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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
*happy sigh*
I love it when a book makes you grin for hours after you've finished it and invades your dreams at night to continue the goodness. That's how I felt after finishing The Golden Braid.
I really enjoyed this retelling of Rapunzel. It was clean, well-paced, and full of interesting characters. I think what I enjoy most about Melanie's books is her obvious research into the time period and her attention to characters. I always feel like I'm stepping into medieval Germany and taking a stroll with one of her characters when I open one of her books.
It was refreshing to read a book without any insta-love or love triangles. I felt like the relationship developed in a natural way. Sure, there was instant attraction, but it wasn't "hey, I met you five minutes ago; we are now destined to be together forever and I shall now tattoo your name on my person." So nice to have an actual real relationship with tension and problems and people working to solve them!
As much as I enjoyed it, there was one thing that prevented me from giving this five stars. I'll let you proceed at your own risk if you're interested.
Overall though, a book that I really enjoyed and one that I'd definitely recommend for lovers of historical fiction and retellings. Well done!
**Disclaimer** I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. This in no way influenced my feelings about the book.
I love it when a book makes you grin for hours after you've finished it and invades your dreams at night to continue the goodness. That's how I felt after finishing The Golden Braid.
I really enjoyed this retelling of Rapunzel. It was clean, well-paced, and full of interesting characters. I think what I enjoy most about Melanie's books is her obvious research into the time period and her attention to characters. I always feel like I'm stepping into medieval Germany and taking a stroll with one of her characters when I open one of her books.
It was refreshing to read a book without any insta-love or love triangles. I felt like the relationship developed in a natural way. Sure, there was instant attraction, but it wasn't "hey, I met you five minutes ago; we are now destined to be together forever and I shall now tattoo your name on my person." So nice to have an actual real relationship with tension and problems and people working to solve them!
As much as I enjoyed it, there was one thing that prevented me from giving this five stars. I'll let you proceed at your own risk if you're interested.
Spoiler
So Rapunzel wants more than anything to be able to read. Yay! Reading! I totally get that and identify with it. However, she goes from not recognizing letters or letter sounds to what sounds like a fluent reader in a matter of a few lessons. As a teacher who actually teaches reading (I've taught first through fourth grades and currently teach fourth), I don't buy that in the least. It just doesn't work that way, even for someone who wants it as badly as Rapunzel did. Sure, she has the work ethic and the drive, but with zero practice materials and only her few hours of study, NO. Just no. It takes months and even years for those skills to develop.Overall though, a book that I really enjoyed and one that I'd definitely recommend for lovers of historical fiction and retellings. Well done!
**Disclaimer** I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. This in no way influenced my feelings about the book.
For me, I put this book down because I was tired of the constant focus on marriage, but the real kicker was Rapunzel's almost instant ability to read. At a time when I'm trying to read for MSBA, I can't see myself recommending a book where someone seems to go from not recognizing letters to reading words in less than an hour. I might return to it later, but at the moment, I'm letting it go.
"Well, do you not want to marry? What else would you do?"
"Why would I want to marry a man who would probably tell me reading was foolishness?"
This was such a refreshing read. Rapunzel is not your mainstream female character, she's not the BAMF, the hero who comes and saves the day, so beautiful that no man listen to her words because too busy staring at her... face. She's quite average, her only peculiar skill is the knives throwing, but she's also curious and intellingent, she wants to get better and improve her reading skills because she wants to be independent and explore the world on her own terms.
I quite liked the men in this story as well, the trope of the creepo or the borderline rapist wasn't thrown in there trying to depict "historical accurancy". Men here could be criminals, sure, but also caring, forgiving and loving. Sir Gerek isn't just bewitched by Rapunzel's beauty, he sees value in her and is a well-rounded character, you understand his reasonings and the way he thinks. The characters are so human and have such different personalities that you can predict what they're going to do because you understand them well.
The romance is not cheesy, the two characters get to know each other well before getting together. They learn so much about each others that they also know how to joke and mock the other one in affectionate and silly ways.
Loved the twists as well.
I kindly received this book from its publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a wonderful book. Yet another masterpiece by Melanie Dickerson! Love, love, love!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Calling all fairy tale lovers! This version of Rapunzel (or Tangled for the younger readers) is a delight to read!! I love how [a:Melanie Dickerson|3408059|Melanie Dickerson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1404683706p2/3408059.jpg] wove this love story with themes of spiritual perseverance, forgiveness, and faith! This is a super fun read and one I highly recommend!
No surprises here: this is a fairy tale that closely follows the classic story of Rapunzel. Yet I enjoyed the story very much. The character of Rapunzel, and her struggle with her controlling mother, felt very real, and the setting was beautiful. I especially enjoyed the small historical details that really made the setting come to life.
FIRST READ:
Started December 26, 2015
Finished December 27, 2015
Rating 5 Stars *****
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FIRST RE-READ:
Started April 3, 2016
Finished April 5, 2016
Rating 5 Stars *****
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Started December 26, 2015
Finished December 27, 2015
Rating 5 Stars *****
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
FIRST RE-READ:
Started April 3, 2016
Finished April 5, 2016
Rating 5 Stars *****
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
There were several Christian messages in this one, but the one that stayed with me was that we shouldn't expect the kind of perfect love from men that only God can give us. I liked that there wasn't much kissing or instalove, and that for the most part it wasn't so much about romance as it was about other topics, such as unfaithfulness, seduction (and abandonment), losing a child (stealing a child), and the so-called "mercenary" wish to marry someone who has a substantial amount of wealth - because of purely logical and psychological reasons. I do recommend it.