3.5 stars
I really wanted to love this book but instead I felt I just liked it. I might pick up the sequel but I'm not really sure at this point.
First the parts I enjoyed:
I loved the world building here. I felt I was really at the Castle and the towns and the forest. I feel this is what really sucked me in, in the beginning. It had a good pace to start out with and so many interesting elements to keep me turning the pages.
The writing here was also top notch. The style of writing fit perfectly for a fairy tale retelling and I really feel that this is where Marissa excelled. It's definitely pushing me to go read the lunar chronicles!
The overall plot line was also very intriguing and I enjoyed what it took from Rumpelstilkin and turned it into a lot more.
The Parts I didn't like (minor plot spoilers here):
The first thing that bothered me was the relationship between the MC and the other character. It was instalove and I just didn't get it. They had chemistry but everything happened too quickly and the other character felt so flat, no substance at all.
Also, the bad guy was just bad..all the way. No redeeming qualities, no tragic past to explain his evilness, nothing. He was just horrible and that was it.
I loved the MC but she didn't really ever feel like a teenager? I kept thinking she was like 25, her job as a school teacher assistant, the way she helped her father, her thoughts and feelings; they all felt older. Also they used the one trope I hate at the end and she supposed to be a teen, it just didnt fit 😒
This book could have easily been 300ish pages instead of 500 and I think most of all that's why I struggled with the story. It felt like it dragged so much and it could have been a lot more fast paced.
Again, I liked this book but I just didn't love it even though I desperately wanted to.
I really wanted to love this book but instead I felt I just liked it. I might pick up the sequel but I'm not really sure at this point.
First the parts I enjoyed:
I loved the world building here. I felt I was really at the Castle and the towns and the forest. I feel this is what really sucked me in, in the beginning. It had a good pace to start out with and so many interesting elements to keep me turning the pages.
The writing here was also top notch. The style of writing fit perfectly for a fairy tale retelling and I really feel that this is where Marissa excelled. It's definitely pushing me to go read the lunar chronicles!
The overall plot line was also very intriguing and I enjoyed what it took from Rumpelstilkin and turned it into a lot more.
The Parts I didn't like (minor plot spoilers here):
The first thing that bothered me was the relationship between the MC and the other character. It was instalove and I just didn't get it. They had chemistry but everything happened too quickly and the other character felt so flat, no substance at all.
Also, the bad guy was just bad..all the way. No redeeming qualities, no tragic past to explain his evilness, nothing. He was just horrible and that was it.
I loved the MC but she didn't really ever feel like a teenager? I kept thinking she was like 25, her job as a school teacher assistant, the way she helped her father, her thoughts and feelings; they all felt older. Also they used the one trope I hate at the end and she supposed to be a teen, it just didnt fit 😒
This book could have easily been 300ish pages instead of 500 and I think most of all that's why I struggled with the story. It felt like it dragged so much and it could have been a lot more fast paced.
Again, I liked this book but I just didn't love it even though I desperately wanted to.