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jenlovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Partner NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for the digital ARC of Julie C. Dao’s Broken Wish in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.
Julie C. Dao’s Broken Wish is the first in a series of four YA novels spanning generations of a cursed family. (The authors are heavy hitters: Dhonielle Clayton, L. L. McKinney, and Jennifer Cervantes will round out the series.)
I requested this one because it has so many elements I love, including witches and magic and romance. The Grimms appear, and so do magic mirrors and wishing wells. It’s a beautiful tribute to folklore and fairy tales.
The book begins with a familiar story: a couple moves into a small cottage in 1840s Germany. The wife, Agnes, befriends a neighbor through baskets and gifts and written notes but hesitates to pursue the friendship because of rumors her husband Oskar has heard. Eventually, though, the two women meet and solidify their friendship, and the solitary woman, Mathilda, offers to help Agnes with her dearest wish, to have a child. She only asks in return that Agnes maintain their friendship.
Oskar, however, is opposed--he’s been an outcast before and wants to escape that fate. So Agnes lies to Mathilda and breaks her promise, despite the fact that Mathilda succeeds in helping her fiend. Agnes does indeed have a daughter. Agnes’s dishonesty and betrayal begins the curse.
The narrative picks up with the couple’s daughter, Elva, who has a strange magical ability and no knowledge of her parents’ history. Her parents have stayed true to their desperation not to be outcasts and have trained Elva to hide her magic from everyone, which she does . . . until she falls in love.
Broken Wish is a lovely novel, filled with all the magic a lover of fairy tales could want. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and I think it’s perfect for YA readers (and some middle-graders!). I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
Julie C. Dao’s Broken Wish is the first in a series of four YA novels spanning generations of a cursed family. (The authors are heavy hitters: Dhonielle Clayton, L. L. McKinney, and Jennifer Cervantes will round out the series.)
I requested this one because it has so many elements I love, including witches and magic and romance. The Grimms appear, and so do magic mirrors and wishing wells. It’s a beautiful tribute to folklore and fairy tales.
The book begins with a familiar story: a couple moves into a small cottage in 1840s Germany. The wife, Agnes, befriends a neighbor through baskets and gifts and written notes but hesitates to pursue the friendship because of rumors her husband Oskar has heard. Eventually, though, the two women meet and solidify their friendship, and the solitary woman, Mathilda, offers to help Agnes with her dearest wish, to have a child. She only asks in return that Agnes maintain their friendship.
Oskar, however, is opposed--he’s been an outcast before and wants to escape that fate. So Agnes lies to Mathilda and breaks her promise, despite the fact that Mathilda succeeds in helping her fiend. Agnes does indeed have a daughter. Agnes’s dishonesty and betrayal begins the curse.
The narrative picks up with the couple’s daughter, Elva, who has a strange magical ability and no knowledge of her parents’ history. Her parents have stayed true to their desperation not to be outcasts and have trained Elva to hide her magic from everyone, which she does . . . until she falls in love.
Broken Wish is a lovely novel, filled with all the magic a lover of fairy tales could want. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and I think it’s perfect for YA readers (and some middle-graders!). I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
angschw's review against another edition
4.0
I freaking loved this book. It ended up being so much more than what I imagined or expected it to be. I was hooked from page 1 and could not put the book down. Originally I thought this book was a middle grade novel and upon reading discovered it was actually YA but it never felt less than anything but a fantastic/engaging tale of witches and magic. I cannot wait for book #2 in this series.
cjmedinger's review against another edition
4.0
A good book - interesting concept, but lots of excess
nerdylibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I just happened upon this book while cataloging at the library and I am so glad I brought it home. A good, old fashioned fairy tale. I enjoyed this so much and look forward to the other books coming in this series.
nataliev25's review against another edition
3.5
If you like happy endings, don't read this book. It has quite a tragic end.
I bought this book purely for the beautiful cover, but the synopsis did pique my curiosity. Unfortunately, I didn't really love it. It was enjoyable in the moment but it won't stick with me.
Our abilities die with us when we pass, so we might as well teach others while we can.
I bought this book purely for the beautiful cover, but the synopsis did pique my curiosity. Unfortunately, I didn't really love it. It was enjoyable in the moment but it won't stick with me.
Our abilities die with us when we pass, so we might as well teach others while we can.
bloodwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
repeatednean's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
worldroamer's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
storiesatstarfall's review against another edition
4.0
Star Rating: 3.75-4
The Mirror project promises to be an ambitious and interesting project, one I'm definitely intrigued to see how it progresses. Four generations. Four stories. I love this concept of a cross-generational fairytale and it all starts here with Broken Wish. Because every family curse starts somewhere.
Broken Wish is the beginning of this saga, and the one I foresee being the most traditional fairytale-esque. Centered in late 1800s Geremany, it definitely unveils the beginning of a Disney-dark fairytale. Witches, spells gone wrong, and unpredictable magic, all under the flag of fighting what it means to be different. My biggest qualm is that this story, while enchanting and very much feels like the beginning of a Disney movie franchise, is just that: a beginning. Instead of standing on its own as it's own book, Broken Wish very much feels more like a prequel novella, with the real, true story on its way.
The characters are all archetypes you know, and not all of them have much depth. The story is easy to digest in the way that Disney encourages their books to be: clean prose and straight forward story. It's YA in the way of the Twisted Tales series, which also means the writing level is more geared towards younger YA readers and MG-aged readers.
Still, I'm honestly still excited for the stories to follow. While this is more like an introduction, I love the concept of this interconnected, multigenerational story. There's so many symbols and the like that I'm eager to see how they're carried over, and the next installment already sounds like it will promise heavier topics while extending the witchy feel outside classic Grimm Bros. era and into 1920s New Orleans.
Even though Broken Wish as a standalone doesn't feel as strong of a story as it could be, it has all the potential to hold the keys to a magnificent unraveling as The Mirror series continues!
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide in exchange for an honest review.
The Mirror project promises to be an ambitious and interesting project, one I'm definitely intrigued to see how it progresses. Four generations. Four stories. I love this concept of a cross-generational fairytale and it all starts here with Broken Wish. Because every family curse starts somewhere.
Broken Wish is the beginning of this saga, and the one I foresee being the most traditional fairytale-esque. Centered in late 1800s Geremany, it definitely unveils the beginning of a Disney-dark fairytale. Witches, spells gone wrong, and unpredictable magic, all under the flag of fighting what it means to be different. My biggest qualm is that this story, while enchanting and very much feels like the beginning of a Disney movie franchise, is just that: a beginning. Instead of standing on its own as it's own book, Broken Wish very much feels more like a prequel novella, with the real, true story on its way.
The characters are all archetypes you know, and not all of them have much depth. The story is easy to digest in the way that Disney encourages their books to be: clean prose and straight forward story. It's YA in the way of the Twisted Tales series, which also means the writing level is more geared towards younger YA readers and MG-aged readers.
Still, I'm honestly still excited for the stories to follow. While this is more like an introduction, I love the concept of this interconnected, multigenerational story. There's so many symbols and the like that I'm eager to see how they're carried over, and the next installment already sounds like it will promise heavier topics while extending the witchy feel outside classic Grimm Bros. era and into 1920s New Orleans.
Even though Broken Wish as a standalone doesn't feel as strong of a story as it could be, it has all the potential to hold the keys to a magnificent unraveling as The Mirror series continues!
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide in exchange for an honest review.
katreadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
I really appreciated how well plotted this novel was. The ending seemed like a surprise but upon reflection, fit perfectly.