Take a photo of a barcode or cover
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Medical content, Death of parent
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Trafficking
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A well-written new fairy tale, which tackles themes of abuse, justice and socioeconomic status, love, and trust. I look forward to reading the author's next book set in the same world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape, Murder
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Classism
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I'm actually so upset that this wasn't on my radar sooner. This was originally released in 2012. 2012!!!!!!! Why aren't more people talking about this?!?!?
If you've read the original Grimm Brother's tale, all the plot twists in this book won't come as a massive shock to you - but don't let that stop you from picking it up. This retelling is so beautifully crafted, so well told, and full of real-world truths. It feels like an original tale, and really holds its own. There's so much to love about this book, but I think my favorite things about it were Alyrra's character, and her relationship with Falala and her new found family. The world was so easy to get lost into, too.
GAH. I need more people to talk about this book. Please read it.
If you've read the original Grimm Brother's tale, all the plot twists in this book won't come as a massive shock to you - but don't let that stop you from picking it up. This retelling is so beautifully crafted, so well told, and full of real-world truths. It feels like an original tale, and really holds its own. There's so much to love about this book, but I think my favorite things about it were Alyrra's character, and her relationship with Falala and her new found family. The world was so easy to get lost into, too.
GAH. I need more people to talk about this book. Please read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Trafficking
Minor: Rape
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
First book of 2022 and I’m so glad it’s this good! I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve been this excited about a story and I’m so happy to have read this book.
I liked being in Thorn’s head and learning/understanding why she feels the way she feels about the things happening to her. In a discussion with other readers, some people thought she was too passive at first, but I feel like the way she was treated by her family/peers very much justified her choices and actions (or lack thereof).Which makes the decisions she makes later on even more powerful.
I also loved the discussion about justice. I don’t think I’m good enough at writing reviews to articulate my feelings but I liked the different perspectives and the characters questioning what justice meant.
Not sure how I felt about the Lady. I like her character but I’m not sure about some things (which again I am unable to articulate 😭).
I also liked the relationship between Thorn and the prince.I love when the couple is still tentative about their relationship at the end of a story because it feels more realistic. Especially with how Thorn thought about Kestrin at first and the comparisons she couldn’t help but make between him and her brother.
I feel like the ending was a bit abrupt though? I feel like there’s more to the story? But there are other books in the Dauntless Path series right? Even though they focus on different characters? I’m still a little unsure about that.
Edit: I just read the synopsis for Theft and ok ok ok I’m excited to continue!
I liked being in Thorn’s head and learning/understanding why she feels the way she feels about the things happening to her. In a discussion with other readers, some people thought she was too passive at first, but I feel like the way she was treated by her family/peers very much justified her choices and actions (or lack thereof).
I also loved the discussion about justice. I don’t think I’m good enough at writing reviews to articulate my feelings but I liked the different perspectives and the characters questioning what justice meant.
Not sure how I felt about the Lady. I like her character but I’m not sure about some things (which again I am unable to articulate 😭).
I also liked the relationship between Thorn and the prince.
I feel like the ending was a bit abrupt though? I feel like there’s more to the story? But there are other books in the Dauntless Path series right? Even though they focus on different characters? I’m still a little unsure about that.
Edit: I just read the synopsis for Theft and ok ok ok I’m excited to continue!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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:
Yes
I couldn’t put the book down! I had been procrastinating reading this based on the number of pages, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. There were some confusing parts that I honestly still don’t quite get, but it all comes together in the end. The writing was beautiful and didn’t hold back from discussing some tough subjects like grief and justice. Some aspects of the world were very realistic for a fantasy book. I do think I need to process some of the events that happened, so I would recommend checking trigger/content warnings. Falada’s death broke me I would say that the later half of the book is a bit darker, so just keep that in mind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence
Minor: Physical abuse, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail
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
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love the main character’s story arc and growth—there’s so much depth there—the pacing is absolutely perfect, and I love the supporting characters, especially Alyrra’s found family.
There are some pretty glaring flaws, though, not least of which is that the first person perspective is so narrow that we don’t get enough information about the prince, the magic he uses or is affected by, to make the ending really impactful. Likewise, more world-building was needed to add weight to the story, and I’m confused by the near complete lack of body dysmorphia despite Alyrra spending 95% of the book in someone else’s body—you’d think that would at least be alarming.
My rating is rounded up for how much I enjoyed my reading experience because, honestly, a perfectly paced book goes a long way—I couldn’t put this down. And this was a great retelling of The Goose Girl, which is one of my favorite fairytales.
There are some pretty glaring flaws, though, not least of which is that the first person perspective is so narrow that we don’t get enough information about the prince, the magic he uses or is affected by, to make the ending really impactful. Likewise, more world-building was needed to add weight to the story, and I’m confused by the near complete lack of body dysmorphia despite Alyrra spending 95% of the book in someone else’s body—you’d think that would at least be alarming.
My rating is rounded up for how much I enjoyed my reading experience because, honestly, a perfectly paced book goes a long way—I couldn’t put this down. And this was a great retelling of The Goose Girl, which is one of my favorite fairytales.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Slavery, Trafficking
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
A princess who would honestly rather be a goose girl, now that's intriguing. This story swept me up immediately and I felt so much anger on Alyrra's behalf. Valka? AWFUL. Alyrra's family? AWFUL. I knew where this story was going, but I had no idea how we would get there and that was very enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping