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jafinc's review against another edition
4.0
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Despite the slight repetitive quality to the phrasing/writing at various points of the story, and the ancient concept of innocence and purity (which made me cringe), I quite enjoyed this book. It takes the language, myths, and concepts of traditional fairy tales, the vile and deceptive undertones of beauty and magic, and weaves something new from these familiar themes.
Despite the slight repetitive quality to the phrasing/writing at various points of the story, and the ancient concept of innocence and purity (which made me cringe), I quite enjoyed this book. It takes the language, myths, and concepts of traditional fairy tales, the vile and deceptive undertones of beauty and magic, and weaves something new from these familiar themes.
halynah's review against another edition
4.0
For those who love fairy mythology this book is a treasure - it's beautifully written and the ending is just sweet. As I'm not a fan of fairies, of Oberon and Titania - four stars from me.
flying_monkeys's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
bookishmadness's review
4.0
What it's about: A teenage girl gets swallowed by the tree and taken into the fairy realm where she tries to find her long-lost brother.
What I thought: This is the first fairy book I have read, and I didn't really know what to expect. But all expectations got blown out the window, and now I am desperate to read more about the fae! Ms Long creates a fantastic world, one that you delve deep into, and never want to come back up.
the good: Jack. Yes, he is the love interest for the book, but I saw him as so much more than that! He was a fabulously written character and everything just seemed so real! Jenny was a great character too, although at points she did annoy me. The story-line was great, although I wish this book wasn't a stand alone!
the bad: At some points I felt the book dragged slightly.
Rating:
4 bookstacks
What I thought: This is the first fairy book I have read, and I didn't really know what to expect. But all expectations got blown out the window, and now I am desperate to read more about the fae! Ms Long creates a fantastic world, one that you delve deep into, and never want to come back up.
the good: Jack. Yes, he is the love interest for the book, but I saw him as so much more than that! He was a fabulously written character and everything just seemed so real! Jenny was a great character too, although at points she did annoy me. The story-line was great, although I wish this book wasn't a stand alone!
the bad: At some points I felt the book dragged slightly.
Rating:
4 bookstacks
ellewhyen's review
I haven't read a faerie book in a while and to get back to the world of Faerie with, Treachery of Beautiful Things was just awesome. Beautifully written with all those classic characters from Puck to Titania and all those sprites and spirits in between.
I got a bit annoyed at Jenny in the beginning when she was all about finding her brother and had doubts about Jack, but she grew on me and became a wonderful heroine.
The romance between Jenny and Jack doesn't play much of a major part in the book although it plays a bigger part towards the end.
This book, although I would love to read a sequel does better as a stand alone.
The author paints just a beautiful picture of Faerie and has a wonderful way with words and imagination.
I got a bit annoyed at Jenny in the beginning when she was all about finding her brother and had doubts about Jack, but she grew on me and became a wonderful heroine.
The romance between Jenny and Jack doesn't play much of a major part in the book although it plays a bigger part towards the end.
This book, although I would love to read a sequel does better as a stand alone.
The author paints just a beautiful picture of Faerie and has a wonderful way with words and imagination.
brokenchell's review
3.0
The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long This book has a lovely storyline, and the concept of it is good. However it took me months to finish it, I just couldn't keep my attention focused on it, meanwhile I finished 2 other books. I love retellings of Tatiana and Mab and the faery courts. This concept of the May Queen coming to the Realm to replace the current queen, is great. I just think Jenny Wren is lacking something, something more that Jack would want to fight for, not out of duty but out of love. I did like the book, I followed it to the end. It was just a very long read. I won't reject another book by this author, I would gladly give it a chance. It could be that me and The May Queen just didn't mesh.
meganelizbaker's review
3.0
“Nature is harsh, unforgiving. It can destroy as much as it can create. That’s—that’s its nature.”
thepiqht's review
Book: The Treachery of Beautiful Things
Author: Ruth Frances Long
Source: Ebooks
Why I didn't finish this Book;
What Could Have Made Me Stay;
Author: Ruth Frances Long
Source: Ebooks
Why I didn't finish this Book;
1. The first few chapters didn't entice my attention, at all. It seemed very dragged out and like we were going nowhere.
2. The main character feels a bit pathetic. She whines, while that could be a trait that helps readers connect, this was done poorly and made me dislike her.
3. I didn't enjoy the writing. The prose was somewhat choppy and I felt myself realising more and more that I was just looking at a screen, as opposed to be completely absorbed in the story.
4. Jack enters the picture and it's like he falls in love with the main character straight away. Leaves little room for any relationship development.
What Could Have Made Me Stay;
1. The brother. From the little tidbits that we get from her, Tom seems like someone you would read a story about.
2. It sticks to fairy tale rules quite well. The whole 'don't eat faerie food' idea and the fact the it has Puck prancing around the pages.
mirable's review
5.0
Booklist starred review:
When Jenny was 10, her older brother, Tom, disappeared before her eyes into the forest near their English home. Seven years later, Jenny goes to the forest to say good-bye, but stumbles into the fairy realm, where she learns that Tom is being held captive in the Sidhe court. Jenny’s quest to reclaim her brother becomes a fight not only for her life, heart, and soul but also for Jack o’ the Forest, with whom Jenny is falling in love. Jenny attracts the attention of both the Summer Queen and the Winter King, and she becomes a pivot point in their courtly machinations. Led by her heart and purity of purpose, she discovers that there just might be a way to save not only Tom but herself and Jack as well. In her debut novel, Long has created a delicious and wonderfully romantic meld of several legends and fairy tales, including elements of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the ballad of Tam Lin, and mixed in plenty of action. Lyrical prose, along with highly imaginative and descriptive phrasing, makes the forest setting—and its creatures and people—immediately present and sparked with magic. —Charli Osborne
When Jenny was 10, her older brother, Tom, disappeared before her eyes into the forest near their English home. Seven years later, Jenny goes to the forest to say good-bye, but stumbles into the fairy realm, where she learns that Tom is being held captive in the Sidhe court. Jenny’s quest to reclaim her brother becomes a fight not only for her life, heart, and soul but also for Jack o’ the Forest, with whom Jenny is falling in love. Jenny attracts the attention of both the Summer Queen and the Winter King, and she becomes a pivot point in their courtly machinations. Led by her heart and purity of purpose, she discovers that there just might be a way to save not only Tom but herself and Jack as well. In her debut novel, Long has created a delicious and wonderfully romantic meld of several legends and fairy tales, including elements of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the ballad of Tam Lin, and mixed in plenty of action. Lyrical prose, along with highly imaginative and descriptive phrasing, makes the forest setting—and its creatures and people—immediately present and sparked with magic. —Charli Osborne
artzea's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5