by Alethea Kontis
Release Date: May 8th, 2012
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Book Source: Hardcover, 305 pages
Available Format(s): Hardcover, eBook
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
SUMMARY
(from Goodreads)
"It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.
When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.
The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?"
AN EXCERPT
(Read by the author, Alethea Kontis)
FAVORITE QUOTES
"Trix was never one to question love or loyalty. If more people like him existed in the world, it would be a much nicer place. "Oh, Trixie. You're the best brother ever." ~ page 105
"Might we have some idea of what we're looking for this evening?" Velius asked discreetly.
"Sunrise over the Wood at week's end," he said, "and my heart." ~ page 152
MY REVIEW
I do love my fairy-tale stories and when I come across a retelling of not one fairy-tale, but a few of my favorites all entwined into one book - it is a must read for me! And because of that, I am going to have high expectations for it - and I'm happy to say, Alethea Kontis delivered an exceptional and enticing whimsical tale that swept me off my feet!
For me, this story flowed quickly and beautifully... I really enjoyed the way Kontis was able to string so many fairy-tales together... The Frog Prince, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Peter Pan, Jack and the Beanstalk... while keeping the story going with what I would traditionally expect - the lessons to be learned, unforgettable characters, good versus evil and the innocence of true love.
I loved all of the characters, even the 'evil' ones, lol! Their descriptions and personalities all shined through enough to make them individually memorable - and that was so important being that there were so many to keep track of. I applaud Kontis for being able to pull this off.
Sunday is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, which means, that she will possess great magical powers and destined for many good things. She is the youngest of 10 in the Woodcutter family, who loves to write stories, but limits herself to only writing about her family in fear of writing new stories that eventually come true... Sunday befriends Grumble, The Frog, and her three kisses turns him back into a man, Prince Rumbold. Unbeknownst to Sunday, the Prince returns home to gather his strength and creates a plan to meet Sunday again, and have her fall in love with him for his true self. And the quest begins with balls, fairy godmothers and dark magic.
It does help if you are familiar with the more popular original tales. And even though the ending is somewhat predictable, it did not keep me from reading this book in one night.
If you truly believe in fairy-tales, this is definitely a book for you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(from Goodreads)
Princess Alethea Kontis is surrounded by fairies
and glitter
and rainbows,
and every day is calorie-free caramel sundae day.
