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sonshinelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
This was all right. I felt vaguely dissatisfied with the final showdown though. It was too easy. Not enough payoff for all of the build up.
kayladaila's review against another edition
4.0
As a long time follower of Fables and now Fairest, I really wanted to read Peter and Max before the Fables 10th Anniversary event at New York Comic Con. It had been sitting on my shelf for about two years now, and kept getting pushed back.
I am so glad I read it. It was a really simple story, that with Bill WIllingham’s excellent storytelling, took unexpected plot twists and ended more fantastically than I was expecting.
You do not have to have read the Fables comic books in order to love and appreciate this book, however, if you have started reading Fables, finish volume 3 at least before you read Peter and Max. Everything just makes SO much more sense.
As a lover of fairy tales, this stands up as a beautifully retelling of The Pied Piper, and I love that it ties in other nursery rhymes so seamlessly.
I am so glad I read it. It was a really simple story, that with Bill WIllingham’s excellent storytelling, took unexpected plot twists and ended more fantastically than I was expecting.
You do not have to have read the Fables comic books in order to love and appreciate this book, however, if you have started reading Fables, finish volume 3 at least before you read Peter and Max. Everything just makes SO much more sense.
As a lover of fairy tales, this stands up as a beautifully retelling of The Pied Piper, and I love that it ties in other nursery rhymes so seamlessly.
faeriefable's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
pheonixangel84's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
spideratari's review against another edition
3.0
A fun book for sure. You don't need to have read the comic book series, Fables, to understand and enjoy this book. I have not, but after reading this novel I am planning to check them out. A bit of advice- if you listen to this as an audio book, it's really quiet in places. I recommend headphones, rather than listen to it in the car. Unless your car's sound system is awesome.
murderbot42's review against another edition
3.0
Sadly a very meh story. The idea could have been great, the execution was very less than. If this wasn't a part of the Fables universe, I would very definitely give it a 2, but I want to give it the benefit of the doubt because I know what Bill Willingham can do when he is in his element (which this is not).
Also, this book had so many technical problems! Formatting errors and grammar errors and just so much! I looked at the publishing company and it was literally DC comics. DC does comics. Not books. Why did they think they could do books and not hire anybody who had done an actual book before? Because that's clearly what happened. Every other page there was a formatting or grammatical error and it was so frustrating! There were also some significant editing errors, which you would think even comic book editors would know how to do, but apparently that doesn't translate well to books. For example, there's a point in the story where music is banned from this town. With no explanation whatsoever. Just: mean baddies. That's why. Coincidentally, this is also what leads Peter toto join the thieves guild, because he has to thieve for food instead of playing for it , which is a significant plot point that needs to happen to move the story forward. Then later, when Max comes to town, and it's important for plot points that he be able to play music, all of a sudden it's not outlawed anymore. Why? Cause: mean baddies are soft now? Really? This is the best editing that this team could do?
Not to nitpick, but a couple more complaints were, Max was just too cartoon-y evil for me to take seriously. The bit with the husband and wife in the cottage? What was the point of that? And then right after that complete and utter evilness, he runs into "the witch" and is completely subservient to her, just does everything she says. Why? Why does he switch that quickly? It makes no sense. And the format, the scenes from "today" and the scenes in flashback, the way they are formatted makes each one give spoilers for the next. We found out in the today that Max would get a flute from the witch, so when 100 pages later Max is looking around at all the other stuff he could potentially take, and Willingham is describing them all, the whole time you're thinking "Why?" because we already know! what is going to happen! Why do we care about that entire scene? We know what's going to happen!
This whole book is just a sad experience, and I am regretting reading it a bit.
Also, this book had so many technical problems! Formatting errors and grammar errors and just so much! I looked at the publishing company and it was literally DC comics. DC does comics. Not books. Why did they think they could do books and not hire anybody who had done an actual book before? Because that's clearly what happened. Every other page there was a formatting or grammatical error and it was so frustrating! There were also some significant editing errors, which you would think even comic book editors would know how to do, but apparently that doesn't translate well to books. For example, there's a point in the story where music is banned from this town. With no explanation whatsoever. Just: mean baddies. That's why. Coincidentally, this is also what leads Peter to
Not to nitpick, but a couple more complaints were, Max was just too cartoon-y evil for me to take seriously. The bit with the husband and wife in the cottage? What was the point of that? And then right after that complete and utter evilness, he runs into "the witch" and is completely subservient to her, just does everything she says. Why? Why does he switch that quickly? It makes no sense. And the format, the scenes from "today" and the scenes in flashback, the way they are formatted makes each one give spoilers for the next. We found out in the today that Max would get a flute from the witch, so when 100 pages later Max is looking around at all the other stuff he could potentially take, and Willingham is describing them all, the whole time you're thinking "Why?" because we already know! what is going to happen! Why do we care about that entire scene? We know what's going to happen!
This whole book is just a sad experience, and I am regretting reading it a bit.
krisawesome's review against another edition
4.0
The illustrations by Steve Leialoha are a really nice touch.
Writing-wise, this is more like a 3.5-star book, but it's enjoyable even with the relatively flat characters. Round up if you're already a fan of the Fables world, down if you're not.
Writing-wise, this is more like a 3.5-star book, but it's enjoyable even with the relatively flat characters. Round up if you're already a fan of the Fables world, down if you're not.
megaden's review against another edition
4.0
Also reviewed at Owl You Need is a Good Read:
Peter & Max takes place in the same world as the Fables comics, but you don't need to know the comics to enjoy the novel. When I bought it (way back in 2009), I hadn't read any of the comics, but meant to someday. Since then I've read a few and do really like them. The premise behind Fables is a group of fairytale characters live in modern-day New York after their world was conquered. Their borough is protected by wards that prevent regular humans from wandering onto a farm full of talking animals and such other potentially awkward situations.
Peter Piper and his wife, Bo Peep, live in the country away from Fabletown and usually stick to themselves, but Peter's rival brother, Max (the Pied Piper) has appeared and promises to wreak havoc on the fables way of life. To protect their way of life, Peter sets off across the world to hunt down his brother. The novel switches from telling what's going on in the now-time and what happened when Peter and Max were growing up, showing Max's decent into madness.
It was a fun, enjoyable read. Not great literature by any means, but entertaining. I was originally going to give it 3.5 stars since the character development was a little lacking, but the end made me feel so warm and happy it gets 4!
Peter & Max takes place in the same world as the Fables comics, but you don't need to know the comics to enjoy the novel. When I bought it (way back in 2009), I hadn't read any of the comics, but meant to someday. Since then I've read a few and do really like them. The premise behind Fables is a group of fairytale characters live in modern-day New York after their world was conquered. Their borough is protected by wards that prevent regular humans from wandering onto a farm full of talking animals and such other potentially awkward situations.
Peter Piper and his wife, Bo Peep, live in the country away from Fabletown and usually stick to themselves, but Peter's rival brother, Max (the Pied Piper) has appeared and promises to wreak havoc on the fables way of life. To protect their way of life, Peter sets off across the world to hunt down his brother. The novel switches from telling what's going on in the now-time and what happened when Peter and Max were growing up, showing Max's decent into madness.
It was a fun, enjoyable read. Not great literature by any means, but entertaining. I was originally going to give it 3.5 stars since the character development was a little lacking, but the end made me feel so warm and happy it gets 4!
jessimuhka's review against another edition
4.0
Novel set in the same world as the Fables comics. No need to read the comics to follow the novel, but I did enjoy the small references to other story lines. The story features Peter Piper and his brother Max (aka the Pied Piper) and switches between their childhood and the present day. Interesting take on characters I'd never really thought about before.
vylotte's review against another edition
4.0
A delightful novel set in the Fables universe, the story of Peter Piper and Bo Peep, with appearances of many of the Fables folk. I read this from start to finish in one day and think it's essential for any fan of the comics.