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sharij415's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jennreadslots's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
adoereading's review against another edition
5.0
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic is a welcomed piece to the Grishaverse and the best part is there is no need to TGT or SOC.
The tales are lore from across the country of stores our beloved characters had more than likely been told as children to be wise enough to know when enough is enough, to be brave enough to realize it is okay to be different, and to be careful for what you wish for as sometimes wanting is not always your needs. There are Grisha and mermaids. There are kings and wicked beasts. There are clever foxes and unexpected evils. There are moments to make you laugh and lessons to be learned.
Also I am pretty sure the Darkling may have been mentioned.
I will be adding this to my collection.
The tales are lore from across the country of stores our beloved characters had more than likely been told as children to be wise enough to know when enough is enough, to be brave enough to realize it is okay to be different, and to be careful for what you wish for as sometimes wanting is not always your needs. There are Grisha and mermaids. There are kings and wicked beasts. There are clever foxes and unexpected evils. There are moments to make you laugh and lessons to be learned.
Also I am pretty sure the Darkling may have been mentioned.
I will be adding this to my collection.
megancperry's review
4.0
This was AMAZING!!! There were so many twists and turns that I did not see coming; the subtle retellings were so well written!
My order of preference for the short stories:
1. The Too-Clever Fox
2. Ayama and the Thorn Wood
3. The Witch of Duva
4. When Water Sang Fire (although the ending was one of my favourites - I was very slow at realising which fairytale it retold, so the ultimate reveal had even more effect - this was the longest tale and for the mostpart I was fairly bored, until the action amped up towards the finale)
5. The Soldier Prince (I'm not well versed in the tale of the Nutcracker, so I didn't see the retelling side of this novella, nor did I love the ending; overall I simply wasn't a big fan of this one)
6. Little Knife (I really don't understand what this story was even trying to say, I would've happily not had this in the bindup)
When I first heard about this novella collection, I'd hoped to be reading more about the characters from [b:Six of Crows|23437156|Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459349344s/23437156.jpg|42077459] that I adore, and upon realising that this was not the case, I was doubtful. However, I'm glad this was a collection of fairytales that the Crows would've grown up with; it gives insight into the world of the Grisha, into their history and background. Overall, I was very happy with this novella bindup.
PS: the illustrations in this were also fabulous and I adored them.
My order of preference for the short stories:
1. The Too-Clever Fox
2. Ayama and the Thorn Wood
3. The Witch of Duva
4. When Water Sang Fire (although the ending was one of my favourites - I was very slow at realising which fairytale it retold, so the ultimate reveal had even more effect - this was the longest tale and for the mostpart I was fairly bored, until the action amped up towards the finale)
5. The Soldier Prince (I'm not well versed in the tale of the Nutcracker, so I didn't see the retelling side of this novella, nor did I love the ending; overall I simply wasn't a big fan of this one)
6. Little Knife (I really don't understand what this story was even trying to say, I would've happily not had this in the bindup)
When I first heard about this novella collection, I'd hoped to be reading more about the characters from [b:Six of Crows|23437156|Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459349344s/23437156.jpg|42077459] that I adore, and upon realising that this was not the case, I was doubtful. However, I'm glad this was a collection of fairytales that the Crows would've grown up with; it gives insight into the world of the Grisha, into their history and background. Overall, I was very happy with this novella bindup.
PS: the illustrations in this were also fabulous and I adored them.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
5.0
This book was the very reason I ordered my very first Fairyloot box. We all know how that ended, but it still took me a few months before I finally opened the book and read it. And now I really regret that I didn't read it sooner!
All tales are slightly twisted versions of fairytales everyone's familiar with. Bardugo wrote tales based on "Hansel and Gretl", "The little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast" and "the Nutcracker" for example. But, each of those stories is twisted, most of the time even slightly dark, or really dark. They know different endings, have this turn at the very end that no one really sees coming and are surprising in their familiarity. And each one of those stories is beautiful in its own way.
Apart from the story there is something else setting this book apart: The Wonderful illustrations. Each fairytale is told by the growing and developing frame, giving hints for the story, making it even more vivid and beautiful than Bardugo's writing already does. By the very end of the story this leads to a complete full color picture and they're all, one by one, breathtaking beautiful.
I think this has easily become my favorite fairytale book now and I can't wait to dive back into the Grisha verse when "King of Scars" is released.
All tales are slightly twisted versions of fairytales everyone's familiar with. Bardugo wrote tales based on "Hansel and Gretl", "The little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast" and "the Nutcracker" for example. But, each of those stories is twisted, most of the time even slightly dark, or really dark. They know different endings, have this turn at the very end that no one really sees coming and are surprising in their familiarity. And each one of those stories is beautiful in its own way.
Apart from the story there is something else setting this book apart: The Wonderful illustrations. Each fairytale is told by the growing and developing frame, giving hints for the story, making it even more vivid and beautiful than Bardugo's writing already does. By the very end of the story this leads to a complete full color picture and they're all, one by one, breathtaking beautiful.
I think this has easily become my favorite fairytale book now and I can't wait to dive back into the Grisha verse when "King of Scars" is released.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked all the stories in this one, with the last one probably being my least favorite (and it was the longest).
racget's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
swampbooks's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
It was easy to tell that some of these were inspired and rooted in classic fairy tales we are all familiar with - Hansel & Gretel, The Nutcracker, The Little Mermaid, etc - but had a new and unique twist to fit the world Leigh Bardugo has built.
The only one I didn’t care so much for was The Soldier Prince, but the rest were utterly enchanting. I loved how the illustrations grew, too.
Darkling fans would loooove When Water Sang Fire
It was easy to tell that some of these were inspired and rooted in classic fairy tales we are all familiar with - Hansel & Gretel, The Nutcracker, The Little Mermaid, etc - but had a new and unique twist to fit the world Leigh Bardugo has built.
The only one I didn’t care so much for was The Soldier Prince, but the rest were utterly enchanting. I loved how the illustrations grew, too.
Darkling fans would loooove When Water Sang Fire
sushizhan's review against another edition
4.0
I liked all the stories in this one.
It’s what it says it is: fairy tale short stories.. Honestly, reminds me of Grimm’s fairy tales meets Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales but with a twist (ie the good guys aren’t always that good and the bad guys aren’t always bad).
It’s what it says it is: fairy tale short stories.. Honestly, reminds me of Grimm’s fairy tales meets Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales but with a twist (ie the good guys aren’t always that good and the bad guys aren’t always bad).