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amancia's review against another edition
3.0
i read wicked years ago, i loved it and i loved the musical. i picked this up at a library book sale, thinking i would enjoy it as much as i had wicked. not the case. i actually had to force myself to finish it, waiting for the magic to begin. it felt so dragged out and then suddenly it's the end and that's it. the story was interesting, but it wasn't well told, in my opinion.
hjswinford's review against another edition
4.0
Everyone has heard various tellings and retellings of the Cinderella story. Here is perhaps one of the most unique of them yet.
I went into this book with certain ideas after having read McGuire's Wicked. I enjoyed Wicked quite a bit, but was a little skeptical about this one. I had always heard it was the better of the two, and it seems now that I must agree. The character development was amazing and I really came to love Iris and even Ruth. This is a great and unique spin on the Cinderella Story. Any fan of fairy tales should give this great book a read.
I went into this book with certain ideas after having read McGuire's Wicked. I enjoyed Wicked quite a bit, but was a little skeptical about this one. I had always heard it was the better of the two, and it seems now that I must agree. The character development was amazing and I really came to love Iris and even Ruth. This is a great and unique spin on the Cinderella Story. Any fan of fairy tales should give this great book a read.
kmthomas06's review against another edition
5.0
The inspiration for my thesis...and how I still love it even after picking it apart for three months. Iris, the painter, Ruth the mute and Clara, Cinderella herself. It is fascinating how this retelling looks at a sisterhood of women and how they were all able to change their lives - not just Cinderella.
autumnatic93's review against another edition
5.0
This was an absolute amazing book! I don't think I've read a better twist on a classic fairy tale. From the very beginning you're swept up in the world of Iris, Clara's (Cinderella) stepsister. You see how this fairy tale may have been derived from any "normal" situation of real life. There is no magic, except what a sister can give and what a painting can reveal to those who look. Every one should read it.
lena_05's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
gracekitty's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
katied_1030's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
casper is the only character in this book that i was even remotely attached to
ellehartford's review against another edition
4.0
So far, this is easily my favorite of Maguire's books that I've read. He gives the tale a historical setting (still weaving in some fantasy elements) that works very well. I love how the historical themes of trends in artwork, famous painters, and even tulip mania underscore the meditations on beauty throughout the story. It makes for a great and very thoughtful twist on Cinderella!
grayroacegnome's review against another edition
5.0
I love this retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of one of her two step-sisters - it adds so much depth and new insight into their complexity and takes us far away from the two-dimensional "evil stepsisters" we usually see in this story. I also appreciate that it does so without throwing Cinderella (Clara here) under the bus, giving her a twist without needing to villainise her. I think Maguire does a fantastic job with this story, and I highly recommend it - honestly, this is the version of Cinderella I will always choose to tell rather than the original!
joannecenera's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5