First thanks to Harper Teen and Edelweiss for allowing me to read an egalley of this. I didn’t realize till just now, but I downloaded this clear back in July! I always try to wait till a month or less between the time I do a review and the book is published, but man, I could have read this sooner! If you’ve been following my blog for very long, you know that lately I’ve been on a real big fairy tale retelling kick. And this book definitely hit that mark in a big way!
It’s a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story. What if the kiss that brought her back to life had nothing to do with being her true love, and just was some kind of magic? That’s what this Aurora is dealing with. And she was the only one that went to sleep, so now all her family and every one she knew has been dead for a hundred or more years. She is woken up by a kiss from a prince named Rodric. He’s nice enough, and handsome, but he doesn’t really come across as the confident prince you’d imagine. And Aurora doesn’t know that she loves him. There is something about him that just doesn’t send her over the moon with love at first sight. The curse on her says that whoever wakes her will marry her and become the ruler of the country. At the moment Rodric’s father is the King. His mother does not seem to be very friendly, and pretty much tells Aurora to just be quiet, and do what is asked of her. Smile, be pretty and do as she’s guided. Aurora soon finds that the King is cruel, and her land has been in disarray in the years since she’s been sleeping.
As before she first pricked her finger and fell asleep, it seems she is to be kept as a sort of royal prisoner. Only in her rooms, not allowed to leave the castle to go out to see her beloved city and forest. But she knows how to pick the lock on her door, and she sneaks out and meets a boy in the town named Tristan. With no one knowing who she is at this bar, she is able to enjoy herself, and not feel like she must hold herself up to the palace’s standards. Within the the palace there are other princes around, including one Prince Finnegan from a town across the sea. A kingdom that purports to have actual dragons. Finnegan has his own proposition for Aurora, trying to convince her to come to his country and be his bride. To align herself with his kingdom, and that would be the only way to change the rule of the current king. Tristan is also one of the rebels in her own country and has his own ideas about how to change the kingdom. And then there is even the evil witch, Celestine, who cursed Aurora in the first place, who wants Aurora to come with her. You see there is something about Aurora that can help her, that can give her the magic back that she wants and needs.
Aurora must decide who she can trust. Who truly has the best interests of her kingdom in mind, as well as who she can actually live with what they want from her. She will find betrayal, and there is one point where I was so mad/sad about who died. In the end, I’m not sure who the romance should be with. None of the men in her life really live up to what she needs, or who I think she deserves. As I ended and found that there will be a sequel, I was glad, because there is more to tell of this tale. Will Sleeping Beauty actually end up with her Prince Charming, and who is he? And together will they bring her kingdom back to the happiness that she remembers from the days before she fell into her long sleep.
Such a different view of the story. And thinking about all the princes who tried to kiss her to bring her awake, well her viewpoint on it was kind of an eye opener. How much would that feel like people just kissing you, strangers, with no permission, with you not knowing. Kind of reminded me of the sleeping beauty/Snow White stories in the Beau Rivage series by Sarah Cross a bit for that.
So now I’ll just be waiting until the 2nd book comes out, projected for 2016. That’s a long way away.
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I love a good retelling so that is why I want to try this one! The cover doesn't catch my eye too much, but fairytales always hit my soft spot and draw me in. Great review!
Check out my review: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2015/02/love-least-expected-review.html
The cover isn't one of my favorites, although I do like it. It is a good retelling so you should try it out! I'll be sure to check out your review as well! Thanks for stopping by.
I'd love to read this. Sleeping Beauty is probably the Disney story I remember least of all. Since it's mostly a blur, the retelling would be easier to get into for me. The cover took me a second to process, since the model is barely visible. The white of the dress completely overshadows her. I guess that could be representative of the story – the one who woke her up and his family see her more as a path to lose the thrown should she marry someone else. It's not so much about her as a person. Or maybe I'm overanalyzing, but it sure sounds like it'd fit! 🙂
I think it puts out the details of the story enough to get you through even if you don't remember it. It was a great idea, and you're not overanalyzing, you're hitting the nail on the head for the story!
Oh, this one is such a different way to tell the story, and I love it when it's different and original! Now I want to read this book! Thanks for sharing this great review! 🙂
Kim @ Divergent Gryffindor: BLOG || VLOG
It was definitely a very unique story. I highly recommend it! Thanks for stopping by!
First off, beautiful cover! And the book sounds really good! Definitely adding this to my list! Great review, btw 🙂
It took me a minute to get into, but once I did I loved it. Hope you get it soon!
This book sounds absolutely amazing! I used to read so many fairytale retellings (*cough cough* so much Alex Flinn…;)) And I haven't in a long time but I think this book will definitely get me back into that genre:) I will always love Disney but I think it's really interesting that the princess gets to explore a different love interest and gets to influence her future and her kingdom's future as well! There are so many different ways this could go so I'm glad there's a sequel because I totally get not feeling satisfied with an ending or love interest:P Also Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross was amazing so if it's in any way similar that's a plus:)
Awesome review!
Maya @ anotheronceuponatime.blogspot.com
I haven't read too many Alex Flinn, only one or two, but these are somewhat similar. This one may be a little darker, maybe not. This was kind of similar to Kill Me Softly, or maybe it's just because I'd read them together so recently.
I'm glad you enjoyed this one as well! I am excited for the sequel too, because I am hoping she will really come into her own. I also am not sure who she should end up with…..leaning towards Finnegan, surpassingly. But who knows his motives! I guess we will see in book two! Great review, Lisa!
I'm thinking the sequel should be more of her actually getting out there and doing something for a change. And I'm not sure who I want her with either. 🙂 So far none of the guys have really been great choices based on what we know about them so far. Thanks for stopping by!
hi lisa! thank you for stopping by my review of a wicked thing. i'm right there with you about the author's different take on the retelling of sleeping beauty. even though i had a LOT of issues with AWT i still gave it a 3-star rating because of it's uniqueness. i had to give the author props for that.
-michelle @ (http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com) Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks
Yeah, it definitely had such uniqueness that it deserved a pretty good, even 3 star, rating just because of that. Thanks for coming over and checking out my review as well!
I read this one a while back, and I liked it. I didn't love it, but I feel like the ending was heading in a direction that meant love for me in book 2! And I am looking forward to it. I am glad you enjoyed this one, and totally agree that at this point, I don't think any of the boys is right for Aurora. Not yet… But Rodric captured my heart towards the end of the story! And Finnegan made me laugh, the pompous arse. Tristan was an enigma. Curious to see what happens with all three of these. And I was SOOO mad about the one that I think you are talking about that died. NOT necessary!