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bookph1le's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it, but not as much as I'd hoped. I found parts of it disjointed, and the love story didn't work all that well for me. It's very imagination, though, and I thought it was pretty ingenious how the author incorporated details of so many different fairy tales. More complete review to come.
Full review:
For a good portion of Enchanted, I couldn't put my finger on what it was about the book that just wasn't working for me, and then I found my answer in the back. It sounds like the author accepted the challenge of mashing as many fairy tales together as possible, and that's what the end result was. It's interesting to see the mash-up, and some aspects of it are so well done, but it also worked to the book's detriment. Some spoilers to follow.
The main problem I found with this mash-up approach was that it made portions of the book so disjointed. I was confused several times and had to go back and read previous pages, wondering what the narrative seemed to have taken a detour. Sometimes the additions of random, outside fairy tales felt entirely random and detracted too much from the other central events of the story.
I like the family and its dynamics, but there are so many characters that it's hard to get a sense of depth to any of them. I liked Sunday, but I couldn't always understand her relationships with her other siblings, maybe because I never got a feel for several of her siblings. It's ambitious to tackle such a vast cast of characters, but it's also a risk that doesn't always pay off, and I felt it didn't much pay off here. I wanted to know more about each of the characters, yet I also wanted a more narrow focus so I could get to know them better, and these two things are obviously not compatible with one another.
I was not all that fond of the love story. There was no buildup to it. One minute Rumbold (ugh, that name--so horrible!) is meeting Sunday and the next he's head over heels in love with her. Huh? Worse yet is that the same thing happens with Sunday, even though he's a frog. Okay, this is a fairy tale, so it requires some suspension of belief, and I don't have a problem with that because I adore fairy tales. But in order for her to fall in love with a frog, there really needs to be more than three days of her reading from her journal to him by way of explanation as to what she sees in him. Why would she engage in such a seemingly hopeless love without very, very good reasons?
Another thing I found jarring about these books was how at odds the light tone is with some of the darker elements in the book. In general, the narrative voice is so lighthearted, and not just because of the characters. Yet there are some pretty gruesome scenes, particularly when it comes to Rumbold's father, and they seemed so strangely macabre, like reading a kids' book that turns into a gory horror novel. I made the mistake of thinking this book was a light read, and while I don't mind something darker, it just felt so off when the book went down that path.
I didn't much get Rumbold, either. It might be a simple matter of taste as he was a bit too angsty for me, but it felt like this book spent most of its time going from one big drama in Rumbold's life to the next. It's as if the book reaches a resolution, then brings up another problem which requires yet another resolution. It creates a strange roller coaster effect that made me wonder what the ultimate point of the story was. Was it a reboot of the Frog Prince? Was it a tale about love? Was it a story about a man's struggle to define his relationship with his father? It's all of these things at various points, but it never feels as if the issues are really sewn together all that well.
In the end, I think maybe there's too much gimmick and too little story to this book, and I think it would be better off focusing on story.
Full review:
For a good portion of Enchanted, I couldn't put my finger on what it was about the book that just wasn't working for me, and then I found my answer in the back. It sounds like the author accepted the challenge of mashing as many fairy tales together as possible, and that's what the end result was. It's interesting to see the mash-up, and some aspects of it are so well done, but it also worked to the book's detriment. Some spoilers to follow.
The main problem I found with this mash-up approach was that it made portions of the book so disjointed. I was confused several times and had to go back and read previous pages, wondering what the narrative seemed to have taken a detour. Sometimes the additions of random, outside fairy tales felt entirely random and detracted too much from the other central events of the story.
I like the family and its dynamics, but there are so many characters that it's hard to get a sense of depth to any of them. I liked Sunday, but I couldn't always understand her relationships with her other siblings, maybe because I never got a feel for several of her siblings. It's ambitious to tackle such a vast cast of characters, but it's also a risk that doesn't always pay off, and I felt it didn't much pay off here. I wanted to know more about each of the characters, yet I also wanted a more narrow focus so I could get to know them better, and these two things are obviously not compatible with one another.
I was not all that fond of the love story. There was no buildup to it. One minute Rumbold (ugh, that name--so horrible!) is meeting Sunday and the next he's head over heels in love with her. Huh? Worse yet is that the same thing happens with Sunday, even though he's a frog. Okay, this is a fairy tale, so it requires some suspension of belief, and I don't have a problem with that because I adore fairy tales. But in order for her to fall in love with a frog, there really needs to be more than three days of her reading from her journal to him by way of explanation as to what she sees in him. Why would she engage in such a seemingly hopeless love without very, very good reasons?
Another thing I found jarring about these books was how at odds the light tone is with some of the darker elements in the book. In general, the narrative voice is so lighthearted, and not just because of the characters. Yet there are some pretty gruesome scenes, particularly when it comes to Rumbold's father, and they seemed so strangely macabre, like reading a kids' book that turns into a gory horror novel. I made the mistake of thinking this book was a light read, and while I don't mind something darker, it just felt so off when the book went down that path.
