The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
uranaishi's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Physical abuse, and Classism
Minor: Pregnancy, Child death, Murder, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cursing, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal death, and Religious bigotry
yomireads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A very cute story that subverts genre expectations. It blends the notion of fairy tales, fae, locked towers, and love in a lighthearted story.
Because it is a short novella it lacks the depth of character chemistry between Halim and Toadling, but suspension of disbelief works in favor of their interactions.Â
The plot reolution felt very ill considered. I'd have preferred a moment of character growth for a decision to have been made. As is, it robs the characters the impact of choice and feels incredibly anticlimactic. The story's conclusion, however, was very sweet and I was happy with the wrapup.Â
My only other critique is truly just a personal matter concerned the handling of "changlings" as a whole. Knowing now that in the past, "
changlings were just abused children with autism or other undiagnosed mental illnesses, the messaging feels off-color. I know this isnt the author's intention, and that within much faerie lore they kinda exist in this grey area of magical and painfully real, so it's not awful. But it's hard not to see as wrong from a historical standpoint. Even if it's relatively harmless since we no longer believe autistic children are changelings.Â
Because it is a short novella it lacks the depth of character chemistry between Halim and Toadling, but suspension of disbelief works in favor of their interactions.Â
The plot reolution felt very ill considered. I'd have preferred a moment of character growth for a decision to have been made. As is, it robs the characters the impact of choice and feels incredibly anticlimactic. The story's conclusion, however, was very sweet and I was happy with the wrapup.Â
My only other critique is truly just a personal matter concerned the handling of "changlings" as a whole. Knowing now that in the past, "
changlings were just abused children with autism or other undiagnosed mental illnesses, the messaging feels off-color. I know this isnt the author's intention, and that within much faerie lore they kinda exist in this grey area of magical and painfully real, so it's not awful. But it's hard not to see as wrong from a historical standpoint. Even if it's relatively harmless since we no longer believe autistic children are changelings.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Torture
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Religious bigotry, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Suicide
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