Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I'm not as familiar with Hansel and Gretel as I would like to be. I know the basics, but I still was kind of confused at the direction Jackson Pearce was planning on going. The ending was great, action, suspense, and a little bit of surprise mixed in there. For being a stand-alone novel, I didn't like the little open ending that was left in there. I like my stand-alones to fill in the cracks nicely, so I'm not wanting more. I didn't like the return of the fenris, I feel like it was "borrowed" from Sisters Red, and wasn't very unique, or different. However, the way it plays into the story is quite different. Not to mention the whole Reynolds brothers appearing in both books. Something I didn't catch until I read another review after I finished the book. I like my stand-alones to also be completely separate. I guess with it being a companion novel, it makes sense. But, that is still a preference of mine. Even though some of the opinions about Sisters Red on the back of my edition boast about the romance, I feel as though there was much more in this book. Very G rated romance, mind you.
I actually admired Gretchen, she's one of the few book characters that I actually enjoyed. Ansel (which I pronounce Aun-sule) kind of bugged me in the end. I mean stand up for your sister! Ugh, men.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I did Sisters Red. I didn't feel annoyed with a character until the very end (in SR I wanted to shake Scarlett out of frustration), which is actually nice. The setting was very well portrayed, I could almost feel the citizens of Live Oak glaring at me. Overall, an excellent read.
I actually admired Gretchen, she's one of the few book characters that I actually enjoyed. Ansel (which I pronounce Aun-sule) kind of bugged me in the end. I mean stand up for your sister! Ugh, men.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I did Sisters Red. I didn't feel annoyed with a character until the very end (in SR I wanted to shake Scarlett out of frustration), which is actually nice. The setting was very well portrayed, I could almost feel the citizens of Live Oak glaring at me. Overall, an excellent read.
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce is a loose retelling of the story of Hansel and Gretel. What the book has in common with Hansel & Gretel? A forest, a brother and sister, a "candy" house, and a witch who (btw)is not really a witch. There the similarities end, in my opinion. Gretchen and Ansel ventured into the woods with their sister as children one afternoon looking for the "witch" of the woods as it was rumored that one lived deep in the woods. When the three children are chased by something sinister and snarly, they run together for as long as they can before becoming separated. When they arrive home (not lost in the woods), one of the children is missing. Only two make it home. No one knows what happened to the other sister. A search party is mounted but she is never located. The mother and father are consumed with grief. The mother dies of a broken heart. The father remarries but with little gusto and, when he dies, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves booted out of the house by their stepmother. They begin a road trip to a new life, one that is not burdened with grief and the loss of their sister and parents. Instead of making it to the shore, their car breaks down in a small southern town not far from the coast. With little money, Ansel agrees to do some handyman work for a young woman who lives outside of town, in the forest. Did I mention that she is a young, beautiful woman? She is the purveyor of a chocolate shop and makes exquisite chocolates in the long tradtion of her family. (Not sure who her many customers are exactly! She seems to make an inordinate amount of chocolates in comparison to what she sells.) Her father is recently deceased and Sophia has returned home from college to assume the business. She seems alternately despondent and happy to do so. Sophia appears to be hiding a big secret, but Gretchen can't figure it out. Ansel doesn't want to! He's quite smitten with the lovely Sophia. The mystery? Several local girls seem to disappear each year from the small town. The townsfolk blame Sophia for putting the idea into their heads that they can get away and make a new life for themselves rather than being stuck in the provincial small town. Oddly though, the disappearances always occur in relation to a festival Sophia holds for "eligible" girls each summer. No one questions the origins or necessity of the festival or wonders why only 18-year-old girls are invited. Gretchen, ever fearful of the woods and searching for answers to her own questions about why she survived and her sister did not, befriends local bad boy, Samuel, who believes !spoiler alert! *werewolves* are the real reason behind the local disappearances. (Hmmm....No werewolves in the original tale. Can you say "cash in on Twilight?") Somehow Sophia and the werewolves are connected. The townspeople think he is off his rocker and prefer to keep their distance from him though they lack any other explanation. He convinces Gretchen that he knows what he is talking about and she talks him into letting her hunt them with him. He teaches her to shoot rifles and shotguns and to face her fears head on. The book does have some mature content, and while mostly gratuitous, nothing is too graphically explained. That's the least of its shortcomings in my opinion. The plot is contrived, the characters underdeveloped, and it bears little resemblance to the original fairy tale. Still, with the current paranormal fad at a frenzied level, I suspect the book will find a captive and spellbound audience. A series seems to be in the works.
Jackson Pearce is a fierce storyteller, and a teller of fierce stories. Her characters in the Fenris series of twisted fairy tales are often irreparably damaged by traumatic life events, but at the core of each damaged female protagonist lies a steel core that you can't help but admire. These are not the shrinking violets of the classic fairytale... these are women who have been shaped by the violence in their young lives, and have responded to the predatory presence by standing up and fighting back. Give this to your teen girls who like a good strong female presence, or those who might need to be reminded of how powerful a woman can be.
Jackson Pearce has captivated me again with her fabulous fairytale retellings! I love that she seems to pick the less obvious tales - not that people have never heard of Hansel and Gretel (or Little Red Riding Hood) - but they're not the first ones people draw from. Sweetly is exactly the sort of story I adore.
For brother and sister, Gretchen and Ansel, life has always been about living in the shadow of tragedy. After losing Gretchen's twin sister in the woods by their house while they were just little kids, nothing in life has seemed stable. When their stepmother throws them out when she's no longer legally required to look after them, it becomes just another twist in their existence...until they stumble upon the little town of Live Oak and their worlds are turned upside-down. I loved how the beginning was set out, there was the obvious Witch talks and a modernised "bread crumb" trail of lollies and a desperate need to stick together - as all Gretchen and Ansel had were each other.
I thought Gretchen was a really nice main character. While she was a tad timid at first, used to hiding from her past, she grew into herself so much. As someone who has always sort of believed in the supernatural, she accepts the twists and turns she comes across almost too well - but it is fiction and it didn't bother me much. I loved that she adopts a take-charge attitude as the story continues. She discovers there's a mystery in Live Oak where teenage girls are going missing each year and Gretchen decides she doesn't want to just sit back and watch it happen again - she doesn't want to be one of the missing. I love the change you see in her.
I know you're all wondering: So where's the witch with the gingerbread house, liquorice windows and chocolate doors? Well she certainly turns up, but not quite in the way I expected. We meet Sophia Kelly soon after Gretchen and Ansel arrive in Live Oak. Sophia's a mysterious young lady who runs a chocolatier out of her house, but it's obvious she's keeping secrets from the rest of the world. Flitting between emotions and desperate to host a chocolate festival for the young girls of Live Oak, Sophia confuses you from start to finish. I'll admit I had no idea what to feel when it came to Sophia. I was convinced she was the evil witch one minute, and worried I was judging her too harshly the next; like I was trying to force her into the role of the witch because I knew the story of Hansel and Gretel demanded the witch with the lollies would be the enemy. I liked that this storyline was unpredictable that way. In Sisters Red there were obvious plot twists that jumped out at me from the start, and while I did pick some of the direction for Sweetly, Sophia remained a mystery to me the whole book.
One of my favourite parts of reading Sweetly was seeing the connections to Sisters Red. We haven't left the Fenris (werewolves) behind, they're still there, still attacking girls and still causing a lot more trouble than you'd like. And even better, there's even a Reynolds boy on the scene: Samuel Reynolds. No actual mention of Silas or Papa Reynolds, but when he says he comes from a family of woodcutters and hunters you're pretty sure he's part of the same bunch. I loved it! Samuel is an incredible love interest (because you know that's what he'll end up being instantly) He doesn't fall immediately in love and he doesn't spend every waking moment trying to convince Gretchen she should stay in the pretty-girl world and let the man look after her. There is no one man who saves the day, this is definitely a Girl-Power book - but with a nice supporting role for Samuel. He was written in a way that let Gretchen shine while he stands by her in everything she does. It was perfect.
I really loved this book and I'm desperate to get my hands on the next one: Fathomless (and not only because it's a Little Mermaid retelling - my favourite fairytale)
5/5 stars
For brother and sister, Gretchen and Ansel, life has always been about living in the shadow of tragedy. After losing Gretchen's twin sister in the woods by their house while they were just little kids, nothing in life has seemed stable. When their stepmother throws them out when she's no longer legally required to look after them, it becomes just another twist in their existence...until they stumble upon the little town of Live Oak and their worlds are turned upside-down. I loved how the beginning was set out, there was the obvious Witch talks and a modernised "bread crumb" trail of lollies and a desperate need to stick together - as all Gretchen and Ansel had were each other.
I thought Gretchen was a really nice main character. While she was a tad timid at first, used to hiding from her past, she grew into herself so much. As someone who has always sort of believed in the supernatural, she accepts the twists and turns she comes across almost too well - but it is fiction and it didn't bother me much. I loved that she adopts a take-charge attitude as the story continues. She discovers there's a mystery in Live Oak where teenage girls are going missing each year and Gretchen decides she doesn't want to just sit back and watch it happen again - she doesn't want to be one of the missing. I love the change you see in her.
I know you're all wondering: So where's the witch with the gingerbread house, liquorice windows and chocolate doors? Well she certainly turns up, but not quite in the way I expected. We meet Sophia Kelly soon after Gretchen and Ansel arrive in Live Oak. Sophia's a mysterious young lady who runs a chocolatier out of her house, but it's obvious she's keeping secrets from the rest of the world. Flitting between emotions and desperate to host a chocolate festival for the young girls of Live Oak, Sophia confuses you from start to finish. I'll admit I had no idea what to feel when it came to Sophia. I was convinced she was the evil witch one minute, and worried I was judging her too harshly the next; like I was trying to force her into the role of the witch because I knew the story of Hansel and Gretel demanded the witch with the lollies would be the enemy. I liked that this storyline was unpredictable that way. In Sisters Red there were obvious plot twists that jumped out at me from the start, and while I did pick some of the direction for Sweetly, Sophia remained a mystery to me the whole book.
One of my favourite parts of reading Sweetly was seeing the connections to Sisters Red. We haven't left the Fenris (werewolves) behind, they're still there, still attacking girls and still causing a lot more trouble than you'd like. And even better, there's even a Reynolds boy on the scene: Samuel Reynolds. No actual mention of Silas or Papa Reynolds, but when he says he comes from a family of woodcutters and hunters you're pretty sure he's part of the same bunch. I loved it! Samuel is an incredible love interest (because you know that's what he'll end up being instantly) He doesn't fall immediately in love and he doesn't spend every waking moment trying to convince Gretchen she should stay in the pretty-girl world and let the man look after her. There is no one man who saves the day, this is definitely a Girl-Power book - but with a nice supporting role for Samuel. He was written in a way that let Gretchen shine while he stands by her in everything she does. It was perfect.
I really loved this book and I'm desperate to get my hands on the next one: Fathomless (and not only because it's a Little Mermaid retelling - my favourite fairytale)
5/5 stars
3.5* stars
I liked this story better than [b: Sisters Red|6357708|Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings, #1)|Jackson Pearce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1291052720l/6357708._SY75_.jpg|6544454] as the characters were more likeable and interesting. I enjoyed the parts when Sophia makes chocolates. It felt atmospheric and kept making me hungry for chocolates, too!
I don't know what it is but sometimes I dream about chocolates *haha*.
This was defintitely an entertaining read.
I liked this story better than [b: Sisters Red|6357708|Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings, #1)|Jackson Pearce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1291052720l/6357708._SY75_.jpg|6544454] as the characters were more likeable and interesting. I enjoyed the parts when Sophia makes chocolates. It felt atmospheric and kept making me hungry for chocolates, too!
I don't know what it is but sometimes I dream about chocolates *haha*.
This was defintitely an entertaining read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Once again, such a brilliant retelling of a classic fairytale.
You can still see the elements of the classic fairytale 'Hansel and Gretal' but the story becomes Jackson Pearce's own original story.
I especially like the way in which you start to think that you hate the character of Sophia but towards the end of the book, Pearce uses such an emotional twist that you can't hate Sophia forever because you start to understand why she did what she did.
The writing was so imaginative and creative and it really pulled you into the book. You felt like you were on this incredible adventure with a mystery that needed to be solved. I love the interactions between Samuel and Gretchen, the way the Samuel was this mystery, 'lunatic' of a boy but you see start to open up more and learn more about him.
Fantastic read, really enjoyed every minute of it. Unlike 'Sisters Red', where I guessed what the twist was at the end, I had no idea what was going to happen with this book, which made me enjoy it even more.
You can still see the elements of the classic fairytale 'Hansel and Gretal' but the story becomes Jackson Pearce's own original story.
I especially like the way in which you start to think that you hate the character of Sophia but towards the end of the book, Pearce uses such an emotional twist that you can't hate Sophia forever because you start to understand why she did what she did.
The writing was so imaginative and creative and it really pulled you into the book. You felt like you were on this incredible adventure with a mystery that needed to be solved. I love the interactions between Samuel and Gretchen, the way the Samuel was this mystery, 'lunatic' of a boy but you see start to open up more and learn more about him.
Fantastic read, really enjoyed every minute of it. Unlike 'Sisters Red', where I guessed what the twist was at the end, I had no idea what was going to happen with this book, which made me enjoy it even more.
All is not what it seems in Live Oak, SC. Sweetly starts off with a bang right away. It's filled with the magic and mystery you expect from a fairytale retelling, but Jackson Pearce also manages to fill it was fascinating characters and great back story.
Gretchen, the main character was very well done. She is still grieving the lose of her twin sister all these years later. She has had a very hard life, but she's a very likable character. Ansel is too, even though he didn't play as big a role as I thought he would. Although, the star of the book is Sophia Kelly without a doubt. She's charismatic, charming and mysterious. You can tell she's not all together a good person, but you kind of can't help but like her. I felt just like Gretchen felt about her.
The story was good. I liked that it wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be. But I did kind of figure out what was going on early on in the book, but I didn't know the why of it so that kept me turning pages very quickly.
Over all, if you were a fan of Sisters Red then you definitely need to check this one out also. Jackson's retellings are imaginative and unlike any other. But I will warn of one thing: Have some chocolate on hand when reading this book. The candy descriptions will have you drooling and it's very unfortunate if you have no sweets around.
Gretchen, the main character was very well done. She is still grieving the lose of her twin sister all these years later. She has had a very hard life, but she's a very likable character. Ansel is too, even though he didn't play as big a role as I thought he would. Although, the star of the book is Sophia Kelly without a doubt. She's charismatic, charming and mysterious. You can tell she's not all together a good person, but you kind of can't help but like her. I felt just like Gretchen felt about her.
The story was good. I liked that it wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be. But I did kind of figure out what was going on early on in the book, but I didn't know the why of it so that kept me turning pages very quickly.
Over all, if you were a fan of Sisters Red then you definitely need to check this one out also. Jackson's retellings are imaginative and unlike any other. But I will warn of one thing: Have some chocolate on hand when reading this book. The candy descriptions will have you drooling and it's very unfortunate if you have no sweets around.
Sweetly is the third book I've read by Jackson Pearce and I have to say that I love reading her books. I love her writing style. Her stories just suck you right in. I could taste the chocolates in the candy shop as I read this book and got quite the craving!
This is a companion book to Sisters Red, which is based on Red Riding Hood. This one is not a continuation of that story, but is based on Hansel and Gretel. However, this book does tie into the world of Sister's Red, and I think Ms. Pearce did a wonderful job of tying them together. Her books in this series are creepy, so this was the perfect Halloween read; and the romance in this book, just like the others is sweet, but not overdone.
This is a companion book to Sisters Red, which is based on Red Riding Hood. This one is not a continuation of that story, but is based on Hansel and Gretel. However, this book does tie into the world of Sister's Red, and I think Ms. Pearce did a wonderful job of tying them together. Her books in this series are creepy, so this was the perfect Halloween read; and the romance in this book, just like the others is sweet, but not overdone.
I really love updating fairy tales, and that's why I've found myself reading Jackson Pearce (so far this is the second I've read, but it definitely takes SOMETHING to get me to keep going through YA series). This isn't REALLY connected to Sisters Red other than the fact that --SPOILER KIND OF NOT REALLY--the monsters are the same (and I think we meet someone's brother). But really, it's just the kind of story that exists in a similar world but doesn't involve the sisters themselves.
I thought it was enjoyable. Some parts (mostly near the end) left me wondering, "Whaaa--? Why?" Even so, I liked what was done with it. Based (obviously) on Hansel and Gretel, I appreciated that Sophia in her candy house was not some crazy crone with a taste for human flesh; Pearce took the entire tale in an interesting (and not too obvious) direction. Very fun book.
I thought it was enjoyable. Some parts (mostly near the end) left me wondering, "Whaaa--? Why?" Even so, I liked what was done with it. Based (obviously) on Hansel and Gretel, I appreciated that Sophia in her candy house was not some crazy crone with a taste for human flesh; Pearce took the entire tale in an interesting (and not too obvious) direction. Very fun book.