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clairew97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Body shaming, Violence, Torture, Cannibalism, Grief, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Abandonment, Animal death, Death, Blood, and Body horror
outer_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed the first few chapters until right before the last few ones. Those where I enjoyed the introduction to the world, to the German Folklore creatures and not just Rumpelstiltskin. The writing was so good! It was the most atmospheric.
I also refused to believe that this was a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin! I refused! I had no knowledge of this book and have never read any works of Marissa Meyer until this one but have heard of and been in my wishlist for so long! And this made me want to keep on reading here amazing work because if this type of writing is the same within all of her books then I would be happily to swim in it.
The only complaint about that I have to give was the romance. I felt nothing towards it, there was no chemistry there but I understand it. These are two people who had never experienced romantic and yearning love ever, BECAUSE OF REASONS, and they share that common reason. Makes sense to me and I know it might not to others but I do wish to see more interactions between them, a chemistry build up and something to form together in the next book.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Murder, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Violence, Death, Slavery, and Child death
Moderate: Stalking, Torture, Grief, Genocide, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
beckyyreadss's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is told from Serilda’s point of view. She was cursed by the god of lies and has developed a talent for storytelling. When one of Serilda’s stories draws the attention of the Erilking, she finds herself swept away into a world of enchantment, where ghouls prowl the earth, and ravens track her every move. The king locks Serilda in a castle dungeon and orders her to spin straw into gold or be killed for lying. In despair, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious young man to her aid. And he agrees to help her, for a price. But as the months go on, she falls in love with the mysterious young man and yet there are too many secrets, and she doesn’t know who she can trust. This book is a young adult fantasy.
This book was difficult. The world building wasn’t there and there wasn’t much character building expect that Serilda is a storyteller and she’s got to go back to the “bad castle” every full moon. I think I also struggled with this book as I didn’t understand all the God analogy of it. Serilda was a damsel in distress that was trying to save herself but just couldn’t and then rejected help. Erikling’s got no back story and no character background or building expect he likes to hunt and be a dick. Gild sort of saved this book and I would have loved for him to be the hero and be the want getting the girl. I hated how it ended and hopefully it’s building for the next book.
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Stalking, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual content and Abortion