Everyone knows the story of Swan Lake right? Even my three year old (alright so it's via Barbie in the Pink Shoes DVD but it's an introduction to bigger, better things). I love the story of Swan Lake and was curious as to how a modern take would work.
Set in the fictional town of Cygnford (loved the swan reference), Mitzi is startled when a swan bursts in to her living room during a storm. Her astonishment continues, as one may imagine, when after sun down said swan turns into a Russian princess called Odette.
I loved following Odette as she experienced life in 21st century. How her circumstances of being a foreigner in England could easily be explained away as an asylum seeker or a sex worker victim to trafficking. I did question how sensible it was for Mitzi to introduce Odette to both alcohol and spicy food in one restaurant visit! Moments like the restaurant however provided much humour to the book and in some ways I was reminded of Rapunzel or the Little Mermaid when they experienced the outside world for the first time. It was also interesting to read about Mitzi's experiences as a writer. I certainly sensed some real life experiences in amongst those words!
I tend to get a bit annoyed at fairy tales due to the fact that the mother figure is always non-existent (same with Odette interestingly) and the ridiculous ease in which true love is obtained. I did however like Duchen's take on fairy tales, how they address unconscious fears in an indirect way - it's OK to be you as long as you are true to yourself, kind and caring. And who would have thought Sleeping Beauty could be classed as a resurrection story?
I didn't guess the twist (gasp out loud moment) and loved how the book unravelled. It certainly wasn't a Snow White ending and I loved the book all the more for it. My favourite line of the whole story was the last one. It made me go 'Aw' and left me feeling all lovely inside. Which is what you want at Christmas.
It was easy to read, festive without being out rightly so and easily appeals to women of all ages. Even those too big for believing glass slippers are ever suitable attire for a ball.
My thanks go to Unbound and Anne Cater via her Random Things Through my Letterbox website for a copy of the book in exchange of a honest review.
Set in the fictional town of Cygnford (loved the swan reference), Mitzi is startled when a swan bursts in to her living room during a storm. Her astonishment continues, as one may imagine, when after sun down said swan turns into a Russian princess called Odette.
I loved following Odette as she experienced life in 21st century. How her circumstances of being a foreigner in England could easily be explained away as an asylum seeker or a sex worker victim to trafficking. I did question how sensible it was for Mitzi to introduce Odette to both alcohol and spicy food in one restaurant visit! Moments like the restaurant however provided much humour to the book and in some ways I was reminded of Rapunzel or the Little Mermaid when they experienced the outside world for the first time. It was also interesting to read about Mitzi's experiences as a writer. I certainly sensed some real life experiences in amongst those words!
I tend to get a bit annoyed at fairy tales due to the fact that the mother figure is always non-existent (same with Odette interestingly) and the ridiculous ease in which true love is obtained. I did however like Duchen's take on fairy tales, how they address unconscious fears in an indirect way - it's OK to be you as long as you are true to yourself, kind and caring. And who would have thought Sleeping Beauty could be classed as a resurrection story?
I didn't guess the twist (gasp out loud moment) and loved how the book unravelled. It certainly wasn't a Snow White ending and I loved the book all the more for it. My favourite line of the whole story was the last one. It made me go 'Aw' and left me feeling all lovely inside. Which is what you want at Christmas.
It was easy to read, festive without being out rightly so and easily appeals to women of all ages. Even those too big for believing glass slippers are ever suitable attire for a ball.
My thanks go to Unbound and Anne Cater via her Random Things Through my Letterbox website for a copy of the book in exchange of a honest review.
Thank you so much for this blog tour support x
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