Monday 16 July 2012

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

Add it: Goodreads
Source: Finished copy for review from publisher
Publisher: Harcourt
Format: Hardcover, 305 pages
Release Date: May 8, 2012

It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.
When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.
The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?

Enchanted is such a charming, lovely read... Surely a group of bookish fairy godmothers have sprinkled some magic on to each and every page! :)

I lost track of the different tales and stories that Alethea references, however small. It's clear that a lot of thought and planning went into fitting them in seamlessly and it definitely pays off! The threads between stories are intertwined so perfectly and reading through the book to discover the next is a treat.

Sunday is a delightful main character. She is kind and interesting (no matter what that pesky rhyme says) and just generally good. I adored her relationship with Rumbold from the moment it began -- they were just way too sweet! Although they fall for each other very quickly, it's done in such a heart warming manner that I couldn't bring myself to mind.

Reading Enchanted made me want to fall into the world for myself and experience the magic and wonder that seemed to be everywhere. There's just some quality to this novel that I can't describe that really brought me back to when I was younger and reading all these fairytales for the first time. Alethea Kontis creates a mesmerizing atmosphere and doesn't release you from its hold until the very end.

Enchanted definitely lives up to its title.

Cover Comments: It's so pretty! Love the real fairytale look of it.

4.5/5

7 comments:

  1. This book sounds so sweet and I love that it's well thought out :) It's been on my TBR for a long time and I can't wait to read it! Thanks for the review <3

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  2. I love fairy tales so I really want to read this one. I like the way the stories are intertwined and Sunday sounds like a great main character. Really glad you enjoyed this, it sounds really cute :). Great review! :)

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  3. Sonia, you're kind of like a MIND-READER here -- I felt the exact same way about this book and gave it this exact same rating! And I was very tempted to use the exact same "living up to its title" pun too LOL :') I just couldn't adore Sunday any more than I did -- she was SO sweet and wonderful anf undoubtedly joining our trio of awesome teenagers. I kind of want her as my little sister or something so I can hug and protect her! x)

    You're so incredibly CUTE, Sonia -- I think a group of bookish fairy godmothers sprinkled some magic onto YOU. I wish Alethea could see how much you adored this book too because it would surely make her day! :) <3

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  4. OMG SONIA! I really really want to read Enchanted so badly! After seeing the cover for the first time, I KNEW I HAD TO READ THIS BOOK and after reading your review, I AM DEFINITELY GETTING A COPY!

    Awesome review, Sonia! ♥ Glad you enjoyed it! :)

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  5. Oh goodness Sonia, this sounds ADORABLE. Like, CRAZY adorable! AND THE FROG PRINCE! AND AND AND! AND 4.5 STARS? Seriously, I'm totally keeping an eye out for this one. I haven't seen it in Australia yet! :O

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  6. Isn't this such a cute read?! I was honestly surprised to find so many familiar fairytales hidden in this one because I thought it was just a straight-up re-telling of The Frog Prince.

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  7. I love the cover on this one, so I'm really happy to hear that the actual story inside is worth picking up.

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