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A review by rokinjaguar
Zel by Donna Jo Napoli
dark
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A little weird, but I feel like it pulled it off! Unique tone and interesting message. I’d recommend it!
In some ways I like it better than Sirena by the same author. There were parts in Sirena that were pretty slow, but this was interesting the whole time! Sirena has a more realistic and nuanced romance, though. You kind of have to suspend disbelief with parts of the romance in Zel.
But Zel wasn’t about the romance, it was about the mental states behind what causes the witch to steal a baby and lock her in a tower (I think it succeeded in not excusing her actions, but making her sympathetic), what Rapunzel goes through mentally being alone for two years in one room, and what kind of weirdo searches for two years for a girl he met once lol. I loved it!
In some ways I like it better than Sirena by the same author. There were parts in Sirena that were pretty slow, but this was interesting the whole time! Sirena has a more realistic and nuanced romance, though. You kind of have to suspend disbelief with parts of the romance in Zel.
But Zel wasn’t about the romance, it was about the mental states behind what causes the witch to steal a baby and lock her in a tower (I think it succeeded in not excusing her actions, but making her sympathetic), what Rapunzel goes through mentally being alone for two years in one room, and what kind of weirdo searches for two years for a girl he met once lol. I loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Confinement
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Blood