Jaclyn and the Beanstalk by Mary Ting Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
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Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Jaclyn looks up to her father. An honest man who once fought for the king, he now teaches Jaclyn how to use her wits—and her sword.
But he has a secret. And his secret may have a connection to the one thing Jaclyn is hiding from him.
Upon hearing “monsters” are terrorizing the small villages around Black Mountain, Jaclyn’s father and his friends head out to hunt them … but they don’t return.
Armed only with her sword and three magic beans—a gift from a mysterious old woman—Jaclyn sets out for Black Mountain to save her father.
On her climb, one bean drops and grows into a beanstalk, catching her when she falls.
She isn’t the only one that takes the ride. Jack, her childhood friend and secret crush, is following her.
Together, Jaclyn and Jack must battle to save not only their fathers, but the townspeople the beasts plan to lay waste to before it’s too late.
Review:
Jaclyn and The Beanstalk was a magical tale filled with adventure, love and family. It was an entertaining take on Jack and the Beanstalk and I loved how creative this story was at times. While it held some of the same elements as the original tale, it was interesting watching how it veered off onto its own path. When I reached that last page, three shining things stood out to me, and they were:
How in the world can a tiny little bean help me?
✮ The creativity in this retelling:
What fate awaits a girl who hears monsters at night?
While this book shared a lot of similarities with the original tale, its bright spot was how there was a unique twist on almost every single one of those similarities. This time it was a girl named Jaclyn who was given the beans and inadvertently grows the beanstalk. There was also a Jack in this story and I absolutely loved him….more about him below! Instead of a giant, there were monsters and they were nightmare inducing. Everything that surrounded them was a huge mystery that we got to unravel. I’m not going to say anymore than that because there were a lot of surprises along the way and it was a lot of fun seeing how it all played out!
✮ Jacyln:
“This is my destiny. This is my story.” I knew this to be my fate in every vein, bone, muscle, and in my soul.
Jaclyn was who we followed on this adventure and who was given the magic beans. But she was so much more than I thought she would be. Her father had trained her to be a fighter and I loved how fierce and brave she could be! While she had some growing up to do, we got to watch her mature as the story unfolded. She was on the right path and I loved how she always had faith in herself. So I had fun cheering her on!
✮ Jack:
“Name your price,” Jack said, panic struck in his eyes. “Take me. I beg you let her be.”
Jack was a childhood friend of Jacyln and we got to meet him as the story progressed. From the moment we met Jack, I liked him right from the start. He was mature, strong and definitely swoon worthy. Especially since he knew what he wanted, which was Jaclyn, and he had no problem speaking his mind. I loved how protective he was of her and how he could also joke so easily at the same time. He was a wonderful book boyfriend and I know a lot of people are going to be caught up in his charm!
I shuddered a breath in horror. Smoke shaped like the devil’s hand with long fingernails reached for the sky.
It had begun.
I was happy to see that this book wrapped up nicely and that there was an epilogue that jumped into the future. In that epilogue there was an element that left the possibility for a future book possible, so that idea was a lot of fun to think about! So if you’re into retellings, check this book out. But I have to give a heads up that there was a lot of biblical references throughout the story. It influenced so many aspects, including the characters. I still had a lot of fun with the characters and watching how the story played out, even though I’m not the biggest fan of having that in the stories I pick up. And while this book is YA, it would be a great first step for someone coming from MG!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by Xpresso. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
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About Mary Ting:
International Bestselling Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.
Giveaway:
This sounds like a really fun and unique twist on the original, and it sounds well written overall, too! Great review! 🙂
Giselle recently posted…Cover Reveal Sign-Up: Love Over Logic by Diana A. Hicks
I loved the unique twist on an original tale, it was so much fun! Thank you, Giselle!
Fantastic review Jen! I do love retellings and that cover is gorgeous. I’m not a big fan of religion in a book, but I may have to give this a try.
I’m not a fan of religion being in my books either and this is definitely laced heavily throughout the book. If you’re wanting to try one of her books I almost would lean towards recommending you ISAN instead. It’s a ya dystoptian that felt fresh and unique and left me dying for the next book lol.
I wanted you to LOVE this, because then I know I’d love it, too. I’ll probably still read it, though, because it sounds fun.
T.H. Hernandez recently posted…Release Day + Giveaway – FIGHTING FOR WHAT’S HIS (Warrior Fight Club) by Laura Kaye
Aw sorry lol! I’m not sure how you and the religion aspect will pan out, but within those first few chapters you’ll get a feel for how it is throughout the book. I’m looking forward to your review!
Great Review, Jen! I love retellings and I’ve never read a Jack and the Beanstalk retelling. This sounds very interesting and unique. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m adding it to my TBR!
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I’ve never read or even heard of a Jack and the Beanstalk retelling and this was such a unique version of it. I’m so glad I got to read it!