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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
I always look forward to reading a new fairytale story. I knew Kill My Softly was rewritten tales and the font captured my interest. The bloody rose did not inspire me to read the book. If you're put off by the cover, open the book and start reading!
Sarah Cross weaves together several fairytales, both well-known and obscure. Those who live the life of a fairytale character are marked with a sign. Nothing happens until they turn sixteen. On their sixteenth birthday, their tales begin to take shape in their lives.
Cross focuses on only a few of the characters who live in Beau Rivage. The main character is Mirabelle who is discovering the history and stories in Beau Rivage. I was familiar with the stories Cross chose, but she also kept me on my reading toes. The reveal at the end was breathtaking.
So far, Kill My Softly is a standalone piece. Mirabelle's story (for the most part) is concluded. I still wonder about the other characters who came alive in this novel. I think Cross would have a fantastic Beau Rivage series if she shared the fates of her other fairytale characters. I anxiously await more stories!
Reviewed from a library copy.
Sarah Cross weaves together several fairytales, both well-known and obscure. Those who live the life of a fairytale character are marked with a sign. Nothing happens until they turn sixteen. On their sixteenth birthday, their tales begin to take shape in their lives.
Cross focuses on only a few of the characters who live in Beau Rivage. The main character is Mirabelle who is discovering the history and stories in Beau Rivage. I was familiar with the stories Cross chose, but she also kept me on my reading toes. The reveal at the end was breathtaking.
So far, Kill My Softly is a standalone piece. Mirabelle's story (for the most part) is concluded. I still wonder about the other characters who came alive in this novel. I think Cross would have a fantastic Beau Rivage series if she shared the fates of her other fairytale characters. I anxiously await more stories!
Reviewed from a library copy.
I think if this had been a 20something girl and this book an adult book, I would not be nearly as hard on it. There are some situations in this book I just found unbelievable for a 17 year old girl. I did like this book, but mostly in spite of myself. The main character was not all that likable, but I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this story as well as the interweaving of fairy tales.
Also, I hate this narrator. I don't know how it happened, but I ended up listening to this right after her reading of Anna and the French Kiss. I was not happy about this occurrence. She sighs during her speech and speaks very slowly. You've been warned.
Also, I hate this narrator. I don't know how it happened, but I ended up listening to this right after her reading of Anna and the French Kiss. I was not happy about this occurrence. She sighs during her speech and speaks very slowly. You've been warned.
Love, love, love the way Sarah Cross writes. She has a talent for being descriptive without laying it on too thick and for creating an intriguing, original world while still being faithful to the original tales (to a point...) I really, really, REALLY wanted to shake Mirabelle who at times was doing the TSTL thing a bit too much for my tastes but I tried to give her a pass due to being so sheltered and somewhat backwards. This book had better be the first in a series because there are some serious loose ends that need to be tied up. I will be back for #2 if so...hopefully it will be Layla's story.
Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross is about a fifteen year-old named Mirabelle. Living with her overprotective Godmothers, Mirabelle's past has always been an unexplained secret. Desperate to find out about any detail of her past and her parents, Mirabele runs away to Beau Rivage, her birthplace, and discovers more about herself and the town than she never could have imagined.
So, I have to say right away while reading the first half of Kill Me Softly I kept thinking "ooh..i love this!" "ooh this is so good!" but somehow towards the last half my interested and excitement sort of fizzled away. I really wasnt a big fan of Mirabelle's character, she just didnt win me over. The other characters in the book were fantastic and I found myself wishing the book were more about them. (I always try to stay as spoiler free as possible so Im going to skip other characters names lol) I really did enjoy Kill Me Softly, it was refreshing, interesting and witty.
4 out of 5 stars
Special thanks to NetGalley and Egmont USA for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
So, I have to say right away while reading the first half of Kill Me Softly I kept thinking "ooh..i love this!" "ooh this is so good!" but somehow towards the last half my interested and excitement sort of fizzled away. I really wasnt a big fan of Mirabelle's character, she just didnt win me over. The other characters in the book were fantastic and I found myself wishing the book were more about them. (I always try to stay as spoiler free as possible so Im going to skip other characters names lol) I really did enjoy Kill Me Softly, it was refreshing, interesting and witty.
4 out of 5 stars
Special thanks to NetGalley and Egmont USA for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
I liked this book for the most part. It was interesting to see all the different fairy tale characters before they fulfill their roles! Parts of the story really seemed to drag by. I didn't always like the immaturity of some of the characters but over all an enjoyable book.
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It may be my own dumb thinking but I thought this was an adult book. Imagine my surprise when I realized really early on that it was young adult. Sadly that wasn't my only issue with this book. I will say I really liked the audiobook and how it was read. I think that really saved it for me. It took me a day to listen to this. So I did care a bit about the characters. With that being said my issues are as follows. First the instalove in this was just ridiculous. Like so much so that when I say it was immediately. The moment the MC met anyone. I was going to let that go because young adult books tend to do that but when it happened with like 3 other characters I was just annoyed. I thought the plot and the world building had so much potential. I wanted more of that. I wanted to learn so much about this world because it was so cool but no I didn't get that. Some parts read like it was YA and some parts didn't. I am still deciding on reading the next book in the series. I enjoyed the writing so I may.
This book isn't what I was expecting when I picked it up from the library. Not that i didn't like it, because I did! Kill Me Softly is a bit of a dark twist on classic fairy tales. These definitely aren't the Disney versions of fairy tales. They are full on Grimm type fairy tales. They were many times I found myself feeling creeped-out!
There were so many fairy tale references thrown into this book. Sarah Cross did a wonderful job of mixing them together so well! Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and so many more! She even came up with her own random curses as well, like poor Jewel!
I loved the supporting characters! It was so much fun to read about a character and realize what fairy tale they belonged to! Viv (Snow White) was clear from her black hair, ruby lips, and obvious hatred for apples. Layla and Rafe (Beauty & The Beast) were hilarious! Freddie (Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty, if going by Disney) was absolutely adorable! Caspian (Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid) was cute too!
Now, the main characters. Honestly, I didn't too much care about the main characters much. Mira kind of got on my nerves. The whole, "I just met you and I love you 5 minutes later" reminds me of Doug from Up.
I'm also really unnerved by the fact that she just accepted what's going on around her without question, like a bunch of fairy tale characters in one place isn't weird.
I know it's a curse of Blue and Felix, but it just got annoying. I never really liked Felix from the beginning. Blue was a bit funny. He had some quotable moments. But I didn't find myself falling in love with him or anything.
The ending left me wanting more. The resolution with the antagonist just didn't happen, and it disappointed me. There are other things as well that requires, for me, that there is at least a sequel (more minor characters!!!!!)
Overall, it was a good book, and I have heard that there will definitely be sequels, so I'm kinda excited for that. I hope that the future books will focus more on the stories of the other characters than Mira and Blue.
There were so many fairy tale references thrown into this book. Sarah Cross did a wonderful job of mixing them together so well! Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and so many more! She even came up with her own random curses as well, like poor Jewel!
I loved the supporting characters! It was so much fun to read about a character and realize what fairy tale they belonged to! Viv (Snow White) was clear from her black hair, ruby lips, and obvious hatred for apples. Layla and Rafe (Beauty & The Beast) were hilarious! Freddie (Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty, if going by Disney) was absolutely adorable! Caspian (Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid) was cute too!
Now, the main characters. Honestly, I didn't too much care about the main characters much. Mira kind of got on my nerves. The whole, "I just met you and I love you 5 minutes later" reminds me of Doug from Up.
I'm also really unnerved by the fact that she just accepted what's going on around her without question, like a bunch of fairy tale characters in one place isn't weird.
I know it's a curse of Blue and Felix, but it just got annoying. I never really liked Felix from the beginning. Blue was a bit funny. He had some quotable moments. But I didn't find myself falling in love with him or anything.
The ending left me wanting more. The resolution with the antagonist just didn't happen, and it disappointed me. There are other things as well that requires, for me, that there is at least a sequel (more minor characters!!!!!)
Overall, it was a good book, and I have heard that there will definitely be sequels, so I'm kinda excited for that. I hope that the future books will focus more on the stories of the other characters than Mira and Blue.
Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross was an intriguing, and very different type of book. Before I get into my review of the story, I will say one thing about the cover - I'm sorry, but I don't like it. The visual is stark and relevant to the story, but the title is so lost in the background that it's hard to see.
The book tells the story of 15 year old Mirabelle (Mira)who has spent her life guarded by her overprotective but loving Godmothers. Her parents died when she was a baby. She has no real friends, has never been allowed to handle things with sharp edges, and never been allowed to visit the town where her parents are buried. A couple of weeks before her 16th birthday, she leaves a note and runs away, headed for Beau Rivage where she was born and her parents died. There she meets Felix, Blue, and a group of peculiar teens with strange characteristics. Not everything is as it seems in Beau Rivage, and Mirabelle has no idea what she's just walked into.
In this story, fairy tales come true, but not in the way you'd expect. The original Grimm tales were...grim. But the author made it work, and work well.
Things I liked:
The character of Blue! He was the best of the bunch.
The premise of the story - unique and interesting.
The world building - well done.
The ending - nicely done.
The mixtures of mystery, romance, fairy tale, and more.
Things I didn't like:
Mira - Though she was a strong character, she had a lot of stomach aches to the point of 'come on, again?' Plus her instant attraction to Felix (and yes, I know the reason), but it's a bit much.
The attitudes - all these adults around and nobody does anything to send a 15 yr old runaway back home or contact her guardians?
The dangling threads - is this part of a series? It certainly seems so.
This is a dark, mysterious, romantic tale that is a definite respite from the vampire/dystopian fare that seem the norm of YAs today. It is definitely recommended for those who enjoy a twist on the usual and fairy tales that are definitely not made by Disney.
The book tells the story of 15 year old Mirabelle (Mira)who has spent her life guarded by her overprotective but loving Godmothers. Her parents died when she was a baby. She has no real friends, has never been allowed to handle things with sharp edges, and never been allowed to visit the town where her parents are buried. A couple of weeks before her 16th birthday, she leaves a note and runs away, headed for Beau Rivage where she was born and her parents died. There she meets Felix, Blue, and a group of peculiar teens with strange characteristics. Not everything is as it seems in Beau Rivage, and Mirabelle has no idea what she's just walked into.
In this story, fairy tales come true, but not in the way you'd expect. The original Grimm tales were...grim. But the author made it work, and work well.
Things I liked:
The character of Blue! He was the best of the bunch.
The premise of the story - unique and interesting.
The world building - well done.
The ending - nicely done.
The mixtures of mystery, romance, fairy tale, and more.
Things I didn't like:
Mira - Though she was a strong character, she had a lot of stomach aches to the point of 'come on, again?' Plus her instant attraction to Felix (and yes, I know the reason), but it's a bit much.
The attitudes - all these adults around and nobody does anything to send a 15 yr old runaway back home or contact her guardians?
The dangling threads - is this part of a series? It certainly seems so.
This is a dark, mysterious, romantic tale that is a definite respite from the vampire/dystopian fare that seem the norm of YAs today. It is definitely recommended for those who enjoy a twist on the usual and fairy tales that are definitely not made by Disney.
Rating: 3
Summary (from Amazon):
her parents’ graves, hoping to find answers. The city and residents are not as they appear, and as mysteries and secrets unfold, so do revelations, including whether or not curses and fairy tales could be real and whether Mira is destined for happily ever after or a more sinister fate.
Review:
The overall concept of the book was really cool and fascinating. Being able to live in a literal fairytale world is such an interesting idea, and I do believe that Sarah Cross made realism in the setting present despite a totally fictional background. There were people from every fairytale, from Snow White to the stepsisters from Cinderella, everyone and every character was in the city. It was really cool to see how their lives played out and how each person carried their "curse" differently.
The biggest problem that I had with the book was the protagonist, Mira, herself. Since the beginning of the book, Mira was a pretty selfish character. She ran away from her godparents without even leaving a simple note. When she got to the city, she met a guy named Blue and his friend, Freddie. I really liked Blue. Blue, of course, falls for Mira for whatever reason considering Mira was such an a** to him the entire time. Really, she was rude, stubborn, and acted like a little child who couldn't get her way. It got pretty irritating to see my favorite character of the book falling for such a weak character. Even worse, Mira practically hated Blue because he kept telling her to stay away from his drop-dead gorgeous brother, Felix. Even though Mira obviously would rather get with Felix, Blue still has to keep himself from falling from her. There are so many things that could have done that on its own. I understand that Mira never lived her life with parents, and recently found out that there was a magical world of curses, but that doesn't mean you need to be stone-cold b**** to some people. Calm down, drink some hot chocolate, and don't need to get your panties in a bunch.
The writing flowed well, and the plot was really good, but the characters needed some definite work. The book contained suspense and action, which was much appreciated, but a lot of things were pretty predictable. I am slightly disappointed because I expected a strong, female character to play such an important role as Sleeping Beauty, but instead, I got a selfish, snobbish, and immature girl.
Oh, but I have to say, the cover is pretty darn awesome.
Summary (from Amazon):
her parents’ graves, hoping to find answers. The city and residents are not as they appear, and as mysteries and secrets unfold, so do revelations, including whether or not curses and fairy tales could be real and whether Mira is destined for happily ever after or a more sinister fate.
Review:
The overall concept of the book was really cool and fascinating. Being able to live in a literal fairytale world is such an interesting idea, and I do believe that Sarah Cross made realism in the setting present despite a totally fictional background. There were people from every fairytale, from Snow White to the stepsisters from Cinderella, everyone and every character was in the city. It was really cool to see how their lives played out and how each person carried their "curse" differently.
The biggest problem that I had with the book was the protagonist, Mira, herself. Since the beginning of the book, Mira was a pretty selfish character. She ran away from her godparents without even leaving a simple note. When she got to the city, she met a guy named Blue and his friend, Freddie. I really liked Blue. Blue, of course, falls for Mira for whatever reason considering Mira was such an a** to him the entire time. Really, she was rude, stubborn, and acted like a little child who couldn't get her way. It got pretty irritating to see my favorite character of the book falling for such a weak character. Even worse, Mira practically hated Blue because he kept telling her to stay away from his drop-dead gorgeous brother, Felix. Even though Mira obviously would rather get with Felix, Blue still has to keep himself from falling from her. There are so many things that could have done that on its own. I understand that Mira never lived her life with parents, and recently found out that there was a magical world of curses, but that doesn't mean you need to be stone-cold b**** to some people. Calm down, drink some hot chocolate, and don't need to get your panties in a bunch.
The writing flowed well, and the plot was really good, but the characters needed some definite work. The book contained suspense and action, which was much appreciated, but a lot of things were pretty predictable. I am slightly disappointed because I expected a strong, female character to play such an important role as Sleeping Beauty, but instead, I got a selfish, snobbish, and immature girl.
Oh, but I have to say, the cover is pretty darn awesome.