A Kiss In Time is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. In this story, when the princess of Euphrasia pricks her finger on a spindle and the entire country falls asleep, it also disappears off the map. No one knows it’s there, until a couple of idiot teenage boys (escapees from an educational trip) hack through the thickets and find it. One of them, Jack, decides to kiss Talia when he finds her asleep on the floor. Which I personally find really creepy (Edward Cullen level creepy) even if it’s supposed to be fairy tale love or something. Remember, Edward watches Bella sleep because they’re meant to be; destiny (real or imagined) does not make this any less creepy.
Anyway. Talia wakes up, and so does everyone else in Euphrasia. They discover they’ve been asleep for three centuries, and the modern world is not what they’re used to. Jack and Talia tell the story, alternating chapters, as this Sleeping Beauty leaves the only place and time she’s ever known, still looking over her shoulder for the witch who cursed her centuries ago.
This is a fun twist on fairy-tale retelling, and I do love fairy tales. I like the idea, but the story itself isn’t really fast-paced, and it took me awhile to get through; it does not beg to be read. Despite the fact that it’s easy to put down, though, it’s also easy to pick back up, and overall an enjoyable reading experience.
The characters weren’t extremely well-drawn, but I did appreciate that they change realistically based on their new experiences; at first, Jack is an idiot and Talia is a spoiled brat, but they manage to move beyond that. The changes, however, are told more than they are shown. It’s sad, but I was more intrigued by some minor characters (particularly Meryl, Jack’s sister) than I was by the (kind of boring) main characters.
The alternating narration was not particularly necessary. Neither voice was particularly distinct or developed; it was more like the same person was changing point of view than two different people were changing the story. It’s like a picture drawn by the same person from two different angles, rather than the two different interpretations of a scene drawn by different artists, like good alternating narration should be. The writing as a whole is fine, but not exceptional.
[SLIGHT SPOILER WARNING]Jack and Talia’s happy-ever-after is too easy. The great quest that all fairy tales come with is relatively simple, but they act like it’s a hard-won battle against evil, when really it’s all kind of a misunderstanding.[END SPOILERS]
As a whole, however, this book was, while unremarkable, not terrible. I don’t finish terrible books. For fans of fairy tale retellings, it will do. However, I expected more of Alex Flinn, because she is a talented writer, and could do much better than this. Two and a half out of six windows.
1/2
February 25, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Great concept but sounds like the delivery kinda blew. Pity.
February 25, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Hmm, I’ve been looking forward to this one. I enjoyed her take on Beauty and the Beast.
September 5, 2010 at 12:14 am
i love that book
February 26, 2009 at 3:04 am
Hmmm…as much as I love fairy tale retellings, this one sounds like a miss.
February 26, 2009 at 11:13 am
Ooh, I love fairy tales like this! Gregory Maguire has done some amazing ones too…
February 26, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Sounds like a great idea, poorly delivered
March 7, 2009 at 7:58 am
[…] (Pretties)64. Dana(Sunday Phil Club)65. melydia (Naked)66. Jocelyn (Wondrous Strange)67. Jocelyn (A Kiss In Time)68. Sarah M., LH (The Making of a Marchioness)69. Sarah M., LH (The Sittaford Mystery)70. Word Lily […]
April 3, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Actually, I thought it was GREAT! I just read a preview and really enjoyed it!
April 20, 2009 at 10:06 pm
[…] she hopes to win his love before the witch who cursed her can spirit her away. Ages 12+. Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4. Amaranth Enchantment: Orphaned at age five, Lucinda, now fifteen, stands with courage […]
June 22, 2009 at 6:26 pm
the story does start out kinda slow but you have to force your way through it and eventually it gets better.
October 24, 2012 at 5:55 pm
i agree
October 21, 2009 at 5:22 pm
one of the best books i have ever read. couldn’t put it down!!
October 24, 2012 at 5:56 pm
that was exactly what happened to me. i read it in an hour
November 3, 2009 at 5:05 pm
OMG i loved this book. it seemed kind of cheezy at first, but it gets better. It is also really funny!
November 9, 2011 at 6:38 pm
i thought the same thing i love the part about the jello demon. :)
October 24, 2012 at 5:57 pm
i like the part when he says that he was seeing purple monkeys after him and his friend got drunk.
April 23, 2010 at 5:47 pm
THIS WAS THE GREATEST BOOK IN THE WORLD… im not finished with it though…
June 2, 2010 at 11:57 pm
It’s quite enjoyable. I mean something interesting to pass time. :D I like it. I would choose this over twilight in a heartbeat.
November 21, 2010 at 4:40 pm
OMG! I soooo agree w/ you! I hate twilight!
June 15, 2010 at 1:03 am
I actually like reading it. Fairytale sweet story :)!
June 30, 2010 at 7:21 pm
I agree with your review completely. A sweet story but not very memorable. And your Twilight reference made me laugh, finally someone who agrees with me about Edward!
October 28, 2010 at 3:09 am
Hi! I’ve just written my own review of the first seven chapters of this book (I wasn’t able to get through any more than that) and I definitely agree with your summary here. There were peeks at minor characters who seemed much more engaging than the main cast. It could have been a fun story, because how often do you think about the realities of suddenly waking up three hundred years after you fell asleep? I really wish she’d made more of that.
October 28, 2010 at 1:22 pm
ya all gay for readin,,,,
January 22, 2011 at 10:14 am
Don’t you have anything better to do than make stupid comments?
March 27, 2011 at 6:58 pm
hahahaha!oh and what kind of name is “ma dick”? grow up and get a life perv. i got ur back kestrel :)
June 21, 2011 at 7:32 pm
…no comment :/
November 9, 2011 at 6:41 pm
u are a trash mouth. If u read u would be more educated. u are a jerk! :( what is with u. You need to read the bible!! DON’T SAY ANYTHING IF U HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY!!! :)
March 24, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Who would be the Protagonist and Antagonist in this book??
October 24, 2012 at 6:01 pm
the protagonist is Talia or Jack, and the antagonist is either Malvolia, or a self-conflict between Talia and herself
May 5, 2011 at 5:33 pm
thank you for writeing this it helped me with a summary of this book, i loved this book it was very good….
May 28, 2011 at 9:08 pm
I thought this book was amazing, really different than anything I’ve read. It has that same basic storyline as Sleeping Beauty, but the modern twist was amazing. I couldn’t put it down all weekend!
June 21, 2011 at 7:30 pm
I have to read this for summer reading and lol really! “ma dick” haha u HAV 2 get a life. Thx 4 tellin me about this i’m gonna start readin this right…NOW!!
c ya guys,
Simi
July 25, 2011 at 3:13 pm
I loved the book!!! It was awsome!!
July 25, 2011 at 3:15 pm
I hough that the book rocked, i’s in my fav. list.
August 31, 2011 at 1:17 pm
I READ IT AND I FIND IT THE MOST OUTSTANDING BOOK ITS REALLY GREAT FOR TEEN READERS.
November 24, 2011 at 12:52 pm
A amazing story!!!!!
December 6, 2011 at 6:51 pm
i love this book! i like books that have to do with a guy and a girl fighting for their love even if they dont know their in love yet.
December 30, 2011 at 12:22 am
This book was absolutely amazing! I know it sounds kind of cheesy at first, but it wasnt at all. I don’t usually have a lot of time to read, and I’ve gotten quite accustomed to speed reading just enough so i get the plot line and the results. However, with this book I enjoyed it so much I actually took my time. Great read! Highly suggested!
April 16, 2012 at 5:08 pm
This book was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have read it twice in the past 6 months.
October 24, 2012 at 6:04 pm
What are all the other books that Alex Flinn has written? I really enjoyed this one and I want to read more of her books.
February 26, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Very good information. Lucky me I came across your site by chance
(stumbleupon). I have saved as a favorite for later!
October 20, 2015 at 9:18 am
Nice to Come Across Something I Enjoy