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minna1999's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very meh for me and a little unrealistic. You’re telling me the king lets someone terrorize the country this blatantly yet no one rebels immediately?
I really like the villain, though. He’s so ridiculously evil and theatrical in a very campy way, but it works! Some of his lines are so funny, whether intentionally or not lol:
“But my children! They’ll be left with no one to take care of them.” Tears streamed down her cheeks and fell to the dusty wooden planks beneath her feet.
Teague smiled. “They’ll have me. At least until I sell them to a slaver in Balavata.”
——————
“Turning to face the others in the room, Teague said, “One of you will be my messenger. Which of you wants the job?”
The people glanced uncertainly at one another, and then the man closest to the door tentatively raised his hand.
Teague clapped his hands once. “Excellent. That leaves”—he turned in a slow circle and made a show of counting the rest—“one man, three women, and two adorable little children. And of course Edwin, on whose head all your deaths will be blamed.”
——————
“I’m sorry that happened to you”
“I’m not,” he said softly, his eyes on hers. “It reminded me not to get involved in the affairs of humans unless they could pay my prices. And in case I ever feel myself softening because someone comes along who looks like she keeps her promises, I simply pull out the pipe I had carved from Samara’s bones after I had her taken from Llorenyae, brought to my new home in Súndraille, and killed in front of me, and I remember that humans are liars who can never be fully trusted.”
I really like the villain, though. He’s so ridiculously evil and theatrical in a very campy way, but it works! Some of his lines are so funny, whether intentionally or not lol:
“But my children! They’ll be left with no one to take care of them.” Tears streamed down her cheeks and fell to the dusty wooden planks beneath her feet.
Teague smiled. “They’ll have me. At least until I sell them to a slaver in Balavata.”
——————
“Turning to face the others in the room, Teague said, “One of you will be my messenger. Which of you wants the job?”
The people glanced uncertainly at one another, and then the man closest to the door tentatively raised his hand.
Teague clapped his hands once. “Excellent. That leaves”—he turned in a slow circle and made a show of counting the rest—“one man, three women, and two adorable little children. And of course Edwin, on whose head all your deaths will be blamed.”
——————
“I’m sorry that happened to you”
“I’m not,” he said softly, his eyes on hers. “It reminded me not to get involved in the affairs of humans unless they could pay my prices. And in case I ever feel myself softening because someone comes along who looks like she keeps her promises, I simply pull out the pipe I had carved from Samara’s bones after I had her taken from Llorenyae, brought to my new home in Súndraille, and killed in front of me, and I remember that humans are liars who can never be fully trusted.”
kimching232's review against another edition
3.0
When I read the synopsis for this book, I was really surprised. I thought that Ravenspire #2 would be a continuation of The Shadow Queen, and I even stated in my review of that book how I excited I was to see how the story of the two kingdoms would unfold. It turns out that I was wrong about this being a continuation of where The Shadow Queen left off, but I still requested it because I think Rumplestiltskin retellings are rare. However, I must say that I was disappointed in this book.
I know that I shouldn't be comparing this to The Shadow Queen, but I can't help but do it. Compared to the first book, this book was really boring. I didn't feel the need to finish the book because the story was not that compelling. The events were not exciting enough, and the climax of the book fell flat for me. I felt like it dragged on and on, and it took me a long time to finish the book.
I also felt like the romance was not well developed. It was as if there were no other choices for Ari, because Sebastian is the only guy she is friends with, aside from her brother Thad. In a way, it felt forced and was very predictable.
On the other hand, what I liked about this book was how it focused on family instead of the romance. And unlike other books that focus only on parents, this book focused on sibling love. Ari and Thad were really close, and the whole reason that there's a story to tell in the first place is because Thad wanted to protect Ari at any cost. I also like how they both have different strengths, how they both acknowledge it, and how they work together to achieve their goals. I also like how they would work to any extent, just to save each other.
I also really like Ari's friendship with Cleo and Sebastian. Although she may be the princess of her kingdom, she forms friendships with those in the working class. And although Ari doesn't like mingling with other royals, she has the ability to command them with her words.
Overall, this book fell flat, especially when compared to the first book in the series. There are certain aspects of the book that I love, but the overall story was boring. I really like the concept of the story, however the execution was not that great.
I know that I shouldn't be comparing this to The Shadow Queen, but I can't help but do it. Compared to the first book, this book was really boring. I didn't feel the need to finish the book because the story was not that compelling. The events were not exciting enough, and the climax of the book fell flat for me. I felt like it dragged on and on, and it took me a long time to finish the book.
I also felt like the romance was not well developed. It was as if there were no other choices for Ari, because Sebastian is the only guy she is friends with, aside from her brother Thad. In a way, it felt forced and was very predictable.
On the other hand, what I liked about this book was how it focused on family instead of the romance. And unlike other books that focus only on parents, this book focused on sibling love. Ari and Thad were really close, and the whole reason that there's a story to tell in the first place is because Thad wanted to protect Ari at any cost. I also like how they both have different strengths, how they both acknowledge it, and how they work together to achieve their goals. I also like how they would work to any extent, just to save each other.
I also really like Ari's friendship with Cleo and Sebastian. Although she may be the princess of her kingdom, she forms friendships with those in the working class. And although Ari doesn't like mingling with other royals, she has the ability to command them with her words.
Overall, this book fell flat, especially when compared to the first book in the series. There are certain aspects of the book that I love, but the overall story was boring. I really like the concept of the story, however the execution was not that great.
rosemarieshort's review against another edition
3.0
I am solidly torn when it comes to this book. Whilst I live for fairytale retellings, and a Rumplestilskin version is very welcome, I just felt like there was something...off about this read. It took me a while to work out what. The story is about a kingdom ruled by a ill-fated wish, a wish granter who has evil intentions, a fiery and smart princess with a sweet, badass (also non-problematic which was cool) love interest. All great elements. I think my issue, on reflection, was the pacing.
If I rated the last 100 pages it would be 4 stars. The first 100, 2 stars. The middle is solid 3 star territory. The build of everything; the romance, showdowns with the big bad, even character development all came too slowly, then all at once. It made the first couple of reading sessions a drag and the last a lot of fun. Saying that, if you’re willing to stick out that first quarter, The Wish Granter has plenty to offer. My favourite moments were interactions between Ari and Teague - her intelligence and fast talking versus his evil cunning were definitely fun. There’s a scene where he tells her about his past that I loved - I wish there had been more of that!
As well as having a pretty great heroine, I enjoyed the hero - Sebastian has his own backstory, his own demons and whilst his actions are pretty solely surrounding his feelings for Ari, his character isn’t built on being a love interest, and I really enjoyed that.
Overall, a fun read but had I had a Wish Granter myself I would have asked for more mythology / Teague history. He’s the titular character, after all, and that addition would have really made the story more compelling in my eyes.
If I rated the last 100 pages it would be 4 stars. The first 100, 2 stars. The middle is solid 3 star territory. The build of everything; the romance, showdowns with the big bad, even character development all came too slowly, then all at once. It made the first couple of reading sessions a drag and the last a lot of fun. Saying that, if you’re willing to stick out that first quarter, The Wish Granter has plenty to offer. My favourite moments were interactions between Ari and Teague - her intelligence and fast talking versus his evil cunning were definitely fun. There’s a scene where he tells her about his past that I loved - I wish there had been more of that!
As well as having a pretty great heroine, I enjoyed the hero - Sebastian has his own backstory, his own demons and whilst his actions are pretty solely surrounding his feelings for Ari, his character isn’t built on being a love interest, and I really enjoyed that.
Overall, a fun read but had I had a Wish Granter myself I would have asked for more mythology / Teague history. He’s the titular character, after all, and that addition would have really made the story more compelling in my eyes.
tt_reads123's review against another edition
3.0
I just don't know what is wrong with me and CJ Redwine's books. The writing is there, the characterization is there, the plot is there, but for some reason, I just never end up loving her novels. The same thing happened with this book. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the novel, but I just didn't love it as much as I thought I would.
Cool characters: Check
Solid writing: Check
Cute Romance: Check
Good Plot: Check
It has everything I want, but I just didn't connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. It's weird because I could objectively tell that this is the type of characters and plot lines that I love, but I just wasn't able to really get into the book. Aside from my weird brain, the book was overall very solid, and although it lagged a bit in the middle, it quickly picked up near the end, and the epilogue was very satisfying.
Concerning the characters, Princess Arianna was definitely intersting. She was described multiple times as "curvy" and loved to eat, which is nice for those who want leading female protagonists that are a bit different. Personally for me, I don't really pay attention to details like that, and they've never really bothered me for some reason, but it's not as if anything preachy was going on about body positivity or things like that. The princess simply acted like... well the princess, so I was relieved the book didn't turn preachy. She was a very determined and down to earth person, which made for some funny moments. The best thing about this book however was Sebastian. You know the whole silent on the outside but full of emotions on the inside kind of guy? Yea that was him. Love it.
In conclusion, the book is around 3.5 stars, but since rounding up implies that I enjoyed the book more than I actually did, the rating will have to show 3 stars. Blame Goodreads for not implementing half star ratings after all this time.
Cool characters: Check
Solid writing: Check
Cute Romance: Check
Good Plot: Check
It has everything I want, but I just didn't connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. It's weird because I could objectively tell that this is the type of characters and plot lines that I love, but I just wasn't able to really get into the book. Aside from my weird brain, the book was overall very solid, and although it lagged a bit in the middle, it quickly picked up near the end, and the epilogue was very satisfying.
Concerning the characters, Princess Arianna was definitely intersting. She was described multiple times as "curvy" and loved to eat, which is nice for those who want leading female protagonists that are a bit different. Personally for me, I don't really pay attention to details like that, and they've never really bothered me for some reason, but it's not as if anything preachy was going on about body positivity or things like that. The princess simply acted like... well the princess, so I was relieved the book didn't turn preachy. She was a very determined and down to earth person, which made for some funny moments. The best thing about this book however was Sebastian. You know the whole silent on the outside but full of emotions on the inside kind of guy? Yea that was him. Love it.
