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Fantastic characters (2 more)
Imaginative world building
Wonderful plot
A wonderful reimagining
This book is the first in the series. This book was on my list for awhile, but I had been holding off reading it. I’m glad I finally did. It was a fast paced adventure with a sprinkle of romance. It had me rooting for Cinder the whole time, and there were enough twists to keep everything interesting. The villain was good, though I think she could have been given stonger motives. This was a fantastic retelling of an old fairytale, with an awesome sci-fi twist. I would highly recommend it.
ClareR (5589 KP) rated The Rain Heron in Books
Aug 23, 2021
The Rain Heron has a dreamlike, fairytale quality to it that I loved. In fact, the first part of the novel is exactly like a fairytale: an unlucky farmer is rewarded by becoming more prosperous, but in remembering the hard times that they had, the farmer shares their wealth. However, a jealous neighbour soon makes their feelings felt, and no one comes out of the situation well.
Further away, near the sea, another mans jealousy of nature has terrible consequences, causing poverty and abandonment of a seaside village.
These threads of story are interwoven with that of a woman who lives alone in the mountains in order to escape the effects of a military coup. But the soldiers come looking for her - and for the Rain Heron.
This is a book about mans need to control nature and their inability to. The more man tries to control it, the more damage is done.
I loved the feel of this novel. It’s a fable of our modern times, about how our actions are having a lasting and devastating effect on our climate and nature.
I would most definitely recommend this book, and Arnott’s previous book as well, Flames, if you haven’t read it. Both are masterpieces in magical realism. Rain Heron is a timely book as we come to realise just what an impact climate change is having on our world, and comes highly recommended from me!
Further away, near the sea, another mans jealousy of nature has terrible consequences, causing poverty and abandonment of a seaside village.
These threads of story are interwoven with that of a woman who lives alone in the mountains in order to escape the effects of a military coup. But the soldiers come looking for her - and for the Rain Heron.
This is a book about mans need to control nature and their inability to. The more man tries to control it, the more damage is done.
I loved the feel of this novel. It’s a fable of our modern times, about how our actions are having a lasting and devastating effect on our climate and nature.
I would most definitely recommend this book, and Arnott’s previous book as well, Flames, if you haven’t read it. Both are masterpieces in magical realism. Rain Heron is a timely book as we come to realise just what an impact climate change is having on our world, and comes highly recommended from me!
Cinematography (2 more)
Complex characters
Well acted
Confusing at times (1 more)
Dubbed is terrible, watch it subbed
German Fairytale meet Sci/Fi
This is a beautiful show. It pulls you in with characters that have understandable flaws and tangible humanity, with just the right amount of time travel and nuclear power thrown in.
It's not Stranger Things, don't compare the two. The only similarity is missing kids, and it ends there.
Watch it, but be prepared to focus. The layers of story are artfully crafted, spanning three generations and each one is vital to the story. Also, be prepared to not understand everything. That's okay, let the story peel itself apart slowly and deliciously. Very excited to see where this show goes.
It's not Stranger Things, don't compare the two. The only similarity is missing kids, and it ends there.
Watch it, but be prepared to focus. The layers of story are artfully crafted, spanning three generations and each one is vital to the story. Also, be prepared to not understand everything. That's okay, let the story peel itself apart slowly and deliciously. Very excited to see where this show goes.
Auburn (57 KP) rated The Warrior Maiden (Hagenheim, #9) in Books
Apr 10, 2019
Another fantastic addition to some wonderfully reimagined fairy tales. The author does a beautiful job weaving the classic story of Mulan in a Lituanian world. It also gives us a look at two of the youngest members of the Duke of Hagenheims family.
Throughout each book another fairytale unfolds and one of the Dukes children is a central part. I enjoy seeing what happened to the older children now married and how we receive a glimpse of their furtures through these books.
As always it is a well done version of Mulan that captures the soul of a warrior. A must read for fans of romance, fairy tales, and Melanie Dickerson's stories.
Throughout each book another fairytale unfolds and one of the Dukes children is a central part. I enjoy seeing what happened to the older children now married and how we receive a glimpse of their furtures through these books.
As always it is a well done version of Mulan that captures the soul of a warrior. A must read for fans of romance, fairy tales, and Melanie Dickerson's stories.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated A Grand Man ( Mary Ann series 1) in Books
Apr 23, 2024
75 of 220
Book
A Grand Man ( Mary Ann series 1)
By Catherine Cookson
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Set on Tyneside, the part of the world which Catherine Cookson knew and understood so well, this heartwarming and humorously observed book skillfully weds an authentic and unsentimentalized background to the kind of fairytale story that we all like to believe could come true and which the Mary Ann Shaughnessys of this world know to be true.
A little girls love for her Da is priceless. Catherine Cookson brings live and determination to all her books. This is the first in the Mary Ann Shaughnessy books a little girls journey in a tough environment. Love this author.
Book
A Grand Man ( Mary Ann series 1)
By Catherine Cookson
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Set on Tyneside, the part of the world which Catherine Cookson knew and understood so well, this heartwarming and humorously observed book skillfully weds an authentic and unsentimentalized background to the kind of fairytale story that we all like to believe could come true and which the Mary Ann Shaughnessys of this world know to be true.
A little girls love for her Da is priceless. Catherine Cookson brings live and determination to all her books. This is the first in the Mary Ann Shaughnessy books a little girls journey in a tough environment. Love this author.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Bear and the Nightingale in Books
Oct 29, 2017
A dark epic fairytale
This captivating fantasy is set in the frozen north of Russia in the 13th century, and used Russian myths and fairy tales as inspiration.
At the centre of the novel is the family of a local Lord, in particular the headstrong youngest daughter Vasya who is gifted with 'second sight'. The existence of the community is threatened when a dark power in the forests begins to wake up, just as the villagers start to turn away from the household spirits who've protected them, in favour of a charismatic new priest.
The Russian setting adds interest and mystique and the protagonist Vasya is fantastically outspoken and scrappy. The plot is easy to follow despite the odd Russian word. It truly is a compelling read.
At the centre of the novel is the family of a local Lord, in particular the headstrong youngest daughter Vasya who is gifted with 'second sight'. The existence of the community is threatened when a dark power in the forests begins to wake up, just as the villagers start to turn away from the household spirits who've protected them, in favour of a charismatic new priest.
The Russian setting adds interest and mystique and the protagonist Vasya is fantastically outspoken and scrappy. The plot is easy to follow despite the odd Russian word. It truly is a compelling read.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The First City in Books
Dec 19, 2017
A great final chapter
This is such a good final chapter in the Dominion trilogy. It’s such a rollercoaster ride throughout, I could barely put it down and it’s very well written. It almost had me in tears towards the end and there are some very good twists and surprises throughout.
My main issue is still with Zoey. She’s grown on me a little in this final book, but I still find her very frustrating at times, doing things that just don’t make sense. I’m also not entirely convinced about the ending of this book, it’s almost a little too happy and fairytale. Although this is just my opinion, as I tend to prefer depressing endings as opposed to happy ones...
My main issue is still with Zoey. She’s grown on me a little in this final book, but I still find her very frustrating at times, doing things that just don’t make sense. I’m also not entirely convinced about the ending of this book, it’s almost a little too happy and fairytale. Although this is just my opinion, as I tend to prefer depressing endings as opposed to happy ones...
Charlotte (184 KP) rated Burn Baby Burn (Fairytales of the Myth #1) in Books
Mar 20, 2021
Possible triggers with child abuse being alluded to (no graphic descriptions but you are aware that it happens)
This is a dark, very different retelling of the classic Cinderella.
You won't find a nice Fairy Godmother or glass slippers here......death, slavery, abuse, yeah, that's here and you know what? I like it. I like the darkness, the fight that Ella has within her, the fire that she shows. I do feel sorry for her though, from the beginning the odds of a happy, fortunate life were stacked against her and people seemed to just take advantage......big mistake!
Definitely not a sweet fairytale for children. This is for adults with a glass of something strong in hand and a free evening.
This is a dark, very different retelling of the classic Cinderella.
You won't find a nice Fairy Godmother or glass slippers here......death, slavery, abuse, yeah, that's here and you know what? I like it. I like the darkness, the fight that Ella has within her, the fire that she shows. I do feel sorry for her though, from the beginning the odds of a happy, fortunate life were stacked against her and people seemed to just take advantage......big mistake!
Definitely not a sweet fairytale for children. This is for adults with a glass of something strong in hand and a free evening.
Ross (3282 KP) rated The Last Wish in Books
Apr 13, 2018
Well written but didn't exactly hook me
I've read collections of short stories before but never have I cared less about what happened in them than I did here. The stories are loosely collated with an overall additional story over the top of them. The stories have something of a fairytale feel to them (one an alternate telling of Beauty and the Beast, another like Snow White gone bad, yet another has a tough of Rumpelstiltskin to it), but most invariably include some heaving cleavages and women that throw themselves at the hero.
The stories are well enough told but it may be the translation that left me struggling to concentrate on the story and my attention wandered. A very short book, this took me longer to read than it should have.
The stories are well enough told but it may be the translation that left me struggling to concentrate on the story and my attention wandered. A very short book, this took me longer to read than it should have.
ClareR (5589 KP) rated Once Upon a River in Books
Mar 27, 2019
A beautiful story of the Thames
It’s really hard to read through tears, you know. And that’s just what I had to do through the last chapters of this book. This book held my attention throughout. Its beautifully, lyrically written - it has a real feel of the fairytale and supernatural about it (Quietly, the Ferryman), set alongside the practical and realistic (Rita, the nurse/ midwife).
This is a story that follows several characters who come together because of a drowned child who comes back to life. The fantastical runs alongside the everyday, and the Thames runs alongside all of it.
I loved this book, it’s gentle pace (like the Thames on a good day, perhaps!), and the people who populated its pages. It really is a gorgeous book and well worth reading.
This is a story that follows several characters who come together because of a drowned child who comes back to life. The fantastical runs alongside the everyday, and the Thames runs alongside all of it.
I loved this book, it’s gentle pace (like the Thames on a good day, perhaps!), and the people who populated its pages. It really is a gorgeous book and well worth reading.