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pixieu's review
It didn’t draw me in enough to finish it before the library loan was up. Maybe it got better. I don’t know how to review it. Not awesome if I couldn’t get to the end. But I also didn’t read it all the way through.
booklover160's review
3.0
Accurate rating: 3.5 stars
I liked it, but it wasn't as good as her first book. I think that's partly due to the fact that this is a Pride and Prejudice retelling. And very faithful at that. Yes, there are original ideas in here with basically Tom Riddle's diary, but it felt... boring and predictable most of the time.
I think the most interesting parts of the book were the original ideas and when it strayed from the traditional P&P storyline. If I wanted to read a P&P retelling, this would be fantastic, but knowing how creative and wonderfully written [b:The Book Jumper|29102939|The Book Jumper|Mechthild Gläser|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478925365l/29102939._SX50_.jpg|43196374] was, this just missed the mark for me.
Overall, a fun read for P&P fans who want a little more magic injected into the original tale. Recommended ages 12+.
--
Original review: I NEED THIS BOOK LIKE YESTERDAY
I liked it, but it wasn't as good as her first book. I think that's partly due to the fact that this is a Pride and Prejudice retelling. And very faithful at that. Yes, there are original ideas in here with basically Tom Riddle's diary, but it felt... boring and predictable most of the time.
I think the most interesting parts of the book were the original ideas and when it strayed from the traditional P&P storyline. If I wanted to read a P&P retelling, this would be fantastic, but knowing how creative and wonderfully written [b:The Book Jumper|29102939|The Book Jumper|Mechthild Gläser|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478925365l/29102939._SX50_.jpg|43196374] was, this just missed the mark for me.
Overall, a fun read for P&P fans who want a little more magic injected into the original tale. Recommended ages 12+.
--
Original review: I NEED THIS BOOK LIKE YESTERDAY
thatlizhunter's review
3.0
This book has a very fun feel. It’s easy reading, and does get fairly intense towards the end of the story.
I felt like the pacing was a bit slow towards the beginning? And maybe it dragged a bit in the middle?
But the story of the magical book, how the book dictates so many things, and the blend of fairy tales is really amazing!
Though I do wonder if I found a magical book would I use it every day?
Things I enjoyed
Emma – Emma isn’t Lizzy. I was terrified Emma would be Lizzy, seeing that the love interest is Darcy. *AHEM* WHERE IS MR KNIGHTLEY???
Emma is always Emma. She’s spunky, silly, and full of machinations. The whole story is her character.
Lots of Austen Characters – This story revolves around Emma and Pride and Prejudice. We loose the most annoying characters, Lydia, Mrs. Bennet, Wickam.
But we get to keep the characters the laugh out loud characters. Miss Bates is the school cook – and she’s just as quirky and chatty in The Forgotten Book as in Emma. (With an absolutely perfect niece, of course)
Also Emma’s Dad is so funny! I really, really like his character. A quirky mix of Mr. Bennet and Mr. Woodhouse.
Darcy and Gigi – AGHG! I love this relationship. In this story the famous siblings are twins and Gigi isn’t a foolish little girl trapped by a conniving fortune hunter.
She’s a deep thinker, and Darcy is still a jerk. (Apparently, he was dating and too busy to notice his sister REALLY needed him?) Also, why is it ok to be a jerk if your name is Darcy?
Fairytales – And not just ordinary fairytales. Dark and mysterious German folklore.
I love how this story blends a classic story with a dark European story. The kind of story where Faeries are really bad and your wishes can hurt you.
Things I didn't like
Darcy + Emma – first, this is a weird pairing. Emma DOES NOT HAVE Lizzy’s wit and biting sarcasm. Even when she is sarcastic, it’s just not as harsh. Ok? Just no.
Darcy & Emma aren’t bad. Just not perfect. Also, he’ s 20. And Emma’s only 16??? Why are they a thing?
Also, he totally does have the right to call her a silly school girl! Because that’s who she is! She’s only 16! And he’s a college student! She’s even sillier for getting offended at his comment!
No School Happening – So, this is a boarding school. But the only lesson in the entire book is an etiquette lesson? Oh, and some history thrown in. It just didn’t feel real.
Hit and Miss Drama – I felt like the story was going for some high school melodrama. But it didn’t happen? It just ended up weird.
![description](https://obstinateheadstronggirl.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/jlm-no-no-no.gif?w=660")
And the drama with the Frank Churchill character? I was so relieved he wasn’t a Wickam. But he was just boring! The Frank Churchill/Jane Fairfax pairing fell terribly flat.
Jane is supposed to be a nice girl, so I also felt like that characterization just went off the road. Maybe the Jane character was secretly Caroline Bingley? That could have been made a bit more clear.
Overall, The Forgotten Book is super quick, funny reading. If you like Emma, and want to play around with Emma and Darcy, the Forgotten Book is for you.
Or, you could be like me, read it and then rant/scream, WHERE IS MR. KNIGHTLEY!!!!!
I felt like the pacing was a bit slow towards the beginning? And maybe it dragged a bit in the middle?
But the story of the magical book, how the book dictates so many things, and the blend of fairy tales is really amazing!
Though I do wonder if I found a magical book would I use it every day?
Things I enjoyed
Emma – Emma isn’t Lizzy. I was terrified Emma would be Lizzy, seeing that the love interest is Darcy. *AHEM* WHERE IS MR KNIGHTLEY???
Emma is always Emma. She’s spunky, silly, and full of machinations. The whole story is her character.
Lots of Austen Characters – This story revolves around Emma and Pride and Prejudice. We loose the most annoying characters, Lydia, Mrs. Bennet, Wickam.
But we get to keep the characters the laugh out loud characters. Miss Bates is the school cook – and she’s just as quirky and chatty in The Forgotten Book as in Emma. (With an absolutely perfect niece, of course)
Also Emma’s Dad is so funny! I really, really like his character. A quirky mix of Mr. Bennet and Mr. Woodhouse.
Darcy and Gigi – AGHG! I love this relationship. In this story the famous siblings are twins and Gigi isn’t a foolish little girl trapped by a conniving fortune hunter.
She’s a deep thinker, and Darcy is still a jerk. (Apparently, he was dating and too busy to notice his sister REALLY needed him?) Also, why is it ok to be a jerk if your name is Darcy?
Fairytales – And not just ordinary fairytales. Dark and mysterious German folklore.
I love how this story blends a classic story with a dark European story. The kind of story where Faeries are really bad and your wishes can hurt you.
Things I didn't like
Darcy + Emma – first, this is a weird pairing. Emma DOES NOT HAVE Lizzy’s wit and biting sarcasm. Even when she is sarcastic, it’s just not as harsh. Ok? Just no.
Darcy & Emma aren’t bad. Just not perfect. Also, he’ s 20. And Emma’s only 16??? Why are they a thing?
Also, he totally does have the right to call her a silly school girl! Because that’s who she is! She’s only 16! And he’s a college student! She’s even sillier for getting offended at his comment!
No School Happening – So, this is a boarding school. But the only lesson in the entire book is an etiquette lesson? Oh, and some history thrown in. It just didn’t feel real.
Hit and Miss Drama – I felt like the story was going for some high school melodrama. But it didn’t happen? It just ended up weird.
And the drama with the Frank Churchill character? I was so relieved he wasn’t a Wickam. But he was just boring! The Frank Churchill/Jane Fairfax pairing fell terribly flat.
Jane is supposed to be a nice girl, so I also felt like that characterization just went off the road. Maybe the Jane character was secretly Caroline Bingley? That could have been made a bit more clear.
Overall, The Forgotten Book is super quick, funny reading. If you like Emma, and want to play around with Emma and Darcy, the Forgotten Book is for you.
Or, you could be like me, read it and then rant/scream, WHERE IS MR. KNIGHTLEY!!!!!
christajls's review
3.0
While attending the famed Schloss Stolzenburg boarding school in Germany, three friends, Emma, Charlotte, and Hannah find a magical book. At first, it looks like an old diary or history of the school, but they soon realize that whatever they write in the book will come true. At the same time, a mysterious older boy, Darcy, turns up at the school looking for answers about his sister, Gina, who went missing years earlier. Is it a coincidence? Or does Gina’s disappearance have something to do with the old book? If I hear about a fantasy novel set at a boarding school, I will immediately add it to my to-read list. You can blame Harry Potter for that. And The Forgotten Book really did make me think of Harry Potter. Not just the boarding school setting, but the camaraderie between the three girls. But that’s where most of the similarities end. In fact, The Forgotten Book is more Jane Austen-inspired than Harry Potter. Emma and Darcy’s relationship resembles that of Elizabeth and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, and there are numerous other Austen references sprinkled throughout. The Forgotten Book is a lighter fantasy read, but I thoroughly enjoyed curling up and getting lost in the adventure, the romance, and the mystery.
Originally posted on Bookmarked
Originally posted on Bookmarked
starlightbooktales's review
3.0
This arc was provided to me for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3 Stars
I requested this book for two reasons, the first being that beautiful cover. Second was because the idea of finding a book that makes your thoughts come true sounds amazing. But I don’t know, it somehow fell flat.
This book is a Jane Austen inspired novel featuring Emma who discovers a magical book that allows anything she writes to come true. Except those thoughts have consequences that she did not see coming. Along with dealing with those consequences, someone else wants the book.
I had a few issues with this book, the first being the ages. I am aware the legal ages are very different from UK to US. But a 16 and 20-year-old having a relationship in a young adult novel is just a little inappropriate. I just wish Darcy was a little younger as to appeal better. Second issue was the pacing of the timeline, it was just off and very confusing. The author just jumped from one scene to a scene 2 weeks away with no explanation. I found myself wasting time going back and rereading just to make sure I was reading it right.
With my issues aside, I did like the book. I still think it was a great concept just not a great execution. Even with Emma being a typical 16-year-old, I still found her rather like-able. I think this book would be better suited for a younger audience.
3 Stars
I requested this book for two reasons, the first being that beautiful cover. Second was because the idea of finding a book that makes your thoughts come true sounds amazing. But I don’t know, it somehow fell flat.
This book is a Jane Austen inspired novel featuring Emma who discovers a magical book that allows anything she writes to come true. Except those thoughts have consequences that she did not see coming. Along with dealing with those consequences, someone else wants the book.
I had a few issues with this book, the first being the ages. I am aware the legal ages are very different from UK to US. But a 16 and 20-year-old having a relationship in a young adult novel is just a little inappropriate. I just wish Darcy was a little younger as to appeal better. Second issue was the pacing of the timeline, it was just off and very confusing. The author just jumped from one scene to a scene 2 weeks away with no explanation. I found myself wasting time going back and rereading just to make sure I was reading it right.
With my issues aside, I did like the book. I still think it was a great concept just not a great execution. Even with Emma being a typical 16-year-old, I still found her rather like-able. I think this book would be better suited for a younger audience.
racheln23's review against another edition
5.0
This little book is SO delightful and hit the spot so well.
It’s a dash of Harry Potter, as characters are roaming around the castle.
It’s a spoonful of Grimm’s fairy tales.
And it’s a hearty sprinkle of Pride and Prejudice for sure!
Even though there is blatant reference to P&P, it isn’t the major theme of the book. But it is cutesy and as a P&P fan, it makes you smile in delight to share some minor P&P references. I think it would have been better if the main character HADNT been named Darcy and we organically recognized the Darcy-esque nature of the characters and their relationships, but I’ll forgive it!
Check out my book highlights for some of the P&P
Moments!
My only complaint is that I wish I had know what language the story was originally written in; there is reference to someone’s accent as they are speaking English and I couldn’t quite figure out where they were either. For a bit, I thought France, and we have reference to the Rhine, and I still wasn’t entirely sure if it was France or Germany. However, I am now quite certain the setting was Germany and the characters were German-speaking.
I loved the premise of Emma finding a book that makes things come true as you compose it, and that there is a mystery of a missing girl and fairy tale history as well. All the elements combined so well to make a delicious product!
It’s a dash of Harry Potter, as characters are roaming around the castle.
It’s a spoonful of Grimm’s fairy tales.
And it’s a hearty sprinkle of Pride and Prejudice for sure!
Even though there is blatant reference to P&P, it isn’t the major theme of the book. But it is cutesy and as a P&P fan, it makes you smile in delight to share some minor P&P references. I think it would have been better if the main character HADNT been named Darcy and we organically recognized the Darcy-esque nature of the characters and their relationships, but I’ll forgive it!
Check out my book highlights for some of the P&P
Moments!
My only complaint is that I wish I had know what language the story was originally written in; there is reference to someone’s accent as they are speaking English and I couldn’t quite figure out where they were either. For a bit, I thought France, and we have reference to the Rhine, and I still wasn’t entirely sure if it was France or Germany. However, I am now quite certain the setting was Germany and the characters were German-speaking.
I loved the premise of Emma finding a book that makes things come true as you compose it, and that there is a mystery of a missing girl and fairy tale history as well. All the elements combined so well to make a delicious product!
maddiesemmler's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
aestmacalis's review against another edition
4.0
Bei diesem Buch habe ich mich echt selbst verwundert, wie schnell ich zugegriffen habe, was wohl hauptsächlich daran liegt, dass die Autorin mich bereits mit >Buchspringer< überzeugt hat (und ernsthaft, wer kann zu so einem Cover nein sagen?).
Die Idee mit dem Faun und das Darum war, so wie es vorgekommen ist, etwas komplett neues für mich. Immer, wenn ich gerade dachte, ich wüsste was passieren würde, wurde mir ein Strich durch die Rechnung gezogen.
Besonders waren auch die "Anspielungen" auf die Werke von Jane Austen (zugegeben, mir sind nur Sachen aus >Stolz und Vorurteil< aufgefallen, also ... keine Ahnung, ob dort noch mehr zu finden sind und ob Emma an sich etwas mit dem gleichnamigen Buch zu tun hat). Obwohl ich sagen muss, dass es mich bei der Romanze sogar etwas gestört hat. Man muss nur dieses eine Buch von Austen gelesen haben und schon weiß man, wie sich das entwickelt wird (nur minus die Hochzeit und die Briefe &c.). Irgendwann gegen Ende hin, habe ich auch einfach nur gehofft sie würden Freunde bleiben, aber es war dennoch irgendwie putzig und war auch nicht unbedingt der Mittelpunkt der Geschichte.
Alles in allem war es ein wunderbares Buch, mit einer sympathischen Protagonistin (welche ich wahrscheinlich bereits beim nächsten Jugendbuch sehr vermissen werde :P) und ich kann es mit gutem Gewissen weiterempfehlen.
Die Idee mit dem Faun und das Darum war, so wie es vorgekommen ist, etwas komplett neues für mich. Immer, wenn ich gerade dachte, ich wüsste was passieren würde, wurde mir ein Strich durch die Rechnung gezogen.
Besonders waren auch die "Anspielungen" auf die Werke von Jane Austen (zugegeben, mir sind nur Sachen aus >Stolz und Vorurteil< aufgefallen, also ... keine Ahnung, ob dort noch mehr zu finden sind und ob Emma an sich etwas mit dem gleichnamigen Buch zu tun hat). Obwohl ich sagen muss, dass es mich bei der Romanze sogar etwas gestört hat. Man muss nur dieses eine Buch von Austen gelesen haben und schon weiß man, wie sich das entwickelt wird (nur minus die Hochzeit und die Briefe &c.). Irgendwann gegen Ende hin, habe ich auch einfach nur gehofft sie würden Freunde bleiben, aber es war dennoch irgendwie putzig und war auch nicht unbedingt der Mittelpunkt der Geschichte.
Alles in allem war es ein wunderbares Buch, mit einer sympathischen Protagonistin (welche ich wahrscheinlich bereits beim nächsten Jugendbuch sehr vermissen werde :P) und ich kann es mit gutem Gewissen weiterempfehlen.