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amycbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
leann_bolesch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was all about this until the ending. I loved the set up for the family curse, the slight eerieness about Mathilda and the growth of the various characters. The magic was nicely done in a way that gave a sense of firm limits while still maintaining a broad scope and a sense of uncertainty that works well in a more fairy tale-like setting. Elva, too, was a good character, and I liked her relationship with Cay and Mathilda. Even Agnes I enjoyed, with the conflict between her good nature and the pressure she caved to from her husband to abuse her friendship to Mathilda. I would have given this five stars if it weren't for the ending.
SpoilerI dislike stories where it feels like nothing matters, or like the protagonist dies needlessly at the end of the book. Elva's death isn't MEANINGLESS in that it drives Mathilda's growth, but it feels pretty meaningless when Mathilda was already recognizing that she played a part in pushing others away before she learned of Elva's situation, and when you don't get to see the fruits of her growth except implied via the family tree at the back of the book. The self-fulfilling prophecy where Elva kills herself causing the storm she began experimenting with magic to prevent all left me with the sense that everything would have been better off if she had never dabbled in magic at all, and that the only real moral was that her mother shouldn't have broken her promise... which is a little hard to accept as the moral of the story when Elva dies shortly after breaking her own promise in a way that even Mathilda treats as comparable before later acknowledging was justified.
SpoilerI dislike stories where it feels like nothing matters, or like the protagonist dies needlessly at the end of the book. Elva's death isn't MEANINGLESS in that it drives Mathilda's growth, but it feels pretty meaningless when Mathilda was already recognizing that she played a part in pushing others away before she learned of Elva's situation, and when you don't get to see the fruits of her growth except implied via the family tree at the back of the book. The self-fulfilling prophecy where Elva kills herself causing the storm she began experimenting with magic to prevent all left me with the sense that everything would have been better off if she had never dabbled in magic at all, and that the only real moral was that her mother shouldn't have broken her promise... which is a little hard to accept as the moral of the story when Elva dies shortly after breaking her own promise in a way that even Mathilda treats as comparable before later acknowledging was justified.
bak8382's review against another edition
4.0
This is the kickoff to a new series written by different authors, but following the curse of the same family through several generations. I heard Dao discussing this book series on Marissa Meyer's podcast https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/ and the line up of additional authors ([a:Dhonielle Clayton|7359319|Dhonielle Clayton|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1517526815p2/7359319.jpg], [a:J.C. Cervantes|16948228|J.C. Cervantes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1535749086p2/16948228.jpg], and [a:L.L. McKinney|16354343|L.L. McKinney|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1485606521p2/16354343.jpg] sounded so good I immediately picked this up. Dao discussed a couple of additions she did at the other author's requests, and now I want to go back and listen to the podcast again now that I've read the book. It's such a fun premise and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
beccasreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jdalton's review against another edition
5.0
Original fairy tale books such as this are a fresh take on the myriad of retellings (though I do love retellings). Julie does a great job at setting up the world that Elva lives in. The rules of the magic are believable and I couldn't help but think of Rumplestiltskin saying "all magic comes with a price" when it as explained.
The book is a great beginning to the next books to come as well as it's a good standalone story. While some parts may have ben predictable, I was still crying at the climax and hurting along with them.
Give this book a read if you're looking for a new fairy tale world to be sucked into that feels both familiar and awe inspiring at the same time.
The book is a great beginning to the next books to come as well as it's a good standalone story. While some parts may have ben predictable, I was still crying at the climax and hurting along with them.
Give this book a read if you're looking for a new fairy tale world to be sucked into that feels both familiar and awe inspiring at the same time.
kajh23's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this. It was a good Grimm inspired fairytale. The fact that this is the first of a 4 book series intrigued me. As a stand alone, the ending kind of disappoints, but as a stepping stone to the next novel, it’s great.
annorabrady's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This cozy fantasy is worth the read. I do wish, though, there was more of an answer as to why the willow door existed the idea that it was "to give her imagination an outlet" doesn't seem to make much sense considering the repercussions of using it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting