Review 264. Christopher Healy – The hero’s guide to saving your kingdom.

Title: The hero’s guide to saving your kingdom.
Author: Christopher Healy.
Pages: 480.
Published: April 30th 2013 by Walden Pond Press
Sort: The league of Princes #1.
Source: Gift from the lovely Daisy.

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, the princes stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it’s up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

Rating:

If I would have to describe this book in one word it would be: fun! There is a humoristic tone in this book and that works great with this story. Four princes are done with being ‘Prince Charming’ so they set out on an adventure to gain publicity.

The plot was cute and fairly simple, yet entertaining. I’ve always wondered why we don’t acknowledge those ‘Prince Charming’s’ more with their name. So, here I present Prince Liam, Frederic, Duncan and Gustav and they might not be the Charming’s you are familiar with.

Liam is a bit of a show-off. He is loved by his people and grew up in the hero-role, but when he finds out it’s all about money he runs away, leaving his destroyed popularity and bitchy bride-to-be behind. Frederic could be seen as the loser of the group. His father made him scared for the outside world and his idea of an exciting day means having a picnic. His princess runs off to find adventure and eventually, he sets out to save her. Duncan is the goofy, clumsy prince who literally falls into the group. He can light up any situation with his charm. Gustav is the muscles and his reputation is harmed when his princess has to save him. All he wants to do is reclaim his pride.

It’s an interesting group and I liked how their personalities were the opposite of each other. It gave a fun dynamic to the story and it showed that everybody is important. They all have their good and bad sides that messed up and saved the day at the same time. The princes bond together, because they all have something to gain from this adventure and in the mean time, they can look after their own princesses. The witch has a plan to get revenge and this plays only a tiny role in the overall story, but it added some action.

I liked how kick-ass two of the Princesses were, even when the focus is not on them. Ella goes away to seek adventure and Rapunzel had to save her prince. Sleeping beauty is a terrible girl, but it made sense, and Snow just wants to be left alone for some time.

I liked how it all wrapped together and I can’t wait for the sequel. It’s light and easy, so you’ll fly through the pages in no time.

Review 258. Kaufman & Kristoff – Illuminae.

Title: Illuminae.
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff.
Pages:  599.
Published: October 20th 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Sort: Part one of The Illuminae files.

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Rating:

It took me a long time to read this book. I love the unique formatting and how this book is like anything I've ever read before, but at the same time it made this the type of story I could not read in one sitting. It was a book that made me want to read a couple of pages, before moving on to something else. That does not mean it was bad, not at all. I was hooked to the story, especially towards the ending where everything seems to be doomed, but it took me on a longer journey than other books.

This interesting way of telling a story was brilliant. Big credits to the overall design and how it eventually came together as a story. In the beginning I felt like I was floating around; all kinds of stories, different pieces of information and nothing seemed to be connected, until it all came together. I really started to enjoy it the moment it started to make more sense.

I LOVED the virus (surprise) and the tension it added. The people with the Phobos virus were terrifying and I never thought there would be so many tense and scary situations, especially when Kady tries to save the day. This girl was so brave and intelligent, I really admired her strength. The downside was my disconnection from her. Despite liking her, I never felt I truly got to know her because of this formatting. I also wasn't a fan of her chat conversations with Ezra. They both had a funny voice, but there is just something about chats that doesn't work for me. This also gave me a certain don't-care attitude towards their romance, I didn't ship them that much.

The ending was a bit disappointing. I first thought the authors were brave by the twist they pulled, but then they decided to go with the oh-so-cliched untwist and mweh, I wish they had stayed true to the story; bleak, dark and many deaths. I am curious about the sequel and I can't wait to see how the story continues, but I don't think I'm as much in love with this book as everyone else. It was good, but it did not reach the FANGIRL status for me.

Review 254. Megan Morrison – Grounded.

Title: Grounded.
Author: Megan Morrison.
Pages:  384.
Published: April 28th 2015 by Arthur A. Levine Books
Sort: Part one of Tyme.
 

In all of Tyme, from the Redlands to the Grey, no one is as lucky as Rapunzel. She lives in a magic tower that obeys her every wish; she reads wonderful books starring herself as the heroine; her hair is the longest, most glorious thing in the world. And she knows this because Witch tells her so---her beloved Witch, who protects her from evil princes, the dangerous ground under the tower, even unhappy thoughts. Rapunzel can't imagine any other life. Then a thief named Jack climbs into her room to steal one of her enchanted roses. He's the first person Rapunzel's ever met who isn't completely charmed by her (well, the first person she's met at all, really), and he is infuriating-- especially when he hints that Witch isn't telling her the whole truth. Driven by anger at Jack and her own nameless fears, Rapunzel descends to the ground for the first time, and finds a world filled with more peril than Witch promised ... and more beauty, wonder, and adventure than she could have dreamed.

Rating:

This book did not turn out to be as epic as I thought it would be in the beginning. After a couple of pages I declared on Goodreads that this book would definitely end up in my top 10 of 2016. After finishing, I'm not sure if it will get a place, but it was highly enjoyable and I do recommend it. Also: the map is at the end of the book. No idea who came up with that idea, but all the way through the book I was thinking: I need a map to visualize this world! So, imagine my surprise when I found it at the end.. I'm happy they have one, but it is a strange placement.

Rapunzel has a quiet life in her tower, where she is cared for by Witch, the only mother she knows. Witch makes sure she is safe from the scary outside world, where princess try to marry her for her looks. No one has been able to reach to Rapunzel, as far as she knows, until Jack climbs into her tower. Jack only wants to find a cure for the fairy realm, so in return they can help him with his Giant problem. He helps her find out that there is more behind Witch than Rapunzel thought and she ends up leaving her tower for a quest.

Rapunzel was terribly naive and while I get that she might be more innocent than the average girl, at some point it started to get on my nerves. I liked how she cared for Witch, despite finding out what she has done. It was understandable and I always appreciate it when people can find something good in others. I also think she had a point when it comes to her birth parents.

Jack was a nice boy and I liked his mission to save his family. He had a hard time putting up with Rapunzel and I loved their bickering. The best thing about Middle Grade is always the fact they portray friendship between girls and boys without feeling the need to turn it into a romance. I think this book will appeal to younger girls who will be less distracted by Rapunzel's naive behavior.

Review 243. Sherry Thomas – The immortal heights.

Title: The immortal heights.
Author: Sherry Thomas.
Pages: 432.
Published: October 13th 2015 by Balzer + Bray.
Sort: Conclusion ‘The elemental trilogy.’
Part 1. The burning sky.
Part 2. The perilous sea
Source: Edelweiss and Publisher.

In a pursuit that has spanned continents, Iolanthe, Titus, and their friends have always managed to remain one step ahead of the forces of Atlantis. But now the Bane, the monstrous tyrant who bestrides the entire mage world, has issued his ultimatum: Titus must hand over Iolanthe, or watch as his entire realm is destroyed in a deadly rampage. Running out of time and options, Iolanthe and Titus must act decisively to deliver a final blow to the Bane, ending his reign of terror for good. However, getting to the Bane means accomplishing the impossible—finding a way to infiltrate his crypt in the deepest recesses of the most ferociously guarded fortress in Atlantis. And everything is only made more difficult when new prophecies come to light, foretelling a doomed effort....

Rating:

The burning sky is still my favorite installment, but I’m satisfied with the ending and how everything ties together. The beginning was a little difficult, because I read The Perilous sea a while ago, but soon I was wrapped into the story. There are minor spoilers for the series (if you’ve read the blurb, you can read the review)

Review 236. Stacey Jay – Princess of thorns.

Title: Princess of thorns.
Author: Stacey Jay.
Pages: 400.
Published: December 9th 2014 by Delacorte Press.
Sort: Stand-alone.

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago. Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

Rating:

”Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.” Game of Thrones? Not really, but the twisted fantasy-adventure description comes close my thoughts.

Let it go | All the books I read in Spain part 2.

Mackenzie Lee – This monstrous thing. 2.5/5.
This is a retelling of Frankenstein. Alasdair brings his brother Oliver back to life because he feels guilty. I liked how this book gives a different look on bringing someone back. It’s not solely about a crazy professor and Frankenstein didn’t turn out to be the monster we know. The steampunk feeling was nicely done. The rating is based on the fact that it’s not a memorable story and overall, it wasn’t that spectacular.

Nova Ren Suma – 17 & gone. 3.5/5.
Books with unreliable narrations can be so intriguing. I liked The walls around us and I was curious about this book. Lauren has visions of 17-year-old girls who disappeared and she has a feeling they want to tell her something. Lauren believes one of the girls, Abby, is still alive and she is the one to save her. I had a feeling at the beginning of the book that there was something wrong and Nova didn’t let me down. It’s a haunting story and I flew through the pages.

Kelly Barnhill – Iron-hearted Violet. 4/5.
Gorgeous book! It is filled with artwork that really added something to the story. Violet is smart, witty and loved by her people, but she is described as downright ugly. This is starting to become a problem when she wakes the Nybbass, who fills her head with lies. He makes her believe that true princesses are beautiful and he can help her with that problem. I liked the friendship between Violet and Demetrius. I also loved the presence of the dragon and the message in this book.

Gail Carson Levine – Ella Enchanted. 3/5.
I love the movie, so I thought it was time to finally read the book. And I was surprised, because this story is NOTHING like the movie. It’s like they only took the concept and created something entirely new; and definitely more enjoyable. The chemistry between Ella and Charles is much better on screen than in the book – and they made the story much more fast-paced. It’s still a good book, but this is one of those moments where I prefer the movie. (And if you don’t know the story; Ella got a ‘gift’ from a fairy at her birth. Obedience. This brings her in some difficult situations)

Let it go | All the books I read in Spain part 1.

Let it go is my new feature, where I will spotlight all the books I DNF and the ones I read, but don’t want to review. And yes, the name is based on the wonderful song from the movie Frozen, hence the snowflake and the reindeer. This feature is based on several other DNF features.

I read quite some books in Spain and I was planning to review them all separately, but let’s be honest, I’m too lazy at this moment to do so. The only book I will spotlight on itself is The wrath and the dawn (because it is amazing) These reviews feature pictures I made to test my new camera.

Becky Wallace – The storyspinner. 4/5.
SHIP. Johanna’s family is expelled from their troupe when her father falls to death during his performance. They have a hard time earning money, especially with their alcoholic mother. One day she is beat up by Prince Rafi when he catches her hunting a dear on his property. His mother is appalled by her son’s behavior and he has to make an oath that he will make it up to Johanna. I loved the chemistry between Johanna and Rafi, who dislike each other from the moment they meet. Johanna is a strong, smart girl who doesn’t take crap from anyone. The romance was great, there are some shocking moments and I loved the plot, so give me more please! I didn't give it 5 stars, because the overall story isn't very unique.

Review 229. Rosamund Hodge – Crimson bound.

Title: Crimson bound.
Author: Rosamund Hodge.
Pages: 448.
Published: May 5th 2015 by Balzer + Bray
Sort: Stand-alone!
Other work by the author: Cruel Beauty.

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless— straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat. Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing. In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

Rating:

Cruel beauty is without a doubt one of my favorite retellings of all time. It was a highlight last year and I definitely set the bar high for this book. Unfortunately, those high expectations weren’t met. It is still a great book, don’t get me wrong, but it just didn’t hit all the marks for me like Cruel beauty.

Review 222. Liesl Shurtliff – Jack: the true story.

Title: Jack: the true story of Jack and the beanstalk.
Author: Liesl Shurtliff.
Pages: 304.
Published: April 14th 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Sort: Stand-alone (sort-of companion to Rump)
Source: Netgalley; publisher, thanks!

All work and no play makes Jack extremely bored. And when Jack gets bored, he makes mischief. It’s not that he’s bad; he just longs for adventure—and there’s nothing adventurous about toiling day and night to grow yucky green stuff. Adventure finally arrives one day in the form of giants, and soon Jack is chasing them to a land beyond the clouds, with his little sister, Annabella, in tow. The kingdom of giants is full of slugs the size of sheep, venomous pixies as tall as grown men, and a chatty cook with the biggest mouth Jack has ever seen. There’s giant fun to be had, too: puddings to swim in, spoons to use as catapults, monster toads to carry off pesky little sisters. But Jack and Annabella are on a mission. The king of the giants has taken something that belongs to them, and they’ll do anything—even dive into a smelly tureen of green bean soup—to get it back.

Rating:

Last year I read Rump and I enjoyed it, so when I saw this book on Netgalley I knew I had to request it. I thought this book was even better, because there was more action and adventure. Jack is, like his mother always calls him, a ‘naughty little boy’ and I thought it was a perfect portrayal of a young boy. Add pixies, elves, giants, magic, mystery and a quest for his lost father and you’ve found yourself an engaging Middle Grade story.

And don’t you just love the cover?

Review 215. Rhiannon Thomas – A wicked thing.

Title: A wicked thing.
Author: Rhiannon Thomas.
Pages: 352.
Published: February 24th 2015 by HarperTeen
Sort: A sneaky #1 of yet-to-announced-series.
Source: Edelweiss & Publisher.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale. Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept. As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Rating:

It's not one of my favorite fairytale retellings, but it's definitely a good story. I liked what Rhiannon did with the story. She managed to take Sleeping Beauty and turn it into something new. The realistic approach to the tale gave it an interesting twist.

Review 214. Merrie Haskell – The princess curse.

Title: The princess curse.
Author: Merrie Haskell.
Pages: 328.
Published: September 6th 2011 by HarperCollins
Sort: Stand-alone.
Fairytale retelling challenge.

In the fifteenth-century kingdom of Sylvania, the prince offers a fabulous reward to anyone who cures the curse that forces the princesses to spend each night dancing to the point of exhaustion. Everyone who tries disappears or falls into an enchanted sleep.
Thirteen-year-old Reveka, a smart, courageous herbalist’s apprentice, decides to attempt to break the curse despite the danger. Unravelling the mystery behind the curse leads Reveka to the Underworld, and to save the princesses, Reveka will have to risk her soul.

Rating:

I enjoyed this book, but there were a couple of things that bothered me and their solutions were too easy and effortless. Most of my reservations are based on the romance and the fact that Reveka felt too young for the love-interest.

Review 212. MarcyKate Connolly – Monstrous.

Title: Monstrous.
Author: MarcyKate Connolly.
Pages: 432.
Published: February 10th 2015 by HarperCollins Children's Books.
Sort: Stand-alone.

The city of Bryre suffers under the magic of an evil wizard. Because of his curse, girls sicken and disappear without a trace, and Bryre’s inhabitants live in fear. No one is allowed outside after dark. Yet night is the only time that Kymera can enter this dangerous city, for she must not be seen by humans. Her father says they would not understand her wings, the bolts in her neck, or her spiky tail—they would kill her. They would not understand that she was created for a purpose: to rescue the girls of Bryre. Despite her caution, a boy named Ren sees Kym and begins to leave a perfect red rose for her every evening. As they become friends, Kym learns that Ren knows about the missing girls, the wizard, and the evil magic that haunts Bryre. And what he knows will change Kym’s life.

Rating:

What a surprising ending! That was absolutely the best part about this book, because I never saw it coming and I thought it was a brave decision for a Middle Grade book. I was bothered by Kymera’s ignorance, but at the same time I think this will work great for children. Most of them are innocent too, so I bet they will devour this fairytale-like story.

Review 288. Shannon Hale – series: The books of Bayern.

This series came highly recommended by Emily from Reverie Rhapsody (and if you don't know her, you should check out her beautiful blog!) This is one of her favorite series and after devouring a book every day, I understand why.

The goose girl. 383 pages. May 13th 2005 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, spends the first years of her life under her aunt's guidance learning to communicate with animals. As she grows up Ani develops the skills of animal speech, but is never comfortable speaking with people, so when her silver-tongued lady-in-waiting leads a mutiny during Ani's journey to be married in a foreign land, Ani is helpless and cannot persuade anyone to assist her. Becoming a goose girl for the king, Ani eventually uses her own special, nearly magical powers to find her way to her true destiny.

RATING: 4 STARS. This was by far my favorite book from the series (so far, I haven’t read Forest Born yet) and I think it’s because it’s based on a fairy tale. Ani – short for Anidori – is send away to a foreign country to get married to the prince. Her mother arranged everything to get more ties with Bayern. Ani grew up under her aunt’s guidance and that’s how she learned to speak with animals; a skill that isn’t appreciated by most. When she is on her way to Bayern, Ani is betrayed by her lady-in-waiting and she managed to escape. She takes the job of goose girl for the King until she finds a way to tell the truth.

Ani was a strong character. I liked how she embraces being different and how she uses her gifts. She becomes a goose girl without whining or feeling sorry for herself. Better, she starts to enjoy her new life and the freedom it gives her. There are no twists or unexpected turns, but that's not what this story needs. It was magical.

Review 287. Kat Zhang – Echoes of us.

Title: Echoes of us.
Author: Kat Zhang.
Pages: 638.
Expected publication: September 16th 2014 by HarperCollins.
Sort: (Conclusion) Hybrid Chronicles #3.
Review #1. What’s left of me.
Review #2. Once we were.
Source: ARC from HarperCollins international.

To change the world, I may lose everything
All Eva ever wanted was the chance to be herself. But in the Americas, to be hybrid—to share your body with a second soul—is not tolerated past childhood. Now Eva and Addie, her sister soul, are constantly on the move, hiding from the officials who seek to capture them. But the tide is changing. A revolution is brewing, and people are starting to question the hybrids' mistreatment. Then Marion, an ambitious reporter, offers Eva and Addie a daring proposal: If they go undercover and film the wretched conditions of a hybrid institution, she will not only rescue them, she'll find a way to free Jackson, the boy Addie loves. It's risky, and Eva will have to leave Ryan and her friends behind, but if she succeeds, it could also tip the scales forever and lead to hybrid freedom. As Eva and Addie walk into danger, they cling to each other and the hope of a better future. But the price they might pay is higher than they ever could have imagined.

Rating:

A good conclusion to a solid Dystopian series. It’s not the most memorable story ever, but if you want an interesting story that delivers constant quality, you might want to give this series a shot. There are no hard spoilers for any of the books.

Let it go | Alias Hook, Eona and Adorkable.

Today a DNF review for a fairytale retelling that just didn't work for me.  It's a shame, because it's about my favorite character from the TV show Once upon a time and I was hoping to get some interesting background story; Alias Hook. I also review the second book in the duology about Eon/Eona, which disappointed me and I was surprised by Adorkable. I liked it more than I thought I would, because I don't read many fluffy contemporaries.

Let it go | Seven Waters and bullies.

Today I share two  little reviews for books I’ve read in the beginning of this year. The first book is part of a series from one of my favourite authors. It's a magical book filled with strong female characters and healthy relationships.  I also review an anthology that personally touched me.

Let it go | Once we were, Stepsister's tale & Finnikin.

Today I feature three completely different different book. I start with Once we were, a sequel to What's left of me, by Kat Zhang. This is a dystopian book about a world where hybrids exist, but they are hunted down by the government. The second book is a failed attempt to a fairytale retelling with a refreshing POV and lastly, a very hyped fantasy book that just wasn't meant to be.

Review 266. J.A White – The thickety.

Title: The thickety: a path beings.
Author: J.A White
Pages: 496.
Published: May 6th 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books
Sort: Stand-alone, Middle grade.
Source: Edelweiss & Publisher.

Hand in hand, the witch's children walked down the empty road. When Kara Westfall was six years old, her mother was convicted of the worst of all crimes: witchcraft. Years later, Kara and her little brother, Taff, are still shunned by the people of their village, who believe that nothing is more evil than magic . . . except, perhaps, the mysterious forest that covers nearly the entire island. It has many names, this place. Sometimes it is called the Dark Wood, or Sordyr's Realm. But mostly it's called the Thickety. The black-leaved trees swayed toward Kara and then away, as though beckoning her. The villagers live in fear of the Thickety and the terrible creatures that live there. But when an unusual bird lures Kara into the forbidden forest, she discovers a strange book with unspeakable powers. A book that might have belonged to her mother. And that is just the beginning of the story.

Rating:

This was again a very entertaining Middle Grade book. It’s filled with witches, dark magic and a strong main character. I think this book contains some good messages, like how it depends on the person whether they turn good or evil.

Review 254. Catherynne M. Valente – The girl who circumnavigated fairyland.

Title: The girl who circumnavigated fairyland in a ship of her own making.
Author: Catherynne M. Valente.
Pages: 247.
Published: May 10th 2011 by Feiwel & Friends.
Sort: Fairyland #1.
Source: Sinterklaas present from Judith!
Link: Goodreads.

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

Rating:

This was such an unique book! It has a whimsical writing-style; one I’ve never seen before. The cover is gorgeous and there are adorable illustrations at the beginning of every chapter. It’s a magical tale filled with adventure and interesting characters.

Review 248. Karen Foxlee – Ophelia and the Marvelous boy.

Title: Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy.
Author: Karen Foxlee.
Pages: 240.
Published: January 28th 2014 by Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Sort: Stand-alone.
Source: Netgalley & Publisher.
Link: Goodreads.

Unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard doesn't believe in anything that can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. On her very first day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help. As Ophelia embarks on an incredible journey to rescue the boy everything that she believes will be tested. Along the way she learns more and more about the boy's own remarkable journey to reach her and save the world. A story within a story, this a modern day fairytale is about the power of friendship, courage and love, and never ever giving up.

Rating:

What a charming, cute story! This is definitely a book I see myself reading for my future child(ren). It’s adventurous, magical and exciting. I’ve settled with a 3.5 rating, but I would have adored this book when I was younger!