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madhatter360's review against another edition
3.0
I still think the first book was the best, but I liked this much better than the second book. One of the interesting things about reading a story is the abilty to notice that while the story seems to have wrapped up, something bigger must be coming if there's almost half the book left unread.
thriftygeek's review against another edition
4.0
I actually recognized the swan fairy tale though I can't recall the name. I like how she made the tale her own. Another well written book.
sandraagee's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. There was a lot of potential here and I was thrilled to see a book based on this particular fairy tail ("The Six Swans" or "The Wild Swans" - they're basically the same core story) since this is a tale that you don't often see adapted. Unfortunately the effort was marred a bit in my mind by a bad case of insta-love and an awful lot of telling rather than showing. Not a terrible read - there were some truly nice moments as well - but not as great as I was hoping for.
slaylerchibimoon's review against another edition
5.0
I have loved every one of these Woodcutter Sister books. I waited so anxiously for this one and will do the same for the next.
The world of these books is one of my favorites to visit.
The world of these books is one of my favorites to visit.
mary_r_m's review against another edition
4.0
I just love the way the different classic characters are mixed and mingled in with favorite fairy-tale ones.
This series gives a refreshing take on re-told fairy-tales.
Love them!
This series gives a refreshing take on re-told fairy-tales.
Love them!
shaekin's review against another edition
5.0
As I've said before, I'm a sucker for fairy tale retellings. These books fill that love of mine and do it well. The author chooses darker fairy tales sometimes, but I like that too. I feel like she does a good job weaving them together and developing characters. Definitely keeping these on my shelf.
littlewhiterabbitreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
missprint_'s review against another edition
3.0
Friday is an optimist and content with her life. She loves her family and her work as a talented seamstress. Her life is full.
But even gentle Friday has to admit that her younger sister Saturday made an egregious error when she broke the world and called an ocean to the previously peaceful (and landlocked) borders of Arilland.
While Saturday goes off to seek her fortunes on a pirate ship, her family is left behind to deal with the aftermath. Friday, in particular, soon finds herself in charge of an army of wayward children not to mention dealing with an increased need for laundry, clothes and food within the kingdom.
Friday's problems increase tenfold when she finds seven cursed brothers in the highest tower of her sister Sunday's palace. When Friday sees Tristan, she knows she has found her future. But with a curse to break, an errant ocean, and other demands everywhere, there is no guarantee that Tristan and Friday will ever make it to that shared future in Dearest (2015) by Alethea Kontis.
Dearest is the third book in Kontis' Woodcutter Sisters series. It is preceded by Enchanted and Hero.
Kontis once again takes what could be a formulaic story and moves it in a dramatically unexpected direction with this latest installment in her delightful series.
As the rhyme goes, Friday is the "loving and giving" sister which makes Friday a uniquely content heroine. Throughout the novel she remains hopeful, optimistic and above all determined. While Friday's hopes and dreams grow to include Tristan and his siblings--Friday is a refreshingly satisfied and flexible character willing to take life as it comes.
With elements from traditional fairy tales and myths, Dearest is the most romantic Woodcutter adventure yet. Both Tristan and Friday add a new element to the overarching story with their narrations in this story that hints at bigger things to come for the entire Woodcutter family. Readers will also be rewarded with more of Kontis' now familiar humor and madcap pacing in this latest satisfying installment in the Woodcutter Sisters series.
Possible Pairings: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, The Selection by Kiera Cass, Entwined by Heather Dixon, Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and Chris Hale, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy, Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones,Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier, The Accidental Highwayman by Ben Tripp, A Well-Timed Enchantment by Vivian Vande Velde
*An advance copy of this book was acquired for review consideration from the publisher at BEA 2014*
But even gentle Friday has to admit that her younger sister Saturday made an egregious error when she broke the world and called an ocean to the previously peaceful (and landlocked) borders of Arilland.
While Saturday goes off to seek her fortunes on a pirate ship, her family is left behind to deal with the aftermath. Friday, in particular, soon finds herself in charge of an army of wayward children not to mention dealing with an increased need for laundry, clothes and food within the kingdom.
Friday's problems increase tenfold when she finds seven cursed brothers in the highest tower of her sister Sunday's palace. When Friday sees Tristan, she knows she has found her future. But with a curse to break, an errant ocean, and other demands everywhere, there is no guarantee that Tristan and Friday will ever make it to that shared future in Dearest (2015) by Alethea Kontis.
Dearest is the third book in Kontis' Woodcutter Sisters series. It is preceded by Enchanted and Hero.
Kontis once again takes what could be a formulaic story and moves it in a dramatically unexpected direction with this latest installment in her delightful series.
As the rhyme goes, Friday is the "loving and giving" sister which makes Friday a uniquely content heroine. Throughout the novel she remains hopeful, optimistic and above all determined. While Friday's hopes and dreams grow to include Tristan and his siblings--Friday is a refreshingly satisfied and flexible character willing to take life as it comes.
With elements from traditional fairy tales and myths, Dearest is the most romantic Woodcutter adventure yet. Both Tristan and Friday add a new element to the overarching story with their narrations in this story that hints at bigger things to come for the entire Woodcutter family. Readers will also be rewarded with more of Kontis' now familiar humor and madcap pacing in this latest satisfying installment in the Woodcutter Sisters series.
Possible Pairings: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, The Selection by Kiera Cass, Entwined by Heather Dixon, Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and Chris Hale, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy, Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones,Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier, The Accidental Highwayman by Ben Tripp, A Well-Timed Enchantment by Vivian Vande Velde
*An advance copy of this book was acquired for review consideration from the publisher at BEA 2014*
jasmyn9's review against another edition
3.0
Welcome to Friday's story. This is another one that takes place during Saturday's flood, but this time we get a look at Arriland itself and the refugees that quickly crowd the palace looking for shelter. Friday finds herself caught in duties of watching the children and stitching together new clothes for thousands of people.
But, she also finds herself among a group a magical siblings - cursed by an evil sorceress. This is where I really loved the plot line. Kontis brought two fairy tale swan stories together and I really loved how she made it all work out.
My only big complaint was that there seemed to be three separate endings. Several times I thought she was wrapping everything up, in fact she did wrap most of it up..;..but then....everything fell apart again. It was just a tad too up and down at those points.
- See more at: http://www.hotofftheshelves.com/2016/05/dearest-by-alethea-kontis-review.html#sthash.qV7zM2Ks.dpuf
But, she also finds herself among a group a magical siblings - cursed by an evil sorceress. This is where I really loved the plot line. Kontis brought two fairy tale swan stories together and I really loved how she made it all work out.
My only big complaint was that there seemed to be three separate endings. Several times I thought she was wrapping everything up, in fact she did wrap most of it up..;..but then....everything fell apart again. It was just a tad too up and down at those points.
- See more at: http://www.hotofftheshelves.com/2016/05/dearest-by-alethea-kontis-review.html#sthash.qV7zM2Ks.dpuf
britomarte's review against another edition
3.0
I really tried to like this, but Friday was just too much for me for a main character. The romance wasn't as reasonable, and the characters seemed flatter. Friday was just too GOOD. She needed some real feelings and faults beyond 'utter goodness soul magic' to sink your teeth into.