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michellehenriereads's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoy Levine's writing style. Her simplicity of phrase is expressive and charming. I also love the underlying message that we all need to deduce, induce and use common sense as we wend our ways through our own lives. And above all we all want to avoid a whited sepulcher, someone who seems good but is, in truth, evil.
There were a few things that I did not like, for example, always calling the dragon an "IT" was annoying, especially since it had both letters capitalized it stopped my flow of reading. It also seemed awkward to rename the actors as masioners.
I believe children as young as third grade could enjoy this book even though there is an evil whited sepulcher out for ...
To read the complete review go to http://talesuntangled.wordpress.com
There were a few things that I did not like, for example, always calling the dragon an "IT" was annoying, especially since it had both letters capitalized it stopped my flow of reading. It also seemed awkward to rename the actors as masioners.
I believe children as young as third grade could enjoy this book even though there is an evil whited sepulcher out for ...
To read the complete review go to http://talesuntangled.wordpress.com
villianess's review against another edition
3.0
Elodie is sent to Two Castles to become an apprentice. What she really wants to become is a mansioner and tell stories. When she arrives she discovers that the price to become an apprentice has gone up and she doesn't have the money. As she is walking through the town she tries to purchase something and a cat steals her coin. This starts Elodie on an adventure with a dragon, an ogre, and people that are plotting to overthrow the kingdom. Elodie goes into the employ of the dragon, who is a sort of detective, to find out who is plotting against the ogre kingdom. Together they discover who can be trusted, who can't be trusted, and who is behind it all.
heathermcintire13's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
4.0
Ehlodie is one smart girl, really good with the inducing and deducing. Also, skewered cheese and bread sound really good after reading this great book.
sarahbowling6608's review against another edition
3.0
Likable characters, a happy ending, and quite a few plot holes. An enjoyable read but nothing fantastic. Wouldn’t want my child to read it as lying and disobedience are okay, parental authority is disdained, and stealing, plotting, and attempted murder are barely punished and even rewarded in some cases.
claire_loves_books's review against another edition
2.0
I just didn't enjoy this. The idea behind it all was good and it did have potential but it just fell short. All the characters were pretty one dimensional and the plot was pretty predictable .
There were also a few things that irritated me- reading about IT, the princess' speech- La!, the way deduce/induce was used felt wrong (and they're totally different types of reasoning but the words are used pretty interchangeably here), the list really could go on. I know that they're only small things but every page there was something.
Spoiler
This is the second Gail Carson Levine book in which the main character is accused of treason (I've only read two of her books, it may well be a feature in all of them)There were also a few things that irritated me- reading about IT, the princess' speech- La!, the way deduce/induce was used felt wrong (and they're totally different types of reasoning but the words are used pretty interchangeably here), the list really could go on. I know that they're only small things but every page there was something.
mikimeiko's review against another edition
3.0
Nice, though a little too childish for my taste, and not as good as other Gail Carson Levine's books.
I liked the inducing, deducing and using common sense of the dragon Meenore and the gentle ogre, and of course Elodie was a charming main character.
I liked the inducing, deducing and using common sense of the dragon Meenore and the gentle ogre, and of course Elodie was a charming main character.
brandypainter's review against another edition
3.0
Review originally posted here.
Elodie is an interesting heroine. Her parents want her to be weaver's apprentice. She wants to be a Mansioner (actress). Since they are poor and unable to see her once she sets off to seek her fortune, she figures what they don't know won't hurt them. Elodie discovers once her journey to the town of Two Castles begins that apprentices are no longer accepted without a fee. Alone and with no means to support herself she is extremely lucky that the dragon Meenore notices her plight and takes her on as an assistant. For a 12 year old Elodie is very mature but that fits in with the setting of the novel where that is considered old enough to venture into life on your own. At the same time she has a lot to learn, about people, dragons, and ogres in particular. Her character is not as developed as it could be and I felt like I didn't really know her any better at the end than at the beginning.
The dragon Meenore was delightful and my favorite part of the book. IT (as a dragon is called because only IT knows ITs gender) has a wicked sense of humor I enjoyed. IT is a wonderful mentor for Elodie because IT both nurtures and challenges her, just as a 12 year old needs.
This story is, at its heart, a mystery. The story unfolds slowly and there are places where it drags just a bit. There is a lot of set up at the beginning to give the reader background into the town, world, and characters. At times I was thinking, "Get on with it already." Once the action actually begins it is fast paced and exciting.
Unlike most of Levine's other fantasy novels there is no romantic element in this book at all. This is simply a story about a dragon and her girl who solve a crime. Any young readers out
Elodie is an interesting heroine. Her parents want her to be weaver's apprentice. She wants to be a Mansioner (actress). Since they are poor and unable to see her once she sets off to seek her fortune, she figures what they don't know won't hurt them. Elodie discovers once her journey to the town of Two Castles begins that apprentices are no longer accepted without a fee. Alone and with no means to support herself she is extremely lucky that the dragon Meenore notices her plight and takes her on as an assistant. For a 12 year old Elodie is very mature but that fits in with the setting of the novel where that is considered old enough to venture into life on your own. At the same time she has a lot to learn, about people, dragons, and ogres in particular. Her character is not as developed as it could be and I felt like I didn't really know her any better at the end than at the beginning.
The dragon Meenore was delightful and my favorite part of the book. IT (as a dragon is called because only IT knows ITs gender) has a wicked sense of humor I enjoyed. IT is a wonderful mentor for Elodie because IT both nurtures and challenges her, just as a 12 year old needs.
This story is, at its heart, a mystery. The story unfolds slowly and there are places where it drags just a bit. There is a lot of set up at the beginning to give the reader background into the town, world, and characters. At times I was thinking, "Get on with it already." Once the action actually begins it is fast paced and exciting.
Unlike most of Levine's other fantasy novels there is no romantic element in this book at all. This is simply a story about a dragon and her girl who solve a crime. Any young readers out
caitlin_89's review against another edition
3.0
I'm disappointed. I think I like the cover art better than the actual book. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad, but I was expecting greatness along the lines of The Two Princesses of Bamarre and Ella Enchanted. A Tale of Two Castles lacked depth and intensity to me. Maybe it's because I'm older than I was when I read the other two books? Or Maybe this just isn't Levine's best. Whatever the case, it's a nice little story, but not fascinating. I didn't have a problem with sitting it down and walking away, and for me, that's a problem.
sqeeker's review
4.0
- This was a charming tale with a bit of mystery!
- Gail Carson Levine is a very practical writer, and I enjoy her style. She hasn't done a mystery before, and this was a fun new tale from her!
- I enjoyed the made up French names.
- I liked Elodie a lot. She was a very fun and believable character. I liked how she sought acceptance and approval from her Masteress. I feel that way about some people at times.
- There were a lot of suspects in this mystery. I really had no idea who the culprit would be. It was fun to guess.
- Jonty Um was one of my favorites. He was gentle and humorous. It was a new twist to an ogre's character. I also loved that he loved dogs.
- The ending is wide open for another story, and I'm excited to read more about these characters.
- Gail Carson Levine is a very practical writer, and I enjoy her style. She hasn't done a mystery before, and this was a fun new tale from her!
- I enjoyed the made up French names.
- I liked Elodie a lot. She was a very fun and believable character. I liked how she sought acceptance and approval from her Masteress. I feel that way about some people at times.
- There were a lot of suspects in this mystery. I really had no idea who the culprit would be. It was fun to guess.
- Jonty Um was one of my favorites. He was gentle and humorous. It was a new twist to an ogre's character. I also loved that he loved dogs.
- The ending is wide open for another story, and I'm excited to read more about these characters.