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gnomescottage's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I found this quite an interesting read, not just because it takes a darker turn, but because it gives a totally fresh perspective on the 'original' (Disney) storyline.
Firstly, it allows Aurora Rose her own agency; she might have to be reminded on a couple of occasions, but she recognises that the story is her quest and her responsibility, and doesn't shy away from it. She struggles, absolutely, but it seeves to awaken her to her real character.
Nor, when she is reunited with Prince Phillip, does she just fall into his arms when he insists that they were in love. I actually found that one of the most enjoyable twists; she is constantly questioning the label of 'silly little princess' that's meant to be beautiful, submissive and marry the handsome Prince, even when she's made to feel like that's all her life is. One of my favourite moments is when Prince Phillip is explaining how he fell in love with her when he saw her in the woods, and she questions the fact that he was going to run away from everything to be with her purely based on her looks and her 'happiness'.
From my reading, it also examines the effect of depression on a young mind. By giving it a 'character', it gives Aurora Rose the chance to literally face her demons and overcome, but that's only half the story. Her reconciliation of the fact that she feels the same in both worlds she inhabits (albeit for different reasons), is a really clever illustration of the fact that you can have these feelings whether you're a princess or a pauper; whether you come from a broken home or a happy one, whether you're loved or not, and it's all equally valid. It feels really important that the author gives an alternative explanation for the touch of the spindle in the original tale, and in turn manages to twist the Disney film into something even darker than it already is. It's a perspective I'd never considered before because, well, it's Disney; it's meant to be pretty Princesses, handsome Princes and happily ever afters.
I will say I think it was longer than it needed to be; there felt like quite a period where the author was just coming up with obstacles to fill out the pages, which did detract from the experience. I would also have like Prince Phillip to pop off the page a bit more than he did for me; I felt that the author laid the groundwork for some good character building, but never really followed through.
My biggest issue though is the premise itself. I got there eventually, and the overall idea is understandable (and works well in the context of twisting the original), but I found the intricacies quite difficult to follow. It is explained, but I just found that it took me out of the story every time I had to stop and think about how or why something was happening. Don't read this one while you're half asleep!
While I'm probably the most familiar with this Disney tale (it's one of the few I remember owning on VHS and watching several times), it's not my favourite. So it did its job and I'll keep reading the series, but I'm not overly invested in buying/keeping them all moving forward.
Firstly, it allows Aurora Rose her own agency; she might have to be reminded on a couple of occasions, but she recognises that the story is her quest and her responsibility, and doesn't shy away from it. She struggles, absolutely, but it seeves to awaken her to her real character.
Nor, when she is reunited with Prince Phillip, does she just fall into his arms when he insists that they were in love. I actually found that one of the most enjoyable twists; she is constantly questioning the label of 'silly little princess' that's meant to be beautiful, submissive and marry the handsome Prince, even when she's made to feel like that's all her life is. One of my favourite moments is when Prince Phillip is explaining how he fell in love with her when he saw her in the woods, and she questions the fact that he was going to run away from everything to be with her purely based on her looks and her 'happiness'.
From my reading, it also examines the effect of depression on a young mind. By giving it a 'character', it gives Aurora Rose the chance to literally face her demons and overcome, but that's only half the story. Her reconciliation of the fact that she feels the same in both worlds she inhabits (albeit for different reasons), is a really clever illustration of the fact that you can have these feelings whether you're a princess or a pauper; whether you come from a broken home or a happy one, whether you're loved or not, and it's all equally valid. It feels really important that the author gives an alternative explanation for the touch of the spindle in the original tale, and in turn manages to twist the Disney film into something even darker than it already is. It's a perspective I'd never considered before because, well, it's Disney; it's meant to be pretty Princesses, handsome Princes and happily ever afters.
I will say I think it was longer than it needed to be; there felt like quite a period where the author was just coming up with obstacles to fill out the pages, which did detract from the experience. I would also have like Prince Phillip to pop off the page a bit more than he did for me; I felt that the author laid the groundwork for some good character building, but never really followed through.
My biggest issue though is the premise itself. I got there eventually, and the overall idea is understandable (and works well in the context of twisting the original), but I found the intricacies quite difficult to follow. It is explained, but I just found that it took me out of the story every time I had to stop and think about how or why something was happening. Don't read this one while you're half asleep!
While I'm probably the most familiar with this Disney tale (it's one of the few I remember owning on VHS and watching several times), it's not my favourite. So it did its job and I'll keep reading the series, but I'm not overly invested in buying/keeping them all moving forward.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Blood, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
maxnightshade's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Suicide attempt
zoec24's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The insta-love bit in this was weird but I get why it happened-the bit where they don't get married instantly and don't have full on insta-love is great, which is such a low bar but still a relief. Just seeing Aurora be capable and skilled is great-huge improvement from sleeping for most of the time. The character development was great too and I love how they explore how weird the insta-love/her entire life was and make it more realistic and end with her as a decent ruler . Liana was pretty great too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Grief, Toxic relationship, Murder, Abandonment, and Death of parent
vixenreader's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.5
It’s like Disney made its own version of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” and it magically worked out. Plus Aurora is a thousand times more interesting in this book than in the original movie. There, I said it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Death, Blood, Mental illness, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Gore, Body horror, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Cursing, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape
Warning for complicated family history, adoption, stress about one’s legacy and responsibility, verbal abuse, and grief over learning that your whole life was a lie.bxcca99's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
sunshine8473773's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
This book was about 100 pages too long. I was just thinking a few weeks ago that I was surprised the twisted tales series wasn’t more popular. I’ve read “Almost There” and loved it so decided to read something at the start of the series. Just bloated, boring, and bogged down by too many parts that could have been cut. This could have been really great, it’s a good concept and solid skeletal story. This just didn’t work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Suicide attempt, Blood, and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent and Rape
fool_ofabook's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Much much darker than I would have expected. This book tackles alot of serious and very real mental health issues/obsticals, and does not shy away. I was relieved and grateful at the hope found throuought, and especially at the end of the story. Aurora Rose may had had a grotesque awakening to reality, but I wanted her to have a second chance to live. The very verrrry end was slightly rushed, considering the pace of the rest of the book; however- it was a very brave story, told from one of the most underrated princesses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Confinement, and Mental illness
veronica_angel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
stormywolf's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Coming to the tale of Sleeping Beauty, which features one of my least favorite heroines but one of my most favorite villains, I had mixed feelings. Would the heroine be elevated by having more time and depth added? Would the villain be re-imagined with a(nother) sympathetic backstory? Would this story reside in my dreams, or haunt my nightmares?
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this one hit me a lot harder than I ever expected one of these Twisted Disney stories would. It still has its fair share of things I didn't like, things that felt tonally off, and things I felt could have been given a deeper exploration, but on the whole I appreciated the thought and care given to the main subject. Aurora Rose was taken from a passive role as a damsel in distress, now re-imagined as a character with gifts and curses (given & natural) who has to fight demons (literal & internal) in order to overcome evil and find her place in the world. If you're okay with some dark subject matter—specifically murder, childhood trauma, and mental health issues—I would highly recommend checking out this Twisted Tale.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this one hit me a lot harder than I ever expected one of these Twisted Disney stories would. It still has its fair share of things I didn't like, things that felt tonally off, and things I felt could have been given a deeper exploration, but on the whole I appreciated the thought and care given to the main subject. Aurora Rose was taken from a passive role as a damsel in distress, now re-imagined as a character with gifts and curses (given & natural) who has to fight demons (literal & internal) in order to overcome evil and find her place in the world. If you're okay with some dark subject matter—specifically murder, childhood trauma, and mental health issues—I would highly recommend checking out this Twisted Tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Mental illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Animal death and Rape
The word "rapists" is used once, but given no context or further thought.