Scan barcode
zoepagereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was a wild time, and not in a good way. An author has to know when there are too many plot points in a book and I’m sorry, but a Twelve Dancing Princesses murder mystery retelling set in a newly created fictional world with many murders and ghosts as well as new gods and a (maybe) love triangle with a Monday’s Not Coming styled semi-twist at the end is too much. Way too much. 2.75⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
directorpurry's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Gore, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent
thereaderfriend's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I wanted to love this book, one bc it’s a 12 dancing princesses retelling, and two bc the romance was good. Also really loved the atmosphere and spookiness. Truly a horror fantasy YA novel.
But there were a few problems that were great enough to knock this rating from a 4 star down to 3.
Without spoilers, this mc has little going for her. She’s rich and pretty and entitled and does care about the people she loves.. but she doesn’t do much except figure out the problems and even then she was told the problems. Seemed like she wasn’t trying to find the villain/murderer and just was exasperated from the grief ensued upon her—which I can understand but to an extent. But the outcomes would’ve happened even if she had done nothing.
Now here for the main reasons with spoilers. <Why did Cassius come to her and await Annaleigh? Never brought that up besides the fact that he was looking after his father. And why were the 3 sisters deaths not explained? That seems to be a stupid plot point because it didn’t even shine light on a lesson. And also, I thought the point of this was that the dancing was supposed to kill people? It hasn’t killed the first five people! Their deaths were substantial but not enough to give in my opinion. Also, I’m conflicted with Cassius bc he could’ve killed those five people but he didn’t. I think that would’ve enticed me more if it was him rather the step mom. But I knew it’d be her from that first moment she was peeved that her son wouldn’t be heir. I do like that he loved Annaleigh though and was kinda sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, and Blood
Minor: Vomit
rubbertree14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Lovely twist of horror, I was mesmerized by the slow incline into madness our protagonist was going through. Would have loved a deeper connection to literally anyone in the book, I think 12 sisters was just too many to keep track in a shorter book, I didn’t feel like any of them had any distinguishable characterization. Even our main characters felt a little 2 dimensional. Wonderful mythology however and good stand-alone book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Suicide
afterall's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
I don’t even know where to start! This book pleasantly surprised me.
While at times the writing seemed rushed, like characters were doing one thing and suddenly another with no connection in between, I thoroughly enjoyed the atmospheric description and the seemingly effortless way that words turned to pictures in my mind. I experienced this book with all five of my senses. The environments were beautifully described.
There was so much lore that sometimes I felt like the world had been thoroughly built but there wasn’t enough book to explain enough of it to me. I found myself confused and re-reading some parts just to make sure I understood what was happening regarding the myths, legends, and gods in the story. Despite the confusion at times, I felt like it was all pretty well explained and wrapped up in the end. I guess ultimately I would rather it be this way then be OVER explained. It’s a fast paced story set in a world that is clearly big enough for multiple stories.
The horror aspect of this book was so intriguing. I didn’t expect it to get as dark and frightening at some parts, but I loved the way I could see the scenes play out in my mind.
I felt like the romance was almost unnecessary in this story. Perhaps if it had been more believable, I’d appreciate it a little more. But the couple seemed to fall in love instantly for no real reason other than to have a romance in the story. The love between the sisters was enough to carry the story for me.
This book has the near perfect amount of happy, sad, and purely horrific moments, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was so refreshing to read a unique story like this.
While at times the writing seemed rushed, like characters were doing one thing and suddenly another with no connection in between, I thoroughly enjoyed the atmospheric description and the seemingly effortless way that words turned to pictures in my mind. I experienced this book with all five of my senses. The environments were beautifully described.
There was so much lore that sometimes I felt like the world had been thoroughly built but there wasn’t enough book to explain enough of it to me. I found myself confused and re-reading some parts just to make sure I understood what was happening regarding the myths, legends, and gods in the story. Despite the confusion at times, I felt like it was all pretty well explained and wrapped up in the end. I guess ultimately I would rather it be this way then be OVER explained. It’s a fast paced story set in a world that is clearly big enough for multiple stories.
The horror aspect of this book was so intriguing. I didn’t expect it to get as dark and frightening at some parts, but I loved the way I could see the scenes play out in my mind.
I felt like the romance was almost unnecessary in this story. Perhaps if it had been more believable, I’d appreciate it a little more. But the couple seemed to fall in love instantly for no real reason other than to have a romance in the story. The love between the sisters was enough to carry the story for me.
This book has the near perfect amount of happy, sad, and purely horrific moments, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was so refreshing to read a unique story like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Pregnancy, Suicide, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
not_stinky's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, and Gore
knhend's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This is not your mama’s ‘Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses’. Craig seamlessly weaves a beloved fairytale with mythology. Though the characters could be one sided at times, it was truly an unputdownable tale. It was delightfully creepy, with just enough twists and turns. Some of the plot twists were easy to guess, others not so much. I do wish we had spent more time at the balls, and with her other book ‘Small Favors’, I felt the ending was rushed, but neither of these points ruined the integrity of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Child death
Minor: Vomit and Blood
Though death is heavily mentioned, said deaths never are described in explicit detail.queenrivanni's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit
tkatt20's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
3.5-4 stars
I have very conflicted feelings about this book. On one hand I loved it, on the other hand, there were some very random things that happened that caught me off guard. For the most part I did love this book and I was so excited to read it when I found out it was a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. The story is extremely dark and gothic, bordering on demonic, and the writing style really made the characters come alive as they were all very interesting with each one having their own personality and quirks. The last 1/4 of the book became very fantasy heavy which I found could have been executed better if there was more of that element mentioned throughout the first part of the book, but that was my biggest issue and I got over it fairly quickly. This book had the perfect setup for a series but since it isn't the world-building as a little lacking and the ending seemed fairly rushed. There are some unanswered questions but with the story being first person I feel like it fits well with the narrator and I don't feel dissatisfied with the ending. All in all, I can definitely see myself coming back and rereading this book in the future.
I have very conflicted feelings about this book. On one hand I loved it, on the other hand, there were some very random things that happened that caught me off guard. For the most part I did love this book and I was so excited to read it when I found out it was a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. The story is extremely dark and gothic, bordering on demonic, and the writing style really made the characters come alive as they were all very interesting with each one having their own personality and quirks. The last 1/4 of the book became very fantasy heavy which I found could have been executed better if there was more of that element mentioned throughout the first part of the book, but that was my biggest issue and I got over it fairly quickly. This book had the perfect setup for a series but since it isn't the world-building as a little lacking and the ending seemed fairly rushed. There are some unanswered questions but with the story being first person I feel like it fits well with the narrator and I don't feel dissatisfied with the ending. All in all, I can definitely see myself coming back and rereading this book in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Suicide
Minor: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Vomit
itisnatal's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcohol