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aspire's review against another edition
1.0
Can't believe this was same author as Penryn.
The writing in this was absolutely horrible. Juvenile, amatuerish, typos, along with inconsistencies in the story and plot. I couldn't believe this was the same author as who wrote the first Penryn trilogy. While that first book was fantastic, the second ok, the third and final book was a big letdown to me in it's plotline. But this story is not only a half-cooked mess of jumbled ideas, poorly patched together with absolutely no depth whatsoever to the characters, along with Mary Sue MC and Hero, but then they both end up being exttemely weak and selfish MC's at the same time later on, I was still shocked at the extreme difference in poor writing skills and complete lack of character development between this book and the Penryn series. I do not recommemd paying for this, in fact, I'm returning it for my money back it was so bad. Something I'd expect to read from a young teenager's first attempt at writing.
The writing in this was absolutely horrible. Juvenile, amatuerish, typos, along with inconsistencies in the story and plot. I couldn't believe this was the same author as who wrote the first Penryn trilogy. While that first book was fantastic, the second ok, the third and final book was a big letdown to me in it's plotline. But this story is not only a half-cooked mess of jumbled ideas, poorly patched together with absolutely no depth whatsoever to the characters, along with Mary Sue MC and Hero, but then they both end up being exttemely weak and selfish MC's at the same time later on, I was still shocked at the extreme difference in poor writing skills and complete lack of character development between this book and the Penryn series. I do not recommemd paying for this, in fact, I'm returning it for my money back it was so bad. Something I'd expect to read from a young teenager's first attempt at writing.
pirra's review against another edition
3.0
Me había leído la trilogía de "El fín de los días" de esta autora y me gustó bastante así que al ver que tenía un retelling de cenicienta me dije a mí misma que tenía que leerlo.
Lo estuve mirando un tiempo antes de adquirirlo porque las reseñas que había eran o muy positivas o muy negativas y no estaba segura de qué hacer al respecto porque me llamaba la atención el tema y la sinopsis, la portada me parece bonita pero lo que leía malo me echaba para atrás.
Al final decidí darle una oportunidad y confieso que me quedé pillada muy al principio de la historia. Metí otros libros entre medias de la lectura que me parecieron más interesantes y cuando los acabé decidí acabar este.
Le he dado una valoración de 3 estrellas, que considero bastante positiva, pero también lo he metido en mi estantería de "sin más" porque es una historia que se lee bien (mucha acción y diálogos), rápido (es bastante corto) y entretiene... pero cuando acaba te quedas pensando ¿esto es todo?
La historia termina con un giro un poco del estilo a "me saco esto de la manga" que lo soluciona todo y aquí tienes tu final feliz. Tenemos un instalove muy poco desarrollado... de hecho ni siquiera o he metido en la estantería romance porque no se le da apenas importancia en la novela a pesar de que es lo que se espera.
Creo que esta sensación de quedarse a medias se debe a que forma parte de una saga en la que la siguiente novela (que no está traducida al español) es otro retelling dentro del reino de Medianoche... así que asumo que ahí estarán las respuestas que no hemos encontrado con Cinder.
No obstante faltan palabras por todas partes. Se agradecen las historias de acción y aventuras sin que haya paja de por medio pero era necesario más desarrollo de los personajes y de las relaciones. Se supone que hay cierto "misterio" en las identidades de algunos personajes pero está cantadísimo quien es quien y cómo va a acabar la cosa.
Esperaba más de esta historia pero a la vez como había leído muchas reseñas negativas mis expectativas no eran muy altas así que lo he podido disfrutar. No lo recomendaría especialmente... si quieres leer algo de esta autora me iría sin dudar a la trilogía que es mucho mejor que esta novela.
Lo estuve mirando un tiempo antes de adquirirlo porque las reseñas que había eran o muy positivas o muy negativas y no estaba segura de qué hacer al respecto porque me llamaba la atención el tema y la sinopsis, la portada me parece bonita pero lo que leía malo me echaba para atrás.
Al final decidí darle una oportunidad y confieso que me quedé pillada muy al principio de la historia. Metí otros libros entre medias de la lectura que me parecieron más interesantes y cuando los acabé decidí acabar este.
Le he dado una valoración de 3 estrellas, que considero bastante positiva, pero también lo he metido en mi estantería de "sin más" porque es una historia que se lee bien (mucha acción y diálogos), rápido (es bastante corto) y entretiene... pero cuando acaba te quedas pensando ¿esto es todo?
La historia termina con un giro un poco del estilo a "me saco esto de la manga" que lo soluciona todo y aquí tienes tu final feliz. Tenemos un instalove muy poco desarrollado... de hecho ni siquiera o he metido en la estantería romance porque no se le da apenas importancia en la novela a pesar de que es lo que se espera.
Creo que esta sensación de quedarse a medias se debe a que forma parte de una saga en la que la siguiente novela (que no está traducida al español) es otro retelling dentro del reino de Medianoche... así que asumo que ahí estarán las respuestas que no hemos encontrado con Cinder.
No obstante faltan palabras por todas partes. Se agradecen las historias de acción y aventuras sin que haya paja de por medio pero era necesario más desarrollo de los personajes y de las relaciones. Se supone que hay cierto "misterio" en las identidades de algunos personajes pero está cantadísimo quien es quien y cómo va a acabar la cosa.
Esperaba más de esta historia pero a la vez como había leído muchas reseñas negativas mis expectativas no eran muy altas así que lo he podido disfrutar. No lo recomendaría especialmente... si quieres leer algo de esta autora me iría sin dudar a la trilogía que es mucho mejor que esta novela.
ladywestfall's review against another edition
2.0
This could pass up for a children's book. Definitely not for me. I got so excited for nothing! This is sad.
prettypieceoffiction's review against another edition
3.0
I still love Susan Ee but this book left a lot to be desired. First, I can't help but note that I found a few grammatical errors, and those always throw me off when reading. Now for the story itself.
I love the concept of the kingdom of Midnight and these dark takes on classic tales. Cinder was likeable enough, but there were just certain things that she was so obviously dense about. I get that there are some things that needed to be revealed later, but they were just so glaringly obvious, not only to the reader, but in the story itself it just felt foolish that the characters were shocked by the revelations.
I was definitely more interested in the story after the time jump and I think that the author could have consolidated that first half into maybe only a few chapters instead of the first half of the book.
I also want to note that Lalyn and Silver were probably the most intriguing character in this story and I'm sad that we didn't get to find out more about them.
I'm still debating on whether to check out the rest of the Midnight series. But maybe I'll get to see Lalyn or Silver in those books, so I just might!
I love the concept of the kingdom of Midnight and these dark takes on classic tales. Cinder was likeable enough, but there were just certain things that she was so obviously dense about. I get that there are some things that needed to be revealed later, but they were just so glaringly obvious, not only to the reader, but in the story itself it just felt foolish that the characters were shocked by the revelations.
I was definitely more interested in the story after the time jump and I think that the author could have consolidated that first half into maybe only a few chapters instead of the first half of the book.
I also want to note that Lalyn and Silver were probably the most intriguing character in this story and I'm sad that we didn't get to find out more about them.
I'm still debating on whether to check out the rest of the Midnight series. But maybe I'll get to see Lalyn or Silver in those books, so I just might!
zeozombz's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great little story. I am excited for the next one in the series. It is a very different spin on the tale Cinderella and I actually enjoyed it very much. The book is not exactly a romance novel, even though it is based on a fairy tale, but it is a little terrifying (but not scary) and action-packed. I enjoyed it very much.
For a short book, I thought the main character was well developed and very likable. The story line was not predictable with its few twists and turns, which was nice considering it follows the Cinderella tale.
For a short book, I thought the main character was well developed and very likable. The story line was not predictable with its few twists and turns, which was nice considering it follows the Cinderella tale.
princessleopard's review against another edition
3.0
Preface: I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Explicit content: None, really? Implied sexual assault, kind of? Violence? Death?
Recommended for: Fans of fairytale retellings with tempered expectations
I really enjoyed about 3/4ths of this story. It's an interesting little twist on the Cinderella story. You've got all the pieces, just twisted around and re-imagined in fun ways. The addition of the deadly hunt was interesting, Cinder training to be badass was fun (if a little girl-power-y), and I really loved the fairy godmother stand-in, she was just a unique and interesting take. Even the romance isn't too bad - at least Cinder and the prince have met each other a few times before the eventual ball. The villain is kinda weak (typical evil king stuff) but he at least had an interesting appearance as a kinda chunky, not physically intimidating dude. His plan, while easily foreseen, did put another little fun twist on the situation.
However. The story has problems, especially in its ending. Other reviews said the ending comes out of nowhere, so I thought I was prepared - boy was I wrong! One of the most important events basically happens off-screen, and after that it's like the author just hit the fast-forward button. Our characters literally just decide to gtfo of the story, and then we get a slapped-together "and they lived happily ever after, probably" kinda thing. What happened with Lalyn was definitely the worst part, for me - she has several sympathetic scenes and is a genuinely interesting character, only for all of this to be thrown out the window at the end. It was just all very frustrating. And, weirdest of all, the training that Cinder goes through (that we spend chapters developing, and even a two-year time-skip to give her plausibility as a warrior) basically comes to nothing. She doesn't fight using her training, she basically turns into a wild animal for no reason. Add in another character coming seemingly out of nowhere, no resolution to the fate of a minor character (because the author wrote another novel about it)...it was all just very, very sloppy.
The quality of the writing is also pretty so-so. There's a lot of adverbs, a lot of repetition, a lot of weird phrasing a competent editor would have caught. Overall, this story just feels really, really rushed. It needed a lot more time in the oven, and some serious polish.
All that being said, if you enjoy fairytale retellings, this might still have some value for you, if you can overlook its faults. Some parts of it are enjoyable - just be prepared for a very unsatisfying ending.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Explicit content: None, really? Implied sexual assault, kind of? Violence? Death?
Recommended for: Fans of fairytale retellings with tempered expectations
I really enjoyed about 3/4ths of this story. It's an interesting little twist on the Cinderella story. You've got all the pieces, just twisted around and re-imagined in fun ways. The addition of the deadly hunt was interesting, Cinder training to be badass was fun (if a little girl-power-y), and I really loved the fairy godmother stand-in, she was just a unique and interesting take. Even the romance isn't too bad - at least Cinder and the prince have met each other a few times before the eventual ball. The villain is kinda weak (typical evil king stuff) but he at least had an interesting appearance as a kinda chunky, not physically intimidating dude. His plan, while easily foreseen, did put another little fun twist on the situation.
However. The story has problems, especially in its ending. Other reviews said the ending comes out of nowhere, so I thought I was prepared - boy was I wrong! One of the most important events basically happens off-screen, and after that it's like the author just hit the fast-forward button. Our characters literally just decide to gtfo of the story, and then we get a slapped-together "and they lived happily ever after, probably" kinda thing. What happened with Lalyn was definitely the worst part, for me - she has several sympathetic scenes and is a genuinely interesting character, only for all of this to be thrown out the window at the end. It was just all very frustrating. And, weirdest of all, the training that Cinder goes through (that we spend chapters developing, and even a two-year time-skip to give her plausibility as a warrior) basically comes to nothing. She doesn't fight using her training, she basically turns into a wild animal for no reason. Add in another character coming seemingly out of nowhere, no resolution to the fate of a minor character (because the author wrote another novel about it)...it was all just very, very sloppy.
The quality of the writing is also pretty so-so. There's a lot of adverbs, a lot of repetition, a lot of weird phrasing a competent editor would have caught. Overall, this story just feels really, really rushed. It needed a lot more time in the oven, and some serious polish.
All that being said, if you enjoy fairytale retellings, this might still have some value for you, if you can overlook its faults. Some parts of it are enjoyable - just be prepared for a very unsatisfying ending.
maca21's review against another edition
2.0
“She has no choice. Just like I have no choice.”
“We all have choices, even if we do not realize it.“
I don’t even know what to say.
I wanted to love this, I wanted to give this amazing rating, but I couldn’t.
It was bad. Just bad.
Where is my awesome Susan Ee?
I want her back! 😭
2,25⭐️
————-
O.M.G. I thought this was never going to happen 😯😍
Finally a new book by Susan Ee.
I love her books.
But I really don’t like this cover 😕
“We all have choices, even if we do not realize it.“
I don’t even know what to say.
I wanted to love this, I wanted to give this amazing rating, but I couldn’t.
It was bad. Just bad.
Where is my awesome Susan Ee?
I want her back! 😭
2,25⭐️
————-
O.M.G. I thought this was never going to happen 😯😍
Finally a new book by Susan Ee.
I love her books.
But I really don’t like this cover 😕
sailorthemoon's review against another edition
2.0
Definitely a fresh and dark view on the Cinderella. But not for my taste.