Review: When Stars Are Bright

Title: When Stars Are Bright

Author: Amber R. Duell

Date of Publication: January 7th, 2020

Goodreads Summary:

For Lina Holt, a Dutch seventeen-year-old with a flair for singing, 1930 is going to be her year. Her long-time boyfriend is about to propose and her mother will finally realize their relationship isn’t a passing phase. But when a stranger snatches her from her backyard, everything changes.

Lina is thrust into the spotlight of a New York vaudeville show where she’s paired with Nik, a mysterious pianist. The two bond during rehearsals and it doesn’t take long before Nik puts himself at risk to confess a hidden truth. Without Lina, the show is in its last season and there’s no way she’ll be allowed to slip through the owner’s fingers. Not when she carries fairy magic in her blood—an gift that turns her song into a dangerously addictive drug.

If Lina ever wants to return home, she must learn who to trust before she’s forced to remain a prisoner on stage forever.

WHEN STARS ARE BRIGHT is a historical Thumbelina retelling with a touch of magic.

My Review:

I’ve read all of Duell’s books and this one has to be my favorite! When I read retellings, I like for them to have an original spin on it! And this had that! Also, it’s based on Thumbelina which I haven’t read any other retellings on!

What I liked best about this story was that it’s set in the 1930s! It’s very character driven with a touch of wonderful and hypnotic magic! Lina was easy to relate to and you could see her really grow as a character because of the predicament she was in!

I’ve read all of Duell’s books and this one has to be my favorite! When I read retellings, I like for them to have an original spin on it! And this had that! Also, it’s based on Thumbelina which I haven’t read any other retellings on!

What I liked best about this story was that it’s set in the 1930s! It’s very character driven with a touch of wonderful and hypnotic magic! Lina was easy to relate to and you could see her really grow as a character because of the predicament she was in!

I also seriously loved Nik and Christian and following this wonderful journey of these characters! Also, I’ll just say that the ending gave me a bucket full of emotion!

What’s your favorite retelling?

Review: Alice

Title: Alice

Author: Christina Henry

Date of Publication: August 4th, 2015

Goodreads Summary:

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.

In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…

Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.

Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.

And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.

My Review:

Right off the bat, this was my perfect bloody fairy tale! I wasn’t sure what to expect from this, and honestly, I’ve seen the cover for years and didn’t know what the heck was going on there! But man, oh man, I should have read this sooner!

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This was pretty cool because it felt dystopianish but with magic and horror and a smidge of romance. I loved Alice so much—she was easy to connect with, and she was such a good MC. She helped, she killed, she protected, and she had a good heart. Hatch, my little murderious fiend, oh how my heart beats just for you. He was fierce and he was good, even though he wielded that axe like there was no tomorrow!

Overall, this is the type of horror book that I need more of. The writing and world were so well thought out, and I’m very much intrigued to see what will happen in book 2!

What’s your favorite Alice in Wonderland retelling?

Review: Stain

Title: Stain

Author: A.G. Howard

Date of Publication: January 15th, 2019

Goodreads Summary:

Once upon a nightmare, her fairy tale begins…

After Lyra—a princess incapable of speech or sound—is cast out of her kingdom of daylight by her wicked aunt, a witch saves her life, steals her memories, and raises her in an enchanted forest … disguised as a boy known only as Stain. Meanwhile, in Lyra’s rival kingdom, the prince of thorns and night is dying, and the only way for him to break his curse is to wed the princess of daylight, for she is his true equal. As Lyra rediscovers her identity, an impostor princess prepares to steal her betrothed prince and her crown. To win back her kingdom, save the prince, and make peace with the land of the night, Lyra must be loud enough to be heard without a voice, and strong enough to pass a series of tests—ultimately proving she’s everything a traditional princess is not.

My Review:

I’ve loved every book from A.G. Howard, and this one was just as gorgeous! Beautiful writing and lush descriptions! It honestly gave me Grimm Fairy Tales vibes except with a unique and new spin!

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There were four main POVs and each one was intriguing! Each character added more depth to the story, giving it a more roundabout tale. Also, the sun and the moon theme was so utterly perfect and I loved, loved, loved the friendship, the journey, the romance, the emotions!

This is one retelling that I would be ecstatic to see as a film. There was so much loveliness in the story that I’d seriously love seeing it brought to life! Can I just say that I want Lyra’s eyelashes!!!!

What’s your favorite retelling?

 

Review: Hunter’s Truce

Title: Hunter’s Truce

Author: Elle Beaumont

Date of Publication: December 18th, 2018

Goodreads Summary:

The Big Bad Wolf never killed for fun—he was on a mission.

Little pig, little pig, let me come in. I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in. We’re tired of death, of prejudice and more, if you don’t make some changes I’ll kick down your door.

When Niklaus von Brandt’s mother is murdered by a poacher it moves him to make a change in the kingdom of Abendrot. Once a kingdom founded by werewolves, it is now ruled by humans who have one goal: eradicate the werewolves. In order to protect what is left of his family, he must make an important decision, one that leads him to become an assassin, and the shadow the kingdom murmurs about.

Too bad the royal family has a secret—a secret that Niklaus plans on using to his advantage, and in the meantime he has given King Ansgar three chances before he comes huffing and puffing.

My Review:

I’ve been really liking novellas and short stories lately! I can read through them quickly and feel satisfied! Also, a Three Little Pigs retelling? Heck yeah!

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This is the second story I’ve read by Elle Beaumont and both have been equally amazing! Even though this is a novella, it was just as developed as a full length book! The writing and world building were on complete point!

Now, I love pretty much anything werewolf, and Niklaus, oh Niklaus, I did thoroughly enjoy being inside your head! There was some action, some romance, some struggles, and a whole lot of fun!

Do you like the story of the Three Little Pigs?

Free: The Bride of Glass

Hey guys! You can download The Bride of Glass for FREE on Amazon until October 31st! Happy Halloween!!! Also, the first book, Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault, is only $1.99 for right now!

Download now on Amazon!

Did you download The Bride of Glass?

Review: Heart of Iron

Title: Heart of Iron

Author: Ashley Poston

Date of Publication: February 27th, 2018

Goodreads Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Ana is a scoundrel by nurture and an outlaw by nature. Found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09, Ana was saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09—one of the last remaining illegal Metals—has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him.

Ana’s desperate effort to save D09 leads her on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship that could offer all the answers. But at the last moment, a spoiled Ironblood boy beats Ana to her prize. He has his own reasons for taking the coordinates, and he doesn’t care what he’ll sacrifice to keep them.

When everything goes wrong, she and the Ironblood end up as fugitives on the run. Now their entire kingdom is after them—and the coordinates—and not everyone wants them captured alive.

What they find in a lost corner of the universe will change all their lives—and unearth dangerous secrets. But when a darkness from Ana’s past returns, she must face an impossible choice: does she protect a kingdom that wants her dead or save the Metal boy she loves?

My Review:

I had been putting this one off to read for a while. This, was a big mistake! First, the whole Anastasia retelling thing was pretty awesome. Also, if you liked Cinder, I’m pretty sure you’d like this! If you didn’t like Cinder, I’d still read it!

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There are four main characters, and I loved Di, Jax, and Robb! I didn’t connect with Ana as much as I did with the others, but it didn’t take away from the story one bit! Plus, the romance between both couples was awesome! The friendship and family bond was just on point, too!

There’s plenty of spacey action, me gripping my heart at times, and a lot of fun stuff happening! The book does end on a huge cliffhanger. And I’m patiently tapping my fingers together as I wait for a release date! Also, anything written by Poston is going to be an auto buy from me!

Have you seen Anastasia?

Review: Second Star

Title: Second Star

Author: J.M. Sullivan

Date of Publication: March 5th, 2019

Goodreads Summary:

Wendy Darling worked her entire life to rise through the ranks of the prestigious Londonierre Brigade. Now as a Captain, she has everything she’s always wanted, including a ship and crew of her own. But when the Brigade receives a strange transmission from the legendary James Hooke, lost a hundred years earlier in uncharted space and presumed dead, Wendy is willing to risk it all to rescue her hero. She races to the planet known only as Neverland; her mission to find the long-lost crew and bring them home.

But there is more to Neverland than meets the eye, and more to Hooke than what was written in history books. When Wendy crash lands on the ominous planet, she quickly discovers Neverland’s dark secret; a malevolent being known as The Shadow that’s looking for a host body to escape its eternal prison. To fulfill her mission, Wendy must decide whether to trust the dashing Hooke or the mysterious Fleet mechanic who goes by the name of Pan–and she has to decide quickly…

Before the darkness consumes them all.

My Review:

All you had to tell me before reading this book was Peter Pan and retelling! From the opening page you get to meet Peter and Tinc, and because this setting has Space vibes, Tinc’s character was pretty dang cool! Honestly, I was a little scared about the space part, because I’ve only really liked the Lunar Chronicles. Other Sci-fi books have been too wordy and talk about crap I don’t know! But fear not, dear friends, this is a fun space ride.

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Also, you don’t only get Peter’s POV but Wendy’s. And let me tell you right now, Wendy isn’t like they frilly little girl in the movie, she’s a Captain! Yes, there’s some swoony moments. Yes, you get to hear Peter crow. Yes, you get to see some awesome side characters and an awesome scene with mermaids!

The writing was great, characters were fun, and the book kept me on my toes! The ending isn’t a bad cliffhanger, but I need the next book, like now! So let’s just say this was a fun space ride!

What is your happy thought?