In conclusion, the book is around 3.5 stars, but since rounding up implies that I enjoyed the book more than I actually did, the rating will have to show 3 stars. Blame Goodreads for not implementing half star ratings after all this time.
boxcar94's review
Beginning was a little too chaotic for my current reading mood. May pick up again after the holidays, when I am able to focus better.
emmirosereads's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved this book! Such amazing world building and characters and story! I think Ari is one of my favorite characters from C.J Redwine's books. She just felt so real to me and I connected a lot with her.
Something I feel C.J. does really well in her novels is write good healthy romances and relationships and this book was certainly no exception.
Something I feel C.J. does really well in her novels is write good healthy romances and relationships and this book was certainly no exception.
pastryghost's review
3.0
I feel like a champion, I finished this audiobook TWO HOURS before my rental expired. 👏✨🌟🙌 Review to follow!
This book was different than I expected, but enjoyable. More of a romance than a fairytale, or fairytale retelling. An exploration of two people coming together and finding solace in each other.
3 1/2
This book was different than I expected, but enjoyable. More of a romance than a fairytale, or fairytale retelling. An exploration of two people coming together and finding solace in each other.
3 1/2
girlwithsense's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cecerachel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.0
Alright, let me start by saying that this was a pleasant surprise. After not liking the first book in the series, I thought this one wouldn't be great either, but it was AMAZING.
The main characters are flawed, like actual human beings, and they aren't as cringy as in the first book. It felt like the stakes were much higher, the relationships better described, and the characters more relatable.
As with all retellings, the main plot points are overall the same, but with this book, I was curious to find out when specific events would happen. The lore built around the story is also interesting to me. Ari tries to find out more about Llorenyae and all the Fae stuff, and all of a sudden, Hansel and Gretel get woven into the story. I really liked that bit of crossover between different fairy tales.
Unlike in the first story, I got a chance to get to know the characters. So when Cleo died horribly, I felt for Ari and her loss. It also explained her reasoning for certain actions.
Throughout the story, there are references to Ari’s appearance and the fact that she likes pie a lot (who could blame her, am I right?). The reactions she gets from this depict a modern problem but do not take up the whole story. To me, this has way more power and influence than making it a main plot point. Of course, I don’t know if this was intentional from the author, but nonetheless, it's very effective. Also, props to Sebastian for punching the guy in the face. He deserved so much more.
Lastly, the love story isn’t laid on thick in the second book, which, to me, is so much better. There was no cringiness; it flowed naturally from friends to lovers. Ari and Sebastian had little moments, but they grew from friendly to something more, and with every moment, I couldn't help but smile and fangirl about it.
"The Wish Granter" was a great improvement from the first book, and I hope the other two will be just as great as this one.
juliterario's review against another edition
4.0
¡Y seguí leyendo la saga Ravenspire de C.J. Redwine! ¡ME ENCANTA! Como al libro anterior, le doy 4 estrellas y, no sé, no es que tenga un favorito. The Shadow Queen es un retelling súper oscuro de Blancanieves y, en cambio, esta novela cuenta la historia de Rumpelstiltskin (si, escribí bien eso), lo cual me dejó fascinada. Esta saga es como Las Crónicas Lunares de Marissa Meyer en el sentido de que cada libro presenta un cuento de hadas distinto y al final todos se van a unir. ¡Lo amo! Este enfoque a la magia oscura y los cuentos de los hermanos Grimm es MAGNÍFICO.
“Sometimes having courage means the hardest tasks fall onto your shoulders, and those leave the biggest scars."
Los personajes son muy originales y se salen de los típicos cuentos de hadas. ¡Realmente me encantó conocer sus historias! La ambientación es preciosa y, repito, si los hermanos Grimm leyeran esto, quedarían boquiabiertos. La pluma de Redwine es simplemente hermosa y adictiva y muy oscura. ¡AMO LA FANTASÍA DE MAGIA OSCURA! Y estos libros son simplemente tan empalagosamente mágicos. ¡Se los recomiendo muchísimo si es que disfrutan de novelas como estas! Cuenten con que estaré devorando el resto de los libros de la saga muy pronto.
“Sometimes having courage means the hardest tasks fall onto your shoulders, and those leave the biggest scars."
Los personajes son muy originales y se salen de los típicos cuentos de hadas. ¡Realmente me encantó conocer sus historias! La ambientación es preciosa y, repito, si los hermanos Grimm leyeran esto, quedarían boquiabiertos. La pluma de Redwine es simplemente hermosa y adictiva y muy oscura. ¡AMO LA FANTASÍA DE MAGIA OSCURA! Y estos libros son simplemente tan empalagosamente mágicos. ¡Se los recomiendo muchísimo si es que disfrutan de novelas como estas! Cuenten con que estaré devorando el resto de los libros de la saga muy pronto.