This was a really fun and sweet retelling of The Frog Prince and I look forward to reading more of this authors fairy tale retellings in the future. ( )

Warning! SPOILERS AHEAD.

I generally like fairytale retellings. Although this one wasn't bad, I didn't love it. It felt like an American themepark version of the fairytale (I'm not thinking of a particular one, just speaking in general).

The background is a European style castle, but the princess gets called to tea by sounding a triangle... (Oy, ranch hands, it's chowtime!).

And the names! Princess Blythe McKenna and prince Nolan? They give off a very American vibe. (And most of the rest of the assembly isn't really better: Karielle, Andalyn, Chastity, and a kingdom called Hollene?)
I must admit, the names wouldn't have bothered me if the whole setting of the story got a modern make-over, but since the author chose to stay fairly close to the original tale, it felt all wrong.

Also, the characters didn't grow (despite the forced message of 'it's not what's on the outside that matters'), he remains arrogant ('You're speechless because I'm so handsome.'), she remains conceited.

What I did appreciate was that the princess played with a faceted crystal ball (instead of the gold one in the original), and how she had aquired it was a nice addition. ( )

An interesting take on an old fairy tale. A nice story about what a man and a woman want and how they mess it all up by not knowing what the other wants ( )