Blog Tour Fairy Tale Rant Video: Dearest by Alethea Kontis

A themed tour with Prism Book Tours.

Welcome to Alethea's Fairy Tale Rant for this Monday.
You can see my review of Enchanted here and  Hero here
My review for Dearest will be coming on the 12th.

Dearest (Woodcutter Sisters, #3)Dearest
(Woodcutter Sisters, #3)
by Alethea Kontis
YA Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 320 Pages
February 3rd 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary

“A fabulous fairy-tale mashup that deserves hordes of avid readers. Absolutely delectable.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review of award-winning series debut Enchanted

Readers met the Woodcutter sisters (named after the days of the week) in Enchanted and Hero. In this delightful third book, Alethea Kontis weaves together some fine-feathered fairy tales to focus on Friday Woodcutter, the kind and loving seamstress. When Friday stumbles upon seven sleeping brothers in her sister Sunday’s palace, she takes one look at Tristan and knows he’s her future. But the brothers are cursed to be swans by day. Can Friday’s unique magic somehow break the spell?
   
Also at Powell's

The Other Woodcutter Sisters Books
 Hero (Woodcutter Sisters #2)
Links for Enchanted

The Wild Swans Rant

"The Wild Swans", along with "The Little Mermaid" and "The Little Match Girl," has always been one of my favorite stories by Hans Christian Andersen. (It's also, notably, one of the only HCA stories in which the main characters DON'T DIE.)

Unlike "The Six Swans" from the Brother's Grimm, Elisa in "The Wild Swans" has eleven brothers. Ultimately, for Dearest, I decided on seven, since seven is a magic number for me and my series (and is coincidentally also the number of swans in "The 12 Days of Christmas"). The swans who turn unto men at night, their sister Elisa who is cursed to look plain and ugly, the threat of Elisa being burned as a witch, even the dream of flying...I had an amazing time incorporating all these elements into Dearest.

Of course, like movies that have been edited for television, the version of "The Wild Swans" I fell in love with as an eight-year-old was slightly abridged. Reading the longer story again as an adult, I remembered the method of collecting stinging nettles and weaving them into shirts, but I did not recall the ghouls who sat on their headstones in the graveyard, watching Elisa as she harvested nettles from the sacred earth.

It's amazing how many versions Grimm and Andersen have of girl-with-cursed-bird-brothers tales: "The Wild Swans," "The Six Swans", "The Swan Brothers," "The Seven Ravens"...I'd love to hear from those of you who have read one or all of these!


About the Author

Alethea Kontis courtesy of Lumos Studio 2012
New York Times bestselling author Alethea Kontis is a princess, a fairy godmother, and a geek. She’s known for screwing up the alphabet, scolding vampire hunters, and ranting about fairy tales on YouTube.

Her published works include: The Wonderland Alphabet (with Janet K. Lee), Diary of a Mad Scientist Garden Gnome (with Janet K. Lee), the AlphaOops series (with Bob Kolar), the Woodcutter Sisters fairy tale series, and The Dark-Hunter Companion (with Sherrilyn Kenyon). Her short fiction, essays, and poetry have appeared in a myriad of anthologies and magazines.

Her YA fairy tale novel, Enchanted, won the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award in 2012 and the Garden State Teen Book Award i 2015. Enchanted was nominated for the Audie Award in 2013, and was selected for World Book Night in 2014. Both Enchanted and its sequel, Hero, were nominated for the Andre Norton Award.

Born in Burlington, Vermont, Alethea currently lives and writes in Florida, on the Space Coast. She makes the best baklava you’ve ever tasted and sleeps with a teddy bear named Charlie.

Check out Alethea's Road Tour HERE!


Tour-Wide Giveaway

3 Woodcutter Sisters Prize Packs (signed copies of Enchanted, Hero, & Dearest - US Only)
Ends March 8th



Follow the Tour
1 - Launch
2 - Lilac Reviews & Wishful Endings
3 - Special post @ Waterworld Mermaids

3 - Coffee Books & Art & The Book Lovers' Lounge
4 - Special post @ USA Today's Happy Ever After

4 - Buried Under BooksMommabears Book Blog, & Rabid Reads
5 - Interview @ J.T. Ellison

5 - Gidget Girls Reading
6 - Zerina Blossom & Geo Librarian
8 - Welcome to Book City & Angela's Library
9 - Kelly P's Blog & Katy's Krazy Books
10 - Mel's Shelves & Jan Edwards
11 - Katie's Clean Book Collection
12 - A Backwards Story 
Wishful Endings
13 - Library of a Book Witch & The Quotable 
14 - 
Biggest Literary Crushes post on Teen Reads
15 - The Written Adventure
16 - My Life Loves and Passion & Colorimetry
17 - I Am A Reader & The Library of the Seen

18 - Special post on Dear Teen Me
18 - Printcess & Living a Goddess Life & Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
19 - 100 Pages A Day & mrsjennyreads
20 - Books and Ashes & Addicted Readers
22 - Miss Little Book Addict YA House of Books
23 - SBM Book Obsession
24 - Deal Sharing Aunt
25 - Min Reads and Reviews
26 - Pieces of Whimsy & Wonderous Reviews
27 - The Scribbling Sprite
28 - Grand Finale

Prism Book Tours

79 comments

  1. The book sounds really good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would want to travel to a fantasy realm as long as the danger was small and not to many consequences for going.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am not sure about this one..lol.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes , I would travel to a fantasy realm as long as there is no danger to me :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy blogoversary! Time flies, doesn't it?!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've had Enchanted on my TBR for quite awhile now. Do they need to be read in order or does each act as a standalone within the "world"?

    ReplyDelete
  7. This sounds really, really good! And I actually really like the cover. I am definitely adding this one to my wishlist! Thank you for the post! If I could find a fantasy realm to travel to, and it wouldn't affect my real life or my family, then yes! I would absolutely go check it out! As much as possible!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy 2nd Blogoversary!! I just had mine! I knew our blogs were close in age, but man! How cool! and both our blogoversary was area n our bday month!! *hugs* I'm so proud of your blog Tressa, it's grown so much and this blogoversary lineup sounds amazing! :)

    -Dee @ Dee's Reads

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just love the covers on these books, I really need to try them!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Who wouldn't want to go to a fantasy realm? I think that's part of why we read fiction - we get sucked into this other world where our problems no longer exist. King of Ash and Bone sounds like it'd be an interesting one to visit :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. omg, I love her bio pic. And the book covers. It's interesting to see her dressed similarly to the cover models. Looking forward to checking all three books out - I love a good fairy tale adaptation :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Woots! Yay for 2 years! Happy blogiversary. And birthday too. Big month! Hope year 3 is just as awesome :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tracy Renee Snyder2/3/15, 5:37 PM

    First, I wanted to thank you for the $10.00 gift card I won. Haven't selected a book yet. any suggestions? Also, happy b-day. February is a great month valentines day and my anniversary. I read your blog everyday it gives me something to look forward to. So happy birthday and happy blogoversary, too

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy Happy Blogoversary!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congrats on your anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy 2nd Blogoversary! Wishing you many more successful blog years!

    ReplyDelete
  17. These books really do sound good. The covers are pretty, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Happy Birthday and Happy B-day! You deserve it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Congratulations on your birthday and blogoversary!

    ReplyDelete
  20. These books look really awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm *really* hoping for the choice of Sarah Eden book- I haven't read For Elise yet... :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Happy birthday and blogoversary!!! I'm new to the blog, but I've really been enjoying it so far. Here's to several more years!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am enjoying it. It does take some balancing. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I LOVE Becky and her books!! I hope you either win them or get a chance to read them. :D

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks Patricia (just assuming it's you)! I feel like I've been blogging forever, but it's actually been a short time. What did I do before? Oh yeah, my house was cleaner. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks, Karen! I love my followers!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks, Stormi! Always nice to see you.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Aren't they great?!!! All the posts are fun and I'm looking forward to them coming by and sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  29. It's so short for how long I feel I've been blogging. I'm sure you know the feeling. :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hopefully it'll be a great year. I've had a great start.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks, Cassie! Glad you like reading my blog. :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hmm. I'll have to check...

    ReplyDelete
  33. I always try for a mix so that there's something for everyone. Hope you find something you like!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Lol! I keep thinking of changing them a little, but I do love my owls and the little birds and the colors... We'll see. ;) Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hey Mary! Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Yes, it does. Crazy isn't it?!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Isn't that weird that I started getting my blog up during my bday and obviously you too. I like visiting you too, although I've pulled back a lot online for family time. Congrats to you too! I remember stopping by, but I might be wrong. Happy 3rd year to us both!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Any suggestions??? Don't ask me that! Lol! Let me know what you're in the mood for...

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thanks, Karen! I hope so! :D

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thanks for stopping by, John!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Oh, I like all Sarah's books and For Elise had some heartbreak. I'll cross my fingers for you.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Welcome, Sierra! Glad to have you!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  43. I figured out that it was only Blogger blogs that were doing it. I also figured out how to open posts without the Bloglovin' frame and I haven't had any issues since then.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Happy blogoversary! :) Thank you so much for the international giveaway! :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. Rosario & Patricia2/6/15, 4:39 PM

    Hi Tressa! Yes! It's me! haha not sure why Disqus keeps putting my old twitter name :S And about the clean house, just telling you that those houses are overrated. Much better to have a bookshelf filled with books :P hahahaha

    ReplyDelete
  46. Happy Blogoversary, and congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  47. I think I'd like to travel to a fantasy realm, as long as I could return to this world when I wanted to.

    ReplyDelete
  48. ThaisPampado2/8/15, 1:18 PM

    Happy Blogoversary and happy birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Thank you for holding this giveaway, I appreciate it.

    ReplyDelete
  50. About the video or book? This series is great for those that love fairy tale retellings. Have you read the first book in the series, Enchanted?

    ReplyDelete
  51. Ideally, it is better to read them in a row because there are some references to the other Woodcutter family members. Having said that, you don't have to read them in order. They're each enough of their own story that you can follow it without reading the others.

    ReplyDelete
  52. I love them too! Enchanted was my favorite, but they're each really good. I think you'd like them.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I think you'd really like these ones. And yes, the covers are some of my favorite out there.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Just as awesome on the inside. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  55. I never even thought that she was dressed similarly. These are great! Super unique and creative, with action, adventure, and romance. So, if you like those things you should love this series.

    ReplyDelete
  56. That is the thing, isn't it? I haven't read about any fantasy worlds, I think, that didn't have dire circumstances.

    ReplyDelete
  57. I think I'd agree with that. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Good for you for thinking of consequences of going. I think I'd just like this world to get better. :)

    ReplyDelete
  59. Good point, Sarah! This one was really interesting. I'll be posting my review later this month.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Exactly. You'd need to be able to get back unharmed and at any time you wanted.

    ReplyDelete
  61. I think I'd just have to agree. :)

    ReplyDelete
  62. I would absolutely like this world to get better. I pray for it every single day. I just have to keep looking for those posts, and watching for those news stories, about all of the good that people are still capable of. Gives me hope!

    ReplyDelete
  63. So true. I get a lot of my joy from my family, but I obviously do escape in books a lot too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  64. Your welcome.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Happy Blogoversary! I hope I can keep my blog running foor as long as you have!

    ReplyDelete
  66. Michelle Lee2/12/15, 1:50 PM

    Happy 2 year blogoversary! :)

    ReplyDelete
  67. I feel like I've always been blogging - I mean because what did I do before then? But, I also feel like two years is nothing. :)

    ReplyDelete

I love comments! I try to read and reply to them all. Feel free to agree or disagree and generally share your thoughts with me.