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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After reading Woods' most recent book, also a fairy tale retelling, I felt I needed to check her other work. This is an excellent story for a debut and I really enjoyed the retelling vibes.
I like how Woods' bases the retellings in historical time periods (though I couldn't say how accurately she portrays these elements). While I felt like it did contribute to some of the specific tension in the story, it sometimes felt like the historical aspects were just extra information that wasn't always needed. Story lines like how people will lean into their own fears and biases (witch hunts) don't necessarily need the historical framing.
I enjoyed how the story wove together more than one traditional fairy tale, offering some unique perspectives to both tales. The pacing was a bit uneven, and it felt like it took a long time for Greta to start putting pieces together and actually doing things (rather than just lamenting over her situation). The romance element was also pretty insta-love. I'm personally not a huge fan, though it does kind of work in the context of the fairy tale plot (aren't most fairy tales insta love anyway), and because its not the driving force of the story, I don't mind it as much as I usually would.
Overall, interesting and enjoyable take and perfect for fans of both classic fairy tales and more updated retellings.
I like how Woods' bases the retellings in historical time periods (though I couldn't say how accurately she portrays these elements). While I felt like it did contribute to some of the specific tension in the story, it sometimes felt like the historical aspects were just extra information that wasn't always needed. Story lines like how people will lean into their own fears and biases (witch hunts) don't necessarily need the historical framing.
I enjoyed how the story wove together more than one traditional fairy tale, offering some unique perspectives to both tales. The pacing was a bit uneven, and it felt like it took a long time for Greta to start putting pieces together and actually doing things (rather than just lamenting over her situation). The romance element was also pretty insta-love. I'm personally not a huge fan, though it does kind of work in the context of the fairy tale plot (aren't most fairy tales insta love anyway), and because its not the driving force of the story, I don't mind it as much as I usually would.
Overall, interesting and enjoyable take and perfect for fans of both classic fairy tales and more updated retellings.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A really great imagining of Hansel (Hans) and Gretel (Greta), decades after their childhood mishap with the witch, mixed with the story of Rose Red and Snow White, mixed with werewolf legends and the story of Elizabeth Bathory "the Blood Countess" - really fun stuff!
I really enjoyed this! A great mix of historical fiction and fantasy folklore. I love a good retelling and it was fun to pick up on the little pieces of other fairytales woven into this story. I did struggle with the war jargen in the beginning, but it set the stage nicely for desperation and that feeling if foreboding and dread.
Loved the ending and the HEA.
Loved the ending and the HEA.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
WOW! I didn't go into this one as a five star prediction - I didn't really have any expectations, but if I had considered it I probably would have guessed it would be a four star. But wow - a definite five star for me.
I love the writing, the perfect lushness and depth, rich words and descriptions and a lovely unraveling tale of love and magic. I guessed that one twist about the stepmother pretty early on, but it was very interesting watching how every bit of the story unfolded! I love Greta and Mathias, and I'm glad Hans got a little redemption in the end.
The pacing was excellent - the kind of slower plotting that I love, without ever feeling like it was dragging. It just felt perfectly full of story and quiet moments.
I highly recommend this book!
I love the writing, the perfect lushness and depth, rich words and descriptions and a lovely unraveling tale of love and magic. I guessed that one twist about the stepmother pretty early on, but it was very interesting watching how every bit of the story unfolded! I love Greta and Mathias, and I'm glad Hans got a little redemption in the end.
The pacing was excellent - the kind of slower plotting that I love, without ever feeling like it was dragging. It just felt perfectly full of story and quiet moments.
I highly recommend this book!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is not quite my usual fare - more fairytale than fantasy, more historical lit-fic than genre driven, more slow-churning and introspective. It made the reading experience lush and engaging, but occasionally felt less than compelling to me. But I enjoyed the journey, and everything came together very satisfyingly for the characters and themes, delving deep and never taking shortcuts.
I approached this read a bit hesitantly after a string of book box book reads this month and last that have disappointed. Sometimes these lower expectations work in my favor as they did with this book. Instead of disappointment, I found fascination and a unique take on children's fairy tales. The main character, Greta, lives with her brother, Hans, and the childhood trauma of being abandoned by their father in the middle of the forest as well as their subsequent captivity and torture by a witch. Yes, the main character and her brother are the grown up Hansel and Gretel. Woods weaves together this Grimm fairy tale with several others, including most prominently that of Snow White and Rose Red. These tales come to live in such a believable way that it would be easy to look at Greta's story, and the story of those around her, as the real inspiration for the Brothers Grimm. Although this is not a perfect book - I am most critical of the near insta love between Greta and her love interest - I really enjoyed this read.