| Title | : | The Bride and the Beast (Once Upon a Time, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 055358183X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780553581836 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 324 |
| Publication | : | First published June 6, 2000 |
I'd been prowling the crumbling ruins of Castle Weyrcraig for so long that I could no longer remember if I was man or beast. Then one stormy night the superstitious Highlanders of Ballybliss decided to leave a helpless virgin bound to a stake in the castle courtyard to satisfy my insatiable appetites.
My demands might strike terror in the hearts of men, but this bold beauty dared to defy me. After she informed me that she didn't believe in dragons, I had no choice but to make her my prisoner--or risk being exposed to those I had sought to deceive with my dangerous masquerade.
Soon I found myself stealing into the moonlit tower just to watch her sleep. Little does she know that beneath this beast's gruff exterior beats the passionate heart of a man. Gwendolyn Wilder may not believe in dragons, but I intend to use all my sensual wiles to teach her to believe in something even more magical--true love.
Eternally yours,
The Dragon of Weyrcraig
The Bride and the Beast (Once Upon a Time, #2) Reviews
-
Love Medeiros!
My favorite quote from the story:
"How could I have let you do any of those things when I've never even seen your face? When I don't even know your name?"
"That may be true," he said quietly, "but for just a moment there, I would have sworn you knew my heart." -
This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in 1700's Scotland.
The story starts with our hero Brandon. His family, the lord of a village was betrayed to the English by one of the villagers. His family was killed and he was taken prisoner for many years. He is hiding back out in his ruined castle after many years away.
The heroine Gwen is 25 and thought to be strange by her family and village because of her love of science in a time of superstition. The villagers think there is a half man/half dragon living in the castle (or possibly a ghost) because of strange sounds. They tie her up and leave her in the ruined castle for an appeasement for their guilt.
This story is a popular staple for re-imagining into romance novels. This book is a little different in that the language and the tone is especially fairy tale like. You can practically imagine it with wood carving illustrations. This isn't a bad thing because it makes for an interesting change.
I liked this book but there is one aspect that really bugged me. The heroine mentions a million times that she is a bigger curvy girl, and it gets irritating. There is one point where Brandon tells Gwen she has incredibly soft skin and she replies that most fat girls do. WHAT?! Way to break the mood Gwen. Learn to take a compliment. :)
-
I swear!!! I try, try and try but this lame book was to much for me! Abandoned (after 1 day and more than 100 pages of boring reading!).
Hate the main female character!
All hers possible jokes was terrible! Hate the way she describe every woman as a who** and only she is the virtuous one! (come on! Soooo terrible some jokes about her sisters!)
Hate even more the main male character!
OMG, someone PLEEEEEASE tell me why I should be charmed by one so annoying as him!
So, my point is.... I'm paying good money to dragons slayers...
if someone know one please give him my cell phone!
The world will be a better place without the terrible dragon of this book.
Thanks.
One star... if I could would give minus 5! -
After reading the cover blurb and through Chapter 2, you can pretty much see exactly how the rest of the book will go. Now, that's no problem, if engaging characters, rich dialogue, or humorous situations keep you entertained while you read. No such luck.
Hero is boring, emo, 1-D. Dragon analogy is stretch throughout the book in non-clever, corny ways. I must be revenged! What? I love her? Ok.
Gwen is curvy/plump. Don't worry about forgetting it, because it's shoved in your face about once a page. Besides having an IQ higher than an orange and a childhood crush, that's her main personality.
Side romance is also shallow. Not charming, as I think it was going for. Dumb as rocks sister falls for kind/boring/harmless sidekick.
Mostly for plot purposes, villagers transcend idiocy past the point of belief. It was awful.
Their "love" comes more from mutual attraction than anything else. They interact a few times (nothing happens) and all of a sudden they are in love. And we're suppose to believe it. It's actually very annoying.
Ugh. -
Super fofinho, não tão bom como o anterior mas muito agradável e rápido de ler.
Teresa Medeiros conquistou-me com esta série.
Uma besta que não é besta e uma noiva que se julgava um patinho feio (aqui nem se pode dizer que era bela).
Previsível o grande segredo mas com as idas e vindas, ainda houve umas dúvidas.
Houve alguns exageros nas personagens, o que tornou a história não tão boa.
Como sempre, o herói passa por uma fase que só apetece andar à estalada, neste livro ele recuperou muito rápido. Brandon é fácil de se gostar. Principalmente como consegue que Gwendolyn se veja a si própria, visto ter uma auto-estima muito em baixo.
