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nona_the_first's review
5.0
Thank you NineStar press and NetGalley for the ARC
Basically this is a Hansel and Gretel sapphic retelling, in which Gretel is (as the title says) on her own. Her dad leaves the village, her mom is a certified lunatic who lives in a clinic, and her brother... well... let’s just say he takes after his mom.
The sapphic portion comes in when Gretel meets Dorothea who’s a treat (pun intended (you’ll know if you read the book)) of a person. A literal candy of a human. And things happen between them, and i saw many reviews spelling the tea on who Dorothea is... but I won’t
Basically this is a Hansel and Gretel sapphic retelling, in which Gretel is (as the title says) on her own. Her dad leaves the village, her mom is a certified lunatic who lives in a clinic, and her brother... well... let’s just say he takes after his mom.
The sapphic portion comes in when Gretel meets Dorothea who’s a treat (pun intended (you’ll know if you read the book)) of a person. A literal candy of a human. And things happen between them, and i saw many reviews spelling the tea on who Dorothea is... but I won’t
danaherrmann's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jamietherebelliousreader's review
3.0
3 stars. This was an interesting read. I liked the writing but there was something about the story itself that didn’t really do it for me. I can’t pin point what but I just didn’t love this. It’s a retelling of Hansel and Gretel which was cool but it was just okay. I’d be interested to pick up another book by this author because again, the writing was good and atmospheric.
agentkp's review
3.0
The writing is very different from what I'm used to so I might just have been confused but it also felt very rushed, nothing gets truly explained or developed. I love retellings and I had high hopes for this one but I was left disappointed. The romance wasn't developed, was kind of insta love and then goes into non con territory which is very troubling. I'm surprised most reviews are so positive and don't seem to have a problem with that.
kadesdoorway's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
pryngols's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this retelling of my favorite Hansel and Gretel. It has just the right amount of fairy tale whimsy, dread and sweetness. I would have loved for it to be longer and to explore the mental health issues and domestic conflicts of the families more. But all in all, it was a delightful read.
josb's review
4.0
Started off a little confusing but by the time all of the reveals happened, it became a neat little story.
The descriptions were very immersive and Holst did a great job of keeping tension throughout the book. Overall it was a little bit dark, creepy, and intense. It kept me guessing until the last few pages. My only mild complaint is that the romance happens over the span of months but we only get to see necessary snippets of the relationship. I selfishly just wanted more fluff, but this kept the pace of the book tight and kept that tension from deflating so I can't complain too much.
If you like loose retellings and seeing classic tales moved into a more modern setting I would highly recommend giving this story a try.
The descriptions were very immersive and Holst did a great job of keeping tension throughout the book. Overall it was a little bit dark, creepy, and intense. It kept me guessing until the last few pages. My only mild complaint is that the romance happens over the span of months but we only get to see necessary snippets of the relationship. I selfishly just wanted more fluff, but this kept the pace of the book tight and kept that tension from deflating so I can't complain too much.
If you like loose retellings and seeing classic tales moved into a more modern setting I would highly recommend giving this story a try.
seventhchariot's review
3.0
Rating: 3/5
Gretel on Her Own is a modern-day, queer retelling of Hansel and Gretel! I found the writing to be engaging and I was flying through this book to find out what was going to happen! I, unfortunately, wasn't sold on the relationship aspect of this book, but I did appreciate the lesbian rep and maybe if this book had been a bit longer, I would have connected with the characters more. All in all, this was a fun and unique reimagining of a classic fairytale!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Gretel on Her Own is a modern-day, queer retelling of Hansel and Gretel! I found the writing to be engaging and I was flying through this book to find out what was going to happen! I, unfortunately, wasn't sold on the relationship aspect of this book, but I did appreciate the lesbian rep and maybe if this book had been a bit longer, I would have connected with the characters more. All in all, this was a fun and unique reimagining of a classic fairytale!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
swarley's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
judeinthestars's review
5.0
4.5⭐️ – Calling this novella a queer retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairytale Hansel and Gretel is both true and inaccurate. Elna Holst takes the fairytale, breaks it apart and puts it back on with her very own twists, turning it into a completely different yet still familiar story. Whatever happened to Gretel and her brother as children, the whole family exploded and Gretel is still trying to pick up the pieces. The arrival of an uncannily and irresistibly sweet woman in the village will play havoc with her already chaotic life.
The fairytale the author drew inspiration from is all about sweets and sugar and temptation. To describe Gretel’s attraction to Dorothea, she chose from the lexical field of baking. In her previous novel, [b:Pyotra and the Wolf|56645899|Pyotra and the Wolf|Elna Holst|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610454003l/56645899._SY75_.jpg|88515501], the emphasis was on the sense of smell. While very present in this novella too, it’s nevertheless transcended by the sense of taste. The use of such basic senses (in a not-so-basic way), senses everyone will relate to, adds a layer that makes the chemistry feel almost intoxicating.
The best thing about this novella is that for the longest time, Gretel and, alongside her, the reader have no idea what’s really going on. What’s true, what comes from her mother’s delusion, what is paranoia and what could be PTSD. It’s unsettling but, by some miracle (or the author’s talent), it never brings you down. It could be bleak and depressing and instead is riveting and exciting.
Elna Holst’s books make me feel smart, like she’s opening her quirky mind to the reader and sharing her cleverness and wit in more than just words.
ARC provided to Les Rêveur for an honest review.
The fairytale the author drew inspiration from is all about sweets and sugar and temptation. To describe Gretel’s attraction to Dorothea, she chose from the lexical field of baking. In her previous novel, [b:Pyotra and the Wolf|56645899|Pyotra and the Wolf|Elna Holst|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610454003l/56645899._SY75_.jpg|88515501], the emphasis was on the sense of smell. While very present in this novella too, it’s nevertheless transcended by the sense of taste. The use of such basic senses (in a not-so-basic way), senses everyone will relate to, adds a layer that makes the chemistry feel almost intoxicating.
The best thing about this novella is that for the longest time, Gretel and, alongside her, the reader have no idea what’s really going on. What’s true, what comes from her mother’s delusion, what is paranoia and what could be PTSD. It’s unsettling but, by some miracle (or the author’s talent), it never brings you down. It could be bleak and depressing and instead is riveting and exciting.
Elna Holst’s books make me feel smart, like she’s opening her quirky mind to the reader and sharing her cleverness and wit in more than just words.
ARC provided to Les Rêveur for an honest review.