Sunday, August 25, 2013

Fate's Fable by T. Rae Mitchell - Dual Review and Giveaway

Fate's Fables
by T. Rae Mitchell
Source: We received a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Published: February 1st 2013 by Original Mix Media Inc.
Edition: Paperback
Series: Fate's Journey #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Purchase: Amazon
**We receive a small kickback from Amazon purchases, all of which will go towards giveaways!
Brittany's Rating: 5/5
Michelle's Rating: 5/5

Synopsis via Goodreads: 
Seventeen-year-old Fate Floyd loves adventure –– as long as it’s enjoyed from the comfort of her couch. So it’s probably best she has no idea the future of the universe rests squarely on her shoulders.

Summoned by a desperate stranger’s spell in a last ditch effort to fix a colossal screw-up, Fate’s cast into a secret world bound by the ancient Book of Fables to retrieve a magical object powerful enough to set everything right. The only problem is, once she’s inside this savage wonderland, her only way out is to change the endings of the book’s eight dark fables into their mirror opposites. Fortunately, she doesn’t have to run this gauntlet alone, because she meets the mysteriously familiar Finn, who’s as inexplicably drawn to her as she is to him.

As they endure horrors beyond imagining, Fate awakens to powers she never knew she possessed and Finn questions his very existence, while an insidious darkness changes him in frightening ways. Ultimately, Fate must confront the faceless evil concealing itself behind the eyes of her one true love or remain trapped within the Book of Fables forever.


Brittany's Thoughts:

This book was everything I have been missing in the YA scene.  It has the imagery and the storyline of a great fantasy novel.  I have not read anything this imaginative since Lord of the Rings or even Harry Potter.  Yes, you know how much I love Harry Potter.  The book is so beautifully and creatively written that I was lost in the story the minute I started.  The paperback is 478 pages so it's long but it is well worth the time. 

Here are my quick words of wisdom about the story: The first two chapters are a sort of prologue to Fate's story. It was a bit confusing and choppy but once those two chapters are over it is smooth sailing. Also, some younger readers may not appreciate this writing style because it is not a quick story like so many are in the current YA scene but this is a writing style I really appreciate.  

In a reader's world, there is not much to time to do any re-reading but I will be rereading this story again and again.  Already can't wait until Fate's Keep!

My favorite interaction between Fate and Finn:
Tears stung her eyes as she shook her head, "If you're trying to say you're leaving me again, I'll just follow.  You're stuck with me, buster. Just think of me as barnacle...or one of those suckerfish. Better yet, duct tape." 

Michelle's Thoughts: 

My Gosh where has this been hiding!? I'll put it this way. I already plan on purchasing this as a gift for 3 of my friends- one of them being my mom :). I loved it so much I refuse to even give them a choice! lol.

I agree with Brittany, the first few intro pages are confusing.. I did not enjoy the characters that were dominant in those chapters and feared for the rest of the story. But then it switches over to Fate's story and oh my goodness does it pick up!

The writing style is kind of.. mixed. But in a good way! There are the more updated parts where Fate is in the " real world " Then there is the beautiful, rich, enchanting style of the Fables. I really couldn't get enough of those. You get a story inside a story! They were perfect. Very Storybook-esk they just have that perfect feel of something that needs to be read aloud, in a cozy dark room with a candle glowing. Ah man, seriously. I loved the fables. All unique and so interesting!

The few main characters are very interesting, all with very different back stories which make for great interaction between them. I loved getting to see how they each reacted to the different fables, with each having a bit of a different theme it was interesting to see how they handled the situations and how they were going to change things.

With the story switching over to a new fable every few chapters it was easy for me to just keep turning pages. If my boyfriend hadn't come in multiple times to remind me I only had a few hours to get sleep before work.. I probably would have just read through the night without stopping! While it is not exactly a fast read, I do think it had a great pace that will keep readers itching for more!

This is a story I feel I will be recommending very often. It's great for fans of more classic fairy tales, for fans of retellings, Epic fantasies, as well as some lighter fantasies. And just.. All around awesomeness really.




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21 comments:

  1. Snow White. Thanks for the review and giveaway

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    1. I love Snow White. I'd have to say this one was a real influence in my fable, The Dragon Empress.

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  2. I found your great blog through the WLC Blog Follows on the World Literary Cafe! Great to connect!

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    1. You'll discover some fantastic reads on The Passionate Bookworm. I really enjoyed Alice Week and found out about Splintered here.

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  3. I really like the disney version of rapunzel :)

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    1. Tangled was so good! The horse Maximus was hilarious. :D

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  4. my favorite fairy tale was cinderalla but any feel good happy every after is good. this looks like a fantastic read thanks for the chance to win.

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    1. Cinderella is a favorite of mine too. Unfortunately for Fate, there's no fairy godmother to help her escape the Book of Fables.

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  5. I LIKE THE GINGERBREAD MAN THE BEST

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  6. I had to look this one up, especially since Shrek's gingerbread man came instantly to mind. It looks like the story is very much in keeping with the dark endings of my fables. Poor little gingerbread man gets eaten by a fox! :O

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  7. I Love Rumpelstiltskin. Great Fairy Take :)

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    1. Agreed, and I like the new series, Once Upon A Time's twist on the character, Mr. Gold. ;)

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  8. I like Cinderella! I really want to read Cinder soon!

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    1. @T.Rae Mitchell - You haven't read Cinder yet?! Oh it's A must! Get on that Lady!
      ~Chelle

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    2. Okay then, no more dilly dallying for me. Now I have to read it! :D

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    3. 'Splintered is on my loooong list of 'to-reads'. Anything to do with Alice in Wonderland is a winner with me. ;)

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    4. Thanks to Michelle and Brittany for hosting a really fun giveaway. And thanks to everyone who entered and commented. Congratulations to Heather, Natasha, Jessica and Susan! I hope you enjoy reading Fate's Fables.

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  9. After reading "Splintered" by A.G. Howard, my current favorite is Alice in Wonderland. Thanks for the giveaway.=)

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