Tag: Fairy Tale Reform School

REVIEW: Switched by Jen Calonita

REVIEW: Switched by Jen Calonita

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Rumpelstiltskin was run off, but he’s not gone for good. Gilly’s sister, Anna, and a bunch of other kids have followed him, ready to do his bidding as he tries to take over Enchantasia. And while Gilly has school and her friends to distract her, she is desperate to get Anna back.

One of the exciting things at Fairy Tale Reform School (FTRS) this term is a new library and the librarians coming to run it – Prince Sebastian (Beast) and Princess Beauty. Of course, since this is Enchantasia, some of the books are magic – and some are dangerous.

Gilly is convinced that if she can find a book on Rumpelstiltskin in the library, it will tell her what she needs to know to defeat him and rescue her sister. She’s certain that her past adventures mean she can handle whatever a simple book could throw at her. But villain origin stories can be more dangerous than Gilly can imagine.

Review

I have enjoyed this world since book one, Flunked. It feels a little like the Ever After High series, but without an over-reliance on fairy tale puns. I enjoy Gilly and her group of friends. The addition of Beauty and the Beast’s daughter, AG, and her personal development in the story was my favorite part of the book. I have high hopes for her character in the continuation of the series.

I was disappointed in Gilly in this book, though. At the beginning of the series, she’s such a terrific, tough and determined character. This time, she’s completely consumed with the rift between her and her sister and with rescuing Anna. She loses all rational thought. She ignores her friends – and her own past experience – in favor of voices that tell her what she expects and wants to hear. And that robs her of some of the strength she has had in the past that made me enjoy the character so much.

I think fans of the series will be content with this new installment, but they may miss the more adventurous action and tone of some of the early books. There’s going to be a new series in this world called the Royal Academy Rebels. Book one, Misfits, will release in fall of 2018. I’m looking forward to seeing what that adds to the world of Enchantasia.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: Tricked by Jen Calonita

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Since Gilly’s been “reformed,” she’s back home with her family as are many of her friends from FTRS (Fairy Tale Reform School). She should be happy to be home…. But training to be a cobbler and make shoes is NOT the life she wants for herself. She misses her friends and the adventures she had at FTRS. And she’s tired of watching her sister, Anna, hang out with criminal troublemakers like Hansel and Gretel. But Anna won’t listen to Gilly’s advice and soon she is arrested and sent to FTRS like Gilly once was.

But FTRS has changed a lot since Gilly left. Rumpelstiltskin has taken over the school and cut off communication to the royal princesses or even to the families of his students. He’s up to no good and seems to be magic-ing people into compliance with his plans. Gilly and her friends are going to have to get thrown back into FTRS if they’re going to have a chance to rescue Anna and the other students from Rumpelstiltskin’s plans.

Review

I received an early electronic copy of this book from the publisher, Sourcebooks, in exchange for an honest review. As a huge fan of this series, I’m grateful for the chance to review Tricked, book 3 in the Fairy Tale Reform School series after book 1, Flunked, and book 2, Charmed.

I love Gilly and her friends and the way they have learned to work together and trust each other through their past adventures. Even their teachers and the princesses are trusting them to help save the school from Rumpelstiltskin. I am a HUGE fan of any sort of fractured fairy tale type story so these are a great fit for me.

And Rumpelstiltskin is real trouble! (And hard to type!) This book only hints at everything he is plotting. While the adventure in this book is satisfying but seems to serve as a set up for a larger story yet to come.

It’s been awhile since I read the other books in this series. At the end of this book, Gilly says she and most of her friends are 12. I would have guessed more in the 14-15 range. The target audience is closer to an average of 12 (this would work for readers anywhere from 9 or 10 up to 15 or so, depending on the reader and his/her interests), but the maturity of the characters at times and the deeper questions of purpose and destiny strike me as fitting an older teen than questions 12-year-olds generally ponder.

This book is a great fit for upper elementary and middle school readers. I recommend reading the series in order for maximum enjoyment of the characters and the evolution of the relationships in the story as well as the development of the villains. Readers who have enjoyed the Ever After High books or the Whatever After series, or even the Wide Awake Princess books might enjoy the Fairy Tale Reform School series. Thanks again to Sourcebooks for the chance to read and review Tricked!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