Just as Gail Carson Levine‘s award-winning Ella Enchanted tackled the story of Cinderella, giving the story depth and meaning whilst simultaneously treating the reader to one of the best heroines and most realistic romances in all of Young Adult literature, Fairest purports to retell the fairytale of Snow White with a few twists.
Aza was abandoned as an infant at the Featherbed Inn and adopted by the innkeeper and his wife. Though loved by her family,
January 30th, 2010. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 2.5 | Gail Carson Levine | Stand-Alone, Young Adult | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
During almost the entire length of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hermione Granger carried with her an old book titled The Tales of Beedle the Bard that was bequeathed to her by Professor Dumbledore in his will. It was not until much later that the full significance of the book, (particularly the final story) became clear in helping Harry achieve his quest of defeating Lord Voldemort.
There have been little allusions to “wizard fairytales”
January 27th, 2010. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 4 | J.K. Rowling | Children, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Most people think they’ve read — or at least know — the story of Peter Pan. The figure of the boy who refuses to grow up has become so infused in Western culture that he’s taken on a life beyond his literary beginnings, starring in countless theatrical productions, movies, television series, prequels and sequels, his image used in merchandise (everything from records to peanut butter), and on several famous statues around the world (the most famous being the one in Kensington Gardens) and even providing the namesake behind a psychological condition (we’ve all heard of people with a “Peter Pan syndrome,” referring to those who refuse to accept the responsibilities of adult life).
January 14th, 2010. Rebecca Fisher and Kat Hooper´s rating: 5 | J.M. Barrie | Children | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker
Writing a critical review for a book as harmless and fluffy as The Frog Princess makes me feel awful, almost like I’m unnecessarily picking on a little girl in the corner who is minding her own business and trying to quietly read her book. But the fact remains that although The Frog Princess is a diverting and easy-to-read story, it’s also rather patchy and forgettable. Quite simply: there are better books to be read to your kids, and plenty that include frogs and princesses.
January 11th, 2010. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 2 | E.D. Baker | Children | SFF Reviews | no comments |
At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald
The Meaning Will Come with the Thing Itself…
George MacDonald wrote hundreds of stories throughout his lifetime (not surprising considering he had eleven kids!), most of which were fantasies that drew on a rich variety of sources: mythology, fairytales and Biblical mysticism. Credited by C.S. Lewis as the main inspiration behind The Chronicles of Narnia, MacDonald’s dreamy little tales (especially this one) are a strange blend of frustrating ramblings and sublime imagery. Love it or hate it,
January 10th, 2010. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 3 | George MacDonald | Children, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The fantasy genre owes Chris Wooding a huge favour. In a genre awash with sad Tolkien knock-offs filled with magic swords, plucky heroes, wise wizards, princesses-in-distress and other tired clichés, Wooding continues to churn out exciting and intriguing stories that contain a rare force of imagination. Even though Poison is not quite as successful as some of his earlier efforts (especially The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray) it certainly deserves credit for its skill,
January 10th, 2010. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 4 | Chris Wooding | Stand-Alone, Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Search for Senna by K.A. Applegate
Best known for her bestselling pre-teen series Animorphs, K.A. Applegate takes on a darker subject matter for a significantly older audience in her twelve book series Everworld. Straight away one of the advantages to the story is that there’s an end in sight (unlike the Animorph series which dragged on for fifty-four books), though I cannot help but wonder if perhaps this series would have benefited by simply being a single novel. The chapters are short,
January 9th, 2010. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 2 | K.A. Applegate | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding
If you enjoy the atmosphere and imagination of Philip Pullman, Garth Nix, or Philip Reeve, then you’re sure to like Chris Wooding, a YA fantasy author who does not feel the need to fill his fantasy world with elves, dwarfs, wizards, dragons and every other fantasy cliché that’s been done to death since Tolkien published The Lord of the Rings.
Some authors are willing to explore new territory,
January 9th, 2010. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 5 | Chris Wooding | Stand-Alone, Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede
We last saw the cousins Cecelia and Kate at the conclusion of Sorcery and Cecelia:The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, in which they had foiled a devious plot and found true love with their new husbands, Thomas Schofield and James Tartleton. The story was unique because it was told in the format of letters between the two cousins, each one telling the other about their separate adventures; and as they did with their previous collaboration, the authors Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer each take a character (Wrede is Cecelia;
January 7th, 2010. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 4 | Caroline Stevermer, Patricia C. Wrede | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian by Lloyd Alexander
Despite its mouthful of a title, this children’s novel has everything that you would expect from a Lloyd Alexander story: a likable protagonist, a colorful supporting cast, plenty of twists and turns, and a profound morality at work that is so expertly melded into the storyline that many won’t even realized they’ve been reading about it.
Set in what feels like sixteenth-century Italy (though Alexander is never specific on the time or location) young Sebastian is a fiddler for the Baron Purn-Hessel,
January 5th, 2010. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 3.5 | Lloyd Alexander | Children, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | no comments |
I love it!
Almost as good as my friend: up-and-coming author Amber Merlini!
I don't know what kind of a writer he is, but Simon Raven got the best speculative-fiction-writing name ever!
[…] Its gotten great reviews from Publishers Weekly (starred review!), Kirkus, Locus, Booklist, Lithub, FantasyLiterature, and more. Some of whom…
The Changeling is everything you say it is Sandy. It is well-crafted and low-key in a way that lends considerable…