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A review by tobyyy
The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski
4.0
Four dazzling, startling blood-red (blood-read?) stars from this fairytale-myth-alternative history-fantasy novel! This was my first book by Rutkoski but it definitely will not be my last (I have two more from the library currently waiting for me! so I don't say that lightly).
This was an interesting read, an alternate history that takes place in and around Prague. It was more gory than I expected from the reading level/cover (it's an older MG/early YA) but not to the level of horror. It just reminded me a bit of the uncensored/real fairytales (not the Disney-softened nonsense). Brutal, harsh, gory, and frighteningly eerie. But lovely.
Rutkoski also initiates a brief conversation about racism in this book, which starts with Petra's use of the phrase "Gypsy," Neel's correction of it, and how Petra learns how people treat Neel differently because of the color of his skin and because he is Roma. I liked how she brought awareness to this while keeping it of a tone that still allowed me to suspend disbelief. It didn't feel like a blaring lecture, as it so easily could have.
Book 2 is on my shelf waiting for me. I'm excited to pick it up!
This was an interesting read, an alternate history that takes place in and around Prague. It was more gory than I expected from the reading level/cover (it's an older MG/early YA) but not to the level of horror. It just reminded me a bit of the uncensored/real fairytales (not the Disney-softened nonsense). Brutal, harsh, gory, and frighteningly eerie. But lovely.
Rutkoski also initiates a brief conversation about racism in this book, which starts with Petra's use of the phrase "Gypsy," Neel's correction of it, and how Petra learns how people treat Neel differently because of the color of his skin and because he is Roma. I liked how she brought awareness to this while keeping it of a tone that still allowed me to suspend disbelief. It didn't feel like a blaring lecture, as it so easily could have.
Book 2 is on my shelf waiting for me. I'm excited to pick it up!