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readingisadoingword's review
4.0
Twelve by Andrea Blythe
Although this books describes itself as being twelve poems, they are more like short stories.
Inspired by the fairytale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, this short book looks at the tale from a different persepctive. Rather than following the "hero", here we look at the sisters.
How would they feel to have their nights of dancing ended?
Each sister has her own dedicated story - they turn to alchemy, study, adventure, revenge - each sister follows her own path.
The tales also retained teh tone and feeling of fairytales and fables.
I really enjoyed this and would recommend for anyone who enjoys Kirsty Logan or Jen Campbell.
I received this as an eBook from Netgalley on exchange for an honest review.
Although this books describes itself as being twelve poems, they are more like short stories.
Inspired by the fairytale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, this short book looks at the tale from a different persepctive. Rather than following the "hero", here we look at the sisters.
How would they feel to have their nights of dancing ended?
Each sister has her own dedicated story - they turn to alchemy, study, adventure, revenge - each sister follows her own path.
The tales also retained teh tone and feeling of fairytales and fables.
I really enjoyed this and would recommend for anyone who enjoys Kirsty Logan or Jen Campbell.
I received this as an eBook from Netgalley on exchange for an honest review.
bookworm_marija's review
3.0
I found this copy on Netgalley and was super intrigued to read it! Definitely not disappointed. Every page was magical describing the twelve sisters, the powers they hold and how each have a different way about life after the entrance was sealed with an iron door to the magical underworld. One sister learned how to poison and alchemy, the twin sisters began stealing, another sister simply chose a life surrounded by books while another found comfort exploring the love of baking and then falling in love with the cook and sharing warm evenings together. I would say that these are not poems but more like short stories. I would love to see this expanded into a larger novel since there are so many fantastic possibilities that can emerge! The author's explanation in the end was a very nice finishing touch over viewing parts we may have missed or what the author wanted us to take away from the story.
amandapgold's review
3.0
**I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
I liked this book, however it does not read as poetry to me. It seemed like mini-stories. One-three pages on what happened to each of the 12 sisters. I liked that the author explored what happened to each sister and felt like looking at the many paths women take in their everyday lives. Some became wives, mothers, lovers, explorers, hunters, loners, etc. Some followed convention and others made their own path. It was a cute read and would recommend to those who enjoy fairytales with strong women characters.
I liked this book, however it does not read as poetry to me. It seemed like mini-stories. One-three pages on what happened to each of the 12 sisters. I liked that the author explored what happened to each sister and felt like looking at the many paths women take in their everyday lives. Some became wives, mothers, lovers, explorers, hunters, loners, etc. Some followed convention and others made their own path. It was a cute read and would recommend to those who enjoy fairytales with strong women characters.
bookishkate517's review
3.0
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This collection of poems was so cute! These poems read more as short stories rather than poems. All of these stories were written in a way that left them open to be added on to. It would be super interesting to see if this author takes one of these poems and writes a full length story.
This collection of poems was so cute! These poems read more as short stories rather than poems. All of these stories were written in a way that left them open to be added on to. It would be super interesting to see if this author takes one of these poems and writes a full length story.
samanthaisonline's review
3.25
I love fairytale retellings. I especially love fairytale retellings that return a sense of agency to the too-often-ignored female characters. Thus I was immediately drawn to this poetic retelling of the 12 dancing princesses.
Blythe makes some interesting points, especially in the author's note at the end. However, the stories weren't quite poems - they were more similar to a couple of paragraphs per princess. The writing, though beautiful, was a bit strange. A smidgen too short to feel complete but too long to be what one usually thinks of as a poem.
There is some beautiful writing and some interesting characterization:
"When she was young, she ate apples whole, swallowing the core and bitter seeds along with the white flesh. Her sisters joked that a tree would take root and grow inside her. Now, as her belly swelled, her sisters whispered behind her hands, not quite meeting her eyes."
Personally, I enjoyed the "The Eighth and Ninth Sisters," "The Tenth Sister," and the beginning of "The Fifth Sister" the most. I say the beginning of that one because it felt like Blythe lost steam near the end of most of the poems, going from concrete and beautifully written characterizations to not-quite sticking the landing.
(A couple small notes. One, it strikes me as odd that a story meant to be centering the princesses doesn't give any of them names. Additionally, the last poem implies that the fairies were bad/draining the women's life force - does that not technically absolve the king of some of the blame, if his actions did protect his daughters? Just a thought.)
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
Blythe makes some interesting points, especially in the author's note at the end. However, the stories weren't quite poems - they were more similar to a couple of paragraphs per princess. The writing, though beautiful, was a bit strange. A smidgen too short to feel complete but too long to be what one usually thinks of as a poem.
There is some beautiful writing and some interesting characterization:
"When she was young, she ate apples whole, swallowing the core and bitter seeds along with the white flesh. Her sisters joked that a tree would take root and grow inside her. Now, as her belly swelled, her sisters whispered behind her hands, not quite meeting her eyes."
Personally, I enjoyed the "The Eighth and Ninth Sisters," "The Tenth Sister," and the beginning of "The Fifth Sister" the most. I say the beginning of that one because it felt like Blythe lost steam near the end of most of the poems, going from concrete and beautifully written characterizations to not-quite sticking the landing.
(A couple small notes. One, it strikes me as odd that a story meant to be centering the princesses doesn't give any of them names. Additionally, the last poem implies that the fairies were bad/draining the women's life force - does that not technically absolve the king of some of the blame, if his actions did protect his daughters? Just a thought.)
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
stregamorte's review
5.0
This collection was just want I wanted. We follow each sister of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" in the aftermath of their discovery. It had been years since I've read the fairy tale, but Blythe gives a rendition in her prologue. I loved how unique each sister's tale was, and you really got a sense of how each was their own independent individual. Often in fairy tales women/sisters often get lumped together as a homogeneous group, in this collection Blythe gives them all their own voices.
lyradora's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
slow-paced
4.0
Reimagining of the fates of the twelve dancing princesses *after*. Angry, haunting, hungry, feminist poetry.
wanderingwordsmith's review
4.0
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection as it retold what happened after the 12 dancing princesses were found out and their dancing had been stopped. Each sister experienced the loss of their nightly adventures differently - some escape, some take revenge and some find their new normal. All of them react very differently and each of their stories is a little vignette into how they survive.
I would hesitate to call this poetry, I would call it flash fiction or vignette type stories, but it was beautifully written and each look into the sisters' lives was unique and varied. It's a quick read that flies and is a great example of retellings with a twist.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection as it retold what happened after the 12 dancing princesses were found out and their dancing had been stopped. Each sister experienced the loss of their nightly adventures differently - some escape, some take revenge and some find their new normal. All of them react very differently and each of their stories is a little vignette into how they survive.
I would hesitate to call this poetry, I would call it flash fiction or vignette type stories, but it was beautifully written and each look into the sisters' lives was unique and varied. It's a quick read that flies and is a great example of retellings with a twist.
themaddiehatter's review
4.0
When I chose to read a copy of "Twelve: Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale", by Andrea Blythe, I overlooked the ":" and was under the impression that it would be a collection of twelve poems, each retelling a different Brothers Grimm fairy tale, in a way like "I Am Not Your Final Girl", by Claire C. Holland reclaimed the voice of final girls in horror cinema. That may be because I didn't read the synopsis clearly...oops. Still, I did enjoy this a lot.
"Twelve: Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale" is actually the retelling of only one fairy tale, namely "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". The essential story is that the king, father of twelve princesses, cannot explain why his daughters shoes are tarnished in the morning when his daughters do not leave the castle at night. Since his daughters won't tell him what is happening, he lets men from all over his kingdom try their luck for three days to discover what is happening. If they find out nothing they get executed, but if they find out the reason they get to chose a princess to marry. Eventually one soldier wins at this challenge and gets to pick his prize. This is essentially the fairy tale story. This little book follows the fate of each of the twelve princesses after. In this fashion, it is a bit similar to "I Am Not Your Final Girl", and I enjoyed reading about the different fates of the princesses, albeit most were sad. Still, it was the fates that they fought to have, rather than accepted what was dealt to them by their father so for them it was worth it.
The writing is very beautiful, a bit reminiscent of Gwendolyn Kiste's writing. While it definitely is poetic and the imagery is vivid, I wouldn't personally call this a collection of poetry, but that may be because I have a more traditional view of poetry (stanza, rhythm, rhyme that sort of thing). To me this read like a collection of short stories with beautiful, poetic language.
If you are a fan of fairy tale retellings, especially feminist fairy tale retellings, I would definitely recommend this one. And even if you are not ( I myself have never read a fairy tale retelling before), it is definitely a quick, beautiful and worthwhile read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
"Twelve: Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale" is actually the retelling of only one fairy tale, namely "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". The essential story is that the king, father of twelve princesses, cannot explain why his daughters shoes are tarnished in the morning when his daughters do not leave the castle at night. Since his daughters won't tell him what is happening, he lets men from all over his kingdom try their luck for three days to discover what is happening. If they find out nothing they get executed, but if they find out the reason they get to chose a princess to marry. Eventually one soldier wins at this challenge and gets to pick his prize. This is essentially the fairy tale story. This little book follows the fate of each of the twelve princesses after. In this fashion, it is a bit similar to "I Am Not Your Final Girl", and I enjoyed reading about the different fates of the princesses, albeit most were sad. Still, it was the fates that they fought to have, rather than accepted what was dealt to them by their father so for them it was worth it.
The writing is very beautiful, a bit reminiscent of Gwendolyn Kiste's writing. While it definitely is poetic and the imagery is vivid, I wouldn't personally call this a collection of poetry, but that may be because I have a more traditional view of poetry (stanza, rhythm, rhyme that sort of thing). To me this read like a collection of short stories with beautiful, poetic language.
If you are a fan of fairy tale retellings, especially feminist fairy tale retellings, I would definitely recommend this one. And even if you are not ( I myself have never read a fairy tale retelling before), it is definitely a quick, beautiful and worthwhile read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.