Fairy Tales – Page 13 – Cannonball Read 17

Retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

August 2, 2019 by Classic Leave a Comment

Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review. So this was really good. I like a good retelling and Craig does a great job with “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” by the Brothers Grimm. We follow the main character Annaleigh who is intent on figuring out if her older sister was murdered. From there we have Craig work in Gothic elements as well as some pretty dark horror elements as well. I loved the world building and would […]

“One should not make a pet out of a wild beast.”

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

July 18, 2019 by cosbrarian 6 Comments

cbrbingo11 – Cannonballer says! In the kingdom of Harding, heir to the throne Emory must go through the ritual every king has had to take on before being granted the crown: slay a dragon, rescue the damsel captive there, and make her your queen. Emory conquers this task as he conquers all of his conquests, and the young woman he takes back to his kingdom is like the ones who came before: no memory of her past or her time in the dragon’s lair, nameless, […]

“I like stories where women save themselves.”

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman

April 24, 2019 by cosbrarian Leave a Comment

Gaiman smushes the stories of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty together in this gorgeously illustrated novella. The setting of the book is sometime after Snow White is awakened from her coffin and at the 100 year mark after Sleeping Beauty’s curse set in. But the stakes are raised when the sleeping sickness that has fallen on the princess and her kingdom is spreading out further and further as the curse lingers. Several of the dwarves bring this to their queen, and conveniently she is looking […]

Been there, but it isn’t bad

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

April 21, 2019 by Chris Leave a Comment

I really wanted to like this much more than I did. However, parts of the book are very been there and done that. What makes the book stand out is the use Russian folklore and setting. Arden really does have the knowledge that makes the world believable. In fact, the best parts of the book are the ones where the heroine is growing up. These are so beautifully written, and quite frankly are the reason why the book rates three stars from me. When the […]

A Little Less Sparkle the Second Time Around

The Ancient Magus Bride The Silver Yarn by Kore Yamazaki et al.

April 14, 2019 by CoffeeShopReader Leave a Comment

The second The Ancient Magus Bride short story collection, The Silver Yarn, had some ups and downs, and in the end I wasn’t quiet as in love with the stories as with the first collection. I think maybe it was partially expectations, and partly the fact that the first collection had more references to the original characters and series. This set was still entertaining, it just didn’t have the same sparkle. Three stories stood out for me this time, and as it turns out, they […]

Do Not Suffer a Witch to Live

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

March 29, 2019 by Classic 2 Comments

Wow. Just wow. I was breathless and in tears within minutes of starting book #3 (have tissues near by) and was full of anger through most of the book. I can honestly say make sure you have this one ready to go after finishing book #2. Vasya comes into her own in this one and we are given a glimpse into a possible future. The book moves back and forth between Sasha and then Vasya in this one. My only complaint is I wanted more […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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