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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
This is for sure in my top 10 books. If you love folk and fairytales, then this book is a MUST!
This is some very clever storytelling. By mixing many elements from common fairy tales, the story remained fresh while still familiar. The prose is simple, but the world is lovely.
Delightful and delicious! So glad there is a series that will hopefully include the adventures of the other sisters. It isn't a perfect book, there were moments where I lost some of the details, but the weaving together of so many fairy tales into one quilt of a story is just yummy to read.
I rather enjoyed this book, especially with its sometimes-Shakespearean prose. However, I felt that there were too many "b-storylines" going on at once - I had to often turn back to earlier bits to try to figure out what the he k was going on, and I only read the book over the course of two days. For instance, referencing things that happened "off-screen" (sorry, I'm trained in film, and for some reason, I feel the need to review this book in film terms tonight). The sisters having the qualities of their name days was interesting, but then they all suddenly had magic powers in addition to their name day characteristics - that was too much, in my opinion. Also, I felt that it started out very strong, but by the end, had dwindled into a rather ho-hum story. I'm not sure I can quite place my finger on what exactly made me feel that way. I do know that while I started out liking Sunday, I was rather annoyed with her by the end. I also was put off by how neatly everything was tied up. There was no real denouement.
Finally, I felt that there were events in the book that were highly compressed (i.e. magic lessons), so I never really felt like the characters had developed, just suddenly PLOP! there was magic involved.
However, I enjoyed the book, and I thought parts were extremely well-written. I thought it was an original and welcome take on fairy tales, and thought all of the aspects of both the well-known and more obscure fairy tales were woven together quite well. It never felt forced.
Finally, I felt that there were events in the book that were highly compressed (i.e. magic lessons), so I never really felt like the characters had developed, just suddenly PLOP! there was magic involved.
However, I enjoyed the book, and I thought parts were extremely well-written. I thought it was an original and welcome take on fairy tales, and thought all of the aspects of both the well-known and more obscure fairy tales were woven together quite well. It never felt forced.
Sunday is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, and her words and actions are infused with the commensurate power -- She's just not fully aware of it yet.
Kontis manages to weave in elements of nearly every fairy tale of European origin into the structure of this novel. If you are familiar with the tales, you will get a kick out of spotting them just as they're hurtling towards you. If you don't know the fairy tales, you can still enjoy the magic and craziness. Occasionally, it does seem like way too much is happening all at once; how much magic and tumult and devastating sorrow and unexpected redemption can one family take? (That's how Sunday feels, too!)
At its heart, this is a love story (or, a few love stories). That's not especially my thing. However, even if you are, this is a pretty satisfying against-all-odds-love-will-prevail sort of story.
Kontis manages to weave in elements of nearly every fairy tale of European origin into the structure of this novel. If you are familiar with the tales, you will get a kick out of spotting them just as they're hurtling towards you. If you don't know the fairy tales, you can still enjoy the magic and craziness. Occasionally, it does seem like way too much is happening all at once; how much magic and tumult and devastating sorrow and unexpected redemption can one family take? (That's how Sunday feels, too!)
At its heart, this is a love story (or, a few love stories). That's not especially my thing. However, even if you are, this is a pretty satisfying against-all-odds-love-will-prevail sort of story.
OK I love fairy tales but this was over the top..in a food way. I love how it all fits together. It was sweet, confusing, and entertaining. I loved it.
WOW this was amazing. i can't believe how many fairytale references she managed to fit into the one book and yet for it to still flow and make perfect sense. Can't wait to jump into the sequel Hero.
*Slight spoilers*
Insta-love overload. They fall in love on the second time hanging out. I also found the beginning to be very childish, and even though the book got a lot better, the first few chapters completely ruined it for me.
Insta-love overload. They fall in love on the second time hanging out. I also found the beginning to be very childish, and even though the book got a lot better, the first few chapters completely ruined it for me.
A delightful hodgepodge of fairy tale retelllings as they impact the life of Sunday Woodcutter and her family. There is romance, adventure, and action, and the fairy tales are cleverly worked into a cohesive storyline. Very enjoyable read.