November in Hindsight: in which you catch up on everything you missed this month

Best book of the month: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

Books read this month, with links to reviews.

1. Bound - Donna Jo Napoli
2. Spinners - Donna Jo Napoli and Richard Tchen
3. Beauty Sleep - Cameron Dokey
4. The Brightest Star in the Sky - Marian Keyes
5. Lips Touch - Laini Taylor
6. Malice - Chris Wooding
7. Need - Carrie Jones
8. Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris
9. The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan
10. Magic Lost, Trouble Found - Lisa Shearin
11. Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder
12. Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella
13. Nicola and the Viscount - Meg Cabot
14. Kindred in Death - JD Robb

What else went on at Today's Adventure this month?

Got some YA movie news about BEASTLY.
You got a chance to have your say: is it OK to sell your ARCs to a used bookstore?
I found out I'm having a baby boy! Now help me choose some books for him.
Some books I would do the happy dance for.
Don't you hate the bitter sting of disappointment?
Lots of great things went on during Once Upon a Week.
My favorite fairy tale-related quotes.
Interviewed Tynga from Tynga's Urban Fantasy Reviews.
Interviewed Jenni from Falling Off the Shelf.
Reviewed A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth Bunce.

Review: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Last word first: This has the potential to be my latest great obsession (5/5).

Description: Yelena is a murderer. It doesn't matter that Reyad deserved to die; according to the law of Ixia, Yelena must pay with her life. So when Yelena is offered a position as poison taster to the ruler of the land, it looks like a reprieve. Unfortunately, there are people who want Yelena dead, and they aren't willing to wait.

My thoughts: I must get myself to a bookstore pronto. I NEED to have the next book in this series.

A maze of loves, hatreds, intrigues and friendships, Poison Study is absolutely riveting. Yelena is a strong, practical heroine who made me want to jump out of my chair and cheer her on. Her integrity and the resourceful way she wends her way through the minefield before her are countered by her self-doubt and vulnerability, making her extremely easy to like. I also loved Valek, the chief of staff who becomes Yelena's boss, and the friends she makes along the way. Snyder has done a great job on making the interaction between characters meaningful and natural. There were a couple of moments where a character would spout some seemingly out-of-character, sentimal line of dialogue and I cringed, but other than that, all the characters were bang on.

As Juju might ask: Did I love the love? OH. MY. GOSH. YES. While the romance in this story was not the main course, it made for a swoon-worthy dessert. That's all I'm giving you though- I don't want to spoil anything for you.

Lest you think this novel is all talk and no action, I have to mention it's also suspenseful and action-packed. Cloak and dagger is mixed in with outright battle. There are even some fight scenes that get the Joe stamp of approval (hard to come by).


One thing: Is this a YA novel or an adult novel? The edition I have (cover shown) is marketed toward a younger audience than the original edition. The main character is technically a teenager, therefore putting this into the YA realm, I suppose. However, I definitely think this novel has enough depth to appeal to an adult audience. Best of both worlds! I'm excited to see where this series is going.


Content warning: This story contains violence, torture, sexual situations and a ton of moral issues. The only scene that I found upsetting was one graphic torture session which included a rape.



About Maria V. Snyder: Her research on food tasting methods with an expert chocolate taster, her husband, turned out to be a delicious bonus while writing Poison Study. Maria has a brown belt in Issinryu Karate, and has enjoyed "acting out" the complex fight scenes in her books. Playing volleyball, scrapbooking, and reading are her other hobbies. -from the bio on her website. Go check it out!

Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

YA Movie News: Beastly

The Ink Gypsy over at Once Upon a Blog has a great post up about the upcoming release of the movie adaptation of Beastly by Alex Flinn. Rather than reposting all her content, I'll just refer you over to the post in question. Go and have a look-see, then come back. I'll wait for you.

OK? Good. So, I love the trailer, looks great. I don't hate Vanessa Hudgens as much as I thought I would (except she can't act). The one thing I'm really upset about is the way they've portrayed "The Beast." It's terrible! He looks like one of the Borg from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine!! I know, I'm a geek, but that's beside the point. All my worst fears about how this was going to play out have been realized. It makes me long for the good old days when I thought the worst they could do to to mangle Adrian was this:

Review: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Last word first: An exciting and highly satisfying conclusion to the series (4/5).

This review contains spoilers for those who have not read the previous four books of the Percy Jackson series.

Description: The final battle has arrived. The Titan army is at full strength and are ready to launch their greatest weapon at Mount Olympus itself. The gods are failing, and it's up to Percy Jackson and the other half-bloods to win the day if they can. But, with a traitor in their midst, the half-blood army might just want to give up and prepare themselves for the rule of the Titans...

My thoughts: I waited and waited for my libary to get this book in, but I should have just one ahead and bought it. SO GOOD! Fans of the series will undoubtedly gobble this up just as fast as Joe and I did. Sure, the ending was maybe a little bit predictable, but it was also very satisfying and I loved it. If anything could tempt me to name my son "Percy" this book would be it.

Thirsty for more? You're in luck! Judging by the author's note at the end of The Last Olympian, Riordan has plans for more books featuring the residents of Camp Half-Blood. If that's not enough for you, a movie version of The Lightning Thief is due in theaters in February 2010. Directed by Chris Columbus and featuring Kevin McKidd (Grey's Anatomy), Uma Thurman, Rosario Dawson and Sean Bean as some of our favorite mythological beings, it promises to be well worth watching. Can't wait!!

Teaser Tuesday: Poison Study

This week's teaser is from Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

"Well, you shouldn't be thinking of her at all. As I see it, she's disposable. The only concern I'll have when she dies is, who's going to replace her and how quickly can I bribe him?"

I think they're talking about the heroine, Yelena. I just started the book, but I'm already quite attached to her. How dare they talk about her like that?!

