Buttercup is an “impossibly lovely” milkmaid living on a farm in the fictional city of Florin. There is a farm boy named Westley who loves her, and says so with every utterance of his famous quote “As you wish.” He travels to America to obtain a fortune so he can marry her, but his ship…
Category: fairytales
“A Court of Thorns and Roses” Book Discussion and White Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes with Lemon Frosting Recipe
Feyre is a hunter by circumstance, though she dreams of her family no longer needing her to enter the dangerous woods near the border to kill for their food, especially during this cold, barren winter. She thrills when a doe is being hunted by an unnaturally large wolf, who she knows could be disguised. Her…
The Swan’s Daughter Book Discussion and Lemon Blueberry Butter Cake Recipe
The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi “Hush Manor was built upon clouds.” Demelza lives in this castle as the youngest daughter of both a powerful wizard and a veritas swan. “Veritas swans were breathtakingly beautiful women” who told the truth and could compel others to as well. But they also have a tragic weakness. Once…
“The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” Book Discussion and Orange Marmalade Roll Recipe
Lucy is the youngest of four children who have been sent to the English countryside to live in a large, old manor house with an elderly gentleman until the bombings of London in WWII have ended. While exploring indoors on a rainy day, she crawls into a deep wardrobe, and out into the land of…
“Winter Rose” Book Discussion and Apple Blackberry Pie Bites Recipe
Winter Rose by Patricia A. McKillip “I walked through a storm and fell asleep in an empty house; when I woke there was a dead man beside me…” Two sisters are preparing for harvest to end and winter to arrive, one is engaged to a farmer, and one is as wild as the autumn winds…
“Once Upon a River” Book Discussion and Easy Apple Cinnamon Buns Recipe
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield At winter solstice in the Swan at Radcot, a weathered pub beside the Thames river, where stories are told and retold round the bar and a roaring fire, a man washes up, banged-up and nearly dead, with a very young girl, as lifeless as a mannequin. Until her…
The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron
A castle in a forest inspires the stories of three women, scattered across centuries. Adeline is engaged to a Duke in 18th century France, though her opinions are more aligned with the “rabble” than the wealthy aristocracy to which she will belong. But when the Duke’s castle is burned by angry serfs, and Adeline as…
“Wintersong” Book Discussion and Chocolate Torte Cupcakes Recipe with Fresh Strawberry Frosting
Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones Der Erlkonig: The Goblin King and Lord of Mischief. As a child, Liesl played in the woods with him, and promised to marry him when they grew up. But watching over her beautiful sister, practicing music with her brother the prodigy, and the daily chores of running an inn with her…
The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor
A young girl named Frances is relocated to her mother’s hometown in England during the first world war. Little does she realize, this event will change her life and affect her entire country. Frances loves playing by the stream in the woods behind her aunt’s house, sometimes with her older cousin Elsie, but typically alone….
“Uprooted” Book Discussion and Apple Cherry Pie Bites Recipe
Uprooted by Naomi Novik Once every ten years, a village girl of seventeen is selected by the wizard in the tower known as the Dragon. Everyone believes the beautiful Kasia will be chosen, not her best friend, the plain Agnieszka whose only talent is finding things like blackberries near the dangerous, corrupted Wood. But when…