I didn't much get Rumbold, either. It might be a simple matter of taste as he was a bit too angsty for me, but it felt like this book spent most of its time going from one big drama in Rumbold's life to the next. It's as if the book reaches a resolution, then brings up another problem which requires yet another resolution. It creates a strange roller coaster effect that made me wonder what the ultimate point of the story was. Was it a reboot of the Frog Prince? Was it a tale about love? Was it a story about a man's struggle to define his relationship with his father? It's all of these things at various points, but it never feels as if the issues are really sewn together all that well.
In the end, I think maybe there's too much gimmick and too little story to this book, and I think it would be better off focusing on story.
withlovenour's review against another edition
1.0
The idea behind this book was interesting. However, the story was very confusing and there were many plotholes. The events were choppy and did not string together well. I most probably will not be continuing the series.
harleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
Well it certainly was different.
Enchanted is about a girl named Sunday, who one day meets a frog in the woods who can well talk. So of course she talks to the frog, and shortly falls in love with the frog. She kisses him and turns him back into a man, but she didn't know he turned back into a man. A man no other than her family's rival. Not knowing who he is Rumble (the frog) prince of Arilland tries to win the heart of Sunday once again. And this time he faces a few more challenges than hoped.
OK so i know not the best summary but i' typing on lost sleep before i lose whats still fresh in my mind. This book was well..confusing. At times i had no idea what was going on or how exactly it tied into the story. And the author used WAY to many fairy tales. I get what she was trying to do, but it just wasn't working. Every time you turned the page there was a new fairy-tale incorporated, it just became to much. I also feel there was to many characters, seemed as if every chapter brought a new face, i had a hard time keeping up with how was how. I don't just feels like the book needed just a tad more planning.
So i didn't like the book at all, but i did, i gave it 3 stars. I did like some stuff, i thought the incorporation of fairy-tales was cool, just a little less would have been nice. I also thought the main story line was good, lots going on but good, I understood what the author was getting at.
All in all it wasn't bad, it just need to be thought over a little more. Now the real question is, am I up to try and read the second book?? Time will tell.
Enchanted is about a girl named Sunday, who one day meets a frog in the woods who can well talk. So of course she talks to the frog, and shortly falls in love with the frog. She kisses him and turns him back into a man, but she didn't know he turned back into a man. A man no other than her family's rival. Not knowing who he is Rumble (the frog) prince of Arilland tries to win the heart of Sunday once again. And this time he faces a few more challenges than hoped.
OK so i know not the best summary but i' typing on lost sleep before i lose whats still fresh in my mind. This book was well..confusing. At times i had no idea what was going on or how exactly it tied into the story. And the author used WAY to many fairy tales. I get what she was trying to do, but it just wasn't working. Every time you turned the page there was a new fairy-tale incorporated, it just became to much. I also feel there was to many characters, seemed as if every chapter brought a new face, i had a hard time keeping up with how was how. I don't just feels like the book needed just a tad more planning.
So i didn't like the book at all, but i did, i gave it 3 stars. I did like some stuff, i thought the incorporation of fairy-tales was cool, just a little less would have been nice. I also thought the main story line was good, lots going on but good, I understood what the author was getting at.
All in all it wasn't bad, it just need to be thought over a little more. Now the real question is, am I up to try and read the second book?? Time will tell.
kebreads's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I came across this book in the local library and it seemed to call my name. Eventually I picked it up and checked it out. I am so glad I did. I definitely want to own it some day. The writing is marvelous, the story enchanting, and the pace perfect. I love how she fits so many different fairy tales into one book.
Content: several swear words, some violence
Content: several swear words, some violence
alicebme's review against another edition
2.0
I really liked the Woodcutter family and seeing the individual stories of the children play out. The fairy business was deliciously dark, but also surprisingly easy to resolve. This book was the first that I've ordered from Powell's used and received an upgrade to new. Nice surprise!
votesforwomen's review against another edition
3.0
Well. Um.
This is a complicated book. The characterization, worldbuilding and suspense are all stellar, but it was very hard to figure out what was going on much of the time. The prince is a very unreliable narrator. I know a lot of people love those, but I'm not very good at handling it.
So: This was a good book, but complicated enough that I may not reread it. Kudos on the weaving of the fairy tales, though!
This is a complicated book. The characterization, worldbuilding and suspense are all stellar, but it was very hard to figure out what was going on much of the time. The prince is a very unreliable narrator. I know a lot of people love those, but I'm not very good at handling it.
So: This was a good book, but complicated enough that I may not reread it. Kudos on the weaving of the fairy tales, though!
natwc's review against another edition
5.0
I really love fantasy stories that incorporate fairy tales and this book was no exception. I also like how the book was written. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, "Hero" and the other books of the series.
tale_of_tales's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. I really loved this fairytale retelling! It included most of my favorite stories, some hidden, and some more obvious. Although, there were a couple of unclear topics and a few plot holes that were sort of confusing. But overall, it could’ve been a lot worse. I totally recommend it!
bookwrm129's review against another edition
3.0
It was alright. It was a little confusing because of all the fairy-tales tied into it. Otherwise, it was a good story line.
honey_stardust_13's review against another edition
5.0
It's magical. It is very whimsical and it is most definitely worth reading.