Lisa Dawn's Blog: The Princess Blog, page 9

Review: The Scarlet Rose

The Scarlet Rose is the second book I've read from Valia Lind's Skazka Fairy Tales, a series of Russian-inspired fairy tale retellings. This story is a fairly standard adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast." She made some small changes to the story to make it her own, but for the most part, it follows the Disney movie beat for beat. This comfortable and familiar retelling falls perfectly into the "cozy fantasy romance" genre that the Skazka Fairy Tales are categorized as. I enjoyed the love story from her other book, The Cursed Beauty , more than this one since it took the main character a longer to fall in love with the beast. However, The Scarlet Rose contains some interesting family dynamics by incorporating the siblings from the original fairy tale instead of making the "Beauty" character an only child and giving the "Beast" character his own family that he swore to protect.

A young lady named Nikita grows concerned when her father accepts a business transaction to a dangerous foreign land. While her sisters request expensive gifts from their travels, she only asks for the most beautiful flower to ensure he returns safely. Little does she know that this request will force her to sacrifice everything she knows and cares about. When her father returns with a magic ring that binds him to a beast in an enchanted castle, Nikita steals the ring and travels to the castle in his place. The beast, a cursed prince named Gavriil, is less than pleased with this arrangement but eventually comes to terms with it. During her time at the castle, Nikita is charged with researching how to break Gavriil's curse, which takes away his ability to read as a side effect. She then discovers talking statues of Gavriil's loved ones throughout the grounds that only come to life at certain times.
Although this book follows the story of "Beauty and the Beast" pretty closely, there are a few changes that make it more grounded in the Russian fantasy world of Skazka. The enchantress who curses the prince is Baba Yaga, the famous Russian witch who is spoken of widely in lore. Instead of permanently taking on the form of a beast, Gavriil is cursed to slowly lose his humanity over time and turn into a mindless wolf. When Nikita finds him, he is partway through his transition, giving him the traditional humanoid beastly appearance that most adaptations use. This provides more of an urgency to break the curse before he loses his humanity entirely. It also explains his motivation in binding Nikita's father to do his research for him. Every "Beauty and the Beast" adaptation has its own version of the castle's unusual residents. The curse on Gavriil's family and friends is tied to his own but is not the same as his. While most interpretations don't sympathize much with the other cursed residents of the castle, Gavriil is just as determined to break their curse as his own.
For me, the best "Beauty and the Beast" retellings have a strong love story, and this one doesn't quite hit that mark for me. Nikita slowly grows to love Gavriil over time, but it takes the majority of the book for her to come to terms with it. There is little chemistry built between them throughout the story because most of it focuses more on trying to break the curse on Gavriil and his family. There was also a "Gaston" character to create some drama who had little importance to the story outside of drawing a parallel to the Disney film. I would have preferred to spend more time seeing Nikita and Gavriil get to know each other and rekindle his humanity based on their common interests. There was also a ballroom dance that parallels the Disney movie that feels forced and doesn't provide an opportunity for the main couple to genuinely bond with each other.
The Scarlet Rose is a cozy and familiar retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" that fits neatly into the Skazka Fairy Tales series. While it doesn't stray far from the original tale, Valia Lind adds some interesting twists, such as the incorporation of Baba Yaga and the talking statues. However, the romance, which is often the heart of a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, feels somewhat underdeveloped. Despite this, fans of the series and cozy fantasy romances will likely find The Scarlet Rose to be an enjoyable, if not particularly groundbreaking, read.

Why Does All Modern Princess Anime Start With a Broken Engagement?

It's no secret that modern anime tends to be derivative. Almost every new animated show from the East tells the story of a character reincarnated into another world or a younger version of themselves. However, another trope, specifically among anime about royalty, has dominated the airwaves. Nearly every would-be anime princess in recent years begins her story with a broken engagement to a prince. This was the catalyst of everything from 2023's I'm Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness to last year's 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy and The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor. This season, a brand new show entitled I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons follows in their footsteps.

The series begins with a noble lady named Leticia forced into an arranged marriage with Prince Clarke. To prepare her for her future as a princess, her parents send her to the castle for private finishing school lessons that consume her entire life. She is so frustrated with the rigorous strain of learning to keep up her posture, grace, and etiquette that she is willing to do anything it takes to get out of it. That's why she is so excited when Prince Clarke announces his betrothal to a new bride, freeing Leticia from her restrained lifestyle. This initial turnabout is a familiar scene to all of us who have been watching princess anime over the past few years. All of this happens in the first episode, making it hard to say where the show will go from there, although if the opening and closing videos are any indication, Prince Clarke is far from finished with Lady Leticia. Why do noble anime women need to break up with a prince to find happiness?
From a Western perspective, these breakups could be looked at as an opportunity for women to claim their independence because modern feminism means a man can't be included in their happiness thanks to the downward trend of princes in Western fairy tales. Yet, the Japanese shows that start out like this typically conclude with a romance for the flighty heroine, often, but not always, with a different man of high status. So Japan isn't exactly making a statement against romance among its princess-watching audience but instead against arranged marriages. The shows that start out with broken royal engagements usually have protagonists who know little about their fiancé except that they are supposed to be wed when they reach a certain age. Perhaps instead of pushing independence from men, this new anime trope is promoting the freedom and joy of marrying for love, something that Princess Jasmine was fighting for 30 years ago.
The question that remains is why this same story has been used so frequently this decade in so many different anime shows. Isn't there more than one way a story can be told about a potential princess? Aside from the lack of originality in modern anime, one reason this trope is so popular right now could be historical accuracy. Princesses in the Middle Ages were often used as bargaining chips for alliances or trade between kingdoms and often had very little say regarding who they married. Starting medieval stories in this manner gives these series a chance to feel historically accurate while providing a crutch that allows the protagonist to find her own happiness because the arranged marriages usually end due to no fault of their own.
The broken engagement trope in anime has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, particularly in shows featuring royalty. While it may seem like a tired and unoriginal plot device, it's possible that this trend is actually a commentary on the importance of marrying for love, rather than being bound by arranged marriages. By subverting the traditional expectations of princess stories, these anime series are able to explore themes of independence, self-discovery, and the complexities of royal life. Whether driven by historical accuracy or a desire to tell more nuanced stories, this trope has become a staple of modern anime - and it will be interesting to see how it continues to evolve in the years to come.

Review: Pearl of Magic

The final day of the fairy tale advent calendar contained a generous offer of four books from Emily Deady's Fairy Tale Royals series. This author was new to me, so I decided to check one of them out. Although I was going to start at the beginning with her "Cinderella" retelling, I settled for Pearl of Magic because it's hard to find good retellings of "The Little Mermaid." This was another adaptation that did not contain mermaids, but it still had some magical properties. The main character is a type of sorceress whose race is oppressed by other kingdoms. She is silenced by a magic necklace and must get to know her captor through hand gestures alone. The story is similar to The Prince's Captive by Celeste Baxendell.

Aizel is a Majis who uses her voice to command power. When her people are persecuted and her sister's life is on the line, she must agree to kill an enemy prince that she rescued from drowning. Meanwhile, Prince Erich, whose kingdom is in political turmoil, is charged with escorting Aizel to be executed due to her magical background. He does not know much about her race or that the necklace that suffocates her power also prevents her from speaking. Both are uncomfortable with their tasks and must find ways to communicate with each other despite Aizel's inability to talk. The more they get to know each other, the more they realize it would be impossible for them to complete their missions.
Although I wished this adaptation contained mermaids and undersea kingdoms, it was an interesting concept for a love story. The two are forced together because of political circumstances beyond their control and forced to overcome their prejudices and even fall in love. It was a nice twist for Aizel to sacrifice her powers to save her sister instead of to be with the prince, but she came to care for him as well over time. Erich came off as a passive character who was only doing as he was told until Aizel opened up his eyes and made him realize there was more to the Majis than he realized. Both were presented as victims of circumstance, but those same circumstances brought them together.
The worldbuilding is this book's greatest strength, and I can easily see how it is part of a bigger series. With so many different kingdoms and races, there is a great deal of potential for more stories and star-crossed lovers between those who can use magic and those who are ignorant of its potential. The persecution of the Majis created high stakes, but it didn't feel like Aizel and Erich had a lot of time to get to know each other, especially when Aizel couldn't speak for most of the book. They did the best they could under the circumstances and eventually fell in love deeply enough to be willing to risk everything for one another.
Pearl of Magic is an intriguing retelling of "The Little Mermaid" that trades in underwater kingdoms for a richly detailed world of magic and politics. While it didn't quite capture the essence of the original tale, Emily Deady's unique spin on the story is engaging and full of potential. The romance between Aizel and Erich is sweet, if a bit rushed, and the worldbuilding is undoubtedly the book's strongest aspect. Fans of fantasy romance and fairy tale retellings will likely find Pearl of Magic to be a compelling read, and the larger Fairy Tale Royals series shows promise for more magical stories to come.

Review: To Rival a Reflection

To Rival a Reflection by Selina De Luca was one of this month's gifts from the fabulous Fairy Tale Advent Calendar. It is the fourth book I've read from the Shattered Tales series that reimagines the story of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Opinions may vary on this one. I am not generally fond of fractured fairy tales, but some people love them. I prefer books that are closer to the original stories. Still, this book was a beautifully written new and creative take on "Snow White" with some elements of "The Snow Queen" thrown in for good measure. At the end of the day, it just didn't have the same magic and impact that the original fairy tale did for me.

This version of Snow White is obsessed with her reflection and takes on many of the traits of the wicked stepmother from the original story. Armed with a magic mirror and an enchantress's prophecy that she would one day become queen as long as she remains the fairest one of all, Snow White spends her days in a lonely castle admiring her appearance. One day, the isolation becomes too much, and she wishes for a female companion to keep her company while she waits for her prince to find her. The mirror responds by sending her Ice Blue, her wicked reflection who tries to take over her life in the same vein as the "house of horrors" episode of the Tangled series. Ice Blue scares away the gullible Prince Dorian with her vanity, but Snow White wins him over after explaining her situation to him.

The dwarfs in this story are just there without serving much purpose. Their impact is greatly lessened when they aren't protecting Snow White from a would-be murderer. They have some interactions with the prince and Ice Blue, but for the most part, the book would not have been very different without them. They simply provide additional stooges for Ice Blue to manipulate into believing she is Snow White due to their virtually identical appearance. The main difference between the two doppelgangers is supposed to be Snow's softer personality, but Ice Blue is a reflection of many of Snow White's internal traits as well, making it difficult to root for her as a reader. It got a little tedious how everyone kept falling for Ice Blue's tricks, proving that there was very little difference between the two of them.

While I prefer more faithful adaptations, there were some things I enjoyed about this book. Making Snow White the vain one instead of her stepmother was an interesting twist that I've never seen done before. It was also unique to make her own vanity form another person who was, in some ways, better at achieving her goals than she was, though that is also a trope that has been done before. The fantasy world that the enchantress came from was fascinating, and I would have loved to learn more about it. The girl who befriended Snow White in the village could have been a great rival character for Snow White's friendship if she wasn't overshadowed by the dwarfs.

To Rival a Reflection is a thought-provoking retelling that challenges the traditional notions of Snow White's character. By making her the vain one, Selina De Luca raises questions about the nature of beauty, identity, and the consequences of one's actions. While the story may not have resonated with me on an emotional level, its unique twists and turns made for a compelling read. Fans of fractured fairy tales will likely appreciate the author's creative spin on this beloved classic. If you are interested in other interpretations of "Snow White," Disney just released an extended preview of the new song, "Waiting on a Wish," from their upcoming live-action adaptation. Check it out below and share your thoughts in the comments!

Ten Alternatives to Disney's Live-Action Remakes

Disney's live-action remakes have become a problem over the past decade that have cheapened the classic status of their animated princess movies. The recent announcement of adding Tangled to the roster further solidifies their status as a has-been company trying to bank off its former glory. If you prefer live-action movies over animation, there is nothing wrong with that. However, wouldn't you want to watch a live-action movie that does something new and original rather than a lifeless carbon copy of a previously animated story? If so, this is the post for you. Here are ten suggestions for alternative movies that are comparable to the live-action remakes current and upcoming Disney Princess movies that are more original and visually engaging than their copycat counterparts.

Alternative to Once Upon a Time: The 10th Kingdom

Once Upon a Time started out as an intriguing concept that introduced original fairy tale characters who were trapped in the real world, but it devolved into a marketing ploy for Disney to show off as many watered-down counterparts of well-known Disney characters as possible. Over a decade earlier, NBC used the same concept for their five-part TV miniseries, The 10th Kingdom, combining public domain fairy tale characters with engaging protagonists from modern-day New York City for all kinds of adventures, romance, and magical mayhem.

Alternative to Alice in Wonderland: Enchanted

Enchanted also featured fairy tales merging with modern-day New York City, but in this case, Giselle, from the fairy tale kingdom of Andalasia, falls down the metaphorical "rabbit hole" into the real world. Although both Alice in Wonderland and Enchanted were produced by Disney, Enchanted tells an original story inspired by classic Disney Princess characters of the past. It drew inspiration from the animation and music of these stories and gave the characters a chance to grow in the real world instead of turning them into two-dimensional archetypes.

Alternative to Cinderella: Ever After

This classic live-action "Cinderella" retelling is famous for adapting the story in a unique way that doesn't use magic to get the princess to the ball. Instead of a Fairy Godmother, Danielle wins over the prince with her wit and charm. She also gets some help from a famous historical artist, Leonardo da Vinci. The scene where she says "Just breathe" in her fairy princess costume is one of the most iconic in cinematic history. This beloved film even inspired a short-lived musical that could have been fierce competition for the other Cinderella musicals that flopped last year if had made it to Broadway.

Alternative to Tangled: Princess

Disney has not remade Tangled yet, but they are in talks to do so soon. Before the iconic Rapunzel discovered the magical healing properties of her hair, Disney released a made-for-TV movie about another princess with mysterious healing powers. Princess served as an homage to the classic feminine archetype with some subtle Disney-inspired gowns and featured a girl who was chosen to heal fantastical beings from another world. Although it suffered from some of the usual TV movie issues, it had a lot more heart than the average Disney remake.

Alternative to Beauty and the Beast: Pan's Labyrinth

Fans of "Beauty and the Beast" love gothic fantasy, and Pan's Labyrinth has it in droves. A little girl named Ofelia discovers an enchanted realm where she is given a magic storybook to after learning that she might be their lost princess. This movie is not for the faint of heart as it contains some dark and disturbing imagery, but it is wholly unique and does not feel derivative in any aspect. The ending is bittersweet in the style of the original fairy tales really makes you think. It makes a lot of bold moves that, while not necessarily appropriate for kids, can be appreciated by older fairy tale fans.

Alternative to Snow White: Mirror Mirror

With all the controversy surrounding the remake of the first animated feature of all time, many are opting not to bother seeing it in theaters. A viable alternative for a creative retelling of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is Mirror Mirror, a romantic comedy that remains true to the story's essence. Snow White has a "meet cute" with the prince after a robbery. The "cougar" queen has a magic mirror that doubles as a portal to another world, and the dwarfs teach Snow self defense. In a bold twist, the infamous apple doesn't even appear until after the events of the story have already been resolved.

Alternative to The Little Mermaid: The King's Daughter

The year before Halle Bailey took on the role of Ariel, another mermaid-themed fairy tale quietly completed its long journey the big screen. The King's Daughter tells an original story about a headstrong young woman whose world turns upside-down when she receives an invitation from the King of Versailles to move into the castle where she discovers a mermaid prisoner in its dungeon. Beautifully shot on location, this movie is filled with romance enchantment. Though it is not a literal retelling of "The Little Mermaid," it contains similar themes of freedom and sacrifice.

Alternative to Aladdin: A Little Princess

This one may be a bit of a stretch, but the 1995 classic, A Little Princess, contains similar themes to Aladdin. Both protagonists struggle through difficult times after losing their parents. However, they never allow these hardships to deter their confidence in themselves, and good fortune eventually finds them again. A Little Princess also contains footage of middle eastern fantasy kingdoms that are revealed through the stories that Sara tells to the other girls at the school. Although Sara is too young for romance, it is a wonderful representation of father/daughter love.

Alternative to Maleficent: The Curse of Sleeping Beauty

Maleficent is, in  my opinion, the only remake that Disney actually got right. By reimagining the story from a new perspective, they managed to create something refreshing and new while still drawing inspiration from their animated film. That said, if this villainous adaptation is still not dark enough for you, there is The Curse of Sleeping Beauty, a horror movie that subverts expectations and twists the classic tale into a nightmare from which there is no waking up. This niche trend of horror fairy tale adaptations also inspired a twisted version of The Little Mermaid that came out last year.

