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luv4horses1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved how Ari is a bigger curvier girl and never tries to change that. Even when she starts learning to defend herself she doesn't stop loving food or trying to slim down, she just takes what she has and uses it to her advantage. It was also really cool that the events of the book take place after the entirety of the original Rumpelstiltskin tale
novelheartbeat's review against another edition
DNF @ 62%
I tried. I really did. I requested this book from Edelweiss SIX years ago like a dummy and just never got around to reading it. Now I'm clearing out old review copies, so I got the audio from my library even though I lost all interest in reading it. I really have NO clue why TF I even requested it in the first place, because I wasn't a huge fan of the first book. I guess because Redwine's books had worked for me in the past and I was hoping that the first book was a fluke.
It was not. This book was SO. GENERIC. And entirely forgettable. I wasn't enjoying it much, but I wanted to stick it through to the end. However, I went two days without listening to the audiobook (which was the only positive thing about this book because Khristine Hvam is the narrator and she's awesome) and when I picked it back up I remembered NOTHING except the Wish Granter himself. I'm not even kidding. A male character came to talk to the MC (I remember exactly zero names) and I was like, wait...who is this guy again?? Is he the brother, or the love interest? And that was when I realized it was time to move on. I made a valiant effort.
I tried. I really did. I requested this book from Edelweiss SIX years ago like a dummy and just never got around to reading it. Now I'm clearing out old review copies, so I got the audio from my library even though I lost all interest in reading it. I really have NO clue why TF I even requested it in the first place, because I wasn't a huge fan of the first book. I guess because Redwine's books had worked for me in the past and I was hoping that the first book was a fluke.
It was not. This book was SO. GENERIC. And entirely forgettable. I wasn't enjoying it much, but I wanted to stick it through to the end. However, I went two days without listening to the audiobook (which was the only positive thing about this book because Khristine Hvam is the narrator and she's awesome) and when I picked it back up I remembered NOTHING except the Wish Granter himself. I'm not even kidding. A male character came to talk to the MC (I remember exactly zero names) and I was like, wait...who is this guy again?? Is he the brother, or the love interest? And that was when I realized it was time to move on. I made a valiant effort.
fictionaladventures's review against another edition
3.5
This was good! Had a badass plus-sized heroine! I thought the final quarter was especially good and very smartly plotted.
that_little_drop_of_poison's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
aspenjstafford's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Yes!! Yes yes yes! If you are looking for the ultimate fairytale retelling that has all the elements of magic, romance, beautiful places, trials, EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN VILLAINS. this is absolutely the book for you! I LOVE it!
gweevy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
hijinx_abound's review
3.0
A retelling of Rumplestitleskin. I kept picturing Mr. Gold from Once upon a time, which was mildly irritating.
I loved that the main characters were all very young and in impossible situations but they did not devolve into ridiculousness. They are all trying to make reasonable decisions in unreasonable circumstances.
I loved that the main characters were all very young and in impossible situations but they did not devolve into ridiculousness. They are all trying to make reasonable decisions in unreasonable circumstances.
beaniedorman's review against another edition
3.0
After reading The Shadow Queen, I realized that C.J. Redwine's books are just not my thing. They're too light for me, and are written for a different audience. I can appreciate that. Still, I think that The Wish Granter deserves a higher rating than its predecessor.
Allistair Teague is a wish granter, a powerful fae capable of granting a person their deepest wish--if they agree to surrender their soul to him in then year's time. Bastard prince Thaddeus makes a wish to save the life of his twin sister, Arianna, becoming king so that Teague can be his chief advisor, controlling the kingdom as he sees fit. When Ari learns of her brother's deal, she takes it into her own hands to save the kingdom, enlisting the help of the castle's new blacksmith, Sebastian. She is not a princess who will sit by and wait for someone to save her or her brother--she can do it herself.
One of my biggest problems with The Shadow Queen was the forced-feeling duality of darkness and humor. While it is possible to have both in a story, I didn't think that it was blended very well. Also, the book dragged, and became a bit boring after a while. The pacing in The Wish Granter was sooo much better, and the book didn't try to be anything that it wasn't. Although there are notes of darkness throughout, this book has a much more lighthearted feel to it, with more consistent humor rather than sporadic jokes here and there.
Also, the positive, girl-power message was nice. Ari is not a stereotypical damsel in distress. She is smart, independent, funny, and won't let anyone tell her how she should act or how her body should look. It was refreshing to see, and I think it will get a very positive response.
Will I personally read more of this series? Probably not. But I think that others will. Recommended to people who have different tastes than me.
Allistair Teague is a wish granter, a powerful fae capable of granting a person their deepest wish--if they agree to surrender their soul to him in then year's time. Bastard prince Thaddeus makes a wish to save the life of his twin sister, Arianna, becoming king so that Teague can be his chief advisor, controlling the kingdom as he sees fit. When Ari learns of her brother's deal, she takes it into her own hands to save the kingdom, enlisting the help of the castle's new blacksmith, Sebastian. She is not a princess who will sit by and wait for someone to save her or her brother--she can do it herself.
One of my biggest problems with The Shadow Queen was the forced-feeling duality of darkness and humor. While it is possible to have both in a story, I didn't think that it was blended very well. Also, the book dragged, and became a bit boring after a while. The pacing in The Wish Granter was sooo much better, and the book didn't try to be anything that it wasn't. Although there are notes of darkness throughout, this book has a much more lighthearted feel to it, with more consistent humor rather than sporadic jokes here and there.
Also, the positive, girl-power message was nice. Ari is not a stereotypical damsel in distress. She is smart, independent, funny, and won't let anyone tell her how she should act or how her body should look. It was refreshing to see, and I think it will get a very positive response.
Will I personally read more of this series? Probably not. But I think that others will. Recommended to people who have different tastes than me.
emilyxperry's review against another edition
4.0
It was fun to read. The beginning was a bit slow. I read the first book when it came out and bought this when it came out. I liked that the main character Ari was a strong lead, but all the main characters are the I’m a good person that everyone likes but will do stupid things for the people they love. During one chapter Ari talked about Sebastian’s shoulders too much. I liked Sebastian’s character, I feel like he is trying to hard to be a different person. The book was amazing and clever, I loved the ideas, I just didn’t like the characters. Since it was in a series, I expected the same characters in it, just a different fairy tale plot line that followed the last book. It was nice having a completely different story because I read the last book a while ago. It isn’t a book that I would force all my friends to read, but I would read it again, the characters are sometimes annoying, but not terrible.
_sophieee_'s review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.25