The intriguing Botswana fairy tale
582630
When people of Dilepe village heard about the marriage of Maru, they began to talk about him as if he had died. A Dilepe diseased prostitute explained their attitude: 'Fancy,' she said. 'He has married a Masarwa. They have no standards.'

By standards, she meant that Maru would have been better off had he married her.  She knew how to serve rich clients their tea, on a snowy- white table cloth, and she knew how to dress in the height of fashion.  A lot of people were like her.  They knew nothing about the standards of the soul, and since Maru only lived by those standards they had never been able to make a place for him in their society.  They thought he was dead and would trouble them no more.  How were they to know that many people shared Maru's overall ideals, that this was not the end of him, but a beginning?

People like the Batswana, who did not know that the wind of freedom had also reached people of the Masarwa tribe, were in for an unpleasant surprise because it would be no longer possible to treat Masarwa people in a cold-blooded way without getting killed yourself.

Daniel Gover, in his influential article, "The Fairy Tale and the Nightmare," claims: "Maru is the story of racial prejudice conquered by idealistic love functioning as a socially progressive force that advances mankind in the direction of racial equality".  His emphasis on the fairy tale quality of the novel is important in coming to such a conclusion.  Many see the Cinderella-like relationship between Maru and Margaret, the Tswana prince and the young Bushman woman, as an affirmation of equality along racial, gender, and cultural lines.

The opening, but chronologically ending, scene of the novel, gives us Maru preparing flowerbeds to grow yellow daisies, "because they were the only flowers which resembled the face of his wife and the sun of his love".  But Margaret is really no different from those daisies.

She too has been cultivated by Maru's care in Dilepe society, fertilized by the art supplies Maru provided and finally transplanted into his garden spot "a thousand miles away".  She retains nothing of her Bushman heritage, and possibly little of her Englishness.  In conquering the prejudice of society, Maru is left with nothing but a daisy off which he has pulled the petals in a coercive she-loves-me, she-loves-me-not fashion.
2902526
Just finished reading The Warrior Dragon by R.C.Drake and thought it was just excellent. Both a tender folk tale and a cautionary warning about man's impact on our planet, The Warrior Dragon combines aspects of Cinderella, complete with the very evil step-mother, and outstanding science fiction elements to make this a unique novel, suitable for young and mature readers alike.

Toward the very beginning, I did find a few tense issues, and incorrect word usages, but by the one quarter mark, Ms. Drake hit her stride with an authoritative and whimsical voice...

Her publisher is doing her no favor by pricing this lovely fairy tale so high---hopefully the following books will receive the readership they deserve.

Very nice!
4487780
First in a series, Bellanok the Reluctant Savior invites readers into a beautiful but failing world, where fairies, unicorns and dragons keep peace with their Creator Father, safely hidden from evil. But evil is killing unicorns and causing panic attacks for the Lady Fauna. This mythical realm has a very modern feel as the queen embarks on a serious quest to find the only human who will save Bellanok.

Meanwhile, on earth, Pastor Brian is losing his faith, because in the real world, his light does not shine as brightthe faith of this world is much weaker. Cultures clash, and there are some great lines of dialog as Brian begins to see beyond the ills of this world, and maybe even learns to believe in demons. But can he really have been chosen? Will he believe enough to embark on his task?

The story is filled with pleasing allusions to Eden and the Fall, complemented with questions of faith and practice, and pleasingly portrayed with fun and faith. There are more books to come, and readers should be ready to embark on reading them soon when theyve finished this one.

Disclosure: I won a copy and I offer my honest review.
4671933
Picaresque, coming-of-age adventure that combines several fairy tales and sets Jack in Britain at a time when representatives of the Roman Empire are thin on the ground and Saxons are the latest threat to survival  Saxons and giants.  Young Jack is the smallest of their mothers 3 sons, but he is quick, inquisitive, and resourceful, not a fool who trades a cow for beans on a strange womans mere say-so that they are magic. His foray into the cloud realm is described with captivating humor and detail.
Back on earth, his mother has to fend off charges of witchcraft  how else explain the familys sudden wealth?  and Jack finds that a grieving princess needs the singing harp even more than he does. An apprenticeship to a magician proves to be an even stranger experience than the beanstalk adventure. Later, he sets off on a quest that takes him across Hadrians Wall, into wastes where wild people live beyond the pale of civilization. But Jack doesnt find his destiny until he reverses his steps and returns home, even if it is only to tread briefly, and lightly, in a place he has outgrown.
I am quite impressed by this blending of fairy tales and historical setting. The author is himself a wanderer, and he imbues this story with some of the compulsion a wanderer feels for the roads and ways that lead out to the world beyond ones doorstep.  Here is a very human Jack who may be of immediate appeal to readers of all ages, but especially YA.
3243501
The oddness of this story can be detected just by checking out the main character. Most fantasy heroes are not round, stodgy, middle-aged men who are respected pillars of the community.

But Hope Mirrlees' enchanting fantasy "Lud-in-the-Mist" defies many such fantasy cliches, written as if "The Hobbit" had been spun up by Lord Dunsany. It's a sweet pastoral story that slowly blossoms out into a very unique story -- there's a little murder mystery, an amusing village of hobbity people, and a quicksilver dream of beautiful fairyland and otherworldly danger.

Fairy is forbidden in the town of Lud -- not just fairy creatures and their exquisite fruit, but mentions of them, the dead who walk with them, and the Duke Aubrey who left with them.

But all his life, the steadfastly dull Mayor Nathaniel Chanticleer has a lingering longing/fear for a strangely magical musical note. Despite all this, life remains boring and rather pleasant -- until Chanticleer's son Ranulph begins acting strangely, claiming that he's eaten fairy fruit.

After Chanticleer sends his son off to a farm for a vacation, the teenage girls at Miss Primrose's Crabapple Academy suddenly seem to go pleasantly nuts, and then race off into the hills. Life seems to seep out of the old town,and Nathaniel must connect the present crises to a past conspiracy, all of which hinges on Fairyland, fairy fruit, and the sinister doctor Endymion Leer. The journey to discover the truth will take him out of the everyday world -- and change him forever.

Haunting music, mad dancing, and ethereal meadows filled with fairy people and strange flowers. All through "Lud-in-the-Mist," there's the underlying feeling that there's a frightening, exquisite world that is barely separated from ours. Rather than cliche elves with pointy ears, it relies on a dreamlike atmosphere and faraway lands that are only glimpsed in passing.

Originally written in 1926, Hope Mirrlees' third book is an utterly unique experience -- it takes place in a pleasantly ordinary British town and charming pastoral towns, with fairy magic seeping into the cracks. And it's something of a love ode to "fairy" -- even though the inhabitants of Lud cherish their prosperous, staid existance, the the strange and exquisite blooms over the course of the book.

And Mirrlees' writing is capable of bringing that to life -- she intertwines a fantasy, a murder mystery and a personal journey into one. The first part of the book is written in a pleasantly cozy, mellow style that focuses on the colourful, staid town of Lud. But as the story blossoms into a tangle of crises and mysteries, Mirrlees' writing becomes more lush, exquisite and haunting.

Chanticleer is very reminiscent of Bilbo Baggins -- he's pleasant, boring, stodgy but has a brave, eccentric interior that helps him become a very unusual hero. And the other inhabitants of Lud are similarly engaging and just a little bit quirky -- fairy-struck teenagers, snippy old ladies, the haughty farmer's wife, the quietly malevolent Endymion Leer, and the happily mad people.

"Lud-in-the-Mist" emerged before the mold was made for fantasy novels, and its exquisitely funny writing shows why it's an enduring classic.
4914396
Becoming Human: A story of enchantment and love
Holly Sisson, MA

A Book Review of A Discerning Heart by Patty Lesser

Fiction writer Patty Lesser has broken from tradition in this modern day mythological tale brought to life through an empassioned display of a man lost and blind by his own self-pity and desire for power and respect. The author brings forth from the depths a gentler compassionate love that transcends both societal norms and his own aggressive wounded heart. This tale of two lovers uniting is not without its fair share of turns and twists. Sex, lies, exploits and magic enchant and keep the reader turning the pages as the plot thickens like grandma's stew with a secret ingredient.
A love story as old as the ages, this Romeo and Juliet-esque story is filled with bits of modern day social issues from gender roles and culturally accepted marriage to sexism and the objectification of women,  the invisibility of disability, and the simplicity of natural living being overcome by ambition and progress.
The imagery of land and sea is breathtaking and will immerse the imaginative reader in a world of beauty, nature, fantasy and magic. From solid ground to open sea we journey through transcendental archetypes of love, power, paradise, illusion, paradox and the balance of feminine and masculine, mystery and personal reality. The principal protagonist, Dim Jim, develops a character both shaped by a loneliness amplified by social marginalization and a victim mentality that leads his eventual surrender to love and beauty through the alchemical power of falling in love.
This story has a bittersweet happy ending reminiscent of a fairy tale, yet without the perfect due justice falsely implied in contemporary fairy tales. The real life consequences of decisions made by Dim Jim and his counterparts are certainly not swept under the rug, and the difficulty of a life filled with choices and a veiled sense of what happiness is weaves both tragedy and liberation along the way.

A Discerning Heart is somewhere between real-life and fantasy, a novel filled with the depths of love and the shallows of self-pity. It will pull the heartstrings of anyone young or old who has a taste for the enchantment of magic found in real life situations. Patty Lesser is becoming more of an accomplished writer with each novel she writes.
2042641
Unexpectedly beautifully woven tale- I enjoyed the style of writing and word usage.  The story is really wonderful in many ways, weaving fairy tales and supernatural characters into a village story.  The story kept evolving and I found that fascinating.  Interesting and romantic.  I see that this book received fascinating reviews and I agree that I keep thinking about the book and story after I was done with it. Well done!
369568
Through the story tellers' eyes you see the world of Africa as seen by the children who live there.  A very interesting read.
567378
What an engaging orphan-Cinderlla story told by Whelan's orphan, Rachel Sheridan.  Like Heidi, she is orphaned and taken away from her home in Africa, yet enchants an old man and enlarges his life. I, too, have lived in Africa and found the descriptions of the veld, hoopoes, and acacia trees refreshing and real.  I don't know if students unfamiliar with Africa would take to the story, but a picture glossary could educate those who haven't had the privilege.  The story's villains are painted stereotypically, but the twists and turns in the plot are satisfying, and Rachel's perserverance shines at the conclusion. I would like for students who aren't ready for Barbara Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible to read this for a picture of African colonization at its best and worst. Like Whelan's book, Homeless Bird, this book informs the reader of a remote and exotic part of the world, so necessary as our world grows smaller.
3155227
Interesting look into some of the folklore of Ireland, combined with a love story that transcends the ages.  It is a little confusing in the beginning, but well worth sticking with it.  The characters are well developed and there are some real surprises in their relationships.  If you love Ireland and embrace fantasy stories, you will love this intellectually pleasing novel.
986145
A fresh take on the world of fairy tales that avoids centuries of recycled stories that propels the main character from the city of Boston into the magical world of Lunari that has just as many pitfalls and quandaries as the quote-unquote real world.

Layne is a security specialist.  She uses her specialized skill set to fool-proof security systems or in the case of the first chapter unlock old safes that have been inaccessible by the owners for some time.  A simple just for the proprietor of an antiquarian book store nets her a book that at first seems empty but gradually opens up a world of wonder, intrigue and danger.

The best part about this book is that the author chose to avoid the time-tested and much abuse fairy tales that we all know about and focus rather on new inventions.  Creating a mythos from scratch is hard, but Martin does it her usual flair.  In Layne, she has created a curious main character that is feisty and intriguing.  I found this to be an involving narrative from start to finish.

The pace did seem to drag a bit once Layne left Boston behind, but it was hard to notice given the wealth of strong world building.  I would recommend this to readers of all ages.
3340385
This book gave  great insights into the history and condition of Botswana, a unique African country.
49668
Despite the sad-looking fairy on the front cover, FAIRIES AND MAGICAL CREATURES by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda is lovely to look at and great fun to read. The first installment in the Encyclopedia Mythologica series, it is a colorful and imaginative pop-up book that goes beyond the simple unfolding of paper.

Reinhart and Sabuda's text is simple and straightforward, though far from dull. They explore the myths of fairies and magical creatures from all around the world. Most of us are familiar with the "Fay" of European folktales, and they are just the starting point for the authors, who bring us the Pegasus of ancient Greece, the Chinese baku, the Inuit Kul and the aquatic Mami Wata of South Africa.

Though this is a children's book, there is nothing silly about it. On the first page we learn how the tale of the fairy queen Titania inspired Shakespeare and how in 1695 a French courtier named Charles Perrault became the father of the fairy tale when he began to write stories for children.

From the familiar figures of goblins, hobgoblins, elves and gnomes to the less familiar but equally interesting Middle Eastern karkadan, Brazilian Yemanja and the Serbian cikavac, readers will be enchanted. From mythological (hamadryads and sylphs) to folkloric (brownies and sprites) to infamous hoaxes (P.T. Barnum and the Cottingley cousins), this book packs in tons of information in less than 20 pages.

FAIRIES AND MAGICAL CREATURES is treasure-filled with a big pop-up on each page surrounded by more little pop-ups, flaps and even flaps within flaps. Some of the pop-ups move as the pages are turned to give readers a sense of action and transformation, a perfect complement to the book's theme. It feels hefty and has quality paper and gorgeous illustrations, sure to invoke a sense of wonder and amazement in readers of all ages. The construction is complicated but doesn't distract from the stories Reinhart and Sabuda are trying to tell. Instead, the whole of this book seems as magical as the creatures it describes.

While a bit feminine in appearance and perhaps in theme, this is not strictly a little girl's book. In it are fierce and mischievous figures sure to capture the imagination of children (and adults) with all kinds of interests.

  --- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
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If there is one thing to be said about this book, Patricks story telling ability is as beautiful as it is complex and breathtakingly unique. A great find for lovers of dark fantasy!

The story is told in three alternating narratives; the first being our main character Lonan, folklore excerpts, and Lonans dream about a strange man named Adahy and a mysterious man with extraordinary powers that goes by the name of The Magpie King.  We begin the journey with Lonan, a current outcast in his society due to a horrible incident that happened in his village long ago that the local villagers have blamed Lonan for causing. Lonan struggles to find his knack, a special talent or ability that that everyone in Lonans world has that makes them especially good at accomplishing certain tasks. Knacks can be for just about anything: cooking, black smithing, music, medicine, dancing, story-telling, leadership, and even lying. The villagers do not leave their houses after dark due to the presence of creatures that, wouldnt you know, mostly come out at night and that are dangerous and known for killing anyone who may unfortunately find themselves outdoors.

Upon reading this book, I immediately fell in love with the story. The folklore excerpts were expertly used to not only contribute to the storyline but as a smart world building technique that gave authenticity and insight into Lonans world, much in the same way that our own fables, folklore, fairy tales, and legends speak loudly of our cultures. Patricks story creates a world easy for us to explore, a smooth sail on a calm sea to fall into as we are led down this rabbit hole of adventure. I couldn't help but identify with Lonan as his search to find happiness and his own place in his world echoes my own questions about what my knack would be. With each turn of the page, we are drawn further and further in, each paper thin layer of story telling carefully crafted until we get to the end of our journey. A delightful plot twist reveals just how each of those layers came together in a seamless reveal and readers will be able to look back and marvel at the journey that brought them there.

So, if you're in the need of a great story, a wonderful fast-paced adventure stuffed with some everyday magic, a good dose of legend, and stitched together with a little bit of darkness, grab this book!
2595596
With amiable writing and lavish illustration, Mercer Mayer has brought this beloved Norwegian fairy tale to life for young children everywhere.  The original fairy tale told the story of a poor farmer's daughter, and her quest to find an enchanted prince, who was whisked away to a distant kingdom to marry a hideous troll.  The kingdom was so far away that it was somewhere east of the sun and west of the moon.

Mercer retells the tale in a way to make it more appealing to modern children and their parents, so the prince has now been transformed into a frog in Mercer's version, not the ferocious bear of the original that modern audiences would find somewhat disquieting.  The changes generally work for a children's tale, and Mercer adds some nice touches - for example, early in the tale, he gives a sense of the medieval world that the girl grows up in, with its courting youths and its distant kings.

What really drew me to Mercer's tale, however, were the illustrations.  Magical and yet conveying a strong Scandinavian flavor so fitting for this tale, these watercolor illustrations captivate the eye and evoke a strong sense of wonder.  The strange, magical creatures depicted in the illustrations are amazingly well done.  Consider, for example, the depiction of Father Forest being as an enormous tree with gnarled, wooden feet and hands, two enormous eyes that stare down at the maiden in a fatherly and yet god-like way, and a nose that is formed from the large, broken bough.  Conceptually, this depiction of Father Forest is nothing new, but the execution of it is simply amazing.  There is also a Salamander in its fiery cave, who is depicted as somehow both enormously old and yet child-like at the same time, and the North Wind, who is characterized as a powerful, god-like being with long, streaming hair and beard and power hands.

Most compelling of all, however, is the depiction of the farmer's daughter, who is given an enormous range of emotional expression in the illustrations from just the subtlest changes to her eyes.  The changes might be subtle, yet they are powerful nonetheless, instantly conveying happiness, bitterness, sorrow, fear, weariness, and bliss.  Children will be drawn to her immediately, and to the fantastical, magical world in which she lives.
938983
This is both a very unique and fairly faithful retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Hunted takes place in Russia and our main character Yeva (Beauty) is a huntress. She is headstrong, kind, caring, has a bit of a temper and can be vengeful  but overall I quite liked her character.

Like the classic tale, Beauty is the youngest of three sisters and daughter of a merchant. In some versions, she also has three brothers and her sisters are unkind  but that is not the case in this retelling. They live in a nice house until a shipping gamble costs them everything. They are forced to move to their fathers old hunting cabin, which is a three-day walk from their current home. Her father used to be a hunter, but his wife believed that it was too dangerous and asked him to stop. Despite that, as a child Beauty was allowed to go hunting with her father and learned to love it. Unfortunately, as she grew her father decided that it was not the way a lady should purport herself and no longer allowed her to hunt.

After the loss of their fortune, Yeva and her family must learn to make due with less. Her father takes up hunting again and goes off to catch game for them to store for the winter. Unfortunately, when he returns he is distraught and swears that the Beast he saw when he was younger is stalking him. When he doesnt return from his second trip, Yeva sets out to find him and this is where the story adopts some significantly different elements from the original tale.

In the original, the father enters a castle and accepts his hosts hospitality, but upon leaving takes a single rose for his daughter Beauty and is told he has a choice. He shall either be condemned to death for it or he must stay in the castle. While these are not the events that lead to Yevas time in the castle, nevertheless she ends up imprisoned there. Over time, she and the Beast grow to know one another  but her treatment isn't as kind overall as the original.

I really enjoyed the tales that Yeva told while she was in captivity because they built the lore of the world and gave us a look into what the characters had grown up listening to. Although Yeva spent most of her time as the castle, I do wish that we were able to get to know the other characters like her sisters a little better. They seem very kind, but relatively one-dimensional. As a result of the Beasts curse, I don't feel like we got to know him as well as we could have. I would have loved to watch him grow and connect with him as Yeva does so that I could feel that yes, they could fall in love. I liked Yeva, but her dog Doe-Eyes was probably my favourite character. The dog was so cheerful and loyal that you couldn't help but love her.

The world that Yeva knows is not one we get to see very often in young adult literature. It is a melding of Russia, with its unique environment and folklore, with a more fantastical world. Yeva tells tales of the Firebird, sees a creature that is half dragon and half woman, and learns to listen to the music of that other world. The world itself reminds me a lot of the Grisha trilogy, although the plots and characters are nothing alike. I would love to experience more of the lore that built this enchanted world in the form of novellas.

I would highly recommend this to young adult/teen readers who enjoy fairytales and retellings, especially ones with a unique take on the tale that includes a lot of culture and lore.
3436013
This was a compelling retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast storyline with several unique twist and turns.  Unlike Disney's talking furniture, dancing plates and cute sidekicks, Ms. Haag's  version has enchanted vines, a heroine that doesn't like dresses and the two step sisters from  Cinderella . A large focus is placed on the poverty of the village surrounding the beasts estate and the effort it takes for these people to survive day by day.  This is not a fairy tale steeped  in happiness but a window to see the harsh reality that makes the characters who they are.  The beauty, Benella is very strong, maybe not in size but in the strength of her actual character.  Despite the hardships she faces everyday she still retains the knowledge of what is right and wrong and does her best to present that in her actions.  The beast on the other hand is very self serving and doesn't even acknowledge those stuck in his enchantment. Based on his actions so far he will never break the curse unless he can find a way to listen to his heart  This was an amazing rendition, well thought out, well written, interesting characters and as enchanting as the magic placed on the beast's estate. There was never a dull moment ,  filled with strong underlying messages,  witty amusing banter  and a magic all its own. A good book is not just words on paper. A good book will ensnare your imagination, captivate its audience and leave you wanting more.  This my friends, is a good book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book