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nerdyfantasyreader's review against another edition
2.5
This book was just way too slow for me and there were parts that just didn't make any sense. I read this because I wanted to read Wicked as well and now I hope that Wicked meets up to my expectations.
hannahjs's review against another edition
2.5
A strange book with an interesting concept, but ultimately underwhelming. It hinted at a lot of potential intrigues that didn’t end up amounting to much, and I didn’t feel like the characters were alive enough to make up for the dull plot.
halleymalley1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emem2882's review against another edition
4.0
The new turns in a familiar story really kept me on my toes. It reads like a Gail Carson Levine book for a slightly older crowd. Although the writing style isn't always very precise, and the story felt rushed at the end, I enjoyed many quotes from this book.
stinalynn24's review against another edition
3.0
I have to say I liked this take on Cinderella. It was a nice change to read from the point-of-view of the stepsister's. Also, how Gregory placed the story in a time that makes it more believable. You could almost believe it actually happened. It was also nice the way he wove painting into the story to make you see everything clearer. The only complaint I really have with this book is that it moved way too slow for my taste. It seemed to drag on and on at some points. It took me forever to finish this book for that very reason.
alison_marie's review against another edition
3.0
I want to like Gregory Maguire's books, I really do, but they just don't do it for me. This one turned out okay, but the first third of the book was sloooow.
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
2.0
I think I picked this story up because of all of the critical acclaim Wicked was receiving. But as I'm not really a Broadway lover, I'm not quite sure why I chose this book. It was probably because Cinderella and all of the other romantic fairy tales of my childhood, pull on my heartstrings in a deeper, more visceral way that any other genres have been able to do.
I think Maguire has been able to imagine some clever retellings of the familiar tale but I think the execution was a little clunky. He was too verbose in his writing and I often found myself daydreaming throughout the story, just so I could get through it. I wouldn't say that this book was a pleasure to read and before I was halfway through reading it, I knew that I wouldn't be reading another book by Maguire.
I think Maguire has been able to imagine some clever retellings of the familiar tale but I think the execution was a little clunky. He was too verbose in his writing and I often found myself daydreaming throughout the story, just so I could get through it. I wouldn't say that this book was a pleasure to read and before I was halfway through reading it, I knew that I wouldn't be reading another book by Maguire.
slr242's review against another edition
3.0
It was OK. Better than Mirror Mirror but not as good as Wicked. I liked his ideas- but I just didn't like how he wrote them.