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leahbelle's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
magikspells's review against another edition
3.0
I was a little annoyed by the tone of this book at first, but I eventually got over that. There is a lot going on, multiple characters trying to escape their own issues and pasts, curses, adventures, and witch hunters. This book struggles with the issues a lot of YA books have, a main character (or 2) who are teenagers but inexplicably have so much life experience and have traveled/worked alone. Pretty hard to believe in some aspects, but I'll let it go. I'll definitely read the next one.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review
4.0
If you're still following my reviews, you have noticed by now that I read a lot of fairytale retellings. And a lot might even be an understatement. Sleeping Beauty used to be one of my favorite Disney films growing up because it has such a spectacular finale and an awesome villain. But retelling that story isn't easy. I'm therefore always very curious how the author has done it when I find a Sleeping Beauty retelling.
After reading some negative reviews I was going into this book without many expectations, but I was actually very positively surprised and I really enjoyed the story. Despite the huge amount of action scenes, fighting monsters and people and running for their life the author made enough time for the characters to connect and grow and fall in love. The balance between the action scenes and the emotional scenes felt absolutely perfect for me.
And because there was room for those emotional scenes I also started caring more and more about these characters. Of course we know that they're gonna succeed in the end, but I love how clever the characters have to be along the way and how they need each other's support and strength. It was therefore also easy to root for them, although there is a part of me that really wants to learn more about the villain of the story and the reason for doing this.
I'm convinced that when it comes to the villain we will see more of her in the next book in the series. Although the book has a satisfying ending, it's also a new beginning, the beginning of another adventure and maybe the true fight. I'm really excited to learn more about magic, history and how intertwined they are. And I also still hope that one way or another Shane and Red might find a way to be together.
Luckily I have the second book on pre-order already!
After reading some negative reviews I was going into this book without many expectations, but I was actually very positively surprised and I really enjoyed the story. Despite the huge amount of action scenes, fighting monsters and people and running for their life the author made enough time for the characters to connect and grow and fall in love. The balance between the action scenes and the emotional scenes felt absolutely perfect for me.
And because there was room for those emotional scenes I also started caring more and more about these characters. Of course we know that they're gonna succeed in the end, but I love how clever the characters have to be along the way and how they need each other's support and strength. It was therefore also easy to root for them, although there is a part of me that really wants to learn more about the villain of the story and the reason for doing this.
I'm convinced that when it comes to the villain we will see more of her in the next book in the series. Although the book has a satisfying ending, it's also a new beginning, the beginning of another adventure and maybe the true fight. I'm really excited to learn more about magic, history and how intertwined they are. And I also still hope that one way or another Shane and Red might find a way to be together.
Luckily I have the second book on pre-order already!
sanne6je's review
3.0
The story feels really good, Indiana jones meets sleeping beauty but gender swapped. My only problem was that there was so much going on, so many different magic types and it all happened so fast making it feel like everything was possible and there were no real rules
ramunepocky's review
5.0
I love Shane with my whole entire heart, she is now one of my all time favourite characters
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
1.0
1.5/5
I was really expecting more from this book but as I read it there was nothing that made me excited to turn the next page. I guess the worst part about the book was that I read it on Libby and Libby always have a funny thing of making some more longer then they originally are. on Libby the book was 522 pages but regularly this book is only 416 at most. I felt like the plot was too busy trying to move along that the characters weren't explored as much as they could have been. Looking back on the book after just finishing it the only thing that stood out to me was witch hunters and an axe.
I was really expecting more from this book but as I read it there was nothing that made me excited to turn the next page. I guess the worst part about the book was that I read it on Libby and Libby always have a funny thing of making some more longer then they originally are. on Libby the book was 522 pages but regularly this book is only 416 at most. I felt like the plot was too busy trying to move along that the characters weren't explored as much as they could have been. Looking back on the book after just finishing it the only thing that stood out to me was witch hunters and an axe.
daria__m's review
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
dstricker98's review
4.0
Ok, so for a YA fantasy retelling?? I’m totally into it. It took me forever to finish this book just with the business of life, but I always fell right back into it. I was so nervous it was going to be cheesy, and the beginning had some sign of that, but the multiple POVs complicated everything in a really good way(also not something I usually say). Shane and Fi are two sides of the same coin and it was refreshing to flip between their POVs. I wish the world building was a little clearer. The series goes on, so the brief moments with some characters I can tell will get drawn out later.
I’m excited to read the next!!
I’m excited to read the next!!
marieintheraw's review
5.0
Treasure hunters and Sleeping Beauty vibes with gender-bending? Call me a sucker for falling in love so hard this early in the year for a book. I enjoyed the trio, Fi and Briar's budding romance included; however, you have to understand I am already a sucker for Shane's character.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.