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The Gingerbread Witch #2
The Unsleeping Witch
Sleeping Beauty is about to wake up.
Maud may be made of gingerbread—plus a spark of magic—but she’s a real witch! Even if she’s still learning, and has a habit of making messes…and might have accidentally unleashed the hundred-year-old Class IV sleeping curse that envelops a princess’s bramble-covered castle. Oops.
Maud has her friends Gretel, Ludo, and Nuss the hazelnut mousse squirrel to help her fix this. But it won’t be easy to find the sleeping princess’s true love, and the curse might end up being the least of their problems…
Maud may be made of gingerbread—plus a spark of magic—but she’s a real witch! Even if she’s still learning, and has a habit of making messes…and might have accidentally unleashed the hundred-year-old Class IV sleeping curse that envelops a princess’s bramble-covered castle. Oops.
Maud has her friends Gretel, Ludo, and Nuss the hazelnut mousse squirrel to help her fix this. But it won’t be easy to find the sleeping princess’s true love, and the curse might end up being the least of their problems…
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2023
7 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Overy
4 books409 followersAlexandra grew up in London and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her undergraduate degree in history at UCLA, followed by her MFA in screenwriting also at UCLA. She loves writing in all formats, from novels to screenplays to graphic novels, always centring on fierce women and morally grey characters, often with a bit of magic and murder. She is the author of the These Feathered Flames duology and the middle grade fantasy duology The Gingerbread Witch.
When she’s not writing, she can be found baking, fangirling over her favourite books, or cuddling her foster kittens.
When she’s not writing, she can be found baking, fangirling over her favourite books, or cuddling her foster kittens.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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May 29, 2023
Nuss let out a dramatic sigh. “This means we’re going into another dark and dangerous forest, doesn’t it?”
“No,” Maud replied. “I think this one’s a wood.”
Continuing with my tradition of marking my books as read after I finish my (almost) final read through! I had so much fun with this book and I'm excited for everyone to follow Maud and Gretel on their adventures.
Maud and her friends are back and dealing with another fairy tale problem: princesses and sleeping curses.
Get ready for even more magic and mayhem! This one's got:
🥀 a sleeping curse
🍭 some adorable/menacing gummy snakes
🏰 a chaotic ghost
✨ a dragon library
🐿️ another killer forest
I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it!
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September 1, 2023Young Adult Fantasy & Magic, Young Adult Legends, Myths, Fables, Young Adult Social Issues, Young Adult Fairy Tales & Folklore
Miniseries
The Gingerbread Witch (Book #2)
Miniseries
The Gingerbread Witch (Book #2)
August 3, 2023
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion*
I have not yet read the first book in this series, but will definitely being going back to do so now. The author does a great job of giving some background as to what happened in that book (so readers new to the series don't feel left behind) without making it feel like you are re-reading that first book (so readers who read book 1 don't get bored). I loved the characters, writing, and pacing of this book. I was drawn in right from the beginning and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. There were some great twists and turns that kept me on my toes. The twist on the Sleeping Beauty spell was clever and one of the bigger surprises in the book. I loved the character of Maud - her struggles with feeling like she isn't excepted/doesn't fit in with the witches or witch hunters is a feeling that I think younger readers will relate to. Gretel has a similar struggle as she tries to navigate being a witch hunter and having a witch as a close friend. I am looking forward to future books in the series to see how Maud and Gretel continue to navigate their friendship. The bickering between Gretel and Nuss was also pretty humorous. And of course, Hansel will now be experiencing similar conflicts as his secret has come to light. Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable book with great characters and lots of action. I highly recommend this for classroom and school libraries!
I have not yet read the first book in this series, but will definitely being going back to do so now. The author does a great job of giving some background as to what happened in that book (so readers new to the series don't feel left behind) without making it feel like you are re-reading that first book (so readers who read book 1 don't get bored). I loved the characters, writing, and pacing of this book. I was drawn in right from the beginning and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. There were some great twists and turns that kept me on my toes. The twist on the Sleeping Beauty spell was clever and one of the bigger surprises in the book. I loved the character of Maud - her struggles with feeling like she isn't excepted/doesn't fit in with the witches or witch hunters is a feeling that I think younger readers will relate to. Gretel has a similar struggle as she tries to navigate being a witch hunter and having a witch as a close friend. I am looking forward to future books in the series to see how Maud and Gretel continue to navigate their friendship. The bickering between Gretel and Nuss was also pretty humorous. And of course, Hansel will now be experiencing similar conflicts as his secret has come to light. Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable book with great characters and lots of action. I highly recommend this for classroom and school libraries!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing a copy of this eARC for review.
I am very much enjoying this middle grade series. I had read a YA novel by the same author and loved it, and decided to venture into her new project (The Gingerbread Witch). After zipping through that, I promptly searched for a way to read the second novel (The Unsleeping Witch). While it took me longer to start this novel than I had hoped (school started and the struggle is real!), I tore through this in a couple of hours once I started.
The characters are incredibly likeable. I love that everyone makes mistakes (even those we're meant to favour), because the characters are just more relatable when they are flawed. They share their doubts and fears, and they go through periods of hopelessness (don't we all?). I did feel that more could have been done with Maud's ancestry, but I'm hopeful that this will be the topic of a third book!
