quickly enough. Some of the princess solo numbers included "Part of Your World," "Belle," "I See the Light," "Once Upon a Dream," "For the First Time in Forever," and "How Far I'll Go." For many of these songs, the princesses came out into the audience to dance with eager little girls who wore matching costumes.
 

In addition to the stellar choreography and beautiful harmonizing, this is a great show to experience as an audience member. Each table is themed after a different princess, and the performers encourage participation from the attendees. For the statue game, the audience was tasked with calling out the name of each princess who moved. The "Kingdom Dance" was performed as an interactive dance number like in previous years as the princesses invited enthusiastic children to join them for the dance. There was also an audience competition to look for a treasure chest that was hidden on one of the tables. After the show, the performers stuck around in the lobby for photos and autographs. I got my picture taken with "Ariel," who was incredibly sweet and complimented me on my appearance.

As I left CPHS Princess Tea, I couldn't help but feel enchanted by the magical evening I'd just experienced. The talented performers, stunning costumes, and immersive theming all combined to create an unforgettable event that delighted audiences of all ages. Whether you're a Disney devotee, a fan of musical theater, or simply looking for a fun and family-friendly activity, the Princess Tea is an event not to be missed. Mark your calendars for next year's show and get ready to be transported to a world of wonder and enchantment!

National Tell a Fairy Tale Day Is Back with Two Exciting Parties!

Every year on February 26th, some of the most talented fairy tale authors in the world get together to share games, promotions, and free books in honor of National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. This year, not only has Brittany Fichter launched her annual Once Upon 2025 celebration again with a large group of authors, but Callie Thomas has also gotten in on the fun as well with a fairy tale adventure of her own. Due to the number of authors involved, these online parties can be a bit time-consuming if you wish to participate in every event. It's especially challenging for those of us with full-time jobs or other commitments because the games and freebies tend to vanish after National Fairy Tale Day is over. For that reason, it's a good idea to plan for this day ahead of time and start early so you don't miss out on the fun.  It's too bad it doesn't take place on a weekend!

This year, I decided to start my morning with Callie Thomas's Fairy Tale Adventure because it was completely new to me! I was excited to try something different. This event is presented like a "choose your own adventure" game with tons of puzzles to solve and unlock an interconnected story. Essentially, a wizard named Nodoore has chosen you to search nine magical portals and find the magic words to unlock the treasures of National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. Accessing these portals requires you to open the invitation and solve a puzzle to piece together the message. Each color-coded portal unlocks the world of a different author and contains a new riddle or puzzle to find that portal's secret word. If you don't have a good memory, you might need a notebook because there's no way to save the words once you've found them. I had some technical difficulties with a couple of the pages, but I was still able to complete the quest. It's also a good idea to save some of the links as you go so you don't lose your progress. The prizes for this event contained more artwork than free books, which is a great reward if you are a fantasy fan. There were coloring pages, printable bookmarks, and enchanting wallpapers to enhance your phone or desktop.

Brittany Fichter's Once Upon 2025 festivities began on her themed Facebook page with posts throughout February to introduce the ten authors that would be participating in today's party. Early this morning, the magic portal opened on her website with a webring containing links to various authors' party pages where they introduced themselves and their books and shared various activities that were similar to last year's event. Many of them were presented on DIY static images in which the users can select words to find their fairy tale name or personality. I still miss the early days when readers were able to interact directly with the authors through live Facebook posts and comments at set times, but I understand that setting up pages in advance works better with everyone's busy schedule. Some of my favorite activities included personality quizzes that told me which characters I had the most in common with from various series. Most of the posts contained links to books that the authors were promoting for new releases or sales promotions. I had selected most of the books I wanted to collect before I reached the final page, which contained a master list of Fairy Tale Day book promotion links.

Since I'm a big reader, my favorite part of National Tell a Fairy Tale Day is the free books that the authors promote through their events. However, if these events are too time-consuming for you, there are many more ways to celebrate National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. You can take a few minutes to read your favorite fairy tale, watch a Disney movie, sing a song, or dress up as your favorite princess. I set up a display of fairy tale books at my library to encourage parents to explore the magic and wonder of fairy tales with their children. Just because this magical day only comes around once a year doesn't mean we can't celebrate the wonder of fairy tales all year long! I celebrate fairy tales every day by sharing my reviews and experiences with all of you here on The Princess Blog. How do you celebrate your love of fairy tales? Let me know in the comments!

As National Tell a Fairy Tale Day comes to a close, I'm grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the magic of fairy tales with authors, readers, and fairy tale enthusiasts around the world. Whether you participated in Callie Thomas's Fairy Tale Adventure, Brittany Fichter's Once Upon 2025 celebration, or simply took a moment to revisit your favorite fairy tale, I hope you had a chance to tap into the wonder and enchantment of these timeless stories. Mark your calendars for next year's celebration and get ready to be transported to a world of magic, adventure, and happily-ever-afters!

Cursed Princess Club Teaches Us That Not All Princess Must Fit the Mold!

Cursed Princess Club is a webtoon comic that was later converted into an "unscrolled" series of graphic novels. Although the series was completed recently, I have only read the first two graphic novels, which cover about half the story. Still, I'd like to make a post about it because I found this series incredibly uplifting for princess fans who feel they don't fit the mold. It's full of humor, bright pastel aesthetics, and surprising antics. The main character is similar to Emily from Corpse Bride in the respect that she sees herself as feminine and princess-like and is surprised when others don't due to her unusual appearance. She was brought up by a loving family who sheltered her and her two sisters, who fit a more generic princess mold with their blue eyes and pale hair. It's a story about staying true to yourself despite how others see you and subverting expectations.

Princess Gwendolyn's life in the Pastel Kingdom is turned upside-down when her father arranges a marriage alliance for her and her two sisters to a group of princes from the Plaid Kingdom. After receiving a photo of the royal family, the princes thought that the Pastel Kingdom's prince, Jamie, was the third daughter and that Gwendolyn, with her green zombie-like appearance, was a spirit that got captured in the photo by mistake. When Prince Frederick learns that Jamie is a man, and he is engaged to Gwendolyn, he tries his best to put up a polite front and does not overreact. However, he is understandably shaken by Gwen's unconventional appearance, and Gwen, being a gentle soul, is surprised and hurt when she overhears a conversation Frederick has about her with his brother. Instead of reacting with anger, she takes it upon herself to make amends with him. That is when she is discovered by the Cursed Princess Club.


This series contains many hilarious misunderstandings, which is where most of its humor and charm derive from. Frederick assumes that Gwendolyn is a witchy goth who is into creepy things like eyeballs and spiders when she is actually a kind-hearted sheltered girl who loves to make people happy by baking sweets. Gwendolyn assumes that Frederick does not like her for some reason she does not understand and wishes to make peace with him, even if that means terminating their marriage alliance. When the Cursed Princess Club meets Gwen, they assume she is cursed due to how drastically different her personality is from her appearance, but she assures them that she is not cursed as far as she is aware. After discovering her kind heart and sampling the delicious goodies she bakes for the club, they decide to let her stay anyway and become friends. The second "unscrolled" novel ends with the club members noticing how different Gwen looks from the rest of her family, something that is probably explored in the second half of the series.


One of the aspects that resonated with me in this series the most is how Gwendolyn's character challenges traditional princess tropes. Despite possessing many of the traditional fairy tale princess qualities, her unique appearance and sheltered upbringing make her an outsider among her peers. The Cursed Princess Club, a group of princesses who also defy conventional norms for various reasons, welcomes Gwen with open arms, and their friendship is a beautiful portrayal of acceptance and inclusivity. The series also cleverly subverts expectations around romance, as Gwen's relationship with Frederick is built on mutual understanding and respect that grows over time, rather than instant attraction or fairy tale magic. By turning these expectations on their head, the series creates a refreshing and delightful reading experience that will leave you eager for more.