E como não poderia deixar de ser, o humor está sempre presente. -
This is a quite well-written, quite entertaining book, but ultimately I found it very disappointing. It didn't live up to its blurb and I found the heroine a pain in the backside. With the exception of the hero, I disliked almost every other character. The 'Dragon' thread made no sense to the story and seemed so clumsily added on to the plot as to be redundant.
As a Scotswoman, I was appalled at the historical errors, the lazy stereotyping, and the total lack of understanding of clan structure and principles. Her Scots villagers were depicted as a mob of miserable, unkind, superstitious, and unintelligent cowards.
Warning: major rant follows:
I know a lot of people are simply not bothered about historical authenticity. I can suspend my own pedantic tendencies when reading historical fantasies such as those written by Tessa Dare, Lisa Kleypas, or Julia Quinn because they are truly entertaining and they simply ignore or manipulate historical facts. Tessa Dare can make me laugh out loud with her wit and humour.
Let me start with the names of our protagonists - Bernard and Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn is a Welsh name. It wasn’t used in 18th century Scotland. No clan chief would have named his son Bernard, which is a Germanic name. Most highlanders were native Gaelic speakers and would not have picked a lowland Scots name. Incidentally, much of the populace was Catholic (hence the support for Bonnie Prince Charlie), whereas lowland Scots were predominantly Presbyterian. The portrayal of the minister reflected neither a Catholic Priest nor a Presbyterian minister so quite who he was is anyone's guess.
The Jacobite rebellion was not a battle for independence from England. It was the last attempt to replace the constitutionally selected Protestant monarch of the UK, with a Catholic, Stuart one.
It was supported by people from all nationalities across the UK just as it was equally opposed by folk from all nationalities across the UK. It came close to being a UK Civil War - not a war between England and Scotland.
The British Army led by The Duke of Cumberland at Culloden, had Scots, English, Irish and Welsh soldiers - not just English. If Charles had been successful, he would have taken up the throne in London as King of the United Kingdom - not of a separate independent Scotland. James wanted to be the British king, not simply a Scottish one.
The story was filled with many annoying errors, stereotypes, and inaccuracies. Myths and legends were presented as if facts.
The basic premise could have been good and I found Bernard an interesting and engaging character. Gwendolyn however was a prickly, smug know-it all and I could not take to her.
I can see that if I wasn’t Scottish, I might have read this book and enjoyed it so much more, despite the plot flaws and character weaknesses but I just find it so insulting that a writer would set her story in Scotland and then perpetuate myths and legends about our history and depict us in such a negative light. Sorry - rant over. Not my cup of tea. 2 stars. -
I am re-reading all my 5 star rated romance novels. There are 60 on my shelf. This is book 28.
(Tropes: Spinster, Enemies to Lovers, Fairytale-Retelling, Mistaken Identity/Disguise, Unrequited Love)
This is how my 28th re-read held up.
Downgraded to 3 stars
If you’re a fan of Beauty and the Beast, can suspend your disbelief, ignore some melodrama and apprecaite some witty banter this book will suit you just fine. I enjoyed re-reading it – but it was definitely not as great as I remember.
*****
“Gwendolyn stiffened. "Do forgive me for having the ill manners to disturb your precious solitude, M'lord Dragon. I can just picture you sitting with your cloven hooves propped up on the hearth, enjoying a nice warm cup of kitten's blood, when you heard the shouting of the mob.
'Damnation!' you must have growled. 'I do believe someone has left another human sacrifice on my doorstep.' "
He was silent for so long that Gwendolyn began to tremble.
But his reply, when it finally came, was as dry as the rattle of dragon bones. "Actually, I was enjoying a nice glass of port when I heard the commotion. I had to swear off kitten's blood because it gave me dyspepsia."
*****
Quick plot: Gwendolyn is the only gay in the village. Wait, no that’s the wrong story. Gwendolyn is the only one with brains in the village. So when the village is “terrorized” by the Dragon (a man or beast hiding in the old castle of the village), their ignorant asses decide to sacrifice their only virgin. But is it beast or man hiding, and what does he have against the village?
(sounds familiar?)
- The dragon of Weyrcraig prowled the crumbling parapets of his lair, fighting the urge to throw back his head and unleash a savage roar. He'd been a prisoner of the daylight for too long. Only when the shadows of night cloaked Weyrcraig could he cast aside his chains and roam unfettered through the castle's maze of passages.
- "This is 1761, not 1461, and I'm not some ignorant peasant you can intimidate with your superstitious nonsense!"
- "There will be much I require. I strongly suggest that you double your demands for food. As you can see by my appearance, I am a woman of hearty appetites, and I shall expect them to be well satisfied."
He seemed to have something stuck in his throat, making his reply sound choked. "I'll consider it my privilege. I just hope you'll find me up to the task."
"And surely you can't expect me to spend the remainder of my incarceration garbed in this—this— rag." He didn't have to know that the cool satin felt like bliss against her bare skin compared with the scratchy wool she usually wore.
"Most certainly not. You can remove it anytime you like."
- He cupped her face in his hands, his voice as fierce as his touch. "If you're not a goddess among women, then why is Aphrodite over there turning green with jealousy at the prospect of your unveiling?"
Gwendolyn laughed shakily. "Are you sure it's not just moss?"
-
Another take on a beauty and the beast theme, although the Dragon is hardly a beast.
The Bride and the Beast is a revenge and forgiveness story with a dash of humour and sadness to even the things out. This other part goes into a Monty Python's Flying Circus territory. One of the scenes reminded me of a Monty Python scene involving a mob (I can't really say which one exactly since it would be a bit spoiler-y; fortunately, they had a lot of those). Hilarious and horrific at the same time.
I liked both characters and it doesn't really matter if you need to suspend your disbelief. This is a fairy tale retelling of sorts after all. -
It is very heart warming romance and it has a little mystery and humor.
The storyline is original and really catches your attention..
I really enjoyed this book
Thanks VERİ! -
This was so nice.
I was so depressed after reading Teresa's Fairest of Them All cause it turned out to be nothing like I thought it would be but this made up for all that heartache.
There wasn't anything new brought to the table but it was sweet.
I'd recommend this to old-time readers who cut their tooth on Julie Garwood's historicals and others of the era.
Some of my favourite quotes I'll leave below, I find quotes really cement my decision in reading a book or passing it off...
“How could I have let you do any of those things when I've never even seen your face? When I don't even know your name?"
"That may be true," he said quietly, "but for just a moment there, I would have sworn you knew my heart.”
Okay. Probably not that big a deal but I sigh every time I read it :p
“I suppose I didn’t believe I could ever be worthy of her.”
“Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought. Since when has any man ever been worthy of the woman he loved? It’s only by God’s grace that they love us in spite of ourselves.”
I truly believe this goes both ways.
But hell, what do I know. *shrugs* -
The hero and the heroine lacked charm and so did the story.
Even the ending couldn't save this for me. :( Would not recommend. -
I am a fan of author Teresa Medeiros and I chose this read as part of one of my club challenges related to Rubenesque Romances. The story is a spinoff of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast, however contrary to the GR reviews I read prior to reading this story, I thoroughly enjoyed it and read more into it than just a fairytale.
The story begins in the village called Ballybliss under the rule of the Laird of Weyrcraig. The highlanders were a people who lived happy and joyous until someone in their clan betrayed the Laird to the Englishman named Cumberland. The Laird and his family were slaughtered. Some fifteen years later, the highlanders, because of their betrayal to the Laird, were living in a sad state of poverty to include being taxed by the English when they could barely survive themselves. They also lived in fear of a mythical creature they believe was a dragon and its claim to Castle Weyrcraig. This so-called Dragon had formed such a fear in the minds of the clan that they believe in their own superstitions and provided it whatever it demanded to include a thousand pounds of gold that was believed given to the traitor of the late Laird.
Gwendolyn Wilder is a young woman lives by her virtue while her three sisters’ resort to being free with their favors. She attends to her ailing father who was once the steward to the Laird. Gwen does not possess the beauty of her sisters, but she is the responsible one of the family. She was made the joke at every turn for being plain and plump so to speak. All of that did not matter to her, as long as she was happy with herself and taking care of her father. When everyone was into their own needs, she reverted to a life of literacy. Her only downfall was that she was one of the few in the clan that could read the letters of demand left by the Dragon. Gwen was never one to believe in dragons and anything else absurd for that matter. However, when the demands of the Dragon became greater than the clan could pay, they decided to give him a virgin sacrifice to appease the hefty price.
After being tied to a stake at the castle, she eventually comes face to face with the Dragon… a flesh and blood man who lives of the lives of the clan. He doesn’t like the fact that they have left her on his doorstep and she doesn’t like the fact that he hides himself like the coward in the shadows. In her captivity, she is treated like a princess despite her looks and full-figure but he is angered with the way the clan has treated her. She longs to be with her father and on the other hand is fascinated and intrigued by this man who hides himself from her. Each day, Gwen is swept away under the Dragon’s spell.
Both Gwen and the Dragon have secrets and scars. He has a past that haunts him and has little trust in Gwen to speak of them. There are predictable and not so predictable surprises in the plot. Although the attraction is not as strong as it could be, it is there between the two characters and they both can’t escape it or explain it. The Bride and the Beast is a story of revenge and forgiveness, it is witty, charming and a delightful read. 😊
4- Stars -
I'm a BIG fan of Teresa Medeiros' books, I love her work which is why this was really frustrating for me to read because it disappointed me so much. I was surprised by this book. I don't know what happened but this isn't at all like her other work.
What I liked: The nod to the fairytale story of Beauty and the Beast. Who doesn't love that story? A woman falling in love with a lonely beast.
What I didn't like: I quickly started losing interest in the second chapter with all the cartoon-like characters who seemed more contrived then real. I know this is part of her fairytale series but even for a fairytale story there were things that were a bit far fetched and not really fleshed out. You have a village full of people who can't read, who all believe in a fire breathing dragon and the women are all busy making babies. Apparently the only sensible person in the entire village is Gwendolyn and that's emphasized repeatedly, she's such a good girl who can read and is 'fat' (not really). It was as if Medeiros was trying very hard to convince me of it by constantly bringing it up. Gwendolyn's sisters for another I just thought were a bit much. All three of them are complete light skirts who get a thrill out of finding men to have sex with like it's a competition and have no sense at all. I'm surprised the youngest one Kitty even got paired with a man with all her wailing and naivete. And then the father who supposedly went crazy over some big 'secret' only to find out it's not really a secret. I found myself getting more agitated then sympathetic to the characters which wasn't a good sign.
My biggest problem: The love story wasn't really much of a love story. The 'dragon' and Gwendolyn barely interact throughout the book. They share two 'scandalous' kisses while she's staying at the castle then all of sudden she's giving him her heart saying she loves him even when she's never seen his face. The idea behind it was nice and had a nice moral to it but it just came off superficial. I just could not buy it. Then to have her be furious with him over revealing his identity just came out of left field. I tried really hard to like the main characters in this and believe the story but I felt they were very one-dimensional. The ending wasn't very fulfilling more anticlimactic then anything. Just none of the characters made any sense to me and came off more cartoonish then believable. There was a lot missing which is what made it so disappointing for me.
Comparing to her other works this is my least favorite. It just was completely boring and underwhelming overall. Not at all what I was expecting to get from a Medeiros book. She's an amazing story teller I just don't think this was her best work. -
Not one of Teresa Medeiros's best so it won't be on my reread list though, but it was an easy read. I felt the H/h fell in love way too soon because they barely interacted. I did enjoy the prologue when they met as kids.
-
It was a sweet book.
I have heard a lot about this author and decided to start with this series. The first book was pretty average but I was impressed by this book.
This is the story of Gwendolyn, the beautiful belle who falls for Lord Bernard during childhood.
She grows up under the shadows of her petty sisters and hearing tales of the dragon who terrorized Werycraig, while Bernard is thought to be dead.
When the cruel villagers lead her to be a virgin sacrifice for the beast, she ends up meeting the mysterious and caring dragon and they end up falling for each other.
Slowly, as identities are revealed- old feuds are rekindled.
The couple does get married and eventually their HEA.
I did enjoy the couple and their sweet chemistry. The heroine was fiesty and the beast was sweet yet fierce.
The writing was very poetic and a beautiful experience. Did enjoy the chase between the h and H
However I was really angry with the mob and secondary characters- and except for the best friend and Kitty- pretty much disliked everyone.
The love scenes were average.
Overall, a good read with BATB feels.
Safe
3.5/5 -
Teresa Madeiros is one of those authors I've loved and yet I stopped reading her books sometimes ago, with no sound reasons other than I merely forgot about her. Clearly I need to rectify this situation.
Anyhow, this book was bittersweet for me. From the blurb, I thought it'll be one of those rom-commy historical, the campy highlander romance I usually read... I didn't expect the whole aftereffects of Culloden and rebellion of '45. Oh god, it tore my heart apart. It was heartbreaking to see these people surviving after the attack, adapting in their own way. Remember the townspeople in Beauty and the Beast, oohh yeahhh, that's how they adapted.
Anyhow, I love it. There were some aspect about the hero just turned me off, especially at the end, but the heroine won me over. The whole seduction act was deserved! -
I have a mixed feeling about this book.
This book is based on a fairy tale-themed story beauty and the beast set in Scotland.
Overall the book was not that bad, but it lacked certain things. I feel there was little chemistry between this couple and heroine fall for the hero way too quickly. Time to time her behavior and dialogue irritated me. And of all the time she is trying to be sacrificed herself for those villagers who left her in the hand of the beast deliberately to die. On the other hand, our hero wanted to avenge against the person who betrayed her father and destroyed his whole family. I couldn’t blame him for his action and the way he feels.
Overall, It was ok. -
Me ha costado terminarlo, a pesar de estar bien escrita. Es una historia exenta de acción y sabes como va a acabar desde el segundo uno. Se me hizo lenta y repetitiva.
-
Long ago, someone in the village of Ballybliss betrayed the Laird of Weyrcraig to the English and both the nobleman and his family were slaughtered. Years later, a fearsome creature - a dragon no less - claims Castle Weyrcraig, demanding food and drink be brought to him, as well as a thousand pounds of gold, the reward given to betray the laird. The superstitious villagers accede to the Dragon’s demands, including giving him the fair Gwendolyn, an innocent, to appease his unceasing hunger.
Yet, the Dragon is no mythical beast, but a ghost from the past. This formidable man comes to Gwen under cover of darkness. His voice rumbles from the shadows and he disappears with the dawn, but his inherent kindness to her is unmistakable. Although Gwen is a prisoner in the castle, the Dragon transforms her room into a sort of gilded cage, bringing her fine apparel, food and drink, as well as books for her inquiring mind.
Little by little, Gwen falls under the Dragon’s sweet spell. When this angry man finally releases her, will her love be enough to save the villagers from the Dragon’s revenge? Find out in this marvelous tale, The Bride and the Beast. -
As a retelling of the often retold 'Beauty And The Beast' I expected this book to be painful and contrived. Or painfully contrived. But it was good!
When Medeiros tried to be funny, it was funny. When she tried to be clever, it was clever. That alone is rare, but her characters were also lovable and had a lot of depth.
I'm still confused as to how Tupper isn't gay though...I was so sure... -
The characters felt a bit shallow, and there were a few unnecessary twists and turns. Full review coming soon.
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He venido a ofrecerte algo más poderoso que un beso y más duradero que una caricia. -Se puso la palma de él en el pecho, sabiendo que él sentiría el temblor de su corazón-. Mi amor.”
Primer libro que leo de esta autora y tengo que confesar que me encantó. La historia se desarrolla en Escocia en 1761, en la ciudad de Ballybliss. Los lugareños un tanto peculiares temen a un dragón, que en realidad es un hombre que los tiene atemorizados y que les hace peticiones que tienen cumplir.
La única que no cree en dragones es la joven Gwendolyn Wilder, una chica dedicada al cuidado de su padre y que tienes otros intereses diferentes a los lugareños.
Un día el dragón pide unas mil libras que son imposibles de pagar por los ciudadanos. Por lo que ellos ofrecen a cambio la virginidad de la joven Gwendolyn.
Llevan a la chica a la cima del castillo y la dejan amarrada en una estaca abandonada. El dragón la desata y la mantiene cautiva sin saber las consecuencias amorosas para ambos.
La historia es un retelling de La Bella y La Bestia, con un toque diferente y acertado para mi gusto. -
There are some general problems I have with almost all historical romances, but putting that to the side it was an enjoyable read.
-
The village of Ballybliss is terrorized by a dragon who makes demands of the village. When the demands get a bi too high, the villagers offer up their last remaining virgin, Gwendolyn. When she's left at the castle, Gwendolyn discovers the dragon isn't really a dragon, but a man, bent upon revenge and hiding his face. Gwendolyn is a pretty cool heroine - being the only one with any sense and intelligence in her village, but her insecurities annoyed me. I might have gotten irritated if the hero didn't also call her out on those insecurities. The hero, Dragon is a tortured soul who believes himself to be a beast, as that is what revenge has turned him into. He seems a nice enough guy - not too alpha or dominating. He doesn't get annoying until the end.
I kind of think this book was a bit longer than it really needed to be. The first part of the book, between Gwendolyn and the "Dragon" was fantastic. Loved it! The second part of the book, when we learn the Dragon's real identity and Gwendolyn's slightly irrational reaction (not a good one) should have been the end. I can't help but think that anything that kept them apart after that was really forced and very contrived. It didn't feel real. It felt like the angst was being forced upon us.
I also have to admit...it's not often that I find quotes in romance novels that I wish to remember, but this one had a great one. This author usually has at least one or two in a book now that I think of it. After nearly being seduced, the heroine wonders how she could have done that with a man whose face she'd never seen, who she didn't really know. And he replies, "That may be true, but for just a moment there, I would have sworn you knew my heart." -
Scottish people are superstitious! So when "the Dragon" sends a demand that can't be met to the village of BallyBliss, they decide that it's totes okay to tie a virgin to a stake in his courtyard as a peace offering! Except Gwen's all like "it's 1761 not 1461 COME ON DRAGONS AREN'T A THING" except then metaphors, man. Of course there's dragons if they're SEXY dragons!! BUT OH WAIT HIS SHADOW-HAIR IS FULL OF SECRETS!!! WILL THEIR ROMANTIC BONERS BE ENOUGH TO OVERCOME THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL!! TUNE IN NEXT TIME TO FIND OUT.
(I don't know why I yell so much in these reviews. It's stress relief, I think.)
1. SO MUCH MELTING SWEETNESS. SWEETLY MELTED. MELTING SOFTNESS.
2. Again: things went off the rails near the end. Back and forth to London and some shouting about feelings and lots of vagueness about why and I don't know. I felt very confused by it all. (Although I DEFINITELY wanted Gwen to swan up to the ladies in the ballroom near the end and be like "Oh, him? He's a SUPERB LOVER. I heard his wife can't even walk straight. FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE, LADIES." Basically I want my heroines always laying down the law when they're Getting It because yes.)
3. Overall, I enjoyed it EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT GWEN ONLY TRIED TO OPEN THAT FUCKING DOOR ONE TIME. It CLEARLY opens from the inside SOMEHOW but she never really tries after her first pass--when she doesn't even know where the door is. It really made me mad!
4. I was rather disappointed in the portrayal of Gwen's sisters--there's some slut-shaming language there that really set my teeth on edge, especially after Gwen is considering how she reacts to the Dragon. Like, her passion is a disgusting thing? Because it makes her more like her sisters? UGH. -
Gwendolyn Wilder and Dragon. Beauty and the beast. Plump heroine who is the only virgin in her village.
-
Am I the only one who didn't like this book? It wasn't horrible but it wasn't very good either. Gwendolyn's a chubby little girl who has a crush on the Laird's son Bernard. Then she thinks he's killed with his family. Years later the Laird's protector(?) a dragon is making the village live in fear and since she's the only virgin left, they tie her up at the castle. Well the dragon is more than she thought. There's this convoluted romance that was so irritating, it was skimtastic. Which I also ended up doing through most of the the last third of the book. I just couldn't wait until this book ended. I've read another book by Teresa Medeiros that I liked, so I'm just blaming it on this book.
-
I read this book in the flight from New York to Amman (such a long flight, maybe 16 hours) and it was such a good read at that time.
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This book was one of those cute books with likable main characters. but it was a little bit boring.
-
March 2021 HRBC
I really, really loved this for the first 60 percent or so. I couldn't put it down. I loved how it began in the past when the MCs were young (that is a favorite trope of mine if you can consider it a trope), I loved the historical setting yet with a definite fairy tale sort of quality to it, and I found Gwendolyn an easy heroine to root for. I've seen the characters (especially the villagers) here described as "cartoonish", and I can see what is meant by that- there are definite stereotypes and some silliness, but nothing about this ever pulled me out of the story or made me think anything about this was really impossible. I was fully able to just go with it. I liked "The Dragon" as a sarcastic, brooding sort who really isn't all that scary at all. I like TM's style of writing- it flows so nicely and allows for fast reading. It's descriptive without being purple (at least in this book). This really has all of the best elements of a Disney-style fairy tale combined with a lighter, fluffier romance novel. There are funny moments and cute moments...I absolutely loved Gwendolyn's discovery of food and books and dresses in her tower room.
After the 60% mark? I still really like this, but I became a bit disappointed in some plot choices. Even though they were eventually explained and mostly made sense, there were moments in the second half of the book that had me very frustrated with both MCs at different times.
The other things that keep this from being a 5-star book for me are the fact that Gwendolyn's weight is such a focus for her and other characters (I hate that she is constantly down on herself and how her sisters shame her every time she goes to eat anything), and the fact that this has to fall under the category of insta-love. I would have liked more interaction between Gwendolyn and The Dragon where they got to know more about each other and for a longer period of time.
All that said, this was a super fun read that I definitely enjoyed. A few tweaks would have made this an all-time favorite, but even still I am really glad I chose to read it.
