| As noted here, I’m commenting daily on the WMG Holiday Spectacular—which is a great project that releases a story every day. These might be reviews. Or not. They might be interesting. Or … um … not. They will be fun, though. For me, at least. Here’s the next story. |
“The (Un)Expected Holiday Season”
Kristine Grayson
The introduction to this story notes that Imperia Encanto is the daughter of Prince Charming and Cinderella. A brief way into the story we find that she (unlike her younger sister Grace) has not inherited any of the charm or magic of her parents—at least not yet anyway.
What a great set-up.
Anyway, I place this story into the category of “score another one for the holiday spectacular project.” I’ve read a few bits and pieces of fractured fairy tales before but they are not the kind of thing that I usually just pick up on the spur of the moment and get into. “The (Un)Expected Holiday Season” makes me wonder why not.
Like any good story, I suppose, this one is dealing with some fairly deep things. Classic themes like the inner workings of families, school cliques of friends, insiders and outsiders, and finding things about ourselves that we were unaware of. It’s set in a schoolyard environment, this one filled with classic friends and bullies, but colored in the airs of Beverly Hills. The events of the story come through running dialogue inside Imperia, who dare I say just wants to celebrate a “normal” Christmas. You know, like all the ones in the movies.
It’s really quite delightful.
Be careful though, after reading this one you might be tempted to go buy “Standing Up For Grace,” which I’m now guessing will carry quite a punch.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit. A light, but satisfying read.
Just what I didn’t know I needed.