Ever After High

Book Title: Ever After High: Storybook of Legends

Author: Shannon Hale

Number of Pages: 304

Rating: 3.5

Genres: Fiction-Fairytale, Fantasy, Magic

Books like it: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine   

My favorite quote:

“Apple’s MirrorPhone played a measure of One Reflection’s single “You Don’t Know You’re Charming” to announce she’d received another hext message.”

Brief Synopsis from Goodreads:

At Ever After High, an enchanting boarding school, the children of fairytale legends prepare themselves to fulfill their destinies as the next generation of Snow Whites, Prince Charmings and Evil Queens...whether they want to or not. Each year on Legacy Day, students sign the Storybook of Legends to seal their scripted fates. For generations, the Village of Book End has whispered that refusing to sign means The End-both for a story and for a life.

As the daughter of the Evil Queen, Raven Queen's destiny is to follow in her mother's wicked footsteps, but evil is so not Raven's style. She's starting to wonder, what if she rewrote her own story? The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, has a happy ever after planned for herself, but it depends upon Raven feeding her a poison apple in their future.

What if Raven doesn't sign the Storybook of Legends? It could mean a happily never after for them both.

My Summary:

Someone of my age should not enjoy this type of thing, but this book was so fun that any age should read it.

Introduction:

This book was about Ever After High, a highschool for future story book characters. The characters were fun, (especially Maddie, aka the next Mad Hatter) and some of the lines were cheesy, but overall this was a good book for anyone who wants a break from tense, action filled books. This book brought out my inner child reader. I loved Shannon Hale as a kid, and this story was fun and a VERY easy read. With things like hext messages instead of texts, Tailor Quick instead of Taylor Swift, and One Reflection instead of One Direction, I had a lot of fun on Hale’s ride to Happily Ever After.

My Synopsis:

*Caution: I use A LOT of Once Upon A Time Gifs in this Review

At Ever After High, everyone knows what their destiny is. On Legacy Day, each student will sign the Storybook of Legends, and begin the role in their story. Everyone is content with their role to play, and can’t wait to start their stories. Except one.

Raven Queen.

Raven is the next in line to be the evil queen in the Snow White story. There is only one problem: Raven doesn’t want to be evil. She has a good heart, and is friends with Apple White, the next Snow White. She isn’t sure if she wants to someday poison Apple with an apple. Even though she knows it’s her destiny, and that Apple will awaken from the curse, Raven still has her doubts.

Apple White knows this. As the highest of the princesses, and the president of the student council, it is her job to make sure everyone signs the Book of Legends. When she finds out that Raven might intend to not sign the Book of Legends, she decides to take action. After all, if Raven doesn’t take her part and sign, the story of Snow White will simply disappear. And Apple? She will go POOF! Simply cease to exist. The end.

“I mean, without the antagonist, there would be no story! It’d be like: ‘Once upon a time there was a girl who wanted to be loved, so she met a prince and got married and lived Happily Ever After, The End’? That’s not a story; that’s a bumper sticker.”

As Legacy Day comes closer and closer, Apple and Raven start to uncover a hidden secret. It turns out that someone has refused to sign the book before. Apple and Raven have never heard of their story, and Raven starts to feel uneasy. What if she really disappears if she doesn’t sign the book?

Raven Queen must make a huge decision: Either she must step into her mother’s shoes and become the evil queen she never wanted to be, or she destroys her story forever.

Characters:

My favorite character was Hunter, the Huntsman in Snow White. I knew he had some secrets. He just seemed like the secretive kind. Another thing that I completely loved about him is that every time there was a damsel in distress, he would be the one to come to the rescue. Here comes the funny part, though.

“A salivating wolf was in hot pursuit of Lizzie Hearts, who kept shouting, “Off with its head! Off with its head!” “I’ll help you!” Hunter rushed toward Lizzie Hearts, pausing first to rip off his shirt, place his fists on his hips, and strike a bold pose. Out of nowhere, trumpets played a heroic fanfare. “Oh!” Cupid said in surprise. The winged, pink-haired girl had transferred to the school just that year. “I didn’t realize there would be so much trumpeting and tearing of shirts at Ever After High.” “Hunter does that,” Raven whispered to Cupid. “The shirt thing. We’re not really sure why.”   

Every single time in the book that he had to save someone, he ripped off his shirt, struck a pose, and invisible horns popped out of nowhere and played a “heroic fanfare.” EVERY SINGLE TIME! The first time I didn’t think it was really funny the first time, but by like the third time, I was giggling.

“Well, write me into the list of Those Who Don’t Mind a Bit,” said Cupid, eyeing his perfectly toned arms and chest. “My, but he will break a few hearts.”   

The only character I REALLY disliked was…. Apple. Yes, I know. I’m a horrible person for saying Snow White was the worst character. But this was no Mary Margaret. She was kind of a brat. She wasn’t the kind, loving person that Snow White should be. She was self-centered and didn’t ever stop to think about Raven’s feelings. It really bugged me. Maybe Hale wanted her to seem like a snot, I don’t know.

Another character that I loved: Maddie. She was Raven’s best friend and the future Mad Hatter. And boy, was she mad. Madly funny!

“Raven heard a crunch. “Maddie!” said Raven. “You’re not supposed to eat the stone.” “Why not?” said Maddie. “It’s delightfully crunchy.” “How do you even do that?” Raven asked. “I mean, it’s a rock.” Maddie shrugged. “Sometimes things aren’t impossible the first time I try, because I don’t know they’re impossible yet. I probably couldn’t do it again, though.”   

Conclusions:

This book will bring out your inner child. If you love fairytales, you should check out this book. It is a cute, easy read that you will have fun with.  The characters are cute, funny, and although sometimes cheesy, they are good for laughs. If you just finished an emotional book or a long book, settle back on the couch and open up Ever After High. Don’t resist the temptation, this apple isn’t poisoned.