Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller: The Child Custody Battle That Turned a Kingdom Upside Down

Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller: The Child Custody Battle That Turned a Kingdom Upside Down
by  Adlai Miller-Bonbour

ISBN: 9780805960242
774 Pages
Available in Paperback

Synopsis:

In this compelling novel we pick up the Rumpelstiltskin story after the Queen guessed his name and avoided giving him her baby. But the legendary elf-genius doesn't give up and sues the Queen for breach of contract. She then was jailed for "disrespecting the king" (he felt her not telling him who produced the gold made him, the mighty monarch look ridiculous) and the King also planned to force Rumpelstiltskin to reveal the formula for making gold. At stake in this "Trial of the Millennium" is not only the custody of a royal baby but a country's future. Will the despot king get the baby and Rumpelstiltskin's gold formula or can the Queen and Rumpelstiltskin join forces to stop this tyrant?

My Thoughts:

When I first received my copy of Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller in the mail, I regarded it with trepidation. The massive 765 page story was quite larger than I had expected, and I became concerned about the content. Then I cracked it open. Gasp! Small font and no pictures! What on earth was I to do? The answer was obvious - dive in!

Dorrance Publishing's Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller is a witty - and wordy - account of the events that happened after the fairy tale ended, when the miller's daughter turned queen foiled Rumpelstiltskin's attempt to take her first born child. If you are looking for an interesting and detailed new perspective on an old story, then you are in the right place. However, if you are looking for a simple or light read, look somewhere else.

On one side, the story is clever and well told. On the other side, there are quite a number of large words and complex concepts. If you graduated in the top of your class and aced your SATs, this is perfect for you. If you didn't, it will probably send you running for a dictionary at least once. The author pegs it in the introduction - vanity. The story is to be written in the perspective of a prince, someone who grew up with everything, all the best education had to offer. So the writing style fits. To me, it seemed perfectly like something a highly educated business analyst turned writer would create, an intelligently funny story, with a little bit of his own vanity showing in the language.

I received a complimentary copy of Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team, in exchange for a fair and honest review. I do believe that since then they have ended the Book Review Team program.

Parent's Guide:

As previously stated, Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller is an extremely complicated book, with lots of high level words and adult concepts. While it is based on a traditional folk tale that is often shared with children, this is by no means a children's book. At best, I would recommend this book to upper level teens who like sarcasm and wit.

What's this? A post! Also, check out this show!

I know, I haven't posted in like a million years. Or, more specifically, 8 years. When I started blogging, I absolutely loved it. But I was dealing with other outside factors and, after a while, trying to keep the deadlines felt like a chore. So I slowed down. At first I felt bad about it. But then I read a post from a fellow blogger that I followed who was experiencing the same thing, and it helped remind me that my mental health was the most important thing and that it was okay to step away. So I did, in a big way. A while back I created a Facebook page and I have been posting tidbits there occasionally. I am hoping to slowly come back to posting media reviews here, once I am comfortably in the headspace to be reading more. But for now, I had something that I really wanted to share:

Today I had the opportunity to pre-screen the first episode of Netflix's newest superhero themed offering - a show called Jupiter's Legacy. I grew up on superhero shows and comics, so I went into it with an objective stance, expecting to be critical of it but still having high hopes. Honestly, it did not disappoint.

Jupiter's Legacy is a true modern superhero show, with plenty of pop culture references, social commentary, and just enough humor to not make it overly dramatic. The show centers on your typical dysfunctional family - but if they were supers. The parents are the standard good guy, slightly overbearing parents, and look really good for their 120-ish year age (though the "silver hair means old while having the skin of a 40-something" thing is always meh). The kids carry some of the common millennial/gen z tropes, but not enough to be annoying yet. The cast is diverse, the costumes are colorful, and the sets are impressive.

Seriously, the costuming is on point. Super suits and
"flashback scene" fashion alike.

This show is definitely not for the younger kids. There is quite a bit of "bad language", mentions of drug usage, and LOTS of violence. The action scenes are a little more graphically violent (some gore) than I usually like, but not to the degree to put me off. Some people may be a little more squeamish at a few scenes. Aside from the action, the rest of the story is detailed and intriguing. It's not too difficult to follow, even with the regular shifting between the past and the current. They are a bit light on exposition, but since it is a series I suppose that is forthcoming. Overall, I look forward to watching and seeing how it progresses.

You can catch #JupitersLegacy on Netflix starting on May 7, 2021.

Further Notes:
There is a warning at the beginning of the episode about strobing lights. I watched on my phone in a well lit room and, having only minor photosensitivity, it wasn't bad. However, if you have photosensitivity, be cautious watching it on a large screen in the dark, as there are several scenes with strobing or flashing lights, like above.

CW // Suicide

Free books!

I know I promised everyone a post this weekend, but sadly, my Nook post is not finished. There is so much that I want to say that I do not want to rush it. So instead, I offer you this: free books!

As I surf through various apps and websites, I try my best to share any free book opportunities that I come by. Here is a selection of various ones I have come by in the past few days that are all currently available, as of the time of this posting.

Hardcover/Softcover:

The Christian radio station Grace to You offers a couple of books that they have discussed on their station as available to request. Each person may only accept ONE free offer from Grace to You.

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is offering a free copy of Seven Fruits of Israel: Recipes and Devotions from the Holy Land.

Digital Magazine:

Zinio is offering a voucher for $50 worth of FREE digital magazines to Facebook users who claim by 1/31/2013.

Also Remember:

Kindle e-books
Amazon always offers a selection of free e-books to their readers. Such as 25 Awesome Bedtime Stories for 1st-4th Graders or A Pony for the Fair (The Gypsy Pony). Find more on amazon.com.

Nook e-books
Do not forget to check the B&N Nook Blog every Friday for their Free Book Friday promotion.


It is hard to imagine that there is anything better than free books, but there is! Winning awesome ones! Keep a look out for a new book giveaway in the beginning of February!

Well that's colorful...

As I mentioned previously, I am currently reading The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl. A word to the wise - this book is not for the feint of heart, or the weak of stomach. Heh. Seriously, it has several very graphic descriptions, right from the start. If wiggly things make you squirm, you may want to take a pass. I usually read much faster than I have been, but I find myself having to set it aside occasionally and take it in small doses. I am not one who is a fan of gratuitous visuals - mostly those involving violence or gore. When I read the description, I was prepared for some level of gore. I mean, that's what Dante is all about. But Mr. Pearl chose to jump in with all these interesting tidbits within the first 5 pages, and I may not have been ready for it yet. >.<

On another note. If you are a fan of e-book readers, or considering buying one, or know anyone else who is...well you get the idea. In fact, even if you aren't, this is important information, so read it anyways! What e-reader do you suggest? I get a lot of my books as e-books, and the android generic RCA Voyager III that I use is painfully slow.

A new year and new books

That's right. Its already 2013. I can't believe a year has passed. Life has been crazy. But now it is time to focus on the new year, which means a new start. New books to read. New experiences to be had. I look forward to it.

On the top of my list of books for 2013 is The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl, which I picked up today while shopping with a friend. She is a frequent reader as well, so I look forward to discussing this book. Of course, I will share any interesting tidbits with you all as well. :)

 Next on the list is a few reviews I did a while back, that were never posted due to personal issues keeping me away. Amongst the titles to come are:
The Ale Boy's Feast by Jeffery Overstreet
A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man by Celeste Bradley
Say Not What If by Andrew Friedman
The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry

 With luck, I can finish out this task list and start fresh into February with a selection of new books!

Yale University Press Sale!

There is a sale on Yale University Press books right now over at One Kings Lane, so be sure to check it out! The sale ends some time Saturday - or whenever they sell out (which they often do) - so check it out soon.

One Kings Lane offers $15 off $30 purchase when you join thru 

THIS LINK.

I have been following sales on One Kings Lane for a while now. Most frequently, they offer closeouts of designer brand housewares and furnishings at a percentage of the original cost. They also have a clearance section with some really great steals, though it is on hiatus for the holiday shopping season and has been replaced with the Gifts sales:

If you are looking for a classy gift for someone, the section of gifts under $50 has some really pretty serving ware and candles for a good price. This sale ends some time Friday, and shipping is guaranteed by Christmas.