Blood of the Seer {blog tour + book review}

Binge reads - how do we feel about them?  Personally, it depends on the series.  For this one, though, I can't recommend it highly enough.

That's right, my friends, it's time for another blog tour, and this is one I've been very much looking forward to!  I've had my eye on the first book for awhile, even purchasing it last time I had Kindle credit, and with the release of the second book (which is available everywhere now, yay!!), it was finally time to actually read it.  And boy, am I glad I did.  

This might turn into a review of both books... sorry not sorry. xD 

Blood of the Seer (and also, kind of, Oath of the Outcast) 

Author: C.M. Banschbach 

Genre: Fantasy adventure

Content: Lots of violence, some "he cursed" and a few other mild profanities, and one creepy-as-heck cult of evil dudes.

Main Characters: Rhys MacDuffy, Sean MacDuffy

Synopsis (Spoilers for book 1!) : 

A blood curse.
A shadow world.
An indomitable evil.
A forgotten bond.
Banished for a crime he didn’t commit, Rhys MacDuffy risked his life to rescue the little brother he no longer could claim as his own. Sean, the Seer of Clan MacDuffy, returns from his ordeal to war between the Clans and Lord Adam Barkley. Moreover, the Clan Lords refuse to lift the exile on Rhys. No outcast has ever been forgiven.
But the druids who held Sean captive have taken the key to controlling his powers—his blood. Rhys determines to keep his brother safe no matter the cost. Heedless of the war, he leads his rowdy band of Mountain Brigands on a hunt to destroy the druids before they destroy Sean with their dark magic.
The druids force Sean into a shadow world full of demons and danger, where their menacing god Deronis can consume him. Yet Rhys is able to follow Sean into the other world. There they discover an older magic that might be the key to stopping the druids.
The bond of brotherhood between Rhys and Sean runs deep. But is it strong enough to stand against the druid’s blood god?

Add Oath of the Outcast on Goodreads ~ Purchase Oath of the Outcast on Amazon

Add Blood of the Seer on Goodreads ~ Purchase Blood of the Seer on Amazon

What I Thought: 

How do I fangirl enough to get you to read these books but make it a somewhat coherent review? 

Like I said, I've had my eye on these for awhile now, but I really didn't know what I was walking into.  I have this habit of just... not reading the synopsis for books, especially ones I'm excited for.  Like, I'll glance at them to determine whether or not it intrigues me, but by the time I actually read them, I've probably forgotten at least 90% of what the blurb says.  Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because it does make for a wild ride once I'm in.  In the case of these books, I had one expectation: I thought there would be dragons.  Alas, there are no dragons to be found within its pages.  But what I did find was a story so powerful it almost made up for it.  (Do I still think it could have been improved by dragons?  ... probably, but what story can't be, honestly?) 

This is a story of redemption.  A story of brotherhood.  A story of forgiving yourself.  And also a story about stopping a war before it starts, and epic fight scenes, and a lot of other really great stuff that I'm not going to spoil. 

I was invested in Rhys's story from the beginning of book 1, and seeing his arc come to a conclusion here was so perfect that it made me cry.  Which was unexpected, but not unwelcome.  It's part of why I can't recommend a binge-read of these enough.  Since book 2 picks up right where book 1 leaves off (thank goodness), it was nice to read it as a continuous story, and made the ending even sweeter.  The faith content?  Is so good?

The relationships between the leads was everything and I don't know how to stress that enough.  I'm very much a character-driven writer - make me fall in love with your characters and you've probably sold me on the whole book.  And these ones were great.  Relationships I loved: Rhys and his Cairns (the band of outlaws who are loyal to him and each other and no one else), Rhys and Alan (his ex-best friend), Rhys and Sean (I love them so much ;-; ), basically between Rhys and anyone he let into his circle.  I love a big angry man who has a secret soft spot for certain people.  What can I say? 

This is just a good old fashioned adventure story that was everything I didn't know I wanted.  If you're a fan of Tricia Mingerink's Blades of Acktar series, you're going to love these.  They gave me a very similar vibe. 

Honestly at this point I'm sad it's over.  I never want to leave.  Oh well.  I guess I'll just have to re-read them in the not-too-distant future.

Overall Rating: 5 swords out of 5

About the Author: 

C.M. Banschbach is a native Texan and would make an excellent Hobbit if she weren’t so tall. She’s a pizza addict, a multi-faceted fangirl, and a firm believer in being authentic—even if it means acting like a dork sometimes! When not writing fantasy stories packed full of adventure and snark, she works as a pediatric physical therapist where she happily embraces the fact that she never actually has to grow up.
She also writesYA/MG fantasy-adventure as Claire M. Banschbach.

Connect with Claire: Her website ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook

Thanks again to Uncommon Universes Press and the author for letting me participate in this awesome blog tour!  Mine isn't the only post you should check out - you can find the whole list at this link right here! 

Have you read these books?  Are you planning to now?  Let me know in a comment! 

~ Abigail

The Midnight Show Review {Tattered Slippers Blog Tour}

Hello again, my friends! Welcome back to the Tattered Slippers Blog Tour! Today I've got a review for you, and I'm pretty jazzed about it.  (sorry... I couldn't resist)

As always, make sure you check out all the other amazing posts from the tour so far, and the new ones from today by clicking this link right here!  There's also information there to do with the giveaway where you can win 3 of the releases in paperback!  How cool is that?? 

Okay, let's jump on in to the review! 


The Midnight Show



Author: Sarah Pennington
Genre: Urban fantasy mystery
Content: Alcohol consumption
Main Characters: Dayo Temitrope and Bastian Dennell

Synopsis:
This mystery is the case of his dreams - and her nightmares.
By day, Dayo Temitrope is a swinging singer, an up-and-coming star with a shining career ahead of her. By night, she’s . . . well, she’s not sure, but whatever she does leaves her every morning with sore feet and worn-out shoes. And after six months, she’s had enough.
Enter Bastian Dennell, a private investigator just trying to get by. When Dayo hires him to find out where she goes at night, he’s sure it’s his big break: his chance to establish himself and get the funds to pay off his family’s debt. Plus, he gets to work with his favorite singer, even if she isn’t exactly what he expected. What could be better?
But first he has to solve the case — which means navigating a tangled web of strange dreams, fair folk schemes, and show business. It will take all Bastian’s wits, along with the shining talents of Dayo herself, to figure out the truth before the curtains close for good on Dayo’s career.
A jazz-age-inspired twist on the Twelve Dancing Princesses from the author of "Blood in the Snow".

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

What I Thought: 

This was so much fun!  It felt very much like an old black-and-white detective movie, complete with trench coats, jazz music, and shadowy figures.  But at the same time, it was full-on fantasy novel, which made it even more intriguing. 

The world was so rich, and I just wish I'd gotten more of a chance to explore it.  Obviously, Dayo and Bastian's plot was the focus, so there wasn't much that we get to see outside of their sphere, but I would definitely be interested in seeing more stories set in this city at least, if not outside of it.  There seems to be so much depth there that I just wanted to dig into, you know?

The characters were great, honestly.  I loved Bastian from the first moment he stepped onto the page (what can I say, I'm a sucker for a man in a fedora), and Dayo fascinated me.  There basically isn't any romantic subplot between them, which I thought was neat. There's a bit of attraction, and I would absolutely read a sequel to see if it goes anywhere, because I'd be here for this relationship, lol! 

The actual mystery was SO intriguing, and kept me glued to the page the whole time.  Maybe my favorite thing about this whole Tattered Slippers blog tour has been seeing how each author weaves different elements of the fairytale into their stories, and the choices made for this book were so unique and perfect!   

Basically, this was just delightful, and I'm so glad I picked it up.

Overall Rating: 4.5 swinging jazz tunes out of 5

About the Author: 
Sarah Pennington has been writing stories since before she actually knew how to write, and she has no intention of stopping anytime soon. She is perpetually in the middle of writing at least one or two novels, most of which are in the fantasy and fairy tale retelling genres. Sarah’s first published work, Blood in the Snow, received a perfect score and Special Unicorn status in Rooglewood Press’s Five Poisoned Apples contest. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys knitting, photography, and trying to conquer her massive to-be-read list.

Connect with Sarah: Her website ~ Her blog ~ Her second blog ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

Make sure you check out all the other posts from the blog tour - there have been some really fun ones! Oh, and make sure you enter the giveaway! Click this link for more info!  

And there you have it! What fairytale would you set in the jazz age? 

~ Abby

Poison's Dance Review {Tattered Slippers Blog Tour}

 Hello my name is Abby and I've been emotionally compromised by Tricia Mingerink yet again.

In other words, welcome to the Tattered Slippers blog tour!  Get ready for not one, not two, but SIX amazing Twelve Dancing Princesses retellings that are releasing this week!  The tour is already in full swing, so make sure you check out the full schedule to join in on all the fun! 

There are a ton of amazing bloggers involved in this tour, and I'm so excited and honored to be one of them!  So for four of those six days, you can stick right here for reviews of these new releases! (Who's hyped? I'm hyped!)

We begin with one of my most anticipated reads of the year, the third book in Tricia Mingerink's Beyond the Tales series, which continues to solidify itself as one of my all-time faves.

** I'm gonna stick a spoiler warning right here because there are spoilers for at least the first book in the series (Dagger's Sleep) from this point forward. 
So... you've been warned. **

Poison's Dance



Author: Tricia Mingerink 
Genre: Fantasy fairytale retelling
Content: Some violence
Main Characters: King Alexander, Princess Tamya, Daemyn Rand

Synopsis:
If he falls to the lure of the curse, the dance might trap him forever.
Alex has survived his first year as high king. The new counsel has improved cooperation between the kingdoms, and peace seems achievable. When the Tuckawassee queen sends him an invitation he can’t refuse, Alex must once again face his greatest threat for the sake of peace.
Princess Tamya of Tuckawassee, along with her eleven sisters, has danced from sunset until sunrise every night of her life. It is her gift and her curse. When Queen Valinda wishes to use the power their cursed dance gives them to rule all of Tallahatchia, Tamya must decide if she will do what is right even if it betrays her own sister.
Daemyn Rand has survived a hundred years' worth of battles. All he wants to do now is safely marry his princess. Will he be forced to choose between the love of his life and the high king he has loyally served for years?
They have faced certain death before. This time, they might not make it out alive.
Don’t miss this re-envisioning of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale.   

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon ~ My review of book 1 ~ My review of book 2

What I Thought:

This book broke me.  In the best way.  I finished it at 3:30 AM because there was no way I was putting it down.  I was a sobbing, snotty mess.  It was basically everything and I don't know how I'm supposed to just go on with my life now? 

Being back in Tallahatchia was so good for my soul.  Like, I started reading and seeing familiar names and it just gave me so much joy.  I didn't realize how much I missed it.  The world itself is so cool, and seeing it unfold throughout the series has been everything.  Each book we get to explore a different kingdom, and if this means that we'll eventually potentially get 7 books for the 7 kingdoms... you would not hear me complaining, that's all I'm saying.

Speaking of things unfolding throughout the series, can we talk about Alex for a minute?  Because I'm so proud of him??  Watching his journey from the first book to now - he was a big part of why I cried from about the 75% mark onward because I'm just so proud of who he's becoming with the Highest King's help.  I'm not okay.  *melts into a puddle of feels*  He's never been my favorite character of the series but that might change now, honestly, idk.  Also his relationship with Daemyn is everything to me and I'm quickly becoming a sucker for the king/lord/important person + his guard/servant friendship dynamic, it's one of my faves. Also Daemyn and Rosanna continue to be wonderful together. 

The character of Tamya was amazing.  We've had three very different female leads in the series so far, and I'm here for it.  Her relationship with her sisters was so well done - the princesses is always something I judge 12DP retellings on, and they were great here.  There were a couple who faded to the background, but for the most part, each one was unique and distinct enough that I didn't have trouble remembering who was who.  

The fairytale elements were woven in so perfectly, as they always are in these books.  The worn dancing shoes, the underground world, the silver and gold trees, the sinister eldest sister, it's all here and it's all just as iconic as it should be. 

All in all, I'm never going to stop talking about this series.  I know this book just came out today but I wish I had book 4.  The ending made me squeal with happiness on several occasions, and I'm just really happy, okay? 

Overall rating: 5 goblets of maybe-poisoned wine out of 5 

About the Author: 
Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.

Connect with Tricia: Her blog ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

As I mentioned at the top of this post, the Tattered Slippers blog tour will be going on all week!  So keep your eyes peeled for more reviews coming your way from me, and click this link right here to see all the amazing posts! 

Have you read the Beyond the Tales books?  Are you excited for this one?  Let me know in a comment below! 

~ Abby

One Bad Apple {book review}

 Y'all should know by now that I love fairytale retellings (and if you didn't, now you do).  Especially if that fairytale is put into a unique setting.  Thus, I knew I was going to love this book.  Happy to report, I was right.

I've been wanting to read one of Rachel's books for what feels like forever, and her newest release seemed like the perfect place to start.  A Snow White retelling set in the 1873?  Yes please! 

One Bad Apple

Author: Rachel Kovaciny
Genre: Historical Fiction 
Content: Some threats of violence, and a few moments of racial prejudice
Main Character: Levi Dalton 

Synopsis:

When a wagon train of Black pioneers rescues the seven orphaned Dalton cousins from the side of the trail, it seems like an answer to their prayers. As they roll west toward Kansas, fourteen-year-old Levi Dalton is dazzled by the beautiful Mrs. Mallone. She's a healer, and her knowledge of medicines and herbs inspires Levi to want to become a doctor. Maybe then he can stop people from dying of fevers and illnesses like his folks did.
But Mrs. Mallone's stepdaughter, Hopeful, warns Levi not to become too attached to the healer. Levi dismisses her warnings and his own misgivings until the day he sees something dreadful.
Levi knows he needs to tell someone what he’s seen before it’s too late. But will anyone believe the story of a fourteen-year-old orphan? Will anyone stand up to evil, no matter how beautifully it’s packaged?

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

What I Thought:

I don't think I've ever read a Snow White retelling from the point of view of one of the seven dwarves, but golly was it a lot of fun.  Levi was such a unique protagonist - I always love when a story is told from a very specific point of view, which in this case was that of a 14-year-old boy.  The whole book would have a completely different flavor if it had been told from the perspective of Hopeful or Jacob or Ness.  But because it's Levi, the viewpoint is so unique. 

The plot was fascinating, and I loved the way the fairytale was woven into the non-magical setting.  Hopeful was such a perfect Snow White (plus her relationship with her Dad was so soft, my emotions ;-; )  She's just a good person, but she's not naive.  Also her dad is an absolute sweetheart and I love them together.  Also the Daltons are so wholesome and I just want these kids to be happy is that too much to ask? 

Mrs. Mallone was an excellent villain - I absolutely hated her.  Which, in my mind, is one mark of a well-written antagonist.  What an awful person she is. xD 

The historical element of this book was everything, you guys.  You can truly tell that Rachel took her time researching - my inner ten-year-old that dreamed of being part of a wagon train was thriving as I read this.  It was definitely educational, while also being entertaining, so basically my favorite thing ever?  Oh, and the fairytale elements?? I mean?? One of the most unique Snow White retellings I've ever read while also including every important motif from the original?  Heck yes!!

Basically, I absolutely devoured this book, and I need more of Rachel's books in my life as soon as possible please and thank you. 

Overall Rating: 5 baskets of apples out of 5

About the Author:
Born only a few miles from where Jesse James robbed his first train, Rachel Kovaciny has loved the Old West all her life. She now lives in Virginia with her husband and their three homeschooled children. In her free time, Rachel writes for the magazines "Femnista" and "Prairie Times," reads, bakes, blogs, watches movies, and daydreams.

Connect with Rachel: Her website ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook

Well there you have it, friends!  Have you read this book or any others from Rachel?  Let me know in a comment below! 

~ Abby

Five Reasons Why You Should Watch The Bletchley Circle

Because everything I post apparently has a story behind it, here's the story for this one:

This past week, my brother went to a friend's house to spend the night playing video games and not sleeping or whatever.  He ended up extending it to two nights, so it was just the three of us girls around here.  As we were here for two days with not too much to do, Mom decided that she wanted to browse Netflix and find some shows to watch in the future.  Now this may seem strange, but we've never sat down and just scrolled through the offerings on Netflix, we usually just find something we want and go with that.  But we ended up making a list of shows that we thought were possibilities (always with the thought of if it's bad or nasty in the first episode, we'll stop).  The first one we watched was kind of meh, it wasn't great and it wasn't really clean, and while we had stayed up until 1am watching it, we didn't feel like it had been worth that. 

But then we started this one.

And it was all better.

The Bletchley Circle ran for two seasons from 2012 to 2014, and followed the story of four women in post-WWII England who are trying to live normal lives after working for the government during the war. 

So here's why you should watch The Bletchley Circle:


1. It's short.

The first season is only three episodes, and the second season is only four.  This makes it super binge-worthy.  Each episode is about an hour, so you're only dedicating seven hours of your life to these ladies as opposed to the 50+ I've dedicated to Once Upon a Time (for example).

2. It's historically accurate.

The costumes.  THE COSTUMES, GUYS.  I'm jealous of every single outfit in this show I want them all.  Not only that, but the women's roles in society is accurate, the way they have to acclimate back into society is accurate, and as a history nerd I adored every second of it.

3. It's British.

Dumb reason, I know, but hear me out.  I don't know about you, but I love British television shows.  Now, I still haven't watched Doctor Who or Sherlock, but I love hearing the accents and the lingo.  And I caught myself thinking in a British accent for several days afterward, no joke.  Also, this show is just so British.  What do they do when something goes wrong?  They make tea.  Susan's kids call her "mummy" and it's adorable.

4. GIRL POWER.

Much like "Agent Carter" (another one of my faves), this show features kick-butt women who lead their own lives and don't need no man (except for Susan, who is married to the sweetest guy. I'd marry him.).  We've got a single woman out on her own and living her own life (Millie), a librarian (Jean), a younger woman with an abusive husband and a photographic memory (Lucy), and then of course Susan whose husband is wonderful as I've said, I love him.   But the whole series centers around them going out and solving murders on their own.

5. It's fantastic.

There are heavy themes in this show.  I mean themes like abuse, human trafficking, and, obviously, murder.  But it does it in a way that never ever makes anything seem okay.  Even the others find out that Millie has been smuggling things on the side (which, of course, gets her into trouble), the others make sure that she knows she's in the wrong.  There are consequences for the actions in this show, which is something that is very rare in media these days. 
But on the lighter side, the friendships between the women are wonderful.  There are funny moments.  There's sweetness between Susan and her family, and a cute relationship beginning between Lucy and a Scotland Yard agent in the second season. 

DISCLAIMER:
If you have issues with blood, murder, or things like that, this isn't the show for you. 
But if you're into murder mysteries and awesome women, enjoy, my friends.

