The Wrong Bridegroom by Sharon Shinn

The Wrong Bridegroom
by Sharon Shinn

part of:
Never After (anthology)
by: Laurell K. Hamilton
Yasmine Galenorn
Marjorie M. Liu
Sharon Shinn

Published: 2009
Genre: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Romance
Paperback: 400 pages
Rating for story: 5
Overall rating for book: 4

Description from the amazon:
The bonds of love...
The bonds of matrimony...
The bonds between husband and wife...
Let's face it—some bonds are made to be broken.
Here, for the first time ever, are four stories from today's most provocative authors that take the classic idea of the "faerie tale wedding" and give it a swift kick in the bustle.

Description of story from book:
When a princess refuses her boring betrothed, the king holds a competition to see who will win his daughter's hand. But in matters of the heart, is a winner truly worthy -- or can a loser offer even more.

My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): constant

I liked this story the best of the anthology.

Watching the coming-of-queen growth of the Princess was what drew me along.

Also, the characters were varied and presented with strengths and weaknesses. In particular, the suitors to the Princess were not the dashing, charming sort. Like the Princess, we grow to appreciate each for their own.

Road trip. And you know what happens on road trips - bonding and worldly experiences. Yes, the Princess travels the realm and you get to see the lands around her castle.

Reviews for other stories:
Can He Bake A Cherry Pie? by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Shadow of Mist by Yasmine Galenorn
The Tangleroot Palace by Marjorie M. Liu
The Wrong Bridegroom by Sharon Shinn

*** Book Giveaway ***

sign up for this book giveaway here

~*~
* image source English Princess

***~*~* Fairy Tales in Bruges schedule *~*~***

The Tangleroot Palace by Marjorie M. Liu

The Tangleroot Palace
by Marjorie M. Liu

part of:
Never After (anthology)
by: Laurell K. Hamilton
Yasmine Galenorn
Marjorie M. Liu
Sharon Shinn

Published: 2009
Genre: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Romance
Paperback: 400 pages
Rating for story: 4
Overall rating for book: 4

Description from the amazon:
The bonds of love...
The bonds of matrimony...
The bonds between husband and wife...
Let's face it—some bonds are made to be broken.
Here, for the first time ever, are four stories from today's most provocative authors that take the classic idea of the "faerie tale wedding" and give it a swift kick in the bustle.

Description of story from book:
A young princess escapes betrothal to a warlord by entering a magical forest. But when an evil queen sends her on a quest to The Tangleroot Palace, she faces dangers more perilous than marriage.

My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): illusion

The princess in this tale strikes out on her own to solve her dilemma. I liked her spirit and non-prissyness.

Trees are a magical element in this story. The oak tree plays an interesting part in guidance.

Reviews for other stories:
Can He Bake A Cherry Pie? by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Shadow of Mist by Yasmine Galenorn
The Tangleroot Palace by Marjorie M. Liu
The Wrong Bridegroom by Sharon Shinn

*** Book Giveaway ***

sign up for this book giveaway here
~*~
* image source oak tree

***~*~* Fairy Tales in Bruges schedule *~*~***

The Shadow of Mist by Yasmine Galenorn

The Shadow of Mist

An Otherworld Novella
by Yasmine Galenorn

part of:
Never After (anthology)
by: Laurell K. Hamilton
Yasmine Galenorn
Marjorie M. Liu
Sharon Shinn

Published: 2009
Genre: Fairy Tales, Paranormal, Romance
Paperback: 400 pages
Rating for story: 4
Overall rating for book: 4

Description of book from the amazon:
The bonds of love...
The bonds of matrimony...
The bonds between husband and wife...
Let's face it—some bonds are made to be broken.
Here, for the first time ever, are four stories from today's most provocative authors that take the classic idea of the "faerie tale wedding" and give it a swift kick in the bustle.

Description of story from book:
A selkie on the run from a century-old broken marriage arrangement has finally found true love--only to have the darkness from her past return to threaten both her and her dearly beloved.

My thoughts:
In-a-word: weres
This is my first selkie story and a nice intro too.

I first heard of this creature from reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Never had a chance to follow up on reading more about the selkies.

And, I've been meaning to watch the selkie movie, The Secret of Roan Inish which this author quotes...

The sea gives and the sea takes away.
-Grandfather to Fiona Conneely
from The Secret of Roan Inish

Selkies are able to transform to human form by shedding their seal skins, and can return to seal form by putting it back on.
-Wikipedia

This selkie story takes place in the modern world where shapeshifters and vampires are part of the population.

It's interesting to note that selkies can transform at will. They are not influenced by a full moon like were creatures.

Also, selkies are part of Pod communities like human clans or tribes.

We have an evil prince here who stalks our heroine. No swooning and mooning over this fairy tale prince.

The heroine has been on the run for a century until she is found. Then all is revealed when confronted by the prince. Turns out unbeknownst to her, she is a princess with much more family power and prestige in her background.

Being a fairy tale, all is well in the end with a little help from some were friends.

Have you come across selkies in your readings?

Reviews for other stories:
Can He Bake A Cherry Pie? by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Shadow of Mist by Yasmine Galenorn
The Tangleroot Palace by Marjorie M. Liu
The Wrong Bridegroom by Sharon Shinn

~*~
*a rags to riches Cinderella-ish tale

*source of selkie

*part of my Once Upon a Week

*part of my Novella challenge

Can He Bake A Cherry Pie? by Laurell K. Hamilton

Can He Bake A Cherry Pie?
by Laurell K. Hamilton

part of:
Never After (anthology)
by: Laurell K. Hamilton
Yasmine Galenorn
Marjorie M. Liu
Sharon Shinn

Published: 2009
Genre: Fairy Tales, Paranormal, Romance
Paperback: 400 pages
Rating for story: 4
Overall rating for book: 4

Description from the amazon:
The bonds of love...
The bonds of matrimony...
The bonds between husband and wife...
Let's face it—some bonds are made to be broken.
Here, for the first time ever, are four stories from today's most provocative authors that take the classic idea of the "faerie tale wedding" and give it a swift kick in the bustle.

Description of story from book:
A princess decides to take her own destiny in hand and rescue a pampered Prince Charming from an evil sorceress.

My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): sweet or tart?

First off, if you're familiar with Laurell's Anita Blake vampire hunter series, you'll be in for a sweet surprise.

I've read the first two of the series which I liked, but haven't had the chance to go back to read the rest. I also read the graphic novel volume one which rocks!

Your basic fairy tale of hero goes out on a quest to save someone is present. However, this one has a couple twists.

The hero is a heroine. The heroine is not a weapon wielding or martial arts expert. Instead, she faces the foes with a calm demeanor.

An ogre with a club is her first challenge which she does not run from. She stands her ground (eyes closed). The ogre stops his attack and has a civil conversation with the heroine. Then decides to let her pass and go onto the next challenge.

The prize is to marry a prince who has been imprisoned by a (not evil) sorceress. Turns out the prince has been imprisoned due to his extreme arrogance.

The story takes another twist when the heroine questions whether or not the prize is worth it.

The fun title of this tale comes into play when there is a bake-off between the heroine and the prince.

This is really a fun fairy tale and told in a light-hearted manner. No gore or graphic scenes like in the Anita books.

And best of all, the heroine in this story comes out on top!

Reviews for other stories:
Can He Bake A Cherry Pie? by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Shadow of Mist by Yasmine Galenorn
The Tangleroot Palace by Marjorie M. Liu
The Wrong Bridegroom by Sharon Shinn

~*~
*source of cherry pie

*source of ogre

*part of my Once Upon a Week