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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I received a digital copy of the book via the author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, this is one of the best fairytale-retelling I've ever read.
I didn't want to stop reading it. This book got me so hooked that I could almost read it one sitting. I didn't because my tablet's battery died. This book was truly fun, delightful, lovely and full of adventures. I really enjoyed reading it. The knife-throwing scenes were really cool and I also loved that Repunzal longed for reading and learning. I also like the fact that the ending was complete and satisfying.
Anyway. I'm really grateful for the fact that I got to read this book. I haven't read the other books in the series but after reading this one, I'm looking forward to reading the others as well.
All in all, I loved reading it and I'd definitely recommend everyone to read it!
Honestly, this is one of the best fairytale-retelling I've ever read.
I didn't want to stop reading it. This book got me so hooked that I could almost read it one sitting. I didn't because my tablet's battery died. This book was truly fun, delightful, lovely and full of adventures. I really enjoyed reading it. The knife-throwing scenes were really cool and I also loved that Repunzal longed for reading and learning. I also like the fact that the ending was complete and satisfying.
Anyway. I'm really grateful for the fact that I got to read this book. I haven't read the other books in the series but after reading this one, I'm looking forward to reading the others as well.
All in all, I loved reading it and I'd definitely recommend everyone to read it!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a cute and clean retelling of Rapunzel that features Christian themes. I like that The Golden Braid isn't a straight rewriting of the classic story. Retellings that manage to hold on to flavors of the original fairytale but don't follow the standard plot exactly, are always my favorite. The Golden Braid definitely had some interesting elements in it - Rapunzel knows how to defend herself and throw a knife, and wants to learn to read so much that she seeks out lessons, even though it's against her Mother's wishes. Rapunzel is also not stuck in a tower for most of the book and sometimes she does the rescuing herself. I really appreciated seeing Rapunzel's personal growth as she begins to discern what is true from what Mother has always told her in an attempts to keep her hidden/sheltered. There is a very slow burn romance that was fun to watch unfold, and I enjoyed the mediaeval German setting. However, I thought the last third of the book dragged out too long, and the story read quite young to me. I think my middle school self would have eaten it up, though.
Love triangle factor: None
Cliffhanger scale: This story wraps completely with a HEA. But this is number 6 in a loosely linked companion series. I haven't read any of the others and didn't have any problem jumping into this one.
Love triangle factor: None
Cliffhanger scale: This story wraps completely with a HEA. But this is number 6 in a loosely linked companion series. I haven't read any of the others and didn't have any problem jumping into this one.
SO GOOD.
Friend: Are you done reading that book?
Me: Physically? Yes. Emotionally? NEVER.
(Seriously people whoever is reading this needs to read this series.)
Thanks you Melanie Dickerson!
Friend: Are you done reading that book?
Me: Physically? Yes. Emotionally? NEVER.
(Seriously people whoever is reading this needs to read this series.)
Thanks you Melanie Dickerson!
My actual number is probably a 3.5. I liked it a lot better than The Healer's Apprentice since it had more action and a better plot. The character of Rapunzel was well crafted and sympathetic. It didn't seem as preachy as Healer's Apprentice either. The religious elements seemed more subtle to me and didn't bother me as much, mostly because they didn't bog down the story.
I prefer more bantering in my love stories though.
I would probably read another book of this series, but I wouldn't drop everything to do so (if that makes sense).
Overall enjoyable. I do like fairy tale retellings...
I prefer more bantering in my love stories though.
I would probably read another book of this series, but I wouldn't drop everything to do so (if that makes sense).
Overall enjoyable. I do like fairy tale retellings...
http://www.edmonsonvoice.com/book-reviews-with-fallon/the-golden-braid-review
“The Golden Braid” By Melanie Dickerson, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015, 304 pages. $14.99
Fairy tales. When we think of fairy tales many of us think “happily ever after” or Disney princesses. Some may instantly think of the Brothers Grimm. Fairy Tales have been passed down from generation to generation, becoming what is needed at that time. Whether it was a warning against doing bad deeds, a lesson that needed to be learned, or the hope for a better life, we all have our favorite fairy tale. Lately our favorite fairy tales have been taken and spun into whole stories from “Into the Woods” to movies like “Enchanted” and still others. The Golden Braid is a spin of the fairy tale Rapunzel, and it is quite a good one.
Many of us like to imagine if the fairy tales were real, and I think that Melanie Dickerson does an excellent job of this. The Golden Braid follows Rapunzel, and her mother, Gothel, as Rapunzel tries to find herself, and figure out why her mother is so determined to keep moving, and keep her from finding love. It takes place in Medieval Germany, which fits the tale quite nicely and helps bring it to a more realistic world. There is no magic, or dark forces, or glowing hair. This is truly the tale of Rapunzel without the fairy tale aspect, but with romance, mystery, adventure and a few battles.
Because it is based on a fairy tale, there a few things you already know: Gothel stole Rapunzel, Rapunzel is put in a tower, and Gothel is evil, and so you wait for these points in the plot to come to light. With that said, the tale is so uniquely spun it is a pleasure to read. The characters added in are nice additions, and the romance is sweet and hopeful. Even without real magic, the tale of The Golden Braid follows the romantic and hopeful line of the fairy tales we have come to love.
There are a few points in which the novel slows down. When Rapunzel finds out who her parents are she is in no rush to tell them. While I understood it from the plot point, it seems odd for a girl who has wondered who her parents were for so long. There are also some rocky moments with her romantic interest, and you find yourself wanting to yell at them to get over and kiss already (as all good romance novels should make you do).
My favorite part of this novel is that Rapunzel doesn’t really dream of becoming something grand, or being a lost princess. She is grounded in her world, and the thing she wants above all else to learn to read. That I find a great trait. When she begins work she does so well, and even after she discovers who she is, she does not rush to quit. Riches do not beckon to her. She is someone who loves to learn and that is a good thing for anyone to read about! As a side note, Rapunzel does fall in love with pretty colored dresses and makes a strong statement saying she does not own any and dreams about wanting one. Then all of sudden, she has one. I thought it would have been a nice moment of fanfare for her to have purchased her first pretty dress, but that is a nick picky mention from me, that has no hold over how enjoyable the novel is!
Melanie Dickerson has written several Medieval Fairy Tale novels, and I look forward to reading the others. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is a blend between Swan Lake and Robin Hood. The Fairest Beauty is about Snow White. The Merchant’s Daughter is about Beauty and the Beast. She is quite good at retelling fairy tales, and better yet they tie together to form one larger story. The Princess Spy is about one of Rapunzel’s sisters, and those two stories occur at the same time. It lends even more detail to the stories and allows you follow along in a world you love with some of the characters and the same family.
Thomas Nelson is a Christian publishing company, and the Christian element is very strong within this book. For some this is a plus, to some it does not matter, and others would not like to read it. Therefore, I want to make sure to mention it. Rapunzel and the story itself are very faith based, so keep that in mind.
Overall, The Golden Braid is a wonderful retelling of Rapunzel. If you enjoyed fairy tales with a twist, such as Into the Woods or Enchanted, this is your kind of book. I read it within a day, so it’s a quick, enjoyable read!
I received a copy of The Golden Braid from the publisher for an honest review.
“The Golden Braid” By Melanie Dickerson, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015, 304 pages. $14.99
Fairy tales. When we think of fairy tales many of us think “happily ever after” or Disney princesses. Some may instantly think of the Brothers Grimm. Fairy Tales have been passed down from generation to generation, becoming what is needed at that time. Whether it was a warning against doing bad deeds, a lesson that needed to be learned, or the hope for a better life, we all have our favorite fairy tale. Lately our favorite fairy tales have been taken and spun into whole stories from “Into the Woods” to movies like “Enchanted” and still others. The Golden Braid is a spin of the fairy tale Rapunzel, and it is quite a good one.
Many of us like to imagine if the fairy tales were real, and I think that Melanie Dickerson does an excellent job of this. The Golden Braid follows Rapunzel, and her mother, Gothel, as Rapunzel tries to find herself, and figure out why her mother is so determined to keep moving, and keep her from finding love. It takes place in Medieval Germany, which fits the tale quite nicely and helps bring it to a more realistic world. There is no magic, or dark forces, or glowing hair. This is truly the tale of Rapunzel without the fairy tale aspect, but with romance, mystery, adventure and a few battles.
Because it is based on a fairy tale, there a few things you already know: Gothel stole Rapunzel, Rapunzel is put in a tower, and Gothel is evil, and so you wait for these points in the plot to come to light. With that said, the tale is so uniquely spun it is a pleasure to read. The characters added in are nice additions, and the romance is sweet and hopeful. Even without real magic, the tale of The Golden Braid follows the romantic and hopeful line of the fairy tales we have come to love.
There are a few points in which the novel slows down. When Rapunzel finds out who her parents are she is in no rush to tell them. While I understood it from the plot point, it seems odd for a girl who has wondered who her parents were for so long. There are also some rocky moments with her romantic interest, and you find yourself wanting to yell at them to get over and kiss already (as all good romance novels should make you do).
My favorite part of this novel is that Rapunzel doesn’t really dream of becoming something grand, or being a lost princess. She is grounded in her world, and the thing she wants above all else to learn to read. That I find a great trait. When she begins work she does so well, and even after she discovers who she is, she does not rush to quit. Riches do not beckon to her. She is someone who loves to learn and that is a good thing for anyone to read about! As a side note, Rapunzel does fall in love with pretty colored dresses and makes a strong statement saying she does not own any and dreams about wanting one. Then all of sudden, she has one. I thought it would have been a nice moment of fanfare for her to have purchased her first pretty dress, but that is a nick picky mention from me, that has no hold over how enjoyable the novel is!
Melanie Dickerson has written several Medieval Fairy Tale novels, and I look forward to reading the others. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is a blend between Swan Lake and Robin Hood. The Fairest Beauty is about Snow White. The Merchant’s Daughter is about Beauty and the Beast. She is quite good at retelling fairy tales, and better yet they tie together to form one larger story. The Princess Spy is about one of Rapunzel’s sisters, and those two stories occur at the same time. It lends even more detail to the stories and allows you follow along in a world you love with some of the characters and the same family.
Thomas Nelson is a Christian publishing company, and the Christian element is very strong within this book. For some this is a plus, to some it does not matter, and others would not like to read it. Therefore, I want to make sure to mention it. Rapunzel and the story itself are very faith based, so keep that in mind.
Overall, The Golden Braid is a wonderful retelling of Rapunzel. If you enjoyed fairy tales with a twist, such as Into the Woods or Enchanted, this is your kind of book. I read it within a day, so it’s a quick, enjoyable read!
I received a copy of The Golden Braid from the publisher for an honest review.
*I received a copy of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This novel was not quite what I was expecting. I knew it was a Rapunzel story, obviously, but I had expected more action and adventure than it had. The writing was also a bit stilted for me and I felt like it took too long for some of the characters to be properly introduced. I would have liked for more development between Rapunzel and Gerek and also with her friends in the castle.
While it was not my favorite book, it was enjoyable.
Full review will go live on Nov 17: http://courtneysreads.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-golden-braidmelanie-dickerson-review.html
This novel was not quite what I was expecting. I knew it was a Rapunzel story, obviously, but I had expected more action and adventure than it had. The writing was also a bit stilted for me and I felt like it took too long for some of the characters to be properly introduced. I would have liked for more development between Rapunzel and Gerek and also with her friends in the castle.
While it was not my favorite book, it was enjoyable.
Full review will go live on Nov 17: http://courtneysreads.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-golden-braidmelanie-dickerson-review.html
My introduction to Melanie Dickerson came last year when I read The Princess Spy. It was a delightful retelling of The Frog Prince, and I immediately added Dickerson to my list of authors to watch. When I heard of The Golden Braid (and, let's be honest, first saw that gorgeous cover), I knew I wanted to read it.
Dickerson's Rapunzel is a young woman who knows her own mind and longs to chase her dreams—specifically, her dream of reading and writing—yet she has a deep respect for and devotion to her mother, who insists on sheltering her from the world. It's not until she meets Sir Gerek that she realizes her mother's rules and demands may come from a place of fear, rather than love.
Rapunzel and Gerek together are a great couple, and Dickerson clearly shows how they make each other better people—Rapunzel becomes brave enough to step out of her mother's shadow, and Gerek realizes the shallowness and selfishness of his own dreams.
The novel is full of action, adventure, and intrigue ... and, of course, love. It's a fast, easy read that is incredibly enjoyable! 5 stars.
Note: While The Golden Braid can be enjoyed without having read any of Dickerson's other novels, my favorite part came from reading about certain events from The Princess Spy from a new perspective, as The Golden Braid is set at the same time with several overlapping characters.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Dickerson's Rapunzel is a young woman who knows her own mind and longs to chase her dreams—specifically, her dream of reading and writing—yet she has a deep respect for and devotion to her mother, who insists on sheltering her from the world. It's not until she meets Sir Gerek that she realizes her mother's rules and demands may come from a place of fear, rather than love.
Rapunzel and Gerek together are a great couple, and Dickerson clearly shows how they make each other better people—Rapunzel becomes brave enough to step out of her mother's shadow, and Gerek realizes the shallowness and selfishness of his own dreams.
The novel is full of action, adventure, and intrigue ... and, of course, love. It's a fast, easy read that is incredibly enjoyable! 5 stars.
Note: While The Golden Braid can be enjoyed without having read any of Dickerson's other novels, my favorite part came from reading about certain events from The Princess Spy from a new perspective, as The Golden Braid is set at the same time with several overlapping characters.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I usually love fairytale retellings, but this book was written so simply that it felt like the author was trying to fill a word count. This is actual dialogue from the book:
“Rapunzel. Who is that beating in the door?”
“It’s the man man who attacked me.”
“What does he want? Why is he beating on the door?”
This is a YA book, and yet it feels like it was written for a much younger audience. It is also extremely religious. While I understand that Christianity is a big part of this time period, it felt like it was being shoved down my throat at every available opportunity. It also felt like the book was being dragged out. There were so many times where I thought, “this should be the ending.” But instead I had to read about three days of travel. All in all, definitely not my favorite fairytale retelling.
“Rapunzel. Who is that beating in the door?”
“It’s the man man who attacked me.”
“What does he want? Why is he beating on the door?”
This is a YA book, and yet it feels like it was written for a much younger audience. It is also extremely religious. While I understand that Christianity is a big part of this time period, it felt like it was being shoved down my throat at every available opportunity. It also felt like the book was being dragged out. There were so many times where I thought, “this should be the ending.” But instead I had to read about three days of travel. All in all, definitely not my favorite fairytale retelling.