Half Upon a Time

Half Upon a Time #1

by James Riley

Life’s no fairy tale for Jack. After all, his father's been missing ever since that incident with the beanstalk and the giant, and his grandfather keeps pushing him to get out and find a princess to rescue. Who'd want to rescue a snobby, entitled princess anyway? Especially one that falls out of the sky wearing a shirt that says "Punk Princess," and still denies she's royalty. In fact, May doesn't even believe in magic. Yeah, what's that about? May does need help though--a huntsman is chasing her, her grandmother has been kidnapped, and Jack thinks it’s all because of the Wicked Queen . . . mostly because May’s grandmother might just be the long-lost Snow White. Jack and May's thrillingly hilarious adventure combines all the classic stories—fractured as a broken magic mirror—into the first of an epic new series of novels for the ages.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fairy Tales, Adventure, Fiction, Retellings, Childrens

385 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2010

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just found this out (from another book) that there are a lot of Jacks in fairy tales. If someone were to ask you a trivia question like this "What was the name of the boy who went to seek his fortune in the fairy tale..." Jack should be your answer.

So this Jack is having trouble with princess rescue training, he failed. But then what do you know, a real princess falls out of the sky. She needs help and so an adventure is set in place. With all number of creatures and fairy tales coming out of every chapter of the book, I was afraid I'd get whip-lash trying to keep up with everything. The book had no lulls that is for sure.

I can't even remember all of the tales in it and if I mention all of them then I might be giving some stuff away. There are twists in the book that I didn't see coming.

The reason I wanted to read this book was because my sister read it and just kept laughing. She'd flip a page 3...2...1..and 'hahaha'. After a couple of minutes of this I thought, that's it I'm going to read it. I thought it was funny too.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

[To start with I have never really written a review before, so this is my first. I'd first like to apologize for any mistakes or childish comments, if there are any, and I know there are.]

But of course this is a book review so about the book *in my opinion*:

CHARACTERS:
I just have to say that I just adored all of the characters in the book. Every single one of them even the least important ones. The characters were very lively and their dialogue suits them perfectly.
JACK: Jack is my number one favorite character. He's so adorable and witty that I wished I could just pop into the book and squeeze his cheeks. I love how he's so clueless on one part then he's all like business and serious in never. I just adored him.
MAY: I have to say that I LOVE how sarcastic May is. I can't even find words to describe how AMAZING she is. She so totally belongs with Jack.;D
PHILLIP: Out of all my favorite princes in any fantasy book, Phillip is my number one favorite! My favorite part that he's in is when he challenges Jack to a formal dual.I also love how in troubling situations he can still be polite and calm.XD!
PLOT:
The storyline is perfect. The twist and the turns is what makes this book a real page turner. This book is the true dictionary definition of a fractured fairy tale. It's like one of those daytime TV shows with lots of mysteries and betrayal it makes you want to read MORE!
Did I mention that this book is a total page turning? If not, did you know that this book is a total page turner?
From the beginning, the book automatically gets you hooked. Then when May unexpectedly falls from the sky and lands about a foot from Jack's outstretched hand you know you must continue reading. But it doesn't end there. Jack's grandfather brings out a chair and makes a joke about a having to wake up to seeing his face, then falls off laughing like a lunatic even though his own grandson could have had a concoction, you automatically know you must drive to Barnes and Noble and buy the second book, even though you didn't finish the first book. You should also buy the third book while you're there too.
FAVORITES(and other stuff I hadn't covered):
I just adore Jack's grandfather(especially at the end) as much as Homer Simpson loves food and beer. And that is a lot. Am I right or am I right?
There's also those village boys(Justin especially) and May's fairy. Some parts of the book I forget that she's still on May's head. Then when she's mention I'm all like " OH, she's still on May's head? Even after May rode on the back of the Wolf King, which could have blown her off? WOW!COOOOOOL!"
Though the witches cottage part creeped me out I love how cute but dumb Jack licks the wall then passes out.
The description of Malevolent's castle is so visual and well detailed.
But overall the entire book was AMAZINGLY-AWESOME!
*It is a total page turner.*
XD!!!

[rayyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I give this series the credit it deserves. I swear I wouldn't be this into reading without my babies 🥹

