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Faraway Castle #5
The Mirror and the Curse
This summer, Princess Eddi intends to win both Prince Fidelio’s heart and the Faraway Castle Cup!
A summer of training for the race at the resort with her winged horse and Kai the dwarf sounds ideal. Better still, Prince Fidelio decides to join her . . . so her summer plan is a done deal. Or it would be if Fidelio would behave like a sensible boyfriend, and Kai? Sidekick dwarfs are not supposed to be confusingly attractive.
A series of mysterious magic attacks merely adds to Eddi’s trouble. But who is out to get her? Her nemesis Raquel is the obvious villain, but she doesn’t have magic. Eddi’s annoyingly perfect stepmother does, however. Worse still, there’s rumor of a dangerous magical artifact on the loose . . .
Can Eddi power through one obstacle after another and achieve both her summer goals? Only if her heart will cooperate!
A summer of training for the race at the resort with her winged horse and Kai the dwarf sounds ideal. Better still, Prince Fidelio decides to join her . . . so her summer plan is a done deal. Or it would be if Fidelio would behave like a sensible boyfriend, and Kai? Sidekick dwarfs are not supposed to be confusingly attractive.
A series of mysterious magic attacks merely adds to Eddi’s trouble. But who is out to get her? Her nemesis Raquel is the obvious villain, but she doesn’t have magic. Eddi’s annoyingly perfect stepmother does, however. Worse still, there’s rumor of a dangerous magical artifact on the loose . . .
Can Eddi power through one obstacle after another and achieve both her summer goals? Only if her heart will cooperate!
271 pages, ebook
First published May 28, 2021
30 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Stengl
12 books217 followers
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Jill Marie is a native of southern California who, after a whirlwind life as a military wife, now makes her home with her husband in North Carolina, where she serves at the beck and call of two cats, one dog, and five adorable grandchildren. Obsessions include all things animal rescue, fairy-tale romances, collecting model horses, and perfecting the perfect pastry crust.
During her former career as a romance novelist, Jill Marie won both the Carol Award and RWA's Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. Now she prefers her novels to include a dash of magic along with the heart-melting romance.
Jill Marie is a native of southern California who, after a whirlwind life as a military wife, now makes her home with her husband in North Carolina, where she serves at the beck and call of two cats, one dog, and five adorable grandchildren. Obsessions include all things animal rescue, fairy-tale romances, collecting model horses, and perfecting the perfect pastry crust.
During her former career as a romance novelist, Jill Marie won both the Carol Award and RWA's Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. Now she prefers her novels to include a dash of magic along with the heart-melting romance.
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May 17, 2021JM Stengl's Faraway Castle books are the most sweet, fluffy, comfort reads in existence, and got me through some rough times a couple of years back. THE MIRROR AND THE CURSE returns to the world of Faraway Castle - a castle/resort in a modernised fairytale land where the princesses have smartphones and ambitions, and the princes have degrees in business or marine biology - for a loose retelling of Snow White, featuring flying-horse races, two people who can't quite make up their mind who they're really in love with, a reference to my absolutely favourite thing in THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW, and...a surprisingly attractive dwarf. (It all makes sense in context. I promise!)
I particularly loved the climactic moment of the story, which did something very clever with the old "True Love's Kiss" trope!
I particularly loved the climactic moment of the story, which did something very clever with the old "True Love's Kiss" trope!
July 6, 2021
Awww! This is such a cute retelling of Snow White! Eddie sometimes drove me nuts and I wanted to give her a good shake and a lecture. This book has a love triangle, and most of it is caused by Eddie's own stubborn determination. But she manages to be a compelling character all the same, especially as she learns valuable lessons one painful step at a time.
I especially loved the flying horse races! As a horse girl myself, those parts were definitely my favorite!
Love this entire series and highly recommend to anyone who loves sweet, clean, and fun fairy tale retellings!
I especially loved the flying horse races! As a horse girl myself, those parts were definitely my favorite!
Love this entire series and highly recommend to anyone who loves sweet, clean, and fun fairy tale retellings!
June 16, 2021
Another Great Story!
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Eddie, her pegasus~White, her particularly hot childhood friend Kai, and getting a deeper look into the magic inside Faraway Castle. It was fun to see glimpses of main characters from past stories, too!
This was a sweet, clean fantasy romance with splashes of excitement and humor. I highly recommend!
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Eddie, her pegasus~White, her particularly hot childhood friend Kai, and getting a deeper look into the magic inside Faraway Castle. It was fun to see glimpses of main characters from past stories, too!
This was a sweet, clean fantasy romance with splashes of excitement and humor. I highly recommend!
May 26, 2021
Princess Edurne just wants to find a fairy tale romance and win the big winged-horse race at Faraway Castle... is that too much to ask?
Apparently.
Because someone (or maybe more than one someone) is definitely out to stop her.
With help, maybe they can find out who is behind it all. Only problem is, as the threats become more and more lethal, Eddi discovers that not only her life is at stake... but also her heart.
Visiting Faraway Castle is always a great way to start the summer! And this latest installment in the series does not disappoint. It has all the magical whimsy and fairy tale romance that I have come to expect from this series.
I was a little nervous to dive into this book, since I've only read books 1 and 2 so far (books 3-4 are sitting on my shelf in all their paperback beauty, but I've had a busy reading schedule lately), and this being book 5 I was afraid I might be a little lost. However, I needn't have worried. I think you could even probably pick this book up first if you wanted... a few events are hinted at that you will understand more fully if you've read the first couple of books, and a couple of characters from earlier books even get a little page time, but they are explained well enough that I wouldn't have been lost even if I hadn't read the first two books. So set your mind at ease, if you wanted to pick up this book right now and read it first, you could!
This story manages to beautifully combine a fairy tale romance, a super subtle retelling of Snow White (like, seriously, even despite the horse being named "Snow White" and various thing that should have been obvious, I really forgot I was reading a retelling until a sudden moment about 75% of the way through the story!), and all my childhood love of horse stories!
Things I loved:
Princess Eddi - she's maybe a wee bit too boy-crazy for my taste, but she's a sweetheart and she's totally got her emotions all twisted up in knots. She's looking so hard for romance that she almost completely misses the fact that love is staring her right in the face. I enjoyed this horse-crazy princess, even if I did want to smack her a couple of times. (That just means I got invested, of course)
The Snow White elements - I can't believe I actually missed these until over halfway through the book! I can't say much about these because SPOILERS but they are there and they are subtle. (Or I was tired... could have been that, too).
Kai - the sweetheart of the story, Kai never disappoints. Not once. He's stoic and funny and steadfast and loyal and true and he's perfect.
The setting - honestly, the setting of these stories is just so whimsical and fun. Faraway Castle is definitely on my list of book-world vacation spots.
Things I didn't love:
Not a ton. The story was fun and cute and a very summer-y rom-com type read. Like I said, the main character was a bit boy-crazy for me. And I don't always appreciate the way that the "not right" love interest in these stories is always so obviously the wrong choice because they are portrayed in such an over-the-top negative light... but Fidelio wasn't ALL bad and does come through in the end.
Overall, I give this story 4 dragon eggs and look forward to reading the rest of the series! If you're looking for something reminiscent of Sweet Valley Twins meets The Saddle Club meets Leap Year... or if you love Hallmark Christmas Movies and wish they had a little more fantasy and magic and flying horses in them... then this is the book for you!
Apparently.
Because someone (or maybe more than one someone) is definitely out to stop her.
With help, maybe they can find out who is behind it all. Only problem is, as the threats become more and more lethal, Eddi discovers that not only her life is at stake... but also her heart.
Visiting Faraway Castle is always a great way to start the summer! And this latest installment in the series does not disappoint. It has all the magical whimsy and fairy tale romance that I have come to expect from this series.
I was a little nervous to dive into this book, since I've only read books 1 and 2 so far (books 3-4 are sitting on my shelf in all their paperback beauty, but I've had a busy reading schedule lately), and this being book 5 I was afraid I might be a little lost. However, I needn't have worried. I think you could even probably pick this book up first if you wanted... a few events are hinted at that you will understand more fully if you've read the first couple of books, and a couple of characters from earlier books even get a little page time, but they are explained well enough that I wouldn't have been lost even if I hadn't read the first two books. So set your mind at ease, if you wanted to pick up this book right now and read it first, you could!
This story manages to beautifully combine a fairy tale romance, a super subtle retelling of Snow White (like, seriously, even despite the horse being named "Snow White" and various thing that should have been obvious, I really forgot I was reading a retelling until a sudden moment about 75% of the way through the story!), and all my childhood love of horse stories!
Things I loved:
Princess Eddi - she's maybe a wee bit too boy-crazy for my taste, but she's a sweetheart and she's totally got her emotions all twisted up in knots. She's looking so hard for romance that she almost completely misses the fact that love is staring her right in the face. I enjoyed this horse-crazy princess, even if I did want to smack her a couple of times. (That just means I got invested, of course)
The Snow White elements - I can't believe I actually missed these until over halfway through the book! I can't say much about these because SPOILERS but they are there and they are subtle. (Or I was tired... could have been that, too).
Kai - the sweetheart of the story, Kai never disappoints. Not once. He's stoic and funny and steadfast and loyal and true and he's perfect.
The setting - honestly, the setting of these stories is just so whimsical and fun. Faraway Castle is definitely on my list of book-world vacation spots.
Things I didn't love:
Not a ton. The story was fun and cute and a very summer-y rom-com type read. Like I said, the main character was a bit boy-crazy for me. And I don't always appreciate the way that the "not right" love interest in these stories is always so obviously the wrong choice because they are portrayed in such an over-the-top negative light... but Fidelio wasn't ALL bad and does come through in the end.
Overall, I give this story 4 dragon eggs and look forward to reading the rest of the series! If you're looking for something reminiscent of Sweet Valley Twins meets The Saddle Club meets Leap Year... or if you love Hallmark Christmas Movies and wish they had a little more fantasy and magic and flying horses in them... then this is the book for you!
August 2, 2025
Another sweet and fun fairy tale retelling! I did want to shake Eddi a lot - she was working so hard to not see the truth, ha! But it was satisfying to see her growth as a character. Interesting, little mystery going on, too. We got many glimpses of characters from the previous books, which was very nice. And the winged horses and flying races was such a cool touch!
These are light reads with lessons learned and sweet romance. Great for my fairy tale-loving heart!
These are light reads with lessons learned and sweet romance. Great for my fairy tale-loving heart!
December 6, 2023
Urgh blegh 2.5
The setup and magic and ask the details are great. Heroine is a pile of goo who keeps getting stepped on by idiot prince, doesn't allow to get true feelings towards the hut and the real true love.
It just reads as dumb and juvenile and petty even the bad guy...
Bluuuuueuugh
However it was readable and the background definitely brought enjoyment
The setup and magic and ask the details are great. Heroine is a pile of goo who keeps getting stepped on by idiot prince, doesn't allow to get true feelings towards the hut and the real true love.
It just reads as dumb and juvenile and petty even the bad guy...
Bluuuuueuugh
However it was readable and the background definitely brought enjoyment
May 14, 2021
As usual, J. M. Stengl’s Faraway series was a delightful bit of escapism. I loved the Snow White themes in the book; was less of a retelling than an “ode to,” in my opinion, and very enjoyably done. This story was heavy on the romantic tension (ft. a love triangle), and had a little less action than I remember some of the other books in this series having.
While this story does stand alone, many of the previous stories/characters are referred to.
While this story does stand alone, many of the previous stories/characters are referred to.
June 25, 2021
Arch Review:
This story is about Eddi's struggle with trying to figure out what she wants in life. It was a light and fun read and I really like how Eddi becomes more open minded as the story goes on and grows. The world building was especially interesting because Eddi's a professional pegasus racer and reading about the logistics of the competition along with how Eddi's struggle to connect with her horse was really interesting! I enjoyed the contrast between Raquel and Eddi as well as the contrast between Kai and Fideleo.
This story is about Eddi's struggle with trying to figure out what she wants in life. It was a light and fun read and I really like how Eddi becomes more open minded as the story goes on and grows. The world building was especially interesting because Eddi's a professional pegasus racer and reading about the logistics of the competition along with how Eddi's struggle to connect with her horse was really interesting! I enjoyed the contrast between Raquel and Eddi as well as the contrast between Kai and Fideleo.
June 6, 2021
It's been a while since the last Faraway Castle book, so I was pleased to jump back into JM Stengl's creative world of modern-day teens living in a realm of magic and fairy tales. Like the other books in this series, The Mirror and the Curse is loosely inspired by a well-known fairy tale, which in this case is "Snow White." The book actually reminded me more of Sofia the First than any fairy tale due to its focal point on a flying horse competition. Like Lucy Tempest's recent "Snow White" retelling, The Mirror and the Curse does not contain seven dwarfs and instead features cameos of characters from the previous books in the series along with a new love interest who is part dwarf. It doesn't quite hit the same level of imaginative fantasy as The Rose and the Briar, but it is still a pleasant read.
The Mirror and the Curse is the story of Princess Eddi, who was a "best friend" character in previous Faraway Castle books. In this story, she acquires a flying horse named Snow White and trains her to race in a royal competition. Eddi is more athletic than the other princesses in this series but is by no means a tomboy. She crushes hard over the hottie prince, Fidelio, which instantly turns her into the enemy of Raquel, another racer, who wants Fidelio for herself. I have been in this situation before, and it is not a fun place. Even after Eddi decides that Fidelio is too shallow and self-absorbed to pursue a true relationship with him, Raquel still hates her because Fidelio likes Eddi more than her. Eddi's struggles with love get more complicated when she realizes that she has romantic feelings toward her trainer, Kai, which seem to be unreciprocated.
This book has very little to do with "Snow White" at face value. The only similarity is that someone is out to get Eddi, but that person is not instantly identified as her stepmother and becomes a bit of an investigation throughout the second half of the book. At first, it seems like the perpetrator is more interested in sabotaging the race than hurting Eddi and her magical winged horse, but the attacks become more and more dangerous as they get closer to the championship match. No real harm comes to Eddi thanks to the protection of her friends, especially Kai and Geoff, who is something of an expert in magical science. Their protection allows her to focus on her telepathic link to White and their training together to win the race.
The love story in this book is a classic "Will they?/Won't they?" scenario. It's pretty clear from the beginning that Eddi and Kai belong together, but she gravitates toward Fidelio because he's the one who actively pursues her. It takes a magical curse to get Kai to finally fess up to his true feelings. This dichotomy is a direct parallel to the romance in the previous book, The Lady and the Wish, in which Gillian wanted to be with a prince who treated her like a piece of meat until she realized the right person for her was the one who was by her side the entire time. I guess that's why the romance in this book didn't quite resonate with me as much as The Siren and the Scholar or The Rose and the Briar. It felt trite after seeing it so many times in romcoms. Still, it's always nice to see true love prevail.
The Mirror and the Curse is a refreshing return to the world of Faraway Castle after being away for so long. It was nice to take a trip back to this magical retreat where princes and princesses can get a break from the hustle and bustle of their busy lives. I enjoyed reading about new and familiar faces from previous books and learning how Eddi attained her happy ending. I would recommend this book to fans of Sofia the First due to the flying horse competitions and to anyone who has read the other books that take place in this world and has been waiting patiently for the next installment.
The Mirror and the Curse is the story of Princess Eddi, who was a "best friend" character in previous Faraway Castle books. In this story, she acquires a flying horse named Snow White and trains her to race in a royal competition. Eddi is more athletic than the other princesses in this series but is by no means a tomboy. She crushes hard over the hottie prince, Fidelio, which instantly turns her into the enemy of Raquel, another racer, who wants Fidelio for herself. I have been in this situation before, and it is not a fun place. Even after Eddi decides that Fidelio is too shallow and self-absorbed to pursue a true relationship with him, Raquel still hates her because Fidelio likes Eddi more than her. Eddi's struggles with love get more complicated when she realizes that she has romantic feelings toward her trainer, Kai, which seem to be unreciprocated.
This book has very little to do with "Snow White" at face value. The only similarity is that someone is out to get Eddi, but that person is not instantly identified as her stepmother and becomes a bit of an investigation throughout the second half of the book. At first, it seems like the perpetrator is more interested in sabotaging the race than hurting Eddi and her magical winged horse, but the attacks become more and more dangerous as they get closer to the championship match. No real harm comes to Eddi thanks to the protection of her friends, especially Kai and Geoff, who is something of an expert in magical science. Their protection allows her to focus on her telepathic link to White and their training together to win the race.
The love story in this book is a classic "Will they?/Won't they?" scenario. It's pretty clear from the beginning that Eddi and Kai belong together, but she gravitates toward Fidelio because he's the one who actively pursues her. It takes a magical curse to get Kai to finally fess up to his true feelings. This dichotomy is a direct parallel to the romance in the previous book, The Lady and the Wish, in which Gillian wanted to be with a prince who treated her like a piece of meat until she realized the right person for her was the one who was by her side the entire time. I guess that's why the romance in this book didn't quite resonate with me as much as The Siren and the Scholar or The Rose and the Briar. It felt trite after seeing it so many times in romcoms. Still, it's always nice to see true love prevail.
The Mirror and the Curse is a refreshing return to the world of Faraway Castle after being away for so long. It was nice to take a trip back to this magical retreat where princes and princesses can get a break from the hustle and bustle of their busy lives. I enjoyed reading about new and familiar faces from previous books and learning how Eddi attained her happy ending. I would recommend this book to fans of Sofia the First due to the flying horse competitions and to anyone who has read the other books that take place in this world and has been waiting patiently for the next installment.
May 10, 2021
The Mirror and the Curse
Faraway Castle #5
By J.M. Stengl
In The Siren and the Scholar, we got to meet Princess Eddi and she's back for another Faraway Castle story in which she is the princess taking center stage. Every year Eddi has a new prince crush and Prince Fidelio is this year's recipient of her affections. She's known him almost forever or so it seems, and he is nice, sweet a little shy, and a prince so her father should approve. There is just one problem, well maybe two. First problem, Eddi's nemesis Raquel has set her sights on Fidelio and he is more than happy to split his time between them both. The second problem, her longtime friend Kai would be perfect boyfriend material except he's a dwarf and not a royal.
But when someone targets Eddi and her winged horse Snow she has even more trouble than she can handle on her own. Using magic for nefarious reasons is frowned upon and worse it has put both Eddi and Snow in danger. But who has the skills for such attacks is something Eddi can answer. She needs help and the staff at Faraway Castle are more than willing to help her. And as she needs specialized training with Snow to prepare for the upcoming Faraway Castle Cup she has the perfect reason to escape to the comfort and familiarity she has known for many summers.
If you have read any of the previous Faraway Castle books you know what to expect and you will not be disappointed with The Mirror and the Curse. Each new addition to the series moves into my read recommendations and this one is no exception. I love this book it is just so good.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book with no expectations but to provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Faraway Castle #5
By J.M. Stengl
In The Siren and the Scholar, we got to meet Princess Eddi and she's back for another Faraway Castle story in which she is the princess taking center stage. Every year Eddi has a new prince crush and Prince Fidelio is this year's recipient of her affections. She's known him almost forever or so it seems, and he is nice, sweet a little shy, and a prince so her father should approve. There is just one problem, well maybe two. First problem, Eddi's nemesis Raquel has set her sights on Fidelio and he is more than happy to split his time between them both. The second problem, her longtime friend Kai would be perfect boyfriend material except he's a dwarf and not a royal.
But when someone targets Eddi and her winged horse Snow she has even more trouble than she can handle on her own. Using magic for nefarious reasons is frowned upon and worse it has put both Eddi and Snow in danger. But who has the skills for such attacks is something Eddi can answer. She needs help and the staff at Faraway Castle are more than willing to help her. And as she needs specialized training with Snow to prepare for the upcoming Faraway Castle Cup she has the perfect reason to escape to the comfort and familiarity she has known for many summers.
If you have read any of the previous Faraway Castle books you know what to expect and you will not be disappointed with The Mirror and the Curse. Each new addition to the series moves into my read recommendations and this one is no exception. I love this book it is just so good.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book with no expectations but to provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
June 2, 2021
What a delightful take on Snow White! This is a bright, adventure-filled take on what is often a grim dark tale. The mirror, the hair comb, the corset, and even the apple are all there, but re-imagined in very different ways. I liked that Eddi was given a far more active role in her fate than is seen in many Snow White retellings. and the romance - oh, it was so adorable! and frustrating at times as this horse and boy-crazy girl kept missing what was right in front of her!
If you are new to Faraway Castle, Eddi's story can be enjoyed as a standalone. It is a fabulous resort that is kind of tucked out of time (as cell phones etc don't work on the magical grounds) where the rich, famous and royals go to escape and just be themselves. If you are familiar with Faraway Castle, you will appreciate all the nods to characters and events from previous books. Excellent addition to the series, recommended for anyone looking for a happy, feel good, clean romance with a touch of magic and bit of adventure.
If you are new to Faraway Castle, Eddi's story can be enjoyed as a standalone. It is a fabulous resort that is kind of tucked out of time (as cell phones etc don't work on the magical grounds) where the rich, famous and royals go to escape and just be themselves. If you are familiar with Faraway Castle, you will appreciate all the nods to characters and events from previous books. Excellent addition to the series, recommended for anyone looking for a happy, feel good, clean romance with a touch of magic and bit of adventure.
September 2, 2021
3.5
This is interesting and not the first time I've done this. I just concluded KM Shea's 4th book in her Enchantress series. Snow White was the princess in that one.
Then, switching over to JM, Snow is the princess in this one too. But she goes by Eddi and her horse is Snow White too; White for short.
So, Eddi is a princess (given). Her best friend is a dwarf named Kai. White is a winged-racing horse. *takes note to add "flying-magical horse" to wish list
This is a more "modern" story as all the books are in this series.
Eddi is infatuated with every guy she meets. And Kai has eyes for only Eddi. It's a cute love story with a couple of twists and turns. Throw in a possibly suspect step-mom, a rival for the prince's heart, a magical artifact, Farway Castle, flying horse races, and a poisoned apple and you have a super wonderful adventure! This story does not disappoint! Could have finished in one setting but my Kindle died. :(
Clean, no profanity, mild kissing, cool magical creatures, and a whole lot of fun!
This is interesting and not the first time I've done this. I just concluded KM Shea's 4th book in her Enchantress series. Snow White was the princess in that one.
Then, switching over to JM, Snow is the princess in this one too. But she goes by Eddi and her horse is Snow White too; White for short.
So, Eddi is a princess (given). Her best friend is a dwarf named Kai. White is a winged-racing horse. *takes note to add "flying-magical horse" to wish list
This is a more "modern" story as all the books are in this series.
Eddi is infatuated with every guy she meets. And Kai has eyes for only Eddi. It's a cute love story with a couple of twists and turns. Throw in a possibly suspect step-mom, a rival for the prince's heart, a magical artifact, Farway Castle, flying horse races, and a poisoned apple and you have a super wonderful adventure! This story does not disappoint! Could have finished in one setting but my Kindle died. :(
Clean, no profanity, mild kissing, cool magical creatures, and a whole lot of fun!
July 5, 2021
These are very easy and light reads with some romance and suspense thrown in!
I went back are re-read the series since when I started this one I really didn't have a feel for the characters any more. Prince Fidelio is a complex character to me, I never knew who he was going to be when he showed up. Sometimes he was confident, other times he was shy and reserved and other times he felt like a player (well, we learn that this wasn't his fault as we go through the story). He truly does like Eddie, but she is never sure exactly where he stands and Princess Raquel likes it that way because she wants him for herself and will go to extreme lengths to make that happen.
Then there is Kai, the dwarf who works at Faraway Castle and has been Eddie's friend since they were children. Feelings she isn't sure she should have for him keep rising up and she keeps trying to push them away, until there comes a time when they won't push anymore!
Lots of different threads woven throughout this story. It is a nice clean read.
I went back are re-read the series since when I started this one I really didn't have a feel for the characters any more. Prince Fidelio is a complex character to me, I never knew who he was going to be when he showed up. Sometimes he was confident, other times he was shy and reserved and other times he felt like a player (well, we learn that this wasn't his fault as we go through the story). He truly does like Eddie, but she is never sure exactly where he stands and Princess Raquel likes it that way because she wants him for herself and will go to extreme lengths to make that happen.
Then there is Kai, the dwarf who works at Faraway Castle and has been Eddie's friend since they were children. Feelings she isn't sure she should have for him keep rising up and she keeps trying to push them away, until there comes a time when they won't push anymore!
Lots of different threads woven throughout this story. It is a nice clean read.
May 7, 2021
This was a really fun version of Snow White. It loosely follows the original, leaving plenty of room for surprises. I really enjoyed the approach to the stepmother in this version. My one complaint would be the love triangles. I felt like the other guy was always wrong for her and she was just trying to convince herself that she wanted him. And both guys had their own love triangles, at least indirectly. Of course, I've never really been a fan of love triangles in general. That said, it didn't make up a significant portion of the book. The conclusion was satisfying and I definitely melted with the romance.
I received a free advanced copy from the author, but I also preordered the book and my opinions are my own.
I received a free advanced copy from the author, but I also preordered the book and my opinions are my own.
June 1, 2021
Wow, what a story. J. M. Stengl has a really unique world she’s created in her retellings, but this one was probably the most unique, but also really enjoyable. I usually don’t enjoy Snow White retellings, but this one was so unique, and so full of horses, it was hard not to like it. Eddi is a fun character to follow. She’s rather likable, most of the time, but she has some moments where you just want to knock some sense into her, in a good way. The twists were so surprising, and I especially loved how she wove elements from the original tale into hers. It was a highly enjoyable, and I’m looking forward to more from this wonderful author.
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
June 4, 2021
First of all, the cover is gorgeous! I don't judge books by their covers but I do appreciate them. I have been long awaiting the return to Faraway Castle. It's such a fun place and I was even more excited to return with Princess Eddi. She's all grown up and not as boy crazy anymore, just crazy over one boy this time. Fidelio is clueless, Kai is dreamy and I loved the addition of flying horses. This isn't a fairytale retelling so much as a story with nods to the Snow White fairytale. The elements of the original are there, I was just too busy thinking about Eddi's dating life. You don't need to read the previous books in the series, but you might enjoy it more if you do. This was a fun, quick, and wonderful book to escape into and I'm looking forward to potentially more stories in this world.
November 19, 2021
This is the fifth book in the Faraway Castle series. The story can be read without reading the others, but I'd recommend starting at book 1 to get the most out of it.
The Mirror and the Curse is a retelling of Snow White, with a few twists. Princess Eddie is looking for her true love, but there is always time to spend with her flying horse. This story is about chasing dreams, and making choices, and knowing who to trust. The truth about the Mirror is only revealed towards the end of the story, but looking back over Eddi's adventures reveals its presence right from the start. The way that the Curse was broken was delightful.
I recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a happy-ever-after princess story with a few surprises.
The Mirror and the Curse is a retelling of Snow White, with a few twists. Princess Eddie is looking for her true love, but there is always time to spend with her flying horse. This story is about chasing dreams, and making choices, and knowing who to trust. The truth about the Mirror is only revealed towards the end of the story, but looking back over Eddi's adventures reveals its presence right from the start. The way that the Curse was broken was delightful.
I recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a happy-ever-after princess story with a few surprises.
May 12, 2021
This is a fun story. In many ways, it's similar to other Faraway Castle books, but it has a few unique elements that make it stand out. I enjoyed the winged horses and the whole side story about training and racing them. Some of the character interactions and plot events were a bit simplistic, so I would recommend this more to middle-school-aged readers than high-schoolers, but even as an adult, I did enjoy the book. The setting is rich and peopled with interesting characters and fantasy races, so it's always a pleasure to visit the world of Faraway Castle!
June 3, 2021
Far surpassed my expectations
I honestly didn't look forward to another twist on Snow White but I loved this one. The characters were relatable and lovable, the mystery was great, and the conclusion was fantastic. I love the little extra things like a mountainside tea party and seeing main characters from the other books in the series in action. The author also did a wonderful job of immersing the reader into the horse races, dancing, and other exciting events. I loved it and I can't wait for more.
I honestly didn't look forward to another twist on Snow White but I loved this one. The characters were relatable and lovable, the mystery was great, and the conclusion was fantastic. I love the little extra things like a mountainside tea party and seeing main characters from the other books in the series in action. The author also did a wonderful job of immersing the reader into the horse races, dancing, and other exciting events. I loved it and I can't wait for more.
May 7, 2021
I absolutely loved this book, Kai and Eddi are so adorable! The story of Snow White in a Faraway Castle series that didn’t have quite the same feel as the original story. I’m glad the stepmother is actually really awesome and all the characters from the previous books were mentioned or in this! You won’t want to miss it for sure!! It’s super cute!!
June 2, 2021
This series just keeps getting better! J.M. Stengl has a way of completely recreating fairytales yet keeping the magical feeling that of the original tales. May I just say that I am in love with Eddi and Kai? They are so sweet and sassy! I am eagerly awaiting Stengl’s upcoming releases. Hopefully there will be many more Faraway Castle books to come.
November 29, 2021
Even though a large portion of this was just Eddi navigating the love triangle between herself, Kai, and Fidelio, this was still a fun and creative retelling of Snow White. I loved returning to the world of Faraway Castle. I especially loved the bits about the flying horses in this one- particularly Eddi's relationship with White!
February 10, 2022
Getting to know Eddie more was fun, and seeing some characters from previous books was a treat. I didn’t like this story as much as the other ones in the series, though. The romance was a bit more than the other books, but I feel like something was missing from the storyline. That could have made the p,to a bit more exciting. I still love this series, though.
March 15, 2022
sweet and heartwarming
What a beautiful return to Faraway Castle! I loved the story. The characters are realistic but also fun to follow. The storyline is well-paced with enough tension to make the story interesting but not so much the magic of the world is lost. Another great addition to JM Stengl���s Faraway Castle series. Highly recommended.
What a beautiful return to Faraway Castle! I loved the story. The characters are realistic but also fun to follow. The storyline is well-paced with enough tension to make the story interesting but not so much the magic of the world is lost. Another great addition to JM Stengl���s Faraway Castle series. Highly recommended.
May 30, 2021
I loved this return to Faraway Castle. I enjoyed the return of
So many favorite characters and this story of Kai and Eddi seems extra magical. Especially loved White and Flurry too! Especially love the cover!
So many favorite characters and this story of Kai and Eddi seems extra magical. Especially loved White and Flurry too! Especially love the cover!
September 30, 2021
This main character wasn't my favorite, but gosh, I enjoy the Faraway Castle setting and the way magic works and the characters Stengl creates! This was a clever Snow White retelling with a sweet romance.
July 11, 2022
I loved this retelling of Snow White. I loved the twists and the magic of it all. I also loved the love story, and the for all intents and purposes pegasi that were in it or the flying horse. Either way, I loved it.
December 12, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting spin on Snow White. I highly recommend it if you want a cute, sweet fairy tale romance. However, I would recommend reading the other books in the series first to get a better understanding of some things.
June 1, 2021
Great book
These fairy tales are fun and enjoyable to read. It’s nice to have books you can recommend to other family and friends.
These fairy tales are fun and enjoyable to read. It’s nice to have books you can recommend to other family and friends.
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