Review of Spelled by Betsy Schow

Advance Review of Betsy Schow's Spelled

Release Date: June 2nd, 2015

Synopsis as found on GoodReads.com:


Fairy Tale Survival Rule #32: If you find yourself at the mercy of a wicked witch, sing a romantic ballad and wait for your Prince Charming to save the day.

Yeah, no thanks. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the brooding prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.

Talk about unhappily ever after.

Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called "Kansas." Now it's up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse...before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This book is a wonderfully imaginative retelling on the Wizard of Oz story. It was fast paced and easy to read. There were a few points where I thought there was some mildly adult topics that I thought made the book meant for a different reader than the target audience, but over all, I found it quite enjoyable.


Dot has grown up in privilege. As the daughter of the Queen & King of the Emerald City, she has had whatever she has wanted throughout her life... except for being allowed to leave her castle. See, the daughters of the Emerald royalty have always been cursed. Her parents have her under a tight leash when it comes to that.


When a wish goes horribly wrong, Dot gets exactly what she has always wanted, an adventure outside of the world she has always known. She has to save the kingdom before it is too late. With the help of a Cowardly Kleptomaniac Kitchen Maid & her would be suitor turned Chimera, she sets out to find a way to get back her parents & defeat an evil Witch while she's at it.


On her journey you will see some familiar faces that are very different from the characters you would remember, if you are familiar with the Oz stories. It is just fun seeing how the story will progress and what Schow does with the characters we know and love. It has some very funny and witty one liners, as well nods to fairy tale lovers everywhere.