Water Song by Suzanne Weyn

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Fairy Tale Retelling, The Frog Prince, World War I

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Young, beautiful, and wealthy, Emma Pennington is accustomed to a very comfortable life. Although war rages abroad, she hardly feels its effect. She and her mother travel from their home in Britain to the family estate in Belgium, never imagining that the war could reach them there. But it does. Soon Emma finds herself stranded in a war-torn country, utterly alone. Enemy troops fight to take over her estate, leaving her with no way to reach her family and no way out. With all of her attention focused on survival and escape, Emma hardly expects to find love. But the war will teach her that life is unpredictable, people aren’t always what they seem, and magic is lurking everywhere.

This takes the story of the Frog Prince and sets it during World War I. Emma has been left alone and cannot get back to England on her own. She rescues Jack first and then from German soldiers. The story mirrors that of the fairy tale but this one does have intrigue and spying on both sides. The banter between Emma and Jack is very funny. You see the growing relationship between them grow and deepen. I found this to be a very sweet retelling with a bit of danger added in. I really liked this story.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416940138

Pages: 194

Series:

Volume:

The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Fairy Tale Retelling, Twelve Dancing Princesses, Magic, King Arthur

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Under the stars, in a secret world... Rowena, the youngest of twelve sisters, loves to slip out of the castle at night and dance in a magical forest. Soon she convinces her sisters to join her. When Sir Ethan notices that his daughters' slippers look tattered every morning, he is certain they've been sneaking out. So he posts a challenge to all the suitors in the kingdom: The first man to discover where his daughters have been is free to marry the one he chooses. Meanwhile a handsome young knight named Bedivere is involved in a challenge of his own: to return the powerful sword, Excalibur, to a mysterious lake. While looking for the lake, Bedivere meets the beautiful Rowena and falls for her. Bedivere knows that accepting Sir Ethan's challenge is the only opportunity for him to be with Rowena forever. But this puts both Bedivere and Rowena in a dangerous situation...one in which they risk their lives for a chance at love.

This story mixes the Fairy Tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and the legend of King Arthur. It takes place after the death of King Arthur. The knight Bedivere is on a quest given to him by his dying King. Take Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake so that it will be safe. Then we have Rowena who is the youngest of the twelve princess, she is the one who finds a way out and to the magical forest. She even has a vision of Bedivere when he is on the battle field. I really loved how the two stories where mixed together to create a whole new story of its own. I found that it was very inventive and enjoyed reading it.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416961321

Pages: 224

Series:

Volume:

Ice By Sarah Beth Durst

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Fairy Tale Retelling, Beauty and the Beast, Souls, Polar Bears

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe. Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back -- if Cassie will agree to be his bride. That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her -- until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice.

To use the author’s own words this story is about true love. It takes place at the Arctic. Cassie is a single minded person who wants to follow in her father’s steps. But everything changes when she meets Bear. Then Cassie discovers a world that makes her logical mind turn on its side. And she discovers what she will truly do for love. This is a beautiful story. It shows what one would do for the ones that they love. I read this and then reread it because I just didn’t want it to end. I found the characters believable in a magical and beautiful setting of the great white north. Put this book on your must read list it really is that good.

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

ISBN: 1416986448

Pages: 336

Series:

Volume:

The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Fairy Tale Retelling, The Wild Swans, Magic

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: When her mother, the queen, is attacked by an unnatural beast, Alexandra tries every one of her healing skills, but her greatest effort is not enough. Too soon Alexandra’s father, the king, is spellbound by a beautiful stranger – a woman intent on having the Kingdom to herself. In a terrifying moment, all Alexandra knows disappears, including her beloved brothers, and she is suddenly banished to a barren land unlike her own. But Alexandra has more gifts than even she realizes, and she’ll need to master all of them as she is confronted with magic, murder, and the strongest of evil forces.

The Swan Kingdom is a re-telling of a famous fairy tale called 'The Wild Swans' by Hans Christian Andersen. There are a few changes from the original story. But the base is the same story. Alexandra though believes herself to be a cunning women. One who is able to do magical workings. Her mother has taught her till her untimely death. After which her whole world is turned upside down. But she strives to find her brothers as she dreams of Gabriel. This is a brilliant retelling with a very strong female character in Alexandra. She doesn’t believe in herself for a long time but then realizes what she is capable of. It is one of those stories that you will want to read again and again as it is full of magic and romance. I really enjoyed this book

Publisher: Candlewick Press

ISBN: 0763642932

Pages: 272

Series:

Volume:

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fairy Tale Retelling

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: A tale of twelve princesses doomed to dance until dawn. Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all - true love - to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above.

This is the first book in her princess series. It is a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. Galen has been raised by soldiers to be one. He has seen his share of death and does not want to have to see any more of it. While Rose is just trying to take care of her family, as her sisters dance every night. The two come together and have a growing friendship. This is a very sweet tale. Rose is strong even in her weakest moments as she fights sickness. Galen works to help all those around him, never looking above his station. The twelve dancing princesses is one of my favorite stories and I thought that this version is very well written and like it a lot. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Princess of Glass.

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

ISBN: 1599904551

Pages: 304

Series: Princess

Volume: 1

A Kiss At Midnight by Eloisa James

Genre: Historical Romance; 1800’s

Sub Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling, Cinderella

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Miss Kate Daltry doesn't believe in fairy tales... or happily ever after. Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince... and decides he's anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman—a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions. Gabriel likes his fiancé, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn't love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him. Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after. Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble... Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune... Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.

This is a retelling of the fairy tale Cinderella. Kate has been working as a maid of all trades since the death of her father. Her stepsister Victoria is to be wed but she must be approved of by her fiancés uncle who is a prince. Due to a mishap Kate is made to go in Victoria’s stead as Victoria. Gabriel our prince is to marry a Russian princess so that he can help to support his castle of family relatives. But things change when he meets Kate. The story has now magic but there is a Godmother who is very endearing. The take on this classic is brilliantly imaginative. Kate is a spit fire and yet she is very kind as she doesn’t want to hurt those that she cares about. I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters are brilliant. Henry made me laugh more times than I could count. Also the dialog throughout the book works so well with the story. I'm looking forward in reading the next book in this series, When Beauty Tamed the Beast.

Publisher: Avon

ISBN: 1402236964

Pages: 416

Series: Fairy Tales

Volume: 1