Scan barcode
bookwormbunny's review
5.0
The Girl with Seven Wishes by Elm Vince and Helena Rookwood is the beginning of a fantasy series giving us a twist on the familiar story of Aladdin. Instead of the main character being a male and a street rat, instead we get a female and she’s a princess. In place of her sister, whom she helped runaway, Zadie will be the new bride of the sultan her sister was promised to. Zadie has high hopes that since he has a female vizier that she will be able to help him lead as well. But of course, things aren’t what they seem and it won’t be long before Zadie finds her hopes slipping away like smoke.
This is an engaging story and I enjoyed reading it immensely. Zadie is both engaging and frustrating at the same time. I want the best for her, but I also want her to be smarter. She knows how dynamically different she is from her sister. Her sister was the one groomed for the role of being a bride, and now that Zadie has to step into that role I hate so say it but I had higher expectations of her. But since she was the one allowed to essentially do as she pleased, it shows in most of her mannerisms. I applaud that she wants to be a good leader for her people, but I also know that she needs to understand that she needs to first learn how things are done in this new place before opening her mouth or attempting to do certain things.
There isn’t much that I don’t like about this book. I just wish that Zadie would have listened more to her parents’ instructions concerning her behavior and how she should act around her betrothed. If she’s going to act as she pleases, then I want her to hold her head high and own whatever consequences may come.
All in all, I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next novella in this series. Tarak is roguish and interesting and I’m looking forward to him playing a larger part in the stories to come as he seeks the answers concerning his situation and Zadie seeks to protect her sister and show that she can be a good ruler. I am rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy the story of Aladdin and are looking for a new fresh twist then this is a good choice to pick up.
This is an engaging story and I enjoyed reading it immensely. Zadie is both engaging and frustrating at the same time. I want the best for her, but I also want her to be smarter. She knows how dynamically different she is from her sister. Her sister was the one groomed for the role of being a bride, and now that Zadie has to step into that role I hate so say it but I had higher expectations of her. But since she was the one allowed to essentially do as she pleased, it shows in most of her mannerisms. I applaud that she wants to be a good leader for her people, but I also know that she needs to understand that she needs to first learn how things are done in this new place before opening her mouth or attempting to do certain things.
There isn’t much that I don’t like about this book. I just wish that Zadie would have listened more to her parents’ instructions concerning her behavior and how she should act around her betrothed. If she’s going to act as she pleases, then I want her to hold her head high and own whatever consequences may come.
All in all, I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next novella in this series. Tarak is roguish and interesting and I’m looking forward to him playing a larger part in the stories to come as he seeks the answers concerning his situation and Zadie seeks to protect her sister and show that she can be a good ruler. I am rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy the story of Aladdin and are looking for a new fresh twist then this is a good choice to pick up.
emgibson77's review
3.0
This was a great fairy tale retelling! I loved the storyline. It was a fun read. It just seemed like it needed more.
prationality's review
4.0
Quiet, docile Princess? I think not.
I freely admit that it is the covers for this series that first drew me. I've Rookwood before, but I've always been wary of Aladdin retellings since well he's a bit of the worst?
Zadie however is what caught me. Self-conscious and more of a free spirit, she finds herself forced into the role after helping her beautiful, serene sister run off to marry the man she loved.
From the first moment I liked her. I liked that even though she would have preferred not to deal with it, she's found a silver lining. I appreciated her optimism and how she prepared to meet the Sultan, Kassim. Her awkwardness as she tried to do what her parents said while attempting to see if Kassim was progressive.
She was a go with the punches sort who didn't let a little thing like Kassim's sulky dismissiveness keep her from proving she could do more for the Kingdom than look like a pretty ornament.
I'm less into the fact this is of a serialized short novella nature however. I really do despise this format. I'll read the next installments, because I want to see what will happen next, but I wish I didn't have to start and stop like this.
I freely admit that it is the covers for this series that first drew me. I've Rookwood before, but I've always been wary of Aladdin retellings since well he's a bit of the worst?
Zadie however is what caught me. Self-conscious and more of a free spirit, she finds herself forced into the role after helping her beautiful, serene sister run off to marry the man she loved.
From the first moment I liked her. I liked that even though she would have preferred not to deal with it, she's found a silver lining. I appreciated her optimism and how she prepared to meet the Sultan, Kassim. Her awkwardness as she tried to do what her parents said while attempting to see if Kassim was progressive.
She was a go with the punches sort who didn't let a little thing like Kassim's sulky dismissiveness keep her from proving she could do more for the Kingdom than look like a pretty ornament.
I'm less into the fact this is of a serialized short novella nature however. I really do despise this format. I'll read the next installments, because I want to see what will happen next, but I wish I didn't have to start and stop like this.
More...