Fairy Tale Retellings! discussion

I hope you guys enjoy reading this BOTM by an author whom Tissa (the other moderator) LOVES! lol

This book also won by a landslide so I truly hope everybody is excited about it! Have lots of fun reading and discussing!

I actually read this book earlier this summer, so I'm ready to chat about it.

(Whereas I'm still waiting on my library hold list for Scarlet.)

Susan wrote: "I actually read this book earlier this summer, so I'm ready to chat about it.

(Whereas I'm still waiting on my library hold list for Scarlet.)"

Great! So what do you love about the book? Who are your favorite characters? What are your favorite moments?

Wow! Maybe try canceling the hold and trying to get a digital copy from the library?

I love how real the environment feels. It's like your there watching Valten joust, and your part of their world!

Aleah wrote: "I love how real the environment feels. It's like your there watching Valten joust, and your part of their world!"

Awesome!

Aleah wrote: "I love how real the environment feels. It's like your there watching Valten joust, and your part of their world!"

That's what I enjoy about Melanie Dickerson's stories--the lovely variety of characters living in a world that feels so real--full of details about music and manners and medicine, and of course the landscapes.
I also like the way the stories kind of rub elbows with each other, with the generations of the Gerstenbergs.

Wysteria--regarding Scarlet, even the ebooks were all being borrowed--some book group in my area must have been reading it, too.
I also realize that it's been so many years since I read Cinder that I'd really need to reread that in order to finish the series.

Susan wrote: "Aleah wrote: "I love how real the environment feels. It's like your there watching Valten joust, and your part of their world!"

That's what I enjoy about Melanie Dickerson's stories--the lovely va..."
I know right! My over all favorite Melanie Dickerson book has to be the silent song bird though. The captive maiden is just as good though.

Susan wrote: "Wysteria--regarding Scarlet, even the ebooks were all being borrowed--some book group in my area must have been reading it, too.
I also realize that it's been so many years since I..."

Oh, wow! So sorry!

Wysteria wrote: "I hope you guys enjoy reading this BOTM by an author whom Tissa (the other moderator) LOVES! lol

This book also won by a landslide so I truly hope everybody is excited about it! Have lots of fun r..."

I do! Lol

The ending is so good. I really like Gisela growth at the end

Susan wrote: "Wysteria--regarding Scarlet, even the ebooks were all being borrowed--some book group in my area must have been reading it, too.
I also realize that it's been so many years since I..."

It's so sad that you have to wait so long! Hopefully you can read the book soon

The Captive Maiden is one of my favorites of Melanie Dickerson’s. I’ve read it 6-ish times. It’s been a while since I read the last one. But I’m currently a few chapters into The Healer’s Apprentice (time #9) and halfway through The Merchants Daughter (time #7), so it might be a bit.

Has it been decided what book is next?

No not yet but I'm up for suggestions!

Wysteria wrote: "No not yet but I'm up for suggestions!"

What about the Princess Fugitive by Melanie Cellier? I loved that one.

Wysteria wrote: "No not yet but I'm up for suggestions!"

What about the Princess Fugitive by Melanie Cellier? I loved that one.

Which one? Part of the title doesn’t show up for me. It just says the princess

Aleah wrote: "Wysteria wrote: "No not yet but I'm up for suggestions!"

What about the Princess Fugitive by Melanie Cellier? I loved that one."

Sure I can put that in the Sept. BOTM Poll!

Bookish wrote: "Which one? Part of the title doesn’t show up for me. It just says the princess"

Princess Fugitive by Melanie Cellier

The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood

Ooh! I like that one. I just reread it a few weeks ago, actually. So good!

Bookish wrote: "Ooh! I like that one. I just reread it a few weeks ago, actually. So good!"

I almost didn't read it because Ava was so horrible to Alyssa! Man am I glad I read it though. I love retellings of Little Red Riding hood.

Aleah wrote: "Bookish wrote: "Ooh! I like that one. I just reread it a few weeks ago, actually. So good!"

I almost didn't read it because Ava was so horrible to Alyssa! Man am I glad I read it though. I love re..."

I know it was on my to read list so it would be nice to try it out!

I actually wasn’t really a fan of the first book (still not), but I have this habit of making myself read the whole series (or in this case, several series). I actually turned out getting a little annoyed at how often her main characters make dumb choices… a lot. But then every time I’m fully ready to quit, there’s an awesome one!

Either The Princess Fugitive or the Princess Search is my favorite of all the Four Kingdoms related books. (Unless you count A Midwinters Wedding… can you? It’s a novella. But I personally think that one is her absolute BEST.)

Either of the other two might be good ideas also🤷‍♀️

I still have to read the princess search, was it good?? Cause I wasn't the biggest fan of the princess game. It was a different kind of story altogether. Sweet, but not my kind of story.

That’s how I felt about the Princess Game! I’m still trying to decide if it’s a story error that he figured everything out.

I think the Princess Search was really good, personally. She used the actual Ugly Duckling fairy tale and the whole “not fitting in where she is but is still beautiful” thing. You get to see a lot more of Lanover, and she has some great worldbuilding. It has quite a few funny parts too, in my opinion.

I might be slightly biased, though, since the only other ugly duckling retelling I’ve read is Castle of Refuge by Melanie Dickerson. Great story, but a stretch to call it a retelling, especially since her “ugliness” is one TINY scar that can be easily covered up by her hair.

Sorry about the little rant. Oops. 😁

Hey that's what we're here for! Ranting about our favorite books!

Lol. Good, because no one else I know even knew what retellings WERE before I became obsessed with them. Still haven’t found someone who likes them.

Good retellings are soo hard to find! Everything is goth now. That's what's great about Melanie Dickerson, Melanie Cellier, and K.M. Shea.

Has anyone started a new topic for those authors? That might be an idea to try. Maybe. I just joined, so I don’t really know how this stuff works.

I do seriously suggest reading some of Deborah Grace White’s books. They’re really good. And I personally think it’s crazy that she and Melanie Cellier both have some similar books (but not in a bad way), but maybe it makes sense, since they’re sisters.

HOLD THE PHONE!!! They're sisters!!! I did not know that!
Other than Melanie Dickerson, I haven't seen any Melanie Cellier or K.M. Shea. But you can pitch ideas. I don't know how though. Mabey ask Wysteria.

I know, right! Here’s the story of discovery:

I first found Deborah Grace White’s books in suggestions on kindle, but after reading most of her books, I noticed she and Melanie Cellier had the same publisher. And that Deborah proofread for Melanie. And then that they live in the same town and have traveled across several continents. And then I searched BOTH of their Facebook pages until I found, in March 2020, where Melanie announced her SISTER’s first book.

Sorry it’s so long. I’ve only told my mom, and as We’ve said, that doesn’t count for much.

I actually emailed Deborah Grace White with a list of questions, and now we’ve been talking. It’s kinda hard because of the time zones tho.

Neat! Melanie Dickerson hasn't updated her website since the veil of winter was released! Have you ever read Marry Mecham? She is an amazing author.

I’ve read Ugly:The Stepsister’s Story, but that’s it. She is going to have one as part of the shattered tales series,though, which I might read at least some of.

I forgot to add this:

I know! The website is so hard to figure out when it’s outdated. And I may have may a (in my not-so-humble opinion) superior family tree. I wish I could do something with it.

Bookish wrote: "Has anyone started a new topic for those authors? That might be an idea to try. Maybe. I just joined, so I don’t really know how this stuff works.

I do seriously suggest reading some of Deborah Gr..."

Just did!

K. M. Shea

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Melanie Cellier

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Are there any other authors you'd like me to add?

Aleah wrote: "Neat! Melanie Dickerson hasn't updated her website since the veil of winter was released! Have you ever read Marry Mecham? She is an amazing author."

Yes she definitely is!

Also here is the Melanie Dickerson discussion thread!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Aleah wrote: "Wysteria wrote: "No not yet but I'm up for suggestions!"

What about the Princess Fugitive by Melanie Cellier? I loved that one."

You can now vote for it on the Sept. BOTM poll!

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Aleah wrote: "I still have to read the princess search, was it good?? Cause I wasn't the biggest fan of the princess game. It was a different kind of story altogether. Sweet, but not my kind of story."

The Princess Search: a Retelling of The Ugly Duckling is my favorite of the series because the heroine is really human and we get to see her struggles and cheer as she works through them. You get to know a little bit more about her until at the end, you really understand her. The plot was interesting too! There were so many different cultures and societies

I like that part of it a lot too. Although I do wish we got to see Frederic’s side of things.

Aleah wrote: "Neat! Melanie Dickerson hasn't updated her website since the veil of winter was released! Have you ever read Marry Mecham? She is an amazing author."

I've heard a lot about her! Now I need to bump her books up my tbr list

Wysteria wrote: "Bookish wrote: "Has anyone started a new topic for those authors? That might be an idea to try. Maybe. I just joined, so I don’t really know how this stuff works.

I do seriously suggest reading so..."

Great idea Bookish! Thanks Wysty

You're welcome!😃