Thursday, June 11, 2015

Review: Letters to Zell by Camille Griep

Title: Letters to Zell
Author: Camille Griep
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: 47North (July 1, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
My Rating: 3 Stars
Book Description:
Everything is going according to story for CeCi (Cinderella), Bianca (Snow White), and Rory (Sleeping Beauty)—until the day that Zell (Rapunzel) decides to leave Grimmland and pursue her life. Now, Zell’s best friends are left to wonder whether their own passions are worth risking their predetermined “happily ever afters,” regardless of the consequences. CeCi wonders whether she should become a professional chef, sharp-tongued and quick-witted Bianca wants to escape an engagement to her platonic friend, and Rory will do anything to make her boorish husband love her. But as Bianca’s wedding approaches, can they escape their fates—and is there enough wine in all of the Realm to help them?

 In this hilarious modern interpretation of the fairy-tale stories we all know and love, Letters to Zell explores what happens when women abandon the stories they didn’t write for themselves and go completely off script to follow their dreams.





I have always been a sicker for a retelling, especially those that feature some of my most favorite childhood stories. However, this isn't your typical happily ever after tale with a twist. In fact, quite the opposite.

Told in letters to Zell (Rapunzel) through Ceci (Cinderella), Bianca (Snow White), and Rory (Sleeping Beauty), these in fact are tales of what happens when the ending of the tale isn't so happily ever after.

Quirky, fun, and but sometimes disjointed as the letters bounce back from one scribe to the next, this often times lighthearted but still serious story was quite the adventure. 

As each narrator seeks to find what will truly make them happy in life, all emboldened by Zell who finally escaped her life of not so happy ever after, to a life she truly wanted, these smart, sassy, and often foul mouthed princess take quite the adventure to self discovery and purpose. 

A fun collection of letters all to Zell that is sure to engage anyone looking outside the box on what the norm is suppose to be in a retelling. This retelling has spunk, adventure, heart ache, self discovery and more often than not, just down right strange but fun. 




*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*
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43 comments:

  1. JennyJune 11, 2015 at 8:08 AM

    This sounds like such an interesting read Ali, I'm intrigued! I'm a sucker for any kind of retelling as well, and I love when authors explore what happened after the endings of well-known stories:) Thanks for putting this on my radar!

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  2. AnonymousJune 11, 2015 at 8:21 AM

    I received this one for review and dismissed it as something as I wouldn't like. I like the cover! And it sounds interesting! I'm glad you were able to enjoy it, Ali! :)

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  3. MellianeJune 11, 2015 at 9:03 AM

    It's always fun to have retellings

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  4. Rummanah AasiJune 11, 2015 at 9:50 AM

    I really like the premise of this one, Ali, but it does seem a bit disjointed and the transitions between one scribe to the another could have been smoother. I don't think this one is for me. Thanks for the review!

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  5. LolaJune 11, 2015 at 11:16 AM

    HA! This looks fun! Though I'm not ''sure'' if I will read it someday, because I like my princess stories to have HEA. I feel like this will ruin the princes for me. xd Great review though!!

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    1. KindlemomJune 11, 2015 at 5:20 PM

      Yeah the princes aren't quite the same after this one. ;)

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  6. Piecraft BucharestJune 11, 2015 at 12:08 PM

    Hm. I'm all for different writing and lately I've noticed a tendency toward letters, journal entries, etc as formats, which is great. I don't know how I feel about a non-HEA or these characters colliding, so to speak, in one story... Love the review though <3

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    1. KindlemomJune 11, 2015 at 5:22 PM

      Yeah, I'm not sure how I feel about them either. I guess when done right they can be pretty effective.

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  7. The Reading FrenzyJune 11, 2015 at 12:59 PM

    Ooh I like retellings too but I'm kinda of a stickler for a happy ever after in a fairy tale LOL

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  8. JazmenJune 11, 2015 at 4:36 PM

    This really does sound fun. I think I might actually check this one out! Great review, I'm totally intrigued!

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  9. KindlemomJune 11, 2015 at 5:20 PM

    I hope you like it if you try it.

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  10. Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerJune 11, 2015 at 6:30 PM

    I like the sound of this, but not sure the letters would work for me. Glad you enjoyed aspects of it Ali

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  11. UnknownJune 11, 2015 at 6:47 PM

    very housewives! sorry it wasn't stellar, i would've wanted to read this for the gossip!

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  12. Joy June 11, 2015 at 8:15 PM

    Oh! How could this not be as brilliant as it sounds?! Ack. It sounds soo good!

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  13. Jennifer @ Bad Bird ReadsJune 11, 2015 at 11:19 PM

    Not sure if I want to read about unhappy endings ever after, even if the concept is interesting.

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    1. KindlemomJune 11, 2015 at 11:45 PM

      It was a very different kind of read for sure. :)

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  14. UnknownJune 11, 2015 at 11:32 PM

    With names such as Zell, Ceci, Bianca, and Rory? I can only imagine the tales! This one does intriguing, only because as you mentioned, the stories do not revolve around a "happily ever after." Great review!

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  15. UnknownJune 12, 2015 at 4:40 AM

    Thanks for sharing. I don't read too many retellings, unless they stand out =

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  16. BeenaJune 12, 2015 at 12:21 PM

    I love retellings and it's different how this one has many different fairytales in it, it does have me intrigued but I'm still hesitant to pick it up.. awesome review though
    <3 Benish | Feminist Reflections

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  17. CandaceJune 12, 2015 at 12:26 PM

    Hmmm... I like the cover but I'm not really feeling the excitement for this. I'm not a huge fan of retellings and only read them if I see some RAVE reviews. :)

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  18. Anna (herding cats-burning soup)June 12, 2015 at 5:24 PM

    Oh wow what a neat idea/set up.

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  19. Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerJune 12, 2015 at 7:51 PM

    This sounds different Ali, I have never read anything like it. Thanks for sharing

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  20. LoveOfBooksJune 13, 2015 at 9:41 PM

    This sounds cute and a lot of fun. I like stories like this, and I do love a foul mouthed princess. ;)

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  21. Lisa @ Lost in LiteratureJune 14, 2015 at 10:02 AM

    This sounds really interesting. And that cover is really cool! Glad to see you enjoyed it! :)

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  22. AnonymousJune 15, 2015 at 3:32 PM

    This sounds really different with several of the fairy tale characters in one book. I am a sucker for a retelling too. I love the premise for this book, all searching for happiness. Great review.

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    Replies
    1. KindlemomJune 15, 2015 at 4:44 PM

      It does have an interesting premises for sure when you consider that most fairy tales end with a HEA.

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