How did I get the book? Netgalley, thank you Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling
Synopsis: Fairy Tale Survival Rule #32: If you find yourself at the mercy of a wicked witch, sing a romantic ballad and wait for your Prince Charming to save the day.
Yeah, no thanks. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the brooding prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.
Talk about unhappily ever after.
Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called “Kansas.” Now it’s up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse…before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.
200words (or less) review: Fairy Tales are always welcome in my library. I love them. I tend to go into a happy bubble over them so probably am not as critical as I would be with say, contemporary stories, though to be fair there is plenty about Spelled to adore.
Firstly we have Dorthea, who is somewhat of a pampered princess. Yes she’s a bit selfish and shoe obsessed but she’s never been allowed outside the palace because of an ill-worded curse. As princess she’s used to having things just not her mother’s attention. Dorthea gets it when she is told she’s supposed to marry the not so charming Prince that’s just arrived – that’s when Dorthea wishes the rules away. Prince becomes angry furball, her parents vanish and the world goes awry.
I liked how that Dorthea grew from the person she was at the beginning. What I loved the most about Spelled though was the world-building Betsy Schow did. There are loads reference to fairy tales as well as mythology and classics stories such as them being in Sherwood Forest for example.
Spelled doesn’t stray too far from the traditional fairy tale formula but Betsy Schow has this very enjoyable indeed.
Recommend it?
Absolutely
Luna's Little Library 