It’s not often that I read fantasy or young adult books, but when I met Poppy Solomon at Genrecon her warmth and generosity of spirit shone through. When Poppy sent a copy of her new take on the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, I was intrigued. Poppy’s debut novel is called Woken Kingdom and this Sunshine Coast writer certainly had me hooked from the first page of this modern day spin on an age old favourite.
I am one of three sisters so I loved the fact that our heroine, Maya, is one of three sisters too. Maya comes from the village of Bearra and is brave, fearless and smart. In a twist on the tale, she and the rest of her kingdom had been put to sleep for a hundred years by the fairy Lire, along with their Princess Dawn.
Of course, the princess could only be woken by the kiss of her soulmate and when she is kissed by a Prince, the entire kingdom awakens 100 years later to a vine covered place they are not allowed to leave, where outside of the walls the world has moved on. They are hungry, poor and frightened and Maya’s only way to earn a living is by making books which sell for only a pittance.
The other way to take back power is by retrieving the magical crown that was stolen by Maya’s grandmother and buried with her. However it’s not going to be easy as her tomb is outside the forbidden walls of the city and protected by the strongest of magic. Magic that will take the help of all seven fairies to break.
Fuelled by spite towards the Royal family and fairies, seventeen – year- old Maya bravely heads off on a quest to retrieve the crown armed with only basic supplies: a compass, sturdy shoes and a knife. Along the way she meets the charming and affable Teddy, who becomes her guide and protector, as she navigates the modern world and the varied kingdoms of each fairy. Their bond is immediate. But who is Teddy and what is he hiding? His secret will change both their lives.
Faced with pirates, cursed creatures, good fairies, bad fairies and every type of in between fairy, Maya and Teddy traverse each distinct territory experiencing mystical powers, stunning cities and lush landscapes. But even with her deadly rival causing havoc for the travellers, Maya won’t be stopped. When Maya must choose between saving her family or stopping a lurking evil, who will she betray?
This is a whimsical and magical story which will delight YA readers. Poppy’s characters and world building are strong. As a romance writer I loved the tender and tentative romance between Maya and Teddy. It felt natural and organic and it was easy to see why Teddy was well – loved by everyone he met. Maya is a more prickly and complex character who would have been a lot of fun to write.
Filled with the themes of family, friendship, political divisiveness, bravery, fear and poverty this book covers topics that many modern day readers will relate to. Full of twists and turns that will keep you reading along , Poppy has created a dynamic world peopled with interesting characters and mystical creatures. This is the first in a series for Poppy and I look forward to hearing more from this enchanted world. Woken Kingdom is available now.
Michelle Beesley is a Brisbane born and bred former primary school teacher. A wife, proud grandma and mother of three grown sons, Michelle is thrilled to have recently published her debut contemporary romance novel, It Happened in Paris, with Serenade Publishing. Her novella – Escape to D’ Amour was published in 2019. Michelle’s work can be found in the anthologies – Destination Romance and Short & Sweet. When not reading or writing Michelle can be found at a coffee shop chatting with friends, front row at a fashion show, or beside a rugby union field cheering on her favourite teams.
Michelle is a reluctant traveller, Francophile, keen walker and avid yoga enthusiast plus a book, film and theatre lover who loves everything pink and sparkly (including champagne). You can find Michelle on instagram @michellebeesley_writer and her website: michellebeesley.com.
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