Disappointing surface-level nonsense. The writing was weak, the story told mostly by telling vs showing so that it seemed like nothing actually happened. I skimmed the last 2/3 of the book and was still able to follow everything. Kandide was an eyeroll-worthy spoiled, vain, unbelievably beautiful, and flawlessly talented character. I was hoping the whole thing about the Imperfects would be explored respectfully, which I think was the intent, but the execution was awful. The repulsion toward physically disabled characters had no reason other than the Fee valuing physical perfection, which made no sense in the context of what little worldbuilding existed. On that note, drawing a map is not the end of good worldbuilding, but it is in this book. The plot and character motivations were thin and full of holes. Townspeople worshipped and adored Kandide one second, but the second after they accidentally saw her broken wing they jeered, denounced her, and threw fruit at her. During a council vote, one character accidentally burned her Nay chip so her vote counted as Yea because she couldn't get a new chip to vote with. It was a very frustrating read. The best thing about this book were the handful of illustrations. ( )

love when a book has artwork within it. It just makes it that more special. The characters in the book are full of magic, myth and creativity that you just have to like. Of course it does help even more if you are faery lover. This is a story about being different outside and how you can be the same as others on the inside. It is also about having power and using it wisely. I actually have two of these books and I am hoping to meet the author at FaerieCon Oct 10th - 12th and get one of the books signed (and the other I am keeping). I will be having a special give away for it here at Confuzzled Books. ( )

Kandide is the most beautiful and the most perfect of the Fee, and after her father dies the most important magical gift of all, the Gift of Frost which changes the seasons, renewing the world, passes to her. But in overconfidence and with an over inflated sense of importance (which both cover the doubts and insecurities mixing beneath the surface) she has an accident, a mistake that leaves her scarred and therefore cast out from the society that days earlier prepared to make her their queen.

Banished from the perfect Fee society Kandide must come to terms with her imperfections and realize that there's still a queen within her.

Truth be told I thought the book took too long to get going and I thought the Perfect equals, well, perfection plot line was heavy handed. But I read this story to my daughter, who is far closer to the target audience (9-12), before bed every night. She was absolutely enchanted.

Kandide's emotional and physical pain made her a real person, and the bits of action kept her clutching the blanket and asking for one more chapter. The cast of fantasy characters from monsters to fairies to griffins, sparked her imagination and added more tools to her own storytelling equipment box.

While there wasn't enough time spent on some of the secondary characters, Egan and Tara specifically, for her to get caught up with them this is the first book in a trilogy, as is promised by the resolution.

There are many pros to Kandide and the Secret of the Mists for both child and parent. Nonviolent solutions are promoted as a means to solving problems. The book is excellent for expanding a young vocabulary. Larger words are used in a way that makes their meaning easy to interpret for children. And even the scary situations are downplayed as much as the emotions are over played which leaves the danger still "safe" and not scary.

Kandide and the Secret of the Mists is accompanied by beautiful illustrations and crafted with the magic in the hearts of children in mind. If your child loves dreams and fantasy this is a fine addition to their early library. ( )

An okay story with a good message for kids: acceptance, tolerance, and that it is who we are on the inside that makes us beautiful. ( )

An enchanted book. In this book a young vain faery Kandide learns that beauty is more than just skin deep and everyone is perfect in there own ways. This book is a wonderful junior fiction fantasy - I loved it from page one and I can't wait to read more by this author. It had great morals for young people and characters that, although they are faeries, we all could relate too. A great book and one of my favorites! I could not put it down! ( )