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Altered Stones #1
Emerald Bound
~Editor's Pick~
A princess, a pea, and a tower of mattresses. This is the sliver that survives of a story more nightmare than fairytale...
Maggie Rhodes, high school junior and semi-reformed stalker, learns the tale’s true roots after a spying attempt goes awry and her best friend Kate ends up as the victim of an ancient curse. At the center of the curse lies an enchanted emerald that has been residing quietly in a museum for the past fifty years. Admirers of the gem have no idea that it feeds on life. Or that it’s found its next victim in Kate.
Enter Lindy, a school acquaintance who knows more than she’s letting on, and Garon, a handsome stranger claiming he knows how to help, and Maggie is left wondering who to trust and how to save her best friend before it’s too late.
If only Maggie knew her connection to the fairy tale was rooted far deeper than an endangered best friend.
A princess, a pea, and a tower of mattresses. This is the sliver that survives of a story more nightmare than fairytale...
Maggie Rhodes, high school junior and semi-reformed stalker, learns the tale’s true roots after a spying attempt goes awry and her best friend Kate ends up as the victim of an ancient curse. At the center of the curse lies an enchanted emerald that has been residing quietly in a museum for the past fifty years. Admirers of the gem have no idea that it feeds on life. Or that it’s found its next victim in Kate.
Enter Lindy, a school acquaintance who knows more than she’s letting on, and Garon, a handsome stranger claiming he knows how to help, and Maggie is left wondering who to trust and how to save her best friend before it’s too late.
If only Maggie knew her connection to the fairy tale was rooted far deeper than an endangered best friend.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2015
2 people are currently reading
830 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Richards
10 books55 followersTeresa Richards is an award-winning and Amazon-best-selling author of young-adult fiction, and is a member of SCBWI and the Storymakers Guild. She’s a California girl in Kentucky and loves hiking, playing the piano, and impromptu dance parties. Teresa and her husband have five kids and an anxious dog. When she’s not busy writing or momming, she’s probably singing random song lyrics on repeat or hiding in the house with a treat she’s not planning to share.
You can connect with Teresa on Instagram @authorteresarichards, Facebook @AuthorTeresaRichards, or visit her website: authorteresarichards.com.
You can connect with Teresa on Instagram @authorteresarichards, Facebook @AuthorTeresaRichards, or visit her website: authorteresarichards.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 28, 2016
Coin for coin
Life for life
The emerald gives, the emerald takes.
Balance restored
Is power regained
If abused, new life will negate.
Emerald Bound by Teresa Richards is a fantastical, gritty take on the fairytale The Princess and the Pea. Though, admittedly, it hasn't got all that much in common with the original tale by Hans Christian Andersen, it has a very mystical feel to it, not least courtesy of Richard's beautiful style of writing.
While I can't say any of the characters made it to my all time favorites, the goodies were charming and likable, the baddies were cruel and creepy, and I very much enjoyed the fact that we had two female protagonists with alternating POVs, while the male love interest stayed more on the sidelines. Still, readers looking for a cute little romance will get their money's worth.
One of the reasons why I really liked, but did not love, this novel was because at times, the descriptions and characters' internal monologues felt too drawn out and thus slowed down the otherwise fast-paced story considerably, making me want to skim several passages.
Also, I had a hard time accepting the author's take on magic and comprehending the entire myth surrounding the emerald, though that may be due to me not being a native English speaker. Not sure.
Other than that, though, this was a very enjoyable read and a great debut novel by Teresa Richards.
Emerald Bound can be read as a standalone.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2016
Maggie Rhodes was out with her two best friends one night when a game of truth or dare is suggested and Maggie's dared to spy on Marshall Parker, the sexy star of their high school baseball team, but when they are caught by the mysterious family things get a little strange for the group of girls. Suddenly they find themselves invited to spend the night and overwhelming tired. Waking Maggie gets the feeling the group has been drugged but when she searches for her friends she finds one missing.
Emerald Bound is a fairy tale retelling of the story of The Princess and the Pea with a supernatural twist. The emerald is the center of the story and has years of history of taking the souls of young unsuspecting young girls. The book switches POVs between Maggie in the present time and her trying to find her friends that was taken by the emerald and Lindy's story from 400 years prior and how she became involved with the emerald.
While I enjoyed the new take on an old story and thought it had some really great elements to it I also thought this story had a lot of parts that for me just felt as if they were dragging along. Switching between characters and timelines at the start was a tad confusing and it just seemed to take a while for me to get into figuring out what was going on which could possibly why it felt a bit slower paced to me.
Overall, interesting take on an old story but this one felt a bit slow to me.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Emerald Bound is a fairy tale retelling of the story of The Princess and the Pea with a supernatural twist. The emerald is the center of the story and has years of history of taking the souls of young unsuspecting young girls. The book switches POVs between Maggie in the present time and her trying to find her friends that was taken by the emerald and Lindy's story from 400 years prior and how she became involved with the emerald.
While I enjoyed the new take on an old story and thought it had some really great elements to it I also thought this story had a lot of parts that for me just felt as if they were dragging along. Switching between characters and timelines at the start was a tad confusing and it just seemed to take a while for me to get into figuring out what was going on which could possibly why it felt a bit slower paced to me.
Overall, interesting take on an old story but this one felt a bit slow to me.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 3, 2017
(4.5 Stars) I love a good fairy tale retelling and I have my favorites, but it's so refreshing to have a story that isn't normally told. I thought the author did a great job of taking The Princess and the Pea and tweaking it to fit a contemporary YA story, while also taking the story back to the roots. The book waffles between modern times and the past, where the reader discovers some of the history of the emerald and the curse. Danger, romance, and time travel abound in this fun adventure.
A game of Truth or Dare gone awry is what sets the stage for the Maggie and her friends. Maggie is so brave and determined to help her friends, both new and old. I love what resulted from her stubborn nature and was completely swept away in this book.
I really enjoyed the secrets and mysteries. I was on the edge of my seat at times, wondering how in the world things would resolve. I'm so glad that I had the next book on hand because it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. So much creativity went into making this a fascinating tale!
Content: mild romance, mild-moderate violence.
*I received a copy, which didn't influence my opinion in any way.*
A game of Truth or Dare gone awry is what sets the stage for the Maggie and her friends. Maggie is so brave and determined to help her friends, both new and old. I love what resulted from her stubborn nature and was completely swept away in this book.
I really enjoyed the secrets and mysteries. I was on the edge of my seat at times, wondering how in the world things would resolve. I'm so glad that I had the next book on hand because it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. So much creativity went into making this a fascinating tale!
Content: mild romance, mild-moderate violence.
*I received a copy, which didn't influence my opinion in any way.*
October 11, 2017
Fast paced, action and adventure, a story retelling with chemistry too!!!
I was very intrigued when I started this book. I had so many questions and there was a lot of action and adventure! I was all in! I was hooked!
I liked Maggie. Her family dynamics are like many families. Her friends are the best and most loyal to her and it gave me a glimpse of how if one friend is gone how much it may affect you!
The time travel and magic mixed with someone from the 1600's and today make for a very interesting story! The writing is amazing too!!
Sorry, I am not writing a lot about this book. I need to jump right into Topaz Reign to see what happens next! And it has to do with another gem! Sorry, this one is about an emerald as the book says. I'm in a hurry to get to the next book........
I was very intrigued when I started this book. I had so many questions and there was a lot of action and adventure! I was all in! I was hooked!
I liked Maggie. Her family dynamics are like many families. Her friends are the best and most loyal to her and it gave me a glimpse of how if one friend is gone how much it may affect you!
The time travel and magic mixed with someone from the 1600's and today make for a very interesting story! The writing is amazing too!!
Sorry, I am not writing a lot about this book. I need to jump right into Topaz Reign to see what happens next! And it has to do with another gem! Sorry, this one is about an emerald as the book says. I'm in a hurry to get to the next book........
January 9, 2017
I probably never would have picked this book up if I hadn't met the author at my library when she was there for a talk about writing and publishing. I bought a copy and it's been on my shelf ever since.
Overall, it was a pretty good read. The characters were well developed and had faults. The plot was interesting and kept me reading. My only real complaint was about Tanner, the main character's brother. He was such a great character who was just put there as a plot device. The author certainly left the ending open enough for a sequel.
Overall, it was a pretty good read. The characters were well developed and had faults. The plot was interesting and kept me reading. My only real complaint was about Tanner, the main character's brother. He was such a great character who was just put there as a plot device. The author certainly left the ending open enough for a sequel.
September 26, 2017
Emerald Bound was a very exciting adventure! I was immediately drawn into the story and I loved the fairytale twist. Emerald Bound is very fast-paced and thrilling. The author did a great job of keeping the pages turning quickly. Maggie and Lindy were both great characters. Maggie felt very real to me. Impulsive (like any teenager) but also very passionate in her struggle to help her friends. I enjoyed the POV changes between the Maggie and Lindy. I also enjoyed the plot twists that also involved Maggie and Lindy and wow the climax was exciting and un-expected!
4 out of 5 stars. The second book, Topaz Reign, will be released very soon and I am looking forward to reading it!
I received a paperback copy from the author, all views and opinions expressed are my own.
4 out of 5 stars. The second book, Topaz Reign, will be released very soon and I am looking forward to reading it!
I received a paperback copy from the author, all views and opinions expressed are my own.
February 17, 2017
3 Stars
Full Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
Honestly I just feel kind of apathetic toward this book. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t like it either.
There were a few minor things that mildly annoyed me, like the way Maggie kept thinking, “SAT word!” anytime she used a big word; I know she and her friends were studying for the SATs at the beginning, but she wouldn’t be thinking about SAT words while in danger. And the strange, proper way she talked while impersonating her friends’ mothers on the phone, as if that’s how adults talk. And the instalove (though she at least wasn’t talking about dying for him or anything that extreme).
I was also bothered by the way magic and fate seemed to play a large part in a rather deus ex machina way.
My biggest issue though was that there were a lot of things that just didn’t make sense. What exactly did the emerald do? Like, how were the Parkers using it to gain power? It did give them lots of gems, so I suppose it was helping them financially, but that’s another thing, the description Garon gave of how the emerald worked (he gave the example that feeding the gem a pine needle created a bunch of trees) didn’t at all match what the gem was doing in the present, which was *SPOILER ALERT* *END SPOILER ALERT* Another thing, why would the Parkers all die at the end of the 400 years? The way the 400-year life extension was explained, I figured they would just go back to aging at the end of the 400 years. Not to mention the fact that it lasted 400 years seemed really random. Yet another thing, *SPOILER ALERT* *END SPOILER ALERT*
The one thing I liked, however, was that it was actually realistic that Maggie pretty much had no clue what to do and floundered and needed other people to help her and do most everything for her. For example, if any teenager (or any adult even) in real life were told they needed to steal something from a museum, would they be able to do it? No, of course not, so I was glad Maggie wasn’t able to either. My favorite scene was actually when she tried to break into the museum because that is exactly what I imagine would happen if someone tried to break in with a screwdriver and an internet printout on lock-picking. Same goes for Lindy and how she wasn’t sure what to do about the binding.
Oh, the other thing I liked was that it was kind of a Princess and the Pea retelling. I’d never seen that before! I say kind of though because, in the world of the book, it was Lindy and her past that the story was inspired by (it just got altered over time).
So overall, I just never felt all that invested in the characters or the story and didn’t like all the things that didn’t add up, but the writing itself wasn’t bad, so others may enjoy it more.
Recommended For:
YA readers looking for a Princess and the Pea inspired story with a slight fantasy twist.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Full Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
Honestly I just feel kind of apathetic toward this book. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t like it either.
There were a few minor things that mildly annoyed me, like the way Maggie kept thinking, “SAT word!” anytime she used a big word; I know she and her friends were studying for the SATs at the beginning, but she wouldn’t be thinking about SAT words while in danger. And the strange, proper way she talked while impersonating her friends’ mothers on the phone, as if that’s how adults talk. And the instalove (though she at least wasn’t talking about dying for him or anything that extreme).
I was also bothered by the way magic and fate seemed to play a large part in a rather deus ex machina way.
My biggest issue though was that there were a lot of things that just didn’t make sense. What exactly did the emerald do? Like, how were the Parkers using it to gain power? It did give them lots of gems, so I suppose it was helping them financially, but that’s another thing, the description Garon gave of how the emerald worked (he gave the example that feeding the gem a pine needle created a bunch of trees) didn’t at all match what the gem was doing in the present, which was *SPOILER ALERT* *END SPOILER ALERT* Another thing, why would the Parkers all die at the end of the 400 years? The way the 400-year life extension was explained, I figured they would just go back to aging at the end of the 400 years. Not to mention the fact that it lasted 400 years seemed really random. Yet another thing, *SPOILER ALERT* *END SPOILER ALERT*
The one thing I liked, however, was that it was actually realistic that Maggie pretty much had no clue what to do and floundered and needed other people to help her and do most everything for her. For example, if any teenager (or any adult even) in real life were told they needed to steal something from a museum, would they be able to do it? No, of course not, so I was glad Maggie wasn’t able to either. My favorite scene was actually when she tried to break into the museum because that is exactly what I imagine would happen if someone tried to break in with a screwdriver and an internet printout on lock-picking. Same goes for Lindy and how she wasn’t sure what to do about the binding.
Oh, the other thing I liked was that it was kind of a Princess and the Pea retelling. I’d never seen that before! I say kind of though because, in the world of the book, it was Lindy and her past that the story was inspired by (it just got altered over time).
So overall, I just never felt all that invested in the characters or the story and didn’t like all the things that didn’t add up, but the writing itself wasn’t bad, so others may enjoy it more.
Recommended For:
YA readers looking for a Princess and the Pea inspired story with a slight fantasy twist.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
December 7, 2016
I received an arc from Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Foxes out of 5
How I feel when there is a new Fairy Tale retelling out:
I blame it on OUAT and my love for this man:
(
Danger was what made the game of truth and dare fun, but Maggie did not expect it to go this far. Dared to spy on the star high school baseball player’s house (with a father rumored to be in the FBI) the game goes quickly awry. Caught spying, she and her friends are invited to their house. Except...something's wrong. There's a noticeable gloom in the house, a wrongness, that sends the readers heart shuddering. I've never read a retelling for the Princess and the Pea, even as a child I found the tale to be quite bland (I mean what kind of plot line revolves around a pea?). But, Teresa Richards was able to bring it to life by turning the pea into a an emerald that sucks the souls of unsuspecting girls.
This book was just so darn entertaining. I love retellings, I love reading my favorite fairy tales with an added twist. Teresa Richards was able to skillfully turn a nursery tale into a complex, dark book that compelled me to abandon my anatomy homework for (Et tu, book?).
I am a firm believer that all retellings need to bring something new to the table (i.e: Cinder=futuristic cyborgs, ACOTAR=fairies, etc), and Teresa Richards not only brings a lot to the table, SHE BRINGS THE TABLE. This book was unique, with plot twists, and intricate side stories, and complex characters. (oh, and as a side not, let’s not forget the AMAZING depiction of female friendship)
Light and breezy, Maggie is a narrator designed to entertain. And boy, does she. Humorous, and with plenty of pop culture references, she is compelling to read. Each character had their own voice: from poor, imprisoned Lindy to vapid Marshall. Told between two POVs; from Maggie, in modern day times, and Lindy, in 1600 Sweden, we are able to slowly pierce the mystery behind the emerald.
One of the cons for this book, that lowered my rating, is that I found the villains to be two dimensional. As in, they had the typical motives, the typical lines, the typical cruelty. They didn’t feel real to me, and if anything, they felt like cartoon caricatures of what a villain should be.
But, despite this, I am eagerly awaiting the next book.
If you’re looking for a twist on a beloved fairy tale, for compelling characters, or for hours’ worth of entertainment…pick up this book immediately.
What to read next if you enjoyed this book:
For other Fairy Tale retellings:
-Cinder by marrisa mayer
-A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sara J Maas
-Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
For similar writing styles:
-Anything by Ally Carter
-Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
You can read this review and others on my website:
You can read this review and others on my website:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7...
http://hebhebheb.tumblr.com/
also, follow me on instagram for all things books:
https://www.instagram.com/dearwildern...
Sincerely,
3.5 Foxes out of 5
How I feel when there is a new Fairy Tale retelling out:
I blame it on OUAT and my love for this man:
(Danger was what made the game of truth and dare fun, but Maggie did not expect it to go this far. Dared to spy on the star high school baseball player’s house (with a father rumored to be in the FBI) the game goes quickly awry. Caught spying, she and her friends are invited to their house. Except...something's wrong. There's a noticeable gloom in the house, a wrongness, that sends the readers heart shuddering. I've never read a retelling for the Princess and the Pea, even as a child I found the tale to be quite bland (I mean what kind of plot line revolves around a pea?). But, Teresa Richards was able to bring it to life by turning the pea into a an emerald that sucks the souls of unsuspecting girls.
This book was just so darn entertaining. I love retellings, I love reading my favorite fairy tales with an added twist. Teresa Richards was able to skillfully turn a nursery tale into a complex, dark book that compelled me to abandon my anatomy homework for (Et tu, book?).
I am a firm believer that all retellings need to bring something new to the table (i.e: Cinder=futuristic cyborgs, ACOTAR=fairies, etc), and Teresa Richards not only brings a lot to the table, SHE BRINGS THE TABLE. This book was unique, with plot twists, and intricate side stories, and complex characters. (oh, and as a side not, let’s not forget the AMAZING depiction of female friendship)
Light and breezy, Maggie is a narrator designed to entertain. And boy, does she. Humorous, and with plenty of pop culture references, she is compelling to read. Each character had their own voice: from poor, imprisoned Lindy to vapid Marshall. Told between two POVs; from Maggie, in modern day times, and Lindy, in 1600 Sweden, we are able to slowly pierce the mystery behind the emerald.
One of the cons for this book, that lowered my rating, is that I found the villains to be two dimensional. As in, they had the typical motives, the typical lines, the typical cruelty. They didn’t feel real to me, and if anything, they felt like cartoon caricatures of what a villain should be.
But, despite this, I am eagerly awaiting the next book.
If you’re looking for a twist on a beloved fairy tale, for compelling characters, or for hours’ worth of entertainment…pick up this book immediately.
What to read next if you enjoyed this book:
For other Fairy Tale retellings:
-Cinder by marrisa mayer
-A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sara J Maas
-Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
For similar writing styles:
-Anything by Ally Carter
-Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
You can read this review and others on my website:
You can read this review and others on my website:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7...
http://hebhebheb.tumblr.com/
also, follow me on instagram for all things books:
https://www.instagram.com/dearwildern...
Sincerely,
November 6, 2016
I was given this book in exchange for a fair review. My thanks go to Teresa Richards, Evernight Teen and Netgalley.
I am an avid reader of fairytale retellings and I have never before seen a retelling of The Princess and the Pea. This alone was enough to convince me to give Emerald Bound a read.
There were many things to like here; there are two generally likeable heroines, some interesting villains, a cool concept…but I can’t help wishing there was more of all of the above. Whilst I enjoyed both Maggie and Lindy’s chapters, I was far more drawn to Lindy’s story and would have loved to more of the years she spent enslaved to her captors. Similarly Calista and Theo were interesting but underused; hearing more about their lives and motivations would have expanded by interest.
The concept was, I thought, extremely innovative. I loved the imagination behind the reworking of the pea under the mattress scenario. However my interest, once piqued, was never satisfied. Emerald Bound is a debut and is left of a bit of a cliffhanger, so I wonder whether some secrets are being kept back for a sequel? This hasn’t been confirmed, but as a reader I was hoping for more completion within Emerald Bound itself; especially regarding the way the “peas” worked their magic!
My only other gripe came from the “insta-attraction” between two of the main characters. I didn’t feel like it was particularly real and their feelings didn’t sell to me. However for the most part I could easily overlook this in favour of the imaginative retelling and the snappy writing which kept me moving swiftly along. Having a time limit within the story itself definitely added to the pace, keeping things escalating to an almost break-neck, nail biting finale.
Overall this is a fun and speedy read, recommended for its interesting storytelling. As a debut author Richards does some great writing; but I could have done without the romance. My eyes are peeled for a sequel!
I am an avid reader of fairytale retellings and I have never before seen a retelling of The Princess and the Pea. This alone was enough to convince me to give Emerald Bound a read.
There were many things to like here; there are two generally likeable heroines, some interesting villains, a cool concept…but I can’t help wishing there was more of all of the above. Whilst I enjoyed both Maggie and Lindy’s chapters, I was far more drawn to Lindy’s story and would have loved to more of the years she spent enslaved to her captors. Similarly Calista and Theo were interesting but underused; hearing more about their lives and motivations would have expanded by interest.
The concept was, I thought, extremely innovative. I loved the imagination behind the reworking of the pea under the mattress scenario. However my interest, once piqued, was never satisfied. Emerald Bound is a debut and is left of a bit of a cliffhanger, so I wonder whether some secrets are being kept back for a sequel? This hasn’t been confirmed, but as a reader I was hoping for more completion within Emerald Bound itself; especially regarding the way the “peas” worked their magic!
My only other gripe came from the “insta-attraction” between two of the main characters. I didn’t feel like it was particularly real and their feelings didn’t sell to me. However for the most part I could easily overlook this in favour of the imaginative retelling and the snappy writing which kept me moving swiftly along. Having a time limit within the story itself definitely added to the pace, keeping things escalating to an almost break-neck, nail biting finale.
Overall this is a fun and speedy read, recommended for its interesting storytelling. As a debut author Richards does some great writing; but I could have done without the romance. My eyes are peeled for a sequel!
April 9, 2017
All in all, "Emerald Bound" was a fun and interesting read. It is definitely a fresh take on the fable of The Princess and the Pea.
I did find it a bit hard to get into at first but once I was able to know who was who and what time period it was, it became a very entertaining read.
Maggie is with her friends when she is given a dare to spy on a family in the community. She (and her friends) end up being found out and are "invited" to spend the night at the house. When Maggie wakes in the morning, she finds that her friend Kate is missing and oddly, no one remembers Kate's existence at all. It is up to Maggie to find out what is going on and rescue her friend.
As I mentioned, it took a bit to get into but once I did the story just flowed beautifully. Definitely recommended for those who love a good YA fantasy read.
I received a free copy of this novel from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I did find it a bit hard to get into at first but once I was able to know who was who and what time period it was, it became a very entertaining read.
Maggie is with her friends when she is given a dare to spy on a family in the community. She (and her friends) end up being found out and are "invited" to spend the night at the house. When Maggie wakes in the morning, she finds that her friend Kate is missing and oddly, no one remembers Kate's existence at all. It is up to Maggie to find out what is going on and rescue her friend.
As I mentioned, it took a bit to get into but once I did the story just flowed beautifully. Definitely recommended for those who love a good YA fantasy read.
I received a free copy of this novel from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2016
YA-Speculative fiction. This story is based on the Princess and the Pea fairy tale, but the pea is a magical emerald that can suck the life out of young women who get caught in its clutches. When Maggie’s friends dare her to go spy on the hot baseball player, Marshall, one dark night when they tire of studying for the SAT, she loses her brother’s binoculars and winds up getting caught by the mysterious Parker family—Calista, Theo, Marshall and his little sister Lindy. I didn’t know quite what to think when I started this book, but let me tell you, it seemed to have a magical quality in and of itself (just like the emerald) and wouldn’t let me go. When I would stop to do something normal and non-magical related, I couldn’t stop thinking of the book. It called silently to me to stop eating or cooking dinner and come back to it. I was Emerald Bound just as much as Lindy was in this story. The story is fast-paced and has great characters that carried me along with them through a fantastic, riveting adventure. It’s a super fun, exciting piece of fiction for young adults and adults as well. I loved seeing how the original fairy tale worked its way into this book. Very well done! ***I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review.
November 9, 2016
Fun but a bit loose on pace, plot and characterisation. Ultimately this was more miss than hit for me, although I can easily see someone else loving this. I really liked the twist on the Princess and the Pea - I'm a sucker for fairy tale retellings. The two main characters were both quite likeable if a little unformed. The other characters would have benefited from more fleshing out in my opinion. There were a couple of minor plot holes and the romance didn't really jibe with the rest of the plot - it felt like it was slowing it all down rather than enhancing it. Also insta-love, so that was a bit irritating. Then againthis felt like it could be aimed at the younger end of the YA audience so perhaps that's where the disconnect was for me. I think the author is still one to watch with ideas like this.
December 19, 2015
This was such a fun, easy-to-read book! I loved the adventure and the found the story to be really creative. I don't think I've ever read another retelling of The Princess & The Pea, and this one had some really unique ideas. I sure hope there's a sequel coming!
October 24, 2015
Great, fun fantasy read! very creative and fun twist on the normal princess and the pea story.
September 25, 2017
Emerald Bound
Altered Stones #1
By Teresa Richards
A simple game of Truth or Dare has an unexpected result when the dare doesn't go quite as planned. After a night of intense studying Maggie Rhodes and her BFF's Kate and Piper decide on an impromptu game of Truth or Dare and Maggie takes DARE. Big mistake when the Dare turns out to be a spy-by on Marshall Parker who is one of the meanest guys Maggie can think of. But Kate and Piper won't let her back out of her dare. What follows is the worst experience of Maggie's life and it's just starting.
With time against her, Maggie has no choice but to accept help from Lindy a fellow classmate who is more than she appears. But can Maggie trust Lindy's fantastical story one that if true adds a sinister twist to the old Princess and the Pea fairy tale? And when aid comes from a most unexpected source Maggie has a glimmer of hope at saving her friends from an unknown fate.
But an ancient magic is not easily defeated and the magic that Maggie is attempting to break has a failsafe that is about expire and all trapped within its grasp will soon be lost forever. The fate of a kingdom and those closest to her depends on the choice Maggie is about to make. Can she restore all that has been lost?
This is a book that the tension slowly builds as the past and the present come together in an exciting and altogether satisfying conclusion. But not all the questions are answered and the book ends on a climactic note hinting at what the sequel will bring.
This is well-written YA fiction with a unique twist on a well-known fairy tale. I believe teens (especially girls) will find this to be a book to draw them. This is a book about the power and loyalty of friendship and family with a sizeable pinch of fantasy and pinch of romance.
A word of warning Beware of strange beds with lumpy, bumpy mattresses! You may never wake up if you ignore it...
I was provided a review copy of this book by the author with no expectations of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own.
Altered Stones #1
By Teresa Richards
A simple game of Truth or Dare has an unexpected result when the dare doesn't go quite as planned. After a night of intense studying Maggie Rhodes and her BFF's Kate and Piper decide on an impromptu game of Truth or Dare and Maggie takes DARE. Big mistake when the Dare turns out to be a spy-by on Marshall Parker who is one of the meanest guys Maggie can think of. But Kate and Piper won't let her back out of her dare. What follows is the worst experience of Maggie's life and it's just starting.
With time against her, Maggie has no choice but to accept help from Lindy a fellow classmate who is more than she appears. But can Maggie trust Lindy's fantastical story one that if true adds a sinister twist to the old Princess and the Pea fairy tale? And when aid comes from a most unexpected source Maggie has a glimmer of hope at saving her friends from an unknown fate.
But an ancient magic is not easily defeated and the magic that Maggie is attempting to break has a failsafe that is about expire and all trapped within its grasp will soon be lost forever. The fate of a kingdom and those closest to her depends on the choice Maggie is about to make. Can she restore all that has been lost?
This is a book that the tension slowly builds as the past and the present come together in an exciting and altogether satisfying conclusion. But not all the questions are answered and the book ends on a climactic note hinting at what the sequel will bring.
This is well-written YA fiction with a unique twist on a well-known fairy tale. I believe teens (especially girls) will find this to be a book to draw them. This is a book about the power and loyalty of friendship and family with a sizeable pinch of fantasy and pinch of romance.
A word of warning Beware of strange beds with lumpy, bumpy mattresses! You may never wake up if you ignore it...
I was provided a review copy of this book by the author with no expectations of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own.
September 27, 2017
Let's start with the cover, shall we? I have a thing for green. I love green, and I think it was used to great effect with this cover. I would pick this up off the shelf just because it is so pretty, but it does a good job with the darkness. For me I would assume that it's a little darker tale, and it is. However, there were parts that I laughed at (I thought it was really funny whenever Maggie used SAT words). This is a YA novel, and it wasn't dark to the point where I felt uncomfortable or wouldn't let me daughter read it.
I will admit that I had a hard time getting into this book. It took a little time and patience. The POV switches quite a bit, and sometimes I wished the author would just pick a time and stick with it. We needed the back story, and it was interesting I just had a hard time going back and forth.
I wonder why in YA books the romances need to be insta-romances. The "He completes me and I feel like half of myself is missing". Why can't they just like each other? The momma bear in me has a hard time with those type of romances. I liked Garon though. He was a fun character, and I'm glad he made it into the book.
Maggie was interesting, and definitely a well written teenager. She had her strengths and flaws, and I really liked that about her. I loved how she tried to break into the museum and totally failed. She was also very loyal to her friends, and I loved that. Her brother confused me a little bit. He showed up part way through and just was kind of there....he was kind of a character that I felt either need to be in or out, but he was really neither.
My most favorite thing about this novel was that after I had finished reading it I thought about it for a long time. That's the mark of a good book to me. I'm actually excited that she left it open for a sequel and I can't wait to read that one. Overall I was happy with this retelling of the Princess and the Pea.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
I will admit that I had a hard time getting into this book. It took a little time and patience. The POV switches quite a bit, and sometimes I wished the author would just pick a time and stick with it. We needed the back story, and it was interesting I just had a hard time going back and forth.
I wonder why in YA books the romances need to be insta-romances. The "He completes me and I feel like half of myself is missing". Why can't they just like each other? The momma bear in me has a hard time with those type of romances. I liked Garon though. He was a fun character, and I'm glad he made it into the book.
Maggie was interesting, and definitely a well written teenager. She had her strengths and flaws, and I really liked that about her. I loved how she tried to break into the museum and totally failed. She was also very loyal to her friends, and I loved that. Her brother confused me a little bit. He showed up part way through and just was kind of there....he was kind of a character that I felt either need to be in or out, but he was really neither.
My most favorite thing about this novel was that after I had finished reading it I thought about it for a long time. That's the mark of a good book to me. I'm actually excited that she left it open for a sequel and I can't wait to read that one. Overall I was happy with this retelling of the Princess and the Pea.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
October 3, 2017
This book is such a fun retelling of the fairy tale of Princess and the Pea. I loved the clever interpretation the author took and how she set it in modern day and used teenage girls as her heroines.
Maggie and her friends are typical teenagers getting ready for their SATs, but they get bored one night and play a game of Truth or Dare that starts the craziness for all of them. I loved Maggie. I loved that she was willing to play the game though she didn't really want to. I loved just how strong she was and her determination to figure out what had happened to her friend, even though no one else even remembered her. I loved the way she believed in the magic that Lindy explains to her with really no evidence.
I liked Lindy too. I like the way you see her story that parallels Maggie's so you can figure out a little bit of what's going on in Maggie's story that she can't figure out. I liked the way Lindy was determined to fix her story before it was too late and just how hard she was willing to work to figure everything out.
The plot of this one is so fun! I loved the imaginative touches the author adds to flesh out the fairy tale and make it work in our time. There were so many things that just added to the mystery and the fun that I wasn't expecting, something new and great on every new page. And the way everything ends was really great!
This is one that I plan to pass on to my teenager, I'm sure she'll love it just as much as I did. I can't wait to read the next one by this author!
Maggie and her friends are typical teenagers getting ready for their SATs, but they get bored one night and play a game of Truth or Dare that starts the craziness for all of them. I loved Maggie. I loved that she was willing to play the game though she didn't really want to. I loved just how strong she was and her determination to figure out what had happened to her friend, even though no one else even remembered her. I loved the way she believed in the magic that Lindy explains to her with really no evidence.
I liked Lindy too. I like the way you see her story that parallels Maggie's so you can figure out a little bit of what's going on in Maggie's story that she can't figure out. I liked the way Lindy was determined to fix her story before it was too late and just how hard she was willing to work to figure everything out.
The plot of this one is so fun! I loved the imaginative touches the author adds to flesh out the fairy tale and make it work in our time. There were so many things that just added to the mystery and the fun that I wasn't expecting, something new and great on every new page. And the way everything ends was really great!
This is one that I plan to pass on to my teenager, I'm sure she'll love it just as much as I did. I can't wait to read the next one by this author!
October 8, 2017
I love books that can take a story that we've all heard before, but twist it around into something entirely different. I felt this about Cinder (Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer and any story that is patterned after Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice. The Altered Stones series is another set of books that does just that! The first book, Emerald Bound, takes the classic fairy tale of Princess and the Pea and turns it into a contemporary fantasy (and altered historical fantasy in parts).
Emerald Bound follows the story of two teens - Maggie in present day and Lindy in a fantasy country (bordering present-day Sweden) of nearly 400 years before, as well as Lindy in present day. Both girls in their separate times are tricked into becoming part of an ancient curse involving princesses, emeralds (which are referred to as peas to keep them secret), and uncomfortable mattresses. When Maggie's best friend goes missing, she discovers that gems feed on life and that her own history is quite different than she thought. With the help of present-day Lindy and Garon, a handsome stranger who is somehow connected to the emerald, Maggie is sent on a quest to retrieve the emerald before her best friend's fate is sealed.
I would highly recommend this book to readers that love a happy ending, but don't mind a bit of mystery and darkness on the side. If you are a fan of Jenni James or other authors that have taken simple fairy tales and woven them into something frightening and beautiful at the same time, you will enjoy the twists and turns of Emerald Bound.
Emerald Bound follows the story of two teens - Maggie in present day and Lindy in a fantasy country (bordering present-day Sweden) of nearly 400 years before, as well as Lindy in present day. Both girls in their separate times are tricked into becoming part of an ancient curse involving princesses, emeralds (which are referred to as peas to keep them secret), and uncomfortable mattresses. When Maggie's best friend goes missing, she discovers that gems feed on life and that her own history is quite different than she thought. With the help of present-day Lindy and Garon, a handsome stranger who is somehow connected to the emerald, Maggie is sent on a quest to retrieve the emerald before her best friend's fate is sealed.
I would highly recommend this book to readers that love a happy ending, but don't mind a bit of mystery and darkness on the side. If you are a fan of Jenni James or other authors that have taken simple fairy tales and woven them into something frightening and beautiful at the same time, you will enjoy the twists and turns of Emerald Bound.
October 5, 2017
Author Teresa Richards kick-starts her fun, engaging, and entertaining teen series, Altered Stones, with book one Emerald Bound! This is a fabulous novel full of entertaining characters and an enticing fractured fairytale plot. This excellent fairytale retelling is full of excitement, adventure, and of course magic!!! A retelling and twisted fairytale of the Princess and the Pea, from page one readers will be enthralled with this delightful, somewhat fast paced, and exciting fantasy-fairytale series! Teen and adult readers alike will absolutely love and not want to miss Richards’ excellently written and captivating story!!
Genre: young adult, fantasy, magic, fairytale, retelling
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Publication date: September 29, 2015
Number of pages: 312
A review copy of this book was provided by the author. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Genre: young adult, fantasy, magic, fairytale, retelling
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Publication date: September 29, 2015
Number of pages: 312
A review copy of this book was provided by the author. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
November 8, 2016
It was a fast read and the story was interesting. First of all this is a rettelling, idk of which fairytale. I hadn't heard it before. Also the whole book takes place in two days which was impressive but also some things weren't explained as well as they shoyld be. Another factor is that the instant live hafn't any place. It didn't helped the plot it just made me angrier. But overall I enjoyed a lot but I think it had the potential to be so much better
December 28, 2017
I really liked this story and it kept me reading way into the wee hours of the night.
It had a lot of excitement with a great mix of a fairy tale, time travel, and contemporary aspects
and characters. The characters were all written well and fit neatly into their slots
in the plot. I especially liked the two main female characters. I enjoyed the way things ended and it set things up to head right into book two.I'm reading it right now.
It had a lot of excitement with a great mix of a fairy tale, time travel, and contemporary aspects
and characters. The characters were all written well and fit neatly into their slots
in the plot. I especially liked the two main female characters. I enjoyed the way things ended and it set things up to head right into book two.I'm reading it right now.
August 30, 2017
I received a copy of Emerald Bound from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying I am a huge fan of traditional fairy tales and I do enjoy re-writes of those as well. This one didn't disappoint. Retelling of "The Princess and the Pea" with a twist. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be moving on to book two of the series. I give it five stars. I can recommend for teens and up. No swearing or sexual content.
Let me start by saying I am a huge fan of traditional fairy tales and I do enjoy re-writes of those as well. This one didn't disappoint. Retelling of "The Princess and the Pea" with a twist. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be moving on to book two of the series. I give it five stars. I can recommend for teens and up. No swearing or sexual content.
October 10, 2017
I had been hearing how great this book was for a while so finally during some downtime during the Christmas break I found some time to read this book.
This was a GREAT book and kept me entertained and engaged the whole time. I finished it in a day and am left wanting more. I loved the twist on an old fashioned fairy tale and all the fun adventures. If you are looking for a fun entertaining read, this is the one for you.
This was a GREAT book and kept me entertained and engaged the whole time. I finished it in a day and am left wanting more. I loved the twist on an old fashioned fairy tale and all the fun adventures. If you are looking for a fun entertaining read, this is the one for you.
March 7, 2018
As with most of the books I read, I came to this cold. I had no idea if it was romance, coming of age, majikal, or medieval. Strangely enough, it was all of the above, and then some. The story hops around with POV's and times, but the chapter headings make it crystal clear each time when it shifts so you are not left in the dark. The story itself was very engaging, and only a tiny amount of kissing and petting tossed in. Grab up this book and get to reading.
January 6, 2019
While not exactly a retold fairy tale, this book does what fairy tales do: it takes a story from a bit of fanciful fluff to real-life problem; it goes from the light-hearted whimsy of "The Princess and the Pea" to a nearly vampiric emerald that really prefers young female souls for lunch. Surprisingly fun book.
December 13, 2017
This book was such an exciting read, I couldn't put it down! excellent character development and a story line that made me want to keep reading all night long!
October 19, 2019
Loved it
September 25, 2016
2.5
I received a copy of this novel from net-galley and the publisher in return for an honest review
I really enjoy a fairy tale retelling and was quite interested in this one as Princess and the Pea isn't a tale that gets retold all that often. It also has pretty high reviews on Goodreads so I was excited to be approved for it on netgalley.
However I was disappointed, while the premise of girl's essences being sucked into gem stones and a lost princess was a unique plot point and idea, I found the entire story a let down. It was overly complicated, a bit confusing and well... boring.
The story is told from two pov, Lindy and Maggie. Neither character is all that interesting. Maggie is a poor girl with two interesting best friends, her mom is dead, her brother is super smart and her dad is sad, works too much and has to ask Maggie for money. Sounds all to familiar, right? Lindy is a pretty, uber special snowflake Mary Sue under a curse with a big family secret she knows nothing about. I've read this story before.
The bits about Olivian, the evil magical emerald, were interesting and I give the author props for trying to be original and lend a new twist to an old tale. Alas, I did not care for the novel. Though the cover art is pretty.
I received a copy of this novel from net-galley and the publisher in return for an honest review
I really enjoy a fairy tale retelling and was quite interested in this one as Princess and the Pea isn't a tale that gets retold all that often. It also has pretty high reviews on Goodreads so I was excited to be approved for it on netgalley.
However I was disappointed, while the premise of girl's essences being sucked into gem stones and a lost princess was a unique plot point and idea, I found the entire story a let down. It was overly complicated, a bit confusing and well... boring.
The story is told from two pov, Lindy and Maggie. Neither character is all that interesting. Maggie is a poor girl with two interesting best friends, her mom is dead, her brother is super smart and her dad is sad, works too much and has to ask Maggie for money. Sounds all to familiar, right? Lindy is a pretty, uber special snowflake Mary Sue under a curse with a big family secret she knows nothing about. I've read this story before.
The bits about Olivian, the evil magical emerald, were interesting and I give the author props for trying to be original and lend a new twist to an old tale. Alas, I did not care for the novel. Though the cover art is pretty.
October 1, 2016
3.5
I love retellings. When I saw this was Princess and the Pea, I was super stoked because most of the time, retellings in YA are a little too Disney-centric when it comes to picking out their fairytale characters. Emerald Bound is a fascinating retelling that combines magic, fairytale elements, physics, and is so unexpected that you can’t help but be impressed.
The premise is wicked cool. The unique pairing of science with fantasy adds a believable twist to every outlandish turn. There are some points that, because science, seem fairly plausible and that in itself is enough reason to check this out.
Read more here:
https://youngadultbookmadness.wordpre...
I love retellings. When I saw this was Princess and the Pea, I was super stoked because most of the time, retellings in YA are a little too Disney-centric when it comes to picking out their fairytale characters. Emerald Bound is a fascinating retelling that combines magic, fairytale elements, physics, and is so unexpected that you can’t help but be impressed.
The premise is wicked cool. The unique pairing of science with fantasy adds a believable twist to every outlandish turn. There are some points that, because science, seem fairly plausible and that in itself is enough reason to check this out.
Read more here:
https://youngadultbookmadness.wordpre...
June 8, 2017
I received a copy of this ebook for free though NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to like this book more, but for some reason I had a hard time getting into it. The overall story was interesting, and the characters were likable, so I'm not sure what exactly kept me from giving it more than 3 stars. It was a neat take on the princess and the pea fairytale.
Since my copy was from NetGalley, there's a good chance that some of the editorial mistakes ("lay down" when it should be "lie down," "___ and I" when it should have been "___ and me," etc.) were corrected prior to publication. At least I hope so. Maybe that's just me being picky.
The chapters alternated between Maggie (a junior in high school--16?) and Lindy (15 for the last four centuries). I generally liked both of them, and their voices felt different enough that I was able to tell their chapters apart even if I picked back up in the middle of one. I would have liked to know more about Maggie's older brother, Tanner--why was he so willing to aid his sister in becoming a fugitive? I get that he's her brother, but he seemed overly eager about helping her flee after she attempted to rob a museum. Just curious, I guess.
I remain bothered by something, though. How old is Garon? We know from more than one part of the book that he is six years older than Lindy, which would logically make him 21 at the time that Lindy was bound. (Children in their family: Garon--6, sister--2, Lindy--newborn. Plus a younger sister we learn about later.) And we can't forget , during which time he would continue to age. Right? So I'm guessing he'd be more like 22 when he enters Maggie's life. So how on earth ?
Please, if I'm totally off my rocker, correct me and explain to me where my mind went wrong.
How it ends:
The book concludes but leaves the ending open enough for a sequel.
Note: Nothing bad.
I wanted to like this book more, but for some reason I had a hard time getting into it. The overall story was interesting, and the characters were likable, so I'm not sure what exactly kept me from giving it more than 3 stars. It was a neat take on the princess and the pea fairytale.
Since my copy was from NetGalley, there's a good chance that some of the editorial mistakes ("lay down" when it should be "lie down," "___ and I" when it should have been "___ and me," etc.) were corrected prior to publication. At least I hope so. Maybe that's just me being picky.
The chapters alternated between Maggie (a junior in high school--16?) and Lindy (15 for the last four centuries). I generally liked both of them, and their voices felt different enough that I was able to tell their chapters apart even if I picked back up in the middle of one. I would have liked to know more about Maggie's older brother, Tanner--why was he so willing to aid his sister in becoming a fugitive? I get that he's her brother, but he seemed overly eager about helping her flee after she attempted to rob a museum. Just curious, I guess.
I remain bothered by something, though. How old is Garon? We know from more than one part of the book that he is six years older than Lindy, which would logically make him 21 at the time that Lindy was bound. (Children in their family: Garon--6, sister--2, Lindy--newborn. Plus a younger sister we learn about later.) And we can't forget , during which time he would continue to age. Right? So I'm guessing he'd be more like 22 when he enters Maggie's life. So how on earth ?
Please, if I'm totally off my rocker, correct me and explain to me where my mind went wrong.
How it ends:
The book concludes but leaves the ending open enough for a sequel.
Note: Nothing bad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews