Dare

Pixieland Diaries #3

by Christina Bauer

***BEWARE***

If you don’t like pixies, then don’t read this diary.

And if you don’t like feisty pixies who become queen while cherishing their so-called attitude problems? Definitely turn away right now.

I’m a pixie who rules as Queen of the Summer Fae and yet, I’m also the proud owner of a very cheeky personality. What can I say? It works for me. Or it does until an evil sorcerer plans to destroy all of Faerie. The Usurper.

To defeat this deadly mage, I team up with my elf crush, Dare. He’s a Prince of the Winter Realm and just awesome in general. Together, we face this threat like two pointy-eared bosses. Sure, it's a dangerous quest, but things get way worse when the unthinkable happens...

Dare is kidnapped.

Will I give up? Hell, no. But I will crash an ice polo pony tournament in a bikini. Then I’ll kick some sparkly fairy butt and save the day.

Because that’s how we saucy pixie queens get stuff done.

***A 40,000-word diary written by Calla***

Pixieland Diaries Series
1. Pixieland Diaries
2. Calla
3. Dare
4. Winter Prince
5. Ley Queen

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance

ebook

First published March 30, 2021

About the author

Christina 'CEE BEE' Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes young adult romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too. Christina lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. She loves to connect with her fans at ChristinaBauerAuthor.com.

ANGELBOUND ORIGINS
About a quasi (part demon and part human) girl who loves kicking butt in Purgatory's Arena
1. Angel bound
2. Scala
3. Acca
4. Thrax
5. The Dark Lands
6. The Brutal Time
7. Armageddon
8. Quasi Redux
9. Clockwork Igni
10. Lady Reaper
11. Reaper Games
12. Angry Gods

ANGELBOUND OFFSPRING
The next generation takes on Heaven, Hell, and everything in between
1. Maxon
2. Portia
3. Zinnia
4. Rhodes
5. Kaps
6. Mack
7. Huntress
8. Gage
*This is a finished series

ANGELBOUND LINCOLN
Events of Angelbound from Lincoln's POV
1. Duty Bound
2. Lincoln
3. Trickster
4. Baculum
5. Angelfire

ANGELBOUND XAVIER TRILOGY
The story of the Archangel Xavier
1. Archenemy
2. Archnemesis
3. Archangel

FAIRY TALES OF THE MAGICORUM
Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
1. Wolves And Roses

2. Moonlight And Midtown

3. Slippers And Thieves

4. Shifters And Glyphs

5. Bandits And Ball Gowns

6. Fire And Cinder

7. Fairies And Frosting

8. Towers And Tithes
9. Mirrors And Mysteries
10. Rapunzels And Powers

DIMENSION DRIFT
Dystopian adventures with science, snark, and hot aliens
1. Scythe
2. Umbra
3. Alien Minds
4. ECHO Academy
*This is a completed series

PIXIELAND DIARIES
The story of sassy pixie, Calla, and her elf crush, Dare
1. Pixieland Diaries
2. Calla
3. Dare
*This is a completed series

BEHOLDER
Where a medieval farm girl discovers necromancy and true love
1. Cursed
2. Concealed
3. Cherished
4. Crowned
5. Cradled
*This is a completed series

VAMPIRES OF THE DAEMONVERSE
Adult fantasy written under my pen name, CEE BEE
1. Violins and Vampires
2. Veils and Vampires
3. Vixens and Vampires
4. Valor and Vampires

Reviews

[Westveil Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was both invited to read DARE through a NetGalley widget provided directly by Christina Bauer herself and also accepted onto a blog tour for this title, which means I actually had two widgets sitting in my inbox. Yay! I couldn't wait to read the next Pixieland Diaries volume. Thank you to both Christina Bauer and XPresso Book Tours for the opportunity. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Blog tour post: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...

Last time we took a peek into Calla's diary she was on a mission to save her father and managed to find herself engaged to her Winter Court boyfriend Dare out of an act of spite on his behalf against his mother. Well, his mother's animosity toward Calla continues, but there's plenty more going on in Pixieland to distract them. Plagues, possessions, deaths and resurrections, and Calla's plans to issue and revoke decrees that will change the way the Summer Court runs, oh my! This one may be short but it is packed.

I did take a glance at the other two reviews on Goodreads before mine once I was done, and it looks like everyone loved it but was hoping for Dare's POV. Personally, I'm happy to continue to read adorable, airheaded Calla some more. Out of all of Bauer's books and characters, Pixieland and Calla are my favourite. Bring it on! If you were genuinely hoping for diary entries by Dare, however, I'm sorry to say you won't find them here.

Calla is still the very young, goofy girl I love to read, but she does appear to be growing and maturing just a little bit, and I love that too. She has definitely gained more control and understanding with Sammy, and I'm pleased to say nothing about the Calla-Sammy interactions in this one felt cheesy or annoying like they were at the beginning of the previous book. I enjoyed how often things in this book got flipped around and twisted, too. Regardless of whether or not readers were hoping for a different POV, I think this one will prove to be thoroughly gripping and entertaining.

By the way, fun little anecdote from my reading experience that doesn't actually impact my rating: I listened to part of this book with the help of Acrobat's screen reader while I was cooking and it just happened to be a section with a lot of references to ley magic. At one point I momentarily forgot that Calla's mother is the Ley Queen and that this word was indeed ley, not the French "les." I thought Calla was being goofy doing a French accent saying "les magic" for a good couple of paragraphs before I realized what the text must actually be, and I had to laugh at myself for that, but really it would have Calla anyway!

I highly recommend reading Dare if you enjoy Christina Bauer's work or YA Fantasy in general, but please do read the previous book first. You'll be lost without the background knowledge of who Dare is and what just happened before the events of this book, and this book is too short to afford time to summarize it for you.

[Monster House Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new kind of fairy tale about making mistakes while trying to do the right thing... and that one person who always helps you keep at it. Also: our fave sassy pixie, Calla, crashes an ice pony polo tournament in a bikini. In other words, DARE has something for everyone :)

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not what you think or maybe it is. I guess that really depends on you and where your mind went to when you saw Dare's name on the cover and then read the blurb. Our sassy pixie is back and I still love her. She is spunky, tricky, and playful (a bit), but one thing she will not become is a partaker of the bad things coming to Pixieland.

Fans will get the adventure we have loved with Callie thus far. There was some action and bit of drama, a dose or two of romance, and I have to say laughs. Callie is still loveable. And of course we get more of Dare, myths (or not myths), magic, friends, foes, family. Dare (pun intended) I say a meeting of Dare and Callie, finally, trully.

I want to give away nothing but I want you to read this one. Pixieland is full of magic, fun, deceivers, adventure, and Callie.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Calla and Dare were kids they set out to find this magical sword called the Ogham sword. Calla wants to use the sword for good. She wants to help all of Faerie. She wants to help free the changelings. She wants to use the Ogham sword on the Eleven High Council and change them into nice people so that they will treat everyone the same.

The Ogham sword only appears every once in a kazillion-million years or so and it seems that it has reappeared. An elf with no magic is looking for the Ogham sword too but he does not plan to use the sword for good no just the opposite. The Usurper plans to use the sword to end all of Faerie. Dare and Calla set out to stop this elf before it is too late.

Calla’s first stop on her search for the Ogham sword is her parent's home Poppa and Muti. Poppa and Muti are tree sprites who live in an acorn. On her visit with Poppa and Muti, they tell her about this rumor that they heard that concerns Dare. It seems that Dare is going to start a plague and then run away to Earth.

Well, of course, Calla doesn’t believe that Dare would ever do such a thing. But if there is any truth to the rumor she will do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t ever happen. There has to be some kind of misunderstanding. Her parents couldn’t have heard correctly I mean they must have missed something or interrupted something wrong or someone did. Or maybe it was just a play on words.

So now Calla has her hands full. She must find the Ogham sword, an elf called Usurper and now she has to stop Dare from starting a plague that could kill everyone or at least try to prove the rumor wrong in some way or another.

I first fell in love with Calla in the first book of the Pixieland Diaries series, Pixieland Diaries. That love continued to grow in the next book, Calla. And now in the third book Dare that love has deepened. While Calla is the same sweet, sassy, and feisty pixie she has always been she has grown into a more mature pixie.

Calla no longer pulls pranks anymore or well not unless the situation calls for it that is. Calla’s prankster reputation has followed her into her teen years as the queen. It seems no one is taking her seriously about ruling Faerie's land.

Dare is a wonderful addition to the Pixieland Diaries. Dare and Calla make a sweet, sweet couple. I can’t wait to read more of their story in future books. I can’t wait for the next book in the Pixieland Diaries, Winter Prince.

I will have to admit that the Winter Prince has one little problem and it hasn’t even stepped foot outside the gate and that is that I am going to have to wait a whole year before I can read it as it is not due to be released until March 22, 2022. Oh, why do I have to wait so long?

Oh, I know, I know I am getting a little windy here. Ok, I will leave off now by saying that I would like to highly suggest that you give Dare a try by one-clicking your copy today! But oh, please start with the first book in the Pixieland Dairies series with the same name, that is Pixieland Dairies of course.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I haven’t read the first two books of this series. That being said I did still enjoy this funny, charming, Queen Calla diary. I’m sure the first two books may have filled in a bit of the backstory but this story was enough on it’s own that I did not feel like I had to have read the first two.

Calla is an interesting character. She is full of snark, sass, and enough wit to get away with all kinds of pranks and shenanigans. Unfortunately for her, a prankster being Queen of Summer Fae means that she’ll have to work doubly hard to prove her status. Even when she’s discussing actual issues with her friends and nobles her ideas are dismissed and misunderstood. This story definitely felt like a coming of age story for Calla. She’s reckless and fun, but also learning that sometimes being serious is important too.

Dare and his connection to Calla is the stuff good relationships strive for. He is supportive, and adores her with reckless abandon. Their passion for each other and the people they rule is very apparent and endearing. I really enjoyed their banter and comradery throughout the story. Both young and inexperienced leaders they relied on each other and found comfort in their own little rebellions against the “normal” way.

This is a quick, fun, adventurous story that will leave you with a smile on your face. I highly recommend you grab yourself a copy and enjoy the sass of all things Calla and Dare. Now I think I need to read the first two books too!

[Mrs. Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calla has always loved to pull a prank. Everyone else feels she needs to stop, even if that means she is banned from Faerie. Before they can get her out of their realm, Calla performs some extraordinary magic and becomes their Queen. Now instead of pulling pranks, she is expected to rule the court. When her friend Prince Dare is accused of releasing a new plague, she must decide what she trusts more … her heart or her people. What pranks will Calla need to complete before she gets to the truth? How will Calla’s feelings for Dare change through this trial?

Dare is the third book in the Pixieland Diaries series. This book is very short (probably better to classify it as a novella), yet the storyline made huge jumps. Bauer, once again, has written a book that is easy to love and a fun escape to read. There is Faerie mischief and romance throughout and the diary format makes for an even faster read. Although I would probably say this is appropriate for all young adult readers, there are a few “strong” words that might make a few middle school readers cringe. Other than that, it is a great continuation and I can’t wait for the fourth book to be released next year.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are fun, cute, and super quick to read. I can't help but smile while reading them, so if you're looking for a pick-me-up, these are definitely it.

We pick up with Calla, still queen but also still trying to convince her subjects that she's taking this seriously. Well, as seriously as someone who wants a bouncy house in the castle can take things. There is, of course, yet another big bad for her to handle. This time the big bad comes in the form of a disgruntled null who uses a magical sword to try to destroy everyone. That'd be a big bummer for Calla, since she is queen now (and has a bouncy house), so she and Dare mobilize to stop this latest threat.

Nothing is ever simple, however, so there's some detective work, some flirty polo games, some ley line nonsense, and other assorted Calla-isms, but we ultimately get to a good ending. While these are short, they are packed with fun and adventure. There's always a little mystery and good chase to keep things interesting, and I think we might be headed toward real romance soon, too!

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something about this series, that is so incredibly addicting. All of the books so far, are funny, fast-paced, page-turners, and Dare is no different.

Calla is the queen of the Summer Fae, but most of her subjects or even friends and family don't take her seriously, instead just expecting another prank and when she goes about changing stuff, no one believes her, until it happens. She wants to put everyone's voice on the council and free all the humans, but at first, there is a bigger threat on the horizon. They must find Ogham's sword before the Usurper. On top of Dare is being framed and Saiti seems to work against her.

Dare was a bit lighter read than the previous story. There was a bit more Calla-Dare time, which I loved.

My only complaint, I wish Dare's voice was more district. I didn't get a good feel for him, who he is, or what he wants, because his voice kind of blended with the story.

[Ronni Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts with a rather sweet look at the secret diary of both Calla and Date when they were much younger and innocent.

We then flash forward to a 16 year old Calla, who is beginning to discover that despite her being the Queen of the Summer Fae hasn't changed people's opinion of her. Her reputation as a prankster seems to precede her, and she struggles to find someone to take her seriously.

With the passage of 40,000 years, the fated Usurper is back and is after the Ogham sword. It is up to Calla and Dare to prevent this.

This was a fast moving story, each page a delight to read. I'm already looking forward to The Winter Prince, where we meet Dare's long forgotten brother, Reiver.

[Nextbookaroundthecorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I wanted to follow up on Calla's adventures in her next diary. Because the prankster pixie will certainly get more s hit done. But what will she do, when her boyfriend Dare (yeah, you read that right: Calla and Dare have gone into the next phase of their relationship) goes missing and she is framed for his disappearance? Well duh, she puts on her big girls panties (in fashionable pink of course), grabs some pixie dust and goes on a mission to save his cute butt. And although the story is bit shorter, than Calla's previous diary, it also contains a lot of cool drawings. So, a worthy diary addition to the Pixieland Diaries series. Can't wait for the next part.
Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

[Charlotte Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A daring third installment!

I'll be honest, I've not read the first two books.....I know I've missed a treat having read Dare. It's a nice easy read, perfect for a lazy afternoon in the garden.

It's well written fun with twists and surprises. Although short you still get to know the characters and form your own relationships with them. I love the optimism and closeness of Calla and Dare, the way they think along similar lines and have a bit of a mischievous streak. It was fun seeing each of them grow and discover things about themselves.
They definitely fit well together.

There are characters that I don't like, with good reason, and ones that I just generally don't care for.

Christina Bauer never disappoints with her writing but always amazes me with her imagination.

[anie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something about this series, that is so incredibly addicting. :) All of the books so far, are funny, fast-paced, page-turners, and Dare is no different.

Calla is the queen of the Summer Fae, but most of her subjects or even friends and family don't take her seriously, instead just expecting another prank and when she goes about changing stuff, no one believes her, until it happens. :) She wants to put everyone's voice on the council and free all the humans, but at first, there is a bigger threat on the horizon. They must find Ogham's sword before the Usurper. On top of Dare is being framed and Saiti seems to work against her.

Dare was a bit lighter read than the previous story. There was a bit more Calla- Dare time, which I loved. <3 :)

My only complaint, I wish Dare's voice was more district. I didn't get a good feel for him, who he is, or what he wants, because his voice kind of blended with the story.

received from Xpresso Book Tours

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a really fun read. Although this book is titled Dare, it is Calla who is our guide through the story. I absolutely loved Calla! She made me laugh and smile throughout the story, even though events sometimes took a turn for the more serious. I must admit, after reading this, I now want to go and read the other books in the series! A fun, adventurous read for pixie and far lovers!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review

This is probably just me - but since it was named after him, I thought Dare would be narrating this story. Calla is a good narrator, but she is a bit bubble headed.

Good story. I'm curious as to what will happen next.

[Andrea Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are so fun!

With this author you can always expect action, adventure and SASS. I adore it. These are written in diary form, so you're plunked right down in the middle of the story. There's nothing not to love about this feisty pixie and her handsome crush!

[Amazeballs Book Addicts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one. We get a little bit of Dare and Calla when they were kids. After reading the first two, this one was different than what I had excepted. This one is shorter than the other two but don't let that fool you its's still packed full of drama and action.

[Dawn Eggleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dare continues the adventures of Queen Calla and Prince Dare from the pixieland diaries series. It is important that you read the 2 prior books in the series before this in order to understand what is going on. Christine bauer however really creates this rich world with sassy characters that you as a reader really engage with, a fun lighthearted read,

[melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pixies and elves, summer Court & Winter Court, queens and princes, hijinks and pranks together with a some seriousness, battles and budding romance all rolled into one heck of an amazing story.

[M.T. DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Bauer—sassy, fun, and heartfelt. I enjoyed the hijinks and drama, and it was also great to see the more serious side of things, too. The journal format works very well, allowing the character voice to really shine through.
Plenty of action to keep things moving, and a healthy amount of intrigue. There was one point where things seemed to get resolved much faster than I expected, but overall, that didn’t hamper my reading experience. Oh, and the romance is adorable. If you like your YA fantasy on the fun side with lots of attitude and fun characters, I can’t recommend this enough.