A Kiss in Time

We've all been tired, really tired.  The kind where we just feel that if we could sleep for an entire day and that might not be enough.  But, imagine sleeping for three hundred years.  How crazy would that be?  Pretty darn, I assure you.

In a Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn, Talia and Jack take the lead role in a retelling of the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty.  Now I'm sure most of us are familiar with the Disney version.  You know, the one where Princess Aurora is raised by the fairies, sings a song about true love's kiss, is saved by Prince Phillip in a timely manner, and includes a showdown with a witch turned super scary dragon.  Exactly, I thought you would remember.  Anyway, most of that doesn't happen here.  Let me explain.

In a Kiss in Time Talia (who has Aurora as one of her many middle names- a wink to the Disney classic is always appreciated) has grown up in the castle under strict supervision because she is never to touch a spindle.  You may remember this is the same fear as in the original tale.  On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, the evil witch is able to lure Talia to the spindle, plunging her and the entire kingdom into a deep sleep.

This sleep is so deep that, three hundred years later when Jack arrives everything is just as it was.  Jack has managed to give his seemingly boring tour of Europe the slip in hopes of finding a beach.  But what he does find is the forgotten kingdom of Euphrasia.  As you might have imagined, Jack bestows a kiss upon Princess Talia and brings the entire kingdom back to life.  Only they've been asleep for three hundred years.  Mayhem ensues!

I like this book, just as I enjoyed Flynn's recently

adapted for the screen, Beastly.  I've got to tell you that my favorite part of the movie of Beastly is when Kyle's dad says that he doesn't want any "fattycakes"; it cracks me up every time!  Flynn also released Cloaked another fairy tale retelling this year.  I plan to read it soon as well.