Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Fairy Tale Hop




Who doesn't get a little thrill when they hear the words "Once upon a time..." The four little words that set the stage for the "Happily Ever After" we all know is coming. And that's really the whole reason you start reading a book. Especially a book about a fairy tale. We look forward to that ending that makes everything better. The ending that sees the evil stepmother, the big bad wolf and the wicked witch get what they deserve. The ending that sees the hero ride in on his white horse just in time to save the damsel in distress. We want good to triumph, and we just can't get enough of it!


But what would the fairy tale be if not for the villain? After all, it is the trials of life that make the princess into the sweet, prudent, deserving person she is. If she never experienced any hardship, but was given all the privileges of royalty, she would become a spoiled prima donna and no one would like her.

So my top three most evil fairy tale villains?

3) Maleficent of "Sleeping Beauty". Her reasons for mistreating Princess Aurora have nothing to do with the princess herself. In fact, she is just feeling left out (can you say P.M.S.?), so she puts a curse on a newborn infant. I mean, WHO DOES THAT!? And talk about carrying a grudge...SIXTEEN years? Chick has issues.

2) Cinderella's Evil Stepmother. This woman probably does the most psychological damage, since she inflicts a whole childhood of verbal and emotional abuse on the poor orphaned Cinderella. And when it appears that Cinderella may be able to escape her life of servitude and find some joy in her adult life (forget the fact that she's going to be in therapy for years to come), the bitter old woman has to strip her of that too by locking her in her room. I realize a lot of parents fantasize about locking their teenage daughters in their rooms, but somehow I don't think the woman was just trying to protect her virtue.

1) The Evil Queen/Witch in Snow White. Motivated by envy alone, her plan is to murder an innocent girl simply because an enchanted mirror (hear voices much?) told her the girl might end up being prettier than her. And she doesn't stop with the first attempt. Nope. And with each consecutive try, she gets more and more creative. Someone should tell this lady that outer beauty fades with age, but that attitude is a perpetual turn-off. It happens. Accept it. Certainly ain't worth killing someone over. Well, at least she left a little loophole to offer a sporting chance. That true love's kiss sure is a life saver!

For the giveaway on this portion of the hop, I have a book with a new twist on the traditional fairy tale. The Fairy Godmother has to create a happily ever after for the villain. Check out the back cover blurb:

The Fairy Godmother Files by Rebekah L. PurdySixteen-year-old Maggie Winters can’t think of anything more exciting than junior year. There’s her first prom to look forward to, she can drive, and most important—Connor Prince has finally noticed her. But unfortunately so has the school snob, Katrina Melville, who goes out of her way to make Maggie’s life a living hell. If that’s not enough, Maggie’s grandma has decided to retire, which doesn’t seem like such a big deal. That is until she finds out her grandma is a Fairy Godmother, and not just any Fairy Godmother. The Fairy Godmother—as in Cinderella, pumpkins, and mice. And she has informed Maggie that she’s next in line to become the new Fairy Godmother.

At first Maggie is excited, the whole getting wings, flying (or rather trying not to crash), and a wand that lets her grant wishes. It’s like being a superhero, without all the action, explosions, and spandex. Then she gets her first assignment, Katrina Melville, her nemesis. And if that doesn’t make her want to poof herself into oblivion, she finds out that part of Katrina’s happily-ever-after is Connor Prince. Life is so unfair. Even worse, she can’t tell her two best friends about any of it and they’re getting sick of her disappearing acts. Then there are the dangerous creatures, called Grimms who will stop at nothing to keep the happy endings from being fulfilled, even if it means destroying the Fairy Godmother responsible. With time running out, Maggie has to make this wish come true or it will ruin the fates of everyone involved, and open the world to darkness beyond imagination. Maggie will soon find out what it truly means to be a Fairy Godmother—and it isn’t all about princes, gowns, and wings, but something much more.



To qualify for the random drawing, leave a comment below and let me know which fairy tale villain you think is the worst. I'll notify the winner on May 2nd.

As long as we're on the topic of fairy tales...I'm looking forward to the release of Rachel Van Dyken's London Fairy Tale Series, kicking off with a re-telling of Sleeping Beauty called Upon a Midnight Dream. Release date coming sometime in May. Check out Rachel's blog for excerpts and updates!

Back Cover Blurb:

Rosalind Hartwell is dying, plagued by a sleeping sickness which could strike her at any moment. Even in the middle of a ball as she meets her betrothed for the first time. But it isn't any wonder. Her family has fallen under a curse, and until she marries the barbaric duke, her family will have to pay the fatal consequences.

But Stefan Hudson, the Marquess of Whitmore and future Duke of Montmouth, has spent far too much time on a deserted island and has forgotten the proper way to woo a woman. Between his wicked good looks and his sinful manners, Rosalind doesn't know if marrying him would be any better than living a life under the terrible curse.

The threat of impending death has a way of making one see things in another light, however. So the real question is will Stefan and Rosalind come to an understanding in time to save her and her family from a dreadful fate?



