A Whole New World by Liz Braswell – REVIEW

This book was sent to me by Disney Press via NetGalley to read and review. Thank you Disney Press and NetGalley!

I read this one on my Kindle.

Publisher: Disney Press

Publication date: September 1st, 2015

Pages: 384 (hardback)

Synopsis by the publisher: 

Welcome to a new YA series that reimagines classic Disney stories in surprising new ways. Each book asks the question: What if one key moment from a familiar Disney film was changed?

This dark and daring version of Aladdin twists the original story with the question: What if Jafar was the first one to summon the Genie? When Jafar steals the Genie’s lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear, waiting for his third and final wish.To stop the power-mad ruler, Aladdin and the deposed Princess Jasmine must unite the people of Agrabah in rebellion. But soon their fight for freedom threatens to tear the kingdom apart in a costly civil war.

What happens next? A Street Rat becomes a leader. A princess becomes a revolutionary. And readers will never look at the story of Aladdin in the same way again.

Liz Braswell

The Review

“Childhood memories combined with unexpected twists. A whole new look on a story we all know so well.”

***

The Writing

Braswell did a good job when writing about this familiar story and brought me back to my childhood when I used to watch Aladdin over and over again. The way she writes about Agrabah makes it easy for the reader to imagine the city.

The events in the book that are similar to the Disney Classic were written well and stayed true to the story and even added some more depth to it.

The Characters

My favorite character in this novel was definitely Jasmine. She was such a strong female character, and even more so than what I remembered her as in the movie. She had the most amazing character development throughout this story.

I really enjoyed getting to know Aladdin on a deeper level and seeing more of his past that we didn’t get a chance to in the movie. There was so much more to him worth knowing.

Jafar, oh Jafar! I remember when my sister took me to see Aladdin at the Cinema when it first came out and I cried because Jafar was so scary. Well I’m glad that he wasn’t as brutal in the movie as he is in this novel. Then I probably would have had a whole lot of nightmares. Braswell did a good job with making him into a gruesome villain that was interesting to read about.

We were also introduced to whole bunch of new characters that I really enjoyed reading about.

The one character that I missed throughout this was Iago. He was such an important character in the movie, but not in the book. I would have loved it if he appeared more throughout the story.

The Plot

When I read through a lot of the reviews of this novel I saw that many complained about the first 70 or so pages because they were pretty much identical to the movie. I on the other hand really liked that. It was a nice way to refresh my memory and to build up to where it all takes a turn to a whole new story.

When the twist of Jafar getting the lamp instead of Aladdin came the pace really picked up and become a very intense and interesting story.

I really enjoyed the story and how it progressed, and the ending was very satisfactory.

Additional Thoughts

I went into this a bit sceptical as one often does when it is a retelling of a story that you already love, but this one was does so well that I was more than pleasantly surprised.

Childhood memories combined with unexpected twists. A whole new look on a story we all know so well.

And the cover is stunning!

Click on the Amazon or BookDepository logo to go the product page of A Whole New World!

Fairest of All by Serena Valentino – REVIEW

I read a hardback of this book that I bought in Disneyland California.

Published: August 18th, 2009

Publisher: Disney Press

Pages: 250 (hardback)

Synopsis by the publisher:

For anyone who’s seen Walt Disney’s Snow White, you’ll know that the Wicked Queen is one evil woman! After all, it’s not everyone who wants to cut out their teenage step-daughter’s heart and have it delivered back in a locked keepsake box. (And even if this sort of thing is a common urge, we don’t know many people who have acted upon it.)

Now, for the first time, we’ll examine the life of the Wicked Queen and find out just what it is that makes her so nasty. Here’s a hint: the creepy-looking man in the magic mirror is not just some random spooky visage-and he just “might” have something to do with the Queen’s wicked ways!

Serena Valentino

***

The Writing

Fairest of All had the real feel of a classic fairy tale. It was written beautifully in a way that resembles what I remember enjoying very much as a child and it brought me back to that.

The story flowed so beautiful and was a joy to read.

The Characters

I love backstories to well known tales, and especially the ones that focuses around villains. They usually have very interesting stories to tell. They are rarely born evil and in this case there was so much to The Queen and I loved her as a character even when she turned to her wicked ways.

To see Snow White from a different perspective as well was very interesting and enjoyable. I loved her as much as a character in this story as I did watching the movies as a little girl.

The Plot

Fairest of All had a very interesting plot line that I loved from beginning till end. Her story and her life was such an amazing story deserving of its own story to be told.

I flew through this book as it was very eventful and exciting even though I kind of knew how the story goes.

Additional Thoughts

If you love classic fairy tales than this is definitely a story I think you will enjoy.

The perfect fairytale feel and a very interesting story that shows how easily the good can turn to evil.

And the cover is gorgeous!

Do you want your own copy of Fairest of All? Click on the Amazon or BookDepository logo below:

Bout of Books 14 – I’m in!!

Bout of Books is about to of down yet again and I’m joining in on the fun! I just did the BookTube-a-thon and it did not go as well as I was hoping for (video wrap up on its way) but I love a good readathon and just couldn’t not join in!

“The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 17th and runs through Sunday, August 23rd in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 14 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team”

***

Not having any challenges set up before the whole shebang made it a little difficult to choose books, but I’ve found a few that I intend on reading the upcoming week.

If you want more information, click on the cover photo of the book 🙂

Hunter by Mercedes Lackey

This book was sent to me by Disney Hyperion via NetGalley to read and review. Thank you Disney Hyperion! 

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Publication date: September 1st, 2015

Pages: 384 (hardback)

Synopsis by the publisher:

They came after the Diseray. Some were terrors ripped from our collective imaginations, remnants of every mythology across the world. And some were like nothing anyone had ever dreamed up, even in their worst nightmares.

Monsters.

Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and it’s taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities,behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous monsters fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.

To Joyeaux Charmand, who has been a Hunter in her tight-knit mountain community since she was a child, every Cit without magic deserves her protection from dangerous Othersiders. Then she is called to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the most important people.

Joy soon realizes that the city’s powerful leaders care more about luring Cits into a false sense of security than protecting them. More and more monsters are getting through the barriers,and the close calls are becoming too frequent to ignore. Yet the Cits have no sense of how much danger they’re in-to them, Joy and her corp of fellow Hunters are just action stars they watch on TV.

When an act of sabotage against Joy takes an unbearable toll, Joy uncovers a terrifying conspiracy in the city. There is something much worse than the usual monsters infiltrating Apex. And it may be too late to stop them

My Thoughts:

This sounds like such an interesting and exciting story. I’m expecting a fast paced and action packed fantasy story! I love my monsters!

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell

This book was sent to me by Disney Press vie NetGalley to read and review. Thank you Disney Press!

Publisher: Disney Press

Publication date: September 1st, 2015

Pages: 384 (hardback)

Synopsis by the publisher: 

Welcome to a new YA series that reimagines classic Disney stories in surprising new ways. Each book asks the question: What if one key moment from a familiar Disney film was changed?

This dark and daring version of Aladdin twists the original story with the question: What if Jafar was the first one to summon the Genie? When Jafar steals the Genie’s lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear, waiting for his third and final wish.To stop the power-mad ruler, Aladdin and the deposed Princess Jasmine must unite the people of Agrabah in rebellion. But soon their fight for freedom threatens to tear the kingdom apart in a costly civil war.

What happens next? A Street Rat becomes a leader. A princess becomes a revolutionary. And readers will never look at the story of Aladdin in the same way again.

My Thoughts:

I was so intrigued when I first read about this book. I’m a huge Disney fan and I’m also a big what-if-thinker so this seems to be right up my alley.

I remember my sister taking me to the movies to watch Aladdin when I was a little girl and I was so scared of Jafar. And now I’m looking forward to seeing how everything pans out in this book. I also am really excited to see which other Disney Classics they will be doing in this series of books.

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Publisher: Penguin Classics (the edition I’m reading)

Publication date: first published June 26th, 1948

Pages: 16 (Penguin Classics paperback)

Synopsis by the publisher:

Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery is a memorable and terrifying masterpiece, fueled by a tension that creeps up on you slowly without any clear indication of why. This is just a townful of people, after all, choosing their numbers for the annual lottery. What’s there to be scared of?

My Thoughts:

When I read that this is one of the most iconic horror short stories ever written (and that it inspired Stephen King) I just knew I had to read it. So I ordered a copy from BookDepository and I almost thought the package was empty because the book was so short and tiny. I’ve come to find that some short books/stories are a good way to keep up the reading of a readathon if I feel myself falling into a reading slump.

***

I’m not going completely overboard with this TBR so that I have the opportunity to add some more books instead of feeling frustrated for not completing my own goals. 

Are you participating in the Bout of Books? Tell me what books you are reading or link me your post! I would love to read and discuss with you all! 

Until next time, Toodles!