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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
There's a new Cobbler in Reform School! When Gilly's sister Anna hangs with the wrong crowd and winds up in FTRS under Rumpelstiltskin's evil new regime, Gilly conspires with her friends to get thrown back in and save the day. Except maybe Anna doesn't want to be saved...
The books are becoming a little too predictable for my taste and there's some small things that are really starting to get on my nerves. For example, why does Jax still call Gilly "thief" all the time when she calls him and thinks of him by name? It just feels weird.
Also the dialogue feels so stilted and awkward at times. Who says "Look! There is a clearing up ahead." while running for their life from savage wolves? Like wouldn't you be out of breath and using contractions?
The books are becoming a little too predictable for my taste and there's some small things that are really starting to get on my nerves. For example, why does Jax still call Gilly "thief" all the time when she calls him and thinks of him by name? It just feels weird.
Also the dialogue feels so stilted and awkward at times. Who says "Look! There is a clearing up ahead." while running for their life from savage wolves? Like wouldn't you be out of breath and using contractions?
My review of book 1: Flunked ★★★★
My review of book 2: Charmed ★★★★
Reread July 2023: ★★★.75
I love that we get to see more of Gilly's sister, Anna. I love her as a character but also love reading about their sister relationship.
This time we follow our beloved characters on a quest. I really enjoyed that and it made the book stand out from the previous ones. I do feel like the story is a bit rushed and I would have loved it if the book was another 100 pages to really delve into the story more.
Also, the magical pets were an amazing addition.
Original rating in 2018: ★★★★
My review of book 2: Charmed ★★★★
Reread July 2023: ★★★.75
I love that we get to see more of Gilly's sister, Anna. I love her as a character but also love reading about their sister relationship.
This time we follow our beloved characters on a quest. I really enjoyed that and it made the book stand out from the previous ones. I do feel like the story is a bit rushed and I would have loved it if the book was another 100 pages to really delve into the story more.
Also, the magical pets were an amazing addition.
Original rating in 2018: ★★★★
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
I received an electronic ARC of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this addition to this fun fairy tale-based series. It feels like a bridge story - setting up a larger plot yet to come. The kids feel older than they are supposed to be, but I love how they have grown in the series and how they work together in this one.
I liked this addition to this fun fairy tale-based series. It feels like a bridge story - setting up a larger plot yet to come. The kids feel older than they are supposed to be, but I love how they have grown in the series and how they work together in this one.
There's something about this twist in the fairy tale world that is so refreshing.
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
We return again to the world of FTRS with Gillian Cobbler, Prince Jaxon, Maxine, Ollie, Kayla, and the whole crew. Headmistress Flora has stepped down and Rump, er... that is, Mr. Stiltskin has taken charge as the head honcho. He has made many adjustments to the way things are run at the school, and those are not the only changes. Gilly's father has more business than he can handle in his shoe shop now that he has the concession for glass slippers (there's a two-month waiting period to get a pair). Gilly's younger sister, Anna, has fallen in with those thugs Hansel and Gretel. Gilly is bored with normal life and misses all her friends from FTRS, but it's not like she wishes for a crisis or anything. Right? Then again, just because you aren't looking for trouble doesn't mean that it won't find you.
With the trickster, I mean, Mr. Stiltskin cutting off Pegasus Post messages, Visitation Days, and changing the rules so that more youngsters are being sent to FTRS than ever before - something certainly seems to be brewing. Can Gilly and her friends find out what it is before the kingdom of Enchantasia is in deadly peril?
Fans of the series will be delighted to see Gilly, Jax, and their friends ride into danger again. There are plenty of storylines still unresolved from the previous books - Kayla's family had been turned into trees by Rump, you-know-who, before she came to FTRS. Now that he is at the school, can she talk him into transforming them back? Why did Headmistress Flora step down and take the role of simply being a professor at the school? Will the reformed students be able to stay on the straight and narrow?
One of the things I like about this series is the theme that you can't let others tell you what to do or who you are. You have to decide on your destiny for yourself. The character of Red Riding Hood makes a very wise statement, "...this is your quest. You have to make the hard choices." That's also true of life. And perhaps the students can learn to believe "I can be whatever I want to be - even if I don't know what that is yet." Many of the middle grade readers of this story/series can take that to heart.
Author Jen Calonita has once again created a fast-paced tale with plenty of action, humor and gentle truths about friends, families, and growing up. Highly recommended for middle grades and up.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
With the trickster, I mean, Mr. Stiltskin cutting off Pegasus Post messages, Visitation Days, and changing the rules so that more youngsters are being sent to FTRS than ever before - something certainly seems to be brewing. Can Gilly and her friends find out what it is before the kingdom of Enchantasia is in deadly peril?
Fans of the series will be delighted to see Gilly, Jax, and their friends ride into danger again. There are plenty of storylines still unresolved from the previous books - Kayla's family had been turned into trees by Rump, you-know-who, before she came to FTRS. Now that he is at the school, can she talk him into transforming them back? Why did Headmistress Flora step down and take the role of simply being a professor at the school? Will the reformed students be able to stay on the straight and narrow?
One of the things I like about this series is the theme that you can't let others tell you what to do or who you are. You have to decide on your destiny for yourself. The character of Red Riding Hood makes a very wise statement, "...this is your quest. You have to make the hard choices." That's also true of life. And perhaps the students can learn to believe "I can be whatever I want to be - even if I don't know what that is yet." Many of the middle grade readers of this story/series can take that to heart.
Author Jen Calonita has once again created a fast-paced tale with plenty of action, humor and gentle truths about friends, families, and growing up. Highly recommended for middle grades and up.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
adventurous
fast-paced
Love this series and it sets up for another with that cliffhanger. I'm so used to the Rumplestiltskin from Once Upon A Time that to hear that he is a little pipsqueak is funny. Part of me is also thrown off by the fact that these are 12 year olds. I feel like they could be older!