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books_and_keys's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
innae's review against another edition
It’s just too dense and it is not pulling me.
jenthebest's review against another edition
4.0
The first half of this book was so off the wall I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep going. Things came together quite beautifully in the second half. I was expecting a Sleeping Beauty retelling but it is not nearly that simple. This book has a little of everything. Very weird and unlike the other Tepper books I’ve read, though it did have her usual themes of feminism and environmentalism. I have a feeling I’ll be thinking about this one awhile.
readingwithstardust's review against another edition
4.25
At no point in time could I possibly have guessed where this book was going next.
mbpartlow's review against another edition
4.0
There's hardly a fairytale you've heard of that's not mentioned here. They're woven together beautifully.
xeyra1's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful! And sad. And completely different from what I expected. And entirely enjoyable.
snd1101's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
wandering_turtle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
lievedebs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
suzemo's review against another edition
2.0
This is easily one of the weirdest books I've ever read. And to be honest, I want to shake Sheri Tepper and scream "What the hell was that?!"
The protagonist is Sleeping Beauty (who escapes her curse, narrowly) who is the mother of Cinderella, who is the mother of Snow White. There are a few other fairy tale/mythology characters thrown in there as well. It takes place in Medieval England, the 20th century, the 21st century, Faery, and imaginary land (Chinanga), and Hell.
This book is very eco-feminist, with warnings of how we're destroying the world's Beauty (get it?) and the dangers of overpopulation and overconsumption.
There's even a rape that kinda comes out from left field.
I just think that Tepper was trying to do too much in this book. It's like she was just spitballing on paper, threw in everything but the kitchen sink and then called it a novel.
The pacing is extraordinarily uneven, many plot/concepts seemed to die a premature death, and there were more than a few times I put down the book because I was bored.
I like Tepper's work - but I was disappointed in this one.
The protagonist is Sleeping Beauty (who escapes her curse, narrowly) who is the mother of Cinderella, who is the mother of Snow White. There are a few other fairy tale/mythology characters thrown in there as well. It takes place in Medieval England, the 20th century, the 21st century, Faery, and imaginary land (Chinanga), and Hell.
This book is very eco-feminist, with warnings of how we're destroying the world's Beauty (get it?) and the dangers of overpopulation and overconsumption.
There's even a rape that kinda comes out from left field.
I just think that Tepper was trying to do too much in this book. It's like she was just spitballing on paper, threw in everything but the kitchen sink and then called it a novel.
The pacing is extraordinarily uneven, many plot/concepts seemed to die a premature death, and there were more than a few times I put down the book because I was bored.
I like Tepper's work - but I was disappointed in this one.