Once Upon A...

Author: Dennis L. McKiernan
Rating: 3.75 Bookworms
My Opinion:
Yet another series...It is amazing how much reading you can do when you can't use your hands. Dennis L. McKiernan writes on the premise that fairy tales were somewhere in time actual events that took place but over time ane retelling much of the story was forgotten or left out. He restores these tales of fairy for us in these delightful books. Of the four books in the series I have read three of them and if the fouth one is back at the library tomorrow I'll read it this week. The four books in this series are:

Once Upon a Winter's Night (the one I haven't read)
Once Upon a Summer Day
Once Upon an Autumn Eve
Once Upon a Spring Morn

These tales are all set in the wonderful world of farie. This is a mystical, magical part of our world that is separated by great walls of twilight. There are many lands in farie all filled with pixies, sprites, elves,ogers, trolls, gobblins, witches, wizards, princesses, princes, kings, and queens. There are even humans living in among all these various good and evil magic creatures. Each of these books tell a tale that involves one of four brothers and sisters. Each is the ruler of their own remarkable domain known as the Forests of the Seasons. Springwood is a land of eternal springtime where some trees are new-leafed while others are budding. The land is always just waking from the clutches of winter that never comes. Princess Celeste is the beautiful ruler of this gentle land. This is the land that borders the mortal world on once side and on the other lies the land known as Winterwood. Here the land is caught in eternal winter. Snow and ice clad the trees and great blizzards blow. It is beautiful but harsh and much loved by Prince Borel. Beyond the twilight border is Autumnwood which is the land of eternal fall. Fields are always ready for harvest, fruit trees are always ready to be plucked, gardens are always producing foods. Should you pick an apple from a tree it will be replaced the moment you are not looking. Trees are always dressed in beautiful fall colors. This domain is ruled by Princess Laize. Finally there is Summerwood which is the land of eternal summer. It is a region of beautiful fields, forrests, and a land where soft summer breezes blow along with the occasional thunder storm. Here Prince Alain is the master of the land.

Each of the siblings have an adventure that takes them across many enchanted lands and their quest helps them find their true love. Each must face challenges and defeat the forces of evil with the help of the Three Fates. They work together with the quirky characters they meet along the way to accomplish great deeds of valor and face terrible foes.

These are fun books based on popular fairy tales you will all recognize as the story is developed. These are the "unedited" restored versions so they make for fun grown up reading. I would not recommend the stories for children but teens and above would enjoy the escapades of these adventurers as they go about their quest.

Buy It or Borrow it:
I borrowed these books from our library and that's a good place for them. I enjoyed them but don't feel a great need to add them to my collection.