Another Twist on Disney

Once Upon a Dream: A Twisted Tale

By Liz Braswell

Age Range: 12 - 17 years

Grade Level: 7 - 12

Series: A Twisted Tale

Hardcover: 448 pages

Publisher: Disney Press (April 5, 2016)

ISBN-10: 1484707257

ISBN-13: 978-1484707258

 Publisher’s Blurb:

What if the sleeping beauty never woke up? Once Upon a Dream marks the second book in a new YA line that reimagines classic Disney stories in surprising new ways.

It should be simple--a dragon defeated, a slumbering princess in a castle, a prince poised to wake her. But when the prince falls asleep as his lips touch the fair maiden's, it is clear that this fairy tale is far from over.

With a desperate fairy's last curse controlling her mind, Princess Aurora must escape from a different castle of thorns and navigate a dangerously magical landscape--created from her very own dreams. Aurora isn't alone--a charming prince is eager to join her quest, and old friends offer their help. But as Maleficent's agents follow her every move, Aurora struggles to discover who her true allies are and, moreover, who she truly is. Time is running out. Will the sleeping beauty be able to wake herself up?

My Thoughts:

I liked this one much better than A Whole New World, the first in this series, which took on Disney’s Aladdin. (I review it here) Just to refresh your memory, these books take the classic Disney movies and say “What if...?” What if one thing had changed at a pivotal moment?

In this case, the question is, “What if Maleficent didn’t quite die when Phillip stabbed her in dragon form?”

At first, Aurora is annoying—listless, uncaring, just drifting through life. She has no real personality. But, as she discovers just what is going on, she develops drive and purpose.

Better still is the relationship between Aurora and Phillip. She begins to question how they instantly fell in love, and why. She isn’t satisfied with his loving her because she was happy, or beautiful. He wants him to see more in her and, through their shared experiences in defeating Maleficent once and for all, he does. For those who know my antipathy to “insta-love”, you’ll understand just why this is so satisfying for me.

If I hadn’t liked this “Twisted Tale” so much, I doubt I would have been willing to give the next installment a chance. As it is, I’m looking forward to it.

Possible Objectionable Material:

Violence, scary situations. Aurora and Phillip share a bed, but in the ways of knights, he places his sword between them because, well, because that’s what chivalry does.

Who Might Like This Book:

Disney movie fans. Those who like alternate takes on familiar tales. It’s definitely appropriate for the suggested age range, but older people (like me) can enjoy it, too.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.