Alternative to Mulan: The Princess

Looking for a princess who kicks butt? Look no further than Hulu's The Princess, which embodies the same themes as Disney's Mulan remake with actors who can actually act and writing that packs a punch. stars as a young monarch who wishes to bring her family honor by taking back her father's kingdom after it was stolen by a brutal tyrant who forced her hand in marriage. She desires to prove to her father that she can be just as useful as any knight and trains in secret under the guidance of a female warrior who works at the castle.

Review: Beauty in the Tower

In case you haven't heard the terrific news, there is a fairy tale advent calendar you can access all month for free books from some of the best fairy tale authors! With so many books to choose from, it's no wonder princess stories have migrated back to the page. Among the books offered that I hadn't read, Beauty in the Tower by Sara Farnsworth stood out because it combines "Rapunzel" and "Sleeping Beauty." This seemed like such an interesting and fun combination that I've never seen before. I read a book that combines "Beauty and the Beast" with "Sleeping Beauty," but not "Rapunzel." Beauty in the Tower, the first book in the Realms of Caelia series, exceeded my expectations with its unique combination of romance, magic, and suspense. I also appreciate that the author put a trigger warning at the beginning of the book for anyone who might be uncomfortable by its darker elements, but thankfully, it did not go into too much detail during those parts and kept the tone pretty mild.

Princess Alora was cursed at her birthing ceremony by the wicked sorceress, Maligothel (a clever combination of Maleficent and Gothel) to prick her finger on a spindle and die on her eighteenth birthday. Fortunately, Prince Aldric, her betrothed, is determined not to let that happen. When the curse is altered to be broken by true love's kiss, Alora and her true love are prophesied to bring about Maligothel's downfall. The evil sorceress refuses to accept this and decides to take matters into her own hands. She kidnaps Alora, locks her in a tower, and tells her that her name is Rapunzel in the hopes that she will not learn about her true origins. Alora grows up sheltered, but not alone thanks to the guidance of Leonardo, the kind old wizard who made the prophecy. When she comes of age, Leonardo helps her escape right into the arms of Aldric, who has been searching for her most of his life.

I was particularly impressed by the complexity of the world and characters within this story. Everyone in the book is dealing with their own personal struggles, but they have hope for the promise of the day the prophecy will come true. When Aldric's family disappears, leaving him alone with a handful of servants, he refuses to lose faith that he will find Alora again. Their relationship reminded me a little of Odette and Derek from The Swan Princess due to his determination to bring her back and unite their kingdoms. Alora is reluctant to trust Aldric at first, but his devotion shines through and wins her over pretty quickly. The twin wizards, Leonardo and Lombardo, struggle to protect Alora and Aldric and teach them everything they need to know about their unique magical powers so they will be ready to defeat Maligothel when the time comes.

Something else I liked about this book is that most of the main characters had magic, but it worked differently for each one. Aldric discovers that he is a healer, a rare quality for a male lead in a fantasy story, and he uses these abilities to help Alora after her torturous struggle to escape Maligothel's clutches. Alora has numerous powers based on light and protection that help her stand up to Maligothel's dark magic. The most powerful beings in this world are wizards and sorcerers, but they do not see themselves as heroes and instead use their knowledge to train the next generation to defeat evil. An honorable mention goes out to Prince Lander, Alora's brother and the main character from the next book in the series, who does not have magic but makes up for it with his impeccable sense of humor.

Beauty in the Tower by Sara Farnsworth is a thrilling fairy tale retelling that masterfully weaves together elements of "Rapunzel" and "Sleeping Beauty." With its richly detailed world-building, complex characters, and sweet romance, this book is a must-read for fans of fantasy and fairy tales. I appreciated the unique magical abilities of each character, from Alora's light-based powers to Aldric's rare healing abilities. The story also strikes a great balance between lighter moments, such as Prince Lander's witty humor, and darker themes, like Maligothel's evil curse. Overall, this book sets up Realms of Caelia as a delightful and engaging series that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.

Review: Time Princess - Vengeance of the Witch

When I think of witches, I think of Bewitched, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and most recently, Wicked. So when Time Princess announced a new visual novel called Vengeance of the Witch, I expected something along those lines, especially after their latest collaboration with Wicked. Instead, the robust dress-up game app pulled the old bait and switch, releasing yet another bland Chinese story about demons. This app contains several other visual novels inspired by Chinese mythology that are way more interesting than this one, including White Snake and Ancient Dreams. If you are looking for a compelling story that incorporates Chinese myths, I recommend playing one of those. The Apothecary is much closer to what I expected from Vengeance of the Witch, as that story actually focuses on magic and sorcery with some compelling plot twists.

Vengeance of the Witch tells the story of Qingqing, who is part of a demonic cult that we're apparently supposed to root for. To be fair, it's revealed later that she didn't actually want her group to be referred to as a cult, but they were under a lot of scrutiny due to their techniques of releasing parasites like snakes to achieve their goals. The "Gu Parasites," as they are referred to, are the only "witchy" thing in this story. There are no cool magic powers, no covens (unless you count the cult), and no cute animal familiars. It's quite possibly one of the least supernatural stories I've ever read. Instead, it presents itself as more of a murder mystery in which Qingqing must figure out who killed her father so she can take her revenge. Despite the story's title, she doesn't come off as spiteful and is instead more analytical as she tries to determine the whereabouts of an ancient bell that would serve as an important clue to resolving the mystery.

This visual novel has the traditional "light" and "dark" love interests with a bonus female friend for players who aren't interested in romance. Though the three companions are very basic and have no traits that differentiate them from other companions in the game's visual novels, I was partial to Jiang Yushu because his design and personality reminded me of my beloved Samurai Jack. He is a monk who is obsessively respectful of Qingqing and is trained in the healing arts. Despite all her efforts to make him dislike her, he does everything in his power to help her with her goals and protect her on her quest. Ye Changsheng is also fiercely protective of her as a result of a traumatic event from his childhood that turned him into a dark and brooding "bad boy." Su Wen is Qingqing's loyal lifelong friend who has stuck by her through thick and thin and reports all the important comings and goings around the demonic cult.

Although the Chinese watercolor-inspired art for this visual novel is lovely, it is one of the infamous "Traveler's Notes" stories, which means there are minimal dress-up items available. Players who complete the entire novel can unlock two outfits--a light one and a dark one. Despite the limited number of options, the light outfit is quite lovely with long flowing draperies of lavender and white, a beautiful veil, and a stunning scepter. The dark option matches the cover of the visual novel with the traditional "evil" colors of black and red to match the misleadingly witchy or demonic vibes of the story. Since every chapter must be completed to unlock these outfits, it is impossible to wear them during the first playthrough, making it less fun than the other visual novels in Time Princess because you can never see them in the context of the story unless you choose to replay a level, and I don't know why anyone would want to do that.

Vengeance of the Witch fell short of my expectations, promising a witchy tale but delivering a bland, supernatural-light story instead. With its lackluster characters, unengaging murder mystery plot, and limited dress-up options, this Traveler's Notes visual novel fails to impress. If you're looking for a compelling story with Chinese mythological elements, I'd recommend exploring other options within the Time Princess app, such as White Snake or Ancient Dreams. For a more authentic witchy experience, The Apothecary is a better bet. It's a shame the app has been struggling so much with their Wicked collaboration, or we might have been able to get a new story about Oz, which would have been a slam dunk for me.

Review: Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers

With the holiday season beginning, it is a good time to celebrate true love in all its forms, including the unexpected. Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers by Georgina Warren is a book that celebrates the love that stepmothers have for their families by deconstructing the "wicked stepmother" tropes. The book contains a foreword and afterword from the author explaining why she wrote it and how passionate she feels about children learning to accept their stepmothers as part of their family, something that she struggled with as a child. Her passion for this comes through on every page of this fairy tale anthology, which is written in the same style as the classic tales. Although this format might not appeal to the shorter attention spans of today's TikTok generation, the book contains twelve bedtime stories about loving stepmothers that incorporate many classic elements and can be appreciated by fairy tale lovers of any age. I received a review copy of this book from the author.

The thing that impressed me the most about this book is the variety of stories contained within its pages. Not every story has a stepmother as the main character, but each story has a loving and ambitious stepmother who wants the best for her family. One story from this anthology that stood out to me was "Dalecarlia, the Porcelain Girl," a gender-bent version of The Adventures of Pinocchio  about a doll who comes to life and wishes to get away from her overprotective parents to live the life of a real little girl. The addition of a stepmother to this story helped with the themes of girlhood and growing up with an unusual childhood. Another story I really enjoyed was "The Dragon Mother" which is about a dragon who adopts some human boys and decides to undergo a magical transformation to support their growth. In addition to fostering loving stepfamilies, the book is also pro-adoption and has some great stories to help adopted kids understand that it isn't always blood that makes a family.

One story I didn't enjoy as much was "The Bird of Many Voices," which takes up a shocking third of the book despite its eleven other stories. Unlike the other fairy tales in this book, this one was too long to read in one sitting (unless you have a lot of free time) and contained none of the magic or whimsy of the other stories. Additionally, the allegory of the bird entering a toxic relationship with a predator hawk who kills members of her family can be interpreted as a woman being stuck in a relationship with a serial killer, which is probably too dark of a theme for younger readers. The story about a bird who can mimic the calls of other species demonstrates a vast array of avian knowledge, which is probably another one of the author's passions. However, it drags out the middle portion of the book with few of the pleasant feelings that are usually conveyed in fairy tales.

Although this book was intended to counteract an old stereotype, it is written in an older poetic style that demonstrates a love of literature. There are little to no instances of the "modern princess" trope of being resistant to romance and physically stronger than every man around her. In this respect, the stories feel as timeless as the ones written two hundred years ago when fairy tales were at their peak. This style of writing is less likely to appeal to modern children than to adults who love literature, so it might be difficult for a younger child with a new stepmother to dive into this book. However, the stories could be used as a tool for stepmothers to read to their children as a jumping-off point for discussions about their intent to love and care for their children and help them grow. The original concepts also make it a fun read for fairy tale lovers even if they don't come from blended families and just want to be entertained by a brief bout of fantasy.
Through Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers, Georgina Warren weaves a charming collection of fairy tales that challenge outdated tropes and celebrate the love and devotion of stepmothers. While the classic writing style may appeal more to seasoned literature lovers than young readers, the stories offer a valuable tool for stepfamilies to explore themes of acceptance, love, and growth. With its unique blend of timeless storytelling and modern sensibilities, this anthology is a delightful read for fairy tale enthusiasts and a thoughtful resource for families navigating the complexities of blended relationships.

The New Snow White Trailer Is Finally Here!

At D23 Expo Brazil, a new trailer premiered for Disney's upcoming Snow White remake. Unlike most of their trailers, which release to the public immediately after their first screening, this one remained under wraps for three weeks. Today, Disney has quietly made the new trailer public. Along with new footage that wasn't in the original teaser, the trailer included our first listen to "Waiting on a Wish," a new song to be performed by Rachel Zegler specifically for this adaptation. This song is obviously meant to replace "I'm Wishing" from the original film, which places too much focus on Snow White's desire for romance, something that Disney has been shying away from with their recent movies. You can check out the new trailer below.

The trailer opens with a first look at Snow White's father, who was not included in the original movie, following the tradition of live-action remakes to reveal characters that we didn't get to see in the original animation. The Cinderella remake even included Cinderella's original mother. It goes on to feature as the Evil Queen, who is clad in shimmering armor, as she gives Snow White lip service about being too obstinate. Despite Rachel's insistence to the contrary, the movie still appears to be a love story as there are several clips of her looking doe-eyed at a mysterious boy. The second half of the trailer includes some familiar scenes of Snow White waking up in the middle of a forest, finding the dwarfs' cottage, and frightening them with her unexpected arrival.

The new song, "Waiting on a Wish," sounds so similar to "I'm Wishing" that it seems like Disney wanted to please both old and new fans of the movie at the same time with something that still sounds nostalgic but incorporates modern sensibilities. The song echoes "Speechless" from the live-action Aladdin remake with its empowering lyrics about becoming the girl she's meant to be without any specific actions in mind to accomplish this goal. This self-centered mentality is also reflected in the modified lyrics to "Whistle While You Work" in which Snow White asks one of the dwarfs to sweep the floor for her instead of volunteering to do it herself.

The visuals are pretty standard remake fare and are nothing particularly special. Snow White's bland hair and dress match the leaked photos that came out a couple of years ago, which are similar to the original film but unfortunately lack her iconic red hairbow to bring more dimension to her flat bob. The Evil Queen looks more unique with some hints to her animated visage through her famous hair wrap. The shiny metallic look seems out of place for someone in her position and would work better for a knight than a queen. The dwarfs are the biggest disgrace of the film and appear incredibly uncanny with the CGI faces, making them difficult to take seriously in this otherwise realistic-looking world. It would have been far more effective to cast real little people despite what Peter Dinklage thinks.