I very much appreciated Hansel, Gretel, and their parents' interactions as a family, and I wouldn't say no to a short story about their reactions when not in a crisis situation! Ludo is still absolutely a favourite character of mine as well. He's just such a sweetheart!
I think the contrast of having the Wolves and the Witching Guild was interesting, as it explains in a fairly straightforward way for kids that although their may be two sides to a fight, neither side is necessarily 100% in the right.
I am very much enjoying this middle grade series. I had read a YA novel by the same author and loved it, and decided to venture into her new project (The Gingerbread Witch). After zipping through that, I promptly searched for a way to read the second novel (The Unsleeping Witch). While it took me longer to start this novel than I had hoped (school started and the struggle is real!), I tore through this in a couple of hours once I started.
The characters are incredibly likeable. I love that everyone makes mistakes (even those we're meant to favour), because the characters are just more relatable when they are flawed. They share their doubts and fears, and they go through periods of hopelessness (don't we all?). I did feel that more could have been done with Maud's ancestry, but I'm hopeful that this will be the topic of a third book!
I very much appreciated Hansel, Gretel, and their parents' interactions as a family, and I wouldn't say no to a short story about their reactions when not in a crisis situation! Ludo is still absolutely a favourite character of mine as well. He's just such a sweetheart!
I think the contrast of having the Wolves and the Witching Guild was interesting, as it explains in a fairly straightforward way for kids that although their may be two sides to a fight, neither side is necessarily 100% in the right.
March 4, 2026
Where should I start? Well, clearly this book was written by a different author from the first book. I'm guessing "Alexandra Overy" (Ovary? lol) used a ghost-writer, probably to fulfill some contractual obligation or something.
And the writing in the first few chapters was a bit messy as a result; well, not in the technical sense, per sé, but more in that it lacked continuity and any sense of "flow," or whatever.
Anyway, I loved the first book--obviously an allegory, ultimately, of the Hero's Journey and of Christ (as all stories inexorably are; "History is HIS-story")--it was wholesome and fun. This one has an obvious Cultural Marxist agenda, on the other hand. Hence the "4 stars."
The plot did pick up near the end, and I quite liked what was done, but I could have very much done without the obvious "lesbian" undertones and the introduction of a gender-ambiguous character, as well as the oh-so-not-obvious denouement where it's revealed that another character is "gay." Children do not need to be reading this kind of garbage.
Edit: Upon reflection, I suspect I didn't make this overt enough, but it really seems this was done by design. Sort of like the concept of a "gateway drug." The first book is a nice allegory of Christ and a good read for the family, but the sequel contains the poison which kills. Obviously, "Alexandra" is not a real person ... well, in the sense of being *human,* at least.
And the writing in the first few chapters was a bit messy as a result; well, not in the technical sense, per sé, but more in that it lacked continuity and any sense of "flow," or whatever.
Anyway, I loved the first book--obviously an allegory, ultimately, of the Hero's Journey and of Christ (as all stories inexorably are; "History is HIS-story")--it was wholesome and fun. This one has an obvious Cultural Marxist agenda, on the other hand. Hence the "4 stars."
The plot did pick up near the end, and I quite liked what was done, but I could have very much done without the obvious "lesbian" undertones and the introduction of a gender-ambiguous character, as well as the oh-so-not-obvious denouement where it's revealed that another character is "gay." Children do not need to be reading this kind of garbage.
Edit: Upon reflection, I suspect I didn't make this overt enough, but it really seems this was done by design. Sort of like the concept of a "gateway drug." The first book is a nice allegory of Christ and a good read for the family, but the sequel contains the poison which kills. Obviously, "Alexandra" is not a real person ... well, in the sense of being *human,* at least.
January 21, 2024
Maud is such an awesome character. She is made with love and magic and deals with everything that is thrown at her with her own quirky magic.
I am hopeful that this adventure will continue and there will be a third book.
I am hopeful that this adventure will continue and there will be a third book.
Did not finish
February 14, 2026Seems cute, but did not fit my mood.
stopped at page 11, 6%.
stopped at page 11, 6%.
September 30, 2024
A very good follow-up to The Gingerbread Witch, this time twisting in the fairy tale of “Sleeping Beauty.” I love witchy stories and am enjoying following Maud, Gretel, Noss, and all of the other characters on their adventures. We get many more witches in this tale along with characters from the past.
Alexandra’s series would be a great one for middle grade readers. It has a strong focus on friendship, many dynamic characters, and Maud’s search for identity in a world she doesn’t feel like she belongs in. Many children will relate with various characters and story elements.
Also, there are so many fun fantasy elements, such as: a dragon library, a creepy wood, magical gummy snakes, and a twist on one of the most famous sleeping curses in literature. I hope there will be more from this series in the future.
Alexandra’s series would be a great one for middle grade readers. It has a strong focus on friendship, many dynamic characters, and Maud’s search for identity in a world she doesn’t feel like she belongs in. Many children will relate with various characters and story elements.
Also, there are so many fun fantasy elements, such as: a dragon library, a creepy wood, magical gummy snakes, and a twist on one of the most famous sleeping curses in literature. I hope there will be more from this series in the future.
August 25, 2023
Found this to be a good twist on Sleeping Beauty with lots of mystery to keep readers engaged. I haven't read the first book but will definitely go back now for it! Characters are very relatable and their struggles ate realistic. Thanks #Netgalley and #Inkyard for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews