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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Excellent. Hard to decide whether I prefer this one to Ender's Game since they're so vastly different. It's kind of like "Beauty" (by Robin McKinley) meets "Beowolf", yet ... really great.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 2 members found this review helpful “Ho hum. I'm less enthused with OSC with every successive novel. I suppose my tastes have changed.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“I was so engrossed in this book that I stayed up all night to read it once. A very engaging fantasy.”
Phenonemom J wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The writing is beautiful, as one could expect from the author. For a "time traveling" take on "Sleeping Beauty" this was a very enchanting book. I flew right through it.
kt wrote this review Thursday, October 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The mix of religions was interesting, and though there isn't a lot of action it really kept my interest. The history, both recent and ancient, is another fun aspect.
I was pulled in from the first paragraph and it kept me until the very end. I very highly recommend this book!”
“I really liked this book. Usually Orson Scott Card writes science fiction, so his fantasy books are really different. I think that there should be more books written like this.”
Sierra O wrote this review Tuesday, October 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A book that would appeal to both males and females, your classic fairy tale twisted and totally warped, a great book that kept me reading”
Sienna K wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
0 of 1 members found this review helpful“Sara W 3 out of 5 stars In a modern twist on the Russian folktale of Baba Yaga and Sleeping Beauty, Orson Scott Card sends Katerina her knight in shining armor straight from 20th century America. It is 1992 and fresh from completing his research studies to complete his dissertation, Ivan is visiting his cousin Marek who had one time helped Ivan and his parents escape from Soviet Russia. He had last been to the farm when only 10 years old and had discovered an enchanted princess in the woods. Haunted by this image since Ivan is compelled to return and this time he wakes her with a kiss. He promises to marry her in an atempt to save both of their lives and is drawn into the 9th century, duty and honor bound to help Katerina save her kingdom from the evil witch Baba Yaga.
Author, Author Shelf wrote this review Monday, September 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
While I enjoyed the story I did not love it as I had been hoping. The story itself was the main strength while the characters seemed weak. I just couldn't empathize with them as I would have liked. There was nothing wrong with them, they just felt bland and without any real personality to them, even Baba Yaga who should have been great. I found Bear to be most interesting though he was not a major player. I'm truly disapionted because I had been looking forward to this read. I wish I could have liked it more.
Kristel 4.5 out of 5 stars I was impressed with this author's writing. His research was fantastic and the tale was gripping. This was not simple and not predictable. The author wove Jewish, Christian religion and Russian folktales together. It also has time travel and parallel communities. I was pleased with the story. This genre is not one that i tend to gravitate toward. I was surprised with how well the author was able to weave Christian and Jewish religion in such a way that it wouldn't be offensive to readers. I found the small edition of Jewish feminism also interesting. Card covered a lot of area in the this story.
The story is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty mixed with Russian folktales. I liked the characters. I especially liked Esther, Cousin Marek and the Bear. Some of the other characters grew on me as the story progressed. I really wasn't very fond of the princess but she came around. In that regard it reminded me of a Harlequin romance in reverse with the female being unlikeable.
My criticism of this book would be that Card tried to cover too many issues in the book. I think there was some "Mormon missionary work" hidden in the story but I did enjoy his discussions even though I think they weren't always necessary.
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“loved it!!!”
Rose S wrote this review Friday, September 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Rewrite of Sleeping Beauty set in Russia, mixed with Russian folktales, and America. The author, who is Mormon, mixes in Jewish, Christian religion with folktales and witches. The story is well researched and I appreciated that. It was suspenseful and not predictable. ”
Kristel wrote this review Monday, September 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“In a modern twist on the Russian folktale of Baba Yaga and Sleeping Beauty, Orson Scott Card sends Katerina her knight in shining armor straight from 20th century America. It is 1992 and fresh from completing his research studies to complete his dissertation, Ivan is visiting his cousin Marek who had one time helped Ivan and his parents escape from Soviet Russia. He had last been to the farm when only 10 years old and had discovered an enchanted princess in the woods. Haunted by this image since Ivan is compelled to return and this time he wakes her with a kiss. He promises to marry her in an atempt to save both of their lives and is drawn into the 9th century, duty and honor bound to help Katerina save her kingdom from the evil witch Baba Yaga.
Sara W wrote this review Sunday, September 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
While I enjoyed the story I did not love it as I had been hoping. The story itself was the main strength while the characters seemed weak. I just couldn't empathize with them as I would have liked. There was nothing wrong with them, they just felt bland and without any real personality to them, even Baba Yaga who should have been great. I found Bear to be most interesting though he was not a major player. I'm truly disapionted because I had been looking forward to this read. I wish I could have liked it more.”
“I like many of Card's books. This one is particularly compelling for an old Fairy Tale buff such as myself. The book is enriched if you happen to be a little over-educated in terms of such things... it makes references to Propp's "Morphology" and is primarily oriented towards Russian tales (Baba Yaga, etc.). This book, with its "magical realism" sway, reminds me a bit of Jonathan Carroll, who does the same kind of blending of fairy tale characters into so-called reality.”
Steven Z wrote this review Thursday, September 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
