forestfantasy's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
hannah_curtis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
readermeetsbook's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant multi-layer story that draws from classic fairy tales and twists them making readers think about fairytales in new ways. Great nod to fairytales and readers' role in them. I can't wait to see where the story will go in the sequel!
geekerella_x's review against another edition
3.0
The ending was the better part of this book. I love the idea of the book and the story and yes it's probably intentional with the way they are written but my god the main characters are annoying! Half the time I was reading I just wanted to jump in the book and slap them both 🤣
aelynreads's review against another edition
3.0
I feel incredibly frustrated by this book. I really loved the premise of the story and the concept of a School for Good and Evil, but I also felt let down by certain aspects of the book.
I was hooked on the concept from the beginning and enjoyed reading about the girls, their friendship and their first forays at the school. However, the pace of the plot dropped significantly quite soon after they arrived at the school. I found myself having to plough through, hoping it would pick back up. It did (eventually) but not until past the halfway point and I struggled to connect with the characters after that.
What I'm most confused and frustrated about is the message of the story. It seemed like the message was "it doesn't matter what you look like, it's what's inside that counts", but then that message is contradicted so many times. Like how Agatha only started gaining friends after she cared more for her appearance. And like how, at the end, Dot
It also felt at times like the book was trying to fight against the sexist message of traditional fairy tales, but then they were still very prevalent and unchallenged for the majority of the story. Like how the boys learn how to fight while the girls are in "Beautification" class. I'm not kidding. And besides Agatha scoffing slightly at it, everyone just accepts it.
I did enjoy the conclusion of the story (although I had guessed a lot of the "reveals") and I'm excited to see where the next book is going to go.
I was hooked on the concept from the beginning and enjoyed reading about the girls, their friendship and their first forays at the school. However, the pace of the plot dropped significantly quite soon after they arrived at the school. I found myself having to plough through, hoping it would pick back up. It did (eventually) but not until past the halfway point and I struggled to connect with the characters after that.
What I'm most confused and frustrated about is the message of the story. It seemed like the message was "it doesn't matter what you look like, it's what's inside that counts", but then that message is contradicted so many times. Like how Agatha only started gaining friends
Spoiler
(and Tedros only started being interested in her)Spoiler
becomes beautiful by losing weight. "Dot's rotund body grew hourglass curves" is included in the list of how the Evil students become beautiful and, while I appreciate that at least it didn't say she became thin, it's still pretty fatphobic.It also felt at times like the book was trying to fight against the sexist message of traditional fairy tales, but then they were still very prevalent and unchallenged for the majority of the story. Like how the boys learn how to fight while the girls are in "Beautification" class. I'm not kidding. And besides Agatha scoffing slightly at it, everyone just accepts it.
I did enjoy the conclusion of the story (although I had guessed a lot of the "reveals") and I'm excited to see where the next book is going to go.
Spoiler
fingers-crossed they're fully gay and Tedros bogs offbookcats's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
scott_thelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so much fun! I loved the deviation from a typical fairytale.
flamingo2023's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
daffodill37's review against another edition
1.0
(Audio)
This book had a lot of problematic messaging. Other reviewers have already done a good job of pointing out a lot of the issues here. I'd say my biggest issues/concerns are around the ages of these children and what they're being forced to do, beauty standards, sexuality, what it means to be good vs. Evil.
On top of all that, I was just bored.
Bad bad.
This book had a lot of problematic messaging. Other reviewers have already done a good job of pointing out a lot of the issues here. I'd say my biggest issues/concerns are around the ages of these children and what they're being forced to do, beauty standards, sexuality, what it means to be good vs. Evil.
On top of all that, I was just bored.
Bad bad.
mythos05's review against another edition
3.0
Original: 5/5
New rating: 3/5
I've been meaning to change the rating for a while now. Although I love the book, I can admit that it has too many flaws. I couldn't stand the queer baiting. I don't think the kiss between Agatha and Sophie should have been included especially when the author planned to make Agatha choose the prince in the end anyway. It was also weird in which he tried to justify the kiss by making it be done out of sisterly love.
New rating: 3/5
I've been meaning to change the rating for a while now. Although I love the book, I can admit that it has too many flaws. I couldn't stand the queer baiting. I don't think the kiss between Agatha and Sophie should have been included especially when the author planned to make Agatha choose the prince in the end anyway. It was also weird in which he tried to justify the kiss by making it be done out of sisterly love.