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Review: Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin

Last word first: Sassy and fun, a great read! (4/5)

Description: Raine Benares is a seeker of lost items. She's got some magical talent, but nothing too spectacular. And she likes it that way. Unfortunately, Raine's life is about to take a turn toward being WAY more exciting. When a friend steals a magical artifact, Raine is just trying to protect him when she puts the amulet around her own neck. But now it won't come off, her magical powers are increasing, and Raine has just become Mermeia's most desired woman.... in a very bad way.

My thoughts: Combining elements of two of my favorite genres (fantasy and mystery) with a healthy sprinkling of my favorite seasoning (humor!) this book was a great fit for me. Magic Lost is a fun and fast paced read that had me hooked from page one.

Raine is a very likeable heroine. She's clever, capable, and funny, but in WAY over her head. Her wisecracks and panic attacks had me laughing at every turn. Of course, Raine couldn't get by without a little help from her friends. Her cousin Phelan, little brother Piaras, and guardian Garadin (say that 10 times fast) help the story keep moving along. And Raine seems to know more than her share of attractive, manly, rescuing types. Lucky girl.

The only thing that bothered me about this book was that there were a couple of scenes that felt like they could have been chopped down just a little. And a couple more where characters would suddenly be in a scene that hadn't been there before. But these minor annoyances were pretty easy to ignore, and well worth tolerating.

Magic Lost, Trouble Found is an exciting start to what promises to be a great series. Fans of the light, fun, fantasy read (think David Eddings' Belgariad meets Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum) will find lots to love about this book.

Content warning: Some violence and sexual innuendo. As far as I recall, all questionable material is implied and non-graphic.

Who put this book on my radar? It was Jo, over at the fantasy book review blog Ink and Paper. She's a HUGE fan of the series, and convinced me to give it a shot as well. You know what else is awesome? Jo won a contest to name Book 5 of this series! You can read Jo's review here: Magic Lost.

Lisa Shearin in her own words: Contrary to popular belief, most authors do have day jobs just like everyone else. I'm happily ensconced at an advertising agency as an editor/proofreader. In my previous corporate life I've been a magazine editor, advertising copywriter, and writer of corporate marketing materials of every description. Writing's what I love, so writing's what I do. And I consider myself blessed beyond belief that I get to do what I love and get paid to do it. (An excerpt from the bio on her website)

Have Your Say!

Selling your ARCs at the used bookstore. Acceptable practice or big no-no?

I say no. I was at the used bookstore the other day and I found several ARC copies of recently published books hiding on the shelves. These were all published books, so it's not as if they were leaked ahead of the release date, but still... it says right on the cover: NOT FOR SALE. As far as I'm concerned, selling these books is a betrayal of the trust of the person who sent them to you.

What do you think? Is this an OK thing to do?

Slightly Off-Topic: The One That Got Away

On a recent used bookstore excursion, I found a little something that makes me very very happy: a copy of The Hunter's Haunt by Dave Duncan. Why does this slightly tattered copy of an obscure, out-of-print book make me so happy, you ask? This is a book I loved when I was a teenager. I read it at my local library, but I've since moved and I've never been able to get my hands on a copy again. Will I still like it? Is it even any good? I have no idea. But I'm very excited to find out.

Description from Goodreads: Omar often gets into trouble due to his role as the world's greatest storyteller. The wrong tale at the wrong time told to the wrong audience can prove fatal. A slighted innkeeper threatens to kill Omar by tossing him out into the vicious storm that rages just outside the door of the inn. But this time, for a change, he also has the chance to redeem himself by using his gift. If Omar can top the most outrageous tales invented by the inn's guests, he may get away with his neck intact. Omar not only tells a series of tales that would astonish the most gifted bard, but corrects the errors of the others and weaves them all together into one absolutely compelling tale of adventure.

Review: Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

A few of you read my post last week in which I talked about my disappointment with Living Dead in Dallas, book number two in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. On your advice, I kept on slogging, and I just thought I would give you:

The final verdict: About halfway through the book, I felt the story picked up to the point where I was actually enjoying it. Near the end, I was actually fairly glued to the page. However, I still felt that the story overall wasn't as good as the first one. I'll rate it a 3 of 5, but if it were a stand-alone book, I'd probably give it a 2.

Review: Need by Carrie Jones

Last word first: Enjoyable, but not particularly memorable. (3/5)

Description: Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal. Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara. -description from Goodreads

Good stuff: Zara's grandmother, Betty, is such a great character! I love the idea of this 60-year-old woman who lives in the woods and works as a paramedic.

I thought the quirk of the phobias was interesting and fun; I like how all the chapter titles were different phobias.

I also thought the pixies-as-pure-evil plot was a unique spin, and I enjoyed reading the book overall.

Not-so-good stuff: Need was a bit of a "meh" book for me. I enjoyed it as I was reading, but there was nothing particularly gripping about it. Actually, as I'm writing this review (a week after finishing the book), I find I can't remember the names of the main characters- I had to go look them up. Need was OK, but it just didn't grab me the way some similar books have.

About Carrie Jones: Carrie Jones likes Skinny Cow fudgsicles and potatoes. She does not know how to spell fudgsicles. This has not prevented her from writing books. She lives with her cute family in Maine, but she grew up in Bedford, NH where she once had a séance with cool uber-comedian Sarah Silverman. -excerpted from the bio on her website.

Teaser Tuesday: The Dragon Book

This week's teaser comes from The Dragon Book, a collection of short stories featuring one of my favorite mythical beings. There are some great authors represented, including Garth Nix, Gregory Maguire, Jonathan Stroud and Peter S. Beagle. I chose a teaser from the story by Tamora Pierce:

"Kit, I can hear you scratching rock down at our tent." Daine walked up the slope to us, tying her curly brown hair in a horse tail. "It's a dreadful noise. I thought you were chewing stones."

That's right! Daine and Numair are back for the story! Who else is super excited?

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading. Anyone can join in the fun! What's your teaser?

Review: Malice by Chris Wooding

Last word first: Frighteningly good. (4/5)

Description: Everyone has heard of Malice, the comic book that you're never supposed to tell your parents about. The one whose characters seem to be borrowed from the missing children list. And everyone knows the rhyme daring Tall Jack to come and take you to Malice. No one would admit they believe it's real, but very few have the courage to actually say the rhyme. But when Seth's friend Luke admits to finding a copy of Malice, then later disappears without a trace, Seth starts to believe whether he wants to or not.

My thoughts: Malice is part comic book, part novel, and all exciting. The tension of the story builds as Seth and his friend Kady start to realize that the world of Malice is real, and more dangerous than they ever thought. I was completely riveted. This was definitely a quick read for me.

I'm not usually one for reading graphic novels, but I really enjoyed the comic book portions of this book. The drawings were great for bringing the bizarre new world into focus, and the darkness of them built up the suspense factor in a way words couldn't have done.

I was even pleasantly surprised by the plotting and character development of Malice. It's not the next Great American Novel, but it's good for what it is. Seth, Kady, and the other characters they come across are intriguing and fun to read about.

I think this would be a great read for teens and tweens seeking a thrilling scare. I'm adding it to my great for guys list, though I think girls will enjoy it as well. I know I did.

Content warning: This story was a little on the scary side. I enjoyed it, but sensitive readers should beware. The world of Malice is not for the faint of heart.

About Chris Wooding: Chris Wooding grew up in a small town in Leicestershire, where not much of anything happened. So he started to write novels. He was sixteen when he completed his first. He had an agent by eighteen. By nineteen he had signed his first book deal. When he left university he began to write full-time, and he has been doing it professionally all his adult life. (an excerpt from the bio on his website)

Some news + I need your help

So. Big news. At my most recent ultrasound, I found out that Baby #3 is a BOY! We have two little girls, and while we would have loved a third, I think Joe is pretty excited about upping the testosterone levels around here. Here's the latest scan image:Aw... what a cute little blob. I think he has my nose.

I think I have the mom-of-girls thing figured out, but people keep telling me boys are a whole different ball game. Being me, one of the things I'm thinking about is making sure I start expanding my library to make sure I have some guy-friendly middle-grade and YA titles. I've been working on my collection ever since my girls were born. Picking girl books is easy, seeing as I am a girl. Guy friendly books are harder, but here's what I'm thinking so far:

Ranger's Apprentice Series - John Flanagan

The Inheritance Series (Eragon) - Christopher Paolini

Alex Rider Series - Anthony Horowitz

The Harry Potter series - JK Rowling

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Holes - Louis Sachar

The Percy Jackson Series - Rick Riordan

This is the part where you help me out. What books should I add to my list for Baby Boy's library? Children's books, middle grade, and YA suggestions are all welcome.

Books I would do the happy dance for...

I guess this is sort of like Waiting on Wednesday over at Breaking the Spine. Only on Saturday. And it's also inspired by The Story Siren's Books to Pine For. I just thought I would post a listing of some newly released or upcoming books that I am SUPER excited about, and hopefully you'll check them out as well. I'll be linking this post in the header and hopefully keeping it semi-up-to-date.

Available now:
Ice by Sarah Beth Durst (McElderry)
The Guinea Pig Diaries by A.J. Jacobs
Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Pastworld by Ian Beck
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

December
8- Fallen by Lauren Kate (Delacorte)
22- Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore (Bloomsbury US)

February
9- Heist Society by Ally Carter (Hyperion)
17- Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White (Greenwillow Books, Harpercollins)

March
3- The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (Harpercollins)
9- The Line by Teri Hall (Dial)
15- Maximum Ride: Fang by James Patterson (Little, Brown)
23- Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken (Egmont USA)

April
13- The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy (Egmont USA)

I'm not sure about the release date, but sometime in 2010:
Beka Cooper: Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman (Oct?)

Review: Lips Touch by Laini Taylor

Last word first: Totally absorbing and just scary enough (4/5)

Description: From tempting goblins to curses that come from the very depths of Hell to immortal killers, this collection of short stories explores a few rather life-changing kisses.

My thoughts: Like most collections of short stories, this one was hit-and-miss for me. In the first story, a young girl is tempted by a goblin in disguise. I didn't like it. I almost stopped reading. I'm glad I didn't.

Because the last two stories are phenomenal. In one, a fairy-tale-esque curese turns out a little differently than the curse-giver had planned. I loved the way the story worked in some eastern and some western mythology and somehow managed to present a coherent whole. The characters, while of necessity briefly presented, managed to capture my attention and sympathies. Well worth reading.

The third story is a chilling tale of immortal hunters (nope, they belong to neither of the species you're thinking of) who are tracking a young girl and her mother for reasons unknown. This one really surprised me with the way it twisted bad guys into good guys and suddenly the people you were afraid of ended up being people you felt sorry for. I can't tell you more without giving too much away, so you'll just have to read it for yourself.

The writing throughout this book is simply lovely. Not only is the vocabulary extensive (it's not often I learn a new word reading a novel: odalisque), but the way the words are put together is both distinctive and mesmerizing. I love this quote: "They can hear the blood moving in your veins a mile away. They can smell the color of your hair in the dark." It gives me exactly the chill that I think the author was going for.

A few words need to be said about the illustrations by Jim Di Bartolo (who is the author's husband). They're gorgeous, prefacing and ending each story with a graphic touch that really brings the book to life. I'm steamed that my camera isn't working right now, because I'd really like to take a couple of pictures, just to give you a taste. Maybe at some point in the future. Suffice it to say, the book is beautiful.

Lips touch was a fun read, just scary enough to be enjoyable, not enough to give me nightmares. And I just love looking at it. Adding this one to the permanent shelf.

About Laini Taylor: Her website doesn't want to let me cut and paste an excerpt of her bio. Let me just say, she has pink hair, a daughter named Clementine, and extremely amusing pictures on her website. Click over there and look for yourself.

Cover query: I didn't notice this until I had the two of them sitting side by side on my desk, but don't these covers remind you of each other?

SOT: The Bitter Sting of Disappointment

A couple of weeks ago, I posted my review of Dead Until Dark, book one of the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I really enjoyed it, and was excited to have found a series with so many books already published to start on.

And now I'm sad. Last night I started reading the next book in the series, Living Dead in Dallas. I basically hate it. It seems to have carried on with the gothic, vampire theme full-tilt, without retaining any of the humor and charm that really drew me to the series in the first place. Or perhaps it just doesn't sparkle the way it used to now that the main characters are together, instead of just flirting. That can be a tough transition to pull off. Anyway, I'm about 75 pages in, and I don't know if I'll bother to continue.

I think maybe my problem is that in between reading books 1 and 2, I watched a couple episodes of True Blood (the TV show based on the series). I did not like it at all. It was far to dark and creepy and had way too many scenes of Jason Stackhouse banging (I'm using that term purposely) random women. So maybe now my view of the books is tainted by the TV show? I'm not sure...

So, has this ever happened to you? You get really excited about the beginning of a series, and then it lets you down. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Season 2 of Grey's Anatomy!) Do you think I should keep going with this series? Grey's got good again...

Teaser Tuesday Nov 10, 2009 - Lips Touch

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

This week's teaser comes from Lips Touch by Laini Taylor. This collection of three short stories has got me wishing I had read it in time to review it Halloween week, because it's rather chilling. Which brings me to my teaser, from page 153.

"They aren't people!" Mab snapped. "They can hear the blood moving in your veins a mile away. They can smell the color of your hair in the dark. They're hunters."

Review: The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes

Last word first: 4/5 stars!

Description: Four flats, four sets of tenants, and one mystery. At least one of the residents of 66 Star Street is in for a major life change. But who will it be? These neighbors have no idea that a smart-mouthed, (almost) all-knowing spirit is stalking their lives, looking to make some changes.

My thoughts: Matt and Maeve are madly in love, yet seem to be living a strangely empty life. Lydia and her two Polish roommates hate each other... or do they? Katie definitely loves Conall, but they just can't seem to make it work. And Jemima... well, don't get me started on Jemima.

The people of 66 Star Street are a bit of a crazy bunch, but you can't help but love them. Marian Keyes has an incredible gift for creating characters that stick with you, the kind of characters you are going to miss when you finish the book. With keen insight and amazing talent for making every situation amusing, Keyes takes the reader on a journey through these lives, and the lives they touch.

There's also a bit of a mystery. Exactly who is the strange spirit narrating the story, which life is it going to change, and in what way? I don't know if maybe I'm just dense, but it did take me quite a while to figure out what was going on. Even then, there were a few pieces that eluded me until almost the very end. Which is perfect, exactly how I like it.

It did take me a few chapters to get into this book. There is a large cast of main characters, and their storylines don't start to intersect other than geographically until fairly far on in the book. For me, this made it a bit tough to get into the story. Once I did get into it, I loved it. So if you start out and it's feeling a bit slow, I encourage you to keep on reading.

Content warnings: This is an adult novel. There is a fair bit of foul language, and sexual content (moderately graphic). I don't want to to give any spoilers, but there are also a few distressing situations, though I thought they were well-managed so as not to be overly disturbing.

Marian Keyes in her own words: "I was a month overdue and I often wonder what my life would have been like if I'd been born on time and been a dynamic, sunny Leo, instead of a perfectionist Virgo; it was a hard lesson to learn and since then I’ve always been very punctual." - from the bio on her website.

Once Upon a Week Wrap-up + Giveaway Winner!

It's been a great week, but it's all over. Sigh. Thanks so much to all the bloggers who participated this week - it was fun, thanks to you! Also, many thanks go out to the commenters who stopped by and showed their appreciation.

Actually, one of the commenters shared some info with me that I am going to pass along to you. The Ink Gypsy from Once Upon a Blog asked me to make sure you know about a few blogs that talk about fairy tales ALL THE TIME! How fun is that? In addition to Ink Gypsy's blog:
The SurLaLune Blog - Also check out the main site, Surlalune Fairy Tales, for everything you ever wanted to know on this topic.
Diamonds and Toads
The Fairy Tale Cupboard
Told This Time
So, if this week only whetted your appetite for all things fairy-tale related, be sure and become a follower of these blogs to keep getting your daily dose.

FAIRY TALE MEME CONTEST

There were only six entries to the contest (not counting my own, obviously), which was fewer than I had hoped for. However, they're all of such high quality I didn't have time to be disappointed. But, wow. Lots of Red Riding Hoods out there! I am the only evil stepmother around. hehehe Highlights:

Jo from Once Upon a Bookcase offered up a modern retelling of Snow White AND Red Riding Hood. Sounds strange, but it works. An excerpt: She knocked on Nan’s door, and Nan, thinking she was Jo, opened the door a little, told her not to come in so she wouldn’t catch anything. Pretending to be Jo, the woman handed Nan an apple through the small opening, saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away!” Nan took the apple, and the woman left, smiling to herself. - check out the full story.

Cait from Escape Through the Pages also tackled Red Riding Hood: But Grandmother did not come and open the door, she yelled from the inside! Saying that her Little Red had a key, and who was this, trying to come into the apartment of a defenseless old lady. Surely not her grocery delivery boy, he had a secret knock. -check out the full story

vvb32 reads retold Cinderella as a haiku. I won't paste it here, because I would have to copy it's entirity, and I would rather you click over to her blog and read it yourself. Go ahead, I'll wait for you. It's so cute!

Melissa @ One Librarian's Book Reviews had a darker interpretation of Red Riding Hood: He was the reason I became a wolf hunter, his death was the fuel for my burning hate, my motivation to become who I am today. With that foundation yanked from beneath my feet, indeed turned upside down, I feel a creeping weakness. -click for the full story

Misty @ The Book Rat took the poetic approach as well: She jumps and shrieks so prettily at / Every lupine howl / (and once the hoot of a passing owl). / A scowl on my face, I quicken the pace as we race / From the wolves in the wild wood. -click for the full story

Willow Raven had a novel interpretation: Red just grinned. She couldn't care less what granny thought of her. She was, in case you haven't noticed already, quite a selfish and horrid little girl. In fact, she was so shallow, in all the 31 trips she had taken to granny's cottage, she never once wondered about, asked about, or noticed her 15 brothers and sisters. If Red had been a more observant child ,maybe she would have seen the signs. What signs you say? Signs of the coming zombie invasion.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! Your stories definitely entertained me this week. The winner (chosen by Random.org), who will get to pick a book from my list of fairy-tale recommendations, is:

MISTY!

Finally, I had meant to do a full post about this, but it didn't quite happen. I encourage you to stop by the portfolio of talented artist Jeffrey Thomas to view his Twisted Princesses, a slightly different interpretation of the Disney heroines we know and love. Enjoy!

Once Upon a Week: Fairy Tale Quotes

I wanted to share this first quote with you. It's one of my all-time favorites. It seemed a little lonely all by itself in this post, so I hunted up a few more for you.

"Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist (we know that dragons exist), but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” -G.K. Chesterton

"I always felt and still feel that fairy tales have an emotional truth that is so deep that there are few things that really rival them." -Alice Hoffman

"Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale." -Hans Christian Anderson

"One of the best things about folklore and fairy tales is that the best fantasy is what you find right around the corner, in this world. That's where the old stuff came from." -Terri Windling

"This is a work of fiction. All the characters in it, human and otherwise, are imaginary, excepting only certain of the fairy folk, whom it might be unwise to offend by casting doubts on their existence. Or lack thereof." -Neil Gaiman

"Fable is more historical than fact, because fact tells us about one man and fable tells us about a million men." -GK Chesterton

Once Upon A Week Review: Beauty Sleep by Cameron Dokey

Last official day of Once Upon a Week! How sad. There's still my wrap-up post tomorrow, though.

The final word: My favorite Sleeping Beauty retelling ever. (4/5)

Description: When Aurore was born, she was placed under two conflicting spells. One aimed to kill her, and one aimed to save her. When the clash between these spells threatens the kingdom and the people she loves, Aurore must make a difficult choice: should she stay or go?

My thoughts: After finishing this book, I immediately added the rest of Dokey's Once Upon a Time series to my TBR list. She managed to take the most powerless fairy-tale "heroine" of all time and turn her into a character I could respect. Aurore is a heroine I loved reading about. She's smart, adventurous, and kind.

I also loved the romance in this story. It was low-key, and totally appropriate for young teens on up, but very sweet and touching. The whole "sleeping for a hundred years, being kissed by random princes" thing has always creeped me out, but this story manages it handily, with a totally different interpretation. Zero creepage.

This story may be a little young for some readers, but I found it a fun, fast read that I will definitely revisit. If you like fairy-tale retellings, this is a good one to add to your list.

About Cameron Dokey: Cameron Dokey is an American author living in Seattle, Washington with her 3 cats and her husband. She has a collection of over 50 old sci-fi and horror films. Cameron was born in the Central Valley of California. Cameron grew up reading classical literature and mythology, perhaps due to her father, Richard, being a teacher of Philosophy, Creative Writing, and Western Literature. (source : fantasticfiction)

Once Upon A Week Fairy Tale Meme + Giveaway!

Thursday is the Once Upon a Week fairy-tale meme day, in which you are challenged to complete one of these quizzes to discover which fairy tale character you are: Quiz #1 Quiz #2 Quiz #3 and then rewrite a fairy tale with yourself as the quiz result character (ie. you as the evil stepmother, damsel in distress, handsome woodcutter, etc).

My story: I took quiz #2 and found out that I am the Evil Stepmother. I don't really see myself as evil, but you can't argue with the science of quizzology. So, here it goes.

Once upon a time, there was a woman named Vanessa. Vanessa was very happily married, with two beautiful daughters. Sadly, it came to pass that her beloved husband passed away unexpectedly, and his estate was entailed to his nephew (who entails estates these days?). Said nephew had always been an ungrateful child and now arrived with his equally hideous wife to take over the estate.

Vanessa managed to find a suitable establishment for herself and her daughters, and, after time passed, fell in love with her landlord and remarried. Unfortunately, it seemed that her life was doomed to be fraught with tragedy, for soon after her remarriage, her new husband passed away. Fortunately, this one had had the sense to leave Vanessa both his estate, and the responsibility for his 15-year-old daughter. The daughter, Ella, was of a similar age to Vanessa's daughters, but was in the midst of a teenage funk, refusing to do chores, complaining constantly, and generally making herself a misery to live with. Vanessa did her best to be understanding, for the child had just lost her father, but applied appropriate discipline when it was warranted.

Thus it came to pass that Ella was grounded the evening of the Prince's Ball, the social event of the century. It was her turn to clean the bathroom, and she had refused. She slept in all day, rising just in time to get her hair and makeup ready. When Vanessa told her to clean the bathroom, she pitched an enormous fit, stomping her feet like a spoiled toddler. What was a stepmother supposed to do?

As it happened, the prince in this case was much too old for Ella anyway. He fell in love with Vanessa and, as he was much hardier of constitution than her previous husbands, they lived happily ever after. THE END

Giveaway: OK, now it's your turn to get creative. Have fun! Your story can be as short or as long as you like. After you're done writing, do one of the following:

1) Post it on your blog and leave a link below.
2) Post your story in the comments.
3) Email me your story at gypsyrover21 AT yahoo DOT ca

I will read the stories all the stories and post some of my favorites on Saturday. One participant will be randomly selected to win a copy of any of my fairy-tale retold recommendations for their very own. YAY!

A few boring details: Deadline for entries is midnight EDT, Friday Nov. 6, 2009. This contest is open internationally. If you are leaving your story in the comments of this post, also leave me your email address to contact you if you win. Otherwise I will contact you through your blog post or reply to your email.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Fairy Tale Edition

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. But this week I'm hijacking it for:and I'll be talking about some upcoming or recently published fairy tale themed books.

Title: The Beastly Bride
Release Date: April 6, 2010
Purchase The Beastly Bride
Description: What do werewolves, vampires, and the Little Mermaid have in common? They are all shapechangers. In The Beastly Bride, acclaimed editors Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling bring together original stories and poems from a stellar lineup of authors including Peter S. Beagle, Ellen Kushner, Jane Yolen, Lucius Shepard, and Tanith Lee, as well as many new, diverse voices. Terri Windling provides a scholarly, yet accessible introduction, and Charles Vess’s decorations open each story. From Finland to India, the Pacific Northwest to the Hamptons, shapechangers are part of our magical landscape—and The Beastly Bride is sure to be one of the most acclaimed anthologies of the year. (product description from Amazon)

Title: The Swan Kingdom
Author: Zoe Marriot
Release Date: Available Now
Purchase The Swan Kingdom
Description: Shadows fall across the beautiful, lush kingdom after the queen is attacked by an unnatural beast, and the healing skills of her daughter, Alexandra, cannot save her. Too soon the widowed king is spellbound by a frightening stranger, a woman whose eyes reflect no light. In a terrifying moment, all Alexandra knows disappears, including her beloved brothers, leaving her banished to a barren land. But Alexandra has more gifts than she realizes as she confronts magic, murder, and the strongest of evil forces, and is unflinchingly brave as she struggles to reclaim what is rightfully hers. (description from Goodreads)

Title: Sisters Red
Author: Jackson Pearce
Release Date: June 3, 2010
Description: Scarlett never believed in the Fenris—werewolves drawn to the delectable charms of young girls. That all changed when in one swift attack, a Fenris murdered her grandmother and left Scarlett half-blind and horrifically scarred. Only her younger sister, Rosie, escaped unharmed as Scarlett shielded her from the Fenris’s jaws. Now eighteen, Scarlett’s life’s mission is to destroy the Fenris and save other girls from her fate—a mission she’s grown to love, despite herself. Armed with red cloaks and hatchets, Scarlett, Rosie, and a young woodsman, Silas, move to the city in search of answers—and vengeance. If they can find a Potential Fenris, tainted by the pack but not yet consumed by it, they can unlock the mystery that transforms them- but better yet, use him as bait. But unlike Scarlett, Rosie doesn't feel the thrill of the hunt in her blood. Longing for a life away from heavy responsibility and something sweeter than steel determination, Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas. More and more often, they find themselves abandoning the search for the Potential, stealing kisses, sharing secrets. When Scarlett discovers the romance blossoming in her midst, she abandons her sister to the woodsman, certain that her own heart has no room for love, not when it's filled with her mission, her purpose. Still, the bond between Scarlett and Rosie is too deep to truly sever, and when Scarlett discovers a way to bring her sister back to her side for good- even if it means destroying Rosie’s happiness—she is forced to make a decision that will change the course of both their lives. (description from Goodreads)

Once Upon A Week Review: Spinners and Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

Two mini-reviews today!

Title: Bound (Cinderella Retold)

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

The concept: Set in Ming China, this retelling follows Xing Xing, who is stuck obeying each and every whim of her demanding step-mother. With her mother and father both gone, Xing Xing wonders who will ever speak up for her.

What I liked: I enjoyed the novel setting of the story. I also liked the way the fairy godmother was replaced by Xing Xing's deceased mother. Xing Xing herself is an easy-to-like character.

What I didn't like: It was just a little too "surface" for me. Having read other books set in the same time period, I found the historical detail distractingly inconsistent. Still, I would recommend this book for younger teens.

Title: Spinners (Rumplestiltskin retold)

Authors: Donna Jo Napoli and Richard Tchen

The concept: Thwarted in love, a young man's character is twisted, as is his body. He becomes an anonymous, itinerent spinner, leaving behind the only family he has. Later, when a miller's daughter, Saskia, finds herself required to complete an impossible task, the mysterious man appears to help her. But why?

What I liked: I loved that the "evil" little man got his chance to be understood. I kept hoping things would turn out alright for him.

What I didn't like: I couldn't really get into the character of Saskia. I think I might have enjoyed this story more if I hadn't just read A Curse Dark As Gold, which retells the same story with a lot more style.

Once Upon a Week Interview #2 - Tynga!

Welcome back to Once Upon A Week! Today I'm talking with Tynga, a fellow CANADIAN book blogger. Her blog is Tynga's Urban Fantasy Reviews and I encourage you to go check it out. She's a fun girl and it's a great blog. But first, read the interview, with Tynga's words IN BOLD because it suits her.

I'd like to learn a bit more about you, so let's play three truths and a lie. Tell us four facts about you, three of which are true and one that is fictional. (Give your best guess, readers, then scroll to the end of the interview to discover Tynga's lie.)

A- I love hockey more than my boyfriend does. (Tynga originally wrote that she loves hockey more than her boyfriend, but assures me this is not what she meant.)
B- I met my boyfriend in a strip club.
C- I broke 8 bones in a car accident.
D- I draw and paint.

Since you've decided to participate in Once Upon a Week, I assume you like fairy tales. Why?

I am so sentimental! I love fluffy stories with happy endings and I cry most of the time watching cheesy TV shows and Movies.

Which fairy tale is your favorite and why?

My favorite fairy tale as a grew up was The Little Mermaid. Does it even count as a fairy tale? Anyway, I was pretending to be a mermaid in the bath haha. I think I liked it because Ariel was so beautiful and funny and I liked the songs in the movie =) Funny fact, my niece's name is Ariel ^^

Respond to this statement: "Fairy tales are for children."

Wrong answer! Fairy tales are for every optimistic out there. We all love our cute stories with happy endings, everyone wants there very own happily ever after =)

Please fill in the blanks: If I was facing the apocalypse, the fairy tale character I would want by my side is Dean Winchester (ok I cheated he is not a fairy tale, but god he is hawt!) because he is smoking sexy, smart and full of resources. Together, we would be able to kick demon's ass and we would win the ultimate reward, save the world and tons of innocent people.

I'll allow that cheat, because who could blame you? I'm having heart palpitations just looking at this photo! To wrap up, would you please tell us a little about your blog.

I started my blog 3 months ago, because I live in french community and I had no one to share my excitement about books with. Sharing with the rest of the world seemed like a good solution lol. My blog's focus is urban fantasy/ YA fantasy and I LOVE to introduce/interview debut authors. I also host giveaways, usually 2 per months so make sure to stop by =)

** The lie is C, yes I broke 8 bones, but in 8 separate occasions**

Thanks for letting me interview you, Tynga. It's been great! If you're reading this, I forgot to ask why you call yourself Tynga? Childhood nickname, maybe?

Once Upon a Week Interview #1: Jenni from Falling Off The Shelf

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Jenni, from the blog Falling Off the Shelf. She's also interviewing me today! Now, Jenni, you are at the mercy of my overly curious mind.

First up, I'd like to learn a bit more about you, so let's play three truths and a lie. Tell us four facts about you, three of which are true and one that is fictional. (Give your best guess, readers, and then look for the correct answer at the bottom of the interview.)

Okay...3 true things and one lie..here goes!
1. I've been an avid reader since I was able to pick up a book.

2. I love to read anything that has to do with the paranormal.

3. I quit going to work so I could stay home and read all day long.

4. My dream job would be to work in a bookstore, or be a publicist...anything to do with books!

How about reading picture books to toddlers all day? That has to do with books, and my kids need a new book reader since my throat decided to give out this week. No? Oh well, next question. You've decided to participate in Once Upon a Week, so I assume you like fairy tales. Why?

Like? Who said anything about liking them? I don't like them...nope, not me! I love fairy tales! I love the happily ever afters, the devotion male characters (princes!yay!) show toward the female characters. My favorite thing of all...the magic that is always involved in every page, and how it can snare you from the start. Everyone wants a happily ever after...we just don't always get our Once Upon a Time...

Yeah, the problem with reality is that it's all so realistic. hehe. Which fairy tale is your favorite and why?

I think I'd have to say Beauty and the Beast. I think it is the best fairy tale to show that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Even people that are scary or ugly on the outside may have the warmest heart...you just have to want to find it. I also love all of the talking silverware, and furniture..omgosh!

My favorite too! Respond to this statement: "Fairy tales are for children."

Then it's a good thing that I plan on never fully growing up :)

Please fill in the blanks: If I was facing a county wide flood, the fairy tale character I would want by my side is Peter Pan because he could always shake some pixie dust on me. Together, we would be able to fly away from danger and we would win the ultimate reward, Freedom.

I think I can honestly say that Peter Pan wouldn't have made my Top Ten, but to each her own. To wrap up, would you please tell us a little about your blog.

I started Falling Off The Shelf in June of 2009, so I'm a fairly new blogger. I started it so that I could basically write down my feelings about the books I read. I know now I may have a wonderful memory, and can remember what I read when I was 10...but some day I'm not going to be able to remember what I ate for dinner. This way, I can just read back on my reviews and get that same feeling toward a book again.I never thought it would turn into what it is today, with almost 250 followers, wow..and I haven't even been blogging for a year yet! It's really exciting to see that many people coming by all the time to see what my opinions are. I started out just reviewing books that I had here in my home. Things changed course rapidly, and now I'm trying desperately to get caught up on review books so I can go back to reading some of my own! I read and review everything I read, which ranges from YA - General Fiction. I'm not into Non-Fiction books, unless they are focused on the Holocaust. My favorite genres are Paranormal Romance, and Urban Fantasy. I love anything that involves some kind of magic, or shapeshifters. Right now I just do the normal memes that you see just about every blogger doing. I showcase my mailbox on Mondays. Tuesdays I do a teaser on the book that I'm reading. Wednesdays is for a wishlist book that I just can't wait to read, although these aren't posted nearly as often as you would think. Thursdays I started my own meme, Tuber Thursdays, so I could showcase a favorite book trailer of the week. On Fridays I do 2 memes, Friday Finds and Friday 56, although I don't always post a Friday Finds because sometimes I don't find something that really piques my interest. My weekends are pretty slow, and I don't post any memes. I usually post some reviews on the weekends, but it depends on my mood really, because I do work and don't have much time on the weekends.

I'm thrilled to have been able to be interviewed by Vanessa of Today's Adventure! Stop by my blog to see what I had to ask her!

Thanks so much for chatting with me, Jenni! It's been fun. Just so you all know, Jenni's lie was #3. She has not yet been able to quit her job for reading full time, no matter how much she might want to. Good luck with that, Jenni.

Everyone, get thee over to Jenni's blog, Falling Off The Shelf and become a follower right now. You won't regret it. And be sure to tune in tomorrow for another blogger interview, this time with Tynga/Cindy from Tynga's Urban Fantasy Reviews.

Once Upon a Week Review: A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Last word first: (5/5) Love it!

Description: After the death of their father, Charlotte and Rosie Miller do their best to keep his wool mill running. Yet it seems that the mill itself is doing its best to prevent them from succeeding. Bizarre accidents, mysterious disappearances, and strange twists of fate thwart them at every turn. Just when everything seems lost, a stranger named Jack Spinner appears at the mill and offers to rescue them. But is he their saviour, or just one more force pitted against them?

My thoughts: If I were going to choose a fairy tale to retell, Rumplestiltskin would probably not be the one I picked. The story doesn't have any likeable characters! You have a baby-stealing elf, a mercenary king, and a grasping miller. You might feel sorry for the miller's daughter, but she doesn't even get a name. I suppose this lack of vision is why I am not a published author.

Elizabeth Bunce has taken this familiar story and brilliantly reshaped it, giving new life and personality to its characters and setting. Instead of a nameless "miller's daughter," we have Charlotte, doing her best to save a mill that doesn't seem to want to be saved. Even though she suspects the mysterious "Jack Spinner" isn't exactly what he says he is, she takes him up on his offer out of desperation. When she realizes her mistake, she does everything in her power to foil his plans. And the story's love interest (though the romance is pretty minor) is far more likeable than the king who only marries a miller's daughter for her supposed ability to spin straw into gold. Jack Spinner (Rumplestiltskin) himself gets a backstory and a motivation other than just being a baby-stealing fairy. Add that to a diverse and believable cast of supporting characters, and this is turning into a story I can like!

Bunce has chosen to set her story in a land that looks a lot like British or American countryside on the brink of the Industrial Revolution. The conflict between old ways and new feeds the conflict in the story, and gives it a sense of realism that can be tough to achieve with a fairy-tale (wonder why? lol). Her writing brings the characters and setting to full and beautiful life; you won't want to put this one down.

If I had to say this book had a flaw, I can only say it was perhaps ever so slightly slow-moving. But I was so wrapped up in the story, with its pleasantly creepy feel, that I didn't mind at all. Also, I'm not really a fan of the cover photo- I think it looks a little cheesy. But don't let that stop you, this book is highly recommended!

Elizabeth C. Bunce in her own words: "I’m a native Midwesterner, currently living in the tall grass prairie near Kansas City with my husband and our dogs. When I’m not writing, you can find me with a book, a dog, or my needlework in hand, sometimes all of the above, which makes for some furry embroidery. " From the bio on her website. Go check it out... she also uses the phrase "historical fantasy," which might be my new favorite genre title, right after "creative non-fiction."

Once Upon A Week - Link Your Reviews Here

OK, this is the place to find all the reviews for Once Upon a Week. Participating bloggers will be adding reviews all week, so be sure and check back to see what's been added.

Participants: Please enter the title of the book being reviewed in the "Link Title" field.

If you didn't sign up, but you'd still like to link some related reviews, you are welcome, just let me know in the comments. Please only link to reviews of fairy-tale related books.

Once Upon a Week - Giveaways!

If you are running a contest with a fairy-tale themed prize, link to it here. Enter your prize in the "Link Title" field.

My contest will be posting a little later this week, but I want to give you a heads up now, because this one requires a little more work than usual. Thursday is the Once Upon a Week fairy-tale meme day, in which you will be challenged to complete one of these quizzes to discover which fairy tale character you are: Quiz #1 Quiz #2 Quiz #3 and then rewrite a fairy tale with yourself as the quiz result character (ie. you as the evil stepmother, damsel in distress, handsome woodcutter, etc). Have fun!

DO NOT POST YOUR STORY NOW. I will put up a post on Thursday where you can link to your meme post. One participant will win a copy of any of my fairy-tale retold recommendations for their very own. YAY!

OK, now on to the contest linkage:

Once Upon A Week starts tomorrow! Here's some recommended reading.

Once Upon a Week officially kicks off tomorrow! YAY! This is a week where I and a few fellow bloggers are going to celebrate the fairy tales and fairy tales retold that we love. Be on the lookout for reviews, interviews, contests, more... all with a fairy tale theme. I'll be posting a central linking point for reviews and contests tomorrow, so be sure to check back all week to make sure you don't miss anything. Great chance to check out some new blogs!

Want to join in? Here's some recommended reading:

I read it and loved it:

Beauty - Robin McKinley

Beastly - Alex Flinn

A Curse Dark As Gold - Elizabeth C. Bunce (review coming tomorrow!)

The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale

The Stepsister Scheme - Jim C. Hines

Fairest - Gail Carson Levine

Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine

Enchantment - Orson Scott Card

I haven't read it, but I hear it's good:

As You Wish - Jackson Pearce

A Kiss In Time - Alex Flinn

Ice - Sarah Beth Durst

My Fair Godmother - (recommended by Juju)

Beauty -Sheri Tepper (recommended by avisannschild)

Beast - Donna Jo Napoli (recommneded by Andrea)

Deerskin - Robin Mckinley (recommended by Misty)

Rose Daughter - Robin McKinley (recommended by melissa @1lbr)

Princess of the Midnight Ball - Jessica Day George (recommended by Emilee)

Fairest of All (recommended by GMR)

Godmother (recommended by GMR)

Crazy Beautiful - Lauren Baratz-Logsted (recommended by Angie)

Daughter of the Forest - Juliet Marillier (recommended by Angie)

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's my Prince - Melissa Kantor (recommended by Falling Off the Shelf)

Ash - Malinda Lo (recommended by Sara)

Briar Rose - Jane Yolen (recommended by Kristen)

Wildwood Dancing - Juliet Marillier (recommended by Kristen)

The Princess and the Hound - Mette Ivie Harrison (recommended by Kristen)

The Princess and the Bear - Mette Ivie Harrison (recommended by Kristen)

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow - Jessica Day George (recommended by Kristen)

The Fire Rose - Mercedes Lackey (recommended by Ladybug)

Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey (found at The Hiding Spot)

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

Watching the Roses - Adele Geras

Waking Rose by Regina Doman

Book of Enchantments - Patricia C. Wrede

Thornspell - Helen Lowe

The Door in The Hedge - Robin Mckinley

Snow - Tracy Lynn

Melusine - Lynn Reid Banks

Not quite a fairy tale, but with a similar feel:

Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones

Princess Ben - Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Dreaming Anastasia - Joy Preble

Green Angel - Alice Hoffman

Keturah and Lord Death - Martine Leavitt

Lost in the Labyrinth - Patrice Kindl

Bitterbynde Trilogy - Cecilia Dart-Thornton

The Looking Glass Wars - Frank Beddor

The Garden - Elsie V. Aidinoff

The Last Unicorn - Peter S. Beagle

Not enough for you here? For more recommendations, check out the Fairy Tales Retold Shelfari group.