The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman - 66 pages

This is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story with several major twists.  I usually love Neil Gaiman's writing for kids and teens. However, I was slightly disappointed by this story.  I believe it probably had to do with listening to it on audio.  The audio had sound effects that were very, very distracting from the story.  It also had odd pauses throughout the narration.  The twists were interesting so I think if I had read the print version I would have liked it better.

Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep by Gail Carson Levine

Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep by Gail Carson Levine - 107 pages

Princess Sonora was given the gift of being ten times more brilliant than anyone else on earth.  Unfortunately, this makes it so no one wants to listen to her and what she knows.  There is even a phrase that becomes common thanks to her - "Princess Sonora knows.  Just don't ask her."

This is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty.  It was a cute story with enough of a twist to keep it interesting.

Nameless: A Tale of Beauty and Madness by Lili St. Crow

Nameless: A Tale of Beauty and Madness by Lili St. Crow - 328 pages

This is the story of Cami, a young girl who was adopted by the ruling Family when found beaten in the snow one night.  Although she remembers nothing of her past, fear, stuttering, and scars continually remind her that she is not actually a member of the Family.  Then she meets Tor who has the same scars and unusual black-blue hair as her.  He seems to be trying to be her friend and warn her at the same time.  If only she would have heeded his warnings.
This is a loose retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.  It takes place in a world that was "twisted" after World War I allowing the fey and vampires to opening live and rule the new world.  It was a little difficult to get into the story as the main character stutters making it hard to read what she was trying to say.  I also wasn't expecting the vampire part of the story.  Once about half way in, the really wanted to finish the book.  It feels as if it might be the first in a series as the ending left quite a few questions unanswered.

Kill Me Softly, by Sarah Cross

Kill Me Softly, by Sarah Cross, 336 pages

Mirabelle is an orphan, raised by two godmothers who tell her she must never go back to the city she was born in.  So of course, before her 16th birthday, she sneaks away from home to find her roots.  What she finds is a city of fairy tale-cursed compatriots, with whom she shares a curse.  Personally, I hated this book- the main character was totally unlikable and annoying.  But teens may be drawn to the fairy-tale retelling nature of it.

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn - 371 pages

Jack's completely bored with his tour through Europe.  All they do is go through one dusty museum after another.  So he decides to play hooky one day and try to find the beach.  What he does find is a place surrounded by thick brambles where everyone is asleep.  He also finds a beautiful sleeping girl that he kisses.  Imagine his shock when she wakes up and tells him he's woken her from a 300 year sleep and that he has to marry her.  But that's just the beginning of the story because this isn't the typical Sleeping Beauty retelling where the characters automatically fall in love and everything ends happily ever after.  Instead, they runaway to Florida where they have to deal with Jack's family and the differences in their times.  Plus, the evil witch is still after Princess Talia wanting her revenge.
I really enjoyed this retelling.  It's unusual to find a retelling that actually deals with how the world has changed while the princess slept.  I also liked that it wasn't a romance from the beginning.