Wished

Fairy Tale Reform School #5

by Jen Calonita

The mixed-up fairy tale fun continues in book five of the Fairy Tale Reform School series by award-winning author Jen Calonita!

With Rumpelstiltskin still on the loose and the citizens of Enchantasia on high alert, things at Fairy Tale Reform School have been a little...stressed. So when Maxine finds an old lamp that turns out to house an overly-enthusiastic genie, she knows exactly what to do; wish for everyone to be happy! But the wish doesn't manifest itself the way she expects…suddenly, ex-villains are singing, trolls and ogres are getting along, and the whole school is more focused on putting on a musical than figuring out how to deal with Rumpelstiltskin. Can Gilly help Maxine break the spell before it's too late?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fairy Tales, Fiction, Audiobook, Fairy Tale Retellings, Young Adult

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 5, 2019

About the author

Hi Goodreads!
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).

I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!

I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.

I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.

I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!

xo
Jen

Reviews

[Hazel · Rating 2 out of 5]

40% Good

Wished was honestly kind of an irritable book to me. I liked the other books much better than this one.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seemed like not as much happened in this book.

[kennedy [mackenzie] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reread was needed. I had remember the basics of this book, but I had forgotten that I actually liked it. Now time for the last book!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be careful what you wish for. Everyone has heard that saying, right? Well, evidently Maxine has not - or else she didn't believe it. When she gets the chance to make a magical wish, she wishes for everyone at FTRS to be happy. Suddenly classes are cancelled or postponed, Harlow and Jocelyn are wearing bright colors, the halls are filled with glitter and confetti, and there is a school musical in the works. What about Stiltskin? That's what Gilly wants to know, but none of her friends have time to worry about villains when they are busy practicing for their big performance.

Imagine mermaids doing synchronized dancing and toting waterproof scripts, pixies styling everyone's hair with color and glitter, and Maxine singing a solo! But there are still things happening in the kingdom of Enchantasia that should be causing the teachers to worry. Crops are disappearing or being covered with a strange goo. The weather has gone wild with rain and lightning occurring unexpectedly. And the chief of police suddenly decides to take a vacation. Will things ever get back to normal? Or will the school stay in an enchanted state of happiness forever?

This is a funny break in the action for most of Gilly's friends as they work on sets, costumes, and learning their lines rather than practicing spells and martial arts. Gilly still wants to find Alva and Stiltskin, and she also has a new desire to learn more about her family history after a letter from her mother mentions the grandmother that she has never seen. All the usual characters are present, even though they are not acting in their normal fashion (except Maxine's duck, Peaches, who is still eating all sorts of odd items).

Fairy Tale Reform School fans will laugh out loud at Gilly's growing frustration with everyone's musical preoccupation and the various ways the wish for happiness plays out at the school. I read an e-book provided by the publisher through edelweiss.

[Oscar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book for me was very disappointing, it felt like a filler book. It felt like the author didn’t know how they wanted to end the series so they delayed it with this useless story, it’s just your stereotypical tv episode when someone gets 3 wishes and chaos come from it. This book just felt like a waste of time and not needed in the series. That saying I still did enjoy the characters very well, here’s hopping the next one is better hen this one.

[Lila Saidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so I wanted to like this book.

But I didn’t.

I liked most of the Fairy Tale Reform School books before it, and I wanted to know how the series continued, but this one was just not good.

First of all, the amount of loose ends in this book is astonishing:
-Who is Gilly’s grandmother?
-Who is Peaches?
-Who is eating all the crops?
-Where does the green goo come from?
-Will Gilly save her sister?
-What are Alva and Rumpelstiltskin doing?
-Are they ever going to attack??!?
-How did Maxine wish for five things? (Gilly becoming the Police Chief, seeing a typhira, everyone being happy, having a good singing voice, and reversing her wishes).

The story and characters are all pretty two dimensional... Everything that happened in this book could have been shortened to one or two chapters and the rest of the book could have been about actually important things.

But maybe I’m missing the point. Maybe this book is for middle school and elementary kids only.

Or maybe I’m forgetting that the “moral” of this story is to “be careful what you wish for”.

BUT the story started in a really weird place (it didn’t feel like the beginning). You are tricked into believing that everyone is finally fighting the villain, but then you find out it was a simulation. Then you find out the whole school is obsessed with preparing for battle, and worrying about Rumpelstiltskin and Alva.

*SPOILER ALERT* (most of story revealed ahead)

Then Maxine, the main character (Gilly)’s friend, starts complaining that everyone is so worried and not happy all the time. After somehow obtaining a magic lamp, she accidentally wishes on it, wishing for everyone to be happy.

Maxine manages to put everyone in a fake, but happy, daze, and is happy about it. Then Maxine wishes to have a good singing voice so she can be the lead in a musical, and ends up liking it so much she wants to keep everything like it is, while Gilly is always unhappy, complaining, and trying to get Maxine to reverse her wishes, and somehow becomes the Police Chief (and is terrible at it). Meanwhile crazy things happen in the kingdom, and the people not affected by the curse (why exactly are they not affected?? It's not clear...) can’t seem to change anything.

Ending: Maxine wishes to reverse her previous wishes, everything goes back to “normal”, and the teachers realize they should have been also trying to have fun, instead of only preparing for battle.

There is also the fact that the way the main character narrates is really annoying. And should she even be the narrator? Maxine seems to have more influence on the story than Gilly...

In the end I’m really frustrated with how this book turned out...

[C.M. Savage · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a fun read, but I felt like the ending should have been the middle to a longer book.

[Juan Manuel Sarmiento · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me sobra? No ha pasado nada a nivel de trama?

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

All is not well in Enchantasia. Stiltskin and his crew are still on the loose and there could be an attach at any time. The students attending Fairy Tale Reform School have chucked their lessons and parties for making weapons and preparing for an attack. Maxine has had enough. When she gets her hands on a magic lamp, she releases the genie and has the opportunity to make 3 wishes. Well, be careful what you wish for. Maxine wishes that everyone at FTRS be happy, poof, things change, and change drastically. Everyone is happy, they are putting on a play, training is gone by the wayside and even Jocelyn and Harlowe are wearing pink. In the kingdom all is not well. Crops are disappearing or being destroyed. The weather has changed so that it is storming and the bridge gets washed out. The chief of police suddenly decides to take a vacation and Gilly is left in charge. And suddenly some mystical characters make an appearance. Can Gilly save the kingdom, her school and her friends this time.

I really enjoy this series. The mashed together fairytales and characters are a lot of fun and there is always a crisis that needs to be solved. This time, Gilly needs Maxine's help to save everyone and everything this time. Of course the message in this story is about accepting yourself, loving your friends the way they are and giving up what you want for what others need. This was another cute addition to this series.

[Liv Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE this series!!!! I could not put this book down! Fairy Tale Reform School is preparing for battle against Rumpelstiltskin. Everyone is so focused on preparing for battle regular classes and other things get canceled. Maxine one of Gilly’s friends is not happy about this. All she wants is everyone to be happy and for things to go back to normal. Mysterious things start happening to Enchancia. People go into a daze and forget about Rumpelstiltskin and all they care about is being happy. Not to mention the weird goo that is destroying the radish plants. Gilly though, did not get dazed so it is up to her to get Enchancia back on track. I will say though this is my least favorite book in the series so far. Mostly because the story line with Rumpelstilkskin and Alva is forgotten in this book and more focused on the weird things happing in Enchancia. But overall it was still a great book!

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an advanced reader's copy due to the popularity of the series with our patrons. This book in the series combined the tales of Rumplestilskin and Aladdin and I loved Calonita's modern take on the classic fairy tales as does the rest of the series. Our readers love the character of Maxine being smart and witty and they will not be disappointed as Maxine finds the lamp and meets the wittiest Genie there ever was. The adventure is a can't miss and is sure to do very well in our collection and that is why we are giving it 5 stars!

[Moriah Chavis · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know the GILMORE GIRLS revival? Where there are 20 minutes of pointless singing?

Bingo.

I wanted to like it because I’m enjoying the series! I started it to expand my reading palette to more middle grade and loved. But I didn’t love this book. It made no sense, and it felt like a filler. Nothing. Happened. Gilly learned a little about herself, but not like some of the other books.

I wish (ha) it had been better.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rumplestiltskin and his squad are still on the loose. FTRS is spending most of their time practicing battle plans. When Maxine finds a magic lamp and releases Darlene, a genie, she wishes that everyone would just be happy. Suddenly, all thoughts of Rumple are gone.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's strange. When I picked up this series I wasn't too impressed. I for sure didn't expect that I would end up reading it with so much joy and pleasure. It's proof that sometimes series and books and characters can grow on you. Or that sometimes something that wasn't right at a certain time, can feel way more right at another time. I was therefore really looking forward to the fifth book in this series, especially because the storyline got interesting in the previous book.

However, let me start with saying that the big storyline actually kinda halted in this book. In the previous book Rumple gathered everything he needed to start his war and the first part of this book consists of characters waiting around and preparing for him to finally launch his attack and the rest of this book consists of characters falling victim to an innocent, but quite naive, wish from a scholar and not acting like themselves.

In a way this book is a filler and I wonder why. Did the series have to be six books long? Was there a deal that forced the author to come up with something to prolong the series with a book? Or will the new character we met in this book be so important in the next book that the filler episode will be worth it? It's not that I didn't enjoy it, it's just that I'm seriously wondering why this story had to be told before we can go back to Rumple.

Due to the nature of this book, the book also didn't really have the same vibe as the other books in the series. In a lot of cases the issue is solved because the characters work together, because they combine their forces. These characters and their interactions are my favorite part of this series. Since a lot of characters were not acting like themselves and since only Gilly isn't so heavily effected the group vibe wasn't truly there.

I hope to find those things I love, the characters and their group work, back in the last book of the series though!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a HUGE fan of Jen Calonita and the FTRS series. With that being said... I am slightly disappointed with this book. I feel like much did not happen and it was a “filler” book to the series.

Minor spoilers from previous books included below...
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After Rumpelstiltskin stole Alva’s statue in the last book and we learned about Anna and her betrayal I was so excited to read what happens next. I felt as though we were left with a huge cliffhanger and was excited for the inevitable battle between “good” and evil.

While the first chapter did have what first appears to be a battle we quickly learn it is just a simulation. This is the only “fighting” that happens in the book. Instead of leading us further down the path to what will happen next it is as if Jen Calonita took a break from the entire storyline.

When Maxine finds an old lamp with a genie inside she makes a very “Maxine” wish- for everyone to be happy. Before we know it, there is to be a musical at FTRS. The rest of the book showcases what the school would be like if everyone was happy all the time. Surely something is bound to go wrong?

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The threat from Stiltskin has the entire FTRS, and indeed, land on high alert. Everyone seems obsessed with weapon skills and running drills, and Maxine has had enough. So when she finds a lamp with a genie in it, she doesn't hesitate to wish that everyone would just be happier. Gilly is on hand to witness the wish, so she is immune and thus almost the only one besides Maxine who realizes how crazy things start to get. While everyone is obsessed with parties and then a musical, Gilly is frustrated by her inability to get more information on Stiltskin.

I like that this book took a little break in the battle against Stiltskin and provided some humor. There are still definite moments of tension and things are building, but watching Madame Cleo and the Wicked Queen write a musical together was entertaining. The plot also gets to see Maxine develop in her person growth a big more through the choices she needs to make. And Gilly has a thing or two to learn about some of the adults in her life and their roles that she's under-appreciated. Also, the genie in this is the most unique one I've come across in a while. This is really a pretty quick read, I was just saving it to mostly read while waiting for food pick up at lunches. Recommended to fairy tale rewrite fans and boarding school story fans.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There are some perilous situations but no one is seriously hurt.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Read

This was an incredible read. This is the fifth book of the Fairy Tale Reform School series. In this book, the citizens of Enchantasia are on high alert with Rumpelstiltskin still on the loose. Also, Maxine finds an old lamp which holds an very enthusiastic genie, and wishes for everyone to be happy! Now Gilly and Maxine must find to break the wish, so that people can focus on Rumpelstiltskin. I thought the characters were amazing and relatable. I loved Gilly. She was an interesting character. I really liked how she was characterized as a person who gave everything to her family. I love how Rumpelstiltskin is the villain again in this story. Also, it is amazing that so many different fairy tales are introduced during the series. I grew up with these fairy tales as I think almost everyone did, but to see how Jen Calonita brought our favourite characters and made a series of them all together. Also when I read this book, I thought of the movie series, Descendants, which is about mischievous villains' kids getting a second chance to be good. I thought the ending was great. I am glad that I found this series. I cannot wait to see what book 6 has in store for me. Cursed (Book 6), here I come. Overall, an amazing read.

[Dilayra Verbrugh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've never given a book one star. I normally DNF.

But this was literally the musical episode in book form and I sadly had to get through it.

While they're in de middle of a war, the school decides to put on a musical after Maxinw wished that everyone was happy. Okay, fine.
Then villages get attacked and the weather is ackting super weird. And Maxine wished that she had the most beautiful voice. HELLO??? How can you be so selfish?
Then the MC tells her that she needs to use the third wish because things are getting more dangerous. First she says "give me two more weeks because then the musical is over". YOU'RE AT WAR!!!! How can you wait two weeks for a freaking musical?!
Then they actually got attacked and Maxine still said "I can't use my third wish because I haven't performed yet"
Hello???
If you don't use that wish you'll literally die amongst your friends, the fuck??

Also literally nothing happened?? This is a filler book and a horrible one at that. Hated it so so so much.

[Genevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this series. I love Gilly Cobbler, Maxine, Jax and all the rest. For me the story line in this book wasn't as exciting and good as some of the previous ones. That being said once I picked it up I wasn't putting it down till I had finished it. I am kind of sad there is only one left in the series. A good solid read.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt not as much conflict/ Villain acts happened in this book and there was opportunity for that to happen. All the other book in the series is about saving FTRS from Rumpelstiltskin and Alva but this book wasn’t. This is my least favourite book in the series.

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite. 3 stars

[Tiffany Spencer]

Wished
FTRS is under attack from Rumple’s squad. They all head to the field armed and ready. Jocelyn spells Maxine’s wand so she can send Rumple’s squad flying. Ollie sends AJ to sniff out any signs of Rumple. Jax gives out instructions. Blackbeard and Cleo lead the battle from the water. It’s reported they’ve broken through the barriers. Then the battle begins. Gilly starts firing with her bow and arrow and takes down Hansel and Gretal. Jocelyn reminds her of the goal. Get to Stiltskin. Find Alva. Anna runs at Gilly (wands and arrow raised). Other kids pop on the ground with caps and swords. Face to face Gilly and Anna start to fight. Anna is about to banish Gilly but Maxine sends Anna flying and with the words “Goldilocks” Rumple and all the squad disappear. We find out it’s a practice battle. They were all apparitions. Maxine says she couldn’t bear to see Gilly and Anna fight. Jocelyn scolds Gilly for taking it too easy on Anna. Harlow is ticked because someone shut down her battle program.

On the way back to the dorm (after cleaning up), Maxine recalls a happy moments after her father went away to war. She and her mother went to the lake and sometimes even hunted for typhira-nasty things that like to torment schoolchildren- (Gilly’s heard). But they’re just myths. Ollie says there was one on his ship and it caused a thunderstorm with it’s mind (as they often do). Jocelyn hears her sister talking They all follow her and see her and all the other teachers go into Madama Celo’s dention room and close the door. But then Miri tells them they should all report to class. All the teachers will be waiting for them there. But Kayla looks into a classroom and Wolvington is there. Didn’t he just go into the detention room? Jocelyn realizes it’s a hologram. After spying they see the whole staff is there and the Royal Court. They sneak into the room and hide in cubbies.

They’re discussing safety precautions. A lot of the parents want their children to come home. (Gilly’s mother has sent her a letter pleading with her to come home). Rose is about to tell them about an old associate she reached out to when Gilly’s cubby starts to move. It’s not just Gilly’s. They’ve been caught. The teachers leave them literally hanging there upside down, scold them, and then give them detention. In class, Prince Sebastian gets on the class for their sorry scores. Then he poses a question to them what do they see themselves doing after this battle is over? Gilly says she sees herself as a policeman but Jack says no one will want to be a former thief in authority. He gives an assignment that they will have an outing to explore future career paths. They’ll interview people in their potential fields. Then they’ll give an oral presentation. He gives Gilly a second assignment. He tells her she’ll interview Pete. Then he says they should get together to talk about Rumple and put their heads together to figure out a way to defeat him.

In the RLW class the lesson is .. weapon making (flower darts) Maxine nearly has a fit. (Earlier she was complaining about everything just being about the upcoming battle). Rapunzel says they’re still going to plan the party for the fairies but the darts will be placed in flower pots and around the grounds they’ll be ready just in case. Celebrations are the perfect time for invasions when defenses are down. Maxine is put over the party planning and Tessa and Rosa are put on weapon duty. They’ve come up with an idea for a rock that comes when called. AG says she’ll help and Ollie says he’ll help Maxine too. Then Raz gives an impromptu lesson of roundhouse kicks. She accues the party planning team. On theday of the field trip, the students are giving their assignments. Max will be at Mother Goose’s Nursery school. Ollie will be with the Head of the Royal Navy. Joceyln will be at a Healter’s Shop. AG is given having tea with royals in the village but Beauty tells her to go check out some school’s inside. She sees a career for her in teaching. Jack says he’ll be meeting with the farmers. Jax with someone to express his concerns Gilly will meet with Pete.

Pete doesn’t take Gilly serious when she tells him she wants his job. He says she has no idea what his job entails. He says the hardest part is listening to everyone that comes to you with a problem and making them feel heard. Gilly says he’s done a great job with that. Pete then tells her if she doesn’t want to listen she can leave. Gilly does but swears she’ll have the office one day. The others interviews go better. Maxine got an internship. AG made an empowering speech at the lady's tea and then observed at the Jack of All Trades School. Ollie swears the Royal Navy wants him to captain a ship and Jax made headway with some business owners. Joceyln got to mix some poisions and Jack got to talk to some farmers. They aren’t very surprised that Pete didn’t take Gilly serious. Max says that maybe the Royal Court can make it happen. They then go to Javiers Jewels and Exotic Treasures.

Max sees a magic lamp and wants it, but Javier says it’s not for sale. Maxine ends up spending all her birthday money on it. Maxine tries to clean the lamp once back but it stays brown. Plus, she can’t get the cap off. There’s an announcement for a party that night. Maxine says maybe that night Gilly will go out with hre and look for typhars. As they plan for the party, the lamp slightly starts to glow. Maxine and Ag have been doing all the work since Rossa and Tessa have been so consumed making weapons. The Royal Court don’t show (they got a tip from Pete). They all get called back to their rooms. Maxine runs off upset because she worked so hard on the party and now it’s canceled. It’s not even a real alert just a tip. Gilly is mad because it’s from Pete. Maxine says she wishes she was in charge. Parties wouldn’t get canceled on a tip. Gilly says she wishes she were police chief. The map is now glowing and shooting off sparks. Before they can run it sets off an explosion that sends them flying.

A shape starts to form. It’s a genie with red, curly hair (and makeup). She says her name is Darlene and addresses Maxine as “master”.Maxine tells her she gets three wishes. You can’t wish to switch places, you can’t bring any back from the dead, you can’t take back wishes, and you can’t wish to be a villain. You also can’t wish to kill anyone or be a villain. Maxine makes her first wish. She wishes that everyone in FTRS will be happy. (SMH TOO VAGUE). Nothing seems to have changed. A big plate of patty cakes appears before Gilly. That’s the genie’s interpretation of happy. Darlene goes back to the lamp. When they get back all the entrances are open. Jocelyn is skipping toward them with a flower and singing. It turns out they had the party. Kayla says her parents loved it. Everyone inside the castle is merry. Classes are called off. There hasn’t been a battle in ages. Every time Gilly starts to get unhappy a patty cake appears.

Gilly goes to visit Professor Sebastian and tells him what’s going on. (But she doesn’t rat Maxine out). He doesn’t seem affected but AG seems a bit hyper. When they sit down to talk, he tells her he’s not going to get into the story about he and Rumple’s past. What’s important now is concentrating on the book. Gilly admits she doesn’t know anything about it’s contents. Gilly can’t open the book because she’s human. Or is she? The Beast seems to think otherwise. He asks what she knows about her grandmother Peral but she says nothing. Her father isn’t close to her. The Beast says that if the Cobbles had the idea to make glass slippers they must have gotten it from a fairy. Maybe a fairy in their own bloodline. He gives her an assignment to ask her parents. He says there’s a reason she could pick up the fairy book and play the harp. He says if they realize it (Rumple’s squad) they’ll want them both. He says if she can hold the book she can help Angelina (like a police chief). Angelina then appears and says she’s come to share some knowledge. She offers the book to Gilly but she turns it down. The Professor tells her to concentrate on finding out her family history. Maxine and Aj appear and announce the school is ptting on a musical (grows).

Maxine said she didn’t know “happiness” meant this. She can’t try out for the audition because she can’t sing. She says she wishes she had a beautiful voice so she can be in the musical Darlene grants the wish and gives her also dancing skills. Darlene tells her to let her know when she’s ready to make the third. Maxine says it’ll be a while. She wants the third one to be something thought out. Maxine suggests in the meanwhile Darlene help with the musical. Ella is frantic. Pete has been talking about taking a vacation. She asks Gilly to talk to her stepmother and Rapunzel. Pete then tells Gilly he’s going on vacation and gives her the job. (something is also ruing the farm crops and attacking the villages). Gilly tries to tell him she’s still in school, but he says she can do it. Then she realizes (Maxine’s wish). She said being the police chief would make her happy.

So this musixal. I think it’s about a great pirate that defeated all the villains ever. I hope this plot doesn’t last long. But then it also seems to be about Jack’s life. The planning for the musical gets bigger. It says they’ll invite the villagers and the Royal Court. Gilly tells Maxine she needs to put a stop to it, but she doesn’t want to. Her parents and grandparents are coming. (It’s now said it’ll have to be outside in the open). Maxine says they can’t live their lives in fear. Gilly goes to Darlene and tells her she has to convince Maxine to make another wish but Darlene likes being involved to much. They then hear there’s an attack at the doors.

But it’s only an attack on vegetables. After this, Gilly is assaulted with a slew of issues going on in town. She writes to Pete beginning him to come back because she’s just a kid and can’t handle being a police officer. Darlene and Maxine tell Gilly that decided the third wish isn’t necessary. There’s been no word of Rumple. Besides Darlene says the lamp is safer with Maxine. What if Rumple were to find it. So, Maxine won’t make the wish and she’ll stay master. Gilly doesn’t agree with the deception. Gilly tries to get Maxine to think about making a final wish. Then she’s interrupted by the girl who delivers the villages issues to her. Professor Sebastican tells her now she sees it’s not as easy as she thought it was. He encourages her to get Maxine to do the right thing.

On the night of the musical, it storms. Miri informs Gilly there won’t be any back up if something occurs because a bridge is out. During the play, it’s reported there’s a break in. A typhara appears in the room and shuts lightning out of its mouth. Gilly realizes they must have something to do with the wish Maxine made while she the lamp. Then they just run amok and cause havoc as everyone screams and runs. Blue rescues the lamp from a bunch of typhara’s and Maxine makes her final wish for things to go back to how they were before she made the first wish.

Maxine has to explain why she did what she did, but she says she’s glad because at least she gave everyone something else to think about. The teachers agree and For a apologizes and says they’ve all missed the point and that is to teach their students to thrive in the face of adversity. Then they all change their minds about Gilly’s future as a police. She did after all convince Maxine to change her mind. Gilly gives the lamp to Blackbeard to take to Haley to keep the lamp for safekeeping. Angelina says she’s finished the book. She knows how it ends. Wolfington says the future can still be changed. Now Gilly wants to know what’s in the book. Flora says they have time. Flora says the typhra’s aren’t the ones who’ve been destroying the crops. (But then who has?). Flora says they all need some entertainment and they encourage Maxine to sing (even if she’s bad). So she does.

Mother reveals that Pearl was half fairy and so is Gilly. She says she’s told Peral about her and she’ll expect to see her soon. She hasn’t since she bestowed a blessing on her.


My Thoughts
This one felt shorter. I admit I zooned out a little when I read this was going to be about a musical. I just do not like musicals. Luckily book musicals aren’t like television series musicals. There weren’t pages and pages of “singing”. I would have gritted my teeth and pushed through it of course, but.. No, musicals just don’t do it for me. Musicals are just one of the things my family likes to do together that I just cant..

Then why do characters make such ridiculous wishes every time they’re tiven a chance to make three wishes? I don’t think I’ve read a book yet were the wishes are reasonable. The first wish Maxine makes is for everyone to be happy. I was just shaking my head because this is WAY to VAGUE a wish. It was a *thoughtful* wish and it was very unselfish but still the way it got interpreted caused a lot of trouble. It just wasn’t *SPECIFIC* enough. But I think in a awy this was the better of all the wishes. Gilly learned an important lesson that sometimes what you *think* might make you happy really doesn’t in the end. I had to learn this myself.

The second wish just seemed frivolous. Maxine wished to be a good singer and dancer. FINE if your dream is to be a singer or dancer or work in the entertainment industry in some way. But Maxine wanted to be a good singer and dancer so she could be in the musical to impress everybody which is NEVER a good reason to want something. At the end of the book, they were just as content with her singing off-key. Again she tought she wanted something and in the end it wasn’t necessary.

Then things going back to normal just felt like a throw away wish. A;; wasted wishes/ And I thought about it. What if I had three wishes? I think I’d wish for something with a little more substance. I’d wish for my health to go back to before I got ill when I was twelve. I’d maybe wish to win Publishing Clearing House to get a ten thousand dollar check the rest of my life (or the lottery). It didn’t say you couldn’t wish for that, Just that you couldn’t wish for more wishes. Maybe I would have wished for a daughter like the one I’ve admired for months. Maybe I’d wish for a door to open so my series would be a success. Maybe I’d wish for a better neighborhood to stay in that was a little more quiet. So many things with substance I can think of. I definitely wouldn’t blow not one of my wishes. I’d really give them some thought.
Rating: 6

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. More about the characters finding out about themselves than mystery or even fighting. Little action. But that’s ok. Reminded me of Sing (the movie)

[Lilly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this is the worst book in the series honestly. It still has pretty good parts, but they seemed fewer and far between. Maxine was incredibly annoying in this book. The only positive thing I felt that I learned about her was her background. I can understand and sympathize with why she is (constantly and unrelentingly) the way that she is throughout the book, if you’ve read it you’ll know what I’m talking about, but it was genuinely annoying. I felt myself feeling like how like Gilly described feeling throughout the book because Maxine just seemed to constantly be messing everything up. And then to top it all off the ending is a major let down. The ending of the book felt like a chapter ending. I understand that sometimes authors need filler books and in this sense I feel like Charmed is the poster child of a filler book. I would just honestly say to skip this book or that if you aren’t enjoying it half way through there’s really no need to finish it. I’m taking a break from the FTRS series after this one and just hoping that the next one is better.

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series. It ventures away from the original threat of the villains Rumplestilskin and Alva so it almost felt like a waste of time. Almost. It was still a fun story and there were points that will be important in future books. Like the fact that radishes are becoming scarce and there are many scary creatures that don’t like radishes...it’s a small fact that’s definitely leading up to something big. But this book is about Maxine having a genie and three wishes. Maxine has already lived through the troll wars and so is done with all the preparation for a war with Rumple and Alva. It definitely makes sense that she’s so against the plans but her wish is that everyone at FTRS will be happy. So everybody is happy but also delirious and vapid. It’s definitely a fun read but is so far removed from the rest of the series it was a little disappointing.

[michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This plot of this book felt like a novella. While it was about the same length as the previous books in the series, it definitely took a break from following the Rumpelstiltskin plot line. And I'm quite disappointed that the series is not finished yet. I would love to know how everything wraps up but since this series hasn't made the biggest impression on me, by the time the rest of the books come out I'll probably have forgotten everything about the books and I do not want to reread them. 🤷 I guess time will tell if I will ever find out how everything ends.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gilly and friends and the rest of fairy tale reform school are preparing for an attack by Rumpelstiltskin and Alva. Things are fun anymore according to Maxine. When she finds a lamp containing a genie, things get sickeningly sweet as she wishes for everyone to be happy. They prepare for a musical.
It was a cute story with a moral to it, but definitely not my favorite fairy tale reform school book.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read the first two books in this series on Libby, and then since this was the only other one they had, I just assumed that it was the third one. But, as I started to get farther into the book, I realized that I had missed quite a bit of the story. If you've read the first two, make sure you don't read this one next because, it makes it VERY confusing. Apart from that, I found it pretty good.

[No, David! No! · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the series, but I thought this was the weakest of the books. I loved the creativity in plot lines and characters from previous books. This one was more like a story line you would see on any disney teen tv show. Hopefully the next one will return to the fun of the first couple books.

[Brielle Berenyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazinggggg