Books › Once Upon a Curse
Once Upon a Curse
First published 2004 · 272 pages
A delightfully quirky romp through time that proves the best way to break a curse is with a little pluck and a lot of heart.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a brightly colored, slightly off-kilter fairy tale where the princesses are more likely to roll up their sleeves than wait in a tower. The narrative moves at a brisk, joyful clip, sweeping the reader through time-travel mishaps and magical blunders with a consistently lighthearted and plucky tone. It radiates a cozy, whimsical mood, balancing genuine emotional stakes—like the fear of inheriting a terrible family legacy—with laugh-out-loud comedic relief. The prose is accessible and conversational, making it a breeze to devour. It is an absolute delight for anyone who loves fractured fairy tales, offering a heartwarming journey about defying expectations, embracing who you are, and finding magic in unexpected places.
- Mood
- whimsical
- cheerful
- cozy
- adventurous
- Tone
- lighthearted
- humorous
- earnest
- plucky
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- breaking generational cycles · taking charge of destiny · unconventional heroism · true love and friendship
- The writing
- Accessible and conversational, balancing snappy dialogue with charmingly quirky magical world-building.
- The arc
- Begins with anxious determination, navigates through comedic and frustrating setbacks, and culminates in a heartwarming, triumphant realization of self-worth.
- Who it's for
- Young readers who delight in fractured fairy tales featuring spunky, proactive princesses who rescue themselves.
Content notes
- mild fantasy peril
- appearance-based anxiety
About the book
Many years ago a slighted fairy placed a curse on a beautiful young princess--a curse that caused her and all her female descendants to turn into mean, ugly witches if they ever touched a flower after turning sixteen. Now, Princess Emma, who is about to turn sixteen herself, is determined to break the spell once and for all. Emma travels back in time to the day the curse was placed on her ancestor in the hope of preventing the curse from being cast. Unfortunately she isn't successful in her efforts, but she does learn how to break it. Armed with this knowledge, Emma returns to her own time full of hope. But disaster ensues and Emma is about to give up completely--until true love shows itself in the most unexpected place of all.
With a bit of courage, a pinch of luck, and of course, a healthy dose of magic, Princess Emma charms her way through the third hilarious adventure in this series.
Description from Open Library.
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