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Unraveled #1
The Princess Revolt
The first book of a new fantasy series following a young girl who discovers that fairy tale characters are real when she becomes the target of vindictive princesses who want their Happily Ever Afters.
Cia Anderson hasn’t slept in ten days, but she doesn’t feel one bit tired. She knows that something is up, even if no one but her best friend believes her. Hundreds of pairs of shoes have appeared in her locker, small woodland animals are trailing her, and the only boy she’s ever had a crush on has been quarantined with a mysterious illness. There’s even talk of closing her middle school.
Something strange is going on.
Cia discovers that she has accidentally upset some fairy tale characters who are trying to find their happily ever afters in the modern world. Desperate to set things right, Cia enlists the help of Cinderella’s stepsister, gets kidnapped by Snow White’s dwarves, and makes a deal that she might regret with the Evil Queen—all while trying to stay one step ahead of the furious princesses who want her dead.
Turns out there’s nothing meaner than a fairy tale character who can’t find her prince charming.
Cia Anderson hasn’t slept in ten days, but she doesn’t feel one bit tired. She knows that something is up, even if no one but her best friend believes her. Hundreds of pairs of shoes have appeared in her locker, small woodland animals are trailing her, and the only boy she’s ever had a crush on has been quarantined with a mysterious illness. There’s even talk of closing her middle school.
Something strange is going on.
Cia discovers that she has accidentally upset some fairy tale characters who are trying to find their happily ever afters in the modern world. Desperate to set things right, Cia enlists the help of Cinderella’s stepsister, gets kidnapped by Snow White’s dwarves, and makes a deal that she might regret with the Evil Queen—all while trying to stay one step ahead of the furious princesses who want her dead.
Turns out there’s nothing meaner than a fairy tale character who can’t find her prince charming.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2022
2 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 1, 2024
I tried to finish this book. I honestly did.
At first, the premise was engaging and fun. A young girl starts having weird fairy tale shenanigans happen around her as a result of her anti-fairy tale mother asking a fairy godmother years to put a spell on her baby daughter.
(I wanted to finish this book, just to see this idiot mother’s reaction to what that “baby-whisperer” really was.)
But then, Cia’s best friend, Romy, has the most hideous and - dare I say - toxic response to an off-handed comment that Cia makes. Keep in mind that we’re never told how long Cia and Romy have been friends. But Cia trusts Romy enough to tell her about the whole “12 days without sleep” situation.
Cia comments that Madama Fredepia doesn’t seem like a Fairy Godmother. A normal person’s interpretation of that would be that it never occurred to Cia that Fredepia would be a fairy godmother. Because who would think of that in ANY situation? Unless you’d been told it flat-out.
But Romy - probably under the influence of some rainbow-haired editing assistant who’s never been outside the confines of lower Manhattan and who’s entire worldview probably comes from following Sandy Cortez on Twitter - retorts that Cia must think that Madame Fredepia can’t be a Fairy Godmother because she’s Black and suddenly Cia is a dirty rotten racist.
Remember - best friends. Two girls who trust each other so much that they share in this bizarre adventure. And Romy’s first instinct is to accuse Cia of being racist.
Cia’s next words should have been to ask Romy if she’s always thought she (Cia) was a racist, and why the FUCK did she hang around her for so long if that was the case. Because if I think someone who claims to be my best friend actually hates my guts on such a fundamental level, I would have noped out MONTHS ago. In fact, Cia ought to have told Romy to get bent and never talk to her again.
Granted, these are middle schoolers we’re talking about. But even I would give two 13-year-olds a lot more credit. To think that Romy could make such an accusation and the narrative actually takes it seriously, instead of treating it like the most brain-dead statement made in this context - no wonder TradPub is failing so hard.
That scene dropped a nuke on the flow of the story so hard, the timeline of the Fallout franchise felt it. I could not get invested in the story anymore. Not with the knowledge that Romy harbored such a terrible opinion of her “best” friend - AND FOR NO DAMN REASON WHATSOEVER. Can Cia really trust Romy anymore? Is Romy going to leave Cia out in the cold at her most desperate hour? Is Cia going to have to deal with all this bizarre crap on her own? All because Romy had to give a “Diversity and Inclusion(tm)” lecture in the middle of a FUCKING FAIRY TALE ADVENTURE so Simon and Schuster could score cheap Cult of Woke points at their next cocktail party?
It may seem like a small thing, but it did worlds of damage to an otherwise enjoyable story. And readers need to call this shit out when it rears it’s ugly head, instead of just ignoring it and letting it poison our kids’ views of each other. Kids have enough bullshit to deal with, without dumbass adults foisting their disgusting philosophies onto them. Speaking as a librarian, a book lover, and a parent - this is about the worst message you could give a child.
(I would have skipped the swears, but if you want idiots to listen to you, you have to speak Stupid to get the message across.)
At first, the premise was engaging and fun. A young girl starts having weird fairy tale shenanigans happen around her as a result of her anti-fairy tale mother asking a fairy godmother years to put a spell on her baby daughter.
(I wanted to finish this book, just to see this idiot mother’s reaction to what that “baby-whisperer” really was.)
But then, Cia’s best friend, Romy, has the most hideous and - dare I say - toxic response to an off-handed comment that Cia makes. Keep in mind that we’re never told how long Cia and Romy have been friends. But Cia trusts Romy enough to tell her about the whole “12 days without sleep” situation.
Cia comments that Madama Fredepia doesn’t seem like a Fairy Godmother. A normal person’s interpretation of that would be that it never occurred to Cia that Fredepia would be a fairy godmother. Because who would think of that in ANY situation? Unless you’d been told it flat-out.
But Romy - probably under the influence of some rainbow-haired editing assistant who’s never been outside the confines of lower Manhattan and who’s entire worldview probably comes from following Sandy Cortez on Twitter - retorts that Cia must think that Madame Fredepia can’t be a Fairy Godmother because she’s Black and suddenly Cia is a dirty rotten racist.
Remember - best friends. Two girls who trust each other so much that they share in this bizarre adventure. And Romy’s first instinct is to accuse Cia of being racist.
Cia’s next words should have been to ask Romy if she’s always thought she (Cia) was a racist, and why the FUCK did she hang around her for so long if that was the case. Because if I think someone who claims to be my best friend actually hates my guts on such a fundamental level, I would have noped out MONTHS ago. In fact, Cia ought to have told Romy to get bent and never talk to her again.
Granted, these are middle schoolers we’re talking about. But even I would give two 13-year-olds a lot more credit. To think that Romy could make such an accusation and the narrative actually takes it seriously, instead of treating it like the most brain-dead statement made in this context - no wonder TradPub is failing so hard.
That scene dropped a nuke on the flow of the story so hard, the timeline of the Fallout franchise felt it. I could not get invested in the story anymore. Not with the knowledge that Romy harbored such a terrible opinion of her “best” friend - AND FOR NO DAMN REASON WHATSOEVER. Can Cia really trust Romy anymore? Is Romy going to leave Cia out in the cold at her most desperate hour? Is Cia going to have to deal with all this bizarre crap on her own? All because Romy had to give a “Diversity and Inclusion(tm)” lecture in the middle of a FUCKING FAIRY TALE ADVENTURE so Simon and Schuster could score cheap Cult of Woke points at their next cocktail party?
It may seem like a small thing, but it did worlds of damage to an otherwise enjoyable story. And readers need to call this shit out when it rears it’s ugly head, instead of just ignoring it and letting it poison our kids’ views of each other. Kids have enough bullshit to deal with, without dumbass adults foisting their disgusting philosophies onto them. Speaking as a librarian, a book lover, and a parent - this is about the worst message you could give a child.
(I would have skipped the swears, but if you want idiots to listen to you, you have to speak Stupid to get the message across.)
March 30, 2023
My sixth graders love this series!! Highly recommended for middle school— they love the narrator’s sense of humor.
August 20, 2023
This was a book with some really fantastic elements, especially towards the end when Cia began interacting more directly with various fairy tale characters. Putting them all together, however, occasionally felt forced and didactic. Not a terrible read by any means, but not perfect either.
There is an implication that there will be sequels afoot, but the book stands on its own pretty well.
There is an implication that there will be sequels afoot, but the book stands on its own pretty well.
April 29, 2022
Generally, I am very easily won over by a book based on fairy tales which is why I checked this one out in the first place. HOWEVER..... I tried to convince myself I was liking it but that wasn't the case. The curse was unclear. I thought I had it all figured out when it seemed like she managed to break the "Beauty and the Beast" section of the curse, but then was quickly confused again. All too muddied for me without enough cleared up at the end.
August 6, 2022
Cute story. Cia discovers that princesses are real, and they blame her for their lack of Happily-Ever-Afters. Enlisting the help of her crush and her best friend, Cia does everything she can think of to get the princesses on her side. Only time, which is running out, will tell if it works. Cute story, but I wasn't too invested in the characters. Cia's best friend, Romy, was easily the best character in the book.
November 14, 2023
8-year-old's review: I liked the concept but the problems went on too long and made me anxious.
Parent review: My kid requested to actually stop this book two chapters from the end because it was making her anxious with all of the problems that were going on. I ended up skimming the ending and summarizing it for her so we had some closure. She's loved other fantasy series (eg Harry Potter up to book 5), but she was ready to give up on this one.
Parent review: My kid requested to actually stop this book two chapters from the end because it was making her anxious with all of the problems that were going on. I ended up skimming the ending and summarizing it for her so we had some closure. She's loved other fantasy series (eg Harry Potter up to book 5), but she was ready to give up on this one.
December 14, 2023
Cute story with fun depictions of what princesses and villains might be like if they were living among us. Enjoyable read even if it didn't quite blow my socks off. Thumbs up for the themes of friendship, surviving suffocating parents, persevering, and being self reliant.
December 30, 2025
I enjoyed this. It was pretty fast paced but maybe a little silly. If you like twisted tales, you will enjoy this. I read this book for the prompt read the first book in a series. Sidequests- 52 books
May 4, 2022
Interesting idea, but would love less white people/more diversity in the second book (especially since this one took place in Brooklyn).
June 11, 2022
An interesting take on Fairy Tale princesses. Not my favorite read but I liked it.
January 14, 2023
It was pretty good. Very fast paced, I finished it very fast. I liked how fairy tales were woven into the story.
March 20, 2023
This was fun, engaging and kept me turning the page. The mystery is teased out in a fun way that made me want to read more.
April 4, 2023
This is an interesting premise, but man do I have questions.
March 14, 2022
I received an electronic ARC from Aladdin through Edelweiss+.
First book in a new middle grade series. Cia is a typical middle school student - amazing best friend, friends group, crush on someone, loving family, untils suddenly she can't sleep. Not just struggles to sleep but doesn't sleep and feels completely normal. After learning about seeing a sleep whisperer as a baby and visiting this woman with her best friend, she learns that she is under a spell cast when she was a baby. She is the opposite of the fairy tale princesses. No sleep as opposed to Sleepy Beauty; no hair as opposed to Rapunzel, and so on. She even turns her crush into the Beast. She seeks out the Villains to break the spell and in the end, breaks it herself by sacrificing to save her brother.
A lovely message about believing in yourself and giving for others wrapped in adventure and humor. Readers will laugh at some of the antics Cia and Romy try and the situations they end up in.
Looking forward to seeing where the adventure leads in the next book.
First book in a new middle grade series. Cia is a typical middle school student - amazing best friend, friends group, crush on someone, loving family, untils suddenly she can't sleep. Not just struggles to sleep but doesn't sleep and feels completely normal. After learning about seeing a sleep whisperer as a baby and visiting this woman with her best friend, she learns that she is under a spell cast when she was a baby. She is the opposite of the fairy tale princesses. No sleep as opposed to Sleepy Beauty; no hair as opposed to Rapunzel, and so on. She even turns her crush into the Beast. She seeks out the Villains to break the spell and in the end, breaks it herself by sacrificing to save her brother.
A lovely message about believing in yourself and giving for others wrapped in adventure and humor. Readers will laugh at some of the antics Cia and Romy try and the situations they end up in.
Looking forward to seeing where the adventure leads in the next book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews