Its been a long while since Ive picked up a book that has been so dreadfully dull and unexciting that each chapter was a struggle to get through. I am a huge fan of fairy tale retellings and stories that transport the fairy tale characters to the modern world. But this book utterly failed its plot and characters.
The conflict of the story gets underway after very little introduction to the characters. When the situation started getting heated and serious, I didnt feel connected to the characters at all and I knew little about them beyond hearing their names and instantly being able to call their respective fairy tales to mind. No one is given any character development or personality. We have no idea why Puss in Boots is so focused only on finding his true love when the world is falling to pieces around him or why Goldilocks is a self-centered annoyance.
Worst of all in the main character, Julie. She is one of the most whiny, annoying, easily driven to tears narrators Ive ever had the misfortune to read and shes the one were supposed to be cheering for and identifying with? No thanks! I feel no sympathy with her, no desire to see her overcome her obstacles, I just kept getting frustrated with how dumb she kept acting. Every time she cried, I hoped some giant animal would pop up and eat her. Id read a book recently that featured another girl about Julies age in a much more difficult situation who was not even half as whiny and annoying as Julie. Its not a good comparison to be making in the middle of the story.
Speaking of story, the plot has potential. I really like the idea of The Wild being this living creature that is trying to escape and reclaim the fairy tale characters. It sounded really interesting. But the story is rushed and just feels incomplete. I cant even put my finger on why but I feel like pieces are missing from it. It could have been fleshed out to a really detailed and fascinating world and plot but was instead hurried to completion with an ending that left me unsatisfied. Even the sequel bait at the end was confusing and uninteresting.
This book was a major disappointment for me. The story sounded really promising but everything was handled so poorly. I have no desire whatsoever to pick up the sequel and see how the story continues because this was such an unsatisfying experience. Its rare a book makes me feel like I wasted my time but the few days I spent rushing through this, hoping things might turn around and make for a better book, definitely feel wasted.
The conflict of the story gets underway after very little introduction to the characters. When the situation started getting heated and serious, I didnt feel connected to the characters at all and I knew little about them beyond hearing their names and instantly being able to call their respective fairy tales to mind. No one is given any character development or personality. We have no idea why Puss in Boots is so focused only on finding his true love when the world is falling to pieces around him or why Goldilocks is a self-centered annoyance.
Worst of all in the main character, Julie. She is one of the most whiny, annoying, easily driven to tears narrators Ive ever had the misfortune to read and shes the one were supposed to be cheering for and identifying with? No thanks! I feel no sympathy with her, no desire to see her overcome her obstacles, I just kept getting frustrated with how dumb she kept acting. Every time she cried, I hoped some giant animal would pop up and eat her. Id read a book recently that featured another girl about Julies age in a much more difficult situation who was not even half as whiny and annoying as Julie. Its not a good comparison to be making in the middle of the story.
Speaking of story, the plot has potential. I really like the idea of The Wild being this living creature that is trying to escape and reclaim the fairy tale characters. It sounded really interesting. But the story is rushed and just feels incomplete. I cant even put my finger on why but I feel like pieces are missing from it. It could have been fleshed out to a really detailed and fascinating world and plot but was instead hurried to completion with an ending that left me unsatisfied. Even the sequel bait at the end was confusing and uninteresting.
This book was a major disappointment for me. The story sounded really promising but everything was handled so poorly. I have no desire whatsoever to pick up the sequel and see how the story continues because this was such an unsatisfying experience. Its rare a book makes me feel like I wasted my time but the few days I spent rushing through this, hoping things might turn around and make for a better book, definitely feel wasted.
I loved this book! While it's supposed to be for ages 9-12, I'm an adult and thought it was excellent. Durst has a very different take on fairy tales in the real world than any other I've read, and it works wonderfully well. Highly recommended!