The new trailer for Disney's Snow White remake offers a mixed bag of nostalgia and modern twists. While the new song "Waiting on a Wish"echoes the classic "I'm Wishing" with empowering lyrics, the trailer suggests that the movie may still bring back some familiar romantic tropes. The visuals, too, are a mixed bag, with some interesting design choices like the Evil Queen's armored look and some obvious missteps, like the uncanny CGI dwarfs. It remains to be seen whether this remake will bring anything truly new and exciting to the table or simply rehash the original with a fresh coat of paint. Do you think it's a faithful adaptation or a fresh take? Are there any changes that excite or concern you? Share your thoughts in the comments below on the new song, the updated visuals, and the direction this remake is taking.

Review: Moana 2

After reading some of the initial reviews, I was skeptical about Moana 2 . However, now that I've seen it, I can say with confidence that it is an underrated classic like Wish . While it may be an infamous Disney sequel that was converted from a failed concept for an animated series, we've come a long way from the days when Disney would slap three barely finished episodes together and call it a sequel. This is a polished, complete, and cohesive story with theatrical-quality animation and music. I am grateful that Disney finally released something original instead of another live-action remake. Considering the destructive path they've been on lately, this movie is a step in the right direction. It is a return to what Disney does best--beautiful animation, songs, and a thrilling adventure story with a spirited princess-like heroine that is on par with the original film.

A few years have passed since Moana's big adventure of returning the heart to Te Fiti so her people could be voyagers again. She now has tons of admirers including a little sister named Simea. Despite what the marketing might imply, Simea plays a small role in Moana 2, which is actually a good thing. Crafting a contrived rescue mission for her would make it too similar to other princess movie clichés from the past five years including The Princess  and Damsel . Instead, the movie continues Moana's quest to find new civilizations when she discovers a vital clue to finding people beyond her island. A vision of her people dying out and leaving the island of Motonui and its culture lost forever spurs her on a quest to compile a small crew consisting of a posh boat architect, a grouchy farmer, and a Maui fanboy to discover new civilizations. These character introductions were just enough to keep the movie feeling fresh without getting too overwhelming. Meanwhile, the sinister god Nalo holds Maui captive while he is taunted by the mysterious demigoddess, Matangi.
The "good" characters are where the movie really shines. Moana does an outstanding job as a leader for a new adventure team, especially after embarking on her first journey alone. Loto is a no-frills boat expert who is always eager to rip the boat apart to make quick improvements along with a little snark on the side. Moni is a muscular Maui wannabe with a passion for storytelling. He has the same reaction to meeting Maui that he expected Moana to have in the first movie. Kele is a grouchy old farmer who acts as the recluse of the group and gets dragged along against his will. Meanwhile, the adorable little Simea wants to join Moana on her journey, but Moana explains that she is too young, leaving the potential for another sequel with an older Simea joining her sister for new adventures. Though not composed by  this time, the music in the film is also on par with the original. I particularly enjoyed the hauntingly catchy melody of "Beyond."
Moana's new adventure is packed with exciting and emotional moments that ultimately lead to a satisfying conclusion. However, there are a few underdeveloped parts of the story that may have worked better as a series or were meant to tease a potential third movie. The fact that we never see a physical form of Nalo outside of a massive storm makes his presence more abstract than we normally see for Disney villains. The transformation of Te Kā into Te Fiti is one of the most memorable moments from Moana. While this movie does end with a different magical transformation, the villain plays no part in it. Matangi is also an underdeveloped character who initially appears to be a villain until we learn that she is also a victim of Nalo. She has a memorable character design, personality, and voice, but her story is left unresolved outside of a post-credit teaser.
Moana 2 is a hidden gem that exceeds expectations and proves to be a worthy successor to the original. With its stunning animation, memorable new characters, and thrilling adventure story, it's a return to form for Disney. While some aspects of the story may feel underdeveloped, the film's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. Moana shines as a leader and inspiration, and the new cast of characters adds freshness and depth to the story. The music, too, is catchy and memorable. Don't let initial skepticism hold you back – give Moana 2 a chance, and you'll be rewarded with a cinematic treat that will leave you enchanted and eager for more. With its satisfying conclusion and hints at future adventures, Moana 2 is a must-watch for fans of the original and Disney enthusiasts alike.