What happens when one day Belle finds herself locked in a basement? Or Cinderella wakes up in the Beast's castle? What if fate did a princess swap in the middle of a fairy tale?
Ella has spent her life dreaming of adventure... but adventures are hard to come by when one is trapped as a household slave. Belle has always had a life of adventure, but the family business has hit hard times and is on the brink. So one day, Belle casts a spell, swapping lives with Ella in a desperate attempt to save her father's livelihood. But fairy tales don't always afford an easy path to a happily ever after. Ella must uncover the keys to a Beast's curse, and Belle must escape the wicked stepmother. These two intertwined fairy tales take so many twists and turns that, in the end, they become new tales of their own.
Author Kim Bussing does an incredible job of keeping enough of the original elements of these two fairy tales to draw in the reader while switching just the right elements to develop original storylines. Belle and Ella, both with an original take on the problems faced in their own tales, bring a fresh perspective to this retelling. Placing them in new storylines allows Bussing to really play with their personalities and bring out new characteristics. It's easy to get caught up in the characters, both those from the originals and some new faces as well. The story focuses on strong female leads as opposed to romance or becoming royalty. Themes explored include friendship, loyalty, admiration for other's character, forgiveness, and more. Not your average fairy tale, and I can't wait to read more from this author. Great for preteens and early teens.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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