Scan barcode
jenhurst's review against another edition
3.0
I think this was good but I’m not a big fan of short story collections.
vrop's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
clarkness's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-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
4.5
retrophrenologist's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
ac1517's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
guaninecytosine's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
midici's review against another edition
4.0
The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories is a collection of short stories all from the same universe as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. The stories are delughtful as are the illustrations.
"The Introduction": Introduces this collection as part of an academic collection of fairy-tales that provide examples of magic in England.
"The Ladies of Grace Adieu": My favourite of the lot. One of the issues with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is that the women characters are few, and tend to be in need of rescue, and of course, do not perform magic. This short story explores three women magicians and the revenge they extract on a man who means to hurt the children that one of the women looks after. "Above all remember this: that magic belongs as much to the heart as to the head and everything that is done, should be done from love or joy or righteous anger."
"On Lickerish Hill": A retelling of Rumplestiltskin, with fairies.
"Mrs. Mabb": Venetia's beau, Captain Fox, has been spirited away by a fairy and she has to win him back.
"The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse": This one is a crossover with Stardust; the Duke misplaces his horse on the wrong side of Wall and has to venture through to get it back.
"Mr. Simonelli or the Fairy Widower": This one made me laugh - Mr. Simonelli has to keep an entire family of daughters safe from the fairy who wishes to kidnap them and does so by 'secretly' engaging himself to all of them.
'Tom Brightwind or How the Fairy Bridge was Built at Thoresby": aka a fairy drags his long-suffering mortal friend to Thoresby, cuckolds the mayor's wife, has a ridiculous night of enchanting half the countryside to work while asleep, then gets bored and fucks off to Europe.
"Antickes and Frets": Mary Queen of Scots wants to entice the Countess of Shrewsbury to kill Queen Elizabeth through enchanted embroidery. This does not go how the Queen of Scots wants it to.
"John Uskglass": John Uskglass is the most powerful magician ever, and the current king. Here he gets tricked by a particularly petty charcoal burner who is annoying enough to get saints to do his bidding.
"The Introduction": Introduces this collection as part of an academic collection of fairy-tales that provide examples of magic in England.
"The Ladies of Grace Adieu": My favourite of the lot. One of the issues with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is that the women characters are few, and tend to be in need of rescue, and of course, do not perform magic. This short story explores three women magicians and the revenge they extract on a man who means to hurt the children that one of the women looks after. "Above all remember this: that magic belongs as much to the heart as to the head and everything that is done, should be done from love or joy or righteous anger."
"On Lickerish Hill": A retelling of Rumplestiltskin, with fairies.
"Mrs. Mabb": Venetia's beau, Captain Fox, has been spirited away by a fairy and she has to win him back.
"The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse": This one is a crossover with Stardust; the Duke misplaces his horse on the wrong side of Wall and has to venture through to get it back.
"Mr. Simonelli or the Fairy Widower": This one made me laugh - Mr. Simonelli has to keep an entire family of daughters safe from the fairy who wishes to kidnap them and does so by 'secretly' engaging himself to all of them.
'Tom Brightwind or How the Fairy Bridge was Built at Thoresby": aka a fairy drags his long-suffering mortal friend to Thoresby, cuckolds the mayor's wife, has a ridiculous night of enchanting half the countryside to work while asleep, then gets bored and fucks off to Europe.
"Antickes and Frets": Mary Queen of Scots wants to entice the Countess of Shrewsbury to kill Queen Elizabeth through enchanted embroidery. This does not go how the Queen of Scots wants it to.
"John Uskglass": John Uskglass is the most powerful magician ever, and the current king. Here he gets tricked by a particularly petty charcoal burner who is annoying enough to get saints to do his bidding.
robinellacott's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5