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raychelbennet's review
3.0
A very interesting take on a Hansel and Gretel retelling. This is my second Elna Holst and I will say that I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first, personally. A lot of this was really good for me. The book follows a mid-to-late-20's Gretel Kindermann dealing with the aftermath of her mother and brother accusing Frau Heckscher, the small village's confectioner, of witchcraft and general devilish actions. Out of nowhere arrives Frau Heckscher's niece, Dorothea, and she is bubblegum pink and sweet as can be. Gretel develops a crush on Dorothea...but is it pure?
In general, I liked this. The time jumps between the plot of the story and the omniscient "narrator" voice providing commentary was really interesting. The specific elements of the original Hansel and Gretel fairytale were also used imaginatively. What fell short for me was what I felt was the rushed ending. I knew this was going to be quick because it's a novella more than a novel, but the rest of the plot was paced okay. Getting to the big reveal and tying everything together needed a little more explanation for me to understand it as much as I wanted. Other than that, it was a fun read and I would look into Elna Holst's other works.
In general, I liked this. The time jumps between the plot of the story and the omniscient "narrator" voice providing commentary was really interesting. The specific elements of the original Hansel and Gretel fairytale were also used imaginatively. What fell short for me was what I felt was the rushed ending. I knew this was going to be quick because it's a novella more than a novel, but the rest of the plot was paced okay. Getting to the big reveal and tying everything together needed a little more explanation for me to understand it as much as I wanted. Other than that, it was a fun read and I would look into Elna Holst's other works.
rainydancer's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for providing me with a free temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.
"Once upon a time...You know what? Sod it. Out of the frying pan into the fire. Let's move on." -From Gretel on Her Own
4 stars. This novella made me come up with a new way to describe prose- confectionary. What does a "confectionary prose" mean? It means you sneak in a cooking and sweet reference wherever you can. It starts softs describing the father with a "gingerbread-coloured moustache", and ends up accelerating all the way to "eyes like purple gumdrops, worried-looking, in a custard-cream, face" and "bonbon-sized sylph whisked Gretel". For another book, this may have been ridiculous- but for this Hansel and Gretel inspired story, it added to the charm. Decent character development, but there was a lack of details about the setting which made it hard to place where and when this story was really taking place. I was a little disappointed at the big reveal, mostly because of the main character's reation to it. There ends up being a numbered of unanswered questions, but if a follow up story is made, I'll be sure to read it.
"Once upon a time...You know what? Sod it. Out of the frying pan into the fire. Let's move on." -From Gretel on Her Own
4 stars. This novella made me come up with a new way to describe prose- confectionary. What does a "confectionary prose" mean? It means you sneak in a cooking and sweet reference wherever you can. It starts softs describing the father with a "gingerbread-coloured moustache", and ends up accelerating all the way to "eyes like purple gumdrops, worried-looking, in a custard-cream, face" and "bonbon-sized sylph whisked Gretel". For another book, this may have been ridiculous- but for this Hansel and Gretel inspired story, it added to the charm. Decent character development, but there was a lack of details about the setting which made it hard to place where and when this story was really taking place. I was a little disappointed at the big reveal, mostly because of the main character's reation to it. There ends up being a numbered of unanswered questions, but if a follow up story is made, I'll be sure to read it.
entazis's review
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
I knew this was something for me as soon as I saw the description and it did not disappoint.
Gretel on Her Own is just so fun, funny and tooth achingly sweet. A great example of a way modern authors can examine fairy tales and give us something completely new, even with the already known story. This is a well written and beyond witty contemporary retelling with a focus on a sapphic relationship and some arson. I enjoyed every minute of it and grinned through the whole thing.
If you're looking for something short that is also equally fun and well thought out, and love fairy tales in a modern world dealing with modern problems, give this a chance.
Gretel on Her Own is just so fun, funny and tooth achingly sweet. A great example of a way modern authors can examine fairy tales and give us something completely new, even with the already known story. This is a well written and beyond witty contemporary retelling with a focus on a sapphic relationship and some arson. I enjoyed every minute of it and grinned through the whole thing.
If you're looking for something short that is also equally fun and well thought out, and love fairy tales in a modern world dealing with modern problems, give this a chance.
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