Another famous green character that doesn't fit the traditional mold is Elphaba from Wicked . Glinda, like Gwendolyn's sisters, is used to being treated a certain way because of her appearance. Meanwhile, Elphaba is shunned by society because she doesn't fit the mold of a conventionally beautiful woman. Like the Cursed Princess Club, Glinda supports Elphaba and helps her feel better about herself. I recently purchased the movie version of Glinda's training wand, the item that brings the two of them together as friends for the first time. This wand is a lovely and elegant reminder of the magic of female friendship and empowerment over adversity. In other Wicked news, I was recently named an expert on this Ozmapolitan adaptation in a Rent article about Oscar-nominated films! The article, "Exploring the Design and Aesthetic of the 2025 Oscars Best Picture Nominees," contains many great perspectives about recent films.
You don't need to fit any preconceived notion about appearance or personality to be a modern princess. Cursed Princess Club and Wicked teach us that there is nothing more princess-like than being true to yourself regardless of how the rest of the world sees you. While it might be fun to dress a certain way or act a certain way to please others, at the end of the day, the truest form of being a princess is listening to your heart and respecting those around you. This is the most important message to take away from stories about unconventional princesses who subvert expectations. Have you completed the Cursed Princess Club series? Feel free to share your thoughts below!

Review: Ties of Starlight

Ties of Starlight by Celeste Baxendell is the first ARC I've had the pleasure of reading from the upcoming Tethered Hearts series. This multi-author series features romantasy plots about couples who are brought together through magical bonds. I am fortunate enough to be on the street team for these riveting stories by many of my favorite authors. The first book will be released on March 7th, and the one I am reviewing here will come out the following week on March 14th. This book follows Celeste Baxendell's typical writing style of couples who face terrible obstacles that test their love until they realize how much they need each other to be happy. Although I haven't read the other Tethered Hearts books yet, this will probably be one of the darker ones in the series. It is the first book that Celeste has written about elves, which she plans to expand into other books that take place in this new fantasy setting.

Idonea is a half-elf who was chosen to become part of the Cometa Couple, a special bonded elf couple destined to restore the magic of the elf kingdom and protect their land by following an ancient ritual. She is eager to have a successful marriage with Olaug, who she believes is her true love, but there is one problem. Olaug does not love her. When King Nyrunn learns this heartbreaking news, he decides to take Olaug's place for the sake of the Star Elves and also because he has always secretly loved Idonea. After lifetimes of toxic relationships, Idonea must learn to shed her personal beliefs about herself and her incapacity to be loved to accept Nyrunn, complete the ritual, and break the cycle of abuse she has experienced with Olaug.
The plot of this book follows the modern anime reincarnation trope and is particularly similar to the anime series 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy. Like most modern anime heroines, Idonea has experienced several lifetimes before this one, and all of them ended in heartbreak or death. The key difference between this book and a traditional reborn princess anime is that Ties of Starlight is dedicated to women who are trapped in toxic relationships and contains important symbolic themes of breaking the cycle. Idonea must give up her endless attempts to fix her relationship with Olaug and accept that his endless emotional abuse is not real love. It is this allegory that makes Ties of Starlight truly special.
Although Idonea's problems span much further back than Nyrunn's, he is not without his own struggles. Nyrunn expects Idonea to be a little upset about his last-minute decision to intercept the ritual and take Olaug's place in the Cometa Couple, but what he doesn't expect is that she not only hates him but assumes that he hates her in return. This places a huge barrier in his attempt to provide a happy marriage for her. Much of the book revolves around Nyrunn and Idonea's struggles to communicate with each other. He knows that he can't tell her his true feelings immediately because she does not believe him. To convince her that he loves her, he must show her what love is, and that is where the true magic of this book lies.
Ties of Starlight by Celeste Baxendell is a mesmerizing romantasy that masterfully weaves together elements of fantasy, romance, and personal growth. With its poignant allegory about breaking free from toxic relationships, this book shines as a powerful tribute to women who have suffered emotional abuse. Idonea's journey, though heart-wrenching at times, is ultimately uplifting and hopeful, thanks to Nyrunn's gentle yet unyielding love. As the first book in the Tethered Hearts series, Ties of Starlight sets a high standard for the rest of the series, and I eagerly anticipate the next installment. If you're a fan of fantasy romance with depth and substance, add Ties of Starlight to your reading list – it's a truly unforgettable tale.

Review: Enchanting Fate

Enchanting Fate by Ashley Evercott is a twisted retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" in which the girl destined to break the beast's spell falls in love with one of the other cursed residents of the castle. It is the first book in the Fairy Tales of Gallia series, which is likely to contain other twists on popular stories. Fractured fairy tales are a popular niche, and I'll admit this was a concept I hadn't seen before in a retelling. The characters' motivations are clear, and their struggles are understandable. However, the solution to their problem seems so obvious that some chapters are frustrating to get through. I just wanted to see everyone live out their happy ending with their true love and stop obsessing so much over a misunderstood solution to the curse.

