Tangi's Teardrops

by Liz Grace Davis

Tangi was born with a handicap that gave her a limp, brought her pain, and left her feeling like an outsider around everyone except her father. Papa has always loved her for who she is and tried to make her see that she was born special—because she was.On the morning of his death, Papa gives Tangi three bottles in exchange for her promise to cherish them, but before Tangi can ask what they are for, he is gone. Heartbroken and alone for the first time in her life, Tangi finds herself lost in a world of abuse and cruelty. On the eve of her thirteenth birthday, she is shocked to discover the bottles are no longer empty, but magically filled with every teardrop she’s cried since her father's death. They are enchanted tears and they hold a secret, one that will free her from her life of abuse, pain, and the cruel world she knows. The kingdom of Rosevine is a place where nothing is impossible, a perfect paradise on the outside. But Tangi will soon find perfect isn’t always what it seems. As much as she needed to escape to Rosevine, Rosevine and its people need her, too. Only she has the power to break the curse that has hovered over the kingdom, but breaking it is easier said than done, and time is running out.**Don’t miss Liz Grace Davis’s women’s fiction novel, Honeysuckle and Jasmine, a heart-wrenching story of love and true friendship. Available in Kindle Unlimited. Just copy and paste this link into your **

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tales, Fiction

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Liz Grace Davis is a Namibian author. She grew up in Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Germany. She now lives with her husband in Vienna, Austria.

Growing up, Liz spent most of her days in school libraries, diving into the world of books.

In her spare time she loves to travel as well as creating jewelry and digital scrapbooks. She's in her element when she is doing anything that requires creativity.

Liz is the author of a young adult fantasy novel, Tangi's Teardrops, and a romantic women's fiction novel, Chocolate Aftertaste.

Reviews

[Sheilagh Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Tangi’s Teardrops
By Liz Grace Davis


Tangi is a wonderful fairy tale based on a true story of strength of character and courage. When I read the book I had no idea of the true story behind it but I can see the writers own experiences gave her the ability to tell us in a way that we understood the suffering of this child.

Tangi’s life has been miserable while her father was alive she could put up with the teasing and the cruel taunts about her one leg being shorter than the other and even put up with having no friends but now him gone she has nothing. Her two older half-sisters have escalated their cruelness and are now getting servants to harm her and make her act as Cinderella. She must do all the chores all the work only to watch them eat as they don’t even feed her and if that’s not bad enough they beat her. Tangi doesn’t know who to turn to, she can’t tell her Uncle Thomas when he returns for fear of someone else being harmed. Tangi then dreams of the world of her mother. In this world she can escape the pain and the tears that are filling up in the three bottles her father left her. .She is told she is needed there and is the only one who can save Rosevine but to get there she needs her bottles of tears but she can’t find them they aren’t where she left them. This book made me see vividly the character of Tangi and weep for the child so cruelly treated and like any good fairy tale gave me goosebumps and made me smile. I won’t tell you anymore of this enchanting story other than to say read this book it’s charming. If you enjoy a good fairy tale or the show such as “Once Upon A Time” you will love Tangi’s Teardrops.
5 ★★★★★ out of 5 ★★★★★

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangi's Teardrops is a unique retelling of the classic Cinderella story with some interesting twists. It's author Liz Davis's first YA novel and her first novel period. For the purpose of not wanting to spoil this darling little book for other readers I'm going to refrain from posting any spoilers and just talk about my overall thoughts on the book.

First off, I really liked Tangi. Though she started off as a young girl I found her character easy to connect to. As a child with a limp Tangi is made fun of constantly by her classmates and has no friends but the teasing does not stop off school grounds. Instead she has to face more ridicule at home from her older half sisters. I personally hate any form of bullying so my heart broke with her because she was such a good, kind soul I could hardly bare to see her suffering at the hands of those who should care for her.

I really enjoyed the story because it was a quick, easy read that made me feel different emotions. Liz Davis is a very talented author. She gave Tangi heart, something that is getting a little harder to find in YA novels. I highly recommend this light hearted read to everyone! The writing is lovely and you can tell the author has a passion for her work.

[Adela Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog.

I requested an ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review

Bilingual Review: ENG / RO



 

English

"Tangi's Teadrops", as you may have figured it out if you have read the book description, is an African version of Cinderella. While initially aimed at a younger audience, it is a pleasant read for anyone as long as it is viewed as a sweet modern fairytale.

The story itself is fantastic, but I had a few problems with the character's emotions and the way they were conveyed. It seemed to me that whenever Tangi was going through a very rough time or, on the contrary, very happy moments, she wasn't actually feeling anything. For instance, when her one and only friend is leaving the town, Tangi resigns herself too quickly. This is due to the fact that the author didn't put much emphasis on describing the characters' emotions, but prefered to focus on the dialogues. And it really is a pity, since Tangi is such a lovable character, with her courage and her willingness to save Rosevine at any cost. Tangi is the kind of girl that would do anything to be accepted and appreciated, even if that hurts her. Her strength is so inspirational throughout the book  that it will make your eyes watery.

"She would prove to everyone she could do everything. She wouldn't let her disability be an excuse, wouldn't give anyone reason to pity her."

In the fist half of the book, the action takes place in our world, and it has been refreshing and intriguing to find out about how life is like for African children and their families, about their habits, homes and schools, while in the second half, Tangi finds herself in Rosevine.

"The reason you're being treated so badly is because you don't belong in Mimbeye. As long as you're there, you'll experience pain. If you want to escape it, you should come where you belong."

Now Rosevine is the world where Tangi's mother came from, which explains why she never felt she belonged.And while I loved the way this world is described, there were a few clichés that bothered me. Ideas like "follow the rainbow to get there" or giant birds used as a means of transport would have probably amazed me when I was nine, but not now. They reminded me of those fairytale-based Barbie movies that I used to watch when I was little. Rosevine is a world that was constructed in a way that was oh-so-convenient for the story development.

"There are around ten thousand rose species in Rosevine. About half of them can be eaten."

It is explained that they should only be consumed during celebrations hosted by the king and queen, where all Roseviens will share them, but if eaten at private occasions, they can cause illness. Oh, Tangi, but of course you and the prince can consume them privately several times, because you are from the royal family and the illness won't touch you! This is exactly the kind of things that I hate to find in a book.

Luckilly, there are many other things I enjoyed in "Tangi's Teardrops". One of them is the magic system. If you wish for something and imagine it in your head, it can happen. You would think that any people would take advantage of that and not lift a finger anymore. But this is not the case. As the prince says:

"It won't be the same. Just because we have the choice of having anything we want without having to lift a finger, we don't have to take the shortcut. As you've seen, we enjoy doing most of the things by ourselves. Food cooked or a house built by hand is more precious."

Again, very inspiring, and I must tell you I have highlighted many phrases like this one, a thing which doesn't happen often. So here are a few quotes I particularly loved:

"I need a friend and you seemed nicest. I think you and I can have more fun than those fake people on the other side."

"I'm here to help you. You deserve more than this world will ever offer you."

"She would also be creating her own bridal bouquet. She wanted to feel the fragility and softness of each petal. And to make the single flowers stronger than they'd been separately. Just as she was stronger now, together with people who loved and accepted her."

"Tangi's Teardrops" is a story about a journey each of us has to take at some point: the journey to find our place in the world. I recommend it to children and anyone who loves an inspirational story in the form of a fairytale.

_________________________________________

Română

"Tangi's Teadrops", aşa cum poate v-aţi dat seama din descrierea cărţii, este o versiune africană a Cenuşăresei. Deşi destinată unui public mai tânăr, e o lectură plăcută pentru oricine, atâta timp cât e privită ca un basm modern şi simpatic.

Povestea în sine a fantastică, dar am avut ceva probleme cu sentimentele personajelor şi modul în care erau prezentate. Mi s-a părut că de fiecare dată când Tangi trecea printr-o perioadă grea sau, din contră, prin momente foarte fericite, nu simţea de fapt nimic. De exemplu, când singura ei prietenă părăseşte oraşul, Tangi se resemnează prea repede. Asta se datorează faptului că autoarea nu pune mult accent pe descrierea sentimentelor personajelor, ci preferă să se concentreze asupra dialogurilor. Şi chiar e păcat, pentru că Tangi e un personaj uşor de îndrăgit, cu curajul ei şi voinţa de a salva Rosevine cu orice preţ. Puterea ei este atât de motivantă de-a lungul cărţii, încât vi se vor umezi ochii.

"Le va dovedi tuturor că poate face orice. Nu va lăsa invaliditatea ei să-i servească drept scuză, nu va da nimănui motiv să-i fie milă de ea.

În prima jumătate a cărţii, acţiunea are lor în lumea noastră, şi a fost înviorător şi interesant să aflu cum e viaţa pentru copiii africani şi familiile lor, să aflu despre obiceiurile, casele şi şcolile lor, în timp ce în a doua jumătate, Tangi ajunge în Rosevine.

"Motivul pentru care eşti tratată atât de rău este pentru că locul tău nu e în Mimbeye. Atâta timp cât eşti acolo, vei avea parte de suferinţă. Dacă vrei să scapi de ea, ar trebui să vii în locul de care aparţii."

Rosevine e lumea din care a venit mama lui Tangi, astfel explicându-se de ce ea nu s-a simţit niciodată la locul ei. Şi deşi mi-a plăcut felul în care această lume e descrisă, au fost câteva clişee care m-au deranjat. Idei precum "urmează curcubeul ca să ajungi acolo" sau păsările uriaşe folosite ca mijloc de transport probabil m-ar fi uimit când aveam nouă ani, dar nu şi acum. Mi-au amintit de filmele cu Barbie bazate pe poveşti la care mă uitam când eram mică. Rosevine e o lume construită în aşa fel încât totul să fie convenabil pentru dezvoltarea poveştii.

"Sunt în jur de zece mii de specii de trandafir în Rosevine. Cam jumătate din ele pot fi mâncate."

Ni se explică faptul că trebuie să fie consumate doar în timpul serbărilor ţinute de rege şi regină, unde toţi rosevienii se vor bucura de ele, dar dacă sunt mâncate în particular, pot provoca boli. O, Tangi, dar desigur că tu şi prinţul le puteţi consuma doar voi de câteva ori, doar sunteţi din familia regală şi nu se prind bolile de voi! Acestea sunt exact genul de lucruri pe care mă enervează să le întâmpin în cărţi.

Din fericire, sunt multe alte lucruri care mi-au plăcut la "Tangi's Teadrops". Unul din ele e sistemul de magie. Dacă îţi doreşti ceva şi ti-l imaginezi, se poate adeveri. Ai crede că oamenii ar profita de asta şi nu ar mai munci deloc. Dar nu e cazul aici. Aşa cum spune prinţul:

"Nu va fi la fel. Doar fiindcă putem alege să avem tot ce vrem fără să ridicăm un deget, nu trebuie să alegem calea uşoară. Aşa cum ai văzut, ne place să gătim. Mâncarea şi casele făcute prin munca noastră sunt mai preţioase."

Din nou, foarte motivant, şi trebuie să vă spun că am subliniat multe fraze ca aceasta, lucru ce nu-l fac prea des. Iată câteva citate care mi-au plăcut în mod special:

"Am nevoie de o prietenă şi tu pari cea mai drăguţă. Cred că noi două ne putem distra mai bine decât oamenii aceia falşi de acolo."

"Am venit să te ajut. Meriţi mai mult decât îţi poate oferi vreodată lumea aceasta."

"Îşi va crea propriul buchet de mireasă. Voia să simtă fragilitatea şi moliciunea fiecărei petale. Şi să facă florile să fie mai puternice decât ar fi fost luate separat. Aşa cum era ea mai puternică acum, împreună cu oamenii care o iubeau şi o acceptau."

"Tangi's Teadrops" e o poveste despre călătoria pe care fiecare dintre noi trebuie să o facă la un moment dat: călătoria prin care ne căutăm locul în lume. O recomand copiilor şi celor care îndrăgesc poveştile motivaţionale în formă de basm.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangi's Teardrops reminded me a lot of a retelling of Cinderella (who doesn't like the Cinderella story? It's a classic!). There are definitely some big differences. First off, the story takes place in Africa. I really, really liked the setting because it seems to be really, really difficult to find books that are set in Africa or are written by African authors. I'm always on the look out for books that cover places that I have never been before! I love armchair traveling so this was perfect for me.

Tangi is a great character. She's not physically perfect, which is definitely an interesting twist. Usually those storybook princesses are utterly perfect in every way. It was refreshing to see someone with a flaw who is able to overcome that. I think that she would be a good role model for the younger readers (this book is geared for younger young adult readers).

I loved the magic in this book. The beginning of the book does not really have any magic in it at all but as the story unfolds, the magical elements become more apparent, which I thought was very cool.

Bottom line: A great retelling of a classic tale!

[NayNay · Rating 4 out of 5]

TANGI'S TEARDROPS is a Cinderella story...Tangi is a young girl who loses her parents and is left alone, but she has a Uncle who is willing to take care of her. While living on her uncle's farm she is mistreated by the hired help. Her uncle is unable to completely protect her, so Tangi learns to stand up for herself and accept help from others. As a young teen she makes a choice of leaving her uncles farm to go to her mothers homeland. While there her life changes...from living in poverty to being wealthy. She also learns even with riches, there are hard decision's to make.
After reading Liz Grace Davis' CHOCOLATE AFTERTASTE (and loving it) I just knew TANGI'S TEARDROPS would be a must read. The author can weave a story that just takes you away. Her characters are strong and unique, and the scene descriptions are so vivid and beautiful. I recommend this book to all readers.

I recieved this book from the author for a honest review...Thank-you Mrs. Davis, I just put you on my favorite author list!

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is my third blog tour! Here, I'm particpating with a review (I always review! It's so fun!) of Tangi's Teardrops by Liz Grace Davis.

Tangi's Tear drops follows the titular character Tangi, who's never felt at home here. She's bullied by her sisters, and after her dad dies, by the maids in her uncle's house. But she has the three bottles that her dad gave her, and from here, she reaches her true home, the magical land of Rosevine. But the land is dying and Tangi is the only one that can save it.

I actually enjoyed this book most of the time, but there was one fairly big problem - it was too 'lukewarm'. When Tangi suffers, I don't feel as though she suffers very much (while this is a good thing in real life, it doesn't make for exciting reading). And when she reaches her fairy-tale kingdom, the "hardships" she has to go through barely register. After that, she has a fairly easy life, where her biggest problem is falling in love (really, that's it).

For example, she was supposed to be an outcast in our world right? But even as she's being abused, one of the maids softens and ends up helping her. Even though this makes for very flat characters, I would actually prefer for the villains to be villians to the end. This is because the book doesn't develope the characters enough, which means that I can't come to understand them. In that case, I prefer stock villians that I can go "aha!" and dislike.

While I really liked how the romance was slow and steady (on the part of Tangi at least), I wasn't altogether convinced of it by the end. I think that the book could have spent some time to create an event to bond them together.

But Tangi is a well-crafted character. Well, her willingness to love was what made me root for her anyway. She was actually to do some things that would make her unhappy in order to save Rosevine from destruction. She wasn't actually called upon to make this sacrifice, but her willingness to do so was enough for me.

This book isn't an exciting fairytale. It's quite tame, but it's a sweet story. There's not much danger or even much hardship, but Tangi grows on you and by the end of the book, I was happy for her that she got her fairytale ending.

First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Delphina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not even sure where to begin. This retelling of Cinderella was so unique and simply beautiful. I was immediately drawn into Tangi's world and while it was a sad premise (as are all Cinderella tales), there always seemed a glimmer of hope that made the sadness not so sad. I am just so happy that this book found me. Yes, I believe books find us. Feel free to chuckle ;).

Here are some things I enjoyed about this book:

*The book took place in a culture completely unlike my own, yet I felt like I was there and not just observing.

*This story is one I consider a true YA. I would feel comfortable recommending it to any teen. There were hardships and she faced cruelty, but there was no violence I would want to shelter a younger teen from and absolutely no sex/sexual tension.

*I loved the author's voice. I can not pinpoint exactly what it was about her writing that drew me in, but it was beautiful.

*I read a ton (too much if you use my Goodreads Book ticker as a guideline). Among those books, were many Cinderella based tales. This is the first one where I was not sure what was going to happen next. I knew would most likely have a "happily ever after" type ending, but I had no idea how it would get there.

*I enjoyed the characters, even the "bad guys". It was great to see how even through all of the difficulties of her life, Tangi always had someone there who truly loved her and cared about her well being. Even though she felt "less" because of her disabled leg, they never did. The "bad guys", that was a different story ;).

*I love the idea that good can come from your tears. It is something I wish more people truly believed, especially when hard times are upon them.

This is Liz's first novel and I am so glad I read it. I read this after reading a string of really bad, poorly edited books. The timing was perfect! I can only imagine where Liz's writing will go from here. I am looking forward to her adult novel, which is coming out next week. I hope it holds all of the magic Tangi's Teardrops did.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely blending Disney’s Cinderella with the trials of a physically handicapped girl in an African village, Liz Grace Davis offers a beautiful two-sided fairytale in Tangi’s Teardrops.

The story’s told in two very distinct halves. Swift clear writing quickly pulls readers into African village life as Tangi attends her father’s funeral and goes to live with a beloved uncle. Evil stepsisters and cruel servants make her life a misery at home while schoolchildren tease her for her handicap and call her Limpy. But Tangi’s father left her a curious gift—three empty glass bottles.

The stark realism of this first half to the story gives way to magical hopes when Tangi learns what those bottles contain. Soon she finds herself in a wholly different world, thrillingly beautiful but fatally flawed, and only love can save it. This magical world becomes as real as Africa in the author’s hands and the story of Tangi’s search for the shape of true love is beautifully told—not a flutter in the heart, not a determination to save, but something more that can’t be found without risk and commitment.

The lessons are wise, the realism as enthralling as the magic, and the story’s a beautiful fairytale, intriguingly different, cleverly plotted and pleasingly told.



Disclosure: I received a free ecopy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: The fact that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review has not affected my rating.

The best part of fairy tale retellings is that you can relive your favorite tales again and again, but in different ways so you’re never bored. Tangi’s Teardrops is no different when it puts a unique spin to a tale everybody knows – Cinderella.

Tangi’s Teardrops mainly stands out because of its new take on Cinderella. The cast of characters is completely different (aside from the two stepsisters). Instead of an evil stepmother, there’s an evil housekeeper and a sort-of-evil housekeeper assistant. There’s a dead father, but there’s also a loving uncle and kind school staff. And of course, there’s still the whole kingdom of Rosevine. Moreover, I liked how the second half of the plot was very different from the actual Cinderella tale. The ball wasn’t a significant part of the story, and neither was the classic glass slipper. Instead, Davis focuses on Tangi’s efforts to save Rosevine while trying to fall in love with a prince, making Tangi seem less reliant on others, rather than the classic damsel in distress who waits for her Prince Charming.

Overall, Tangi’s Teardrops is a typical-type but sweet fairy tale retelling – short, and of course, happy! I recommend this to people who like fairy tales or middle grade students c:

[Jenny Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a copy of Tangi's Teardrops for review via the Goodreads.com group the Nexus. I would like to thank Liz Grace Davis for offering this book, I was really excited to read it when I got it.
I loved this book, it was really well written and the character Tangi was very easy for me to relate to. It was such an easy story to picture in my mind as I read it,which I love when I am able to do that.
You meet Tangi, a girl who has a "short leg" and is an outcast because of this. Her father dies and leaves her 3 bottles. She goes to live with her Uncle and gets treated badly when he is away at work. Then she has a dream that seems so real and could change her life as she knows it....
When I got started I couldn't put it down until the end because I just had to find out what happened. I really wished there could have been more stories in Rosevine, maybe a second book perhaps? I know I would read it if there was.I would recommend this for Young Adults and adults alike, especially those interested in fairy tales.

[Mark Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a 45 year old male, I'm a bit outside the target audience for this story, but I found it to be a sweet, enjoyable story. The writing is clean and descriptive and draws you in immediately. I'm not clever enough to make the Cinderella-connection that other readers saw (I'm just kind of a take-it-at-face-value reader ... you gotta hit me over the head with a board to get me to notice the subtle things) but I enjoyed the two halves of the book. First we meet Tangi and see the plight of her simple and somewhat poor life. And then to find her transported to the world of Rosevine where she's cured of a severe physical impairment and has grown in age and finds herself a princess ... it's quite a transition. As an author myself, I kept thinking how I'd like to see follow-up stories taking place in the colorful world of Rosevine. You won't be disappointed with this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read, having the flavor of Cinderella but taking it in a new direction. Tangi's Teardrops is a captivating story that kept me distracted until I reached the end. In saying this, I have to admit that I normally don't go in for the romantic fairy tale stories, but...well, you got me, Liz. :) The title caught my eye on the Amazon Kindle Store's suggested reading list, the cover art is beautiful, and I was hooked from there on out. I will be watching to see if Liz Grace Davis comes up with any other tales of wonder and woe.

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangi's Teardrops is a lovely story about a young girl who journeys through life, a dual life, where she has the love of her father and uncle, while enduring the cruelty and rejection of her half-sisters and peers. Along her journey, Tangi finds her own voice, her strengths, and her heart, as she chooses her own path and future.

An endearing story that every young lady should have the opportunity to read and enjoy.

[Ursula · Rating 5 out of 5]

 
This was a precious little story, full of all kinds of magic and wonder, mixed in with despair and ugly, and much hope and beauty. A great little in-between while I wait on my next UNWIND book to get to my house. Read it! Enjoy! :)
 

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had the makings of a cute story but it was way too short.

[Shayna Gier · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Loved:
This story is adorable! I do have to say that it seemed pretty stereotypical of the fairy-tale genre, and yet so original at the same time. What I mean to say is that in partial, it was a stereotypical fairy tale. If you just judge the first six chapters or whatever, very stereotypical. But the true magic happens when you view the story as a whole. Together, it's not stereotypical at all, and it's really quite a lovely story.
I absolutely adored Tangi, as well as Prince Daryle. Tangi starts out very vulnerable and quiet, doing whatever she can to not be noticed and then caving to the cruel way she is treated, but in the end Tangi is a confident young woman who really takes her own stand. Prince Daryle is sweet, and very caring toward Tangi. In fact, most of the Rosviens are absolutely delightful characters.
Also, it has to be said, for as stereotypically fairy-taleish as the plot tended to be, the first line is thankfully not "Long ago in a land far, far away" nor is the ending "And they lived happily ever after."

What I Didn't Like:
The beginning was just a little too slow for me. Once the plot got moving, it had a really nice pace, but the beginning seemed to drag on for a while.

(5 of 5 Stars)
Tangi's Teardrops has been sitting on my to-be-read list for a while, and I really wish I'd gotten to it sooner. The story, as noted above, is quick-paced and a very fun and easy read. In my other sections I said that it was very much like a fairy tale, and I think that's what makes it so easy to read. Tangi isn't Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, or Snow White, and yet you can see echoes of their stories in her own- specifically Cinderella. Despite similarities, Liz carves Tangi's story into something totally unique and entertaining, creating a story that leaves the reader feeling happy and content.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided for me by the author at no charge, nor was I given
compensation of any kind for this review. This review only reflects my
personal opinion.

[Alysses · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure if the author meant for this book to be a re-telling of Cinderella, but right off, I made that connection.

Even with the Cinderella connection, the author did an incredible job in creating a very unique story. Predictable will never be a word I will use to describe this book. I was very impressed with how well developed this world and its characters were.

I loved the fact that it was set in Africa, making Tangi’s world even more interesting because in my world, anything African is exotic, interesting and desirable. (I LOVE AFRICA!) From the very beginning I found myself connected to Tangi. I felt Tangi’s angst, sadness, hope, and happiness throughout her story. The entire time I was rooting for her to find her “happily ever after”. To be able to invoke so many feelings in one book, without breaking stride, will always be a wonder and a plus for me. It’s something that not all authors know how to do well, yet this author pulled it off.

The writing was impressive and flowed exactly like a fairy tale yet was consistently modern. It's hard to explain the writing style but it carries a very different feel. It was soothing and it was like nothing I’ve ever read before.

Like a true fairy tale, this read is full of magic and within its pages you will find many lessons to be learned and very positive messages to walk away with. The author meant this read to be YA but I honestly think that this would be a wonderful read for people of all ages.


Thank you to the Making Connections Blog Tour for allowing me to participate and although I had a kindle version, thank you to the author for providing me with an Epub format.

[Shonica · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest I haven't finished reading this and I'm not sure that I will. This book has all the makings of a good story, but it falls flat. We have a main character who is a sweet girl but because she has a disability she has no friends. Plus her stepsisters are cruel and make fun of her. Her father that loves her very much dies so she is left with no one. At the funeral her mean horrible aunts show up and she's afraid she will have to live with one of them. But no! A nice uncle who loves her comes and says that she and her sisters will live with him. And this is why I'm not sure if I'll finish this book... every time there is a serious conflict either someone comes along and fixes it or it magically goes away. Here we have a wonderful heroine who is smart and kind, but she never has to save herself. The author always has a way that it is fixed for her. One time she stands up for herself and it feels good, but honestly, I expect more.

I do hope that this author write more books and expects more from her characters. There is a lot of potential here.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangi's Teardrops is a story about a poor young girl named Tangi, who's father recently passed away, leaving her nothing but three small glass bottles. She and her mean step sisters go to live with her Uncle. While her Uncle is away for work, Tangi gets treated horribly not only by her sisters but the housekeeper. One night Tanji has a dream that changes her life forever...

Tangi's Teardrops was such a beautifully written story. You are not just reading the story, you are shown it. I pictured every detail in my mind. Absolutely great writing. The only problem I have with Tangi's Teardrops is that its too short. I would have love to see more adventures in Rosevine. Hopefully this means that there will be a second book.

Tangi's Teardrops is a clean book and I highly recommend it to anyone young or old.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the cover! The story was a bit too simple for my taste though, so I might say it would be better for gr 3-6 than middle grades. Lots of telling via dialogue rather than showing.

Cinderella story with Tangi born with one leg shorter than the other. Two older stepsisters are not close and become dismissive after their father passes away. The three girls are sent to live with an uncle who travels often and the servants and sisters make Tangi do the housework. Toss in a strange alternate world of her deceased birth mother that Tangi transports to with her teardrops and a prince that loves her and you're all set. As long as you don't require supporting details, and you can suspend disbelief on your own, you're all set.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is kinda a Cinderella story. I really like this version because Tangi has a flaw and most princesses don't. The book starts off at Tangi's father's funeral, her only living parent. Tangi is given 3 empty bottles before he dies, she has no idea what they're for. He uncle takes her and her stepsisters in (they really aren't her stepsisters) She is treated as an outsider by everyone but her uncle. On the day of her 13th birthday she finds out about the bottles, they aren't empty anymore, they are filled with all of the tears she cried since her father died. She must use these tears to travel to Rosevine, her mother's world. She belongs there and not only that but she must save Rosevine. Can she do it? I will let you find that out on your own!

[Kira · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is meant to be an African version of Cinderella. I didn't really see it that way. Yes there were the two horrible sisters. Yes she was an orphan. But that was where the similarities ended. I didn't really like the concept of Rosevine or the fact that Tangi had one month (which seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye with no story progression whatsoever) to save it through "true love". Or perhaps I am just too old for this book?

[Amethyst · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a very fast read (took me about 2 hours). I like the main story idea but I wish it had been longer. There were several story points I wish had been explained in more detail. But overall it was a good little book.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retelling of the Cinderella story. There was a lot of uniqueness, particularly in the second-half of the story. I really felt Tangi's pain and the tough decisions she had to make and how she fought for what she deserved.

[Hyacinth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful African Cinderella story that breaks your heart and has you sitting on the edge of your seat hoping and praying for that 'happily ever after'. My heart is still racing and I teared up several times...especially at the cruelty inflicted upon Tangi.

[DMS · Rating 4 out of 5]

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