Reviews

Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi

mamareads24's review against another edition

4.0

A cute, quick, and fun fairytale read. Nothing amazing, but nice for a change of pace from the longer books I typically read.

audie_reads23's review against another edition

4.0

Once More Upon a Time may be tiny, but she is fierce. It may be a mere 130ish pages that are written in the stereotypical fairytale format, but it is a beautifully and wittingly done! I haven't read anything else by Roshani Chokshi, who is a New York Times Bestselling author for works known for their beautiful world building, such as The Gilded Wolves and The Star-Touched Queen. But, Chokshi books may be added to my TBR List if her other works are written like this one where it felt as if each word seemed to be placed so intentionally within each sentence of dialogue and scenery description.
In this story, Choksi crafts a beautiful tale filled with the journey of Imelda and Ambrose as they encounter enchanted creatures and magical obstacles on their way to claim their deepest heart's desire. Imelda longs for freedom and Ambrose dreams of a kingdom of his own. Each obstacle the pair faces along the way makes them question what it is they truly want, and if their story with one another is truly over. This may have been one of the shortest (if not the shortest) book I have read this year.
Despite it's small size, it is so beautifully and vividly written. While I know it is a short book, I finished feeling like I just wanted more...I do not know if it's just I am used to longer stories, especially within the fantasy genre, or if it could be better as a full on novel rather than a shorter novella length.
I couldn't help but be reminded of some of my favorite aspects of one of my favorite films,The Princess Bride, with the humor of Ambrose's magical cloak, to the banter between Ambrose and Imelda, as well as the sassy and sarcastic narration of the witch. This book would be great for anyone looking for a quick read, a palate cleanser after a book-hangover, or just in need of something light-hearted and fun!
Favorite Quotes:
"Love is a freedom. It is a land and a language that holds all, speaks to all."
Star Rating: 4 Stars *I feel like I just desperately wanted a full length novel
Fairytale, Quest, Love Reunited
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
The shortness of this book made it a speed read and the banter was engaging!
Message: 5 Stars
"Love is a freedom". How often do we miss the importance of loving others more than ourselves? We in the world need this message to be shouted from the rooftops.
Maturity Rating: PG

ISBN 9781728239828 (hardcover) ~ Barnes & Noble

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bookscatcoffee's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

A wonderful little fantasy tale!  I loved the characters and how the original fairy tale was flipped a bit.  Definitely worth reading!  4.5 stars

Fantasy retelling with diverse characters

altoid967's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

amesjo's review against another edition

5.0

What a cute little story. I wasn't sure I was going to love this book when I first started it, but by the end, I adored it.
The cover is stunning also!

lkingsbury's review against another edition

4.0

This is a super cute super fast read. A tale about a prince and a princess that would not normally be the main characters of the story. They fall in love, and after their wedding a witch curses them, causing them to fall out of love. A year and a day later, that witch comes back and has a quest for them to go on where they learn more about themselves and each other.

roorooreads's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted 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? No

4.0

This book was narrated in a style that reminded me of Ella Enchanted and The Princess Bride. I think it would make a fantastic film. It has this fairy tale magical feeling woven within which I really liked. I did notice a few things that didn’t  quiet make sense such as the timeline. A fun, enchanting, and easy read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement

jenni3penny's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ladykaylee's review

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I enjoyed this book, but was hoping for something a little more epic. I liked the fairy tale flow of the story, but I felt like I was just starting to care for the characters when the story ended. 

cassiesbookishcorner's review

4.0

This book is so cute!! I LOVED the narration writing style. I love a cheeky narrator. 🥰 It's a short and sweet kind of thing. But with a lot of detail that manages not to bog down the story. It reads like a Mel brooks movie, and that is the highest compliment!!