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isbnopal's review
3.0
OKAY, so I have some mixed feelings about the book. The book is a retelling of King Thrushbeard from the Brothers Grimm collection. So, just to be clear, I LOVED the fairy tale. I've always considered myself as an obsessed fairy tale lover, I absolutely adore them, and YET I had never heard of the tale of King Thrushbeard. So that might be where a lot of my stars come from. Good job, Jill Myles for picking a hardly touched fairy tale!
So as a plot, I totally loved it. I think it's a great story. However this version itself seems to be lacking in a lot of areas. The characters were a bit flat, and the climax kind of felt like it deflated. However, the writing overall is pretty good, it's just one of those situations where it didn't go far enough. So close, but just not all the way there. To be fair though, I did enjoy reading it.
So as a plot, I totally loved it. I think it's a great story. However this version itself seems to be lacking in a lot of areas. The characters were a bit flat, and the climax kind of felt like it deflated. However, the writing overall is pretty good, it's just one of those situations where it didn't go far enough. So close, but just not all the way there. To be fair though, I did enjoy reading it.
pizzamyheart's review
3.0
The Scarecrow King is based on the tale of King Thrushbeard. As punishment for her spoiled, selfish behavior, a princess is married off to the first person who walks into the palace. Unfortunately for the princess, it is a poor minstrel.
I was really looking forward to this story. It is frequently listed as a hidden gem on lists of fairytale retellings. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I understand there wasn't much source material, but I felt it gave the author a missed opportunity to expand the story further. The characters and world were underdeveloped. The story itself felt rushed. I want to expand upon the story and add an extra 50-75 pages to it. As it stands, it's like getting a "skinny" sandwich, as opposed to a regular one. There's just enough to satisfy the hunger, but it's not quite enough to fill you up.
I was really looking forward to this story. It is frequently listed as a hidden gem on lists of fairytale retellings. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I understand there wasn't much source material, but I felt it gave the author a missed opportunity to expand the story further. The characters and world were underdeveloped. The story itself felt rushed. I want to expand upon the story and add an extra 50-75 pages to it. As it stands, it's like getting a "skinny" sandwich, as opposed to a regular one. There's just enough to satisfy the hunger, but it's not quite enough to fill you up.
curls's review
4.0
A fun and clean retelling of King Thrushbeard. If you are into fairytale retellings, you will like this one.
Free on kindle unlimited
Free on kindle unlimited
claire_loves_books's review
2.0
I didn't really enjoy this, I get that Rinda's father is horrible but she's just so spoiled, throwing all the pearls away because she can- seriously why? He country is in financial straits and she seems determined to be as wasteful as possible- her sister tries to be more conservative so they are both aware that money is something of an issue, but Rinda wants to bankrupt her father or something- except he's the King so when he's Bankrupt so is the country.
At the ball as well, she feels trapped and like she doesn't have man options but she's just cruel.
While Rinda was awful, Alek was really unfair to her, he seemed to do everything in his power to initially make her feel out of her comfort zone and while he was then kind to her he had chosen to put them both in that position. He also lied and tricked her.
The story itself was fairly predictable given that it was a retelling.
At the ball as well, she feels trapped and like she doesn't have man options but she's just cruel.
While Rinda was awful, Alek was really unfair to her, he seemed to do everything in his power to initially make her feel out of her comfort zone and while he was then kind to her he had chosen to put them both in that position. He also lied and tricked her.
The story itself was fairly predictable given that it was a retelling.
claire_loves_books's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't really enjoy this, I get that Rinda's father is horrible but she's just so spoiled, throwing all the pearls away because she can- seriously why? He country is in financial straits and she seems determined to be as wasteful as possible- her sister tries to be more conservative so they are both aware that money is something of an issue, but Rinda wants to bankrupt her father or something- except he's the King so when he's Bankrupt so is the country.
At the ball as well, she feels trapped and like she doesn't have man options but she's just cruel.
While Rinda was awful, Alek was really unfair to her, he seemed to do everything in his power to initially make her feel out of her comfort zone and while he was then kind to her he had chosen to put them both in that position. He also lied and tricked her.
The story itself was fairly predictable given that it was a retelling.
At the ball as well, she feels trapped and like she doesn't have man options but she's just cruel.
While Rinda was awful, Alek was really unfair to her, he seemed to do everything in his power to initially make her feel out of her comfort zone and while he was then kind to her he had chosen to put them both in that position. He also lied and tricked her.
The story itself was fairly predictable given that it was a retelling.
marnienicole's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? No
4.25
rebeccazh's review
2.0
2.5 stars. Read this a few months ago. It was okay, a quick and simple fairy tale retelling. Some parts weren't very believable/logical but I went into it expecting that.
ark99's review
4.0
this was so cute and I loved the two main characters together and their dynamics. Also great character development
elentarien's review
4.0
I actually REALLY enjoyed this book. I'm not terribly familiar with the original story (and after glancing at it, I agree with the author that it's got a really ugly tone to it towards women. :P), but the concept is great and this retelling. . .I just REALLY enjoyed it.
Rinda was. . .snarky. . .and starts out not particularly likable. However, she's given reason behind that snarkiness, and it's built up well enough that it's not terribly unbelievable that she learns to be her *real* self, without the snark. As she comes into people who are safer for her to be around and accepted more for herself, she is able to unfold and lose the brat. I also like that Alek is not 'perfect' and makes his own mistakes along the way, so they both have something to learn and grow and come out on the other side stronger for it.
While I would have preferred a slightly happier ending (a 'triumphant' return and her father eating crow or something, would have been nice. . .), I have to admit, it would not have been as realistic as the two people involve learning their lessons, but the rest. . .yeah. Need their own stories, or never change. Life's like that, unfortunately. At least the main characters got their happy ending, and made some good choices.
My only real complaints about the book would be 1. There could have been a bit more character building, and time spent. IE, she was only gone for a few weeks. It's hard to believe that a 'strong love' really grows *THAT* fast. Sorry, but with all the learning they had to do. . .I'd have liked to see a bit more time and character growth. And, perhaps, more character filling. It was a short book, we could stand more details. ;) 2. The title of the book. . .there was ZERO surprise at the 'big reveal'. We all knew exactly who he was the entire time. It made the subterfuge of his pretending to be a poor minstrel slightly annoying because of it. I coudl forgive Rinda for not knowing, but it did make me a bit impatient for him to just tell her already! Personally, I would have preferred having the story a bit more. . .mysterious, and being pleasantly surprised in the end. But yeah. Small complaint, really.
There was also some faulty editing in this story. Hearing multiple times about how she does not know how to braid her own hair (yet she fails to ask one of the helpful women to show her how? Why?), among a few other points, should have been caught in editing or by beta-readers and fixed during a rewrite. This did make for some slightly irritated moments. But did not detract from the overall story.
Rinda was. . .snarky. . .and starts out not particularly likable. However, she's given reason behind that snarkiness, and it's built up well enough that it's not terribly unbelievable that she learns to be her *real* self, without the snark. As she comes into people who are safer for her to be around and accepted more for herself, she is able to unfold and lose the brat. I also like that Alek is not 'perfect' and makes his own mistakes along the way, so they both have something to learn and grow and come out on the other side stronger for it.
While I would have preferred a slightly happier ending (a 'triumphant' return and her father eating crow or something, would have been nice. . .), I have to admit, it would not have been as realistic as the two people involve learning their lessons, but the rest. . .yeah. Need their own stories, or never change. Life's like that, unfortunately. At least the main characters got their happy ending, and made some good choices.
My only real complaints about the book would be 1. There could have been a bit more character building, and time spent. IE, she was only gone for a few weeks. It's hard to believe that a 'strong love' really grows *THAT* fast. Sorry, but with all the learning they had to do. . .I'd have liked to see a bit more time and character growth. And, perhaps, more character filling. It was a short book, we could stand more details. ;) 2. The title of the book. . .there was ZERO surprise at the 'big reveal'. We all knew exactly who he was the entire time. It made the subterfuge of his pretending to be a poor minstrel slightly annoying because of it. I coudl forgive Rinda for not knowing, but it did make me a bit impatient for him to just tell her already! Personally, I would have preferred having the story a bit more. . .mysterious, and being pleasantly surprised in the end. But yeah. Small complaint, really.
There was also some faulty editing in this story. Hearing multiple times about how she does not know how to braid her own hair (yet she fails to ask one of the helpful women to show her how? Why?), among a few other points, should have been caught in editing or by beta-readers and fixed during a rewrite. This did make for some slightly irritated moments. But did not detract from the overall story.