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niaamore's review
adventurous
medium-paced
2.5
| Favorite Quote | They wanted the moon, but they hadn't realize it cost the earth.
| My Review | I was hoping for a retelling of The Little Mermaid, but this was actually a retelling of P.T. Barnum, a story I am not familiar with. I think if you are familiar with that showman, you would enjoy this book a lot more than I did. I feel very indifferent. That being said, I look forward to reading Henry’s other darker fairy tale retellings!
| My Review | I was hoping for a retelling of The Little Mermaid, but this was actually a retelling of P.T. Barnum, a story I am not familiar with. I think if you are familiar with that showman, you would enjoy this book a lot more than I did. I feel very indifferent. That being said, I look forward to reading Henry’s other darker fairy tale retellings!
so7phie's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review
4.0
Let me start this review with saying that I didn't realise the historical roots of this story until I read the acknowledgments of the author. I therefore read this book as completely, totally, utterly fictional, which in the end might have been the best way to read it anyway, since the author assured us that she had taken quite a lot creative liberties.
The books Alice and Red Queen made me fall in love with this author and even though this story is entirely different it didn't disappoint at all. Just like the other books I've read it was beautifully written. There seems to be a certain rhythm and pacing in Henry's work, where it flows easily but almost feels like reading music. It automatically creates a magical and enchanting atmosphere that really fitted the story well.
The plot of this story might be quite thin, as in that the actual purpose of this story is not that obvious, but nonetheless I enjoyed this journey. Due to the changing point of view we got a very good image of the world and the situation and the emotions and personalities of all the characters. That made the story feel rich and made the characters seem complicated and layered.
But what I loved most was the underlying critical approach to society and humanity. It's an element I already appreciated a lot in Damsel and The surface breaks, and I appreciate it just as much in this story, even though it's more subtle.
I can understand that some people find this story boring or slow, but for me it was a mesmerizing read about a very remarkable woman.
The books Alice and Red Queen made me fall in love with this author and even though this story is entirely different it didn't disappoint at all. Just like the other books I've read it was beautifully written. There seems to be a certain rhythm and pacing in Henry's work, where it flows easily but almost feels like reading music. It automatically creates a magical and enchanting atmosphere that really fitted the story well.
The plot of this story might be quite thin, as in that the actual purpose of this story is not that obvious, but nonetheless I enjoyed this journey. Due to the changing point of view we got a very good image of the world and the situation and the emotions and personalities of all the characters. That made the story feel rich and made the characters seem complicated and layered.
But what I loved most was the underlying critical approach to society and humanity. It's an element I already appreciated a lot in Damsel and The surface breaks, and I appreciate it just as much in this story, even though it's more subtle.
I can understand that some people find this story boring or slow, but for me it was a mesmerizing read about a very remarkable woman.
isleofmona's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
goldenslug's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sowinchester's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
lena_pls's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5