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berodatheelf's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was both kinda what I was expecting and what I wasn't expecting and I really liked that for the book. Part retelling, part literary, part viewing society under a feminist scope, at times you didn't know where you were with this book. I found it whimsical and kept the feeling of fairytales well, something many modern retellings fail to capture. It felt like it's own fairytale.
I really enjoyed the references to all of the fairytales including lesser known ones like the 12 dancing princesses and Bluebeard (I would seriously recommend playing fairytale bingo during this read). At times, it was a little confusing mixing between the fairytale and modern life but the ending explained my struggles. What made the book for me were the bits about the descendants of Brie and Nibbles, the loyal mice of the princess. Each generation got weirder and weirder and I loved it. There was drama, there was politics, there was prophecy seeing mice. It really made the book click for me and I was eager to find out what happened next to the mice. Genuinely my favourite bit of the book, I loved the creativity of it.
I really enjoyed the references to all of the fairytales including lesser known ones like the 12 dancing princesses and Bluebeard (I would seriously recommend playing fairytale bingo during this read). At times, it was a little confusing mixing between the fairytale and modern life but the ending explained my struggles. What made the book for me were the bits about the descendants of Brie and Nibbles, the loyal mice of the princess. Each generation got weirder and weirder and I loved it. There was drama, there was politics, there was prophecy seeing mice. It really made the book click for me and I was eager to find out what happened next to the mice. Genuinely my favourite bit of the book, I loved the creativity of it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Confinement, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Stalking, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, and Pregnancy
javafenn's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I hated this book. At about halfway I would rate this a 3 but it just went downhill. The mix after the middle of modern day and fairy tale was confusing and nonsensical. The characters were annoying and I hate that I wasted my time on this. I read it fast to get it over with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Classism, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, and Emotional abuse
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