Book Review: Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer by Maureen McGowan

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: April 1, 2011
Pages: 320
Series: sort of :)
Acquisition: received copy for review

Summary:

In this thrilling story full of adventure and romance, Sleeping Beauty is more than just a lonely princess waiting for her prince—she's a brave, tenacious girl who never backs down from a challenge. With vampire-slaying talents that she practices in secret, Sleeping Beauty puts her courage to the test in the dark of night, fighting evil as she searches for a way to break the spell that has cut her off from her family. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Sleeping Beauty and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer is an entirely new type of fairy tale–one that will keep today's kids guessing and offer them hours of magical fun. (From Goodreads)

My thoughts:
A mixed bag of good and bad for me on this one. I love mashups in general and the story of Sleeping Beauty (at least what I knew of it) always seemed a little lacking so it was fun is get some back story. Also, vampires are cool if done right and while the vampires in this story aren't the blood thirsty ruthless killers that vampires are suppose to be :) they are still pretty darn cool.

But the romance….maybe I need to stay away from YA romance for a while? Or all romance in general? Maybe I'm too critical? I don't really know. What I do know is that I didn't enjoy the romance in Sleeping Beauty. Lucette was such a strong character and I felt like the romance dropped her down a few notches. All fluttery and weak whenever her 'love' was near. AND said 'love'? Didn't care for him at all.

As with book 1, book 2 could be read in 8 different ways -- here is what I've said previously:
"Depending on choices you make along the way. At 3 points in the story, you have to choose what you think our heroin should do. You then skip ahead to that section and read on. This, was pretty cool. I felt like I had some control over the plot AND I can't imagine the organizing skills it takes as a writer to pull this off. The only issue for me though was the fact that the ending is the same for every choice you make. So, while the action plays out differently, in the end there is no choice."

For some reason, this 'all choices lead to the same ending' didn't bother me with Cinderella but with Sleeping Beauty, it did. I think it has to do with the fact that I liked Cinderella as a character more then I liked Sleeping Beauty.

All in all though? I really enjoyed reading this classic tale told in a very original new way. Maureen's writing style really drew me into the story and it was interesting to see how she handled so many elements at once. I would for sure read more Twisted Tales in the future.

Overall Rating:

3.5 / 5 Stars

Books in the Twisted Tales Series:
1. Cinderella Ninja Warrior
2. Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer
**they do not need to be read in order as each is it's own tale**

Linkage Love:
Silver Dolphin
Author's Website
Goodreads

Book Review: Cinderella: Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: April 1, 2011
Pages: 320
Series: sort of :)
Acquisition: received copy for review

Summary:

In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince—she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read! (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
I have always loved Cinderella as a character. Forced into servitude by her tyrannical stepmother, she is little more then a slave to the wishes and whims of her evil stepsisters. Now, take that classic tale and turn said stepmother into a powerful evil magician, turn Cinderella into a kick ass ninja and replace the glass slipper and ball with more excitement (think actual true love and a magic completion). Win!

I very much enjoyed this book. Cinderella is a strong and determined girl. Never failing and never wavering. She doesn't need a man to hold her up but love will make her powerful.

So many elements added to the original tale and I loved every one of them!  Oh - and no love triangles :) I'm thinking I should start adding this to more reviews - NLTI (no love triangles included ;)

There as always been a magical element to the story of Cinderella but Maureen McGowan has taken it to a whole new level and I think I just might like her version of things even better!

A great mashup with the added bonus of being a choose your own adventure tale. Depending on choices you make along the way. At 3 points in the story, you have to choose what you think our heroin should do. You then skip ahead to that section and read on. This, was pretty cool. I felt like I had some control over the plot AND I can't imagine the organizing skills it takes as a writer to pull this off. The only issue for me though was the fact that the ending is the same for every choice you make. So, while the action plays out differently, in the end there is no choice. But, I was ok with that.

I'm a fan of this mashup and if Maureen has any more Twisted Tales up her sleeves, I'll be sure to read them.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Books in the Twisted Tales Series:
1. Cinderella Ninja Warrior
2. Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer
 **they do not need to be read in order as each is it's own tale**

Linkage Love:
Silver Dolphin
Author's Website
Goodreads

Book Review: Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith

Reading Level: Young Adult - Adult
Publication Date: March 22, 2011
Pages: 320
Series: sequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Acquisition: received for review

Summary:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and its prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls, were both New York Times best sellers, with a combined 1.3 million copies in print. Now the PPZ trilogy comes to a thrilling conclusion with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After.

The story opens with our newly married protagonists, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, defending their village from an army of flesh-eating “unmentionables.” But the honeymoon has barely begun when poor Mr. Darcy is nipped by a rampaging dreadful. Elizabeth knows the proper course of action is to promptly behead her husband (and then burn the corpse, just to be safe). But when she learns of a miracle antidote under development in London, she realizes there may be one last chance to save her true love—and for everyone to live happily ever after. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
The Bennet family is back! Now, with more zombies!

Ok, maybe not more but most defiantly, a more interesting assortment of the undead will greet you in this sequel to the now famous mash-up.  Did I love it as much as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? Yes! Even more so!

Ever wonder what happened to Elizabeth Darcy and her sisters after Pride and Prejudice? Did you really like the idea of a zombie infested England were every day citizens such as the Bennet family has taken up the deadly arts to defend both home and country? Thought so! You must read this book then - in a word - fabulous!

I'm not kidding - I simply loved this story. Elizabeth and her sisters (save for Jane who is home safe and sound with her beloved Mr. Bingley and their hoard of children) are unexpectedly thrown into, not only a family emergency of the highest order, BUT a seedy political plot that stands a chance of ruining all of England! Dun dun dun!

Final verdict:
All the characters I had grown to love, and hate, in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies are back! More action, more mystery and more romance really made this book one of my favorite reads of 2011 so far.

Elizabeth and her sisters, Mary and Kitty, along with their father Mr. Bennet are in London. Working to save poor Mr. Darcy's life - or so they think. Throw in some ninjas, Mr. Darcy's despicable aunt, Lady Catherine and her deplorable daughter Anne and the entire city of London (complete with an uncontrollable zombie infestation) and you get a marvelous story!

If you enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I think you will really like this sequel. Even if you've only read the original classic, I think you might enjoy Dreadfully Ever After. The Bennet family, like you've never seen them before...with ZOMBIES - mwahahaha!

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Books in the Series:
Dawn of the Dreadfuls (prequel)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - my review
Dreadfully Ever After (sequel)

Linkage Love:
Quirk Books
Goodreads

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Reading Level: Young Adult - Adult
Publication Date: April 2009
Pages: 317
Series: 1st in the mash-up series
Acquisition: received for review

Summary:
An expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy.
What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead.
Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
Ok, confession time. I don't actually remember if I've ever read Pride and Prejudice before. I think I did...in school maybe? I knew the story...but maybe I saw the movie?

In any case, reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was a true pleasure. Some cringe at this classical mash-up but I, think it's fabulous! All the wonderful prose, word building, and beautifully told storyline of the true classic but WITH ZOMBIES!

For example, the original, as Jane Austen wrote it, starts like this:

"It is truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

And now, with ZOMBIES!

"It is truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, page 7)

Ah! I love it!

Along with the addition of zombies, the characters of the Bennet sisters are altered. They are not simple girls in want of husbands but rather they are warriors. Trained in the deadly arts from a very young age, they are servants to their country and crown, helping to rid England of the unmentionable menace.

For example, in the original story, shortly after meeting Mr. Darcy for the first time and being insulted by his assessment of her, Elizabeth Bennet reacts like this:

"Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous."

The Elizabeth in the zombified version is not so mild mannered:

"As Mr. Darcy walked off, Elizabeth felt her blood turn cold. She had never in her life been so insulted. The warrior code demanded she avenge her honour. Elizabeth reached down in her ankle, taking care not to draw attention. There, her hand met the dagger concealed beneath her dress. She meant to follow this proud Mr. Darcy outside and open his throat.  (pages 13-14)

Again - love!

Final verdict:
It really was awesome seeing Elizabeth and her sisters kick some zombie ass. And with sometimes as little effort as they would afford the tying of a shoe or the squashing of a bug.

Having no strong memories of Jane Austen's work I was very happy to discover her world, still fully intact, with all it's complex and fascinating characters but again, with a little something extra.

Die hard fans of Austen's world might not appreciate seeing their beloved classic overrun with the undead but it would be hard to deny the hard work that was put into this book. While keeping everything people love about the Bennet family's story, Seth Grahame-Smith as managed to still tell the original tale but with more action and intrigue then I would have thought possible.

I was a little skeptical at first but I have to say, I'm now a fan. I recommend this one to both fans of the original and others, like myself, who probably never got around to reading it in the first place :)

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Books in the Series:
Dawn of the Dreadfuls (prequel)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Dreadfully Ever After (sequel)

Linkage Love:
Quirk Books
Goodreads