Review: Kill Me Softly

Title: Kill Me Softly
Author: Sarah Cross
Publication Date: April 10, 2012
Publisher EgmontUSA

Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own . . . brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.

Holy WOW.
This book is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the BEST fairy tale retellings I've ever read.

Sarah Cross's concept of these modern fairy tale curses is so original and so unbelievably creative that I fell head over heels for the world of Beau Rivage.

I loved how Cross weaves together all these classic fairy tale stories and elements so that each of the characters could all coexist together. But if you think that these are your Disney happily-ever-after stories, then think again! These are dark Grimm brothers fairy tales--they're gruesome and slightly creepy and I freakin' loved every minute of it!

NOw let's talk abou the fabulous assortment of characters in this story. OH. My. Gosh. These characters. Well to start off, there's just about a character from every classic fairy tale present in this one book! The modern representations of Snow White, the Huntsman, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and the Beast were all spot-on in their portrayal while still giving them originality.These characters are all pretty cynical because of their respective curses/destinies, but I think that gives them all a lot of complexity. One the one hand, they want to fight their destiny, but they also know it's ultimately inevitable.

Mira, the protagonist, was a great character, though admittedly, it took me some time to warm up to her. The character that really stole the show for me was Blue Valentine. I totally thought he was your average cocky bad-boy, but never have I been so happy to be wrong! Blue is one of the most selfless, kind, swoon-worthy characters I've ever encountered!. After learning everything he'd been through, realizing the reasons for his actions, I just wanted to give him a big fat hug.

The only thing keeping this book from a 5 star rating is the 3rd person narration. It kept me from really connecting with the main character, but I will admit that this gives the story a more fairy-tale-esque vibe. With regards to POV, I think it's just a personal preference kind of thing. The diction was just absolutely beautiful and there were so many passages I marked to quote!

Rating: 4.5 stars!!

All in all: LOVED this book. The concept of the interconnected fairy tales in the modern world is just fabulously written, and I can't wait for a companion novel!!

My Book Boyfriend: Blue Valentine

MBB is an awesome weekly meme started by Missie The Unread Reader (find out more at by reading the intro post) and is currently co-hosted by Lesley over at My Keeper Shelf!

I recently finished Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross and I have FALLEN IN LOVE.
Not just with the creativity of the fairy tale retelling, but with BLUE VALENTINE. 

When Mira runs away to Beau Rivage, the place of her birth and her parents' deaths, she discovers that something very strange is going on.
In Beau Rivage, fairy tale characters come to life--and are forced to embrace their fairy tale destiny--and no, it's not the happily-ever-after fairy tale, but the dark, Grimm version.
There she meets Blue, an obnoxious boy with a dark secret and curse of his own, who wants Mira gone the moment he sees her.

A little bit about Blue...

• He's got an older brother named Felix who harbors a dangerous secret of his own
• his mother left when he was 4 and his father is rarely there
• "His hair and even his eyebrows were blue. Blue like sour candy, like poster paint, His hair stuck out from his head in spikes, stiff and sharp, and he had a smirk to match. A etal barbell pierced his left eyebrow."
• He has a heart mark on his back that symbolizes his fairy tale destiny/curse
• Blue acts like a jerk at first, but the more you get to know him, the more you realize that he's really not  bad or mean at all, it's just his way of trying to protect people, and he's probably one of the most selfless people you'll ever meet.

"Every part of him seemed calculated to drive people away. Like a plant studded with thorns, or an animal whose bright colors signaled poison."

"Why were you crying before? Were you scared?"
Mira shook her head, not sure how much to say. "No. I was...thinking about something that makes me sad."
"Okay. I wanted to make sure we didn't scare you."
"You weren't thinking about that when you broke into my room."
Blue shrugged, looking guilty. "I did want to scare you then. But only to warn you. I never wanted to make you cry--that takes things to a different place."
"What place?"
"A place where I'm hurting people, and not helping them."

"This is hopeless," Blue muttered. 
"Can't you just be happy for me?"
She felt stupid as soon as she'd said it.
Blue barked out a laugh. "No. No, you idiot. I couldn't be more unhappy. You know, I don't usually know the girls he likes. Not like this. I look the other way most of the time. But I met you first. I knew you first.
"I wanted you first," he said. 

"I want to tell you how pretty you are. I want to dance with you,: he said. "I want to know why you read plays and which ones are your favorites. I want to hold you on the beach at night; and I want to make you laugh. I want you to like me--that's my nature. That's what I have to resist. I's so much safer when you hate me, Mira. Because if you wanted me, if you loved me, I could take everything from you. Without even meaning to."

"He put his arms around her, and laid his head on her shoulder--like someone who needed a hug, not someone who was giving one. She rubbed his bare back lightly, her fingers drawn to the smooth heart mark at the base of his spine. It was more than the sign of his curse. He wore his broken heart on his skin."

Goodness I wish I could just type out the whole book for you because it's that good... but I have a feeling that would be frowned upon.
While reading, I pictured Nick Roux as Blue.