Hi Fairy Tale readers! I hope you have been enjoying your retellings! I sure enjoyed my first book. Here is my review.
Title: Enchantment
Author: Orson Scott Card
Pages: 415
Synopsis: The moment young Ivan stumbled upon a clearing in the dense Carpathian forest, his life was forever changed. Atop a pedestal encircled by fallen leaves, the beautiful princess Katerina lay still as death —— while a malevolent presence stirred in the hidden depths below.
Now, years later, Ivan is compelled to return. Ivan finds the clearing just as he left it. This time he does not run….
This is my 3rd rereading of Enchantment. I found Card’s version of Sleeping Beauty in the 25 cent sale at the library. The yellow cover caught my eye and the image of the sleeping princess immediately drew me in. After reading the synopsis, I was hooked.
Enchantment is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but it offers the reader even more than that. Orson Scott Card brilliantly weaves in Russian Folk Tales into the story, such as the tale of old Babba Yaga and her house on chicken legs.
Our “hero,” Ivan, is a young boy when his parents seek citizenship in America. Before leaving Russia, he runs into a mysterious clearing where he first lays eyes on Princess Katerina for the first time. Scared and not yet ready to face his “destiny” he runs away. Years later, Ivan is studying the origin of Russan Folk and Fairy Tales and travels back to Russia for authentic references. Drawn back to the clearing, Ivan discovers that the princess is still there and sets out to save her. The traditional story of Sleeping Beauty ends with the Prince’s kiss and Sleeping Beauty’s rescue. Not so in Enchantment, the real adventures begin after the kiss.
The complexity of this story is amazing. The dialog and characters are rich. Our Sleeping Beauty is strong and protective of her family. She is a hero who also helps save her prince. Orson Scott Card blends the past with the present and brings into question where the origin of fairy tales started. Could they have been based on true tales? This is not a story of true love but of building relationships and trust. Enchantment is a truly unique way to retell the story of our beloved sleeping princess and it is worth the read or 3 rereads.
Favorite Quote: “Running was the way he dreamed. Having never been in control of his life, his idea of freedom was simply to break free. He dreamed of being at the mercy of the wind, carried aloft and blown here and there, a life of true randomness instead of always being part of someone else’s purpose.”
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