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emslovestoread 's review for:
The Golden Braid
by Melanie Dickerson
*happy sigh*
I love it when a book makes you grin for hours after you've finished it and invades your dreams at night to continue the goodness. That's how I felt after finishing The Golden Braid.
I really enjoyed this retelling of Rapunzel. It was clean, well-paced, and full of interesting characters. I think what I enjoy most about Melanie's books is her obvious research into the time period and her attention to characters. I always feel like I'm stepping into medieval Germany and taking a stroll with one of her characters when I open one of her books.
It was refreshing to read a book without any insta-love or love triangles. I felt like the relationship developed in a natural way. Sure, there was instant attraction, but it wasn't "hey, I met you five minutes ago; we are now destined to be together forever and I shall now tattoo your name on my person." So nice to have an actual real relationship with tension and problems and people working to solve them!
As much as I enjoyed it, there was one thing that prevented me from giving this five stars. I'll let you proceed at your own risk if you're interested.
Overall though, a book that I really enjoyed and one that I'd definitely recommend for lovers of historical fiction and retellings. Well done!
**Disclaimer** I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. This in no way influenced my feelings about the book.
I love it when a book makes you grin for hours after you've finished it and invades your dreams at night to continue the goodness. That's how I felt after finishing The Golden Braid.
I really enjoyed this retelling of Rapunzel. It was clean, well-paced, and full of interesting characters. I think what I enjoy most about Melanie's books is her obvious research into the time period and her attention to characters. I always feel like I'm stepping into medieval Germany and taking a stroll with one of her characters when I open one of her books.
It was refreshing to read a book without any insta-love or love triangles. I felt like the relationship developed in a natural way. Sure, there was instant attraction, but it wasn't "hey, I met you five minutes ago; we are now destined to be together forever and I shall now tattoo your name on my person." So nice to have an actual real relationship with tension and problems and people working to solve them!
As much as I enjoyed it, there was one thing that prevented me from giving this five stars. I'll let you proceed at your own risk if you're interested.
Spoiler
So Rapunzel wants more than anything to be able to read. Yay! Reading! I totally get that and identify with it. However, she goes from not recognizing letters or letter sounds to what sounds like a fluent reader in a matter of a few lessons. As a teacher who actually teaches reading (I've taught first through fourth grades and currently teach fourth), I don't buy that in the least. It just doesn't work that way, even for someone who wants it as badly as Rapunzel did. Sure, she has the work ethic and the drive, but with zero practice materials and only her few hours of study, NO. Just no. It takes months and even years for those skills to develop.Overall though, a book that I really enjoyed and one that I'd definitely recommend for lovers of historical fiction and retellings. Well done!
**Disclaimer** I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. This in no way influenced my feelings about the book.