A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow

July 2, 2022

A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow

Zinnia Gray, former Sleeping Beauty and professional fairy tale fixer, is tired of rescuing sleeping princesses. She wishes they'd just solve their own narrative problems. But when she looks in the mirror, a different face looks back at her, and she is pulled into a Snow White story. This time, it's the evil queen  - she found out how her story ends and she wants to find a better ending for herself. She tells Z the story about how she ended up in that particular fairy tale, and Z is shocked to discover that it's not only princesses who are stuck in a story they didn't choose.

A retelling of the Snow White story from the perspective of the Evil Queen. This story turns the traditional fairy tale on its head, and reminds me of the musical Into the Woods (if you haven't seen it, the first act is about traditional fairy tales and ends with "and they lived happily ever after" - the second act tell about what really happens after the princess marries her prince). I enjoy Z's snarkiness. This is the second book in the Fractured Fables series, and it's fun and creative.

A sexier Evil Queen than the usual Disney version

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

January 17, 2022

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

Zinnia Gray has a rare genetic disorder that makes it unlikely that she will live past her 21st birthday. Her BFF Charm decides that since this may be Zinnia's last birthday, she is going to make it the best birthday ever. Zinnia studied fairy tale literature in college, specifically the Sleeping Beauty myth/legend/tale, so Charm creates a sleeping beauty fantasy in the tower of a nearby abandoned building, complete with spinning wheel, flowers, and fairy lights. But when Zinnia accidentally pricks her finger on a splinter, she finds herself falling through the multiverse into the worlds of other sleeping beauties, all as desperate to escape their fates as she is.

This novella imagines that there are countless variations on the sleeping beauty story through every age, past and future. These sleeping beauties are not weak or powerless, but determined to take control of their own situations. They want more than just some preening prince and "living happily ever after." Great cover art.

(No picture of a sleeping beauty, since I couldn't find any pictures except the princess either asleep or gazing starry-eyed at Prince Perfect.)

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

 September 21, 2020

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

January Scaller lives with her guardian, Cornelius Locke, in a vast mansion filled with odd and unusual objects.  Her father works for Mr. Locke, traveling the world and collecting rarities for him, leaving January alone much of the time.  January is sure that Mr. Locke loves her, for she finds gifts that he leaves for her, most recently a wonderful book called The Ten Thousand Doors.  But then her father doesn't return from one of his trips.  With her faithful canine companion Bad (short for Sindbad, her favorite great adventurer and explorer) by her side, January resolves to go and look for her father or at least find out what happened to him.

First:  let me tell you that Bad the dog is fine at the end of the book, and he and January are together.

This is a wonderful fantasy adventure story about the power of words, books, and doors.  There is a book-within-a-book which I actually liked better than the story that frames it.  I'm not going to say too much more because that would spoil the story.  Wonderful characters, great world building and a complex plot, plus a beautiful cover, all contribute to making this a most satisfying read.  Set aside some time, curl up with your favorite cozy throw, and immerse yourself in January's world.