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saraza3's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
flyingsails's review against another edition
Though this is by Celia Rees (a well-liked author of mine) and related to Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (a favorite play), it was so DULL. I don't know what was about it that was so boring. Possibly because I expected there to be some kind of awesome Shakespeare-esque plot going on, but there was really just some random things happening.
bookish_ann's review against another edition
2.0
I thought this was a decent draft of a novel, and I have certainly read far worse. I was very disappointed by this though, because it had potential. There's a nice little plot, some interesting characters... but all we get are the outlines. Nothing is fleshed out.
I truly felt that this was a work-in-progress, not the final product. So much felt... not even rushed, just undone. There are huge events that merit a sentence or two, and then there are well crafted paragrahs that focus on small details.
The start of the book is much better. The writing is more polished. By the end, the tone, style, and quality is completely different. It's as if this book was a term paper that the author had to turn in, and you can see when the time crunch hit.
I cannot recommened this book at all, but with some more practice and polish, the author could produce something more worthwhile.
I truly felt that this was a work-in-progress, not the final product. So much felt... not even rushed, just undone. There are huge events that merit a sentence or two, and then there are well crafted paragrahs that focus on small details.
The start of the book is much better. The writing is more polished. By the end, the tone, style, and quality is completely different. It's as if this book was a term paper that the author had to turn in, and you can see when the time crunch hit.
I cannot recommened this book at all, but with some more practice and polish, the author could produce something more worthwhile.
blue_squishie's review against another edition
3.0
This book is *super* short, but it still took me like two months to finally finish it. I kept getting distracted by other, shinier, books. The Fool's Girl is a vague re-telling or continuation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, with Shakespeare as one of the characters in the novel. I don't have any particular affinity to Twelfth Night, other than mostly knowing the outline, so I enjoyed this "historical fiction" take on it. Some parts seemed to drag in the story telling, as well Feste seemed awesome at first, and then less awesome as the book went on. And I really thought one of the "good" characters was going to have some kind of evil twist, but I guess the author went for the happy ending instead.
lizpatanders's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve read a good number of the bard’s plays and upon hearing that The Fool’s Girl was based on Twelfth Night was very intrigued, as Twelfth Night is my favorite Shakespeare play. As cool as this book sounded, I didn’t end up loving it. I think Rees had some great ideas and have another one of her books, namely Witch Child, so I’ll definitely try more by her.
In the afterward of this book, Rees made a note about how she wanted to depict Shakespeare before he became a famous playwright. I loved this idea because it meant that he was interacting with all of his characters from Twelfth Night. I have to say that I think that while the I had a hard time following the plot of this book, it was very nicely paced.
Unfortunately, the part of this book that really flopped for me was the writing. It was too dry to really engage me. There were two paragraphs that I thought were well done, however, so maybe it was just this particular pick.
The Fool’s Girl gets big points in my book for an original premise. It was an enjoyable read, but it’s not about to become one of my new favorites. However, Rees seems to have published a diverse array of historical novels, so remain eager to read Witch Child.
In the afterward of this book, Rees made a note about how she wanted to depict Shakespeare before he became a famous playwright. I loved this idea because it meant that he was interacting with all of his characters from Twelfth Night. I have to say that I think that while the I had a hard time following the plot of this book, it was very nicely paced.
Unfortunately, the part of this book that really flopped for me was the writing. It was too dry to really engage me. There were two paragraphs that I thought were well done, however, so maybe it was just this particular pick.
The Fool’s Girl gets big points in my book for an original premise. It was an enjoyable read, but it’s not about to become one of my new favorites. However, Rees seems to have published a diverse array of historical novels, so remain eager to read Witch Child.
abpetitex11's review against another edition
4.0
A very fun new interpretation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Suspenseful and well written.
originstorytoloveisdestroy's review against another edition
5.0
Based on the twelfth night... is extravagant!
bluedreamh's review
4.0
I absolutely loved this book. At first I was a little skeptical because the story didn't seem that interesting but it proved me wrong. Seriously, this book was amazing. It took me a while to get comfortable with the characters but once I did there was no going back. Violetta's and Feste's friendship is the cutest thing ever, they don't feel the need to say how important they are for each other every five minutes, the way they look out for each other is enough. I also loved the story of Viola, Violettas mother, and Lady Olivia, Stephanos mother. I wish there was a book just about them and where they ended up afters their deaths because I feel like there is something or some place. Oh my god, I need a book about their after lifes.
Let's talk about Will, I couldn't really connect with him because to me he seemed kind of left out. Obviously he is somehow a big part of the story because he's helping Violetta and Feste but he doesn't interact with them or other characters the way the others do. He cares a lot about other people and is super smart but I feel like he's more being used than actually valued for what person he is. Cecil may be impressed with him and Forman may enjoy to talk to him (but he likes to talk to anybody so I don't know if that counts)but they all just talk to him because they need something from him. I feel sorry for him. The only thing that made me want to read more about him was horoscope that Forman wrote for him. He seemed quite shocked and when I read that part I was getting so excited to read about that and then Will burned it and that's when I gave up on his character.
Then there's the relationship between Violetta and Stephano. They're cousins but the book plays in a time when that was the norm so it's okay but besides that I didn't really feel them as THEM. I was hoping that she would end up with Guido but it was clear very soon that that wouldn't happen.
Let's talk about Will, I couldn't really connect with him because to me he seemed kind of left out. Obviously he is somehow a big part of the story because he's helping Violetta and Feste but he doesn't interact with them or other characters the way the others do. He cares a lot about other people and is super smart but I feel like he's more being used than actually valued for what person he is. Cecil may be impressed with him and Forman may enjoy to talk to him (but he likes to talk to anybody so I don't know if that counts)but they all just talk to him because they need something from him. I feel sorry for him. The only thing that made me want to read more about him was horoscope that Forman wrote for him. He seemed quite shocked and when I read that part I was getting so excited to read about that and then Will burned it and that's when I gave up on his character.
Then there's the relationship between Violetta and Stephano. They're cousins but the book plays in a time when that was the norm so it's okay but besides that I didn't really feel them as THEM. I was hoping that she would end up with Guido but it was clear very soon that that wouldn't happen.
gh0st0fth0ught's review
4.0
I read this book back when I was 17 and, I still enjoyed it a decade later.