So, when I went to sleep last night (more like this night since it was after midnight), I kept thinking about what I'm going to say about this book. ASo, when I went to sleep last night (more like this night since it was after midnight), I kept thinking about what I'm going to say about this book. And I was drawing a blank. But let me just tell you, fantastic debut! This author is definitely staying on my radar. Plus massive praise for a stand-alone.
So, let's start at the beginning; my interest in this book started when I saw the gorgeous cover! It's just so pretty. Then I knew there were twelve sisters and a curse. And that's it, I know, I know, I pretty bad at knowing what's the book about before reading it. That's just the story of my life. It was actually pretty surprising for me when at around the 34 % mark, I realised that this book was actually a retelling. And of one of my childhood favourite fairytale. The 12 dancing princesses, I adored that fairytale so much, if only because we had an illustrated book of the Grimm's fairytales and I loved just to look at all the pretty dresses the princesses had. Of course, this book is getting extra points for being a retelling of this fairytale, plus some extra points because I never saw a retelling of this fairytale, you see all the cinderellas, beauties and beasts but this was rather original as far as retellings go.
We start right in the action... okay, I know it's pretty bold of me calling a funeral action, but it does throw you into the story right away. It gives a space for the main character to reflect on all the dead sisters and on those of them who as still alive. I have to say that I found it easier to distinguish the dead ones than the living one. Ava, Octavia, Elizabeth, Eulalie all died in more or less suspicious ways. And now Camille is the oldest one, the heir to their father's estate. Annaleigh is our main character and has the worst timing ever! She asked her father to talk about something always in the worst moments possible. But then the issues start. You have Lenore, Rosalie and Ligeia who are triplets. And the rest were Honor, Mercy and Verity collectively called the Graces. I have to say that I had a problem to remember all of these characters and especially to distinguish between them.
The girls live with their father, who recently married a very young girl named Morella, she is not from the island, and she does not know their culture and customs. Generally, Morella was just so clueless that I had a very hard time deciding if she's truly that "stupid" or if she's secretly an evil step-mother. (view spoiler)[ She went on to announce that she was pregnant with a boy at the wake after Eulalie's funeral! Plus she had a very rude awakening when she found out that no matter how many sons she had, they would go to the back of the line when it came to the inheritance. (hide spoiler)] I was also unsure when it came to daddy-dearest. Annaleigh said that her father was nice and never violent right at the beginning of the story. However, his behaviour was anything but nice.
Then we got Fisher who I disliked. He seemed like the friend who did not care about the girl until there was another guy interested. I feared a bit that it would end in a love-triangle, but thankfully it did not. And as for Cassius, he was a cutie, but I wish he had a bigger role in the story. Or maybe not. Because this way, the romance did not become the most important part of the story, rather the sprinkle on top.
And now to the important part. I loved this story so much! It was sometimes so scary (especially when I wanted to read the last chapter before going to bed) that I even had to look under my bed. It left me speechless, worried to take a breath and wanting to get more. And then the rhythm would shift to a soothing one. And then a shock once again! And then the last 25 % got so scary and crazy that it's a true retelling in a Grimm fashion! The end of the story is just the best; it got so mysterious and really creepy. Yeah, here I wish this mysterious aspect was introduced much earlier in the story. You could see little bits dropped here and there, but I never grasped the whole thing. Because I did not see the ending coming at all, I was pretty much freaking out and thinking "What's even going on?!" And then the whole story flipped and all I knew or thought I knew crumbled under my eyes. I'm not even going to say what the huge plot twist was, not even under the spoiler tag, it was just that crazy, but I may say that it reminded me a bit of the Mara Dyer series in the sense that nothing could have been trusted.
But you know me, I have to have little grievances with the story, and this time it's that I could actually do without the epilogue. If I'm going to re-read this book, I'll skip the epilogue. ...more
You know what? It does not matter what you read, what genre or if it's a manga. The only important thing is if you like the story.
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And I can teYou know what? It does not matter what you read, what genre or if it's a manga. The only important thing is if you like the story.
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And I can tell you that I like Death Note very much to the point where I can say it makes me feel physically good. I feel myself smiling and relaxing; I'm excited to turn the page.
I need more of this in my life.
And what else can I say? I'm so happy that Misa is finally on the scene. I love her chaoticness and childish glee. And do I need to mention that she is my namesake?...more
Okay, this is so amazing! I literally freaked out because I cannot take it how amazing it is. And this is my second time reading it!)
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Team Kira Okay, this is so amazing! I literally freaked out because I cannot take it how amazing it is. And this is my second time reading it!)
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Team Kira all the way and I feel no shame at all! And I want Ryuk! I would give him all of our apples! Btw, can I say that detective Raye Penber deserved what he got? I seriously disliked the way he talked to his fiancée, Naomi....more
I have no idea if this was translated into English if not I think it's a great pity. This one is probably my favourite Czech poetry. It's called AfterI have no idea if this was translated into English if not I think it's a great pity. This one is probably my favourite Czech poetry. It's called After Us Let the Floods Come! and I need to share my favourite verses from it.
My little darling, don't you cry! Don't try the life to modify. Today let's passionately meet on our creasy creamy sheet. Morrow, what's morrow? May one say? Morrow in coffins we shall lay.
Original: Fakticky supr. Páni, ještě jsem v šoku, určitě doporučuji :) Má milá rozmilá, neplakej! Život už není jinakej.
Dnes buďme ještě veseli na naší bílé posteli!
Zejtra, co zejtra? Kdožpak ví. Zejtra si lehneme do rakví.
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