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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
Definitely an example of a time when the show is better than the book... I'm not sure the purpose of this book... Maybe for someone who doesn't watch the show but wants to follow along? Maybe for the die hard fans? I'm not sure. This basically condensed the first season of the show into 300-odd pages and glossed over EVERYTHING. I've read adaptations before but this bored me. There was nothing new in the book and I feel like I rehashed everything I've seen. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but am glad I only spent $4.00 on this...
If you start reading this book expecting to read a written-out version of season 1 of Once Upon A Time, then you won't be disappointed. It's not amazing, great, or outstanding; the writing style is a little jerky at times, not really flowing very smoothly, and the characters don't get a lot of depth; Emma and Mary Margaret are basically the only ones of whom we get a peek into their heads. Still, it's an entertaining book that reads very easily and did make me want to read on all the time. I wouldn't recommend it for people who have never seen the series, but if you like the series and, like me, love to read a story you've already been shown in print, then this one is perfect.
This book has left me feeling very conflicted over my rating. To be honest, I think the only reason I enjoyed this book like I did is because I love the television show so much. However, my love for the television show is also one of the reasons I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, it just didn't live up to my expectations.
Good points. This book is well written and a very easy read. Fans of the TV show will love the extra incite it gives into Emma's mind and enjoy this opportunity to revisit Storybrooke in this new way.
Bad points. I almost felt like the author didn't care about any characters apart from Snow White and Emma and the storyline is far too complex to be squeezed into a small 330 page book. Unless the story is centred around Snow or Emma, no real effort is put into explaining their history fully. Characters such as Rumplestiltskin, Regina, Jiminy, Jefferson, Grumpy, Cinderella, even Prince Charming and many more are glossed over in a few paragraphs. Being a huge fan of the show, I was able to fill in the blanks but I very quickly realised just how much I was filling in myself and the gaping plot holes that were developing as a result of not being given enough information. I love Snow and Emma, but for this story to be told properly, every character's history and motives need to be explored or it just does make sense. In my opinion, this book needed to be at least another 150 - 200 pages longer.
In conclusion, if you're looking for something to tide you over during an OUAT hiatus, then I would definitely recommend this book to you. It's a fun read if you already know the series. But, if you have never seen the show I would strongly advise that you watch it BEFORE reading this book. I imagine the numerous plot holes will make this book quite difficult to understand if you don't have the show's knowledge of what's going on.
Good points. This book is well written and a very easy read. Fans of the TV show will love the extra incite it gives into Emma's mind and enjoy this opportunity to revisit Storybrooke in this new way.
Bad points. I almost felt like the author didn't care about any characters apart from Snow White and Emma and the storyline is far too complex to be squeezed into a small 330 page book. Unless the story is centred around Snow or Emma, no real effort is put into explaining their history fully. Characters such as Rumplestiltskin, Regina, Jiminy, Jefferson, Grumpy, Cinderella, even Prince Charming and many more are glossed over in a few paragraphs. Being a huge fan of the show, I was able to fill in the blanks but I very quickly realised just how much I was filling in myself and the gaping plot holes that were developing as a result of not being given enough information. I love Snow and Emma, but for this story to be told properly, every character's history and motives need to be explored or it just does make sense. In my opinion, this book needed to be at least another 150 - 200 pages longer.
In conclusion, if you're looking for something to tide you over during an OUAT hiatus, then I would definitely recommend this book to you. It's a fun read if you already know the series. But, if you have never seen the show I would strongly advise that you watch it BEFORE reading this book. I imagine the numerous plot holes will make this book quite difficult to understand if you don't have the show's knowledge of what's going on.
I am absolutely addicted to the television show that this book is based on, ABC's Once Upon a Time. I did purchase this book because I love the show and wanted more of it. There was not too much extra information in the book versus the show, but it was a very fun read and refreshed me on all that had happened in the first season. There is just something that I love about reading a story over watching it. It was very easy to read and quite well written. The story does constantly shift between the world of Snow White/Mary Margaret and Emma Swan and between the past and the present, but it does it quite well and seamlessly. I am usually not a fan of that style of writing, but I did not mind it in this book because it never got too confusing. This is a lovely story that I highly recommend reading whether or not you watch the show.
Absolutely love this TV series so when I saw there was a book based on the first season I obviously had to get it!! It's magical and amazing and I love this story so much. The writing is perfectly suited to the story-telling and it follows the first season closely so it's actually like reading the show!
Once Upon A Time is such a brilliant show and this book was a beautiful icing on the cake after finishing the last season and a great revisit to where it all began. I so want them to do a book per season that would be perfect.
Absolutely magical. I love love love it!!
Once Upon A Time is such a brilliant show and this book was a beautiful icing on the cake after finishing the last season and a great revisit to where it all began. I so want them to do a book per season that would be perfect.
Absolutely magical. I love love love it!!
Once Upon a Time is possibly my favourite television show of all time, and it’s only just started production on season 3. Everything about this show is genius; the retelling of fairy-tales we all know and love, and the twists and turns the writers of the show have done the famous stories and characters, the characters are well developed, the plot, setting, the storytelling within these settings and characters. I could go on and on about Once Upon a Time, but this review isn’t about the show, it’s about the tie-in novel Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale.
When it was announced that there would be a tie-in novel for Once Upon a Time, I was excited. There was going to be another form in which I could enjoy my favourite show (the first season of magic); a book! I love to read and the idea of reading what I’ve already watched would be fantastic; it would be a new angle to see things, to read what characters are thinking and feeling as opposed to seeing it on screen.
The writing was average, I suppose. It wasn’t all too bad; I did, however, notice some grammatical errors – some left out words, a quotation mark missing here and there, and misused words. The transitions between Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest were done nicely; however, the point of views of characters needed work. Some episodes featured different characters as the main focus both in Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest that needed to be the focus in the chapters. Some episodes were even skipped as chapters, such as episode 5 “That Still Small Voice” and episode 9 “True North”. However, I do realise that not every single little detail can be featured in the book.
What I’m most annoyed about, though, is that while this book is a tie-in novel with the show, there were some vital information left out in the novel, such as in season 1, episode 12 “Skin Deep” (my favourite episode, and the episode that introduced Belle, who would later become a main character) when the confrontation between Regina and Mr Gold happened while Mr Gold was in jail, where he revealed to Regina – who forced him to tell her with leverage – that he was, in fact, Rumplestiltskin. This was something that shook up the whole show, that there were, now, two people in Storybrooke who knew who they were. This was vital information to the story that should’ve been in the novel. It could’ve been told in Regina’s point of view (which has happened before).
The whole “Skin Deep” chapter was a huge let down, actually. It was my favourite episode out of the whole series and only little was mentioned about Belle, a major plot point for that whole episode. Henry was the one who mentioned Belle and that only went on for a few paragraphs. “Skin Deep” is probably the most popular episode to date, maybe. It’s a favourite among most of the fans.
Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale is an average book. If you’re a true fan of the show, you would buy this book, but maybe end up only liking it a little. You could get away with only watching the show, everything that happened in the novel happened in the TV show, EXCEPT the scene in the book where Emma thought Regina would kiss her. I mean, COME ON! The author can add in something that would never happen in the show, but she can’t add a whole chapter and a bit about one of the most popular relationships of Once Upon a Time? The author didn't even transition to the Enchanted Forest - which is where all of the magic happens!
It pains me to give Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale three stars, but it deserves it. The writing, though bland, did give a little insight to my favourite characters, but the story needed more character perspective, especially for the other main characters of the show. It was nice to read the first season of my favourite TV show in book format and I’m happy that I did.
Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale was an enjoyable read, however the next book (if and when) should be improved dramatically.
When it was announced that there would be a tie-in novel for Once Upon a Time, I was excited. There was going to be another form in which I could enjoy my favourite show (the first season of magic); a book! I love to read and the idea of reading what I’ve already watched would be fantastic; it would be a new angle to see things, to read what characters are thinking and feeling as opposed to seeing it on screen.
What I’m most annoyed about, though, is that while this book is a tie-in novel with the show, there were some vital information left out in the novel, such as in season 1, episode 12 “Skin Deep” (my favourite episode, and the episode that introduced Belle, who would later become a main character) when the confrontation between Regina and Mr Gold happened while Mr Gold was in jail, where he revealed to Regina – who forced him to tell her with leverage – that he was, in fact, Rumplestiltskin. This was something that shook up the whole show, that there were, now, two people in Storybrooke who knew who they were. This was vital information to the story that should’ve been in the novel. It could’ve been told in Regina’s point of view (which has happened before).
The whole “Skin Deep” chapter was a huge let down, actually. It was my favourite episode out of the whole series and only little was mentioned about Belle, a major plot point for that whole episode. Henry was the one who mentioned Belle and that only went on for a few paragraphs. “Skin Deep” is probably the most popular episode to date, maybe. It’s a favourite among most of the fans.
Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale is an average book. If you’re a true fan of the show, you would buy this book, but maybe end up only liking it a little. You could get away with only watching the show, everything that happened in the novel happened in the TV show, EXCEPT the scene in the book where Emma thought Regina would kiss her. I mean, COME ON! The author can add in something that would never happen in the show, but she can’t add a whole chapter and a bit about one of the most popular relationships of Once Upon a Time? The author didn't even transition to the Enchanted Forest - which is where all of the magic happens!
It pains me to give Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale three stars, but it deserves it. The writing, though bland, did give a little insight to my favourite characters, but the story needed more character perspective, especially for the other main characters of the show. It was nice to read the first season of my favourite TV show in book format and I’m happy that I did.
Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale was an enjoyable read, however the next book (if and when) should be improved dramatically.
Fun novelization of one of my favorite shows.
Reawakened by Odette Beane follows Emma's journey over the course of the first season of ABC's Once Upon A Time. Each chapter is named after an episode - only five, I believe, are entirely eliminated. Of course, they couldn't fit everything in, so for the most part this book is set in Storybrooke with limited perspectives from Emma and Mary Margaret with a few key fairybacks to really set the tone and to show the importance of Operation Cobra.
I was pleased to see Snow and Charming, the Evil Queen, and Red get their backstories fairly well explored. It really reminded me of how much I enjoyed Sheriff Graham/ the Huntsman and Jefferson/ the Mad Hatter. It's a pretty decent companion considering some elements were rushed, glossed over, or skipped. I recommend it if you're a fan of the tv series, or, perhaps, if you're considering starting to watch the series. However, I'd much rather watch the show. Reawakened definitely reminded me of how much I'd like to rewatch the first season.
I was pleased to see Snow and Charming, the Evil Queen, and Red get their backstories fairly well explored. It really reminded me of how much I enjoyed Sheriff Graham/ the Huntsman and Jefferson/ the Mad Hatter. It's a pretty decent companion considering some elements were rushed, glossed over, or skipped. I recommend it if you're a fan of the tv series, or, perhaps, if you're considering starting to watch the series. However, I'd much rather watch the show. Reawakened definitely reminded me of how much I'd like to rewatch the first season.