Marguerite is the daughter of a merchant whose business is about to go under. To restore her family's legacy, she must marry a wealthy nobleman who she doesn't particularly care for. However, fate has other plans in store for her. When her prized dog runs off, she finds herself in an enchanted castle where a kind-hearted servant named Claude welcomes her with open arms. The castle's residents are all cursed to take on beastly forms and will lose all sense of humanity after a set period. The only way to break the curse is for Henri, the castle's master, to fall in love and be loved in return. When the Enchanter who set the curse tells Marguerite that she is the key to breaking it, she feels responsible for falling in love with Henri for the sake of everyone residing there.

This story has some good themes and provides an interesting twist on "Beauty and the Beast." It promotes the idea that love can't be forced and must happen naturally. My biggest gripe is that among the cursed residents of the castle is Henri's ex, Isa, a servant who couldn't be with him due to their class difference. Although time moves differently in the castle, they are still cursed for more than enough time to figure out the solution long before Marguerite arrives. Marguerite's developing feelings for Claude are heartbreaking as well because both of them are so convinced they can't be together due to the curse that they never even try.

The book is told from four perspectives: Marguerite, Claude, Henri, and Isa. The characters are difficult to keep track of at first but become easier as the book progresses. Every character is conflicted about their feelings toward each other, to the point that the Enchanter seems like a cruel sadist for toying with their hearts in such a serious manner. There have been many complaints about the curse from "Beauty and the Beast" being too cruel a punishment not just on the beast, but the other residents of his castle as well. This book makes it worse by having an Enchanter who dangles the solution over their heads the whole time without telling them what it is. Despite the cruelty of the spell, the book has a satisfying resolution.

Enchanting Fate by Ashley Evercott offers an unexpected twist on the classic 'Beauty and the Beast' tale, exploring the complexities of love, fate, and redemption. While the book's pacing and character development may have some frustrating moments, the story's themes and emotional resonance ultimately shine through. With its unique spin on a beloved fairy tale, Enchanting Fate is a compelling read for fans of fractured fairy tales and romance. Despite some minor flaws, the book's satisfying resolution and thought-provoking themes make it a worthwhile introduction to the Fairy Tales of Gallia series.

