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onthesamepage's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Thaumas family is cursed. Everyone says so. What else could explain the sudden deaths of four of the twelve daughters? But the last death feels suspicious to Annaleigh, and she's determined to find out if her sisters were murdered.
This is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and it is pretty dark. The author's writing is very atmospheric, and I was easily sucked into the story. Thinking back on it, the pacing was probably a bit slower than it needed to be, but I barely noticed. I was invested and creeped out and curious to see how everything would play out.
That said, this book is not without flaws. The explanation at the end throws several incidents that happen earlier on into question, because in hindsight, they don't make much sense.Why did we have a love triangle at all when Fisher was never real? What was Kosamaras's purpose in doing that? There's also no way to really guess at the outcome; the foreshadowing is much to sparse for that, and I do think that's a drawback.
There's some really weird characterization of the father, and his personality seems to undergo a radical change out of nowhere. It mostly felt like a way to move the plot along. The main romance is also very insta-love. The world isn't explained much either--there are apparently deities, and they walk among humans at least part of the time, but we don't get much more information about them or about how religion and magic work in this world. Last but not least, the ending wraps up a bit too nicely and definitely makes the book lose a bit of impact.
I really enjoyed the writing however, and I appreciate this type of horror, so I'll definitely pick up more by the author.
This is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and it is pretty dark. The author's writing is very atmospheric, and I was easily sucked into the story. Thinking back on it, the pacing was probably a bit slower than it needed to be, but I barely noticed. I was invested and creeped out and curious to see how everything would play out.
That said, this book is not without flaws. The explanation at the end throws several incidents that happen earlier on into question, because in hindsight, they don't make much sense.
There's some really weird characterization of the father, and his personality seems to undergo a radical change out of nowhere. It mostly felt like a way to move the plot along. The main romance is also very insta-love. The world isn't explained much either--there are apparently deities, and they walk among humans at least part of the time, but we don't get much more information about them or about how religion and magic work in this world. Last but not least, the ending wraps up a bit too nicely and definitely makes the book lose a bit of impact.
I really enjoyed the writing however, and I appreciate this type of horror, so I'll definitely pick up more by the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, Violence, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
zoepagereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
This book was a wild time, and not in a good way. An author has to know when there are too many plot points in a book and I’m sorry, but a Twelve Dancing Princesses murder mystery retelling set in a newly created fictional world with many murders and ghosts as well as new gods and a (maybe) love triangle with a Monday’s Not Coming styled semi-twist at the end is too much. Way too much. 2.75⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
thereaderfriend's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I wanted to love this book, one bc it’s a 12 dancing princesses retelling, and two bc the romance was good. Also really loved the atmosphere and spookiness. Truly a horror fantasy YA novel.
But there were a few problems that were great enough to knock this rating from a 4 star down to 3.
Without spoilers, this mc has little going for her. She’s rich and pretty and entitled and does care about the people she loves.. but she doesn’t do much except figure out the problems and even then she was told the problems. Seemed like she wasn’t trying to find the villain/murderer and just was exasperated from the grief ensued upon her—which I can understand but to an extent. But the outcomes would’ve happened even if she had done nothing.
Now here for the main reasons with spoilers. <Why did Cassius come to her and await Annaleigh? Never brought that up besides the fact that he was looking after his father. And why were the 3 sisters deaths not explained? That seems to be a stupid plot point because it didn’t even shine light on a lesson. And also, I thought the point of this was that the dancing was supposed to kill people? It hasn’t killed the first five people! Their deaths were substantial but not enough to give in my opinion. Also, I’m conflicted with Cassius bc he could’ve killed those five people but he didn’t. I think that would’ve enticed me more if it was him rather the step mom. But I knew it’d be her from that first moment she was peeved that her son wouldn’t be heir. I do like that he loved Annaleigh though and was kinda sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
easyqueenie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
robin_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Not at all what I expected but the gothic horror fantasy novel of my dreams.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gore, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
jahodge714's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
afterall's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
I don’t even know where to start! This book pleasantly surprised me.
While at times the writing seemed rushed, like characters were doing one thing and suddenly another with no connection in between, I thoroughly enjoyed the atmospheric description and the seemingly effortless way that words turned to pictures in my mind. I experienced this book with all five of my senses. The environments were beautifully described.
There was so much lore that sometimes I felt like the world had been thoroughly built but there wasn’t enough book to explain enough of it to me. I found myself confused and re-reading some parts just to make sure I understood what was happening regarding the myths, legends, and gods in the story. Despite the confusion at times, I felt like it was all pretty well explained and wrapped up in the end. I guess ultimately I would rather it be this way then be OVER explained. It’s a fast paced story set in a world that is clearly big enough for multiple stories.
The horror aspect of this book was so intriguing. I didn’t expect it to get as dark and frightening at some parts, but I loved the way I could see the scenes play out in my mind.
I felt like the romance was almost unnecessary in this story. Perhaps if it had been more believable, I’d appreciate it a little more. But the couple seemed to fall in love instantly for no real reason other than to have a romance in the story. The love between the sisters was enough to carry the story for me.
This book has the near perfect amount of happy, sad, and purely horrific moments, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was so refreshing to read a unique story like this.
While at times the writing seemed rushed, like characters were doing one thing and suddenly another with no connection in between, I thoroughly enjoyed the atmospheric description and the seemingly effortless way that words turned to pictures in my mind. I experienced this book with all five of my senses. The environments were beautifully described.
There was so much lore that sometimes I felt like the world had been thoroughly built but there wasn’t enough book to explain enough of it to me. I found myself confused and re-reading some parts just to make sure I understood what was happening regarding the myths, legends, and gods in the story. Despite the confusion at times, I felt like it was all pretty well explained and wrapped up in the end. I guess ultimately I would rather it be this way then be OVER explained. It’s a fast paced story set in a world that is clearly big enough for multiple stories.
The horror aspect of this book was so intriguing. I didn’t expect it to get as dark and frightening at some parts, but I loved the way I could see the scenes play out in my mind.
I felt like the romance was almost unnecessary in this story. Perhaps if it had been more believable, I’d appreciate it a little more. But the couple seemed to fall in love instantly for no real reason other than to have a romance in the story. The love between the sisters was enough to carry the story for me.
This book has the near perfect amount of happy, sad, and purely horrific moments, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was so refreshing to read a unique story like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infidelity
cyan_altaria's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This is one of the best fairytale retellings I've ever read! I love how it takes the original fairytale and twists it into something darker. The mystery was engaging, and it was hard to put the book down. I loved the complex characters. The romance was well done, and I appreciate that Craig avoided making it a love triangle. 10/10 would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
ewarde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Enticing the whole way through. Borderline psychological thriller.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Body horror and Fire/Fire injury
rhie's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Great author did an amazing job with the gruesome imagery of this book! It was truly scary and really visceral description. And I loved the unraveling of illusion throughout, as the reader you started to feel as unhinged as the main character and I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. I do feel that the romance had strange pacing though, and the ending was odd. It felt a little unsatisfactory to me.
I'm gonna go on a weird little tangent about the aspect I didn't like.
The ending was weird, the dad died I guess but that was an after thought it seemed like and wasn't explained? I guess he died in the fire, which maybe we're supposed to feel like he deserved because he hits women? And the villain wasn't defeated they both just sort of went away. And I was really confused about the terms of the bargain, I thought the deal was for the daugthers to all die and the only way to stop it would be to kill Morella? But then she got killed by the trickster... and he just took his weird random son and left. Shouldn't the main character have defeated him or something? I also felt suspicious of Morella most of the book so I don't know if that was supposed to be a big twist. I did like the twist of them dancing in their rooms with no magic door, that was very ghoulish and spooky.
I'm gonna go on a weird little tangent about the aspect I didn't like.
The ending was weird, the dad died I guess but that was an after thought it seemed like and wasn't explained? I guess he died in the fire, which maybe we're supposed to feel like he deserved because he hits women? And the villain wasn't defeated they both just sort of went away. And I was really confused about the terms of the bargain, I thought the deal was for the daugthers to all die and the only way to stop it would be to kill Morella? But then she got killed by the trickster... and he just took his weird random son and left. Shouldn't the main character have defeated him or something? I also felt suspicious of Morella most of the book so I don't know if that was supposed to be a big twist. I did like the twist of them dancing in their rooms with no magic door, that was very ghoulish and spooky.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death