Wolves and Roses (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #1) by Christina Bauer (2017)
-eARC Review-

YA Fiction | Fantasy

Blurb:

“Seventeen-year-old Bryar Rose has a problem. She’s descended from one of the three magical races—shifters, fairies, or witches. That makes her one of the Magicorum, and Magicorum always follow a fairy tale life template. In Bryar’s case, that template should be Sleeping Beauty.

“Should” being the key word. 

Trouble is, Bryar is nowhere near the sleeping beauty life template. Not even close. She doesn’t like birds or woodland creatures. She can’t sing. And she certainly can’t stand Prince Philpot, the so-called “His Highness of Hedge Funds” that her aunties want her to marry. Even worse, Bryar’s having recurring dreams of a bad boy hottie and is obsessed with finding papyri from ancient Egypt. What’s up with that?

All Bryar wants is to attend a regular high school with normal humans and forget all about shifters, fairies, witches, and the curse that Colonel Mallory the Magnificent placed on her. And she might be able to do just that–if only she can just keep her head down until her eighteenth birthday when the spell that’s ruined her life goes buh-bye.

But that plan gets turned upside down when Bryar Rose meets Knox, the bad boy who’s literally from her dreams. Knox is a powerful werewolf, and his presence in her life changes everything, and not just because he makes her knees turn into Jell-O. If Bryar can’t figure out who—or what—she really is, it might cost both her and Knox their lives… as well as jeopardize the very nature of magic itself.”
–Goodreads 

Expected Publication Date: October 31, 2017 

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pooled ink Review:

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review!

This was definitely a different take on fairy tales than anything else I’ve ever read. The story takes classic well-known fairy tales and combines them with our modern world to create an interesting paranormal fusion.

Dragons, werewolves, wizards, witches, faeries, humans, and more co-exist in a world with both cell phones and ancient tomes. Ancient magic and gut-twisting prophecies escalate the dull life of a teenage Bryer Rose into a dark path full of secret identities, long hidden enemies, and a love that brings out the truth of her soul. And if you’re expecting a clear-cut outline similar to the Sleeping Beauty tale then be prepared for a few serious twists and surprises. None of these fabled characters are quite what they ought to be.

Overall this book was entertaining. If I’m to be completely honest the writing felt a bit juvenile, but the characters were interesting and the general concept for the story was rather creative. I definitely feel that it would have benefitted from some more time editing and really nitpicking to sharpen the core of the story, but I mean even so it was fine. I had a day with absolutely nothing to do and rather than be a vegetable in front of the TV I decided to dive into this book and so yeah, I was entertained and rather enjoyed it. Is it a bestseller? I have to say that I don’t think so, however I believe that younger readers will disagree.

So while I feel that there are aspects that could be improved and polished, I do think that the author is onto a really cool idea and obviously it had me captivated enough to read the whole book. I think it was mostly something in the writing style that kept me at bay and that I believe will lend this book towards teens.

If you’re looking for a quick and fun read that brings the fantasy of fairy tales colliding into our world then definitely give Wolves and Roses a look.

Cheers.

 Purchase here: Wolves and Roses 

Similar Reads: Beastly by Alex Flinn, A Grimm Curse by Janna Jennings, Down the Rabbit Hole by Julia Crane, Immortal Writers by Jill Bowers, Princess of Tyrone by Katie Hamstead, Sing Sweet Nightingale by Erica Cameron, Toward a Secret Sky by Heather Maclean, Wilder by Lena North, White Raven by J.L. Weil

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Meet Christina Bauer!

Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. Across the lifetime of her series, Christina has driven more than 500,000 ebook orders and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers.

Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
-Goodreads

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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