Misha
Yes, and from a Christian perspective (yay!).
Let’s be honest. The market is sa-tur-at-ed with fairy tale books, and specifically respinning all of the classic fairy tales. When this trend first began, I thought it was fresh and fun. Cinder is one of my all-time favorite books. I love the cyborg twist to Cinderella, not to mention the birth secrets and interwoven sequels. If you get the chance, the audio version is unreal it’s so good.
But can we say enough yet? Doesn’t anyone have any new ideas? Sigh. I guess if we don’t, then Melanie Cellier’s Beyond the Four Kingdoms series is quite good. You kinda know what’s coming with the more popular tales, but she manages to keep them fresh. And once I’d resigned myself to the fact I’m reading more Fairy Tale remakes, I devoured them. (I’m on book #4 now.)
The first book, A Dance of Silver and Shadow, is quite unique in its character-building. Cellier has sweet, sassy, smart, cold, intriguing, fearless, terrified, blessed, and cursed princesses all fighting over a prize none of them want. Sound twisty? It is! It sets off the rest of the series while introducing all of our main characters.
My favorite part of Cellier’s world-building is her faith! While not overtly Christian, her world quite obviously mirrors the sovereignty of God as we know him. The princesses are tasked to carry their gifts to break curses in darkened kingdoms. Like missionaries! And the Great King is the initiator of true love blessings passed through Fairy Godmothers. This concept is quite clever and holds steady through the series, giving valid reasons why good things have been twisted to threaten our heroes. Clever villains have to be defeated through real courage and an understanding of good and evil. From a theological standpoint, I keep on jiving with Cellier.
The love lines are all unique. The cursed princes are my favorite characters. They prove to be as much heroes as our princesses are heroines.
If you’re looking for fresh Christian fiction, these books will pleasantly surprise you.
Gretchen Carlson
Michelle Kaderly Welsh
Candice Yamnitz
Sounds good!
Sounds interesting. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks, Sharon
Thanks for sharing, Michelle! I don’t grow tired of fairytale retellings, as long as they’re written well. I haven’t heard of this series, but you’ve got my interest. 🙂 I’m just curious on one thing. If this series has a Christian undertone, what is the prize they’re fighting over that they DON’T want? Is there a parallel to the Christian faith in this?
Hmmm…. ok Laure, but…
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS BELOW
(This spoiler is revealed near the beginning of the book, so it should only lessen the intrigue at the beginning. But if you like intrigue, don’t keep reading.)
I’ll just say they are compelled to compete for a certain betrothal or they forfeit their lives — the result of someone twisting what was once good magic. So like the curse over our world, the tournament’s magic was initially a beautiful thing, but it becomes twisted when the “prize” is binding and undesirable.
This sounds like a beautiful story that I’m going to have to definitely read!! Thanks 🙂