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momam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book! It was the perfect mash up of fantasy and mystery. It kept me guessing till the very end.
caelestiore's review against another edition
3.0
A horror retelling of the 12 dancing princesses? Colour me intrigued! The Barbie movie left me dazzled and dreamy as a child, and even more so beautiful in my nostalgia. This was a trippy, weird and wild experience I didn’t expect, and the eerie atmosphere actually got to me, 3.5!
This book executed the gothic, horror vibes very well, almost perfect in my opinion. Safe to say that this was the first time I genuinely felt spooked while reading a book. The writing was spectacular, I felt it was ideal for the atmosphere and genre of the book.
The twists in the second half of the book made me feel like I was a madwoman. I actually felt fucking insane. I did not know what to believe, who to believe and if that actually happened??? My heart was pounding so hard and I practically flipped through the pages because I couldn’t handle the mystery and feeling of not knowing. Which is even weirder because it was my first time experiencing such a thrill.
Now, while the last parts of the book left me stunned, I cannot remain biassed. There were a lot of things that felt awkward and some things unexplained.
I’m the minority here, it was only after 100 pages that I became interested. I considered to DNF it but decided to give this book a little push (didn’t regret it!). While I sort of expected it, I was still disappointed when the sisters barely had any personality. While important figures for the story, I feel like they didn’t serve any purpose other than targets for death.
I was a sucker for Fisher, in the same way I am a sucker for childhood friends trope. Until It took me halfway into the book to like Cassius. He was fine, the romance was decent. I wish him and Annaleigh had more chemistry. I could tell why people did not particularly enjoy the romance.
For the last quarter of the book: I didn’t NOT like the plot, but it could’ve soooo much better.
I also wish they elaborated more on the sister’s deaths. Again, there are a lot of things left unexplained. Maybe it’ll be revealed in the second book, but I’d have to think if I should read it or not. Not to say I didn’t like this book, it had its promises. The problem is that some of them were not fulfilled.
Anyways, a good and crazy experience! But it could’ve been better.
This book executed the gothic, horror vibes very well, almost perfect in my opinion. Safe to say that this was the first time I genuinely felt spooked while reading a book. The writing was spectacular, I felt it was ideal for the atmosphere and genre of the book.
The twists in the second half of the book made me feel like I was a madwoman. I actually felt fucking insane. I did not know what to believe, who to believe and if that actually happened??? My heart was pounding so hard and I practically flipped through the pages because I couldn’t handle the mystery and feeling of not knowing. Which is even weirder because it was my first time experiencing such a thrill.
Now, while the last parts of the book left me stunned, I cannot remain biassed. There were a lot of things that felt awkward and some things unexplained.
I’m the minority here, it was only after 100 pages that I became interested. I considered to DNF it but decided to give this book a little push (didn’t regret it!). While I sort of expected it, I was still disappointed when the sisters barely had any personality. While important figures for the story, I feel like they didn’t serve any purpose other than targets for death.
I was a sucker for Fisher, in the same way I am a sucker for childhood friends trope. Until
Spoiler
he said, “All my life I thought of you as a sister…a sometimes exasperating but always beloved little sister. But when I came back to Salten and saw you so grown up and beautiful…I didn’t want you to feel like a sister any longer.” Yeesh. I was very disappointed. But later on we found out it was the god controlling him, and my boy didn’t need to die :(For the last quarter of the book: I didn’t NOT like the plot, but it could’ve soooo much better.
Spoiler
The Gods’ plot was so unexpected. Not in a twisted way but because we as readers didn’t get much information in the first place? So I was perplexed. The Weeping Woman was barely mentioned and now she’s a huge significant part of the book? Yikes. If only the author elaborated more on the lore, the storytelling would've been superior.I also wish they elaborated more on the sister’s deaths. Again, there are a lot of things left unexplained. Maybe it’ll be revealed in the second book, but I’d have to think if I should read it or not. Not to say I didn’t like this book, it had its promises. The problem is that some of them were not fulfilled.
Anyways, a good and crazy experience! But it could’ve been better.
tarterburn's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
I really enjoyed this! I lived for the Barbie Movie version of The Twelve Dancing Princesses as a kid and was so intrigued by the idea of a dark, fantasy retelling of the story - and it did not disappoint!
It was such a fast read for me; it kept me on my toes throughout and the way it all came together in the end was so interesting. It even had some spooky elements which i actually really liked within the story!
I saw she has a sequel coming out soon, so I will definitely be picking that up!
I really enjoyed this! I lived for the Barbie Movie version of The Twelve Dancing Princesses as a kid and was so intrigued by the idea of a dark, fantasy retelling of the story - and it did not disappoint!
It was such a fast read for me; it kept me on my toes throughout and the way it all came together in the end was so interesting. It even had some spooky elements which i actually really liked within the story!
I saw she has a sequel coming out soon, so I will definitely be picking that up!
roseyleaf's review against another edition
5.0
WOW... I loved every theme in this book, and all the characters especially the romance
Tip: listen to lovely while reading this book
Tip: listen to lovely while reading this book
bluedaisygirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
annabel_jacobs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I had no idea what this book was about going into reading it and that definitely was my bad. I don’t tend to read dark or horror novels and this book reminded me why that is the case.
The book seemed endless! I lost interest in the storyline especially when random gruesome scenes were thrown in there sporadically.
I also didn’t like any of the characters. They were either annoying or mean. I couldn’t really tell how old the FMC was because she acted like an adult, then a baby, then a teen all within a couple seconds.
When the moment came for the big “unmasking”, I wasn’t surprised as I saw it coming from miles away. I was more thrown off by the FMC suggesting other random characters. I rolled my eyes at her stupidity.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the book but I do want to know what happens in the second book. 2.75 stars
The book seemed endless! I lost interest in the storyline especially when random gruesome scenes were thrown in there sporadically.
I also didn’t like any of the characters. They were either annoying or mean. I couldn’t really tell how old the FMC was because she acted like an adult, then a baby, then a teen all within a couple seconds.
When the moment came for the big “unmasking”, I wasn’t surprised as I saw it coming from miles away. I was more thrown off by the FMC suggesting other random characters. I rolled my eyes at her stupidity.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the book but I do want to know what happens in the second book. 2.75 stars
helorenz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
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
4.5
robyn_flames's review against another edition
5.0
È stato un libro inaspettatamente bellissimo.
La trama, i personaggi e le ambientazioni, le ho trovate perfette.
Un horror gotico inspirato dalla favola delle 12 principesse danzanti. Favola che ho amato grazie al film di Barbie, che tra l’altro non ha nulla a che fare con questo libro.
Finale emozionante ed inaspettato ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
La trama, i personaggi e le ambientazioni, le ho trovate perfette.
Un horror gotico inspirato dalla favola delle 12 principesse danzanti. Favola che ho amato grazie al film di Barbie, che tra l’altro non ha nulla a che fare con questo libro.
Finale emozionante ed inaspettato ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
rosheegats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this twisted fairytale that had a core of the 12 dancing princesses but really was its own story. The characters were wonderful and the sea descriptions so vivid I could almost taste the sea winds. I was totally immersed in this story and could not set it down. It had surprises and twists that were eye widening but not quite nightmare inducing. I am going to look up more of this author as the story was so well put together I need to read another one by them.