Tag: magic

Posted in Books, Reviews

Book Review – Of Earth and Flame (Elayna R Gallea)

Posted on by Katie Night

Hey Dearies!

So, I kind of went down a rabbit hole and found that there are books that are sort of similar to one of my favorite franchises that my siblings and I used to watch, which happened to be the Barbie movies.

Thanks to Pinterest and some research, I found books inspired by those movies. Of course, I made a list of each of these books and which movie they are inspired by. I also decided to get Kindle Unlimited because it just made sense for me to have that versus buying books that I may or may not like.

I will be making a post with all the books and which movie was inspired by them in the future, but let’s get started with this one!

Now, this book is actually a series, which I didn’t realize until I looked more into it, and it’s fantasy, which has been rare for me lately because I’ve been reading more romance/smut stuff recently.

This book is actually an inspiration for Barbie as Rapunzel!

If you haven’t seen this one, let me give you a brief overview of what the plot is about.

Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t seen the movie!

So, in some of the Barbie movies, there is a conflict before the story is told, which in this case is Kelly talking about how she doesn’t know what to paint and thinks that she won’t do a great job. That’s when Barbie tells the story about a girl who loves to paint, Rapunzel.

Rapunzel is stolen and lives in a manor with Mother Gothel, who has strong magical powers that she uses to keep Rapunzel trapped in the manor. She also treats Rapunzel like crap and uses her as a maid. Then Rapunzel finds a secret staircase that goes down into a basement, where she finds a hairbrush that’s engraved with:

“Constant as the stars above, always know that you are loved. To our daughter Rapunzel on her first birthday. With love forever, mother and father.”

Which confuses her since she’s only known Gothel as her mother figure. Then her friend dragon breaks a hole in the floor, and they find an underground tunnel that leads directly to the village. She saves one of the princesses, and the prince thanks her.

She goes back to the manor, and overnight, the hairbrush turns into a magical paintbrush where she can paint anything and magically appear. She does this with dresses, and she is able to paint a portrait of the village where she can walk into it and be in the village.

Since the prince invited her to the ball, Mother Gothel finds out and ends up locking her away in the tower, and goes as Rapunzel to the ball to trick the prince. Rapunzel escapes and then confronts Mother Gothel and finds out that she stole her as a baby to get back at her father.

That’s just a brief overview of the movie, but I highly recommend checking it out because, honestly, it was a different twist on the Rapunzel story. This wasn’t my all-time favorite Barbie movie, but it’s up there as one that I would rewatch over and over again.

Anyway, back to the book, it starts out as any other Rapunzel story does, locked in a tower. When the book first starts, Aileana is literally escaping the tower as she has been locked in there for 23 years and is arranged to marry the prince of an evil king, who is even more evil.

Aileana is also an elf, which I was really excited about because I’ve never read a book where the main character is an elf. So, once she escapes, she meets this guy Xander, whom she happens to stab when they first meet, since she doesn’t want to be captured like she was before.

They team up, since the land they are in, females can only be accompanied by a male figure, and in order for them to lead the country, they pretend to be a fake husband and wife. They also find out they are soulmates too.

The more time they spend together, the more they start to fall for each other, which I love! I honestly think more authors should do this, like just because their soulmates build up the chemistry!

Plus, their pretending to be husband and wife makes the connection, I think, stronger in a sense. Not to mention the interesting thing, you find out what Xander really is because he heals quickly. I honestly thought he was going to come out as a werewolf, but boy, was I wrong!

There was also a lot of other stuff that happened in the book, but I really didn’t want to spoil too much. The way the book ended, it really makes me want to read the second one, which is also on Kindle Unlimited!

Overall, between the book and the movie, they only have a few things in common: the Rapunzel factor of being locked in a tower, magic, dragons, and, of course, it takes place in a kingdom. It’s a different spin on Rapunzel, but I really like it!

I also wanted a break from the smut I’ve been reading. I just finished a quick series that I’m going to do a review on, but this was a breath of fresh air for me. I’m also a big fantasy fan, so it’s been nice to read something different for a change.

I’m also really excited to read the next book from the list! Let me know how you liked this book and if you were big fans of the Barbie movies when you were a kid.

Posted in Writing Works

The Monster’s Of Weddings (Friday Short Stories)

Posted on by Katie Night

The Monster’s Of Weddings

Hey Dearies! Here is another little short story about when two mother’s end up butting heads over their daughter or soon to be daughter in law, about the plans for the wedding. Basically, this gives you an idea of how I would think Bridzella is awoken from her slumber when you are a bride.

Weddings are stressful. They’re especially tricky when one family is magical and the other hates spells, and both mothers want to control the celebration.

“I don’t know what I’m really getting into,” Tiffany said as she was being held in her fiances’ arms. She was dealing with a lot when it came to the wedding. As soon as she accepted his proposal, both her mother and Gail’s mother have been at each other’s throats, trying to make the wedding as there.

“I’m sorry, love. I know my mother can be a little wicked, but don’t worry. Once this wedding is over, everything will be perfect.” Gail explained as he gave her a light kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be back before the wedding, I’m going to get your wedding present, until then, try to get everyone to get along.”

Tiffany nodded as she gave her fiance one more hug, and then planted a kiss on his lips. She watched as he got on her horse and rode off the dirt path.

“Tiffany! Dear, I need to ask you what you want to do with the place settings for the reception?” She heard Gail’s mother calling out to her. Tiffany took a deep breath and turned around, giving her a small smile as she watched her mother-in-law, Selma, get closer to her.

Selma handed her a picture of lily’s, but before she could answer, her mother, Judy, can out and handed her a flower vase with sunflowers. “Tif, love. I think you would rather go with these, they will bright out the room for sure!”

Judy watched as Selma rolled her eyes, “I’m sorry, but you must be mistaken, lilies bring out her wedding dress better than those silly little sunflowers would ever do.” Selma snapped as Judy frowned, then they turned back to Tiffany.

“I honestly don’t know which one I like best, but perhaps I see the other choices for flowers and then I can make my decision?” Tiffany spoke sweetly to both her mother and mother-in-law.

Tiffany had a fear that something like this would happen. Selma and her family were gifted with magic and they weren’t, which made it harder for Judy to really expect Gail to be apart of their family.

Sadly, Selma has been planning for the day her son would get married and she was excited to finally meet Tiffany, the one who had ‘stolen’ her son’s heart, but will also steal the one thing that she’s been loving and caring for since after Gail’s father had passed.

Both of the mothers looked back at each other, giving them a dirty look to each. Selma looked back at Tiffany and frowned. “I guess my choice wasn’t good enough, eh?” Selma snapped at Tiffany, which shocked Tiffany because she has always been nice to her, but this must of been the last straw for Selma. “Wait till my son hears about this!”

Selma went back into the cottage, that they all were staying at until the wedding. “Selma, Gail just left, he went into town to get my wedding present. He’s gone until tomorrow night.” Tiffany explained as calmly as she could.
Selma threw the photos of the lilies on the ground and stormed off into the cottage.

Tiffany and her mother went back inside.
“Child, I know this is a difficult choice you have to make, but that old hag should know that everything that I’ve chosen for your wedding is already perfect!” Judy spoke, as

Tiffany had put some water into a teapot. Tiffany had a fire of anger, burning inside her. She had hoped that her mother and Gail’s mother would’ve gotten along. She also didn’t understand why the choices that she was given to choose from, was making it so she would favor one mother over the other.

She just wanted to plan the wedding with what she wanted, she wanted her day to be the happiest, most magical day of her life. Dealing with her mother and soon to be mother-in-law’s bickering back and forth, Tiffany was dreading planning this wedding.

Tiffany slammed the teapot on the floor and turned to her mother, she noticed that Selma had run out of her room to see what was going on.

“Just stop, mother! Please!” Tiffany looked over at Selma and Judy together. “Both of you are making this entire process of planning a wedding dreadful! I know both of you are trying to help me, but it seems like it’s about you both! This is Gail and I’s wedding day, we want it to be the most magical and wonderful day of our lives, but you aren’t allowing me to choose what I want for my special day!”

Tiffany turned to her mother, who was shocked at the outburst that was currently happening. “Mother, I love you, but you need to be okay with Gail and his family. Once we are married, we are all going to be one.”

She then turned to Selma, who too had a surprised look on her face at Tiffany’s outburst. “Selma, I know you want this to be perfect, but you have to be okay with me disagreeing with the choices you have already chosen for me.”

Tiffany then took a deep breath and slowly picked up the broken teapot that laid on the floor. “I just wanted you to both get along.” She spoke softly, but loud enough for them to hear it, as she picked up the broken pieces and laid them out onto the table.

Tiffany then ran off into her room. Selma and Judy stared at each other in silence.
“I better go check on her.” Judy sat, but before she could heat out, she was stopped by Selma.

“Your daughter is right, we should learn to get along with each other,” Selma spoke, letting go of Judy’s wrist. “I’m sorry for my behavior. It just hasn’t been easy since Gail’s father passed away a few weeks ago. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

Judy then placed her hand on top of Selma’s and looked up into her eyes. “I’m sorry, too. I didn’t know Gail’s father, but I know how you feel.” Judy pulled out a napkin and handed it to Selma. “I lost my husband before Tiffany was born.”

Selma looked us, as then were red, from her crying, “Oh, Judy, I’m so very sorry, I shouldn’t-”

Judy gave her a warming smile. “Don’t worry about it. We both judged each other before we even got a chance to finally know each other. Let’s just put it all in the past or at least for the kid’s sake.”

Selma smiled as she wiped her tears. Then walking over to the teapot that Tiffany had dropped, she whisked her hands around and the teapot was fixed, brand new, just as it was before it was broken.

Both of them headed over to Tiffany’s door, where they could hear her sobbing on the other side of the door. Judy approached the nob, but before knocking on the door.

“Tiffany, can we come in, dear?”

Tiffany wiped her eyes and cleared her voice. “Yes, mother.”

Judy carefully opened the door and watched in shock of how her mother-in-law and mother were acting to each other. Normally, they would be staring at each other, giving dirty looks, but this time, they were only focusing on Tiffany.

“Hun, we just wanted to come in here and apologize. I’m sorry that we were so picking about your wedding. Especially how we treated each other. From now on, you choose whatever you for your wedding, anything at all.” Selma explained as Tiffany stood up to her bed, smiling.

Tiffany grabbed onto both of their hands and smiled. “Thank you.”

Finally, the big day approached, Tiffany was more than excited for her big day, but she got rather sad before she was about to walk down the aisle. She had always dreamed of her father walking her down the aisle, giving herself away, but this reality was, she would be walking alone.

Just as she grabbed her flowers, she took a deep breath and noticed her mother and mother-in-law, wrapping around each of her arms.
“I know this is something your father would’ve done, but Selma and I decided that we don’t want you to do to this alone.” Judy smiled, as they both gave Tiffany a boost of confidence.
Tiffany looked down the aisle and smiled when her eyes gazed upon Gail. Walking down the aisle never seemed so easy, once she approached Gail, both her mother and Selma gave her a kiss on the cheek and held her hand out to Gail.

He smiled as he saw his beautiful bride be. Leaning into Tiffany’s ear, he whispered. “I’m surprised things are going quite well with you three. What’s your secret?”

Tiffany giggled and leaned into his ear. “Just a little bit of bridezilla seemed to do the trick.” As they turned to face the preacher to start the beginning of their lives together.

Let me know what you think about this week’s short story! Comment down below if you have a song in mind for what I should do next for next Friday’s!