42 comments:

  1. The worst villain? That is a hard one. I think the queen in Snow White.
    ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

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  2. I want to say Maleficient but I think the Queen in Snow White is the worst!
    sena.sagani at gmail dot com

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  3. I think the worst is The Evil Queen in Snow White!!

    ccfioriole at gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. Congratulations, Christina! You are my winner!

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  4. The witch in Hansel and Gretel.

    brookea_2006 at yahoodotcom

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  5. The evil queen from Sleeping Beauty

    jbsmunky at aol dot com

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  6. I think Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty was the worst villain.

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  7. Wow that's a seriously hard question! looks like the queen from Snow white is the most popular one, and I for sure agree. But I'm also kinda leaning towards Mother Gothel in Tangled. Okay, yeah Tangled isn't a fairy tale but that queen/witch was pretty messed up. And cruel. :D Thanks for the giveaway!

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  8. The Evil Queen from Snow White.
    doodlesbookblog at gmail dot com

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  9. I think Mother Gothel from Rapunzel is the worst.

    jeep_wrangler_girl@yahoo.com

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  10. The evil queen in Snow White!

    Colleen at myartsite dot com

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  11. Definitely the queen from Snow White!

    saycecat (at) yahoo [dot] com

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  12. Malifecent from Sleeping Beauty she scares the crap out of me even to this day!!! I'm 34!

    tobihelton(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. I think that the Wicked Witch from the Wizard Of Oz is the scariest villain just hearing her laugh makes you want to cover your ears :)!!!!
    bridget.howard@hotmail.com

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  14. i think ursula from the little mermaid is pretty evil. i wouldn't want to be around her, especially as an octopus and she's got that evil cackle!!

    ame1184 at gmail dot com

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  15. The witch in Snow White.
    magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

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  16. Evil Queen in Snow White
    sweetypetey2004@yahoo.com

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  17. The witch from Sleeping Beauty...scared the living crap out of me as a kid!!

    Wendy/books4me

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  18. Replies
    1. opps forgot my email its froggarita@gmail.com

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  19. Definitely the evil Queen from Snow White!

    shadowkatt2011 [at] aim [dot] com

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  20. My favorite villain is Maleficent, but the worst I think is Gaston from Beauty and the Beast.

    tressa dot sherman at hotmail dot com

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  21. I think that Gaston from Beauty and the Beast is EVIL! He tries to force Belle to marry him by coming after her father and coming after the beast and neither of them have done anything to him!

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  22. The queen from Snow White orders her own step daughter to be killed. Doesn't get much worse than that! Thanks for the chance to win. amy dot swihart at gmail dot com

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  23. Captain Hook
    Gale Nelson
    pgan427@yahoo.com

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  24. The evil queen from Snow White. What a stinkin' meanie!! Ordering her step daughter to be slaughtered? Yikes! Gives step-moms everywhere a bad rap:)

    bchild5 at aol dot com

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  25. I'd go with the evil queen/witch from Snow White. She has been portrayed in so many different ways, I can't see anyone else compare to her madness!

    secretpearls(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. You know who really sucks? Cruella Deville. She was just bad. I love dogs, have since I was a wee one, and she terrified me as a child. Still would like to kick her butt a few times! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Jaime
    jeepgirl529 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  27. The Evil Queen - that woman went for the death blow!! Yeesh!

    thx for the giveaway!

    burgandy ice at live dot com

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  28. Cinderella stepmother is the worst of the worst by hands down. Thanks for the chance.
    :) Jeanne B. T., jeannebates_t@yahoo.com

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  29. I think the worst fairy tale villian is Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. Thanks for the great giveaway!

    laughs4life14(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  30. This is a hard one, they are all evil in their own way. Cruella DeVille was bad, I guess Snow White's Step mother, she did want her killed just because she was prettier than her.
    hschrock24112 at yahoo dot com

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  31. Ursula from the Little Mermaid.
    sqwalker2@hotmail.com

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  32. Maleficent!!!! :D
    shaina
    shaina333@comcast.net

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  33. Maleficent. She's a mean one. Thank you so much for participating in the giveaway.

    pulliam_t at yahoo dot com

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  34. Thanks for the great giveaway! I guess the worse evil fairy tale villin would be the snow white witch! XD

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  35. I'm agreeing with Cruella Deville as well!!! I love dogs [and cats, bunnies, squirrels, etc *sigh* lol] and thoroughly loathed Cruella :P

    Thanks for the sweet giveaway <3
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail dot com
    Mary DeBorde M.A.D.

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  36. abackwardsstory (at) gmail

    I haven't heard of this before, thank you!

    I think the worst villains are The Evil Queen from Snow White (The original one, at least, because it was her mother, not her stepmother!!) and Cruella, because of how she kills innocent puppies!

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  37. The queen from Snow White!
    Thanks :)
    kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

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  38. My top villains are either Maleficent or the witch in Hansel and Gretel.

    Lmackesy @ gmail.com

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  39. I have to say Ursula, I mean she turns people into creepy vegetation, 'nough said.

    Morganalafey86(at)aol(dot)com

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  40. Wow! Great turn out! Thanks for stopping by! :)

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