jla's review
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Spoiler
This was really fast and engrossing. This retelling was really well done. I was surprised that the first 20% was kind of comedic. Then the book got a bit sad and dark in the last 10%.I got pretty tired of Serilda yelling ,"Wait! Stop! " How many times was the Erlking going to fall for that? I was also a bit disappointed that he wasn't redeemed. I was kind of rooting for him, but that's probably a toxic trait of mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
passionatereader78's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is well written. I liked the overall story. I was frustrating at times because the main character has all of the information in front of her but can't comprehend it. I loved the guilded prince, the princess, the forest folk, and the ghosts. The dark castle was spooky and creepy with the different creatures. Serilda is now cursed with the guilded prince. They are trying to find a way to break the curse and set everyone free.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Torture, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Confinement, Slavery, Violence, Animal death, Murder, and Toxic relationship
katewheels13's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
2.0
I actually dnfed this book around 300 pages. It dragged on and it felt like I was just reading a series of psychological torture throughout. It just wasn’t enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Emotional abuse
kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Child death, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Blood
thattheatrekid's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I liked this book! I read it in half a day. However, I agree with other reviews that it moved either very slow or very fast in parts and the whole pacing was very weird. Also, this had a darker tone than the last one (especially at the beginning) and there were a lot of moments that the situation seemed impossible. Normally I’d say that’s a great thing for a book but Meyer really walked the line between hopeless/depressing and tense/hopeful. Most of the book I wasn’t hopeful or excited to see how Serilda would navigate the situation; it was more like wondering which characters would get killed off next. I was so used to important characters dying that I didn’t get attached too quickly because for all I knew, the story could not have a happily ever after at all. It’s either good writing or bad writing and I can’t decide which. But Meyer as a writer is very gifted and I love her other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Violence
turnthepages_nl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
3.0
It's not bad, but the pacing was off for me. Too slow in most places and the action sequences were too fast. I also saw some plottwists coming which took the fun out.
Erlen was amazing tho and she made it more enjoyable.
Marissa Meyer had to fill in a nine month gap, because the original story doesnt tell about that time. But her version sadly did not satisfy me.
If she didnt do the plottwist at the end of book 1, gilded could be a standalone novel. It didnt work as a duology for me because I feel like I didnt get to know the characters better...
I was in a fantasy mood, but this book did not quench my thirst. And I'm so sad about it because I love Marissa's other books!
I hope you loved this story more than I did <3
Erlen was amazing tho and she made it more enjoyable.
Marissa Meyer had to fill in a nine month gap, because the original story doesnt tell about that time. But her version sadly did not satisfy me.
If she didnt do the plottwist at the end of book 1, gilded could be a standalone novel. It didnt work as a duology for me because I feel like I didnt get to know the characters better...
I was in a fantasy mood, but this book did not quench my thirst. And I'm so sad about it because I love Marissa's other books!
I hope you loved this story more than I did <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Animal cruelty, Death, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Child death, Blood, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
badbrhireads's review
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
this book was a frustrating read. i truly truly disliked the protagonist and felt as though the plot could have been condensed into one book. felt like some scenes were there for no actual reason but to have words on a page. i do think meyers’ has beautiful imagery for setting the mood but just felt very off. i had my hopes up because the ending of the first book picked up quite a bit but u honestly didnt need to read the first book it just got explained in the beginning. lots of thoughts… first time that i dreaded reading and i really wanted to enjoy this fairytale
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Pregnancy
jburson's review
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Probably my own complete lack of maternal sentiments but I just couldn't get behind the sudden devotion to her unborn child when it wasn't something she wanted in the first place and when, because of magic
Spoiler
its growing completely separate from her inside her physical body and she's a spirit for 99% of the narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Pregnancy
voldycat's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Animal cruelty, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Rape, War, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Grief, and Child abuse
Minor: Abandonment
clairew97's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Infertility, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy