Straight Back to the Library

Yes, it exists. A Disney book about my favorite childhood story that I hated reading. Straight on Till Morning was such a confusing book for me to get through and I never really knew what was going on. About halfway through, I just stopped paying attention because I was so lost in the storyline. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this one, but we can deep dive into it anyway.

Sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling’s life is not what she imagined it would be. The doldrums of an empty house after her brothers have gone to school, the dull parties where everyone thinks she talks too much and the fact that her parents have decided to send her away to Ireland as a governess — it all makes her wish things could be different.

Wendy’s only real escape is writing down tales of Never Land. After nearly meeting her hero, Peter Pan, four years earlier, she still holds on to the childhood hope that his magical home truly exists. She also holds on to his shadow.

So when an opportunity to travel to Never Land via pirate ship presents itself, Wendy makes a deal with the devil. But Never Land isn’t quite the place she imagined. Unexpected dangers and strange foes pop up at every turn and a little pixie named Tinker Bell seems less than willing to help.

When Captain Hook reveals some rather permanent and evil plans for Never Land, it’s up to the two of them to save Peter Pan — and his world.

Overall, this story started off similar to the original when Wendy is still in London and dreaming of Never Land. But once she arrived there, I got totally lost. She and many other characters acted as though she had been there before and that they already knew her, but she hadn’t.

I understand that the point of this series is to change the original stories we know so well. I think this book was the first in the series to change the story so drastically that it became more difficult to follow and harder to find the original within it.

Reflections of Power: Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, Mirror is a twisted tale of Snow White in which the Evil Queen poisons the Prince instead. How could this really make the story different you ask? Although the ending was very similar, the plot in the middle changed the entire storyline.

Following her beloved mother's death, the kingdom falls into the hands of Snow White's stepmother, commonly referred to as "the Evil Queen" by those she rules. Snow keeps her head down at the castle, hoping to make the best of her situation.

But when new information about her parents resurfaces and a plot to kill her goes haywire, everything changes for Snow. With the help of a group of wary dwarfs, a kind prince she thought she'd never see again and a mysterious stranger from her past, Snow embarks on a quest to stop the Evil Queen and take back her kingdom. But can she stop an enemy who knows her every move and will stop at nothing to retain her power... including going after the ones Snow loves?

The mirror in this story really plays a much larger role as the Evil Queen has used its power so much that she and the mirror have started to become one and the same. She uses the power to lock Snow White's father out of the kingdom and uses it to spy on anyone she wishes. The more the Queen uses its power, the more she loses her humanity until she becomes consumed by her own reflection.

This version of the story starts off as a retelling of the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs but the best part is, you never know what is going to happen next. The twists and turns from the original storyline come out of nowhere and shock you before you can expect it.

Falling for a Different Type of Relationship

The Never After series by Emily McIntire is one of the most interesting series that I have read before. Her concept with these, are that the main character falls in love with the villain. For example, the first book in the series is Hooked, where Wendy falls in love with Captain Hook. Now, these stories don't take place in the same setting or plot as the movie. Emily McIntire changes the narrative to be a more mafia style, dark romance that really changes how the story ends. 

Most recently, Emily McIntire wrote Hexed, in which Prince Eric falls in love with Ursula. This book ended up being one of my favorites in the series as I enjoyed the relationship between Venesa (Ursula) and Enzo (Eric). 

Venesa Andersen has never been good. She wasn’t good enough for her parents, and she isn’t good enough for the gangster uncle who took her in after they died. But she’s cunning. Beautiful. Dutiful to her uncle’s demands. And she doesn’t have time for a moral compass, anyway. When her runaway cousin returns to their coastal southern town, she brings a man with her…and Venesa soon realizes he’s the only one who’s ever seen her for her.

There’s just one problem: she can never have him.

Enzo “Loverboy” Marino is a wealthy businessman by day and prince of the underworld by night. Underboss to a notorious mafia man, he answers to no one except his father, the strongest don in the Northeast. When he’s tasked with marriage, Enzo doesn’t think twice.

Until he meets his fiancée’s cousin.

When plans unravel and temptation sings its siren song, they’ll both have to choose what’s more important: duty to their families, or a forbidden love that was never supposed to be.

This series is particularly fun because you can see each piece of the original story take its place. Such as characters, words, monumental moments and symbols. When it clicks as to what Emily McIntire has hidden each thing as, you feel very proud of yourself. 

In this book Bastian references Sebastian, we still get the famous "but daddy, I love him" quote and Enzo gives Venesa a seashell necklace. Just like the one Ursula has in the movie. Overall, although it is a very smutty book, the plot is still to die for and I found myself not being able to get enough.

The Twisted Tale of A Familiar Story

As a Disney girl from heart, this series has really taken hold of me! I love seeing how each story could have ended differently and this one was just as good as the rest. Growing up, Mulan was definitely a role model to me because of how she defied the norms to save her father and China. Reading how her story changed and her falling in love again with Shang was part of what made me enjoy this book so much.

What if Mulan had to travel to the Underworld? When Captain Shang is mortally wounded by Shan Yu in battle, Mulan must travel to the Underworld, Diyu, in order to save him from certain death. But King Yama, the ruler of Diyu, is not willing to give Shang up easily. With the help of Shang’s great lion guardian ShiShi, Mulan must traverse Diyu to find Shang’s spirit, face harrowing obstacles and leave by sunrise, or become King Yama’s prisoner forever. Moreover, Mulan is still disguised as the soldier called Ping, wrestling with the decision to reveal her true identity to her closest friend. Will Mulan be able to save Shang before it’s too late? Will he ever be able to trust her again? Or will she lose him and be lost in the Underworld forever?

As much as I truly enjoyed visiting a new side to Mulan, this book was not my favorite in the series. It felt really wrong for Shang to die so easily and for him to not want to return to finish the battle for China. There were some new characters that I did not enjoy so much either, as they continued to pop up and just drag the book on even more.

That said, the book still had plenty of moments of adventure, cultural mythology and that familiar spark between Mulan and Shang. I enjoyed the exploration of Diyu and the way the author wove Chinese culture into the tale. It gave the store a darker, more mature edge than the original Disney version, making this book even more fun for me now as a young adult.

Overall, this book was still a cute read and I will continue to finish the what if series of classic Disney tales. The next one is The Little Mermaid so I am beyond excited to delve into this story. The plot is, "what if Ariel never defeated Ursula?" Ursula was super creepy as a kid so I cannot wait to see how else she can be more villainous.

The Maiden, the Guard, and My Mixed Emotions

From Blood and Ash is a book that I believe I originally found recommended to me on TikTok, but a friend recently mentioned it so I thought I would dive into it soon. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it yet, as there are some parts I love and others not so much. As this is the first book in the series I'm going to do what I always do and see the whole series out.

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in and tempts her with the forbidden.

As the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.

All of these characters are what is setting me on the line between loving and hating this book. The plot is good and I can follow it easily but I still need to figure out what I think of the characters. As much as I love the growing relationship between Poppy and Hawke, they can both be very annoying at times and that's something that can lead me to disliking the book.

In my opinion, the characters are just as important, if not more important than the plot and I still am very curious about how I will enjoy this series. As for now, its getting a middle rating, in hopes that when I read the other books in the Blood and Ash series they can have higher ratings.

Stars: 3

Spice: 2

Three Months Later: My Take on Ruin and Rising

I have finally finished the Shadow and Bone trilogy, also known as the Grishaverse trilogy and I am thankful to be done with it. It took me three months to power through all three books and while there were moments I enjoyed, overall, it felt like a long journey that I was more excited to just complete.

Of the three books, I appreciated Ruin and Rising the most because it provided closure to many of the loose ends from the previous books. While the pacing of the series was inconsistent at times, the final book managed to maintain my interest with unexpected plot twists that kept me guessing. Even though I had a general idea of how the story would conclude, there were enough surprises to make the finale engaging.

The story follows Alina and her friends as they escape captivity and set out on a dangerous quest to locate the third and final amplifier. This legendary source of power could give Alina the strength she needs to finally defeat the Darkling and bring peace to Ravka. However, along the way, the group encounters shocking revelations, difficult choices and the looming threat of an all-out war. As the final confrontation approaches, Alina must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice, not only for victory but also for the future of the world she is fighting to protect.

Now that I have completed the trilogy, I plan on watching the Netflix adaptation of Shadow and Bone. I am hoping that the show will bring more depth to elements that I found difficult to understand in the books and perhaps make some of the characters and plot more engaging. Sometimes, a visual adaptation can improve the storytelling in ways that a book cannot, so I am optimistic about how the series will compare.

Overall, I do not recommend this trilogy to anyone looking for a fantasy series. If you are searching for a more enjoyable fantasy read, I would highly recommend A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas or The Betrothed by Kiera Cass. 

