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sqeeker's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure about this book when I picked it up, but I got captivated after the first chapter.
Plot: The story stays true to the classic Arabian Nights tale, but the author only adds in 2 stories that Shahrazad tells. I enjoyed both her stories. I thought the book would be slow moving, but it really isn't. It keeps you entertained and wanting more. This is probably one of my favorites of the Once Upon a Time books.
Characters: I love the 2 main characters and their struggles and growth. It was nice to see them learn from each other and grow together. I also liked a lot of the side characters, and they had a lot to add to the story.
Plot: The story stays true to the classic Arabian Nights tale, but the author only adds in 2 stories that Shahrazad tells. I enjoyed both her stories. I thought the book would be slow moving, but it really isn't. It keeps you entertained and wanting more. This is probably one of my favorites of the Once Upon a Time books.
Characters: I love the 2 main characters and their struggles and growth. It was nice to see them learn from each other and grow together. I also liked a lot of the side characters, and they had a lot to add to the story.
mkcannon21's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning of this book does a beautiful job of pulling the reader in and holding tight. It never gets old.
cherithe's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this a little less than Before Midnight, which I also recently finished. But I still found it engaging and I got through it quickly. I think my biggest gripe with this one would be the narration at the beginning and end, which feels sort of tacked on - it doesn't flow as well as the rest of the story.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
1.0
This was a very odd re-telling. Told more like a bible verse or parable, it had a lot of "and so it came to pass" and "remember, seek that which you are meant to be and not what you are not" kind of stuff.
This is not my favorite way to read a story. It's a personal preference, but I feel like it keeps me away from the characters. As I'm a character reader, this takes away from my enjoying the story through the character - instead it just feels like....a story. Something on paper that never comes alive.
I'm glad this works for others, it's just not for me.
This is not my favorite way to read a story. It's a personal preference, but I feel like it keeps me away from the characters. As I'm a character reader, this takes away from my enjoying the story through the character - instead it just feels like....a story. Something on paper that never comes alive.
I'm glad this works for others, it's just not for me.
booksnorkel's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet and fun I know I have read this book before, but it was really great to go back and read this again. A re-telling of the 1001 Arabian Nights, a young beautiful woman volunteers to be the wife of a king who will kill her after their wedding night. She is a blind story teller who can read a story in fabric.
A little slow, and I wish that this book was bigger, and that we could have heard the whole story of the king. Also the names were a little annoying but again a sweet fun story that you can read in a day.
For 7th grade girls on up, looking for a fairytale retelling.
A little slow, and I wish that this book was bigger, and that we could have heard the whole story of the king. Also the names were a little annoying but again a sweet fun story that you can read in a day.
For 7th grade girls on up, looking for a fairytale retelling.
asma_aj's review against another edition
4.0
Once upon a time, in kingdom who far away, a king was betrayed by his queen. He resolves to throw away love altogether. Instead, he would take a wife every month, and kill her the morning after her wedding night, unless one woman volunteers to marry him of her own free will and surrenders her life. To the Kingdom's surprise, Shahrazad steps in to risk her life. On the night of their wedding, she begins a story that not only prolongs her life, but might be a key to saving the king.
I've read this story when I was back in high school, and I remember liking it. Now, 7 years later, and the book still hooked me through. The story itself is simply told, and Dokey captures this setting of a far away kingdom. I love the light romance between Shahrazad and the king. The small stories that are told are nice as well. But what I loved most is Dokey's lyrical writing style. It captures that ethereal land and the characters in it. It's a magical read.
I've read this story when I was back in high school, and I remember liking it. Now, 7 years later, and the book still hooked me through. The story itself is simply told, and Dokey captures this setting of a far away kingdom. I love the light romance between Shahrazad and the king. The small stories that are told are nice as well. But what I loved most is Dokey's lyrical writing style. It captures that ethereal land and the characters in it. It's a magical read.
monkyciti's review against another edition
4.0
The book is a cute story if you like forever the stories of princes and such. I enjoyed it.
kristenbeck's review against another edition
4.0
The only word that comes to mind is "captivating". I felt like the author wrote it really well and almost used parable/bible like language in it. She speaks periodically to the reader which keeps you engaged throughout the whole book. I enjoyed it.
writer09's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0