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flswampthing's review against another edition
4.0
3.5⭐️
i really enjoyed how this story was framed. An academic being brought this story for translation. I had a hard time connecting with Helewise through the middle of the book. I found her intriguing and a protagonist to root for through the beginning and the very end, but throughout most of the story I was frustrated with her. She had me so annoyed at her; sometimes I found myself shaking the book trying to get her to do something different!
i really enjoyed how this story was framed. An academic being brought this story for translation. I had a hard time connecting with Helewise through the middle of the book. I found her intriguing and a protagonist to root for through the beginning and the very end, but throughout most of the story I was frustrated with her. She had me so annoyed at her; sometimes I found myself shaking the book trying to get her to do something different!
justicesky's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I absolutely loved this book. The Book of Gothel is a fairytale reimagining of Mother Gothel from the Rapunzel. Basically an origin story. Haelewise is her name. Haelewise goes through so many trials and heartbreak throughout this book. She was isolated in her home and village. After her mother passes she is alone and ventures of to a tower her mother told her about. The tower Gothel. She encounters a runaway princess. So many things happen. Haelewise spent her life in love with childhood best friend. I don’t want to ruin anything for anyone so I won’t go into too many details. I recommend reading this book if you’re someone who enjoys fairytale reimaginings as well as “villain” origin stories. I could not stop reading this book.
*thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
*thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
musingsofmocha's review against another edition
4.0
An accessible reflection on faith and the duality of Spirit with a witchy-magickal vibe, I definitely enjoyed this read. I could not recommend this to everyone, but if you love YA fiction, witchy reads, and fairytale retellings, this book will check all the boxes in a good way.
I appreciate being given the new word "mother-greed"; that all encompassing love connection between babe and caregiver that feels almost overwhelming. McMyne went there and explored the nuances of motherhood in its beauty and terror.
Solid book. *nodding head reverently*
I appreciate being given the new word "mother-greed"; that all encompassing love connection between babe and caregiver that feels almost overwhelming. McMyne went there and explored the nuances of motherhood in its beauty and terror.
Solid book. *nodding head reverently*
jules_grable's review against another edition
4.0
I love a villain origin story where the "villain" is not actually a villain, but her story has been twisted through the annals of time. And that is exactly what The Book of Gothel offers. Haelewise is a tentative character at the start, longing for belonging and purpose, and becomes a strong woman in her own right with a thriving career helping those who most need help. She's a flawed character; she makes mistakes and gets in her own way, which makes her so incredibly relatable and human. She's a badass and I love her.
There were sprinkles of the Rapunzel story throughout the novel, but it wasn't the primary focus, which I enjoyed. It was wholly about the "villain" we've come to know as Mother Gothel. The plot seemed to wander a bit at times, playing with traditional story structure slightly. With few exceptions, everything did come full circle and tied off nicely. The ending of Haelewise's story was perfect. No Hollywood, sparkly-happy ending, but one that fit the character incredibly well and held true to the original fairy tale.
The bit that I found a bit superfluous was the modern times prologue/epilogue. It felt completely unnecessary and didn't add anything to the story for me. All in all, though, Book of Gothel was a lovely novel and I will look forward to more from this author.
There were sprinkles of the Rapunzel story throughout the novel, but it wasn't the primary focus, which I enjoyed. It was wholly about the "villain" we've come to know as Mother Gothel. The plot seemed to wander a bit at times, playing with traditional story structure slightly. With few exceptions, everything did come full circle and tied off nicely. The ending of Haelewise's story was perfect. No Hollywood, sparkly-happy ending, but one that fit the character incredibly well and held true to the original fairy tale.
The bit that I found a bit superfluous was the modern times prologue/epilogue. It felt completely unnecessary and didn't add anything to the story for me. All in all, though, Book of Gothel was a lovely novel and I will look forward to more from this author.
burtini's review against another edition
5.0
Mother Gothel tells the story of the woman behind the story of Rapunzel, the woman Haelwise before she came to hold Rapunzel in the tower as her captive. This book is fiercely feminist, it’s not the most subtle in the sense that the majority of the characters are women but they’re well built, fascinating women.
Plot wise the pacing is a little off in that you spend quite a bit of time with Haelwise first at home with her mother, and then in the tower learning her gift with Kurenburg/Mother Gothel, and in this stationary moments, this book is more about character development. For me, I didn’t have an issue with this, it just depends what you want from a book, to go somewhere or to know and understand someone/something. Essentially, for me, the book has more of that purpose, it’s not about taking you far but taking you to the character of Haelwise and helping you know her, a character you thought you knew from very little in stories. It’s a book about how women are so much more than what we appear to be, whether what you can see is of our choosing or not, we have our own truth in a world spoken by men and this book speaks it loudly to the reader.
The women in this book are warriors in their own battles, they’re loving, wise, protective and underestimated.
I particularly liked Hael’s relationship with her mother, but there were so many strong female characters brought to the page I was almost spoilt, I would have loved to have more from Beatrice as even in her few scenes she commanded such power.
This book is about motherhood, sisterhood and the spirituality of womanhood and I adored every moment of it. Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Plot wise the pacing is a little off in that you spend quite a bit of time with Haelwise first at home with her mother, and then in the tower learning her gift with Kurenburg/Mother Gothel, and in this stationary moments, this book is more about character development. For me, I didn’t have an issue with this, it just depends what you want from a book, to go somewhere or to know and understand someone/something. Essentially, for me, the book has more of that purpose, it’s not about taking you far but taking you to the character of Haelwise and helping you know her, a character you thought you knew from very little in stories. It’s a book about how women are so much more than what we appear to be, whether what you can see is of our choosing or not, we have our own truth in a world spoken by men and this book speaks it loudly to the reader.
The women in this book are warriors in their own battles, they’re loving, wise, protective and underestimated.
I particularly liked Hael’s relationship with her mother, but there were so many strong female characters brought to the page I was almost spoilt, I would have loved to have more from Beatrice as even in her few scenes she commanded such power.
This book is about motherhood, sisterhood and the spirituality of womanhood and I adored every moment of it. Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
amyregina's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ rounded down
Thank you so much to Little Brown Book Group/Orbit and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.
This was an easy, enjoyable read with a different take on Mother Gothel.
The book has no focus on the Rapunze fairytale and instead focussed on the early life of the eponymous Mother Gothel.
I did find some of the characters not to be entirely fully realised in this, I felt some of the plot points really didn’t end up being of any import, I feel like more time should have been spent on fleshing these out more or omitting them.
For me the ending felt very rushed and suddenly everything was done, I don’t feel any sense of completion as I personally found it hurriedly done.
However, the MC was overall likeable and I enjoyed when the story focussed more on the alternative religion, that plot point whilst not fully explored was definitely interesting.
Would recommend for people who enjoyed Heartless/Malice or other similar retellings.
Thank you so much to Little Brown Book Group/Orbit and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.
This was an easy, enjoyable read with a different take on Mother Gothel.
The book has no focus on the Rapunze fairytale and instead focussed on the early life of the eponymous Mother Gothel.
I did find some of the characters not to be entirely fully realised in this, I felt some of the plot points really didn’t end up being of any import, I feel like more time should have been spent on fleshing these out more or omitting them.
For me the ending felt very rushed and suddenly everything was done, I don’t feel any sense of completion as I personally found it hurriedly done.
However, the MC was overall likeable and I enjoyed when the story focussed more on the alternative religion, that plot point whilst not fully explored was definitely interesting.
Would recommend for people who enjoyed Heartless/Malice or other similar retellings.
stearlybird's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this as an audiobook but I don’t think I would have been able to get through the print book because it was a bit slow. But it felt like readings forgotten grim fairy tale.
elenasyule's review against another edition
4.0
overall a really enjoyable read! the beginning and middle are the strongest parts of the story imo, with some devastating reveals about haelewise and her mother. the ending seemed rushed compared to the rest of the slow burn story, and i wish we could’ve spent more time exploring haelewise’s relationship with other characters that seemed integral to the story. those that were introduced in the end especially seemed at best less fleshed out and at worst, forgettable. i still really liked this book despite its flaws at the end!
awitte1's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely devoured this book. It’s very atmospheric and cares deeply about the characters within. It was sad and romantic and super charming. It really only has the barest toes to the Rapunzel story and only right at the very very end, I was hoping for more of the fallout of the kidnapping story or maybe something about Rapunzel’s “rescue” or at least the name of the man she marries, but that was all quickly wrapped up in a super fast summary that could have easily been another couple of chapters. Very nice read, thanks netgalley for the copy!
sevenie's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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
3.0