Book Review: The Fairy’s Return and Other Princess Tales

The Fairy’s Return and Other Princess Tales 

Gail Carson Levine

Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Young Adult

Publication: 2009

Format: Paperback, 390 pages

Website: Gail Carson Levine

Buy: Amazon

The Fairy’s Return and Other Princess Tales is a collection of fairy tales that are retold by Gail Carson Levine. The book contained six princesses’ short stories — The Fairy Mistake (Toads and Princesses), The Princess Test (The Princess and The Pea), Princess Sonora and The Long Sleep (Sleeping Beauty), Cinderellis and The Glass Hills (The Princess and The Glass Hills), For Biddle’s Sake (Puddocky) and The Fairy’s Return (The Golden Goose).

I was a bit skeptical after reading the first story, The Fairy Mistake. I knew that I’ve heard the story before and I wasn’t expecting that Levine would do a good job on retelling other stories. But halfway through the book, I fell in love with Levine’s Princess Sonora and The Long Sleep — Levine’s version of Sleeping Beauty. This story is my favorite among all of them. In this version, Princess Sonora was granted with intelligence. She can talk when she was just a baby. Instead of avoiding herself from the curse where she would be prick by a spindle, she decided to prick herself when the right time comes. But then, an accident occurred…

The story was short and sweet. I kind of like Levine’s style in this book as compared to the last book I read from her, Ever. But I probably enjoy it a bit more if I were a child.

Book cover’s description:

What would you do if diamonds and rubies tumbled out of your mouth every time you spoke? Well, that′s what happens to Rosella after a run with a misguided fairy in "A Fairy′s Mistake." If you were turned into a toad, would you pine after your prince as much as Parsley does in "For Biddle′s Sake?"

The road to happily-ever-after is never easy, but the masterful touch of Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine will keep readers laughing their way through these fresh retellings of popular fairy tales.

All six of Gail Carson Levine′s beloved PRINCESS TALES in one book!

Book Review: Ever

Ever

Gail Carson Levine

Pages: 244

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Publication: 2008

Rating: 2/5

Falling in love is easy . . .

. . . for Kezi, a beautiful mortal, dancer, and rug weaver, and for Olus, Akkan god of the winds. Their love brings Kezi the strength to fight her fate, and it gives Olus the strength to confront his fears. Together—and apart—they encounter spiders with webs of iron, the cruel lord of the land of the dead, the mysterious god of destiny, and the tests of the Akkan gods. If they succeed, they will be together; but if they fail, Olus will have to endure the ultimate loss, and Kezi will have to make the supreme sacrifice.

I’m a big fan of Ella Enchanted. I read it a few years ago and immediately smitten with Levine’s story telling. It was fun, witty and I absolutely adore the character. However, I was a bit disappointed with this book. 

Ever was written with Olus and Kezi’s narration switching with each chapter. I find that Levine’s writing style was different in this book. It is too simple. It almost makes me feel like the sentences were not complete. What sadden me was that the romance between Olus and Kezi seemed a bit rushed. I thought the story—the love story was bland. The character was bland.

Great  plot, easy read. But I think the story could be developed into something better.