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tammys_readinglog's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
courtney_saba's review
3.0
It was good. Ultimately, I'm afraid it may be forgettable.
I loved the Devil concept, curse theme, fables and tales of history, diversity of characters, and River himself.
However, I couldn't disregard the ambiguity, unanswered questions, vague explanations, and super slow pace. Plus, the improbable happily ever after and instalove despite the history were hard to believe. I don't know if I fully believed the love story either. Penelope's unwillingness to believe despite people's warnings and true evidence was annoying, too.
If this book had addressed the points above, then this would have been a 5 star read. Some readers may really like this story, especially because it is original, even though the author used these tropes: making a deal with the devil, feuding families, Romeo and Juliet esque, falling in love instead of the original revenge path. Contreras made it readable and entertaining.
Would I re-read this? Despite some really great quotes, I would not.
Would I recommend this book? Sure. But only if someone was okay with ambiguity and wishes to read some Devil fodder.
Was I entertained? Contreras did a good job, so yes.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
I loved the Devil concept, curse theme, fables and tales of history, diversity of characters, and River himself.
However, I couldn't disregard the ambiguity, unanswered questions, vague explanations, and super slow pace. Plus, the improbable happily ever after and instalove despite the history were hard to believe. I don't know if I fully believed the love story either. Penelope's unwillingness to believe despite people's warnings and true evidence was annoying, too.
If this book had addressed the points above, then this would have been a 5 star read. Some readers may really like this story, especially because it is original, even though the author used these tropes: making a deal with the devil, feuding families, Romeo and Juliet esque, falling in love instead of the original revenge path. Contreras made it readable and entertaining.
Would I re-read this? Despite some really great quotes, I would not.
Would I recommend this book? Sure. But only if someone was okay with ambiguity and wishes to read some Devil fodder.
Was I entertained? Contreras did a good job, so yes.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
ddog8's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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
3.0
I really don't know how I feel about this book.
I think I enjoyed it?
I was so excited to have this great mystery revealed (even at 50% I still didn't have it worked out).
But...huh? Perhaps I am to stupid to have got it, if there was a deeper meaning otherwise I still don't know what's potting.
Warning - spoilers and a plot summary ahead!!!!
Did I get this wrong:
Grandmother and her sister had a falling out. Grandmother curses sister and the island. The devil/man in black was kicked out of heaven and randomly landed on the cursed island long ago (time never mentioned). So this was all just a coincidence?? River and his mother die and he traded his soul basically for life/happiness. Penny comes back because River's wish for happiness was her? So her father died to bring her back. River eludes to doing bad things for the devil man (never expanded on or mentioned or anything beyond that statement) and killed Penny's cousin. Because of the cousin's ghost she begins to unravel the tale.
She wishes for his life, he wishes for hers. The island is flooded. A year later he is alive and they have a happily ever after.
Questions:
- What the heck did the wolf have anything to do with it??? He says it's a protector but, nothing is ever mentioned. Also is her great aunt was the scary witch with yellow eyes, then was she the wolf or did he just also have yellow eyes. In Penny's dream he has yellow eyes
- Why was he so damn secretive? Like, yes ghosts/souls are real; he is dead; the devil makes bargains... so...
- He mentions that there must be another way to break the curse without taking her to the cave. WHAT WAS HE SUPPOSED TO DO??? was it a prophecy? An instruction by the devil? Nothing beyond that comment. Even his parents knew about it but we don't know anything
- what about Dee's fortune? I kept waiting for her to die. Is it because Penny chose to stay so it wasn't "kidnapping"? Or just a comment to add to the spookiness and show how much she doesn't believe in magic
- why did River's parents not age? They weren't directly cursed. Also, Penny's grandmother and her sister were over 100 years old but Wela just looks like a normal granny. Is this because River said witches don't die, or something??
- was Penny's lineage not meant to give her powers? Or was the witchy stuff only relevant for her grandmother's curse.
I really feel jilted 😞 like I was supposed to get so much more from this story. BUT, I don't discredit the idea that I just didn't understand or misunderstood things.
Anyway, the writing was good. I really enjoyed her other books so will definitely read more of her work.
Spice level 🌶 1.5/5
I think I enjoyed it?
I was so excited to have this great mystery revealed (even at 50% I still didn't have it worked out).
But...huh? Perhaps I am to stupid to have got it, if there was a deeper meaning otherwise I still don't know what's potting.
Warning - spoilers and a plot summary ahead!!!!
Did I get this wrong:
She wishes for his life, he wishes for hers. The island is flooded. A year later he is alive and they have a happily ever after.
Questions:
- What the heck did the wolf have anything to do with it??? He says it's a protector but, nothing is ever mentioned. Also is her great aunt was the scary witch with yellow eyes, then was she the wolf or did he just also have yellow eyes. In Penny's dream he has yellow eyes
- Why was he so damn secretive? Like, yes ghosts/souls are real; he is dead; the devil makes bargains... so...
- He mentions that there must be another way to break the curse without taking her to the cave. WHAT WAS HE SUPPOSED TO DO??? was it a prophecy? An instruction by the devil? Nothing beyond that comment. Even his parents knew about it but we don't know anything
- what about Dee's fortune? I kept waiting for her to die. Is it because Penny chose to stay so it wasn't "kidnapping"? Or just a comment to add to the spookiness and show how much she doesn't believe in magic
- why did River's parents not age? They weren't directly cursed. Also, Penny's grandmother and her sister were over 100 years old but Wela just looks like a normal granny. Is this because River said witches don't die, or something??
- was Penny's lineage not meant to give her powers? Or was the witchy stuff only relevant for her grandmother's curse.
I really feel jilted 😞 like I was supposed to get so much more from this story. BUT, I don't discredit the idea that I just didn't understand or misunderstood things.
Anyway, the writing was good. I really enjoyed her other books so will definitely read more of her work.
Spice level 🌶 1.5/5
sunedupreez73's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
barbisreading's review against another edition
4.0
I got to know Claire Contreras's work a few months ago, through the series Secret Society, which I am madly in love with. And since we're in October, I wanted a paranormal romance, it was then that I remembered this book that was released last year.
"The only thing that feels like home to me is you."
The story hooked me right from the beggining and I couldn't stop, I wanted to know what was going to happen, how it was going to unfold, I needed answers. Fable & Other Lies is a captivating, dark and a mysterious story. Is not totally focused on the romance, but I didn't saw I problem in there because I was more interested on the plot, the twist, the culture, the secrets, the fables and other lies. And this doesn't mean that i didn't enjoyed the couple, quite the contrary, i loved them.
raccoon_in_a_dumpster's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
aromer19's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0