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bethjordahl's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Such a fun story retelling! Pied piper is not a story you hear often. The main characters were lovable and had good moments. This was really an enjoyable read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and War
english_lady03's review
3.0
I'm not really familiar with the Pied Piper of Hamelin story, so I thought this was a worthy retelling. It's a little darker than some of Melanie Dickerson's other retellings, and just as a note to parents touches on some mature content.
I loved Staffan. He's that perfect mix of strong, manly, yet vulnerable and hurting from past mistakes. I wouldn't call him a rake as he wasn't immoral inn that sense. More a wayward or prodigal son.
Katerina, yeah wasn't so keen on her, and her stepfather's evil is just doo obvious. He's barely even convincing as a creep, and at times what he did came over as so over the top he could have been acting. Or a character in a book ☺His men were almost cartoonish in their badness.
The plot was interesting, at least initially when you want to find out what's happened to the children, but that's revealed just over halfway through and then it just be gets sort of choppy and all over the place.
Also there were various scenes that came over as implausible , not did I care for most of the fight scenes. I get it. Swords strapped to your back look way cooler than the usual hanging at the side, but you would think that guys would learn their lesson about practicality when people kept stealing their weapons. Nobody ever managed to do that to Staffan though. Odd.
Finally some of the characters attitudes came over as too modern to be credible for the time period. And although they do things like going to confession I don't know sometimes the religion seemed a little modern too.
I'd certainly still recommend Thurs authors work and keep reading her future titles, but I don't think I'm the target audience at 31 and not having teenage daughters.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a PDF of this title. I as not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Trivia fact: king Henry II of England had an illegitimate son named Hamelin. Like the real German town where's this is set.
I loved Staffan. He's that perfect mix of strong, manly, yet vulnerable and hurting from past mistakes. I wouldn't call him a rake as he wasn't immoral inn that sense. More a wayward or prodigal son.
Katerina, yeah wasn't so keen on her, and her stepfather's evil is just doo obvious. He's barely even convincing as a creep, and at times what he did came over as so over the top he could have been acting. Or a character in a book ☺His men were almost cartoonish in their badness.
The plot was interesting, at least initially when you want to find out what's happened to the children, but that's revealed just over halfway through and then it just be gets sort of choppy and all over the place.
Also there were various scenes that came over as implausible , not did I care for most of the fight scenes. I get it. Swords strapped to your back look way cooler than the usual hanging at the side, but you would think that guys would learn their lesson about practicality when people kept stealing their weapons. Nobody ever managed to do that to Staffan though. Odd.
Finally some of the characters attitudes came over as too modern to be credible for the time period. And although they do things like going to confession I don't know sometimes the religion seemed a little modern too.
I'd certainly still recommend Thurs authors work and keep reading her future titles, but I don't think I'm the target audience at 31 and not having teenage daughters.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a PDF of this title. I as not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Trivia fact: king Henry II of England had an illegitimate son named Hamelin. Like the real German town where's this is set.
catladyreads26's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review
4.0
For those of you who've not been following my reviews very closely: This has been the year of me reading fairytale retellings. And of course I saw the books of Dickerson on lists a few times before. So, when I had the chance to read this book through Netgalley I didn't hesitate. Especially because I haven't read that many retellings of the Piper of Hamelin yet.
And I really have to keep myself from going to an online bookstore to order the first book in the Hagenheim series. This book is the tenth in the collection, but I can assure you that it can be perfectly read as a standalone. I might have gotten a few spoilers here and there for the previous books, but the story, plot and characters also stand very well on their own.
The writing style of the book is quite pleasant. It was an easy and fast read and Dickerson doesn't lose herself in endless descriptions, but that doesn't mean the book is rushed. She takes the time to introduce us to the story and the characters and therefore she also gives the reader a chance to bond with the characters, just like they take the time to bond with each other. There is some instant attraction, but not so much instant love.
Both Kat and Steffan come with their own history and issues. Kat is strong and fierce, but not just because she wants and longs to be, but also because circumstances have forced her to learn how to take care of herself. Steffan did a lot of terrible things in his life and is carrying a lot of guilt on his shoulders. Kat is afraid that she is not capable of loving someone anymore. Steffan is afraid his sins can't be forgiven and he doesn't deserve to be loved.
The elements of the Hamelin tale are used recognisably and yet in a very original and refreshing way. Although I know the Hamelin story quite well, this story managed to surprise me and Dickerson came up with some nice twists on this beloved tale. The fairytale really sets out some marks, but it's not the entire plot.
And I also really loved all the prayers Kat and Steffan sent to God. I loved how they didn't just wait for him to solve their problems, but how they wished for his help to solve their problems themselves. They wished for courage, for a little bit of luck and for a happily ever after, but they were the ones working for it and earning it. And that, in my opinion, is how it should be.
I will for sure read the other nine books in this series too, at some point. Because I'm sure, after reading this tale, that I will love them all.
And I really have to keep myself from going to an online bookstore to order the first book in the Hagenheim series. This book is the tenth in the collection, but I can assure you that it can be perfectly read as a standalone. I might have gotten a few spoilers here and there for the previous books, but the story, plot and characters also stand very well on their own.
The writing style of the book is quite pleasant. It was an easy and fast read and Dickerson doesn't lose herself in endless descriptions, but that doesn't mean the book is rushed. She takes the time to introduce us to the story and the characters and therefore she also gives the reader a chance to bond with the characters, just like they take the time to bond with each other. There is some instant attraction, but not so much instant love.
Both Kat and Steffan come with their own history and issues. Kat is strong and fierce, but not just because she wants and longs to be, but also because circumstances have forced her to learn how to take care of herself. Steffan did a lot of terrible things in his life and is carrying a lot of guilt on his shoulders. Kat is afraid that she is not capable of loving someone anymore. Steffan is afraid his sins can't be forgiven and he doesn't deserve to be loved.
The elements of the Hamelin tale are used recognisably and yet in a very original and refreshing way. Although I know the Hamelin story quite well, this story managed to surprise me and Dickerson came up with some nice twists on this beloved tale. The fairytale really sets out some marks, but it's not the entire plot.
And I also really loved all the prayers Kat and Steffan sent to God. I loved how they didn't just wait for him to solve their problems, but how they wished for his help to solve their problems themselves. They wished for courage, for a little bit of luck and for a happily ever after, but they were the ones working for it and earning it. And that, in my opinion, is how it should be.
I will for sure read the other nine books in this series too, at some point. Because I'm sure, after reading this tale, that I will love them all.
kelsiegentry11's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nekomeith's review
3.0
3.5
I went into this book expecting fantasy and surprisingly was met with more of a historical fiction setting I greatly enjoyed the combination of two events that did indeed occur, the pied piper of Hamlin (Germany) and the beast of Gevaudan (France)
Very cute story and would recommend to young girl interested in strong female characters and romance.
While it was good overall it wasn’t particularly compelling and I felt like the mystery’s were all to quickly and easy solved.
I went into this book expecting fantasy and surprisingly was met with more of a historical fiction setting I greatly enjoyed the combination of two events that did indeed occur, the pied piper of Hamlin (Germany) and the beast of Gevaudan (France)
Very cute story and would recommend to young girl interested in strong female characters and romance.
While it was good overall it wasn’t particularly compelling and I felt like the mystery’s were all to quickly and easy solved.
fyrekatz's review
5.0
This is my fav one of her books! so good, even better then the last book... which was Mulan! Yes! I will be reading more of this series, I think I'll do the Aladdin one next and then perhaps the second book since I already read the first one in the series!