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Once Upon A Yuletide: A Holiday Fairytale Anthology
Follow us on a journey this holiday season. A journey that will see your favorite holiday stories given a fresh look and your fairy-tales a yuletide twist.
- GenresFantasyAnthologies
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 23, 2019
5 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 6, 2020
This boxset of holiday stories is a great read that I really enjoyed. All containing elements of traditional seasonal stories (some more well known than others), they are nevertheless new tales full of adventure, wonder, romance, magic and seasonal delight. Despite some errors (which I've noted to report to the authors), I highly recommend it to all lovers of a good winter's tale!
Individual stories:
Frost and Fears by Laura Greenwood (5*)
An excellent retelling of the Snow Queen, taking place in a magical academy. I enjoyed reading this story and it is suitable for young adults, not having rude bits. A good story for the festive season!
A Winter Curse by Tabitha Barrett (4*)
I found this a really enchanting tale and loved the interaction between the characters. There is a reverse harem romance included, so it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it's still an excellent story featuring a strong, independent female lead, and I liked that about it. You can always skip past the rude bits!
Christmas Cookie Catastrophe by Maria Vermisoglou (5*)
I LOVED this story, which is full of magic, adventure, Xmas characters and love. I'd really love to know more about all the characters we meet, and what happens next, so I hope the author will write more stories set in this world, but in the meantime I'll enjoy reading this one.
The Nutcracker’s Curse by Joanna White (5*)
An excellent retelling of the Nutcracker story. I loved the characters and the way the author brings them all together, and the fact that not everything is magically fixed at the end makes it a much better story for me.
Unmasking the Mercenary by Angel Nicole Chu (4*)
This adventure story was a little strange but still an enjoyable read. I could definitely relate to the sisterly arguments (and love!), and found the descriptive writing of the author really draws you into the scene.
The Golden Star by Toasha Jiordano (5*)
I loved this tale, full of Xmas magic and the true wonder of fairytales. A beautiful story and a great ending to the boxset, leaving you with a warm heart full of love to share this festive season.
Individual stories:
Frost and Fears by Laura Greenwood (5*)
An excellent retelling of the Snow Queen, taking place in a magical academy. I enjoyed reading this story and it is suitable for young adults, not having rude bits. A good story for the festive season!
A Winter Curse by Tabitha Barrett (4*)
I found this a really enchanting tale and loved the interaction between the characters. There is a reverse harem romance included, so it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it's still an excellent story featuring a strong, independent female lead, and I liked that about it. You can always skip past the rude bits!
Christmas Cookie Catastrophe by Maria Vermisoglou (5*)
I LOVED this story, which is full of magic, adventure, Xmas characters and love. I'd really love to know more about all the characters we meet, and what happens next, so I hope the author will write more stories set in this world, but in the meantime I'll enjoy reading this one.
The Nutcracker’s Curse by Joanna White (5*)
An excellent retelling of the Nutcracker story. I loved the characters and the way the author brings them all together, and the fact that not everything is magically fixed at the end makes it a much better story for me.
Unmasking the Mercenary by Angel Nicole Chu (4*)
This adventure story was a little strange but still an enjoyable read. I could definitely relate to the sisterly arguments (and love!), and found the descriptive writing of the author really draws you into the scene.
The Golden Star by Toasha Jiordano (5*)
I loved this tale, full of Xmas magic and the true wonder of fairytales. A beautiful story and a great ending to the boxset, leaving you with a warm heart full of love to share this festive season.
Read
December 26, 2019Once Upon A Yuletide includes a short version of Frosts And Fears
Grimm Academy
1. Spindles And Spells: books2read.com/spindlesandspells
2. Pumpkins And Proms: books2read.com/pumpkinsandproms
3. Huntsmen And Hoods: books2read.com/huntsmenandhoods
4. Mirrors And Magic: books2read.com/mirrorsandmagic
5. Lamps and Lies: books2read.com/lampsandlies
6. Frosts And Fears: books2read.com/frostsandfears
Grimm Academy
1. Spindles And Spells: books2read.com/spindlesandspells
2. Pumpkins And Proms: books2read.com/pumpkinsandproms
3. Huntsmen And Hoods: books2read.com/huntsmenandhoods
4. Mirrors And Magic: books2read.com/mirrorsandmagic
5. Lamps and Lies: books2read.com/lampsandlies
6. Frosts And Fears: books2read.com/frostsandfears
January 12, 2020
A prophecy unfolds trapping childhood friends Gerda and Kai in its frosty mists.
Gerda attends the Grimm Academy to stop her prophecy from happening to her or to anyone else. She remains isolated to ensure that everyone remains safe. One day she hears a familiar voice and it is her dear friend from childhood Kai.
Kai has grown into a fine young man who has come to the Academy to escape his own prophecy. Gerda starts to suspect he is connected to hers. As she tries to prevent the future from happening, the frost slips in unaware.
(dun, dun, dunnnnnnn)
Sorry, I could not help myself (laugh). Laura Greenwood takes on the retelling of the Snow Queen in Frost and Fears in the anthology Once Upon A Yuletide (Divination Publishing, B082FMY9KB, 2019). This is a short story and reads rather quickly.
Gerda is a strong female character who tries to take charge of her destiny, yet stumbles. I do like that Greenwood has Gerda save herself. Greenwood makes the connection of childhood friendship easily enough between Gerda and Kai, I just never felt the “love” connection between them. This could be because of the length of the story and the emotional place Kai was in for most of the story.
I was not familiar with this fairytale, but then I did not grow up with fairytales (laugh). This is a welcome new fairytale to my collection though: a girl who saves herself and her friend then goes dancing. I can dig that. ✶✶✶✶
Gerda attends the Grimm Academy to stop her prophecy from happening to her or to anyone else. She remains isolated to ensure that everyone remains safe. One day she hears a familiar voice and it is her dear friend from childhood Kai.
Kai has grown into a fine young man who has come to the Academy to escape his own prophecy. Gerda starts to suspect he is connected to hers. As she tries to prevent the future from happening, the frost slips in unaware.
(dun, dun, dunnnnnnn)
Sorry, I could not help myself (laugh). Laura Greenwood takes on the retelling of the Snow Queen in Frost and Fears in the anthology Once Upon A Yuletide (Divination Publishing, B082FMY9KB, 2019). This is a short story and reads rather quickly.
Gerda is a strong female character who tries to take charge of her destiny, yet stumbles. I do like that Greenwood has Gerda save herself. Greenwood makes the connection of childhood friendship easily enough between Gerda and Kai, I just never felt the “love” connection between them. This could be because of the length of the story and the emotional place Kai was in for most of the story.
I was not familiar with this fairytale, but then I did not grow up with fairytales (laugh). This is a welcome new fairytale to my collection though: a girl who saves herself and her friend then goes dancing. I can dig that. ✶✶✶✶
January 11, 2020
This review is for "A Winter Curse" by Tabitha Barret
A romantic retelling of a fairytale I’d never heard before. I love that I not only got to learn this take on the tale, but I looked up the original as well as a result!
A young woman is the only one willing to try to find the cause of a sudden winter in the middle of summer. She digs her way out of her cabin, leaving her father, to go to town to see if anyone will help. Only, everyone in town wants to blame a Witch and Father Frost for the storm raging outside and no one is willing to leave their homes. Katia is stronger than them in spirit and agrees to set out after the townspeople give her new, warm clothes.
On her way to take on this "fairy tale" Pavlina, the Frost Witch, tries to kill her and 3 shifters band together to save her. They've watched her from afar and are inspired by her tenacity and desire to actually do something. After nursing her back to strength they set out again.
Can Katia and these 3 shifters form an alliance to end the unnatural winter? Or will the Ice Demons roaming the countryside be their end? WIll the sparks they feel for each other devolop into more? Or will the cold end it all?
A romantic retelling of a fairytale I’d never heard before. I love that I not only got to learn this take on the tale, but I looked up the original as well as a result!
A young woman is the only one willing to try to find the cause of a sudden winter in the middle of summer. She digs her way out of her cabin, leaving her father, to go to town to see if anyone will help. Only, everyone in town wants to blame a Witch and Father Frost for the storm raging outside and no one is willing to leave their homes. Katia is stronger than them in spirit and agrees to set out after the townspeople give her new, warm clothes.
On her way to take on this "fairy tale" Pavlina, the Frost Witch, tries to kill her and 3 shifters band together to save her. They've watched her from afar and are inspired by her tenacity and desire to actually do something. After nursing her back to strength they set out again.
Can Katia and these 3 shifters form an alliance to end the unnatural winter? Or will the Ice Demons roaming the countryside be their end? WIll the sparks they feel for each other devolop into more? Or will the cold end it all?
January 31, 2020
Titles included in this anthology:
Frost and Fears by Laura Greenwood
A Winter Curse by Tabitha Barrett
Christmas Cookie Catastrophe by Maria Vermisoglou
The Nutcracker's Curse by Joanna White
Unmasking the Mercenary by Angel Nicole Chu
The Golden Star by Toasha Jiordano
All of these stories brought their own bit of magic to this collection, but my two favorites were A Winter Curse by Tabitha Barrett and The Nutcracker's Curse by Joanna White.
Apparently, I must have a thing for curses. lol Both of these stories were written well and drew me quickly into the story. They were filled with more romance than some of the others, which is what I crave most, and also had a huge element of adventure to them. The stakes were high and the reader is often left wondering how will the characters resolve the conflict they are pitted against. I enjoyed reading both of these stories and I look forward to reading more by Ms. Barrett and Ms. White.
Frost and Fears by Laura Greenwood
A Winter Curse by Tabitha Barrett
Christmas Cookie Catastrophe by Maria Vermisoglou
The Nutcracker's Curse by Joanna White
Unmasking the Mercenary by Angel Nicole Chu
The Golden Star by Toasha Jiordano
All of these stories brought their own bit of magic to this collection, but my two favorites were A Winter Curse by Tabitha Barrett and The Nutcracker's Curse by Joanna White.
Apparently, I must have a thing for curses. lol Both of these stories were written well and drew me quickly into the story. They were filled with more romance than some of the others, which is what I crave most, and also had a huge element of adventure to them. The stakes were high and the reader is often left wondering how will the characters resolve the conflict they are pitted against. I enjoyed reading both of these stories and I look forward to reading more by Ms. Barrett and Ms. White.
February 26, 2020
Loved
Awesome collection!! What I love most about anthologies is getting to read a handful of quick stories that keep you warm. They're quick, fun and can be steamy! I'd like to shout out to Tabitha's quick read. I loved it!! The guys are awesome to let go of their differences to make Katia happy. The storyline was perfect.
Awesome collection!! What I love most about anthologies is getting to read a handful of quick stories that keep you warm. They're quick, fun and can be steamy! I'd like to shout out to Tabitha's quick read. I loved it!! The guys are awesome to let go of their differences to make Katia happy. The storyline was perfect.
July 7, 2020
An anthology of six Yuletide themed fairy tales.
While the majority fit into the Young Adult category; however
A Winter Curse by Tabitha Barrert, throws off the collection with it's more mature theme.
While the majority fit into the Young Adult category; however
A Winter Curse by Tabitha Barrert, throws off the collection with it's more mature theme.
April 1, 2020
This is a lovely set of winter themed fairytale stories. A nice little read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews