Before Midnight: A Retelling of "Cinderella" (Once Upon a Time)

Book Description

"ONCE UPON A TIME"
IS TIMELESS

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.

Customer Reviews:

before midnight.......2007-10-09

Before Midnight

Before Midnight is a wonderful retelling of Cinderella. Constanze or Cendrillon was born at midnight and her mother, Constanze died. Her father was away and when he found that his wife was dead. He was very sad.When he got to the big stone house he had a baby boy with him the same age as Cendrillon. He was so sad he didn't come back for a long time.
I found this a very good book! The ending you would never expect but if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise. READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!!

Entaining, just a little slow to get pulled in.......2007-09-28

I am a huge Cinderella fan, and so this book seemed a perfect fit. But the first part of the book was slow reading, and it could have lost slower less dedicated readers. In the end it was worthwhile as a retelling of the classic fairytale, I just doubt that this will become a classic on its own.

before minight.......2007-08-30

i am currently almost finished with this book and love every page! this is kind of a new twist on "Cinderella". the stepmother and stepsisters, upon realizing who she really is, welcome her with open arms. Cendrillon (main chacter) is as gorgous as her mother was. her mother died in childbirth and her father cannot bear to look at her, let alone name her. her real name is Constaze, after her mother, but she was named Cindrillon "child of cinders" by Mathilde, the woman who delievered her.

this book was awsome and i couldn't put it down, which is pretty much the way with all of cameron dokey's other books, although i have to go back and re-read some due to the fact that i could not even get 1/3 of the way through them due to school and work. i am looking forward to her next release.

Dokey's Best in the Once Upon a Time Series.......2007-04-17

I definitely enjoyed reading this book. The descriptions are very elegant, and the entire feeling is moody. The way the author choose to retell Cinderella I have never seen done before, and it was an interesting take. The characters are likable and believable, and you even come to like the evil stepsister. On the down side, the heroin's relationship with the prince is unrealistic and shallow, but I will say that is somewhat typical of this series. In my opinion Snow by Tracy Lynn was better.

Cinderella as we have never seen her before.......2007-03-26

This tale has always been one of my favorite fairy tales and I have loved some of the different renditions of it like "Ever After" and "Diary of an Ugly Stepsister". "Before Midnight" is another great addition to the retellings of Cinderella. In this revision, Constanze de Brabant, or Cendrillion has been abandoned by her father Etienne because of the death of her mother. She is raised in obscurity with a mysterious boy Raoul by Old Mathilde until a noblewoman, Chantal de Saint-Andre, with her two daughters Amelie and Anastasia arrive. Chantal has married Etienne and she is now Cendrillion's stepmother, but Chantal is never told until secrets are discovered. I love the scene where they open Cendrillion's mother's room and see her portrait. Here Chantal exclaims it is so wicked of Etienne to throw away the most precious gift of all, Love. It is also in this scene that Cendrillion gets her wish of having a family at last.
I will not add too many spoilers and explain who Raoul really is and what happens at the "ball" but this tale which emphasizes the importance of embracing love and all the other feelings that come with it; is so lovingly rendered that both young and old romantics will love it.

Average customer rating:

Wow!
The Magic Flute, made more magical
"The Magic Flute" Retold
Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan...
Poorly Done

Sunlight and Shadow (Once Upon a Time)
Cameron Dokey
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0689869991

Book Description

A new spin on "The Magic Flute" by an acclaimed author!

In a time when the world was young and many things were quite commonplace that are now entirely forgotten, Sarastro, Mage of the Day, wed Pamina, the Queen of the Night. And in this way was the world complete, for light was joined to dark. For all time would they be joined together. Only the ending of the world could tear them apart. In other words, in the days in which my parents married, there was no such thing as divorce....

Thus begins the tale of Mina, a girl-child born on the longest night of the darkest month of the year. When her father looked at her, all he saw was what he feared: By birth, by name, by nature, she belonged to the Dark. So when Mina turned sixteen, her father took her away from shadow and brought her into sunlight.

In retaliation, her mother lured a handsome prince into a deadly agreement: If he frees Mina, he can claim her as his bride.

Now Mina and her prince must endure deadly trials -- of love and fate and family -- before they can truly live happily ever after....

Customer Reviews:

Wow!.......2007-09-02

I have to admit, I was skeptical when I picked up this book. I don't really like romances, and I wondered if I'd be bored. I figured I'd read a chapter and put it down. I was sure wrong about that.

Cameron Dokey's got an amazing way with words and how she weaves them together: It's magical and the story flows together brilliantly. I just couldn't get over how likable she made the characters: ALL of them, not just the "good guys." The "bad guys" are not all bad, nor are they hopeless, and problems are resolved in interesting ways. I couldn't tell you who my favorite character is (though I lean toward Lapin, who is Mina's best friend and defender, player of the bells.) They have depth and their feelings are interesting, not dull or run-of-the-mill, and these characters do not have any yawn-ish conversations, either.

The story is fun and easy to follow, but it's not simple, as in predictible. In order to prove his love, Prince Tern (how cool of a name is that?) agrees to "Boss of the Day" Sarastro's conditions of a very interesting set of trials: And Sarastro's daughter, Mina goes with him. Ever wonder how mourning doves came to be? Clever Cameron Dokey tucks this into the trials that Tern and Mina endure.

I won't give away anything about the ending other than to say it is very satisfying, on more than one level. I will definitely pick up another Once Upon a Time book by Cameron Dokey!

