What role would you want to play in your favorite fairy tales?
Is it the brave hero who saves the day?
Is it the princess who learns to save herself?
Is it the fairy godmother who grants your every desire?
Is it the redeemable villain?
Or the lovable sidekick?
What if you could be whoever you wanted to be?
Bristal from Kingdom of Ash and Briars gets to do exactly that because she happens to be a shape shifter!
If given the chance to choose your own role who would you play?
Hannah West is here today to talk more about this, but first lets take a look at her book!
Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West
Published by HOLIDAY HOUSE Incorporated on August 30th 2016
Genres: Fairy Tales & Folklore, Fantasy & Magic, General, Love & Romance, Young Adult
Buy the Book ⢠Goodreads
Bristal, an orphaned kitchen maid, lands in a gritty fairy tale gone wrong when she discovers she is an elicromancer with a knack for shape-shifting. An ancient breed of immortal magic beings, elicromancers have been winnowed down to merely two - now three - after centuries of bloody conflict in the realm. Their gifts are fraught with responsibility, and sixteen-year-old Bristal is torn between two paths. Should she vow to seek the good of the world, to protect and serve mortals? Or should she follow the strength of her power, even if it leads to unknown terrors? She draws on her ability to disguise herself as a man to infiltrate a prince's band of soldiers, and masquerades as a fairy godmother to shield a cursed princess, but time is running out. As an army of dark creatures grows closer, Bristal faces a supernatural war. To save the kingdoms, Bristal must find the courage to show her true form.
Building on homages to Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jane Austenâs Emma and the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, Hannah West makes a spectacular debut.
I think thereâs a little bit of every role in all of us. Part of me adores princessy things and loves to imagine what it would be like to live in a palace and wear intricate dresses. Another part of me would rather be tough and sensible and not bother with the frills. With certain friends Iâm the sarcastic comedian. With others I feel like a sage old fairy godmother. We contradict ourselves and contain multitudes!
What fascinates me about Bristalâs ability to shapeshift and work behind the scenes is that she gets to explore so many roles: the soldier, the sidekick, the sultry courtier, the kind fairy. I began writing this story before I had really grown up and gotten a good sense of who I was, and maybe thatâs why Bristal has a hard time figuring that out too in the midst of wearing disguise after disguise.
But as for my part, deep down Iâve always most wanted to be the hero. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is my favorite story of all time, and I remember watching Aragorn calmly waiting for battle and wondering if I could ever be that valiant. And as much as I love the love triangle in The Hunger Games, what stuck with me most about those books was Katnissâ selflessness and bravery. In fact, when Iâm tempted to cry and really donât want to, I literally ask myself what Katniss would do. The tears just go away!
The stories that affect me most seem to be about people who are not already heros but have to grow into the role and be refined by fire. Content little hobbits traversing Middle Earth, a quiet young woman finding the courage to speak up, children unlearning selfish ways and learning to stand for something they believe in instead. It may sound nerdy but thatâs what I want for my own life story – to be a hero in the making, however long it takes.
But Iâm not above wishing for some magical fairy powers. I think thatâs why exploring the story of the fairy godmother in the context of her being the heroine was so fun. Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty have been redefined time and time again, but no one seemed to be asking âwho is she? What does she do with her miraculous powers besides bestow glass slippers on oppressed beauties or hide a cursed princess from an evil enchantress?â
I definitely experienced some wish fulfillment while writing this story. I got to step inside several of these archetypal fairy tale roles with just one narrator!
About Hannah West
Hannah has swooned over fantasy and fairy tales since before she wrote her first story about a runaway princess living on top of a flagpole with two loves of bread. Kingdom of Ash and Briars is her first novel, which she began as a college junior while studying abroad in Orléans, France. She freelance writes for Modernize.com about renewable energy and sustainable living, and lives in Rockwall, Texas, with her husband and their rambunctious blue heeler.
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So, what role would you choose?
Make sure to head over to Dark Faerie Tales Corn Maze today with Zoraida Cordova, author of Labyrinth Lost!
I am looking forward to reading this book, sounds so good. Love the idea of a shape shifter, and the many fairytale retellings that take place in the book.
Oh this sounds excellent. It’s definitely going on my TBR
Sounds amazing! ð
I am almost finished with this one and it’s fantastic. It’s great to see an interview with the author where she talks about her inspiration. I can definitely see that in the books, both the fairy tales and the epic fantasy stuff.
I would love to read this book. Sounds really good.
This book has been on my radar forever and I’m excited to finally check it out! Thanks for talking with the author!
You ladies are amazing!! So excited about this book!
woah, this sounds like an awesome book!!
I love retellings and this book combines classic stories together–it has to be awesome!
This one sounds like an amazing read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Omg! The synopsis is beautiful. I love to read this book. It sounds amazing, being able to shapeshift and live different lives. I would love to know what happens in the story.
This book sounds fantastic!! I love the fairy tale aspect. Definitely eager to get my hands on this one!
Wow that guest post was marvelous i definitely want to check this out :].
It is so true that we put forth different personality traits with different people! I am looking forward to checking this out!
Haven’t heard about this one before, but putting it immediately on my TBR list. I mean shape-shifting and immortal magic – sign me right up! ð
I haven’t really paid attention to this book until now, and it sounds like it would be a really good read! I’ll definitely have to check it out now!!
Oh this book sounds SO AMAZING! I love dark fairytales, this sounds so interesting! I’m adding it to my TBR list right now. Can’t wait to read it!
I’d probably be the princess who learns to save herself and everyone else and who fell for the redeemable villain. I just love villains LOL
Thanks so much for this giveaway! I hope I win!
This book is so so pretty ð I love. Curious about this book. Hmm. I think I would love to be a princess and the hero, haha ð And get to meet the most awesome boy. Sigh ð
Not really my type of book but I must say that there are aspects that do sound very interesting and it’s worth giving a go!
I am a big fan of retellings, especially if they’re done right and this seems like it’s going to be such a fun read! Homages to “Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jane Austenâs Emma and the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan,” so exciting! ð
This book looks and sounds amazing (I love retellings) and I can’t wait to get my very own copy.
Oooh that cover is beautiful! Though it’s not my type of book it does sound like a very well-written and interesting story being told.
I love how this is combining so many lovely stories into ONE! This book sounds like it should belong in my library! Get outta town.