Reviews

Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch by Serena Valentino

maryrosegrace's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

kristinlovallo's review

emotional funny lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

4.75

jasmyn9's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really loved this story. Gothel was such an amazing character - even as a "villain." It was very interesting to see more of the Odd Sisters history as well. I'm very curious to see what happens to them as the series continues.

kmaries2017's review

challenging reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

mbenzz's review

5.0

Next to the first book in this series, Fairest of All, this was my second favorite. I feel like it went back to the Grimm-like timeless retelling that I enjoyed so much in the first book. Yes, the Odd Sisters played a huge part in this story, but for the first time, they felt like the BELONGED in the story, unlike in books two, three, and four where it felt like they were hijacking someone else tale.

I won't dissect this book as it's already been done numerous times here, but this is definitely one of the best, most fleshed out books of the series. If you're struggling with the middle books, stick it out...this one is great.

eemillers15's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

l_black_33's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

caitriona_w's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lumos_nox's review against another edition

dark lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition

4.0

I'm slowly catching up with this series while I impatiently wait for the Megara twisted tale to be released in paperback. And where the Ursula book disappointed a little, mainly because it felt like it wasn't really about Ursula, all the other books have been pleasantly entertaining, although a little short. I was therefore quite curious what Valentino would make of the story of Mother Gothel, especially because she might be on of my favorite villains.

The first thing I really loved in this book, is the fact that it's really about mother Gothel. We get her entire life story and the focus truly is on her. I really loved exploring her childhood, where she had come from, how she had lived and grew up, what kind of past she had eventually leading her to become the villain in Rapunzel's story. Valentino really took her time to get us to know mother Gothel, the magic she always dealt with and how she knew about the magical flower.

And throughout the story mother Gothel really stays the mother Gothel as we know her. She has the potential to be a kind woman, especially when she cares about someone deeply, but there is also a darkness in her. She has the kind of life that turns a child with the potential to be good, in a villain. And it goes very slowly and even at the end, as we know her from the movie, she's not all bad and all mean and all dark, but it happens.

Most of this story, on top of that, is original content. In the last 25% of the book we also get glimpses of the movie as we know it, but the author knows that we know this story, that we've all seen it (a million times) and she just uses some iconic moments to help us know where in the timeline we are and uses them to show us everything we didn't get to see. Gothel's point of view and also where she is gonna take Rapunzel at the end of the movie.

And after messing up another life, I'm quite curious what's in store for the Odd Sisters in the next book!