canadianbookaddict's review
3.0
It was taking me longer than I had planned to read this book. The story was ok but I found it could have been shorter.
itadakinasu's review
3.0
Despite the 3-star rating, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Gretel. It reads a lot like a 2nd rate zombie movie plays: action-packed, gory, and thrilling. Likewise, it lacks a lot of character development and drags at points, relying mostly on plot twists that don't seem to add much to the story and gore to maintain the momentum. While some of the twists are significant and genuinely difficult to see coming, some felt forced and meaningless.
My primary complaint with Gretel is the lack of character development. The main character, Gretel, is the only one that undergoes any real development despite the circumstances. Her development is paced well and fleshed out nicely. However, Hansel and the other supporting characters don't receive even remotely similar levels of attention, thus making character reunions and relationships lack the oomph that could've been achieved, given the severity of hardships faced by the cast. This opportunity is especially missed for Gretel's mom, in my opinion.
Some secondary complaints include: too many fluff passages, a dry beginning, editing issues, and unnecessary plot twists. These things altogether detracted from the awesome story.
Overall, if Gretel had been properly edited and the development of supporting characters given some more thought, I would have happily given it a 5/5.
My primary complaint with Gretel is the lack of character development. The main character, Gretel, is the only one that undergoes any real development despite the circumstances. Her development is paced well and fleshed out nicely. However, Hansel and the other supporting characters don't receive even remotely similar levels of attention, thus making character reunions and relationships lack the oomph that could've been achieved, given the severity of hardships faced by the cast. This opportunity is especially missed for Gretel's mom, in my opinion.
Some secondary complaints include: too many fluff passages, a dry beginning, editing issues, and unnecessary plot twists. These things altogether detracted from the awesome story.
Overall, if Gretel had been properly edited and the development of supporting characters given some more thought, I would have happily given it a 5/5.
snowbenton's review
1.0
The premise was very cool: The evil witch eats people to make herself immortal, Hansel and Gretel are the children abandoned when the witch starts eating their mother. The introduction was frightening and exciting.
But then it all went downhill, steadily worse every page, until the ending was nearly unreadable.
The characterizations were nonexistent, the plot was stagnant, the violence was too gross to be enjoyable and too frequent to be scary, the pacing was impossibly slow. This book needed an editor to cut it down to 150 pages and it would have been a fun Halloween read.
But then it all went downhill, steadily worse every page, until the ending was nearly unreadable.
The characterizations were nonexistent, the plot was stagnant, the violence was too gross to be enjoyable and too frequent to be scary, the pacing was impossibly slow. This book needed an editor to cut it down to 150 pages and it would have been a fun Halloween read.
stierbri's review
1.0
This may be the worst book I’ve ever read. It had such great potential, but there’s nothing scary or even suspenseful here. Run away very far and very fast from this book!
stiricide's review
1.0
The opening was slow going and I DNF'd at the first instance of the author referring to a 14 year old girl as "shapely". No patience left for this nonsense, zero.
heatherinthenether's review
4.0
Story is good, writing is just ok
The story was a great retelling with a lot of fantastic spins, but the writing is a little overwrought. Still, I enjoyed it and might end up trying the next one.
The story was a great retelling with a lot of fantastic spins, but the writing is a little overwrought. Still, I enjoyed it and might end up trying the next one.
skyfox24kd's review
5.0
This is a really cool retelling of the story I never would have thought of. It mostly has to do with the witches and how they consume the children and why. It was really good. At the end it said there would be another one coming, so I'm glad. This all has to do with family, ancient mysticism called Orphism, and the obsession some have with wanting to live forever, no matter what they have to do or who might get hurt in the process.
It was really creepy, yet you could even understand the witches' point of view at times. I got attached to the characters and really liked Gretel.
It was really creepy, yet you could even understand the witches' point of view at times. I got attached to the characters and really liked Gretel.
danylle's review
3.0
New twist on the old story... but wait besides brother and sister and there being witches what’s the same?? The book is entertaining, easy read, it’s slower pace until end but the characters are believable and well developed.
bad_wolf95's review
4.0
Well-written, different and interesting take on the classic Hansel and Gretel fairytale. It definitely holds a darker tone, as many of the truly classic takes do, so I wouldn't recommend for young children or those who prefer to skip the scarier, suspenseful stories.
bellisimamia1970's review
5.0
Loved it ,
I love twisted tales ! This book was thrilling ! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I love twisted tales ! This book was thrilling ! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.