Peacock Flock Book Review #10 - Wild Orchid

Peacock Flock Book Review #10

Wild Orchid

Author: Cameron Dokey

Length: ~ 199 pages

Genre: Fantasy (Fairy-tale retelling) 

Heat level: Clean

Stars:  3.5 Somewhere Between Stars 

          

Book Summary:

Wielding a sword as deftly as an embroidery needle, Mulan is unlike any other girl in China. When the emperor summons a great army, each family must send a male to fight, tom-boyish Mulan is determined to spare her aging father and bring her family honor, so she disguises herself and answers the call.


But Mulan never expects to find a friend, let alone a soul mate, in the commander of her division, Prince Jian. For all of Mulan's courage with a bow and arrow, is she brave enough to share her true identity and feelings with Prince Jian?


Review:

This was fairly nice, cozy up read. It's a retelling of 'Mulan'. Which is one of our favourite stories.  Although the plot wasn't too surprising, it was interesting. We thought there should've been less scenes with her friend at the beginning and more scenes with the prince. We also found that some of the solutions to the challenges the characters faced were a little too easy. But the culture was wonderful. The sense of China was amazing. It was very immersive and wonderful escapism. Mulan's archery and all the scenes talking about it were well done. The end romantic scene was quite nice as well. All in all a book that we may or may not read again -- dependent upon what else is within our reach. Still something worth taking a look at though! :D

That's it from the flock!

Peacock Flock Book Review #9 - Golden

Peacock Flock Book Review #9

Golden

Author: Cameron Dokey

Length: ~ 179 pages

Genre: Fantasy (Fairy-tale retelling) 

Heat level: Clean

Stars:  3.5 Somewhere Between Stars 

          

Book Summary:

Before Rapunzel's birth, her mother made a dangerous deal with the sorceress Melisande: If she could not love newborn Rapunzel just as she appeared, she would surrender the child to Melisande. When Rapunzel was born completely bald and without hope of ever growing hair, her horrified mother sent her away with the sorceress to an uncertain future. 


After sixteen years of raising Rapunzel as her own child, Melisande reveals that she has another daughter, Rue, who was cursed by a wizard years ago and needs Rapunzel's help. Rue and Rapunzel have precisely "two nights and the day that falls between" to break the enchantment. But bitterness and envy come between the girls, and if they fail to work together, Rue will remain cursed... forever.


Review:

So we were presently surprised with this book. It's a retelling of Rapunzel. Despite the fact that it's by the same author as a number of books in this series that we didn't like, this was interesting and had enough in the plot to keep us reading. (Although we must admit that Tangled is by far the best adaptation of this story we've every seen!) And shocker of shockers we might actually pick this book up again, more than once! :D The characters were well developed and felt real enough to draw us in. There were a number of scenes between the main man and Rapunzel which we quite liked. The romance also started early which helped. Oh and this biggest twist of this book? Rapunzel is bald and has been since she was born. Pick up this book and figure that one out!

That's it from the flock!

Peacock Flock Book Review #8 - Snow

** Sorry this is a couple of days late, I was the Maid of Honour for my sister's wedding this past weekend. Y'all know how that goes sometimes. Cheers.

I mean, the uh peacock flock had to chow down on some wedding cake, so (cough, cough) they couldn't write the review. :P

Peacock Flock Book Review #8

Snow

Author: Tracy Lynn

Length: ~ 259 pages

Genre: Fantasy (Fairy-tale retelling) 

Heat level: Clean

Stars:  2.5  Somewhere Between Stars 

          

Book Summary:

The Duchess Jessica's childhood began with a tragedy: her mother's death. Her father, heartbroken at the loss of his beloved wife, could not bear to raise the child. Largely ignored, Jessica spent the first eleven years of her life running free on the family estate, cared for only by the servants.

Then her father decides to remarry, bringing an end to Jessica's independence. At first her new stepmother just seems overly strict. But as Jessica grows into a beautiful young woman, it becomes clear that her stepmother is also wildly -- and murderously -- jealous of her.

Jessica escapes to London. Going by the name Snow to hide from her family, she falls in love with an odd band of outcasts who accept her into their makeshift family. But when her stepmother appears in the city, repentant and seeking her forgiveness, Jessica will have to decide whom to trust...with her life.

Review:

So we don't think we'll ever pick it up again. It's a retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Except in this one there's only 5 'dwarves' -which are actually half human/half animal type being. Oh and there's no kiss to wake Snow up after she sleeps. (She also asleep for years! Gah!) There's no real magic, per se, just a lot of witchery and mechanical/electrical type stuff. Pretty creepy actually. The main guy that Snow falls for comes as a bit of a surprise, (the bad kind, not the good kind) and there's hardly any scenes between the two of them. It was interesting how they did -finally- wake Snow up, and there was quite a cute ending to it. But umm yeah. We weren't that impressed. 

That's it from the flock!

Peacock Flock Book Review #7 - Beauty Sleep

Peacock Flock Book Review #7

Beauty Sleep

Author: Cameron Dokey

Length: ~ 186 pages

Genre: Fantasy (Fairy-tale retelling) 

Heat level: Clean

Stars:  2.5  Somewhere Between Stars 

Book Summary:

The Princess Aurore has had an unusual childhood. Cursed at birth, Aurore is fated to prick her finger at the age of sixteen and sleep for one hundred years -- until a prince awakens her with a kiss. So, to protect her, Aurore's loving parents forbid any task requiring a needle. 


