Book Description
The history, mythology, and composition of angels, cherubs, fairies, pixies, and sprites are detailed in this handbook of fairy patterns. More than 72 fairy patterns for all mediums are featured, including dragonfly, sugar plum, and woodland fairies. The physical features of fairies and fairy backgrounds are examined in depth, including instructions for face and body painting that apply to all fairy re-creations. Comprehensive descriptions of different types of fairies accompanied by their folk histories provide a useful context for all fairy enthusiasts.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book of Fairy Patterns.......2007-09-06
Great book for anyone who likes to draw or make fairies. Alot of great ideas and patterns.
Good Rescource for crafters.......2007-05-07
In all fairness, this book is a very good rescource for craft painters who paint on wood, slate, etc. And it is also a very nice rescource for anyone who wants to paint a room/ make stencils to decorate and doesn't know how to draw them freehand. Many of the drawings are not perfect (the sewing fairy has her wing drawn in front of her hair on one side)and I would not rely on the fanciful descriptions about the fairies(to me anyway)they are mostly filler to get the feel for what you are working on. (If you want to learn about real fairy folklore I would suggest getting "Fairies" By Brian Froud or looking for a title on Irish fairy tales.) I had expected a much thinner book at first, but it turned out to be more than that. It is also a good source of inspiration for more accomplished artists wanting some new ideas.
fun, and more fun!.......2007-01-05
this is a great idea book for anyone interested in fairies. The drawings are really great. My teenaged grandchildren have been having a lot of fun with this book. One of them has her room decorated in fairies, so she's going to put some of them on her wall.
Good information, but falls short........2006-12-28
The strongest part of this book is the wing patterns and what kind of fairies have these wings. Not only does it tell the size the wings should be, but also where and how to place them. There are also some nice references to angels. My favoriite part of the book is how to place different kinds of fairies in a scene, however, I would have liked to see more information devoted to this. I must agree with a previous reviewer that the faces are ugly. Obviously the artist has a problem with drawing faces. I knew this when I bought the book and can draw my own faces. The small amount of colored pictures in the book are not very advanced. The book does well in stretching one's imagination in costuming and poses. My personal objection is the author's use of the word patterns when copyright prevents one from using it as patterns unless you know how to break it up and mix and match. If one can do that, then it is useful.
Great Book of Fairy Paterns:The Ultimate Design Sourcebook for Artista and Craftspeople.......2006-09-04
They were not kidding... Ultimate and incredible, this source book is the best I have seen. I am a watercolour artists and these Patterns are easy to follow you can get as complicated or as simple as you like with each design, outline to high detail.
I love it, would recommend it with out hesitation to anyone from beginner artist to master.
Book Description
A world of polymer clay magic, all in one book! Features 15 step-by-step projects for creating clay fairies, gnomes, trolls and other enchanting figures All materials are readily available at local craft stores The whimsical creatures of fantasy spring to life through polymer clay projects in this beautiful instructional book. Readers will learn to create an entire fantasy land, from the secret door to enter this fantastic realm to the trolls, gnomes, fairies and mermaids who inhabit it. Step-by-step photos allow for re-creating the characters exactly, and readers are inspired to make their own imaginary creatures through a gallery of the author's own figures.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic Instructional Polymer Book! .......2007-09-22
Maureen Carlson has done a wonderful job with this book in teaching armature and sculpting of whimsical characters. The book is beautiful to look at with lots of little sidenotes and pleasing backgrounds. I think that Maureen explains and shows through photographs hot to sculpt so that nearly anyone can do it. It's a great alternative to taking a class if you can't attend one of hers.
Great for beginners..........2007-08-24
I ordered this book to get a feel for Ms. Carlson's technique...very detailed instructions, many projects to choose from, overall a lovely start for anyone interested in sculpting fantasy figures.
Wonderful Book.......2007-07-17
I'm trying to learn how to sculpt & this book is very very easy to follow. I learned how to do the body armature very easily. It's very well written & easy to follow.
Fairies Gnomes & Trolls, Oh My!.......2007-07-16
An excellent book. The pictures and instructions are clear and easy to understand. The projects are fun to do. I recommend this book for anyone interested in fantasy polymer clay creations.
A "Must-Have" when learning polymer clay techniques.......2007-06-15
I am new to sculpting and polymer clay. I bought this book as well as 3 others to help me learn techniques and basic "what do I do with this lump of clay?". I browsed thru all 4 when the books arrived and I still have NOT gone back to the other 3 books - after a week! This book is a joy to read. I've skipped around projects, browsed thru the beautiful pictures and checked out the "helpful hints" placed thru-out the book. Unlike many computer manuals and "Dummies" books, the hints in this book are REALLY useful. I can see myself referring back to this book for years to come - long after I feel I'm no longer a beginner. I am definitely going to purchase other books from Maureen Carlson. She's one of those people that is not only good at what she does, she's able to explain it without making it seem like she's a Mensa memeber OR that she is "talking down" to you. TEN stars!! If you want to hear any "cons" (to go with the above "pros") I'd say that I will not do most of the projects in the book. However I didn't buy it to learn other people's projects. I just want to learn how to do what I want to do. By reviewing her projects I'm learning what I need to do different aspects of mine.
Book Description
"ONCE UPON A TIME"
IS TIMELESS
Etienne de Brabant is brokenhearted. His wife has died in childbirth, leaving him alone with an infant daughter he cannot bear to name. But before he abandons her for king and court, he brings a second child to be raised alongside her, a boy whose identity he does not reveal.
The girl, La Cendrillon, and the boy, Raoul, pass sixteen years in the servants' care until one day a very fine lady arrives with her two daughters. The lady has married La Cendrillon's father, and her arrival changes their lives.
When an invitation to a great ball reaches the family, La Cendrillon's new stepmother will make a decision with far-reaching effects. Her choice will lead La Cendrillon and Raoul toward their destiny -- a choice that will challenge their understanding of family, test their loyalty and courage, and, ultimately, teach them who they are.
Customer Reviews:
Entaining, just a little slow to get pulled in.......2007-09-28
I am a huge Cinderella fan, and so this book seemed a perfect fit. But the first part of the book was slow reading, and it could have lost slower less dedicated readers. In the end it was worthwhile as a retelling of the classic fairytale, I just doubt that this will become a classic on its own.
before minight.......2007-08-30
i am currently almost finished with this book and love every page! this is kind of a new twist on "Cinderella". the stepmother and stepsisters, upon realizing who she really is, welcome her with open arms. Cendrillon (main chacter) is as gorgous as her mother was. her mother died in childbirth and her father cannot bear to look at her, let alone name her. her real name is Constaze, after her mother, but she was named Cindrillon "child of cinders" by Mathilde, the woman who delievered her.
this book was awsome and i couldn't put it down, which is pretty much the way with all of cameron dokey's other books, although i have to go back and re-read some due to the fact that i could not even get 1/3 of the way through them due to school and work. i am looking forward to her next release.
Dokey's Best in the Once Upon a Time Series.......2007-04-17
I definitely enjoyed reading this book. The descriptions are very elegant, and the entire feeling is moody. The way the author choose to retell Cinderella I have never seen done before, and it was an interesting take. The characters are likable and believable, and you even come to like the evil stepsister. On the down side, the heroin's relationship with the prince is unrealistic and shallow, but I will say that is somewhat typical of this series. In my opinion Snow by Tracy Lynn was better.
Cinderella as we have never seen her before.......2007-03-26
This tale has always been one of my favorite fairy tales and I have loved some of the different renditions of it like "Ever After" and "Diary of an Ugly Stepsister". "Before Midnight" is another great addition to the retellings of Cinderella. In this revision, Constanze de Brabant, or Cendrillion has been abandoned by her father Etienne because of the death of her mother. She is raised in obscurity with a mysterious boy Raoul by Old Mathilde until a noblewoman, Chantal de Saint-Andre, with her two daughters Amelie and Anastasia arrive. Chantal has married Etienne and she is now Cendrillion's stepmother, but Chantal is never told until secrets are discovered. I love the scene where they open Cendrillion's mother's room and see her portrait. Here Chantal exclaims it is so wicked of Etienne to throw away the most precious gift of all, Love. It is also in this scene that Cendrillion gets her wish of having a family at last.
I will not add too many spoilers and explain who Raoul really is and what happens at the "ball" but this tale which emphasizes the importance of embracing love and all the other feelings that come with it; is so lovingly rendered that both young and old romantics will love it.
A better than average retelling of a classic........2007-03-26
Tonight, I returned to the lighter world of the traditional fairy tale for something to read with Cameron Dokey's Before Midnight. Part of an ongoing series of rewritten stories for young adults called Once Upon a Time, this one goes back to one of the more well-known stories about a maiden and a shoe fetish, so to speak.
A girl is born on a day of storms in the seaside castle, with the same reddish hair and green eyes of her mother, and strange and magical signs surround her birth. But in being born, the child takes her mother's life, and her father, Etienne, does not learn of her birth until he arrives with a newborn boy in his arms two weeks later. In despair over his wife's death, he curses his daughter, saying only that he never wants to see or know of her ever again. As to the baby boy, he says only that he is to never leave the lands of the castle. She is Cendrillon, the child of the cinders, and he Raoul, who grows up to be a stableboy.
Told in first person by Cendrillon, we find out that she has a talent for gardening and making wishes. For her, the wishes made on her birthday tend to come true, no matter how prosperous or dire the consequences. Raised by Old Mathilde, who attended her birth, and asked to be her godmother, she is a wise girl, content to be in and of her home, but also wishing for the love from her distant father, who never asks after her. Ever.
One year, a stranger arrives at the door, Niccolo, who has washed up on the beach below the castle. He becomes part of the household, sharing tasks with Raoul, who has become the best friend for Cendrillon. Another wish brings the biggest change however, when word comes that her father has married a widow with two daughters, and they are coming to live with Cendrillon and the rest -- evidently Etienne has little use for women in his life.
The stepmother, Chantal, and her daughters, Amelie and Anastasia, are the big change in the story. I was rather pleasantly surprised by them both, and the bold step that Dokey takes with the traditional roles. I don't want to reveal any more of the plot here, because half of the enjoyment of reading it was to find the new twists that the author took with this.
Cendrillon is not a doormat either; she boldly speaks up for herself, and is not the drudge-of-all-work, abused and forgotten. Here she is a strong young woman, with a couple of character flaws, that unfortunately the rest of the novel lacks. There are other traditional elements here, from the prince choosing his bride from all of the nobly born maidens of the kingdom, pumpkins, but it is also rather down-to-earth as well. It also has humour to it as well, which helps to lighten the story considerably.
My greatest disappointment with it was the setting of a sort of medieval-renaissance world with all of the traditional trappings. While I suppose that it was necessary, it would have been nice to see a bit of change here.
Dokey in the author's afterword speaks about the origins of the story, from the Brothers Grimm to the older Charles Perrault that gives the true name of Cinderella. The novel isn't very long, just under two hundred pages, so there isn't much room for much development for the characters, but the writing and plotting is fairly tight, and the author doesn't forget to put in some descriptive passages that create some lovely imagry.
More than suitable for most teenaged readers, and adults who don't mind an excursion back to the lands of wonder. Recommended.
Book Description
With magic, friendship, and pixie dust, the world of Disney Fairies is every little girl's dream come true! And now young artists can discover the secrets behind drawing Tinker Bell, Bess, Lily, and all the other pixies with this magical drawing book and kit. The enclosed book contains clear step-by-step illustrations that make it easy for young artists to follow along. Markers, double-sided colored pencils, and stickers only add to the fun!
Customer Reviews:
Good Choice!.......2007-09-16
I am very glad that I ordered this book. It has very detailed illustrations to help me get a handle on drawing my fairys.
One of the better Disney tie-ins.......2007-08-22
This step-by-step drawing book illustrates ten different characters -- the fairies Beck, Bess, Fira, Lily, Prilla, Rani, Tinker Bell and Vidia; the sparrow man Terence; and Queen Clarion. Best for older elementary-school to early high-school kids, it has easy-to-follow illustrations but goes into lots of intricate detail. Budding artists can use it to create full figures as well as portraits, each in four steps. The sections for Tinker Bell, Rani, Beck, Fira and Vidia also show how to draw portrait details such as shoulders, hair and eyelashes. Throughout the book, sidebar sketches display details such as noses, lips, eyes, clothing and wings, and show both proper and improper techniques. The book itself is printed on quality gloss paper stock, and nicely illustrated with soft floral backgrounds and leafy borders.
One final note: The female figures here all share the impossibly tiny waists common in cartoons and, for that matter, fashion illustration, but they don't have exaggerated bustlines or hips. And though the faces have plenty of personality -- Vidia bears a striking resemblance to Meg, from Disney's "Hercules" -- there's no cleavage, and none of the skirts or dresses shown are very high cut.
-- By Julie Neal, author of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World.
Older or advanced little artists only........2007-01-17
Nice book. A little complex for kids under 10.
good item.......2007-01-10
it shows u how to draw the fairys heads and then a separate pic of their full bodies. and it has some tips to show u how individual fairys are drawn like tinks cheeks always look like this - not this and so on . great for little artist :)
Book Description
For most little girls, using their imagination, playing dress-up and make-believe can bring hours of fun, and no book will bring them more creative enchantment than Fairy Crafts. Author Heidi Boyd has created projects filled with magic and imagination that will delight any little girl ages 7-11.
Filled with 23 fantastic fairy projects, this book is divided into four sections:
*Fairy Playthings-enchanting fairy dolls and accessories
*Dress-up Fairy Costumes-Easy to make whimsical costumes
*Fairy Party-Throw a fabulous party with fairy invitations, decorations, recipes and tableware
*Fairy Gifts-Charming keepsake gifts girls will love
All the projects use simple items found in craft stores and are easy enough that girls will love making and playing with them over and over.
Customer Reviews:
Crafts are for older children.......2007-09-17
This book had a lot of really wonderful ideas, however, most of the crafts are for older children and my party was for 6 year olds and younger. I made the fairy braclets for the girls myself as it was a little time consuming. For kids 8+ this is a wonderful book with some really cute ideas.
Cool book........2007-05-13
for all who love fairies or crafts, this is a perfect book. Great ideas, wonderful processes and beautiful products!
Beautiful Book.......2007-02-14
I bought this book, along with Sweet Pea's Garden: Special Things to Make and Do ~ A Flower Fairies Friends Book & How to Host a Flower Fairy Tea Party, to help me with my daughter's fairy birthday party. The crafts are exquisite as well as resonably easy to do. Most items can be easily found around the house or your nearest craft store. I love the crafts in both this and Sweet Pea's Garden. Both books are easy to do although I think Sweet Pea works best for our smaller fairies while this book would be perfect for an upscale girls tea party. I loved the little stories and the illustrations that were woven through the book. The only thing that dissapointed me was that there weren't any recipes. If there had been three or four little recipes that would have rounded out the book perfectly. I fell in love with the little cake in the picture of the table setting at the beginning of chapter three. The crafts included invitations, bookmarks, wings, skirts, fairy dolls with a fairy land playground, jewelry, etc. My favorite crafts were the playground and the blooming tableware. Both were made to decorate my daughters table and they were absolutely beautiful. This made for a magical day. Oh, and there are instructions for a Violet Choker by Heidi Boyd at the DIY website.
Great Birthday Party ideas!.......2005-10-24
We used this little book as the basis for a flower fairy birthday party for a six year old, and it was a huge success, and considerably less expensive than renting Little Gym or another insitutional party place.
We made several decorations and the gorgeous flower fairy wands.
All of the projects would probably require adult assistance for a child under 10, but they are really lovely and worth any effort.
Excellent book of crafts!.......2005-08-18
I bought two copies, one for my 9 yr old daughter and one for her friend. They love it and have had the most fun with these creations. I do recommend a little adult help and guidance with the different crafts.
Book Description
Noted nature crafter Laura Martin has created a fantasy for fairy-lovers. Its conceit involves a botanist, Christine Newkirk, who has discovered five tiny houses on a magical island, all made from natural materials on a perfect fairy scale—the houses are no more than 18 inches high, beds are 2 x 3 inches, shoes are 1 inch long. She documents her finds in a field diary she is keeping for her granddaughter.
The woodland cottage is filled with bent twig furniture. The Japanese house displays bamboo slippers outside the door, and the beach house has a minute bath tiled with seashells. Each spread is filled with photos and drawings of these tiny objects, all identified with their botanical names.
To leaf through these pages is to enter another world and dwell in it—the world of fantasy that has fascinated people through the ages.
Customer Reviews:
delectable.......2007-02-25
grab your hot cocoa and snuggle up with this book and your favorite blankie. i'm not a faerie fanatic but could not resist this book. the level of creativity shown here is overwhelming and you will find yourself 'ooooing' and 'aaaahing' and giggling at the turn of every page. lovely, lovely book.
oh, and if you're a faerie, these two ladies are the ones you want if you're doing any redecorating.
An excellent primer for learning to 'SEE'.......2007-02-17
I bought this book for my four year old daughter, and while perspective is not a skill she's yet mastered enough to fully appreciate what she's looking at, she already adores it. This is a book that will keep on giving. It's as whimsical as you would expect, but it also teaches something to the reader, very subtly, about having the eye of an artist. It's a primer for creativity, a lesson in appreciating beauty in the world around you, and it does all this ever so charmingly.
A must-have for the creative type's library.
Fairy Island: An Enchanted Tour of the Homes of the Little Folk.......2006-11-06
Excellent book for the fairy lovers and craft people like me
For All Who Love Tiny Things.......2005-09-29
Remember The Borrowers or Miss Bianca or A Cricket in Times Square? Anyone who loved those childhood classics will fall in love with this book. The concept of little folk creating a home with found objects is so intriguing.
The authors feature as observers in this book which combines color photos, hand lettered text and sketchbook-like notes. It reminds me a bit of Gnomes which was such a hit 20 years ago or even the artwork in the Edwardian Lady's Sketchbook.
I read in our local paper about a family that recreated some of the scenes from this book in their own garden. The children loved gardening in miniature and finding small things to put in the fairy house. What a fun idea.
For fans of the wee folk.......2005-09-14
This is a very charming book for fairy fans as well as gardeners. The story is told from the point of view of the writer's grandmother and is a lovely story to read to a child or grandchild. I enjoyed it very much.
Average customer rating:
- Wow!
- The Magic Flute, made more magical
- "The Magic Flute" Retold
- Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan...
- Poorly Done
|
Sunlight and Shadow (Once Upon a Time)
Cameron Dokey
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Stories
| Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Love & Romance
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Children's Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Teen Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Stories
| Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Love & Romance
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Night Dance (Once Upon a Time)
-
Scarlet Moon
-
Water Song: A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" (Once Upon a Time)
-
Before Midnight: A Retelling of "Cinderella" (Once Upon a Time)
-
Golden (Once Upon A Time)
ASIN: 0689869991 |
Book Description
A new spin on "The Magic Flute" by an acclaimed author!
In a time when the world was young and many things were quite commonplace that are now entirely forgotten, Sarastro, Mage of the Day, wed Pamina, the Queen of the Night. And in this way was the world complete, for light was joined to dark. For all time would they be joined together. Only the ending of the world could tear them apart. In other words, in the days in which my parents married, there was no such thing as divorce....
Thus begins the tale of Mina, a girl-child born on the longest night of the darkest month of the year. When her father looked at her, all he saw was what he feared: By birth, by name, by nature, she belonged to the Dark. So when Mina turned sixteen, her father took her away from shadow and brought her into sunlight.
In retaliation, her mother lured a handsome prince into a deadly agreement: If he frees Mina, he can claim her as his bride.
Now Mina and her prince must endure deadly trials -- of love and fate and family -- before they can truly live happily ever after....
Customer Reviews:
Wow!.......2007-09-02
I have to admit, I was skeptical when I picked up this book. I don't really like romances, and I wondered if I'd be bored. I figured I'd read a chapter and put it down. I was sure wrong about that.
Cameron Dokey's got an amazing way with words and how she weaves them together: It's magical and the story flows together brilliantly. I just couldn't get over how likable she made the characters: ALL of them, not just the "good guys." The "bad guys" are not all bad, nor are they hopeless, and problems are resolved in interesting ways. I couldn't tell you who my favorite character is (though I lean toward Lapin, who is Mina's best friend and defender, player of the bells.) They have depth and their feelings are interesting, not dull or run-of-the-mill, and these characters do not have any yawn-ish conversations, either.
The story is fun and easy to follow, but it's not simple, as in predictible. In order to prove his love, Prince Tern (how cool of a name is that?) agrees to "Boss of the Day" Sarastro's conditions of a very interesting set of trials: And Sarastro's daughter, Mina goes with him. Ever wonder how mourning doves came to be? Clever Cameron Dokey tucks this into the trials that Tern and Mina endure.
I won't give away anything about the ending other than to say it is very satisfying, on more than one level. I will definitely pick up another Once Upon a Time book by Cameron Dokey!
The Magic Flute, made more magical.......2007-08-13
The Magic Flute isn't one of the classic Grimms' fairytales, so I wasn't at all familiar with it and failed to recognise it in the blurb. The story looked intriguing nonetheless: Sarastro, "Mage of the Day", and Pamina, "Queen of the Night", have a daughter who spends her life with her mother until she is 16 - whereupon she must leave to live with her father. The blurb then promises treachery and betrayal when Pamina lures a prince into a deadly agreement to win Mina as his bride.
Cameron Dokey puts a new spin on this story with first-person accounts from different - and very likeable - characters - mainly Mina, but also an orphaned girl who is brought up by Sarastro, Gayna; Lapin, a boy who owns a magical set of bells (not a flute), and Tern, the prince. Through their voices you get a glimpse of how they think and of how fate unfolds.
This is also a story of opposites. Night against day. Mina against Gayna. Mina with Statos and Tern. Gayna with Statos and Lapin. Love against hate and treachery. And of course, good against evil.
While everything seems quite separate at first, all the threads do wind together in the end quite satisfyingly. Everything that Sarastro does is based on trying to outwit a prophecy about Mina. The only problem is that, careful as he is, he may not have all the cards in his hands.
The tone of the book was refreshingly modern even though it is set in "a time that was young and many things were commonplace that are now forgotten". Sarastro and Pamina don't speak to each other, so Mina grows up wondering what her father is like. Sarastro tears her from her mother when she is just shy of 16, breaking the original agreement and causing a great deal of defiance on Mina's part. Gayna is hopelessly in love with Sarastro's guard Statos, but he's not interested in her. It makes absorbing reading.
And in the background there is Lapin, whom I count as my favourite character. He inherits a set of magical bells which can call your true love to you. While he practices listening to the music of his heart, he ends up calling birds instead. Lots of birds.
What Lapin and Pamina do after Mina has been stolen away by Sarastro is ingenious, and entirely within the rules of the game. I felt the blurb was totally misleading when it claimed that Pamina had lured Tern into a set of deadly trials. Sarastro set those trials, and Tern agreed to rescue Mina of his own free will.
Of course everything ends well and all live happily ever after. The story is shorter than I would have liked but it's very easy reading but sticks with you for a long while after. That's the best kind of story to own.
"The Magic Flute" Retold.......2007-07-09
"Sunlight and Shadow" was the first book in the "Once Upon a Time" series that I read. It wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed it.
The story is a retelling of Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute", but it still manages to be original. The author puts some nice twists on an old story that was interesting and pretty original to begin with. It can be a little confusing because there are several narrators who switch without much notice, but it's not too hard to figure out. The plot has nice pacing, and the book is just the right length.
Best of all, she gives life to characters who were previously flat and stereotypical. The characterizations are nothing really special by themselves (still better than the stereotypes, but they're pretty typical of this kind of book), but it's interesting to get insight in the the characters' thoughts about events.
The writing was well-done. The romance was all right, but it seemed a bit shallow. But it was good for love at first sight, which was what it was in the opera. The author did a good job with it considering her resources. She does include a few themes about life in general, but they were nothing we haven't seen before.
I was not familiar with "The Magic Flute" before reading this, but it was a good way to introduce myself to it. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was still worth my time.
Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan..........2007-04-11
I was excited about this book because "Magic Flute" is one of my favorite stories. However while I did find myself enjoying it, I am not sure if I really appreciated this particular feminist take on it. Sometimes I think that a feminist take on an old beloved tale is great, however there are other times where it just distorts the story. I think that Nights Daughter by Marion Zimmer Bradley probably has a better attempt at having a feminst take on the story. And for an even better treat, score a copy of the Ingmar Bergman production of Magic Flute through netflix or your local library.
Poorly Done.......2007-03-11
The good side of this book is the writing style. It is moody, and the descriptions are interesting. On the other hand, the characters are shallow and not rememberable. The story is confusing, unbelievable, and jarring. The author attempted to tell the story from five different points of view without clarifying when this switch between people was made. The character's voices are not distinguishable from one another. The author draws you out of the main story line several times to tell you pointless back stories on other characters. Dokey's novel Beauty Sleep has the same flaws. Her best in the Once Upon A Time series is The Storyteller's Daughter and Golden.
Average customer rating:
- The Best I Can Say Is That It Could Have Been Great
- Good start but....
- The Full Moon
- Scarlet Moon-Rick's Daughter
- Don't be judgmental, just enjoy it.
|
Scarlet Moon
Debbie Viguié
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Stories
| Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Children's Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Teen Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Stories
| Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Night Dance (Once Upon a Time)
-
Sunlight and Shadow (Once Upon a Time)
-
Water Song: A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" (Once Upon a Time)
-
Midnight Pearls: A Retelling of "The Little Mermaid" (Once Upon a Time)
-
Before Midnight: A Retelling of "Cinderella" (Once Upon a Time)
ASIN: 0689867166 |
Book Description
The True Face of Love
Ruth's grandmother lives in the forest, banished there for the "evil" that the townsfolk believed she practiced. But if studying the stars, learning about nature, and dreaming of flying is evil, then Ruth is guilty of it too. Whenever Ruth took food and supplies to her grandmother, she would sit with the old woman for hours, listening and learning.
When she wasn't in the woods, Ruth was learning the trade of her father, a blacksmith, now that her brother would never return from the Crusades.
Amidst those dark days, a new man enters Ruth's life. William is a noble with a hot temper and a bad name, and he makes her shiver. But the young man is prey to his heritage, a curse placed on his family ages ago, and each male of the family has strange blood running in his veins. Now Ruth must come face-to-face with his destiny at Grandma's house
Customer Reviews:
The Best I Can Say Is That It Could Have Been Great.......2007-08-18
I hate to write a review that slams every aspect of a book... but I'm going to do it anyway. Scarlet Moon by Debbie Viguie is not worth your time or your money. The characters are uninteresting, the setting and storyline unconvincing, and the writing itself just poorly done.
To give the book its due, it does have a very interesting premise. I applaud the author's idea of retelling "Little Red Riding Hood" as a werewolf romance. Unfortunately, that's almost the only positive thing I can say about it. Having set up interesting possibilities for character-driven conflict, the author goes out of her way to avoid it. She prevents herself from having to deal with the ramifications of the werewolf curse by making another character the villain at the last minute and giving him the role of the "wolf," thus neatly removing any obstacles to a happy ending for the main characters. I felt cheated when she took this easy way out. And (SPOILERS) what about the very end, where the grandmother gets rid of the curse by magic, after she has said she has no magic? Doesn't that kind of justify Peter's anger at her, since it means she actually was withholding something from him? That bothered me. (END SPOILERS) In any case, Scarlet Moon in its conception had the potential to be really good, but failed to live up to its potential.
The romance, which seems to be the focus of the book, is completely unbelievable. Not only does it happen ridiculously fast, but the dialogue between the two lovers involves every cliched thing that lovers have ever said to one another, and almost nothing else. I was constantly rolling my eyes when I read their interaction. But sadly, this is only a symptom of a larger problem: the characters are one-dimensional, unrealistic, and, I have to say, boring. *sigh* So much potential for compelling characterization here, and all gone to waste...
Scarlet Moon purports to take place in medieval times, during one of the later crusades, but historical inaccuracies abound. One of the crusaders has the crescent moon (the symbol of Islam) as his mark? William owns 132 horses? Please, I'm no expert on history, but even I can tell the author hasn't done enough research. But, worse than getting the facts wrong, the author imposes modern attitudes and ideals on her characters: Ruth, the protagonist, works as a blacksmith, traditionally a man's job (we couldn't possibly have a heroine who conforms to traditional gender roles, now could we), scorns the villagers for believing in witchcraft (because naturally she's so much more enlightened than everyone else), and treats a nobleman whom she happens to meet by chance as an equal (and, unfortunately, he encourages this, apparently having no more idea than she of how the class systems of the time worked)... Ugh, I just hate it when an author takes modern characters with modern views and places them in (what's supposed to be) an historical setting... One of my pet peeves, and Debbie Viguie is a prime offender.
Overall, I don't know what the point of this book is; there isn't anything in it that made it worth reading. I feel like I wasted my time, and I very rarely think that about anything I read, even if I don't like it. So I advise you to avoid this book. If you want to read a good teen werewolf romance, read Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. If you want to read good fairytale retellings, I recommend the works of Robin McKinley (Beauty, Spindle's End, The Door In the Hedge), Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted), and Donna Jo Napoli (The Magic Circle).
Good start but...........2007-07-05
Wow, what a potentially great book that crashed and burned about 3/4's of the way through. Perhaps I'm not the right audience but I enjoy retellings of traditional folk/fairy tales. Although I'm tempted to see what else the author wrote because of the great beginning, the ending was abrupt and [hate to say it] poor so I'll probably wait until they show up on a used bookshelf somewhere.
The Full Moon.......2006-10-17
The story starts out with Ruth being a little girl. She is attacked by a wolf. Her brother and cousin leave to fight in Jerusulum. Nine years later her cousin returns. Then Ruth finds a man naked in the road and then he runs away. Later she is attacked by the same wolf she was attacked by nine years ago. Ruth also meets Lord William. Somethig happens then. But I can't spoil the ending can I?
I thought this book was amazing. I liked all the drama. It was exciting. Never a dull moment. The events were ethier scary and terrible, so happy I couldn't believe it, or so unfortunate it was unbelievable.
I have never read anything like this. But, there is another book by Debbie Viguie. The book's title is Midnight Pearls. I have heard that it is an amazing book. So go read this book because I am positive that you will like it.
Scarlet Moon-Rick's Daughter.......2006-08-20
I absolutely Loved this book. I'm [...] and my friends and I just adored it! It is a book that I will be able to read until the day I die! It is an enchanting story of Little Red Riding Hood And The Big Bad Wolf that has a "romantical" twist! I have never been the one for romance novels or anything like them, but this one was differnet! It wasn't a romance novel, but it was! I couldn't put this book down! I wish it had been longer though! So that it would last longer! This book was enchanting, suspensful, and all around GREAT! I would recommend this book for anyone over the age 10. I can't waot to read the other Once Upon A Time Series. There are more based on fair tales but the series are written by more than one author.
Don't be judgmental, just enjoy it........2006-08-05
Attacked by a wolf at a young age, Ruth learns what it means to fear. Her whole life, she is constantly distressed by paranoia and panic of her surroundings. So when her brother, Stephen, and cousin, Peter, leave for battle during the Crusades, she must pick up where they left off: preparing to be a blacksmith alongside her father, in the place of a son. Ruth's outcasted grandmother, Giselle, is a great healer, and has always helped replace the past loss of Ruth's mother. So when distraught Peter returns from the Crusades after nine years without Stephen, it is Giselle whom Peter turns to, and Giselle whom he comes to loathe.
When the Earl of Lauton's horse throws a shoe outside the blacksmith shop, Ruth is immediately attached to the nobleman William, and he to her. But all that prevents their young love is a secret. A secret that has plagued William's family for generations and one that is the cause of Ruth's fear. But can he be trusted that she need not fear any longer? Does he remember all of his cursed actions?
I feel like defending this book. So everyone who complains that it was "lust" not "love"...yeah. It was lust. They even pointed it out ("And when I am near you, all I feel is passion...). But can lust not be love? It's not like all they did was ogle over each other and make out. They cared for each other, simply in a way no one else could.
Also, it doesn't have to be like the real "Little Red Riding Hood". It's a retelling based "loosely" off the story. Why would we want to read about a little girl getting eaten by a wolf? I prefer not to see the heroine die a most horrible death along with her sweet-natured grandmama. It's just not..right.
And finally (but not lastly), the werewolf does work. You couldn't communicate with a wolf. They eat things. They're carnivores. A werewolf (mythically) has feeling, thoughts, hopes, dreams, and...a man body. Don't get me wrong, you could create a character like that for a wolf, but then Ruth would fall in love with a complete animal? No.
So I suppose it's just how you look at it. I personally enjoyed it. It's not expected to be a long novel with exactly the same features as were written hundreds of years ago. That kind of story just doesn't pertain to what us "modern" folk want in a "modern" retelling of a classic fairy-tale. It just doesn't.
Customer Reviews:
A feel-good novel........2007-09-26
Sweet but with enough tension between the characters to avoid being gooy. Interesting twist on the fairy tale.
Golden, another beautiful book by Dokey.......2007-09-19
After not being able to belong in her mothers heart, Rapunzel is taken in by Melisande, a sorceress that Rapunzel's dad took rapunzel from. Having no hair, Rapunzel must always wear a kerchief to hide herself from everyone so they do not make fun of her. The town starts to believe that there is a bad omen and want to run Melisande and Rapunzel from the town. There do we start to find out the secrets that Melisande holds in her heart and to see if Rapunzel's is as strong as Melisande believes it is... for Rapunzel's sake.
This is a beautiful retelling of Rapunzel. It doesn't show Melisande as the evil sorceress but as a caring one. The one that we "hear about" in books is actually a wizard, not a witch. Nice twist there. There are several twists and turns that I enjoy in this book.
I must disagree with the first reviewer. The ending isn't all that predictable for in other stories in this series you think one thing will happen (When it comes to relationships) and something else happens (Before Midnight anyone?) So I was going to throw the book across the room if what I thought was going to happen happened.. But it did not. This is another fine work by Dokey.
repunzal.......2007-08-30
loved this verson of the classic fairy tale! repunzal is actually born bold and raised by a witch who has a beautiful dauther locked in a tower. the girls quarrel and fight over how repunal will free the daughter, but in the end, repunzal gives her name up and chooses a new name for herself. this is one of the best books about retold fariytales that i have ever read.
Rapunzel.......2007-07-25
In this unusual retelling of the story of "Rapunzel", Rapunzel is a girl who was born completely bald. Her mother, upon seeing this, decides that she cannot love her daughter, and so Rapunzel grows up with the sourceress, Melisande. Everything is well until Melisande tells Rapunzel that she has a daughter, Rue, who is under a curse, and asks Rapunzel to free her . . .
I really enjoyed the creative spins Dokey put on the story. You're not quite sure what to expect. The characters are interesting and realistic. And I especially liked the romance. The themes of the nature of love and magic are fresh and make you think. The pacing is good, except I thought that everything wrapped up a little too quickly. It's not a long book so you won't get bored with it, but it still has depth.
I've read six books in the "Once Upon a Time" series, and "Golden" is one of the best. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
A fantasy philosopher..............2007-04-27
I have read every book in this series save for "Spirited" and "The Rose Bride".(I am now working on "Before Midnight"). Not only do I favor the author, but Golden is about the best book I have read out of the entire series! The story of Repunzel takes on a definitely most original and unexpected story-line, complete with characters who seem almost gunuinely human themselves. Repunzel is a spunky, contrary young heroine who sets out to perform a challenging task and see what her heart truly holds.
Average customer rating:
- a decorative fairy tale.....
- Lovely,dreamy
- HOME DECOR. WITH A STORY TO TELL
- Cottage Art at its best
- Provence Captured
|
The Illustrated Cottage: A Decorative Fairy Tale Inspired by Provence (Country Living)
Nina Williams
Manufacturer: Hearst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Style
| Interior Design
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Decorating
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Decorating
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Style
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Home & Garden Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Home Improvement
| Home & Garden
| Bargain Books
| Stores
| Books
Interior Decorating
| Home & Garden
| Bargain Books
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0688165419 |
Book Description
Country Living editor Niña Williams had never visited Provence, yet visions of that fabled French region permeated her dreams. And so, with a little help from some talented artists, she transformed her own simple Denver home (inside and out) into a small bit of Provençal heaven. Everywhere trompe l'oeil murals turn the walls into a storybook peopled with imaginary characters and landscapes from a tiny imaginary Provençal village. And each detail, from the ceramic dishes to the small soaps in the bathroom to the wrought iron furniture on the patio, has the perfect Provençal touch. Williams herself explains her inspiration, and the reasons behind all her choices. A pure delight and true original, this blend of romance and design primer also includes tasty tidbits like Provençal recipes (Garlic Rabbit) and information on the Provençal crafts of lacemaking, enamelware, and more.
Customer Reviews:
a decorative fairy tale............2002-01-22
As stated in the book's introduction, the decoration of this
house does indeed capture the mood, spirit and colors of
Provence. Anyone looking for ideas or studies of trompe l'oeil
will totally enjoy the art on every page. I remember the
first time I saw the art of Fisher and Chappell in an old issue
of Country Living magazine. They artfully painted a garden
shed and it made the cover of the magazine. A story unfolds
as you go room to room in this house, the walls are the illustrations. French tiles, a mouse on garden tools, rabbits
in a hutch, windows to lavender fields, murals of glorious
Provencal landscapes, a broken plate on the floor, pearls on the stair steps, rose petals on a window sill: are they
real or painted? An excellent addition to a collection of
interior design books. You can't go wrong here. The resource
guide in the back features decorative sources, fabric and upholstery sources, garden catalogs and graphic designers.
Lots of garden pictures too as Nina Williams was the founding
editor of Country Living Gardener. From the kitchen to the
atelier, the boudoir to the foyer you will find inspiration!
Thumbs up!
Lovely,dreamy.......2002-01-11
This book, although not practical, is lovely and dreamy. Great for thumbing through on a weekend afternoon. The author has tapped into my psyche by fueling my dream of having a getaway cottage. We want a dreamy place not in Europe but close enough to home so that we can escape every weekend if we want to. Fortunately, that is possible in our part of the country where vacation homes are common. I've searched for vacation homes and cottage books, and the best are:
SECOND HOME. Rating: 10. This gorgeous coffee table book is also practical. Great houses, dreamy photos of locations, but the homes, which are in all styles from cabins in the woods to big family homes on the Atlantic, aren't out of reach. The book has tips on finding a location and that sort of thing as well as decorating. Nice resource list with internet sites for more information. Blends dreamy beauty with information.
THE CABIN. Rating: 6. Another pretty coffee table book. Not practical in any way but nice to look at. More of an architecture book than anything else.
COTTAGE STYLE. Rating: 8. All about decorating any home so it looks like a weekend cottkage. My decorating "bible."
ADIRONDACK STYLE. Rating: 5. Good pictures of homes and interiors. But it's limited to one rustic style, of course.
HOME DECOR. WITH A STORY TO TELL.......2001-12-13
I can't finish this book. It's so good,
I want to leave some for other days.
The decor is fasinating.
Cottage Art at its best.......2001-10-31
Nina Williams has created a gift for those of us who are artists who like to make our homes or in my case my cottage a day to day living canvas. Not only did I appreciate the "theme" which is basically a young girl flowing into adulthood but like Ms Williams I have a serious free spirit mode that is very Bohemian.
The photos are wonderful and one sees how an artist creates beauty that is a mix of fairytale and reality. And I am also a grower of French lavender and could almost smell the lavender tucked in the curtain or in the mural of the French lavender fields that seemed to stretch for miles.
And the whimsy of the strand of pearls broken and dropping down the painted stairs of her home, the mouse on the stairs the looks so lifelike and the flowers...oh my they look so real, as if freshly picked. And the young girl at the window, caught in a far off thought with love letter in hand.
And the colours and hue are so vibrant and I so love the way the artists creates smiles on peoples faces. How you open a door and see a painting on the other side. How rooms blend paintings with tile work and furniture.
This is a book I would recommend for all my fellow artist friends who love creating and are not afraid of working on non canvas surfaces.
Provence Captured.......2000-12-03
Owning a residence in Provence, We werelooking for inspiration for a redesign. This will be my bible. She perfectly captured the mood and colors of Provence. The Trompe L' Oeil work is some of the finest I have ever seen. It weaves the tri-themes of the book together perfectly. Personality makes a room.
Books:
- Happy Birthday to You! (Classic Seuss)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Smart Women Finish Rich: 9 Steps to Achieving Financial Security and Funding Your Dreams
- Knuffle Bunny
- Corporate Media Production, Second Edition
- EPISTOLARIO DE LÁZARO CÁRDENAS 1
- Film Directing: Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen
- Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
- Methods in Yeast Genetics: A Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Course Manual, 2005 Edition
- Internal Auditor's Manual and Guide: The Practitioner's Guide to Internal Auditing
- Extreme Management: What They Teach at Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program
- High Plains Tango: A Novel
How to Draw and Paint Fairies: From Finding Inspiration to Capturing Diaphanous Detail, a Step-by-Step Guide to Fairy Art
Great Book of Dragon Patterns: The Ultimate Design Sourcebook for Artists and Craftspeople
Watercolor Fairies: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Fairy World
500 Fairy Motifs
Drawing Faeries: A Believer's Guide
