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missbookiverse's review
3.0
I liked the overall message but it was displayed a bit too shortly and simply. I would've loved to hear more about Aurelia's travels. The descriptions of Yaga's home were so vivid and creative, I'm sure the author could've turned this into a longer, much more interesting story.
chirson's review
2.0
This did not feel like a story - it felt like a skeleton of one. Of an enjoyable one, but still, the conclusion seemed too easily reached, and predictable at that. Like a writing exercise one might do.
I'd expected something far better.
That said, with the exception of the odd use of the word "baba" (which is pejorative in Polish!) and the fact that it's not "jędza baba" but "baba jędza" the use of Polish was excellent, and that's a rarity. (But on that note, why "Yaga" and not "Jaga?"
Still, I was disappointed :/ The story could have used some serious fleshing out. There are writers who can get away with writing 7? 10? pages and make that into a whole world, but that is not Mr Wojcik, at least not yet.
(Perhaps some of my criticism comes from having read another Polish-Canadian short story using the figure of Baba Jaga in a much more interesting way - I mean a story whose title I've forgotten, in Andrew Borkowski's Copernicus Avenue, realist fiction, and it was actually one of my least favourite stories in the collection and *still* much better than this).
I'd expected something far better.
That said, with the exception of the odd use of the word "baba" (which is pejorative in Polish!) and the fact that it's not "jędza baba" but "baba jędza" the use of Polish was excellent, and that's a rarity. (But on that note, why "Yaga" and not "Jaga?"
Still, I was disappointed :/ The story could have used some serious fleshing out. There are writers who can get away with writing 7? 10? pages and make that into a whole world, but that is not Mr Wojcik, at least not yet.
(Perhaps some of my criticism comes from having read another Polish-Canadian short story using the figure of Baba Jaga in a much more interesting way - I mean a story whose title I've forgotten, in Andrew Borkowski's Copernicus Avenue, realist fiction, and it was actually one of my least favourite stories in the collection and *still* much better than this).
elenia's review
3.0
This was a very short read. I probably would have given it a higher rating had I not chanced to read the top review here which bemoaned the lack of adventure. Unfortunately we do miss out on seeing what Aurelia does to earn her own freedom. But I still liked this. I liked the intimation of magic and the feeling that really those bits of the story were somewhat mundane: a girl looking from the inside of a fairytale world out, rather than the other way. There's perhaps not much to say here, because it is, as said, a very short read, and worth the time I spent reading it.
bookadventurer's review
4.0
Lovely short story about a young woman who discovers she is not some boy's prize to be won, but a prize to win for herself. Aurelia, ward of Baba Yaga, reaches the limits of her patience one day. She has had enough of waiting around for a suitor who can accomplish the quest her guardian challenges him to undertake.
I would love to read more about Aurelia's adventures in the thrice-tenth kingdom, but the point of the story is in her self-discovery and decision, not how she accomplishes the quest herself. I love it when a heroine decides she has everything she needs for happiness within herself, and that's the message of this well-written, entertaining, and vivid tale.
I would love to read more about Aurelia's adventures in the thrice-tenth kingdom, but the point of the story is in her self-discovery and decision, not how she accomplishes the quest herself. I love it when a heroine decides she has everything she needs for happiness within herself, and that's the message of this well-written, entertaining, and vivid tale.
tja055f6's review
3.0
THE REVIEW
Why this book?
Another short story on The Book Smugglers
What I thought
I enjoyed this short story.I liked that she took her life into whole own hands and created her own destiny.Though I wish there was more of it,it seemed like it ended right after it began.
Overall it was an interestng little read, that I recommend
Why this book?
Another short story on The Book Smugglers
What I thought
I enjoyed this short story.I liked that she took her life into whole own hands and created her own destiny.Though I wish there was more of it,it seemed like it ended right after it began.
Overall it was an interestng little read, that I recommend
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