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crystalreading's review against another edition
3.0
Cute little fairy-tale type book with a sorceress, various evil characters, some frog princes, and a few heroes. Quite amusing.
kiwikathleen's review against another edition
4.0
This book is so much fun! Right from the beginning, the imaginative leaps and bounds are just hilarious. The witch is deliciously nasty, but also wonderfully vain (after all, as the title of the book tells us, this whole adventure takes place because of the amazing dress she decides she needs to have made); the henchman is a long-suffering and rather dim troll; another couple of nasties are also deliciously so; and the hero and heroine are great characters. Oh yes, not to forget the bats and the Professor and the Ancient Crones.
This book romps along, bringing things we all know already (from older fairy tales) into the plot, and presenting it all in a way that is both funny and scary. Definitely a book to enjoy along with your children or grandchildren.
This book romps along, bringing things we all know already (from older fairy tales) into the plot, and presenting it all in a way that is both funny and scary. Definitely a book to enjoy along with your children or grandchildren.
tmilstein's review against another edition
It was cute. Told from the points of view of Marcus the prince, Lady Lamorna, Foyce, Gracie, and a troll. A lot of head popping for a small book--don't get to know anyone particularly well. Good triumphs over evil. Ending wrapped up with enough threads for a sequel. I expected I'd be more interested after reading the back cover, which is told from Lady Lamorna's point of view. I'm sure the very young audience will like this book more than me.
gaymidna524's review against another edition
4.0
rereading a few old things i liked a lot when i was small, and i see why i enjoyed this one! cute, quick, compelling, lovely illustrations, and a wonky little castle full of mislabeled rooms. honestly, might even be worth seeking out the next few books...
feline17ff's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A very good subversion on the “Looking for the one person true of heart”.
It turns out that they're actually looking for the false of hearts, and the TrueHeart girl is just a means to an end, essentially.
They save her too regardless so dw
Then you know how there's cozy mysteries?
This is a cozy adventure.
It was short, fast, easy to read, and not very high stakes. It was nice and grounded.
There are lots of characters so it was fun to see all these different POV chapters and how they will connect eventually.
Then the ending also is very grounded and it doesn't focus onthe girl getting the guy or the girl finding her dream home or dream family.
No, instead she's free to do whatever but invited to a family when she's ready — that is her happy ending.
But the main ending ishow the evil characters who were abusive, how they ended up. So that is the true ending of the story.
Instead of focusing on a happy ending, it focuses on a just desserts ending for the evil characters. While the good characters do get their happy endings it's more like they get cozy endings that aren't over-the-top “adopted into a life of luxury with no problems for the rest of their days" ending.
It turns out that they're actually looking for the false of hearts, and the TrueHeart girl is just a means to an end, essentially.
They save her too regardless so dw
Then you know how there's cozy mysteries?
This is a cozy adventure.
It was short, fast, easy to read, and not very high stakes. It was nice and grounded.
There are lots of characters so it was fun to see all these different POV chapters and how they will connect eventually.
Then the ending also is very grounded and it doesn't focus on
No, instead she's free to do whatever but invited to a family when she's ready — that is her happy ending.
But the main ending is
Instead of focusing on a happy ending, it focuses on a just desserts ending for the evil characters. While the good characters do get their happy endings it's more like they get cozy endings that aren't over-the-top “adopted into a life of luxury with no problems for the rest of their days" ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent
_matthewdon_'s review against another edition
3.0
It's quite hard to review The Robe of Skulls. It's great, but quite confusing, all these mini stories that always end up meeting. It's not a collection of stories if you thought that, it's just one big story, from different sides and plans and frogs. But, it's still an incredibly funny book from Vivian French - that just sounds fancy! Owww. Vivian French. WOW! OMG! Fancy lady! - maybe she's not... Still, overall, an interesting book with loads of ideas that could've been changed slightly.
tms792's review against another edition
4.0
Just above the town of Fracture lies a ghastly castle with an even ghastlier occupant Lady Lamorna, who is just plain freaky. Her latest wish is a magnificent black velvet gown that is studded with skulls. When she goes to pay for it she finds that her treasure chest is empty. Instead of canceling her order, Lady Lamorna concocts a plan to pay for that dress. Her plan includes a couple of members of the royal party, some frogs, and blackmail.
Then there is Gracie Gillypot. I shy girl who spends most of her days locked up in the cellar under the stairs of her house. When she's not spending time with the spiders under the stairs she is running after her step-father and complying with his every wish. When a talking bat finds her one day he promises her a better life and takes off. Days later he returns and helps Gracie escape. He's taking her to see the Ancient Crones who will hopefully be able to help her with her wicked step-sister and step-father problem.
Last but not least there is the prince that scoots under Lady Lamorna's radar. Marcus is a rather curious prince who really doesn't want anything to do with royalty. When his brother is turned into a frog he is determined to find the person who committed this heinous crime. Through a twist of fate he is paired up with Gracie and they set off to put Lady Lamorna in her rightful place.
This book was an absolute riot. While it is a super fast read you will find yourself enthralled with the quirkiness of the characters and loving the story. The illustrations are very comical too! While this is definitely a middle grade novel it is definitely suited for older and younger readers alike. While I didn't find the characters too well developed, I really enjoyed the quick moving plot that keeps taking twists and turns. I loved how the author connected everything in a way that wasn't predictable and added to the hilarity of the book. Overall I really liked this book and recommend it.
Then there is Gracie Gillypot. I shy girl who spends most of her days locked up in the cellar under the stairs of her house. When she's not spending time with the spiders under the stairs she is running after her step-father and complying with his every wish. When a talking bat finds her one day he promises her a better life and takes off. Days later he returns and helps Gracie escape. He's taking her to see the Ancient Crones who will hopefully be able to help her with her wicked step-sister and step-father problem.
Last but not least there is the prince that scoots under Lady Lamorna's radar. Marcus is a rather curious prince who really doesn't want anything to do with royalty. When his brother is turned into a frog he is determined to find the person who committed this heinous crime. Through a twist of fate he is paired up with Gracie and they set off to put Lady Lamorna in her rightful place.
This book was an absolute riot. While it is a super fast read you will find yourself enthralled with the quirkiness of the characters and loving the story. The illustrations are very comical too! While this is definitely a middle grade novel it is definitely suited for older and younger readers alike. While I didn't find the characters too well developed, I really enjoyed the quick moving plot that keeps taking twists and turns. I loved how the author connected everything in a way that wasn't predictable and added to the hilarity of the book. Overall I really liked this book and recommend it.
carriedoodledoo's review against another edition
4.0
Like if Tim Burton and whoever conceptualized Yzma from "The Emperor's New Groove" got together to write a book. Spooky but bad loses and good wins. Clever along the way. Quite fun!
mbenzz's review
4.0
This was a great start to a fun series. It has everything I love about middle-grade fairy tales...witches, Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses. Heroes, villains, taking bats, and trolls.
The adventures of Gracie Gillypot and company were a great way to spend a few evenings before bed, and I immediately started book two upon finishing this one. I look forward to seeing how the rest of this series plays out.
The adventures of Gracie Gillypot and company were a great way to spend a few evenings before bed, and I immediately started book two upon finishing this one. I look forward to seeing how the rest of this series plays out.