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bagelbug's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mcurii's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
canarynoir's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't love this which I think was in part an issue with the narration (though good, the narrator didn't differentiate the voices enough nor the editing include enough of a pause to cue the listener to the change in character) and in part an issue with everything taking a bit too long to happen.
After starting with three character narrators who we got to know well, adding several more at random intervals as the story continued felt to me as if we were losing the cohesion of the story.
The ending was nice and the parallels to various older tales and legends woven in were cool, but recognizing those elements did give away some plot twists which undercut the moments in which they happened.
After starting with three character narrators who we got to know well, adding several more at random intervals as the story continued felt to me as if we were losing the cohesion of the story.
The ending was nice and the parallels to various older tales and legends woven in were cool, but recognizing those elements did give away some plot twists which undercut the moments in which they happened.
womanistdoc's review against another edition
2.0
I’ll say something nice first: the author can write some beautiful prose. Her descriptions of landscapes, interior design, wardrobe are painstakingly and lovingly detailed.
The only issue is that many of these don’t push the story along, they’re just indulgent window dressing. Likewise, although I enjoyed the multiple narrators and seeing different sides of the same event from different points of view, we don’t need to hear no less than 4x exactly how the bad guy (the demon) is bad and what his evil plan is. It gets repetitive and slows down the action leading to the big climactic battle quite a bit.
For a book deeply concerned with morality, there seems to be a lot that goes undiscussed — the rapes and murders committed by the Staryk raiders, the way the novel shrugs about the Tsar’s (and the Staryk king’s) verbal and emotional abuse of those around him because he’s just so brooding and tortured.
The only issue is that many of these don’t push the story along, they’re just indulgent window dressing. Likewise, although I enjoyed the multiple narrators and seeing different sides of the same event from different points of view, we don’t need to hear no less than 4x exactly how the bad guy (the demon) is bad and what his evil plan is. It gets repetitive and slows down the action leading to the big climactic battle quite a bit.
For a book deeply concerned with morality, there seems to be a lot that goes undiscussed — the rapes and murders committed by the Staryk raiders, the way the novel shrugs about the Tsar’s (and the Staryk king’s) verbal and emotional abuse of those around him because he’s just so brooding and tortured.
roulettegirl's review against another edition
5.0
Captivating
Absolutely gorgeous reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin, interwoven with Russian and Jewish culture, religion, and mythology. Three wonderful young women as the protagonists, and a mixture of other fully realized POVs.
Absolutely gorgeous reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin, interwoven with Russian and Jewish culture, religion, and mythology. Three wonderful young women as the protagonists, and a mixture of other fully realized POVs.
jawignall's review against another edition
5.0
Yes yes yes. LOVED this book. I loved how it switched between narrators but stayed with first person (everyone the protagonist of their own story), how it felt with the the mythology juxtaposed with historical fiction (Jewish people and magic elves? yes please), and the bad ass women at the heart of the story. It emphasized the power of the mind to do magic and the power of finding your people/family (even if they aren't who you were born to). And also the experience of reading this was such a pleasure.
grace134's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book I re-read fairly regularly.
It is perfect.
It is perfect.
gmknoble's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely fantastic characters. A book I will remember, and recommended to my daughter when she gets bigger. Such a cast of badass heroines!