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A review by rodanoar
Alliana, Girl of Dragons by Julie Abe
4.0
This time around, the coziness came from the characters! Seeing them navigate their younger lives was such a delight! Maybe I found this comforting because I already knew them from the "Eva Evergreen" books.
I enjoyed seeing how people work on retellings, and this "Cinderella" retelling was well executed, in my opinion. I was completely invested, and I think this was one of the most dramatic books that Abe has written. I cannot stress enough how much I was rooting for Alliana and her friends. I love the found family trope, and how you choose to love the people who love you back, even if they are not related to you. And if you add dragons to the mix, the recipe can only be successful!
Maybe it was the Grandmother Mari figure, but I think this book had many teachings that felt like a grandma's lesson, to be honest. But in a good, nostalgic, and cozy way. I even noted some quotes that marked me, and this one stands out by far:
"We think we trade in gold and silver, but words are the true currency of our lives."
WOW.
But, ultimately, I didn't give this 5 stars because my blood pressure was too high after reading this. I mean, it's part of the deal, especially with the stepmother and stepsiblings, but oh boy, wasn't I worked up every time I read... But maybe that's what pulled me in in the first place... THE DRAMA!
Despite liking to see how people work on retellings, I think it would be cool not to depend on the base story or even market the book as a retelling. I couldn't stop comparing the narratives, picking what was going along with the original story and what was not... I mean, that's how you differentiate the book from the tale, but why not work on it on its own? Even if people see the resemblances, are the public accusations (and fear of them) heavier so authors sell their stories as retellings to protect themselves? Maybe I am going too deep already, but my point remains: I wasn't reading original content™.
I enjoyed seeing how people work on retellings, and this "Cinderella" retelling was well executed, in my opinion. I was completely invested, and I think this was one of the most dramatic books that Abe has written. I cannot stress enough how much I was rooting for Alliana and her friends. I love the found family trope, and how you choose to love the people who love you back, even if they are not related to you. And if you add dragons to the mix, the recipe can only be successful!
Maybe it was the Grandmother Mari figure, but I think this book had many teachings that felt like a grandma's lesson, to be honest. But in a good, nostalgic, and cozy way. I even noted some quotes that marked me, and this one stands out by far:
"We think we trade in gold and silver, but words are the true currency of our lives."
WOW.
But, ultimately, I didn't give this 5 stars because my blood pressure was too high after reading this. I mean, it's part of the deal, especially with the stepmother and stepsiblings, but oh boy, wasn't I worked up every time I read... But maybe that's what pulled me in in the first place... THE DRAMA!
Despite liking to see how people work on retellings, I think it would be cool not to depend on the base story or even market the book as a retelling. I couldn't stop comparing the narratives, picking what was going along with the original story and what was not... I mean, that's how you differentiate the book from the tale, but why not work on it on its own? Even if people see the resemblances, are the public accusations (and fear of them) heavier so authors sell their stories as retellings to protect themselves? Maybe I am going too deep already, but my point remains: I wasn't reading original content™.