Ten Screen-Accurate Fairy Tale Adaptations that Weren't Made by Disney

Disney was once famous for producing the most screen-accurate adaptations of well-known fairy tales, but their mission has strayed in recent years. Their current fairy tales are either soulless remakes of their animated classics or stories that shy so far from the original source material that they can barely be considered adaptations. Nowadays, if you want to see classic stories from the past brought to life on screen, you must turn to other studios. In a way, this post is the opposite of my "Ten Alternatives to Disney's Live-Action Remakes" since that was a list of movies that were more creative and original with their ideas, and these are movies that stick as close to the source as possible. If you want to see the stories from your childhood brought to life on screen, this is the post for you.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1957)
Disney produced a beautiful remake of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella starring Brandy in 1997, but the first production of this adaptation was filmed live for television in black and white and starred Julie Andrews as the enchanting heroine. This production came out seven years after the animated Disney version and boasted memorable songs, sweet romance, and additional screen time for the prince. It forewent the cat-and-mouse antics that took up a good deal of the animated film's runtime, making it more accurate to the Charles Perrault version that inspired it.
The Little Mermaid (1975)
Although "The Little Mermaid" is a Danish fairy tale, Japan was the country to do it the most justice. This tragic story was brought to life in anime form almost a decade before Disney almost a decade before the far more famous Disney version of the tale. It tells the story of a blonde mermaid named Marina who fell in love with a prince she rescued from drowning. This version keeps the same tragic ending that Hans Christian Andersen wrote as well as darker elements that the Disney version left out such as her sisters proposing that she kill the prince to save her own life.
Alice in Wonderland (1985)
Although similar to the animated Disney movie, this made-for-TV miniseries covers every detail of Lewis Carroll's novels including the Jabberwocky, the looking glass, and the Red and White Queens. Its two-part runtime allowed it breathing room to cover all the wacky adventures that Alice went on during her time in Wonderland without the limitation of a single film. It is possibly the most accurate live-action adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to date, especially considering how many liberties were taken with the 2010 Tim Burton film.
Thumbelina (1994)
Thumbelina may be owned by Disney now as a result of their Fox acquisition, but it was originally created by Don Bluth as an attempt to compete with Disney by going back to what they once did best--accurately adapting fairy tales. Thanks to that, this film is probably more accurate than any Disney adaptation may have been. It follows the same episodic structure of the original story with gorgeous songs, animation, and voices, and ties everything together nicely by allowing Thumbelina to meet her future husband at the beginning of the story.
Snow White: The Fairest of Them All (2001)
This made-for-TV adaptation of "Snow White" was the first in a short-lived series of Hallmark movies that attempted to give screen-accurate retellings of fairy tales. Alongside stunning visuals, the film sticks pretty closely to the Brothers Grimm fairy tale and includes one of the other methods that the queen used to try to kill Snow White before the apple. It also includes some new details that enhance the story including why the queen is so obsessed with her appearance, super-powered dwarves that can travel in the form of a rainbow, a djinn, and a brainwashing mirror.
Snow Queen (2002)
As the next movie in the short-lived Hallmark fairy tale serial, Snow Queen was a two-part made-for-TV miniseries that covered every single episodic element of Han Christian Andersen's fairy tale. This is a pretty big deal when you consider that most people today think that Frozen  was the original story. Following its fairy tale roots, the movie follows the adventures of a young woman named Gerda on her quest to rescue her friend Kai who was hypnotized by the seductive Snow Queen. The only changes to the story include aging up and making them employees at a family inn instead of neighbors.
The New World (2005)
Pocahontas is not a fairy tale but a legendary figure who is part of the official Disney Princess lineup. There is far too much controversy surrounding the true history of her story for Disney to make another adaptation of it, but an arthouse filmmaker attempted to do just that in 2005. Is The New World worth watching? Not really. It's ridiculously slow and boring and spends more time focusing on beautiful scenery than it does on the plot. However, it is one of the only movies that at least attempts to give a realistic portrayal of what Pocahontas's life could have been like without all the Disney magic.
Mulan: Rise of a Warrior (2009)
Another movie that did a better job than Disney's live-action adaptation is the Chinese version of "Mulan." Though based on a poem/legend instead of a fairy tale, this character has become incredibly popular ever since she joined the official Disney Princess lineup. Although far more violent than the American version, Mulan: Rise of a Warrior is a more realistic spin on what this legendary figure's life could have been like if she were a real person. It ends with her being proposed to by a prince and having to give him up for the sake of maintaining peace within their country.
Rapunzel (2009)
One year before Disney's Tangled, Germany, the home of the Brothers Grimm, created a short made-for-TV adaptation of "Rapunzel." This hour-long special included all of the details from the original fairy tale including Rapunzel's mother's obsession with a certain plant that grew in a witch's garden and the prince suffering from temporary blindness after the witch threw him out of the tower. It also adds a few new details to enhance the story such as Rapunzel having a "meet cute" with the prince when she was a child before getting locked in the tower.
Beauty and the Beast (2014)
If you want to be told the real story, it's usually best to go straight to the source. Three years before Disney's controversial live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast," the French released an adaptation of their own. This visually stunning film sticks more closely to details of the original story that Disney left out, including Belle's siblings and the mysterious castle that seemed to anticipate her needs before she even knew what they were. It also provides a new backstory for the enchantress that gives her a more personal connection to the prince.

Review: The Itsy Bitsy Liar

I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I've read so far by Abigail Manning, so I figured it would be worthwhile to check out her Once Upon a Rhyme series, which takes popular nursery rhymes and weaves them into fairy tales. The first book, The Itsy Bitsy Liar, is inspired by "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," but it contains no spiders. Instead, it is an exciting princess story that combines elements of "Cinderella," The Princess and the Pauper, and "The Brave Little Tailor." It exceeded all my expectations and provides a powerful commentary on honesty with an adorable fairy tale romance.

Lacey Arachne leads a rough life. Her father was imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. To prevent her from talking, the jealous daughter of the real criminal used magic to curse Lacey so she could only speak in lies. This made it nearly impossible for Lacey to find work. Every polite or humble thing she said would come off as rude and dissenting. Therefore, it was a godsend when she befriended a noble lady named Evie and worked as her handmaid. Despite not knowing about the curse, Evie saw the best in Lacey and respected her as a hard worker, if not a little sarcastic. When Evie's parents decided to enter her in a competition to win the hand of a prince, she thought it would be great fun to switch places with Lacey, and Lacey couldn't say otherwise.

I've reviewed several other books about princesses competing to marry a prince, but none were quite like this. Lacey had to win several intelligence tests despite only being able to speak in lies. This created a huge handicap for her, which may have been impossible to overcome if it hadn't been for winning over Prince Carlex early on in the competition. Right after the first test, he knew that she was the one he wanted to marry. He met with her several times in private and, upon learning about her curse, provided her with temporary magical remedies that would allow her to advance to the final round and potentially become his queen.

I can't think of a single thing I didn't like about this book. It was captivating to read about the various methods Lacey had to use to twist her lies so they wouldn't make her look bad, especially when she was naturally an honest person. It was also fascinating to see how the people who knew about her curse her responded to the lies, such as her mother saying "I hate you too, dear" at the beginning of the book and Evie poking fun at some of her dissenting responses despite knowing what she actually meant. Carlex's devotion to helping her despite knowing about the curse and how difficult it could make their lives if she became queen was touching as well.

The Itsy Bitsy Liar exceeded my expectations at every turn. Abigail Manning's unique blend of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," "Cinderella," and other classic tales results in a story that is both familiar and fresh. With its themes of honesty, kindness, and devotion, this book is a true delight. Lacey's journey from cursed outcast to beloved queen is inspiring and heartwarming, and her romance with Prince Carlex is sweet and satisfying. I highly recommend The Itsy Bitsy Liar to fans of fairy tale retellings, princess stories, and clean romance – and I'm eager to read other books in the Once Upon a Rhyme series!

Review: The Princess Swap - Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper)

Just when I thought I'd seen every creative way to retell a fairy tale, a new series called The Princess Swap series showed up at my library. At first glance, Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper) by Kim Bussing appears to be a simple case of mistaken identity as two princesses wind up in the wrong story. However, it is actually much more than that. In fact, these two misplaced heroines wind up exactly where they need to be to learn important lessons and grow into the iconic princesses they were meant to be. The book ages down its protagonists to 12 to match its ideal reader's age and forgoes the romance from these classic stories in favor of more relevant themes including friendship, forgiveness, and perseverance. It even has a touch of disability inclusion with Ella's glass leg.

One minute, Ella is at home, minding her own business, and the next, she finds herself in an unfamiliar land surrounded by strangers. She learns that she has magically replaced the daughter of the merchant who sold her father the glass leg she uses to walk. In gratitude for her mobility device, she accompanies the merchant to the castle of a fearsome beast to help find his missing daughter. Meanwhile, Belle is recruited as a new servant for a cruel woman and her two daughters to replace the stepdaughter who went missing. To ensure that she will not stray from her tasks, Saffira gives Belle an obedience bracelet, placing her under the curse from  Ella Enchanted . Her only hope to get out of it is a kiss from a prince. Fortunately, she already has one in mind.

Although the rules about the world's magic system are not explained as well as they could be, this book does a phenomenal job of creating a believable and enchanting fairy tale world. Magic is commonplace and abundant here, so no one questions it when they pop into another kingdom on a whim or get stuck with unusual curses like being turned into a beast. The descriptions of the surrounding environment paint a lovely picture of a whimsical world that would be a dream to live in even while having to deal with the occasional curse. Even Ella's disability is a more fantastical depiction than real-life deformities and promotes inclusion among its audience. The author is clearly a huge fan of fairy tales because she uses names of famous fairy tale authors throughout the story. Belle's last name, Villeneuve, refers to the original author of "Beauty and the Beast," and certain landmarks are named after other fairy tale icons like Grimm and Perrault.

My favorite thing about this book is how everything comes together in the end. The surprising connection between Ella and the beast reveals a lesson that she would not have been able to learn without experiencing the swap. Meanwhile, Belle, who thinks she has everything under control, is taught an important lesson about trusting others. Aging down the characters makes them more relatable to younger readers than in the original fairy tales. I also like that the author organically weaves new backstories for these characters instead of trying to force them into a world that makes no sense with the events of their lives like in The School for Good and Evil. It was a fresh and original story with just enough familiarity for a comfortable read.

