Spirited

Goodreads Synopsis:   In May 1756 war is formally declared between the British and the French. During this highly dangerous time, Isabella Sevens is travelling with her father to the British stronghold Fort William Henry.

In the forest, Wusamequin, the young and handsome medicine man, looks to avenge the death of his wife and child at the hands of British soldiers. When Wusamequin spots Isabella and her father, he alerts his warriors to capture them. But Wusamequin is quite taken with how bravely Isabella battles. He orders the warriors to spare her and her father, and they are dragged back to their village. However, many members of the Mohican tribe still want them to be killed. In a desperate plea to Wusamequin, Isabella vows to stay as his hostage if he lets her father go.

My Thoughts:

-    In the copy of the book I read, the font on every other page was terrible.  The lines are fat and it makes it harder to read.

 -    The story isn't so much a Beauty and Beast re-telling as much as a Dances with Wolves story.  To be honest...it is Dances with Wolves but the roles are switched.  The man is an Indian and the woman is English.  There wasn't even a beast...he was an Indian.  I know the white people viewed them as beasts, but I prefer re-tellings of this story to have some sort of deformed/cursed person.

-    I liked the little fairy people.  They added some light fun to a more serious/somber story.

-    Isabella is a really strong female protagonist.  I really liked how she was a fighter as well as a lady.

-    The story has been done SOOOOO much that I just don't appreciate it anymore.  I understand the whole moral of the thing, but I'm getting tired of this particular plot.  It isn't original.  

-    I thought the way the author used magic in the story was really well done.  It was a little mysterious and had the Indian vibe, but it wasn't over the top.