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maatkare_j's review against another edition
2.0
Definitely a cool world premise, nice evil stepmom setup. Minus one star for the radio that came out of nowhere. Minus another for Thor and King Arthur instead of, like, original characters and plot. Minus another because just how many times is this dumb girl gonna fall in instalove?
harleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
It felt like the author was trying to cram too many components of different fairytales into one book. Frankly was a little boring, I do really like Torsten though! I will hopefully get to the second book soon.
queernhere's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
5.0
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
3.0
When I heard the theme for this Fairyloot box I was really excited. It sounded as everything I like in books and I was really looking forward to this read. When I read the blurb that excitement even grew, because this was the kind of story I'm so in the mood for at the moment.
But, I have to admit that the book did disappoint a little. It's not that everything about the book was wrong. I think the writing style was really quite nice. It was a very easy read and I flew through it and the dialogues sounded naturally. There were also a lot of great elements in the story. Especially Thor was a very charming prince, and still recognisable as the God we've known. The chemistry was also good in the second half of the story and the finale of that part was exciting and thrilling.
On the other hand, there were also a lot of elements that could have been so much better. The political part of the plot was a little underused and underwhelming. We get glimpses of a complex political situation, but we see too little of it to understand the fear. It was only at the ending that we got to see more of this, but that was much too late. Apart from that the princes lacked background and purpose. What were they doing all day? Weren't there meetings to attend? Official visits to villages and people? Didn't they have to learn how to rule? Be involved in the whole decision making? I understand the appeal of the stereotypes we know from fairytales, but I sometimes get the impression Americans really think European Royals do whatever the hell they want all day.
And then there was the matter of the main character and her desperate need to find a partner. I understand that every girl longs to be married to a guy she loves and I truly understand she hopes to find that. But in her situation, if she's desperate to make one of the first two options work, why is she so hellbent on finding so called true love? Why does she keep on talking about her own feelings? I understand she wasn't too keen on the political marriage in England, but the other one? The only thing that truly mattered was for him to like her enough to want to marry her? The combination of the plot, the political situation and the longing for true love and romance doesn't work in my opinion.
I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel, I'll probably wait for the first reviews. But this was not the amazing read I had hoped to get. Well, luckily there are a lot more books in the world!
But, I have to admit that the book did disappoint a little. It's not that everything about the book was wrong. I think the writing style was really quite nice. It was a very easy read and I flew through it and the dialogues sounded naturally. There were also a lot of great elements in the story. Especially Thor was a very charming prince, and still recognisable as the God we've known. The chemistry was also good in the second half of the story and the finale of that part was exciting and thrilling.
On the other hand, there were also a lot of elements that could have been so much better. The political part of the plot was a little underused and underwhelming. We get glimpses of a complex political situation, but we see too little of it to understand the fear. It was only at the ending that we got to see more of this, but that was much too late. Apart from that the princes lacked background and purpose. What were they doing all day? Weren't there meetings to attend? Official visits to villages and people? Didn't they have to learn how to rule? Be involved in the whole decision making? I understand the appeal of the stereotypes we know from fairytales, but I sometimes get the impression Americans really think European Royals do whatever the hell they want all day.
And then there was the matter of the main character and her desperate need to find a partner. I understand that every girl longs to be married to a guy she loves and I truly understand she hopes to find that. But in her situation, if she's desperate to make one of the first two options work, why is she so hellbent on finding so called true love? Why does she keep on talking about her own feelings? I understand she wasn't too keen on the political marriage in England, but the other one? The only thing that truly mattered was for him to like her enough to want to marry her? The combination of the plot, the political situation and the longing for true love and romance doesn't work in my opinion.
I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel, I'll probably wait for the first reviews. But this was not the amazing read I had hoped to get. Well, luckily there are a lot more books in the world!
sannelammers's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf’ed about halfway into the book. In my opinion nothing happened and therefore, being super boring.
riv447's review against another edition
2.0
Selah was 18 years old girl who acted as if she were 14-15. She's meant to lead her country after her father, but only thing she cares about is gardening, fairy tales and boys
alyssaindira's review against another edition
3.0
**No spoilers were harmed in the making of this review**
"The future does not roll in great waves, it comes in a thousand tiny moments, turns on hinges too small to see, follows a winding path carved by yeses and nos that change the world"
Hey guys, so I finished the Beholder (The Beholder, #1) by Anna Bright. I was told this would be similar to the Selection, but it was more similar to the Glittering Court, but it was also its own book, Selah was her own person, her own character, she canno tbe compared. I just really loved her character. That is the main thing I liked about this book, Selah. She was called a backwater princess, and so she owned up to title in her own amazing style. Seriously, she lived in a world full of stupid people who thought women were just ornaments and placeholders. Humph. She showed them, she showed them all that she was not to be trifled with. I was rooting for her the entire way. I also really hated her stepmother, what a crafty little witch. That is also something I thought was clever in this book, it interwove common fairytales we all know and love, like Cinderella, red riding hood, snow white, etc. But in this fairytale, although Selah needs a man to come save her, she also doesnt. SHe is strong enough to say 'screw all of you, I can save myself'. I hope she realizes that in the next book, which I may or may not read. That being said, the men she did meet, her suitors...that was, interesting. Seriously, this book was filled with pretty men, and more men who I thought could be her 'suitors' but were not, which is a shame, cause I was sensing some chemistry between some of them. And not sensing chemistry in some others. However, I do find it interesting this book was not filled with suitor stuff and suitor stuff, instead, it also has her bonding with her ship's crew, which is an important part of the novel, her making a new family who willl stand with her in her darkest times. I really liked that development, how they were cold to their charge, their cargo, but by the end...it all changed. Now for the suitors...the first one was in England, and that was an interesting trip. Now, some may fault her for falling so hard for the men throughout this novel, but honestly, I can totally understood being completely swept up with someone like that, even in that short of time. I understand, so I do not fault her at all for giving away her heart so completely, so innocently. Only for it to be battered and bruised by men. Figures. So england's trip was interesting, and the other was interesting as well. honestly I was a bit skeptical of the first one so I did not really liked him that much, but the second, damn, I fell for him as well, it was so beautiful. Now the general storyline was alright, the pacing seemed a bit off for me, like at some times it was too fast when it could of slowed things down a bit to give more intensinty and depth, not just rush off to the next scene. I actually would of liked this book to be longer, so it could of given more time to the crew and that situation. Some things were just too crammed in, too much was happening when it could of been spaced out. This made it lose some of its vibrancy and emotion. Regardless, it was a good novel, good storyline, good characters. Remember, this is all my opinion, you want your own, read the book. Till next time.
"The future does not roll in great waves, it comes in a thousand tiny moments, turns on hinges too small to see, follows a winding path carved by yeses and nos that change the world"
Hey guys, so I finished the Beholder (The Beholder, #1) by Anna Bright. I was told this would be similar to the Selection, but it was more similar to the Glittering Court, but it was also its own book, Selah was her own person, her own character, she canno tbe compared. I just really loved her character. That is the main thing I liked about this book, Selah. She was called a backwater princess, and so she owned up to title in her own amazing style. Seriously, she lived in a world full of stupid people who thought women were just ornaments and placeholders. Humph. She showed them, she showed them all that she was not to be trifled with. I was rooting for her the entire way. I also really hated her stepmother, what a crafty little witch. That is also something I thought was clever in this book, it interwove common fairytales we all know and love, like Cinderella, red riding hood, snow white, etc. But in this fairytale, although Selah needs a man to come save her, she also doesnt. SHe is strong enough to say 'screw all of you, I can save myself'. I hope she realizes that in the next book, which I may or may not read. That being said, the men she did meet, her suitors...that was, interesting. Seriously, this book was filled with pretty men, and more men who I thought could be her 'suitors' but were not, which is a shame, cause I was sensing some chemistry between some of them. And not sensing chemistry in some others. However, I do find it interesting this book was not filled with suitor stuff and suitor stuff, instead, it also has her bonding with her ship's crew, which is an important part of the novel, her making a new family who willl stand with her in her darkest times. I really liked that development, how they were cold to their charge, their cargo, but by the end...it all changed. Now for the suitors...the first one was in England, and that was an interesting trip. Now, some may fault her for falling so hard for the men throughout this novel, but honestly, I can totally understood being completely swept up with someone like that, even in that short of time. I understand, so I do not fault her at all for giving away her heart so completely, so innocently. Only for it to be battered and bruised by men. Figures. So england's trip was interesting, and the other was interesting as well. honestly I was a bit skeptical of the first one so I did not really liked him that much, but the second, damn, I fell for him as well, it was so beautiful. Now the general storyline was alright, the pacing seemed a bit off for me, like at some times it was too fast when it could of slowed things down a bit to give more intensinty and depth, not just rush off to the next scene. I actually would of liked this book to be longer, so it could of given more time to the crew and that situation. Some things were just too crammed in, too much was happening when it could of been spaced out. This made it lose some of its vibrancy and emotion. Regardless, it was a good novel, good storyline, good characters. Remember, this is all my opinion, you want your own, read the book. Till next time.
nencsa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
distant_ships's review against another edition
4.0
First of all, THIS COVER IS SOOOO PRETTY!!!!!
The book itself: Sort of a fairy tale/legend/myth retelling...sort of a nod to them, I guess? Either way, I enjoyed it and am now anxiously awaiting the next book.
The book itself: Sort of a fairy tale/legend/myth retelling...sort of a nod to them, I guess? Either way, I enjoyed it and am now anxiously awaiting the next book.
melanie_books's review against another edition
3.0
On what should be a happy occasion, Selah, the future ruler of Potomac, is publicly rejected by the boy she thought she'd marry. In the wake of her humiliation, Selah's stepmother immediately suggests a plan: to send Selah to four different countries to court their princes. The Council - and Selah's ailing father - agree and she is whisked away the next day. While the journey is ostensibly for her good, she can't help but feeling that there is something about this plan she is missing.
I thought that this story was good and the sub plot (and reveal at the end) was intriguing as well. The pacing was a bit funky at points but got better as the story progressed. However, I still find the setting confusing - they are traveling by boat but they have radios, which seemed contradictory. The characters were interesting. Neither of Selah's first two courtships end well, but for very different reasons: the first suitor is not completely honest with her but her second suitor has a bond with her family that she is reluctant to ask him to break. I liked how she grew as the story progressed - she let each circumstance make her stronger. The ending set up the next book perfectly - I'm excited to see what happens next!
I thought that this story was good and the sub plot (and reveal at the end) was intriguing as well. The pacing was a bit funky at points but got better as the story progressed. However, I still find the setting confusing - they are traveling by boat but they have radios, which seemed contradictory. The characters were interesting. Neither of Selah's first two courtships end well, but for very different reasons: the first suitor is not completely honest with her but her second suitor has a bond with her family that she is reluctant to ask him to break. I liked how she grew as the story progressed - she let each circumstance make her stronger. The ending set up the next book perfectly - I'm excited to see what happens next!