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A review by cat_finds_the_time
Hello, Cruel Heart by Maureen Johnson
5.0
This EXCEEDED my expectations! In all honesty, I went into this book not expecting to like it. I usually don't like books like this because, given that it's a prequel of a villain, I know how it's going to turn out. I was shocked that, despite my predetermined thoughts, I was so enthralled by the book. I'm only slightly disappointed because I sometimes feel like I'm really generous with my reviews and I was thinking, "This is awesome! I can give a book an average review instead of an amazing one." Nope! I loved this book way too much for me to give it any less than 5 stars. I'll even give it a 4.5 if I'm being stingy. While there are other books out there that I'm completely and utterly in love with, I love this story in a different way. If that makes any sense. If it confuses you, then imagine how I feel reviewing books with my complicated emotions towards each one I read!
Moving on now...
One thing that I didn't even notice I liked about the book until I practically binge read it, was that the story flowed very smoothly. I was caught up in Estella's life and personality. The author also did a good job of showing hints of Estella's darker side out in order to paint a picture of how she, at some point in her life, become the villain we all know and... love? I don't know anymore because my feelings towards Estella/Cruella are all befuddled now! A little part of me kind of wished to see more of Estella's darker side, though, because it would just paint her future character in so much more detail. I did enjoy the moments where we saw Cruella peek out of Estella's normal personality, but they were few and far between, in my opinion.
There was a part towards the end of the book that I feel could've been built up to a little better throughout the story, but the more I think about it, the more I see that if Estella didn't see the build-up, then we probably wouldn't have either. I don't know... I still kind of wish there had been hints here and there. But because it was such a minor part of the overall story, it didn't bother me too much and I was still able to love the book.
Well, there you go! I really loved this book so much more than I thought I would and it's given me a much larger love for this Disney villain than I thought I could ever get.
Moving on now...
One thing that I didn't even notice I liked about the book until I practically binge read it, was that the story flowed very smoothly. I was caught up in Estella's life and personality. The author also did a good job of showing hints of Estella's darker side out in order to paint a picture of how she, at some point in her life, become the villain we all know and... love? I don't know anymore because my feelings towards Estella/Cruella are all befuddled now! A little part of me kind of wished to see more of Estella's darker side, though, because it would just paint her future character in so much more detail. I did enjoy the moments where we saw Cruella peek out of Estella's normal personality, but they were few and far between, in my opinion.
There was a part towards the end of the book that I feel could've been built up to a little better throughout the story, but the more I think about it, the more I see that if Estella didn't see the build-up, then we probably wouldn't have either. I don't know... I still kind of wish there had been hints here and there. But because it was such a minor part of the overall story, it didn't bother me too much and I was still able to love the book.
Well, there you go! I really loved this book so much more than I thought I would and it's given me a much larger love for this Disney villain than I thought I could ever get.