Reviews

Beautiful by Juliet Marillier

jenamatic's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars rounded down.

This story was cute, really cute. There was a surprise throuple, which was pretty cool. I enjoyed the way their relationship developed. I also enjoyed seeing Hulde grow and mature. She is a clever girl who came to have a good head on her shoulders and maturity beyond her years. Her journey to find herself and the type of queen she would be felt very fulfilling. Overall, a very cute story.

feminerdity's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

withthebanned's review against another edition

4.0

Different from my other beloved stories by Marillier as it lacked the romance that I love, but it was still a beautiful fairy tale.

renee_listens's review against another edition

3.0

This audiobook was short (7 hours) but it was included in a 2 for 1 credit deal on Audible so I picked it up. Other reviews said that it was predictable, but I had never heard this particular fairytale, so I did not think it was anymore predictable than your average fiction. There was some violence but otherwise a very tame read....I found it suitable for listening before bed and drifting off to sleep.

Not an epic saga but still a decent listen. Solid 3 rating.

mary_love's review against another edition

5.0

Cute, fun read! Read it very quickly. If you're looking for something creative but not heavy, this is a good option.

apriltwilights's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Of course this was great. JM doesn't miss. I'm glad I found this since it was an Audible Original!

ailurophile_bibliophile89's review

3.0

2.75 Stars

mandykins007's review

5.0

Phenomenal read! It pulls you in and entrances. I wasn't expecting to like this half as much as I did. Marillier has an incredible storytelling talent. This was quite unexpected and undeniably lovely.

linneahedvig's review against another edition

2.0

This was kind of a retelling of East of the Sun West of the Moon, but only at the beginning. After that story ends, this one carries on with the troll queen's daughter. The story had some good fairy tale elements, but on the whole it felt like it was trying to do too much. It wants to have the emotional realism of something like The Goblin Emperor, looking at how someone survives abuse and abandonment and takes over a kingdom, and it also wants to tell a fairy tale with the rule of threes and archetypal characters. I have also been having a hard time with audiobooks lately, so it might have also been that.

akhamilton's review

3.0

Perhaps I didn't read the description well enough when I started this story. I assumed the entire novel was a retelling of the traditional east-of-the-sun story. Imagine my surprise when that concluded in part 1. I LOVED the way in which that story was upended - Hulde's perspective, the three pets, the "friend" in need of help.

Part 2 came as a bit of a shock and, as a result, was difficult for me to embrace. Honestly, I almost DNF because I was not connecting with the plot as much as I did in the first part. I'm glad I stuck it out though. Hulde's journey was, in fact, beautiful!

If you're a fan of fairy tales and are willing to give a chance on a story that moves a bit slowly in the middle, you won't be disappointed.