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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
Not gonna lie. This was entertaining, but I'm real annoyed about how the author did Eleanor. I know there had to be some connecting characters to Ella, but really?
Some things I wanted from this book:
✶ A compelling fairy tale
✶ Subversion of "true love's kiss/proposal" trope
✶ Subversion of beauty standards / pretty=good, ugly=bad dichotomy
✶ Subversion of amatonormativity (with possible aroace subtext)
✶ References to characters/worlds from Ella Enchanted
Things this book delivered:
✶ References to characters/worlds from Ella Enchanted (unfortunately)
Ogre Enchanted is such a disappoint for me. Ella Enchanted was one of my favorite books as a kid (I actually wore out the spine from reading it so often), so when I heard a companion book had been published I was so excited! However, Ogre lacks the charm and sophistication that makes Ella so special, and it seems like it wasn't written with the same care that was taken with Ella. The inclusion of characters from Ella was detrimental to the story, imo, and doesn't make a lot of sense for continuity's sake.
Leaving aside comparisons to Ella Enchanted, Ogre Enchanted still fails as a story. It's overlong, meandering, and boring, with so much wasted time and potential. I think GCL tried too hard to make Evie's tale overlap with Ella characters, which made the story disjointed and unbalanced. Evie doesn't learn any lessons from being turned into an ogre, and the enchantment only made too much of the book's focus be about how smelly, and hairy, and hungry for human flesh Evie was. I didn't appreciate how much the book lingered on Evie's "ugliness"-- i.e., her size, smell, and hairiness-- because those are traits that plenty of real people have, who definitely don't need to read themselves being compared to monsters. The ogre spell could have been used as a metaphor against bigotry and judging by appearances, but didn't succeed in such a way.
The worst thing about Ogre Enchanted, though, was the romance. Although I was hoping this book wouldn't actually end up being a romance, if you're going to write a romance it had better be romantic. Evie spends almost the entirety of the book clueless about how to recognize genuine romantic attraction, and often confuses it with hunger. Yes, hunger... for human flesh. Because she's an ogre. Swoon? The reader doesn't get a chance to understand the attraction for the love interest because Evie spends most of the book without having any contact with him. I ended up quite liking him, but only because of a very quick scene at the very end of the book that doesn't receive nearly enough attention in the plot ().
The ultimate message of the story isn't super great, but I can't explain why without spoilers, so they'll be behind the cut:
TLDR; Ogre Enchanted is a mess as a story--as a romance, as a moral, and as a companion to Ella Enchanted. I still enjoyed GCL's writing style, which is the only reason this has 2 stars instead of 1. Not recommended.
✶ A compelling fairy tale
✶ Subversion of "true love's kiss/proposal" trope
✶ Subversion of beauty standards / pretty=good, ugly=bad dichotomy
✶ Subversion of amatonormativity (with possible aroace subtext)
✶ References to characters/worlds from Ella Enchanted
Things this book delivered:
✶ References to characters/worlds from Ella Enchanted (unfortunately)
Ogre Enchanted is such a disappoint for me. Ella Enchanted was one of my favorite books as a kid (I actually wore out the spine from reading it so often), so when I heard a companion book had been published I was so excited! However, Ogre lacks the charm and sophistication that makes Ella so special, and it seems like it wasn't written with the same care that was taken with Ella. The inclusion of characters from Ella was detrimental to the story, imo, and doesn't make a lot of sense for continuity's sake.
Spoiler
I'm very skeeved out that Eleanor ended up having a baby with Peter after everything...Leaving aside comparisons to Ella Enchanted, Ogre Enchanted still fails as a story. It's overlong, meandering, and boring, with so much wasted time and potential. I think GCL tried too hard to make Evie's tale overlap with Ella characters, which made the story disjointed and unbalanced. Evie doesn't learn any lessons from being turned into an ogre, and the enchantment only made too much of the book's focus be about how smelly, and hairy, and hungry for human flesh Evie was. I didn't appreciate how much the book lingered on Evie's "ugliness"-- i.e., her size, smell, and hairiness-- because those are traits that plenty of real people have, who definitely don't need to read themselves being compared to monsters. The ogre spell could have been used as a metaphor against bigotry and judging by appearances, but didn't succeed in such a way.
The worst thing about Ogre Enchanted, though, was the romance. Although I was hoping this book wouldn't actually end up being a romance, if you're going to write a romance it had better be romantic. Evie spends almost the entirety of the book clueless about how to recognize genuine romantic attraction, and often confuses it with hunger. Yes, hunger... for human flesh. Because she's an ogre. Swoon? The reader doesn't get a chance to understand the attraction for the love interest because Evie spends most of the book without having any contact with him. I ended up quite liking him, but only because of a very quick scene at the very end of the book that doesn't receive nearly enough attention in the plot (
Spoiler
It turns out that all along, Wormy was trying to get himself turned into a ogre, too, so that he'd have a chance to be with Evie, even just as a friend, which is the cutest and would have made for some great angst, except that Evie is clueless so this plot point ends up as just a blip in the storyThe ultimate message of the story isn't super great, but I can't explain why without spoilers, so they'll be behind the cut:
Spoiler
basically, Evie turns down her best friend's proposal because she's not in love with him; a blockheaded fairy turns her into an ogre and declares that she must accept a proposal within 62 days or remain an ogre forever; after some ridiculous adventures Evie realizes she loved her best friend all along and accepts his proposal after all, just in the nick of time. So, the lesson for girls is... always accept proposals or you might end up a lonely single (ugly ogre) forever? And that maybe you thought you didn't love that guy, but keep an open mind because maybe you actually do (and coincidentally everything manages to work out perfectly for the NiceGuy best friend in the end)? Evie and Wormy never even talk about how ridiculous his decision was, to propose, at sixteen-years-old, especially without having given Evie any prior notice about his romantic feelings or gauging whether she had the same feelings for him. That's all just brushed aside because, after all, they were married in the end and it all worked out! And Lucinda's curse had exactly the consequences she wanted it to, and didn't learn any sort of lesson about not interfering in issues of love and consent.TLDR; Ogre Enchanted is a mess as a story--as a romance, as a moral, and as a companion to Ella Enchanted. I still enjoyed GCL's writing style, which is the only reason this has 2 stars instead of 1. Not recommended.
Reread 2022: I went on a road trip with my 8 year old daughter and this was the audiobook she chose. I still think Ella Enchanted is a better book, but my daughter loved it and it was enjoyable to relisten to it. I think the character arc isn't very strong and that is really important to me, but I still live Levine's writing style and characters and I really love the backstory we get for Ella Enchanted.
Original read 2018: An enchanting read! I didn't love it as much as Ella Enchanted, but it was still a wonderful read. I really enjoy Levine's writing style. It was so fun to see the beginnings of some of the characters from Ella Enchanted and I loved the new ones we met. I also loved the themes of true love, friendship, and judgements this story explored. If you enjoy fairy tales, this is a must read!
Original read 2018: An enchanting read! I didn't love it as much as Ella Enchanted, but it was still a wonderful read. I really enjoy Levine's writing style. It was so fun to see the beginnings of some of the characters from Ella Enchanted and I loved the new ones we met. I also loved the themes of true love, friendship, and judgements this story explored. If you enjoy fairy tales, this is a must read!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to @kidlitexchange #partner for the opportunity to read and review Ogre Enchanted prior to its publication in October.
I think that if you loved Ella Enchanted growing up (like I did) this is a really enjoyable read. I LOVED getting to learn more about Ella's parents and how they ended up like they did. However, it's also pretty problematic. The plot is about a fifteen year old who is proposed to by her childhood best friend. She rejects him and, as punishment, Lucinda the fairy turns her into an Ogre and she will be stuck that way forever if she doesn't accept a proposal in 60 days. I get that Lucinda is supposed to be problematic but do we need a whole book about someone so young looking for love? And I didn't find the end to be a satisfying resolution. But, again, its a cute read and I loved being back in Frell.
I think that if you loved Ella Enchanted growing up (like I did) this is a really enjoyable read. I LOVED getting to learn more about Ella's parents and how they ended up like they did. However, it's also pretty problematic. The plot is about a fifteen year old who is proposed to by her childhood best friend. She rejects him and, as punishment, Lucinda the fairy turns her into an Ogre and she will be stuck that way forever if she doesn't accept a proposal in 60 days. I get that Lucinda is supposed to be problematic but do we need a whole book about someone so young looking for love? And I didn't find the end to be a satisfying resolution. But, again, its a cute read and I loved being back in Frell.
Funny, gross, feel-good, with introspective and courageous characters.
For adults who read Ella Enchanted as children:
Levine is clever to use our desire to know where Evie fits in to our knowledge of the world to build tension about which character she will marry to break the curse. The writing style matches EE and is as high-quality as ever, and although the plot is not as strong I still enjoyed the themes and narrative.
For children who recently read Ella Enchanted:
They'll enjoy our heroine's adventures with ogres, rogues, and royals without realizing the plot isn't up to the same standards as EE. Four-star review if coming from that angle.
For children who have never read Ella Enchanted:
Four stars again. They wouldn't need to read one or the other first, although the hints and feints about who Evie's going to marry will not be as effective if they read EE second.
For adults who read Ella Enchanted as children:
Levine is clever to use our desire to know where Evie fits in to our knowledge of the world to build tension about which character she will marry to break the curse. The writing style matches EE and is as high-quality as ever, and although the plot is not as strong I still enjoyed the themes and narrative.
For children who recently read Ella Enchanted:
They'll enjoy our heroine's adventures with ogres, rogues, and royals without realizing the plot isn't up to the same standards as EE. Four-star review if coming from that angle.
For children who have never read Ella Enchanted:
Four stars again. They wouldn't need to read one or the other first, although the hints and feints about who Evie's going to marry will not be as effective if they read EE second.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It felt underdeveloped. Not as endearing as A Tale as Two Castles, not as addictive as Fairest or Ever, and not as fresh as Ella Enchanted. Somewhat underwhelming--I wish Levine did a little more with the ogre element rather than just "i'm hangry boo hoo"
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I must admit Ella Enchanted was a favourite of mine... 15+ years ago, so I may be judging this a little harshly, but I really didn’t like this. The messaging is terrible, and I was so cross about how one of the secondary characters ends up (I’d forgotten with the gap between reading the novels who this was).