What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic Mirrors Saga #3
Ash: Crooked Fates
Do villains deserve happily-ever-afters?
When Mellie goes to Oz in search of her baby-daddy, she needs a crew to deliver the proof of their liaison - her youngest daughter, Ellie - to the Emerald City. Hijacking someone else’s search & rescue crew? Not a problem. So what if it’s the feared Fairy Queen Morgana's rescue mission to find her only son.
A cowardly lion and a brainless scarecrow as per the manual are already lined up for the save. The tin-man is already in Oz…somewhere. Darn those iron mirror portals and fae men.
Which one of her entourage will Ellie fall in love with? Will Oz remember Mellie who has born him four kids, including Cinderella? And what about happy-ever-afters, can villains really stomach them?
When Mellie goes to Oz in search of her baby-daddy, she needs a crew to deliver the proof of their liaison - her youngest daughter, Ellie - to the Emerald City. Hijacking someone else’s search & rescue crew? Not a problem. So what if it’s the feared Fairy Queen Morgana's rescue mission to find her only son.
A cowardly lion and a brainless scarecrow as per the manual are already lined up for the save. The tin-man is already in Oz…somewhere. Darn those iron mirror portals and fae men.
Which one of her entourage will Ellie fall in love with? Will Oz remember Mellie who has born him four kids, including Cinderella? And what about happy-ever-afters, can villains really stomach them?
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2021
3 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 22, 2021
I had the privilege of being a beta reader and an ARC reader for this slow burn Wizard of Oz re-telling. It’s the third book in the Magic Mirrors Saga trilogy, and I’m hoping it’s not the last.
What do you need to know if you haven’t read this? The author juggles the many characters in this story beautifully. Great characters, very much it’s own tale but with a clear nod to the classic by Frank L. Baum. Witty, at times sweet, nicely twisted, and good-hearted story with flawed characters.
Mellie is not the perfect mother - she loves her children as best as she can. She’s not a great person, but she’s a person you can empathise with. She wants her happy ending. Her adventure to love just may not be what she thinks it is.
If you’re a fan of Wizard of Oz, and fairytale twists, I’m recommending this to you.
What do you need to know if you haven’t read this? The author juggles the many characters in this story beautifully. Great characters, very much it’s own tale but with a clear nod to the classic by Frank L. Baum. Witty, at times sweet, nicely twisted, and good-hearted story with flawed characters.
Mellie is not the perfect mother - she loves her children as best as she can. She’s not a great person, but she’s a person you can empathise with. She wants her happy ending. Her adventure to love just may not be what she thinks it is.
If you’re a fan of Wizard of Oz, and fairytale twists, I’m recommending this to you.
June 26, 2021
Great ending to the trilogy! We get reunited with old friends and also introduced to brand new characters that are oh-so-easy to fall in love with. I can’t help but feel for the tornado that is Mellie. Everywhere she goes, she stirs up trouble. And I love it. Sommers is SO creative when it comes to meshing all these fairytales together and this book is no different. If you like retellings with a twist, this is the book for you.
June 19, 2021
This one is incredible! Absolutely loved it! I was so excited to get an ARC copy of Ash after I really enjoyed Cinders and Embers. Sky Sommers has completely blown this one out of the water! My favourite by far!
The plot is hilarious, absolutely genius, and had my heart strings tangled in knots. Works both for a YA and adult audience due to the range of ages of the characters. Romance is slow burn, the wit is sharp and the humour is dry.
The book has the odd swear word and is fade to black.
Highly recommend. Can work as a stand alone if you're happy to be a little confused by the background of some of the characters.
The plot is hilarious, absolutely genius, and had my heart strings tangled in knots. Works both for a YA and adult audience due to the range of ages of the characters. Romance is slow burn, the wit is sharp and the humour is dry.
The book has the odd swear word and is fade to black.
Highly recommend. Can work as a stand alone if you're happy to be a little confused by the background of some of the characters.
July 25, 2023
4.5! Wizard of Oz retelling? Listen I’m picking about retellings and this is a good one! Slow burn that will pull on your heart and even have a nice laugh!
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts/opinions above are completely my own!
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts/opinions above are completely my own!
June 30, 2021
Book #3 in the Magic Mirrors Saga
But can be read as a stand alone
Do villains deserve happy- ever- after‘s?.
When Mellie Goes to OZ in search of her baby-daddy, she needs a crew to deliver the proof of their liaison-her youngest daughter, Elllie-to the Emerald City. Hijacking someone else’s search and rescue crew? Not a problem. So what if it’s the feared Fairy Queen Morgana’s rescue mission to find her only son.
A cowardly lion a brainless scarecrow as per the manual are already lined up for the save. The tinman is already in Oz… somewhere. Darn those iron mirror portals and fae men.
Which one of her entourage will Ellie fall in love with? Will Oz remember Mellie who has born him four kids, including Cinderella? And what about happily ever after, can villains really stomach them?
This is a retelling of the Wizard of Oz which happens to be one of my all-time favorite book and movie. So I was very excited to receive this ARC as a gift in return for a honest opinion
This retelling has lots of different twist and turns in it which enclues The Scarecrow as a dark angel, The Tinman as a prince and the cowardly Lion as Prince Charming just to name a few
The author (Sky) is brilliant at taking well know fairy tells and putting her own twist on them .
If your looking for a funny, and easy Book to read pick this up you might find your self laughing out loud at times.
If you would like to read the Magic Mirror Sage in order
#1 is Cinders: Necessary Evil
#2 is Embers: Beastly Curses
#3 is Ash:Crooked Fates
June 21, 2021
I was lucky enough to receive an Arc of Ash, and having thoroughly enjoyed Sky's Cinders, a retelling of Cinderella from the Step-Mother's point of view, I couldn't wait to read Ash. If you enjoy books from a total different perspective which will make you laugh out loud then this is the book for you. This book is no different, and you should hot foot to the vendor of your choice and buy it now!
I love the way Sky takes a well known fairy story, and put her own special twist on it. Her books make you laugh out loud, and they make you think, as she presents a different perspective or suggests a different reason for a persons behaviour, and it makes you realise how easy it is too make assumptions and to believe the social norms without question.
Ash is a slow burn love triangle, with young Ellie, who was supposed to be three, but is actually seventeen, arrinving in Oz, as arranged by the wicked witch, to meet her parents. Only Ellie doesn't know that. On the way she meets a brainless scarecrow (her broody guardian angel), a cowardly lion (a cursed prince), and the tinman (another cursed prince!), and the story follows along the traditional yellow brick road with a few twists thrown in! Well written, enjoyable novels, that give you more insights and things to think about than you expected.
I love the way Sky takes a well known fairy story, and put her own special twist on it. Her books make you laugh out loud, and they make you think, as she presents a different perspective or suggests a different reason for a persons behaviour, and it makes you realise how easy it is too make assumptions and to believe the social norms without question.
Ash is a slow burn love triangle, with young Ellie, who was supposed to be three, but is actually seventeen, arrinving in Oz, as arranged by the wicked witch, to meet her parents. Only Ellie doesn't know that. On the way she meets a brainless scarecrow (her broody guardian angel), a cowardly lion (a cursed prince), and the tinman (another cursed prince!), and the story follows along the traditional yellow brick road with a few twists thrown in! Well written, enjoyable novels, that give you more insights and things to think about than you expected.
June 21, 2021
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of this book, having waited for it because I needed to know what would happen in the end.
This one took me a few days to get through, although that was not because of the writing but due to being a bit busy during the days. In this book we follow the stories of two people. Mellie and her youngest daughter which she had with Oz the great and terrible.
This fairy-tale retelling of the wizard of Oz is one that slowly pulls you in, which made it a bit easier for me to put it down in the beginning despite my usual tendencies to read everything in one go, which happened with the second half of the book. Towards the end I was nearly speed-reading because i needed to figure out how it ended for them both.
I really like that Mellie is such a flawed character. At times I wanted to yell at her to get her act together and at other times I felt compassion for her. Nobody is perfect and I really liked seeing such a well written one.
Would I read it again? Definitely. I have enjoyed myself with this series so I will most likely be re-reading it at some point.
Elle
This one took me a few days to get through, although that was not because of the writing but due to being a bit busy during the days. In this book we follow the stories of two people. Mellie and her youngest daughter which she had with Oz the great and terrible.
This fairy-tale retelling of the wizard of Oz is one that slowly pulls you in, which made it a bit easier for me to put it down in the beginning despite my usual tendencies to read everything in one go, which happened with the second half of the book. Towards the end I was nearly speed-reading because i needed to figure out how it ended for them both.
I really like that Mellie is such a flawed character. At times I wanted to yell at her to get her act together and at other times I felt compassion for her. Nobody is perfect and I really liked seeing such a well written one.
Would I read it again? Definitely. I have enjoyed myself with this series so I will most likely be re-reading it at some point.
Elle
June 30, 2021
I absolutely loved this YA-themed retelling by Sky Sommers. It had an incredibly unique and intriguing plot and I adored the characters.
I loved how Sky took a well known fairy tale which it was clearly inspired from in the book but also kept it incredibly original with the characters, their personalities, the plot, etc. Her book is a mix of all, it'll make you incredibly intrigued to know more, it'll make you laugh, it'll make you swoon at the slow burn romance (just like I did!)
Summer's writing was perfect, it easy to follow but also somehow unique at the same time. Mellie was adorable and probably one of my favorites in the book, troubled seemed to follow her around everywhere she went like she couldn't help but stir it up. She sometimes made you feel for her while other times made you want to scream at her. I liked how Summer doesn't try to make her characters perfect, but rather more relatable and a little flawed, because we're all flawed aren't we? No one's truly perfect.
If you like retellings that have an original twist to them making them unique but just as good, then this is the book for you!
I loved how Sky took a well known fairy tale which it was clearly inspired from in the book but also kept it incredibly original with the characters, their personalities, the plot, etc. Her book is a mix of all, it'll make you incredibly intrigued to know more, it'll make you laugh, it'll make you swoon at the slow burn romance (just like I did!)
Summer's writing was perfect, it easy to follow but also somehow unique at the same time. Mellie was adorable and probably one of my favorites in the book, troubled seemed to follow her around everywhere she went like she couldn't help but stir it up. She sometimes made you feel for her while other times made you want to scream at her. I liked how Summer doesn't try to make her characters perfect, but rather more relatable and a little flawed, because we're all flawed aren't we? No one's truly perfect.
If you like retellings that have an original twist to them making them unique but just as good, then this is the book for you!
June 20, 2021
If you're looking for a fun, light-hearted read to whisk you away to a fairy tale land and make you laugh out loud, this is the book. Sky's witty, irreverent sense of humour is almost Monty Python-esque at times, so if you love that style of comedy you'll definitely love this series.
One of my favourite kinds of story is the 'behind-the-scenes of a well-known tale, what really happened' type of thing, think Lion King 1.5 where Timone and Pumba tell the story from their side (if you haven't watched it, it's a delight). This is exactly that, only ten times better, because Sky has combined classic fairy tales (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast) with the fae, and chucked in a dark angel for good measure, and woven them all into a modern retelling of the Wizard of Oz with added humour (the thing missing from most fairy tales, I find).
This is the third in a series, but all can be read as standalone novels, you just might miss out on a bit of context. Suitable for teens and adults alike.
One of my favourite kinds of story is the 'behind-the-scenes of a well-known tale, what really happened' type of thing, think Lion King 1.5 where Timone and Pumba tell the story from their side (if you haven't watched it, it's a delight). This is exactly that, only ten times better, because Sky has combined classic fairy tales (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast) with the fae, and chucked in a dark angel for good measure, and woven them all into a modern retelling of the Wizard of Oz with added humour (the thing missing from most fairy tales, I find).
This is the third in a series, but all can be read as standalone novels, you just might miss out on a bit of context. Suitable for teens and adults alike.
June 21, 2021
"Do you want to find out what hopping through mirrors will do to you?"
As Mellie returns to find the father of her child, will she be living out the tale to find the "culprit"? There's a brainless scarecrow and a lion afraid of himself, let alone others.Will Oz even remember Mellie, let alone that they have four children together? And just where is that Tin man? And Morgana? She's not in the story....is she? well, maybe....
Back to OZ is a good thing... right? Although I own the rest of this series, I admit I have yet to read it. Skye Sommers has a tongue in cheek attitude that I simply can't begin to describe except that it fits these tales if they'd been written now instead of the ones we grew up with. I loved it and plan to read the whole series hopefully this year. Highly Recommended 5/5
[Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it]
As Mellie returns to find the father of her child, will she be living out the tale to find the "culprit"? There's a brainless scarecrow and a lion afraid of himself, let alone others.Will Oz even remember Mellie, let alone that they have four children together? And just where is that Tin man? And Morgana? She's not in the story....is she? well, maybe....
Back to OZ is a good thing... right? Although I own the rest of this series, I admit I have yet to read it. Skye Sommers has a tongue in cheek attitude that I simply can't begin to describe except that it fits these tales if they'd been written now instead of the ones we grew up with. I loved it and plan to read the whole series hopefully this year. Highly Recommended 5/5
[Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it]
June 22, 2021
Does evil really deserve a happily ever after?
This is the third book in the Magic Mirrors Saga, and I loved it just as much as the previous two. The dialogue is witty, the characters are fun, and don't even get me started on the humor that had me doubled over in laughter throughout the book.
The author puts a perfect spin on the classic Wizard of Oz tale with a dark angel as Scarecrow, an enchanted Fae prince as Tinman (or Rust Bucket as the angel likes to call him) and Cinderella's Prince Charming as the Cowardly Lion. Add in a seventeen year old girl and you have a perfect recipe for a love triangle.
The main theme throughout the book is the quest for love, and the acceptance of it, when it turns out to be nothing like you expected it to be.
The reader also gets to choose what kind of ending they want with the addition of an optimistic or pessimistic ending.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves fairytale retellings and I highly recommend it.
This is the third book in the Magic Mirrors Saga, and I loved it just as much as the previous two. The dialogue is witty, the characters are fun, and don't even get me started on the humor that had me doubled over in laughter throughout the book.
The author puts a perfect spin on the classic Wizard of Oz tale with a dark angel as Scarecrow, an enchanted Fae prince as Tinman (or Rust Bucket as the angel likes to call him) and Cinderella's Prince Charming as the Cowardly Lion. Add in a seventeen year old girl and you have a perfect recipe for a love triangle.
The main theme throughout the book is the quest for love, and the acceptance of it, when it turns out to be nothing like you expected it to be.
The reader also gets to choose what kind of ending they want with the addition of an optimistic or pessimistic ending.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves fairytale retellings and I highly recommend it.
July 14, 2021
A brilliant conclusion to the Cinders-Embers-Ash trilogy
If you haven’t read any of Sky Sommer’s books yet, start with Cinders: Necessary Evil. There is so much packed into Ash I think it would be confusing to skip the other books in this series.
As an avid reader of Sommer’s books, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the canon. Ash: Crooked Fates, (or should I say, That Crook, Fate) is a brilliant Wizard of Oz retelling with fabulous references to both the classic musical and the original novel by Frank Baum. It was a wonderful adventure down the crooked paths of Sommer’s mind and I loved finally getting Mellie’s adventure combined with new characters and a slow burn romance for Ellie.
And I loved finally getting another dual ending for optimists and pessimists! Being a non-confirmst, I read and loved both.
It is simply wonderful. I highly recommend it! Best Wizard of Oz retelling!
If you haven’t read any of Sky Sommer’s books yet, start with Cinders: Necessary Evil. There is so much packed into Ash I think it would be confusing to skip the other books in this series.
As an avid reader of Sommer’s books, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the canon. Ash: Crooked Fates, (or should I say, That Crook, Fate) is a brilliant Wizard of Oz retelling with fabulous references to both the classic musical and the original novel by Frank Baum. It was a wonderful adventure down the crooked paths of Sommer’s mind and I loved finally getting Mellie’s adventure combined with new characters and a slow burn romance for Ellie.
And I loved finally getting another dual ending for optimists and pessimists! Being a non-confirmst, I read and loved both.
It is simply wonderful. I highly recommend it! Best Wizard of Oz retelling!
June 28, 2021
I’d like to thank Sky Sommers for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of their book!
Ash: Crooked Fates is one of many retellings I’ve loved over the course of this entire process and was one of the first ARCs I had received. Crooked Fates is a Wizard of Oz retelling that follows Mellie as she goes to Oz in search of Ellie’s father. With the help of a interesting group, she will need to deliver the proof of their liaison to the Emerald City. If you guessed that a cowardly lion , a brainless scarecrow and the tin-man are already in Oz ready to provide assistance you are definitely correct.
Click your ruby slippers together because this book is a really pleasant ride and I like how the ending has a choose-your-own ending. Regardless, both endings are really good and this is a really nice twist on The Wizard of Oz.
Ash: Crooked Fates is one of many retellings I’ve loved over the course of this entire process and was one of the first ARCs I had received. Crooked Fates is a Wizard of Oz retelling that follows Mellie as she goes to Oz in search of Ellie’s father. With the help of a interesting group, she will need to deliver the proof of their liaison to the Emerald City. If you guessed that a cowardly lion , a brainless scarecrow and the tin-man are already in Oz ready to provide assistance you are definitely correct.
Click your ruby slippers together because this book is a really pleasant ride and I like how the ending has a choose-your-own ending. Regardless, both endings are really good and this is a really nice twist on The Wizard of Oz.
June 23, 2021
*3.75
Do you love fairytale retellings?
I would recommend you pickup @sommers_sky Magic Mirror Saga!
I just finished book three Ash: Crooked Fates and it brought back so much nostalgia of my love of Wizard of Oz! I loved how it followed the same story line of Oz but threw in an Adult remix! If you love multi perspective this book includes it! My favorite part of the story was towards the end where I had the option of the ending I wanted to read! Of course as a bibliophile I read both endings and felt the author did amazing! I can’t wait to read book 1 and 2!
Do you love fairytale retellings?
I would recommend you pickup @sommers_sky Magic Mirror Saga!
I just finished book three Ash: Crooked Fates and it brought back so much nostalgia of my love of Wizard of Oz! I loved how it followed the same story line of Oz but threw in an Adult remix! If you love multi perspective this book includes it! My favorite part of the story was towards the end where I had the option of the ending I wanted to read! Of course as a bibliophile I read both endings and felt the author did amazing! I can’t wait to read book 1 and 2!
June 19, 2021
Sky's best book yet! Characters from different worlds some together in OZ to re-enact the classic story. Only the scarecrow is actually a dark angle with a crush on the girl, the tin Man is a trapped philanthropic Fae Prince (not elf) and the lion is the Beasts cursed son. not to mention the witches are all Mellie, Cinderella's godmother.
This story is entertaining, fun, completely original and down right hilarious!
This story is entertaining, fun, completely original and down right hilarious!
July 11, 2021
A Romantic Anti-Hero version of The Wizard of Oz
This story is a wonderful reimagining of Oz. Sommers creates alternate Identities for all the characters we know and love. As with the other stories in her Storybrook.like world, her dialogue is snappy and moves the plot along at a quick pace.
Another super enjoyable and twisted retelling. Recommend to those who enjoy new takes on old faves with a bit of clean romantic fantasy.
This story is a wonderful reimagining of Oz. Sommers creates alternate Identities for all the characters we know and love. As with the other stories in her Storybrook.like world, her dialogue is snappy and moves the plot along at a quick pace.
Another super enjoyable and twisted retelling. Recommend to those who enjoy new takes on old faves with a bit of clean romantic fantasy.
June 20, 2021
I loved this book! It’s slow burn and I love the humor! It can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading it after Cinders and Embers to really grasp the story behind the characters.
So pick up this wonderful retelling of The Wizard of Oz and enjoy.
So pick up this wonderful retelling of The Wizard of Oz and enjoy.
June 24, 2021
I binge-read the whole series in anticipation of this third installment and I absolutely loved each and every word!!! In this final book, Mellie travels to Oz to find the father of her children and Ellinora, the daughter whom she had entrusted to Oz. But instead of the three-year-old she expects, she finds... Oh, no! I won't spoil this for you! Get the book and find out!
An amazing fairytale mashup, based on the Wizard of Oz and its russian counterpart that will have you laughing out loud almost non stop!!!
An amazing fairytale mashup, based on the Wizard of Oz and its russian counterpart that will have you laughing out loud almost non stop!!!
June 24, 2021
I binge-read the whole series in anticipation of this third installment and I absolutely loved each and every word!!! In this final book, Mellie travels to Oz to find the father of her children and Ellinora, the daughter whom she had entrusted to Oz. But instead of the three-year-old she expects, she finds... Oh, no! I won't spoil this for you! Get the book and find out!
An amazing fairytale mashup, based on the Wizard of Oz and its russian counterpart that will have you laughing out loud almost non stop!!!
An amazing fairytale mashup, based on the Wizard of Oz and its russian counterpart that will have you laughing out loud almost non stop!!!
June 23, 2021
In the spirit of the ending of the book, I am going to provide an optimist review and a pessimist review (yes, the book has two epilogues - one "Happily Ever After" and one "Unhappily Ever After")
Optimist review
A delightful mashup of Fairy-tales, Arthurian legend, and the Wizard of Oz following three major story groups to create a complicated web perfect for the teen and young adult audience it is aimed or even the full adult crowd. Lots of characters from previous stories in the series, so long-time readers can see old favorites, but the story of Ash works on its own feet in the alternate dimension of Oz.
In one story group, the Ingenue (young female love) is a 17-year old girl from Texas who ends up in the role of Dorothy in Oz with three men taking on the forms and roles of scarecrow, tinman, and lion - she is for adventure and some love, with a bit of humor thrown in. In other story group, Oz and Mellie (from pervious stories) who follow an older love story. Final story line is Morgana and Marina and their crowd of elder manipulators - the true rulers of the Magical Kingdom - setting up their successions. All three plots are given the time and attention they need.
If you love folklore, fairy tales, and Once Upon a Time, you might really enjoy this story.
Pessimist Review
That being said, I did not, as indicated by the star rating. If you think you might like the book, stop here and pick up the sample chapter and see if you do. I'm not close to the target audience age at all, so this might work for you.
In the Amazon Review, I told people to come to goodreads to get the rest of the pessimist review to be fair. The author did write a complicated story about one of my favorite worlds, Oz.
So why do I dislike the story? There isn't a single likeable character in the book. They are manipulators and liars, and all the romances aren't just bad, they are toxic and encourage toxic behavior in the teen and young adult audience this is aimed at.
Morgana and Marina move their children, wards, and potential spouses of those around like pawns in a game of checkers (yes, I know, these don't go together - stares meaningfully). They are master liars and manipulators, and all those around them become versed in these skills for survival or go mad.
Which leads to the second story, Mellie and Oz. In the Original, The Wizard of Oz which was written in 1900 (and entered public domain in 1956), the con-man Oz is a 1800's huckster - not always nice, and certainly not honorable, but he was trying his best. In this version, he is a womanizer, cheater, dodger, playing people off each other - and his attitude includes stuff like "relieving" females of their innocence. Even his weakness doesn't cover his extremely toxic being. And he is the perfect foil for Mellie, a obsessive, narcissistic person who never admits she is wrong. At 35, she acts 8. They are like the royal couple from Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang in their sniping, poison, and relationship to everyone around them. I almost stopped reading based on these two characters alone, and if I hadn't been ask by the author for a fair-and-honest review I would have.
Then we have Ellie, the 17-year old, and Victor as the young love interest, and the two other men who think of her "like a sister" (tropes are heavy here). Vic was in a toxic relationship before dying and becoming an angel, him being the toxic part, and HE HASN'T LEARNED HOW TO CHANGE HIS BEHAVOIR YET. He is not ready for a new relationship. And until he learns how to change his behavior any relationship will be horrific for all involved. He is a brooding guy - and completely unlikeable in Ellie's eyes.
Now onto the age of Victor. He was 25 when he died on Earth - that part is consistent. On 24%, he had died 5 years ago, making him 30. On 74%, he died 15 years ago/30 years ago in the dimension he is living in - making him 55. Again, Ellie is 17. Ew. (and loss of a star for this major inconsistency about the character's age)
And Ellie can sleep through anything, then wakes up whenever needed in Deus Ex Machina moments to get secrets. I can see once, but then it happened several more times. In chapters 42-44 her personality is so over the place, going from crying jags, to screams, to wanting love, to happiness, to maturity and back again like a 13-year old. The toxic trope of "she told a boy she liked him first" - just has to die soon.
So many of the characters and actions are things that were popular tropes in the 70's and 80's, but society has moved beyond them - forty years have passed. Ellie needs a serious make-over - my family includes farmers in Texas, so, DANG. Forty years. Bring this story into 2020 or 2021, please.
In conclusion for the pessimist review, unlikeable character and toxic tropes, with a side of poor continuity for one of the major characters destroyed the book for me. I can see some people liking the book, but I am not one of them.
(Read through Kindle Unlimited)
Optimist review
A delightful mashup of Fairy-tales, Arthurian legend, and the Wizard of Oz following three major story groups to create a complicated web perfect for the teen and young adult audience it is aimed or even the full adult crowd. Lots of characters from previous stories in the series, so long-time readers can see old favorites, but the story of Ash works on its own feet in the alternate dimension of Oz.
In one story group, the Ingenue (young female love) is a 17-year old girl from Texas who ends up in the role of Dorothy in Oz with three men taking on the forms and roles of scarecrow, tinman, and lion - she is for adventure and some love, with a bit of humor thrown in. In other story group, Oz and Mellie (from pervious stories) who follow an older love story. Final story line is Morgana and Marina and their crowd of elder manipulators - the true rulers of the Magical Kingdom - setting up their successions. All three plots are given the time and attention they need.
If you love folklore, fairy tales, and Once Upon a Time, you might really enjoy this story.
Pessimist Review
That being said, I did not, as indicated by the star rating. If you think you might like the book, stop here and pick up the sample chapter and see if you do. I'm not close to the target audience age at all, so this might work for you.
In the Amazon Review, I told people to come to goodreads to get the rest of the pessimist review to be fair. The author did write a complicated story about one of my favorite worlds, Oz.
So why do I dislike the story? There isn't a single likeable character in the book. They are manipulators and liars, and all the romances aren't just bad, they are toxic and encourage toxic behavior in the teen and young adult audience this is aimed at.
Morgana and Marina move their children, wards, and potential spouses of those around like pawns in a game of checkers (yes, I know, these don't go together - stares meaningfully). They are master liars and manipulators, and all those around them become versed in these skills for survival or go mad.
Which leads to the second story, Mellie and Oz. In the Original, The Wizard of Oz which was written in 1900 (and entered public domain in 1956), the con-man Oz is a 1800's huckster - not always nice, and certainly not honorable, but he was trying his best. In this version, he is a womanizer, cheater, dodger, playing people off each other - and his attitude includes stuff like "relieving" females of their innocence. Even his weakness doesn't cover his extremely toxic being. And he is the perfect foil for Mellie, a obsessive, narcissistic person who never admits she is wrong. At 35, she acts 8. They are like the royal couple from Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang in their sniping, poison, and relationship to everyone around them. I almost stopped reading based on these two characters alone, and if I hadn't been ask by the author for a fair-and-honest review I would have.
Then we have Ellie, the 17-year old, and Victor as the young love interest, and the two other men who think of her "like a sister" (tropes are heavy here). Vic was in a toxic relationship before dying and becoming an angel, him being the toxic part, and HE HASN'T LEARNED HOW TO CHANGE HIS BEHAVOIR YET. He is not ready for a new relationship. And until he learns how to change his behavior any relationship will be horrific for all involved. He is a brooding guy - and completely unlikeable in Ellie's eyes.
Now onto the age of Victor. He was 25 when he died on Earth - that part is consistent. On 24%, he had died 5 years ago, making him 30. On 74%, he died 15 years ago/30 years ago in the dimension he is living in - making him 55. Again, Ellie is 17. Ew. (and loss of a star for this major inconsistency about the character's age)
And Ellie can sleep through anything, then wakes up whenever needed in Deus Ex Machina moments to get secrets. I can see once, but then it happened several more times. In chapters 42-44 her personality is so over the place, going from crying jags, to screams, to wanting love, to happiness, to maturity and back again like a 13-year old. The toxic trope of "she told a boy she liked him first" - just has to die soon.
So many of the characters and actions are things that were popular tropes in the 70's and 80's, but society has moved beyond them - forty years have passed. Ellie needs a serious make-over - my family includes farmers in Texas, so, DANG. Forty years. Bring this story into 2020 or 2021, please.
In conclusion for the pessimist review, unlikeable character and toxic tropes, with a side of poor continuity for one of the major characters destroyed the book for me. I can see some people liking the book, but I am not one of them.
(Read through Kindle Unlimited)
January 4, 2022
I picked up this book after savouring Thumbelina, and although I haven't read the other two in the triology, Sommers splendidly weaves the story in a way that it feels like a stand alone novel.
I do plan to read the other two books as well, though.
About the book; the characters grow into you. I couldn't help book marking certain passages which I quote here,
"Ellie’s eyes went wide, but she grabbed the stick and started wedging it out of the ground, which made Victor swing back and forth. ‘Careful! I’m getting dizzy in the head here,’ Victor complained. Ellie snorted, ‘You have straw for brains. It’s not like there is any threat of damage.’"
This, had me in splits.
The language is effortless fluent and at many places, I felt as if the book had transported me into another dimension, the land of fairy tales.
Another paragraph that I bookmarked, was the conversation between Ellie and Victor.
"‘The lion kin speak. Maybe if he’s sentient, he won’t eat us. Me. Oh, drat. You prob’ly dunno what sentient means. Maybe the lion has brains, if he kin speak.’ ‘If he has brains, he probably should eat you. You are food,’ Victor pointed out."
.
The book is full of hilarious conversations and funny anecdotes. I felt like it was a retelling of all my favourite fairy tales in one place, and now who would want to miss that.
If you love fairy tales, do yourself a favour and read this book. I am sure you wouldn't be disappointed.
As for me, I am off to read the other two!
I do plan to read the other two books as well, though.
About the book; the characters grow into you. I couldn't help book marking certain passages which I quote here,
"Ellie’s eyes went wide, but she grabbed the stick and started wedging it out of the ground, which made Victor swing back and forth. ‘Careful! I’m getting dizzy in the head here,’ Victor complained. Ellie snorted, ‘You have straw for brains. It’s not like there is any threat of damage.’"
This, had me in splits.
The language is effortless fluent and at many places, I felt as if the book had transported me into another dimension, the land of fairy tales.
Another paragraph that I bookmarked, was the conversation between Ellie and Victor.
"‘The lion kin speak. Maybe if he’s sentient, he won’t eat us. Me. Oh, drat. You prob’ly dunno what sentient means. Maybe the lion has brains, if he kin speak.’ ‘If he has brains, he probably should eat you. You are food,’ Victor pointed out."
.
The book is full of hilarious conversations and funny anecdotes. I felt like it was a retelling of all my favourite fairy tales in one place, and now who would want to miss that.
If you love fairy tales, do yourself a favour and read this book. I am sure you wouldn't be disappointed.
As for me, I am off to read the other two!
June 30, 2021
Ash :Crooked Fates
Sky Sommers ( @sommers_sky on Instagram)
Where fairytales meet reality but you forget what's reality anymore because you've landed in the land of Oz and have to reach the Emerald City to know how to get home, sounds pretty simple right but no Mellisandra wouldn't have it the easy way, nor would Morgana!
Mellie just wants to see her three year old daughter and be a family again but she wants to go by the books so fairytale way it is! Three people to drop Ellie at Oz safely isn't an issue right? But yes it is when time is faster in other magical dimensions and in earth the three year old daughter isn't a three year old anymore but onward the brave men take her!!
Victor is a dark angel who's is the past person who'd babysit but when no other angel is available duty falls on him. Vic doesn't know what to do when he sees the girl who's definitely not a three year old girl! Mellie orders that in the story of Oz he's supposed to be the Scarecrow who needs brains 🤭
Yeah we also have the cowardly lion and the tin man in the story so go ahead and get your copy where fairytales and reality collapse and collide!
Sky Sommers ( @sommers_sky on Instagram)
Where fairytales meet reality but you forget what's reality anymore because you've landed in the land of Oz and have to reach the Emerald City to know how to get home, sounds pretty simple right but no Mellisandra wouldn't have it the easy way, nor would Morgana!
Mellie just wants to see her three year old daughter and be a family again but she wants to go by the books so fairytale way it is! Three people to drop Ellie at Oz safely isn't an issue right? But yes it is when time is faster in other magical dimensions and in earth the three year old daughter isn't a three year old anymore but onward the brave men take her!!
Victor is a dark angel who's is the past person who'd babysit but when no other angel is available duty falls on him. Vic doesn't know what to do when he sees the girl who's definitely not a three year old girl! Mellie orders that in the story of Oz he's supposed to be the Scarecrow who needs brains 🤭
Yeah we also have the cowardly lion and the tin man in the story so go ahead and get your copy where fairytales and reality collapse and collide!
September 20, 2023
This third book in the series lets us get to know Mellie and who her children’s father really is-sort of!
Mellie is determined to find Oz and reunite with him and their fourth child, a daughter Ellie, but finds Oz is not the person she knew and he has sent their daughter away to a couple of strangers in Texas. However, she brings The Wizard of Oz story alive by bringing her daughter Ellie to Oz where she will be joined by the three characters in the movie to make the journey to The Emerald City. The book chronicles their experiences along the way and what happens when Ellie meets her parents!! Mellie has been a character who has been easy to not like because of her behavior but in this book I felt sorry for her because she sees the past twenty years in the Magic Kingdom pining over Oz and wanting to be with him have really been for naught unless she continues to stay with him and believe she is happy or to just leave and strike out on her own!
I recommend this book as one I think you’ll like and enjoy especially if you like faerie tales and like a little twist to the stories! I loved the movie that came out so long ago and liked this treatment of the story as well!
Mellie is determined to find Oz and reunite with him and their fourth child, a daughter Ellie, but finds Oz is not the person she knew and he has sent their daughter away to a couple of strangers in Texas. However, she brings The Wizard of Oz story alive by bringing her daughter Ellie to Oz where she will be joined by the three characters in the movie to make the journey to The Emerald City. The book chronicles their experiences along the way and what happens when Ellie meets her parents!! Mellie has been a character who has been easy to not like because of her behavior but in this book I felt sorry for her because she sees the past twenty years in the Magic Kingdom pining over Oz and wanting to be with him have really been for naught unless she continues to stay with him and believe she is happy or to just leave and strike out on her own!
I recommend this book as one I think you’ll like and enjoy especially if you like faerie tales and like a little twist to the stories! I loved the movie that came out so long ago and liked this treatment of the story as well!
July 1, 2021
I was lucky enough receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book - a witty slow burn retelling of the Wizard of Oz. Although it’s the third book in the Magic Mirrors Saga it reads well as a stand -alone. The characters from previous books are all woven in there but you don't need to have read the other books to enjoy it (although I'm sure it enhances it!)
This is a clean slow burn with likable, believable (despite it being a fairy tale!) and frustrating characters - some of whom I wanted to shake.
Overall a well put together new, twisty, witty take on old stories; Sky Sommers excels at weaving the old fairy-tales together to create something unique and magical.
This is a clean slow burn with likable, believable (despite it being a fairy tale!) and frustrating characters - some of whom I wanted to shake.
Overall a well put together new, twisty, witty take on old stories; Sky Sommers excels at weaving the old fairy-tales together to create something unique and magical.
September 27, 2023
"This gig is not what I expected it to be."
I feel like this quote from one of the characters in the book sums it up perfectly. It takes characters from all of Sky's stories, shoves them all in a jar, then shakes it and they all spill out. It's delightfully twisty and no one seems to know what's going on except Morgana. And I haven't read her story yet so I'm not sure if I have yet to figure out her motives or if Sky hasn't published them anywhere yet.
Lots of fun and a great kickoff for the Goddesses series (which is sitting on my tbr). I'd recommend for any adult who likes their fairytale retellings with a lot of original content and a lot of gray area in their good vs evil characters
I feel like this quote from one of the characters in the book sums it up perfectly. It takes characters from all of Sky's stories, shoves them all in a jar, then shakes it and they all spill out. It's delightfully twisty and no one seems to know what's going on except Morgana. And I haven't read her story yet so I'm not sure if I have yet to figure out her motives or if Sky hasn't published them anywhere yet.
Lots of fun and a great kickoff for the Goddesses series (which is sitting on my tbr). I'd recommend for any adult who likes their fairytale retellings with a lot of original content and a lot of gray area in their good vs evil characters
January 3, 2022
I actually read this last year and for some reason forgot to review it. It was a fun, quick read despite the main character being completely unlikeable. This version of Oz is also unlikeable, and quite the b*stard. However, the story telling is done well and it's a fun 'behind the scenes' view of Wizard of Oz.
August 7, 2022
This is a great Wizard of Oz retelling with fabulous references to both the classic musical and the original novel by Frank Baum. It was a wonderful adventure down the crooked paths of Sommer’s mind and I loved finally getting Mellie’s adventure combined with new characters and a slow burn romance for Ellie. And the dual ending for optimists and pessimists is brilliant!
June 30, 2021
I was given a review copy of this book, and I loved it! It was so funny and witty and whimsical! This was the first book in the series that I read but I will definitely be reading the rest. 5/5 stars! I’ll be recommending Ash to my other book-loving friends, too.
December 31, 2021
Having read both Cinders and Embers (the two preceding books in this series), I wanted to read Ash to conclude the trilogy.
Broadly speaking it's a Wizard of Oz retelling, and I don't think I've ever read a Wizard of Oz retelling, so that was nice. It made a refreshing change to see one of the lesser known fairy tales used as a backdrop for a modern piece of work. And I liked the main character, Ellie, she was quirky-adventurous with a great sense of humour.
However, I didn't like Mellie or Oz, both of whom made their first appearances in Cinders. And the author seems to gloss over the fact that both abandoned their children. Do they really deserve a happy ever after? Or do they deserve a prison sentence?
What I did really appreciate though, was the inclusion of two epilogues. When I was a child, I used to love reading books in which the reader got a choice about what happened next (do you remember them? Each chapter would end with a question, something like: If x go to chapter 5. If y go to chapter 21). Personally, I went with the unhappy ever after for Mellie and Oz and the Happy Ever After for Ellie.
Broadly speaking it's a Wizard of Oz retelling, and I don't think I've ever read a Wizard of Oz retelling, so that was nice. It made a refreshing change to see one of the lesser known fairy tales used as a backdrop for a modern piece of work. And I liked the main character, Ellie, she was quirky-adventurous with a great sense of humour.
However, I didn't like Mellie or Oz, both of whom made their first appearances in Cinders. And the author seems to gloss over the fact that both abandoned their children. Do they really deserve a happy ever after? Or do they deserve a prison sentence?
What I did really appreciate though, was the inclusion of two epilogues. When I was a child, I used to love reading books in which the reader got a choice about what happened next (do you remember them? Each chapter would end with a question, something like: If x go to chapter 5. If y go to chapter 21). Personally, I went with the unhappy ever after for Mellie and Oz and the Happy Ever After for Ellie.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews