Martha
I have mixed feelings about this story. The cons: I found it unbelievable that a large basket would fit through the crack but a petite woman wouldn't; it was too convenient that the shaman only taught her two new spells, and one of them just happened to be the one that would save her; and the prince put off saving her to go get help (logical), then came back with only the one guard he'd had before. The pros: it was well-written, easy to read, had a non-medieval-Europe setting, had a better excuse for the Rapunzel elements than the original, and did NOT suffer from insta-love.
If you already know beekeeping (even a little), this is a great resource to help you remember everything and plan ahead. If you have no idea how to keep bees, this is less helpful. It doesn't define jargon, doesn't provide illustrations, and leaves out certain important steps (granted, they're probably the ones that are very obvious once you've done it a few times). If it were expanded as well as it is a summary, it would be great, but it's only a summary. Also, the last QUARTER of the book is a preview of a totally different book.
It was interesting seeing how the author used the classic story. Though I could trace the original tale, she did well at making the retelling seem natural and realistic. I liked both characters (except for the heroine's insistence on believing well of her scummy ex-fiance), and the writing was smooth. The story was clean and had a happily ever after. It's a nice Regency read.
Started & couldn't finish. No, I didn't reach the trigger-warning section. Yes, I knew it was there and was planning to skip it. Yes, I was interested in the rest of the book. Yes, the writing is good. Yes, I liked most of the characters.
Well, then, you ask, why couldn't I finish it? It was too dark in general for my comfort level. That's all. If you like dark fantasy, give it a try.
You might also be asking why I gave it two stars if the writing is good. That's because I look back at my own ratings when I'm looking for a book to reread, and two stars tells me not to reread it. (Sorry, Laurie.)
I owned the original version of this book, and still liked the update well enough to buy it, also. When I'm writing and can't think what a character would be doing to express a particular emotion, this is my go-to resource. And now the new version gives me even more choices, as well as more tips on how to write effective emotion. Yay!
What comparisons was Paul really making when he talked about the whole armor of God? Well, he was most familiar with Roman armor, and an analysis of it leads to fascinating insights. This book combines history, weaponry, and scripture into recommendations for the purpose of a righteous life. I zipped through the text and enjoyed the photos. A fascinating blend of history and scripture, altogether enjoyable and educational.
Real pirates are nasty people, so this is obviously a work of fiction, but it's a fun one. The princess is flighty and mischievous, but she has a brain and a kind heart. The pirate is strong and brave. The characters are likable and fun to read. The plot concentrates more on the light-hearted elements and less on the villain, but the only plot holes I found were minor enough to ignore in favor of the excellent writing.
