Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

September 16th, 2013 Kimberly Review 75 Comments

16th Sep
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Enchanted
by Alethea Kontis
Series: Woodcutter Sisters #1
Narrator: Katherine Kellgren
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Gifted
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Narration: 4.5 cups

It isn’t easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true. When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises. The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past—and hers?

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis is the first book in the Woodcutter Sisters series, and was my first audiobook experience. Thanks to Sync I was able to enjoy this for free. Carrying around my smartphone with earbuds as I cleaned and cooked was fun and I am so glad this particular book was my first. Three-word review: magical, humorous and engaging.

Enchanted is a magical blend of familiar fairy tales from Rapunzel to Jack and the Beanstalk. We meet Sunday the woodcutter’s daughter who has befriended an enchanted frog. One evening Sunday kisses her from goodnight, not realizing that he is Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland, sworn enemy of her family. But the heart loves who it chooses. A ball, evil stepmother, magic, and feelings for a prince she hardly knows turn Sunday’s world upside down. The tale that unfolds is enchanting as one fairy tale blends into another keeping me thoroughly entertained.

The woodcutter’s children are all named after days of the week. Kontis did a wonderful job of giving them each their voice. Sunday is delightful, strong and a perfect heroine. Rumbold is a times stuffy and unsure, but he slowly comes into his own. The romance is cute, and perfect for this fable. Some of the siblings really stood out and I am looking forward to their stories. There are humorous secondary characters and villains to keep the reader engaged.

Katherine Kellgren did a lovely job with the audio, from pitch to pacing, she enabled me to see the story unfold. Listening to a book is so different from reading one, and I actually had to train myself to focus since there was nothing visual keeping my mind occupied. Once I got the hang of it the tale unfolded at a wonderful pace. I loved all the tales the author weaved into the story. She blended them seamlessly and none of it felt forced. The world-building was wonderful and the castle and surrounding woods came to life. Adults and children alike would enjoy this and I think this would make a great road trip book. While this is part of a series, it ends with closure after a climactic scene. I can easily see why this was in the top ten in the category: Best Fiction for Young Adult in 2013.

I highly recommend the audio or book version of Enchanted and think it is one the whole family will enjoy. Hero is the next book in the Woodcutter Sisters series and releases October 1, 2013. It features Saturday’s story and I look forward to it.

 

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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75 Responses to “Enchanted by Alethea Kontis”

  1. Lark of the Bookwyrm's Hoard

    Great review, Kimba! I was excited for this book before it came out, and then never got hold of a copy until the SYNC free audiobook was available. Now I’m eager to listen to it, especially after your review. I just need to get through a few other audiobooks first (stuff I was listening to earlier, some with my husband and some with my daughter.)

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Sync was a YA summer program on the next that gave 2 audio books a week for free, I only found it thanks to other bloggers 🙂

  4. Jan

    I have this book from Sync as well. Thanks for the review it sounds like a good book! It’s nice to have audio books occasionally when I have other things to do and can’t read so this will move up in the queue!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Agreed, I am going to try and listen to one a month..nothing to crazy 🙂

  5. Michelle

    I grabbed this one from Sync too! I need to get around to listening to all of those awesome freebies. I’m so glad that this one turned out to be a fun magic filled audio.

  6. Silvia

    Enchanted sounds… enchantingly fun!
    I must say, I don’t have “Audiobooks experience”, it’s not something I’m completely sure I would enjoy and so I keep avoiding it. But I’m very happy it works so well for you and that you got to enjoy such a great book! 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thanks Silvia, audiobooks are something I think I will enjoy occasionally and will always prefer books 🙂

  7. Cyn

    Glad to hear you enjoyed the narrator! I still need to listen to it (yay for free download!) but I have read the book already and really liked it. Speaking of which, I’m excited to check out the next book soon! Great review Kim!

  8. S.Huston

    I hadn’t come across this book yet but thanks to your review and the way the book sounds I will definitely be adding it to my To-Read shelf.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Thanks, to be honest until I stumbled on the free audio I had not heard of it and it is such a fun listen/read.

  9. Kim { Book Swoon }

    I actually bought this in hardback when it first came out because it sounded so good to me. I’ve totally forgotten about it-my daughter “borrowed it” and loved it and I still have not read it yet. LOL. Time to steal it back-thanks for the great review Kim. 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I have a few books my girls took and I am still waiting for them back..if they weren’t family I would ban them from my library!

  10. roro

    I Love Sunday and rumbald. I have not yet done a review though,I read it last year in June. Hoping I get the chance to read about Saturday’s story soon. great review Kimba

  15. Naomi

    Enchanted sounds like fun! I haven’t listened to a book before, not sure if I would enjoy it, I might space out too much! Great review.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I did at first, like I said it too a little while to retrain my brain!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I did at first, like I said it too a little while to retrain my brain!

  16. Lil Berry

    As you said Katherine Kellgren’s audio book version of this book is great, it somehow reminds me of how my mom used to read stories to me and give the characters a their own voice but you know Katherine does it in a more professional way.
    I can’t wait for the next audio book to come out >.<

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Agreed, she made it animated, and I am looking forward to Saturday’s story too 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      This is a cute, fast-paced, whimsical story that you could listen to with children and the blending of fairy tales was well done 🙂

  19. DannyBookworm

    Audiobooks are awesome and so much fun!! I have some favorite narrators which just add a whole level of excitement to a story. But of course, if the narrator isn’t as great it can ruin a book. (Like the Kate Daniels books, where I stopped listening after half and hour and switched to reading)

    Anyway! This book sounds great and lovely! I didn’t have this book on my radar, but it sounds so cute and needs to get back on my to-read list!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thanks Danny, until I learn who is a good narrator and who to avoid I am being careful in my selections

  20. Kristilyn (Reading in Winter)

    I really liked this one, too! In fact, my review is up today, as well. 🙂 I really liked the blend of different fairy tales … I’m sure there are plenty that I didn’t even get as I was reading, but I was definitely impressed. Looking forward to Saturday’s story!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      we are review twins..too funny, and yes this was a joy to listen too!

  21. Candace

    Oh this one sounds like a lot of fun! I think I might like this kind of book on audio as well. I didn’t grab it, but I wish I had!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Candace this is the perfect audio for in the car with your daughter, clean, humorous, and sweet.

  22. Michelle

    I just got this book from the library. It looks super cute and im glad that you said it has awesome world building AND that nothing felt forced. I need to read this book ASAP!

    Thanks for the great review!

    Michelle @ Book Briefs

  23. Pooja

    I loove the sound of this. It’s so cute! I love how you enjoyed listening to it in the kitchen and stuff. I want to read Enchanted. Lovely review, Kimba 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It was cute Pooja and yep I was rocked it out with the smartphone in my back-pocket..LOL

  24. Andrea

    Audiobooks are very nice to listen to while cleaning. I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Kim. I don’t typically enjoy re-tellings, but I may give this a try.

  25. Berls

    I keep forgetting that I have this one that I got through Sync since it’s not with my other audio books. But it sounds really great – I’m glad that narration was pleasant (especially for your first audio) and I love that the story weaves in so many different fairy tale elements. I’m going to have to start listening to it soon! Great review Kimba 🙂

  26. Sam

    I liked this book too. I thought it was really cute and I loved how it incorporated so many tales into one story.

  27. Nick

    I have never listened an audiobook, but I don’t think I have time to listen to one either. I read this book last year and really enjoyed it.
    The author’s writing was beautiful.
    Plus, I loved the story. I’m glad that you liked it too, Kim!
    Lovely review, Kim! 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Ya know Nick, I thought the same thing, especially since my commute to work is under 5 mins..but using my smartphone with ear buds and doing silly things like sweeping, washing dishes and making beds..I blew this out in no time.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Exactly, it isn’t often we would want to share an audio book with young children, but this would work 🙂

  29. Adriana

    It’s so cute that their names are the days of the week. Yay! We get to read her sisters stories as well. I’ve seen this book around but I’ve never read a review of it. It sounds even better than I thought! I worry about audio books and not being able to catch the real essence of the story that way but it seems it worked out for you. This sounds like a great retelling. I love fairytales <3

    • kimbacaffeinate

      This was very animated, and perfect for the whole family Adriana 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Isn’t it cute, I think it would make a cool listen on a family road trip.

  31. Christa

    Yay welcome to the audiobook world! I’m always on the look out for good recommendations so I’ll have to add this to my “to-listen” list

  32. Chene Sterckx

    I actually also won an Audio book only to realise I didn’t qualify as I live outside the US. This sounds like a good magical fun escape 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Thanks Loupe and this is one the whole family can listen too. It is clean, and has a Disney vibe to it.

  34. brandileigh2003

    Glad you enjoyed your first audio experience and it would be neat to have on while doing things, but I think that my girls are still too loud for me to try 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      This would be perfect for in the car Brandi with the girls, and this is squeaky clean! I think they would enjoy it as well, the narrator is quite animated.

  35. kindlemom1

    I am glad you liked this one Kim, for the most part I like retellings but they can be tricky and really do need to be done well. I bet it was fun listening to it while you worked! I really should do that more, I would get so much more reading done if I did!

  36. kimbacaffeinate

    I have books like that in my tbr pile-bought them on release day and then nothing! LOL

  37. Tanja

    This is one of these books that I couldn’t wait to come out and now year or so later is still somewhere on my Kindle. I haven’t probably even started it. It happens too often. Anyhow it sounds like amazing read and I must get to read it. I’ll try to get audio book as it sounds even better. Great review Kim 🙂

  38. blodeuedd

    I am listening to it at the moment and enjoying it 🙂 I had some issues with the narrator at first but got used to her