Reviews

Once Upon a Time: Red's Untold Tale by Wendy Toliver

razzyreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, and Sexual content

acm94's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

A must read for any once upon a time fan! 

stephreadsalot1's review against another edition

3.0

This was a decent book. I'll be honest I bought it because the cover is sooooo pretty. I also love the show. I liked the book and the background that it gave for Red, but I wish there was more. Maybe they will do more books for the rest of the characters?

alyssaindira's review against another edition

3.0

Hey guys, so I was able to squeeze in time between finals to quickly read Once Upon a Time: Red's Untold Tale by Wendy Toliver. I had heard about this book, but I wasnt to sure about it, however, when it was only a dollar on googleplay, I figured might as well try it. I was not disappointed to say the least. At first, I thought it would just have some background info on the character Red(Ruby) from Once Upon A Time(Tv show) but I was pleasantly surprised when the novel when deeper than what the filmwriters chose to depict about Red. This author, she scribed Red's earlier childhood,before anything even remotely related from Once happened. Honestly, I kinda found that refreshing. Yes, although the author was trying to write about a tv show character, she made her spin on it unique. That being said, the only thing that I ha dto keep reminding myself while I was reading about Red, was that she was, I believe, sixteen during the majority of the story, and thirteen the other portion of it. To tell the truth, it felt like the author had kept Red in that thirteen year old's mindset rather than sizteen during the entire piece. Maybe I just couldnt seperate the past and the present, oh whatever, but that is just how I felt about the writing. Other than that, I think it was pretty good. Not too overloaded on details, just enough to be able to envision what was transpiring within the storyline. But goodness gracious, those bullies...I dont think I want to envision them anymore than I have to. Those little beaches....man....Honestly, if I had been Red, I would have fed them to the wolves and not even had batted an eye~ Seriously, that had treated her like dirt, worse even! Gods...*shakes head* The only thing stronger than hate, was love. I loved the love story that was intertwined in these pages....Oh Peter.....sweeet....kind....gentle....handsome Peter..goodness.... Okay....think I am getting off track....*Sighs* I believe that is all that I can say without spoilng something, so I'm just gonna stop typing..

linevahl's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

dogmomwithbooks's review against another edition

2.0

Red is a character I was curious to learn more about. Unfortunately, this story ended up being very dull and the ending left me unfulfilled. I didn't hate it entirely, but I also would not recommend it.

moooodanggg's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

apolodelimalimon's review against another edition

2.0

Llevaba mucho tiempo detrás de este libro y tenía muchísimas ganas de leerlo, ya que Ruby es de mis personajes preferidos de Érase Una Vez (ogh, me niego a llamarlo así, ONCE UPON A TIME) y necesitaba saber qué era esa historia jamás contada. Cuando lo recibí, vi que el libro era precioso, la encuadernación es un lujo y las páginas pintadas en negro te daban la sensación de estar a punto de leer el códice de una secta satánica secreta. Comencé a leerlo y mi corazón comenzó a romperse cuando vi que era una precuela. Me esperaba algo diferente, me esperaba una historia que no se había visto en la serie pero que pasases durante el hilo cronológico de la seria. Pero aun así, seguí adelante, porque quizá había la posibilidad de que Ruby se pudiera convertir en lobo aunque fuera una precuela, podría haber tenido lugar tras los acontecimientos de 1x15. Pero entonces Ruby comienza a hablar de Peter y pierdo la esperanza de que Ruby se transforme en lobo conscientemente. Ay, si Ruby solo hubiera hablado de Peter en ese momento. PERO NO, DURANTE TODA LA NOVELA TENEMOS PETER HASTA EN LA SOPA. Dios mío, ¿dónde está la Ruby que yo conozco? Vale, la que yo conozco es una Ruby sin haber pasado todo por lo que ha pasado, por lo tanto quizá ahí estuviera la gracia, en verla antes de evolucionar como personaje. Pero es que Ruby solo pensaba en Peter, Peter por aquí, Peter por allí. De repente, se da cuenta de que piensa demasiado en Ruby y se acuerda de Granny, que la pobre mujer está al borde de la quiebra porque su negocio de pasteles y galletas no va tan bien cómo quisiera. Normal, con Ruby yéndose al charco a bañarse con Peter, a ver a Peter, a soñar despierta con Peter, a suspirar por Peter, ¡cómo va a repartir nada, si es que ve a Peter y se le caen las enaguas! Y encima a lo largo de la historia hay un momento que dice: "Creo que estoy enamorada de Peter". ¿De verdad, Ruby? ¡Yo creía que era una obsesión insana por él! El momento en el que se peina cuidadosamente solo por si Peter, EN UN MUNDO PARALELO Y EN UNA REMOTA POSIBILIDAD DE ENTRE QUINIENTAS, pasa por al lado de su ventana y la ve durmiendo durante la noche cuando se van a cazar los lobos. Ese momento es... bueno. El súmmum.
A parte de Peter, y mira que es difícil quitar a Peter de la historia e intentar omitir su trama, me gusta cómo poco a poco va descubriendo cosas, trazos y pistas del destino que le va a deparar y que al lector, sabedor de su porvenir por haberlo visto en OUAT, siente lástima por ella...
En fin. Le doy un 2/5 porque Wendy Tolliver ha hecho el esfuerzo de escribirlo, porque sale Granny y porque me parece maravillosa salga donde salga, por el estilo de prosa que tiene Wendy Tolliver que es muy representativo de los cuentos y el lenguaje que usa me parece muy realista, y por la encuadernación del libro que da toda la sensación que pretende transmitir de primeras: misticismo, cuentos de hadas, fantasía y al mismo tiempo, la oscuridad. A parte de eso, Peter se ha llevado las otras tres estrellas. Peter y la "antagonista de pacotilla", Violet, que mejor no comienzo a hablar por ella.
¡Ruby, tú también existes como ser humano más allá de Peter! ¡Ten más fe en ti misma! ¡Piensa un poco más en ti y no seas tan dependiente!

tsworld's review against another edition

3.0

liked the new side to the story making more for older readers and learning more about a classic story

booksylamb's review against another edition

Too slow-paced and lackluster.