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annick's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
2.75
This was a near perfect five star when I first read it in 2002.
I reread it twenty years after I read and loved it. For years I would tell people this was one of my top five favourite novels. But this reread was a disappointment. I don’t think this is as amazing as I did as a teenager. I enjoyed the parts with Puck esp from page 398 onwards.
I reread it twenty years after I read and loved it. For years I would tell people this was one of my top five favourite novels. But this reread was a disappointment. I don’t think this is as amazing as I did as a teenager. I enjoyed the parts with Puck esp from page 398 onwards.
I can’t help but notice the absence of BIPOC characters. I think this shows the age of when it was published (1991) and I hope good editors nowadays would notice how non western cultures are marginalised in the second half of the tale (when Beauty visits Faery and Baskarone, and when she and the Bogles act to preserve beauty on Earth).
I’m nonetheless grateful for the story and how ideas were presented. The book made me ponder many things, including the impact of inter generational traumas. As a teenager it galvanised my interest in protecting the environment and noticing the flaws in western fairy tales.
this book is no longer one I recommend in my top five favourite novels. But it still is one I’m glad to have read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Transphobia, War, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Sexism, Violence, and Body horror
kestrellady's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book definitely had its good parts. Favorites include the main character yelling at a fairy "I've been to the 20th century! I've seen Disney!" and gently tossing an invisibility cloak over the melted remains of Snow White's evil stepmother so they don't disturb the wedding.
Otherwise, this feels like a book that would have been considered "progressive" when it came out, but is now just full of defeatism and "humans are the parasites." No one really gets a happy ending and the message of the book seems to behopefully once humans have driven themselves and the rest of the planet to extinction, some other lifeform will pop up in its place!
Otherwise, this feels like a book that would have been considered "progressive" when it came out, but is now just full of defeatism and "humans are the parasites." No one really gets a happy ending and the message of the book seems to be
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Torture, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Ableism, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Pregnancy, Animal death, and Mental illness
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