REVIEW: "The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom" by Christopher Healy

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy; Illustrated by Todd Harris

(League of Princes #1)

Goodreads -- Amazon -- Book Depository

For Ages 8+

Middle Grade/Fantasy
Walden Pond Press --May 1, 2012

Hardcover, 419 pages
Borrowed from the Library

SUMMARY
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.

FIRST LINE
Prince Charming is afraid of old ladies.  Didn't know that, did you?

MY THOUGHTS

As can be expected by my blog title, I am a huge fan of fairy tales.  I love almost everything about them from the dragons to the swashbuckling adventures to the love stories.  But, I also understand the limitations of this genre and how underdeveloped the characters can be.  That is one of the main reasons why I love fairy tale retellings because it is a way for me to imagine the depths of my favorite stories beyond the classic tales.

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is a hilarious take on four of the most well-known fairy tales in our culture (Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty) and shows what happens after the happily ever after.  Specifically, Christopher Healy focuses on the princes of those tales who have never been given a name beyond the generic Prince Charming.  Now, these gentlemen take center stage and show readers that heroes can come with all forms. 

My favorite part of this book are the princes.  Each of them is well-developed and funny in their own way.  Readers get to know more about burly Gustav who resents Rapunzel for saving him from the witch, handsome Liam who isn't so sure he wants to marry Briar Rose after all, quirky Duncan who worships the ground Snow White walks on, and (my personal favorite) Frederic whose dainty ways force Ella to leave him.  Each prince has his own reasons to save their kingdoms and it was a treat to watch them interact with each other.

The princesses are also part of the story though they aren't given as much page time as the princes, understandably.  I really liked the way that Healy went beyond the typical princess stereotype with Ella, Rapunzel and Snow.  Briar Rose, at first, seemed to be a cliched spoiled brat, but she became so delightfully awful that I want to know more about her. 

The League of Princes has to deal with a multitude of issues on their quest to become heroes.  Like many fairy tales, they must fight giants, dragons, trolls, angry villagers, etc.  There also is the resident evil witch whose plot is both diabolical and comical.  I also adored any scene where the League encountered the mysterious Deeb the Bandit King.

All in all, I thought The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom was appropriately funny and touching for a fairy tale retelling.  There was a ton of a creativity on the part of the author and the illustrations peppered throughout the book just added to the fun.  I will admit that the plot did get a little long-winded in the last third of the book, but things wrapped up nicely by the end.  I had a great time reading this book and I am eagerly anticipating the chance to read its sequel, The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle.

***4 STARS***

FAVORITE QUOTE

I'm Liam of Erinthia.  I'm here to rescue you ... and...you are not Cinderella.  You are a tree branch wrapped in a sheet.

BOOKS IN THE SERIES
1. The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
2. The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle

AUTHOR INFORMATION

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WWW WEDNESDAYS (3) and WAITING ON WEDNESDAY (59)

Hosted by Should Be Reading.

To participate in this feature, you just have answer these three simple questions:

1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

CURRENTLY READING...
 
*Sweet Revenge by Zoe Archer (historical romance) -- Intriguing concept!

*Eon by Alison Goodman (YA fantasy) -- Really getting into the meat of the story and loving where the author is taking it!
*Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (YA paranormal) -- Just started it this morning and am so excited!

RECENTLY FINISHED READING...
   
*Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale (historical romance) -- Cute novella that is inspired by the works of Beyonce!

*A to Z by Marie Sexton (male/male romance) -- Continuing my re-read of Sexton's Coda series in anticipation of the release of Fear, Hope, and Bread Pudding in June. 
*Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Volume 4 by Naoko Takeuchi (manga fantasy) -- Loved the TV series in middle school and really enjoying the re-release of the manga!

WHAT I'M PLANNING ON READING NEXT...
 

*A Woman Entangled by Cecilia Grant (historical romance) -- Netgalley e-arc that is the conclusion of a trilogy.  I enjoyed the first two by this author.
*Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep (urban fantasy) -- Love this author's YA series and am excited to see how she does with UF.

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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to highlight upcoming releases we're anxiously awaiting. 










ANTIGODDESS
(GODDESS WAR #1)
by Kendare Blake

Expected Publication: September 10, 2013
Young Adult -- Paranormal/Fantasy

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

WHY I'M EXCITED: I haven't read Blake's previous works, but I've heard great things about Anna Dressed in Blood.  I am excited because I love books that deal with mythology and this seems like an original take on these classic stories.  Plus Cassandra and Athena are some of my favorite characters from Greek myth!

  

REVIEW: "The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After" by Julia Quinn

The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn

(Bridgertons #9)

Goodreads -- Amazon -- Book Depository

For Ages 18+
Historical Romance

HarperCollins -- April 2, 2013

Paperback, 374 pages
Purchased from Amazon

SUMMARY
For the first time in print, New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn presents a collection of "second epilogues" to her Bridgerton series, previously published as e-originals, plus a new bonus Bridgerton novella: "Violet in Bloom," a short story in which we finally meet Edmund Bridgerton.

MY THOUGHTS

I have been a fan of historical romances for almost six years now and I have Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series to thank for that.  I discovered this genre by chance when I was looking for gift ideas for my mother and saw a five-star review for The Duke and I.  She loved it so much that she told me I had to try it and the rest was history.  I read the entire series within two months, glommed the rest of her backlist, and eagerly anticipate each new release.

Because of my fond memories of reading about the Bridgerton family, I was ecstatic to learn that Julia Quinn was writing second epilogues featuring these characters and releasing them in a massive anthology.  In full disclosure, I have read most of these novellas before when they were released as single titles over the years, but I re-read them in order to do this review.  I am going to provide a brief summary of each novella and then sum up my thoughts on the entire anthology at the end.  I will say that there may be minor spoilers for people who have not finished the Bridgerton series so you have been warned!

The Duke and I: Second Epilogue revisits Simon and Daphne after twenty years of marriage when they get a bit of a surprise.  At the same time, they also have an unexpected visit from Colin and Penelope who are concerned that their son is not speaking yet which brings up memories for Simon.  For The Viscount Who Loved Me, Julia Quinn has Kate, Anthony, and the rest of the crew in a rematch of the infamous Pall Mall scene.  It shows the main couple as being comfortable in their marriage, but still competitive in every way possible.  

The epilogue for An Offer From a Gentleman doesn't deal directly with Benedict and Sophie, but focuses on a popular side character.  Sophie's stepsister, Posy, finally gets her own happily ever after thanks to an idea from Benedict.  Romancing Mr. Bridgerton: Second Epilogue takes place soon after the completion of the original book and shows how Penelope tells Eloise about being Lady Whistledown.  It focuses primarily on Penelope and Eloise's friendship rather than Colin and Penelope as a couple.

The novella for To Sir Phillip with Love is told from the point of view of Eloise's stepdaughter, Amanda, and shows the influence that Eloise has had on her life.  It features Amanda's devotion to her family and how she falls in love.  When He Was Wicked shows Michael and Francesca being happy after four years of marriage yet they still struggle with infertility.  Many of the Bridgertons make cameos in this one as the main couple visits for the christening of Hyacinth's daughter.

Hyacinth gets her just desserts in the epilogue for It's In His Kiss because her daughter, Isabella, is exactly like her mother.  It specifically focuses on Isabella's discovery of the jewels from the first book and how she hides it from her family.  On the Way to the Wedding takes place almost immediately after Lucy gives birth to her and Gregory's twins (babies eight and nine).  Things take a more serious route in this story when complications arise from the birth.

This anthology also includes "Violet in Bloom" which tells the tale of Lady Bridgerton herself.  It begins with her first meeting with Edmund and shows key parts of their relationship until its tragic ending.  Then, the story shifts gears and shows Violet's life after Edmund's death all the way to her own reflection at seventy five years old.

As a Bridgerton fan, I enjoyed all the stories in this collection.  My personal favorites were the second epilogues for The Viscount Who Loved Me, When He Was Wicked, and The Duke and I.  I also have to say that I had a hard time getting through "Violet in Bloom" because of the scenes involving Edmund/Violet and the heartbreaking reflection of Lady Bridgerton at the end of the everything.  But, overall, I had a great time revisiting the Bridgerton clan and am glad that Julia Quinn let us spend more time with her beloved characters.

***4 STARS***

BOOKS IN THE SERIES
1. The Duke and I
2. The Viscount Who Loved Me
3. An Offer from a Gentleman
4. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
5. To Sir Philip with Love
6. When He Was Wicked
7. It's In His Kiss
8. On the Way to the Wedding
9. The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After

AUTHOR INFORMATION

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TOP TEN TUESDAY: Book Covers

Hosted by the ladies at The Broke and Bookish.

TOP TEN FAVORITE BOOK COVERS OF BOOKS I HAVE READ


Dresses I Covet
    

Cool Concepts
    

Just Plain Pretty
  

Man Candy!
  

WWW WEDNESDAYS (2) and WAITING ON WEDNESDAY (58)

Hosted by Should Be Reading.

To participate in this feature, you just have answer these three simple questions:

1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

CURRENTLY READING...

 
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman (YA fantasy) -- Really picking up speed...very creative.
Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins (YA paranormal) -- Just starting it so don't have anything to say.
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale (historical romance) -- See above.

RECENTLY FINISHED READING...

Lord of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath (historical romance) -- Favorite of the trilogy!
The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy (MG fantasy) -- Super clever take on fairy tales.

WHAT I'M READING NEXT...

If You Give a Rake a Ruby by Shana Galen (historical romance) -- Library book that I need to read before its due date sometime early next week.
Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster (steampunk) -- Second in a series and I adored the first book.
Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (YA paranormal) -- Really excited to see what happens next in this series.


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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to highlight upcoming releases we're anxiously awaiting.

 

HER LADYSHIP'S CURSE

(DISENCHANTED & COMPANY #1)

by Lynn Viehl

Expected Publication: August 12, 2013

Steampunk -- Historical Romance

In a steampunk version of America that lost the Revolutionary War, Charmian (Kit) Kittredge makes her living investigating magic crimes and exposing the frauds behind them. While Kit tries to avoid the nobs of high society, as the proprietor of Disenchanted & Co. she follows mysteries wherever they lead.

Lady Diana Walsh calls on Kit to investigate and dispel the curse she believes responsible for carving hateful words into her own flesh as she sleeps. While Kit doesn’t believe in magic herself, she can’t refuse to help a woman subjected nightly to such vicious assaults. As Kit investigates the Walsh family, she becomes convinced that the attacks on Diana are part of a larger, more ominous plot—one that may involve the lady’s obnoxious husband.

Sleuthing in the city of Rumsen is difficult enough, but soon Kit must also skirt the unwanted attentions of nefarious deathmage Lucien Dredmore and the unwelcome scrutiny of police Chief Inspector Thomas Doyle. Unwilling to surrender to either man’s passion for her, Kit struggles to remain independent as she draws closer to the heart of the mystery. Yet as she learns the truth behind her ladyship’s curse, Kit also uncovers a massive conspiracy that promises to ruin her life—and turn Rumsen into a supernatural battleground from which no one will escape alive. 

WHY I'M WAITING:  I really enjoy Lynn Viehl's paranormal romances especially her Darkyn series so I'm excited to see what she does with steampunk.  Kit sounds like an intriguing character with an interesting occupation.  Plus the idea of an America that lost the Revolutionary War fascinates me.