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A review by eetishmeh
Fairytales for Wilde Girls by Allyse Near
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was absolutely amazing. However, it was extremely dark and touches on a lot of sensitive themes, so I recommend looking up trigger and/or content warnings first.
Bubblegum gothic describes it perfectly. It's about a child of Nimue, Isola Wilde, who bears the gift—or perhaps, curse—of seeing things others cannot. It follows her journey of acceptance and grief, and is delightfully feminist as well. It deals with mental illnesses, the stigma surrounding it, and how it affects both the person dealing with it and the people around them both while also keeping in step with macabre fairytale magic.
The characters in this book were beautifully written, with complex stories, relationships and personalities, as should be expected from a novel that is so character-focused. In it, internal and external conflict mixes and switches, much like the realities Isola spends her time walking the fine divider of.
I highly recommend this to those who love dark, twisted fairytales which aren't exactly retellings, and to those who are looking for a mystery that turns internal turmoil outwards.
This is one of the best stories I've consumed in a while; it's hard to believe that this is Allyse Near's first novel, what with the distinct storytelling style and the seamless way the writing is woven.
Bubblegum gothic describes it perfectly. It's about a child of Nimue, Isola Wilde, who bears the gift—or perhaps, curse—of seeing things others cannot. It follows her journey of acceptance and grief, and is delightfully feminist as well. It deals with mental illnesses, the stigma surrounding it, and how it affects both the person dealing with it and the people around them both while also keeping in step with macabre fairytale magic.
The characters in this book were beautifully written, with complex stories, relationships and personalities, as should be expected from a novel that is so character-focused. In it, internal and external conflict mixes and switches, much like the realities Isola spends her time walking the fine divider of.
I highly recommend this to those who love dark, twisted fairytales which aren't exactly retellings, and to those who are looking for a mystery that turns internal turmoil outwards.
This is one of the best stories I've consumed in a while; it's hard to believe that this is Allyse Near's first novel, what with the distinct storytelling style and the seamless way the writing is woven.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Suicide, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Cursing, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts