Release Date: August 22nd 2023
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 336
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I received an E-ARC via Netgalley
Rating: 2.25/5 stars
Synopsis
Bitsy is no one’s ideal princess.
She’s heard it all: that it’s a shame she’s so plain, so lacking in grace. That the best thing for her to do is simply wait (and wait some more), and hope some prince will grant her a happy ending.
Then Bitsy pricks her finger on a spindle and falls down, down, down.
Into a world where cutthroats and con artists are more common than curtsies. Where no one ages and everyone is beautiful. Where an inscrutable evil rests at its core.
A land where Bitsy’s fate and her future are solely in her own hands—and neither are what she expects.
The dark and deadly world of Heartless meets the empowering twist of Cruel Beauty in this thrilling, unpredictable, multigenre retelling of one of the most beloved fairy tales: where instead of falling asleep to await her prince, this sleeping beauty finally wakes up.
Review
Creeping Beauty caught my eye as it was described as a subversive and feminist take on Sleeping Beauty. I love reimaginings of Sleeping Beauty so couldn’t wait to dive in. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t work for me. The story follows Bitsy a plain princess and heir to the throne. Her parents want her to marry but are finding it difficult to find a suitable match. When Bitsy accidentally pricks her finger on a spinning wheel, she is transported to a world where beauty is the most important thing and people will do anything they can to make themselves beautiful. Will Bitsy be able to escape and return to her kingdom, and will she be the same person when she gets there?
The story does have an intriguing premise, but the plot felt very disjointed. It is quite a quick paced tale and the writing was easy to get into but I was hoping for more atmosphere in the sinister and cut throat land that Bitsy is transported to. The story didn’t really come to a satisfying conclusion and I was expecting something more to happen before the story came to an end.
Bitsy as a main protagonist was fine but I didn’t particularly connect with her and I didn’t feel like the romance worked at all. There were other characters I was more interested in and wished we got to know more of. Overall Creeping Beauty is a different take on the Sleeping Beauty tale. If you’re looking for a fairytale reimagining this could be something you’ll really enjoy but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The Phoenix King is the first in an all new sci-fi/fantasy trilogy from Aparna Verma. In a world where flames are magic, we follow three main characters. Elena is the heir to the throne but the powers she needs to hold the throne won’t come to her. Leo does not wish to give up his crown, he wants to ensure his legacy and will do anything he can to keep the power he needs. Yassen is an assassin who dreams of escaping his life and his reputation as a deadly assassin. To do this he must serve those he previously swore to kill.
Craig Russell’s The Devil’s Playground is a dark and enthralling tale that follows two timelines. In 1967 journalist Paul Conway is attempting to track down the only copy of The Devil’s Playground in existence – a silent film that was thought to be a cursed production with several tragic accidents and deaths linked to the film. Meanwhile, in 1927 Mary Rourke is a fixer for a Hollywood film studio – she does what she can to ensure the studio and its actors are never seen in a bad light. The studio is currently working on a film that is thought to be the most terrifying horror film ever made – The Devil’s Playground. When Mary discovers the body of the lead actress, she begins to wonder if there are any truths to the rumour that this is a cursed production.
I really enjoyed reading A. M. Shine’s The Watchers so I was incredibly intrigued to see what the author would write next. The Creeper follows two researchers – Ben and Chloe – who are invited to take part in a research trip by Dr Sparling. He sends them to a remote village in Ireland – a village that has no contact with the rest of the world. He asks them to gather their stories, find out their history and ask them what they know about the creeper. When the arrive the locals say very little and refuse to talk about the creeper. Then a little girl tells them the story – three times you see him and each night he comes closer. When Ben and Chloe are visited by a sinister figure watching them, they begin to realize the creeper might be more than just a legend. Will they be able to uncover the truth and save themselves from this monster?
The second installment in the Twin Crowns series, this story follows sisters Rose and Wren as they attempt to rule the kingdom of Eana. Despite only being on the throne for a short period of time, trouble is already brewing. There are those who are against witches being on the throne, and desperate to remove them. Their grandmother is also being held captive by King Alarik, and Wren will do anything to get her back. As the two sisters set out on separate quests, will they be able to survive long enough to rule their kingdom?
The Housekeepers is a compulsively readable tale that follows Mrs. King, a housekeeper who has recently been dismissed from the a wealthy home in Mayfair. Mrs King is much more than she seems and decides to recruit a team of women to help her enact the ultimate revenge: robbing the house of every single possession on the night of the house’s huge costume ball. But Mrs King has many secrets and her quest for revenge isn’t just about the money. Will the team be able to successfully pull off the heist?
Melinda Salisbury’s Her Dark Wings is a fresh and modern day look at the Persephone myth. We follow Corey, a young girl recently betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend. When her best friend unexpectedly dies, Corey sees something she shouldn’t and finds herself trapped in the underworld. Can Corey make it back to her family and will she be the same person when she does?
Camp Damascus is a dark and haunting horror story that follows a young woman named Rose, who has had a very Christian upbringing. She believes wholeheartedly in the tenets of the Church, living in a town that is famous for Camp Damascus, the “most effective” gay conversion camp ever. When Rose starts seeing strange things, she begins to realize that something more sinister might be going on at the church.
Girls of Little Hope is the dark and gripping tale of three friends who go missing in the woods. As police and the public begin to mount a search for girls, two of them – Donna and Rae – are found. When questioned about the whereabouts of their friend – Kat, the two girls say they can’t remember what happened to them. Plagued with questions, the missing girl’s mother decides to launch her own investigation to discover what happened to her daughter. Donna doesn’t remember what happened, but she’s determined to find out what happened to Kat. Returning the woods and the cave they entered, Donna uncovers a secret so much darker than she ever thought possible.
I completely fell in love with Ariadne and Elektra and Jennifer Saint has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. In her newest release, we follow Atalanta – raised in the forest by a bear, Atalanta is a favourite of the goddess Artemis. When Artemis sends her on a voyage to be part of an epic quest to find the Golden Fleece, Atalanta is excited for the chance to prove herself. Before she leaves Artemis warns her that a man will be her undoing. Will Atalanta succeed in her quest to prove herself and will she stay true to the oath she swore Artemis?
The Bibliophile Chronicles 