E. D. Baker is the author of the book The Frog Princess, which I'm told inspired the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog.
Princess Emeralda is an only child and a huge disappointment to her mother. She cannot seem to do anything gracefully; even her laughter is inelegant. The book does not force her to suffer with a few snorts now and again. No, Emma's problem is much worse: she sounds like a braying donkey.
Her only consolation is her aunt Grassina, the Green Witch of Greater Greensward. The Green Witch is the nicest and most powerful witch in the entire country, and Grassina wants to train Emma to be the next Green Witch.
Sadly, there's a problem here, too. Emma's magic always - always - goes askew. Her baked crabapple goodies actually grow legs and claws and run around pinching everyone. Her cleaning spells toss her favorite ribbons into a dungheap.
One day while trying to find consolation in the swamp outside the castle, Emma runs into a talking frog named Eadric begging for a kiss to turn him human again. Although Emma is fully convinced that the prince, if he is who he says he is, deserved his punishment, she eventually agrees to turn him back human.
Somehow, even this goes wrong. Emma is turned into a frog, and Eadric is unchanged!
The two try to find some other way to reverse the spell and get them both human again. Sadly, the swamp is full of dangers. And of course, Emma can't just find any normal frog prince. She is actually stuck with a frog prince whom she is convinced must be the most annoying prince ever.
Aside from his knack for irritating her and flirting with her, at least Emma believes he is trustworthy.
...Is he?
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Shannon Hale
I guess I've pretty much covered all of Shannon Hale's books that I've read, though she has written other books as well.
Hale has written a series called Austenland, which is apparently based on Jane Austen's books - or was it just based on Pride and Prejudice? I have not read Austen's works, so I have opted not to read this series either.
Hale has another series called Rapunzel's Revenge. She co-wrote this series with her husband, and I'm honestly not sure why I have not read at least the first book in the series. I'll have to see if my library has it.
One of her books is titled The Actor and the Housewife, and I believe it is geared for an older audience. The book's summary says basically that an actor and a man's wife become friends, and just friends - or do they?
Hale also has written a series of books called Ever After High, where the children of fairytale characters get together for school and vow to follow in their parents' footsteps; however, the daughter of a villain doesn't want to be a villain. I've seen bits of the first book in the bookstore, and I'd like to read more. I'm just not sure if I want it badly enough to buy it.
There are a few other books she has written, though I don't believe they are part of a series. Although, I noticed she wrote one book that is number four in a series, but I didn't see any of the other books on her list of written books.
If you would like to see a list of all the books Shannon Hale has written, here is the link to her list on Goodreads. See you tomorrow for a different author!
Hale has written a series called Austenland, which is apparently based on Jane Austen's books - or was it just based on Pride and Prejudice? I have not read Austen's works, so I have opted not to read this series either.
Hale has another series called Rapunzel's Revenge. She co-wrote this series with her husband, and I'm honestly not sure why I have not read at least the first book in the series. I'll have to see if my library has it.
One of her books is titled The Actor and the Housewife, and I believe it is geared for an older audience. The book's summary says basically that an actor and a man's wife become friends, and just friends - or do they?
Hale also has written a series of books called Ever After High, where the children of fairytale characters get together for school and vow to follow in their parents' footsteps; however, the daughter of a villain doesn't want to be a villain. I've seen bits of the first book in the bookstore, and I'd like to read more. I'm just not sure if I want it badly enough to buy it.
There are a few other books she has written, though I don't believe they are part of a series. Although, I noticed she wrote one book that is number four in a series, but I didn't see any of the other books on her list of written books.
If you would like to see a list of all the books Shannon Hale has written, here is the link to her list on Goodreads. See you tomorrow for a different author!
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Book of a Thousand Days
Book of a Thousand Days is a stand-alone book by Shannon Hale, written in the form of a diary.
The protagonist of this book is Dashti, a mucker maid who arrives at a palace to serve her lady Saren just as the Saren's father is locking Saren up in a tower for seven years.
Dashti vows to serve the lady even in the tower, and thus begins years of agonizing darkness and rats and spoiled grain.
When Dashti finally breaks out of the tower, she and Saren find the world completely different from the way they left it. They begin a long journey to Saren's fiance's kingdom, where they will hopefully be safe.
Safety is a major thing for Saren, and it drives Dashti nuts. She tries to faithfully serve Saren no matter what, but Dashti is only human. She can only deal with so much when Saren refuses to tell anyone the reason behind her paranoia.
Then one day, Saren finally spills her terrifying secret to Dashti. Dashti finally realizes why fear has ruled Saren's life.
However, rather than curl up in terror herself, Dashti forms a plan. She is a mucker, after all; muckers are strong, and they survive no matter what the odds.
But has Dashti perhaps finally met her match? She's taking a huge gamble, it could very easily backfire in many ways.
There are bits of this story that I don't really care for, or even really like; but overall, this really is an enjoyable read.
The protagonist of this book is Dashti, a mucker maid who arrives at a palace to serve her lady Saren just as the Saren's father is locking Saren up in a tower for seven years.
Dashti vows to serve the lady even in the tower, and thus begins years of agonizing darkness and rats and spoiled grain.
When Dashti finally breaks out of the tower, she and Saren find the world completely different from the way they left it. They begin a long journey to Saren's fiance's kingdom, where they will hopefully be safe.
Safety is a major thing for Saren, and it drives Dashti nuts. She tries to faithfully serve Saren no matter what, but Dashti is only human. She can only deal with so much when Saren refuses to tell anyone the reason behind her paranoia.
Then one day, Saren finally spills her terrifying secret to Dashti. Dashti finally realizes why fear has ruled Saren's life.
However, rather than curl up in terror herself, Dashti forms a plan. She is a mucker, after all; muckers are strong, and they survive no matter what the odds.
But has Dashti perhaps finally met her match? She's taking a huge gamble, it could very easily backfire in many ways.
There are bits of this story that I don't really care for, or even really like; but overall, this really is an enjoyable read.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Palace of Stone
Shock and surprise - we actually get a repeat protagonist with Shannon Hale!
Miri returns as the heroine in Palace of Stone, the sequel to Princess Academy. Miri is actually leaving her mountain in order to attend her best friend's wedding.
What is waiting for her in the lowlands is more than she could ever have imagined. So many kinds of people, good and bad, rich and poor, most unhappy, enter into Miri's life. She begins to question herself all over again, and there are even times she wonders about her best friend.
While Miri is busy doing what she loves best, learning, her friends are also getting involved in activities in which they can shine.
For time out of mind, the people of Mount Eskel have been considered too stupid for any task but quarrying. To be able to change that stereotype is an adventure, and most of Miri's friends are up to the challenge.
I really enjoyed the repeat protagonist. Miri started out the series completely naive and ignorant. By the end of the first book, she had learned a lot more about herself and her family and her mountain.
But in this book, there is clearly so much more left to learn. The world is much bigger than her mountain; the lowlands are so vast, full of so many strange customs. Miri learned about some of them during her time in the Academy, but actually living them is so different.
Miri's solution to her problem is very Miri-like. Just like the flower she's named after, she eventually finds a way to survive and even thrive against all odds.
Miri returns as the heroine in Palace of Stone, the sequel to Princess Academy. Miri is actually leaving her mountain in order to attend her best friend's wedding.
What is waiting for her in the lowlands is more than she could ever have imagined. So many kinds of people, good and bad, rich and poor, most unhappy, enter into Miri's life. She begins to question herself all over again, and there are even times she wonders about her best friend.
While Miri is busy doing what she loves best, learning, her friends are also getting involved in activities in which they can shine.
For time out of mind, the people of Mount Eskel have been considered too stupid for any task but quarrying. To be able to change that stereotype is an adventure, and most of Miri's friends are up to the challenge.
I really enjoyed the repeat protagonist. Miri started out the series completely naive and ignorant. By the end of the first book, she had learned a lot more about herself and her family and her mountain.
But in this book, there is clearly so much more left to learn. The world is much bigger than her mountain; the lowlands are so vast, full of so many strange customs. Miri learned about some of them during her time in the Academy, but actually living them is so different.
Miri's solution to her problem is very Miri-like. Just like the flower she's named after, she eventually finds a way to survive and even thrive against all odds.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Princess Academy
Shannon Hale has written two other books that she once said she considers to be a part of the same world in which Bayern exists, but in a different time and on a different continent. The first of these books is Princess Academy.
The main character is Miri, a young girl named after the only flower that can grow on her rocky mountain. Like the flower, Miri is small and, compared to everyone else in the village, weak.
Everyone in the village except Miri works in the quarry; it is the only source of income the people of Mount Eskel have. Miri tends to the goats.
Then, shock and surprise. Important lowlanders show up on the mountain and order almost every eligible girl in the village to walk three hours away to an academy where they're expected to spend the next several months away from family learning how to be proper ladies.
Why? The priests have declared that the prince's next bride is among the girls on Mount Eskel. Miri has a shot at proving her worth!
This book has high points and low, a few danger scenes, and some drama. But best of all, Hale shows us two new things: a new language in something one would never before have expected and more than just the protagonist gets her story wrapped up all nicely with no strings left open.
The main character is Miri, a young girl named after the only flower that can grow on her rocky mountain. Like the flower, Miri is small and, compared to everyone else in the village, weak.
Everyone in the village except Miri works in the quarry; it is the only source of income the people of Mount Eskel have. Miri tends to the goats.
Then, shock and surprise. Important lowlanders show up on the mountain and order almost every eligible girl in the village to walk three hours away to an academy where they're expected to spend the next several months away from family learning how to be proper ladies.
Why? The priests have declared that the prince's next bride is among the girls on Mount Eskel. Miri has a shot at proving her worth!
This book has high points and low, a few danger scenes, and some drama. But best of all, Hale shows us two new things: a new language in something one would never before have expected and more than just the protagonist gets her story wrapped up all nicely with no strings left open.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Forest Born
Hey, sorry this post is so late; my Internet's been acting up. Anyways, the fourth and final book in the Books of Bayern is Forest Born.
This book's protagonist is Rinna, but believe me when I say we get plenty of time with our former lovable characters as well. This book kind of ties everything together.
Rinna is Razo's little sister, but that's about all anyone really knows about her. Rinna doesn't really let anyone see her for who she really is because, frankly, she's afraid of herself. So instead of being herself, she tends to reflect the personalities of those with whom she associates, especially her mother.
But at the point at which the book begins, Rinna is not just afraid; she's scared to death for her life and doesn't know why.
So she runs.
Rinna eventually finds herself invaluable to the queen of Bayern, but it does nothing to ease her terror and dread. She saves lives, but the method she used to do so makes her want to curl up and wither away.
And then she finally learns the reason why, but putting a name to her terror only petrifies her even more.
This book definitely has a darker tone throughout than any of the other books. And I must admit, that's probably the reason I don't particularly care for Rinna, even though she does eventually blossom into a wonderful young woman who knows her place in the world and is comfortable with it.
All in all, a pretty good book. Hopefully there will be more to come, though. I would really like to get to know Rinna better now that she's confronted who she is and realizes that that's not the end of the world.
This book's protagonist is Rinna, but believe me when I say we get plenty of time with our former lovable characters as well. This book kind of ties everything together.
Rinna is Razo's little sister, but that's about all anyone really knows about her. Rinna doesn't really let anyone see her for who she really is because, frankly, she's afraid of herself. So instead of being herself, she tends to reflect the personalities of those with whom she associates, especially her mother.
But at the point at which the book begins, Rinna is not just afraid; she's scared to death for her life and doesn't know why.
So she runs.
Rinna eventually finds herself invaluable to the queen of Bayern, but it does nothing to ease her terror and dread. She saves lives, but the method she used to do so makes her want to curl up and wither away.
And then she finally learns the reason why, but putting a name to her terror only petrifies her even more.
This book definitely has a darker tone throughout than any of the other books. And I must admit, that's probably the reason I don't particularly care for Rinna, even though she does eventually blossom into a wonderful young woman who knows her place in the world and is comfortable with it.
All in all, a pretty good book. Hopefully there will be more to come, though. I would really like to get to know Rinna better now that she's confronted who she is and realizes that that's not the end of the world.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
River Secrets
River Secrets is the third book in Shannon Hale's Books of Bayern series.
The protagonist this time is a Razo, a shepherd boy in the first book and a warrior come the second book. Now, Razo is one of the King's Own, a group of one hundred of the best soldiers who serve directly under the king.
Great, right?
Just one problem: No one, especially Razo, can figure out how he's made it this far, and why on earth was he of all people chosen to be among the company going south for a peace trip into the country they had been at war with in just the last book?
Razo quickly finds himself in deeper danger than anyone else in the company. All evidence seems to point that they have a fire-speaker somewhere on the loose, and the fire-speaker plus an angry terrorist organization are after the Bayern diplomat.
Worst of all, Razo fears there is also a people-speaker. Can one sweet, bubbly redhead really be that wonderful, or is she trapping Razo with the power lacing her every word?
I think this book, or Goose Girl, is probably my favorite in the series. Razo is super awesome, even if he doesn't know it. And anytime he does start to get a big head, we can count on something happening instantly to bring him down a notch or two. Aside from some head swelling with pride, we do get to see Razo grow in confidence because for once, he has someone who believes in him and sees something no one else does.
Razo's mischievousness is something that never changes; but by the end of the book, I think it's safe to say our lovable shepherd boy who can never tell a lie has become a man.
The protagonist this time is a Razo, a shepherd boy in the first book and a warrior come the second book. Now, Razo is one of the King's Own, a group of one hundred of the best soldiers who serve directly under the king.
Great, right?
Just one problem: No one, especially Razo, can figure out how he's made it this far, and why on earth was he of all people chosen to be among the company going south for a peace trip into the country they had been at war with in just the last book?
Razo quickly finds himself in deeper danger than anyone else in the company. All evidence seems to point that they have a fire-speaker somewhere on the loose, and the fire-speaker plus an angry terrorist organization are after the Bayern diplomat.
Worst of all, Razo fears there is also a people-speaker. Can one sweet, bubbly redhead really be that wonderful, or is she trapping Razo with the power lacing her every word?
I think this book, or Goose Girl, is probably my favorite in the series. Razo is super awesome, even if he doesn't know it. And anytime he does start to get a big head, we can count on something happening instantly to bring him down a notch or two. Aside from some head swelling with pride, we do get to see Razo grow in confidence because for once, he has someone who believes in him and sees something no one else does.
Razo's mischievousness is something that never changes; but by the end of the book, I think it's safe to say our lovable shepherd boy who can never tell a lie has become a man.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)