Cinderella and the Beast is a delightfully imaginative retelling that breathes new life into two beloved fairy tales. By swapping Cinderella and Belle into each other's stories, Kim Bussing crafts a fresh, engaging narrative that explores themes of friendship, forgiveness, and perseverance. With its richly detailed world-building, positive disability representation, and satisfying plot twists, this book is a must-read for middle-grade fans of fairy tales and adventure. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment in The Princess Swap series to see how Bussing continues to reimagine and reinterpret these timeless stories.

Review: A Faithful Hope

I have now read a quarter of the books in the Hope Ever After series, a multi-author collaboration of fairy tale retellings to help fight human trafficking. My most recent read is A Faithful Hope by DaLeena Taylor, which might be my favorite in the series thus far. This book retells an obscure French fairy tale called "The Blue Bird," which was translated in The Green Fairy Book. This story has it all--an outcast princess, a broken kingdom to restore, a magical transformation, and a love story to stand the test of time. I was hooked from the first page and riveted by all the twists and turns this detailed story took. It is a faithful gender-swapped depiction of the fairy tale. In this version, the princess turns into a bluebird instead of the prince.

Princess Aderyn's kingdom is in crisis. Her family and their subjects need the healing properties of silver to survive, but the kingdom has run dangerously low on its supply. To save everyone, Aderyn enters an arranged marriage with Prince Sterling, whose kingdom is prosperous in the desperately needed precious metal. When she arrives, she is surprised to find that Prince Sterling is hidden from her and encouraged to marry one of his stepmother's sons instead. Sterling manages to meet with Aderyn in secret when he disguises himself as a gardener named Silver. The two hit it off immediately, and, upon learning his true identity, Aderyn is determined to marry no one else. Unfortunately for her, the queen has a powerful and wicked fairy godfather who curses her to spend seven years in the body of her beloved pet bluebird, Saffira, unless she agrees to marry one of the other two princes.

I don't remember much about "The Blue Bird" in the Fairy Books, but after reviewing it, I think it was too long and convoluted to make my top ten list. In novel form, however, this story has lots of room for growth and development. The book expands upon Sterling's tragic backstory and how his family and reputation fell apart when his wicked stepmother came into the picture. The two fairy characters are also fleshed out. Lorenzo and Laelynn are brother and sister, but Lorenzo chooses the path of darkness, while Laelynn remains on the path of light. As Aderyn and Sterling's sanctioned fairy godmother, Laelynn does her best to help Aderyn with her predicament. Life as a bluebird is difficult for Aderyn, but she finds ways to use it to her advantage such as flying Sterling's silver rings to her family. Meanwhile, Sterling never gives up hope that he will find a way to save Aderyn.

Even the two wicked princes have realistic thoughts and feelings. Marius is the dominant brother who is determined to silence everyone around him so he can always get his way, while Milo feels pressured into agreeing with everything his mother and Marius says so he won't get silenced like Sterling was. By the end of the book, he goes through a transformative arc and comes out as a better person. Although it is understandable why Aderyn does not want to marry Marius, there was a moment that I questioned her intent in sticking to her determination to marry Sterling. She makes it very clear that if she does not make an alliance with this kingdom quickly, everyone she cares about will die due to a lack of silver. There was a point where it may have been better to put her own selfish desires aside for the needs of her people, but since this is a fairy tale about hope, I knew everything would work out in the end.

A Faithful Hope by DaLeena Taylor is an inspirational retelling of "The Blue Bird," elevated by its thoughtful expansion on the original story. With well-developed characters, unexpected twists, and a swoon-worthy romance, this novel has secured its place as my favorite in the Hope Ever After series so far. Taylor's faithful adaptation breathes new life into this lesser-known fairy tale, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, hope and love can prevail. I highly recommend A Faithful Hope to fans of fairy tale retellings and inspiring stories. If you've already completed this series and are seeking a new multi-author collaboration of romantic fantasy books, keep an eye out for Tethered Hearts, and upcoming series of forced proximity romantasies from some of my favorite authors!