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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Great fun, like the first (not sure about book three, but this or the first could be read in any order—they're similar/indentical in tone, but don't rely on plot points or knowledge of characters from the other book to work). The author was a bit more free in his interpretation of the stories, but not to the extent that it seemed especially dissimilar.
If you haven't read either, he essentially takes the core idea behind several different fairy tales and wraps a new narrative around them, casting his leads as the heroes of each different story, so that the same character will end up killing giants, wearing invisible clothes, stealing golden mirrors, etc. etc. He has one of those enjoyable intrusive narrative voices (mostly apologizing for forgetting to warn you about a scary bit). And I even teared up at the end a bit!
(It didn't take a year to read. We moved and it ended up in a box and I finally found it again two weeks ago).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
If you haven't read either, he essentially takes the core idea behind several different fairy tales and wraps a new narrative around them, casting his leads as the heroes of each different story, so that the same character will end up killing giants, wearing invisible clothes, stealing golden mirrors, etc. etc. He has one of those enjoyable intrusive narrative voices (mostly apologizing for forgetting to warn you about a scary bit). And I even teared up at the end a bit!
(It didn't take a year to read. We moved and it ended up in a box and I finally found it again two weeks ago).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
Was not disappointed with this book. The author is creative, adding his own twist to well known fairy tales. I also love how he interrupts the storytelling to include his thoughts and provide warnings for what’s to come.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
These books are so great. They have the energy that fairy tales should have, but added modern humor.
Jack and Jill did what? Riveting intertwining tales in a newly woven rug.
New twists on fairy/folk tales? Yes, please. A snarky narrator? Yes, yes, please. So yes, I was quite happy with this sequel/follow-up to A Tale Dark and Grimm.
The stories here are about Jack, Jill and Frog and their adventures looking for the Seeing Glass. Of course there are morals and Lessons, not to mention salamanders. Younger readers not familiar with stories like The Goblin Market won't find that a problem, while older readers will enjoy this take/twist on the story. They'll also enjoy the thread of Jack and Jill running through this: Jack is not only the guy behind the beanstalk adventure, he's also the giant killer, the guy who "broke his crown", etc.. And Jill? She's also his cousin, and the real victim of the invisible suit (see also "Emperor's New Clothes").
Here's hoping for yet another book!
ARC provided by publisher.
The stories here are about Jack, Jill and Frog and their adventures looking for the Seeing Glass. Of course there are morals and Lessons, not to mention salamanders. Younger readers not familiar with stories like The Goblin Market won't find that a problem, while older readers will enjoy this take/twist on the story. They'll also enjoy the thread of Jack and Jill running through this: Jack is not only the guy behind the beanstalk adventure, he's also the giant killer, the guy who "broke his crown", etc.. And Jill? She's also his cousin, and the real victim of the invisible suit (see also "Emperor's New Clothes").
Here's hoping for yet another book!
ARC provided by publisher.
This is a fun read. I liked it a little more from the first one, and that might be because the narrator interjected less. I think that for a book for this to work it has to be just the right amount, and this book got it right.
Its a fun take on the classics and some of which I had not heard before. I liked that it was critical in the children and they sorted it out them selves. It had a Roald Dahl feeling to it where the children were not perfect, and it was very clearly, in a way a kid could understand, showing the most evil thing in people.
Its a fun take on the classics and some of which I had not heard before. I liked that it was critical in the children and they sorted it out them selves. It had a Roald Dahl feeling to it where the children were not perfect, and it was very clearly, in a way a kid could understand, showing the most evil thing in people.
This is a mish-mash of a variety of fairy tales, with emphasis on the more gory aspects of the stories. There is also a bit of a Princess Bride, as the author inserts his own direct interaction at various points in the narrative. It wasn't bad, but the violence seemed gratuitous. Granted, the original fairy tales are a lot less innocent than the Disney presentation, but the gleeful details given just feel as though he's going over the top. It doesn't feel as though he's trying to shock, but rather a kind of playground bravado.
