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tish12's review against another edition
Read trigger warnings. Not my cup of tea, kind of story. Not for me.
kaitlynraew's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Violence
booksncoffee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
luffy79's review
4.0
I knew that going in, it would be an uphill struggle for me liking ultra violent stories like this one. Many of my friends gorge themselves silly on gory murder stories. They appreciate the subtlety of pure unadulterated crime. Subtlety because of the nuances from book to sequel.
I realized, 2/3 into the book, that Helena would be a wonderful heroine. On one hand she is hardcore, experienced and intuitive. But when the story most demands it, she plays into the hand of her father, 'The Marsh King'. Where is her training when she needs protection the most? That's brilliant artistic manipulation for you.
I appreciate the pacing of the book. I also grudgingly give Karen Dionne points for presenting a tale that has a few atoms of originality. But this book doesn't need originality. I expected a more uniformly paced book, and okay sounding twists. But the book exceeded my expectations. It's a novel that I almost didn't read. So, I'm thankful.
I realized, 2/3 into the book, that Helena would be a wonderful heroine. On one hand she is hardcore, experienced and intuitive. But when the story most demands it, she plays into the hand of her father, 'The Marsh King'. Where is her training when she needs protection the most? That's brilliant artistic manipulation for you.
I appreciate the pacing of the book. I also grudgingly give Karen Dionne points for presenting a tale that has a few atoms of originality. But this book doesn't need originality. I expected a more uniformly paced book, and okay sounding twists. But the book exceeded my expectations. It's a novel that I almost didn't read. So, I'm thankful.
ejdecoster's review
2.0
I don't generally enjoy unreliable narrators, so perhaps this wasn't the book for me in the first place. I found Helena's narrative frustratingly naive and simplistic, which I suspect was intentional, but by the time there was any payoff, I'd sort of stopped listening. There's a part of me that wonders if this was intentional too - but in the end, she's a fictional character who exists in a world of her own making, even apart from the worlds of her father, mother, grandparents, and spouse, and it's not a world I'm invested in.
pamelas's review
4.0
A compelling read with unexpected depths of feelings. Found it very hard to put down.
emily_otter's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars. I did like this book, and the rating may get bumped up to 4 stars sometime. I enjoy stories based on fairy tales and the one this one is based on (which is also it’s title) was not one I had heard of before, though I know of a number of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories. The flashbacks of the main character’s (Helena) life were crucial to the story and I found them well done.
roochel's review against another edition
3.0
read for book club. granted, i haven't been in the mood for thrillers lately, so maybe that played a part here, but i found myself really just meh about this one. it was fine. nothing to write home about, but also nothing about it was bad. i didn't really love that the majority of it took place in the past, although i understood why it did. i think a lot of interesting psychological points were on the verge of being made here, but never quite completely.
i originally bought this book because alicia vikander was attached to star in the film version, so i guess i'm glad that she's not anymore, because it will probably be a movie that i'll pass on. (no offense, daisy ridley! still a fan, just not to the extent where i need to see every film you've been in!)
i originally bought this book because alicia vikander was attached to star in the film version, so i guess i'm glad that she's not anymore, because it will probably be a movie that i'll pass on. (no offense, daisy ridley! still a fan, just not to the extent where i need to see every film you've been in!)