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allyoop 's review for:
Ogre Enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine
This was okay. Ella Enchanted was my absolute favorite book as a child (it is by far the most worn book I own) and I was very excited for any connection to that story. Perhaps my expectations were too great, and that hurt my impression.
For starters, I didn't find Evie particularly likable. I get that she's infused with the temperament of an ogre, but I had trouble really rooting for her. I also didn't like that the book started with a proposal -it didn't feel right if Evie had Wormy thoroughly friend-zoned. He's displayed as very intelligent and aware through the rest of the book. I get that's the catalyst, but it made me feel iffy about those two from the start -particularly Evie's denial to his second proposal after she'd been turned into an ogre. She has a mere two months to find and accept a proposal, and in that time she makes ridiculously desperate, "that'll do" moves.
I also thought it was pretty obvious how the book had to end, so the story is 300+ pages of speedbump after speedbump until we get there. To be fair, there were a few unexpected turns and I liked how everything was culminating.
I did like seeing some familiar characters again... for the most part. I adored having more background on King Jerrold, and I really liked how that was done. My opinion of Lucinda was shifted a little bit -I didn't consider her to be quite so intentionally cruel. Just dim. And I'm not quite sure how I feel about all the extra information about Ella's parents. I want to re-read Ella Enchanted and see how all of the new details sit.
Either way, I think lovers of Ella Enchanted would want to read this. I think it helps Ella Enchanted, even if it's not as strong on its own.
For starters, I didn't find Evie particularly likable. I get that she's infused with the temperament of an ogre, but I had trouble really rooting for her. I also didn't like that the book started with a proposal -it didn't feel right if Evie had Wormy thoroughly friend-zoned. He's displayed as very intelligent and aware through the rest of the book. I get that's the catalyst, but it made me feel iffy about those two from the start -particularly Evie's denial to his second proposal after she'd been turned into an ogre. She has a mere two months to find and accept a proposal, and in that time she makes ridiculously desperate, "that'll do" moves.
I also thought it was pretty obvious how the book had to end, so the story is 300+ pages of speedbump after speedbump until we get there. To be fair, there were a few unexpected turns and I liked how everything was culminating.
Spoiler
The story was successfully building several issues/reveals, and I was ultimately irked by how quickly everything promptly came out, and was promptly resolved.I did like seeing some familiar characters again... for the most part. I adored having more background on King Jerrold, and I really liked how that was done. My opinion of Lucinda was shifted a little bit -I didn't consider her to be quite so intentionally cruel. Just dim. And I'm not quite sure how I feel about all the extra information about Ella's parents. I want to re-read Ella Enchanted and see how all of the new details sit.
Spoiler
I think it hurts to make Peter so conniving and... evil, to a degree. I've always wondered why Lady Eleanor removed the hairs from her soup in Ella Enchanted -and I was NOT AT ALL satisfied by the supposed answer.Either way, I think lovers of Ella Enchanted would want to read this. I think it helps Ella Enchanted, even if it's not as strong on its own.