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kba76's review against another edition
2.0
Beautiful illustrations which were what saved this book for me. Read as part of the Carnegie Shadowing, and one of my least favourites I'm afraid. It was well-written, but just not for me.
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting reimaginging of Hans Christian Anderson's The Tinderbox. I had a feeling it was inspired by a fairytale but I didn't put two and two together until I read the authors note.
It was set on the backdrop of a young soilder in the Thirty Year's War, a period of history I know next to nothhing about, yet Gardner's interpretation of the battles were steeped in sadness, death and the ultimate lowest of deprivation of our humanity.
It was a love story, at its heart, one that a tortured soul tried to aspire for, sometimes through not so ethical means.
I enjoyed my time with this one, but I can't see myself thinking back on it in years to come.
But don't let that last line deter you. Why don't you...
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
It was set on the backdrop of a young soilder in the Thirty Year's War, a period of history I know next to nothhing about, yet Gardner's interpretation of the battles were steeped in sadness, death and the ultimate lowest of deprivation of our humanity.
It was a love story, at its heart, one that a tortured soul tried to aspire for, sometimes through not so ethical means.
I enjoyed my time with this one, but I can't see myself thinking back on it in years to come.
But don't let that last line deter you. Why don't you...
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
monmon_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thesilmarillions's review against another edition
5.0
Like you’d expect from a fairy tale, the writing is simple and to the point. It’s easy to follow and you can tell that each chapter is building up to something, but any clue as to what is left a mystery until the latter half of the story.The characters are fairly flat, with the focus clearly being on Otto and his story, which is pretty typical of fairy tales. Unless there is some detail which is essential to the plot, it’s left out.
The illustrations by David Roberts are breathtaking; they are both eerie and beautiful at the same time. Many are fairly simple, but some (like the one to the left) are filled with details. It’s a fairly short book, but it’s possible to spend hours just looking at the illustrations.
Everything about this book is hauntingly beautiful. The story and illustrations complement each other wonderfully and is a joy to experience.
The illustrations by David Roberts are breathtaking; they are both eerie and beautiful at the same time. Many are fairly simple, but some (like the one to the left) are filled with details. It’s a fairly short book, but it’s possible to spend hours just looking at the illustrations.
Everything about this book is hauntingly beautiful. The story and illustrations complement each other wonderfully and is a joy to experience.
danielle2121's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
After seeing the play of Tinderbox when I was a child and really loving it, I figured I'd probably enjoy this book even though I barely remembered anything about the plot! From what I do remember though, this loose adaptation really hit the mark!
It was creepy, the artwork was beautiful and yet chilling and the story as a whole gave you lots to think about towards the end.
The very end fell a tiny bit flat for me as it seemed to progress quickly all of a sudden after a slow (in a good way) beginning. However, besides that, I really enjoyed this. A good read for October that's for sure!
It was creepy, the artwork was beautiful and yet chilling and the story as a whole gave you lots to think about towards the end.
The very end fell a tiny bit flat for me as it seemed to progress quickly all of a sudden after a slow (in a good way) beginning. However, besides that, I really enjoyed this. A good read for October that's for sure!
sam_skogrand's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It took me a while to finish because of life stuff cropping up, but I thought this book was wonderful. Every time I had an opportunity to pick it up I never wanted to put it down. The writing is dark, mesmerizing, and poetic. The illustrations add a richness to the already fantastical tone. I don’t want to give anything away, but I do recommend reading this book. You won’t regret it.
rachael_amber's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
eleanor_nicbhatair's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fantastic horror retelling of the fairytale 'The Tinderbox' by Hans Christian Anderson. The illustrations are beautiful and add to the creepiness of the story. This is just a great story and so well done.
ilicadri's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5