Reviews

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter

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fantasynovel's review against another edition

5.0

I was a little hesitant to pick this up after I received it in the Owlcrate October box because I thought it would be surreal, and I hate surreality with a vengeance. No worries! It's not a surreal story; it's just a fairytale taking place in Brooklyn. The universe in this story has zany rules, but there's a definite rhyme and reason. Plus, one of the things that drives me up a wall with surreality is people's numbed reactions to things. Something crazy will happen, and the characters will accept it. It kind of makes me . . . anxious? But when crazy things happen in Vassa in the Night--out of the ordinary things--Vassa reacts in a normal way. Some things, like Random Acts of Magic, she's used to. But others--dismemberment, for example--cause her to freak out. The highlight of this story was definitely Erg, Vassa's talking doll. I'm insanely disappointed that I don't have my own wooden kleptomaniac to hug my finger when I'm upset.

printzgirl's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

harleyrae's review against another edition

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3.0

I am a big fan of retellings, and I was excited to get into this book. That being said this book kind of miss it’s mark. I am not familiar with the original tale, which might help explain some of my confusion, but I feel like even though I don’t know the original story I should have been able read this book just fine. Well throughout the entire book I was hopelessly confused. I didn’t understand the story, I still don’t understand the reasoning behind some things. From about page 1 to page 296, I was confused. Every time I felt that I understood the story something happened that completely ruined that feeling. This book was incredibly strange, weird, and just downright confusing. While I was able to get through the story fairly quickly, I didn’t understand most of it. I don’t mind odd books, but this story took it just a little too far.

reyreads's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5
This book is so strange and bizarre and atmospheric. I loved the writing and I love myth retellings. I can tell you truly you’ve never read anything like it

ewitsmich's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book. It’s a love letter for every brave teenage girl.

Content Warnings

missnatalieann's review against another edition

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2.0

This is a modern day retelling of Vasilisa the Beautiful, a Russian fairy tale, now knowing that, it was a pretty good retelling. Overall it was very strange, but the original story is too. If I would have been in the know on Russian fairy tales before starting this retelling, I'm sure I would have liked more.