Book Reviews

review; enchanted

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Enchanted
by Alethea Kontis

It isn’t easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past – and hers?

Review:

Take one well known fairytale. Add in a dash of headstrong heroines, a little bit of fey and a shady villain. Stir well. The result? One extremely tangled tale of lost brothers, seven children and their legacies, cursed princes and fairy magic – thrown together with hints of so many other familiar tales that one cannot help but be extremely pleased when they recognize correctly the story the idea has been taken from.

I had expected a sweet, somewhat simple and straightforward story. I got, instead, a darker and more intense tale that I could not put down once I managed to get myself some quiet time with my book. Alethea Kontis creates a fantastic world with so much potential and characters that are equally interesting.

Sunday Woodcutter is a feisty heroine, and yet retains an innocence and naivety throughout the novel that far from being annoying, simply makes her endearing. It is easy to see why Rumbold falls in love with her. The prince is also a well-developed character, and the gaps in what we know of his past, even at the end of the novel, make me very intrigued as to what else I, like Sunday, can learn about him if only there are more stories.

(But then again, there will always be stories to be told. It’s a lesson I think Sunday learns, especially when it comes to her family.)

All in all, Enchanted was a fun read and I enjoyed all characters. I cannot wait to read more by Alethea Kontis. She has magic in her words.

I’m Ara, a Southeast Asian writer who someday hopes to have published a novel, and who is currently losing herself in the worlds created by others. I love books and food and television and blogging and I get distracted and sidetracked easily.

6 Comments

  • Ali

    I’m obsessed with fairytales, and this one sounds perfect for me! Have you read Daughter of the Forest? Ever since I read that book I realized how much I love fairytales, and that one has got to be one of my favorites!

    • Ara

      I ADORE fairytales so much. Someday, I’m gonna write a retelling. Haha. No, I have not! Definitely going to check it out. Thanks for the rec!

  • Cait @ Paper Fury

    Oooh, I need this one! 😀 I’ve kind of always been aware of it but never just gotten around to librarying it. I didn’t realise it had darker tones. I LIKE THAT. *cackles somewhat evilly* And lost brothers and big families and magic?!? AHHHHH. Sounds so glorious. 😀

    • Ara

      IT IS. I haven’t finished the series yet – it’s kind of difficult to find the books, actually? BUT IT IS SO GOOD. READ IT SO WE CAN SCREAM ABOUT IT TOGETHER CAIT.

  • Jesalin

    Ooo, this actually sounds really good!! So many elements added into one novel — I love it! I’m definitely going to check this one out…
    Great review! 🙂

    #Commenting365Challenge

    -Jess @jbelkbooks

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