Toppsta - Childrens Books – Reviews

Have you ever found yourself wondering about the back story behind your favourite Disney heroines? What if things weren’t really as they seemed? This series that turns the classic fairy-tales on their heads is a must for Disney fans and a delight for all Young Adult readers. Disney's Twisted Tales take our favourite heroines: Ariel, Belle, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Mulan and Princess Jasmine and imagines a very different story unfolding for each of them.

What if Aladdin had never found the lamp, Sleeping Beauty had never woken up or the Sea Witch had never defeated the Little Mermaid? Would Jasmine and Aladdin turn freedom fighters against oppressive Jafar? Could Aurora find a way to control her dreams and defeat Maleficent? And would Ariel be able to return to a world she never thought she’d see again, overthrow the villain and win back her voice?

Written by three popular YA authors - Liz Braswell, Jen Calonita and Elizabeth Lim - who all love fantasy and fairy-tales, the Twisted Tale series has the magic of the Disney films but with dark and creepy twists. Romance makes way for enchantment, action and violence as the heroines fight for their happy endings and all is not what it seems.

These thought-provoking fantasy tales are not just for those of us who grew up loving Disney, anyone who loves drama, dragons and fantasy will adore the dark and dreamy stories in these books. Don’t expect a sweet fairy story though – there is plenty of violence and grit and the graphic descriptions and adult themes mean we recommend these Disney novels for young adults from 12 onwards.  You can read the six stand-alone stories in any order, so pick your favourite heroine and discover her twisted tale. A Whole New World is the first book in the series and the latest book So This is Love asks what would happen if Cinderella never tried on the glass slipper?

Despite the new, darker stories, the books still retain the essential elements of love, passion, friendship, magic. And as for the happily ever after? Well, you’ll just have to wait and see…

All the A Twisted Tale books in order:

Book 1: A Whole New World: What if Aladdin Had Never Found the Lamp? (2016)
Book 2: Once Upon a Dream: What if the Sleeping Beauty Never Woke Up? (2016)
Book 3: As Old As Time: What if Belle's Mother Cursed the Beast? (2016)
Book 4: MULAN: Reflections (2018)
Book 5: Disney Princess - The Little Mermaid: Part of Your World (2018)
Book 6: Disney Princess Snow White: Mirror, Mirror (2019)
Book 7: Conceal, Don't Feel (2019)
Book 8: Disney Peter Pan: Straight On Til Morning (2020)
Book 9: Disney Princess Cinderella: So, This is Love (2020)
Book 10: Disney Hercules: Go The Distance (2021)
Book 11: What Once Was Mine (2021)