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Frost #1
First Frost
For generations, the Frost family has run the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, handing down guardianship from mother to daughter, always keeping their secrets to family only. Gathered within museum s walls is a collection dedicated to the Grimm fairy tales and to the rare items the family has acquired: Cinderella s glass slipper, Snow White s poisoned apple, the evil queen s magic mirror, Sleeping Beauty s enchanted spinning wheel...Seventeen-year-old Bianca Frost wants none of it, dreaming instead of a career in art or photography or...well, anything except working in the family s museum. She knows the items in the glass display cases are fakes because, of course, magic doesn't really exist. She s about to find out how wrong she is.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2012
23 people are currently reading
2015 people want to read
About the author
Liz DeJesus
22 books127 followersLiz DeJesus is a novelist, freelance writer, and a writing coach. She has been writing for as long as she was capable of holding a pen. She is the author of The Jackets (Arte Publico Press, March 2011) The Frost Series, Morgan, The Laurel, Girl, Mugshots, Zombie Ever After and ABC's With the Vejigantes. Her work has also appeared in Twice Upon a Time (Bearded Scribe Press, Winter 2015) and Someone Wicked (Smart Rhino Publications, Winter 2013). Her articles have been featured in Southern Writers Magazine.
Liz is also the co-founder of the Hockessin Art and Book Fair, Anime Day and Bento Con.
She is also the winner of the 2023 Delaware Individual Artist Fellowship: Emerging, Literature: Creative Non-fiction, ABCs With the Vejigantes won 1st place at the 2023 Delaware Press Association Communications Contest Awards and 1st place at the 2023 NFPW Professional Communications Contest. She was recently awarded the 2024 Artist Opportunity Grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts.
Liz is also the co-founder of the Hockessin Art and Book Fair, Anime Day and Bento Con.
She is also the winner of the 2023 Delaware Individual Artist Fellowship: Emerging, Literature: Creative Non-fiction, ABCs With the Vejigantes won 1st place at the 2023 Delaware Press Association Communications Contest Awards and 1st place at the 2023 NFPW Professional Communications Contest. She was recently awarded the 2024 Artist Opportunity Grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
December 9, 2012
*I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Yes, I gave this book a 2 star rating, as much as I wanted to love it, I just couldn't. That doesn't mean it was a bad book, no, but First Frost just didn't have that factor that allows me to be consumed in the story.
Now, the idea or concept of First Frost sounded amazing, it was what first pulled me in and why I wanted to review it. So, when I got to it, I was excited, but that excitement was short-lived. Liz did have a great idea for this story, but I just felt it could have been more.
‘Her mother had read every fairy tale imaginable to her since the day she was born.’
Bianca has grown up being surrounded by items from fairy tales. Her family has run a museum for Magical and Rare Artifacts for generations. All the artifacts are related to stories from the Brothers Grimm.
Snow White
Rapunzel
Little Red Riding Hood
But even though she has been surrounded by these items of magical fantasy, Bianca knows it isn't real.
As much as her mother, Rose, loves to read stories of beautiful princess, evil witches and dashing princes, they are all just make believe.
They couldn't be real.
Or so Bianca thought. When an evil witch shows up, flinging magically fireballs, Bianca realizes even fairy tales can be real.
And her life is about to change.
‘’The Big Bad Wolf was every bit as scary as Bianca had always imagined.’
I do love how Liz combines the world she created in her book, and the world of fairy tales-the Brothers Grimm. At points she did integrate the story decently with ‘reality’. First Frost even opened up in a very humorous way, making me feel I would enjoy the book. I really wanted to; however, it just didn't end that way.
Bianca has spent her life in the museum her family runs, a museum that houses Magical and Rare Artifacts. Artifacts like the red apple from Snow White, Cinderella’s glass slipper and even some of Rapunzel’s hair. But Bianca has never cared for that, she wants more, to leave and explore the world. She doesn't even believe in fairy tales. But, that all changes one night, when she comes face to face with something that shouldn't be real or exist in this world.
When her life changes, when her mother reviles the truth of ‘who’ she is, I felt she accepted everything too easily. To me, that made the story feel less real. And when you are writing a fantasy you have to make the book feel as real as possible even when the subject isn't. From there things just felt more and more less believable. Also, the pacing of the story felt a bit rushed, and the writing style was a bit simple at times. I felt the interaction between the characters and the dialogue a bit lacking. As for the characters, I like Bianca and her mother, they were interesting and enjoyable. But they felt kind of flat to me. I couldn't really get a perspective on their personalities.
Liz DeJesus is a sweetheart, and I was really hoping I would like her book, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted. With time, I feel she will become a really great author. First Frost was a good idea for a story, but it was just missing that one piece that makes a book amazing for me.
Yes, I gave this book a 2 star rating, as much as I wanted to love it, I just couldn't. That doesn't mean it was a bad book, no, but First Frost just didn't have that factor that allows me to be consumed in the story.
Now, the idea or concept of First Frost sounded amazing, it was what first pulled me in and why I wanted to review it. So, when I got to it, I was excited, but that excitement was short-lived. Liz did have a great idea for this story, but I just felt it could have been more.
‘Her mother had read every fairy tale imaginable to her since the day she was born.’
Bianca has grown up being surrounded by items from fairy tales. Her family has run a museum for Magical and Rare Artifacts for generations. All the artifacts are related to stories from the Brothers Grimm.
Snow White
Rapunzel
Little Red Riding Hood
But even though she has been surrounded by these items of magical fantasy, Bianca knows it isn't real.
As much as her mother, Rose, loves to read stories of beautiful princess, evil witches and dashing princes, they are all just make believe.
They couldn't be real.
Or so Bianca thought. When an evil witch shows up, flinging magically fireballs, Bianca realizes even fairy tales can be real.
And her life is about to change.
‘’The Big Bad Wolf was every bit as scary as Bianca had always imagined.’
I do love how Liz combines the world she created in her book, and the world of fairy tales-the Brothers Grimm. At points she did integrate the story decently with ‘reality’. First Frost even opened up in a very humorous way, making me feel I would enjoy the book. I really wanted to; however, it just didn't end that way.
Bianca has spent her life in the museum her family runs, a museum that houses Magical and Rare Artifacts. Artifacts like the red apple from Snow White, Cinderella’s glass slipper and even some of Rapunzel’s hair. But Bianca has never cared for that, she wants more, to leave and explore the world. She doesn't even believe in fairy tales. But, that all changes one night, when she comes face to face with something that shouldn't be real or exist in this world.
When her life changes, when her mother reviles the truth of ‘who’ she is, I felt she accepted everything too easily. To me, that made the story feel less real. And when you are writing a fantasy you have to make the book feel as real as possible even when the subject isn't. From there things just felt more and more less believable. Also, the pacing of the story felt a bit rushed, and the writing style was a bit simple at times. I felt the interaction between the characters and the dialogue a bit lacking. As for the characters, I like Bianca and her mother, they were interesting and enjoyable. But they felt kind of flat to me. I couldn't really get a perspective on their personalities.
Liz DeJesus is a sweetheart, and I was really hoping I would like her book, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted. With time, I feel she will become a really great author. First Frost was a good idea for a story, but it was just missing that one piece that makes a book amazing for me.
April 8, 2013
Okay.
I think, before I begin, that I need to warn you of just how nit-picky I can be. And that a good chunk of this review is going to be me nitpicking. Which is probably not fair, because I enjoyed First Frost well enough, but the nit-picky things are the things that stay with me, so there you go. But I'm going to start with the positives, because there were positives - this is not a hated-it, why-did-I-read-this? review at all, so I don't want you guys to leave with that impression.
So first, the good:
There are some really, really cool concepts in First Frost, like the idea of "Happily ever after" being a typo (actually, fairy tale characters lived in a different world, called Everafter, so the sentence should read "happily IN Everafter"), or the idea that the Grimm brothers wrote the fairy tales as warnings, because people in our world were having issues with creatures and witches from Everafter - people being cursed, children going missing, etc. Thus, the tales give you the basics of Everafter magic, so you know what to look for and how to protect yourself, but they leave out key elements so people in our world can't take advantage of the magics and use them in bad ways themselves. And of course, the fairy tale museum and all of its artifacts is a great concept, and done in a fun way. I especially liked the applications that some of the artifacts can be put to (their own story-related powers, essentially), and the fact that the museum itself came about as a result of the Great Depression, when Bianca's grandfather decided to showcase his family's magical wares out of necessity. Things like this are nice real-world touches that root a story, and I always appreciate that.
I also thought that there was a fun, light tone to the story that worked. Bianca's best friend, Ming, is super fun, and I really enjoyed the camaraderie between the two. They really did interact like people who have known each other for ever, and who will always be there for each other, while also always giving each other grief. There's humor in their interactions that, when DeJesus got it right, she really nailed. There were times, too, when the villains of the story were perfectly villainous, saying or doing something perfectly evil, obsessive and dark, but with this little undercurrent of sympathy - the reader has the knowledge, however slight, that they weren't always this way, and probably didn't intend for things to turn out as they did. (Of course, there were also times when I found the villains too over-the-top for my tastes, and the magics of both sides a little too easy. I want balance in all things, so if you're going to lob fireballs, I need to know that you really have to work at it, or there's some huge drawback to spellcasting, etc. A "natural" approach to magic (it just happens) doesn't work for me unless it has some major side-effects, or something.)
First Frost was a very quick read, and for the most part, remained engaging throughout. But it also felt like a first pass, or the work of a young writer, which is where my nit-picking comes in.
As you probably know by now, sometimes my inner editor comes out, and she just won't shut the hell up. So even while this was enjoyable, Editor Misty was saying things like:
Or
It's silly little non-incidents like this - which don't seem like much, until they're piled all together - that break my connection to the story and characters. I talk a lot about ease in storytelling, and how I never want things to be too easy. This is true not just of the tension and struggles of the story, but also how a character reacts to things. I need characters to react more naturally to huge scenarios - and though sometimes in a crisis, you may burst out with the stupidest thing you've ever said, in general, a person's natural reaction to something paradigm-changing is to be incredulous, questioning, hesitant, scared and/or angry first. They may come around, and they may even come around quickly if they have no choice, but there should at least be a moment in there that is full of "WTF?/This isn't happening!"
Another thing: I said that Mette Ivie Harrison's writing is sometimes missing the connective tissue; if that's the case, then I think Liz DeJesus' writing suffers from too much connective tissue. I sometimes felt like scenes and/or dialogue was throw-away - like it's what the author needed to work through to get where she was going, but then which should have been left on the cutting room floor. Readers don't need every single link, every useless succession of events or unnecessary bits of dialogue, to get where you want them to go. Don't "Canadian Film Festival"* us; if the import of a scene or a bit of dialogue is that it isn't important ("I don't mean to cause you any harm - so I won't. The end."), then don't bother.
Actually, I take that back. It's not that it suffered from too much connective tissue, but that it was in the wrong places. So we would have scenes that seemed overly-long and pointless, with the type of unnatural conversation that usually gets edited out, but then there would be bigger things happening with no real urgency to them. I don't know what you do when your mom is kidnapped by an evil witch and you need to break into another world to get her back, but when this happens to my mom, I generally don't go to work like everything's fine for a few days, hire a handyman for quick home repairs, or veg out in front of the tv with my bestie. These are things I wanted to tighten in edit. I wanted so badly to say "Leave the window broken, close the shop, find the book and get a move on! This is a crisis situation, the day-to-day can wait."
Ugh. And now I've spent more time than intended on the nit-picky things, and I know I'm going to leave you guys with a negative impression of this book. Can we just say, I have no control over Editor Misty and her endless desire to red-pen, and I never know when she's going to come out, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy First Frost, which at its core is a light, fun book with some really cool fairy tale concepts? Can we just leave it at that?
I think, before I begin, that I need to warn you of just how nit-picky I can be. And that a good chunk of this review is going to be me nitpicking. Which is probably not fair, because I enjoyed First Frost well enough, but the nit-picky things are the things that stay with me, so there you go. But I'm going to start with the positives, because there were positives - this is not a hated-it, why-did-I-read-this? review at all, so I don't want you guys to leave with that impression.
So first, the good:
There are some really, really cool concepts in First Frost, like the idea of "Happily ever after" being a typo (actually, fairy tale characters lived in a different world, called Everafter, so the sentence should read "happily IN Everafter"), or the idea that the Grimm brothers wrote the fairy tales as warnings, because people in our world were having issues with creatures and witches from Everafter - people being cursed, children going missing, etc. Thus, the tales give you the basics of Everafter magic, so you know what to look for and how to protect yourself, but they leave out key elements so people in our world can't take advantage of the magics and use them in bad ways themselves. And of course, the fairy tale museum and all of its artifacts is a great concept, and done in a fun way. I especially liked the applications that some of the artifacts can be put to (their own story-related powers, essentially), and the fact that the museum itself came about as a result of the Great Depression, when Bianca's grandfather decided to showcase his family's magical wares out of necessity. Things like this are nice real-world touches that root a story, and I always appreciate that.
I also thought that there was a fun, light tone to the story that worked. Bianca's best friend, Ming, is super fun, and I really enjoyed the camaraderie between the two. They really did interact like people who have known each other for ever, and who will always be there for each other, while also always giving each other grief. There's humor in their interactions that, when DeJesus got it right, she really nailed. There were times, too, when the villains of the story were perfectly villainous, saying or doing something perfectly evil, obsessive and dark, but with this little undercurrent of sympathy - the reader has the knowledge, however slight, that they weren't always this way, and probably didn't intend for things to turn out as they did. (Of course, there were also times when I found the villains too over-the-top for my tastes, and the magics of both sides a little too easy. I want balance in all things, so if you're going to lob fireballs, I need to know that you really have to work at it, or there's some huge drawback to spellcasting, etc. A "natural" approach to magic (it just happens) doesn't work for me unless it has some major side-effects, or something.)
First Frost was a very quick read, and for the most part, remained engaging throughout. But it also felt like a first pass, or the work of a young writer, which is where my nit-picking comes in.
As you probably know by now, sometimes my inner editor comes out, and she just won't shut the hell up. So even while this was enjoyable, Editor Misty was saying things like:
Why would hide in a hollow tree from a strange man, only to decide moments later (when he asks where you are in a singsong voice), that he's probably safe, and to go ahead and come out? Don't you know that a) singsong voice always means creep, and b) stranger danger? And why bother hiding to immediately crawl back out of that hiding spot, into the hands of the person you hid from? Why? Oh, you figured it was something else chasing you, and not the strange men on horseback... Wait, what? The strangers on horseback are not the ones chasing you?
Or
So, your mother has just told your father - who you've thought was missing or absentee since your childhood - was actually turned into a bear, and you say "When did this happen?" Not, what? Not, how is that even possible? Not, what are you on? AND THEN, when she says "Don't you remember when your father went missing?" you say "I meant was it during the day? At night?" because somehow that's the key piece of info in the your father's been turned into a bear discussion...
It's silly little non-incidents like this - which don't seem like much, until they're piled all together - that break my connection to the story and characters. I talk a lot about ease in storytelling, and how I never want things to be too easy. This is true not just of the tension and struggles of the story, but also how a character reacts to things. I need characters to react more naturally to huge scenarios - and though sometimes in a crisis, you may burst out with the stupidest thing you've ever said, in general, a person's natural reaction to something paradigm-changing is to be incredulous, questioning, hesitant, scared and/or angry first. They may come around, and they may even come around quickly if they have no choice, but there should at least be a moment in there that is full of "WTF?/This isn't happening!"
Another thing: I said that Mette Ivie Harrison's writing is sometimes missing the connective tissue; if that's the case, then I think Liz DeJesus' writing suffers from too much connective tissue. I sometimes felt like scenes and/or dialogue was throw-away - like it's what the author needed to work through to get where she was going, but then which should have been left on the cutting room floor. Readers don't need every single link, every useless succession of events or unnecessary bits of dialogue, to get where you want them to go. Don't "Canadian Film Festival"* us; if the import of a scene or a bit of dialogue is that it isn't important ("I don't mean to cause you any harm - so I won't. The end."), then don't bother.
Actually, I take that back. It's not that it suffered from too much connective tissue, but that it was in the wrong places. So we would have scenes that seemed overly-long and pointless, with the type of unnatural conversation that usually gets edited out, but then there would be bigger things happening with no real urgency to them. I don't know what you do when your mom is kidnapped by an evil witch and you need to break into another world to get her back, but when this happens to my mom, I generally don't go to work like everything's fine for a few days, hire a handyman for quick home repairs, or veg out in front of the tv with my bestie. These are things I wanted to tighten in edit. I wanted so badly to say "Leave the window broken, close the shop, find the book and get a move on! This is a crisis situation, the day-to-day can wait."
Ugh. And now I've spent more time than intended on the nit-picky things, and I know I'm going to leave you guys with a negative impression of this book. Can we just say, I have no control over Editor Misty and her endless desire to red-pen, and I never know when she's going to come out, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy First Frost, which at its core is a light, fun book with some really cool fairy tale concepts? Can we just leave it at that?
January 26, 2014
Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?
When I was first asked to read this book, I was a bit skeptical. The reason is that little word that this book carries within - retellings. I'm not a hug fan of these but I decided to give it a try anyhow. It turned out to be a good decision.
First of with retelling part. Well, I'm not sure how to classify this one but it's different from other retellings I encountered with. Mostly this book is not based on only one fairy tale but it manages to intertwine some of the most famous fairy tales together. But at the same time is has new and unique elements.
Bianca Frost, our main character in this book is a seventeen-year-old girl who comes from a family that owns a really interesting museum called the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts. This museum is full of the fairy tale items like Cinderella's glass slipper, Show White's poisoned apple, the evil queen's magic mirror and much more. Even though Bianca is used to these items as she has grown up around them still it's hard not to question the possibility that they are real items from the fairy tales, even though she is old enough to believe in that. Until one day she sees unbelievable and soon enough must find what's real and what's fake.
What I liked the most here is the family relationship between Bianca and her parents. It was wonderful to see how much they care for each other even though magic separated them. Another thing is that while this story has many elements of a fairy tales at the same time it's completely easy to believe in it. Beside the all well known characters I'm happy that we meet some other not so much popular fairy tales and their characters. It was a nice reminder without changing the memories so much. They're still same old twisted and complicated characters.
One element that truly was surprising was the whole story behind "happily ever after". It's truly interesting how author managed to work around it.
When I was first asked to read this book, I was a bit skeptical. The reason is that little word that this book carries within - retellings. I'm not a hug fan of these but I decided to give it a try anyhow. It turned out to be a good decision.
First of with retelling part. Well, I'm not sure how to classify this one but it's different from other retellings I encountered with. Mostly this book is not based on only one fairy tale but it manages to intertwine some of the most famous fairy tales together. But at the same time is has new and unique elements.
Bianca Frost, our main character in this book is a seventeen-year-old girl who comes from a family that owns a really interesting museum called the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts. This museum is full of the fairy tale items like Cinderella's glass slipper, Show White's poisoned apple, the evil queen's magic mirror and much more. Even though Bianca is used to these items as she has grown up around them still it's hard not to question the possibility that they are real items from the fairy tales, even though she is old enough to believe in that. Until one day she sees unbelievable and soon enough must find what's real and what's fake.
What I liked the most here is the family relationship between Bianca and her parents. It was wonderful to see how much they care for each other even though magic separated them. Another thing is that while this story has many elements of a fairy tales at the same time it's completely easy to believe in it. Beside the all well known characters I'm happy that we meet some other not so much popular fairy tales and their characters. It was a nice reminder without changing the memories so much. They're still same old twisted and complicated characters.
One element that truly was surprising was the whole story behind "happily ever after". It's truly interesting how author managed to work around it.
June 7, 2013
Bought this book at an author's signing where my son & I work. I bought it for my son, but I ended up reading it first. First, SOOOO much better than I had thought it would be. The book ends with something happening that could be what it seems to be, which would be a good thing, or, the ending may not be what it seems, which would be a bad thing. Liz, when does the second book come out?!?! You have hooked me!!! This book will be on the staff recommends as soon as we get copies in! It will also be a book that I highly recommend. Speaking of the author, Liz DeJesus, she is a very warm and open person. Enjoyed getting to meet her!
August 2, 2014
Read the full review at Witchmag's Boekenplank
*Squeal* Fairy Tales! I absolutely love reading them! I don’t know how many times I’ve read Snow White or Rapunzel. Although it comes a bit boring after some time, since the story is always the same and you know what’s coming. But even then it won’t lose its magic. I still love reading them ^^ Therefore I love to read retellings of my favorite ones. A retelling usually focuses on details you’ve forgotten or gives the story a different twist. It makes well-known fairy-tales ”fresh” and enjoyable. It gives you a whole new story to enjoy, with the same magic of the old one.
That’s also the case with First Frost. To be more specifically: this book is kind of a retelling of one of my favorites: Snow White. Although I had to refresh my memory, since the story doesn’t use the Disney version, but the much darker, original story of the brothers Grimm. Apparently I’ve forgotten some little details (like the fact that she was almost killed 3 times… how could I forget that?). It was fun to read it again and see how Liz DeJesus twisted this story around. In her book everything that happened in the story is real. Except for the little fact that the prince didn’t kiss her awake, he jut found a wizard who could undo the spell ^^ Ha! Had to laugh out loud when reading that one ^^ And Bianca is apparently a descendant of Snow White! With magical powers! How cool is that?
What’s even more awesome is the museum, full with stuff from fairy tales. It becomes even better when said stuff turns out to be magical! Each object in the museum can do something different. Some are bad, while others are good. Like Rapunzel’s hair, that becomes longer when you say the spell and is unbreakable! Or Little Red Riding Hood‘s cape, which shows you the quickest way to get somewhere? Amazing! Why isn’t something like that available in the real world? Even though all of it would be fake, it would be cool to visit ^^
Furthermore there are a lot of little details which made the fairy-tale fanatic in me laugh a lot. Like the cliché of the prince on the white horse. Who turns out to be very differently than the ideal he stands for. And what would a story be without witty sidekicks? Bianca’s friend is one of the best wittiest sidekicks I’ve ever read about. She says her wily remarks at just the right moment. I’ve spent most of my time giggling while reading this book ^^
So we’ve got a good story, lots of fairy-tales and great characters which will make you laugh. Then why only 3 hearts? That’s because I missed something while reading this story: emotions. Not the emotions Bianca has to go through but mine. I didn’t feel angst during fights. Would someone get injured or die? I just couldn’t care. I didn’t swoon during romance time, I just didn’t feel anything except a vague feeling of amusement and the desire to giggle. It was therefore a bit hard to really bind myself to the story and softened the impact this story could have on me. It became more of a rainy afternoon book than a book I want everyone to read. Such a shame, cause it has all the right ingredients!
Conclusion: 3 hearts. There’s terrific story: a retelling of Snow White. What happened afterwards and what is real and what is made up? There’s also a very cool museum with a lot of stuff from fairy-tales, who have magical properties. We’ve got lot of fun little details for fairy-tale lovers and very witty remarks made by funny sidekicks. Only set back was the lack of emotions I felt while reading this book, no angst or swooning. The story didn’t really came to life. Which was a bit of a letdown.
*Squeal* Fairy Tales! I absolutely love reading them! I don’t know how many times I’ve read Snow White or Rapunzel. Although it comes a bit boring after some time, since the story is always the same and you know what’s coming. But even then it won’t lose its magic. I still love reading them ^^ Therefore I love to read retellings of my favorite ones. A retelling usually focuses on details you’ve forgotten or gives the story a different twist. It makes well-known fairy-tales ”fresh” and enjoyable. It gives you a whole new story to enjoy, with the same magic of the old one.
That’s also the case with First Frost. To be more specifically: this book is kind of a retelling of one of my favorites: Snow White. Although I had to refresh my memory, since the story doesn’t use the Disney version, but the much darker, original story of the brothers Grimm. Apparently I’ve forgotten some little details (like the fact that she was almost killed 3 times… how could I forget that?). It was fun to read it again and see how Liz DeJesus twisted this story around. In her book everything that happened in the story is real. Except for the little fact that the prince didn’t kiss her awake, he jut found a wizard who could undo the spell ^^ Ha! Had to laugh out loud when reading that one ^^ And Bianca is apparently a descendant of Snow White! With magical powers! How cool is that?
What’s even more awesome is the museum, full with stuff from fairy tales. It becomes even better when said stuff turns out to be magical! Each object in the museum can do something different. Some are bad, while others are good. Like Rapunzel’s hair, that becomes longer when you say the spell and is unbreakable! Or Little Red Riding Hood‘s cape, which shows you the quickest way to get somewhere? Amazing! Why isn’t something like that available in the real world? Even though all of it would be fake, it would be cool to visit ^^
Furthermore there are a lot of little details which made the fairy-tale fanatic in me laugh a lot. Like the cliché of the prince on the white horse. Who turns out to be very differently than the ideal he stands for. And what would a story be without witty sidekicks? Bianca’s friend is one of the best wittiest sidekicks I’ve ever read about. She says her wily remarks at just the right moment. I’ve spent most of my time giggling while reading this book ^^
So we’ve got a good story, lots of fairy-tales and great characters which will make you laugh. Then why only 3 hearts? That’s because I missed something while reading this story: emotions. Not the emotions Bianca has to go through but mine. I didn’t feel angst during fights. Would someone get injured or die? I just couldn’t care. I didn’t swoon during romance time, I just didn’t feel anything except a vague feeling of amusement and the desire to giggle. It was therefore a bit hard to really bind myself to the story and softened the impact this story could have on me. It became more of a rainy afternoon book than a book I want everyone to read. Such a shame, cause it has all the right ingredients!
Conclusion: 3 hearts. There’s terrific story: a retelling of Snow White. What happened afterwards and what is real and what is made up? There’s also a very cool museum with a lot of stuff from fairy-tales, who have magical properties. We’ve got lot of fun little details for fairy-tale lovers and very witty remarks made by funny sidekicks. Only set back was the lack of emotions I felt while reading this book, no angst or swooning. The story didn’t really came to life. Which was a bit of a letdown.
August 25, 2012
The adventure could´ve began a bit earlier, that would´ve gotten me excited earlier as well. Other than that I really liked the way the author has mixed a fairy tale kind of characters with the regular kind. I loved the idea of the fairy tales being true and the artifacts from tales being magical items. I think I would´ve enjoyed the story even more if there had been a bit more romance to it than there was, but I get that it was the adventure it was for and I really liked the adventure this story takes you to! Amazing ideas from a fairy tale without using too much about the original thing, I wish I had imagination and ideas like this!!
ch 1-5
First chapter done,it has definitely caught my attention! A fairy tale museum. Mysterious and magical..
I really like this idea, what the book is about. It is good so far and a quick read, but it is not exciting, at least not yet.. :)
ch 6-12
Ok so her friend Ming knows everything now that Bianca's mom has disappeared with Lenore.
There is something here that makes me want to keep reading more and more, but I can not say what that exactly is.
Huge grin! Prince Ferdinand and Terrance, really liking them!
Perfect, the story went to Lenore and Rose for a while and on perfect timing.
Ch 13-19
I just can´t get over the idea of this story, such a great idea. All these fairy tales items being magical items and Everafter. So now her father is with them and their headed to find her mom..
Oh the Big Bad Wolfe and Terrance, haha! Her nightmares, they are pretty creepy! A mysterious Old Woman, hmm.
Ch. 20-
I love what the author has decided to do with the character Ming here! This just doesn't happen in books, ever. Great!
ch 1-5
First chapter done,it has definitely caught my attention! A fairy tale museum. Mysterious and magical..
I really like this idea, what the book is about. It is good so far and a quick read, but it is not exciting, at least not yet.. :)
ch 6-12
Ok so her friend Ming knows everything now that Bianca's mom has disappeared with Lenore.
There is something here that makes me want to keep reading more and more, but I can not say what that exactly is.
Huge grin! Prince Ferdinand and Terrance, really liking them!
Perfect, the story went to Lenore and Rose for a while and on perfect timing.
Ch 13-19
I just can´t get over the idea of this story, such a great idea. All these fairy tales items being magical items and Everafter. So now her father is with them and their headed to find her mom..
Oh the Big Bad Wolfe and Terrance, haha! Her nightmares, they are pretty creepy! A mysterious Old Woman, hmm.
Ch. 20-
I love what the author has decided to do with the character Ming here! This just doesn't happen in books, ever. Great!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2012
First Frost
By Liz DeJesus
Seventeen year old Bianca Frost spends her summers and weekends continuing on a family tradition working in their Fairy Tale Museum. She has grown up around all these items and has become cynical towards them knowing that they are all just pretend. One day though she is proven wrong when she returns home from a friend’s house to find her mother fighting with Lenore, but they are not physically fighting they are throwing magic at each other, and Bianca is thrown head first into a world full of wonder. When Bianca’s mother is kidnapped she must make her way to EverAfter and will do anything she can to save her mother from the clutches of an evil witch and a feud that goes back for centuries.
True Love, Evil Witches, and Happily Ever After what more could you want from a fairy tale novel? Liz DeJesus incorporates everything we love about the fairy tale genre and then some with thoroughly lovable characters and such evil nemesis that you cannot help but hate them yourselves. Bianca is a character that you can relate to who has already been through a lot in her short life after her father disappears when she was seven, but she and her mother overcome and this adds a new depth to the story that is already emotional and beautiful. I started this novel late at night thinking I would just read a couple of chapters before I go to bed. I ended up staying up until four in the morning I couldn’t put this one down, this novel is amazing! Not only is this a great young adult novel it is also fun for anyone who loves a triumphant novel, I truly hope the author makes a return visit to EverAfter.
For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:
http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpre...
http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/
By Liz DeJesus
Seventeen year old Bianca Frost spends her summers and weekends continuing on a family tradition working in their Fairy Tale Museum. She has grown up around all these items and has become cynical towards them knowing that they are all just pretend. One day though she is proven wrong when she returns home from a friend’s house to find her mother fighting with Lenore, but they are not physically fighting they are throwing magic at each other, and Bianca is thrown head first into a world full of wonder. When Bianca’s mother is kidnapped she must make her way to EverAfter and will do anything she can to save her mother from the clutches of an evil witch and a feud that goes back for centuries.
True Love, Evil Witches, and Happily Ever After what more could you want from a fairy tale novel? Liz DeJesus incorporates everything we love about the fairy tale genre and then some with thoroughly lovable characters and such evil nemesis that you cannot help but hate them yourselves. Bianca is a character that you can relate to who has already been through a lot in her short life after her father disappears when she was seven, but she and her mother overcome and this adds a new depth to the story that is already emotional and beautiful. I started this novel late at night thinking I would just read a couple of chapters before I go to bed. I ended up staying up until four in the morning I couldn’t put this one down, this novel is amazing! Not only is this a great young adult novel it is also fun for anyone who loves a triumphant novel, I truly hope the author makes a return visit to EverAfter.
For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:
http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpre...
http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/
February 12, 2013
What if fairy tales weren't just stories? And what if your great-great-great grandmother was one of the most famous princesses in history?
That's where Bianca Frost finds herself in FIRST FROST. Helping her mother run a fairy-tale museum, Bianca never dreamed there was any "reality" in the stories she's heard. Until one day...
It almost sounds like a fairy tale itself, doesn't it? And really, it is. Ordinary girl goes on adventures to do extraordinary things. Along the way she has her trusty friend (Ming), a prince (Ferdinand), and falls in love with a handsome almost-prince (Terrance) - who, oh yeah, happens to have the Big Bad Wolf as his grandfather.
The concept here is delightful - who didn't grow up on tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Snow White? What little girl didn't imagine herself in the story? (Okay, maybe just me - but somehow I don't think so). With the YA market glutted with dystopian works (not taking anything away from THE HUNGER GAMES), FIRST FROST is a very pleasant read for young people (also for older people who like fairy tales, fantasy, or just a plain old enjoyable story).
I had a few minor quibbles that jarred me a little (for example, Bianca doesn't tell Terrance and Ferdinand exactly where she's from, but then at one point they seem to know that she's not from Everafter - maybe I missed it), but not enough to really ruin the reading experience. And the ending, well, I won't spoil it. Suffice to say that I'll be interested to see what happens next in Bianca's life. =)
If I could give half stars, this would get 3.5, but is definitely closer to the 4-star end of the scale than 3 (thus the 4-star rating). If your kid likes fairy tales, chances are they will enjoy FIRST FROST.
That's where Bianca Frost finds herself in FIRST FROST. Helping her mother run a fairy-tale museum, Bianca never dreamed there was any "reality" in the stories she's heard. Until one day...
It almost sounds like a fairy tale itself, doesn't it? And really, it is. Ordinary girl goes on adventures to do extraordinary things. Along the way she has her trusty friend (Ming), a prince (Ferdinand), and falls in love with a handsome almost-prince (Terrance) - who, oh yeah, happens to have the Big Bad Wolf as his grandfather.
The concept here is delightful - who didn't grow up on tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Snow White? What little girl didn't imagine herself in the story? (Okay, maybe just me - but somehow I don't think so). With the YA market glutted with dystopian works (not taking anything away from THE HUNGER GAMES), FIRST FROST is a very pleasant read for young people (also for older people who like fairy tales, fantasy, or just a plain old enjoyable story).
I had a few minor quibbles that jarred me a little (for example, Bianca doesn't tell Terrance and Ferdinand exactly where she's from, but then at one point they seem to know that she's not from Everafter - maybe I missed it), but not enough to really ruin the reading experience. And the ending, well, I won't spoil it. Suffice to say that I'll be interested to see what happens next in Bianca's life. =)
If I could give half stars, this would get 3.5, but is definitely closer to the 4-star end of the scale than 3 (thus the 4-star rating). If your kid likes fairy tales, chances are they will enjoy FIRST FROST.
September 12, 2012
As the victim of an unfortunate vacuum cleaner accident just the day before, I had to laugh at the opening of First Frost as 17-year-old Bianca struggles with her own beast of a vacuum. She works hard helping her mother Rose run the family fairy tale museum, responsible for cleaning it and running the gift shop -- a little like Cinderella except without the wicked stepmother.
I liked the fresh take on the fairy tale genre, setting it in a modern-day museum, and enjoyed the descriptions of the museum’s artifacts, all iconic pieces from different fairy tales.
If you’ve ever wondered what the “real” story is behind the famous tales, this book is for you. The author very cleverly weaves fairy tale history into this modern adventure. Bianca embarks on a quest with her best friend Ming to save Bianca’s mother Rose. Along the way, she meets a prince and his friend who becomes her love interest. The story moves forward with plenty of action as the group must figure out how to get to Rose and vanquish the evil villainess.
This book will definitely appeal to lovers of fantasy and those of us who grew up with princesses, princes, witches and castles; in other words, most of us.
I liked the fresh take on the fairy tale genre, setting it in a modern-day museum, and enjoyed the descriptions of the museum’s artifacts, all iconic pieces from different fairy tales.
If you’ve ever wondered what the “real” story is behind the famous tales, this book is for you. The author very cleverly weaves fairy tale history into this modern adventure. Bianca embarks on a quest with her best friend Ming to save Bianca’s mother Rose. Along the way, she meets a prince and his friend who becomes her love interest. The story moves forward with plenty of action as the group must figure out how to get to Rose and vanquish the evil villainess.
This book will definitely appeal to lovers of fantasy and those of us who grew up with princesses, princes, witches and castles; in other words, most of us.
October 18, 2012
*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of First Frost from author Liz DeJesus @ Musa Publishing in exchange for an honest review. We thank Liz and the publishing house for the book!
First Frost was like walking straight into Disneyland. I absolutely love the idea of a fairy tale coming into a contemporary setup.
For Bianca, accompanying her mom to and helping her run her family's traditional museum, Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts is just that- tradition. She grew up looking at all the wonderful pieces kept in the museum for display. From Cinderella's slipper to Snow White's poisoned apple to a single brick from the ones The Three Little Pigs used to build their home, the museum hosts all the magical items from our evergreen and legendary fairy tales written by the Grimm Brothers. For Bianca, these items of art and grandeur are just that - items. She never even thought that this family-run business will ultimately change her life and land her in a beautiful yet slightly dangerous time and world. She finds herself in her very own fairy tale.
Bianca was an awesome protagonist. She has a girl next door appeal and shares a wonderful relationship with her parents, a rarity in YA novels. Most of the book is explained from Bainca's POV and her thoughts are clear and practical. She likes helping her mother in running the museum, but that's not what she wants to do for the rest of her life. Little does she know that her destiny has already been fixed.
I loved the relationship between Bianca and her mother, Rose. It was so normal and wonderful to read. Rose reads fairy tales to kids at the museum and there's almost a magical tint to her voice, what with children and parents both being completely engrossed in her lecture; while Bianca cleans the museum and manages the gift shop counter.
In the beginning of the book, there was a scene where a little girl purchases a wand and asks Bianca if it will perform magic. A little confused, Bianca turns to her mother for a response when Rose says that magic is inside us all, we just have to have faith in it. It was an adorable moment. Bianca's father and her also share a wonderful relationship. The love between her father and mother is evident and a love story in itself.
Bianca also shares a great relationship with her best friend, Ming. Ming is a supportive friend and a strong shoulder. I loved how she was always there for Bianca and even accompanied her in her other-worldly adventure. The two friends did things any normal friends would do in spite of the twist in the tale. They are always there for each other, no matter what. Both them are so understanding and simple. Ming is in perfect balance to Bianca. She is emotional and fun to have around while the Bianca is practical and hard-working.
When the Frost family find themselves in another time and world altogether, Bianca comes across two handsome and amazing gentlemen, Prince Ferdinand and Terrance. The two of them are the knights in shining armour or princes on horses. I loved them both! They brought a light-hearted and warm feel to the story.
First Frost is truly a wonderful read. A different fairy tale, it manages to remain both practical and imaginative simultaneously. Author Liz DeJesus writes in a simple and systematic way which makes you want to read more and more. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of First Frost and I would highly recommend it. What better than reading a lovely and pretty fairy tale! I loved how the story explains that 'happily ever after' is actually a typo of 'happily IN Everafter'!
First Frost was like walking straight into Disneyland. I absolutely love the idea of a fairy tale coming into a contemporary setup.
For Bianca, accompanying her mom to and helping her run her family's traditional museum, Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts is just that- tradition. She grew up looking at all the wonderful pieces kept in the museum for display. From Cinderella's slipper to Snow White's poisoned apple to a single brick from the ones The Three Little Pigs used to build their home, the museum hosts all the magical items from our evergreen and legendary fairy tales written by the Grimm Brothers. For Bianca, these items of art and grandeur are just that - items. She never even thought that this family-run business will ultimately change her life and land her in a beautiful yet slightly dangerous time and world. She finds herself in her very own fairy tale.
Bianca was an awesome protagonist. She has a girl next door appeal and shares a wonderful relationship with her parents, a rarity in YA novels. Most of the book is explained from Bainca's POV and her thoughts are clear and practical. She likes helping her mother in running the museum, but that's not what she wants to do for the rest of her life. Little does she know that her destiny has already been fixed.
I loved the relationship between Bianca and her mother, Rose. It was so normal and wonderful to read. Rose reads fairy tales to kids at the museum and there's almost a magical tint to her voice, what with children and parents both being completely engrossed in her lecture; while Bianca cleans the museum and manages the gift shop counter.
In the beginning of the book, there was a scene where a little girl purchases a wand and asks Bianca if it will perform magic. A little confused, Bianca turns to her mother for a response when Rose says that magic is inside us all, we just have to have faith in it. It was an adorable moment. Bianca's father and her also share a wonderful relationship. The love between her father and mother is evident and a love story in itself.
Bianca also shares a great relationship with her best friend, Ming. Ming is a supportive friend and a strong shoulder. I loved how she was always there for Bianca and even accompanied her in her other-worldly adventure. The two friends did things any normal friends would do in spite of the twist in the tale. They are always there for each other, no matter what. Both them are so understanding and simple. Ming is in perfect balance to Bianca. She is emotional and fun to have around while the Bianca is practical and hard-working.
When the Frost family find themselves in another time and world altogether, Bianca comes across two handsome and amazing gentlemen, Prince Ferdinand and Terrance. The two of them are the knights in shining armour or princes on horses. I loved them both! They brought a light-hearted and warm feel to the story.
First Frost is truly a wonderful read. A different fairy tale, it manages to remain both practical and imaginative simultaneously. Author Liz DeJesus writes in a simple and systematic way which makes you want to read more and more. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of First Frost and I would highly recommend it. What better than reading a lovely and pretty fairy tale! I loved how the story explains that 'happily ever after' is actually a typo of 'happily IN Everafter'!
September 10, 2013
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Frost can’t wait to graduate high school and move on with her life. She works at the fairy tale museum run by parents and is the only employee since her parents refuse to hire outside help. She tries to make the best out of the situation and grudgingly assists her mother when needed. One night she returns home to find her mother battling a witch. She watches in awe as her mother conjures up fire and sends a ball of light towards Lenore. Afterwards her mother tells Bianca the family secret: they are descendants of Snow White. Bianca accepts her heritage and begins to train with her mother on how to use her own magic. Everything seems to be going well until Lenore comes back and kidnaps Bianca’s mother. Suddenly her world is turned upside down and she’s left with the task of finding and rescuing her mother.
Liz DeJesus’ First Frost is an engaging read filled with humor and adventure. Bianca’s journey searching for her mother leads her to Everafter where she finds out that it really does exist. Her mother explained that the Brothers Grimm stepped into a fairy ring and it transported them to Everafter, but explains the whole “they lived happily ever after” is a typo and it actually should read, “and they lived happily in Everafter.” That’s a unique twist on the fairy tale world. You’ll notice some similarities to other versions, but she does change details and offers her own spin. For example in First Frost, the Prince finds Snow White, but doesn’t awaken her and instead finds a wizard to do it. The original Grimm tale has the Prince carrying Snow White’s coffin and he trips dislodging the piece of poisoned apple and she awakens.
We have several key secondary characters that make an appearance. Bianca’s best friend, Ming, is along for the ride when she is told what happened to Bianca’s mother. She even makes the journey to Everafter. In Everafter we have Prince Ferdinand, because no fairy tale is complete without one. I loved him! He wasn’t very smart and in many ways reminded me of Lancelot from the early medieval tales and how he’s depicted as not very bright. At Ferdinand’s side is his faithful servant Terrance who happens to be related to the Big Bad Wolf. He’s the brains behind Ferdinand’s activities and I have a feeling the poor prince would be dead if it wasn’t for him. A romance develops between Terrance and Bianca and it will be interesting to see where DeJesus goes with this. Although a part of me really wants Terrance to be the prince masquerading as a servant!
I really liked that DeJesus combined magic and spells and weaved them into her story. Most fairy tales have some form of magic, but it’s limited and only tends to be used by the villains. Here DeJesus makes Snow White into a witch and Lenore is a great, great, great, descendant of the Evil Queen’s assistant. Bianca questions why Lenore and her family are causing problems and I had the same question! Talk about loyalty! Never fear that question gets addressed and even Snow White makes an appearance.
I debated with the rating between a three and four and decided on a three. The reason has to do with the language and at times both Ming and Bianca sounded younger than they’re supposed to be. Even the conversations between Bianca with her mother sound a bit unnatural. Furthermore, during the intense scenes where a life was a stake, I didn’t quite feel the direness of the situation. Everything Bianca experiences tends to be wrapped up nicely and I wanted more intense feelings. I’m not sure if it’s because Bianca is still processing the truth about her family and hence DeJesus doesn’t give us that intensity.
My favorite quote:
“A quest and a spell to break? A mighty adventure indeed! The minstrels will sing songs about me.”
Overall, Liz DeJesus’ First Frost is a charming read and I enjoyed it. If you’re a fan of fairy tales and retellings you might be interested in reading this.
This review & more are located at Literary, etc.
Liz DeJesus’ First Frost is an engaging read filled with humor and adventure. Bianca’s journey searching for her mother leads her to Everafter where she finds out that it really does exist. Her mother explained that the Brothers Grimm stepped into a fairy ring and it transported them to Everafter, but explains the whole “they lived happily ever after” is a typo and it actually should read, “and they lived happily in Everafter.” That’s a unique twist on the fairy tale world. You’ll notice some similarities to other versions, but she does change details and offers her own spin. For example in First Frost, the Prince finds Snow White, but doesn’t awaken her and instead finds a wizard to do it. The original Grimm tale has the Prince carrying Snow White’s coffin and he trips dislodging the piece of poisoned apple and she awakens.
We have several key secondary characters that make an appearance. Bianca’s best friend, Ming, is along for the ride when she is told what happened to Bianca’s mother. She even makes the journey to Everafter. In Everafter we have Prince Ferdinand, because no fairy tale is complete without one. I loved him! He wasn’t very smart and in many ways reminded me of Lancelot from the early medieval tales and how he’s depicted as not very bright. At Ferdinand’s side is his faithful servant Terrance who happens to be related to the Big Bad Wolf. He’s the brains behind Ferdinand’s activities and I have a feeling the poor prince would be dead if it wasn’t for him. A romance develops between Terrance and Bianca and it will be interesting to see where DeJesus goes with this. Although a part of me really wants Terrance to be the prince masquerading as a servant!
I really liked that DeJesus combined magic and spells and weaved them into her story. Most fairy tales have some form of magic, but it’s limited and only tends to be used by the villains. Here DeJesus makes Snow White into a witch and Lenore is a great, great, great, descendant of the Evil Queen’s assistant. Bianca questions why Lenore and her family are causing problems and I had the same question! Talk about loyalty! Never fear that question gets addressed and even Snow White makes an appearance.
I debated with the rating between a three and four and decided on a three. The reason has to do with the language and at times both Ming and Bianca sounded younger than they’re supposed to be. Even the conversations between Bianca with her mother sound a bit unnatural. Furthermore, during the intense scenes where a life was a stake, I didn’t quite feel the direness of the situation. Everything Bianca experiences tends to be wrapped up nicely and I wanted more intense feelings. I’m not sure if it’s because Bianca is still processing the truth about her family and hence DeJesus doesn’t give us that intensity.
My favorite quote:
“A quest and a spell to break? A mighty adventure indeed! The minstrels will sing songs about me.”
Overall, Liz DeJesus’ First Frost is a charming read and I enjoyed it. If you’re a fan of fairy tales and retellings you might be interested in reading this.
This review & more are located at Literary, etc.
September 22, 2014
*** Gladys #XOXOtheNerdGirl #NerdGirlOfficial ***
What can I say about this novel that hasn’t already be said or already been posted on Amazon.com. I have been talking to Liz DeJesus since accepting this review because she lives very close to the Baltimore area and I plan to go to her book signings. She is a wonderful person and has a zest for life that shows right through to her books.
Normally, I hunt for books that take the tales of old and retell it in a modern day fashion that would allow us the modern day reader to breathe life into old tales. There has been much in the way of that writing style, Like Beastly by Alex Flinn. Movies have also taken old tales and spun a revision of it ie: James the Giant Slayer and Hanzel and Gretel. Greek and Celtic Mythology have always played important parts in our cultures story telling. I love books and movies like these. So of course when I read her synopsis and her bio stating she lived in Delaware I was hooked.
BUT First Frost is different, magical, enchanting and very well written for this Indy author. It’s not without growing pains as I am sure she knows, but she will get there and she will grow. I myself am not a grammatically correct writer and I thank my lucky stars for spell check and for Melanie (Nerd Girl Vamp) for helping me out sometimes.
This book takes a life of its own and I for one am glad for it.
This was not a retelling but a re-molding if you will. It was an insertion of the artifacts from the classic tales, a means of connecting reality with the magical world of Brother’s Grimm and it’s all in one place in the family’s museum’s walls. Just imagine the Walter’s Art Gallery (Baltimore Museum) and fill it with everything precious from our bedtime fairy tales. WOULDN’T IT BE GRAND! It would for me!!
We have Bianca, the main character, who doesn’t want to follow in her family’s footsteps and run the “popsicle stand” and she wants to go her own way. TYPICAL, because who wanted to do exactly what their parents wanted them to do. If I did I would be some NERD NUERO SCIENTIST instead of XOXO THE NERD GIRL. But of course I am not a Journalist either like I wanted to be. Anyway this isn’t about me, it’s about Bianca. She thinks everything around her isn’t real, but in the back of her mind she wonders. When she does find out it doesn’t come overtly shocking to her and she rolls with the punches. I like that about her. You see her personally grow as a character. I could go on and on about the book, but then I would tell you about the story. I would have to write SPOILER at the top and I don’t want to do that.
I want you to experience the magic of the story like I did. I will tell you that Bianca is a descendant of witches, she goes on a special quest, there is a PRINCE (Terrance is his name and he is arrogant as all get out), a mini love interest between them, AND she will need her families collected artifacts for the quests.
4 NERD GIRL STARS for First Frost by Liz DeJesus. I applaud her writing style, her world building and her creativity. It was brought on in such a fashion that I will read it again and again… It will be shelved and saved on my To Be Read Again Shelf.
*This review was done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information please visit NerdGirlOfficial(dot)com Thank you
What can I say about this novel that hasn’t already be said or already been posted on Amazon.com. I have been talking to Liz DeJesus since accepting this review because she lives very close to the Baltimore area and I plan to go to her book signings. She is a wonderful person and has a zest for life that shows right through to her books.
Normally, I hunt for books that take the tales of old and retell it in a modern day fashion that would allow us the modern day reader to breathe life into old tales. There has been much in the way of that writing style, Like Beastly by Alex Flinn. Movies have also taken old tales and spun a revision of it ie: James the Giant Slayer and Hanzel and Gretel. Greek and Celtic Mythology have always played important parts in our cultures story telling. I love books and movies like these. So of course when I read her synopsis and her bio stating she lived in Delaware I was hooked.
BUT First Frost is different, magical, enchanting and very well written for this Indy author. It’s not without growing pains as I am sure she knows, but she will get there and she will grow. I myself am not a grammatically correct writer and I thank my lucky stars for spell check and for Melanie (Nerd Girl Vamp) for helping me out sometimes.
This book takes a life of its own and I for one am glad for it.
This was not a retelling but a re-molding if you will. It was an insertion of the artifacts from the classic tales, a means of connecting reality with the magical world of Brother’s Grimm and it’s all in one place in the family’s museum’s walls. Just imagine the Walter’s Art Gallery (Baltimore Museum) and fill it with everything precious from our bedtime fairy tales. WOULDN’T IT BE GRAND! It would for me!!
We have Bianca, the main character, who doesn’t want to follow in her family’s footsteps and run the “popsicle stand” and she wants to go her own way. TYPICAL, because who wanted to do exactly what their parents wanted them to do. If I did I would be some NERD NUERO SCIENTIST instead of XOXO THE NERD GIRL. But of course I am not a Journalist either like I wanted to be. Anyway this isn’t about me, it’s about Bianca. She thinks everything around her isn’t real, but in the back of her mind she wonders. When she does find out it doesn’t come overtly shocking to her and she rolls with the punches. I like that about her. You see her personally grow as a character. I could go on and on about the book, but then I would tell you about the story. I would have to write SPOILER at the top and I don’t want to do that.
I want you to experience the magic of the story like I did. I will tell you that Bianca is a descendant of witches, she goes on a special quest, there is a PRINCE (Terrance is his name and he is arrogant as all get out), a mini love interest between them, AND she will need her families collected artifacts for the quests.
4 NERD GIRL STARS for First Frost by Liz DeJesus. I applaud her writing style, her world building and her creativity. It was brought on in such a fashion that I will read it again and again… It will be shelved and saved on my To Be Read Again Shelf.
*This review was done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information please visit NerdGirlOfficial(dot)com Thank you
Read
April 11, 2013If you love fairy tales as much as I do, when you finish reading FIRST FROST, you're going to be a little bit devastated. This is the same sense of ugly-weeping that comes from realizing you will never have a library as beautiful as the one Beast gives Beauty. It's tangible sadness. Why? The book's main character, Bianca, works in her mother's Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts...which is a fancy way of saying fairy tale museum. How amazing would it be to have a fairy tale museum in town? And themed rooms such as the Princess Room, where weekly storytimes for children take place? Going to the Narnia exhibit a few years ago was incredible, even though it wasn't "real," and I know I'd have the same feeling in a fairy tale museum. It would be even cooler if, like in FIRST FROST, the artifacts in the museum were real. From a red cape to a brick from a Little Pig's house to a sample of Rapunzel's hair, there are many dangerous items hiding in plain sight.
No one believes the items are real, of course, especially not Bianca. It would be neat if they were, but she lives in the real world and knows better. Only...Bianca doesn't know as much as she thinks she does. Her mother has been hiding a deep, dangerous secret from her. They're direct descendants of the first Frost, Snow White herself, and knee-deep in an ancient curse that has already stolen away Bianca's father. When her mother is captured by an evil villain bent on destroying the family once and for all, Bianca must throw aside everything she's ever known, discover magic, and journey through a land she never believed could actually exist.
While FIRST FROST starts off a little slowly, I didn't mind because as I stated in my opening paragraph, I was in complete awe of the fabulous museum. Once Bianca discovers the truth behind the museum and has her eyes opened, the story really gets rolling. Bianca isn't in the journey alone, either. She travels between worlds with her best friend Ming, and the girls come across a travelling Prince Ferdinand and his companion Terrance. Proper males brought up never to leave a damsel in distress, they quickly accompany the girls on their journey. Each character is uniquely developed, too. They may not be deep characters, but they're a lot of fun to be around. There's the pompous prince who isn't necessarily the dashing hero girls dream of. Terrance has a mysterious, intriguing background that comes into play later on. Ming is a true friend despite her fears. And Bianca is a great example of a true hero: One who is brave in the face of danger despite the fact that she's terrified. She loves her mother fiercely and will do anything to save her. She grows so fast and becomes very powerful by the novel's end. It was a pleasure to watch her blossom. I enjoyed all of the nods to various fairy tales along the way and really appreciated the way Liz DeJesus turned ordinary fairy tale items into important objects that played a role in Bianca's journey. I ultimately had a lot of fun reading this and would pick up another book by DeJesus in the future.
No one believes the items are real, of course, especially not Bianca. It would be neat if they were, but she lives in the real world and knows better. Only...Bianca doesn't know as much as she thinks she does. Her mother has been hiding a deep, dangerous secret from her. They're direct descendants of the first Frost, Snow White herself, and knee-deep in an ancient curse that has already stolen away Bianca's father. When her mother is captured by an evil villain bent on destroying the family once and for all, Bianca must throw aside everything she's ever known, discover magic, and journey through a land she never believed could actually exist.
While FIRST FROST starts off a little slowly, I didn't mind because as I stated in my opening paragraph, I was in complete awe of the fabulous museum. Once Bianca discovers the truth behind the museum and has her eyes opened, the story really gets rolling. Bianca isn't in the journey alone, either. She travels between worlds with her best friend Ming, and the girls come across a travelling Prince Ferdinand and his companion Terrance. Proper males brought up never to leave a damsel in distress, they quickly accompany the girls on their journey. Each character is uniquely developed, too. They may not be deep characters, but they're a lot of fun to be around. There's the pompous prince who isn't necessarily the dashing hero girls dream of. Terrance has a mysterious, intriguing background that comes into play later on. Ming is a true friend despite her fears. And Bianca is a great example of a true hero: One who is brave in the face of danger despite the fact that she's terrified. She loves her mother fiercely and will do anything to save her. She grows so fast and becomes very powerful by the novel's end. It was a pleasure to watch her blossom. I enjoyed all of the nods to various fairy tales along the way and really appreciated the way Liz DeJesus turned ordinary fairy tale items into important objects that played a role in Bianca's journey. I ultimately had a lot of fun reading this and would pick up another book by DeJesus in the future.
March 21, 2013
Originally posted at City of Books
Magic isn’t about control or power. Magic is all about believing in the impossible.
First Frost is a captivating novel about a fairy-tale world, in which a seventeen-year-old girl called Bianca finds out she's a witch descended from Snow White, and has magical powers. I loved the premise of this book! I've read a few fairy-tale retellings before, but this one isn't a retelling - it's a story involving almost every single fairy tale or famous kid's book you've read. Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and many more! Liz DeJesus has created a beautiful world of magic, and the adventurous elements of this book really drew me in.
Bianca lives with her mom, Rose, and the two of them run the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, the only one of its kind in the United States. It has every single magical and fairy-tale item you can imagine, but Bianca doesn't really believe in their credibility. At least, until she witnesses magic with her own eyes. When Rose is kidnapped, Bianca immediately rushes to her rescue, along with her best friend, Ming. Their search takes them to Everafter, the magical world. First Frost follows Bianca as she strives to bring her mother back and, at the same time, discover who she really is and what she's capable of.
I liked Bianca's character well enough - she's brave, and I liked how dedicated she is to getting her mother back and defeating the witch who took her. Bianca is a fast learner, and she soon discovers the extent of her powers. Bianca's sense of adventure is great, and she's also incredibly smart.
However, I didn't take to her friend Ming very much. I mean yeah, she's a good friend to Bianca, but later on it's evident that she can't handle anything that's going on around her. Her character and personality seemed quite weak to me, at least compared to Bianca. But I did enjoy her snark and her sense of humour. It brought some comedy elements to the book!
Immediately after entering Everafter, Bianca and Ming meet Prince Ferdinand, the prince of Everafter, and his servant Terrance. Prince Ferdinand was hilarious, I loved his inherent stupidity! And it's ironic that he depends so much on Terrance for making decisions. Ferdinand really doesn't seem anything like a prince. Terrance, on the other hand, is really quite wise. He's also very understanding and caring, and just overall a great guy. The romance between Terrance and Bianca is sweet, but it seemed like it came out of nowhere. I also wish there had been more character development, but maybe there will be more of that in the sequel, Glass Frost.
I'm really looking forward to Glass Frost, after reading the ending of First Frost! In this book, Bianca discovers a lot about her past, as well as the world she truly belongs to. She also meets some surprising people along the way. First Frost is an enjoyable read, and the fantasy woven throughout it was quite enchanting!
*Thank you to Liz DeJesus for providing me with a copy for review*
Magic isn’t about control or power. Magic is all about believing in the impossible.
First Frost is a captivating novel about a fairy-tale world, in which a seventeen-year-old girl called Bianca finds out she's a witch descended from Snow White, and has magical powers. I loved the premise of this book! I've read a few fairy-tale retellings before, but this one isn't a retelling - it's a story involving almost every single fairy tale or famous kid's book you've read. Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and many more! Liz DeJesus has created a beautiful world of magic, and the adventurous elements of this book really drew me in.
Bianca lives with her mom, Rose, and the two of them run the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, the only one of its kind in the United States. It has every single magical and fairy-tale item you can imagine, but Bianca doesn't really believe in their credibility. At least, until she witnesses magic with her own eyes. When Rose is kidnapped, Bianca immediately rushes to her rescue, along with her best friend, Ming. Their search takes them to Everafter, the magical world. First Frost follows Bianca as she strives to bring her mother back and, at the same time, discover who she really is and what she's capable of.
I liked Bianca's character well enough - she's brave, and I liked how dedicated she is to getting her mother back and defeating the witch who took her. Bianca is a fast learner, and she soon discovers the extent of her powers. Bianca's sense of adventure is great, and she's also incredibly smart.
However, I didn't take to her friend Ming very much. I mean yeah, she's a good friend to Bianca, but later on it's evident that she can't handle anything that's going on around her. Her character and personality seemed quite weak to me, at least compared to Bianca. But I did enjoy her snark and her sense of humour. It brought some comedy elements to the book!
Immediately after entering Everafter, Bianca and Ming meet Prince Ferdinand, the prince of Everafter, and his servant Terrance. Prince Ferdinand was hilarious, I loved his inherent stupidity! And it's ironic that he depends so much on Terrance for making decisions. Ferdinand really doesn't seem anything like a prince. Terrance, on the other hand, is really quite wise. He's also very understanding and caring, and just overall a great guy. The romance between Terrance and Bianca is sweet, but it seemed like it came out of nowhere. I also wish there had been more character development, but maybe there will be more of that in the sequel, Glass Frost.
I'm really looking forward to Glass Frost, after reading the ending of First Frost! In this book, Bianca discovers a lot about her past, as well as the world she truly belongs to. She also meets some surprising people along the way. First Frost is an enjoyable read, and the fantasy woven throughout it was quite enchanting!
*Thank you to Liz DeJesus for providing me with a copy for review*
November 28, 2012
Fairy tales have been very popular this year. There were movies: Snow White and the Huntsman, Mirror Mirror; series Grimm, Once Upon a Time; and I don't even know how many books, that retold or did a spin-off of famous fables and tales. As a fairy tale lover I can only say one thing: YAY! (Very eloquent as always.)
First Frost is not a simple retelling. No, it's much much more. Liz DeJesus took the famous fairy tales elements and trademarks and used them to tell us a universal tale about girl who is trying to discover herself, help her parents and find true love. But isn't that what all the fairy tales are all about?
Rose Frost runs The Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts. But not just any artifacts, all the items displayed in this museum are from fairy tales and fables. What will you find here? Feather mattresses from The Princess and the Pea? Seven foot lock of Rapunzel's hair? A handful of beans from Jack and the Beanstalk? Yes and much more! I always thought that being a librarian would be my dream job, but working in a The Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts is a close second. Although, I would be probably fired quickly because I played with displayed items. :o)
Unfortunately, 17 year-old Bianca Frost does not see this job in the same light as I do. Since her father went missing 10 years ago she spent every free moment of her life working at the museum and helping her mother Rose. She compares herself to an agnostic working in a church.
"She choose not to believe in this other world and everything it stood for. Magic represented a life out of the norm and Bianca desperately wanted to be normal. Just like everyone else."
Everything Bianca thinks is real will fall apart when unknown women attacks her mother one night - with fire balls. And her mother start firing back! But that's only the the start of Rose's adventures, they will take her to another land where she will find out not only that the magic is real. The fairy tales are real also.
Liz DeJesus has a very fluid writing style. First Frost was light and easy to read. Although, ever-present problem of some over-used cliches in ya novels can be noticed here, Liz DeJesus managed to add some unique and original twists that surprised me.
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the author in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on Amazon and my blog.
First Frost is not a simple retelling. No, it's much much more. Liz DeJesus took the famous fairy tales elements and trademarks and used them to tell us a universal tale about girl who is trying to discover herself, help her parents and find true love. But isn't that what all the fairy tales are all about?
Rose Frost runs The Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts. But not just any artifacts, all the items displayed in this museum are from fairy tales and fables. What will you find here? Feather mattresses from The Princess and the Pea? Seven foot lock of Rapunzel's hair? A handful of beans from Jack and the Beanstalk? Yes and much more! I always thought that being a librarian would be my dream job, but working in a The Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts is a close second. Although, I would be probably fired quickly because I played with displayed items. :o)
Unfortunately, 17 year-old Bianca Frost does not see this job in the same light as I do. Since her father went missing 10 years ago she spent every free moment of her life working at the museum and helping her mother Rose. She compares herself to an agnostic working in a church.
"She choose not to believe in this other world and everything it stood for. Magic represented a life out of the norm and Bianca desperately wanted to be normal. Just like everyone else."
Everything Bianca thinks is real will fall apart when unknown women attacks her mother one night - with fire balls. And her mother start firing back! But that's only the the start of Rose's adventures, they will take her to another land where she will find out not only that the magic is real. The fairy tales are real also.
Liz DeJesus has a very fluid writing style. First Frost was light and easy to read. Although, ever-present problem of some over-used cliches in ya novels can be noticed here, Liz DeJesus managed to add some unique and original twists that surprised me.
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the author in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on Amazon and my blog.
February 20, 2013
I think it's fairy tale week at Book Briefs, because here is another fairy tale book. But this isn't a retelling, it is more of an alternate universe to fairy tale land, kind of book. I loved how the worlds were set up. Fairy tales are real and Bianca's family has possibily the coolest museum in the whole world. They have a fairy tale artifacts museum. I would love to go there!
So one day Bianca finds out that the stuff at the museum is real and that her family are actually witches that come from a direct line of Snow White. First Frost is a fast paced action adventure with a big time magical twist. I loved seeing all of the various items from the fairy tales and seeing how Bianca used them on her quest. What was her quest? She had to get her mother back from the evil witch. First Frost kind of reminded me of the tv mini series, The Tenth Kingdom or the ABC show Once Upon a Time. I just love the idea of all the fairy tales together and having a modern take on how all of it really went down.
Bianca took the news that her family is magical all in stride. At first I thought it was a little unrealistic how easily she was taking in all of the information, but then I stopped to think about it for a minute. She saw actual magic. I guess once you see magic in action, the cat is out of the bag. Plus her friend, jumped on board as soon as she found out as well, BUT she was justifiably nervous in the new land. I thought that she initial reaction was a little unrealistic, but as soon as Ming had time to think things over she reacted how I would have in her shoes. It made me like her a little more.
Bianca crosses over to Everafter with a spell. There she meets a prince and Terrance. I liked both of them. I really liked how the prince was kind of cocky and thought he was the best thing since sliced bread, because lets be honest- a prince probably would be spoiled and a little arrogant. I thought that was a nice touch, rather than having the super charming prince that everyone loves.
First Frost mixes a bunch of different classic fairy tales together. I thought it was well written, and I loved seeing all of the characters work together and interact. My favorite part was seeing how Bianca would use the artifacts from the museum on her quest. There is even a small, but adorable, romance brewing in the story. Fans of fairy tales should check out First Frost. There is a bit of a cliffhanger to segway into book 2, but I thought overall book 1 was a complete story on its own. I wasn't left completely hanging. This is a great fairy tale adventure.
So one day Bianca finds out that the stuff at the museum is real and that her family are actually witches that come from a direct line of Snow White. First Frost is a fast paced action adventure with a big time magical twist. I loved seeing all of the various items from the fairy tales and seeing how Bianca used them on her quest. What was her quest? She had to get her mother back from the evil witch. First Frost kind of reminded me of the tv mini series, The Tenth Kingdom or the ABC show Once Upon a Time. I just love the idea of all the fairy tales together and having a modern take on how all of it really went down.
Bianca took the news that her family is magical all in stride. At first I thought it was a little unrealistic how easily she was taking in all of the information, but then I stopped to think about it for a minute. She saw actual magic. I guess once you see magic in action, the cat is out of the bag. Plus her friend, jumped on board as soon as she found out as well, BUT she was justifiably nervous in the new land. I thought that she initial reaction was a little unrealistic, but as soon as Ming had time to think things over she reacted how I would have in her shoes. It made me like her a little more.
Bianca crosses over to Everafter with a spell. There she meets a prince and Terrance. I liked both of them. I really liked how the prince was kind of cocky and thought he was the best thing since sliced bread, because lets be honest- a prince probably would be spoiled and a little arrogant. I thought that was a nice touch, rather than having the super charming prince that everyone loves.
First Frost mixes a bunch of different classic fairy tales together. I thought it was well written, and I loved seeing all of the characters work together and interact. My favorite part was seeing how Bianca would use the artifacts from the museum on her quest. There is even a small, but adorable, romance brewing in the story. Fans of fairy tales should check out First Frost. There is a bit of a cliffhanger to segway into book 2, but I thought overall book 1 was a complete story on its own. I wasn't left completely hanging. This is a great fairy tale adventure.
November 7, 2014
I'd give it a 3.5. It was a fun and fast read. I really enjoy fairy-tale retellings and this one was an exciting read.
What I liked: It had a great premise. Bianca and her mother rose own a fairy-tale museum. Rose reads stories to cute little kids and sells them wands and Cinderella outfits. The creepy apple from Snow White and the mirror are all in there. Plus, DeJesus throws in some great world-building elements like the history of how the museum was started back in the Great Depression by her grandfather. She has a fun relationship with her mom. She also has a really great friend. You can kind of feel their history and loyalty.
I also enjoyed the way she weaves the fairy-tale world in Everafter with our modern world. She explains who the Grimm Brothers were and why they told the fairy tales the way they did. It adds some credence to the world she's built. And I liked Bianca's inner dialogue. DeJesus had fun writing her female characters. Her male characters were a bit dimmer but they weren't major characters so I didn't mind as much.
What I didn't like as much: The story didn't flow in some parts. Some plot devices were thrown aside to make things easier. She learns magic super fast. An old woman who's magic finds them, stops time and teaches her a bunch of stuff. Another character tells her to believe and not doubt and she can do anything and the next encounter she can do all this stuff just because of that. At the beginning when her and her friend get to Everafter, they just happen to immediately find a somewhat dim prince and his awesome servant who are super helpful and become their respective love interests.
Also, many times Bianca wants answers and to understand things; she has questions but the characters just say 'don't worry about it,' 'just believe.' Nah, it's good to question and want to understand and have doubts.
The true love theme was a bit cheesy, too. Bianca's romance was a bit strained but not too heavy-handed so I didn't mind so much. The ending wasn't my favorite. I was hoping for more real life and less movie magic fantasy but oh well.
Overall, it's a really cute book. I liked the fantasy, the characters, fairy-tales and how it all came together. But due to it's 'rough-around-the-edges' nature, I had to lower my rating. I do look forward to continuing the series, though.
What I liked: It had a great premise. Bianca and her mother rose own a fairy-tale museum. Rose reads stories to cute little kids and sells them wands and Cinderella outfits. The creepy apple from Snow White and the mirror are all in there. Plus, DeJesus throws in some great world-building elements like the history of how the museum was started back in the Great Depression by her grandfather. She has a fun relationship with her mom. She also has a really great friend. You can kind of feel their history and loyalty.
I also enjoyed the way she weaves the fairy-tale world in Everafter with our modern world. She explains who the Grimm Brothers were and why they told the fairy tales the way they did. It adds some credence to the world she's built. And I liked Bianca's inner dialogue. DeJesus had fun writing her female characters. Her male characters were a bit dimmer but they weren't major characters so I didn't mind as much.
What I didn't like as much: The story didn't flow in some parts. Some plot devices were thrown aside to make things easier. She learns magic super fast. An old woman who's magic finds them, stops time and teaches her a bunch of stuff. Another character tells her to believe and not doubt and she can do anything and the next encounter she can do all this stuff just because of that. At the beginning when her and her friend get to Everafter, they just happen to immediately find a somewhat dim prince and his awesome servant who are super helpful and become their respective love interests.
Also, many times Bianca wants answers and to understand things; she has questions but the characters just say 'don't worry about it,' 'just believe.' Nah, it's good to question and want to understand and have doubts.
The true love theme was a bit cheesy, too. Bianca's romance was a bit strained but not too heavy-handed so I didn't mind so much. The ending wasn't my favorite. I was hoping for more real life and less movie magic fantasy but oh well.
Overall, it's a really cute book. I liked the fantasy, the characters, fairy-tales and how it all came together. But due to it's 'rough-around-the-edges' nature, I had to lower my rating. I do look forward to continuing the series, though.
January 30, 2016
Beautiful Cover, Great Title, Enchanting Synopsis… I couldn’t wait to read this book. I love fairytales and fairytale retellings. This book was really good; it was a bit of its own fairytale mixed in with a few retellings. This book had a little bit of the well-known fairytales with a bit of a twist.
The story is about 17 year old Bianca and her mother Rose. They run a fairytale museum in town which holds some great artifacts from many popular fairytales and Rose has an awesome story time for children every day. (I would so go to this museum) Bianca loves the museum and loves the stories her mother tells so well, but she doesn’t feel the magic anymore. Her dad has been missing for 10 years and her mother has a family only rule on the museum employees. The museum takes up all of her time.
One she comes home to see her mother in a fireball throwing battle and learns that the fairytales she has known all her life may not be just magic and that the magic she thought was fading lives with in her family line. Bianca now has to journey through a new line to save her family.
The characters were fun in this book. Bianca was a bit to get used to at first, she seemed a little whiney, but she found her strength quickly. She grew on my pretty fast and I was finding myself quite attached at the end. I was quite annoyed by her best friend Ming. She found herself in the mess of things at her own fault. She had no problem believing the story that Bianca told her but seem to whine the entire time she was involved. Luckily she didn’t she wasn’t the center of the story. I loved the prince! I liked the fact he wasn’t the normal prince, smart, handsome, and brave. He had the brave part down but he was a bit of a goof and gave me some really good laughs. There were a handful of other great characters. Some they meet along the way, a love interest, and a few family members. The characters were pretty easy to befriend and I will miss them a bit.
The story was a very fast paced, adventurous, entertaining read. Action, love, riddles, and spells filled the pages and it filled my evening with a great story. I would love to see more from these characters, but I believe this is just a standalone book.
The story is about 17 year old Bianca and her mother Rose. They run a fairytale museum in town which holds some great artifacts from many popular fairytales and Rose has an awesome story time for children every day. (I would so go to this museum) Bianca loves the museum and loves the stories her mother tells so well, but she doesn’t feel the magic anymore. Her dad has been missing for 10 years and her mother has a family only rule on the museum employees. The museum takes up all of her time.
One she comes home to see her mother in a fireball throwing battle and learns that the fairytales she has known all her life may not be just magic and that the magic she thought was fading lives with in her family line. Bianca now has to journey through a new line to save her family.
The characters were fun in this book. Bianca was a bit to get used to at first, she seemed a little whiney, but she found her strength quickly. She grew on my pretty fast and I was finding myself quite attached at the end. I was quite annoyed by her best friend Ming. She found herself in the mess of things at her own fault. She had no problem believing the story that Bianca told her but seem to whine the entire time she was involved. Luckily she didn’t she wasn’t the center of the story. I loved the prince! I liked the fact he wasn’t the normal prince, smart, handsome, and brave. He had the brave part down but he was a bit of a goof and gave me some really good laughs. There were a handful of other great characters. Some they meet along the way, a love interest, and a few family members. The characters were pretty easy to befriend and I will miss them a bit.
The story was a very fast paced, adventurous, entertaining read. Action, love, riddles, and spells filled the pages and it filled my evening with a great story. I would love to see more from these characters, but I believe this is just a standalone book.
October 4, 2012
Disclaimer: I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
As reviewed on my site http://www.authorstowatch.triciadramm... Bianca Frost seems like a typical teenager, but it soon becomes apparent there is more to her than meets the eye. I don't want to summarize the plot because I don't want to give anything away, so I'll try to break this book down into specific elements.
The Characters: I'd give the characters a solid 5 out of 5 stars. The author peppers the entire novel with believable (well, as believable as you can get considering we're reading fantasy) and likable characters. The good-guys are good, the bad-guys are really, really horrid. But, DeJesus keeps it real by giving her characters flaws and adding depth to them. Ferdinand is brave, gallant, and loyal, but also self-absorbed. Magnus is threatening and frightening, but not afraid to give credit where credit is due. Bianca cares about family, friendship, and doing the right thing. Bianca is a character teens can look up to and relate to. And, then there's the hottie, Terrance, for readers who like a little romance.
The Plot: I'd give the plot a 4. The story moves quickly. There's always something going on, and the author keeps the reader engaged. I didn't find any major plot holes, though there were a couple of areas where things were a bit too convenient.
Overall: This is a book I would recommend to preteens and teens between the ages of 12-17, though I certainly enjoyed it, so I think the appeal is far reaching. If you're a teen who is looking for paranormal romance, this is not for you. There's no sex, no strong language, no gothic darkness. The setting has all the beauty and magic of a fairy tale, so if you're looking for a fantasy novel to fall in love with and escape with, First Frost is perfect.
My only concern is this: Is there a sequel? I'm having a hard time letting these characters go.
As reviewed on my site http://www.authorstowatch.triciadramm... Bianca Frost seems like a typical teenager, but it soon becomes apparent there is more to her than meets the eye. I don't want to summarize the plot because I don't want to give anything away, so I'll try to break this book down into specific elements.
The Characters: I'd give the characters a solid 5 out of 5 stars. The author peppers the entire novel with believable (well, as believable as you can get considering we're reading fantasy) and likable characters. The good-guys are good, the bad-guys are really, really horrid. But, DeJesus keeps it real by giving her characters flaws and adding depth to them. Ferdinand is brave, gallant, and loyal, but also self-absorbed. Magnus is threatening and frightening, but not afraid to give credit where credit is due. Bianca cares about family, friendship, and doing the right thing. Bianca is a character teens can look up to and relate to. And, then there's the hottie, Terrance, for readers who like a little romance.
The Plot: I'd give the plot a 4. The story moves quickly. There's always something going on, and the author keeps the reader engaged. I didn't find any major plot holes, though there were a couple of areas where things were a bit too convenient.
Overall: This is a book I would recommend to preteens and teens between the ages of 12-17, though I certainly enjoyed it, so I think the appeal is far reaching. If you're a teen who is looking for paranormal romance, this is not for you. There's no sex, no strong language, no gothic darkness. The setting has all the beauty and magic of a fairy tale, so if you're looking for a fantasy novel to fall in love with and escape with, First Frost is perfect.
My only concern is this: Is there a sequel? I'm having a hard time letting these characters go.
December 15, 2015
Two transparency notes: First, this was a copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. And second, this isn't normally the type of fantasy I read (by which I mean fairy tale fantasy), but I've been reviewing for a while and would like to think I'm being objective when I say that for this type of fantasy, it's good.
The basic plot is a twist on the discovery fantasy formula: Bianca Frost discovers that not only are the fairy tale items in her family's museum real, but she possesses inherited magical abilities herself, and the Frosts have a connection to the real fairy tale characters. Bianca begins training, and learns that her father is likely not dead but a prisoner of a wicked witch named Lenore, and to keep safe an old and dangerous book of spells. But when Lenore appears and captures Bianca's mother, Rose, Bianca decides to go after her, and look for her father, with the help of her friend Ming - and the book Bianca's mother wanted kept from Lenore at all costs.
So it is a familiar formula; some readers will enjoy that, and while it isn't my usual thing either, I stuck with the book for the characters. Bianca and Ming, along with the steward Terrance who intrigues Bianca, have a mix of modern sensibilities, tongue in cheek, typical adolescent worries even in the middle of the quest(s), along with doses of courage. I couldn't get as much into Rose or Lenore, who felt like they had less depth, particularly with each other considering their obviously long history together, and I always enjoy a good villain. I was hoping for more of the unexpected (but see above comment about readers who enjoy particular formulas) but had fun with the fairy tale elements filling the novel all the way through (Rapunzel's hair in particular).
I'm not sure how well fantasy readers in general will like First Frost. But for those who like their fairy tales translated into today's world, and their fantasy intimate instead of epic, give it a go.
The basic plot is a twist on the discovery fantasy formula: Bianca Frost discovers that not only are the fairy tale items in her family's museum real, but she possesses inherited magical abilities herself, and the Frosts have a connection to the real fairy tale characters. Bianca begins training, and learns that her father is likely not dead but a prisoner of a wicked witch named Lenore, and to keep safe an old and dangerous book of spells. But when Lenore appears and captures Bianca's mother, Rose, Bianca decides to go after her, and look for her father, with the help of her friend Ming - and the book Bianca's mother wanted kept from Lenore at all costs.
So it is a familiar formula; some readers will enjoy that, and while it isn't my usual thing either, I stuck with the book for the characters. Bianca and Ming, along with the steward Terrance who intrigues Bianca, have a mix of modern sensibilities, tongue in cheek, typical adolescent worries even in the middle of the quest(s), along with doses of courage. I couldn't get as much into Rose or Lenore, who felt like they had less depth, particularly with each other considering their obviously long history together, and I always enjoy a good villain. I was hoping for more of the unexpected (but see above comment about readers who enjoy particular formulas) but had fun with the fairy tale elements filling the novel all the way through (Rapunzel's hair in particular).
I'm not sure how well fantasy readers in general will like First Frost. But for those who like their fairy tales translated into today's world, and their fantasy intimate instead of epic, give it a go.
November 20, 2012
I have to admit, this book was not one of my normal reads. Although a young adult fantasy based on fairy tales, there was not a whole lot of romance. However, having said that, it was still very entertaining and I found it to be quite an enjoyable read. Liz has a nice writing style and is very good at describing both characters and places.
So, to the story - as mentioned in the blurb, it is the tale of a young girl, Bianca, who lives with her mother Rose and helps in maintaining the family fairy tale museum. Living in the modern world, Bianca does not believe that any of the artefacts are real. She simply sees them as clever props. It is only when her mother’s life is threatened by an ‘evil witch’ when her views begin to change.
Rose, realizing that she must tell her daughter the truth, reveals that everything in the museum is in fact real and that they are direct descendants of Snow White. While Bianca is in the process of trying to come to terms with this new found knowledge, her mother is captured by Lenore, the evil witch, and taken to Everafter.
With no family to turn to for help, Bianca confides in her best friend Ming. Together, the two of them embark on a journey which takes them into the land of fairy tales where they must overcome various obstacles in order to rescue Rose. Along the way, they meet Prince Ferdinand (Prince Charming) and his man-servant Terrance, who assist them in their quest.
I liked the way Liz developed Bianca’s talents as a witch and the way she introduced other fairy tale characters and concepts such as The Big Bad Wolf / The Brick House of the Three Little Pigs and Rapunzel’s Hair, to name but a few.
If you don’t mind the lack of too many swoon worthy moments, and you love magic and fairy-tales, then I think you will enjoy this book and find it quite entertaining.
So, to the story - as mentioned in the blurb, it is the tale of a young girl, Bianca, who lives with her mother Rose and helps in maintaining the family fairy tale museum. Living in the modern world, Bianca does not believe that any of the artefacts are real. She simply sees them as clever props. It is only when her mother’s life is threatened by an ‘evil witch’ when her views begin to change.
Rose, realizing that she must tell her daughter the truth, reveals that everything in the museum is in fact real and that they are direct descendants of Snow White. While Bianca is in the process of trying to come to terms with this new found knowledge, her mother is captured by Lenore, the evil witch, and taken to Everafter.
With no family to turn to for help, Bianca confides in her best friend Ming. Together, the two of them embark on a journey which takes them into the land of fairy tales where they must overcome various obstacles in order to rescue Rose. Along the way, they meet Prince Ferdinand (Prince Charming) and his man-servant Terrance, who assist them in their quest.
I liked the way Liz developed Bianca’s talents as a witch and the way she introduced other fairy tale characters and concepts such as The Big Bad Wolf / The Brick House of the Three Little Pigs and Rapunzel’s Hair, to name but a few.
If you don’t mind the lack of too many swoon worthy moments, and you love magic and fairy-tales, then I think you will enjoy this book and find it quite entertaining.
March 19, 2014
Ratings 3.5 stars
First Frost was a very interesting read for me. Sometimes I get skeptical when I go into reading retellings, but First Frost was really enjoyable. I liked how the author mixed so many fairy tales into one story and made them relate to the character back to the character and her family's history. I also loved the idea behind the museum that Bianca's family owns. In this museum there are items that relate to just about every fairy tale that you can think of; a lock of Rapunzel's hair, a brick from the third little pigs house, the apple Snow White bit, one of Cinderella's glass slippers, Red Riding Hood's cape, etc! I loved how there was also a 'wicked wing' in the museum. The characters in this book were pretty interesting as well. It took me a little while to warm up to Bianca, but I came to like her character in the end. She was a very strong and determined. And what I liked the most is that the side characters were amazing. I loved Ming, Prince Ferdinand and Terrance.
A couple of things I will say about the book is that it started off a bit slow too me. Not in a boring sort of way, but there was a little of detailed explaining and I felt like somethings tended to drag out a bit. It took a while for the 'action' part of the story to actually happen and I am a action kind of girl so that was a bit of a let down for me. Another thing that put me off was that the big reveal on the family history was accepted way too easily. There wasn't really much shock or argument or denial about it. But overall, I thought the story was pretty good. I loved the adventure that Bianca and friends went on to save her mother from the evil witch. First Frost was a fun, a light, and a fast paced read! I'd definitely like to thank the author for providing me with a review copy of this book. All thoughts are my honest opinion.
First Frost was a very interesting read for me. Sometimes I get skeptical when I go into reading retellings, but First Frost was really enjoyable. I liked how the author mixed so many fairy tales into one story and made them relate to the character back to the character and her family's history. I also loved the idea behind the museum that Bianca's family owns. In this museum there are items that relate to just about every fairy tale that you can think of; a lock of Rapunzel's hair, a brick from the third little pigs house, the apple Snow White bit, one of Cinderella's glass slippers, Red Riding Hood's cape, etc! I loved how there was also a 'wicked wing' in the museum. The characters in this book were pretty interesting as well. It took me a little while to warm up to Bianca, but I came to like her character in the end. She was a very strong and determined. And what I liked the most is that the side characters were amazing. I loved Ming, Prince Ferdinand and Terrance.
A couple of things I will say about the book is that it started off a bit slow too me. Not in a boring sort of way, but there was a little of detailed explaining and I felt like somethings tended to drag out a bit. It took a while for the 'action' part of the story to actually happen and I am a action kind of girl so that was a bit of a let down for me. Another thing that put me off was that the big reveal on the family history was accepted way too easily. There wasn't really much shock or argument or denial about it. But overall, I thought the story was pretty good. I loved the adventure that Bianca and friends went on to save her mother from the evil witch. First Frost was a fun, a light, and a fast paced read! I'd definitely like to thank the author for providing me with a review copy of this book. All thoughts are my honest opinion.
August 1, 2012
Fairytale stories, shows and movies are really growing in popularity again and I understand why. There is something about the classic tales that we all know - the magic, the wickedness, the happily-ever-afters - that draw people in and allow them to believe in the impossible and love stories. I really enjoy the twists that authors and script-writers have been putting on our fairy-tales and truly making them their own.
Bianca Frost has always thought that the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts that her family ran was just a nice hoax, letting people believe that the items they displayed were true artifacts from beloved tales. That is, until she found out that she was wrong. The items in the museum were real and she came from a family line with roots back in Everafter.
After one horrible night, Bianca is forced to venture into the world of fairytales and save her mother from the clutches of an evil witch who is hell-bent on destroying their family. Armed with only a few magical items and her best friend, Bianca must journey through Everafter. Luckily, they meet a charming prince, his man-servant and a friendly bear along the way to help them out.
I enjoyed reading First Frost a lot. It was a fun book that didn't seem to take itself too seriously. We get to experience pieces of fairy-tales we know and love through the artifacts but follow a completely new girl on a new quest. I did wish at some points that we would get more detailed descriptions or more details in general of what happened when some time elapsed, but I think I also enjoyed it at the same time because it moved the story along without becoming dull. It was a semi-different concept on a theme that is growing in popularity and I liked it.
Kristal@OwlReadIt
Bianca Frost has always thought that the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts that her family ran was just a nice hoax, letting people believe that the items they displayed were true artifacts from beloved tales. That is, until she found out that she was wrong. The items in the museum were real and she came from a family line with roots back in Everafter.
After one horrible night, Bianca is forced to venture into the world of fairytales and save her mother from the clutches of an evil witch who is hell-bent on destroying their family. Armed with only a few magical items and her best friend, Bianca must journey through Everafter. Luckily, they meet a charming prince, his man-servant and a friendly bear along the way to help them out.
I enjoyed reading First Frost a lot. It was a fun book that didn't seem to take itself too seriously. We get to experience pieces of fairy-tales we know and love through the artifacts but follow a completely new girl on a new quest. I did wish at some points that we would get more detailed descriptions or more details in general of what happened when some time elapsed, but I think I also enjoyed it at the same time because it moved the story along without becoming dull. It was a semi-different concept on a theme that is growing in popularity and I liked it.
Kristal@OwlReadIt
September 21, 2013
Review abridged from my book review blog, Reading the Alphabet.
Bianca Frost appears to be a normal seventeen-year-old. She has a job at a museum, but not just any museum, a museum lovingly referred to as the Fairy Tale Museum. Why? This museum is home to the Magic Mirror from Snow White, Rapunzel’s golden hair, the spinning wheel from Sleeping Beauty, and more. Bianca questions whether these things are real, believing they are likely reproductions, but even if they aren’t real, some of the objects give her the creeps.
Her belief changes when she witnesses a witch battling with her mother outside of her house one night. Their weapons? Magic, of course!
Proven wrong in her assumptions about the objects in the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, Bianca will soon find herself on a quest that will put her face to face with those she had thought were only make believe.
First Frost was such an enjoyable read that I couldn’t put it down only once after I started reading. The first chapter was enough to get me hooked!
I liked Bianca. I found her to be so real, she could easily be the girl down the road. She wanted something more than the museum when she didn’t believe in it all, to go to school for art or photography. Hers was an internal struggle that I identified with, and I think many others will too. She was smart, and resourceful, and fought through her insecurities as she ventured into the land of Everafter.
Everafter, a place you will meet in the book, is a magical place full of both beauty and danger where anything can happen. You never know what or who to expect while there. I look forward to exploring it more in future books.
Bianca Frost appears to be a normal seventeen-year-old. She has a job at a museum, but not just any museum, a museum lovingly referred to as the Fairy Tale Museum. Why? This museum is home to the Magic Mirror from Snow White, Rapunzel’s golden hair, the spinning wheel from Sleeping Beauty, and more. Bianca questions whether these things are real, believing they are likely reproductions, but even if they aren’t real, some of the objects give her the creeps.
Her belief changes when she witnesses a witch battling with her mother outside of her house one night. Their weapons? Magic, of course!
Proven wrong in her assumptions about the objects in the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, Bianca will soon find herself on a quest that will put her face to face with those she had thought were only make believe.
First Frost was such an enjoyable read that I couldn’t put it down only once after I started reading. The first chapter was enough to get me hooked!
I liked Bianca. I found her to be so real, she could easily be the girl down the road. She wanted something more than the museum when she didn’t believe in it all, to go to school for art or photography. Hers was an internal struggle that I identified with, and I think many others will too. She was smart, and resourceful, and fought through her insecurities as she ventured into the land of Everafter.
Everafter, a place you will meet in the book, is a magical place full of both beauty and danger where anything can happen. You never know what or who to expect while there. I look forward to exploring it more in future books.
April 16, 2013
Bianca doesn't understand why she has to spend her time working at her family's museum and it isn't until she witnesses her mother fighting off an evil witch that she discovers her family's history and her legacy.
Author Liz DeJesus draws you into Bianca's journey from the beginning and holds your attention all throughout the story. I enjoyed reading about Bianca's family, their history and the legacy that has been left for her. I liked that the author not only mentioned different fairy tales and how they related to the items in the museum, but that she did this in a way that was entertaining, engaging and didn't make me feel overwhelmed by it all.
At first, I was hesitant in how the author would bring all the elements of the story together, but she did a great job in making all the concepts flow together along with the conflict of the story. She managed to achieve this while still developing Bianca's character from a normal teenage girl to a young woman who has to prove herself in order to save her friends and family.
Once Bianca sets off in her adventure, the story truly takes on a life of its own. The setting, the characters and the world of Everafter came alive with every page I turned, which truly added to my enjoyment of the story. In addition, the secondary characters added to the story nicely and were interesting in their own right. Ming, Bianca's best friend, was funny and loyal and Prince Ferdinand was hilarious - he was charming indeed! Of course, I adored Terrance and Bianca's father, David.
All in all, First Frost is a wonderful, all-encompassing modern take on fairy tales.
I received this title from the author in exchange of my honest opinion.
Author Liz DeJesus draws you into Bianca's journey from the beginning and holds your attention all throughout the story. I enjoyed reading about Bianca's family, their history and the legacy that has been left for her. I liked that the author not only mentioned different fairy tales and how they related to the items in the museum, but that she did this in a way that was entertaining, engaging and didn't make me feel overwhelmed by it all.
At first, I was hesitant in how the author would bring all the elements of the story together, but she did a great job in making all the concepts flow together along with the conflict of the story. She managed to achieve this while still developing Bianca's character from a normal teenage girl to a young woman who has to prove herself in order to save her friends and family.
Once Bianca sets off in her adventure, the story truly takes on a life of its own. The setting, the characters and the world of Everafter came alive with every page I turned, which truly added to my enjoyment of the story. In addition, the secondary characters added to the story nicely and were interesting in their own right. Ming, Bianca's best friend, was funny and loyal and Prince Ferdinand was hilarious - he was charming indeed! Of course, I adored Terrance and Bianca's father, David.
All in all, First Frost is a wonderful, all-encompassing modern take on fairy tales.
I received this title from the author in exchange of my honest opinion.
October 5, 2012
First Frost is a fun and clever book. This is the first book that I've read by Liz DeJesus, and I was not disappointed. The book is fast paced and the characters likable and engaging. I want to again say how much fun I had reading this story. I was intrigued in the synopsis by the idea of a Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, which is why I signed up for the tour. I was not disappointed.
I really liked Bianca Frost, and I can understand how she felt about not wanting to go into the family business. I did go into the family business for a while, and well, it's stressful trying to be something you're not, or think you don't want. The supporting characters were fun, and the dialogue snarky. I really like her friend, Ming. She is just awesome and fun. She was willing to help Bianca out, even when she was terrified.
Bianca isn't your usual fairy tale princess. The girl has attitude. I really enjoyed reading about how Bianca discovers that there is more to herself, and works out her feelings for the family business as well as Terrence. Bianca is thrust into a secret world she never imagined was real. She learns that there is more to her family and to herself than she could have imagined. When her mother is abducted by the same evil witch that took her dad away Bianca has to find the strength within herself to rescue her mother with the help of some really cool magical artifacts and a string of side characters, including the goofy prince.
It's was an enjoyable retelling of the fairy tales we were raised on, but with a twist.
I really liked Bianca Frost, and I can understand how she felt about not wanting to go into the family business. I did go into the family business for a while, and well, it's stressful trying to be something you're not, or think you don't want. The supporting characters were fun, and the dialogue snarky. I really like her friend, Ming. She is just awesome and fun. She was willing to help Bianca out, even when she was terrified.
Bianca isn't your usual fairy tale princess. The girl has attitude. I really enjoyed reading about how Bianca discovers that there is more to herself, and works out her feelings for the family business as well as Terrence. Bianca is thrust into a secret world she never imagined was real. She learns that there is more to her family and to herself than she could have imagined. When her mother is abducted by the same evil witch that took her dad away Bianca has to find the strength within herself to rescue her mother with the help of some really cool magical artifacts and a string of side characters, including the goofy prince.
It's was an enjoyable retelling of the fairy tales we were raised on, but with a twist.
January 12, 2015
Wow! Let me start by saying I ADORED this book. It was the perfect before bed young adult fairytale!
Liz has done an amazing job with this book! The idea behind First Frost was so imaginative and unique. I loved learning about the museum and all the artifacts it held. A fairytale museum is such a great idea!
I was sucked into this story from the first chapter, and it only got better as it went on.
Mystery, adventure, romance... This book really had it all and was so well rounded. Liz took an otherwise unrealistic chain of events and made them believable. It was like I was saying, "Yes! Of course there is an evil witch after them!"
I really enjoyed Bianca's character. I was surprised at how well she took everything going on around her.
She made a headstrong and likable main character.
I enjoyed Ming's character as well, all though she disappointed me a bit at being Bianca's best friend.
Their knights in shining armour (literally) were delightful. Terrance and Bianca make a great couple.
I really hope there will be more on the land of Ever After, perhaps in a follow up?
The ending to this book had me thinking in the wrong direction for a bit. Then in the last two pages, well lets just say the ending was perfect!
I happily recommend First Frost to anyone looking for an enchanting tale, where the old and new come together. Young Adults and adults young at heart will surely enjoy this book!
Liz has done an amazing job with this book! The idea behind First Frost was so imaginative and unique. I loved learning about the museum and all the artifacts it held. A fairytale museum is such a great idea!
I was sucked into this story from the first chapter, and it only got better as it went on.
Mystery, adventure, romance... This book really had it all and was so well rounded. Liz took an otherwise unrealistic chain of events and made them believable. It was like I was saying, "Yes! Of course there is an evil witch after them!"
I really enjoyed Bianca's character. I was surprised at how well she took everything going on around her.
She made a headstrong and likable main character.
I enjoyed Ming's character as well, all though she disappointed me a bit at being Bianca's best friend.
Their knights in shining armour (literally) were delightful. Terrance and Bianca make a great couple.
I really hope there will be more on the land of Ever After, perhaps in a follow up?
The ending to this book had me thinking in the wrong direction for a bit. Then in the last two pages, well lets just say the ending was perfect!
I happily recommend First Frost to anyone looking for an enchanting tale, where the old and new come together. Young Adults and adults young at heart will surely enjoy this book!
September 12, 2012
This book is really original. I haven't read anything like this before and I enjoyed every bit of it.
Fairy tales are awesome. I love them. I have seen all the disney movies but I haven't read the original Grimm's version of the stories. Though now, I am really curious.
The story is told through the POV of Bianca Frost. Snow White's great-great-great granddaughter. (Yes, you read that correct) So an evil witch Lenore had kidnapped Bianca's mother and in order to save her Bianca travels to Everafter (A magical land where all fairy tales take place) with her best friend Ming. There they meet Prince Ferdinand and his servant Terrance.
The prince is amusing to say the least. He comes on a white horse and is looking for a "damsel in distress" to rescue. I couldn't help but smile when he was around. But Terrance is the real hero of the story. I liked this twist. He is sweet and just really likeable.
So I loved all the characters. I also love the idea of a museum where all the magical things are stored. I would pay to visit such a place.
Bianca's journey to find her mother was adventurous and so fun! She meets the big bad wolf, uses Red Riding Hood’s cape, Rapunzel's hair, learns magic from "the old woman", lives in a brick house of the third little pig. Need I say more?
I think the climax was a little rushed. I wanted more action. Recommend this to anyone who loves fairy tales. It's a clean, good fantasy novel.
Fairy tales are awesome. I love them. I have seen all the disney movies but I haven't read the original Grimm's version of the stories. Though now, I am really curious.
The story is told through the POV of Bianca Frost. Snow White's great-great-great granddaughter. (Yes, you read that correct) So an evil witch Lenore had kidnapped Bianca's mother and in order to save her Bianca travels to Everafter (A magical land where all fairy tales take place) with her best friend Ming. There they meet Prince Ferdinand and his servant Terrance.
The prince is amusing to say the least. He comes on a white horse and is looking for a "damsel in distress" to rescue. I couldn't help but smile when he was around. But Terrance is the real hero of the story. I liked this twist. He is sweet and just really likeable.
So I loved all the characters. I also love the idea of a museum where all the magical things are stored. I would pay to visit such a place.
Bianca's journey to find her mother was adventurous and so fun! She meets the big bad wolf, uses Red Riding Hood’s cape, Rapunzel's hair, learns magic from "the old woman", lives in a brick house of the third little pig. Need I say more?
I think the climax was a little rushed. I wanted more action. Recommend this to anyone who loves fairy tales. It's a clean, good fantasy novel.
April 4, 2013
Beneath the Moon and Stars review
I love fairytales! I think retellings are so much fun. I thought this was a fabulous retelling. It was fun and unique and better than I was expecting.
This tells the story of Bianca Frost. She's helped her mom run the family business for all her life. It's a children's museum based on fairytales. Little does Bianca know not everything in the museum is fake. She eventually learns the family secret and gets sucked into another world.
Bianca was a great main character. She had a nice personality. I loved how well she handled everything. She was always so excited to learn more. I loved how strong she was. She was just thrown into this new world with no idea what to do. But, she made the best of it and even learned a few things along the way. Bianca had some great company. Her companions made such a nice addition to the story. The romance was very well done. I liked how it was small but still enough.
You think this is just about one fairytales? Guess again! The story is based around Snow White. But there was a little something for many different fairytales included. I thought that was the coolest ever. This had such a cool concept. It was pretty fast paced with a little action every now and then. I ended up reading it in one sitting. I loved all the adventure. Overall I really enjoyed this one. I'm so glad I got the chance to read it! If your a fan of fairytales this one is for you!
I love fairytales! I think retellings are so much fun. I thought this was a fabulous retelling. It was fun and unique and better than I was expecting.
This tells the story of Bianca Frost. She's helped her mom run the family business for all her life. It's a children's museum based on fairytales. Little does Bianca know not everything in the museum is fake. She eventually learns the family secret and gets sucked into another world.
Bianca was a great main character. She had a nice personality. I loved how well she handled everything. She was always so excited to learn more. I loved how strong she was. She was just thrown into this new world with no idea what to do. But, she made the best of it and even learned a few things along the way. Bianca had some great company. Her companions made such a nice addition to the story. The romance was very well done. I liked how it was small but still enough.
You think this is just about one fairytales? Guess again! The story is based around Snow White. But there was a little something for many different fairytales included. I thought that was the coolest ever. This had such a cool concept. It was pretty fast paced with a little action every now and then. I ended up reading it in one sitting. I loved all the adventure. Overall I really enjoyed this one. I'm so glad I got the chance to read it! If your a fan of fairytales this one is for you!
July 12, 2012
So, I initially received this book FROM Ms. DeJesus, herself, to review on my blog. But then I signed up to be a part of the blog tour and figured I'd wait until now.
I've never so badly wanted to post a review in my life!
This book was hilarious! There were a few times when I found myself actually laughing out loud at the "Prince Charming" of the story. Seriously, take all of the stereotypes about a prince-charming-needs-to-save-a-lady-in-distress, and there you have the prince!
I had a really hard time putting this book down. It was so smartly done. There's just enough humor in this story thrown in to keep it funny. But, there's also some issues that Bianca, our main heroine, has to deal with that there's still a good amount of intensity to keep you turning the pages.
I absolutely adore a good fairytale and that's what this book is. Although, there's a modernization to it that makes it all the more appealing and original.
And, toss in there some SUPERB dialogue between best friends Bianca and Ming. These two were so adorable!
And I can honestly say that at the end of the book I found myself smiling. It was THAT kind of read!
Christy @ Captivated Reading
I've never so badly wanted to post a review in my life!
This book was hilarious! There were a few times when I found myself actually laughing out loud at the "Prince Charming" of the story. Seriously, take all of the stereotypes about a prince-charming-needs-to-save-a-lady-in-distress, and there you have the prince!
I had a really hard time putting this book down. It was so smartly done. There's just enough humor in this story thrown in to keep it funny. But, there's also some issues that Bianca, our main heroine, has to deal with that there's still a good amount of intensity to keep you turning the pages.
I absolutely adore a good fairytale and that's what this book is. Although, there's a modernization to it that makes it all the more appealing and original.
And, toss in there some SUPERB dialogue between best friends Bianca and Ming. These two were so adorable!
And I can honestly say that at the end of the book I found myself smiling. It was THAT kind of read!
Christy @ Captivated Reading
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