What do you think?
Rate this book
Tyme #2
Disenchanted: The Trials of Cinderella
Ella Coach has one wish: revolution. Her mother died working in a sweatshop, and Ella wants every laborer in the Blue Kingdom to receive fairer treatment. But to make that happen, she'll need some high-level support . . .
Prince Dash Charming has one wish: evolution. The Charming Curse forced generations of Charming men to lie, cheat, and break hearts -- but with the witch Envearia's death, the curse has ended. Now Dash wants to be a better person, but he doesn't know where to start . . .
Serge can grant any wish -- and has: As an executive fairy godfather, he's catered to the wildest whims of spoiled teenagers from the richest, most entitled families in Blue. But now a new name has come up on his list, someone nobody's ever heard of . . . Ella Coach.
Prince Dash Charming has one wish: evolution. The Charming Curse forced generations of Charming men to lie, cheat, and break hearts -- but with the witch Envearia's death, the curse has ended. Now Dash wants to be a better person, but he doesn't know where to start . . .
Serge can grant any wish -- and has: As an executive fairy godfather, he's catered to the wildest whims of spoiled teenagers from the richest, most entitled families in Blue. But now a new name has come up on his list, someone nobody's ever heard of . . . Ella Coach.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2016
59 people are currently reading
2092 people want to read
About the author
Megan Morrison
3 books268 followersMegan Morrison is a middle-school language arts and drama teacher and a writer. She cofounded the Harry Potter fanfiction site the Sugar Quill, and has been developing the world of Tyme since 2003, with co-creator Ruth Virkus. She lives near Seattle, Washington. Please visit her at http://meganmorrison.net/.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
June 12, 2017
Reread review:
I remembered more of the details than I did for Grounded, but there was still plenty that felt fresh and I adore seeing everything fit together. The characters are AMAZING, I ship Ella and Dash so very much, I ship Serge and Jasper so very much, I love her stepmother, and I love this series a lot. A lot. I can't wait for more and I can't wait to read it again in the future!
Original review:
I loved this book SO much for many different reasons! Going to save most of them for my blog review. A few quick notes:
-This book felt completely different from Grounded, which I think is incredible; the land of Tyme is so huge that each country truly feels like a different kingdom!
-I loved Ella. She was amazing; passionate, brilliant, and while she sometimes spoke too quickly or out of anger, her heart was always in the right place. Plus, there are well earned swoons :)
-I loved her family! It's not the typical evil stepmother and stepsisters; it's Ella's dad with the stepfamily, and it's more a case of growing pains and misunderstandings. I really loved watching the evolution of their relationships.
-I liked the school setting and the focus on business class and the workshops! It was unexpected and very dark and Dickensian at times, including one particularly harrowing sequence. I really appreciate that Megan Morrison never talks down to her readers. These are mature (but not inappropriate) books and deal with tough subjects much like the Harry Potter books did- through a fantasy lens.
-I loved Prince Dash! And his mother. And Serge, and Jasper, who I TOTALLY SHIP. Omg. The head godmother Jules reminded me of the fairy godmother from Shrek 2. What a piece of work.
-There are three POVs (Ella, Dash, Serge) that alternate in various lengths, instead of chapters, and it was satisfying to see them begin to interweave while also getting the full scope of the story.
-The book made me emotional at different points but last 60 pages are particularly fantastic. I love a good courtroom scene!
-Most of all, I loved all the small details. This world feels lived in, with a rich history that I'm dying to know more about. It's timeless but modern and I love all the allusions and details from the first book and from fairy tales. I can't wait to see what else is in store in the land of Tyme.
*counts for ARC August.
I remembered more of the details than I did for Grounded, but there was still plenty that felt fresh and I adore seeing everything fit together. The characters are AMAZING, I ship Ella and Dash so very much, I ship Serge and Jasper so very much, I love her stepmother, and I love this series a lot. A lot. I can't wait for more and I can't wait to read it again in the future!
Original review:
I loved this book SO much for many different reasons! Going to save most of them for my blog review. A few quick notes:
-This book felt completely different from Grounded, which I think is incredible; the land of Tyme is so huge that each country truly feels like a different kingdom!
-I loved Ella. She was amazing; passionate, brilliant, and while she sometimes spoke too quickly or out of anger, her heart was always in the right place. Plus, there are well earned swoons :)
-I loved her family! It's not the typical evil stepmother and stepsisters; it's Ella's dad with the stepfamily, and it's more a case of growing pains and misunderstandings. I really loved watching the evolution of their relationships.
-I liked the school setting and the focus on business class and the workshops! It was unexpected and very dark and Dickensian at times, including one particularly harrowing sequence. I really appreciate that Megan Morrison never talks down to her readers. These are mature (but not inappropriate) books and deal with tough subjects much like the Harry Potter books did- through a fantasy lens.
-I loved Prince Dash! And his mother. And Serge, and Jasper, who I TOTALLY SHIP. Omg. The head godmother Jules reminded me of the fairy godmother from Shrek 2. What a piece of work.
-There are three POVs (Ella, Dash, Serge) that alternate in various lengths, instead of chapters, and it was satisfying to see them begin to interweave while also getting the full scope of the story.
-The book made me emotional at different points but last 60 pages are particularly fantastic. I love a good courtroom scene!
-Most of all, I loved all the small details. This world feels lived in, with a rich history that I'm dying to know more about. It's timeless but modern and I love all the allusions and details from the first book and from fairy tales. I can't wait to see what else is in store in the land of Tyme.
*counts for ARC August.
October 28, 2016
Wow, this book was awesome. I'm a huge fan of Megan Morrison's first book and this one is almost as wonderful (I think I liked Grounded just a smidge more). The shifting povs actually worked (for once) and I love the characters. Morrison does believe characters so well--the fact that both Dash and Ella were willing to recognize and admit when they're wrong is so awesome. I loved the focus on factories and labor laws. It made the book a bit more original and hard-hitting than some other fairy-tales.
I wish that Morrison would have integrated a few more elements from the original story though. It's not really a retelling besides the fact that Cinderella goes from rags to riches and there's a ball involved. Though fairy godmothers and glass slippers play an important part in the story, it didn't really ring true as a Cinderella retelling. Fractured is probably a better description.
Overall, I loved it and I stayed up way too late reading. Now I have to wait ages and ages for the next one :(.
Pre-reading:
I would commit a minor felony for this book.
I wish that Morrison would have integrated a few more elements from the original story though. It's not really a retelling besides the fact that Cinderella goes from rags to riches and there's a ball involved. Though fairy godmothers and glass slippers play an important part in the story, it didn't really ring true as a Cinderella retelling. Fractured is probably a better description.
Overall, I loved it and I stayed up way too late reading. Now I have to wait ages and ages for the next one :(.
Pre-reading:
I would commit a minor felony for this book.
February 7, 2017
I just love this book. I read an early version of it, and that was incredible, but now I have just read the final version and I am even more blown away. This is one of those books that I just want to shove at people and say, “READ IT and you’ll understand!”, but I will try to be coherent here in explaining why.
The land of Tyme is the most fully-fleshed out setting I have ever read in a fairy tale retelling. Seriously, there is so much going at every level, large and small, and all of it adds up to a place that feels more real than most stories set in the real world. Then there are the characters: Ella is smart and fierce and determined and funny and flawed – a heroine at once relatable and aspirational. We should all strive to be as awesome as Ella. Watching Prince Dash Charming stumble through the aftermath of the broken curse - and the uncomfortable realization of his own privilege – is at once painful and inspiring. And he and Ella together are just lovely. There are also tons of other incredibly well developed female characters in the story: Sharlyn, the prickly stepmother who shows herself to be one of Ella’s staunchest defenders; Queen Maud, whose moral compass holds more sway over her husband and son than she knows; Jules, the fairy with ulterior motives; and Lady Lariat Jacquard, a villain on par with Dolores Umbridge for pure bile. Morrison is not afraid to take on big topics from the real world and present them in a way that makes sense to young readers. No one can come away from this story without a deeper understanding of privilege, economic systems, and the importance of fair labor regulations. Morrison takes the central themes of the Cinderella story – rags-to-riches, deceiving appearances – and spins them out into a tale about examining what lies beneath our assumptions about others and developing empathy. And how did I get so far without mentioning Serge and Jasper? The additional layers of story created by Serge’s burgeoning realization that the cause to which he has dedicated his life has been corrupted, and by his relationship with Jasper, take this far beyond a typical fairy tale retelling. No series has combined whimsy with compelling issues from the real world as seamlessly as this since Harry Potter.
The land of Tyme is the most fully-fleshed out setting I have ever read in a fairy tale retelling. Seriously, there is so much going at every level, large and small, and all of it adds up to a place that feels more real than most stories set in the real world. Then there are the characters: Ella is smart and fierce and determined and funny and flawed – a heroine at once relatable and aspirational. We should all strive to be as awesome as Ella. Watching Prince Dash Charming stumble through the aftermath of the broken curse - and the uncomfortable realization of his own privilege – is at once painful and inspiring. And he and Ella together are just lovely. There are also tons of other incredibly well developed female characters in the story: Sharlyn, the prickly stepmother who shows herself to be one of Ella’s staunchest defenders; Queen Maud, whose moral compass holds more sway over her husband and son than she knows; Jules, the fairy with ulterior motives; and Lady Lariat Jacquard, a villain on par with Dolores Umbridge for pure bile. Morrison is not afraid to take on big topics from the real world and present them in a way that makes sense to young readers. No one can come away from this story without a deeper understanding of privilege, economic systems, and the importance of fair labor regulations. Morrison takes the central themes of the Cinderella story – rags-to-riches, deceiving appearances – and spins them out into a tale about examining what lies beneath our assumptions about others and developing empathy. And how did I get so far without mentioning Serge and Jasper? The additional layers of story created by Serge’s burgeoning realization that the cause to which he has dedicated his life has been corrupted, and by his relationship with Jasper, take this far beyond a typical fairy tale retelling. No series has combined whimsy with compelling issues from the real world as seamlessly as this since Harry Potter.
December 30, 2016
There are no words. This book is one of the best I have read both this year and in my life. It's not a simple middle grade book or fairy tale retelling at all.
Lies, there are plenty of words. Let's do this.
The first book, Grounded, was so awesome, with adventures and interesting new magic. And yet Morrison managed to outdo herself with the second one. I literally stayed up an entire night (December 27) reading this. I didn't go to sleep until 8 A.M. I remember looking up from the book and seeing that the view beyond my window shade was suddenly filled with light. Megan Morrison's words are effortless to read, and I can only imagine how much effort it took for her to make them that way. There were no instances where I tripped over a sentence or was confused about what she was trying to say. Reading Disenchanted was simply magical.
The thought that went into this book was amazing. There isn't a single subplot that I think was left unresolved. Everything is connected--little details that are mentioned in the beginning turn out to have major significance later. I was flipping through the book after I finished it, and I can't believe how subtly, how skillfully, Morrison manages to foreshadow things that happen in the future. Events are handled with mastery, and they don't feel artificially planned out or contrived. Morrison has been "developing the world of Tyme since 2003," and it shows. The magical atmosphere seeps into every page. She deftly weaves fairy tales with real-world problems, spinning out a story both timeless and universal.
I loved all the details and the characters so, so much. The best part of any book has to be the characters. If your main character has the personality of a potato and the dimensions of a soggy sheet of paper, it doesn't matter if you've got the most intricate, thought-out plot in the entire universe--your readers won't be invested in the story emotionally, which is the most important part. But I loved all the main characters--Ella, Dash, Jasper, and Serge. I think Jasper was one of my favorites; he's adorable. You'll want to root for them every step of the way. One thing I really liked was the differences between different kinds of fairies: for example, Blue fairies, like Serge, can make themselves invisible; Crimson fairies, like Jasper, can't. They do, however, do this:
Little touches like that just made me smile even more. I also enjoyed seeing the characters from the previous book (I love Rapunzel and Jack). Not to mention, they all speak differently! I'm not talking just about the differences between how upper-class and lower-class people speak (which she doesn't forget to write in) but the nuances and cadences of each individual character's speech. I'd be able to tell which main character was speaking just by how they talked!
Not only that, but she manages to give the minor characters--which end up almost entirely forgotten by some authors--personality and agency. That way, the world seemed realer and fuller, not just populated by random figures in the background who were only there to further the plot, like the worlds of some authors.
Throughout the entire book, I laughed, I cried, I cheered. This is no run-of-the-mill fairy tale retelling. Disenchanted is even more mature and well-written than its predecessor, speaking about important issues that everyone, children and adults, is affected by. It is diverse, self-aware, and filled with friendship, love, and humor. I can only wait and see what magic Morrison will do next.
Lies, there are plenty of words. Let's do this.
The first book, Grounded, was so awesome, with adventures and interesting new magic. And yet Morrison managed to outdo herself with the second one. I literally stayed up an entire night (December 27) reading this. I didn't go to sleep until 8 A.M. I remember looking up from the book and seeing that the view beyond my window shade was suddenly filled with light. Megan Morrison's words are effortless to read, and I can only imagine how much effort it took for her to make them that way. There were no instances where I tripped over a sentence or was confused about what she was trying to say. Reading Disenchanted was simply magical.
The thought that went into this book was amazing. There isn't a single subplot that I think was left unresolved. Everything is connected--little details that are mentioned in the beginning turn out to have major significance later. I was flipping through the book after I finished it, and I can't believe how subtly, how skillfully, Morrison manages to foreshadow things that happen in the future. Events are handled with mastery, and they don't feel artificially planned out or contrived. Morrison has been "developing the world of Tyme since 2003," and it shows. The magical atmosphere seeps into every page. She deftly weaves fairy tales with real-world problems, spinning out a story both timeless and universal.
I loved all the details and the characters so, so much. The best part of any book has to be the characters. If your main character has the personality of a potato and the dimensions of a soggy sheet of paper, it doesn't matter if you've got the most intricate, thought-out plot in the entire universe--your readers won't be invested in the story emotionally, which is the most important part. But I loved all the main characters--Ella, Dash, Jasper, and Serge. I think Jasper was one of my favorites; he's adorable. You'll want to root for them every step of the way. One thing I really liked was the differences between different kinds of fairies: for example, Blue fairies, like Serge, can make themselves invisible; Crimson fairies, like Jasper, can't. They do, however, do this:
"The Crimson fairy was on his feet, applauding with his hands and his enormous wings, his tears turning to bright crimson roses as they splashed to the floor. Serge resisted the urge to roll his eyes. New apprentices were often passionate, but this one seemed particularly theatrical."
"He sighed, and little lights like stars floated from his lips."
"Jasper's face was a mess, his tears becoming minuscule frogs that leapt from his face only to vanish in bursts of smoke."
Little touches like that just made me smile even more. I also enjoyed seeing the characters from the previous book (I love Rapunzel and Jack). Not to mention, they all speak differently! I'm not talking just about the differences between how upper-class and lower-class people speak (which she doesn't forget to write in) but the nuances and cadences of each individual character's speech. I'd be able to tell which main character was speaking just by how they talked!
"[Jules] sighed. 'Put Gossamer on my schedule. Ta, babe.'
Thimble departed. Jules leaned back in her chair and took a long drink from her glass. Her gaze fell on Serge and Jasper.
'Serge.' She had a way of giving just one word the weight of an entire speech. 'Babe, it's so good to see you. It's been weeks, hasn't it? It feels like weeks.'
It had been two days."
Not only that, but she manages to give the minor characters--which end up almost entirely forgotten by some authors--personality and agency. That way, the world seemed realer and fuller, not just populated by random figures in the background who were only there to further the plot, like the worlds of some authors.
Throughout the entire book, I laughed, I cried, I cheered. This is no run-of-the-mill fairy tale retelling. Disenchanted is even more mature and well-written than its predecessor, speaking about important issues that everyone, children and adults, is affected by. It is diverse, self-aware, and filled with friendship, love, and humor. I can only wait and see what magic Morrison will do next.
October 13, 2016
The first thing that struck me about 'Disenchanted' is that it's a more mature story than 'Grounded', both in subject matter and in tone. But just like the first book in the Tyme series, the characters are beautifully and fully realized, the world building is incredible, and the story leaves you wanting to spend even more time in the land of Tyme.
A few characters that appeared briefly in the first book reappear in this one -
As a teacher, I appreciated the themes of fitting in at a school where most of the students come from a different socioeconomic background than yours, dealing with bullies, and recognizing your privilege and using it to help others.
It's perfect that this book is debuting just before the election, as it introduces younger readers to issues such as child labor, workers rights, labor unions, and fair trade.
Rereading this review, I feel like I've used the word "realistic" about 87 times, but honestly, that's one of my favorite things about this series. It's not always easy to find characters that feel so relatable in a well-explored fantasy world. Megan Morrison has such a gift for blending the two!
A few characters that appeared briefly in the first book reappear in this one -
As a teacher, I appreciated the themes of fitting in at a school where most of the students come from a different socioeconomic background than yours, dealing with bullies, and recognizing your privilege and using it to help others.
It's perfect that this book is debuting just before the election, as it introduces younger readers to issues such as child labor, workers rights, labor unions, and fair trade.
Rereading this review, I feel like I've used the word "realistic" about 87 times, but honestly, that's one of my favorite things about this series. It's not always easy to find characters that feel so relatable in a well-explored fantasy world. Megan Morrison has such a gift for blending the two!
March 4, 2017
Grounded was one of my favorite adaptations of the Rapunzel fairytale I’ve read, so I was excited to read Morrison’s latest work, this time taking on Cinderella’s fairytale—or so I thought. Instead, what I got was a preachy, “all rich people are evil” narrative without the faintest trace of Cinderella except for the main character’s name.
I mean, it was a good cause Ella was yelling about for the entire book, but it was the complete over-the-top descriptions and the numerous speeches (literally) that made it feel more like a pamphlet on fair labor laws and trade than a fairytale retelling. It was also completely devoid of almost everything from the Cinderella fairytale, except for miniscule aspects such as her stepmother and stepsisters. I get that Morrison is trying to be original here, but why even bother masking this as a retelling of Cinderella when it’s not? It would have been better to introduce it as an original story set in Morrison’s fairytale world.
Also, I think I would have been a little more sympathetic towards Ella if she had stopped acting like only she knew what the laborers were going through and that only she stood for what’s Good and Right in the world (not helped by the author painting every rich person as selfish, cruel, and completely devoid of compassion). Luckily, at least a few of the characters point this out to her, and by the end of the book she’s slightly better in terms of her overall attitude.
So, Disenchanted, while having an interesting world with several clever fairy tale elements woven into it, is far from a good Cinderella reimagining. I could barely recognize the original fairytale in the plot and world Morrison created. That’s not a bad thing that Morrison expanded on the world she built, but it would have been far better not to attach the Cinderella name to it at all. As a world with fairytale references, Disenchanted is clever and fun. As a Cinderella retelling, Disenchanted is irritating, preachy, and unrecognizable as such.
I mean, it was a good cause Ella was yelling about for the entire book, but it was the complete over-the-top descriptions and the numerous speeches (literally) that made it feel more like a pamphlet on fair labor laws and trade than a fairytale retelling. It was also completely devoid of almost everything from the Cinderella fairytale, except for miniscule aspects such as her stepmother and stepsisters. I get that Morrison is trying to be original here, but why even bother masking this as a retelling of Cinderella when it’s not? It would have been better to introduce it as an original story set in Morrison’s fairytale world.
Also, I think I would have been a little more sympathetic towards Ella if she had stopped acting like only she knew what the laborers were going through and that only she stood for what’s Good and Right in the world (not helped by the author painting every rich person as selfish, cruel, and completely devoid of compassion). Luckily, at least a few of the characters point this out to her, and by the end of the book she’s slightly better in terms of her overall attitude.
So, Disenchanted, while having an interesting world with several clever fairy tale elements woven into it, is far from a good Cinderella reimagining. I could barely recognize the original fairytale in the plot and world Morrison created. That’s not a bad thing that Morrison expanded on the world she built, but it would have been far better not to attach the Cinderella name to it at all. As a world with fairytale references, Disenchanted is clever and fun. As a Cinderella retelling, Disenchanted is irritating, preachy, and unrecognizable as such.
Read
November 29, 2016This is the second book in the Tyme series, and I absolutely loved and adored it. The protagonist, Ella Coach, is a wonderfully strong, brave and flawed girl who wants a revolution. This was a great retelling of the Cinderella story. There are well-developed three-dimensional characters, strong writing, set in a brilliantly imagined universe. I loved the themes of ethics, poverty and class that were explored in this novel, and that ending. Man, that ending. I need more of the Tyme universe. My copy of the book is now on my husband’s bedside table because as soon as I finished it, I thrust it to him. Everyone should read this book.
— Jen Sherman
from The Best Books We Read In October 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/10/31/riot-r...
— Jen Sherman
from The Best Books We Read In October 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/10/31/riot-r...
October 11, 2016
Ms. Morrison proves her excellent first book (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...) is no fluke in this masterfully told companion/sequel.
The most impressive thing about this outing is the three different points of view: they each have a distinct voice (including one rather jaded fairy who nevertheless manages to be middle grade-friendly), and the way the POVs interweave in the plot is just fantastic.
There is also surprising relevance to real life as the plight of garment workers in this obviously fictional tale has strong corollaries to our own world.
It's funny, it's romantic, it's heartbreaking, it's everything you want from a sequel and more. (*mild spoiler* There is one harrowing sequence that might put people off from reading this to very young children, but middle graders will likely have read much worse at some point if their reading experience has even a little breadth.)
Once again, my highest recommendation, and I can't wait for the third in the series. Hot tip: if you miss Rapunzel and Jack, have a little patience.
The most impressive thing about this outing is the three different points of view: they each have a distinct voice (including one rather jaded fairy who nevertheless manages to be middle grade-friendly), and the way the POVs interweave in the plot is just fantastic.
There is also surprising relevance to real life as the plight of garment workers in this obviously fictional tale has strong corollaries to our own world.
It's funny, it's romantic, it's heartbreaking, it's everything you want from a sequel and more. (*mild spoiler* There is one harrowing sequence that might put people off from reading this to very young children, but middle graders will likely have read much worse at some point if their reading experience has even a little breadth.)
Once again, my highest recommendation, and I can't wait for the third in the series. Hot tip: if you miss Rapunzel and Jack, have a little patience.
December 26, 2016
I absolutely fell in love with Jasper and Serge in this one. I sooooo hope to see more from them...and more Jack and Rapunzel. This story was as beautiful as the first and I'm really loving this unique fairytale world!
April 20, 2022
not this series being unreasonably good
December 18, 2016
Megan Morrison’s second adventure in the land of Tyme, Disenchanted: The Trials of Cinderella, is an action-packed adventure that twists the tale of Cinderella and turns it into a new masterpiece. In one narrative, seamlessly switching between the points of view of Ella Coach, the new girl in her town of Quintessential who wants to avenge her mother’s death, Prince Dash Charming, the heir to the Blue Kingdom’s throne who wants to become a new person after the death of the witch Envearia released him from a curse that controlled who he was, and Serge, a fairy godfather who is caught between serving the Slipper and following his own dreams. As the world changes around them, the three of them find their fates intertwined, and they must work together in order to save the throne of the Blue Kingdom.
One of my favorite characters in the story was, surprisingly, Ella’s stepmother Sharlyn, who co-runs the company Practical Elegance with Ella’s father, Earnest. At the beginning, she seems like just another evil stepmother that Ella must defeat, forcing her to go to Coterie Prep because the school “provided the best connections. The best education. The best opportunities for social advancement.” It seems like the final nail is hammered into the coffin when Ella runs away to Eel Grass after embarrassing herself in front of Prince Dash and Sharlyn comes to whisk her back home, saying that Ella was “here under false pretenses.” The first sign that Sharlyn’s character is different from the archetype of an evil stepmother is when she forces Ella to go to a royal ball King Clement is holding in order to blackmail his son into telling him where Queen Maud Poplin has escaped to. At one point, she tells Ella, “This is how business is really done…Not in offices, but on ballroom floors.” However, she also correctly judges the character of Ella’s friend Chemise, whom Ella states is “the nicest of the lot [of girls at Coterie Prep]. By about a thousand leagues.” Sharlyn completely turns around when Ella presents her and her father with a business plan to make Practical Elegance fairer for workers and consumers, and Sharlyn is one of the first to let her institute her plan by inviting her to inspect the workshop, saying that she “will seriously consider every suggestion” Ella thinks would be helpful for the company. During the climax of the book, when . The book’s narrative chooses the road less travelled in adaptations of the Cinderella fairy tale by making the stepmother a flawed but likeable character, and it does so with a timeless style that kids will enjoy.
My favorite scene from the book is the scene where .
All in all, this book has an intriguing story, memorable characters, and a conflict that will keep you turning the pages long after your mom or dad tells you that it’s time for you to go to sleep. As the world of Tyme is built on, bringing back characters from the original novel Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel and exploring a new kingdom with problems of its own, Megan Morrison takes the story of three very different people and weaves them together in a timeless tapestry of heart and humor that will make you extremely excited for the next volume in the story of Tyme.
One of my favorite characters in the story was, surprisingly, Ella’s stepmother Sharlyn, who co-runs the company Practical Elegance with Ella’s father, Earnest. At the beginning, she seems like just another evil stepmother that Ella must defeat, forcing her to go to Coterie Prep because the school “provided the best connections. The best education. The best opportunities for social advancement.” It seems like the final nail is hammered into the coffin when Ella runs away to Eel Grass after embarrassing herself in front of Prince Dash and Sharlyn comes to whisk her back home, saying that Ella was “here under false pretenses.” The first sign that Sharlyn’s character is different from the archetype of an evil stepmother is when she forces Ella to go to a royal ball King Clement is holding in order to blackmail his son into telling him where Queen Maud Poplin has escaped to. At one point, she tells Ella, “This is how business is really done…Not in offices, but on ballroom floors.” However, she also correctly judges the character of Ella’s friend Chemise, whom Ella states is “the nicest of the lot [of girls at Coterie Prep]. By about a thousand leagues.” Sharlyn completely turns around when Ella presents her and her father with a business plan to make Practical Elegance fairer for workers and consumers, and Sharlyn is one of the first to let her institute her plan by inviting her to inspect the workshop, saying that she “will seriously consider every suggestion” Ella thinks would be helpful for the company. During the climax of the book, when . The book’s narrative chooses the road less travelled in adaptations of the Cinderella fairy tale by making the stepmother a flawed but likeable character, and it does so with a timeless style that kids will enjoy.
My favorite scene from the book is the scene where .
All in all, this book has an intriguing story, memorable characters, and a conflict that will keep you turning the pages long after your mom or dad tells you that it’s time for you to go to sleep. As the world of Tyme is built on, bringing back characters from the original novel Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel and exploring a new kingdom with problems of its own, Megan Morrison takes the story of three very different people and weaves them together in a timeless tapestry of heart and humor that will make you extremely excited for the next volume in the story of Tyme.
November 11, 2016
Morrison, Megan Disenchanted: The Trials of Cinderella (Tyme #2), 416 pages. Arthur A. Levine (Scholastic), OCTOBER 2016. Content: G.
Some would say that Ella Coach led a fairy tale life. Her father created a fashion that has earned their family, including her stepmother, stepbrother, and stepsister, a fortune. But Ella is more concerned about the crushing life lead by the workers who make the fashions for the wealthy of the Blue Kingdom. Prince Dash and generations of his forefathers were cursed by the witch Envearia to be smarmy and charming and unfaithful. With her death, he is now free, but he has no idea what to do now that he has to speak for himself. Add in two earnest fairy godfathers, a corrupt head fairy godmother to the cast of characters.
Morrison takes another fairy tale and turns it on its head in an inventive and thought-provoking way, without losing the charm of the original. Ella Coach is a strong-willed, engaging female lead.
EL, MS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
Some would say that Ella Coach led a fairy tale life. Her father created a fashion that has earned their family, including her stepmother, stepbrother, and stepsister, a fortune. But Ella is more concerned about the crushing life lead by the workers who make the fashions for the wealthy of the Blue Kingdom. Prince Dash and generations of his forefathers were cursed by the witch Envearia to be smarmy and charming and unfaithful. With her death, he is now free, but he has no idea what to do now that he has to speak for himself. Add in two earnest fairy godfathers, a corrupt head fairy godmother to the cast of characters.
Morrison takes another fairy tale and turns it on its head in an inventive and thought-provoking way, without losing the charm of the original. Ella Coach is a strong-willed, engaging female lead.
EL, MS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
November 21, 2016
I laughed, I cried, I loved this book. The depth of story, what with the look into labor laws and inequality between classes, was heartbreaking and well-researched. And yet, the touch of romance, the humor, the love between family just made it so heartwarming, too (oh my gosh, Cinderella's stepmom is so kick-butt awesome). These range of emotions make it easy to get hooked on the story and characters, cheering them on until the end. And yes, sorry-not-sorry, it is a cheesy happily-ever-after. I love a good fairy tale, okay?
I admit, there's a lot of personal favoritism behind this review because, as a whole, it appeals to my preferences. But even from a more critical perspective, it's not just a fluffy fairy tale retelling to brush aside. Yes, there's fairies and a Prince Charming, but it's almost historical fiction, too; it's easy to see echoes of America's own Industrial Revolution. Some may complain about a slow start or flat characters, but I'm still in love. A wonderful sequel to the first Tyme novel.
I admit, there's a lot of personal favoritism behind this review because, as a whole, it appeals to my preferences. But even from a more critical perspective, it's not just a fluffy fairy tale retelling to brush aside. Yes, there's fairies and a Prince Charming, but it's almost historical fiction, too; it's easy to see echoes of America's own Industrial Revolution. Some may complain about a slow start or flat characters, but I'm still in love. A wonderful sequel to the first Tyme novel.
October 25, 2017
I thought I couldn't possibly like this one more than Grounded, but wow. Tyme is such an incredibly well thought out world, and Ella is inspiring me to make changes in my own life and consumer habits. The question posed near the end of what constitutes real heroism is so important for the book's target age group, though I'd argue that both Tyme books are needed almost even more amongst adult readers. Totally love this series. Bravo, Megan Morrison.
Re-read on 25 Oct 2017, and I still love this novel. I wish I could make everyone read it. I noticed even more details on this re-read, and parts of it feel even more relevant this year than they did last year (particularly concerning political systems, votes, and class/wealth disparity). This is one of the books we need right now.
Re-read on 25 Oct 2017, and I still love this novel. I wish I could make everyone read it. I noticed even more details on this re-read, and parts of it feel even more relevant this year than they did last year (particularly concerning political systems, votes, and class/wealth disparity). This is one of the books we need right now.
March 11, 2023
This is by far one of my absolute favourite fairytale retellings I have ever read. Wow. I adored the first book and gave it a 5/5, but this one tops it for me. I would give it a 6/5 if I could! The characterization is impeccable, the setting is described vividly, the major conflicts are realistic. The themes felt young-adult, as did the writing, yet the author weaved together a story with all the whimsy and fun of a middle grade. So so good!!!
October 28, 2020
I've been taking more chances on books this year which while good for personal growth has not been so good for personal enjoyment. But, this series is amazing and I'm so glad I found it.
I was worried about this companion novel because I loved Grounded so much and was worried that this book wouldn't be as good - or even worse actively bad. I needn't have worried. To my immense gratitude Morrison maintained the same level of high quality.
This is the story of Cinderella with a labor reform twist. Ella has lived her whole life in squalor, forced to watch her mother waste away working in a sweatshop spinning silk for the Garment Guild; the backbone of the Blue Kingdom. After her father hits it big with a new invention her whole life changes. Now, saddled with an ‘evil’ stepmother, two step-siblings, and a whole mess of expectations she never wanted she’s determined to stay true to herself no matter the cost.
I think Ella is the core to the story because she’s definitely the catalyst for change, but there are two other characters equally as important to her. Prince Dash and Serge, who are seen briefly in Grounded, have been upgraded to top billing in this one.
Ella is a total spitfire. She believes strongly in her cause and she is more than willing to argue with you if you cross her. It’s extremely gratifying to see a strong female protagonist where physicality doesn’t come into play at all. She’s staunch in her convictions, but it’s balanced with her compassionate countenance. It’s way too common to have the outspoken female character be needlessly nasty because it’s ‘cool’ to be aloof. Ella cares a lot and personally, I find that way more endearing. Despite being absolutely right about people deserving basic rights in regards to working, she has a lot to learn about how to actually achieve this for them. I liked how this book addressed all sides of the argument. Ella was right from the beginning, people were absolutely being mistreated, however, this book took a very realistic approach to the whole situation. It took the time to explore what Ella reasonably could or could not do as well as the realities of the business side. I enjoyed seeing Ella learn how to weave the two sides together without compromising her integrity or values overall.
Prince Dash is a total sweetheart who is just trying his best. He’s the first Charming in decades to not be under the Charming curse laid upon them by the witch Enveria. He now has to find out who he is without the curse influencing his decisions. And who he is, is an anxious, easily flustered kid who I sympathized with immensely. My favorite aspect of his character was his willingness to learn. Yes, he had his stumbles, but I appreciated that he was so open minded. It completely avoided the whole ‘woman needs to teach a man to be a person’ trope. Ella wasn’t the sole reason he cared about the ethics involved in the Garment Guilds’ shops. He genuinely wanted to do better and sought out knowledge on his own. Ella aided in his growth, but he definitely did the heavy lifting.
Serge is the Executive Fairy Godfather of The Glass Slipper, a fairy godparent service akin to that of social workers in real life. As Executive Fairy Godfather he’s second only to Bejeweled, his lazy, glory hungry boss, who happens to be the most famed Blue Fairy in the kingdom. Serge has been waiting for decades for Bejeweled to finally fulfill her promise to hand over the company to him so he can return it to its former glory. With the help of his new apprentice Jasper, the first Crimson Fairy to ever work at The Glass Slipper, Serge starts to realize there’s more than one way to help people as long as you’re willing to work at it.
(Also I kind of shipped Serge and Jasper? Like the chemistry actually rivaled that of Ella and Prince Dash. I loved how Jasper brought out this softer side to Serge and seeing Serge learn to open up again because of Jasper. It had huge ‘grumpy curmudgeon with sunshine sweet pea’ energy. But, it was kind of weird though because Jasper is younger than Serge, but they’re both hundreds of years old so I can’t tell if the age gap should be a Thing or not. Like, is Jasper equivalent to an early 20s adult or does it not matter once you've lived for so long? Like I’m into it, but cautiously.)
Basically, there is a ton of corruption in the Blue Kingdom from all sides. This book really makes it a point to show how it takes a village to root it out. Ella is new money trying to force the upper class to see their workers as actual people. Prince Dash is old money trying to fight old prejudice and assumptions. Serge is fighting for the people who fall through the cracks. And for all the good they do there’s still more work to be done. It’s not only a great lesson for the intended demographic, but an investing set of circumstances.
That being said, there were still flaws. The middle of the book stalls a bit. Once Ella and Dash begin to get along there’s a decent chunk where nothing is happening to move the plot. It focuses more on their relationship which I liked seeing develop, however, I didn’t feel it was balanced well with how pressing the work they were doing was supposed to be. It kind of felt like they took a break from the plot to do the romance. And for all my praise of how well it depicts the entirety of the labor reform argument, it lacks in detail in this part. I wanted to see more of the living conditions as well as more opinions from other peasants that weren’t Ella. Like Ella has a best friend Kit who completely disappears after her initial appearance. I think it would have benefitted from having someone who was still on the ground floor offer their insight and input to the policies they were coming up with. Similarly there is a girl who previously was rich who is losing her station due to her family’s business going bankrupt. She’s actually nice to Ella and I would have liked to see her perspective as someone starting from the top falling from grace on the new policies especially since her family was the only good workplace in the Garment Guild. Ella is supposed to be the bridge; I wanted to talk to more people on both sides to expand more the world.
Similarly, Serge disappears. It made me question his Godfather skills because it looked like he was neglecting his duties since we weren’t getting his perspective. It also was weird that his significance decreased so much considering how essential he is to the ending. I would have liked to hear more about his requirements as a Godfather from day to day and more development for Jasper since Jasper only gets one POV chapter at the very end.
I never lost interest and the third act more than made up for these weaker parts so I didn’t drop a star, but it was definitely noticeable enough that I did consider it.
I loved that Ella’s stepmother wasn’t really evil. She had a prickly disposition, but she truly cared for Ella. Ella just had to let her in. Same with the step-siblings (minus the prickliness). I low-key still think her dad is trash, but hey he comes around at least. The Rapunzel/Jack cameo was cute. Though, without Rapunzel’s inner monologue she does come off as annoying.
Another great book by Megan Morrison. I’ve got the last book (so far I hope) on the way now and I cannot wait to get to it.
I was worried about this companion novel because I loved Grounded so much and was worried that this book wouldn't be as good - or even worse actively bad. I needn't have worried. To my immense gratitude Morrison maintained the same level of high quality.
This is the story of Cinderella with a labor reform twist. Ella has lived her whole life in squalor, forced to watch her mother waste away working in a sweatshop spinning silk for the Garment Guild; the backbone of the Blue Kingdom. After her father hits it big with a new invention her whole life changes. Now, saddled with an ‘evil’ stepmother, two step-siblings, and a whole mess of expectations she never wanted she’s determined to stay true to herself no matter the cost.
I think Ella is the core to the story because she’s definitely the catalyst for change, but there are two other characters equally as important to her. Prince Dash and Serge, who are seen briefly in Grounded, have been upgraded to top billing in this one.
Ella is a total spitfire. She believes strongly in her cause and she is more than willing to argue with you if you cross her. It’s extremely gratifying to see a strong female protagonist where physicality doesn’t come into play at all. She’s staunch in her convictions, but it’s balanced with her compassionate countenance. It’s way too common to have the outspoken female character be needlessly nasty because it’s ‘cool’ to be aloof. Ella cares a lot and personally, I find that way more endearing. Despite being absolutely right about people deserving basic rights in regards to working, she has a lot to learn about how to actually achieve this for them. I liked how this book addressed all sides of the argument. Ella was right from the beginning, people were absolutely being mistreated, however, this book took a very realistic approach to the whole situation. It took the time to explore what Ella reasonably could or could not do as well as the realities of the business side. I enjoyed seeing Ella learn how to weave the two sides together without compromising her integrity or values overall.
Prince Dash is a total sweetheart who is just trying his best. He’s the first Charming in decades to not be under the Charming curse laid upon them by the witch Enveria. He now has to find out who he is without the curse influencing his decisions. And who he is, is an anxious, easily flustered kid who I sympathized with immensely. My favorite aspect of his character was his willingness to learn. Yes, he had his stumbles, but I appreciated that he was so open minded. It completely avoided the whole ‘woman needs to teach a man to be a person’ trope. Ella wasn’t the sole reason he cared about the ethics involved in the Garment Guilds’ shops. He genuinely wanted to do better and sought out knowledge on his own. Ella aided in his growth, but he definitely did the heavy lifting.
Serge is the Executive Fairy Godfather of The Glass Slipper, a fairy godparent service akin to that of social workers in real life. As Executive Fairy Godfather he’s second only to Bejeweled, his lazy, glory hungry boss, who happens to be the most famed Blue Fairy in the kingdom. Serge has been waiting for decades for Bejeweled to finally fulfill her promise to hand over the company to him so he can return it to its former glory. With the help of his new apprentice Jasper, the first Crimson Fairy to ever work at The Glass Slipper, Serge starts to realize there’s more than one way to help people as long as you’re willing to work at it.
(Also I kind of shipped Serge and Jasper? Like the chemistry actually rivaled that of Ella and Prince Dash. I loved how Jasper brought out this softer side to Serge and seeing Serge learn to open up again because of Jasper. It had huge ‘grumpy curmudgeon with sunshine sweet pea’ energy. But, it was kind of weird though because Jasper is younger than Serge, but they’re both hundreds of years old so I can’t tell if the age gap should be a Thing or not. Like, is Jasper equivalent to an early 20s adult or does it not matter once you've lived for so long? Like I’m into it, but cautiously.)
Basically, there is a ton of corruption in the Blue Kingdom from all sides. This book really makes it a point to show how it takes a village to root it out. Ella is new money trying to force the upper class to see their workers as actual people. Prince Dash is old money trying to fight old prejudice and assumptions. Serge is fighting for the people who fall through the cracks. And for all the good they do there’s still more work to be done. It’s not only a great lesson for the intended demographic, but an investing set of circumstances.
That being said, there were still flaws. The middle of the book stalls a bit. Once Ella and Dash begin to get along there’s a decent chunk where nothing is happening to move the plot. It focuses more on their relationship which I liked seeing develop, however, I didn’t feel it was balanced well with how pressing the work they were doing was supposed to be. It kind of felt like they took a break from the plot to do the romance. And for all my praise of how well it depicts the entirety of the labor reform argument, it lacks in detail in this part. I wanted to see more of the living conditions as well as more opinions from other peasants that weren’t Ella. Like Ella has a best friend Kit who completely disappears after her initial appearance. I think it would have benefitted from having someone who was still on the ground floor offer their insight and input to the policies they were coming up with. Similarly there is a girl who previously was rich who is losing her station due to her family’s business going bankrupt. She’s actually nice to Ella and I would have liked to see her perspective as someone starting from the top falling from grace on the new policies especially since her family was the only good workplace in the Garment Guild. Ella is supposed to be the bridge; I wanted to talk to more people on both sides to expand more the world.
Similarly, Serge disappears. It made me question his Godfather skills because it looked like he was neglecting his duties since we weren’t getting his perspective. It also was weird that his significance decreased so much considering how essential he is to the ending. I would have liked to hear more about his requirements as a Godfather from day to day and more development for Jasper since Jasper only gets one POV chapter at the very end.
I never lost interest and the third act more than made up for these weaker parts so I didn’t drop a star, but it was definitely noticeable enough that I did consider it.
I loved that Ella’s stepmother wasn’t really evil. She had a prickly disposition, but she truly cared for Ella. Ella just had to let her in. Same with the step-siblings (minus the prickliness). I low-key still think her dad is trash, but hey he comes around at least. The Rapunzel/Jack cameo was cute. Though, without Rapunzel’s inner monologue she does come off as annoying.
Another great book by Megan Morrison. I’ve got the last book (so far I hope) on the way now and I cannot wait to get to it.
June 3, 2024
So um... I've read this book at least five times by now and it really never gets old. This is one of my comfort and getting out of reading slump reads because the plot, the characters, the world-building is immaculate (with a couple of flaws).
I love Cinderella or any fairy tale retellings in general, but I lean towards Cinderella the most. To be honest, it is a very simplistic story on the surface, but there are so many different ways to interpret the story and elevate it. Disenchanted by Megan Morrison does just that. It isn't a direct copy of what the original story is and it doesn't use the story as a crutch to get the plot moving. It has a completely original world and has enough elements of the original Cinderella that it's recognizable, but not enough that it's shoved in your face every couple of pages.
It's been a while since I've read Grounded (I remember not liking it as much), so I didn't get many of the references, but technically you don't need to read these first two books to understand what's happening. Yes, it's helpful and you get the references, but you don't have to if you don't want to.
Disenchanted is about Ella, a rags-to-riches girl who wants equal rights for the workers at the silk spinning factories, Dash, the prince who is unsure of who he is and wants to learn how to be a better person, and Serge, a Blue fairy working to grant wishes to the spoiled rich and wonders if there's something more. Their paths intertwine and they each help each other to grow into better people. (Jasper is also a very important character and I love him so much)
The plot of this book is fast-paced and humorous. I love it, it keeps my interest for four hundred fricken pages, that has to say something. Ella is determined to get equal rights and pay for workers in the silk-making industry because she grew up in those horrendous conditions. She goes to school with Dash and they are partnered together in a business class project, so they create a pitch and business plan for Practical Evidence (the business Ella's father and stepmother own) to be better in treating their workers and buying from businesses that treat their employees correctly. It is well thought out and I would change nothing if I got the choice to.
Ella is a hit-or-miss character, she's feisty and makes really stupid decisions based on emotions, and will defend the rights of people less fortunate for the rest of her life no matter what she becomes. She can be considered bratty and mean at times, so she takes a bit of time to grow on you, but in the end, she completely grew on me and I will defend her with my life. Also, I'm pretty sure she's black because on the cover she's definitely black and it's mentioned multiple times that she has darker skin so yay Megan Morrison for the representation.
Dash does fit some of the stereotypes of a Cinderellian love interest, but he doesn't fit into the Three B's. Boring, Bland, and Blond. Dash is not the opposite of bland and boring, but he's so much better than most Prince Charmings (the ones who say "oH i'M gOiNg To SaVe ThE hErOiNe BeCaUsE tHeY cAn'T sAvE tHeMsElVeS."). Finally, he is most definitely not blond, he has a shaved head (technically he could be blond, but I think of him as a brunette in this story).
His backstory and trama that he holds because of the curse that was placed on his paternal line years ago. I loved exploring his healing journey and learning how to be a better person through Ella and Serge and the experiences he got in the story. He's a great love interest and I'm glad he's the one that Ella ends up with. The fact that he's kind and gracious and doesn't use his position of power for petty and stupid things like a lot of people in positions of power do, thanks to Queen Maud, his mother.
Serge was a character who was in Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel and now has a perspective and more motivations and his character is developed. And he's given a protege named Jasper. Serge is a very complex character because he has this very large internal debate for most of the novel. He's conflicted between choosing the company that saved him and he's worked for most of his life and choosing to save his magic and actually helping the people who need it. When you put it like that, it seems like a very easy choice, but Megan Morrison makes it exciting and it heightens the stakes of the book. The one thing that I would critique would be, everything with Serge near the end felt rushed and very fast-moving, too fast-moving for my taste, but that's just me and you may enjoy the quick wrap-up.
This brings me to one of my favorite characters in the story, Jasper, the Crimson fairy who is Serge's new protege and is the one who brings Serge's internal debate about and helps Serge to make the right decision in the end.
I love Cinderella or any fairy tale retellings in general, but I lean towards Cinderella the most. To be honest, it is a very simplistic story on the surface, but there are so many different ways to interpret the story and elevate it. Disenchanted by Megan Morrison does just that. It isn't a direct copy of what the original story is and it doesn't use the story as a crutch to get the plot moving. It has a completely original world and has enough elements of the original Cinderella that it's recognizable, but not enough that it's shoved in your face every couple of pages.
It's been a while since I've read Grounded (I remember not liking it as much), so I didn't get many of the references, but technically you don't need to read these first two books to understand what's happening. Yes, it's helpful and you get the references, but you don't have to if you don't want to.
Disenchanted is about Ella, a rags-to-riches girl who wants equal rights for the workers at the silk spinning factories, Dash, the prince who is unsure of who he is and wants to learn how to be a better person, and Serge, a Blue fairy working to grant wishes to the spoiled rich and wonders if there's something more. Their paths intertwine and they each help each other to grow into better people. (Jasper is also a very important character and I love him so much)
The plot of this book is fast-paced and humorous. I love it, it keeps my interest for four hundred fricken pages, that has to say something. Ella is determined to get equal rights and pay for workers in the silk-making industry because she grew up in those horrendous conditions. She goes to school with Dash and they are partnered together in a business class project, so they create a pitch and business plan for Practical Evidence (the business Ella's father and stepmother own) to be better in treating their workers and buying from businesses that treat their employees correctly. It is well thought out and I would change nothing if I got the choice to.
Ella is a hit-or-miss character, she's feisty and makes really stupid decisions based on emotions, and will defend the rights of people less fortunate for the rest of her life no matter what she becomes. She can be considered bratty and mean at times, so she takes a bit of time to grow on you, but in the end, she completely grew on me and I will defend her with my life. Also, I'm pretty sure she's black because on the cover she's definitely black and it's mentioned multiple times that she has darker skin so yay Megan Morrison for the representation.
Dash does fit some of the stereotypes of a Cinderellian love interest, but he doesn't fit into the Three B's. Boring, Bland, and Blond. Dash is not the opposite of bland and boring, but he's so much better than most Prince Charmings (the ones who say "oH i'M gOiNg To SaVe ThE hErOiNe BeCaUsE tHeY cAn'T sAvE tHeMsElVeS."). Finally, he is most definitely not blond, he has a shaved head (technically he could be blond, but I think of him as a brunette in this story).
His backstory and trama that he holds because of the curse that was placed on his paternal line years ago. I loved exploring his healing journey and learning how to be a better person through Ella and Serge and the experiences he got in the story. He's a great love interest and I'm glad he's the one that Ella ends up with. The fact that he's kind and gracious and doesn't use his position of power for petty and stupid things like a lot of people in positions of power do, thanks to Queen Maud, his mother.
Serge was a character who was in Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel and now has a perspective and more motivations and his character is developed. And he's given a protege named Jasper. Serge is a very complex character because he has this very large internal debate for most of the novel. He's conflicted between choosing the company that saved him and he's worked for most of his life and choosing to save his magic and actually helping the people who need it. When you put it like that, it seems like a very easy choice, but Megan Morrison makes it exciting and it heightens the stakes of the book. The one thing that I would critique would be, everything with Serge near the end felt rushed and very fast-moving, too fast-moving for my taste, but that's just me and you may enjoy the quick wrap-up.
This brings me to one of my favorite characters in the story, Jasper, the Crimson fairy who is Serge's new protege and is the one who brings Serge's internal debate about and helps Serge to make the right decision in the end.
February 15, 2019
I’m still surprised with this series. I really enjoyed this and will read the next book. Thanks, Sister!
December 25, 2016
This book was a great sequel! I really hope there are more in the series (I'm pretty sure there are; I just haven't looked into it)!
Recommendation:
For anyone who loves Harry Potter, this series is a must-read.
Actual Review:
First of all, this book was more mature than the first one-and not in a bad way. The first book, Grounded, focused on younger characters and was about:
a) figuring out who you are
b) parent/child love
c) understanding different Points of View, or just understanding a different way of thinking
The second book was about:
a) parent/child love
b1) labor mistreatment
b2) child mistreatment
b3) rags VS riches
c) understanding different POVs, and finding out the truth
d) figuring out who you are
e) love and loyalty
_________________________
Both books were different in their own way, and were beautiful in their own way, and the themes above are only scraping the surface.
If you want to dig in deep to find out the morals and more about the amazing characters, here's my advice:
Read the books :)
Recommendation:
For anyone who loves Harry Potter, this series is a must-read.
Actual Review:
First of all, this book was more mature than the first one-and not in a bad way. The first book, Grounded, focused on younger characters and was about:
a) figuring out who you are
b) parent/child love
c) understanding different Points of View, or just understanding a different way of thinking
The second book was about:
a) parent/child love
b1) labor mistreatment
b2) child mistreatment
b3) rags VS riches
c) understanding different POVs, and finding out the truth
d) figuring out who you are
e) love and loyalty
_________________________
Both books were different in their own way, and were beautiful in their own way, and the themes above are only scraping the surface.
If you want to dig in deep to find out the morals and more about the amazing characters, here's my advice:
Read the books :)
February 12, 2017
This Goodreads assignment, I read a 404-page book called Disenchanted: the Trials of Cinderella, by Megan Morrison. It is a version of Cinderella (of course), with the main character being a girl named Ella (also of course). Ella Coach came from a poor family— her mother died from disease, her father remarrying a woman named Sharlyn. But Ella's father grew rich from several of his inventions, making Ella able to go to royal balls. At one of them, one of Ella's friends (a girl named Chemise) hurt her feet badly during a dance. The only person who helped Chemise was Ella and the prince, making Ella angry at the rich people who stood by and laughed at Chemise's disaster. They talked about how Chemise was so poor she had to use fake shoes which had burned her feet. Ella blew up when they called her and her dead mother "dogs." She told them to go to Geguul (their version of telling them to go to hell), saying that they were murderers and calling them White-hearted witches (which is the worst insult possible). This shows a lot about Ella's character, like how she is easy to bait and how her temper can soar if provoked. Her dad and stepmother literally had to drag Ella from the room to stop her from saying any more dangerous things, which illustrates that she doesn't know when to stop. This is very risky, especially because Ella's parents own a business that rely on the rich people Ella insulted. Ella Coach is quick-tempered and easily angered, but she is one of my favorite characters in the book. :)
June 12, 2017
It has been a while since I read the 1st book... but I remember liking the plot twists and changes to the normal retellings. I still think the stories are lacking a bit with the characters hearts. They don't feel quite real. But the plot in interesting, and the writing is done well. This one had some strange political things in it. It eludes to a gay relationship, and although it was done pretty well, it still didn't make since why it was a part of this story. The romance felt a bit forced. The gay relationship was more compelling and realistically done, than the main love interests. The happily ever after was too easy. The family drama was not depicted well. The trust issues, the betrayals, the hurtful past, and the step family issues just all magically disappeared so everyone can be happy. It just had a strange vibe to the whole book. Not sure what the point was, but I might not pick up the next one...
January 6, 2017
I loved this book so much. I think it's even better than Grounded, the first book in Megan Morrison's Tyme series. I want to go back and read them both now, over and over until I have book three in my hands. Megan's writing makes my heart happy.
Edited to add: This is also my favorite Cinderella retelling/adaptation since Ever After (which I ADORE), and it reminded me of that story a bit, especially because of the Cinderella character being able to save herself AND the prince, and telling the prince that people should be treated better in his kingdom.
The ubiquitous acorns continue to remind me of something the Weasley twins would love (although I'm sure they'd work out the kinks that cause them to spark and catch fire), and Cinderella's trial reminded me strongly of Harry's in OotP with Dumbledore calmly at his side like Ella's stepmother.
Love love love.
Edited to add: This is also my favorite Cinderella retelling/adaptation since Ever After (which I ADORE), and it reminded me of that story a bit, especially because of the Cinderella character being able to save herself AND the prince, and telling the prince that people should be treated better in his kingdom.
The ubiquitous acorns continue to remind me of something the Weasley twins would love (although I'm sure they'd work out the kinks that cause them to spark and catch fire), and Cinderella's trial reminded me strongly of Harry's in OotP with Dumbledore calmly at his side like Ella's stepmother.
Love love love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2019
More like four an a half stars, because this one has more romance in it, but this book was, I think, even better plotted and executed than the first. I loved the subplot of the fairy godfather and how it tied into the main story line, and having the steps not being evil was SO refreshing, and main characters of color!!!!! awesome!!! Ella's whole motivation for everything being to get better working conditions for everyone so no one else would suffer like she and her mom did - excellent. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
EDIT 2019. Congrats to Megan Morrison for setting up Queen Opal as one of the most genuinely disturbing characters I've read in ages and also not shying away from the horror of child labor and cruel working conditions and the backbreaking economy of poverty. Also on a different note altogether - Jasper and Serge are gonna date, right?
EDIT 2019. Congrats to Megan Morrison for setting up Queen Opal as one of the most genuinely disturbing characters I've read in ages and also not shying away from the horror of child labor and cruel working conditions and the backbreaking economy of poverty. Also on a different note altogether - Jasper and Serge are gonna date, right?
November 14, 2016
After finishing the nail-biting squeal to Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel, I realized that even thought Disenchanted: The Trials of Cinderella didn't have all the same characters it still worked really well as a squeal. Rapunzel had met a fairy named Serge who also had a large role in Disenchanted: The Trials of Cinderella. It turned out that Serge is Ella's godfather along with Jasper. I thought that putting him in both books was a smart move on Megan Morrison's part. Although this book toggled different characters I think that the story line was still readable or see-able. It flowed so easily between characters that it was barely noticeable. Overall this book was the perfect squeal. Being the Disney fan that I am I have really enjoyed the spin on the classics.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2022
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: all hail Megan Morrison, a queen of fairy tale retellings. I guarantee, this Cinderella is unlike any Cinderella you have read before. There are enough of the classic elements there to make this recognizable as the tale we all know and love but Morrison uses those elements in fresh and creative and captivating ways. The alternating perspectives are used smartly throughout the story, enhancing the narrative rather than interrupting it; but this choice especially shines at the novel’s dramatic climax, when all three protagonists are thrust together in the most extreme of situations. On a bookshelf full of Cinderella retellings, Disenchanted shines as a particularly brilliant and lovingly crafted.
November 12, 2016
The first book was better. But it was still an amazing book. I liked how the author took Cinderella and twisted it until you hardly saw Cinderella in it. Wicked stepsisters? No, there was a stepsister and a stepbrother, but they were nice. And you grew to like the stepmother. But there were other evil people and they are defeated in the end(if they hadn't been then this would have been a 1 star book). Word of advice, read the first one before this one, there's a lot of references to Rupunzel's story. Oh, and there's also characters that had just been from the background in the first book. Loved this book, loved the first one, great author.
October 28, 2016
I liked this so much more than I expected to going into it. I had not read the first book in the series and was expecting a typical fairy tale retelling. You can read this without reading the first book, but now I want to read that too. This was nothing like a typical MG fairy tale retelling. It delved into some pretty deep political and social justice themes. I very much liked both Ella and Dash and how their relationship developed, but how there was also a lot of other important things going on. Looking forward to reading the first book and continuing with the series now!
March 13, 2017
Megan Morrison's Tyme series is so absolutely brilliant--every detail so carefully thought through, every character so fully developed. I'm in awe as a writer and so thrilled as a reader each time a new book comes out. Disenchanted is one of my favorite reads in recent memory, and I'm on tenterhooks for the next volume!
July 28, 2019
4.5 stars
July 13, 2024
Even better then the first and I literally got through this is half the night amid kids waking up. Ella is a lovely heroine and underdog and the scene where her story is fully told made me bawl. I'm already on to the 3rd book. This world is very addictive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews