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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I think I liked this better than Sisters Red, but I enjoyed both. I appreciate the reimagined fairytale, and this was a well-done companion to the Sisters Red story. Sweetly is more romancey; I remember Sisters Red being more violent, but both feature a strong female character taking the fairytale into her own hands and creating the ending herself.
With the glut of fairytales in TV (Once Upon a Time) and film (Red Riding Hood) lately, I can see this being popular.
With the glut of fairytales in TV (Once Upon a Time) and film (Red Riding Hood) lately, I can see this being popular.
3.5 stars.
I hadn't really planned on reading this until it actually came out, and then I became curious; actually, the main reason I got this was because I hadn't read anything in a month and I was dying (not literally). Anyway, I must say that I'm fairly impressed. This story is first person and comes entirely from Gretchen's point of view, which was different from Pearce's previous two novels. I was interested to know if there really was a witch (and I had been hoping there was actually), and then to find out it was a werewolf...I hadn't really thought Sweetly would be connected to Sister's Red, but I did back when the synopsis first came out and I saw the name Samuel Reynolds. Hm...Reynolds: sound familiar? Silas Reynolds, maybe? Yeah, brothers! That was a nice way to tie things in, and I was really excited to see how else the two were connected.
Gretchen is tough, a quiet girl who quickly learns what strength and courage is. Plus, she was Skittle hair; awesome! Originally, I didn't really connect with her, but she had grown on me by the ending when she really strengthens as a character and person. Ansel is the protective big brother, looking out firstly for Gretchen and hopelessly in love with Sophia, even at the end, but I never really connected with him. I like Samuel, how he can be so unsure and nervous at times, but is usually all gruff and harshness. How he still kept that harsh, sarcastic edge even after getting close to Gretchen made me smile (especially how he acts when he accidentally shoots her).
I kind of had the plot figured out after a while, how Sophia hosted the party so the Fenris could get the girls and eat them, and it seemed really odd to me how at the beginning, she was like, "You're 18?" to Gretchen and how the 18-year-olds wear red dresses. I didn't really understand that though until the last few chapters, but I knew something was up, because Sophia's jumpy a lot and secretive. The biggest shock, though, that made me totally flip out was about the twins, how when one dies, the living one, like, absorbs their soul or something and they can become an ocean girl or whatever, like Sophia's sister has. And as I read that, a realization hit me: mermaids!!! Fathomless, people: it's all fitting together. I figure Fathomless's character, Lo, is going to be Naida, Sophia's sister. That's what I'm hoping, at least.
Overall, as I said earlier, 3.5 stars, becaus, while I did like it, certain scenes aren't described all that well to me, like some parts of the big massacre and certain other things; they didn't take away too much though, because other things are described really well, and it was nice. Some sentences are a bit too short and choppy for my taste, but it's like right after Pearce uses them, it's back to the more flowing, long ones, and that's what I love. Utterly, the ending had me more excited than her previous book, because I can somewhat know what to expect for the next one! But I can say that I enjoyed Sisters Red more than this book. The only thing I wasn't too fond of was how Gretchen never outwardly says she loved Samuel, even to herself. I guess it's just so obvious to them though that they love each other, so that works :)
CAN'T WAIT FOR FATHOMLESS!!!!!
I hadn't really planned on reading this until it actually came out, and then I became curious; actually, the main reason I got this was because I hadn't read anything in a month and I was dying (not literally). Anyway, I must say that I'm fairly impressed. This story is first person and comes entirely from Gretchen's point of view, which was different from Pearce's previous two novels. I was interested to know if there really was a witch (and I had been hoping there was actually), and then to find out it was a werewolf...I hadn't really thought Sweetly would be connected to Sister's Red, but I did back when the synopsis first came out and I saw the name Samuel Reynolds. Hm...Reynolds: sound familiar? Silas Reynolds, maybe? Yeah, brothers! That was a nice way to tie things in, and I was really excited to see how else the two were connected.
Gretchen is tough, a quiet girl who quickly learns what strength and courage is. Plus, she was Skittle hair; awesome! Originally, I didn't really connect with her, but she had grown on me by the ending when she really strengthens as a character and person. Ansel is the protective big brother, looking out firstly for Gretchen and hopelessly in love with Sophia, even at the end, but I never really connected with him. I like Samuel, how he can be so unsure and nervous at times, but is usually all gruff and harshness. How he still kept that harsh, sarcastic edge even after getting close to Gretchen made me smile (especially how he acts when he accidentally shoots her).
I kind of had the plot figured out after a while, how Sophia hosted the party so the Fenris could get the girls and eat them, and it seemed really odd to me how at the beginning, she was like, "You're 18?" to Gretchen and how the 18-year-olds wear red dresses. I didn't really understand that though until the last few chapters, but I knew something was up, because Sophia's jumpy a lot and secretive. The biggest shock, though, that made me totally flip out was about the twins, how when one dies, the living one, like, absorbs their soul or something and they can become an ocean girl or whatever, like Sophia's sister has. And as I read that, a realization hit me: mermaids!!! Fathomless, people: it's all fitting together. I figure Fathomless's character, Lo, is going to be Naida, Sophia's sister. That's what I'm hoping, at least.
Overall, as I said earlier, 3.5 stars, becaus, while I did like it, certain scenes aren't described all that well to me, like some parts of the big massacre and certain other things; they didn't take away too much though, because other things are described really well, and it was nice. Some sentences are a bit too short and choppy for my taste, but it's like right after Pearce uses them, it's back to the more flowing, long ones, and that's what I love. Utterly, the ending had me more excited than her previous book, because I can somewhat know what to expect for the next one! But I can say that I enjoyed Sisters Red more than this book. The only thing I wasn't too fond of was how Gretchen never outwardly says she loved Samuel, even to herself. I guess it's just so obvious to them though that they love each other, so that works :)
CAN'T WAIT FOR FATHOMLESS!!!!!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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
pretty good. I see why this is a companion to Sister Red. to be honest, i didn't love it as much as Sister Red, but it was still pretty good.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a re-telling of 'Hansel & Gretel'. It's also a companion novel to 'Sister's Red' which is a re-telling of 'Little Red riding hood'. Jackson Pearce has weaved an interesting tale of romance, intrigue & horror. It was a different take on the old tale of 'Hansel & Gretel', a brother (Ansel) and his sister (Gretchen) are kicked out by their stepmother when their father dies. On their way to the ocean their car breaks down near a town called Live Oak, where they meet a woman named Sophia who runs a chocolatier which seems almost magical. They also run into a guy named Samuel who tells Gretchen to stay away from Sophia because rumor has it she makes young women disappear... I enjoyed reading this (not as much as 'Sister's Red') but it was still good. It's interesting how 'Sweetly' has something in common with 'Sister's Red' which I won't give away but I had an "oh ok, cool!!" moment. The plot became a little bit predictable but the ending was really graphic and I loved it!! Filled with lots of twists & turns and a little bit of swoon thrown in can make a sweet mixture.
There is a witch in the woods. The witch took Gretchen's twin sister. Her family was never the same. As soon as Gretchen and her older brother, Ansel, could leave their stepmother, they left for a roadtrip across the United States. Unfortunately, they only made it Live Oak, South Carolina. They earn some money working for the chocolateir, but something in the woods is still out there that haunts Gretchen. Maybe, mysterious Samuel Reynolds can help?
Sweetly is a companion novel to Sisters Red. You can easily pickup this novel and read it before Sisters Red, but if you want a backstory to read Sisteres Red first.
Pearce takes the story of Hansel and Gretal and adds the twist of Fenris. A Reynolds woodcutter is also seen in this novel. The disappearance of girls is understood with the previous book knowledge. But the new twist of a witch is very intriquing to read and understand as barganing is thrown into the fairy tale. Thses dark fairytales are very intriguing and I can't put them down once I begin. I look forward to Pearce's next installment.
Reviewed from a library copy.
Sweetly is a companion novel to Sisters Red. You can easily pickup this novel and read it before Sisters Red, but if you want a backstory to read Sisteres Red first.
Pearce takes the story of Hansel and Gretal and adds the twist of Fenris. A Reynolds woodcutter is also seen in this novel. The disappearance of girls is understood with the previous book knowledge. But the new twist of a witch is very intriquing to read and understand as barganing is thrown into the fairy tale. Thses dark fairytales are very intriguing and I can't put them down once I begin. I look forward to Pearce's next installment.
Reviewed from a library copy.
I liked Sisters Red better. This had a good premise but took too long to get to the point.