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A review by egbella
A Noble Heart: A Rapunzel Retelling by Jewel Windall
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Oh my heart, this book is beautiful.
I absolutely love Peter Pan retellings, and this is such a sweet one. Surprisingly, I enjoyed both POV characters' perspectives (usually I have a major favorite), and was rooting for both of them to get their happily ever after. The setting is original, and I adore how the author wove so many nods to the original tale into the story without using any kind of magic! The themes were my favorite.
So characters first. Ella is a very fun nod to Tinkerbell (very subtly done - I enjoyed the occasional mentions of how pixie-like she was), and I could relate to her struggles and feelings of disconnection and questioning God. Though her choices occasionally made me wonder what in the world she was thinking (haha), she was such a strong, spunky, and introspective character, and I enjoyed her. Her strong faith over the course of the book inspired me.
James is precious. His struggle was even nearer to my heart, and I was really drawn into his journey and his exploration of God's promises and presence. The way he felt always responsible for those around him, and the guilt he felt at any failure hit hard, and as he learned how God felt about those struggles, I learned with him. I really appreciated his character arc, and would love to spend a day with him. I just want to give him a hug.
Shoutout to Slightly <33 What an adorable lil guy. I have a brother nearly the same age, and I kept picturing him in that place. Such a cutie.
Overall, the characters were all so unique, likable or at least interesting, and fun. Again, I loved how the author wove in so many subtle references to the original Peter Pan stories, either through names, character descriptions, very brief cameos or dialogue, etc. It felt like a treasure hunt, discovering another reference. I also appreciated that the romance was so lightly-handled, and that it ended on a hopeful note, rather than a committed relationship one. It felt realistic, and made me happy for them, knowing what will probably happen. I'd love to read more about these characters!
The plot was fairly simple, but still fast-paced and intriguing, and gave plenty of room for the characters to grow as they needed to. I wasn't expecting a couple of the end twists and couldn't put it down! I absolutely loved the nautical Peter Pan/PotC setting for the majority of the story as well. It was well-written, beautifully described, and overall, just very fun. The occasional mythical elements, such as sirens!, were excellent, and in fact, the siren scene is one of my very favorites.
And best of all were the themes and writing style. The author's writing style is absolutely beautiful, flowing, descriptive, and poignant, and her themes were well-explored. Themes such as trusting God, believing in Him and not ourselves, allowing yourself to receive help, forgiveness, strength, and family. I have SO MANY highlights in my ebook, all beautiful lines that made me stop and either tear up, smile, or even thank God because I could see how those truths apply to my own life.
If you enjoy Peter Pan retellings with beautiful and engaging prose, powerful biblical themes, intriguing characters, and fun nautical/pirate settings, this is a book for you! I highly recommend, and look forward to reading more from this author.
I'll end with some quotes I loved...
~ "Hugs...why does everyone want hugs?...I'm a wounded man."
~ "If you do not have Me, you will constantly be trying to find purpose in things what will give you nothing."
~ "Hey...why are you laughing?"..."Why are you not?"
~ The blade, not the bearer, was always covered in the most blood when the battle was over.
~ Hugs were affection cages from a person.
Note: the author's note at the end of this book is so sweet and inspiring, especially as an author who has struggled with many of the same heart postures. Thank you for sharing your story, Jewel!
Content to mention: Mild peril, fighting (with swords, knives), mentions of executions, mild descriptions of blood and wounds, character deaths, nightmares and emotional turmoil, characters question God. No explicit romantic material, swears, or gore!
** I received an ARC copy of this book, but was not required to leave a review - much less a positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own. **
I absolutely love Peter Pan retellings, and this is such a sweet one. Surprisingly, I enjoyed both POV characters' perspectives (usually I have a major favorite), and was rooting for both of them to get their happily ever after. The setting is original, and I adore how the author wove so many nods to the original tale into the story without using any kind of magic! The themes were my favorite.
So characters first. Ella is a very fun nod to Tinkerbell (very subtly done - I enjoyed the occasional mentions of how pixie-like she was), and I could relate to her struggles and feelings of disconnection and questioning God. Though her choices occasionally made me wonder what in the world she was thinking (haha), she was such a strong, spunky, and introspective character, and I enjoyed her. Her strong faith over the course of the book inspired me.
James is precious. His struggle was even nearer to my heart, and I was really drawn into his journey and his exploration of God's promises and presence. The way he felt always responsible for those around him, and the guilt he felt at any failure hit hard, and as he learned how God felt about those struggles, I learned with him. I really appreciated his character arc, and would love to spend a day with him. I just want to give him a hug.
Shoutout to Slightly <33 What an adorable lil guy. I have a brother nearly the same age, and I kept picturing him in that place. Such a cutie.
Overall, the characters were all so unique, likable or at least interesting, and fun. Again, I loved how the author wove in so many subtle references to the original Peter Pan stories, either through names, character descriptions, very brief cameos or dialogue, etc. It felt like a treasure hunt, discovering another reference. I also appreciated that the romance was so lightly-handled, and that it ended on a hopeful note, rather than a committed relationship one. It felt realistic, and made me happy for them, knowing what will probably happen. I'd love to read more about these characters!
The plot was fairly simple, but still fast-paced and intriguing, and gave plenty of room for the characters to grow as they needed to. I wasn't expecting a couple of the end twists and couldn't put it down! I absolutely loved the nautical Peter Pan/PotC setting for the majority of the story as well. It was well-written, beautifully described, and overall, just very fun. The occasional mythical elements, such as sirens!, were excellent, and in fact, the siren scene is one of my very favorites.
And best of all were the themes and writing style. The author's writing style is absolutely beautiful, flowing, descriptive, and poignant, and her themes were well-explored. Themes such as trusting God, believing in Him and not ourselves, allowing yourself to receive help, forgiveness, strength, and family. I have SO MANY highlights in my ebook, all beautiful lines that made me stop and either tear up, smile, or even thank God because I could see how those truths apply to my own life.
If you enjoy Peter Pan retellings with beautiful and engaging prose, powerful biblical themes, intriguing characters, and fun nautical/pirate settings, this is a book for you! I highly recommend, and look forward to reading more from this author.
I'll end with some quotes I loved...
~ "Hugs...why does everyone want hugs?...I'm a wounded man."
~ "If you do not have Me, you will constantly be trying to find purpose in things what will give you nothing."
~ "Hey...why are you laughing?"..."Why are you not?"
~ The blade, not the bearer, was always covered in the most blood when the battle was over.
~ Hugs were affection cages from a person.
Note: the author's note at the end of this book is so sweet and inspiring, especially as an author who has struggled with many of the same heart postures. Thank you for sharing your story, Jewel!
Content to mention: Mild peril, fighting (with swords, knives), mentions of executions, mild descriptions of blood and wounds, character deaths, nightmares and emotional turmoil, characters question God. No explicit romantic material, swears, or gore!
** I received an ARC copy of this book, but was not required to leave a review - much less a positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own. **