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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
This review was originally posted at Fluttering Butterflies
Earlier in the year, I read and loved Sisters Red, so I was always going to be hugely excited to read Sweetly by Jackson Pearce. I really love her retellings of popular fairy tales. She has a great eye for turning a story we're all familiar with and giving it a new twist and for seeing things in a new and different way. While I may have liked Sisters Red a little bit more than Sweetly because of the relationship between the sisters, I also found Sweetly to be very entertaining and interesting and I flew right through the pages, desperate to find out what happens.
Sweetly begins our our two main characters, Ansel and Gretchen, and an unnamed twin sister of Gretchen's exploring the woods. My attention was immediately grabbed by the addition of a third sibling in this story, one that disappears after a witch chases the three of them in these woods. The idea that this twin sister is unnamed and unspoken of, because of Ansel, Gretchen's and their parents' grief and also because of their guilt is an intriguing one.
Despite this being a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, we never hear of Ansel's point of view and this too, I find surprising, I was really expecting a dual-perspective. Instead, we get Gretchen's view of the world. It's many years after the death of her sister and Gretchen is plagued by the question 'why?' Why when the two girls were identical, did one sister live and the other did not? Gretchen has sort of fallen apart over the loss of her twin sister, and has relied on her older brother to be her rock, to be dependable and to always be there. So when she suggests they travel to the other side of the country to see the ocean, Ansel is there for her. But things don't go to plan, as their car breaks down in a small village and they have no money to carry on without it or to fix the car.
When Sophia, the local chocolatier, offers to let Ansel and Gretchen stay with her in exchange for some help around the house and with her chocolate stop, the two agree. Everything seems to be going right for them, as they've finally found a place where the two feel as though they belong and with somebody who really cares for them. Despite the nearness of the forest, which still terrifies Gretchen, she does her best to carry on and surmount her fears. It doesn't help that there are rumours floating around about Sophia and her annual chocolate festival. Girls in town disappear every year after attending Sophia's event, and fear and mistrust of Sophia lodges in Gretchen's heart. But Gretchen is determined to be different, to fight against her fears of the witch and of the forest and to survive.
While I thought the story and the retelling of this classic fairy tale was done well and in a way that was different and interesting, I didn't feel as though I connected emotionally as strongly as I wanted. I loved Gretchen's struggles with her fear of the forest and the way in which she begins to change her fear into something else, into a way to protect herself if the witch ever attacked again. I also thought the interactions between Gretchen and Samuel were fun. But I wanted to see more between the three main characters - Gretchen, Ansel and Sophia.
Still, a very fun read! I'm really looking forward to more from Jackson Pearce, she's becoming an author that I'm excited about.
Earlier in the year, I read and loved Sisters Red, so I was always going to be hugely excited to read Sweetly by Jackson Pearce. I really love her retellings of popular fairy tales. She has a great eye for turning a story we're all familiar with and giving it a new twist and for seeing things in a new and different way. While I may have liked Sisters Red a little bit more than Sweetly because of the relationship between the sisters, I also found Sweetly to be very entertaining and interesting and I flew right through the pages, desperate to find out what happens.
Sweetly begins our our two main characters, Ansel and Gretchen, and an unnamed twin sister of Gretchen's exploring the woods. My attention was immediately grabbed by the addition of a third sibling in this story, one that disappears after a witch chases the three of them in these woods. The idea that this twin sister is unnamed and unspoken of, because of Ansel, Gretchen's and their parents' grief and also because of their guilt is an intriguing one.
Despite this being a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, we never hear of Ansel's point of view and this too, I find surprising, I was really expecting a dual-perspective. Instead, we get Gretchen's view of the world. It's many years after the death of her sister and Gretchen is plagued by the question 'why?' Why when the two girls were identical, did one sister live and the other did not? Gretchen has sort of fallen apart over the loss of her twin sister, and has relied on her older brother to be her rock, to be dependable and to always be there. So when she suggests they travel to the other side of the country to see the ocean, Ansel is there for her. But things don't go to plan, as their car breaks down in a small village and they have no money to carry on without it or to fix the car.
When Sophia, the local chocolatier, offers to let Ansel and Gretchen stay with her in exchange for some help around the house and with her chocolate stop, the two agree. Everything seems to be going right for them, as they've finally found a place where the two feel as though they belong and with somebody who really cares for them. Despite the nearness of the forest, which still terrifies Gretchen, she does her best to carry on and surmount her fears. It doesn't help that there are rumours floating around about Sophia and her annual chocolate festival. Girls in town disappear every year after attending Sophia's event, and fear and mistrust of Sophia lodges in Gretchen's heart. But Gretchen is determined to be different, to fight against her fears of the witch and of the forest and to survive.
While I thought the story and the retelling of this classic fairy tale was done well and in a way that was different and interesting, I didn't feel as though I connected emotionally as strongly as I wanted. I loved Gretchen's struggles with her fear of the forest and the way in which she begins to change her fear into something else, into a way to protect herself if the witch ever attacked again. I also thought the interactions between Gretchen and Samuel were fun. But I wanted to see more between the three main characters - Gretchen, Ansel and Sophia.
Still, a very fun read! I'm really looking forward to more from Jackson Pearce, she's becoming an author that I'm excited about.
A GREAT Series! I'm such a sucker for fairytale retellings. Pearce does a great job of incorporating the elements of the original fairytale while putting a modern twist into the plot.
My Thoughts:
1. The characters were all very likeable. I enjoy reading Gretchen's character and how she changed through the plot.
2. Sweetly is a more of a mystery novel, while Sisters Red was all about the action and suspense. But don't worry, the mystery of the plot definitely makes up for all the suspense.
3. The pacing was slow but it doesn't necessary mean its boring. It definitely picked up its pace towards the end.
4. There was definite foreshadowing towards the next book (all I can say is that it involves MERMAIDS!)
5. I like the connection between the Sisters Red and Sweetly. I only wished there was a crossover between the characters...definitely would have made it more interesting.
6. There was some romance in Sweetly, but it didn't overpower the plot. Nothing really cheesy or over the top. It was a cute addition to the plot.
My Thoughts:
1. The characters were all very likeable. I enjoy reading Gretchen's character and how she changed through the plot.
2. Sweetly is a more of a mystery novel, while Sisters Red was all about the action and suspense. But don't worry, the mystery of the plot definitely makes up for all the suspense.
3. The pacing was slow but it doesn't necessary mean its boring. It definitely picked up its pace towards the end.
4. There was definite foreshadowing towards the next book (all I can say is that it involves MERMAIDS!)
5. I like the connection between the Sisters Red and Sweetly. I only wished there was a crossover between the characters...definitely would have made it more interesting.
6. There was some romance in Sweetly, but it didn't overpower the plot. Nothing really cheesy or over the top. It was a cute addition to the plot.
I'm always reminded of how selfish ya love is whenever I read about it from not the lover's point of view.
The romance here is definitely not the center point for the novels. As Sam was just pretty and had really no substance other than to teach mc how to shoot, I don't think he was meant to be really involved in the story. The other girl, the one that made sweets. Oh man Okay Jackson Pearce, would you ever mind FINISHING a story? and actually tell us what's going on? I can't handle the suspense anymore.
The romance here is definitely not the center point for the novels. As Sam was just pretty and had really no substance other than to teach mc how to shoot, I don't think he was meant to be really involved in the story. The other girl, the one that made sweets. Oh man Okay Jackson Pearce, would you ever mind FINISHING a story? and actually tell us what's going on? I can't handle the suspense anymore.
I ended up really liking this one...possibly even more than Sisters Red. In the beginning I had my doubts, but I should never doubt Jackson Pearce. I can't wait to see where Fathomless picks up and if any influences/characters show up.
Cover Comments: LOVE the original cover. It should have never of been changed. Seriously, don't mess with what isn't broke.
Cover Comments: LOVE the original cover. It should have never of been changed. Seriously, don't mess with what isn't broke.
Ansel, Gretchen, and her twin sister were out in the woods when a yellow-eyed witch took away Gretchen's twin. From that point on, their parents acted as if she never existed. When Ansel is nineteen and Gretchen eighteen, their step mother kicks them out of the house. They drive until their car breaks down in Live Oak, South Carolina, a town that's wary of strangers, and slowly dying as their children move away. Only Sophia Kelly, a candy maker, is willing to take a chance on them--because she's an outcast too, blamed for the girls that run away after attending her festival.
Ansel is bewitched by Sophie, who begs them to stay until the festival, and seems to treasure Gretchen as a friend. But Samuel, who tried to warn them away from Sophie, knows a few things about the witch that took Gretchen's twin. And Sophie is hiding secrets... dangerous secrets.
A dark, twisted fairy tale, where the villains aren't always easy to see right away. Gretchen is as lost as the girl from the fairy tale, but stubborn and brave, unwilling to disappear like her sister did.
Ansel is bewitched by Sophie, who begs them to stay until the festival, and seems to treasure Gretchen as a friend. But Samuel, who tried to warn them away from Sophie, knows a few things about the witch that took Gretchen's twin. And Sophie is hiding secrets... dangerous secrets.
A dark, twisted fairy tale, where the villains aren't always easy to see right away. Gretchen is as lost as the girl from the fairy tale, but stubborn and brave, unwilling to disappear like her sister did.
3 and a half stars
First off, I LOVE the cover, although I'm not crazy fond of the blue background. Maybe it's just a UK thing but the picture looks like a purple face on a black background, while my copy is a purple face with a blue background. Oh well. It's still super creepy and awesome.
I wanted to read this because I love fairy tales and I'm always curious to read re-tellings of popular fairy tales. This one was a re-imagining(thats a word, right?) of Hansel and Gretal.
There are many differences between the fairy tale and this book. MANY. It starts off simple with the boy and girl being named Ansel and Gretchen. Slight tweak of the names. Then it goes completely off the story in a way. Only the slightest elements are left.
The story begins by Ansel, Gretchen and their sister Abigail going into the woods and something happens which results in Abigail disappearing. Gretchen thinks a witch took her.
The story continues years on when they are around 18 years old. They have left home and on their way to a new life somewhere, their car breaks down. They end up meeting a girl who is a chocolatier. Her name is Sophia Kelly. She has some odd jobs around her house that need to be done and it leads to Ansel and Gretchen staying at her house for the night, then two nights, and then indefinitely.
Basically, this story is mysterious and suspenseful and you are left wondering exactly what's going on until the end. My favorite parts of the book were the beginning and the end. I was a little bored in the middle. I wished the author had made the characters more endearing. I didn't care about the characters that much. I'm always disappointed when I don't feel connected to the characters in any way.
It was a nice little book to read in October. I picked it up because it looked/sounded creepy and promising. I also liked that it was based on Hansel and Gretal. I was a little disappointed by the direction it took. It was okay but it could've been better. I know it was trying to be a different take on the fairy tale but I was hoping for a better story. I love the cover and the name of the book.
First off, I LOVE the cover, although I'm not crazy fond of the blue background. Maybe it's just a UK thing but the picture looks like a purple face on a black background, while my copy is a purple face with a blue background. Oh well. It's still super creepy and awesome.
I wanted to read this because I love fairy tales and I'm always curious to read re-tellings of popular fairy tales. This one was a re-imagining(thats a word, right?) of Hansel and Gretal.
There are many differences between the fairy tale and this book. MANY. It starts off simple with the boy and girl being named Ansel and Gretchen. Slight tweak of the names. Then it goes completely off the story in a way. Only the slightest elements are left.
The story begins by Ansel, Gretchen and their sister Abigail going into the woods and something happens which results in Abigail disappearing. Gretchen thinks a witch took her.
The story continues years on when they are around 18 years old. They have left home and on their way to a new life somewhere, their car breaks down. They end up meeting a girl who is a chocolatier. Her name is Sophia Kelly. She has some odd jobs around her house that need to be done and it leads to Ansel and Gretchen staying at her house for the night, then two nights, and then indefinitely.
Basically, this story is mysterious and suspenseful and you are left wondering exactly what's going on until the end. My favorite parts of the book were the beginning and the end. I was a little bored in the middle. I wished the author had made the characters more endearing. I didn't care about the characters that much. I'm always disappointed when I don't feel connected to the characters in any way.
It was a nice little book to read in October. I picked it up because it looked/sounded creepy and promising. I also liked that it was based on Hansel and Gretal. I was a little disappointed by the direction it took. It was okay but it could've been better. I know it was trying to be a different take on the fairy tale but I was hoping for a better story. I love the cover and the name of the book.
The descriptions and reviews of this book sum it up pretty well --
Gretchen and Ansel have a sister who disappears (Gretchen's twin) in the forest when they are quite young and chasing the witch who lives in the woods (as children do).
Just about the second Gretchen hits the magical grown up age of 18 she and Ansel are out on their own, determined to make new lives for themselves. Instead they find themselves wrapped up in the dramas of a small town convinced their only friend is some kind of witch or maybe just some of apocalyptic sign of some sort. So they've got to work their way through the towns secrets. The secrets of woods. Their own secrets. Well you get the picture, they have a lot of big messed to sort out and not much time what with the Chocolate festival coming up…
I will say this - if you have not read the author's other book: Sister's Red and think you might want to? Skip the "Exclusive Character Q&A" at the end of the book. It's more of a chat between this book's heroine and someone from that book and while not real spoilers, I suppose some things that character says in that extra could, by some, be considered spoilers. If you stumbled on this book first - they're not REALLY connected. It's not a series. Read them in any order. They're similar styles - classic fairy tales totally redone, more like a nod to them with only minor hints of the original stories left behind. But yeah, that Q&A, not for those who haven't read Sister's Red first.
Ready for more books like this by this author!
Gretchen and Ansel have a sister who disappears (Gretchen's twin) in the forest when they are quite young and chasing the witch who lives in the woods (as children do).
Just about the second Gretchen hits the magical grown up age of 18 she and Ansel are out on their own, determined to make new lives for themselves. Instead they find themselves wrapped up in the dramas of a small town convinced their only friend is some kind of witch or maybe just some of apocalyptic sign of some sort. So they've got to work their way through the towns secrets. The secrets of woods. Their own secrets. Well you get the picture, they have a lot of big messed to sort out and not much time what with the Chocolate festival coming up…
I will say this - if you have not read the author's other book: Sister's Red and think you might want to? Skip the "Exclusive Character Q&A" at the end of the book. It's more of a chat between this book's heroine and someone from that book and while not real spoilers, I suppose some things that character says in that extra could, by some, be considered spoilers. If you stumbled on this book first - they're not REALLY connected. It's not a series. Read them in any order. They're similar styles - classic fairy tales totally redone, more like a nod to them with only minor hints of the original stories left behind. But yeah, that Q&A, not for those who haven't read Sister's Red first.
Ready for more books like this by this author!
Sweetly is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, with one big twist: there was another sister, and she never made it out of the woods.
Ansel and Gretchen have spent their lives in a state of mourning. First for Gretchen's twin sister, who was snatched from the woods by a yellow-eyed "witch," and then for each of their parents, as grief claimed them. Now they just want to start over, and they're road trip leads them to sleepy little Live Oak. Ansel and Gretchen find a home with the outcast chocolatier, Sophia, and find themselves slowly becoming a part of the town. But there are a lot of secrets in Live Oak, where girls are just dying to get away...or maybe just be dying.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a lot more suspenseful than its companion and predecessor, Sisters Red; it may be because I just reread Sisters Red, whereas this was my first read through of Sweetly, but I felt like I was more nervious and more invested in the outcome. I think it was because the tension was more personal. In Sisters Red, there was a goal, sure—stop the baddies while they're gathering to look for the potential—but it didn't have the ticking-time-bomb feel of the Chocolate Festival in Sweetly.
I really appreciated how sharp Gretchen was. She didn't always unravel the clues right away, but she caught on really quickly that they were clues. Her whole goal to become strong and independent was really inspiring...this book just further cemented what I got from Sisters Red: I need to get me some self-defense classes.
I could see in this book Jackson Pearce's growth as an author. It was tighter and quicker; it got going right away, and it never really let up. It also had decent pay-off. I did figure out the clues a few chapters before the characters did, but I usually do, and I feel like having read Sisters Red gave me a bit of an advantage.
This book seems to lead pretty directly into Fathomless, the next book in the series, if I'm not mistaken. Guess what's next on my reading list!
Ansel and Gretchen have spent their lives in a state of mourning. First for Gretchen's twin sister, who was snatched from the woods by a yellow-eyed "witch," and then for each of their parents, as grief claimed them. Now they just want to start over, and they're road trip leads them to sleepy little Live Oak. Ansel and Gretchen find a home with the outcast chocolatier, Sophia, and find themselves slowly becoming a part of the town. But there are a lot of secrets in Live Oak, where girls are just dying to get away...or maybe just be dying.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a lot more suspenseful than its companion and predecessor, Sisters Red; it may be because I just reread Sisters Red, whereas this was my first read through of Sweetly, but I felt like I was more nervious and more invested in the outcome. I think it was because the tension was more personal. In Sisters Red, there was a goal, sure—stop the baddies while they're gathering to look for the potential—but it didn't have the ticking-time-bomb feel of the Chocolate Festival in Sweetly.
I really appreciated how sharp Gretchen was. She didn't always unravel the clues right away, but she caught on really quickly that they were clues. Her whole goal to become strong and independent was really inspiring...this book just further cemented what I got from Sisters Red: I need to get me some self-defense classes.
I could see in this book Jackson Pearce's growth as an author. It was tighter and quicker; it got going right away, and it never really let up. It also had decent pay-off. I did figure out the clues a few chapters before the characters did, but I usually do, and I feel like having read Sisters Red gave me a bit of an advantage.
This book seems to lead pretty directly into Fathomless, the next book in the series, if I'm not mistaken. Guess what's next on my reading list!