While Beauty Slept Hardcover Author: Elizabeth Blackwell | Language: English | ISBN:
0399166238 | Format: PDF, EPUB
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In this magical reimagining of the fifteenth-century fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty’s story is told from the perspective of Elise Darliss, a poor farm girl who finds a place in the castle as a maid. Thanks to a strong work ethic and her rare ability to read and write, she eventually earns the position of private maid to the queen herself. The queen is kind, and Elise comes to know her well, and when the legendary princess is born, she befriends her, too. The rest of the tale is famously well-known, but Blackwell treats readers to a retelling that makes historical fiction of the fantasy. And, while she relates what really happened at the castle, we also get to see Elise bloom as she grows from farm girl to respectable lady. The story is dark and enchanting, if a little contrived at times, and Blackwell’s rendering of the medieval setting is rich and detailed. Following in the inspired footsteps of Gregory Maguire’s fairy-tale twists, this debut novel puts a spellbinding new spin on a classic yarn. --Cortney Ophoff
Review
"Old-fashioned story-telling and historical fiction create a charming alchemy in this clever reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. . . . With its palace intrigue, romance and death, this is no fairy tale but enchanting nonetheless." —People
“Blackwell treats readers to a retelling that makes historical fiction of the fantasy … Following in the inspired footsteps of Gregory Maguire’s fairy-tale twists, this debut novel puts a spellbinding new spin on a classic yarn.” —Booklist
"Blackwell is faithful to the original while offering a fresh interpretation. . . . [T]he twists that resolve the women's stories are both convincing and moving." —Publishers Weekly
"Unexpected and heartrending . . . A gripping tale full of romance, secrets, and promises made and broken. This beautiful, original reinterpretation of a classic story is engrossing and often surprising." —Library Journal, starred review
“Elizabeth Blackwell is a story-telling genius. Her mesmerizing writing weaves a spell that will enchant you. While Beauty Slept . . . will take your breath away.” —Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries and Heather Wells mystery series
"Elizabeth Blackwell’s writing is magical in this complex, dark, and sensual retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Imaginative, evocative full of surprises, this is a captivating debut." –M.J. Rose, international bestselling author of Seduction
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- Hardcover: 432 pages
- Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam (February 20, 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0399166238
- ISBN-13: 978-0399166235
- Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell
My rating: 3.5 of 5
Fairytale retellings are one of my favorite types of books. I love to see what authors can do with a classic story to make it their own new fascinating tale. So when I found this book while looking through the list of e-advanced readers I could download, it stood out. This story was to be different from other fairy tales or even their revised versions. This one was said to be the “true” story of Sleeping Beauty, not of magic or witches, but of a curse brought on by events that could have actually taken place.
This was written as historical fiction, rather than fantasy. Usually I’m not a fan of historical fiction, but I’ve been in a reading slump and thought maybe I should give it a try since it was still a fairy tale.
I wanted to love this book, but it wasn’t what I thought it would be. It did get me through the reading rut I’d been in though and I read 2 more books in the 3 days following finishing this one up so I give it credit for that. I’m still honestly a little torn on how I feel about the whole thing. I fluctuate between a 3 and 4 star depending on which part of the book I think of. But as a whole, I would recommend this to anyone who likes fairy tale retellings or possibly even if they just like historical fiction. (Though, full disclosure, as I’m not a reader of it, I can’t vouch for whether it’s historically accurate to any time period.)
Anyway, here’s what I liked and what I did not.
The Good:
*Very well written descriptions and most of the characters were well developed. Many of them I missed once the book was over, and those are the good kind. The villains were well developed too, but I can’t say I miss them.
*Elise’s love story.
I can't help but feel the hand of providence a bit with this book--it is as if this is the book I was meant to read right now.
I've always been a fan of fairy tales, although I've become a bit cynical of them since I've become the mother of a daughter and have had to fight the onslaught of the Disney wave. As it is, I've been reading many of these tales to my children lately and to find one for an adult--that doesn't fall into the cesspool of erotica!--was just too good a thing to pass up.
While Beauty Slept is a re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty, a story nearly everyone knows. However, Elizabeth Blackwell has taken this tale a bit further and developed it into a skillfully written novel full of twists and turns (which is all I'm going to say about the plot!). I was quickly swept into the book and it held me through to the very last page.
The decision to have the story told through Elise's eyes was a wise one. It allowed Blackwell to create a fully human narrator and still give the "major players" of the tale an iconic feel that could place them either in the realm of reality or the world of fantasy. Elise, herself, is an excellent character. While she has had a hard life, she finds herself rising to a station she could never have imagined. She isn't perfect--and she realizes it--but she keeps the reader's attention and loyalty.
My one issue with this book--well, it is an issue with me rather than the book--is that this is so realistically written that it feels like historical fiction. Since I read more historical fiction than any other genre, I had moments early in this book where I felt a little uneasy with this book.
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