Scan barcode
dwright1006's review
adventurous
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cmitchell2781's review against another edition
5.0
Refreshing
This was magical. I love that the story wasn't rushed, and the Goblin king and Freya weren't declaring their undying love for each other in the first twenty pages. The story is obviously written to expand over multiple books, and I'm excited to read them. There were a few minor inconsistencies in the writing, but nothing that detracted from the story for me. It was refreshing to read a tale that wasn't a retelling of the same five fairy tales.
This was magical. I love that the story wasn't rushed, and the Goblin king and Freya weren't declaring their undying love for each other in the first twenty pages. The story is obviously written to expand over multiple books, and I'm excited to read them. There were a few minor inconsistencies in the writing, but nothing that detracted from the story for me. It was refreshing to read a tale that wasn't a retelling of the same five fairy tales.
rose_android97's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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
4.25
mienreads's review against another edition
4.5
- 4.5 ⭐️. I devoured this story and was pleasantly surprised. I went into it with such little expectations. This story was so cute and whimsical. There were parts that felt juvenile but it’s so adorable I don’t even care. It was a lighthearted book and good for your cottage core fantasy fix.
reynreyngoaway's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
courtneyjustine's review
3.75
I love how labyrinth coded this book is. But I’m more interested to see where it goes from the first book into the rest
leafdes's review against another edition
3.0
I had high expectations and was a bit disappointed if I’m honest. I think the main storyline was pretty good. I like joining on a journey to fulfill a quest. I also liked the different courts and their inhabitants.
However everything felt kind of flat. I was wishing for a lot more depth in the characters, as well as the world this story is set in. I was hoping for a lot more details about the courts and Freya’s home for example.
Freya seems to know a lot more than the reader does, she doesn’t share her inner thoughts until she acts on them. In other moments she is either ignorant or quite naive, which became a bit frustrating to me. She doesn’t seem to have a gut to trust upon. Or hairs on the back of her neck which stand up, even though she might not yet have figured out why.
Funny enough my favourite paragraph of this book is right after one of her (in my opinion) naive moments. It’s the only moment while reading, where I felt real emotion and compassion. If only this story had more moments like this:
'She reached up and placed a hand on his cool cheek. “This is a cruel way to die,” she whispered. “I’m sorry it had to be like this for you.'
I’m sad to say, this also means, I felt nothing for our Goblin King. Sure he’s pretty and strong, but again, it felt flat. It was clear there was meant to be something there, but I don’t feel the spark. Even though he helps Freya on multiple occasions, I never felt like he really cares, even though the stakes are high for him.
I wanted to love this so much, but sadly it was not for me. Even though I finished reading, I’m not gonna continue with this series.
However everything felt kind of flat. I was wishing for a lot more depth in the characters, as well as the world this story is set in. I was hoping for a lot more details about the courts and Freya’s home for example.
Freya seems to know a lot more than the reader does, she doesn’t share her inner thoughts until she acts on them. In other moments she is either ignorant or quite naive, which became a bit frustrating to me. She doesn’t seem to have a gut to trust upon. Or hairs on the back of her neck which stand up, even though she might not yet have figured out why.
Funny enough my favourite paragraph of this book is right after one of her (in my opinion) naive moments. It’s the only moment while reading, where I felt real emotion and compassion. If only this story had more moments like this:
'She reached up and placed a hand on his cool cheek. “This is a cruel way to die,” she whispered. “I’m sorry it had to be like this for you.'
I’m sad to say, this also means, I felt nothing for our Goblin King. Sure he’s pretty and strong, but again, it felt flat. It was clear there was meant to be something there, but I don’t feel the spark. Even though he helps Freya on multiple occasions, I never felt like he really cares, even though the stakes are high for him.
I wanted to love this so much, but sadly it was not for me. Even though I finished reading, I’m not gonna continue with this series.
atrailofpages's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a fun read! This is my first time reading a book by Emma Hamm and will definitely read others after reading this one!
In this story we follow Freya whose sister is taken by goblins to the fae kingdom and Freya is determined to go get her sister back. So, she ventures into the fae lands, and decides to strike a deal with the Goblin King who tells her to get the three essences from the different courts in the fae lands.
This book made me think I was in Alice in Wonderland. It was so trippy and the characters were so mischievous, you never knew what would happen next or what the other fae and goblins would do. Her companion(a little dog goblin) made me think of Puck from A Midsummer’s Night or the Cheshire Cat. You never knew what he would do or maybe not do
In this story we follow Freya whose sister is taken by goblins to the fae kingdom and Freya is determined to go get her sister back. So, she ventures into the fae lands, and decides to strike a deal with the Goblin King who tells her to get the three essences from the different courts in the fae lands.
This book made me think I was in Alice in Wonderland. It was so trippy and the characters were so mischievous, you never knew what would happen next or what the other fae and goblins would do. Her companion(a little dog goblin) made me think of Puck from A Midsummer’s Night or the Cheshire Cat. You never knew what he would do or maybe not do