New Book: Ivy's Ever After by Dawn Lairamore

Ivy's Ever After is a new book actually scheduled for a release date later this month, but it is already shipping at Amazon.  (Well, it is if you aren't in the flood ravaged Nashville area where I am awaiting a few long anticipated books myself.  Someday they will arrive...)

The book isn't a retelling of a specific fairy tale, but uses many tropes from fairy tales and fantasy which make it quite suitable for this blog...

I've had a short email conversation with Dawn the last few months.  Here's her description of the book, her debut novel:

IVY is my version of a fractured fairy tale for middle-grade readers. According to tradition, Ivy is to be locked in a white tower guarded by a dragon. The prince who slays the dragon and rescues her will, of course, win her hand in marriage. The problem is Ivy doesn't want to be rescued. And Elridge, the rather unferocious dragon sent to guard her, most definitely doesn't want to be slain! Neither wants anything to do with Romil, an unscrupulous prince from the frozen North who will be the doom of them both. And so IVY'S EVER AFTER is a fairy-tale-with-a-twist in which the princess and the dragon actually team up to thwart the handsome prince. I think it's a lot of fun, an adventure with a sassy heroine and a light-hearted, humorous tone.

And the book description from the publisher:

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Ardendale there lived a spirited princess named Ivy, who had no interest in being rescued by Prince Charming, and an undersized dragon named Elridge, who was better at solving word puzzles than breathing fire. Sailing into this world on a ship made of whale bones came Romil, a handsome prince with dastardly designs on Princess Ivy and her kingdom. Ivy and Elridge, both disappointments to their families, join forces to try and thwart Romil's evil plot. In the process these traditional enemies become fast freinds, discover hidden strengths, and earn the respect of all who know them. Full of humor and high adventure--and plenty of slightly skewed fairy-tale motifs--this frothy fractured fairy tale is sure to delight young readers.

I haven't read the book yet--have yet to receive it--but the description reminds me of Patricia Wrede's The Enchanted Forest Chronicles: Dealing with Dragons / Searching for Dragons / Calling on Dragons / Talking to Dragons which I have loved for many years.  Of course, this will be completely different and fun in its own way.  I just imagine fans of that series will be interested in this one.  Or vice versa, if you read this one and enjoy it, you just may enjoy Wrede if you haven't read her books.  Another great choice would be The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye.  (I really should devote a month to great books that deserve reading or rereading, shouldn't I?)

You can also visit IvysEverAfter.com to view a book trailer, read the first chapter and find other fun stuff.  Actually, I can embed the trailer, so here it is: