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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
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.
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.
Spoiler
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.
This is indeed a retelling of OUAT season one. There is a lot missing, given that it's told from Emma's and Mary Margaret's point of view this is not a surprise. On the other hand, their views are always the most important ones to me anyway - well, almost. Many stories are told in passing like Baelfire, Belle, Regina's backstory and that's what is really missing. But here's the thing: had I not known the show before reading the book, I am pretty sure I would have really liked it. The writing is quite decent (I've read much worse and I was expecting much worse, too) and quite frankly, it makes you curious for the show. I got through it quickly, somehow this was appealing to me despite me just having rewatched both seasons. This book is not a masterpiece, I can even almost understand why many people don't like it, but I did.
update on 22/05/2020
I was 14 when I read this. I don't think I'd enjoy it now.
As I'm revamping and updating my whole Goodreads account, I can't help change some rankings around. There are many books I loved that I think I wouldn't love if I read them as adult. There are books I think I'd hate if I read them now. I don't think I'd hate this one, but certainly not love it the way I did. At the same time I feel I'd be untrue to a book, if I changed its rating now. Why? Cause books, like people, come into our lives at a certain moment, at the right moment in which reading them would make a change within us. I really believe in that. Therefore, I feel like at that point in my life I needed to read this and it happened that I really enjoyed it. I'd be untrue to deny it and I'd be a total jerk to my younger self to consider her opinions irrelevant or uncultured.
I feel different towards books. It's natural, of course. But I don't want to feel bad about the younger me.
I was 14 when I read this. I don't think I'd enjoy it now.
As I'm revamping and updating my whole Goodreads account, I can't help change some rankings around. There are many books I loved that I think I wouldn't love if I read them as adult. There are books I think I'd hate if I read them now. I don't think I'd hate this one, but certainly not love it the way I did. At the same time I feel I'd be untrue to a book, if I changed its rating now. Why? Cause books, like people, come into our lives at a certain moment, at the right moment in which reading them would make a change within us. I really believe in that. Therefore, I feel like at that point in my life I needed to read this and it happened that I really enjoyed it. I'd be untrue to deny it and I'd be a total jerk to my younger self to consider her opinions irrelevant or uncultured.
I feel different towards books. It's natural, of course. But I don't want to feel bad about the younger me.
First review of 2020! So, having seen the show ‘Once Upon a Time,’ I knew everything that would happen. It followed it pretty closely to the first season. It made me love the show even more having now read it. There were some things I had forgotten and I was glad to revisit Storybrooke.
My one complaint is the author constantly used the word ‘glib.’ I counted three times the word was used and then finally, they said ‘glibly.’ Like... do you not know any other word? It was strange. But I love this show and I can’t wait to move on to the next book in the series!
My one complaint is the author constantly used the word ‘glib.’ I counted three times the word was used and then finally, they said ‘glibly.’ Like... do you not know any other word? It was strange. But I love this show and I can’t wait to move on to the next book in the series!
I read this because I am loving the tv series at the moment. Unfortunately it was a let down. This was a rather flat version of the tv series, which missed many key parts that were included in the series. I wasn't expecting it to be exactly the same but it just didn't live up to expectations.
Okay, so this book is basically the entirety of Season 1 but in book form and trimmed down to fit in 3 hours or less of reading. Even so, I did enjoy it, the writing was okay, and even though I have watched the first season it was nice to be refreshed as season 3 is coming up on Netflix this month.
There isn't really a lot to say about this book considering it IS almost word for word in the dialogue the same as the television show. I'm surprised at how decently it was written considering the premise and just at how bad books over shows can be. What I compare this to is a horrible Doctor Who book I picked up from B&N. I only bought this online from B&N because it was $2, had decent reviews, and I figured I'd give it a shot.
It did kind of go pretty quickly and if you haven't seen the show, the characters are probably going to make you go "what" since the show itself is pretty cheesy and confusing.
Overall it was good, I enjoyed myself some easy reading. I don't know if I'd pick up anymore of them, but we'll see.
There isn't really a lot to say about this book considering it IS almost word for word in the dialogue the same as the television show. I'm surprised at how decently it was written considering the premise and just at how bad books over shows can be. What I compare this to is a horrible Doctor Who book I picked up from B&N. I only bought this online from B&N because it was $2, had decent reviews, and I figured I'd give it a shot.
It did kind of go pretty quickly and if you haven't seen the show, the characters are probably going to make you go "what" since the show itself is pretty cheesy and confusing.
Overall it was good, I enjoyed myself some easy reading. I don't know if I'd pick up anymore of them, but we'll see.
I love Once Upon a Time, so I was quite excited to read this. It didn't live up to expectations, I think because the book was just too ambitious. I picked it up thinking it was a novelisation of the first episode. Instead, it's a novelisation of the first season. There's just too much to cover. It's basically one chapter per episode, and that's simply not enough. It's not enough to add any extra material, or to go more deeply into the characters. It's certainly not enough to even cover everything that exists, even briefly. Storylines are cut right down; some are absent altogether. Entire flashbacks are summarised in short paragraphs beginning with "Henry explained that...".
Really, "summary" is the correct word. This novel summarises the first season episodes, and it does it as quickly as it can and with as little detail as possible. To be honest, I'm struggling to see the point. Why adapt something if you're going to do it this thinly? Just produce an episode guide and be done with it. The first season of the television show was excellent. This, disappointingly, is not. It's so basic it's barely even adequate.
Really, "summary" is the correct word. This novel summarises the first season episodes, and it does it as quickly as it can and with as little detail as possible. To be honest, I'm struggling to see the point. Why adapt something if you're going to do it this thinly? Just produce an episode guide and be done with it. The first season of the television show was excellent. This, disappointingly, is not. It's so basic it's barely even adequate.