Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas

Description from Goodreads

When the glass slipper just doesn’t fit…

The tale of Cinderella has been retold countless times. But what you know is not the true story.

Pin has no recollection of who she is or how she got to the Godmother’s fortress. She only knows that she is a Seamstress, working day in and out to make ball gowns fit for fairy tales. But she longs to forsake her backbreaking servitude and dares to escape with the brave young Shoemaker.

Pin isn’t free for long before she’s captured again and forced to live the new life the Godmother chooses for her—a fairy tale story, complete with a charming prince—instead of finding her own happily ever after.

Sarah Prineas’s bold fairy tale retelling is a dark and captivating world where swords are more fitting than slippers, young shoemakers are just as striking as princes, and a heroine is more than ready to rescue herself before the clock strikes midnight.

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Ash & Bramble is most definitely one of a kind retelling of Cinderella. And to be honest, a very different retelling of many other fairytales. I was immediately captivated by the story when it started off with a very cryptic passage of meaning of stories and their power, and soon after the readers were thrown into this dark, oppressed world. It was all so mysterious and interesting that I was already forming a raving review in my head. But. The famous but. I'm afraid it all went downhill from there, in a vertical position. 

I found the concept (which also basically was the big reveal/twist - don't worry I won't spoil it) very intriguing, but also massively ambitious which I have to give to the author - it was a fantastic idea and very original at that. However, I feel like the execution of it wasn't very good. Even though it was explained and demonstrated in interesting ways, I couldn't help but feel that is was half-way done. As this reveal/twist in the plot line was also the heart of the whole novel and the driving force of the characters and all the events, I wished it had something a bit something extra to it. Maybe the word that I'm looking for is personification, and even though I suppose it was done in a way, I wouldn't have complained at all if the readers would have learned more about the big reveal and its origins. This probably doesn't make any sense to those who haven't read the book, but I hope it does to those who have. Long story short, even though the main twist was a fascinating concept (which was also the basis for the whole novel) it felt somewhat lacking to me. 

Another thing why I didn't come to like the book as much as I had hoped, was because it dragged, dragged, and dragged. There were pages and pages of events which didn't really add up to anything in the end or didn't really have any plot driving force. I think the first 20% and the last 20% were the most interesting parts of the book, but all the rest just plain boring. Even though there was something going on all the time, I just didn't find the events that compelling and I ended up power-reading majority of the time. And this probably was the greatest deal-breaker for me. I just didn't find myself entertained most of the time. The book had all the potential to be very exciting and adventurous, but for me, it just wasn't. 

The blurb says that Ash & Bramble is a retelling of Cinderella, but I have to say that it really wasn't. Well, it kind of was, but the focus most definitely wasn't on Cinderella's story most of the time. And I was really disappointed by this fact. Cinderella is one of my favourite fairytales, so I was really looking forward to seeing how the author had made it her own story. Even though we get a bold and different retelling which in theory is really good, I think this specific retelling was just a bit too ambitious and innovative for me. The main reason why I wanted to read the novel in the first place was because I love Cinderella, and then I came to realize that the book wasn't that much about Cinderella as it was about anything else. 

I really loved some of the characters though. Pin and Shoe, who are the two main characters and whose points of views alternate in the book, for example were both multidimensional and I loved their unpredictability. All the other characters like Huntsman, Zel, and Templeton were really cool characters too, but unfortunately  I didn't end up caring for them that much. And of course this was a pity, because they could've made me like the novel a lot more, only if I had really cared about what happened to them. Maybe at that point when things started getting interest, I had already lost my commitment to the storyline and characters.

I feel soooo frustrated at the moment, because the concept was so genius, so great. BUT. The plot was drawn-out, the language was like from a children's book, and majority of the characters left me cold. I have to say that I started reading with no expectations and I finished with no adoration. It's not always meant to be, even if it's with a fairytale. 

☆☆

Waiting on Wednesday (#32): Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Waiting on Wednesday is about sharing a book every week you cannot wait to be published. 

This week, I'm waiting on

Rebel of the Sands
by Alwyn Hamilton

Description from Goodreads

She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from. 

Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him...or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

Genre: Young adult, Romance, Magic, Fantasy, Adventure

Pages: 304

Expected Publication: February 4, 2016

Publisher: Faber & Faber

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That first line.. I'm sold. Just take my money and give it to me.

Top Ten Tuesday (#30): Top Ten Debut Authors Who Have Us Looking Forward To Their Sophomore Novel

Top Ten Tuesday this week is about 

❄ Top Ten Debut Authors Who Have Us Looking Forward To Their Sophomore Novel ❄

(In no particular order)

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Debut Authors whose books I've read

 

Lesley Walton (The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender) // Leah Thomas (Because You'll Never Meet Me) // Nicola Yoon (Everything, Everything) // Melissa Grey (The Girl At Midnight) // Lisa Heathfield (Seed)

Needless to say, all these books had an impact on me, one way or another. It might have been the lyrical language (Lesley Walton), the heart-breaking storyline (Leah Thomas), the intriguing fantasy concept (Melissa Grey), the twisted world the characters lived in (Lisa Heathfield), or just the overall ambience of the novel which made me devour the novel (Nicola Yoon). Definitely want to read more from these authors in the future!

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Debut Authors whose books I want to read

Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes) // Stephanie Oakes (The Sacred Lives of Minnow Bly) // Renee Ahdieh (The Dawn and the Wrath) // Nicole Castroman (Blackhearts) // Emily Henry (The Love That Split the World)

YES, PLEASE. All of these sound so, so amazing and massive amounts of readers have absolutely adored these authors and their debut novels. There's no doubt in my mind whether I'm going to read these or not - it's guaranteed that I will!

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A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

Description from Goodreads

Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us. 

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Wow, what was that! I mean the blurb definitely had me intrigued even though I'm not exactly the hugest fan of historical fiction, but A Madness So Discreet surprised me with its haunting setting, beautiful language, and very fascinating themes and topics like criminal psychology and what really defines madness. I knew just by reading the first chapter that this novel would entertain me right until the very end, and it definitely did it by being poignant, but also smart and exciting. The end was somewhat disappointing as it was wrapped up way too quickly for my taste, but let me first rave about all the amazing things.

Okay first of all, as a psychology student I have to say that McGinnis's exploration of mental health, the treatments in the past, and her take on criminal psychology was very interesting. She wrote very descriptive text about all of these aspects, and while it wasn't exactly the happiest thing to read about, I found it fascinating and thoroughly captivating. All of the mental health "problems" and their medical care felt very authentic, and that's the exact reason why the book was so haunting. You know that even though the book is a piece of fiction, majority of the events could have taken place in the past, one way or another. The author also engaged in a bit of profiling of murders too, which was so so so fun to read about, but also at times rather unscientific.. But that's not the point though - A Madness So Discreet is a fictional book about a girl trying to escape her past, not a non-fictional guide to criminal psychology. But yeah, I really enjoyed the psychological approach to the novel and all its sub-branches.

And how about the characters! I don't think there was one character whom I didn't find appealing or intriguing in some way. Even the bad guys had my attention from the very first moment, and I just couldn't wait to learn more about all of the characters. To my great pleasure, all the characters, even the minor ones, had their own distinct personalities and histories, and their actions were believable but never predictable. I could list here the most fascinating characters like our smart main character Grace, the enigmatic Dr. Thornhollow, or fiery Nell, but then I think this review would end up being an essay of exploration of the characters of ı. So briefly but effectively: the characters were absolutely great in this novel. 

McGinnis also knows how to write very elegant language, even when she is writing the creepiest scenes. There was this scene in the beginning in which a fellow patient of Grace's smells her and absurdly knows her past by the smells that she has on her. And it was so freaking creepy, scary, haunting yet so captivating and strangely beautiful too. The author just blew me away with the lyrical language which was more dominant in the first part of the book and unfortunately less frequent towards the end. However, the author's writing and the eye for characters and smart plot made me want to read her other books, and I have already landed my eyes on Not a Drop to Drink which was published in 2013 and is a part of duology(?). Can't wait to get my hands on it. 

I already briefly mentioned that the ending was a bit too hasty to my liking, and as good as the novel in itself was, the wrap-up ate some of the greatness of the book. The events which took place were okay by me, but the abruptness left me with so many unwanted questions (not the good kind) and in general left me cold. I suppose the ending wasn't exactly bad, and I can't really put my finger on it what made me dislike it, but I was left with a feeling that it was missing something. Not disclosure or peace per se, but something bigger. 

In the end though, A Madness So Discreet was a very different kind of novel and very entertaining at that. I could've done with even more criminal psychology and the ending didn't sit with me very well as it left me a bit uneasy for some reason, but otherwise - a superb novel. I loved the fact that there wasn't romance element to the novel, but more of a companionship resembling to Sherlock and Dr. Watson which suited me very well. There was caring about one another there, but nothing too explicit. After all, the novel was about facing your demons (whether imaginary or not) and finding your place in the world. 

☆☆☆☆

Sunday Post (#28): Weekly Recap

"The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead." 

✿ What I read this week ✿

❄ Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas
❄ This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee
❄ The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens

✿ Reviews ✿

❄ The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
❄ Mirrored by Alex Flinn

✿ Memes ✿

❄ Top Ten Tuesday: Horror TBR List

❄ Waiting on Wednesday: Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman  

✿ Around the blogosphere and elsewhere ✿

❄ Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play will be about Albus Severus
❄ Halloween Reads
❄ National Novel Writing Month

✿ What else I've been up to this week ✿

1. Back in the game. So some of you might have noticed that I've been gone for a couple of months. Not because I didn't want to blog anymore, but simply because I had no time for it. I had to move to another city, leave all me friends behind, and start over pretty much in every way. But now that I'm settled and found some kind of routine for my life - blogging is on!

2. Study? Study! So I started going to a grad school two months ago, and let me tell you, it's a lot of work. Maybe not as much work I first imagined it would be, but you can just see in the professors' eyes that they are expecting a lot from you. And that's why I've always wanted to be as prepared as possible for the lectures and seminars, hence studystudystudy. 

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✿ Have a lovely Sunday! ✿