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theinquisitxor's Reviews (804)
Delightfully dark, macabre, and nefarious, while still being funny and very morally gray
4.5 stars-
Not sure why the second book is considered not to be good? Because I sure enjoyed reading it. Such a nice cast of diverse characters too. We have have disabled characters, poc characters, hijabi characters, etc. These series should get a lot more attention!
Edit- after thinking about is for a little while, I can see how some of the tropes are overused and the romance is a little bland tbh. But I don’t read enough YA to really feel like this book overuses common tropes. For me it was an exciting and engaging read.
Not sure why the second book is considered not to be good? Because I sure enjoyed reading it. Such a nice cast of diverse characters too. We have have disabled characters, poc characters, hijabi characters, etc. These series should get a lot more attention!
Edit- after thinking about is for a little while, I can see how some of the tropes are overused and the romance is a little bland tbh. But I don’t read enough YA to really feel like this book overuses common tropes. For me it was an exciting and engaging read.
I can’t wait to read the next one, but I don’t know when that will be because my local library does not have it
Another good installment in this series! I think this is my second favorite (the first book is by far the best) and it has brought together a lot of the storylines from the previous books in the series. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall all I enjoyed it and I am absolutely going to read the 5th book when it gets released.
This was my first retelling of East of the Sun West of the Moon. Overall I enjoyed reading it, however there were some parts I found somewhat boring.
I really liked the historical aspect of this retelling. I liked how the author incorporated aspects of medieval/renaissance life into the narrative. The tools and gear that Rose used throughout the novel was a delight to learn about.
Rose is a young woman growing up in Norway. She is “North-born” which means she has a inherent desire to travel. When her family is struggling to survive, she agrees to go with a White Bear. She travels with the White Bear to his castle and lives there in splendor, although she is homesick. Something comes to her every night in the dark and although she guesses that it is the White Bear, she is unsure. During a visit home, her mother supplies her with a candle and flint and one night she lights the candle to view her guest. Surprised by the young man in her bed, she accidentally drops hot wax on him. He is whisked away by the Troll Queen to be his bride to the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Rose must journey there to rescue him from a life doomed with the Troll Queen.
Firstly, there are several differences between the fairy tale and this retelling. It’s very PG (no impregnated young woman unlike the story and other retellings). Rose also doesn’t meet the Four Winds on her journey, but rather meets a French woman and her daughter, a alcoholic Viking named Thor, and an Inuit woman who acts as her guide through the Arctic. This part of the book was my favorite. I loved the section of Rose traveling North, and all the people she met, all the learned and experienced. This was really the best part of the book. Rose arriving at the Ice Palace and scheming a way to free her White Bear was also a good section. I thought Rose to be a great character who is very brave, smart and resourceful.
Parts that I didn’t care too much for were the beginning, and all of Neddy, Father’s and the Troll Queen’s chapters. I merely skimmed these and waited to get back to Rose’s chapters. The ‘poem-like’ White Bear chapters also irked me.
When I picked up the book I’d hadn’t realized that several year ago, I had also read the authors two other books, Hero’s Song and Fire Arrow. From what I remember as an young teenager I enjoyed reading them. The writing style leaves a bit to be desired, it is very plain and simple.
Overall I enjoyed this retelling and I thought it was a good winter read.
3/5 stars
I really liked the historical aspect of this retelling. I liked how the author incorporated aspects of medieval/renaissance life into the narrative. The tools and gear that Rose used throughout the novel was a delight to learn about.
Rose is a young woman growing up in Norway. She is “North-born” which means she has a inherent desire to travel. When her family is struggling to survive, she agrees to go with a White Bear. She travels with the White Bear to his castle and lives there in splendor, although she is homesick. Something comes to her every night in the dark and although she guesses that it is the White Bear, she is unsure. During a visit home, her mother supplies her with a candle and flint and one night she lights the candle to view her guest. Surprised by the young man in her bed, she accidentally drops hot wax on him. He is whisked away by the Troll Queen to be his bride to the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Rose must journey there to rescue him from a life doomed with the Troll Queen.
Firstly, there are several differences between the fairy tale and this retelling. It’s very PG (no impregnated young woman unlike the story and other retellings). Rose also doesn’t meet the Four Winds on her journey, but rather meets a French woman and her daughter, a alcoholic Viking named Thor, and an Inuit woman who acts as her guide through the Arctic. This part of the book was my favorite. I loved the section of Rose traveling North, and all the people she met, all the learned and experienced. This was really the best part of the book. Rose arriving at the Ice Palace and scheming a way to free her White Bear was also a good section. I thought Rose to be a great character who is very brave, smart and resourceful.
Parts that I didn’t care too much for were the beginning, and all of Neddy, Father’s and the Troll Queen’s chapters. I merely skimmed these and waited to get back to Rose’s chapters. The ‘poem-like’ White Bear chapters also irked me.
When I picked up the book I’d hadn’t realized that several year ago, I had also read the authors two other books, Hero’s Song and Fire Arrow. From what I remember as an young teenager I enjoyed reading them. The writing style leaves a bit to be desired, it is very plain and simple.
Overall I enjoyed this retelling and I thought it was a good winter read.
3/5 stars
The library at my old Middle School has this book, and it always caught my eye, however I never checked it out. Something about the title and the cover always drew me to it. Every once in a while I would randomly think about this book, and always regret not having read it when I had the chance. Now, many years after my middle school days, I’ve finally done it. Since I’ve always remembered the book, I think I was always destined to be a Neil Gaiman fan, but 10 year old me had no idea at the time.
I’m a big Neil Gaiman fan now, but never having read any of his short stories, I thought this was a good place to start. There were several I liked, and several I didn’t care much for. I liked Troll Bridge, October in the Chair, Chivalry, the Price, and the lovely little poem at the end, Instructions. The rest were okay. Now onto Coraline!
I’m a big Neil Gaiman fan now, but never having read any of his short stories, I thought this was a good place to start. There were several I liked, and several I didn’t care much for. I liked Troll Bridge, October in the Chair, Chivalry, the Price, and the lovely little poem at the end, Instructions. The rest were okay. Now onto Coraline!
