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theaudioauditor's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
omaunk's review against another edition
5.0
An interesting weaving of multiple fairytales into one story.
whisper88's review against another edition
This is my third go at this and I still can't get into it. Tamora Pierce and Robin McKinley have already dominated the niche this book is trying to fill. I'm a mega ML fan, but this has none of her signature robust and lovable characters; here is minimal conflict- which is confusing.
I feel like ML was targeting middle-grade/YA readers, but this would probably have been more successful with illustrations and made into read-aloud/bedtime story series for elementary readers. Alternatively, it could have been just a little more gritty to be a true YA novel.
However, I still haven't made it half-way and didn't bother to peak at the ending, so I could (most likely) be completely wrong on all counts.
I feel like ML was targeting middle-grade/YA readers, but this would probably have been more successful with illustrations and made into read-aloud/bedtime story series for elementary readers. Alternatively, it could have been just a little more gritty to be a true YA novel.
However, I still haven't made it half-way and didn't bother to peak at the ending, so I could (most likely) be completely wrong on all counts.
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Misogyny
Minor: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Grief, Bullying, Alcohol, Classism, Violence, and War
princenbeaux's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
allie_schick's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ckdan's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
maggieluong's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
quiet_chaos's review against another edition
1.0
If I hadn't been listening to this one, I would've stopped reading it. But I was sewing and didn't have the mental capacity to decide on something else to listen to. This was pretty rough though.
The narration was okay, but there were random times when it was like someone said "cue dramatic music" and so they did. The music was super random and distracting.
The book itself was repetitive (how many times did I hear that they were Aurora's companions, that she's fae blooded and that she isn't allowed to fall in love each chapter?) And most of the characterization is told, not shown (many times of being told how happy Miriam is that she now has friends, but rare acts that show her friends are any good. Mostly they run around blabbing her secrets.)
It felt like there were too many storylines but not much happening until the end, when it wrapped up in the last 15%. If it's a series, I'm definitely not interested in finishing.
The narration was okay, but there were random times when it was like someone said "cue dramatic music" and so they did. The music was super random and distracting.
The book itself was repetitive (how many times did I hear that they were Aurora's companions, that she's fae blooded and that she isn't allowed to fall in love each chapter?) And most of the characterization is told, not shown (many times of being told how happy Miriam is that she now has friends, but rare acts that show her friends are any good. Mostly they run around blabbing her secrets.)
It felt like there were too many storylines but not much happening until the end, when it wrapped up in the last 15%. If it's a series, I'm definitely not interested in finishing.