"Spelled" by Betsy Schow

"If it looks too good to be true, it probably is." ~ Gretel from Candy Kills: A True Story

"Rule #68: When you're afraid, hold your head high and whistle a happy tune. This remedy is also known to increase dwarf productivity by a multiple of seven." ~ Definitive Fairy Tale Survival Guide, Volume 1

This book is filled with adorable, witty little quotes and rules taken from other fairy tales. It's also filled with lots of plays on words such as:

an ebook- the e short for enchanted

AND

a spellpone (cellphone)

I am telling you, Spelled was a very fun read! It was over-the-top outrageous fun following the adventure of Dorthea- the bratty, spoiled, and cursed Emerald Princess. Pixed (pissed) off that she is being forced to marry Kato, a not-so-charming prince of another kingdom, she wished on a cursed star and it backfires, turning her whole world into mad chaos. 

She then sets out on a weird adventure through magical kingdoms to try and save her parents and restore the magic that she mixed up. Along the way friends are made, enemies are fought, and Dorthea grows from a bratty princess who was only concerned about herself, to a princess who looks out for others in her kingdom. 

There were so many references to other fairy tales that this book truly was interesting throughout. It is laugh out loud funny at times with all the puns and character's you probably have forgotten since your childhood. 

I admit that this YA book was VERY young adult-ish. But it was such a fun, easy read that it didn't bother me. It was a mental vacation in a magical kingdom that I looked forward to reading after the kiddos went to bed. 

This book ends in a cliffhanger. Searching Amazon and Goodreads I found no reference to this being the start of a series, but rumor has it that on her Twitter page she references a possible second book. I combed through her Twitter profile but it was so full that I got tired of searching. 

All in all I give this book a solid 3.5 stars! It kept me entertained with exciting plot twists and fun references to the fairy tales I grew up reading.

A special thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me a digital copy to read and review. 

Happy Reading!