Reviews

Muerte y fortuna by Margaret Owen

mudder17's review against another edition

5.0

This was really good! It is a retelling of The Goose Girl but from the maid's point of view. And wow, it was so well done! I read Shannon Hale's retelling of this fairy tale last year, but the target audience of that series (which I enjoyed) is middle school, while this targets teen/young adults, and you can definitely see the difference. I've read a number of retellings recently, but this one stands out a bit above the rest. For one, it takes a lesser-known tale and completely expands it to create a very interesting world with spirits, lesser gods, witches and warlocks, and shape changers. The protagonist is not the princess, but the maid who took her place. This book started out pretty slow as you learned who the players were and what exactly was going on. In fact, it wasn't until about 25% in that I became truly immersed in the story. But when I got there, I didn't want to stop. Vanja was not always the most likable of characters, but it wasn't so much that I disliked her at the beginning as I got frustrated with her because I wanted her to make a different choice. And yet, the author did an excellent job making you care about what happened to her. I loved the little "once upon a time" passages that took place in interludes that allow you to step back a little and see the bigger picture.

This was not a fast-paced book, but it felt like one of those tales where you sit by a roaring fire with a warm drink and you listen to a storyteller weave the tale throughout the room. I absolutely loved this story and I can't wait to read future books in this series. But even though this book is apparently part of a series, I love that the ending was very satisfying, and while it left you wanting more, it didn't leave you hanging!

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

copenhag's review against another edition

3.0

Before reading this book, I had no idea what the German fairy tale called, "The Goose Girl" was about. I didn't even know that it existed. And even after having read the Wikipedia article on it, to see what it was about, I was still confused.

But, despite not knowing anything about the tale that this story was based upon, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Vanja and her manipulative streak was amazing, but the one thing that I did not fully enjoy, was her arc with Conrad. To me, it seemed like their relationship accelerated a little too fast.

The next complaint isn't actually a storyline complaint, but rather, I would have preferred to have had the glossary/dictionary at the beginning of the book, not the back.

3/5 stars.

j_j_ranvier's review against another edition

5.0

Definitely a good book if you want something where the stakes are sky high and things keep going wrong and you have no idea how they'll get out of it.

terrorbot's review against another edition

4.0

“The Vanja sent me,” Ragne says brightly. Emeric blinks at me, startled, only to sour when Ragne adds, “I was only supposed to save your bag.”

“There it is,” he mutters.

This was a fun romp, loved the fairy tale plot and humor, but my kingdom for a map! Trying to keep track of kingdoms and places in Minkja was tough.

mak506's review against another edition

5.0

Loved this so much and had trouble putting it down at times! Dark fairy tale with many threads, great characters, and a heist feel to much of the proceedings. Recommended on Callie Crossley's Under the Radar summer reading show.

I was not familiar with the original story this riffs on. Also worth noting: LGBTQ acceptance is the norm in this world, although that doesn't emerge until the second half.

haleyraber's review against another edition

5.0

*Reread: June 2023* This still remains one of my favorite books of all time

lilagracerose's review against another edition

3.0

I have been trying to finish this book for the last couple of months, and while it initially drew me in with its setting and characters, I had a really hard time staying engaged and immersed in the story. All that being said, I think that it is a pretty compelling modern adaptation of a dark fairytale. While the pacing and character beats did not meet my expectations, I did enjoy the overall story, and I do appreciate a mystery that's not trying to pull one over on the readers in an effort to seem clever. Overall, while I didn't fall in love with the book, I do think that this would be a good read for somebody who enjoys retellings of dark fairy tales with fantastical world building and complex characters.

julias_books_18's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Like they said in the book:

Little thieves steal gold, and great ones steal Kingdoms, but only one goes to the gallows. 

Those characters definitely stole a piece of my adoration. (And lots of gold... and lots of other stuff) 

okhodge's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

suzea's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0