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mayling23's review against another edition
5.0
“It's the problem with fairy tales. From far away, they seem so perfect. But up close, they're just as complicated as real life.”
A World Without Princes is even better than the first book! Which, to be honest, doesn't happen a lot. I always find myself disappointed by second books in the series. But with this one? No! This book made me love this world even more. It was such a magical read!
If someone thinks this book is just for children, he's wrong. Because under this beautiful and whimsical book cover is so much more. Soman Chainani created a great world, and he wrote a book in the way which I absolutely adore. Because in this story is more than we can see sometimes. Just that idea of good and evil, princesses and witches is interesting, but the way he explained it to us? PERFECT. The message is really clear: there isn't just good and evil in this world, no, it is a little bit more complicated.
Also, his writing is amazing. Addictive and fluffy, sometimes poetic. And there was so much feminism in this book! Like really? I loved that ascept of this story!
After this book I love Sophie even more(even thought I didn´t know it´s possible) and unfortunately I love Agatha a little bit less. Sophie is just my fave, and I adored that Soman showed her in a different light, because that makes her more likeable for readers.
After I finished this book, I desperately wanted more. The fact there is only one book left in this series kind of creeps me out and here it comes a problem: I want to read the last book, yet I don´t want to. Overall, I love this book, I love this world and I adore Sophie and other nevers so much.
In my eyes the author created very complex characters, he developed their personalities in this sequel and he hid very important topics into cute fairytale story.
A World Without Princes is even better than the first book! Which, to be honest, doesn't happen a lot. I always find myself disappointed by second books in the series. But with this one? No! This book made me love this world even more. It was such a magical read!
If someone thinks this book is just for children, he's wrong. Because under this beautiful and whimsical book cover is so much more. Soman Chainani created a great world, and he wrote a book in the way which I absolutely adore. Because in this story is more than we can see sometimes. Just that idea of good and evil, princesses and witches is interesting, but the way he explained it to us? PERFECT. The message is really clear: there isn't just good and evil in this world, no, it is a little bit more complicated.
Also, his writing is amazing. Addictive and fluffy, sometimes poetic. And there was so much feminism in this book! Like really? I loved that ascept of this story!
After this book I love Sophie even more(even thought I didn´t know it´s possible) and unfortunately I love Agatha a little bit less. Sophie is just my fave, and I adored that Soman showed her in a different light, because that makes her more likeable for readers.
After I finished this book, I desperately wanted more. The fact there is only one book left in this series kind of creeps me out and here it comes a problem: I want to read the last book, yet I don´t want to. Overall, I love this book, I love this world and I adore Sophie and other nevers so much.
In my eyes the author created very complex characters, he developed their personalities in this sequel and he hid very important topics into cute fairytale story.
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
5.0
Whewee! This was a heart-racing, scream-but-in-a-good-way-inducing, edge-of-your-seat book that was right up my alley! I adore giant epic mystical rich stories with DEVELOPED characters and LYRICAL writing. I thiiink I said this last time but Soman's writing is truly spellbinding and he definitely knows how to build tention and make you attached to the characters. Another thing he's good at is... how to explain it? Let's use the beginning of first book as an example. Sophie appears Good and Agatha appears Evil, but Soman subtly makes us adore Agatha and hate Sophie, and then the next second he can flip the coin so that their sides are switched and the reader's emotions are just everywhere because they thought it'd go one way and they thought the character they really love was one way but then they're NOT! Is that a good thing? Idunno. One thing I didn't love was the depiction of Braille? Like what the frickity frack? Rainbow shiny pinprick dots that turn into holograms or something when you touch them? It's so funny because the book's like "oh Sader can't write history cuz he's BLIND." What do you think the dots are then? Like does disability just... not exist in SGE universe? And if he's blind why is he gazing into people's eyes... is he blind or not?! Idk that's unfair maybe, I mean who wants to do hours of research, and maybe it's just part of his universe? Butttttt it did weird me out a little (and if anyone who doesn't know me sees this and goes to ask how I know Braille isn't multi-colored, I'm blind and am writing in Braille right now so. Yep.) I'mma not be too harsh about that though because this was a simply fabulous read and I'm so stoked for the next book. I'd highly recommend for Fairytale lovers!!
mayling23's review against another edition
5.0
Re-read in March 2018:
4.5/5 stars
Despite loving the story of Sophie and Agatha once again, I am lowering my rating and I have to address issues I had with this book the second time around.
