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thecactusprincess's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this one, it had lovely detail, some romance, a great plot line, suspence. Despite all that it was an abnormally slow read for me and this series. The characters I loved and I guess I could kinda tell what was going to happen but I enjoyed it anyways. So the only thing I have that I wasn't a fan of was the mysticism but I guess that's just how it goes.
shaipanda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was one of my favorite books as a kid and honestly it 100% holds up
Such a good story in a fairly short book
Such a good story in a fairly short book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Ableism, Infidelity, and Death
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, and Infertility
alyson7's review against another edition
3.0
The Storyteller's Daughter is a young adult retelling of the Arabian Nights. I vaguely know the story of Shahrazad and her 1001 tales that she told her husband, the king, in order to stay alive. In most versions, the king takes a new wife every night and then kills them in the morning. Shahrazad volunteers to become the king's new wife. At night, she tells the king a long tale that lasts until morning. When morning comes, the king is so hooked on finding out the rest of the story that he allows Shahrazad to live another night. Well, another night becomes another night and so on.
In this version, the king is a bit more redeemable. This is a young adult novel, after all. The king isn't beheading all of his wives. But, he is bitter after being betrayed by his previous wife. Enter Shahrazad who believes that it is her destiny to change the king's heart and to save her own heart in the process. She uses her gift of storytelling inherited from her mother to warm the king's heart. Meanwhile, there is a plot to overthrow the king.
This is the second novel by Cameron Dokey that I read. The first one was Winter's Child, a retelling of The Snow Queen. Both retellings are well written and have that fairy tale quality to them that is both comforting and exciting. Like Winter's Child, there is very little character development. The story is very much plot-centred (which is common for the fairy tale genre).
I have been meaning to read this book for a long time, and I am glad that I finally found a copy to read and review. It was certainly worth the wait.
I would recommend this book to fans of fairy tales and folklore retellings suited for a young adult audience. Also, if you're expecting a lot of romance, this probably isn't the book for you.
In this version, the king is a bit more redeemable. This is a young adult novel, after all. The king isn't beheading all of his wives. But, he is bitter after being betrayed by his previous wife. Enter Shahrazad who believes that it is her destiny to change the king's heart and to save her own heart in the process. She uses her gift of storytelling inherited from her mother to warm the king's heart. Meanwhile, there is a plot to overthrow the king.
This is the second novel by Cameron Dokey that I read. The first one was Winter's Child, a retelling of The Snow Queen. Both retellings are well written and have that fairy tale quality to them that is both comforting and exciting. Like Winter's Child, there is very little character development. The story is very much plot-centred (which is common for the fairy tale genre).
I have been meaning to read this book for a long time, and I am glad that I finally found a copy to read and review. It was certainly worth the wait.
I would recommend this book to fans of fairy tales and folklore retellings suited for a young adult audience. Also, if you're expecting a lot of romance, this probably isn't the book for you.
indywonder05's review against another edition
3.0
This was a nice fun romance. It came from the fairy tale about a king whose heart is turned to stone because of a betrayal and once a month at full moon will wed a wife and the next day she will be killed. The storyteller's daughter volunteers to be his wife. I have heard the tale before and this really did not have any twists or turns that were unexpected but that was part of the charm of it. It was a super quick read. I finished in a couple of hours. Would recommend anyone who likes fairy tales retold.
thenovelgirl's review against another edition
2.0
This is a retelling of 1001 Arabian Nights, and while I enjoyed it, I haven't read the original story.
snowbenton's review against another edition
3.0
The storytelling was decent but it's hard to get wrapped up in a love story when the king is straight up psychotic.
princessleia4life's review against another edition
5.0
It was great. I just wish they had her telling more stories.
battlehamster67's review against another edition
3.0
I have read many retellings of this story and this one fell short for me. It was super crazy predictable. I have read a lot of Doxey's novels and I was excited when I found this one.
However I closed the book disappointed. To give this story justice it needs to be way longer than 200 pages. The book was more about the stories she tells then the actual story itself.
I long to know more about the world that this particular retelling is set in but I can't because again 209 pages... I thought her being blind was an interesting touch, but it didn't really add much to the story at all.... If anything it's a detail the book could have gone without. I would have liked this book better if more attention was paid to Shahrazad and her story then the stories she tells.
However I closed the book disappointed. To give this story justice it needs to be way longer than 200 pages. The book was more about the stories she tells then the actual story itself.
I long to know more about the world that this particular retelling is set in but I can't because again 209 pages... I thought her being blind was an interesting touch, but it didn't really add much to the story at all.... If anything it's a detail the book could have gone without. I would have liked this book better if more attention was paid to Shahrazad and her story then the stories she tells.
hannahcramerica's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I would actually give this one 4 stars, for I really liked this retelling of Scheherezade, except that I reserve 4 stars for more thoughtful novels.