Conceal, Don't Feel

Conceal, Don't Feel by Jen Calonita, 2019 Disney-Hyperion

     Arendale's Princess Elsa has magic--she can create ice and snow out of thin air. She and her younger sister, Anna, love to play with Elsa's magic, but when Elsa accidentally hits Anna with a blast of her magic something goes wrong.
     Their parents take the two princesses to the trolls on the Great Mountain. Grandpappy Troll reveals that the accident could result in Anna's death if they cannot remove the magic. Grandpappy proposes to remove all memory of magic--but Elsa cannot stand the thought of losing the joy Anna finds in her gift.
     Elsa's interference has catastrophic consequences for the sisters: If Anna and Elsa are physically too close together the ice magic would spread to consume Anna's entire body. The king and queen must make a choice and request the trolls work a memory spell across the kingdom until a solution can be devised.
     Years later Arendale believes Elsa is an only child, heir to the throne, and an excellent successor to her father. The princess applies herself to her studies, but she is lonely. A sudden shipwreck brings Elsa to the throne far earlier than anyone expected, but at eighteen the crown Princess must have a regent and the magic of her past comes shuddering back under the stress of leadership and her new role: a magical snowman named Olaf becomes the reclusive young queen-to-be's best and only friend.
     Elsa struggles to keep her magic under control as she prepares for her looming coronation and Olaf is more audacious. When a visiting dignitary begins to court her, Elsa finds a slow, comfortable courtship until he attempts to badger Elsa and her regent to announce their betrothal. The stress causes her magic to break free and Elsa releases winter across Arendale in the heart of summer.
     Anna has grown up in a comfortable cottage at the base of the mountain. Regular visits from her adoptive mother's best friend are the highlight of Anna's memories. Both women insist Anna stay in the small village until the time is right, but the vivacious Anna dreams of opening her own bakery in the big city. The lovely court lady brings Anna stories of her family and gifts too fine for the daughter of a humble baker. Anna's most treasured moments are the stories of the crown princess Elsa. She feels an affinity for the girl and, after the loss of the king, queen, and her courtly visitor, deep sympathy for the princess.
     Elsa's sudden winter means destruction for the people outside the capital city -- summer crops are hidden beneath feet of snow and people lack basic supplies. Anna somehow knows she is meant to find the princess and help her, but she can barely walk to the barn without help. Accompanied by the handsome, but not-so-charming Kristoff and his reindeer friend, Sven, Anna sets off to find the princess and the secrets she hides.
     What if Elsa's fear of her own magic and losing her beloved sister caused the spell to save Anna to curse both girls to be separated their entire lives? This take on the blockbuster Disney story is a vivid re-imagining of two sisters struggling to find themselves and finding each other. Conceal, Don't Feel is written at a middle- to high-school level and readers will enjoy this Twisted Tale.

Lost in a Book

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly, 2017 Disney Press

    Belle has traded her freedom to allow her father his freedom. She gets used to her new home and its occupants and she discovers a surprise in the extensive library. Nevermore is a reflection of the world managed by Death and her sister, Love.
     Death bets her sister that Belle will abandon the Beast, but Love holds her sister to fair play. Determined not to cheat, Death creates a living book to lure Belle to fulfill her wager. The young woman escapes the magic-soaked castle for an equally magic-infused world which appears to allow Belle to chase her dreams and have adventures. She is fascinated by the apparent perfection of the world and the people she meets there.
     Despite growing more comfortable with her imprisonment and becoming even fond of the Beast she falls under the spell of Nevermore. Belle is oblivious to the background drama between The Lady and her sister which brought her to the fictional land.
     What happens when the living book and its creator decide not to allow the young woman home? A side story within the world of 2017's live-action "Beauty and the Beast" Lost in a Book shows another step in building the relationship between Belle and the Beast. Who will win the bet? How will Belle get back to the castle and her new friends?
     The story takes place after the Beast has introduced Belle to the library and they've started to become friends, however, it happens while Belle still dreams of a life outside the castle. Lost in a Book is aimed at teen readers and those who enjoy fantastical retellings will like this spin on Belle's story.

Hunter

Hunter by Mercedes Lackey, 2015 Hyperion Books

     Joyeaux Charmand has been hunting monsters since her hounds broke through the barrier between realms to protect her from the mythical creatures who seek humans as sustenance. The monsters feed off Manna - a lifeforce humans produce in abundance. The hounds team with hunters to protect humans who haven't been gifted with either hounds or magic.
     Since the death of her parents Joy has lived high in the American Rockies at a monastery where the Masters train Hunters and normal citizens alike to defend themselves. Above the snowline the monsters cannot last long and even the Fair Folk tend to avoid the snow-encased stronghold.
     When the Prefect - Joyeaux's uncle and the man in charge of the nation's hunters - requests the mountain civilisations send a hunter. The Prefect is aware that Apex City does not know how many hunters are holed up on the mountain and his request for Joy's presence is a subtle reminder of how precarious the monastery is. Joy goes to the capital and joins the Apex Hunters.
     Her journey is not without incident: when drakken follow their train and manage to break through the protective cage with the help of a Folk mage in a lavender costume. In Apex City Joy discovers the Hunters are more like celebrities than real hunters. They distract the cits from how many monsters are breaking through the barriers with rankings and cinematics. More and more dangerous creatures are getting through the barriers protecting Apex - so dangerous Joy can't help thinking someone inside the city is helping them.
     When Joy's friend and mentor is murdered by a vampire Joy and her uncle team up to discover who is behind the infiltration. Another batch of monsters calls out most of the hunters including Joy's greatest rival Ace and his younger brother. The battle ends with the death of Ace's younger brother and Ace blames Joy even attacking her in public. The politics of Apec City nearly cost Joy her life as she seeks to protect the cits and help the Prefect find his enemies.
     Though it may be too late to stop the human monsters ruling over Apex City Joyeaux finds she still wants to protect the cits--the people kept in ignorance. Teens and young adults will be able to relate to Lackey's take on government control of the populace and information. Readers who enjoyed Michelle Krys's Wicked and Liz Braswell's A Whole New World will find a similar attitude toward the global mythology featured throughout the story.

A Whole New World

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell, 2015 Disney Press

     In distant Agrabah Aladdin is a streetrat running from Razoul the guard. When a beautiful young woman appears in the marketplace and very obviously doesn't belong Aladdin finds himself saving her from her own folly. The royal guard comes from the Royal Vizier Jafar to capture Aladdin and the girl is discovered to be the Princess Jasmine - who no one knew was missing.
     Aladdin is besotted with the girl only a little shocked at her identity. Thrown deep in the dungeons below the palace Abu the monkey comes to save Aladdin. They are startled by a strange old man who speaks of untold treasure. The trio leaves the palace through underground tunnels. Once outside they travel deep into the desert to the Cave of Wonders. The creepy old man keeps speaking with someone who isn't there, someone he calls Iago.
     At the cave Aladdin discovers a magical carpet which helps him find the dirty old lamp the old man sent him for. When Abu triggers the cave to self-destruct the carpet helps them to escape. But freedom is blocked by the old man. Once he has the lamp the old man becomes Grand Vizier Jafar and flings Aladdin from the entrance.
     The cave swallows Aladdin, Abu, and the carpet - they are trapped, but the streetrat fights to escape. Digging through the sand takes several days and the carpet flies Aladdin and Abu from the Cave of Wonders back to Agrabah where Jafar has used his first two wishes to become a powerful sorcerer and sultan. Jafar takes the opportunity to kill the sultan and makes plans to force Jasmine into marriage. She repeatedly rejects him and makes plans to escape.
     When Aladdin discovers the threat to the princes he is quickly swept into her orbit. Aladdin helps Jasmine meet her people and become a rebel leader in the fight against Jafar. As Agrabah becomes more and more restricted and families turn against each other Jasmine and her rebels find a foothold from which to launch their attack.
     Just as the Disney movie shows how the lamp changes Aladdin's life in helping him win the princess, this Twisted Tale shows how the story might have played out if Jafar kept the lamp. Aladdin and Jasmine find themselves at a turning point in Agrabah's future.