The Magic Flute, made more magical.......2007-08-13

The Magic Flute isn't one of the classic Grimms' fairytales, so I wasn't at all familiar with it and failed to recognise it in the blurb. The story looked intriguing nonetheless: Sarastro, "Mage of the Day", and Pamina, "Queen of the Night", have a daughter who spends her life with her mother until she is 16 - whereupon she must leave to live with her father. The blurb then promises treachery and betrayal when Pamina lures a prince into a deadly agreement to win Mina as his bride.

Cameron Dokey puts a new spin on this story with first-person accounts from different - and very likeable - characters - mainly Mina, but also an orphaned girl who is brought up by Sarastro, Gayna; Lapin, a boy who owns a magical set of bells (not a flute), and Tern, the prince. Through their voices you get a glimpse of how they think and of how fate unfolds.

This is also a story of opposites. Night against day. Mina against Gayna. Mina with Statos and Tern. Gayna with Statos and Lapin. Love against hate and treachery. And of course, good against evil.

While everything seems quite separate at first, all the threads do wind together in the end quite satisfyingly. Everything that Sarastro does is based on trying to outwit a prophecy about Mina. The only problem is that, careful as he is, he may not have all the cards in his hands.

The tone of the book was refreshingly modern even though it is set in "a time that was young and many things were commonplace that are now forgotten". Sarastro and Pamina don't speak to each other, so Mina grows up wondering what her father is like. Sarastro tears her from her mother when she is just shy of 16, breaking the original agreement and causing a great deal of defiance on Mina's part. Gayna is hopelessly in love with Sarastro's guard Statos, but he's not interested in her. It makes absorbing reading.

And in the background there is Lapin, whom I count as my favourite character. He inherits a set of magical bells which can call your true love to you. While he practices listening to the music of his heart, he ends up calling birds instead. Lots of birds.

What Lapin and Pamina do after Mina has been stolen away by Sarastro is ingenious, and entirely within the rules of the game. I felt the blurb was totally misleading when it claimed that Pamina had lured Tern into a set of deadly trials. Sarastro set those trials, and Tern agreed to rescue Mina of his own free will.

Of course everything ends well and all live happily ever after. The story is shorter than I would have liked but it's very easy reading but sticks with you for a long while after. That's the best kind of story to own.

"The Magic Flute" Retold.......2007-07-09

"Sunlight and Shadow" was the first book in the "Once Upon a Time" series that I read. It wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed it.

The story is a retelling of Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute", but it still manages to be original. The author puts some nice twists on an old story that was interesting and pretty original to begin with. It can be a little confusing because there are several narrators who switch without much notice, but it's not too hard to figure out. The plot has nice pacing, and the book is just the right length.

Best of all, she gives life to characters who were previously flat and stereotypical. The characterizations are nothing really special by themselves (still better than the stereotypes, but they're pretty typical of this kind of book), but it's interesting to get insight in the the characters' thoughts about events.

The writing was well-done. The romance was all right, but it seemed a bit shallow. But it was good for love at first sight, which was what it was in the opera. The author did a good job with it considering her resources. She does include a few themes about life in general, but they were nothing we haven't seen before.

I was not familiar with "The Magic Flute" before reading this, but it was a good way to introduce myself to it. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was still worth my time.

Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan..........2007-04-11

I was excited about this book because "Magic Flute" is one of my favorite stories. However while I did find myself enjoying it, I am not sure if I really appreciated this particular feminist take on it. Sometimes I think that a feminist take on an old beloved tale is great, however there are other times where it just distorts the story. I think that Nights Daughter by Marion Zimmer Bradley probably has a better attempt at having a feminst take on the story. And for an even better treat, score a copy of the Ingmar Bergman production of Magic Flute through netflix or your local library.

Poorly Done.......2007-03-11

The good side of this book is the writing style. It is moody, and the descriptions are interesting. On the other hand, the characters are shallow and not rememberable. The story is confusing, unbelievable, and jarring. The author attempted to tell the story from five different points of view without clarifying when this switch between people was made. The character's voices are not distinguishable from one another. The author draws you out of the main story line several times to tell you pointless back stories on other characters. Dokey's novel Beauty Sleep has the same flaws. Her best in the Once Upon A Time series is The Storyteller's Daughter and Golden.

Water Song: A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" (Once Upon a Time)

Average customer rating:

A Relatively Modern Tale..
Best Once Upon a Time book YET!!!
Disappointing...and silly, too.
Not So Great: SOME SPOILERS
Another great Once upon a Time book

Water Song: A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" (Once Upon a Time)
Suzanne Weyn
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416940138

Book Description

"ONCE UPON A TIME"

IS TIMELESS

Young, beautiful, and wealthy, Emma Pennington is accustomed to a very comfortable life. Although war rages abroad, she hardly feels its effect. She and her mother travel from their home in Britain to the family estate in Belgium, never imagining that the war could reach them there. But it does.

Soon Emma finds herself stranded in a war-torn country, utterly alone. Enemy troops fight to take over her estate, leaving her with no way to reach her family, and no way out.

With all of her attention focused on survival and escape, Emma hardly expects to find love. But the war will teach her that life is unpredictable, people aren't always what they seem, and magic is lurking everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

A Relatively Modern Tale.........2007-10-06

Through the thick of World War I, our British heiress/heroine Emma Pennington continues her life as if there were no war at all. Her parents, soon fearing the wrath of battle, move Emma and her mother to their estate in Belgium, seeking safety in the form of just another vacation.

But soon they find themselves directly in tumult of war and in more danger than ever. Alone and in the hands of the enemies, a prisoner in her own home, Emma must choose her actions wisely. Should she wait out the storm, or brave the weather? And of course, how can she forget her "husband" Jack, the American soldier living in her room?

For the first time, we are presented with a modern era in a "Once Upon a Time..." book. It was obviously difficult for Weyn to balance history with fantasy in it, but overall, the effect was refreshing. I like that it's not all made up. But when it comes down to the actual writing...eh. It was the easiest of settings, two young people locked up in a single room, both good-looking and intelligent. And then, 170 pages in, "Oh yeah. You're the frog prince? You saved me? I (ignorantly) had no idea. I love you. Oh. And you're a good guy." Good theory, just bad...wording.

Granted, this is more a historical novel than one of fantasy (which is totally fine by me), the story is enjoyable, and a one-night read. It's something new to add to the series, and I'm glad someone at least tried. Not with a totally successful execution, but above mediocre for me.

Best Once Upon a Time book YET!!!.......2007-06-14

So I wasn't expecting much because frankly I wasn't into Weyn's retelling of The Night Dance, but Water Song was SO GOOD! I loved it. I read up til page 15 the first day and the next night I finished the whole thing. Even after I finished it at 4AM I couldn't go to sleep. The historical bits were pretty accurate (from what I can remember from U.S. History class) and I was cheering the characters on every step of the way. High recommended to... well if you're reading this then you're already sucked in.

Disappointing...and silly, too........2007-01-14

I've read nearly all the books in the Once Upon A Time series, and I was looking forward to this one. However, it was quite a disappointing read. I didn't mind the beginning of the story; it started out okay, although it did seems to skip over a lot of things that might have made it easier to connect with the heroine. For example, her mother is killed by German bombs (this is set in WWI) while she is sitting next to her. We only hear about this, but don't actually experience it with Emma, the heroine. Not that I have a need to experience gruesome deaths, but I felt like the author just didn't feel like spending a lot of time developing Emma's character or her backstory. Suzanne Weyn doesn't spend a lot of time on the hero, Jack, either. She does take the time to explain that he knows some Native American/Creole healing potions that he learned from his mother. He apparently also learned how to "talk" to his mother's spirit, and maybe to even transport his spirit to other places...? What?? I think this is Weyn's way of introducing the "frog prince" connection; Jack is from the bayou and is a terrific swimmer, and his mother repeatedly "speaks" to him in dreams and tells him how he is a prince, and how he knows the water, etc. Emma and a minor character are both rescued from water by Jack while both are unconscious; this adds to the mystery -- "Who was that frog-man that rescued me?" Emma even asks Jack if he has magic to turn himself into a frog. This question, while German bombs explode outside, is just a bit of a silly paradox between fantasy and reality. I really think that Weyn makes the frog connection within the first part of the book. There are enough water references. She doesn't need to go so far as to have Jack's frogginess brought up nearly every page. Okay!! We get it!! Jack is the frog prince!! It just becomes silly, and almost seems like she is trying too hard. She didn't try too hard to create the relationship between the hero and heroine, though. They don't really have a relationship. I was surprised and bored when they decided they were in love with each other. They don't really have much connection at all, and therefore I didn't feel like I had any connection to them either. Weyn tries to make this a psychological fairy tale as many of the others in the series are. Themes of finding yourself, loving who you are, discovering truth, etc. are part of many of these books, but Weyn's efforts fall flat. She does try near the end of the story to have Jack realize that he is a great man, because Emma loves him, but that he was great all along, and it took her love to make him realize what was already true. Weyn's rendition of this self-discovery is even more awkward than the sentence I just wrote. What a shame. I was hoping it would be as good as some of the others in the series, but it wasn't. The best one so far in the series: The Storyteller's Daughter, by a LANDSLIDE. Read it and be satisfied.

Not So Great: SOME SPOILERS.......2006-11-13

I quite like the "Once Upon a Time" series. They are usually fresh and original. Water Song is the 10th in this series. Some of the books are better than others and so I bought Water Song with some trepidation. I perhaps should have been more cautious. While there are some original, creative elements in the book, such as turning the "frog" into an American soldier from Louisiana, and the golden ball into a locket, the plot itself is almost painful to read. The first time the American soldier sees the heroine Emma he wants her love (pg. 33). Emma is continually frustrated with him (with good reason) and yet somehow this translates into her loving him. They seem to have a continually rocky relationship while falling in love with each other more and more. I do realize this is a fairy tale but the plot is highly unlikely. Call me a pessimist but the "love at first sight" aspect of the story is cliche and unrealistic.

Another great Once upon a Time book.......2006-10-30

I've just resently started reading the once upon a time books and have really enjoyed all of them so far. Water Song was no different. The story was original and the characters interesting. WWI and the frog prince were not something I'd think to put together. If you are a fan of the others in this series I would imagine you'd like this one too. It has a little less magic then some of the books, but I really don't think it distracts for the story at all. Magic is where you see it after all.

Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier

Average customer rating:

Too Much Whitewashing of Rainier
A Real Life Fairy Tale?
This book is better than 3.5 stars.
The American Aristocrat who Became a European Princess
princess grace

Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier
J. Randy Taraborrelli
Manufacturer: Warner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0446531642
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Amazon.com

She was an Oscar-winning Hollywood actress; he the scion of Europe's longest reigning monarchy. The marriage of movie star Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier Grimaldi of Monaco (a romance ironically spawned by a chance, MGM publicity-driven photo op) was one of the 20th century's most enchanting fables come to life. Yet, in veteran Hollywood biographer J. Randy Taraborelli's retelling, (the first comprehensive chronicle of the royal couple's romance and quarter-century reign) their day-to-day struggle with romantic inertia and a legacy of familial dysfunction cast their fairy tale existence in a bittersweet light long before the 1982 automobile accident that took Grace's life.

Taraborelli's struggle to walk the fine line between the respectful biography he intends and the salacious, tell-all exposes he decries makes for occasionally awkward passages. However, the author eventually succeeds in giving his royal subjects--and the ongoing conflicts with their respective families--a familiar, all-too-human scale. --Jerry McCulley

Book Description

Grace Kelly was swept away when the handsome Prince Rainier, a man she barely knew, asked for her hand in marriage. After a series of relationships with married co-stars, she was exhausted by the show-business lifestyle. If she married Rainier, she would be more than just a movie star, she would be Her Serene RoyalHighness Princess Grace. Once in the palace, however, Grace found herself trapped in a fairy tale of her own making. Forced to make sacrifices that cut deeply into the core of who she was as a woman, she would then surrender her desires and ambitions for her spouse and her children. Grace and Rainier may have been royalty, but they were also husband and wife, and parents-and, as such, just as vulnerable to the conflicts that can contaminate any household. Drawing upon hundreds of exclusive interviews with family and friends, ONCEUPONATIME portrays its subjects with passion and sympathy, revealing Grace, Rainier,Caroline,Albert, and Stephanie in ways both startling and compelling.

Download Description

Grace Kelly was swept away when the handsome Prince Rainier, a man she barely knew, asked for her hand in marriage. After a series of relationships with married co-stars, she was exhausted by the show-business lifestyle. If she married Rainier, she would be more than just a movie star, she would be Her Serene Royal Highness Princess Grace. Once in the palace, however, Grace found herself trapped in a fairytale of her own making. Forced to make sacrifices that cut deeply into the core of who she was as a woman, she would then surrender her desires and ambitions for her spouse and her children. Grace and Rainier may have been royalty, but they were also husband and wife, and parents-and as such, just as vulnerable to the conflicts that can contaminate any household. Drawing upon hundreds of exclusive interviews with family and friends, ONCE UPON A TIME portrays its subjects with passion and sympathy, revealing Grace, Rainier, Caroline, Albert, and Stephanie in ways both startling and compelling.

Customer Reviews:

Too Much Whitewashing of Rainier.......2007-07-30

Taraborrelli was clearly fascinated by his primary subject, Grace, but it appears it was Prince Rainier whom he truly fell in love with.

He never once mentions Rainier's notorious infidelities, which began as soon as Grace married him, and continued until she died. According to Wendy Leigh's new book "True Grace", she strayed too, but her affairs started off as quid pro quo for Rainier's constant mistresses (and continued from isolation and loneliness).

This omission is profoundly prejudicial to Grace because it makes it look like she was just too shallow to give up her attachment to her movie career and thus made herself morbidly unhappy with her new life in Monaco. In fact, she did struggle with that loss, but her greatest heartbreak in Monaco was that she married a philandering, obnoxious, overbearing, insensitive and dismissive popinjay of a prince.

Taraborrelli should have waited for Rainier's death to write Grace's biography. Maybe then he wouldn't have been so tempted to whitewash Rainier into the caring, tender, appreciative and supportive husband he most certainly was not.

Shame on you Randy.

A Real Life Fairy Tale?.......2007-01-11

This book details the lives of Grace Kelly and Rainier Grimaldi otherwise known as Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco both before and after their "marriage of the century."

Grace Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, PA. In 1929 to Jack and Margret Kelly. She had an older sister Margaret (Peggy) and older brother Jack Jr (Kell) as well as a younger sister Elizabeth Anne (Lizanne). From the time that she was young she wanted to be an actress. When she was a teenager she modeled to pay for an acting school and thanks to her uncle George got some early work on the stage. Soon after she started making movies such as High Noon (with Gary Cooper), Mogambo (with Clark Gable) and won an Oscar for her portrayal in The Country Girl. It was because of this that she was offered the opportunity to go to Cannes to the Cannes Film Festival. During her time in France she also was offered the opportunity to go to Monaco to visit Prince Rainier little realizing that the visit would change her life.

Prince Rainier was born in 1923. His mother was the illegitimate daughter of the Prince of Monaco and married a French Duke in 1920. Rainier had a younger sister named Antoinette. When Rainier was six his parents divorced and he and Antoinette were mostly raised by their grandfather. Rainier was educated in England and France and in 1949 became heir to his grandfather's throne after his mother and sister renounced it. He became Prince of Monaco in 1950. During this time he was single, but dating an actress. Shortly before Grace Kelly's visit he and the actress broke up.

Several months after the meeting between Grace and Rainier he came to the United States. Grace and Rainier used this time to better know each other and shortly after Christmas they became engaged. After several months of negotiations they where married in Monaco. Nine months later they had their first child, Caroline, and five months after that Grace was pregnant with Prince Albert. They later added to the family with princess Stephanie.

The marriage between Princess Grace and Prince Rainier was not always the best, but ultimalty they loved each other and their three children. When Grace was killed in 1981 after a car crash Rainier mourned her for the rest of his life.

This book is better than 3.5 stars........2006-05-19

This book gets 5 stars for research, 5 stars for presentation (simply a photo of Grace in THAT wedding dress justifies a book existing) and 4 stars for a good read; It's not that it could have been any better, it's just that the story is ultimately sad. However, I think the subject matter was taken very seriously by the author, and unlike other reviewers here, I consider the thoughts expressed to be well thought out and supported by the material that was uncovered in the process, including that from interviews. What other material is ever likely to be uncovered on this subject?? This book is better than 3.5 stars.

The American Aristocrat who Became a European Princess.......2006-04-16

Like Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly was born to a very privileged life in Philadelphia and was a debutant before she was a Hollywood Star. Cool, poised, aloof, and classy she was the blonde counterpart to Kennedy's dark mysterious allure. But her fairytale life had no happy ending and despite its glamour was all too human.

princess grace.......2005-10-06

anyone interested in the life of grace kelly or the principality
of monaco should definitely read this book.
the author goes in depth about the joys and sorrows of her
(the princess') life to the point that it makes the reader feel
like you personally knew her;a very emotional book to read.
the small independent state of monaco came rather close to losing its sovereignty to france
but thanks to the story in this book it maintains its unique identity in todays modern world.

Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" (Once Upon a Time)

Average customer rating:

Amazing retelling of Sleeping Beauty
An Original Take on "Sleeping Beauty"
Good but some unnecesary rambling

Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" (Once Upon a Time)
Cameron Dokey
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416940146

Book Description

"ONCE UPON A TIME"

IS TIMELESS

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

Customer Reviews:

Amazing retelling of Sleeping Beauty.......2007-09-19

This book is an amazing and fresh new telling of Sleeping Beauty. I bought this book before the Once Upon A Time series started and then there was only Beauty Sleep, Storytellers Daughter and Snow. It made me sad when I went to buy the book, again since I lost my first copy, that it was out of print. I stumbled upon it on this website just to find out that they had taken it out of print to put into the Once Upon a Time Series.

This book gives us a great view of Aurora's family and how she grew up. I love how this book is in first person, it gives it a sort of personal feel, like all of Cameron Dokey's Once Upon A time books. This one is probably my favorite, if not my all time favorite, so far in the series. It's the first one I have read and the one I have treasured most. Snow comes in a close second. This book is just amazing, and I have my 23 year old friend addicted to them now so it is not just a book for teenagers, it is a book for everyone.

An Original Take on "Sleeping Beauty".......2007-07-08

Retellings of fairy tales are in fashion now, and a lot are mediocre. But "Beauty Sleep" is a surprisingly fresh interpretation of "Sleeping Beauty". The story is original, with very little of the it devoted to Aurore's hundred year nap. Instead it focuses on the events that preceeded it- the princess's childhood and her family, and her worries about the spells that will eventually affect her. When Aurore realizes that her kingdom will suffer if she doesn't fall under the spell, she takes matters into her own hands, and this part is just as interesting. This is short book, which is good because none of it seems to drag. The story is interesting and moves at a good pace, which is one thing I like about the "Once Upon a Time" series in general.

I liked the characters fine, and the romance is good. I also liked the writing, though it can be a little hard to follow at times. It's a little overwrought in places, and at times I had to go back over a sentence to get what it was saying, but the tone is fitting for a fairy tale. The themes the book had were interesting, and I loved Aurore's explantion of the magic in her world.

Overall, this is a quick read, but it has some depth too. The fairy tale ending left me feeling happy and was unexpected at the same time. I enjoyed it very much.

Good but some unnecesary rambling.......2007-06-06

You may like the tone of the book, sometimes it got on my nerves-got a bit rambly

Once Upon a Curse (Tales of the Frog Princess)

Average customer rating:

Excellent children's story
Romance at Heart
super book
Engaging read
Once upon a curse

Once Upon a Curse (Tales of the Frog Princess)
E. D. Baker
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1582349118
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

Many years ago a slighted fairy placed a curse on a beautiful young princess--a curse that caused her and all her female descendants to turn into mean, ugly witches if they ever touched a flower after turning sixteen. Now, Princess Emma, who is about to turn sixteen herself, is determined to break the spell once and for all. Emma travels back in time to the day the curse was placed on her ancestor in the hope of preventing the curse from being cast. Unfortunately she isn't successful in her efforts, but she does learn how to break it. Armed with this knowledge, Emma returns to her own time full of hope. But disaster ensues and Emma is about to give up completely--until true love shows itself in the most unexpected place of all.

With a bit of courage, a pinch of luck, and of course, a healthy dose of magic, Princess Emma charms her way through the third hilarious adventure in the Tales of the Frog Princess series.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent children's story.......2007-08-09

We bought the Frog Princess from a school bookfair. I've been reading it to my 8 year old daughter. We both enjoyed the book so much, I bought the next two in the series on Amazon. These are wonderfully funny, engaging stories. This is a children's auther I would highly recommend.

Romance at Heart.......2007-06-05

Ilove the romance in this book.Emma and Eadric
are very funny characters.I love the magic in this book.
I hope to keep reading the series!

super book.......2007-05-14

This book is just one of the wonderful books in this series. An absolute family treasure and fun for the whole family.

Engaging read.......2007-05-06

This was a fun book that has been passed around in family. I read it first and then passed it to my 13 yr. old daughter who then passed it to my 10 yr. old daughter. We've all laughed with delight at some of the exploits our "heroes" manage to involve themselves in. A must read! Grab the whole series while you're at it!

Once upon a curse.......2007-04-08

After an adventure of being a frog with Prince Eadric in the "Frog Princess" and finding a cure for turning Haywood back into human form in "Dragon's Breath", Princess Emma must now travel back in time to try and stop the family curse from being placed; or at least find out how to end it. Emma knows she must end the curse before she turns 16 and marries Eadric because it's ruining her family member's lives and will shadow her and Eadric when they get married. The curse has already taken its toll on her grandma and beloved Aunt Grassina, turning them into ugly old hags because they were in contact with a flower.
Emma manages to travel back in time with Eadric and survive up until the party, which is where and when the curse is placed. She fails to stop the curse from being placed, but manages to find out how to break it. When she goes back to the future in her own time, she's certain she knows the surest way of breaking the spell, but disaster strikes that discourages her. But finally love conquers evil unsuspectedly...

I loved this charming book because it shows courage, love, and determination in the inner self.

Average customer rating:

This book is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!
Very good book!
Page Thriller - Reviewed by Kholoud of High Point
A very fun story
Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Farris

Once Upon a Marigold
Jean Ferris
Manufacturer: Harcourt Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152050841

Book Description

Christian is gaga for Princess Marigold. But he's just a commoner, and no match for royalty. Heck, he lives in a cave with a troll! And now he's discovered another reason to put his love-soggy heart on ice: Queen Olympia is scheming to take over the kingdom--and she'll bump off her own daughter to do it. Can Christian foil her diabolical plans?

Customer Reviews:

This book is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-07-05

I love this book because it is an adventurous fairy tale. It is a funny/love story type of book. This book is age appropriate for nine and older (if you like love storys). I reccomend that you should read this book.Jean Ferris is a GREAT author.

Very good book!.......2007-06-05

This book was absolutely WONDERFUL!! I think that anyone who reads this book (of ANY age) would LOVE it because it is funny, charming, EVERYTHING!! What it says on the front is completely right: "Part love story, part comedy, part everything-but-the-kitchen-sink."

Jean Ferris really knows how to write a good book, and I am anxious to read her other books. This is truly a book worth 5 stars and a Newberry Medal, although it did not win one!

Page Thriller - Reviewed by Kholoud of High Point.......2007-04-20

Once upon a Marigold is a great book. If you like funny-romance books, this book is for you. A six year old boy runs away from home and lives with a troll in his cave. The boy calls the troll his "foster father". The boy is a pretty good inventor so he builds a telescope. He spies on a certain princess quite often. The boy likes the princess, so he writes to her using p-mail. P-mail is mail being delivered by trained pigeons. They become great friends, writing to each other.

The boy never tells her his name. When the boy is about 16, he takes a job in the castle of the princess he likes. One day, while he was working he overheard the queen say her evil plot to take over the kingdom and kill the king. Meanwhile Marigold is being forced to marry someone she doesn't like and wear ugly dresses for the wedding.

What will happen next?

Can the boy save the kingdom and Marigold from unhappiness? Will they unearth a wonderful secret? Will it be a happy ending or an unhappy? Will it be happily ever after or sadly ever after? In order to find out read this book!!!

A very fun story.......2007-03-15

Edric's trouble began the day he was out in the forest and a six-year-old boy named Christian popped out of the bushes. Christian has run away from his family and even though Edric searched, he never could find Christian's parents.

Eleven years goes by while Edric parents Christian. They live in a cave in the forest. Now Christian is in love with a princess, but she'll never notice him--a mere forest dweller who lives with a troll in a cave. Still, that doesn't stop Christian from corresponding with Princess Marigold.

The princess' mother, Queen Olympia, is scheming to take over the kingdom--and since she can't seem to marry Marigold off, she's planning to bump her off. Can Christian stop the Queen's evil plans and save Princess Marigold?

Once Upon a Marigold is a totally cute book guaranteed to appeal to girls ages ten and up. It might even appeal to some boys. It has lame jokes, an interesting plot, and fantastical creatures in a magical forest--complete with an incompetent tooth fairy.

The writing is probably not the best in the world, and it starts out slow, but once I got past the first twenty-two pages or so the writing picked up and I couldn't put the book down.

The cover says "Part comedy, part love story, part everything-but-the-kitchen-sink." How fun is that? The book matches its blurb.

Armchair Interviews says: It is a fun read.

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Farris.......2007-03-12

By Emily Cornell
Once Upon a Marigold takes place in a fairytale forest where King Swithbert rules. This story starts when Ed, a troll, is walking through the woods and finds a boy named Christian who is six. Christian ran away from home because he didn't like all their rules. So, Ed takes Christian back to his cave that he and his two dogs, Beezlebub and Hecate, live in. The cave is made of all different colors of crystals. Eleven years pass and Christian is still living with Ed in the crystal cave. During this time, Christian is very interested in inventions and uses Ed's telescope to look at the royal family who live across the river. One day Christian spots Princess Marigold and falls madly in love with her. Christian sends Princess Marigold a letter through P-Mail (pigeon mail). The two start to send eachother p-mail all the time and they become in love. Ed said that Christian needs to explore more of the world so he gets a job at castle as a servant. He finds out that Princess Marigold has to marry Prince Mangus who is very snobby and she doesn't want to marry. Then Christian is thrown into the dungeon for giving Princess Marigold a hug. Christian goes through many obstacles to stop Princess Marigold's wedding to the snobby Prince Mangus. Christian finally escapes and then stops Marigold getting married to Mangus. Christian and Marigold end up getting married and they lived happily ever after. As the cover of the book says, this book is part comedy, part love story, part everything-but-the-kitchen-sink. I would highly recommend this book to kids of all ages. I think that this fairy-tale romance will appeal to both boys an girls.

Average customer rating:

Better than the first...but is that saying much?
Poorly written and lacks substance
Quest for a Sleeping Beauty
A disappointing fantasy effort by McKiernan
Slow starter - but give it a chance

Once Upon a Summer Day
Dennis L. McKiernan
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B000FDK7FK

Book Description

Borel, Prince of the Winterwood, has been dreaming of a beautiful, golden-haired maiden night after night. He believes that she truly exists-and that she is in terrible danger. To save her, Borel must journey through the land of Faery-and face the dark forces that await him...

Customer Reviews:

Better than the first...but is that saying much?.......2007-08-03

Okay, when comparing the facts, I gave both this book and the first in the series "Once Upon a Winter's Night" 3 stars. But when comparing the content, the latter is more deserving of a 2, and I regret that now, for this one was far better. Well, far might be a bit of a stretch.

Haunted by the dream of a beautiful girl (Ha! How terrifying), Prince Borel of the Summerwood is determined to find and free the maiden from her constraints. To satisfy not only his curiosity but his hope that she is his destiny, Borel leaves the comfort of his palace to fight another battle in the war that is overcoming all of Faery: one of good and evil. By reading her diary and gaining some priceless friends, the Prince finds out why Chelle, the maid in the tower, is contacting him and how to reach her. But will it be soon enough?

Dun dun dun. Just kidding. It's nice to have interesting character as a lead that has a generally likeable disposition, unlike the previous book (Camille *shakes fist*). The tale itself is traditional but with new suspense, something hard to accomplish in a time-and-time-again-told tale (wow- a mouthful). It also ties in the series, and there are recurring characters from "Once Upon a Winter's Night", but they make vague appearances, which is wonderful.

Although there are a fair share of "boring" parts, the writing is much more improved from McKiernan's first book in the series, and it's more...well...readable. And enjoyable. If only to learn the characters and the series' plot line would I suggest "Once Upon a Winter's Night". But I would recommend this one as a decent book that a person can enjoy without having to think too much. (Which is always a pro.)

Poorly written and lacks substance.......2007-06-27

This book is awful.

There's no way around it. The writing is pretentious and lacks any kind of grit, substance, or texture. It rambles on for pages about the feast the nobles ate for dinner. The writing is overly flowery and poorly presented. It's awkward, condescending, and sounds like an arrogant 45-year old hitting on teenagers at a RennFaire. The sentences are choppy and overdone to the point of nausea, and the headache you get after reading a few pages doesn't go away until you've read something better to get the taste of McKiernan's book out of your head. I wish someone had told me how awful it was before I wasted my $7.99 at the bookstore.

There are much better books out there. Don't waste your time on this one.

Quest for a Sleeping Beauty.......2006-11-26

Once Upon a Summer Day (2005) is the second fantasy novel in the Faery series, following Once Upon a Winter's Night. In the previous volume, Camille challenged the marriage of the troll princess to Prince Alain and won all three contests. When the troll king refused to honor his terms and attacked Camille, the thralls rose up and, with a little help from the dwarf band, killed all the trolls and goblins. Upon returning to Summerwood Manor, Camille also solved the previous disappearance of Prince Alain's parents.

In this novel, Prince Borel of Winterwood passes an enjoyable summer day with his brother, sisters and sister-to-be at Summerwood Manor. Lazing in the gazebo, he falls asleep and dreams of a Demoiselle within a stone chamber with a band of shadow across her eyes. Free-floating daggers are outside the tower facing inward at him. The young lady cries out "Aidez-moi" and he awakes with a jerk.

Prince Borel tells his siblings and Camille about his dream before supper and they discuss the possibilities. Borel is morose during the meal and Alain calls for a gala that evening to cheer him. Borel seems to enjoy the singing and dancing, as do all within the manor.

The next morning, Borel awakens early, dresses for the road, and leaves the manor with his wolves. For the next four days, they travel toward the Winterwood. After his arrival, Borel bathes, eats and sleeps until he has recovered from the travel, then he arms himself and sets out to consult a dream diviner.

On his way, Borel scouts the hut of the witch Hradian. Since the primitive hovel seems to be deserted, he searches inside for any indications of the witch's intentions. He stuffs scrolls and a memoire into a rucksack and departs the hut. Just then, the witch lands on her besom and sends him flying with a black wind.

In this story, Prince Borel escapes from a keep that is guarded by Red Caps and Trolls. In the process, he frees Flic, a meadow sprite, and Buzzer, a bumble bee. From what he has learned from the memoire, Borel seeks the lands of Duke Roulan and Buzzer leads the way.

This story is a greatly enhanced version of Sleeping Beauty. The author presents a compelling argument that the fairy tale is a condensed and simplified version of the original bardic tale. This version, however, is much too long to be told in a single evening, since verbal renditions have a very low data rate. Indeed, this novel would provide enough material for a cinema taking five or more hours.

Nonetheless, this fairy tale has much the same flavor as others in that genre. Like the previous work, the vocabulary and settings are enchanting and the story is so engrossing that the chapters seem to fly by. Putting this novel down takes true willpower or maybe just overwhelming sleep.

Highly recommended for McKiernan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of faery lands, noble princes, evil witches, and magical creatures.

-Arthur W. Jordin

A disappointing fantasy effort by McKiernan.......2006-06-25

Previously, I've liked most efforts by this author, but this one was an exception.

My concerns?...let me explain

1.) I found that the rather unusual combination of heroes, that being, Borel (Prince and all round good guy), Flic (a faery) and Buzzer (a bumble bee), really pushed the envelop of believability to the very edge (I know, unbelievability is difficult to conceive as a concern when discussing the fantasy genre).

2.) Although this novel did have a few good moments, I felt that the dialogue between the main characters had an overall sense of immaturity; this hindered character development and made it difficult to become immersed in this book.

3.) I got the feeling that a lot of the background story telling done in this novel was really, (and let me be honest here), just fill; maybe to enlarge the book to novel length?...I began to find it easy to begin skimming some of these sections.

4.) Many of the "quests" in this story seemed somehow, out of place; they just didn't seem to fit in. It seemed a new piece of the puzzle would spontaneously appear in a chapter and then become the next important piece in a series of problems that need to be solved. The concern being, that more often than not,(after a period of head scratching by our heroes and several dead ends) a convenient, timely solution appears, like magic, to let the story finally proceed onwards.

All in all, less than I'd hoped for! 2 Stars.

Slow starter - but give it a chance.......2006-05-31

In this re-telling of Sleeping Beauty, McKiernan continues his tradition of great fantasy writing. Prince Borel has recurring dreams of an imprisoned maiden. He realizes that his dreams are sendings from a real woman imprisoned somewhere by some forces he doesn't understand. He then quests to find her, and along the way is accompanied by Flick, a sprite, and Buzzer, Flick's bumblebee companion. As with any quest, there are many seemingly unrelated adventures that end up being all connected in the end.

I thought it started out slow, but got better once it picked up momentum. It never reaches the fever pitch of some of McKiernan's other works (such as Hel's Crucible or Iron Tower) but maintains a pleasant steady pace once it gets going.

It is not necessary to read "Once Upon a Winter Night" before reading this one. References are made to the earlier book, but this one stands alone. I would place the reading level at age 13 and older due to mild sexuality and general difficulty level.

An Unlikely Prince (Once Upon a Dream Series, No 1)

Average customer rating:

Awesome
LOVE it!
LOVE it!
A pure delight!
If you like corny romances, you'll love this

An Unlikely Prince (Once Upon a Dream Series, No 1)
Barbara Jean Hicks
Manufacturer: WaterBrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1578561221
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Book Description

Like many people, Suzie Wyatt-the heroine in Book One of the Once Upon a Dream series-wishes that life was like a fairy tale. She admits she's waiting for her prince. When stuffy history professor Harrison Hunt moves in next door, however, Suzie thinks she's been stuck with a toad. And it's going to take seven adorable little imps to help the two open their hearts to one another and to what just might be "happily ever after..."

When fun-loving Suzie Wyatt moves into her parents' home, her dream of running her own daycare center finally comes true. Unfortunately, her new neighbors-the uptight, but handsome Harrison Hunt on one side and crotchety, old Mrs. Pfefferkuchen on the other-cannot be more horrified by the prospect of seven noisy children disrupting the peace.

Vivacious Suzie and her seven energetic charges quickly endear themselves to Harrison, however. And Harrison himself manages to capture Suzie's heart. But when Suzie discovers he's joined forces with Mrs. Pfefferkuchen to close her preschool doors, can she bring herself to forgive her Unlikely Prince?

Customer Reviews:

Awesome .......2005-09-08

This is one book I'm dyeing to read. I love the the other books and authors related to this one. Funny and inspiring, its awesome.

LOVE it!.......2003-08-19

Great book nice read! I've read the whole series and want more!

LOVE it!.......2003-08-19

Great book nice read! I've read the whole series and want more!

A pure delight!.......2000-09-29

Want a feel-good romance? This is it! I had hoped the story would live up to the delightful cover--it does . . . and then some! You'll empathize with the hard-working heroine--and you'll laugh out loud at the children's antics--but what you'll really love is how they charm their way into a no-nonsense professor's heart.

For a perfect afternoon treat, grab a cup of cocoa, a pair of bunny slippers and nestle in with Barbara's book! I can't wait to read the next in the series!

If you like corny romances, you'll love this.......2000-09-12

An avid reader of christian fiction, this book didn't strike me at all. Although I've read previous books of Barbara Jean Hicks and found them highly entertaining I found "An Unlikely Prince" to be, well--just sappy. The "hero" is a staunch, tight professor who moves in next door to a woman who is starting a daycare center. He dislikes kids/she loves them and thus the attraction begins. I just didn't find the characters to be very developed and thought it was very slow and uninteresting.

Three Prince Charming Tales (Once-Upon-a-Time)

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Three Prince Charming Tales (Once-Upon-a-Time)
Marilyn Helmer
Manufacturer: Kids Can Press, Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

In Three Prince Charming Tales, the classic stories of Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Rapunzel will transport children to make-believe kingdoms, where good triumphs over evil and fair maidens and their princes live happily ever after.

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