About a year ago, I started reviewing fairytale retellings on Instagram. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve had the opportunity to read some perfectly wonderful books. (You can check them out here: Instagram.com/OneLastPetal.books) Because social media is so fleeting, I’ve decided to start sharing these reviews here on my blog as well. To …
Mirrors of Ice: A Snow White and Snow Queen Retelling by Celeste Baxendell (Bewitching Fairy Tales book 2) Princess Eirwen is about to die. She knows the huntsman her aunt, Queen Isolde, has hired isn’t there for her protection. He’s there to kill her. Eirwen manages to escape the assassination attempt, but she’s not about …
Stalks of Gold: A Rapunzel and Rumpelstiltskin Retelling by Celeste Baxendell (Bewitching Fairy Tales book 1) With the arrival of a mysterious stranger one evening, Aurelia’s normal life falls apart. Her father is killed, a deranged king has imprisoned her, and the one person she thought she could trust has abandoned her. Now she must …
Shoes of Red: A Red Shoes Retelling by Celeste Baxendell (Bewitching Fairy Tales Short Story) Carin is the palace dancer, a key part of the entertainment troupe for the king and queen. She loves the attention and praise that comes with being practically perfect at what she does. No way is she giving up the …
“The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” Harriet Ann Jacobs Spring is a season of growth and renewal, and there’s something about the fresh air and sunshine that makes everything seem a little more hopeful. For book lovers, spring also means a fresh crop …
A Gown of Spider Silk by A. G. Marshall I had the pleasure of meeting Angela at a writer’s retreat in Scotland last year, and this is the first story of hers that I read. Bonus: It’s currently available for free on Amazon! In this short story retelling of Cinderella, Marshall steps away from the …
Sky of Wind: An East of the Sun West of the Moon Retelling by Emily Deady (Fairy Tale Royals book 4) Princess Meena’s father and brothers have finally accepted the truth about the Majis, but they’re still protecting her. A fake marriage is the only way to get close to the chaos magic that’s been …
Pearl of Magic: A Little Mermaid Retelling by Emily Deady (Fairy Tale Royals book 3) Prince Erich has been tasked with transporting the dangerous maji prisoner to the capital of the five kingdoms. Thankfully a powerful necklace has bound her voice or else she’d be able to curse him – or worse. Aizel has only …
Thorn of Rose: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling by Emily Deady (Fairy Tale Royals book 2) I loved the first book in the series so much (Shard of Glass) that I dived straight into the next one, and I was thrilled to find it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Cursed by a …
“The Twelve Dancing Princesses” is a classic fairytale that is also known as “The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes” or “The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces.” While the German version was the first to be published by the Brothers Grimm in 1815, French, Russian, and Scottish versions also exist. In this classic story that centers around …
More Than Just a Crown: Twelve Dancing Princesses and Truth Read More »
Today, the lovely Brittany Fichter has joined us for a delightful Q&A about her books, Cinderella, and Kindness. Brittany is an absolute delight, and her email sign off is one of my favorite bookish quotes: “But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” – C.S. Lewis (And if you’re …