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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I'm surprised at how many 4 and 5 star ratings this book has. I didn't dislike it by any means but I certainly wasn't blown away by it; I've definitely read better fairy tale retellings than this. The story seems rushed and not very well thought out which is a bummer because I still feel like this story has a ton of potential and I'm disappointed that it didn't meet my expectations.
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i don’t think i’ve ever cried so hard over a horse as i have falada. *shakes fist at every goose girl retelling*
this was an interesting take on the story of the goose girl and i enjoyed the new angles that the author brought into this retelling.
i enjoyed:
-falada
-the Wind
-the found family vibes with violet, sage, oak, joa, etc.
-the character of red hawk
-the slowest of slow burns between kestrin and alyrra/thorn
someone made a comment that the style of writing is a throwback to tamora pierce and shannon hale. would 100% agree there. it's slower to start, but still a very good read.
this was an interesting take on the story of the goose girl and i enjoyed the new angles that the author brought into this retelling.
i enjoyed:
-falada
-the Wind
-the found family vibes with violet, sage, oak, joa, etc.
-the character of red hawk
-the slowest of slow burns between kestrin and alyrra/thorn
someone made a comment that the style of writing is a throwback to tamora pierce and shannon hale. would 100% agree there. it's slower to start, but still a very good read.
adventurous
emotional
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not my favorite Goose Girl retelling. I found the world building lacking and confusing. Good characters though
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had the privilege of meeting the author at a convention in December and she talked me into buying all three of the books in this series. I was so excited to try this series and check out the vibes of this book. I've been after the vibes that popular Young Adult fantasy provides and this book did have some of that.
Generally speaking, this was super intriguing. There was magic, intrigue, villains, and a little bit of romance. Emphasis on little bit of romance. Alyrra faces a lot of abuse within her royal household. After being bethrothed to the prince of another kingdom, Alyrra journey's to his kingdom in hopes of a better life. During the journey, a mysterious sorceress steals her identity and makes a promise that she is going after the Prince. With the ability to reinvent herself, Alyrra jumps at the chance, while still trying to find a way to warn the Prince of the sorceress's plan.
This gave me what I wanted, but didn't cement itself as a new favorite. I'm intrigued enough to continue in the series, though know that the next book follows different characters. I was, with minor exception, satisfied when I finished this book.
What I didn't love was that the best character was the talking horse, Falada. I loved the interactions between Alyrra and Falada and his protective nature. Also content warning for animal death. I was disappointed with the fate of Falada.
My main takeaway from this story is that we are all strong in our own ways. Alyrra recognizes that the only way she can make a difference for the people she's created a community with is by reclaiming her identity and saving the Prince. I'm honestly really looking forward to to rest of the series to see what comes of the plot points that were started.
Main characters: Alyrra and Kestrin
Tropes: chosen one, goose girl retelling.
Content warnings: physical abuse, sexual abuse, violence, emotional abuse, death of animal (on page), death.
Generally speaking, this was super intriguing. There was magic, intrigue, villains, and a little bit of romance. Emphasis on little bit of romance. Alyrra faces a lot of abuse within her royal household. After being bethrothed to the prince of another kingdom, Alyrra journey's to his kingdom in hopes of a better life. During the journey, a mysterious sorceress steals her identity and makes a promise that she is going after the Prince. With the ability to reinvent herself, Alyrra jumps at the chance, while still trying to find a way to warn the Prince of the sorceress's plan.
This gave me what I wanted, but didn't cement itself as a new favorite. I'm intrigued enough to continue in the series, though know that the next book follows different characters. I was, with minor exception, satisfied when I finished this book.
What I didn't love was that the best character was the talking horse, Falada. I loved the interactions between Alyrra and Falada and his protective nature. Also content warning for animal death. I was disappointed with the fate of Falada.
My main takeaway from this story is that we are all strong in our own ways. Alyrra recognizes that the only way she can make a difference for the people she's created a community with is by reclaiming her identity and saving the Prince. I'm honestly really looking forward to to rest of the series to see what comes of the plot points that were started.
Main characters: Alyrra and Kestrin
Tropes: chosen one, goose girl retelling.
Content warnings: physical abuse, sexual abuse, violence, emotional abuse, death of animal (on page), death.
Such a wonderfully interesting retelling of a fairytale!
I vaguely remembered the goose girl story from when I was younger and my mom would still sit with me and read a fairytale story every evening. It was one of those we only reached for very little when we were bored of the fan favourites, so I did not realise at first the book was a retelling at all. Until suddenly Alyrra and Valka were switched and I had the vague feeling of remembering; of course it is the story of the goose girl! I delighted in that realisation and the extra nuance it had given to what had been described before — the wind, the handkerchief. Once having discovered this intriguing fairytale in the book, it became an interesting game of remembering the fairytale and finding hints of it in the book. What was similar, what was changed? I marvelled at the way a rather two-dimensional fairytale (as most are), with good and bad and heroes and villains and whatever you find in them, became a full story with nuances and reasoning behind actions and characters with flaws that were more than just black or white, instead they were more grey, more human.
The added layer of explanation to the fairytale was so fantastic as well. How the talking and loving wind turned out to be Kestrin and the talking horse that is unexplained in the fairytale is a magical being from ancient times, from a people hidden away. Incredible.
This is a read that I will warmly recommend to whomever will listen. Wonderful read, thank you for it!
Ps: I was so glad to read a story in which the prince and princess do not magically fall in love at the end within seconds. I felt glad to see that they needed time. Realistic after all that transpired between them. And personally I felt it was very in character for Thorn-Alyrra as well because she’s had a hard time trusting people - men - so it seemed to me far truer to her that she would begin to trust him as a friend first instead.
I vaguely remembered the goose girl story from when I was younger and my mom would still sit with me and read a fairytale story every evening. It was one of those we only reached for very little when we were bored of the fan favourites, so I did not realise at first the book was a retelling at all. Until suddenly Alyrra and Valka were switched and I had the vague feeling of remembering; of course it is the story of the goose girl! I delighted in that realisation and the extra nuance it had given to what had been described before — the wind, the handkerchief. Once having discovered this intriguing fairytale in the book, it became an interesting game of remembering the fairytale and finding hints of it in the book. What was similar, what was changed? I marvelled at the way a rather two-dimensional fairytale (as most are), with good and bad and heroes and villains and whatever you find in them, became a full story with nuances and reasoning behind actions and characters with flaws that were more than just black or white, instead they were more grey, more human.
The added layer of explanation to the fairytale was so fantastic as well. How the talking and loving wind turned out to be Kestrin and the talking horse that is unexplained in the fairytale is a magical being from ancient times, from a people hidden away. Incredible.
This is a read that I will warmly recommend to whomever will listen. Wonderful read, thank you for it!
Ps: I was so glad to read a story in which the prince and princess do not magically fall in love at the end within seconds. I felt glad to see that they needed time. Realistic after all that transpired between them. And personally I felt it was very in character for Thorn-Alyrra as well because she’s had a hard time trusting people - men - so it seemed to me far truer to her that she would begin to trust him as a friend first instead.