New Book: Spelled (The Storymakers) by Betsy Schow

Spelled (The Storymakers) by Betsy Schow was released earlier this year but I just discovered it over the weekend as I started generating book lists for the rest of this year and for 2016. Good news! There are LOTS of new fairy tale related books queued for publication in the next year.

Anyway, this one is a little more unsual--it's primary inspiration is Wizard of Oz but it throws in several fairy tale mash-ups beyond the Oz stuff. Even that cover invokes Cinderella more than Oz, but once you know the premise, it is a mash-up of both. Overall, the reviews average four out of five stars--the biggest criticism is that it gets confusing at times but that may be part of its quirky charm that other readers love about it.

Book description:

Fairy Tale Survival Rule #32: If you find yourself at the mercy of a wicked witch, sing a romantic ballad and wait for your Prince Charming to save the day.

Yeah, no thanks. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks―like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the not-so-charming prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.

Talk about unhappily ever after.

Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called "Kansas." Now it's up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse...before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.