Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Review: Once Upon A Fairy Tale by Danielle Monsch et al.

Title: Once Upon A Fairy Tale: A Collection of 11 Fairy Tale Inspired Romances
Author: Danielle Monsch, Jeannie Lin, Ella Drake, Jennifer Lewis, Nadia Lee, Cate Rowan, Dee Carney, Sela Carsen, Jennifer Blackstream, Cate Dean, Elise Logan

Read copy: eBook (Kindle)
Published: February 8, 2015
Publisher: Romantic Geek Publishing
ASIN: B00TDMW3B0

Experience the story of The Nightingale through a Steampunk landscape, or follow Rapunzel through Sci-fi adventures. There is the modern woman who steps out of her front door and into the Fairy Tale Realm, and there is the modern woman whose life resembles a Fairy Tale—one involving a slipper. Maybe you'd like to find out just who that Big Bad Wolf was and why he was so interested in Red, or maybe you'd like to go behind the scenes and see what those Fairy Godmothers are up to while everyone is getting their Happily Ever After.

My rating:

***copy provided by publisher through NetGalley***

The Warlord and the Nightingale by Jeannie Lin (✵)

I wasn't impressed...I wasn't anything, really, except feeling disconnected from the story and the characters.



A Happily Ever After of Her Own by Nadia Lee (✵✵✵½)

This one was a hoot to read with Edward (Beast) experiencing cultural shock as he accompanied Melinda to the real world.

I liked both protagonists, though I wish the romance would've been developed a little bit better, but I guess the author was pressed for time.
The final resolution also felt a bit rushed, but "they all lived happily ever after".



Kiss That Frog by Cate Rowan (✵✵✵✵)

This story made me smile. It was super short, resulting in a feeling everything was resolved in quite a rush (they only knew each other—as humans—one afternoon), but it was super cute, and it didn't turn to the cultural-shock, time-travelling-hero-too-out-of-his-depth trope to keep things going.



Runespell by Sela Carsen (✵✵)

The premise was interesting, and the beginning of the story intriguing. Unfortunately, it was too short for the plot to be developed properly, for the characters to shine, and for the romance to blossom gradually.


After the Stroke of Midnight by Jennifer Lewis (✵)

It would've worked better shorter and with a less self-absorbed, self-pitying heroine. The conflict dragged on for too long.



Braided Silk by Ella Drake (✵✵)

The premise was interesting and intriguing, so it's a pity the story wasn't executed better. I felt no connection to (and between) the two protagonists, the beginning read more like PWP than a real story, and the world-building had much to be desired. I know it's the second installment in a series, but I was rather lost at times.



Loving a Fairy Godmother by Danielle Monsch (✵✵✵✵✵)

A gem of a story and the absolute best this collection has to offer. Nicely developed characters, some drama, some conflict (resolved in a rather timely manner), and a wonderful (dual) romance.

I'll definitely read more by this author.



Love After Midnight by Dee Carney (✵)

An interesting premise with a twist on the Cinderella fairy tale, but I didn't particularly like the heroine and how she turned into something she wasn't to "please" those around her.
Yet the lack of a "proper" ending and a lengthier resolution (pages that were spent on the sex scene could've been used to actually build the story) made it appear PWP-ish.



Firebird Sweet by ELise Logan (DNF)

DNF@63%

I just couldn't finish this one. It took too bloody long, the pace was plodding, the quests, tasks etc. etc. etc. kept coming, the story kept circling while nothing significant happened. I got bored.



What Big Teeth You Have by Jennifer Blackstream (✵)

I weird twist on the Red Riding Hood story that could've worked if it didn't involve already established characters (I'm not familiar with the series, so I was lost), and was a bit longer to establish a decent storyline.



Snow's Salvation by Cate Dean (✵✵)

Yet another slight twist on the known fairy tale with the role reversal, yet nothing new, really, with characters feeling rather disconnected.



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