Review: The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern #1)

The Goose Girl

Author: Shannon Hale

Summary:

She can whisper to horses and communicate with birds, but the crown princess Ani has a difficult time finding her place in the royal family and measuring up to her imperial mother. When she is shipped off to a neighboring kingdom as a bride, her scheming entourage mounts a bloody mutiny to replace her with a jealous lady-in-waiting, Selia, and to allow an inner circle of guards more power in the new land. Barely escaping with her life, Ani disguises herself as a goose girl and wanders on the royal estate. Does she have the pluck to reclaim her rightful place? Get ready for a fine adventure tale full of danger, suspense, surprising twists, and a satisfying conclusion. The engaging plot can certainly carry the tale, but Hale's likable, introspective heroine makes this also a book about courage and justice in the face of overwhelming odds.


Published 13 May 2005

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This blog has more than 50 followers now!

Thanks everyone!

A huge heart-shaped chocolate goes to the supportive members from Book Blogs and fabulous friends from Nanyang Girls!

Here's another review for all of you wonderful people!

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For a while, I was hooked onto retellings of fairytales. For those of you with a similar love of all sorts of fairytales, you can try the Once Upon A Time series published by Simon Pulse.

But there is a difference between OUaT series and this marvellous novel by Shannon Hale. While reading paperbacks under the OUaT series, we are mostly always reminded of how the original tale goes and in the end it is simply another retelling of a classic bedtime romances. However, The Goose Girl takes on a complete life its own, becoming a new tale, exploring new horizons, all the while retaining the magical quality that defines all fairytales.

The book is written in a simple and mild-mannered way, with no excessive dialogue or ornate descriptions. But don't be deceived! This is a fast-paced and smooth-flowing book with no unnecessary scenes, as much as a fantasy as it is a fairytale!

The original tale of the Goose Girl is one of my favourite tales although it is not as well-known as famous classics such as Snow White and Cinderella. Whatever flaws it has, Shannon Hale's adaptation managed to overcome it all.

One sad thing though, I felt that the romance could have been more elaborated since it left me craving for so much more. But however I lament, this in itself is Shannon Hale's personal style. She is short and sweet and straight to the point.

An extraordinary look at what it means to be friends, family and people in love, Goose Girl will make your heart sing with every verse of its lovely narration!


Source: Purchased

   

xoxo,

Sel

In My Mailbox: 26/01/2012

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. Let us know what books you've bought, borrowed or received for review!

From the start of 2012 till now, it's been almost a month.

Here's 6 additions to my bookcase! *squeals*

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

I've heard raving reviews about this books, and it seems just like the dystopian that can make me fall head over heels into! Okay, I must read this ASAP. But after Cinder...

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I am a total fan of Fairytales. Dear God. This one has me right where it wants with the heavenly combination of sci-fi and fairytales. THE REVIEW IS COMING! I am reading it right now!

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Another dystopian... Okay, this one sounds great, nailed me at the "epic love story" part in its synopsis. Something else for you to await!

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Dystopian... Before you let out a gasp of exasperation, hear me out. I just couldn't resist! A prison, with its nooks and crannies, moving, scheming, trapping. A medieval world set in a dystopian context? Charming. Now I hear your delighted gasp :)

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamare

I remember when I was eleven, I wrote a short story about sirens living amongst us. I've been looking for worthy reads that might satisfy this childhood fascination. Here it is, with another twist.

"She comes from the sea;

he comes from the sky.

They'll fall in love

somewhere in between."

Finally, a new romance, not completely forbidden, but not fully sanctioned either. I'm on the edge of my seat!

Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler

This is a present from ZJ.

Thank you for this quirky-titled book!

I might just take your advice on my safety. Now they won't kill me~

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Okay, that's all I've got to show!

What about you?

What's in your mailbox?

xoxo,

Sel

Review: Vengeance (Transcend Time Saga, #2)

Vengeance

Author: Michelle Madow

Summary:

How far would you go to get revenge?

When Chelsea Givens discovered that her ex-boyfriend Drew dumped her to be with her former best friend Lizzie, she'd never felt so betrayed in her life. Then her new friend Shannon tells her she can help set things right. Chelsea's willing to listen, but what Shannon wants her to believe -- that she shared a past life with Drew -- is impossible. And what she wants her to do to get him back … well, it's downright crazy.

Could Shannon be telling the truth? And if she is, what lengths will Chelsea go if it means making Lizzie pay?

Find out in Vengeance, the second part of the Transcend Time Saga.


Published 8 December 2011

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Vengeance is the short story that bridges the events in Remembrance and the final book in the saga.

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HAPPY!

The sequel to Remembrance came fast enough, thanks to Michelle Madow! And, sure enough, Vengeance did not disappoint, and now I am more than excited for the last installment in the series.

The story is short, that I do admit, but it makes up for whatever flaws Remembrance had.

Fast-paced, smooth and straight to the point, Vengeance showed us another side of the tale through Chelsea's eyes. While Chelsea doesn't fully redeem herself in this novella, in my heart, she becomes a more realistic and wholesome character than Lizzy whom I still find difficult to empathize with.

Gladly speaking, the story goes on to a totally new level in these 50 pages, becoming much more of a delight than Remembrance. We are now hung in suspense because in this novel we finally see Madow's skills as a meticulous writer. After all, we never did know the exact ending and fate of the characters in their previous lives.

We know that Lizzy didn't end up with Drew then. So who did Drew end up with?

While we are toying around with different outcomes for the various characters, Madow hands us Chelsea's version of things. In her flashes of her past life, she sees her and Drew walking down the altar. Determined that they were meant to be together, Chelsea goes to great lengths to ensnare her love. The novella ends in a flourish, with her as confident as ever that she had saved herself from eventual heartbreak.

Or did she?

Ending with a cliffhanger, Vengeance has all of my curiousity and expectations aroused.

Hands down, the best fifty pages that completely made my day.


Source: From the author, Michelle Madow, for review purposes.

xoxo,
Sel :)

HAPPY CNY!

Happy Chinese New Year, guys!
Another official start of a brand new year ahead!

It's the year of the Dragon!

新年快乐！

Maybe more dragon-based YA Books would be released?

Anyway, wishing you an awesome year ahead for your reading & your blog!

xoxo, Sel :)

Review: Remembrance (Transcend Time Saga, #1)

Remembrance

Author: Michelle Madow

Summary:

New Hampshire high school junior Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she seem to get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, the pair of them soon find that fighting fate isn't going to be easy.


Published 27 July 2011

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This is a wonderful book for a debut author.

Remembrance has a promising concept of reincarnation which I've seen, but the plot was a bit of a disappointment.

The storyline was rather flat, focusing more on the characters' school lives rather than their previous reincarnations in the Regency Era of Jane Austen. 

The lives of the students were more than real and rather funny to read, but I do believe that that was not what many of us were looking for in a book about reincarnation. The characterization was also not strong enough, as Lizzie, Chelsea, Drew and Jeremy all seemed like generalized characters who did not bring out the maximum empathy in readers.

The love between Lizzie and Drew was a tad too unbelievable. There was little if not no love, more like chemistry and attraction, and that only. The way they transit from no love to love happens too quickly. I trust that if there were more scenes between them, we as readers may come to the understanding that their love was inevitable as well. But, in this case, I find myself hard to believe that the feelings blossoming between the two of them is true and undying love.

Despite it all, the idea was great! I loved the constant references to Pride and Prejudice (it's one of my favourite classics), which was a good direction for Remembrance to go in since many of us are fascinated with this time period and the lives of the ladies and gentlemen living in this century. As such, Remembrance should go more into Lizzie and Drew's previous lives and give a stronger reason as to why the two of them were reincarnated. With a stronger reason, we can finally comprehend how their love is timeless throughout the centuries.

However, overall, the story was a good read. The sad thing was that there was no particular point of climax, more like a stretch of narration, hence, giving me the feeling that the story has yet to unfold into its full glamour. When the novel came to an end, the first thought was that the novel had yet come to an end! There were so much more areas to explore and lives untouched!

Therefore, there is no surprise that I am looking forward to the sequel of Remembrance, which hopefully, will patch up the holes and hand us a brilliant plot which has been built up from the first book itself.

Source: From the author, Michelle Madow, for review purposes.

xoxo,
Sel

Review: The Diamond Secret (A Retelling of 'Anastasia')

The Diamond Secret 

Author: Suzanne Weyn

Summary:

Nadya is a mischievous kitchen girl in a Russian tavern. Having nearly drowned in the Iset River during the turmoil of the Revolution, she has no memory of her past and longs for the life she cannot remember. Then two young men arrive at the tavern and announce that Nadya's long-lost grandmother has sent them to find her. Yearning for family and friendship, she agrees to accompany them to Paris for the joyful reunion. Nadya eagerly embarks on her journey, never dreaming it will be one of laughter, love and betrayal.


Published 2 June 2009

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Hey guys, I know I haven't updated in quite while (a few days actually).

I was choosing soundtracks for this school musical that I wanted to audition for when Liz Callaway started singing Once Upon a December in my earphones. Liz's voice is amazing!

This song is from a movie soundtrack. And that movie coincidentally had quite a few books written along the same storyline.

Then I thought of my blog and its lack of reviews in the past few days. So here's a review, hopefully long-awaited, about a lost princess!~

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I first knew of this particular lost princess when I watched one of my most favourite animated movies of all time, Anastasia (with Liz Callway singing ^o^).

There is something so mysterious and alluring about such historical personalities with enigmatic destinies that even historians can't figure out. 

Grand Duchess Anastasia's supposed survival was one of the most celebrated mysteries of the 20th century. Like Jack the Ripper in The Name of the Star, this kind of characters are really the best! They belong to history so we know that they once were real and alive, but simultaneously, their fate is left to our imagination, limited only by the outlandishness of our creativity!

It's really beautiful how we are free to imagine an exciting and romantic life for Anastasia. We can choose what we want to believe in, and I am more than willing to believe that Anastasia survived and found her one true love.

So the story begins with the historically famous assault on the Tsar and his family, which resulted in the panic of all the royalty as they face an uncertain future since many were killed for the revolution of communism in Russia. And as most of the royal family are killed, the Grand Dowager escapes to Paris, and there are rumours of the supposed survival of the youngest daughter, Anastasia.

The story jumps to Nadya, who slowly starts to have an uncanny resemblance to the lost princess, Anastasia. She has had amnesia and cannot remember her past. Her innocence is soon used by two men, a count and a handsome boy, Ivan, who dreams of the riches of the world. 

It turns out that the Grand Dowager, also Anastasia's grandmother, is offering a pricely reward for anyone who can bring to her her beloved granddaughter. Seeing Nadya's resemblence, the two men convince her that she is Anastasia, and the trio embarks on a journey to Paris all the while trying to train Nadya into a real princess. Gradually, they find themselves believing more and more deeply that Nadya is in truth Anastasia. 

But more complications arise with a love blooming between Anastaisa and Ivan. Is he to let go of her or stay truth to the belief that they will have their happy ending? 

As we see a girl find her destiny in these tumultous times, we feel for her with all of our heart. We see her find out her identity, slowly embrace herself and learn to love with all of her heart!

Thank you, Suzanne Weyn! Thank you for handing us such a beautiful story and for satisfying my insatiable thirst for a happy-ending to the historically tragic Anastasia. 

If you are looking for a historical fairytale that will warm your heart, check out The Diamond Secret for sure!

Click here for a movie transcript to the 1997 movie, Anastasia (for those of you who are interested)!

Source: Read while sitting crossed-leg on the scratchy carpet in the Library

Lots of love goes to all of you who regularly drop by this blog! Comments would be lovely (especially from a certain ZJ and WY: You know who you are MUAHAHA).

xoxo,

Sel

Truth or Dare Excerpt

THE FINE ART OF TRUTH OR DARE

copyright, Melissa Jensen

1.

THE BEGINNING

It's a spark. Oh, a Firework!

I honestly don't know what label to hand to this post. So I'm penning down every thought that crashes into my mind. I'm going to follow my thoughts instead of planning them, just for once.

"It's a spark. Oh, a firework!"

This best describes how I feel right now when I look at my blog-- Bookcase to Heaven! It has been an amazing time with all of you in the past month or so, whether you are a new member of this warm family of bookish love or one that has pitted in at the very beginning. It started off in the first two months as a small flame, about to extinguish at any time. But no, the wind made it stronger.

I am really really happy and grateful for all 30 members of this blog! This is a great milestone and surely there are even more to be achieved in the near future!

A big thank-you to all of you out there, wherever you are from, because love of books transcend boundaries and form everlasting friendships! Thank you for your unwavering support, attentive comments & meaningful recognition! Thank you for simply reading this post!

Ahh... I just read through what I wrote, it sounds quite solemn.

Now, on a lighter note, 2012 will be a even greater 12 months for Bookcase2heaven! Here's a basic agenda:

1. At least 48 posts this year (12 months times 4 weeks per month = 48). I will post at least once a week. School has started again with me busier than ever, but fear not! The posts will arrive in due time! When I am free, I will post once a day. It's possible!

2. A halt of the first campaign for Fairytales. I am really sorry about this, but if there is one thing I realized about book blogging, it's to never recount old books that I read a year or two ago. That's because I don't have a copy of the book and cannot recall the content well, hence I'm unable to give you the best review :(
So starting from now on, it's all about the books that I've read recently! Once again, sorry, but more wonderful campaigns coming out soon!

3. Excerpts from new books will be posted. I'm excited! Are you?

How about a few exciting themes?

1. Valentine: My Love Goes to You

• I will make many confessions to those swoon-worthy boys of the YA genre.
• Featured in February
• Do check out Eleusinian Mysteries & Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me's amazing February Valentine's Event nearer to the date!

2. On the Silver Screen: Golden or not?

• A campaign about book-turned-movies
• Featured around April, after the release of the movie, Hunger Games ^O^

That's all for now!

xoxo,

Sel :)

Versatile Blog Award

A big thank-you to Vidya & Fall Into Books for passing on the Versatile Blogger Award to my blog-- Bookcase to Heaven!  It really made my day especially since it's the start of 2012! Lots of bookish love goes to you!

 

Here's the rules:

• Thank and link to the blogger who bestowed the award
• Share seven random facts about yourself (see below)
• Spread the love by passing the award to five other bloggers-- and be sure to let them know

Oh well, here's seven random facts about me:

1. I love Starbucks but dislike coffee (it's bad for your teeth darling!). (Fave drink is Vanilla Latte/White Chocolate Mocha Frappuchino)
2. My all-time favourite fictional character is Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Carribean (so suave!)
3. I am a Gemini with many personalities (but throughout all, one trait remains the same-- love of books!) 
4. I always sing cheesy Broadway songs in the shower ^O^ (e.g. "Ireland" from Legally Blonde Musical or "Popular" in Wicked)
5. I am obsessed about movie scripts, I read them whenever I can.
6. I do secret character impersonations when I look at the mirror (like I say "When shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain?" by pretending to be a witch when studying my hair... HAHAHA)
7. I chase a leaf around by kicking it, not stopping until it ends up on the road.

Bloggers to whom, I wish to pass on this award:

• Lindsay
• Nekky
• Zhi Jian
• Roberta
• Tabitha

Congratulations to all the bloggers, who received this award! Looking forward to hearing from you!

Love xoxo,
Sel :)

My Blog Was Awarded the Liebster Blog Award!

My Blog was awarded the Liebster Blog Award by TheDaydreamer3 (Go Visit Her!)! This is my first award, so it's really meaningful!

Thank you, Raluca Maria!

What a good way to kick off 2012! You made me really happy!

This blog award is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers in the spirit of fostering new connections.

I really didn't know what "Liebster" meant. So, for all of you who are as clueless as me, it means beloved or favourite :)

As the rules state , i have to forward this award to 5 more blogs (Decisions, decisions...)

The Rules are:

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

2. Reveal your top 5 picks for the award and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Post the award on your blog.

4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogsphere-- other bloggers.

5. And, best of all-– have fun and spread the karma.

I am awarding the Liebster Blog Award to the following blogs (Do drop them a visit and say hello!):

1. Kat at http://midnight-reader.blogspot.com/
2. Amber at http://falln2books.blogspot.com/
3. Silvy at http://books-are-my-life-silvy.blogspot.com/
4. Witchever at http://www.crossroadreviews.com/
5. Forever Me (Wu You) at http://frameupthepieces.blogspot.com/

Lots of love! All the best for your blogs, I love reading them!

xoxo,
Sel :)

Coming Soon:
1. Plans for 2012
2. Two more Campaigns