Category: Celeste Baxendell

Cover Reveal - Sacred Heart by Celeste Baxendell

12/31/2023

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E-Book Review - Cinders Of Glass by Celeste Baxendell

6/27/2022

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Genre:
Fantasy / Fairytale Retelling / YA

Cinders Of Glass
Bewitching Fairy Tales book 4
by Celeste Baxendell

-From Goodreads-

Traitors don’t fall in love with princes, and they don’t live happily ever after.

Liora doesn't have much left in life, but someone has to run the stall in the market that sells her stepfamily’s enchanted matches. Liora is willing to do anything for family; it’s not very exciting—until the royal family visits the market and everything changes.

Liora is just grateful that Prince Cynrik doesn't remember her. The best thing for her and her stepfamily is to stay far away from the royals. But when Prince Cynrik asks for her help, how can she say no? But if she fails to keep her identity hidden, how far will the royal family go this time?

Prince Cynrik has a carefully crafted reputation, and it has never once failed him… up until it causes his brother to threaten him with an arranged marriage. The only way out of it is to prove he's capable of doing something useful; the catch is he has to do it alone.

When a freak accident seems to be not-so-accidental, getting help can’t hurt as long as his brother doesn't find out about it. Besides, who would imagine that a prince would need the help of a girl who sold matches to solve a conspiracy? And… just how deep does it go?

ASIN: B09J2YNDFN

Can these two possibly save a kingdom?

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Celeste Baxendell

Author Website

I think Cinders Of Glass has to be just about the best Cinderella retelling that I've ever read. And when you realize that it was combined with one of the old tales, The Little Match Girl, I disliked the most as a kid, well, that's quite a feat in and of itself. But, in some ways I'm not surprised. I've come to expect the unexpected from Celeste Baxendell and her magical storytelling has made the Bewitching Fairy Tales series more than live up to its name.

Honesty is still the best policy, despite what our hero prince thinks, and I have to tell you that I started Cinders Of Glass with some trepidation. Why? Because I hated Cynrik in Mirrors Of Ice, he was just SO mean. This book was one of the very few that I've read where the hero really has little to no redeeming qualities to start off. But, you knew there would be a but, Celeste Baxendell took on a seemingly impossible task and oh so gradually transformed a character I would have called a villain into a man who is still flawed but still well on his journey to become the man he was always meant to be. Liora, however, was quite the opposite as despite her naivete and blind faith I liked her from the start. I also really liked the fact that she had just as much of a transformation journey to go on, though in different ways, as she becomes a woman of strength and purpose.

Oh, I just want to interject here that I loved how the author chose to avoid naming her heroine some form of the name Ella...The name does come up but in a surprising, and in my opinion much better, way. Read the book to find out what I mean!

Bewitching Fairy Tales has been a winning series for me. As soon as I finish one I simply can't wait for the next one. I hate saying goodbye to the characters and world for even the few months it takes for the newest release. Cinders Of Glass fit right into that same category just like the rest of Celeste Baxendell's delightful fairytale retellings...now I just need to hold my anticipation in check for awhile...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Cinders Of Glass by Celeste Baxendell a 4.5 Bark rating.

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E-Book Review - Beasts Of Beauty by Celeste Baxendell

6/26/2022

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Genre:
Fantasy / Fairytale Retelling / YA

Beasts Of Beauty
Bewitching Fairy Tales book 3
by Celeste Baxendell

-From Goodreads-

The only way to survive is to be brutal.

Aerona is a beast whose sole purpose is to protect the only fairies left. She won't let anyone threaten them, so when a hunter tries to take her down and discovers the fairies in the process, Aerona has no choice but to take him captive to protect the secret.

While she wants nothing to do with him, when he discovers her human-like form, it’s no longer as easy. How long will she be able to fight her desire to be human again?

Chasen owes a debt to a dangerous wizard, and his family will pay the price if he doesn’t deliver. Fortunately, all Chasen has to do is capture the Beast. With an enchanted cloak protecting him, it seems simple enough until things go very wrong. Now he has to figure out how to capture the Beast with no weapons, no plan, and fairies watching his every move.

He has to win the Beast’s trust, but he’s never been good at deception and manipulation. With his sister’s life on the line, he can’t fail, but how will he live with himself if he succeeds?

ASIN: B09BP2CW8M

She's the beast, he has the magic hood...

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Celeste Baxendell

Author Website

I'll be the first person to admit that Beauty And The Beast is probably one of my two least liked fairytales, the other being The Little Mermaid. But that's the beauty of fairytale retellings, particularly of the Celeste Baxendell mash-up variety. Because the Bewitching Fairy Tales aren't your dusty old fairytales nor are they the Disney variety with dancing dishes and singing animals. Oh, no, they are something else, something much better entirely!

Gender-swapping is also a minor annoyance for me but not this time, not with Beasts Of Beauty! No, that little plot device MADE the story!

How did Celeste Baxendell take two things I normally dislike and turn them into a wonderfully imaginative story that I loved? Well, she added a few enchanting fairies, tossed in the story of Little Red Riding Hood, conjured up an evil wizard, brought back a surprising character, and deposited them into her exquisitely crafted fantasy realm against the tense background of a country in political turmoil. And then there is the emotional depth of these stories that you just have to experience for yourself.

Chasen is a bit of a different hero, he isn't always the smartest and he makes some pretty bad mistakes. He does, however, have some things going for him; he is kind, gentle, loves his family above all, and this guy can braid girls' hair! He is also the hero that Aerona needs. Aerona is also not your stereotypical impossibly beautiful heroine who can also kick-butt. No, she's more kick-butt than gentle and sometimes it's hard to see through her prickly personality. But I liked them both BECAUSE of their flaws and not in spite of them.

If fantasy or fairytale retellings are your thing I can't recommend the Bewitching Fairy Tales series highly enough... Even if you are not in the YA target age range it makes little difference. They are just that good! So, check out this series and don't miss Beasts Of Beauty!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Beasts of Beauty by Celeste Baxendell a 4.5 Bark rating.

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E-Book Review - Mirrors Of Ice by Celeste Baxendell

6/25/2022

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Genre:
Fantasy / Fairytale Retelling / YA

Mirrors Of Ice
Bewitching Fairy Tales book 2
by Celeste Baxendell

-From Goodreads-

There is still worth in broken things.

With the end of her mourning period approaching, Princess Eirwen of Glaciar knows her time is up. Her aunt, Queen Regent Isolde, is going to strike soon, but Eirwen’s ready—as ready as one can be for their own assassination. As soon as Eirwen is out of the way, there will be nothing left to stop Isolde from taking over Glaciar.

With no allies, no plan, and a paltry amount of magic, Eirwen has no idea how she’s going to pull off a coup, but what other choice does she have?

As the youngest of seven, Prince Sterling of Idres is used to being overlooked at best and criticized at worst, but none of it bothers him. Nothing ever does. While he is generally uninterested in the world, when Princess Eirwen of Glaciar is mysteriously kidnapped, he takes notice while no one else seems to care.

However, when he discovers Snow White, the street performer who just so happens to sound a lot like the missing princess, he’s sufficiently intrigued. What is she doing in Idres, and what does it have to do with him?

ASIN: B093TGBBPP

Can snow magic and cold logic triumph?

Move over Elsa because there is a new Snow (White) Queen about to take the throne!

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Celeste Baxendell

Author Website

This is the second Bewitching Fairy Tales novel, and the second in the series, that I've read so this time around I was a little more prepared for Celeste Baxendell's exquisite skill at mashing up fairytales and giving them her own special twist. And this mash-up of Snow White with The Snow Queen can only be described as excellent!

Mirrors Of Ice was completely intriguing from the start. All of the elements for Snow White, The Snow Queen as well, were there and yet they were entirely different. That precipice between expectation of the familiar and the adventure of surprise was both enticing and exciting – and I just couldn't help but be captivated.

I think half the fun of this story was the direct contrast between its hero and heroine. Eirwen may have the gift of snow magic but Sterling is the one with ice in his veins. But it will take each of their unique strengths, and maybe weaknesses, to save both the kingdom of Glaciar and the kingdom of Idres.

Not all second books in a series are as strong as their predecessor but Mirrors Of Ice most certainly is thanks to Celeste Baxendell's magical storytelling. If you are a fan of clean fairytale retellings like I am, don't miss any of the Bewitching Fairy Tales!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Mirrors Of Ice by Celeste Baxendell a 4.5 Bark rating.

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E-Book Review - Stalks Of Gold by Celeste Baxendell

6/24/2022

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Genre:
Fantasy / Fairytale Retelling / YA

Stalks Of Gold
Bewitching Fairy Tales book 1
by Celeste Baxendell

-From Goodreads-

Magic isn’t a solution; it’s a trap.

If Aurelia comes across magic, she’s supposed to run in the other direction. Life is no longer so simple. If the tower door opens, and she doesn’t have any gold, her life will be forfeit.

No one is going to help her, not even her closest friend. No one, except for the mysterious stranger who appeared on her doorstep and in her tower room. If she takes the deal, she might live, but what will she sacrifice in order to do it?

Sandor’s worlds collided when Aurelia was brought before King Eadric. Is he truly so desperate to get out of debt, he’s willing to believe such nonsense as a girl who can spin straw into gold? She’s Sandor’s closest friend. If Aurelia were a witch, he would know it. It’s impossible, or so he thought.

Nothing makes sense anymore, but Sandor’s determined to figure it out and save Aurelia from the king. The more he learns, the more he wonders, is the king the real threat, or is there something more dangerous lurking in the shadows?

ASIN: B08T8S56Y6

And you thought you knew the story inside and out...

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Celeste Baxendell

Author Website

Well, Celeste Baxendell has a real knack for taking all of the elements of a truly well known fairytale and then completely turning it on its head. That is Stalks Of Gold in a nutshell and I loved it!

Part way through I realized that this first Bewitching Fairy Tales novel was actually much more than it first appeared because it was a mash-up of TWO fairytales... After that it almost became a game for me to discover the subtle and fiendishly clever ways that Celeste Braxendell picked and chose each fairytale element and then wove them together with a healthy dash of her own storytelling voice.

There were so many twists and turns in Stalks Of Gold, and, despite the fact that I've read the original fairytales and have read quite a few retellings I was still completely surprised quite a few times. I could almost hear a gleeful voice shouting 'plot twist!'

While the Bewitching Fairy Tales are aimed a YA audience there is so much depth in them, particularly this first one, that they can be fully appreciated by adults as well. One slight note is that there was some language, though the word was used in the correct context. Two things that really stood out to me
were the need for personal growth and change before a person can become who and what they are supposed to be, and, second, the factual representation of healing after trauma being a process that sometimes includes some steps backward along with the ones forward.

I really enjoyed Stalks Of Gold and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it won't be my last Bewitching Fairy Tale from the very imaginative and talented Celeste Baxendell...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Stalks Of Gold by Celeste Baxendell a 4.5 Bark rating.

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E-Book Review - Shoes Of Red by Celeste Baxendell

6/23/2022

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Genre:
Fantasy / Fairytale Retelling / YA

Shoes Of Red
Bewitching Fairy Tales book 0.5
by Celeste Baxendell

-From Goodreads-

There wasn’t a single dancer in the kingdom of Castia better than Carin, or rather Carin’s red shoes. While her skills might not be her own, Carin certainly didn’t mind since her deception meant the whole court adores her.

However, when a mysterious wizard comes to court and takes a particular interest in her shoes, Carin’s position is not quite so secure. She’s not willing to give up all the fame, not for any price in the world, but she just might make a powerful enemy in the process.

Trying to keep up the act isn’t easy when the youngest prince starts to show up everywhere she goes as well. With a curious prince on one side and a deranged wizard on the other, how is she going to keep the court from finding out she’s a fraud? Is she willing to sacrifice her life to keep the truth from coming out?

Her deception is about to haunt her...

If you've ever read Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale The Red Shoes you know the story is a bit on the darker side and the traditional happy ending is nowhere in sight. I was a little trepidatious when I started Shoes Of Red but having already read two of Celeste Baxendell's irresistible Bewitching Fairy Tales I still remained hopeful.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Celeste Baxendell

Author Website

I don't know how she did it but Celeste Baxendell successfully took an unlikable heroine from an unpleasant fairytale and transformed her into a flawed character that I could root for. The hero, too, isn't perfect but he is exactly what our red shod dancer needs...though she doesn't know it...

So, take a pair of enchanted dancing slippers, a boy and a girl, toss in the villainous wizard known as The Scholar, and you come up with the recipe for Shoes Of Red, a first rate fairytale retelling novella from the Bewitching Fairy Tales series...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Shoes Of Red by Celeste Baxendell a 4 Bark rating.