Putty Pygmalion by Lonnie Garcia

Putty Pygmalion by Lonnie Garcia

72 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Derryl, a lonely radish, attempts to create a boyfriend out of a defunct and now illegal children's product. His creation, Peter, springs to life ready to make a child happy, and instead finds a suffocating and cloistered existence catering to Derryl’s needs. When Peter sneaks out to a party one night and meets Derryl’s friends, he discovers there’s even more to his creator’s intentions than he thought.

Young Hag and the Witches’ Quest by Isabel Greenberg

Young Hag and the Witches’ Quest by Isabel Greenberg

272 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Once there was magic in Britain. There were dragons and wizards and green knights and round tables and kings that pulled swords out of stones. But now, the doors to the Otherworld have closed, and the magic is gone. All that is left are the stories of those bygone days. Young Hag, her mother and her grandmother, Ancient Crone, are the last of the witches in Britain. At least, that’s what Ancient Crone says.

Young Hag has grown up hearing those tales and believing in her the power of her Grandmother. But when tragedy strikes, and their world is shaken, Young Hag turns her back on magic. She is sick of the tales of family curses, faerie doors, lost magic, and ancient swords. If they are witches, where is their magic when they really need it?

And then one day they find a changeling baby in the woods. Confronted with real magic at last, Young Hag has no choice but to believe. She sets off on the greatest quest of her life; to bring the magic back to Britain. But when faced with magic and myth, can Young Hag put aside her doubts and fears? Or will she simply become a forgotten footnote in the tale of famous kings and wizards?

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 2 by Sorata Akiduki

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 2 by Sorata Akiduki

Snow White with the Red Hair #2, 208 pages

⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Shirayuki is an herbalist famous for her naturally bright-red hair, and the prince of Tanbarun wants her all to himself! Unwilling to become the prince’s possession, she seeks shelter in the woods of the neighboring kingdom, where she gains an unlikely ally—the prince of that kingdom! He rescues her from her plight, and thus begins the love story between a lovestruck prince and an unusual herbalist.

Shirayuki begins her duties as a court herbalist apprentice in the castle, but her mentor is a bit odd. He’s quiet, shy, moody and…a child? Her first official duty is to accompany the prince to help quell an illness going around one of the forts that house Clarines soliders. Will she be able to discover the cause of the outbreak in time?

For the Wolf

 For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten 437 pages

Synopsis: As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose—to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he'll return the world's captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can't control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can't hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn't learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood—and her world—whole.

My Thoughts: It did take a while for me to get into this book. I'm not sure if it was because I just wasn't in the mood for it or if it was just too chock full of information. I did love the idea of the Wilderwood. I do love that this is a mix of Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and Little Red Reding Hood. 

Stars Above

 Stars Above by Marissa Meyer 400 pages

Synopsis: The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies? With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

My Thoughts: This was a nice little epilogue for everyone. I did enjoy reading it. It's not necessary to read and it was a little long, but I did enjoy it. I loved getting back stories of several of the characters we didn't know much about.

Winter

 Winter by Marissa Meyer 827 pages

 Synopsis:  Princess Winter is admired for her grace, kindness and beauty, despite the scars on her face. She's said to be even more breath-taking than her stepmother, Queen Levana...

When Winter develops feelings for the handsome palace guard, Jacin, she fears the evil Queen will crush their romance before it has a chance to begin.

But there are stirrings against the Queen across the land. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even find the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter claim their happily ever afters by defeating Levana once and for all?

My Thoughts: I love Winter and how crazy she is! This poor girl, despite how awful Levana has treated her, she decided to NOT use the Lunar gift and instead went mad. Winter is a very strong character and such a wonderful character. I love how everything ties together at the end. 

Fairest

 Fairest by Marissa Meyer 272 pages

Synopsis: Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. 

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I loved getting Levana's backstory. She was such an interesting character. It also shows how one can grow up and the consequences of the actions of how she grew up and the work she didn't do to heal herself shows how damaging it can be.

 

Cress

 Cress by Marissa Meyer 552 pages 

Synopsis: In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

My Thoughts: Book 3 did not disappoint. I love Cress as a character. She grows so much in this book. Rapunzel is one of my favorite stories and this book did not disappoint on the retelling of her story. Queen Levana continues to be a wonderful villain. 

Scarlet

 Scarlet by Marissa Meyer 464 pages

Synopsis: Cinder is back and trying to break out of prison―even though she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive if she does―in this second installment from Marissa Meyer.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana.

My Thoughts: This book was based off of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood and it did NOT disappoint! All of the characters are hilarious. I loved being able to focus on another character in the same world, but continue the story from the first book and the first character we were introduced to. 

Cinder

 Cinder by Marissa Meyer 400 pages

Synopsis: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

My Thoughts: I've had this book on my shelf for quite some time and I was always saying oh I will get to it eventually. I finally did and I'm so mad it took me this long to start it. This book is loosely based off of the Cinderella trope, but it's futuristic and set in Asia.

Prince of Thorns and Nightmares

 Prince of Thorns and Nightmares by Linsey Miller 432 pages

Summary: Prince Phillip’s known from a young age that his destiny has already been decided for him by his father, King Hubert. His job is to smile and wave for the crowd and ride off into the sunset with his predetermined fiancé, Princess Aurora, after her curse is lifted on her sixteenth birthday. But just days before Aurora’s birthday party, Phillip experiences a strange burst of magic, and three fairies tell him that he is part of a prophecy set to defeat Maleficent, the Mistress of All Evil. Suddenly Phillip feels as if he has a choice—maybe magic can be the freedom he has been looking for.

Although, having magic and working with fairies to retrieve powerful ancient artifacts would be much more enjoyable if he didn’t have to deal with her every night, a girl named Briar Rose who appears in his dreams on the other side of a mystical thorn maze. Phillip doesn’t know how he can be so annoyed by a person he can’t even see but having to hear the mysterious maiden’s laughs and jabs at him every time he goes to sleep is worse than any nightmare. But Phillip is starting to realize that Briar Rose isn’t so different from himself, and maybe they can change both of their fates one dream at a time.

My Thoughts: I honestly really enjoyed this book. I love getting books from the viewpoints of the Prince. I'm all for the viewpoints of women, but in the Disney movies, the Princes or male supporting character were always so one dimensional. I think this might be the best one out of the three Disney Prince books that's been written. 

THE FAIRY GODMOTHER (Five Hundred Kingdoms series) by MERCEDES LACKEY

 THE FAIRY GODMOTHER (Five Hundred Kingdoms Series) by MERCEDES LACKEY  (Pgs 417)

Goodreads Review:

In the land of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, if you can't carry out your legendary role, life is no fairy tale...

Elena Klovis was supposed to be her kingdom's Cinderella--until fate left her with a completely inappropriate prince! So she set out to make a new life for herself. But breaking with "The Tradition" was no easy matter--until she got a little help from her own fairy godmother. Who promptly offered Elena a most unexpected job...

Now, instead of sleeping in the chimney, she has to deal with arrogant, stuffed-shirt princes who keep trying to rise above their place in the tale. And there's one in particular who needs to be dealt with...

Sometimes a fairy godmother's work is never done...

Until the World Falls Down

 Until the World Falls Down by Jordan Lynde 544 pages

 

Synapsis: When a brutal betrayal leaves Nell heartbroken and alone, she makes a desperate wish for love, recklessly offering anything in exchange.

Her plea is heard by Enver, an immortal as wicked as he is beautiful. He sweeps Nell away to his castle that seems to exist out of time and presents her with a bargain: escape his labyrinth within forty-eight hours or surrender to eternity as his lover.

Nell vows to conquer the labyrinth, despite the dangerous attraction she feels for its monstrous ruler. But every stolen moment with him leaves her craving more. And every step deeper into the castle reveals hidden truths about herself…and the curse that holds Enver captive.

Torn between her desire for love and the dark being incapable of loving her, Nell faces an impossible choice. And her time is running out.

My Thoughts: This book is for all of my David Bowie Labyrinth fans! It's Labyrinth meets Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed this book, be forewarned there is a ton of smut in this book though. The infamous ball scene with the mirrors, the labyrinth, brooding male. This book, I liked up until the last couple of chapters. I then figured out there will be a second book... It was worth the read though and I got to see what that old movie would be like if it was an adult version!