Unable to sew or embroider like most little princesses, Aurore instead explores the castle grounds and beyond, where her warmth and generosity soon endear her to the townspeople. their devotion to the spirited princess grows as she does. 
On her sixteenth birthday, Aurore learns that the impending curse will harm not only her, but the entire kingdom as well. Unwilling to cause suffering, she will embark on a quest to end the evil magic. The princess's bravery will be rewarded as she finds adventure, enchantment, a handsome prince, and ultimately her destiny.

Review:

So it wasn't great. It's a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. We didn't like not knowing who the main romantic interest was going to be. A love triangle is fine. But make it clear that she's got to choose between them. When the reader has no idea what's going on in her head? Yeah not good. Plus there were a lot of coincidences, and definitely not enough challenges. Everything just seemed a little too easy. We like there to be a happy ending but sometimes it's okay to not be sure whether or not it'll work out. We kept waiting for a dragon to pop out or something. Didn't happen. Plus there was a 'double life' type twist at the end that really just sort of ruined it. Oh and the main character Aurore - Sleeping Beauty- actually only slept for like 30 seconds. We know right? Come on. It had some cute parts. But we won't pick it up again. And unless you're really in a drought of good things to read, don't get it.

That's it from the flock!

Peacock Flock Book Review #6 - Before Midnight

Peacock Flock Book Review #6

Before Midnight

Author: Cameron Dokey

Length: ~ 193 pages

Genre: Fantasy (Fairy-tale retelling) 

Heat level: Clean

Stars:  5  Fantabulous Purple Stars 

          

Book Summary:

Etienne de Brabant is brokenhearted. His wife has died in childbirth, leaving him alone with an infant daughter he cannot bear to name. But before he abandons her for king and court, he brings a second child to be raised alongside her, a boy whose identity he does not reveal.

The girl, La Cendrillon, and the boy, Raoul, pass sixteen years in the servants' care until one day a very fine lady arrives with her two daughters. The lady has married La Cendrillon's father, and her arrival changes their lives.

When an invitation to a great ball reaches the family, La Cendrillon's new stepmother will make a decision with far-reaching effects. Her choice will lead La Cendrillon and Raoul toward their destiny -- a choice that will challenge their understanding of family, test their loyalty and courage, and, ultimately, teach them who they are.

Review:

A retelling of Cinderella. In this version Cinderella has been given the french name for a child of cinders: Cendrillon. Although her real name is Constanze after her mother. One thing that surprised us about this book is the fact that Cendrillon's father is still alive. He never dies and is actually intergral to the plot. We love the fact that in this version, there's intrigue, there's war, there's a lot more action than we've seen in the many retellings of cinderella out there. (Any other Cinderella book out there have a kidnapping that you know of? We haven't come across one yet) And unlike the previous review of 'Belle' where having the meeting between the romantic couple so late in the book didn't work, the fact that Cendrillon didn't meet the prince till close to the end of the story fit well. In this book it was written in such a way that we loved it. We had that giggly awe and sigh as we read the scene where she dances with her prince. The very next day after we finished this book, we reread the entire ending. Pumpkins have a significance for Cendrillon which makes it all the more lovely when they come back into play with the coach to get to the ball. In addition the secondary characters were well done, and we liked the side plots and seeing things tie up so nicely. We will definitely be picking this book up again and again. 

That's it from the flock!

Peacock Flock Book Review #5 - Belle

Peacock Flock Book Review #5

Belle

Author: Cameron Dokey

Length: ~ 204 pages

Genre: Fantasy (Fairy-tale retelling) 

Heat level: Clean

Stars:  3 Enjoyable Purple Stars 

Book Summary:

Belle is convinced she has the wrong name, as she lacks her sisters' awe-inspiring beauty. So she withdraws from society, devoting her time to wood carving. Secretly, Belle longs to find the fabled Heartwood Tree. If carved by the right hands, the Heartwood will reveal the face of one's true love.

During a fierce storm, Belle's father stumbles upon the mysterious Heartwood -- and encounters a terrifying and lonely Beast. Now Belle must carve the Heartwood to save her father, and learn to see not with the eyes of her mind, but with the eyes of her heart.

Review:

A retelling of Beauty and the Beast. We couldn't put this book down, after page 122. The first page the Beast is actually mentioned. Everything before this page was back story. Belle's childhood and her sisters. Don't get us wrong, all of this was interesting and we liked it, but it either needed to be cut back a lot or the book needed to be 100 pages longer. All the wonderful parts about her childhood, and how Belle feels she never really lived up to her name, made for a great story and made us care about Belle all the more, but there was no time or room to get to know or care about the Beast. This book needed so much more romance and so much more time with them in the castle. The actual romance felt rushed and there was no in-between. She went from being at the castle and just kind of there and (seemingly) to be building a relationship, to declaring that she loved the Beast in a matter of paragraphs. The few scenes with Belle and the Beast we did enjoy, but that's just the point. There were too few romantic moments. If we'd ever like to read a romance in 70 pages we'll pick this up again. So pretty much very rarely, possibly never. Maybe once before it goes back to the library.

That's it from the flock!