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seyda_neen's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
brinreadstowrite's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
No one and nothing is what it seems at first in this novel twist on "Cinderella." Yet the Master is constantly directing us to "look," to SEE.
Marguarethe is desperate but ultimately avaricious. Iris is plain, but the star of the group - talented and smart. Clara, while beautiful, is a recluse who marries to protect her father. And Ruth -
Marguarethe is desperate but ultimately avaricious. Iris is plain, but the star of the group - talented and smart. Clara, while beautiful, is a recluse who marries to protect her father. And Ruth -
Spoiler
silent, mute, oxen Ruth - turns out to be a scheming avenger.willbefunorelse's review against another edition
3.0
I could talk a lot about this book — and in true #Collaborators fashion, I can talk a lot more now that Erica and I have had our tweetversation. (That’s a word, right?) But since I haven’t read Erica’s review yet, I’m going to do what I do best – fly by the seat of my pants and talk about the things that interest me.
For the full review -- including a mid-depth discussion on the natures of beauty and art, plus highlights from my Tweetversation with Erica the NYC Bookworm) -- follow the link to That's What She Read (and check out Erica's blog, as well as #TheCollaborators on Twitter).
For the full review -- including a mid-depth discussion on the natures of beauty and art, plus highlights from my Tweetversation with Erica the NYC Bookworm) -- follow the link to That's What She Read (and check out Erica's blog, as well as #TheCollaborators on Twitter).
casspro's review against another edition
4.0
Of Maguire's novels that don't fall into the Oz series, this is my favorite. I love the play on the villain, turning them into the hero or heroine of their own story.
trippali's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it! I read Wicked around ten years ago and hated it so I was so surprised when I gave this author another chance. Easy read that is worth reading.
xeyra1's review against another edition
5.0
Reading this book was like finding an old friend after not speaking with them for a while, which is the feeling I have when I read a book after seeing the movie based upon it - at least when I like them both. As it was based on the fairy-tale about Cinderella, there was little surprise about its ending (we were already expecting her to get the prince, of course), though this particular tale's last chapter does not point to the happy ever after finale we're so used to see in fairy-tales. Perhaps because this story is not a fairy-tale -- it has very little of magic and much more stark realism, a well-thought, engaging and delightful interpretation of the much beloved tale of Cinderella.
I enjoyed it; it is not perfect, of course, and it takes a while for one to get used to the tense it is written in, but it gave us a different point of view to this story, showing us life through the stepsisters's perspective and giving us a portrait of them that shows them not as simple secondary characters that are cruel to their beautiful sister as the fairy-tale, in all its simplicity, shows us, but instead real, breathing characters with their motivations and dreams, desires and personalities. Iris is a delightful character to read about, intelligent and down-to-earth, but I think Margarethe's characterization was the best in the book: cunning, resourceful, with impecable sharpness and vicious in her own way, but never the outright evil stepmother we might expect. In fact, the main difference between this story and the original fairy-tale is that there is hardly any black or white and even this particular Cinderella can be capricious and annoying.
So, no, there is hardly much fairy-tale in this novel. The story is inspired by the original but it retains a uniqueness of its own, and it was a pleasure to read. As far as interpretations go, this one is a very good one, and it shows us that, indeed, those ugly, vicious stepsisters the stories tell us about were only human. I was surprised when I realized who was really telling the story, as I hadn't guessed whom the ugly stepsister in the title was referring to, but I think it was very fitting. And despite there not being any fairy godmother in the book (though there was one in the movie, minus the magic wand!), the tale had a magic of its own.
I enjoyed it; it is not perfect, of course, and it takes a while for one to get used to the tense it is written in, but it gave us a different point of view to this story, showing us life through the stepsisters's perspective and giving us a portrait of them that shows them not as simple secondary characters that are cruel to their beautiful sister as the fairy-tale, in all its simplicity, shows us, but instead real, breathing characters with their motivations and dreams, desires and personalities. Iris is a delightful character to read about, intelligent and down-to-earth, but I think Margarethe's characterization was the best in the book: cunning, resourceful, with impecable sharpness and vicious in her own way, but never the outright evil stepmother we might expect. In fact, the main difference between this story and the original fairy-tale is that there is hardly any black or white and even this particular Cinderella can be capricious and annoying.
So, no, there is hardly much fairy-tale in this novel. The story is inspired by the original but it retains a uniqueness of its own, and it was a pleasure to read. As far as interpretations go, this one is a very good one, and it shows us that, indeed, those ugly, vicious stepsisters the stories tell us about were only human. I was surprised when I realized who was really telling the story, as I hadn't guessed whom the ugly stepsister in the title was referring to, but I think it was very fitting. And despite there not being any fairy godmother in the book (though there was one in the movie, minus the magic wand!), the tale had a magic of its own.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
4.0
I really, really enjoyed this book. If you allow yourself to forget that it's a take on Cinderella, it is still a fabulous book. Once you get to the parts where you sort of snap to remembering, "Oh, right...wicked stepmother...", you're already entrapped in the world of Iris.
This is a truly wonderful take on the story. Margarethe, the wicked stepmother, is an evil evil cow. I was more than a little horrified when she told the clothier that she could offer him something in the future as payment, then called Clara forward. That was very shocking, though I should've seen it coming. I loved how Iris did take the role of "evil" stepsister, in the slightest ways possible, but it was still there.
The twist at the end was truly lovely. I really didn't see it coming, which I should've. That's been happening a lot lately.
Did I mention Margarethe is an evil, evil cow?
This is a truly wonderful take on the story. Margarethe, the wicked stepmother, is an evil evil cow. I was more than a little horrified when she told the clothier that she could offer him something in the future as payment, then called Clara forward. That was very shocking, though I should've seen it coming. I loved how Iris did take the role of "evil" stepsister, in the slightest ways possible, but it was still there.
The twist at the end was truly lovely. I really didn't see it coming, which I should've. That's been happening a lot lately.
Did I mention Margarethe is an evil, evil cow?
noella_t's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting to read the step-sister's side of the story. Gives more depth to the original Cinderella story.
mrsbrewcrew's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the retelling of the Cinderella story from a different perspective. It was a good reminder that what we accept as "truth" in life has alternative interpretations, it depends on what we are open to hearing.
The ending suprised me, even when I knew how it would end. However, I did feel like I wanted a fuller epilogue and more info on Iris's life. But somethings are meant to remain mysterious...
The ending suprised me, even when I knew how it would end. However, I did feel like I wanted a fuller epilogue and more info on Iris's life. But somethings are meant to remain mysterious...