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A review by dinibharadwaj
Owl Eyes: A Fairy Tale by Molly Lazer
5.0
Note: I received a free e-copy of the book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review
The voice of the protagonist and the wonderfully described setting swept me away since page one. Nora, our Cinderella, was much more realistic and flawed than the Disney version of Cinderella (which is the only version I’m familiar with and don’t like all that much). The constant mention of food made my mouth water as I absorbed the story. It started off slowly but by the end I was a huge fan of the plot. Although predictable, it ended the way I had hoped it to and that really warmed my heart. All of the characters were superbly developed. I really enjoyed the fact that it deviated from the original a bit in the characterization of some of them. The motivations of the villains as well were portrayed really well even though it had first person narration, which is a feat that needs to be lauded. The setting was wonderfully detailed and revealed to the reader in bite-sized chunks, which made it come to life. There was also a healthy dose of political intrigue. I also loved the magic system and wish it made more of an impact on the plot just so it would be explored more. I also wish the ending was less abrupt because I really wanted more from the characters.
If you’re a fan of retellings, this one should definitely be on your radar. It is a far cry from the fluffy Disney version, but that’s what made it a unique and satisfying read for me. It is also great for someone looking to move up from middle grade to young adult fantasy. I really wish there was more hype around this book because it is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever had an opportunity to review.
The voice of the protagonist and the wonderfully described setting swept me away since page one. Nora, our Cinderella, was much more realistic and flawed than the Disney version of Cinderella (which is the only version I’m familiar with and don’t like all that much). The constant mention of food made my mouth water as I absorbed the story. It started off slowly but by the end I was a huge fan of the plot. Although predictable, it ended the way I had hoped it to and that really warmed my heart. All of the characters were superbly developed. I really enjoyed the fact that it deviated from the original a bit in the characterization of some of them. The motivations of the villains as well were portrayed really well even though it had first person narration, which is a feat that needs to be lauded. The setting was wonderfully detailed and revealed to the reader in bite-sized chunks, which made it come to life. There was also a healthy dose of political intrigue. I also loved the magic system and wish it made more of an impact on the plot just so it would be explored more. I also wish the ending was less abrupt because I really wanted more from the characters.
If you’re a fan of retellings, this one should definitely be on your radar. It is a far cry from the fluffy Disney version, but that’s what made it a unique and satisfying read for me. It is also great for someone looking to move up from middle grade to young adult fantasy. I really wish there was more hype around this book because it is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever had an opportunity to review.