I love all the Disney movies and especially enjoyed Brave when it came out so I was really excited for this one! The audio is fantastic and the story itself is so much fun. I love getting to see more of Merida and her parents -- and the witch! I'm a big fan of retellings of all kinds because I love seeing my favorite characters in more adventures. There's magic, time travel, Clan politics, and the whole crazy experience of getting to meet your parents before they even meet each other which is such a fun storyline. In this story Merida's mom is in a very similar situation as Merida herself was in her own time and we get to hear from her POV too which is great. Both young girls are smart, stubborn, independent in their own ways and it's nice to see how much Merida takes after each of her parents. Plus, there's a little romance of course! It's a very cute story and I think Disney fans will love it. Farrah Rochon is a fantastic author and actually has another book coming out this year too so I'm excited to read that one soon.

Lucy Raynor does a great job narrating and is so easy to listen to. She's really clear and gets into the emotion of the characters, bringing life to the story which kept me fully engaged in listening. There's no hesitation or lulls, everything flows really smoothly and she's just a great fit for both Merida and Elinor.

Thank you Disney Hyperion Reimagined for the digital ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you have read any of the other twisted Disney tales, then this one was very on-brand with the others. I enjoy this particular genre of what I consider "fan fiction." I liked this one better than some of the others I have read in the series. I enjoyed learning more about Merida and her mother, and I thought that the story was well-crafted. I liked how there was enough of the original story in this one. I listened to the audiobook, and I very much enjoyed the Scottish narrator. She made it feel more authentic. My only critique is that the ending was a little slow. There was some filler in there that didn't seem totally necessary to the story. If you like this series, then definitely check this one out.

Fate Be Changed is another fantastic addition to Disney's Twisted Tales series. Merida's story has always been one of my favorites and I love that readers have the opportunity to get to know Merida's parents and their backstory in this revamped tale. The narrator is fantastic! Highly recommended where the Twisted Tales series is popular!

Merida wants to change her fate. She follows the wisps to the witch's home. She ends up taking the potion meant for her mother, to get more time. Merida travels back in time and meets her parents as young adults. This book didn't have as many bears as the movie had. Once I accepted that this was a different story. The story now had a love element, but not Merida's, her mother and father. This was a much different message than the movie but it is a twisted tale. I enjoyed Merida as a character and getting POV from her young mother. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook copy.

This book was such a fun read! I’m always a fan of the Twisted Tale series, and I was intrigued from the get-go about how Merida’s story might be flipped in this book. I received both a digital and audio copy to review, so I began by flipping between the two formats. While I enjoyed both, I ended up settling on listening to the audio only because the narration was so excellent! We love a narrator with a Scottish accent!

This book moves quickly right from the beginning, which I really appreciated. Sometimes retellings drag at the beginning because they try to set up the story and prep the reader for changes, but this one picks up right as Merida is riding in the woods after her big fight with her mother. She ends up at the witch’s cottage, but that’s when things start taking a turn. When I realized what was going on, I was initially a little skeptical. A teen sent back in time whose presence prevents their parents from falling in love, which the teen then has to fix? Sounds familiar and done to death. However, the story continued to travel down its own unique path with a great storyline and such lovable characters.

The story is full of mystery, adventure, and a bit of romance. I loved getting to know Elinor and Fergus in a different light, and now I kind of have a bit of a crush on King Fergus, which is a little confusing. The shifting POVs between Elinor and Merida really highlight the two women’s similarities in a deeper way than seen in the film. I was enchanted the whole time and definitely recommend this title to any Brave fan!

I love Merida and the movie Brave, so when I saw this book, I pre-ordered it right away! I was so chuffed when I was able to get this audio version of the book form netgalley. It was such an excellent story! The twist is that Merida ends up eating the enchanted pastry instead of her mother, Queen Elinor! In this tale we get to follow Merida back in time where she meets a teenage Elinor. She hasn’t yet meet Fergus, and now Merida has to figure out how to change fate and make Elinor and Fergus fall in love. Only then will Merida be able to go back to her time. I was a big fan of this book. It was well written and the narrator did an excellent job! Most definitely worth a read or a listen!

This was my very first Twisted Tale and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What would happen if the exact opposite happened to Merida in Brave? What if the spell originally intended for her mother was unknowingly given to Merida instead?

The story begins with conflict, as many young adults go through with their mothers. Merida does not agree with her mother that she should act a certain way since she is a princess. Merida leaves her home and discovers a witch in the woods who gives her something to give to her mother.

What happens takes us back to Eleanor’s young adulthood and how she met Meridas father. If the two cannot get together, what will happen to Merida and her brothers? Merida only has a certain amount of time to get her parents together, against all odds, before she will have no idea what will happen to her family.

I will definitely be reading the other Twisted Tales. I love the idea of an alternate story. Thank you so much to Disney Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fate be changed is a wonderfully told story. I loved listening to the reader with her Scottish brogue. The author painted a vivid picture with her descriptions and makes the listener feel they are participating in the story as well.
Merida, who is unhappy with her life, entices a witch for a spell to change her mother. Deciding it was a better idea to eat the cake with the spell herself, Merida sets off on an unexpected journey. Along the way she realizes what exceptional people her parents are and learns a great deal about herself.

This narrator 🔥

I think this was a great change to the original story. Without giving away major spoilers having her see what her mother went through was a great idea. The only reason why that I gave it a four out of five was that some parts were a little long-winded.

For me is was a solid book. Good character development and engaging. This is the first of the series that I have read and it is enjoyable. I finished it in just a day.

Would definitely recommend to those that love fairytales and / or Disney. It isn't even all that necessary to have seen the movie/or to know the premises of Brave (2012) to enjoy it.

4.75 / 5 (Rounded up to a five.)

Name of Book: Fate Be Changed
Author: Farrah Rochon
Narrator: Lucy Raynor
Format: 🎧
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Genre: Fantasy
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
My Rating: 4.5 rounded up
Pages: 464


Do you remember the movie Merida (Disney movie in 2021 — Merida is granted one wish, she must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. Set in Scotland in a rugged and mythical time. Merida is basically a forgotten Disney princess because she wasn't intended to be a Disney princess.)
Anyway in this story the Witch gives a different spell. However, Merida eats the cake intended for her mother and goes back to a time before the clans were united, before her parents were married and before the threat of war.

Awww I totally loved this story.
Narrator Lucy Raynor with her Scottish Brogue made it even more enjoyable.

Want to thank NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for this early Audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 2, 2024