ARC Review: Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer

Author: Maureen McGowan

Genre: Fiction, YA, Fairy Tales, Paranormal, MG, Choose Your Own Adventure

Release: April, 2011

Source: Netgalley

Rating: 4/5

Description: In this thrilling story full of adventure and romance, Sleeping Beauty is more than just a lonely princess waiting for her prince—she's a brave, tenacious girl who never backs down from a challenge. With vampire-slaying talents that she practices in secret, Sleeping Beauty puts her courage to the test in the dark of night, fighting evil as she searches for a way to break the spell that has cut her off from her family. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Sleeping Beauty and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read! Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer is an entirely new type of fairy tale–one that will keep today's kids guessing and offer them hours of magical fun.

Review:

What I Didn't Like

• It's marketed as a book for young adults, but I think the language is more on the middle grade level. Just my opinion.
• It got silly at times throughout the novel.
• The "choose your own adventure" part of the book has you thinking for Lucette rather than Lucette thinking for herself.

What I Liked

• Ms. McGowan gives an interesting twist to a classic fairy tale. I love the "fractured" fairy tale...some more so than the classics.
• What I liked about the "choose your own adventure" bit was the fact that it made you a part of the story, despite the fact that you did the thinking rather than Lucette. Kids would love to be able to make the decisions, so it works for them.
• Princess Lucette is your regular damsel in distress. Instead of a helpless princess waiting on her prince to rescue her, she's a brave, strong princess who does the saving along with her prince. She's also more of a tomboy than a pampered, spoiled princess.
• I liked the twisted curse: During the day, while the everyone in the kingdom was awake, Lucette slept. During the night, when the vampires roamed, Lucette was awake while the kingdom slept.

Overall, Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer was a pretty good book. I enjoyed the twist and loved the fact that Lucette was an awesomely brave heroine. If you love fairy tales with a twist, this book is definitely for you.

ARC Review: Stroke of Midnight

Author: Bonnie Edwards

Genre: Erotica; Romance

Release: January, 2011

Source:Netgalley

Rating: 2.5/5

Description:

An unlikely Cinderella…
When hardworking single mom Jaye Sinns meets younger playboy Alexander Carmichael, the sexual chemistry between them is undeniable. So Jaye gives in to temptation and allows him to whisk her away for her first-ever vacation. Two glorious weeks of no inhibitions, no strings and no responsibilities.

A charming prince of a guy…
Life with Alex is every woman’s fantasy—sizzling sex in the back of a limo, on a private plane, in exotic settings. But it’s not enough to fulfill a woman like Jaye for long. No matter how hot the sex is.

A happy ending?
Alex is soon craving more than Jaye’s body: he wants her love and admiration, too. For the first time in his life, he can’t buy the thing he desires most; and now he must decide if he’s willing to work at being the kind of man that Jaye needs, and give her the happily-ever-after she deserves.

Review:

What I Didn't Like

• The ending felt rushed. It was a happy ending and there was closure...it just felt rushed.
• It had a Cinderella premise, but was kind of predictable. Typical rich man meets and falls for poor girl...not much to set it apart.
• The fact that Jaye was kind of quick to leave with a guy she just met. Would single mothers worried about their kids really leave for a whirlwind vacation with a stranger? I don't know. Maybe it's just me.

What I Did Like

• Although it was quite predictable, the Cinderella theme kind of works for the story. I just wish there was something to set it apart from the other "Cinderella" romance stories.
• The characters were well-developed despite the short length.
• Jaye was a hardworking mother...I loved her strength.

Overall, it was an okay, but quick read. While it wouldn't be on my "Read Again" list, I enjoyed it. The love scenes were quite descriptive. Very hot and steamy. Lol!

Book Review: The Apple-Pip Princess

Author: Jane Ray
Genre: Fiction, Fairy Tales, Picture Books
Release: March, 2008
Source: Library
Rating: 5/5

Description: Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference. . . .

Once there was a kingdom full of laughter, happiness, trees, and birdsong. But when the queen dies, the land becomes quiet and barren, and everyone is filled with sadness. What will make the kingdom bloom again? Can Serenity, the youngest of three princesses, bring hope and life back to her kingdom with a single apple pip -- a precious seed left to her by her mother? This original fairy tale is brought to life and exquisitely illustrated by the internationally renowned Jane Ray.

With sumptuous artwork, Jane Ray tells an original fairy tale of a humble princess whose love for nature’s beauty restores a kingdom.

Review: There once was a kingdom that flourished under the reign of a gentle king and his beautiful wife. But then the queen dies, leaving the king to raise their 3 daughters alone. Everyone and everything becomes barren and sad. Eventually, the king decides to set his 3 daughters to a special task: do something to change the land. Will the youngest princess, Serenity, be the one to save the land?

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

• Nothing at all.

WHAT I LIKED

• Everything! Another awesome children's book. It was touching, beautifully written, gorgeous illustrations...

The Apple-Pip Princess is perfect to read aloud to your children or students. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet, awesome read.

Book Review: Snoring Beauty

Author: Bruce Hale (author); Howard Fine (illustrator)
Genre: Fiction, Fairy Tales, Picture Book
Release: May, 2008
Source: Library
Rating: 5/5

Description: A furious fairy. A cruel curse. A princess enchanted by a spell.

Think you know the story of Sleeping Beauty? Better think again. This fractured fairy tale tells the real story of Sleeping Beauty - warts, scales, and all.

And guess what? She snores.

Review: King Gluteus and Queen Esophagus throws a christening party for their new baby girl, Princess Drachmina Lofresca Malvolio Margarine (Marge for short). In the same tradition as the original Sleeping Beauty, the fairies in attendance bless Marge with wonderful gifts. Then, a garlic-smelling fairy named Beebo, comes and puts a curse on her: on her 16th birthday, she'll die under the wheels of a pie wagon. The king begs the last fairy, a hard-of-hearing fairy named Tintinnitus, to undo the curse. So, instead of dying under the wheels of a pie wagon, Marge will turn into a sleeping dragon who only can be awakened by a quince. When the time comes, Marge turns into a beautiful, hot pink and purple dragon who wears red lipstick and nail polish. The kingdom can breathe easy because she doesn't die, only she not only sleeps, she snores. Horribly. The king issues an edict: whoever can wake Marge up will marry her. What follows is a hilarious journey until Prince Quince comes along. Will his kiss be just what the snoring dragon needs?

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

• There's absolutely nothing I didn't like about this book. Nothing.

WHAT I LIKED

• Everything! It was a wonderfully funny take on a classic fairy tale. The pics were awesome, but I expected that from Howard Fine. The cover is what attracted me, but the whole book did not disappoint.

This book is definitely perfect for read-alouds. And kids aren't the only ones who'll fall in love with Snoring Beauty. It has just enough sarcasm (it's narrated by a sarcastic frog) and laughs that the whole family will enjoy it. I LOVED this book!

ARC Review: The Fairy Godmother

Author: Mercedes Lackey
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Fairy Tale, Romance, Fantasy
Release: July, 2010
Source: Net Galley
Rating: 3/5

Description: In the land of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, if you can't carry out your legendary role, life is no fairy tale….

Elena Klovis was supposed to be her kingdom's Cinderella— until fate left her with a completely inappropriate prince! So she set out to make a new life for herself. But breaking with “The Tradition” was no easy matter—until she got a little help from her own fairy godmother. Who promptly offered Elena a most unexpected job….

Now, instead of sleeping in the chimney, she has to deal with arrogant, stuffed-shirt princes who keep trying to rise above their place in the tale. And there's one in particular who needs to be dealt with….

Sometimes a fairy godmother's work is never done…

Review: I rather liked this fairy tale/fantasy. It had a different take on Cinderella. The main character, Elena, was born to be her kingdom's Cinderella. Both her parents died; she had the horrid stepmother as well as the two annoying stepsisters; she was even treated as a mere slave in her parents' own house. When she turns 18, though, no prince arrives to take her away. Instead of becoming Cinderella, she becomes an apprentice to the Fairy Godmother, Bella, who takes Elena under her wing and teaches her everything she knows. As an apprentice, Elena learns about "The Tradition," the force that makes everything happen in fairy tales. Eventually, Elena takes Bella's place as Fairy Godmother and does an excellent job.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

• Alexander, a prince and Elena's love interest, didn't transform on his own. He was supposed to learn his lesson and be transformed, but he had help. I would have liked for his change to come from within...not without.

• The story got became too long at times. It was almost as though she was trying to cram everything into one book.

• The sex scenes. It would've been ok if they fit in, but they didn't. The scenes came out of no where and completely threw me off. Here's an example: "...and it wasn't until he'd stolen up her skirt and suddenly his head was - good heavens! What was he doing between her legs..." Ms. Lackey didn't need the scenes. The book would've been fine without.

WHAT I LIKED:

• I loved the character of Elena. She was strong, despite horrible circumstances. When she became an apprentice, she worked hard at learning. That's why she became one of the best.

• I loved the different take on Cinderella, featuring a strong character. Cinderella was never really my favorite fairy tale, but I loved this take.

• I liked the storyline and the idea of "The Tradition" and how fairy tales worked.

Overall, this was a pretty good book that I enjoyed reading.