I love books that can take a story that we've all heard before, but twist it around into something entirely different. I felt this about Cinder (Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer and any story that is patterned after Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice. The Altered Stones series is another set of books that does just that! The first book, Emerald Bound, takes the classic fairy tale of Princess and the Pea and turns it into a contemporary fantasy (and altered historical fantasy in parts).
Emerald Bound follows the story of two teens - Maggie in present day and Lindy in a fantasy country (bordering present-day Sweden) of nearly 400 years before, as well as Lindy in present day. Both girls in their separate times are tricked into becoming part of an ancient curse involving princesses, emeralds (which are referred to as peas to keep them secret), and uncomfortable mattresses. When Maggie's best friend goes missing, she discovers that gems feed on life and that her own history is quite different than she thought. With the help of present-day Lindy and Garon, a handsome stranger who is somehow connected to the emerald, Maggie is sent on a quest to retrieve the emerald before her best friend's fate is sealed.
I would highly recommend this book to readers that love a happy ending, but don't mind a bit of mystery and darkness on the side. If you are a fan of Jenni James or other authors that have taken simple fairy tales and woven them into something frightening and beautiful at the same time, you will enjoy the twists and turns of Emerald Bound.
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