Gem ’s Comments (group member since Sep 12, 2022)

Gem ’s comments from the Once Upon a Time... group.

Has anyone watched the movie and/or the series on Disney (I think)? I've enjoyed these and am looking forward to the new season.

Hello Fellow Fairy Tale readers,


Welcome to our discussion about The Fire Rose (Elemental Masters #0) by Mercedes Lackey .
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Summary

Beauty Meets Beast in San Francisco

Accepting employment as a governess after hard times hit her family, medieval scholar Rosalind Hawkins is surprised when she learns that her mysterious employer has no children, no wife, and she is not to meet with him face to face. Instead, her duties are to read to him, through a speaking tube, from ancient manuscripts in obscure, nearly-forgotten dialects.

A requirement for the job was skill in translating medieval French, and she now understands the reason for that requirement, and assumes her unseen employer’s interest in the descriptions of medieval spells and sorcery is that of an eccentric antiquary. What she does not realize is that his interest is anything but academic. He has a terrible secret and is desperately searching for something that can reverse the effects of the misfired spell which created his predicament.

Hi everyone,

So sorry the May discussion was late. My ex, the father of my children, went into the hospital for the third time in two months. They could not figure out what was going on but eventually determined he needed a valve replacement and triple by pass. It's been beyond stressful. While we are not married anymore after 36 years he's still family. And of course, this has impacted my kids greatly. I'm not sure how much more time this is going to consume. I'm trying to make sure his bills are paid and other things like that. Sorry again.

Hello Fellow Fairy Tale Readers readers,


Welcome to our discussion about So This is Love by Elizabeth Lim.
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Summary

Unable to prove that she's the missing princess, and unable to bear life under Lady Tremaine any longer, Cinderella starts work at the palace as a seamstress. However, when Cinderella finds herself witness to a grand conspiracy to take the king - and the prince - out of power, she is faced with questions of love and loyalty to the kingdom. Cinderella must find a way to stop the villains of past and present... before it's too late.

I picked up my book this morning. I'm going to start tomorrow and continue with last month's too, which I have not finished yet... imagine that, lol.

Hello Fellow Fairy Tale readers,


Welcome to our discussion about Hunted by Meagan Spooner, your discussion leader is Gem.
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Hunted

Summary

Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them.

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance.

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

Well, I finally got my copy. I'm hoping to marathon read this book in the remaining few days that are left in the month.

Hi everyone, I've ordered a copy from my library but have not received it as yet. Feel free to being the discussion, I'll comment when I make some headway with it.

Hello Fellow Fairy Tale readers,


Welcome to our discussion about Neverwhere (London Below #1) by Neil Gaiman, your discussion leader is Gem.
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Summary

Under the streets of London there's a world most people could never even dream of. A city of monsters and saints, murderers and angels, knights in armour and pale girls in black velvet.

"Neverwhere" is the London of the people who have fallen between the cracks.

Strange destinies lie in wait in London below - a world that seems eerily familiar. But a world that is utterly bizarre, peopled by unearthly characters such as the Angel called Islington, the girl named Door, and the Earl who holds Court on a tube train.

Now a single act of kindness has catapulted young businessman Richard Mayhew out of his safe and predictable life - and into the realms of "Neverwhere." Richard is about to find out more than he ever wanted to know about this other London. Which is a pity. Because Richard just wants to go home...

Cheryl wrote: "Can you say anything about why, anything that could help those of us who didn't appreciate to understand the appeal?"

Sorry Cheryl, I just saw this comment. I don't know. For me this selection is charming and I love the imagination that L. Frank Baum uses to give Santa Claus a backstory. I love fairy tales, folk tales, and retellings almost as much as I enjoy mysteries (my favorite genre). I'm sorry some of you didn't enjoy it.

I haven't started this one yet. I've got the book but we've been so busy with doctors and tests that I haven't started. I've been wanting to read this since I saw it published after Cinder. I guess I'll be reading it in March along side our March selection.

I will catchup. I will catchup. I will catchup.

I did get my book the other day but I haven't started reading it yet. I've had a lot going on, I hope to jump into it this weekend.

Hi everyone... I have to pick up my February books at the library and Heartless is there, waiting for me. I'm hoping to go tomorrow but feel free to discuss in the mean time.

Hello Fellow Fairy Tale readers,


Welcome to our discussion about Heartless by Marissa Meyer, your discussion leader is Gem.
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Summary

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

I finished. That was a fun book. I think I might read the next on soon. I'll reserve comments until a bit later.

Lisa wrote: "I have always enjoyed the myths, especially the Greek versions, so I honestly didn't think about how not knowing them would change the interest of these books. I honestly don't think it matters muc..."

Agreed! I read several books at a time and this one has kept my interest so much that the other books aren't getting read.

Mary wrote: "Unfortunately, I knew so many of the myths going in that I have no idea how someone without the knowledge would react."

I have very little knowledge myself, so it something seems unimportant I just go with it. Otherwise, I look it up or ask my literature teacher husband, he's a wealth of knowledge.

I can only imagine what a strange situation Percy finds himself in. His best friend being a satyr, his teacher being a centaur, and learning that the myths of the gods are real. That's a lot for a kid to absorb, although I think he's handling it better than an adult would.

I finished this selection a few days ago. I enjoy this story and enjoy it more every time I read it.

Hello Fellow Fairy Tale readers,


Welcome to our discussion about The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan, your discussion leader is Gem.
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about spoilers

Please note: If you have not finished reading the book spoilers are permitted in this discussion from the start. If you would like to use the spoiler formatting it can be found on the top right of the comment box in the "(some html is ok)" menu.
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Summary

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena - Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.