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh... My... Gosh...
Still really sort of blown away by this book... I don't really know what to say...
FIVE STARS AAAAALLLL THE WAY!!! Can I rate it TEN stars? Or FIVE HUNDRED?!
Such a GREAT BOOK, and considering those seem to be hard to find sometimes... BONUS!
I guess I'll start with...
Characters: May... Is sarcastic, as is said many times over in the book. I always love a good I-CAN-DO-IT-MYSELF Sarcastic girl hero in a story, and she was everything I praise. I LOVE HER.
Jack: Was perfect. All around, in every way, THE PERFECT character. He was smart, clever, brave, SARCASTIC, funny, witty and kind. I loved every minute of his, Mays and Phillips back to back banter and arguments... Jack carried the entire story very well, without losing my interest at all. * Applause*
Phillip: Oh, boy... Still not quite sure of Phillip. From what the reader knows about him so far, I like him... A bit... I still think JACK + MAY is the ONLY way to go, but his attempts are... cute. Sort of like 'get over yourself', you know? STILL I admire him, even though I want to strangle him for putting May into that stupid daze the way he does. JACK IS THE ONLY ONE, MAY!
Hemhem. sorry...
All of the supporting characters were just simply FANTASTIC. Each one adding their own little spin on the story. I love that there ARE NO useless characters, even the SEEMINGLY useless one.
Relationships: Mostly between Jack and May, as stated above, But I would like to explain someone that.
What got me so hooked on the two of them was their realistic, yet extremely HILARIOUS conversations and sharp remarks. They had me going AWWWWWW <3 and other times laughing my face off until I couldn't breath... Seriously, like, my face is gone.
Plot: The plot was pretty much just the icing on the cake, because EVERY SINGLE aspect of this book won me over without effort. The plot made me gasp, laugh, cry and want to throw the book across the room (Except I was reading it on an E-book, which is likely what saved it's life.), ALL AT THE SAME FREAKING TIME. I was like 'OH! THEIR WINNING!" Then I was like 'NOOOO!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" But, anyway, VERY good plot, twisting in all of these classical fairy tales and especially some new ones I didn't see coming.
World building: I think the world in this book was great. I LOVED the dragon shaped castle. I re-read that part like four times because I found it so unique and inspiring. Other then that, though, everything was great! The places, the forests, the castles, the magical items... Everything had me WANTING MORREEEE!!!
And now, I shall skip off into the magical world of the SECOND BOOK... Right after I let my brain calm down after reading this one...

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack has a bit of a bad reputation. His dad is/was a theif and his only chance of making a name for himself is by saving a princess. Apparently though this is not his forte, and besides there really isn't that many princesses just ready and available for rescue.

After another dismal day of training it just so happens a princess literally falls from the sky. This particular princess has a shirt that says Punk Princess, but keeps saying over and over again that she isn't. Obviously she's in denial. She calls herself May, and she needs help to find the people who kidnapped her grandmother. Along the way they will meet a prince named Phillip, and encounter just about any bad fairy tale you could think of. May has to come to terms that there is a whole other world she didn't know about, and Jack comes to know he's a lot more than an ordinary guy.

The book goes at a breakneck speed and jumps from incident to incident. It was interesting how a lot of different fairy tales were interwoven throughout the story. I probably couldn't even come close to naming all of them. I totally heart the character of Jack because he's so lost, clumsy, but has his brave heart and so much more potential than he realizes. The Jack, May, and Phillip team is odd, but so funny and weirdly enough work well together. The plot has some twist and turns to keep the reader on their toes. Probably the only thing that irked me that it seemed a little too stuffed, but I can't complain too much because it kept the story from getting too stagnant.

I snorted and laughed so much while I was reading this book I'm surprised my nose is still even in place, and that I'm even considered a decent human being by snorting so much in public. Who cares, it was so worth it. Now, hopefully the book does well enough because there has to be a sequel. It's screaming for another story to be told and I can't wait to see what else Jack has up his sleeve.

Note: I forgot to add that there is a sequel Twice Upon a Time!

[Hadessephy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a fun book! Just delightful

[Heidi Lil' Chip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very glad I chose this book to be the first one of summer reading! It's very fast paced and kept my interest the whole time!

[lj ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Once upon a time, Jack wouldn't have been caught dead in a princess rescue.”

~ Before Reading ~

Looks cool. I love fractured fairytale retellings, and Riley's Story Thieves series is really fun.

~ First Impressions ~

I love this! It's genuinely funny. Like, really funny. I laughed out loud while reading this. The fairytales are interwoven so well, and the characters are so relatable! And that plot twist -- whoa! Amazing!

~ Stats ~

Title: Half Upon a Time (Half Upon a Time series, #1)
The title is quirky and funny and makes sense with the craziness of the fairytales.
Author: James Riley
Genre: Middle grade fantasy, or more specifically, middle grade fairytale retellings
Age Recommendation: 9+ (There's quite a handful of characters to remember, and the plot threads and twists might confuse a younger reader.)

~ Characters ~

★★★★✫ -- 4.5 stars

A whole cast of slightly-familiar characters populate the fairytale world. Let's start with our protagonist: Jack.

Jack's dad hasn't been around, ever since the whole thing with the beanstalk, so he's raised by his grandfather. And his grandfather has very... traditional views. He wants Jack to become an adventurer, a rescuer of princesses, a knight in shining armor. But that's not who Jack is. That's not who Jack wants to be. Who would want to rescue some snobby princess when Jack has his own life to live?

After Jack fails a princess-rescuing test, he and his grandfather start to argue. And then a princess falls out of the sky and right into Jack's arms. She has a blue streak in her hair and a black T-shirt saying 'Punk Princess,' and things just get crazier from there.

That princess is May, the granddaughter of Snow White. I loved May's character. Jack is a refreshingly non-savior-like protagonist, but in many ways, he's still a bit of a bland character. May made up for that with her trademark sass, sarcasm, and sharp wit. She and Jack complemented each other perfectly, and when they fought, it was believable and realistic. It didn't feel forced. (I totally ship them!)

These fights happened more once the noble Prince Phillip joined their adventuring group. Jack gets a little jealous of how much May seems to like Phillip. (Which is a realistic reason why he might get angrier than usual.)

Phillip is a prince, out on an adventure, who always seems to do things better than Jack. He is polite and calm, but he needs the other two to save him sometimes. After all, nobody can do everything themselves.

Then we have the Wolf King, a wolf-man who was a close ally of Snow White in the war. The Wolf King is a valiant warrior, but even he has some funny moments. But the reveal that he was actually on the Wicked Queen's side -- I wasn't expecting that!

There's also Merriweather, Phillip's fairy godmother; Rapunzel, a long-haired swordfighter; a giant; a mysterious knight; an eggshell-faced witch; a powerful genie called an Ifrit; the Red Hood, a woman with a red cloak that makes her invisible; and, of course, the Wicked Queen.

~ Plot ~

★★★★ -- 4 stars

After Jack meets May, they soon set off on an adventure -- but not by choice. May is Snow White's granddaughter, and the Huntsman has finally found Snow White. Jack and May escape, and find themselves in one crisis after another.

Soon they meet the proper and polite Prince Phillip, and their adventure grows ever more complex. They need to get the Magic Mirror before the Wicked Queen can, May and Jack get in a fight, and they have to save a fairy who sacrificed herself for them.

They face a sinister man dressed all in green, witches, fairies, dragons, giants, an infuriatingly untameable horse, and in the final showdown... the Wicked Queen herself.

I loved the twisty plot of Half Upon a Time, but there were a few unresolved bits and things I wanted explained more. Hopefully they'll be revealed/explained in the second book. Particularly about who was on what side -- and how the Red Hood could also be Rose Red. And, of course, who May is!

The gentle romance was sweet. The plot device of mysterious dreams is overused, though. However, I loved the plot as a whole. It was a misadventure of sorts -- I could never predict what would happen next. It was a joyful whirlwind of an adventurous ride, and I delighted in each battle, progression, and thought of the characters.

And the twist that May's grandmother was the Wicked Queen -- I'm very glad Riley chose to add it. The story was about to perfectly resolve, like, well, like a fairytale. And it's such an un-fairytale fairytale that it would have been unsatisfying for the ending to be so satisfying. Good choice! It upped my enjoyment of the story for sure.

~ Setting ~

★★★ -- 3 stars

I really liked the fairytale-world setting. The individual places they visited were very well described, so I could imagine myself into the story, but never overwrought -- the descriptions never took me away from the characters or plot. However, I would've liked some more worldbuilding for the fairytale world as a whole. Are there separate kingdoms? (I think they said there were.) What are they called? Who runs them? Is there a monarchy? If not, what kind of government is there? Is there any sort of regulation on magic items? How are they given/sold?

There's still time for the world to be built, though. It is a series, after all. Perhaps my standards are too high as well, Megan Morrison's Tyme series -- another fractured fairytale series -- has one of the best-built worlds I've ever read about. And the mini-settings were excellent. Solid 3 stars.

~ Style/Format ~

★★★★ -- 4 stars

Riley's writing style is concise and comical, focusing on the action and the characters' thoughts. It never strays from these, never delving into metaphors or philosophical concepts. I appreciated that. This book was a joy to read because of its fast pace and funny writing. I didn't need purple prose for this story, so I'm glad I didn't get it.

~ Theme ~

★★★★ -- 4 stars

There was a very light thematic layer to this book. It emphasized the plot and characters, which I liked. The themes it contained were similar to most middle-grade fantasy books -- good and evil, friendship, adventure, courage. But that was okay, because this book wasn't really about the theme. It was about the characters and their adventure. Not much more. Harder pressure on the theme would have made this far too preachy, so I think the gentleness on theme was a good choice.

~ General Thoughts ~

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't the best written book in the world, its characters were not perfectly characterized. But it was fun. It made me happy when I read it, it made me laugh. And in the end, sometimes that's what matters.

Overall rating -- ★★★★ 4 stars

If you liked this book
Loving the James Riley humor? Try the Story Thieves series.
Or if you want a retelling or fracturing of a fairytale, try the following.
Megan Morrison's exceedingly well written series with phenomenal worldbuilding, starting with Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel.
If you're looking for a hilarious, sweet, almost satirical at times series with two lovable sisters and fairy-tale mysteries, go for The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley.
For a darker, gorier fairytale series sprinkled with humor, try Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark & Grimm.
For a standalone novel filled with interesting worldbuilding, cool and dangerous magical creatures, a sweet romance, and a journey-quest, look no further than Ella Enchanted.

"We are going to win. You know why? Because it doesn’t matter if you’re in a fairy tale or here in real life, doing the right thing still counts for something. We’re going to win because we’re good, decent people trying to accomplish something noble.”

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love fairy tales ("How many times do I have to tell you that fairies don't have tails?" Jack asked with a frustrated sigh.) then you will love this hilarious tale about the son of the famous Jack who climbed the beanstalk and the granddaughter of a Snow White.
Be ready to hold in the laughter as you quiver under the sheets with your night light, desperately trying to finish the book before the day is over.
One of the handful of books I've finished in one sitting, I found myself sucked into the story from page one. The plot is beautifully woven together, joining all your favorite fairy tales ("They still don't have tails...look!" Jack held up a fairy for inspection.) from Red Riding Hood to Sleeping Beauty, you'll likely find your favorite characters playing some part in this fascinating read.

Disclaimers: May uses God's name in vain once, ("Oh, my ***!) and there is a kiss... *cough* as well as a HUGE amount of magic. Just a warning so you don't read it and get surprised.

[Brenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

This was a funny mixed-up fairytale retelling full of humor and adventure and magical objects and fairytale creatures and lost sarcasm. (A sad thing, indeed, that.) The tone of the book is lighthearted and funny and, well, simply put, I loved it. :)

My biggest complaint is how open-ended it was. It left so many questions unanswered, so many mysteries unsolved. *sigh* But according to the author's website, the sequel is going to be published in April, '12, and it involves mermen and pirates and Neverland and chocolate. (You can't go wrong with chocolate, now can you?) :)

[Kadi P · Rating 3 out of 5]

*More like 3.5 stars than 3.*

Can there ever be such a thing as too many obstacles in a protagonist’s path? Yes, I think there can be and this book was the perfect example of that. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the adventure, but after a while I got tired of how not even one simple thing could be executed properly. Every plan was completely derailed and it felt uniform in its chaos in the sense that nothing could be expected except that what should happen certainly didn't happen. It was too much to ask for even one little part of a half-baked plan to go right for the characters in this book. And after more than half of the book of that I found it tediously repetitive and somewhat dragging.

The characters were interesting enough, as would be expected from a story based on fairy-tales because that's already a lot of very solid foundations to start with. The main characters had fantastic banter and Jack and May's chemistry was so very sweet. The humour significantly diminished after May lost her sarcasm (yes, that really happened) and all her attempts at jokes for the last 40% of the book fell flat. I'm not sure why the author decided to do that, considering her sarcastic humour was one of the highlights of the adventure and the moment she lost it she lost her charm too.

The twists at the end were unexpected, but I felt as though it was too little, too late. The pacing throughout was awfully slow and the little revelations to the many questions came five minutes from the end. The way questions were posed but not answered even by the end of the book felt deliberate as though the author was trying to leave the reader hanging. Sure, it could be a good enough method to create intrigue, but when you know for a fact that the protagonist knows something yet won't reveal the information to the reader for seemingly no reason then that's more infuriating than enticing. And that was this book's major downfall.

[amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

action-packed with plenty of twists and turns. I just want to hug all the characters and make all of their troubles go away, seriously, they're so funny and awesome!

[Camila I. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ✨ (⚠️ Entire Review Contains Spoilers ⚠️)

What did I just read? Like, honestly. Umm. It’s not so much that I’m currently suffering from a lack of words, but that I have so many seemingly random thoughts that I don’t know how I’m ever going to string them together coherently. Well, you know you’re reading a middle grade book when “everyone made it out of the palace all right”. Like… the place was literally falling on top of them. I’m surprised the main three made it out alive much less everyone in the palace. Anyways, I’m getting ahead of myself, this is supposed to be the intro. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book, and I don’t know whether I’ve set my standards too high. After all, this is middle-grade fiction and they’re literally fourteen. But is them not splitting up too much to ask? Like come on!! Anyways, as I said, I have thoughts which I will continue to share in the rest of this review. Stick around for ✨Chaos ✨ and opinionated rants 😉.

About the Plot:
What a roller coaster! There was never a boring moment, that’s for sure. There was always something going on, but I was never as interested in the book as I was in the end. Way to keep us hooked! I’m quite invested, particularly in the prophecy. Not to mix up my universes or even my genres, but why was it giving “Murderer, Martyr, Monarch, Mad”? Like… just saying. This is what happens when you go on a fantasy spree and then pick up a middle grade book 😑.
Anyways, the plot for this book was very interesting, yes, but what I really want is a (non-middle grade) book set before and during The Great War. Like, you can’t just casually drop the lore that mermaids haven’t been seen in 50 years and walk away. I want a story that starts in a time when mermaids freely roamed the seas and talking animals were free to live their lives. A story that truly starts in Once Upon a Time. I want to know what happened afterwards. Why were mermaids hunted and talking animals banned? Where did the Wicked Queen come from and how did she acquire her legion? I want the story of the War and Snow’s romance. I want to see the rebel group infiltrate the Wicked Queen’s army, their plans and how they were so close to making it when the Wolf King betrayed them. And how The Charmed One’s subsequent betrayal of the Wicked Queen helped save them all. There’s a story there and it’s not one that ends in happily ever after. Snow gets poisoned, her husband dead, Rose and the Wolf King in hiding, locked in a battle that never ends. We don’t even hear of the others. What cruel fate befell them? Were they also in hiding or did they not make it through the battle? And if Rapunzel is the only one of the group to live freely as Queen, then how come no one asked her what really happened that day? Or did they? I’m honestly dying to know. And the “Maleficent”-Phillip (omg Phillip, like the prince in Aurora… I just noticed that) drama dynamic thing they’ve got going on is another story entirely. Which I’d love to know, but I’ll put it on hold because before that I need to know how Phillip betrays May. Because betray her he must.
Concerning the subject of what actually happened in the book (rather than what I wish it had contained), there was so much going on, all the time (I feel like I’ve said this already). Poor Jack never got a break, and no one was ever really on his side. I mean, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the literal Black Forest was dangerous. I had the perfect opportunity to do it the first three times we sat down for tea. Gah. (Just cause May gave up her sarcasm doesn’t mean I have to…). I have to give it to the author, though, through the sheer insanity of the going-ons, I never once thought to question whether certain assumptions the characters made where true or not, so the ending did come as a surprise. And a very pleasant ending it was indeed.

Characters:
Jack: No but why did I spend the whole book calling him “Jacks” in my head… moving on. He’s fourteen. He’s fourteen. HE’S FOURTEEN. I must keep repeating this to myself in order to try to justify some of his decisions. UGH. Still, I’ll cut the boy some slack since, as I said above, things went horribly wrong for him, all the time. He never asked to be drawn into some complicated quest. He never asked to be the hero. Facts are that, fairytale world or not, heroes die, more often than not. And given that none of us are questioning the veracity of the prophecy and I just can’t see Jacks… Jack being the traitor, I guess the martyr it is. He’s a poor boy who never wanted to get sucked into this huge mess. Just a poor boy who never really had a choice (well, he could have not gone with May, I guess. His grandfather would never have forgiven him for it though.). And given his limited resources, he behaved admirably and proved himself quick on his feet. Was I stressed when he left the house with only a magic bag – no change of clothes, no weapons, no food? Yes, yes I was. But it was a stressful time, and again, he’s fourteen. Extra sets of clothes and food aren’t the first thing on fourteen-year-old boys’ mind, when presented with the once in a lifetime chance to save a princess and make something of themselves. Or so I’ve been told. He was nowhere near perfect, but I compare him to the other characters and suddenly he gets a lot better. That boy’s going places, and he has a very sensible head on his shoulders. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that whole first scene with the “dragon” at the start and when he let the “princess” “die” showed his character pretty well. Overall, I liked Jacks a lot more than I thought I would.

May: May was annoying. Really annoying. Which is frustrating because I generally like the fmc more than the mmc by default, so she really messed up if I like Jack more than I like her. But, come on! I get that she’s not from this world and everything, but common sense is supposed to be universal, know what I mean? She never claimed responsibility, was a bit selfish/self-absorbed, and acted downright childish at times. She was pretty much the stereotypical “not like other girls” girl. I wish I’d liked her more, and hopefully she gets better, but we just didn’t connect. She never talked about deep stuff with Jack (which is understandable given her age) and she took everything in stride, including traumatic situations (because what do you mean Jack was eaten?!). She wasn’t as deep as she could have been, and I didn’t relate to her at all.

Phillip: I don’t like Phillip. I don’t know if this is my own bias against royalty or Jack’s bias against royalty, or Phillip’s own annoying personality, but he was frustrating. From the start I felt like he was lying to us (which he kinda was, but no one made a big deal of it) and I was super suspicious every time he left them alone. When he went to get a healer, I was like “get a healer or share some interesting information with the local spy base?”. I don’t mean to doubt him, but he’s just so doubtable! Oh, and when he coincidentally wasn’t being kept in the prison with them. Sure, we found out later that he was being tortured a wee bit, but at the moment, I didn’t know that. What I knew is that they were in prison, and he wasn’t. If that isn’t suspicious, I don’t know what is. And I’m pretty sure this is a side-effect from Jack’s narration, but I was so annoyed every time he was just perfect. Like, his clothes never got torn or sullied up, he was always graceful, yadda yadda. May may have seen this Perfect Prince Charming™, but I see a boy I can’t trust, a boy with secrets to hide. I’m probably just being paranoid, but I decided to write my thoughts down in this review, in case he ends up being the traitor. Which he better be.

Red Hood: Yessss, my fave character in the book! If I’m being honest, I must confess that I liked her since I found out she was using the magic mirror as a regular mirror. I was like… “I like her”. And I just did not care that she was evil. I was so happy to find out she was good, but I’d honestly still love her if she were one of the bad guys. I feel like she’s actually a real character. One with scars and a backstory that aren’t just decoration. I barely got to know her, but the little things say a lot. She gave up every chance at a normal life to help ensure no one else had to live through what she lived through. She was sassy and brave and had a big heart. She watched so many people she loved suffer or die and she never stopped fighting. Yes, I love her. And even before I knew who she really was, she was real in a way that May will never be.

Others: To Jack’s grandfather… You just let your grandson go off like that? Without giving him proper food or clothes or a plan or make him promise to stay safe? He could have died! He almost did die! Do you realize that if something had happened to Jacks you would never have known? You’re a very irresponsible, thoughtless parent, I don’t like you very much.

I like the Wicked Queen. No wait, that came out wrong. She’s a horrible character, but I respect her. She had a really good plan, and it’s not often those come along, so good for her!

What’s the deal with the Huntsman? I don’t even know which side he’s on. I thought he was evil, but apparently, he was good? But if he’s good, why was he threatening to kill Jacks instead of explaining the situation over tea, unless he thought they were bad or something. I don’t know, I don’t get him.

❤️ Romance:
- Clean/No Spice
- Boy dressed up as princess (not too happy about it)
- 1 kiss (she was asleep and not happy about it, but there was no ill intent on his part)
- Nearness
- Almost kissing (1) (geez, aren’t they like 14??)
- Smelling her hair, skin
- Jealousy
Note: I may have missed something, so feel free to let me know if I did.

Okay, will someone explain why I’m writing romance content for a middle grade book where the mc’s are 14-year-olds trying to save the world? Like, not only do you have bigger issues to focus on, but you’re also literally 14! Why are you thinking about love??! It was honestly kinda cringe at times. And that one scene where May taunts Jack, saying that if he wasn’t jealous then he obviously wouldn’t mind if she just kept going with only Phillip… gosh how my blood boiled!! Whether he would mind or not has nothing to do with any jealousy, it has to do with the fact that he’s risked his life several times for her, become a target to several important people for her, left his hometown for her and made enemies of all (most) of its inhabitants… FOR HER! He did all that to PROTECT the “Princess”. Also known as HER. And then she just has the nerve to suggest she should dump him and continue with this random (clearly lying) prince? Not only does she have no sense, but that’s so insulting! I can’t with her. This small rant isn’t directly related to romance, I know, but it’s about jealousy, so I’m keeping it here. While I personally think that 14 is way too young for romance, I’ll admit that it can be done well (in middle-grade books, I mean). However, this one felt like too much, like they took your standard 18-year-old clean romance, dulled it a little, and put it in here. It just doesn’t feel like what 14-year-olds would do. But then, what do I know? Overall, I feel that there wasn’t any real romance, just random moments of attraction and some kisses and almost kisses. Which is weird given their age and frankly a bit inappropriate in my opinion.

⚠️ Content Warnings:
- Witches
- Witch almost eats them (she may have eaten kids before, idk)
- Magic
- Magic wands
- Mention of cursed objects
- Spells
- Lies
- Fantasy creatures/elements
- Mention of opening your mind to spirits beyond the natural world who will try to take over. (Someone is told to do this, but they don’t)
- Mentions of a Great War
- Injuries
- Character is eaten (Survives) (yes, you read that right)
- Mention of “devil horse”
- Someone unleashed what is referred to as a “devil”, “djinn”, “Ifrit”, or “genie” (all three terms used to refer to the same being)
- Grotesque transformation
- Character dropped “a torrent of profanity”, “swore in multiple languages”, “released a stream of obscenities” etc. (not written)
- Cursing or “name calling” (not written)
- 1 h*ck
👀Note: I may have missed something, so feel free to let me know if I did.

Honestly, the list is a bit expansive. The content wasn’t really heavy, but there were some things I found unnecessary (such as mentions of profanity and characters who swore repeatedly. Not written out, but still unnecessary in my opinion.) I recognize it’s a book of fairytale retellings, which includes witches (and witchcraft, magic, the like), curses, etc. Like I said, it wasn’t really heavy, but there was quite a bit of it, so if you’re someone who’s uncomfortable with that kind of thing, I will warn you, it was there. And you won’t be missing out on some masterpiece, so it’s really up to you.

Conclusion:
I know realize my expectations for this book were a bit too high but know that my feet are planted firmly on the ground, I’ll recognize it was a pretty good book. Yes, it was a tad insufferable at times, but overall, it has a lot of potential. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book… I just hope it lives up to my new expectations.

Also, terribly sorry for mentioning their age and the fact that it’s a middle grade book fifty trillion times… I was just in shock and those issues kept surfacing, no matter which part of the review I was writing 😅. Something good of this redundancy, though: you should have no doubt how old the mc’s are and the genre won’t catch you by surprise (as it did me…).

If you have any questions, feel free to let me know, and if you’ve read this book, I’d love to chat in the comments. Perchance we could trade opinions!


Disclaimer: All opinions in this review are my own and have not been influenced upon in any way, shape or form.
- Camila I.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this......really I did. Looking back on it it definely wasn't the best book I've ever read. This book would be awesome as a movie. You don't have to change anything about it.....the script is all there. The thing is I really didn't want a movie, I wanted a book. I was really excited to read this because I've discovered I like reading "fairy tale" kind of books. Jack and the beanstalk is a pretty well known fairy tale story so I was excpecting something that was different but stil stuck with the overall storyline. The main'character's name is Jack and at some point he does climb a beacnstalk, but other than that, there's pretty much no resemblence to the original "jack and the beanstalk" story. A year or two ago I'd probably have really liked this. Overall, it was an okay book. You'll probably end up liking it....maybe....or not :P

[Blabby Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS SERIES IS AMAZING!!!
I was seriously on the edge of my seat the whole time! And I mean, who doesn’t love a fairybottom* mashup!
*excuse me, fairytail...
Jack and May are amazing! The “punk princess” is perfect for this mashup!
The “courting ritual” scene made me laugh till I cried... The big bad wolf has quite the sense of humor😂
The plot twists are insane in this series! I never even saw them coming! (Like seriously- they will blow. your. mind.)
I just love it! And the whole prophesy about Phillip and Jack, about how one will betray May and the other will die? Yeah- never saw the actual results coming... I thought I had it all figured out- yeah no.
BAHAHAHA
READ IT!!! ❤️❤️❤️
I know you’ll love it!

[Kye Ryvers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!!
I decided to read some of James Riley's other books after thoroughly enjoying his other series: "Story Thieves" and "The Revenge of Magic." I was not disappointed! The beginning was a bit silly and the plot wasn't super clear, but both of those things were cleared up pretty quickly. I also liked that this book actually had a ship that was cannon, unlike "Story Thieves" and "The Revenge of Magic." I loved how the fairy tales I would always have my dad read to me when I was little were woven throughout the story, but with an adventurous twist that kept my fantasy craving extremely satisfied. I can't wait to start reading "Twice Upon A Time!"

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was in the mood for a cozy fantasy and this was it!! i read this once when i was like 12 and remember liking it but not much about the plot… but this was really funny and entertaining cuz it basically smashed a bunch of fairytales together. also the PACING was superb because it was just hijinks and shenanigans one after the other and then the TWIST at the end? dead. was this literally a children’s book? yes but i will be finishing the trilogy speedily!

[Faith M:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good!!! It was a little slow for me, so I skimmed a bunch of the second half. I think I’ll re-read this book and the rest of the series sometime:)

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

May was annoying at times, but other than that-really enjoyed this!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a great read. I really enjoy this mixed up fairytale world that Riley has created. Jack has to take princess rescuing classes, his grandpa hopes Jack can redeem the family name since Jack’s father is a no good thief who brought giants and death to their world. But what’s the point of taking princess rescuing classes if there aren’t any princesses to rescue? But when he complains to his grandpa about that a princess pops out of thin air right into his arms, well… not right into his arms a couple feet out! Jack knows it’s a princess because her t-shift says ‘Punk Princess’ he’s never heard of punk but he has to get her out of the village since there’s a terrible hunter after her. The same hunter who was sent after Snow White. Jack and May have to find out where this hunter took her beloved grandma, even though some fairy tales end with happily ever after, there are more that don’t. There are so many fairy tales that are dark and dangerous and it feels like Jack and May have to go through all of them to rescue her grandma. Fast fun and funny this is a book that is for fourth grade on up who love mixed up fairy tales.
-----------------------------------------------
This is one of those books that if you are in a reading funk, or have reader's block, or have read a slew of bad books all at once will reawaken your love of reading and encourage you to pick up another book. A great twist on a whole bunch of fairy tales, mostly Jack and the Beanstalk with some Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Red Riding Hood, and so much more all rolled up into a magical land where May, a girl from our world lands. She is wearing a shirt that says Punk Princess, so obviously everyone assumes that she is a princess. Honestly a great read and I need to find my second book so I can get started on that!
-------------------------------
This book was super amazing and cute. I loved it, totally fun and funny. I am a little sad that I don't own this book, and will eventually have to rectify that.

Jack is a boy who is failing at his hero training classes, he just doesn't see the point as there aren't that many princesses left. Until one wearing a punk princesses shirt falls into his arms, well a foot away from his arms. May is from our world but has ties that she doesn't quite understand to Jack's fairytale land.

Going on an quest to rescue May's grandmother Jack and May visit some iconic fairytale scenarios and they aren't quite what we imagined. Fun fast, adorable and amazing. This book is for 4th graders on up, anyone who likes a mixed up fairytale, and people who are just looking for some fun escapist adventure.

[Cass · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fun fairy tale mashup disappointing only because the author failed to wrap up any of the story lines. You won't find out how Prince Phillip finds his Sleeping Beauty or why there is a little fairy in the Princess's hair. You won't learn who the Princess really is or see the Wicked Queen defeated. You won't see Jack discover his inner hero or find out the identity of his mysterious mentor. The book just ends with everything unfinished. Possibly the author thinks he is being clever but in actuality it is just unsatisfying. Books have endings.

The book sets out to be a Fun little tale about a modern girl suddenly finding herself magically transported into the world of fairytales. She is joined on her adventure by Jack, son of the man who climbed the beanstalk and Phillip a dashing prince destined to awake sleeping beauty. This story has lots of fun playing with the well-known fairy tales.

The book was quiet fun until the ending drew near and it became increasingly obvious that there was not enough room to wrap up all the storylines. The story fails to provide any ending at all leaving the reader wondering what happened to the second part of the book???

Two stars because the book was fun. It would have been a three or four star book had the author provided an ending... still kind of flabbergasted at the appropriateness of selling half a book...presumably just to be clever?

[luna ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of middle grade "challenge" books in the past 3 days and this is one of the 2 that I have genuinely enjoyed so far. So fun!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like fairytales jumbled up like Snow White, Jack, and Red Riding Hood then this is the book for you!!

One day Jack is sitting outside, when May also know as Princess falls from the sky. As May tells Jack her story they decide to go rescue May's grandma who is Snow White. They go through adventure, and experiences but will they save May's grandma in the end?

[Deedeebear3! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is ............................is.........................is...................IS...........................IS AMAZING!!! It'S ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS IV'E READ. It connects to all your favorite fairy tales, I assume because I don't know who exactly who i'm talking to, but It's one of the best in my opinion, I loved it sooo much I read it in 2 DAYS! 2 DAYS!!

[laura (bbliophile) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was... not as good as I expected. The story was cute, but a lot of things just didn't add up, and it's quite forgetable overall.

[Alannah Alomar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello my dearies ahehehehehehhe
THIS BOOK CREATED MY CHILDHOOD.
How do I even start? I don't think, you have lived if you haven't felt incredibly in love with
Jack the thirteenth.

The book is about a bit named Jack who goes on an AFVenDture with his girl who they think is Snow whites granddaughter, and they think that she is the key to saving the world.
Now Jack, I am in love with, Because he is one: Clumsy. Two: heprettycuteinmymindngl Three: HE WOULD DIE FOR MAY

MAY IS JACKS SOULMATE, They are my childhood OPT.
No matter how many amazing books I read, this is what I always come back to. I have reread them a million times.

Typically I roast books to the bone when I review them, but there's isn't a bad thing I have to say. Great characters, amazing plot, THE PLOT TWISTS, THE FAIRY, THE HUMOR, THE ROMANCE. Everything about it is wonderful. Amazing, kisses, this is my childhood but you can read it at any age. Comfort book for real, Beautiful amazing and fantastic and fancy and fiction and AHHH

I could go on and on but I leave you with read it.

Sincerely, me.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was very good

[~Evy's OBSESSED~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
A cute, middle school, misadventure...I loved this book! The characters were all very well written and the plot kept me guessing til the end! Can't wait to read "Twice Upon a Time".

**WARNING. FOLLOWING TEXT MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS**

OVERVIEW
"Life’s no fairy tale for Jack. After all, his father's been missing ever since that incident with the beanstalk and the giant, and his grandfather keeps pushing him to get out and find a princess to rescue. Who'd want to rescue a snobby, entitled princess anyway? Especially one that falls out of the sky wearing a shirt that says "Punk Princess," and still denies she's royalty. In fact, May doesn't even believe in magic. Yeah, what's that about? May does need help though--a huntsman is chasing her, her grandmother has been kidnapped, and Jack thinks it’s all because of the Wicked Queen . . . mostly because May’s grandmother might just be the long-lost Snow White. Jack and May's thrillingly hilarious adventure combines all the classic stories—fractured as a broken magic mirror—into the first of an epic new series of novels for the ages."

POSITIVE ELEMENTS
Though Jack often thinks himself an inadequate hero, he does display some heroic qualities such as; courage and loyalty. May gives up her sarcasm to save them. Jack, May and Philip all get lots of help along the way.

SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS
Magic exists and so do fairies, witches, goblins, imps, sorcerer's etc.

VIOLENCE
Jack nearly gets eaten by a giant. Jack and May are almost cooked by a witch and have to escape her mad "children". Mentions of how Philip's father died. Jack explains about his father's disappearance. Mentions of pain, bleeding and near death. Jack, May and Philip face a dragon. A fairy and a genie fight. Mentions of great battles. Overall nothing graphic, but definitely some fighting etc.

SEXUAL CONTENT
Clean. Jack is attracted to May. In Jack's world to awake a princess you must kiss her. So when May falls through the sky wearing a "Punk Princess" shirt and is unconscious, Jack kisses her to try and wake her. Mentions of turning red in the face, feelings and noticing. Jack hugs May.

LANGUAGE
Clean. A few mentions of curses or swearing (none said).

OTHER NOTES
Jack and May often argue and pick on each other. Jack doesn't really like Philip at the beginning and the two fight often (each trying to impress May). Jack thinks all royalty is snooty.

All in all, I really enjoyed this fast paced fantasy and would highly suggest this book!

[Franzi Robinsôn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book because i was in the Auckland library and i really like fantasy and drama kind of books. this book had a beanstalk on it so i assumed it was like a fairy tale book. i didn't even bother reading the blurb, i just took it home. I did really like it, it was very modern and the language was very "in my time" and it was very, very funny. I enjoyed it and its actually a trilogy so i will most likely read all the other books.

The book is about a young boy named Jack who is nagged my his Grandfather to train to become a fighter so he can defend himself because of what happened to his father, after the incident with a giant and a beanstalk. So far he is doing a bad job. At all his princess trainings, he is always failing, killing the princess and letting the witch get away with it.

Everything changes after a princess called May who denies she is royalty, falls from the sky. She is not very princess like at all, with a t-shirt saying "punk Princess" and a blue streak in her hair.

Things go crazy; a huntsmen chases them, May's Grandmother gets kidnapped, Jack thinks it os the Wicked queen because May's Grandmother may be Snow White. Their adventure causes them to face challenges, meet knew people, do things they would never ever even think of doing.

Even though they might of started out hating each other they have to work as a team...and maybe lovers...;) to sort out the sticky situations they put themselves in.

I really did enjoy this book because it was hilarious, there were lots of plot twits which i really like and it was very enjoyable.

[Jacob Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response:
This has got to be one of my favorite books ever, it has everything that someone like me can ask for. From heroes that make a million mistakes before they reach the end of their journey (in which it turns out they made a mistake then as well), to villains that turn up being the actual heroes (from a certain perspective, that is). I personally love how the author helps connect the reader with the character.

Plot:
In the beginning of this book the main character Jack is trying and failing to pass a test on Princess Rescue, to later be saddled with having to save a queen. Partnered with the 'Princess' May that fell out of the sky in a ball of fire and Philip, a Prince of a far off kingdom seeking to kill the giant that had killed his father. There's one, or a lot really, of problems though, the queen they have to save is Mays grandmother, who is thought for the most part of the book to be Snow White until later revealed to be the Wicked Queen. Besides that Jack, May, and Philip have to topple giants, beat witches, conquer Ifrits, avoid a master Huntsman, team up with a talking wolf, and much much more.

Recommendations:
I recommend this book to boys and girls alike that are at least in seventh grade. The reason I say this is because I believe that both males and females alike will very much enjoy this book, but should be at the age that most are in at seventh grade because of certain things in the book and the length of it (I personally don't think it's long but hey, that's me).