Reviews with content warning for Animal cruelty - The Goose Girl

I loved this book because it gave me such a sense of anxiety that I needed to finish this book to know what happens. The characters are well developed and loveable, the story plays out in a very fairytale way, complete with all the gruesome violence typical of Grimms fairytales. The fantasy world building isn't as sophisticated but cozy instead. Marketed as a YA but very much able to be enjoyed by an adult. Great writing that is complex and maintains the status of the story as a medieval fairytale. I highly recommend this book!

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elly29's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A delightful story, one that was so much fun to read during my tweenage-hood and perhaps more delightful on rereading it as an adult. It has all the things one loves in a good story: adventure, romance, magic, animals, sardonic quips, goodness and character growth.

I loved how Ani started: she tried to be what others wanted, and she failed. Then, she gets a chance to find out who she is, and goes from a state of low competency to high competency, eventually conquering fears and foes alike (though, with some human butchery and animal cruelty in the mix...). Sometimes, the story was so very difficult (ahem, all of Falada, all of Selia's unfair advantages). And that's what makes a great story.

Maybe this should be 5 stars.

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nickoliver's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

It took me by surprise just how much I loved this. The characters were wonderful, though I think I preferred the side characters a bit more than Ani herself? Especially Enna, Talone, and Geric were a delight. There was a romance, which I somehow didn't expect, but it was very light and also very sweet.

The writing was a bit of a challenge for me. It used a lot of comparisons, many of which were pretty creative, and while I liked them for the most part, I feel like they sometimes made it harder for me to picture certain scenes. Though I have to say that was more of a problem in the first half of the book; I think after a while, I got used to it.

Honestly, the only bad thing I can think of is that the story was a bit slow at times. It didn't really bother me, but some people might get bored by it.

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bencaroline's review

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

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