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keberwick's review against another edition
3.0
I thought it was pretty entertaining, but it wasn't a book that held me captive and wouldn't let me put it down. It's something I would read in a "i'm-out-of-books-and-have-nothing-else-to-do" type of situation
christiana's review against another edition
4.0
I am a sucker for fairy tales and this book delivers a ton of them. In fact, in the author's note, Alex Flinn said she really tried to concentrate on fairy tales that did not have a movie to publicize it so that people could learn about new fairy tales they hadn't heard before. Was the end a bit pat? Well, of course it was, but it's a fairy tale. I take pat over disturbing or depressing any day.
Also, I listened to this and the reader is just okay. I like that it's a boy narrator since the story is told by a boy. However, his girl voices? Mostly non existent. I sometimes got confused who was talking, the boy, his girl best friend, or his mom.
Clean read, so this could even go to a 4th or 5th grader who was a good reader.
Also, I listened to this and the reader is just okay. I like that it's a boy narrator since the story is told by a boy. However, his girl voices? Mostly non existent. I sometimes got confused who was talking, the boy, his girl best friend, or his mom.
Clean read, so this could even go to a 4th or 5th grader who was a good reader.
rosietheripper's review against another edition
1.0
lol this is pretty terrible. it’s very predictable, which is a by product of it being a retelling of multiple fairytales, but still, lol, it’s bad. readable, but by no means good haha. also, i feel like everything was resolved too quickly and easily, so it kinda felt like why did i read this again.
also, side note, i thought alex flinn was a dude. i just found out this is not the case.
also, side note, i thought alex flinn was a dude. i just found out this is not the case.
jo_moyes's review against another edition
3.0
I won this book in the Goodreads Firstreads giveaways. It's a cute YA novel that blends several of the lesser known fairy tales together into a modern story that takes place in South Florida. The main character, Johnny, is a likeable guy, and the story progresses quickly, but I wish there had been a little more developement of the characters and plot. A lot happens, and it's entertaining, but a lot of it seemed pretty two-dementional and predicatble. Of course, it's a fairy tale, so predictability is to be expected, but it felt like the author was trying to cram a lot into not enough words. If it was just fleshed out a bit more it would be a wonderful book.
lindseyembry33's review against another edition
4.0
The first Alex Flinn book that I read was Beastly and I wanted more. So I got Cloaked. If Beastly is the modern twist on Beauty and the Beast then Cloaked is a modern twist on a combination of old classic fairy tales.
chemwitch's review against another edition
1.0
Alex Flinn and I just do not get along.
This book was not good. It came so close to a 2-star rating, but there were two things that really sucked the life out of the story.
1) Predictable twists. I hate when things are set up, I hate the will-they-won't-they when they obviously will. I don't want to know everything that's going to happen before it happens.
2) The treatment of Meg (and Victoriana). I get that this is narrated by a teenage boy, but really. Victoriana is reduced to a drunk ditz, time and time again. Which, fine, is kind of explained away in the beginning. But the narrator continues to do it? Even after he knows she isn't. Not only that! But Meg and Victoriana are constantly compared. Victoriana is beautiful, Meg isn't. But Meg is... (picture me choking because seriously, I can barely choke out these words) not like other girls. There were a ton of examples in the text but I didn't keep track until late in the game, so I just have one. But it's a doozy.
"She's not some girly girl like Victoriana."
Ew. What's wrong with being a girly girl, anyway? It's just said in this really derogatory way, like somehow she's better than Victoriana just because she doesn't care about owning expensive shoes.
Guess what!! I don't care about expensive shoes either but it doesn't make me better than women who do. Also, that phrase makes me vomit. Next point.
And besides this "not like other girls" treatment, the main character is honestly just really!! shitty!! to Meg!!
I am so heated.
The worst part, of course, is that there was potential. The plot was, while ridiculous and kind of repetitive at times, at least entertaining. If they had focused less (WAY LESS) on the love story/triangle this whole book might have been solid.
This book was not good. It came so close to a 2-star rating, but there were two things that really sucked the life out of the story.
1) Predictable twists. I hate when things are set up, I hate the will-they-won't-they when they obviously will. I don't want to know everything that's going to happen before it happens.
2) The treatment of Meg (and Victoriana). I get that this is narrated by a teenage boy, but really. Victoriana is reduced to a drunk ditz, time and time again. Which, fine, is kind of explained away in the beginning. But the narrator continues to do it? Even after he knows she isn't. Not only that! But Meg and Victoriana are constantly compared. Victoriana is beautiful, Meg isn't. But Meg is... (picture me choking because seriously, I can barely choke out these words) not like other girls. There were a ton of examples in the text but I didn't keep track until late in the game, so I just have one. But it's a doozy.
"She's not some girly girl like Victoriana."
Ew. What's wrong with being a girly girl, anyway? It's just said in this really derogatory way, like somehow she's better than Victoriana just because she doesn't care about owning expensive shoes.
Guess what!! I don't care about expensive shoes either but it doesn't make me better than women who do. Also, that phrase makes me vomit. Next point.
And besides this "not like other girls" treatment, the main character is honestly just really!! shitty!! to Meg!!
Spoiler
He almost kisses her, like, 3 times. They have these romantic moments only to have him pull away at the last second bc noooo, he wants Victoriana. She's so clearly into him the whole time. She confesses she was into him at the dance! It's this romantic reveal that we all saw coming. And yet, we're supposed to feel like his cluelessness is acceptable? He strings her along for a full third of this novel. Ick. Then, when she reveals she's a witch, he thinks she might have CAST A SPELL ON HIM TO MAKE HIM FALL IN LOVE WITH HER. What? This girl is your best friend?? And you think that? He confronts her about it and she just says, "no, I didn't do that." Can you imagine? They have been friends for years. He knew magic existed already, so it's not about that. He's just genuinely a shitty person and doesn't understand how he could possibly fall for plain old Meg over beautiful, rich Victoriana.I am so heated.
The worst part, of course, is that there was potential. The plot was, while ridiculous and kind of repetitive at times, at least entertaining. If they had focused less (WAY LESS) on the love story/triangle this whole book might have been solid.
dherzey's review against another edition
2.0
Dear god, reading through this is like dragging yourself off the bed in a Monday morning.
I got no problem with the concept. I mean, who doesn't want to read a mixture of fairytale retellings in one? But unfortunately, this book fell short in its execution.
If there's a medal for the most absurd book I've ever read, this might be on my top ten. Of course, it is a story based on several fairytales and we all know that fairytales aren't really supposed to be logical or sensible. But Cloaked has a different level of absurd. The kind where it mostly leaves you befuddled and really, just kinda dumb. It seemed like Mrs. Flinn is making up the story along the way which also explains the plot's many, many inconsistencies and the story's lack of explanation.
Things just sort of happened. And sometimes, it seemed like the author just try to create scenarios out of the blue just so the story could keep going. Like whenever Johnny is in trouble (which is most of the time), there's always this stroke of luck which always worked the first time, like Megan popping out of nowhere and helping, the giants easy fall to unconsciousness, their many escape from the bad guys...they all happened easily and rather smoothly almost comical. I know some scenes are the way they are from the fairytales but I think I'm expecting something not far from the original yet heavier and more complex than what this book presented.
Johnny Marco, the main character, is very vapid. He do things without thinking and won't see the obvious even if it's dangling in front of him. Good thing though, he knows he's stupid; too bad, it doesn't stop him from acting. Also, reading his point of view is like reading from the point of view of a girl. Still, he's pretty likable at some parts BUT the other characters, dear god, they are all flat and one-dimensional that I can't even give a piece of my mind about them. They got no personalities and even Megan seemed more like a walking stick, occasionally trying to save Johnny's stupid ass. I barely care about any of them and they're not really that interesting in return. No depth. Which is one reason why I find this book so incredibly BORING.
For a modern fairytale retelling with a lot of promise, this book just seemed dull. I don't mean I didn't enjoy any of it -- I did enjoy a good number of parts -- but most of them , especially at the end just fell altogether and is really predictable. And the romance too...
*sigh*
No sparks, no swoony-feeling. Flat like the characters and absurd like the rest. It just sort of happened, too, without any concrete evidence of their true feelings. Megan just loves Johnny and Johnny just realize he loves her back more than a friend when Megan tried to get him jealous. I don't even feel anything.
There's also a lot of too-obvious things in here that was made into a great fuss after being discovered and again, it makes me feel dumb and cheated. About 87% through the book, I actually decided to skim it because all I want for it is to end.
I got no problem with the concept. I mean, who doesn't want to read a mixture of fairytale retellings in one? But unfortunately, this book fell short in its execution.
If there's a medal for the most absurd book I've ever read, this might be on my top ten. Of course, it is a story based on several fairytales and we all know that fairytales aren't really supposed to be logical or sensible. But Cloaked has a different level of absurd. The kind where it mostly leaves you befuddled and really, just kinda dumb. It seemed like Mrs. Flinn is making up the story along the way which also explains the plot's many, many inconsistencies and the story's lack of explanation.
Things just sort of happened. And sometimes, it seemed like the author just try to create scenarios out of the blue just so the story could keep going. Like whenever Johnny is in trouble (which is most of the time), there's always this stroke of luck which always worked the first time, like Megan popping out of nowhere and helping, the giants easy fall to unconsciousness, their many escape from the bad guys...they all happened easily and rather smoothly almost comical. I know some scenes are the way they are from the fairytales but I think I'm expecting something not far from the original yet heavier and more complex than what this book presented.
Johnny Marco, the main character, is very vapid. He do things without thinking and won't see the obvious even if it's dangling in front of him. Good thing though, he knows he's stupid; too bad, it doesn't stop him from acting. Also, reading his point of view is like reading from the point of view of a girl. Still, he's pretty likable at some parts BUT the other characters, dear god, they are all flat and one-dimensional that I can't even give a piece of my mind about them. They got no personalities and even Megan seemed more like a walking stick, occasionally trying to save Johnny's stupid ass. I barely care about any of them and they're not really that interesting in return. No depth. Which is one reason why I find this book so incredibly BORING.
For a modern fairytale retelling with a lot of promise, this book just seemed dull. I don't mean I didn't enjoy any of it -- I did enjoy a good number of parts -- but most of them , especially at the end just fell altogether and is really predictable. And the romance too...
*sigh*
No sparks, no swoony-feeling. Flat like the characters and absurd like the rest. It just sort of happened, too, without any concrete evidence of their true feelings. Megan just loves Johnny and Johnny just realize he loves her back more than a friend when Megan tried to get him jealous. I don't even feel anything.
There's also a lot of too-obvious things in here that was made into a great fuss after being discovered and again, it makes me feel dumb and cheated. About 87% through the book, I actually decided to skim it because all I want for it is to end.
pumpkinejuice's review against another edition
4.0
Johnny Marco has dreams. Those dreams don't necessarily include searching across the Florida Keys in search of a lost frog. But when a nice but, maybe a little crazy, princess shows up at the hotel where you work and hands you a ton of money with more to come if you agree to find her long lost brother you don't refuse not matter how crazy it may seem.
Although not as compelling a narration as Beastly Flinn's Cloaked in certainly more imaginative. I love both books very much but I found Johnny a much more likable character. I spent most of Beastly waiting until Kyle for his chip off his shoulder and started acting like a person. Johnny is nice, hardworking, and sweet. As him and his best friend Meg search for the frog prince Flinn reimagines some of the lesser known fairy tales in a truly original way.
Although not as compelling a narration as Beastly Flinn's Cloaked in certainly more imaginative. I love both books very much but I found Johnny a much more likable character. I spent most of Beastly waiting until Kyle for his chip off his shoulder and started acting like a person. Johnny is nice, hardworking, and sweet. As him and his best friend Meg search for the frog prince Flinn reimagines some of the lesser known fairy tales in a truly original way.
books4susie's review against another edition
4.0
“There once was a shoemaker who worked very hard, but was still very poor … The Elves and the Shoemaker"
Johnny and his mother run a shoe repair business at the Coral Reef Grand, a posh resort located on Miami’s South Beach. Times are tight as Johnny works eighteen hour days and his mother works at a hot dog stand in a failing attempt to keep their heads above water. His dream is to be a shoe designer and Johnny spends his free time creating shoes. One day a beautiful princess checks into the hotel. Her reputation as a spoiled socialite precedes her. Johnny’s friend Meg, who runs the coffee counter next to Johnny, is unimpressed with the princess but he is a bit smitten.
When the princess drunkenly visits Johnny’s shop one night to fix her shoe, he is excited by the opportunity to work on such an exquisite shoe. The catch, he must personally deliver it to her when he is finished. The next morning, Johnny goes to her penthouse and soon learns the princess created a ruse about herself. She is really in Miami to search for her missing brother, the heir to the throne of Aloria. He fell for a village girl who was really a witch and she turned him into a frog. The spell can only be broken “by ze kiss of one wiz love in her heart.” But he is kidnapped and placed on a ship bound for Miami. The witch promised to break the spell on her brother if the princess marries the Zalkenbourgian heir and combined their countries. Johnny has a hard time believing the princess but soon realizes that she believes she is sincere.
The princess confides in Johnny because she sees him as a hard worker and a good boy who would be willing to help her. She offers to pay him handsomely and even marry him if her brother is found. Will Johnny decides to help the princess find her brother/frog? Does his dream of becoming a shoe designer come true? And just which young lady captures Johnny’s heart?
Cloaked is a mixture of several fairy tales including The Elves and the Shoemaker, the Frog Prince, Six Swans, and several others.
Visit Alex Flinn’s website.
Johnny and his mother run a shoe repair business at the Coral Reef Grand, a posh resort located on Miami’s South Beach. Times are tight as Johnny works eighteen hour days and his mother works at a hot dog stand in a failing attempt to keep their heads above water. His dream is to be a shoe designer and Johnny spends his free time creating shoes. One day a beautiful princess checks into the hotel. Her reputation as a spoiled socialite precedes her. Johnny’s friend Meg, who runs the coffee counter next to Johnny, is unimpressed with the princess but he is a bit smitten.
When the princess drunkenly visits Johnny’s shop one night to fix her shoe, he is excited by the opportunity to work on such an exquisite shoe. The catch, he must personally deliver it to her when he is finished. The next morning, Johnny goes to her penthouse and soon learns the princess created a ruse about herself. She is really in Miami to search for her missing brother, the heir to the throne of Aloria. He fell for a village girl who was really a witch and she turned him into a frog. The spell can only be broken “by ze kiss of one wiz love in her heart.” But he is kidnapped and placed on a ship bound for Miami. The witch promised to break the spell on her brother if the princess marries the Zalkenbourgian heir and combined their countries. Johnny has a hard time believing the princess but soon realizes that she believes she is sincere.
The princess confides in Johnny because she sees him as a hard worker and a good boy who would be willing to help her. She offers to pay him handsomely and even marry him if her brother is found. Will Johnny decides to help the princess find her brother/frog? Does his dream of becoming a shoe designer come true? And just which young lady captures Johnny’s heart?
Cloaked is a mixture of several fairy tales including The Elves and the Shoemaker, the Frog Prince, Six Swans, and several others.
Visit Alex Flinn’s website.