Audio Book Review: Shadows on Snow

Shadows on Snow

By:  Starla Huchton

Publish Date:  November 3, 2014, Audiobook Release February 26, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 7 hrs 17 mins
Narrated By:  Lauren Harris

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st in Flipped Fairy Tales series

Impression:  Stunning tale of old.

Synopsis:
Once upon a time, a dark evil crept into my kingdom, stealing my loved ones and the happy life I knew. The world turned against me, and I swore to become stronger, to keep myself safe.

Once upon a time, there was a handsome prince, hair dark as ebony, skin as pure as the freshly driven snow, and I became the only one who stood between him and death.

Once upon a time, our stories intertwined, and now, healing my heart may be the only way to save us all from the evil that threatens to destroy what little we have left.

First Sentence:
When I was a child, my godmother told me stories before I fell asleep every night.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles (Nook) (Print)

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Yes, I've read this book but when I heard Laura's sample narration on Audible, I had to have the audio book too. Wow. I loved the voice Laura gave to Rae. Rae sounds young and with a slight accent that feels to be Rae as I could imagine. She breaths life into Rae and all the characters that feels true to their emotions and personalities in the events happening. Amazing narration! Truly worth picking up to listen to the amazing story.

I love this tale of a Prince and a young witch. Rae is the witch that is on a mission to save the Queen. When that doesn't work out, she's determined to save Prince Leopold from the danger that killed the Queen. Rae and Prince Leopold are on the run. Rae faces a past she had buried deep inside her and comes to realize some things are worth the risk.

Godmothers, witches, magic, princes, and love. All with a feel of a lesson learned in the end through the trials and tribulations to get there. The heartache is worth it in the end as it's how Rae learns her hearts desire.

Starla amazes me with her story telling and stories she writes. Her voice feels old style with a blend of fey to it. I like it.

It's AMAZING how Starla has taken an old tale and twisted it around to make something new and fresh with a magical underlining to the world. She takes the basic tale of Snow White and not only flips the genders but also crafts a world and story all of it's own here. The connection to the old fairy tales is amazing. I love the feel of magic present in their lives. I feel there's a dash of Cinderella and Snow White influencing the story along with a few other tales.

I love these characters! They are all written with love and care that feels to me to bring them to life in the story. All the events feel true to their natures. There is a history to Rae that we learn through the book that explains her determination to help Prince Leopold.

Sometimes you read a book and you fall in love with the characters and the story, everything fits in place. Sometimes you listen to a narrator and they feel perfect for the story and characters, making you melt. When these two things come together in one place, it's an amazing piece of artwork. That's what happened here for me! Lauren voices the story and characters with the heart and feeling that fits the book that Starla wrote. Wow.



****If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!

Book Review: The Stillness of the Sky

The Stillness of the Sky

By:  Starla Huchton

Publish Date:  February 2, 2015

Format:  eARC

Genre:  Paranormal

Series:  2nd in Flipped Fairy Tales series; 1st Book ~ Shadows on Snow

Recommendation:  Oh good heavens, what are you waiting for!?!!

Synopsis:
Once upon a time, my life was certain: it was insignificant, and it was cruel. But I refused to let it define me, no matter how great the cost.

Once upon a time, I made a wish. The world I knew grew wider than the sky and higher than the stars, and I listened to the voice within me, reaching out for freedom.

Once upon a time, my wish became my fate, and my destiny the hardest lesson to learn: kindness may be the most difficult path, but it can save entire kingdoms.

First Sentence:
Never discount the impact of the smallest kindness.

Purchase At:
Amazon 

My Thoughts and Summary:
Jack passed on leaving her father when her mother left. She thought he needed her kindness to help him. Now, Jack has to leave. The kindness she can do to her drunken father to help him is to go. The journey Jack follows is one she never thought she'd find, but amazed at what she learns. In a world were war has depressed the people, Jack's kindness is needed, and even greatly appreciated when it's touched someone. Jack learns she's to stop the war that's killing the people. A war between giants and the humans. Jack has much to learn and fight for with kindness as she searches for her mother to learn about her family history, which will shock her.

Giants, Bards, Princes, magic, and kindness.

Oh my freakin' goodness!!! This is my favorite of the two books thus far. WOW!! Starla completely out did herself in this one.

So much love and kindness. A GREAT inspiration for all to be better in the kindness way to all. I think I enjoyed this one more than the first, and the first was amazing. The talent in Starla's writing has become something to reckoned with. My word! Starla is a Bard for sure. The Bard story here has a true Bard feel to it. All the words are poetic and so SO many amazing phrases and statements that people could relate to their lives. This story has the feel of many fairytales do, the underlining meaning and something to take away from it in the end.

Out. Standing.

Now, after my gushing love for the book, to about the book. The character of Jackie, Jack, is one that caught me from the word go. Her heart is huge and she wants nothing but to help everyone. She wants nothing in return for her kindness to them. Her kindness and seeing the kindness help someone is all the favor she needs back.

The tale of Jack is as you can predict, the tale of Jack and the Bean Stalk remastered. And remastered it is. We see the giants, but in a touch of a different fashion. The magic of music, stories, and dancing are relayed through people who are bards. The story of old is here, but turned into a fresh installment that will draw you in and hold you here with the magic of words.

Do you need to read the first one to read this one? No, I believe you do not need to read Shadows on Snow before this one. And the books are created that way as they are of different people in the same world. There is mention of a few that are in the first book, but nothing that you need from that book that's not told in this one. Now if you want to read in chronological time order, then yes read Shadows on Snow first. But not necessary.

Again, this book is a great tale for all ages. Adult and Young Adult will enjoy this clean story alike.

Do you need it? OH HEAVENS YES!!!

~~~~~~~~~~

I'm now THRILLED! to share that Starla is doing a giveaway!!

Win:

Paper Print copies of:

Shadows on Snow

The Stillness of the Sky

Enter on the Rafflecopter here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

(If you don't see the Rafflecopter here, you can follow this link to the Rafflecopter.)

Book Review: Shadows on the Snow

Shadows on the Snow

By:  Starla Huchton

Publish Date:  November 2, 2014

Format:  eARC

Genre:  Paranormal

Series:  1st in Flipped Fairy Tales series

Recommendation:  Oh heavens yes. Gender flipped fairytales with stories filled with magic that you will love.

Synopsis:
Once upon a time, a dark evil crept into my kingdom, stealing my loved ones and the happy life I knew. The world turned against me, and I swore to become stronger, to keep myself safe.

Once upon a time, there was a handsome prince, hair dark as ebony, skin as pure as the freshly driven snow, and I became the only one who stood between him and death.

Once upon a time, our stories intertwined, and now, healing my heart may be the only way to save us all from the evil that threatens to destroy what little we have left.

First Sentence:
When I was a child, my godmother told me stories before I fell asleep every night.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

My Thoughts and Summary:
Rae has been doing her part in protecting the royalty in the kingdom of Bern. Watching to make sure they don't fall victim as others have, to a cruel, evil man. Then one day she meets the Prince Leo. There is magic there that Rae is not ready to face. But Rae will do what she must to protect Prince Leo when his mother falls ill and he is shunned from the city. On the run, Rae faces a past she had buried deep inside her and comes to realize some things are worth the risk.

Godmothers, witches, magic, princes, and love. All with a feel of a lesson learned in the end through the trials and tribulations to get there. The heartache is worth it in the end as it's how Rae learns her hearts desire.

Starla amazes me with her story telling and stories she writes. She has different voice in this story as in any of her other series. Feels old with a blend of fey to it. I like it.

It's AMAZING how Starla has taken an old tale and twisted it around to make something new and fresh with a magical underlining to the world. She takes the basic tale of Snow White and not only flips the genders but also crafts a world and story all of it's own here.

I was stunned at the turn-table of the Snow White tale, gender flipped. The Prince is a fine respected commander of his army but when someone of power wants to turn people against him, it is done. He's not a weak man at all. That's what I enjoyed about him in this tale. So easily he could have been down played, but he wasn't. Rae is an interesting character. There is a whole history we don't know and guess at in the beginning, but when it comes out...WOW. It all falls into place then. Even the evil man we learn to hate is crafted here to the point that I was nervous for Rae on several occasions.

This is a story for those of any age, parents or young adults (over 13). It captivates you and draws you into the world with ease.

Love the twists you made to the story. I love the way Starla turned this tale around and had a great story in it. Well done.

This is a series WELL worth reading.