18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Triumph Over Painful Tragedy, November 22, 2008
This review is from: Waking Rose: A Fairy Tale Retold (Paperback)
Regina Doman has done it again.
Somehow, Regina manages to bring the spirit of Grimms' fairy tales to life in the present day.
Waking Rose, (a retelling of Sleeping Beauty) in the tradition of its predecessors. The Shadow of the Bear (Snow White and Rose Red) and Black as Night (Snow White) succeeds in completely enthralling the mind of the delighted reader, long after the last page is turned.
My personal experience with this series has allowed me to feel close ties with the main characters. In Black as Night, I felt a strong companionship with Blanche and the depressive struggles she faced. In Waking Rose, I was taken in by Rose's fresh and beautiful view of the world. The books are written in a way that demonstrates truths through the thoughts and actions of the characters, as well as through the plot's circumstances.
The third installment of the Fairy Tale Novels Series opens as Rose Brier finally begins to try and move on from her romantic, and unreturned, feelings for Ben "Fish" Denniston. Her path brings her to Mercy College, a small and firmly Catholic school in Pennsylvania, where she meets memorable friends and makes dangerous and mysterious enemies. Meanwhile, Fish is trying to heal from his wounded soul and reconcile with horrific events from his past.
The plot thickens considerably as Rose stumbles upon disturbing information that has been shrouded in secrecy, and finds herself a target for danger. Through cryptic and strange circumstances, Fish finds Rose in a coma, and sets off with the Knights of Sacra Cor, (Rose's sword-brandishing, trench coat-wearing martial artist friends from Mercy College) to find the truth.
One thing I love about Regina is that she doesn't feel the need to bombard the pages of her books with explicit details about painful subjects. Instead, she handles the situations with grace, providing the reader an insight into the pain that the character is experiencing rather than the details of the event which acted as a catalyst to the character's internal struggle. Fish is now one of my all-time favorite literary characters. His struggles are so hurtful that I felt actual physical pain as I read the book.
Written by a devout Catholic homeschooling mother, The Fairy Tale Novels are memorable reads, full of epic plots, real characters and Christian truth. I also thoroughly enjoy Regina's allusions and references to classic literature; her series cites Keats' The Eve of St. Agnes, Shakespeare's King Lear, Chesterton's The Ballad of the White Horse among many other masterpieces of literature.
These books are highly recommended for teenage girls and boys alike. For parents who are concerned about age appropriate content, check out Regina's thoughts on her blog, and read the books for yourselves! You won't be sorry. =)
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A romantic thriller, November 9, 2009
This review is from: Waking Rose: A Fairy Tale Retold (Paperback)
The relationship between a girl named Rose and a young man named "Fish" develope beautifuly in a story of sacrifice, loyalty, and acceptance. There is mature subject matter that is very dark such as the black market trade of human organs, abortion, and rape. But there is also humor, love, forgiveness and faith. The ending is beautiful! Would love to read a sequel!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Modern Fairytale, February 17, 2010
This review is from: Waking Rose: A Fairy Tale Retold (Paperback)
This last installment of the "Snow White & Rose Red" Trilogy focuses on Fish and Rose. It deals with dark matters and weighty isssues, but very deftly and subtly. It is a beautifully written book, with utterly believable characters.
Not to mention, it has knights and nuns. Fires and fairy-godmothers. Escapes and rescues. Dragons and demons and darkness and death. Miracles. True love.
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