Spelled
Author: Betsy Schow
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Page Count: 352 pages
Format: E-Arc
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Genre: Teen/Young Adult, YA Fantasy
Release Date: 6/2/2015
Talk about unhappily ever after. 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.
Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving Dorthea with hair made up of emerald flames and the kingdom in chaos. Her parents and everyone she loves are 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.
In Spelled, spoiled Princess Dorthea of Emerald, a possible cursed Emerald Princess, can only dream of what life is like outside the palace walls. She dreams of it so much, she plots to make her escape, never considering how much trouble she might cause if she does. But it’s only after her parents promise her hand to Prince Kato that Princess Dorthea makes a pleading wish on a cursed star, and the chaos that follows is not at all what the princess expected. Because now she’s on the run from a wicked witch and if she doesn’t find a way to fix the mess she’s made, the entire world of Story will fall.
Oh my God. I cannot even begin to tell you all how much I loved this YA book! It’s an incredibly entertaining, seriously witty, fast paced read. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story and in the characters’ plight the entire time. It’s a clever, dynamite, and fun retelling of the Wizard of Oz story, and the characters in the book are so well-written, so age appropriate their personalities practically jump off the page.
If you love fairytale worlds where princes and princesses must battle witches and go on a quest to restore order to their world and find a way back home, this is the book for you. But even if you think you might not be interested in all of that, I still recommend giving this one a try. It will pull you in from the start and not release you until it’s end. It’s so, so good. I couldn’t put it down! That’s why I made this one a TOP PICK.
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You can read an excerpt and find more praise from the book here
Betsy Schow is the author of the memoir Finished Being Fat, and has been featured on The Today Show and in The Wall Street Journal. She lives in Utah, but travels the country with Color Me Rad 5k, and partners with nonprofits to teach kids creative thinking and how to reach their goals.