Publisher: Simon Pulse

Retelling the Ballad of Mulan – Wild Orchid {Review}

Posted March 28, 2016 in Reading, Review / 4 Comments

Retelling the Ballad of Mulan – Wild Orchid {Review}Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey
Series: Once Upon A Time
Publisher: Simon Pulse (2009)
Paperback (199 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Also by this author: Sunlight and Shadow, Winter's Child
Also in this series: Snow, Water Song, Sunlight and Shadow
Reading Challenges: 2016 Backlist Books, 2016 Re-Reading, 2016 Retelling Challenge, 2016 Royal Challenge, Read 2016

Synopsis

Wielding a sword as deftly as an embroidery needle, Mulan is unlike any other girl in China. When the emperor summons a great army, each family must send a male to fight, tom-boyish Mulan is determined to spare her aging father and bring her family honor, so she disguises herself and answers the call.
But Mulan never expects to find a friend, let alone a soul mate, in the commander of her division, Prince Jian. For all of Mulan's courage with a bow and arrow, is she brave enough to share her true identity and feelings with Prince Jian?

Find the book: Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository

Read More

Tagged as ,

{Review} Winter’s Child – A Retelling of the Snow Queen

Posted February 20, 2016 in Reading, Review / 2 Comments

{Review} Winter’s Child – A Retelling of the Snow QueenWinter's Child by Cameron Dokey
Series: Once Upon A Time
Publisher: Simon Pulse (2009)
Paperback (173 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Also by this author: Sunlight and Shadow, Wild Orchid
Also in this series: Snow, Water Song, Sunlight and Shadow
Reading Challenges: 2016 Backlist Books, 2016 Re-Reading, 2016 Retelling Challenge, 2016 Royal Challenge, Read 2016

Synopsis

Free-spirited Grace and serious Kai are the best of friends. They grew up together listening to magical tales spun by Kai's grandmother and sharing in each other's secrets. But when they turn sixteen and Kai declares his love for Grace, everything changes. Grace yearns for freedom and slowly begins to push Kai - and their friendship - away.
Dejected Kai dreams of a dazzling Snow Queen, who entices him to leave home and wander to faraway lands. When Grace discovers Kai is gone, she learns how much she has lost and sets out on a mystical journey to find Kai...and discover herself.

Find the book: Goodreads, Amazon

Read More

Tagged as ,

Review: The Rose Bride – A Fairy Tale Retelling and a Greek Goddess

Posted August 17, 2015 in Reading, Review / 2 Comments

Review: The Rose Bride – A Fairy Tale Retelling and a Greek GoddessThe Rose Bride by Nancy Holder
Series: Once Upon A Time
Publisher: Simon Pulse (2007)
Paperback (245 pages)
Rating:
Also in this series: Snow, Water Song, Sunlight and Shadow
Reading Challenges: 2015 Birthday Month, 2015 Color Coded, 2015 Fairytale Retelling, 2015 Mythology, 2015 Re-Reading, Read 2015

Synopsis

When Rose’s mother dies, her only comfort is the exquisite rose garden her mother left behind. The purple blossoms serve as an assurance of her mother’s love. But Rose is dealt a second blow when her father dies and his greedy widow, Ombrine, and her daughter, Desirée, move in and take over the manor in true Cinderella fashion.
Fate has been cruel to Ombrine and Desirée, too. So despite their harsh ways, Rose has compassion. But these feelings are bitterly tested when, in a rage, Ombrine tears out the garden. Rose nearly gives up all hope—until a chance meeting with the king. Happiness might be within her reach, but first she must prevail over Ombrine. And then she must determine if she has the courage to love.

Find the book: Goodreads

Read More

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

Review: The Night Dance – Fairy Tale Set in Arthurian England

Posted August 13, 2015 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments

Review: The Night Dance – Fairy Tale Set in Arthurian EnglandThe Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn
Series: Once Upon A Time
Publisher: Simon Pulse (2005)
Paperback (193 pages)
Rating:
Also by this author: Water Song
Also in this series: Snow, Water Song, Sunlight and Shadow
Reading Challenges: 2015 Birthday Month, 2015 Fairytale Retelling, 2015 Re-Reading, Read 2015

Synopsis

Under the stars, in a secret world…
Rowena, the youngest of twelve sisters, loves to slip out of the castle at night and dance in a magical forest. Soon she convinces her sisters to join her. When Sir Ethan notices that his daughters’ slippers look tattered every morning, he is certain they’ve been sneaking out. So he posts a challenge to all the suitors in the kingdom: The first man to discover where his daughters have been is free to marry the one he chooses.
Meanwhile a handsome young knight named Bedivere is involved in a challenge of his own: to return the powerful sword, Excalibur, to a mysterious lake. While looking for the lake, Bedivere meets the beautiful Rowena and falls for her. Bedivere knows that accepting Sir Ethan’s challenge is the only opportunity for him to be with Rowena forever. But this puts both Bedivere and Rowena in a dangerous situation…one in which they risk their lives for a chance at love.

Find the book: Goodreads

Read More

Tagged as , , , , , ,

Review: Sunlight and Shadow – Calling One’s True Love

Posted April 6, 2015 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments

Review: Sunlight and Shadow – Calling One’s True LoveSunlight and Shadow by Cameron Dokey
Series: Once Upon A Time
Publisher: Simon Pulse (2004)
Paperback (192 pages)
Rating:
Also by this author: Winter's Child, Wild Orchid
Also in this series: Snow, Water Song, The Night Dance
Reading Challenges: 2015 Color Coded, 2015 Fairytale Retelling, 2015 Re-Reading, Read 2015

Synopsis

In a time when the world was young and many things were quite commonplace that are now entirely forgotten, Sarastro, Mage of the Day, wed Pamina, the Queen of the Night. And in this way was the world complete, for light was joined to dark. For all time would they be joined together. Only the ending of the world could tear them apart. In other words, in the days in which my parents married, there was no such thing as divorce….
Thus begins the tale of Mina, a girl-child born on the longest night of the darkest month of the year. When her father looked at her, all he saw was what he feared: By birth, by name, by nature, she belonged to the Dark. So when Mina turned sixteen, her father took her away from shadow and brought her into sunlight.
In retaliation, her mother lured a handsome prince into a deadly agreement: If he frees Mina, he can claim her as his bride.
Now Mina and her prince must endure deadly trials — of love and fate and family — before they can truly live happily ever after….

Find the book: Goodreads

Read More

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,