Celeste Baxendell

I thoroughly enjoyed my introduction to Celeste Baxendell's writing. This book was a wonderful retelling of Robin Hood, complete with backstories, emotional maturation of both characters, and fun twists to the plot and characters as we know it from popular culture. Switching Robin to be a woman archer and leader of the Merry Men was clever and memorable. Prince John was not likable at first but became endearing. Neither characters were really who they seemed to be at the beginning of the story; John was not the wicked, cruel, cowardly tyrant that Robin believed to be and Robin was not as impenetrable, calculating, and unforgiving as John thought her to be. The politics of running a country was an interesting subplot.
Their marriage of convenience that started them out as enemies had moments of spite, tenderness, longing, acceptance, belonging and regret. Their banter was fantastic and their backstories made my heart ache.
If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, you will absolutely love this book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of the author and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.… (meer)

And yet again, Celeste hits this one out of the park, er forest. Robin Hood had been unmasked and revealed to be a woman. Prince John has been tasked by his brother, King Richard, to take care of the outlaw once and for all. And so, he hatches his most wicked plot yet...to marry Robin Hood.

A series of hijinks ensue in which she and her merry men try to scheme their way out of the deal. It is great fun. The love story is unexpectedly fun as well. Can the wicked prince be redeemed? And can Robin do it, or will she fall prey to yet another of his schemes?

Set in the same world as her fairytale series, this book is particularly special to me because Robin Hood is one of my all-time favorite historical-mythological characters. And no one has ever succeeded in making me like, much less love, Prince John. Unfortunately, now I also want stories about King Richard, Alan, Little Jon, and Will Scarlett, and maybe Robin's cousin Marian for good measure, although hers might have already been established. What am I saying? I want anything that Celeste will write.

I received an ARC of this book as part of the multi author series, Once upon a Prince, and have reviewed it gladly.… (meer)

This book made me cry. A lot. Which is dumb, because I had been warned it was a cliffhanger, I knew it was a duology (so we're at the exact midpoint of the story), and it's Sleeping Beauty, so yes, she will prick her finger, and yes, she will fall into a long sleep, and, ugh! Anyway, I'm sure it will all be okay...in another book, but in the meantime, ugh! Why do you make me cry so much, Celeste?

But it was really good. So, so good. I want to read it over again already. So many mysteries are finally coming to the surface. Ro is cool. I liked her a lot in the previous book. The way she takes control of her life and her destiny is fabulously cool. She has a lot to overcome, missing memories, manipulative curses, enemies on all sides, it seems, but if anyone can hit back and come out ahead, it's Ro.

Midas is also such a cool character. I love his backstory. I want so badly for him to break his curse. I also love the way the imp duo tortures him. (It's not as bad as it sounds, mostly just super annoying, and it is good to see them use their powers for slightly more good than in the past.)

But that cliffhanger. Must. Keep. Reading.

I received an ARC and have reviewed it willingly because Celeste is an insanely fabulous storyteller and I will always read everything she writes.… (meer)

This begins with a "Little Match Girl" flavor, but ends more like a retelling of Cinderella. At 686 pages, it's a deceptive read, with no fat or filler. While Liora could easily start to grate on you because of her constant inability to be assertive and look out for herself, she manages to stay on the okay side of that line. From the moment she leaps impulsively from her small booth in the marketplace to save a princess from being trampled by a horse, she's of interest to the sole prince who's not betrothed. That's Prince Cynrik, whose constant flirtation and reluctance to assume responsibility are deceptive. He secretly believes that true love is a worthy goal and none of the eligible ladies in the kingdom have stirred an iota of romantic attraction within him.
Once he and Liora meet and begin playing detective in an effort to determine who wants to derail his brother's pending marriage to Princess Dione, readers are taken on quite a ride. It's one that involves who she really is, what happened to her family, why her stepmother and stepsister are always off on some secret mission, magic matches, palace intrigue, Liora nearly dying and plenty more. It's a dandy tale.… (meer)