How does one modernize a fairy tale? Fairy Tales are often the stories we grow up with, and often are part of our childhood. But as we go into a time where everything is done electronically, and we have information at our finger tips, wouldn’t some of that magic fade with time? Obviously that is untrue since we still dream of what it was like to be a knight in shining armor or princess like Cinderella, whose fate was decided by a shoe. It is the idea of something magical that would happen to us and our lives would be forever changed. Chasing Midnight by Courtney King Walker is an insight to the idea of what if we got anything we wanted with a simple act of magic?
Mackenzie Love dreams of being a “lucky one”—someone who has the perfect life. Someone who doesn’t have to worry about money, a sick brother, or her high school status. So when a mysterious visitor offers to make all her wishes come true, Mackenzie jumps at the chance. But the royal lifestyle may cost more than Mackenzie is willing to pay in this modern twist on the classic Cinderella story.
I have mixed feelings about this book. Overall they are positive, and I actually enjoyed the book in its entirety, but there are moments in the book where I wanted to throw it against the wall. Grrrrr. Courtney’s writing is lovely, and creative and energetic. I loved that you could follow along with this easy read and that is paid homage to Cinderella with its own twist. Overall the story was impeccably written for a Young Adult age group and would be a great additional for any fairy tale lover or Disney junkie (yeah I went there). Courtney is a fantastic story teller who captures the hopes and dreams of any young girl who looking for a better life than her own. The book ends on a positive note and give off a positive theme to its readers that happiness is a choice. It is unique to see Young Adult novels that are giving out positive images and reassuring a world of young people of appreciating what they have and the life that are given, which is an often rare thing to read. I love that Courtney (intentional or not) is giving something to the younger generations, and showing them a positive example of teenage life and growth. So I know you are wondering, if I am raving about the book, what is it that I didn’t like?
Well, the main character right in the middle of the book was becoming SUPER annoying. I am having a hard time finding the words but it was some of that character’s actions that were so cringe worthy that it was hard to read on. There was even a point in the story where I wanted to reach into the book and shake Mackenzie till she gain some common sense. The repeating question was often “what is wrong with you?” when reading this book. But I guess Courtney wanted an authentic portrayal of how teenagers are, and you are often faced with the thought “what are you doing?” when being around teenagers. So if Courtney wanted to portray an authentic teenage life then she pretty much nailed it on the head, since there were moments where I wanted to shoot her. There were a few other characters that annoyed me but they also reminded me of people I went to high school with. I know that anyone who reads this book will know of people who are those characters. She did a wonderful job relating real life to her fictional work and gives the reader a change to take her work and allow it to mirror the reader’s life.
Courtney does a wonderful job in giving life to the modern teenager with a fairy tale twist. I would highly recommend it, so if you are looking for a light read with a little magic but are not into the whole fantasy thing, give Chasing Midnight a try. It will bring out all of our inner Cinderella.
Happy Reading!
Disclaimer: I was sent Chasing Midnight for free from Jennifer Halligan PR for an honest review. This review is of my own work, and I did not copy or refer to any other reviewers/writers/bloggers for this post. All content provided on “A Comfy Chair” is for informational purposes only. I make no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. I will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. I will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.
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