Scan barcode
A review by no_prince_here
So This Is Love by Elizabeth Lim
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I hoped I would enjoy this story more, I truly did. There were definitely things I really liked, so I'll start with those.
As someone new to the 'Twisted Tales' series, I was pleasantly surprised to find this is a YA novel first, and a Disney book second. I was so glad to see the author touching on certain mature themes and politics, while rethinking Cinderella's character to paint her more realistically. Speaking of Elizabeth Lim, it's clear that she has an immense passion for this story and its characters (referencing other versions of the story multiple times and having captured the spirit of the film perfectly in certain chapters), and has made a fantastic effort twisting the original Walt Disney version of Cinderella. Her writing style also feels very lyrical and time accurate, especially for a classic fairytale setting, and it really helps the new characters to shine.
However, maybe the interesting world building and new characters were too great, making the original cast of the film (especially prince Charles and Cinderella themselves), for all the development they went through, to feel kinda shallow in comparison. In addition, the Disney tone really clashes with the YA one, and while the prior was what got me into reading this book, the latter I enjoyed way more and wished it was the primary element in the novel. More notably, the final eighty or so pages bring fourth the tamer Disney tone after two thirds of the book brushing it aside, and it really shows. The writing declines in quality (albeit not too much), and the ending feels far too rushed and disney-fied, if you will. It seems as though Elizabeth Lim wasn't allowed to write the ending she wanted to and go deeper into the truly intriguing version of this world that she created. Part of me wishes this book wouldn't be tied to Disney and would be a series, exploring the fascinating new characters and their lightly touched on stories further.
All in all, I'm very glad I read this, but it only left me wanting a better sequel that I will never get, which makes it hard for me to recommend to other people as well.
As someone new to the 'Twisted Tales' series, I was pleasantly surprised to find this is a YA novel first, and a Disney book second. I was so glad to see the author touching on certain mature themes and politics, while rethinking Cinderella's character to paint her more realistically. Speaking of Elizabeth Lim, it's clear that she has an immense passion for this story and its characters (referencing other versions of the story multiple times and having captured the spirit of the film perfectly in certain chapters), and has made a fantastic effort twisting the original Walt Disney version of Cinderella. Her writing style also feels very lyrical and time accurate, especially for a classic fairytale setting, and it really helps the new characters to shine.
However, maybe the interesting world building and new characters were too great, making the original cast of the film (especially prince Charles and Cinderella themselves), for all the development they went through, to feel kinda shallow in comparison. In addition, the Disney tone really clashes with the YA one, and while the prior was what got me into reading this book, the latter I enjoyed way more and wished it was the primary element in the novel. More notably, the final eighty or so pages bring fourth the tamer Disney tone after two thirds of the book brushing it aside, and it really shows. The writing declines in quality (albeit not too much), and the ending feels far too rushed and disney-fied, if you will. It seems as though Elizabeth Lim wasn't allowed to write the ending she wanted to and go deeper into the truly intriguing version of this world that she created. Part of me wishes this book wouldn't be tied to Disney and would be a series, exploring the fascinating new characters and their lightly touched on stories further.
All in all, I'm very glad I read this, but it only left me wanting a better sequel that I will never get, which makes it hard for me to recommend to other people as well.