Once Upon a Time... discussion

Since voting was weird for September (my fault!) we're going to open this discussion to all three books in the series: UnEnchanted , Fairest , and Fable . I think we can do this:) I know many have read Unenchanted so please feel free to go ahead with the series. I'm planning to re-read Unenchanted and finish the series this month, so anyone who wants to join me please do.

Off to start my monthly reads with a re-read of Unenchantment. I read it so long ago, I need a refresher. I'm excited to get through this series this month. Anyone else?!!?!?! I'm also going to Indie Recon Live in October where I'll get a chance to meet Chanda. So, very motivated!

Getting a chance to meet the author or a well written series would definitely be strong motivation to re-read them!

I'll be starting in on this over the weekend. I got to meet Chanda this year at UtopYA and picked up a signed copy of this (I will be reading the copy on my Kindle though--can't mess with my pretty paperbacks!).

I'm getting jealous of all of you meeting her!

Lisa wrote: "Getting a chance to meet the author or a well written series would definitely be strong motivation to re-read them!"

Yes, I've been meaning to finish the series for a long time... I'm going to do it now:)

Maria wrote: "I'll be starting in on this over the weekend. I got to meet Chanda this year at UtopYA and picked up a signed copy of this (I will be reading the copy on my Kindle though--can't mess with my pretty..."

That is so funny!

Lisa wrote: "I'm getting jealous of all of you meeting her!"

I think it's going to be a really fun conference. They've had two online Indie Recons but this will be the first live one.

Just finished re-reading UnEnchanted. So glad I re-read it. I can't believe how much I forgot: just about everything! So, there are several things I love about the book:

1. The opening. The first four paragraphs of the book set up the entire story, and I suspect the entire series, so well.
2. The humor. Lots of smiles and laughs along the way.
3. The cleverness. The twists on the fairy tales are fantastic! Really enjoy them....

Okay, off to start Fairest... finally, after all these years, lol

Totally agree with you, Heidi! I am one of those readers that get the first book of a series free from Amazon or other source, which is how I got UnEnchanted, and then usually don't read the rest of the series because it isn't interesting enough, or just get them from the library. This series I HAD to buy immediately! I will definitely be reading it again.

Lisa wrote: "Totally agree with you, Heidi! I am one of those readers that get the first book of a series free from Amazon or other source, which is how I got UnEnchanted, and then usually don't read the rest o..."

I started Fairest last night:) Did you know a fourth installment is coming out later? November or something... Reign.

Yeah, I did. That's one reason I want to re-read them before then. Honestly, though, since I am reading Cinder and have some other books from the library (don't even remember the series name right now, but one is The Frog Princess) that I must finish first, I probably won't be able to read these until October. I also made sure to put Amazon gift cards on my birthday wishlist so I'll be able to buy it as soon as it comes out!

I finished Fairest ! I thought it was a really solid follow-up to UnEnchanted . Although it didn't have as much of the humor that I loved in UnEnchanted, I really enjoyed Mina's relationship with Nan, and loved how Nan's part played out in this installment. I do love what happened with Brody... just because it was so unexpected:) And, of course, Teague showing up... well... on to Fable ! Oh, and I continue to love how Chanda Hahn retells the fairy tales in the series.

So half-way through Fable... where is everyone else who voted for this series?!?!!? hee hee... just wondering:D Anyway, I've been wanting to read these books for sooooooo long, so I'm glad that I finally am. So far, Fable has an Alice and Wonderland kind of "through the looking glass" feel to me, there have been a few charming scenes with Brody, and the humor is back... which I love<3

I felt the same way when I read them before - the first was fantastic, the second was really good, but missing so much of the humor (it was more of the darker side of fairy tales), and the third one was back to what I wanted more of. Now, I'm wondering about the 4th installment and how it will play out.

Lisa, I actually love it when other readers have similar impressions, lol. Cause I'm always like... is that just me?!?!?! But yes, I did miss the humor in the second book because it's definitely one of the things I really enjoyed in the first. So far the scene where Mina's playing tag football which includes dressing and prep for the game is one of my favorites in Fable. I also really liked the scene with the sea witch. Although it was very short, it was so unexpected and clever, I thought. About 60+% through now:)

Yes.... what is going to happen in 4th book? And I wonder how many there will be?!?!?!?!

Okay, I finished Fable! I'm really happy I FINALLY got through these books and will read Reign, the next installment, after it comes out. As I mentioned before, I thought Fable had more of the humor that I loved in the first book. I thought the ending worked, although (view spoiler)[I didn't connect with Jared's kiss! Mina's never-ending crush on Brody is so sweet. I kind of wish she'd just kept Mina's affection for Jared as a guardian/savior/or older brother! I think it still would have worked. My opinion, but I'm wondering if anyone else kind of felt the same? (hide spoiler)] I loved Nix. I thought his story was wonderful. It was probably my favorite part of Fable. Of the three, though, I think UnEnchanted remains my favorite! I'm finishing up one other book, then off to Cinder!!!!

Yes, both of these were ENTIRELY TOO AMBITIOUS for the monthly group read!!! :D Never again, lol.

Better late than never! I'm finally catching up. Read UnEnchanted yesterday, will finish Fairest tonight or tomorrow morning. So far my opinion is ... eh.

The first one was definitely entertaining, and I liked the concept and plot idea, and the writing wasn't too bad but I'm really having more trouble with the second one.

It just seems *too* juvenile and crank-this-book-out-quickly. Conversations jump with ridiculous nonsequitars and, yo, I know I'm not the exact target audience for teen angst but some of this seems like ridiculous angst out of nowhere and about silly things. If that makes sense.

I mean, pretty much the whole dialog between Mina and Jared in the forest and I was like "wha...? why would you bring that up now? why would you have that reaction? what the...?"

But, I'm still reading it! I think the flaws in the writing style and writing level are bearable because I *STILL* find the idea/concept/storyline interesting and want to see where it goes.

Diane, I can't really argue with any of your points:) In Fairest, I think I enjoyed seeing more of Nan the most. I did think the twist at the end was clever, but I wasn't super keen on Mina's/Jared's wander thru the forest. It might have been my least favorite part of the book. And yes, despite certain technical flaws... what happens for me is this: Right when I'm about to say, oh, okay, ho hum, and toss my ereader, Chanda Hahn throws in a clever twist which I really enjoy... and it keeps me hooked.

I echo the statement that Heidi just made.

Lisa wrote: "I echo the statement that Heidi just made."

:D Lisa, Maria, and Diane, thank you for participating in the group discussion! If anyone else has any thoughts, please add them:)

I had the chance to spend a wonderful evening with Chanda Hahn while I was attending Indie Recon last week! She was amazing! Friendly, funny, and very easy to talk to:D