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votesforwomen's review
2.0
So I made myself finish this. I did receive it in exchange for a review, but review was not required.
I'll be quite honest--I hated this book. I'm going to try to find some good things, but we'll see. XD
POSITIVES:
+The 1400s was kind of a cool setting! I didn't feel like it was utilized as much as it could have been, but that's an era I haven't read a ton of fiction from.
+Childhood friends to lovers is a trope I enjoy, so the fact that it was present (despite the fact that I wasn't thrilled with the way it was executed) was fun.
+Abu, while not a terribly interesting character, was cute.
NEGATIVES:
-Oh boy, where to start.
-For one thing there's the awkward fact that while this is ADVERTISED as an Aladdin retelling, other than the obvious fact that the male lead was named Aladdin and he had a little sidekick named Abu, I couldn't have told that for the life of me. I can kind of find some parallels? But for the most part they were not present at all.
-The characters were incredibly flat, and also insanely Mary-Sue and Gary-Stu-ish. The only word I can come up with to describe Aladdin is "perfect." Don't believe me? Take the word of the other characters for it. They probably called him that fifty times over the course of this novel. Aladdin is perfect. Kirstyn is beautiful. Abu is young. Michael is cruel. There's no depth to these characters, and it made it incredibly difficult to care about any of them. Eventually, I stopped trying.
-The writing style is uninspired, flat, and rank with "telling not showing." I'll concede that this is something I need to work on myself...I'm not always good at writing with showing and not telling. But in a published book by a famous author? I don't know. I never connected with the world, and I felt like the scenes that were supposed to be suspenseful were way too short and undetailed.
-On that note, I was never genuinely worried about the characters at all. So there's that.
-The world was simply never clear to me. Like, they were constantly talking about Aladdin being "King Midas with the golden touch" but when did that story originate? Was it around in the 1400s? I'm just not sure. And then there were some other things that maybe I simply wasn't picturing right...but again, it just didn't make sense.
-The dialogue. Oh, the dialogue. So cringey. I'm sorry. It was...sad, honestly.
In context: They are drinking water from a stream in the woods. They're like twelve.
Kirstyn: "It's refreshing. Try some."
Aladdin: "Good. Whoever lived here chose a favorable spot for fresh water."
This is just a random example. The book is full of dialogue like this, and I'm...just not a fan. Sorry. :/
-Then the sheer number of flashbacks to Aladdin and Kirstyn's childhood walks in the woods, where apparently all they ever did was talk about what good friends they were and how they never wanted this to change. I...don't know how accurate this is. Seems like they should have a lot more memories of chasing each other through a forest and swimming and playing games than of telling each other how much they love each other (JUST AS FRIENDS!!!!!) as little kids.
-The plot was kind of all over the place. I just....was there a plot, beyond Aladdin becoming successful? Besides the romance? I don't even know.
I'm going to give this book 2.5 stars, because I did finish it and I really tried to find a couple of positive things to say about it. But overall? I did not like this book. That doesn't mean I don't recommend it...this is more a matter of personal taste than anything, I think. But it does mean that I don't think I'll be reading anything more by this author in future. A pity...I had really hoped to like this one.
I'll be quite honest--I hated this book. I'm going to try to find some good things, but we'll see. XD
POSITIVES:
+The 1400s was kind of a cool setting! I didn't feel like it was utilized as much as it could have been, but that's an era I haven't read a ton of fiction from.
+Childhood friends to lovers is a trope I enjoy, so the fact that it was present (despite the fact that I wasn't thrilled with the way it was executed) was fun.
+Abu, while not a terribly interesting character, was cute.
NEGATIVES:
-Oh boy, where to start.
-For one thing there's the awkward fact that while this is ADVERTISED as an Aladdin retelling, other than the obvious fact that the male lead was named Aladdin and he had a little sidekick named Abu, I couldn't have told that for the life of me. I can kind of find some parallels? But for the most part they were not present at all.
-The characters were incredibly flat, and also insanely Mary-Sue and Gary-Stu-ish. The only word I can come up with to describe Aladdin is "perfect." Don't believe me? Take the word of the other characters for it. They probably called him that fifty times over the course of this novel. Aladdin is perfect. Kirstyn is beautiful. Abu is young. Michael is cruel. There's no depth to these characters, and it made it incredibly difficult to care about any of them. Eventually, I stopped trying.
-The writing style is uninspired, flat, and rank with "telling not showing." I'll concede that this is something I need to work on myself...I'm not always good at writing with showing and not telling. But in a published book by a famous author? I don't know. I never connected with the world, and I felt like the scenes that were supposed to be suspenseful were way too short and undetailed.
-On that note, I was never genuinely worried about the characters at all. So there's that.
-The world was simply never clear to me. Like, they were constantly talking about Aladdin being "King Midas with the golden touch" but when did that story originate? Was it around in the 1400s? I'm just not sure. And then there were some other things that maybe I simply wasn't picturing right...but again, it just didn't make sense.
-The dialogue. Oh, the dialogue. So cringey. I'm sorry. It was...sad, honestly.
In context: They are drinking water from a stream in the woods. They're like twelve.
Kirstyn: "It's refreshing. Try some."
Aladdin: "Good. Whoever lived here chose a favorable spot for fresh water."
This is just a random example. The book is full of dialogue like this, and I'm...just not a fan. Sorry. :/
-Then the sheer number of flashbacks to Aladdin and Kirstyn's childhood walks in the woods, where apparently all they ever did was talk about what good friends they were and how they never wanted this to change. I...don't know how accurate this is. Seems like they should have a lot more memories of chasing each other through a forest and swimming and playing games than of telling each other how much they love each other (JUST AS FRIENDS!!!!!) as little kids.
-The plot was kind of all over the place. I just....was there a plot, beyond Aladdin becoming successful? Besides the romance? I don't even know.
I'm going to give this book 2.5 stars, because I did finish it and I really tried to find a couple of positive things to say about it. But overall? I did not like this book. That doesn't mean I don't recommend it...this is more a matter of personal taste than anything, I think. But it does mean that I don't think I'll be reading anything more by this author in future. A pity...I had really hoped to like this one.
epaigessss's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
elizabethnadine's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A retelling of Aladdin set it 1400s Germany. This book from the series definitely surprised me! I liked it even more than I expected. I loved the characters. The twists and turns kept me very engaged.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racism
kay_slayerofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I've been picking up A LOT of fairytale retellings and reimaginings lately. This is one of the best Aladdin retelling/reimagining I've read so far. Really enjoyed this.
abbycostello1999's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
beastreader's review
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this take on "Aladdin". It is not the one that you have come to know and love from Disney but a different one that is just as good.
After the passing of his mother; Aladdin finds himself just another street thief. This is until a priest rescues Aladdin and takes him home to live with him. Aladdin meets Kirstyn. They share an instant connection. A very close bond. One that grows stronger when Aladdin saves Kirstyn from a bear. The story continues with Aladdin saving Kirstyn again later in live from kidnappers. Yet, the bond that they share never breaks.
Author, Melanie Dickerson weaves a glorious story filled with endearing characters and a great storyline. I loved both Kirstyn and Aladdin. Their bond is an unbreakable one. I was so into this story that I could not stop reading. The Orphan's Wish had me spellbound.
After the passing of his mother; Aladdin finds himself just another street thief. This is until a priest rescues Aladdin and takes him home to live with him. Aladdin meets Kirstyn. They share an instant connection. A very close bond. One that grows stronger when Aladdin saves Kirstyn from a bear. The story continues with Aladdin saving Kirstyn again later in live from kidnappers. Yet, the bond that they share never breaks.
Author, Melanie Dickerson weaves a glorious story filled with endearing characters and a great storyline. I loved both Kirstyn and Aladdin. Their bond is an unbreakable one. I was so into this story that I could not stop reading. The Orphan's Wish had me spellbound.
cfaith22's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
thatlizhunter's review
1.0
I did NOT enjoy this book at all. I only kept reading because it was from Netgalley and I had to read it.
It was just bad, okay? for so many reasons.
1) The enforced westernization and inherent anti-islam attitude.
Apparently, if the "christian" priest isn't around, poor orphans will be abused by cruel Islamic masters. Never mind the countless abuse stories we know of from Christian history. Remember the Children's Crusades? Where Christian priest sent orphans to evangelize Islamic countries, only to turn them over the slavers at the Mediterranean?
This anti-Islam attitude is front and center from the very first page. If Aladdin hasn't been taken by the German priest, he would died an orphan in the "holy land" Also, the priest randomly said his native name was too hard to pronounce, so he randomly renames the six year old. Wow.
2) Mary Sue Characters
everyone in this book is a two dimensional, flat character. I nearly barfed at the treatment of the Duke's Daughter, Kristyn. her relationship with Alladin is solely made up of past walks through the woods.
And how many times do we need to be reminded how far out of Alladin's league Kristyn is? For one, it's patronizing. And two, there's absolutely no other girls that have ever caught Alladin's interest? Come on.
3) Boring, predictable plot
Um, was this an actual retelling? Here, Alladin is the epitome of goodness, not a questionable young man. And there's no real competition for Kristyn's hand. It's just boring. Mostly flashbacks and predictable actions so that these two washed out characters can finally be together.
4) Ameturish writing
The dialogue made me cringe, OVER AND OVER again. Seriously, I felt like editing just didn't happen. Add a predicable, boring story to flat storytelling and this book was just painful to read.
In conclusion
I cannot being to describe my disappointment. I've read Melanie Dickerson before, but her Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood retelling were interesting, at the very least. And they didn't slam Arabic cultures for the sake of promoting Christianity. And not just christianity, but very western practices. I cannot recommend this book or author anymore.
ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
It was just bad, okay? for so many reasons.
1) The enforced westernization and inherent anti-islam attitude.
Apparently, if the "christian" priest isn't around, poor orphans will be abused by cruel Islamic masters. Never mind the countless abuse stories we know of from Christian history. Remember the Children's Crusades? Where Christian priest sent orphans to evangelize Islamic countries, only to turn them over the slavers at the Mediterranean?
This anti-Islam attitude is front and center from the very first page. If Aladdin hasn't been taken by the German priest, he would died an orphan in the "holy land" Also, the priest randomly said his native name was too hard to pronounce, so he randomly renames the six year old. Wow.
2) Mary Sue Characters
everyone in this book is a two dimensional, flat character. I nearly barfed at the treatment of the Duke's Daughter, Kristyn. her relationship with Alladin is solely made up of past walks through the woods.
And how many times do we need to be reminded how far out of Alladin's league Kristyn is? For one, it's patronizing. And two, there's absolutely no other girls that have ever caught Alladin's interest? Come on.
3) Boring, predictable plot
Um, was this an actual retelling? Here, Alladin is the epitome of goodness, not a questionable young man. And there's no real competition for Kristyn's hand. It's just boring. Mostly flashbacks and predictable actions so that these two washed out characters can finally be together.
4) Ameturish writing
The dialogue made me cringe, OVER AND OVER again. Seriously, I felt like editing just didn't happen. Add a predicable, boring story to flat storytelling and this book was just painful to read.
In conclusion
I cannot being to describe my disappointment. I've read Melanie Dickerson before, but her Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood retelling were interesting, at the very least. And they didn't slam Arabic cultures for the sake of promoting Christianity. And not just christianity, but very western practices. I cannot recommend this book or author anymore.
ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.