According to Goodreads, readers who enjoyed the Shadow and Bone trilogy often also liked The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, Powerless by Lauren Roberts and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. All three of these books are on my to-read list and I am curious to see how they compare. For now, I am just glad to have finished this trilogy and am ready to move on to a better reading adventure.

Stars: 3/5

Spice: 1/5

Siege and Storm: A Step Up, But Still Falling Short

The second book in the Grishaverse was definitely a step up from the first, but it was still a very underwhelming read. While the stakes were higher, I found that much of the story felt drawn out, and certain sections could have been removed entirely without impacting the plot. The book had moments of excitement but overall, it struggled to keep me fully engaged.

The story continues to follow Alina Starkov, a Sun Summoner, as she flees from the Darkling with Mal, seeking refuge away from Ravka. However, the Darkling has grown more powerful, wielding terrifying new shadow creatures. He captures Alina and forces her to help him track the legendary sea whip, Rusalye, to amplify her powers.

With the help of the charismatic privateer Sturmhond, who has secrets of his own, Alina and Mal escape and return to Ravka, where she reluctantly steps into a leadership role among the Grisha to prepare for an inevitable battle against the Darkling. But as Alina’s power grows, so does her hunger for it, threatening her relationship with Mal and her own humanity. As the Darkling haunts her, she needs to face valuable choices not only for herself but for the future of the Grisha.

There is one final book left, and while I haven’t been completely won over by the storytelling so far, I am intrigued enough by the characters and their relationships to continue. I hope the finale delivers a more satisfying and engaging conclusion to Alina’s journey.

Stars: 3

Spice: 1

Did Shadow and Bone Deserve the Hype?

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo might have been the most underwhelming "BookTok" book I have read. I had heard so many good things about it but I found it very hard to continue to read. It was very boring to me and seemed to have a slow and repetitive plot. 

Despite this, I plan to read the entire trilogy. I once disliked the first book of a series but ended up loving the second and that series, A Court of Thorns and Roses.

This fantasy book follows Alina Starkov who lives a normal commoner life that is until her division is attacked on the Fold. She finds out that she has magical powers that she has no idea how to control. Now that witnesses have seen her power, she is taken to the king's court where she will be trained to be a Grisha, the magical army led by the Darkling. But as she misses her commoner friends and plans unfold, Alina realizes just how many secrets are being kept from her and the kingdom.

I am going to say that I do not recommend this book, but my roommate loved it, so it does not hurt to try it. The trilogy was turned into a Netflix series in 2021 but has since been canceled after season 2. It's assumed that it was discontinued due to low viewership rates related to the price it took to film. Once I am finished reading the series, I want to watch the Netflix adaptation to see the differences and if I prefer it more than the novels.

If you have read or watched Shadow and Bone, please let me know! I would love to know why others did or did not enjoy it to see different perspectives.

Stars: 2

Spice: 1

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna was not my favorite book. That is not to say that it was bad; it just did not particularly suit my taste. My mother gifted this book to me in a Halloween gift box now that I am in college, but it can totally be read at any time of the year.

As one of few witches in the world, Mika Moon knows to follow the rules of the witch society, mainly to not be around other witches for lengthy periods and to stay hidden. But she finds a way to sneak around the latter and has fun as she posts videos online "pretending" to do magic. After a while, someone reaches out, saying they know that she is a witch, and they need help teaching three young witchlings. Although breaking the important rules, Mika decides to travel to this person's house to help them and, she meets the three girls, others who live in the house, and Jamie. Jamie is very protective of the girls and finds Mika a threat by teaching them how to use their magic, but he slowly falls under her charm. Once all secrets are revealed, Mika realizes that she might have to risk it all to save her newfound family.

The romance and angst in this book were at a good level due to there not being too much but not too little either. I also love it when books don't spoil what the ending is likely going to be. I did not expect anything to happen, and this was the point in the book where I just could not set it down. I wish it would have been this way the whole book. 

I often got lost with the other characters, as it seemed a bit confusing with so many living in one house. Mika and Jamie were the only two that I could keep track of, as well as their major character development, which I preferred because they were the mains. But it would have been nice to have a clearer picture of the rest of the characters.

This book is very good for those who need a quick read for the cold weather. It can totally be read within a day with a good cup of hot chocolate or coffee by the fireplace. 

If you like witches and a cutesy romance, this book is just for you!

Stars: 3/5

Spice level: 1/5