I’ve seen some other reviews that call the writing juvenile, fanfiction-esk, and a pointless retelling. Oddly enough, while I don’t agree wholeheartedly, those observations are part of why I enjoy the story.

I don’t consider this really “juvenile”, but youthful. It feels fresh, making the FL feel young and inexperienced with the world. But that’s literally what she was. She’s in her 20s, just because she’s an adult doesn’t mean she can’t be youthful. She’s never left her hometown, has 0 confidence in herself, is very lonely, and that suits the writing style well. Do I wish she was a little more bold in places? Yeah. This Rose needs to “blossom” in a sense, but I believe we’ll get more of that in later books. It’s the first book for a reason, all of her growing isn’t done yet.

I LOVE fanfiction. Fanfiction is a fabulous medium that allows people to explore stories and characters they are comfortable with in new ways. This book does feel a bit like fanfiction but I don’t think that’s a bad thing, it’s something I know plenty of people enjoy and shouldn’t be considered immediate criticism. Disregarding the work fanfiction writers do is reductionist, and slapping that label on this book as a form of criticism is reductionist as well. It draws from familiar stories and elements in a good way, in a way that makes it a comforting read.

Criticizing this for being a pointless retelling is so lazy… ITS A RETELLING! It literally says it’s a retelling in the synopsis, so if you’re bothered by it then that’s your own fault. It’s telling the story in a new and exciting way and uses the original stories as simply guides, not an absolute blueprint. It has mature elements, lots of secrets, new characters, and new magic systems and worlds that expand upon the original tale very well. Don’t like retellings? Maybe don’t read them.

Alright, rant over. I’m glad to have found this, I truly enjoyed it.