Betsy Schow
Sourcebooks Fire
Available February 7, 2017
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Rexi, Robin Hood’s daughter, scrambles to make amends for accidentally releasing the wicked witch from her prison and mucking up everyone’s happily ever after. That’s sort of the problem, though: no matter what Rexi does, everything ends up an even bigger mess. But all that has to change now that Rexi is faced with becoming Forgotten, erased from Story forever. Rexi vows to do whatever it takes to break the curse that binds her to chipper princess Dorthea and rewrite her own story, to become a hero.
I think the best part about this book, for me, were the quotes opening each chapter. They were very tongue-in-cheek references to fairytale stories and characters. I also really loved the whole mixed up fairytale situation in Wanted. Instead of a gorgeous mirror mounted on the wall, the magic mirror has become a compact whose rhyme is broken. Rexi’s just-roll-with-it attitude made some of these unexpected shifts pretty funny.
The whole story has a pretty snarky voice, which sometimes grated on my nerves. There were moments I was like, okay, does Rexi actually like anything? But ultimately her deep desire to be wanted, to be valued by others and even loved totally won me over.
Fans looking for something a little older than the Ever After High books, but with much the same twisty-but-silly fairytale quality should definitely give this a read. I think it would appeal to fans of the School for Good and Evil books, too.
Recommended for Ages 12 up.
Cultural Elements
The major characters seem to be white.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
Rexi swears in fairytale words, shouting things like, “Spell no,” or “Glam it.”
Romance/Sexual Content
Brief boy/girl kissing.
Spiritual Content
Lots of magic. The Storymaker has the ability to write stories, but he’s not a purely benevolent force. The story definitely takes on a “life is what you make it” kind of attitude, but also emphasizes the value of heroism and good deeds. Characters who don’t live a heroic story become forgotten and fade from memory and existence.
Violent Content
Some scuffling and battles. Brief gore. One of Rexi’s allies swaps heads with other characters, which is a little it icky. Not a lot of gross description, but a little bit for sure.
Drug Content
Rexi drinks tree sap tonic to keep her memories from becoming confused. She makes a very brief reference to feeling as if she’s had some spiked beverage at one point when she feels woozy.
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I got this book last year and reread every single page of it.I don’t know if it was because I was 11 at the time and I didn’t pay attention in english class,but I barley understood a word the book said!And even now that I’m older,know more words and pay half attention in english class,I still don’t really understand the book.Like,is Kato a monster or a pearson?First it says he has paws and a hansom face and morphing and,it’s all just to confusing!Don’t get me wrong I like the book,I just don’t really understand the book.
Hi Ivy – sorry you had such a hard time with this book. That’s frustrating! Have you read other fairytale-inspired stories? If you haven’t tried the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, I recommend those. They’re a little more straightforward. You might also like the Robin Hood inspired series by Kekla Magoon? Anyway – sorry you had a tough experience with this book. Hope you find another one that you really enjoy!
Okay, so fairy tales are not my thing, but this book really sounds interesting to me. And I have to say, I love the cover. So, even though one is not supposed to judge a book by it….it does help. I feel so ignorant when you make references to other books I haven’t read, either. But that is my problem. I trust you, and I think it is so awesome that you totally know what you are talking about, therefore we can trust you. Thank you!!
Thanks, Colleen. I know, I LOVE the cover, too! I added links to my reviews of the books I mentioned – sorry… meant to include them in the first place. 🙂