It really makes me sad, because I remember adoring this book endlessly, but now reading it as one year older me, I cannot help but see some problematic aspects to it.
The thing is, I don't think the author did this on purpose, for I've done some research and after reading few interviews with him, it makes even less sense to me why there were some problems.
The sequel was dealing with girls and boys and yet the idea of gender in this book was interesting, I admit the execution was rather problematic. I generally didn't agree with many thoughts talking about gender roles here, that being said I could see the point if it was addressed somewhere in the story. If the author mentioned that the world and its inhabitants have a stereotypical way of thinking because of lack of diversity in their area for example, I would totally understand, because I am 100% sure this aspect was not meant to hurt anyone in any way. Though I think more diversity would be really beneficial for the book, it would explore gender as whole much more and the message of it all would seem more profound.
This doesn't change my love towards to the series at all, but I felt like it is an issue I cannot unsee, cannot ignore. I don't remember if this topic is more developed in The Last Ever After, but I truly hope it is.
Apart from this one side of my reading experience, I had a good time with my favourite characters. My love towards Sophie is so strong it kind of breaks my heart, and of course I do love Agatha and other side characters. I unfortunately chose this book at wrong time, but it didn't influence my opinion in any way.
If you're looking for a fun, warm-hearted, adventurous and loveable story filled with magic and fairytales, I highly recommend checking this out, but I simply felt obliged to mention my problem with this particular sequel. Nonetheless, I consider The World Without Princes to be absolutely outstanding middle-grade with important messages in it. Honestly, if you think about it, Harry Potter(I love it to death okay) isn't the most diverse book either(if we talk about relationship and general view of romance)!
4.5/5 stars
Despite loving the story of Sophie and Agatha once again, I am lowering my rating and I have to address issues I had with this book the second time around.
It really makes me sad, because I remember adoring this book endlessly, but now reading it as one year older me, I cannot help but see some problematic aspects to it.
The thing is, I don't think the author did this on purpose, for I've done some research and after reading few interviews with him, it makes even less sense to me why there were some problems.
The sequel was dealing with girls and boys and yet the idea of gender in this book was interesting, I admit the execution was rather problematic. I generally didn't agree with many thoughts talking about gender roles here, that being said I could see the point if it was addressed somewhere in the story. If the author mentioned that the world and its inhabitants have a stereotypical way of thinking because of lack of diversity in their area for example, I would totally understand, because I am 100% sure this aspect was not meant to hurt anyone in any way. Though I think more diversity would be really beneficial for the book, it would explore gender as whole much more and the message of it all would seem more profound.
This doesn't change my love towards to the series at all, but I felt like it is an issue I cannot unsee, cannot ignore. I don't remember if this topic is more developed in The Last Ever After, but I truly hope it is.
Apart from this one side of my reading experience, I had a good time with my favourite characters. My love towards Sophie is so strong it kind of breaks my heart, and of course I do love Agatha and other side characters. I unfortunately chose this book at wrong time, but it didn't influence my opinion in any way.
If you're looking for a fun, warm-hearted, adventurous and loveable story filled with magic and fairytales, I highly recommend checking this out, but I simply felt obliged to mention my problem with this particular sequel. Nonetheless, I consider The World Without Princes to be absolutely outstanding middle-grade with important messages in it. Honestly, if you think about it, Harry Potter(
wendythegeekgoddess's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 out of 5 stars!
This novel had its slow paced parts which bored me for a while but it quickly picked up its pace on the last few 60 or so pages, definitely not as great as the first one was but good enough that I definitely want to check out the last book! Heard its gonna be made into a movie as well, so excited! The concept of these stories definitely reminds me of the Harry Potter series!
This novel had its slow paced parts which bored me for a while but it quickly picked up its pace on the last few 60 or so pages, definitely not as great as the first one was but good enough that I definitely want to check out the last book! Heard its gonna be made into a movie as well, so excited! The concept of these stories definitely reminds me of the Harry Potter series!
bookinthefreezer's review against another edition
4.0
...aint no way it just ended like that (it feels so foreign, evil winning)..
eliise_talts's review against another edition
2.0
And it continues. The author has improved when it comes to writing a half-decent paragraph, and only somewhat. There is still the abundance of sexism, this time so much I'm not sure I can continue to call it "casual". The entire plot (if you can call this mess of a hole-y Swiss cheese tied together with string cheese a plot) seems to be built up on it, and only once it the whole book does a character acknowledge that calling all girls "manipulative" and "plotting" and comparing boys to "smelly animals" might be slightly backwards.
The friendship of Agatha and Sophie is co-dependent and built on them chasing after each other. And for some reason still fighting over Tedros (or Teddykins, as my friend very sarcastically keeps calling him) who might be the character with worst victim complex ever (at least of those I've encountered) and spent most of his time blaming Agatha and Sophie for his problems and pitying himself, instead of doing something about it. Truly a bore to lug through every paragraph he is in.
But in all fairness, Sophie did improve much compared to her last book self and kept getting in some good one-liners. If I can criticize a book, it's only fair I can give a compliment.
The friendship of Agatha and Sophie is co-dependent and built on them chasing after each other. And for some reason still fighting over Tedros (or Teddykins, as my friend very sarcastically keeps calling him) who might be the character with worst victim complex ever (at least of those I've encountered) and spent most of his time blaming Agatha and Sophie for his problems and pitying himself, instead of doing something about it. Truly a bore to lug through every paragraph he is in.
But in all fairness, Sophie did improve much compared to her last book self and kept getting in some good one-liners. If I can criticize a book, it's only fair I can give a compliment.
yani_b's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this book feels weaker than the other books (by this i mean books 1 & 3)
agatha’s character was more passive in this one, and i feel like her personality and intellect was clearer on book 1. she was definitely a little watered down in this one. which sucks because i love agatha so much. through out the book i believe the author would’ve followed the “show dont tell” principle more. for example they kept talking about how amazing hester was, and shes great but dont tell us show us. it woulve been better if we saw what was going on in the woods, because it would make their situations feel more real. it kept telling us (the reader) about the terrible things going on in the woods instead of showing it. it made tedros, agatha, and sophie’s decision hold less water or mean less because we didnt see the effects it had on the fairytale world
all that being said i still enjoyed the book though it had a few short comings. i read it during the busiest time of the school year and it gave me an escape. big thanks to the author for creating characters i’ve grown so fond of
agatha’s character was more passive in this one, and i feel like her personality and intellect was clearer on book 1. she was definitely a little watered down in this one. which sucks because i love agatha so much. through out the book i believe the author would’ve followed the “show dont tell” principle more. for example they kept talking about how amazing hester was, and shes great but dont tell us show us. it woulve been better if we saw what was going on in the woods, because it would make their situations feel more real. it kept telling us (the reader) about the terrible things going on in the woods instead of showing it. it made tedros, agatha, and sophie’s decision hold less water or mean less because we didnt see the effects it had on the fairytale world
all that being said i still enjoyed the book though it had a few short comings. i read it during the busiest time of the school year and it gave me an escape. big thanks to the author for creating characters i’ve grown so fond of
madimoss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
quinnie007's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bookmar0's review against another edition
3.0
j'allais mettre 2 étoiles parce que le plot était incroyablement ennuyeux (après je suis plus le public visé mais quand même) et les personnages étaient trop chiants avec leur régression de malheur là mais il était bien mieux écrit que le premier tome et les derniers chapitres sont passés vraiment vite même si ça tournait beaucoup en rond et qu'on a l'impression que tout ce que les personnages ont fait dans le tome 1 a servi à rien, bref j'ose espérer que la suite/fin relèvera le niveau