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maddie_rae_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
I love this series by Liesl Shurtliff. It was introduced to me by my son last year when they read Rump as a class. Little did I know it was the fractured fairytale series I needed! Fractured fairytales have long been a favorite, and the way she has taken stories we know and love and given them fresh new life is refreshing! They are easy to read, fun for the whole family, and connect in unique ways. Throughout the series we meet Rump, Jack, Red, and now Grump.
Grump is the fourth and final book of the series, following Borlen the Dwarf and his journey of self discovery. Obsessed with the surface and always in a surly mood, everyone calls him Grump. And not in a nice way. Until he befriends a young princess that changes everything.
Why has “Grumpy” always been so endearing? What made him into the tender hearted grump we grew up with? Liesl Shurtliff gives the backstory we have all been waiting for, and it does not disappoint.
Grump is the fourth and final book of the series, following Borlen the Dwarf and his journey of self discovery. Obsessed with the surface and always in a surly mood, everyone calls him Grump. And not in a nice way. Until he befriends a young princess that changes everything.
Why has “Grumpy” always been so endearing? What made him into the tender hearted grump we grew up with? Liesl Shurtliff gives the backstory we have all been waiting for, and it does not disappoint.
mbenzz's review against another edition
2.0
It hurts my heart to rate this so low, but I just did not care for this installment of Ms. Shurtliff's Fairy Tale Series.
I have read every other book in this series thus far, and really enjoyed them. I thought about skipping this one as I can't stand the story (or any movies) of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It's always been my least favorite Fairy Tale, but I thought maybe I would like a retelling done by Liesl since I loved the other three she did.
Not so.
The writing is perfectly fine. She sets the scene beautifully, however I just didn't like any of the characters. Borlen (Grump) was an irritable defiant little punk, Snow was a rude brat, the Queen was cardboard and the rest were all just background noise.
I did like the back story of the Dwarves caves though. How they live, what they ate, the games they played...that was interesting!
Unfortunately though, in the end, this one just didn't do it for me. I'd still recommend it for people who like the story of Snow White, and I'll definitely pick up Ms. Shurtliff's next book, but I should have just listened to my gut and skipped this one.
I have read every other book in this series thus far, and really enjoyed them. I thought about skipping this one as I can't stand the story (or any movies) of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It's always been my least favorite Fairy Tale, but I thought maybe I would like a retelling done by Liesl since I loved the other three she did.
Not so.
The writing is perfectly fine. She sets the scene beautifully, however I just didn't like any of the characters. Borlen (Grump) was an irritable defiant little punk, Snow was a rude brat, the Queen was cardboard and the rest were all just background noise.
I did like the back story of the Dwarves caves though. How they live, what they ate, the games they played...that was interesting!
Unfortunately though, in the end, this one just didn't do it for me. I'd still recommend it for people who like the story of Snow White, and I'll definitely pick up Ms. Shurtliff's next book, but I should have just listened to my gut and skipped this one.
rcpope's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tale_of_tales's review against another edition
3.0
Time to read: 1 hr
I have a huge weakness for retellings of fairytales (The Lunar Chronicles, The Sisters Grimm, Whatever After, etc) and Liesl Shurtliff does not fail to deliver a lighthearted and fun adventure. I love the perspective of the dwarf Grumpy and his entire personality just sparks joy in my heart.
Read this if you’re looking for a younger people retelling of Snow White(who is quite a spoiled brat in this book) and the Seven (confused) Dwarves.
I have a huge weakness for retellings of fairytales (The Lunar Chronicles, The Sisters Grimm, Whatever After, etc) and Liesl Shurtliff does not fail to deliver a lighthearted and fun adventure. I love the perspective of the dwarf Grumpy and his entire personality just sparks joy in my heart.
Read this if you’re looking for a younger people retelling of Snow White(who is quite a spoiled brat in this book) and the Seven (confused) Dwarves.
thebookhoundchronicles's review against another edition
3.0
A clever adaption of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that lends credence to the saying that there are three sides to every story: Yours, mine, and the truth that lies somewhere in the middle.........
fantasydragongirl14's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
thewallflower00's review against another edition
4.0
This was better than Red, maybe because I was able to identify with the protagonist better — an outcast with a problem. I tend toward those stories more than quests because it allows better complexity of character. Plus it’s always about embracing your weird. And this was especially fun to read after finishing my own dwarf story.
Unlike mine, the dwarves live underground, eat rocks, and never interact with the surface world. Except for Grump who feels unquestionably drawn to it. When he finally breaks ground, he accidentally falls in with the evil queen and becomes her magic mirror. Grump is a better character than Red was. At first it might be hard to tell the difference–both are rather grumpy and acerbic. But something about Grump feels more earnest. It’s better to be grumpy than mean.
There are some stretches to fit the story of Snow White, and that always bothers me — reaching too far to make one story fit into another. The same thing happened with The Dark Knight Rises, which was the reason for its downfall. Both Snow White and Evil Queen get about equivalent screen time in this. The ending is satisfying, and I didn’t feel cheated, not like Red’s quest story (where you can skip all the middle and still find the ending, which is basically the answer to a riddle). And I was suprised at how well it weaves in both the folk tale and the Disney version of Snow White.
It does get a little sludgy in the lead-in to the third act, but the plot is surprisingly tight for a YA novel. There are some deus ex machina movements, but overall, I had a satisfying reader experience. It’s probably the best thing I read in the last two months.
Unlike mine, the dwarves live underground, eat rocks, and never interact with the surface world. Except for Grump who feels unquestionably drawn to it. When he finally breaks ground, he accidentally falls in with the evil queen and becomes her magic mirror. Grump is a better character than Red was. At first it might be hard to tell the difference–both are rather grumpy and acerbic. But something about Grump feels more earnest. It’s better to be grumpy than mean.
There are some stretches to fit the story of Snow White, and that always bothers me — reaching too far to make one story fit into another. The same thing happened with The Dark Knight Rises, which was the reason for its downfall. Both Snow White and Evil Queen get about equivalent screen time in this. The ending is satisfying, and I didn’t feel cheated, not like Red’s quest story (where you can skip all the middle and still find the ending, which is basically the answer to a riddle). And I was suprised at how well it weaves in both the folk tale and the Disney version of Snow White.
It does get a little sludgy in the lead-in to the third act, but the plot is surprisingly tight for a YA novel. There are some deus ex machina movements, but overall, I had a satisfying reader experience. It’s probably the best thing I read in the last two months.
jenniferreads2's review against another edition
5.0
Yay! Another great fairy tale retelling from Shurtliff. This one and Rump have been my favorites of hers so far
wilshaw12's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is an unusual viewpoint of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. From page 1 through the epilogue, Ahuetliff spins a tale of a dwarf trapped in its rigid rules of life and the fear of trying to break free