Fate be Changed: what if Merida took the spell instead?

Fate Be Changed by Farrah Rochon is the latest addition to The Twisted Tale series. What if Merida received a different spell? As a princess of Clan DunBroch, Merida knows she has certain requirements and obligations. She begrudgingly follows through each one until the topic of her betrothal is brought up. She finds herself in a battle of wills with her mother, Queen Elinor. Merida follows the wisps to a hidden witch’s cottage. There she is given a spell in the form of a pastry to give to her mother. However, Merida eats the pastry herself and finds herself in the past. To a time when the Clans MacCameron and DunBrich are bitter enemies and teenage Elinor is betrothed to another and has not met Fergus DunBroch. Merida now races against time to bridge the rival clans, get her parents to fall in love and return to her own time. 

Fate Be Changed is a great addition to the Twisted Tale series. Brave (2012) is one of my favorite Pixar movies and I looked forward to reading this twisted tale. From the opening chapter to the closing pages, this story is a wild adventure. As with the movie, in this story, there is more than just the changing of Queen Elinor to see Merida’s point of view. Merida sees her parents as more than just her parents with their rules and regulations. She begins to see her mother as a young girl who fought her own battles for the life she wanted. She also realizes that there’s more to her parents and her family that she did not know. There is the added drama of a plot against the king and Elinor and Merida must expose the plot to save their futures. I enjoyed and highly recommend Fate Be Changed. 

Fate Be Changed is available in hardcover and eBook

A Whole New World: what if Jafar got Genie's lamp first?

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell is a part of the Disney Hyperion A Twisted Tale series. What if Jafar got the lamp first? When Jafar finally obtains the Genie’s lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear as Jafar still has his third and final wish to make. To stop the madman, Aladdin and Princess Jasmine must find a way to unite the people of Agrabah and fight back. With the network of Agrabah’s thieves, they start to thwart Jafar’s plans. Will the Street Rat become a leader? A princess, a revolutionary? It all starts with the question: what if Jafar was the first to summon the Genie? 

I love the Twisted Tale series and A Whole New World is a great twisted story. With the beginning following fairly closely with the beloved Disney film, the twist occurs and the story turns gritty, dark and a thrilling ride to the very end. The story also adds elements of the Genie’s origins and history that was absent from the original movie. A Whole New World is my fourth book of this series and I cannot wait to read the rest. My only complaint is the ending seemed rushed and it was over quickly despite the build up. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this twisted story. If you love the Disney stories and want to experience a twisted tale, I highly recommend A Whole New World. 

A Whole New World is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Conceal, Don't Feel: what if Elsa and Anna didn't know each other?

Conceal, Don’t Feel by Jen Calonita is A Twisted Tale, a retelling of Frozen (2013) story. What if Anna and Elsa didn’t know each other? When a magical accident erases Anna and Elsa’s memories of magic as well as each other, the sisters are separated to keep a terrible curse at bay. As the future Queen of Arendelle, Princess Elsa’s life is full of expectations and responsibilities, but something is missing. After her parents are lost at sea, Elsa is forced to answer these questions alone. Soon mysterious icy powers begin to reveal themselves and Elsa starts to remember fragments of her childhood and her sister, Anna. After a confrontation reveals her powers to others, she is forced to flee her kingdom. She is now determined to discover the truth, restore her kingdom, and find the missing Princess of Arendelle.

I love the A Twisted Tale series. It is a great adventure, adding twists to familiar tales. I have read three of the tales so far and Conceal, Don’t Feel is my favorite. I loved seeing the familiar characters in new situations. With nods to the film, the story takes the reader into the deeper motives of the characters. Even characters who could have had more of an influence in driving the villain than the movie suggests. I have read reviews that have stated that the book is too close to the movie to be a twisted tale; but I don’t see it. The twists are enough that offer a different element to the story and a different avenue which the events can evolve. I recommend Conceal, Don’t Feel.

 

Conceal, Don’t Feel is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook.