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cmitchell2781's review
5.0
Short and sweet
I adored this story. Short and sweet, it was the romance I was looking for. Lina is such a genuine character, and Edrick is the perfect counterpart for her. The story flowed well and wasn't overly extravagant. I can't wait to read more of these characters and their friends.
I adored this story. Short and sweet, it was the romance I was looking for. Lina is such a genuine character, and Edrick is the perfect counterpart for her. The story flowed well and wasn't overly extravagant. I can't wait to read more of these characters and their friends.
sunshine15's review against another edition
3.0
I had a really enjoyable time reading this book! The writing just flowed down the pages nicely and the whole plot was great!
The characters were so well written and thought of, they had their own past and histories which made them all the more complex
The world and the world building was all very detailed and clear
I loved it!!
The characters were so well written and thought of, they had their own past and histories which made them all the more complex
The world and the world building was all very detailed and clear
I loved it!!
libraryofabibliotaph's review against another edition
4.0
I started reading Promises and Pixie dust with no expectations, since I didn’t know how the fairy tale of Thumbelina went. The authors won’t disappoint you with their retelling full of adventure, friendship and romance. From the beginning, you want to get to know Lina and Edrich better and discover more about their friendship. But being honest, just like in Two Worlds Apart, I sighed more than once because some of the problems or misunderstandings could easily be solved or prevented by really talking to each other and telling the other what you think. But then the story wouldn’t be that interesting, right? I also really liked Lina’s optimism and her desire to find a place where she belongs. However, a small side of critique is that during the whole story, everything feels too good to be true. Even when something goes wrong or danger seems to be lurking around the corner, everything’s soon back to normal without too much of a struggle. Same with the ending of the story, it feels a bit rushed, like everything had to work out and come to an end in these 20 pages instead of taking some more time to give the story the more spacious ending it deserved. After reading this book, I went to look up the original Thumbelina story out of curiosity. Now I can truthfully say that I liked the retelling more than the original story.
Thank you for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I enjoyed the story.
Thank you for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I enjoyed the story.
momwithareadingproblem's review against another edition
5.0
This is the fairytale retelling I didn’t know I needed! Promises and Pixie Dust by Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison, who are quickly becoming one of my favorite author duos, is a sweet, standalone retelling of Thumbelina and included in the anthology Enchanted Kingdoms. Following the story of Lina and Edrich, Promises and Pixie Dust explores the world from two very different points of view as one girl searches for a world she belongs in.
The story opens with Lina saying goodbye to her friends and waiting for one person in particular, Edrich. Lina is preparing to enter the enchanted forest and find people like her. That is, Lina wants to find someone that is her size, not much bigger than your thumb. Since her mother’s passing, the call of the forest and to find others like her has only gotten stronger. And why wouldn’t it? Everything in Lina’s life has to be modified for her to use. That doesn’t stop her. Nothing does! She is a force to be reckoned with, even driving a wagon full of supplies with a complicated system of ropes and pulleys. But now there is nothing stopping her from searching except Edrich.
To say Edrich is shocked to see Lina at the bar, much less her request to accompany her to the Enchanted Forest, is an understatement. Edrich has spent the last few years trying to forget his little friend and the feelings she stirs in him. As his mother pointed out long ago, Lina deserves better than the half-life he can give her and he the same. So he left, joining a group of mercenaries. Now that life haunts him. With a few days off between jobs, he decides to accompany Lina, he can’t let her go on her own after all. There is a bitterness that festers between these two, though Lina is unaware of the cause only the hurt that she feels.
The plot follows these two into the enchanted forest, and I couldn’t love it more! The alternating POV really help bring into focus how the world is seen from a normal sized human like Edrich and Lina’s fairy size. I love their banter, even their tense arguments as you see the tension swelling between these two former friends. My heart ached for them.
Overall, I really enjoyed Promises and Pixie Dust. Thumbelina was one of my favorite cartoons growing up, and the authors brought her to life here. I love how intricate and vivid the details of the forest are from Lina’s perspective. It was easy to imagine myself at her size, seeing the world from her POV. If you enjoy YA fantasy, retellings, and of course a bit of romance, I highly recommend Promises and Pixie Dust.
The story opens with Lina saying goodbye to her friends and waiting for one person in particular, Edrich. Lina is preparing to enter the enchanted forest and find people like her. That is, Lina wants to find someone that is her size, not much bigger than your thumb. Since her mother’s passing, the call of the forest and to find others like her has only gotten stronger. And why wouldn’t it? Everything in Lina’s life has to be modified for her to use. That doesn’t stop her. Nothing does! She is a force to be reckoned with, even driving a wagon full of supplies with a complicated system of ropes and pulleys. But now there is nothing stopping her from searching except Edrich.
To say Edrich is shocked to see Lina at the bar, much less her request to accompany her to the Enchanted Forest, is an understatement. Edrich has spent the last few years trying to forget his little friend and the feelings she stirs in him. As his mother pointed out long ago, Lina deserves better than the half-life he can give her and he the same. So he left, joining a group of mercenaries. Now that life haunts him. With a few days off between jobs, he decides to accompany Lina, he can’t let her go on her own after all. There is a bitterness that festers between these two, though Lina is unaware of the cause only the hurt that she feels.
The plot follows these two into the enchanted forest, and I couldn’t love it more! The alternating POV really help bring into focus how the world is seen from a normal sized human like Edrich and Lina’s fairy size. I love their banter, even their tense arguments as you see the tension swelling between these two former friends. My heart ached for them.
Overall, I really enjoyed Promises and Pixie Dust. Thumbelina was one of my favorite cartoons growing up, and the authors brought her to life here. I love how intricate and vivid the details of the forest are from Lina’s perspective. It was easy to imagine myself at her size, seeing the world from her POV. If you enjoy YA fantasy, retellings, and of course a bit of romance, I highly recommend Promises and Pixie Dust.
a_neverending_tbr's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute retelling of Thumbelina. It was a quick, fun, feel-good read with a sweet ending.
juliejanisbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun adventure. I liked the whimsical setting and the depiction of Thumbalina. I never see retellings of that fairytale so this was interesting to read. The overall story wasn't bad and the characters for the most part were fine. The romance was an interesting mix of friends to lovers and hate to love, which...I didn't know what to think of.
I wasn't a fan of Edrich keeping things from Lina and I wasn't a fan of Lina's reaction when she found out. She got angry and stormed off without bothering to hear any explanation from Edrich, and Edrich just wallowed in misery without standing his ground/being assertive. This is a very common scenario I see in YA books and it honestly irritates me. While I'm glad the romance between them worked out in the end, that one moment made me dislike them more than I wanted.
Also, this is a minor thing, but how on earth could Lina drink as much as she did for being so tiny?? How did she not gotten alcohol poisoning? How was she able to talk coherently after drinking as much whiskey as she did? Seems unrealistic, but hey, it's a fantasy story and she's a fairy so I don't know the rules there. I'm also not a big fan of characters drinking irresponsibly, so reading that Lina did that turned me off the wrong way.
I wasn't a fan of Edrich keeping things from Lina and I wasn't a fan of Lina's reaction when she found out. She got angry and stormed off without bothering to hear any explanation from Edrich, and Edrich just wallowed in misery without standing his ground/being assertive. This is a very common scenario I see in YA books and it honestly irritates me. While I'm glad the romance between them worked out in the end, that one moment made me dislike them more than I wanted.
Also, this is a minor thing, but how on earth could Lina drink as much as she did for being so tiny?? How did she not gotten alcohol poisoning? How was she able to talk coherently after drinking as much whiskey as she did? Seems unrealistic, but hey, it's a fantasy story and she's a fairy so I don't know the rules there. I'm also not a big fan of characters drinking irresponsibly, so reading that Lina did that turned me off the wrong way.
kkay7's review
4.0
Very cute!
This was such a cute take on Thumbelina! It was a very fun read and did not have the outcome I was expecting. No cliffhanger for those who are wondering. Lina is such a strong and fun character to read about.
This was such a cute take on Thumbelina! It was a very fun read and did not have the outcome I was expecting. No cliffhanger for those who are wondering. Lina is such a strong and fun character to read about.