~ Abby

The LEGO Batman Movie (Film Review)

If you want to make the world a better place,

take a look at yourself,

and make a change.

Hooo.

- Batman

 

The LEGO Batman Movie

 

 

Over the past couple of weeks, I got the chance to see this movie twice, and as that's more than I typically see things in theaters, I figured I should do a review (and I will try to avoid spoilers as much as possible, but, like "The LEGO Movie", the trailers really tell you nothing about the actual plot of the film... what's up with that, LEGO?)

 

Brief Overview:

Being the coolest hero in Gotham City, Batman has almost everything he wants, though his butler and "father-figure" Alfred is convinced that he has yet to confront his biggest fear - snake clowns being part of a family again.  When he accidentally adopts a young orphan named Dick Grayson, he discovers that he may actually learn to care for someone else.

 

What I Thought:

This movie was so pleasantly surprising.  I was also pleasantly surprised by "The LEGO Movie" when it came out, so I guessed it might be a similar experience, which indeed it was.  Robin has stolen my heart (my precious son!!!!), Barbara Gordon is my hero, I want Alfred as a friend, and I actually sympathized with Batman (which is a first for me, honestly). 

 

The Characters:

Batman/Bruce Wayne -

 

This guy is so self-aware I love it.  The reason this is my favorite DC film ever is that Batman is called out for the way he deals with crime.  At one point (SPOILERS) when he goes to the Phantom Zone, he is confronted with the fact that his actions could make some think that he is indeed a bad guy. (END SPOILER) And I love that.

 

Robin/Dick Grayson -

This precious ray of sunshine!!!! I love him!!!!! Through a misunderstanding, this cutie ends up adopted by Bruce Wayne, and is equally excited when he realizes he's being "co-parented" by Batman.  Thanks to his agility and small size, his "Batdad" begrudgingly allows him to become something of a sidekick.  This adorable orphan is just happy to be part of a family and I just. I adore this kid, okay?

 

Batgirl/Barbara "Babs" Gordon -

A graduate of Harvard for Police and the daughter of the former police chief, Barbara has a vision of the Gotham Police Force teaming up with Batman.  Despite Bruce Wayne's misgivings, she never gives up, and is honestly one of the most determined female characters I've seen in a long time.

 

Alfred/The KickButler -

Alfred is awesome, but I've always felt that way.  Bruce Wayne isn't the easiest guy to work with, so the fact that Alfred has stuck around as long as he has will never cease to amaze me.  Plus he's voiced by Ralph Fiennes, so that alone makes him cool.


Favorite Quote:
Alfred - "Sir, I have seen you go through similar phases in 2016 and 2012 and 2008 and 2005 and 1997 and 1995 and 1992 and 1989 and that weird one in 1966."
Batman - "I have aged phenomenally."


Overall Rating: 5 abnormal villains out of 5


If you haven't seen this movie yet, I can't recommend it highly enough.  Honestly, the jokes have gotten me every time, even the ones I saw in the trailer:

If you have seen it, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

~ Mia 

Seven Reasons Why You Should Watch Leverage

If you've been keeping up with my tumblr (which I totally understand if you don't), you know that my most recent obsession is Leverage. 



This show (this beautiful show) ran from 2008 to 2012, and featured five seasons of cons, hilarity, and friendship.  Starring Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Aldis Hodge, and Beth Riesgraf, created by the same genius team who would later go on to create the wonder that is The Librarians, and started by smashing every trope you've ever known.

So why should you watch this fantastic show?  Here are seven reasons why:

1. It's on Netflix.

Okay, kind of a weird one, I know.  But honestly, if something's on Netflix (especially if all of it's there), I'm much more likely to watch it.  All five seasons are available.

2. It's completed.

This kind of goes along with the first one.  It wasn't canceled, it wasn't dragged out until it died, it was finished.  With a satisfactory ending.  What more could you want? (*cough* a spin-off with the trio, please and thank you *cough*)

3. The storyline is brilliant.

Here's the plot: An ex-insurance investigator (Nathan "Nate" Ford) is thrown together with the world's greatest criminals - a thief (Parker), a hacker (Alec Hardison), and a "retrieval specialist" (Eliot Spencer).  To wreak vengeance on the man who betrayed them in the first episode, the join forces with a grifter [or actress] (Sophie Devereaux) and decide that working together might be just what they needed.  They end up becoming a team, calling themselves "Leverage Consulting and Associates", and fighting the bad guys of the world through scams and cons.  Because don't you just love when characters who are all like "I work alone" become each other's found family?  I know I do.

4. It's so quoteable.





Quips and witty remarks abound.  Where most other crime shows have a tendency to be dark and gritty, Leverage remains light-hearted through most of it's episodes.  I mean, there's a parody of "The Office".  It's hilarious. 

5. The friendships are golden.

Especially these three oh my gosh.  In every episode, the relationships between the characters are deepened and explored.  The family aspect between the team has quickly become one of my favorites in all of television.  And I love television.

6. Alec Hardison.

He gets his own category.  Why is it that the sassy African American men end up as my favorite characters?  (I'm lookin' at you, Burton Guster)  I have no clue, but the fact that Alec Hardison exists should be enough reason to watch this show.  He's snarky, he's brilliant, and he's guaranteed to make you laugh every time.  (with the exception of that one episode in which he makes you cry... he made me cry...)

7. It's beautiful.

As I said, it deals with some heavier topics, but it keeps everything balanced between the hard things and the light fluff.  Yes, there's some language.  There are a few... um... questionable scenes.  (You can't say I haven't warned you.)  But once you've finished, it's worth it.  Each character is developed deeply, their arc is really seen through, they grow and change as they learn from each other, and you learn things from them.  They have real issues, they deal with serious problems, and yet at the end of the day, they stand by each other and really do become a family. 

So, how long will I love Leverage?  Eliot knows:

Indeed.

Have you ever seen Leverage?  If you watch it and need to ramble about it, do come to me because I am always up for a Leverage ramble.

(Oh, and, yes, I'm trying to get into a better schedule to actually keep up with this thing... so bear with me.)

~ Mia

Fairytale Friday ~ Cinderella

Come one, come all, to the first Fairytale Friday celebration! 

Are you excited?

I'm excited.

This week, we look at what is arguably the most famous of fairytales: Cinderella!

 

Okay, yes, this is somewhat of a cliché place to start.  But let's admit, Cinderella is one of the first things to come to mind when we think "fairytale".  It's just become such a mainstay of our culture that not many even know where the story came from originally.  Multiple countries have their own version, the Grimm Brothers have a very interesting take, and most Americans are familiar with Charles Perrault's story (which was the one Walt Disney took on). 

 

With so many retellings of this classic story, it was hard to choose one to review.  So I chose two.  One book, one film.  (And I'm going to be honest, this story likely will come up again before this series of posts is over... I've just read so many xD)

 

But for today, we begin with "A Wish Made of Glass".

 

Author: Ashlee Willis

Overview of the Story: Isidore doesn't like that she must leave her home, especially when her new step-mother and step-sister take away all of her father's attention.  But the fey are calling to her, and the beautiful Blessing only wishes to be her friend.

What I Thought: This is a really great take on the Cinderella story.  Like.  Really great.  It's super interesting because it's not told from the view of "Cinderella", it's technically from the step-sister.  It's fascinating.  There isn't all that much magic, something I appreciate.  I mean... there's fey... so obviously there is magic, but... yeah.

Characters:
Isidore - Truly, she's a fascinating character.  A bit hard to relate to at times, as her motivation for doing what she does is a little twisted, but ultimately I found myself wanting her to succeed. 

Blessing - Sweet, beautiful, every Cinderella cliché wrapped up in one.  But she's truly very kind, and almost instantly adopts Isidore as her sister, even if Izzy doesn't feel the same way at first.

Favorite Quote: My mother's words sound in my mind. With every step they take, they tred upon their own hearts.  But that is what the slippers are, not what they look like.  So I say, "Moonlight."  Blessing sighs.  "Moonlight..." she whispers to herself.  I smile.  "Moonlight and prayers and glass and frost and wishes.  That's what they look like."

How Does it Compare to the Original? I do think this was based on the Perrault, but that doesn't include quite the same quality this does... I think ethereal would be a good word.  I was glued to the story, but not because it was full of action or anything, just because I wanted to know more about the fey and the story and what THE HECK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

Overall Rating: 4.5 fey slippers out of 5



And because I promised you two reviews, we also have "Ever After":

 

(kind of a weird looking poster, but I didn't want the one where they're half-kissing like every other romance movie ever)

Overview of the Story: Set in the 14th century, this is the story of Danielle, a girl who meets the prince, and through a mistake, leads him to believe she is a proper Lady.  This is all made more difficult, of course, when she falls in love with him.
 

What I Thought: One of our family friends was shocked that my sister and I had never seen this film.  Apparently it's her favorite version of the Cinderella story (thus how we came to the subject), and she was determined that we would see it the next time we visited her home.  Sure enough, the next time we went over there, she was like "Let's watch Ever After!" and so we did.  And had to pause near the end because more than half of us had to pee. But anyway.
I thought this was a very interesting take.  It didn't have magic, which is what our friend loved most about it.  I like that this seems more plausible than most retellings.

Characters:
Danielle - Fabulously sassy child.  I love that she's not the average Cinderella.  She's willing to stand up for herself to her step-family, and while she knows that'll get her in trouble, she makes her voice known.  Plus, she gave us this fantastic scene:


Prince Henry - This guy's pretty fantastic.  A bit bratty, quite childish, but determined to marry the girl he loves... even before he knows who she actually is.

Favorite Quote: "Why that was pure genius!" "Yes, I shall go down in history as the man who opened a door."

How Does it Compare to the Original? It... it really doesn't?  Like I guess it's in a similar time period that the original was written in, but it's really completely different.  So... yeah. 

Overall Rating: 4 winged gowns out of 5



And so we come to then end of our first Fairytale Friday celebration.  Hopefully you enjoyed our time together.

Do you have a favorite retelling of Cinderella?  Have you read/watched these two?  *waves you toward the comment section*

~ Mia

Fairytale Fridays ~ An Overview

This thing is a thing I've been wanting to do for awhile.  I told myself, "Mia, if you ever get a blog, you will do the thing."

Today I said to myself, "Okay, Mia. It's Friday. Let's do this."

(and no, Mia is not my real name.  and yes, sometimes I refer to myself as Mia.  deal with it.)

 

So, what are Fairytale Fridays?



Well, if you haven't already figured it out, I am an avid reader of fairytales.  The magic, the romance, the DEATH.  *cough*  Have you read Grimm's?  Terrifying.

(There's this one called "The Robber's Bride" where a girl gets kidnapped by cannibalistic robbers and only escapes because of a raven's creepy chanting.  That one really freaked me out.)

But because I love fairytales and I love fairytale retellings (if you couldn't tell it from the 'about the writing' tab up there), I thought it would be cool to do a series of posts (who knows how long it'll be pffffft) where every week, I bring you a review of one of the many, many retellings I've read and loved.  And the reviews shall break down like this:

Overview of the Story:
What I Thought:
Characters:
Favorite Quote:
How Does it Compare to the Original?

Movies, books, you name it, I'll review it.  Because FAIRYTALES *throws glitter on you*

(if you would like more fairytale magic, check out my pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/grace_karlson/fairytales/ )

Have a favorite retelling? Let me know in the comments! I'm always looking for new takes on the old tales ^.^

~ Mia