Review: Enchanted

Title: Enchanted
Author: Alethea Kontis
Series: Woodcutter Series #1 Published: 2012 by Harcourt
Version: Hardcover
Obtained: Library

It isn’t easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past—and hers?

First Sentence: “My name is Sunday Woodcutter and I am doomed to a happy life.”

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This story is a giant mash-up of many, many fairytales. The obvious one is The Princess and the Frog, as Sunday Woodcutter grows to love a frog and kisses him, turning him human. But Alethea Kontis has given the reader a new and more in-depth look at this story. Not only does the frog turn human, but he has to THEN make Sunday see that it is him.

I really enjoyed everything about this book. Ms. Kontis has a quirky way of writing, and I loved the random information she decided to throw into her story. It helped the whole world have more depth and the characters have more intricacy (many of Sunday’s sisters represented famous fairytale characters). Even though there were many characters, each one possesses a uniqueness and charm.

But by far, my favorite character is Rumbold. Starting as an adorable talking frog, he then turns human and has to decide how to best woo Sunday. It’s a bit of a problem though because her family hates him; yet, somehow he manages to get her attention. As for Sunday, she tries to understand why she actually does like this man that her family has disliked for so long. Their courtship sort of takes off from there…with other speed bumps.

I will most definitely check out the next two books in the series, which come out Fall 2013 and Fall 2014. Hopefully these will further explore the other character’s lives and more of this fantastic world.

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Content Warning: None.

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Review: The Crown of Embers

Title: The Crown of Embers
Author: Rae Carson
Series: Fire and Thorns #2
Published: 2012 by Greenwillow Books
Version: Hardcover
Obtained: Bought

Elisa is a hero.

She led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as the country’s ruler should be secure. But it isn’t.

Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from foreign realms and even from within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one has not yet been fulfilled.

To conquer the power she bears, once and for all, Elisa must follow a trail of long-forgotten – and forbidden – clues, from the deep, hidden catacombs of her own city to the treacherous seas. With her go a one-eyed spy, a traitor, and the man whom – despite everything – she is falling in love with.

If she’s lucky, she will return from the journey. But there will be a cost.

First Sentence:
“My entourage of guards struggles to keep pace as I fly down the corridors of my palace.”

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ATTENTION!! This is a SEQUEL and therefore the first book might be spoiled slightly in this review. So if you have NOT read the masterpiece that is Girl of Fire and Thorns, read my review of it. Then read it. Then come back here and read this. And then go get this book. See you in like…3 days. :)

 

Why Rae Carson? Why are your books devastating in SUCH a great way? Why do I finish them and then not want to read another book until the sequel comes out? Why are you so perfect?

All who have read the first in this series can agree with me when I say that these books are perfect. I legitimately think that they cannot be made better in any way. Also, if you thought the first book was unbeatable….oh boy.

The story picks up right where it left off. Elisa is trying to run this country she just inherited. After several attempts on her life, she decides to go in search of the source of all the world’s magic, so she can control her powers for once.

Elisa is the poster-child for proper character development. What a difference in her from the shy, overweight, and over-looked girl we met in the beginning of the series! She has matured through the events of the first book and now she is trying to understand how to be the person she has always wanted to be. Many times when she takes control of a situation, you just want to say, “Look at you go girl! Show them how smart you are!”

However, many people are still trying to manipulate and use her: basically everyone with power around her. With the beautiful exception of Hector. OH HECTOR, my friend! You went from being a faithful side character to becoming a full-blown, beautiful, complex, and HOT love-interest. When I first heard that Hector was the new love interest, I was like, “Isn’t he the silent bearded guard who barely had a part in the first one?” Oh my friend, you will fall in love with Hector even faster than Elisa.

More nice thoughts: Setting was just as vivid and immersing as last time, I want to go there. New side character of Storm = completely awesome. I love characters that don’t ever lie.
Mara…I love you. Thank you for making heavy moments light-hearted.

But hey, Rae Carson, stop killing me. You’re a bit of a jerk after that move you pulled in the first one, and now the ending to this one. I mean, it’s a wonderful set-up for the next story, but it made me slam the book down. A few times.

Now I will sit patiently, bookless, as I await late 2013.
(just kidding, I’ll totally be reading other books until then.)

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Content Warning: Kissing and talk of sex

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