Reviews tagging 'Death'

Almost There by Farrah Rochon

8 reviews

theknm's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

4.5

I loved this take on the movie/story we all know, The Princess and The Frog. This book definitely bought the creepiness and for me i loved it being darker than what we know this story to be. I loved that even though Naveen lost his memories of being with Tiana- there was still so many swoon worthy moments that he wanted to do things for her and be with her; it shows that regardless of what happens love conquers all. Also a moment i related to a lot was when Tiana had to let her Dad go- losing a love one is always hard and you want that extra time with them as much as you can, but in your grieving comes the peace with their death and letting them go freely. Tiana had to learn that and it stuck with me cause im going through that now. Loved the twisted tale, loved we got a lot more of Tiana and Lottie, even some new characters. But i will say my only critic the muliple POVS were a bit tricky at times in like following and also no Ray, i missed him. But definitely recommend this!!!  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Death of parent

Minor: Death

_alyssar_'s review

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury

dripdrop's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gaslighting

abby_can_read's review

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

4.0

📖
This was a wonderful book. I had a fabulous time reading it. The characters were amazing and the relationships were solid. The plot was good and the writing style was fun. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, and Kidnapping

achay91's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Death of parent

joisaddler's review

emotional mysterious 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Death of parent, and Classism

n_loves_reading's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

⭐️5/5⭐️
⚠️CW/TW: Racism and Death⚠️

I LOVED THIS BOOK! The Princess and the Frog is one of my all time favorite Disney movies! Tiana is one the best Disney princesses and seeing her more in this book really makes you love her even more!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Racism

shannasbooksnhooks's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.5

"Perhaps because, as easily as he could think of all he would gain by returning home, it was just as easy to consider all he would lose."
This book has easily twisted its way into my heart, where it'll stay for quite some time. Disney's 2009 Princess and the Frog, arguably the last film with Disney's traditional 2D animation style, is one of my Top 2 favorite films from Disney, and arguably within my Top 5 favorite films in general. As a result, I went into this book with pretty high expectations I was attempting to manage.
Almost There, the thirteenth installment of Disney's Twisted Tales series, revolves around the following premise: "What if Tiana made a deal that changed everything?" All is not as it seems, which is a main focus of this story.
The character development in Almost There was encouraging to see, especially where Lottie, Naveen, and Louis were concerned. Tiana does have character development, but it pretty much mirrors her development in the 2009 movie. While it's not hard to be inspired by her character development in the book, I don't know if I can comment on it without constantly comparing it to the movie. (Not that this would be "bad" per se, but with all things considered, I'm going to assume that everyone reading this has seen the movie, so I'd rather focus on the book.)
Tiana's journey parallels her movie journey aside from the tiny detail of having made a deal with Dr. Facilier, the "Vodou witch doctor" of New Orleans. On her journey to rectify the deal she made, Tiana - along with Naveen, Lottie, and Louis - meets Lisette (I believe that was her name - I don't have the book handy at the moment, so I'll correct this, if needed, once I do) and Tee Lande. I absolutely loved the references to Vodou, Vodou-related deals, the universe, and how the universe reacts to Vodou.
I definitely recommend this book as a read, because we see so much from the characters and Tiana's New Orleans.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Death of parent

It's not Dr. Facilier's initial deal, getting her restaurant in the old sugar mill, that Tiana takes. It's a second deal Facilier proposes - Naveen and Louis become human, Tiana's father is back, and the beginnings of the road to her dream restaurant (T&J's Supper Club) - that she takes. However, this is at the cost of her relationship with Naveen and his memories of their time spent together. I feel like, while slightly out of character for Tiana, taking this deal versus Facilier's first deal was more in line with Tiana's rationale and work ethic.

Lisette is Mama Odie's niece, and Tee Lande is a Vodou practitioner, a close friend of Mama Odie, and someone Tiana new as Miss Rose.

Something I also really enjoyed was how Tee Lande described Dr. Facilier. He didn't have as much power as Tiana, and everyone in New Orleans, believed he did. (All that power belongs to his friends on the other side, but he plays it off as some of it, at least, being his.) Tee Lande also tells Tiana to not think of what Facilier does as "Vodou" since he simply goes through the motions of it without much belief in the traditions behind it. Both of these points that Tee Land makes go to show how manipulative Dr. Facilier was of New Orleans, and all for money and power.

One of my favorite quotes from Lottie: “I know that I can be selfish and stubborn, but I want to be a good friend to you. The best kind of friend. Because that's the kind of friend you have always been to me." This follows an exchange Lottie witnessed between Tiana and a store clerk, where the store clerk was being racist. Lottie did stand up for Tiana, even if she wasn't able to dissuade the store clerk in any way. Lottie also tells Tiana that she won't be shopping there again (i.e. not spending Big Daddy's money there) because of how that clerk treated Tiana. This is why Lottie is one of the best best friends Disney's created for a character.