4 stars
My favorite in the series so far (I’ve read them hopelessly out of order).
This little story is odd and strange, but in the charming way that Rowell does so well.
I think Amazon kind of missed in trying to brand this as a series of fairytale retellings. None of the ones I’ve read so far quite meet that description. They generally just have vague fairytale connections. Even in this one the prince is not really a prince (though he might as well be) and the troll is not really a troll.
Still, I enjoyed this one. It was told in a way that really resonated with fairytales and folklore in its repetition of certain phrases, themes, and ideas. While the world setup is rather vague, it’s fairly clear what faults in society the author is highlighting without getting bogged down with the details. The story is about the connection between two beings, rather than creating a world, fantasy, dystopian, or otherwise.
Rowell introduces some interesting elements and phenomenon that I wish were expounded (the Tragedies), but the story on the whole was interesting and entertaining while still making the reader think about the state of the world in the story and the world in real life.
I enjoyed the interactions between the characters. The story is really simple, but makes the reader think about the world in a new way, which I enjoyed. I was a bit nervous to read this after I found I was not a fan of Eleanor & Park, but this was a nice change of pace.