katsreads's review against another edition
4.75
i really enjoyed this book! was craving a short of medieval period piece and this surpassed my expectations actually
emmybird86's review against another edition
I love fairytale retellings especially dark one. This book had so many different fairytales happening at once. I absolutely loved it. I loved getting to see a retelling of Hansel and Gretel set after their time in the witch's cottage. It was just so interesting. I was rooting for Greta the whole time. I cannot wait to read more by this author.
perfektionaise's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
thereadingbanshee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
2.5, i obviously have mixed feelings.
I really love the first part of this book.
It focused on characters, our MC mostly, took its time in a very pleasant way. The writing itself is lovely, and really set the scene and the atmosphere of the story. And i loved every part of these first 150-200 or so pages, the atmosphere was immeculate to me.
Then, the middle part was confusing me a bit, and I slowly (and much to my dismay) started to slowly lose interest.
The plot was moving along, but the pacing was a bit off, and i didn't enjoy some parts of the developments.
(Also, the issues that bothered me so much in the last part of the book that i mention below were starting to appear.)
And the last part... well the last 100 pages or so i skimmed so that is telling.
But even before then, the pacing just was completely off. We went from having all the detail of the MC's feelings and thoughts, to not having them when they were crucial for the developments to make sense.
The biggest issue for me was the "big" twist. I saw it coming miles away, and this could have not bothered me if the elements letting you know of this weren't so obvious but completely ignored by the MC.
AND i hate the kind of trope that twist was based on, and hoped it would at least be done in a original way and was sorely disappointed.
In short, i think the premise and a ton of element of this book were very interesting, but sadly didn't get the execution they deserved.
I really love the first part of this book.
It focused on characters, our MC mostly, took its time in a very pleasant way. The writing itself is lovely, and really set the scene and the atmosphere of the story. And i loved every part of these first 150-200 or so pages, the atmosphere was immeculate to me.
Then, the middle part was confusing me a bit, and I slowly (and much to my dismay) started to slowly lose interest.
The plot was moving along, but the pacing was a bit off, and i didn't enjoy some parts of the developments.
Spoiler
The romance scenes were interwoven in an awkward way with the other scenes? and some of the language used in the dialogues lost its kind of old time sense, and was getting derigatory.(Also, the issues that bothered me so much in the last part of the book that i mention below were starting to appear.)
And the last part... well the last 100 pages or so i skimmed so that is telling.
But even before then, the pacing just was completely off. We went from having all the detail of the MC's feelings and thoughts, to not having them when they were crucial for the developments to make sense.
Spoiler
One example that really made me mad were the conviently ignored facts that would have got the MC out of the trials and also out of the carriage to Hornberg. Before she goes to her house to bake gingerbread (and so uses tattermagic and gets caught), the very last scene mind you, is Mira telling her to use her magic through the forest! And she goes and does the total opposite. And we don't get a sliver of explanation for that course of action. Greta also doesn't use here forest magic during the carriage ride, because i guess it wouldn't be convinient for the plot? Made me mad.The biggest issue for me was the "big" twist. I saw it coming miles away, and this could have not bothered me if the elements letting you know of this weren't so obvious but completely ignored by the MC.
AND i hate the kind of trope that twist was based on, and hoped it would at least be done in a original way and was sorely disappointed.
Spoiler
"Bad woman who seduces poor innocent men who clearly don't deserve it" trope? Really ? Your villain is a woman out of nowhere? Oh yes, no, it's actually even worse and unoriginal and done without any depth : it's because of SA. I'm tired.In short, i think the premise and a ton of element of this book were very interesting, but sadly didn't get the execution they deserved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Self harm, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Gore
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Pregnancy
mirandaphodge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
It was… meh. I didn’t love some of the plot devices. I don’t know German enough to feel comfortable with the words she was using like everyone would know them - I was literally pulled out of the story when I had to google some words. Also, can we stop using SA as the reason a woman is evil?
I hated Hans. He made continual bad choices that endangered the people he supposedly loved. Some of the side characters could have been more fleshed out.
The only reason for the mid-star rating is that I did like the MC meet-cute and romance.
Spoiler
the main villain became evil when her sister was killed by the huntsman and then she was r*ped to death. Really?!I hated Hans. He made continual bad choices that endangered the people he supposedly loved. Some of the side characters could have been more fleshed out.
The only reason for the mid-star rating is that I did like the MC meet-cute and romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
rosh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kezemu's review against another edition
If you have ever read any German fairytale, this is a butchery of somehow every one they touch, as well as the myths.
The style itself is fine enough, although as a native speaker I'm taken out of immersion every time there is a random German word thrown in, which, while in the context correct, are absolutely ill fitting as it's things like the literal translation for mayor or town square (and, for context: German nouns are written with capital letters, which this does extremely rarely and at seemingly random). That in itself wouldn't be a deal breaker, of course, but there's other things, like giving the main character a Jewish (although German sounding) surname while making them Christian leaves a bad taste in my mouth as it proves further that research didn't go further than opening random Wikipedia pages and fitting them together in no regards to anyone's culture. (Mind: I'd have loved to see a Jewish protagonist, but this felt incredibly disrespectful.) This shows in the handling of the stories and myths as well.
This could have worked if it hadn't attempted to tie itself so closely to a specific region and it's tales. The way it does however, it's not a clever reimagining, but a poor retelling of something the author might have heard as a child and then wrote down, misremembering most of the important pieces, merging tales in a nonsensical way.
If you aren't familiar with any of that, I'm sure it's a fine book. As I said, the style itself is very nice, easy to read, and the pacing is also decent. As someone with a special interest in these things however, I had to stop about 1/3th in as I grew tired of looking up every five or so pages about another thing that has been butchered.
The style itself is fine enough, although as a native speaker I'm taken out of immersion every time there is a random German word thrown in, which, while in the context correct, are absolutely ill fitting as it's things like the literal translation for mayor or town square (and, for context: German nouns are written with capital letters, which this does extremely rarely and at seemingly random). That in itself wouldn't be a deal breaker, of course, but there's other things, like giving the main character a Jewish (although German sounding) surname while making them Christian leaves a bad taste in my mouth as it proves further that research didn't go further than opening random Wikipedia pages and fitting them together in no regards to anyone's culture. (Mind: I'd have loved to see a Jewish protagonist, but this felt incredibly disrespectful.) This shows in the handling of the stories and myths as well.
This could have worked if it hadn't attempted to tie itself so closely to a specific region and it's tales. The way it does however, it's not a clever reimagining, but a poor retelling of something the author might have heard as a child and then wrote down, misremembering most of the important pieces, merging tales in a nonsensical way.
If you aren't familiar with any of that, I'm sure it's a fine book. As I said, the style itself is very nice, easy to read, and the pacing is also decent. As someone with a special interest in these things however, I had to stop about 1/3th in as I grew tired of looking up every five or so pages about another thing that has been butchered.
jenabest's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
4.0
This reimagining was some dark, magical storytelling - more akin to Grimms than say, Disney. Don't go in expecting a rehashing of their childhood story, though. Now adults, Hans & Greta are struggling to thrive in their village. Twining together the stories of Hansel & Gretel, Snow White & Rose Red, as well as a healthy dose of Scottish shape-shifters, you'll be transported right into this dark fairytale world.
daaylightz's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5