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lostintheforest 's review for:
Reawakened
by Odette Beane
Once Upon a Time is possibly my favourite television show of all time, and it’s only just started production on season 3. Everything about this show is genius; the retelling of fairy-tales we all know and love, and the twists and turns the writers of the show have done the famous stories and characters, the characters are well developed, the plot, setting, the storytelling within these settings and characters. I could go on and on about Once Upon a Time, but this review isn’t about the show, it’s about the tie-in novel Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale.
When it was announced that there would be a tie-in novel for Once Upon a Time, I was excited. There was going to be another form in which I could enjoy my favourite show (the first season of magic); a book! I love to read and the idea of reading what I’ve already watched would be fantastic; it would be a new angle to see things, to read what characters are thinking and feeling as opposed to seeing it on screen.
What I’m most annoyed about, though, is that while this book is a tie-in novel with the show, there were some vital information left out in the novel, such as in season 1, episode 12 “Skin Deep” (my favourite episode, and the episode that introduced Belle, who would later become a main character) when the confrontation between Regina and Mr Gold happened while Mr Gold was in jail, where he revealed to Regina – who forced him to tell her with leverage – that he was, in fact, Rumplestiltskin. This was something that shook up the whole show, that there were, now, two people in Storybrooke who knew who they were. This was vital information to the story that should’ve been in the novel. It could’ve been told in Regina’s point of view (which has happened before).
The whole “Skin Deep” chapter was a huge let down, actually. It was my favourite episode out of the whole series and only little was mentioned about Belle, a major plot point for that whole episode. Henry was the one who mentioned Belle and that only went on for a few paragraphs. “Skin Deep” is probably the most popular episode to date, maybe. It’s a favourite among most of the fans.
Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale is an average book. If you’re a true fan of the show, you would buy this book, but maybe end up only liking it a little. You could get away with only watching the show, everything that happened in the novel happened in the TV show, EXCEPT the scene in the book where Emma thought Regina would kiss her. I mean, COME ON! The author can add in something that would never happen in the show, but she can’t add a whole chapter and a bit about one of the most popular relationships of Once Upon a Time? The author didn't even transition to the Enchanted Forest - which is where all of the magic happens!
It pains me to give Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale three stars, but it deserves it. The writing, though bland, did give a little insight to my favourite characters, but the story needed more character perspective, especially for the other main characters of the show. It was nice to read the first season of my favourite TV show in book format and I’m happy that I did.
Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale was an enjoyable read, however the next book (if and when) should be improved dramatically.
When it was announced that there would be a tie-in novel for Once Upon a Time, I was excited. There was going to be another form in which I could enjoy my favourite show (the first season of magic); a book! I love to read and the idea of reading what I’ve already watched would be fantastic; it would be a new angle to see things, to read what characters are thinking and feeling as opposed to seeing it on screen.
Spoiler
The writing was average, I suppose. It wasn’t all too bad; I did, however, notice some grammatical errors – some left out words, a quotation mark missing here and there, and misused words. The transitions between Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest were done nicely; however, the point of views of characters needed work. Some episodes featured different characters as the main focus both in Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest that needed to be the focus in the chapters. Some episodes were even skipped as chapters, such as episode 5 “That Still Small Voice” and episode 9 “True North”. However, I do realise that not every single little detail can be featured in the book.What I’m most annoyed about, though, is that while this book is a tie-in novel with the show, there were some vital information left out in the novel, such as in season 1, episode 12 “Skin Deep” (my favourite episode, and the episode that introduced Belle, who would later become a main character) when the confrontation between Regina and Mr Gold happened while Mr Gold was in jail, where he revealed to Regina – who forced him to tell her with leverage – that he was, in fact, Rumplestiltskin. This was something that shook up the whole show, that there were, now, two people in Storybrooke who knew who they were. This was vital information to the story that should’ve been in the novel. It could’ve been told in Regina’s point of view (which has happened before).
The whole “Skin Deep” chapter was a huge let down, actually. It was my favourite episode out of the whole series and only little was mentioned about Belle, a major plot point for that whole episode. Henry was the one who mentioned Belle and that only went on for a few paragraphs. “Skin Deep” is probably the most popular episode to date, maybe. It’s a favourite among most of the fans.
Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale is an average book. If you’re a true fan of the show, you would buy this book, but maybe end up only liking it a little. You could get away with only watching the show, everything that happened in the novel happened in the TV show, EXCEPT the scene in the book where Emma thought Regina would kiss her. I mean, COME ON! The author can add in something that would never happen in the show, but she can’t add a whole chapter and a bit about one of the most popular relationships of Once Upon a Time? The author didn't even transition to the Enchanted Forest - which is where all of the magic happens!
It pains me to give Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale three stars, but it deserves it. The writing, though bland, did give a little insight to my favourite characters, but the story needed more character perspective, especially for the other main characters of the show. It was nice to read the first season of my favourite TV show in book format and I’m happy that I did.
Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale was an enjoyable read, however the next book (if and when) should be improved dramatically.