Thursday, August 20, 2009

[Review]- 'Dark Destiny: The Sleeping Beauty Story Your Mother Never Told You' by Kym Hackenberger & Melody Lowe


Do you recall the devilish stepmothers and queens from the timeless fairy tales by the Grimm Brothers? Have you ever wondered how they turned bad? We are told a dark and twisted narrative by authors Kym Hackenberger and Melody Lowe about how an unassuming little girl came to rule the Dark Realm.

Malcolm, the prince of Talonsbay, will shortly be married to Elspeth, the oldest princess of Rookskrieg. Their dad had arranged the marriage. Malcolm and Elspeth are not interested in getting married. Elspeth simply doesn't love Malcolm because he is a womanizer. She desires to experience love as her younger sister, Isabelle, who recently got married, did.

She is embarrassed by Malcolm the night of her sister's wedding, but Jethart, a shadowy and enigmatic stranger, saves her. She falls in love with him right away. They travel clandestinely and can only meet up at night. Jethart is not a typical man like Malcolm. He has the ability to cast spells and transform into an owl.

While Elspeth and Malcolm are getting married, Jethart shows up and kidnaps the bride-to-be. Elspeth follows Jethart to his fortress, Dubh Rathgart (also known as the Black Fortress), after they elope. Ossian, her son, is soon to be born. Malcolm launches an offensive against the Dubh Rathgart out of fury and a desire for retribution. Elspeth becomes the ruler of the Dark Realm as a result of the events he sets in motion that have the potential to destroy the kingdoms.


Final Thoughts


Even though this book is only a little over 160 pages long, the narrative occasionally seems hurried. The dialogue occasionally seems a touch flat. The characters don't have enough depth. There wasn't a single character for whom I felt any emotion. The fact that the chapters were brief and held your interest until the very end did appeal to me. This reimagining will appeal to preteens and fairy tale devotees alike. -- ★★★✰✰

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