Spelled, by Betsy Schow (June 2015, Sourcebooks Fire), $9.99, ISBN: 9781492608714
Recommended for ages 13+
Spoiled princess Dorothea has it all – including a family curse that requires she, like all the women in her family, never leave the castle. That all changes the night she tries to get out of a royal matchmaking by making a wish that undoes the fabric of the land. Now, her parents are missing and she finds herself hunted by Griz, a wicked old witch; she’s on the road with Kato, her almost-fiancé-turned-chimera, and a grouchy kleptomaniac lady in waiting named Rexie. Can they find their way to the Wizard before Griz and her magic henchfolk get hold of her?
This book is a mashup that’s influenced by, but not a retelling of, Frank L. Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, with a splash of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass to keep the story moving. It’s a fun take on the spoiled princess grows up concept, set in a kind of parallel Oz. There’s a lot going on here, and plotlines can become a little confusing. There’s a lack of depth to the characters, especially for a story that’s relying only on a basic recognition of established characters – this could be on purpose, as the ending leaves no question as to whether there will be a sequel.
Fans of the current young adult fairy tale mashups trend will get a kick out of this book.
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