Book Recommendations Fairy Tales Five Fantasy Novels With Fairy Tale Vibes Filled with castles‚ quests‚ and princess brides‚ these books take the fairy tale formula to new and exciting places… By Lorna Wallace | Published on April 30‚ 2024 Comment 1 Share New Share Fairy tales are essentially fantasy narratives‚ but there are plenty of fantasy stories that don’t fit the fairy tale mold. It’s an “all thumbs are fingers‚ but not all fingers are thumbs” type of situation‚ but less easy to define. There are plenty of fantasy books that retell classic fairy tales and Rachel Ayers has you covered on that front‚ having collected retellings of “Rapunzel” and “Little Red Riding Hood” and many other fairy tales here on the site. This list is going to focus on fantasy books that feel like fairy tales‚ but aren’t actually based on any of the classics. The authors of these books have written an original story‚ but have managed to inject it with those wonderfully familiar fairy tale vibes. So what do I mean by fairy tale vibes&;#63; The fantasy elements usually have a whimsical and dreamlike quality; magical elements are often accepted as just the way things are‚ without explanation. And if you like sprawling narratives that provide detailed explanations about the background of characters and the world‚ look elsewhere—in fairy tales it’s common for certain people to have the quality of stock characters‚ filling familiar roles‚ however vividly and memorably. But‚ of course‚ these aren’t blanket rules‚ and all of these authors put their own unique stamp on the fairy tale formula. With that said‚ let’s get to the books… Stardust (1999) by Neil Gaiman Often in fairy tales‚ the main character is easy to root for from the outset; they’re usually brave and smart and kind. Stardust’s Tristran Thorn is not one of those protagonists (at least at first&;#33;). He has the “dreamy‚ far-off look” of Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991)‚ but sadly not her smarts or maturity. Tristran lives in the little village of Wall and he’s infatuated with a girl called Victoria‚ who doesn’t return his affections. In a desperate (and foolish…) attempt to win her heart‚ he sets off on a quest to find and bring her a star that has fallen in the land of Faerie. But Tristran isn’t the only one after the star… If you’ve seen the 2007 movie adaptation but haven’t read the book‚ be warned that Robert De Niro’s fabulous Captain Shakespeare doesn’t make an appearance in the original story. And while the film is overall whimsical and sparkly (much like Disneyfied fairy tales)‚ the book has a touch of darkness and melancholy running through it (in the spirit of many classic fairy tales). The Princess Bride (1973) by William Goldman I grew up watching Rob Reiner’s 1987 film adaptation of The Princess Bride and I loved it so much that I thought the book couldn’t possibly be better… despite knowing deep in my bookish heart that the books often—although not always—better&;#33; It wasn’t until I was an adult that I finally gave Goldman’s novel a chance and I realized what a fool I’d been. The book certainly has differences when compared with the movie‚ but it’s one of those rare cases where both versions are equally incredible. In the book‚ instead of the frame narrative being a grandfather reading the story to his grandson‚ we have Goldman realizing that his father only read him the “good parts” of the story‚ which was written by fictional author S. Morgenstern. Goldman takes it upon himself to present readers with an edited version of the tale which cuts out all of the boring serious parts about royal ancestry and the country’s history. What we’re left with is the delightfully tongue-in-cheek tale of Westley and Buttercup’s romance‚ plus all of the accompanying fencing‚ piracy‚ beasts‚ intrigue‚ and revenge‚ with hilarious commentary throughout. Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023) by Brandon Sanderson Tress of the Emerald Sea is set within Brandon Sanderson’s extensive Cosmere universe‚ but don’t let that put you off if you’ve never picked up one of his books before because Tress is also a standalone story. Titular character Tress lives on a little island in the middle of an ocean that‚ instead of water‚ is made of green sand-like spores. If water touches these spores‚ there are explosive results (a fairly detailed explanation of how this all works is given&;#33;)‚ making sailing on the sea pretty dangerous. Landlubber Tress finds herself taking to the deadly spore sea in an attempt to rescue her best friend‚ Charlie‚ who has wound up as a prisoner of the Sorceress‚ who lives on an island in the Midnight Sea. Chaos ensues—as does friendship‚ adventure‚ and romance. If you’ve already read The Princess Bride‚ you might realize that Tress is Sanderson’s own creative take on that tale‚ but with Westley and Buttercup’s roles reversed. Just as with Goldman’s novel‚ the story has a playful tone while still being earnestly heartfelt. Lonely Castle in the Mirror (2017) by Mizuki Tsujimura (English translation by Philip Gabriel‚ 2021) If you’re after a story with a gentler pace and a more serious tone‚ check out Lonely Castle in the Mirror. Kokoro has stopped going to her junior high school because she’s being bullied; while home alone one day‚ she discovers that her bedroom mirror is a portal to a castle surrounded by water as far as the eye can see. A girl wearing a wolf mask explains to Kokoro‚ along with the six other teenagers whose mirrors have led them there‚ that if they can find the key hidden somewhere within the castle‚ they’ll be granted one wish. But‚ of course‚ there are a couple of fairy tale-esque catches: if they don’t go home by 5 p.m. each day then they’ll be eaten by a wolf‚ and upon the granting of the wish they’ll all lose their memories of each other and the castle. The teens do search for the key‚ but the quest doesn’t actually occupy that much of the story until everything really kicks off at the end. For each of them‚ the magical castle quickly becomes a place of solace from the cruelties of the real world. The story is really less about the magical wish and more about the turbulence of being a teenager and the beauty of friendship. Nettle &; Bone (2022) by T. Kingfisher There’s a relatively standard glittery and romantic mold that most people think of when it comes to fairy tales about princes and princesses. In Nettle &; Bone‚ T. Kingfisher breaks that mold and grinds it into dust. Main character Marra is the third-born princess of the Harbor Kingdom and as such never expects her life to hold much royal importance. Her eldest sister goes to the vastly more powerful Northern Kingdom to become the bride of a cruel prince‚ but then she dies‚ and their middle sister is sent off as a replacement. Marra isn’t willing to lose another family member and so she sets off on a quest to kill the prince. Nettle &; Bone is full of magic—there’s a witch‚ three impossible tasks‚ a dog made only of bones‚ and a goblin market—but there’s also a streak of horror running through the story (the dead princess and skeletal dog may have clued you in to that&;#33;). Fear not though‚ while things get pretty dark‚ a healthy dose of humor adds some levity to Marra’s quest for vengeance.   Have you got any recommendations for fantasy books that have the comforting feeling of a fairy tale&;#63; Let me know in the comments below&;#33;[end-mark] The post Five Fantasy Novels With Fairy Tale Vibes appeared first on Reactor.

News Bring Her Back Sally Hawkins Will Star in a New Film from Talk to Me Directors Danny and Michael Philippou But where are we bringing her back from&;#63; By Molly Templeton | Published on April 30‚ 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share It may not involve a creepy severed hand‚ but it’s a pretty good bet that the next film from writer-directors Danny and Michael Philippou will still be super-scary. And another film from A24 and the Talk to Me directors is on the way: Deadline reports that the brothers have cast Sally Hawkins in Bring Her Back‚ which is expected to begin filming this summer. Absolutely nothing about the plot has been made public; Deadline only notes that it’s an original film‚ and it’s a horror film. The brothers are also making a sequel to Talk to Me (called‚ delightfully‚ Talk 2 Me) but it’s not entirely clear which of these films will arrive to scare your pants off first. Hawkins is one of those quietly brilliant British actors you have probably seen in a whole list of incongruous films‚ from Paddington to The Shape of Water (pictured above). According to IMDb‚ she played an uncredited role as “Villager” in The Phantom Menace‚ but her breakout role was Poppy in Mike Leigh’s 2008 film Happy-Go-Lucky. She’s been consistently excellent since then in everything from Never Let Me Go to‚ yes‚ Paddingtons one and two. She’s probably even brilliant in Wonka. Deadline notes that‚ along with Bring Her Back and Talk 2 Me‚ the brothers Philippou are developing “a documentary project inspired by their own journey into the world of international underground deathmatch wrestling.”[end-mark] The post Sally Hawkins Will Star in a New Film from &;lt;i&;gt;Talk to Me&;lt;/i&;gt; Directors Danny and Michael Philippou appeared first on Reactor.

During the time the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire‚ gladiators were armed combatants that fought for the entertainment of audiences either against other gladiators‚ wild animals‚ or condemned prisoners. Although some gladiators were brought on as slaves‚ some volunteered in search of glory and the love of the people; regardless‚ it was a hard life. The gladiatorial games lasted for around 1... Source

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL: Republican Oklahoma Rep. Josh Brecheen is calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide transparency on in vitro fertilization practices in the United States. In a letter first obtained by The Daily Signal and sent Tuesday‚ Brecheen points out that other Western countries prohibit clinics from “practicing eugenics or carelessly destroying human life‚” arguing that the U.S. does not even require IVF clinics to be transparent about their participation in these types of practices. “This carelessness has earned the U.S. the title of the ‘Wild West’ of assisted reproductive technology‚” the congressman wrote. Josh-Brecheen-Letter-to-CDCDownload The move comes as Republicans grapple with both messaging and legislating on IVF—a topic that some on the right have serious moral and ethical qualms with‚ given the expendable way in which human embryos are often treated. Following the Alabama Supreme Court ruling in favor of protecting embryonic human life‚ Republicans on Capitol Hill have suddenly found themselves being asked to state their position on IVF‚ a nuanced subject matter tied closely to the dignity of the human person and the fight for life. Despite media suggesting the contrary‚ the state Supreme Court did not ban IVF but merely ruled in favor of protecting embryonic human life. Justice Jay Mitchell wrote in his opinion that “unborn children are ‘children’” under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. Experts like The Heritage Foundation’s Emma Waters have argued that the ruling brought “much-needed regulation” to the fertility industry in the United States. (Heritage founded The Daily Signal in 2014.) Waters pointed out that only a handful of state laws actually address the “moral and ethical questions raised by the artificial creation of human life.” “This decision ensures that the well-being of children‚ not financial gain‚ is the top priority when it comes to IVF and embryonic cryopreservation‚” Waters argued. But IVF promises to be a complicated thorn in the side of Republicans‚ many of whom are already unsure how to successfully message on abortion ahead the 2024 election cycle—and Democrats are eager to harness both issues. While some Republicans‚ like Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida‚ were quick to propose legislation providing a “right to try” IVF‚ Brecheen cautions that the United States should be examining its IVF practices and providing more responsible guardrails‚ as other Western nations have done. “According to our nation’s birth certificate‚ the Declaration of Independence‚ government is instituted among men to secure the right to Life‚” Brecheen told The Daily Signal. “The IVF industry is lacking accountability on this front.” A human embryo in the amniotic sac at ninth week of gestation. (Photo: DEA‚ L. RICCIARINI‚ De Agostini/Getty Images) “The American people must be made fully aware of how many embryos the IVF industry destroys and the decisions behind this destruction of human life‚” he added. “Congress cannot continue to allow clinics to conceal their activities from the public‚ and that is why we are demanding answers.” The letter to the CDC is co-signed by Reps. Matt Rosendale‚ R-Mont.‚ and Andrew Clyde‚ R-Ga.‚ and supported by pro-family and pro-life groups‚ including Americans United for Life‚ Students for Life Action‚ the Family Research Council‚ CatholicVote‚ Concerned Women for America‚ the Ethics &; Religious Liberty Commission‚ and SBA Pro-Life America. “Since its inception‚ the IVF industry in the United States has created millions of lives and has done so completely without federal protections for children‚ parents‚ and families‚” Mary Szoch‚ director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council‚ told The Daily Signal. “You don’t have to look far to see the abuses that have taken place because of this lack of protection‚” she added. “Embryos destroyed without parental knowledge or consent; excess embryos created‚ frozen‚ and treated as if they were not human beings; embryos cloned‚ grafted with animal embryos‚ and experimented upon; embryos discarded because of a potential physical abnormality‚ eye color‚ or sex.” Brecheen points out that the way in which clinics are practicing IVF—and their handling of embryos—carries “significant moral and ethical implications.” “Clinics are not required to disclose the total number of embryos they create‚ how many they store indefinitely‚ or how many they destroy and for what reasons‚” he writes. “Shockingly‚ clinics are not even required to disclose statistics on their application of genetic screening‚ which more than 70% of fertility clinics utilize for sex-selection.” “Advancing technology raises further concerns that clinics will use genetic screening to choose the ‘best’ embryos based on traits like eye or hair color‚ complexion‚ or potential height‚” he continues. “In the U.S.‚ this technology is already used to select or discard embryos based on eye color.” The congressman pressed the CDC to specifically address how many embryos are created each year through IVF‚ how many are destroyed every year‚ how many created through IVF are currently in storage‚ the average length of time an embryo created through IVF is kept in storage‚ and more. “How many embryos are screened each year for sex-selection‚ genetic abnormalities‚ or physical attributes such as eye‚ skin‚ or hair color&;#63;” he asks. “How many embryos each year are destroyed after undergoing genetic screening&;#63;” “Does the CDC maintain any moral or ethical concerns about the use of genetic screening to select embryos based on genetic abnormalities‚ sex‚ or physical attributes&;#63; Does the CDC maintain any moral or ethical concerns about the intentional creation and destruction of excess embryos during the process of IVF&;#63;” Kristan Hawkins‚ president of Students for Life Action‚ told The Daily Signal that her organization is grateful to Brecheen for addressing the lack of regulations and accountability in the IVF industry. “The loss of life and careless disregard of humanity needs to be addressed‚” Hawkins said. “The billion-dollar industry of IVF needs to be monitored‚ given the life and death stakes and the potentially predatory nature of a business that promises a lot but usually does not deliver. It is time not only the CDC but Congress to take actions against the terrible habits of the IVF industry.” The post EXCLUSIVE: CDC Must Provide Transparency on Troubling IVF Practices‚ Congressman Says appeared first on The Daily Signal.

9 Ways To Prepare For Civil Unrest

Reasons Why I Grow Vegetables in Containers

Dandelion Balm #homemade

30 First Aid Items That Will Disappear Fast in a Disaster

Vegetable Planting “Tips” That Ruined My Crops

Are You Suffering from Burnout&;#63; Here Are Some Low-Cost Solutions