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Book Review & Blog Tour: The Reluctant Godfather by Allison Tebo

Tracey Dyck 10 Comments



We interrupt the regular posting schedule with a special broadcast! (Ahem, you must read that in a radio announcer voice. It’s required.)

Today, it is my honor and privilege to be a part of The Reluctant Godfather blog tour and giveaway! I recently got to read Allison Tebo’s delightful little spin on Cinderella, and let me tell you, folks: you want to read this. I’ll tell you why in my own words in just a minute, but first, here is the official blurb:

About the Book:

A humorous and magical re-telling of Cinderella from a unique perspective.

Burndee is a young and cantankerous fairy godfather, who would rather bake cakes than help humans. A disgrace to the fairy order, Burndee has only two wards entrusted to his care…a cinder girl and a charming prince.

A royal ball presents Burndee with the brilliant solution of how to make his wards happy with the least amount of effort. He’ll arrange a meeting and hope the two fall in love.

Sounds fun, doesn’t it? That’s because it is! This is a story you could read in one sitting, like a slice of fluffy chocolate cake baked by Burndee himself. It’s a light, rollicking adventure seasoned with a generous helping of humor (one of my favorite things in a story) and a sweet dash of heart. So without further ado, let’s get into a review/summary of my thoughts.

The Plot

I don’t think I’ve ever read a Cinderella retelling from the perspective of the fairy godmother–er, godfather, in this case. That instantly gave the tale a fresh twist! While the main structure of the plot follows most of the dance steps one would expect of a Cinderella story, Allison deftly weaves them together in a different way. A way that’s slightly off-kilter, a way that keeps you nodding in recognition yet still eagerly turning the page.

And that ending was so heartwarming! I enjoyed spending the last few pages seeing where the characters end up and how their lives turn out. This resolution tied up the story in a sweet little bow, while still hinting at future fun and adventures. I love it when there’s closure without it feeling like all the excitement is over permanently.

The Characters

This is where the story really shone! Sit tight–I have to take a moment and gush about each of the main characters.

Burndee: He was my favorite! I mentioned on Goodreads that if you took Howl (from Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones) and made him someone’s godparent, you’d pretty much end up with Burndee. He’s cantankerous, temperamental, gruff, and proud, yet still has a soft spot deep inside.

Plus loves baking, which is a fun and unusual trait for a character like him. All the descriptions of food were making me hungry.

Naturally, some who’s cantankerous, temperamental, gruff, proud, and soft contributes excellent sass-alogue (oops, I mean dialogue) to the story! Burndee has trouble getting along with most people, so cue the conflict and witty banter! His personality and attitude are such that he has only two wards to look after, as opposed to the dozens that most fairies handle.

Ella: As weird as it sounds, I liked not being in Cinderella’s head for a change. It was interesting to see her from the godparent’s perspective.

She’s a sweet, hardworking girl, exactly what you might expect. But it was endlessly amusing how Burndee viewed her as, well . . . a bit thick-headed and slow. (Mind you, he has zero patience.) And by the end of the story, we see the depth of her faithfulness and efforts to show love to unlovely people.

Prince Colin: He was a hoot as well, especially since he had a penchant for making his own plans outside of Burndee’s ideas! The scenes in which they argue over tea were some of my favorites. All those crushed scones . . .

Probably the best line he ever uttered was: “They’re hunting me.” (In reference to all the girls coming to the ball, you understand.)

I’m just going to stop there, otherwise I’ll end up quoting all the jokes and leave you nothing to discover for yourself!

My Verdict

Four stars! I loved the subtle twists on one of my favorite fairytales, and the humor was A+ for sure. (The humor reminded me a smidge of Broken Glass by Emma Clifton.) The only reason I docked a star was because there were a few times early on in the story where I personally would have liked more setting details to ground me in the scene; and the writing style used more adverbs than I prefer.

But all in all, this is a fantastic novella that I recommend adding to your summer TBR (to be read) list! You’ll be laughing the whole way through, and–if you’re like me–wanting to quote lines to whatever unsuspecting family members are within a ten-foot radius of you.

About the Author

Allison Tebo is a Christian homeschool graduate in her mid-twenties, who works part time as a sales associate for a major transportation company.  A graduate of London Art College, Allison pursues avenues in cartooning and illustrating as well as singing and voice acting.

In her spare time she writes and blogs at www.allisonswell.com.

It is her goal to write fiction that appeals to many different kind of people, by writing clean, classic fun.



Her faith in Christ directly influences all she writes about – or does not write about.  Whether the story possesses a strong message or is simply fun and imaginative fiction – her desire is to bring honor to God – and to provide quality stories for everyone to enjoy.

BUT DON’T LEAVE YET! You haven’t heard about the giveaway! As part of her blog tour of spotlights, reviews, and interviews, Allison is giving away some signed copies of her book, along with other goodies. Click here to check it out on her website!

Have you read The Reluctant Godfather yet? (If not, what are you waiting for?) And what would you do if you had a fairy godparent?

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Books of 2016

Tracey Dyck 23 Comments

2016 was a cozy reading year. By that I mean it was smaller than usual–only 35 books, as opposed to last year’s 52–but it was filled with mostly good, solid stories. There were a few “meh” kinds in the mix, but nearly every month contained at least one wonderful book.

Bookdragons are notorious for their nosiness. Come now, admit it. We’re the sort who are drawn instantly to the bookshelf when entering someone’s home, the sort who click around Goodreads to see what our friends are reading, the sort who like reading others’ year-end book recaps . . . or writing our own, if we’re so inclined. So here’s mine!

(Click here to see my Books of 2015!)



January
Illusionarium // Heather Dixon
Shadowmancer // G.P. Taylor

Illusionarium was a smashing way to start off the reading year! Steampunk, airships, disease, creepiness, humor, precious characters, and snarky footnotes made this an instant favorite. Shadowmancer, on the other hand, was a sorry slew of poor writing, cardboard characters, and heavy-handed Christian themes.

February
The Invaders // John Flanagan
A Snicker of Magic // Natalie Lloyd
The Romeo and Juliet Code // Phoebe Stone
Artemis Fowl // Eoin Colfer

The Invaders was a fun Flanagan concoction of wit, cleverness, sailing, and–you guessed it–invasions. A Snicker of Magic was possibly the sweetest, spindiddliest middle grade book I’ve had the great pleasure of reading! The Romeo and Juliet Code painted a bittersweet picture of a little girl uprooted from home during WWII. Artemis Fowl was . . . quirky, I suppose you could say.

March
You Have a Brain: A Teen’s Guide to T.H.I.N.K. B.I.G. // Dr. Ben Carson
Cinder // Marissa Meyer
Paige Turned // Erynn Mangum

In You Have a Brain, there are a number of stories about miraculous surgeries Dr. Carson performed, followed by some decent bits of advice for young people. Cinder sucked me into the fabulous world that is the Lunar Chronicles, and I don’t plan to leave anytime soon. Paige Turned proved to be the perfect bow on top of the fluffy romance trilogy featuring busy, sarcastic, 20-something Paige Alder.

April
Merlin’s Blade // Robert Treskillard
Knightley Academy // Violet Haberdasher
The Raven Boys // Maggie Stiefvater

I found Merlin’s Blade to be slightly underwhelming, but the protagonist’s blindness was a neat twist. Knightley Academy–ah, what an amusing romp of a school novel! And The Raven Boys was a piece of gorgeousness (minus a couple issues) that had me wanting to savor every sentence.

May
The Prayer Box // Lisa Wingate
Water Walker // Ted Dekker
Howl’s Moving Castle // Diana Wynne Jones

The Prayer Box was a sweet romance sprinkled with letters detailing a storyline from the past. Water Walker read like an extended parable, packing a solid punch with its vivid imagery and characterization. I finally read Howl’s Moving Castle, and it was another one of those insta-favorites that I know I’ll be rereading multiple times in the future.

June
Skeleton Key // Anthony Horowitz
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell // Susanna Clarke

Skeleton Key was pretty much a secret agent movie disguised as a middle-grade action novel. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell . . . now that was one of the most impressive novels I’ve read, rife with unexpected humor, striking descriptions, and complex characters.

July
Raising Dragons Graphic Novel // James Art Ville and Bryan Davis
The Shadow Lamp // Stephen Lawhead
Scarlet // Marissa Meyer

The long-awaited Raising Dragons Graphic Novel met my expectations and brought a hit of nostalgia as it retold one of my favorite books in comic book form. The Shadow Lamp, as the second-last book in the Bright Empires series, completely blew my mind with its rising stakes and seamless blend of science and fantasy. And then Scarlet proved to be a little less stunning than Cinder, but still a fun read.

August
The Realms Thereunder // Ross Lawhead
The Runaway King // Jennifer Nielsen
Peter Pan // J.M. Barrie

The Realms Thereunder had a great plot, but its characters weren’t quite as emotionally alive as I had wanted. The Runaway King made up for it with a fast pace and its characteristic humor–and also pirates. And then I read the classic Peter Pan at long, long last. Such a delightful little tale!

September
Five Enchanted Roses // Browning, Jezowski, Schmidt, Tsukioka, and Wand
The Calling // Rachelle Dekker

I discovered a well-rounded collection of Beauty and the Beast retellings within the beautiful covers of Five Enchanted Roses; and then followed gritty, brave characters through their battle with fear in The Calling.

October
The Dream Thieves // Maggie Stiefvater
Into the Wild // Erin Hunt
Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink // Gail Carson Levine
Eagle Strike // Anthony Horowitz

The Dream Thieves bore the same stunning writing style as the previous book in the series, along with some of the same irksome issues. Into the Wild was less gripping than I remembered it being when I was a youngster. Clear, concise, engaging advice on the craft was found in Writer to Writer. Eagle Strike took the Alex Rider series on a turn for the better, with a different plot than its predecessors.

November
Journey to the Center of the Earth // Jules Verne
Prophet // R.J. Larson

Journey to the Center of the Earth was a surprisingly interesting little classic. Prophet proved to be as pretty inside as it was outside, with lovable characters, a unique world, and thoughtful questions about free will and responsibility and mercy.

December
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children // Ransom Riggs
Cress // Marissa Meyer
Treasures of the Snow // Patricia St. John
Paper Crowns // Mirriam Neal

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was somehow less creepy than I’d expected, but still eerie and, well . . . peculiar. Cress became my favorite Lunar Chronicles instalment to date. Treasures of the Snow brought back fond memories of my childhood, and Paper Crowns made me grin with its cast of delightfully snarky, witty, lovable characters.

It also bears mentioning that I beta-read two novels this year as well: Christine Smith’s Beauty and the Beast retelling called Burning Thorns, and Emily’s high fantasy called The City and the Trees.

Stats!

(because numbers + books = fascinating, right?)

I read 35 books this year, an average of 2-3 per month. Paper Crowns was the shortest book at 190 pages, and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell was the uncontested longest book at a humongous 1,006 pages. In total, I read 12,705 pages.

Here’s how 2016’s genres broke down:

It’s no surprise that fantasy once again dominated my reading choices! Sci-fi was a bit higher this year than it was in 2015 because of reading the Lunar Chronicles, and everything else was like little scraps in comparison. I’m a bit embarrassed at how few nonfiction books I read. Perhaps I’ll do better in 2017!

Since I joined Goodreads in 2016, I’ve started rating books. My average this year was 4.4 stars. What can I say? Either I just read a lot of good books, or I’m a forgiving reader. (Or both. I’m a paradox in how I judge a book–critical and forgiving at the same time. I think if a book works for me, I’m willing to overlook the flaws I notice?)

My most-read authors were Marissa Meyer (3 books) and Maggie Stiefvater (2 books). Didn’t take much to become a most-read this year, obviously!

My favorite authors that I discovered in 2016 were: Heather Dixon, Marissa Meyer, Diana Wynne Jones, and Mirriam Neal.

My least favorite book of 2016 was definitely Shadowmancer. Just . . . no. None of it worked for me–not the clunky writing style, not the unbelievable character motives, not the hit-you-over-the-head themes. Sorry.

My favorite books of 2016 . . . Well, given that half of them were five-star reads, I could list all of those, but I’ll shrink the list down a bit by mentioning only those that really stood out to me this year. Illusionarium, A Snicker of Magic, Cinder, Knightley Academy, Howl’s Moving Castle, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, The Shadow Lamp, Peter Pan, Cress, Prophet, and Paper Crowns! Okay, that didn’t really diminish the list by much, after all.

And that, bookdragons, was an overview of my reading year! Now it’s my turn to get a glimpse at yours: what was one (or several) of your absolute favorite 2016 reads? Least favorite? What’s the most pressing book on your to-be-read pile? (I personally have Winter waiting for me. And Blue Lily, Lily Blue. And Reapers. And Five Magic Spindles. And waaaay too many others!)

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Book Review: Five Enchanted Roses

Tracey Dyck 27 Comments

What do you know, my first official book review! It doesn’t feel like my first, however, since I’ve been sharing my thoughts on various novels in all the monthly wrap-ups, but still. I promised a review on Five Enchanted Roses, and a review is what you shall get.

Esprit de la Rose by Kaycee Browning

Well, well, well, the collection starts out with a swashbuckling bang! I got a bit of a Pirates of the Caribbean vibe, especially from the cursed sailors; the evil mermaid element was pretty cool (and also served as a tool to bring home several Beauty and the Beast elements); and I just love pirate ships. I don’t know why exactly, but those big, beautiful ships with their sails and rigging and adventurous crews just get to me.

Cecilia was a plucky heroine, but it was Captain Pepin who kept me engrossed in the tale. Arrogant, humorous, unpredictable . . . and with more to him than meets the eye, of course. The story’s conclusion was a tad on the swift side, but given the limits of the contest, it couldn’t really be helped. 4 STARS

Wither by Savannah Jezowski

Okay. This might have been my favorite story of the entire collection–though it’s hard to say something so conclusive when all the stories were unique and enjoyable! But something about the writing style really clicked with me. Not to mention the main characters: especially sturdy, spitfire Bet (oh my goodness, such a refreshing heroine) and gruff, hurting Corwin (my poor baby). And Quarrel! I want him as my own pet now.

And I can’t go without mentioning the world. In the space of a short novella, we get a rich taste of it–a deep lungful of its smells and sights of its scenery–all without bogging the story down. It’s dark and gloomy, a tale populated by bloodthirsty monsters and lonely wraiths, but the chilling backdrop served to make the themes of love and sacrifice shine brighter. Quite the powerful story here. 5 STARS

Stone Curse by Jenelle Schmidt

I found it extra fun to read this one because I’ve gotten to know Jenelle in the blogging world since this book was published! A very sweet read, slower than the previous tale, yet still twisting Beauty and the Beast in a clever way. I did predict the twist early on, but I enjoyed taking the journey with the unknowing characters as they traipsed through a comfortably familiar fairy-tale world of woods and castles and cozy inns.

Plus the beast is a bear! A big, cuddly, I mean ferocious bear! Poor Barend might be the kindest beast character in the collection. The romance between him and Karyna left me smiling by the end. And Ritter, charming fellow that he is, stole my heart rather easily. 4.5 STARS

Rosara and the Jungle King by Dorian Tsukioka

What a unique twist! Amazonian-type tribes in a jungle setting . . . brutal customs . . . a talking jaguar . . . Who’d have thought? And yet the core themes of Beauty and the Beast transplanted into this unfamiliar setting are immediately recognizable. Rosara is a courageous young lady, and Tupa is a huggable beast. (Sorry, but large predators often look so cuddly and wonderful–it’s one reason I adore Aslan.)

I’m not sure what to think about the spiritual aspect of the karawara birds and whatnot. It did fit the tribal aspect of the story and provided for some cool twists, though. This tale is harsher than some of its companions, but it’s fast pace kept me flying through the pages. 4.5 STARS

The Wulver’s Rose by Hayden Wand

This historical novella was a sweet, satisfying end to the collection. It took a while to get into the Beauty and the Beast elements, but the beginning segment was necessary to set things up and get Bonnie Alleway into the right mindset for future story events. I found her guilt over her mistakes to be done in a real, relatable way.

And it’s in Scotland, people! How dreamy is that? I adored the bits where the characters’ accents were stronger. And the setting comes through beautifully throughout the story, making it feel like you’re in the rolling hills yourself. Oh yes, and the non-romantic relationship between Bonnie and the beast was a nice flip too. 4 STARS


Overall . . .

I give the collection 4.5 stars! It’s well-rounded and yet there’s still a common feel threading through each story. I found it interesting to see which qualities the various beasts shared, such as at least one lovable quality hidden beneath some kind of monstrousness, whether it was a gruff nature or an ugly appearance. And all the beauty characters were spunky, kind, courageous, sacrificial, and able to see beauty underneath brokenness.
The themes of Beauty and the Beast were highlighted in different ways in each of the stories, which was really neat. The original fairy tale is so powerful. Sacrifice, love, seeing past appearances . . . all beautiful themes that have the potential to make a great impact–which I think this collection accomplished. I’ll definitely be rereading it in the future!
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