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The Grimm Diaries Prequels #7-10
The Grimm Diaries Prequels 7- 10
contains the following prequels:
7) Once Beauty Twice Beast narrated by Beauty,
8) Moon & Madly narrated by Moongirl
9) Rumpelstein narrated by Rumpelstiltskin
10)Jawigi narrated by Sandman Grimm
What if all you knew about fairy tales was wrong?
Warning: these Grimm Prequels are like snap shots of a magical land you're about to visit soon. I like to think of them as poisoned apples. Once you taste them, you will never see fairy tales in the same light again.
This Grimm Diaries Prequels are a number of short books in the form of epistolary diary entries. The diaries are more of teasers for the upcoming series: The Grimm Diaries, allowing you to get a glimpse of what to expect of the series. The 6 diaries are told by The Evil Queen, Peter Pan, Little Red Riding Hood, the Devil, Prince Charming, and Alice Grimm
The first book in the Series will be out in February 2013, called SNOW WHITE SORROW.
Series Description:
The Grimm Diaries are pages written in a Book of Sand, where each fairy tale character confessed the true stories once altered by the Brothers Grimm two centuries ago. To keep the truth about fairy tales hidden, the Brothers Grimm buried the characters in their dreams to never wake up again. But the curse was broken and they allowed to wake up every one hundred years.
7) Once Beauty Twice Beast narrated by Beauty,
8) Moon & Madly narrated by Moongirl
9) Rumpelstein narrated by Rumpelstiltskin
10)Jawigi narrated by Sandman Grimm
What if all you knew about fairy tales was wrong?
Warning: these Grimm Prequels are like snap shots of a magical land you're about to visit soon. I like to think of them as poisoned apples. Once you taste them, you will never see fairy tales in the same light again.
This Grimm Diaries Prequels are a number of short books in the form of epistolary diary entries. The diaries are more of teasers for the upcoming series: The Grimm Diaries, allowing you to get a glimpse of what to expect of the series. The 6 diaries are told by The Evil Queen, Peter Pan, Little Red Riding Hood, the Devil, Prince Charming, and Alice Grimm
The first book in the Series will be out in February 2013, called SNOW WHITE SORROW.
Series Description:
The Grimm Diaries are pages written in a Book of Sand, where each fairy tale character confessed the true stories once altered by the Brothers Grimm two centuries ago. To keep the truth about fairy tales hidden, the Brothers Grimm buried the characters in their dreams to never wake up again. But the curse was broken and they allowed to wake up every one hundred years.
133 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2013
104 people are currently reading
1238 people want to read
About the author
Cameron Jace
93 books2,046 followersBestselling author of the Grimm Diaries and Insanity series. A traveller and collector of out-of-print books from all over the world, obsessed with the origins of folk tales and the mysterious storytellers who spread them. Many of his books made Amazon's Top 100 Customer Favorites in Kindle 2015 & Amazon's Top 100 kindle list. Cameron lives in Yerba Buena San Francisco California. When he isn't writing or collecting books, he is playing music or enjoys the silence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
November 11, 2015
I’ve always wondered why people believe the things they are told, or read. If you start your tale with a phrase like: “Once upon a time…” they expect a “Happily Ever After” ending. If you start with: “It was dark and stormy night…” they begin looking for a monster under the bed. It’s as if we are all expected to be predictable, molded after the way other people want to see us; as if their prejudicial eyes are the definite truth that shapes each tale, while our side of the story is only lies.
Come to think of it, every tale we’ve ever been told was some form of a lie, even the true ones. It’s part of our human nature. We love lies, we cherish them. And even worse, we retell them. Only under one condition: the lies have to be beautiful, enchanting, and entertaining. Our heroes in the tales are sent deep down to the pits of hell, only to resurface again – and inevitably kiss the one who holds the key to true love.
*If you want to see how I rated each installment, check out my status updates... the last one 'Jawigi' I would say 3.5 stars*
---
This wasn't as good as the first installments... don't get me wrong, they weren't horrible... just not as engaging as the first ones. They did have their moments and I liked learning more about each character and seeing the connections between everyone.
There were bits where my eyes glazed over and I had to re-read a few spots before continuing on. A couple parts didn't feel forced exactly but didn't quite flow right either.
The last one had the most intriguing part but the 'twist' felt anti-climatic to me... perhaps it'll be more in the full books *shrugs* It was clever, I'll give it that.
All in all, would recommend.... not the best not the worst but I had fun.
Come to think of it, every tale we’ve ever been told was some form of a lie, even the true ones. It’s part of our human nature. We love lies, we cherish them. And even worse, we retell them. Only under one condition: the lies have to be beautiful, enchanting, and entertaining. Our heroes in the tales are sent deep down to the pits of hell, only to resurface again – and inevitably kiss the one who holds the key to true love.
*If you want to see how I rated each installment, check out my status updates... the last one 'Jawigi' I would say 3.5 stars*
---
This wasn't as good as the first installments... don't get me wrong, they weren't horrible... just not as engaging as the first ones. They did have their moments and I liked learning more about each character and seeing the connections between everyone.
There were bits where my eyes glazed over and I had to re-read a few spots before continuing on. A couple parts didn't feel forced exactly but didn't quite flow right either.
The last one had the most intriguing part but the 'twist' felt anti-climatic to me... perhaps it'll be more in the full books *shrugs* It was clever, I'll give it that.
All in all, would recommend.... not the best not the worst but I had fun.
May 1, 2021
#50 of 2021
#7 Once Beauty Twice Beast 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#8 Moon and Madly 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#9 Rumpelstein 🌟🌟🌟
#10 Jawigi 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#7 Once Beauty Twice Beast 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#8 Moon and Madly 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#9 Rumpelstein 🌟🌟🌟
#10 Jawigi 🌟🌟🌟🌟
February 23, 2024
Rated
5 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kindle Unlimited Read
5 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kindle Unlimited Read
January 25, 2013
The Grimm Diaries Prequels 7 - 10 are teaser novellas for the upcoming Grimm Diaries Series. Once again Cameron Jace doesn’t disappoint with the prequels. They are imaginatively flawless. Each story givens you details and clues missing from other prequel entries. For me it makes for a richer reading experience. Even if you don’t think you can believe the narrator’s story there are still nuggets of truth in them. The best lie is a fabrication of falsehoods wrapped around a truth.
Once Beauty, Twice Beast is the seventh Grimm Diaries prequel. “As told by Beauty (sometimes known as Beast)” this one line, introducing the author of this diary entry and I knew I was going to love this tale. Is Beauty some hybrid Jekyll/Hyde character? If so, this would be a most interesting turn of events. What follows is an unexpected tale that changed the way I see Beauty and the Beast. All of my knowledge on the tale comes from the Disney animated movie, which is definitely G rated.
In this tale which can be considered a prequel to the known Beauty and the Beast tale, the Beast comes across much more villainous. The Beauty is less virtuous; even in both versions of each. These changes left me much more interested in the tale of Beauty and the Beast. You’ll never catch Disney telling this tale.
Moon & Madly is the eighth Grimm Diaries prequel. It’s narrated by the Moongirl. This is such a sweet love story and it answers one of the questions that I had from a previous prequel. Of all the tales written by Cameron Jace, I think this one can definitely be lauded as a fairy tale to be read to children. It hits on all the major themes of known fairy tales. It will make children want to believe in true love and that good conquers evil.
Rumpelstein is the ninth Grimm Diaries prequel and its told by Rumpelstiltskin. To say I’m ignorant to the Rumpelstilskin told would be an understatement. I didn’t know enough to discern what part of the tale is the author’s creative license on the tale.
Yet this one was a twist creative amalgamation like one of those knurled vines growing around a tree. You’re constantly chop it and it still keeps coming. This story is very strange although its one character telling the diary it comes across as two different one: the cowardly Rumpelstiltskin and revengeful Rumpelstein.
The highlight for me is the reveal of Rumpelstein’s creator. It really has me questioning the validity of the entire diary. Can the information given to Rumpelstein be truthful? Is the name he told us truthful, because even the very beginning he told us his real name isn’t Rumpelstiltskin. Personally I’m leaning toward this being filled with more lies than truth.
Jawigi is the tenth Grimm Diaries prequel. Sandman Grimm is the narrator of this one. Although I love Moon & Madly I think this one is my favorite because it shows just how warped the Queen of Sorrow can be. The entire story is about showing how sympathetic a character the Queen of Sorrow is. When reading this one pay close attention to the details, it’s where the devil lives. Because after it’s said and done only you really can’t trust the diaries.
IF you liked The Grimm Diaries Prequels 7 – 10 you should purchase and read The Grimm Diaries Prequels 1 – 6
Once Beauty, Twice Beast is the seventh Grimm Diaries prequel. “As told by Beauty (sometimes known as Beast)” this one line, introducing the author of this diary entry and I knew I was going to love this tale. Is Beauty some hybrid Jekyll/Hyde character? If so, this would be a most interesting turn of events. What follows is an unexpected tale that changed the way I see Beauty and the Beast. All of my knowledge on the tale comes from the Disney animated movie, which is definitely G rated.
In this tale which can be considered a prequel to the known Beauty and the Beast tale, the Beast comes across much more villainous. The Beauty is less virtuous; even in both versions of each. These changes left me much more interested in the tale of Beauty and the Beast. You’ll never catch Disney telling this tale.
Moon & Madly is the eighth Grimm Diaries prequel. It’s narrated by the Moongirl. This is such a sweet love story and it answers one of the questions that I had from a previous prequel. Of all the tales written by Cameron Jace, I think this one can definitely be lauded as a fairy tale to be read to children. It hits on all the major themes of known fairy tales. It will make children want to believe in true love and that good conquers evil.
Rumpelstein is the ninth Grimm Diaries prequel and its told by Rumpelstiltskin. To say I’m ignorant to the Rumpelstilskin told would be an understatement. I didn’t know enough to discern what part of the tale is the author’s creative license on the tale.
Yet this one was a twist creative amalgamation like one of those knurled vines growing around a tree. You’re constantly chop it and it still keeps coming. This story is very strange although its one character telling the diary it comes across as two different one: the cowardly Rumpelstiltskin and revengeful Rumpelstein.
The highlight for me is the reveal of Rumpelstein’s creator. It really has me questioning the validity of the entire diary. Can the information given to Rumpelstein be truthful? Is the name he told us truthful, because even the very beginning he told us his real name isn’t Rumpelstiltskin. Personally I’m leaning toward this being filled with more lies than truth.
Jawigi is the tenth Grimm Diaries prequel. Sandman Grimm is the narrator of this one. Although I love Moon & Madly I think this one is my favorite because it shows just how warped the Queen of Sorrow can be. The entire story is about showing how sympathetic a character the Queen of Sorrow is. When reading this one pay close attention to the details, it’s where the devil lives. Because after it’s said and done only you really can’t trust the diaries.
IF you liked The Grimm Diaries Prequels 7 – 10 you should purchase and read The Grimm Diaries Prequels 1 – 6
September 30, 2015
{once beauty twice beast} - “Things must be loved before they are lovely.”
{my thoughts} - This book is about {beauty} and the {beast}. I am surprised at the way this diary is written and the content within. It’s shares some of the common elements of the famous fairy-tale but in the end it’s a completely different masterpiece. There is mention of trickery, curses, spells, deceit, and love. I am looking forward to beginning the next book.
{moon & madly} - “I was the moon. I was your light in your darkest night. I showed you the way, and I kept you company while your were riding on your own.”
{my thoughts} - This is by far one of my favorite prequels. I was hooked on it from the beginning. I love the concept of the Moon being someone so incredibly important and Jack I don’t even know what to say about his arrogance. But it is nice to see a different softer, warmer side of him. This book like the others was amazing!
{rumpelstein} - This book is about {rumpelstiltskin} who later becomes named as {rumpelstein}. He is a good guy with a good heart that quests for nothing but the best for his family. In the end the {queen of sorrow} takes his family from him and he has to quest to find them. He has to decide whether he is good or evil while all along within himself he believes he is still good. I wonderful read with a surprise ending.
{jawigi} - “Once upon a time, fairy tales were goddamn dark and twisted, and that was when they were so awesome.”
{my thoughts} - This book is about the {sandman}, {queen of sorrow}, and {snow white}. I can’t believe that {cameron jace} did it again. He left me in awe. This book is full of fast paced interesting facts leading the story line further. I truly enjoyed it and look forward to the next two prequels and the actual soon to be released book. By the way more surprises!
{reason for reading} - I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
{my thoughts} - This book is about {beauty} and the {beast}. I am surprised at the way this diary is written and the content within. It’s shares some of the common elements of the famous fairy-tale but in the end it’s a completely different masterpiece. There is mention of trickery, curses, spells, deceit, and love. I am looking forward to beginning the next book.
{moon & madly} - “I was the moon. I was your light in your darkest night. I showed you the way, and I kept you company while your were riding on your own.”
{my thoughts} - This is by far one of my favorite prequels. I was hooked on it from the beginning. I love the concept of the Moon being someone so incredibly important and Jack I don’t even know what to say about his arrogance. But it is nice to see a different softer, warmer side of him. This book like the others was amazing!
{rumpelstein} - This book is about {rumpelstiltskin} who later becomes named as {rumpelstein}. He is a good guy with a good heart that quests for nothing but the best for his family. In the end the {queen of sorrow} takes his family from him and he has to quest to find them. He has to decide whether he is good or evil while all along within himself he believes he is still good. I wonderful read with a surprise ending.
{jawigi} - “Once upon a time, fairy tales were goddamn dark and twisted, and that was when they were so awesome.”
{my thoughts} - This book is about the {sandman}, {queen of sorrow}, and {snow white}. I can’t believe that {cameron jace} did it again. He left me in awe. This book is full of fast paced interesting facts leading the story line further. I truly enjoyed it and look forward to the next two prequels and the actual soon to be released book. By the way more surprises!
{reason for reading} - I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
January 1, 2015
If there is one author who has established himself/herself many cult followers, Cameron Jace is that one author. It's a shame that he started off on the wrong foot (the plagiarism allegations, grammatical & spelling errors controversies), otherwise I truly believe he would reach the ultimate indie best-selling author status like Colleen Hoover by now. But the blessing in disguise is that I got to learn how determined and brilliant Cameron really is (because yes, I like controversies. And fairy tales).
And when I said brilliant, I had no idea how complicated the series would get. And I'm not even half into the series yet.
You, sir, had me converted into one of your cult members. LEAD THE WAY!
Mind you that Cameron's books are wild and bold. So they probably not for everyone. I can totally understand why they aren't popular with the top reviewers on GR.
1. Once Beauty Twice Beast: 5-stars
Probably the best prequel so far.
2. Moon & Madly: 3-stars
Jack (as always) got on my nerve too many times. Moongirl is too naive to be likeable.
3. Rumpelstein: 2-stars
BO-RING!
4. Jawigi - 4-stars
That was intense! And that ending! That freaking ending!
So overall a solid 3.5-stars read!
And when I said brilliant, I had no idea how complicated the series would get. And I'm not even half into the series yet.
You, sir, had me converted into one of your cult members. LEAD THE WAY!
Mind you that Cameron's books are wild and bold. So they probably not for everyone. I can totally understand why they aren't popular with the top reviewers on GR.
1. Once Beauty Twice Beast: 5-stars
Probably the best prequel so far.
2. Moon & Madly: 3-stars
Jack (as always) got on my nerve too many times. Moongirl is too naive to be likeable.
3. Rumpelstein: 2-stars
BO-RING!
4. Jawigi - 4-stars
That was intense! And that ending! That freaking ending!
So overall a solid 3.5-stars read!
January 28, 2013
Finished Once Beauty Twice Beast last night and I'm impressed. I couldn't stop reading trying to see where this was going. And i love all the references to literature and fairy tales. Having read the other three i was completely impressed. Moon and Madly was my least favorite, but i can see where it is important with introducing characters. Overall this is a wonderful series, full of characters that are not black and white, but varying shades of gray
April 14, 2013
I finished the prequels today and must say I'm thoroughly sad. Sad that it's over. I have loved reading fairy tales since I was little. I have to say that Cameron Jace has reawakened the fairy tale lover in me. The stories, while great on their own, are intertwined in such creative ways, which is part of why I like this series so much. I appreciate the history of these characters and how their world's cross with one another. I look forward to reading more from this author and this series.
January 30, 2013
Bu prequels'e gönül rahatlığı ile 5 yıldız veriyorum, gerçekten harika ve şaşırtıcı idi, her bir karakteri ayrı ayrı sevdim. Masalları farklı açıdan anlatan pek çok kitap var ama bu serinin farklı olacağını düşünüyorum.
February 14, 2013
I like the stories of this book more than the first one. Lots of surprising pages waiting for one Who read it. I really really like the prequels and looking forward to read the main book.
August 2, 2014
Awsome
Awsome
Great book! I have always loved the fairy tales and this gives a different idea about them. I hope you enjoy!
Awsome
Great book! I have always loved the fairy tales and this gives a different idea about them. I hope you enjoy!
July 8, 2015
Intriguing
So cool reading about fairy tales and their "true" stories/meanings. As well as all the hunting of more characters to follow.
So cool reading about fairy tales and their "true" stories/meanings. As well as all the hunting of more characters to follow.
July 27, 2015
4/4 Done
Overall this is really good. I am enjoying reading all the prequels. I really love the once beauty, twice beast and also moon and madly.
Overall this is really good. I am enjoying reading all the prequels. I really love the once beauty, twice beast and also moon and madly.
January 6, 2018
The prequels!
These prequels of the snow white book are great, they really keep you guessing and interested in knowing more. I think the #10 prequel is my favorite so far. It was nice to read about the queen and what she went through to bring Snow white into the world! Can't wait to continue my reading of the prequels and the actual book!!
These prequels of the snow white book are great, they really keep you guessing and interested in knowing more. I think the #10 prequel is my favorite so far. It was nice to read about the queen and what she went through to bring Snow white into the world! Can't wait to continue my reading of the prequels and the actual book!!
April 7, 2018
Favorite: #8 Moon and madly.
Least favorite: #9 rumpelstein.
This set is probably my favorite out of the three first sets I have read.
I have not honestly read many stories about the girl in the moon or the moon in general so the story about Moon and Madly was interesting and a new experience for me. I loved how their relationship built and then that ending. I found it to be super cute.
I really try my best to not go into stories about rumpelstikin not liking but I never find them to be as good as others. I also think the whole idea of how he came back was a little too much of a stretch.
I think my favorite character throughout the first 10 prequels is still Ladle Rat and I enjoyed seeing her pop up in these sequels at times.
This set of stories seemed to be a little more vague and confusing at times (esp. #7 but he does make the note in the first one that he knew it was more vague in nature.)
Least favorite: #9 rumpelstein.
This set is probably my favorite out of the three first sets I have read.
I have not honestly read many stories about the girl in the moon or the moon in general so the story about Moon and Madly was interesting and a new experience for me. I loved how their relationship built and then that ending. I found it to be super cute.
I really try my best to not go into stories about rumpelstikin not liking but I never find them to be as good as others. I also think the whole idea of how he came back was a little too much of a stretch.
I think my favorite character throughout the first 10 prequels is still Ladle Rat and I enjoyed seeing her pop up in these sequels at times.
This set of stories seemed to be a little more vague and confusing at times (esp. #7 but he does make the note in the first one that he knew it was more vague in nature.)
September 14, 2017
Fun and confusing...and more fun.
These prequels have been very intriguing .... a bit disturbing .... but a fun read. I enjoyed this set of prequels, thus far, the most. Moon & Madly was my personal favorite.
These prequels have been very intriguing .... a bit disturbing .... but a fun read. I enjoyed this set of prequels, thus far, the most. Moon & Madly was my personal favorite.
April 23, 2019
Seriously I'd like to read the original versions of each of these "fairy tales". How much have they changed? How much of them are truth? And to my guess, they were changed to hide the truth as the history of this country has shown us.
July 30, 2019
Love the retells of these beloved fairytales.
March 28, 2021
Twisted
Twisted I like it! Very dark and different than your typical fairytales! Having a hard time keeping it straight! And who is evil!!!!
Twisted I like it! Very dark and different than your typical fairytales! Having a hard time keeping it straight! And who is evil!!!!
September 1, 2015
Reviews:
Once Beauty Twice Beast: Going into this story I was fairly nervous, since Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale the author had only really "wowed" me once in the six previous prequels. Once I started the story it definitely threw me off, which is a good thing here, and while the actual story begins kind of slowly it picks up toward the end. The narrator, Beauty is a very relateable character, their reaction to the Beast and subsequent interactions with it felt like choices I would have made had I been put in the same situation. The romance of this story is fairly light, which I wasn't expecting, but did enjoy. The ending however, blew my mind, In a way it gives a new meaning to these stories being called prequels.
Rating:
5 stars
I'm so relieved with how this story turned out and I loved the author's spin on my favorite tale. I hope to revisit these characters soon, if not in this series than in the main one.
Moon and Madly: I had no idea what to expect going into this story, this is probably the first one of these prequels where the fairy-tale it's based on isn't instantly apparent. However, after just a little bit of set-up it's easy to lose yourself in. In this story the Moon leaves her space way up high to check out the Black Forest and along way way encounters Jack (of Beanstalk fame). I loved the character of Moongirl, she's curious and adventurous, even if that does sometimes put her in harm's way. Jack reminded me, maybe a little too much like Jack of the Tales from the Fables comics. He's cocky, an obvious womanizer, and as revealed by this story appears to be a Jack from more than one tale. There was a nice bit of foreshadowing for either the main series or future prequels. The ending ends on a bit of cliffhanger so I hope to see these characters again soon!
Rating:
4.5 stars
On the whole I really liked this tale, but I felt like it didn't fully reach it's full potential. This is still one of my favorite prequels so far though.
Rumpelstein: This was a particularly interesting tale. Actually, it turns out to be a twist on many different tales, and not all of them are what we classically think of as fairy-tales. Okay, so we start of with Rumpelstiltskin who talks multiple times about his "maker," creepy right, and says he will name his maker when the tale is finished. The story that follows is interesting enough there were a great many tie backs to this magnificent web of tales that Jace is creating. I have to say I was surprised by a great many things in this book, for the most part though many of the reasons I was shocked were because it had been so long since I read the previous set of prequels that I forgot smaller details. The ending was the biggest shocker of all. For about the first half or so of this story I had an idea of who the "maker" was, even after I changed my hypothesis I was still wrong and am a bit confused of what it all means.
Rating:
4 stars
For the most part I loved this story, it gets a bit weird and the reasoning behind the name becomes more obvious. My biggest disappointment though was the ending, it had this great twist but just before it was some existential stuff that was more confusing than anything and really drug the story down.
Jawigi: Wow, this story is... weird. It stars off with a frame story of sorts. Sandman Grimm meets Jacob Grimm at a bar and asks him questions about the dream world the fairy-tales are all in. I'm not a huge fan of the frame story because I'm still not quite sure how the whole dreamworld stuff works. Later it moves into something much more fairy-tale related and provides an interesting backstory for some major players in this series. There's a big twist at the end which I caught on to hints of, but never really figured it out until I was shocked by the reveal.
Rating:
3.5 stars
This is easily my least favorite of the bunch, but there were definitely some very enjoyable parts. The whole Sandman/Dreamworld thing is still so confusing, like do most of these tales take place there, or are they tales from before the Immortals were put to sleep, If the tales aren't from the Dreamworld, will we ever get some that are? It's things like that which confuse the heck out of me.
Once Beauty Twice Beast: Going into this story I was fairly nervous, since Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale the author had only really "wowed" me once in the six previous prequels. Once I started the story it definitely threw me off, which is a good thing here, and while the actual story begins kind of slowly it picks up toward the end. The narrator, Beauty is a very relateable character, their reaction to the Beast and subsequent interactions with it felt like choices I would have made had I been put in the same situation. The romance of this story is fairly light, which I wasn't expecting, but did enjoy. The ending however, blew my mind, In a way it gives a new meaning to these stories being called prequels.
Rating:
5 stars
I'm so relieved with how this story turned out and I loved the author's spin on my favorite tale. I hope to revisit these characters soon, if not in this series than in the main one.
Moon and Madly: I had no idea what to expect going into this story, this is probably the first one of these prequels where the fairy-tale it's based on isn't instantly apparent. However, after just a little bit of set-up it's easy to lose yourself in. In this story the Moon leaves her space way up high to check out the Black Forest and along way way encounters Jack (of Beanstalk fame). I loved the character of Moongirl, she's curious and adventurous, even if that does sometimes put her in harm's way. Jack reminded me, maybe a little too much like Jack of the Tales from the Fables comics. He's cocky, an obvious womanizer, and as revealed by this story appears to be a Jack from more than one tale. There was a nice bit of foreshadowing for either the main series or future prequels. The ending ends on a bit of cliffhanger so I hope to see these characters again soon!
Rating:
4.5 stars
On the whole I really liked this tale, but I felt like it didn't fully reach it's full potential. This is still one of my favorite prequels so far though.
Rumpelstein: This was a particularly interesting tale. Actually, it turns out to be a twist on many different tales, and not all of them are what we classically think of as fairy-tales. Okay, so we start of with Rumpelstiltskin who talks multiple times about his "maker," creepy right, and says he will name his maker when the tale is finished. The story that follows is interesting enough there were a great many tie backs to this magnificent web of tales that Jace is creating. I have to say I was surprised by a great many things in this book, for the most part though many of the reasons I was shocked were because it had been so long since I read the previous set of prequels that I forgot smaller details. The ending was the biggest shocker of all. For about the first half or so of this story I had an idea of who the "maker" was, even after I changed my hypothesis I was still wrong and am a bit confused of what it all means.
Rating:
4 stars
For the most part I loved this story, it gets a bit weird and the reasoning behind the name becomes more obvious. My biggest disappointment though was the ending, it had this great twist but just before it was some existential stuff that was more confusing than anything and really drug the story down.
Jawigi: Wow, this story is... weird. It stars off with a frame story of sorts. Sandman Grimm meets Jacob Grimm at a bar and asks him questions about the dream world the fairy-tales are all in. I'm not a huge fan of the frame story because I'm still not quite sure how the whole dreamworld stuff works. Later it moves into something much more fairy-tale related and provides an interesting backstory for some major players in this series. There's a big twist at the end which I caught on to hints of, but never really figured it out until I was shocked by the reveal.
Rating:
3.5 stars
This is easily my least favorite of the bunch, but there were definitely some very enjoyable parts. The whole Sandman/Dreamworld thing is still so confusing, like do most of these tales take place there, or are they tales from before the Immortals were put to sleep, If the tales aren't from the Dreamworld, will we ever get some that are? It's things like that which confuse the heck out of me.
August 15, 2014
As I'm currently too lazy to write out another review on the entire set, here are my reviews for each prequel.
Once Beauty Twice Beast:
There is a marked improvement in not only the punctuation and forming of sentences, but also the writing style compared to the last set of novellas. This shows the growth the author has taken and made it easier for me to let the few mistakes throughout slide.
Though several descriptions of things went slightly overboard to me which I found frustrating. I understand that lengthy descriptions can provide depth and a more sensory read but I think that he got carried away and let himself down a bit.
However, the plot completely made up for it. Despite it only being a novella, I did start to get attached to the characters and the emotions they made me feel. It was a great retelling of Beauty and the Beast which I didn't actually know was a Grimm fairytale. A wonderful start to what will hopefully be a great set of novellas. I didn't plan on reading the book these prequels lead up to because I just have so much to read and the first set were average at best but if these continue like this, I may change my mind.
Moon & Madly:
This novella kicked off with a rocky start, the author practically burying the reader in a mother load of clichés but I strived onward. Eventually it got better as the plot progressed and I do think the author is incredibly creative.
There were a handful of hiccups along the way, in particular: “Even though I was immortal, only one thing could kill me.” Does that not negate your immortality or am I missing something here? In addition “What? Crap. We’re in the 18th century for God’s sake” (I literally face palmed.) I'm taking a guess and correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure the word 'crap' was not uttered in the 18th century. The narrative was juvenile at best, and the beginning was not particularly captivating so I hope his other novellas improve on this.
I for one enjoyed the tale of Jack and the beanstalk as a child, and in my studies of English Literature; came across a few references and poetry on the Goblin Market. In particular, I studied and enjoyed the poem that the author claimed inspired him so the plot was intriguing but this novella fell short of my expectations. Don't even get me started on the insta-love!
All in all however, I did quite enjoy this novella and it is one of his better ones particularly in comparison to a few he provided in the first bundle so I shall give it 2.75/3 stars.
Rumpelstein:
This has a very poor start, the narrator was childish and not very articulate, making it difficult to pity him as the author tried to do in the beginning. Although it improved as we got further into the story, on the whole it didn’t change my opinion all that much. My sister who had observed me reading said that maybe it was because we started out in the story when he was a child but then, if this is written as a diary entry, the adult version of Rumpelstein had been writing it and therefore there is no excuse. I did not like this novella all that much. It didn’t flow particularly well and a lot of stuff was happening too quickly or too slowly. The pacing was most definitely off. It just didn’t really make much sense and I think this collection of novella’s would have been better off without it. I hope the next novella is better because if not, I think I might just stop with these prequel novellas altogether.
Jawigi:
This prequel had a very confusing beginning, which didn’t particularly grab my interest although I was quite tired while reading so it’s either that or I found it really boring. It didn’t grab me enough to convince me to re-read it to find out if this was the case so I’ll just leave all that to speculation.
A lot of information is thrown at you in a very short space of time, which resulted in a rather lacklustre introduction. There was also an obvious lack of diversity in terms of vocabulary used, as words are repeated constantly in neighbouring sentences which irritated me. The plot was also slightly messy and this is definitely not one of my favourite of the set. Mediocre at best, the author has written much better prequels but this is also not as bad as some of his worst.
Once Beauty Twice Beast:
There is a marked improvement in not only the punctuation and forming of sentences, but also the writing style compared to the last set of novellas. This shows the growth the author has taken and made it easier for me to let the few mistakes throughout slide.
Though several descriptions of things went slightly overboard to me which I found frustrating. I understand that lengthy descriptions can provide depth and a more sensory read but I think that he got carried away and let himself down a bit.
However, the plot completely made up for it. Despite it only being a novella, I did start to get attached to the characters and the emotions they made me feel. It was a great retelling of Beauty and the Beast which I didn't actually know was a Grimm fairytale. A wonderful start to what will hopefully be a great set of novellas. I didn't plan on reading the book these prequels lead up to because I just have so much to read and the first set were average at best but if these continue like this, I may change my mind.
Moon & Madly:
This novella kicked off with a rocky start, the author practically burying the reader in a mother load of clichés but I strived onward. Eventually it got better as the plot progressed and I do think the author is incredibly creative.
There were a handful of hiccups along the way, in particular: “Even though I was immortal, only one thing could kill me.” Does that not negate your immortality or am I missing something here? In addition “What? Crap. We’re in the 18th century for God’s sake” (I literally face palmed.) I'm taking a guess and correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure the word 'crap' was not uttered in the 18th century. The narrative was juvenile at best, and the beginning was not particularly captivating so I hope his other novellas improve on this.
I for one enjoyed the tale of Jack and the beanstalk as a child, and in my studies of English Literature; came across a few references and poetry on the Goblin Market. In particular, I studied and enjoyed the poem that the author claimed inspired him so the plot was intriguing but this novella fell short of my expectations. Don't even get me started on the insta-love!
All in all however, I did quite enjoy this novella and it is one of his better ones particularly in comparison to a few he provided in the first bundle so I shall give it 2.75/3 stars.
Rumpelstein:
This has a very poor start, the narrator was childish and not very articulate, making it difficult to pity him as the author tried to do in the beginning. Although it improved as we got further into the story, on the whole it didn’t change my opinion all that much. My sister who had observed me reading said that maybe it was because we started out in the story when he was a child but then, if this is written as a diary entry, the adult version of Rumpelstein had been writing it and therefore there is no excuse. I did not like this novella all that much. It didn’t flow particularly well and a lot of stuff was happening too quickly or too slowly. The pacing was most definitely off. It just didn’t really make much sense and I think this collection of novella’s would have been better off without it. I hope the next novella is better because if not, I think I might just stop with these prequel novellas altogether.
Jawigi:
This prequel had a very confusing beginning, which didn’t particularly grab my interest although I was quite tired while reading so it’s either that or I found it really boring. It didn’t grab me enough to convince me to re-read it to find out if this was the case so I’ll just leave all that to speculation.
A lot of information is thrown at you in a very short space of time, which resulted in a rather lacklustre introduction. There was also an obvious lack of diversity in terms of vocabulary used, as words are repeated constantly in neighbouring sentences which irritated me. The plot was also slightly messy and this is definitely not one of my favourite of the set. Mediocre at best, the author has written much better prequels but this is also not as bad as some of his worst.
January 24, 2013
The following are individual reviews of each of the prequels contained in this set:
Once Beauty Twice Beast (4 Stars)
Cameron Jace has proven time and time again how creative his imagination is when it comes to the fairy tales of old. "Once Beauty Twice Beast" is a more complicated edition of all of the tales that I've read so far. This retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story has an added layer on what happens when we willfully ignore the advice of people we do not feel worthy of us..........We end up like them!
I do not want to say too much about the story line because I do not want to spoil it for anyone. However, it is quite clever and very well written. If I had a criticism it would be that this story was worthy of a complete book of its own. There was so much to be told as well as learned and in the end it felt a little rushed to me; but, hopefully we will learn more when the full length books in the series come out!
Give yourself a treat and read a unique take on a classic tale!
Moon and Madly
(3.5 stars) "Moon and Madly" is the second Grimm Diary prequels to feature Jack (of Jack in the Beanstalk). Jack Madly is a thief extraordinaire who likes to steal from goblins. However, don't let his thievery fool you into thinking he is bad person because his stealing is usually to help a damsel in distress. This time Jack meets and rescues the moon. He is unaware of her true identity because she is cloaked in a dark hooked cape. They are attracted to each other but before they can proceed with their relationship one of the characters will undergo a major metamorphosis.
While I enjoyed this tale I was left with the unanswered question, what will happen to the world now that the moon has been reborn? However, I truly enjoyed the author's notes at the end of the tale.
Rumpelstein:
(2 Stars) "Rumpelstein" is an unusual version of Rumpelstiltskin; however in this story Frankenstein also makes sn appearance. Of all of the prequels, this one one was my least favorite. I felt the Frankenstein reference was convoluted and not in keeping with the Grimm fairy tales. Also, the final revelation of who Rumpelstein's maker is was anticlimatic for me.
Jiwigi: (5 stars)
After reading the previous nine prequels in the Grimm Diaries I wanted to know more about the Queen of Sorrow as. well as Snow White. Like many other fans of Cameron Jace's work, I sm anxiously waiting for their story in the first full length book. However, "Jawigi" satisfied dome if my curiosity by providing some details about Snow White's. birth; that is if you can believe the narrator who is the devil in disguise!
Once again Cameron Jace writes a wonderfully rich tale that kept me on the edge of my west in anticipation. If you love the Grimm fairy tales but also like a twist, these prequels are for you and currently they are being offer in a set, books 7-10 for. 99 cents. That's. 25 cent per story!!!!!!! Such a deal. Run, do not walk and pick up these stories. You will not regret it!
Once Beauty Twice Beast (4 Stars)
Cameron Jace has proven time and time again how creative his imagination is when it comes to the fairy tales of old. "Once Beauty Twice Beast" is a more complicated edition of all of the tales that I've read so far. This retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story has an added layer on what happens when we willfully ignore the advice of people we do not feel worthy of us..........We end up like them!
I do not want to say too much about the story line because I do not want to spoil it for anyone. However, it is quite clever and very well written. If I had a criticism it would be that this story was worthy of a complete book of its own. There was so much to be told as well as learned and in the end it felt a little rushed to me; but, hopefully we will learn more when the full length books in the series come out!
Give yourself a treat and read a unique take on a classic tale!
Moon and Madly
(3.5 stars) "Moon and Madly" is the second Grimm Diary prequels to feature Jack (of Jack in the Beanstalk). Jack Madly is a thief extraordinaire who likes to steal from goblins. However, don't let his thievery fool you into thinking he is bad person because his stealing is usually to help a damsel in distress. This time Jack meets and rescues the moon. He is unaware of her true identity because she is cloaked in a dark hooked cape. They are attracted to each other but before they can proceed with their relationship one of the characters will undergo a major metamorphosis.
While I enjoyed this tale I was left with the unanswered question, what will happen to the world now that the moon has been reborn? However, I truly enjoyed the author's notes at the end of the tale.
Rumpelstein:
(2 Stars) "Rumpelstein" is an unusual version of Rumpelstiltskin; however in this story Frankenstein also makes sn appearance. Of all of the prequels, this one one was my least favorite. I felt the Frankenstein reference was convoluted and not in keeping with the Grimm fairy tales. Also, the final revelation of who Rumpelstein's maker is was anticlimatic for me.
Jiwigi: (5 stars)
After reading the previous nine prequels in the Grimm Diaries I wanted to know more about the Queen of Sorrow as. well as Snow White. Like many other fans of Cameron Jace's work, I sm anxiously waiting for their story in the first full length book. However, "Jawigi" satisfied dome if my curiosity by providing some details about Snow White's. birth; that is if you can believe the narrator who is the devil in disguise!
Once again Cameron Jace writes a wonderfully rich tale that kept me on the edge of my west in anticipation. If you love the Grimm fairy tales but also like a twist, these prequels are for you and currently they are being offer in a set, books 7-10 for. 99 cents. That's. 25 cent per story!!!!!!! Such a deal. Run, do not walk and pick up these stories. You will not regret it!
November 29, 2015
Review will also appear on my blog Pages Full of Stars.
Overall rating: 2.5/6
Once Beauty Twice Beast
I have very mixed feelings about Once Beauty Twice Beast. I like how different it is from the original tale but there was also a lot of moments when it irritated me. One thing that bothered me in particular was the continuous talk and emphasizing of beauty and how beautiful people are "better". That’s the one thing that keeps on coming up in these stories and is very conspicuous. It wouldn’t bother me so much if I saw a big change in the main character’s thinking by the end of the story, but I didn’t feel like he learned that much.
Moon & Madly
Moon and Madly has got to be one of my favourite stories among The Grimm Diaries Prequels by Cameron Jace. It’s as creative as his other books and I really love the "interpretation" of the moon. Jack the Beanstalk, whom we meet again was much better to read about and much less irritating than in Blood Apples. In general, I felt that the writing was better in this one and the story flew more smoothly. The twist at the end wasn’t predictable and I like it how more pieces of the puzzle has been falling into place :)
Rumpelstein
As always, I’ve got to give Cameron Jace a plus for creativity but I thought that there was too much of everything in this installment. I really liked Rapunzel’s story but the reference to Frankenstein, although interesting, felt really out of place and I think the book would’ve been good without it. In addition, I also couldn’t empathise with Rumpelstiltskin, because his narration was rather stiff and I found his tranformation quite unbelievable.
Jawigi
Sadly, this is my least favourite story from this set of prequels. The only thing that I truly liked was the surprise at the end. Even though it gave us a bit of backstory on the Queen of Sorrow and Snow White, it didn’t really pique my interest. I guess that I’m just not particularly fond of this character’s voice and their diary entries. Still, I'm determined to give a chance and look forward to the other books in the series.
Overall rating: 2.5/6
Once Beauty Twice Beast
I have very mixed feelings about Once Beauty Twice Beast. I like how different it is from the original tale but there was also a lot of moments when it irritated me. One thing that bothered me in particular was the continuous talk and emphasizing of beauty and how beautiful people are "better". That’s the one thing that keeps on coming up in these stories and is very conspicuous. It wouldn’t bother me so much if I saw a big change in the main character’s thinking by the end of the story, but I didn’t feel like he learned that much.
Moon & Madly
Moon and Madly has got to be one of my favourite stories among The Grimm Diaries Prequels by Cameron Jace. It’s as creative as his other books and I really love the "interpretation" of the moon. Jack the Beanstalk, whom we meet again was much better to read about and much less irritating than in Blood Apples. In general, I felt that the writing was better in this one and the story flew more smoothly. The twist at the end wasn’t predictable and I like it how more pieces of the puzzle has been falling into place :)
Rumpelstein
As always, I’ve got to give Cameron Jace a plus for creativity but I thought that there was too much of everything in this installment. I really liked Rapunzel’s story but the reference to Frankenstein, although interesting, felt really out of place and I think the book would’ve been good without it. In addition, I also couldn’t empathise with Rumpelstiltskin, because his narration was rather stiff and I found his tranformation quite unbelievable.
Jawigi
Sadly, this is my least favourite story from this set of prequels. The only thing that I truly liked was the surprise at the end. Even though it gave us a bit of backstory on the Queen of Sorrow and Snow White, it didn’t really pique my interest. I guess that I’m just not particularly fond of this character’s voice and their diary entries. Still, I'm determined to give a chance and look forward to the other books in the series.
November 26, 2015
4.5 Stars
My knowledge on every fairy tail I ever known is now twisted and revived.
Once Beauty Twice Beast
That was quite a take on my most favourite fair tail. And in a weird way it almost makes more since then the original. I loved the darkness, twisted, and turns. I enjoyed the input of the one person or evil that seems to be the one twisting, no pulling the strings, behind the scenes. So the question is, is any of theses so called fairy tail villain's really evil? I'm at a crossroads, there's no straight answer, just lots and lots of grey.
Moon & Madly
This story really got me in the girl feels. Though it is sweeter then the rest of the shorts by a miles, it still has that dark undertone, telling you it isn't going to end well. And it didn't, well not in the conventional way. It was a better-sweet ending, where I wasn't happy or sad, frustrate more like it. Oh the girl feels! Want I liked the most was Cameron's take on the moon, and how the moon was actually a girl, not a god, but a girl who could leave the night sky and come to earth, and in doing so, leaving that night sky empty, dark, no moon.
Rumpelstein
What a different take on two different tails sewed together. So many elements mix together and so many new things, dark things. Though, I have to say this wasn't my favourite of the shorts, I don't know, I just couldn't get into it, like I did the others. But still, it was interesting and daunting.
Jawigi
I love this ending short, it was so different and twisted. The story of how the Queen of Sorrow gave birth to the monstrous Snow White, and how they already knew what she would become, was strangely beautiful, in the motherly love kind of way. The whole story was a deceit, a set up for something more important, then just a mere diary entry, meant for pity. I wasn't expecting the twist until it hit me in the face. Loved it!
All in all I highly recommend this book of shorts! They will twist your mind and make you rethink your favourite fairy tails, and make you wonder, who is the real villains?
Happy Reading
-Emily
My knowledge on every fairy tail I ever known is now twisted and revived.
Once Beauty Twice Beast
That was quite a take on my most favourite fair tail. And in a weird way it almost makes more since then the original. I loved the darkness, twisted, and turns. I enjoyed the input of the one person or evil that seems to be the one twisting, no pulling the strings, behind the scenes. So the question is, is any of theses so called fairy tail villain's really evil? I'm at a crossroads, there's no straight answer, just lots and lots of grey.
Moon & Madly
This story really got me in the girl feels. Though it is sweeter then the rest of the shorts by a miles, it still has that dark undertone, telling you it isn't going to end well. And it didn't, well not in the conventional way. It was a better-sweet ending, where I wasn't happy or sad, frustrate more like it. Oh the girl feels! Want I liked the most was Cameron's take on the moon, and how the moon was actually a girl, not a god, but a girl who could leave the night sky and come to earth, and in doing so, leaving that night sky empty, dark, no moon.
Rumpelstein
What a different take on two different tails sewed together. So many elements mix together and so many new things, dark things. Though, I have to say this wasn't my favourite of the shorts, I don't know, I just couldn't get into it, like I did the others. But still, it was interesting and daunting.
Jawigi
I love this ending short, it was so different and twisted. The story of how the Queen of Sorrow gave birth to the monstrous Snow White, and how they already knew what she would become, was strangely beautiful, in the motherly love kind of way. The whole story was a deceit, a set up for something more important, then just a mere diary entry, meant for pity. I wasn't expecting the twist until it hit me in the face. Loved it!
All in all I highly recommend this book of shorts! They will twist your mind and make you rethink your favourite fairy tails, and make you wonder, who is the real villains?
Happy Reading
-Emily
January 24, 2013
As you know, I LOVE fairytales – especially the old ones by the brother Grimm, H.C. Andersen, the old tales of Thor, Odin – well, I could go on. I grew up in Denmark and Sweden and we have so much folklore, fairytales and old history it’s a delight.
I’ve always wondered what happened before or after the story is told. What happens in between the pages we don’t know about? Apparently I’m not the only one who’s been wondering, so have Cameron Jace too, and I’m happy he chose to put it on paper and share his tales with us.
Prequels 7-10 give a little more insight, a little deeper look into the fairytale-world, but it doesn’t necessarily shows us the Truth. Because, honestly, who knows which one of the characters tells the truth, and who is lying?
We get to see more of Jack and who his little girlfriend (the mermaid Marmelade) are, we met Rumpelstiltskin (or Rumleskaft as he’s called in Danish) – one of my favorite characters I might add in the old tales, the Sandman, and of course my favorite Queen – the Queen of Sorrow.
Cameron jumps a bit back and forth in history in his tales which makes sure you’re kept a bit on your toes so you get who is whom and most importantly – why. There were twists in these prequels I didn’t see coming, but loved just as much as the ones I did see (and knew). Not to mention, he gives the story of the Beauty and the Beast a whole new point, which I always love.(Because in truth… Who is really the Beast and who is the Beauty?) And who knew there was a girl in the moon?
If you liked the previous 6 prequels, you’re going to love these as well. And this has definitely just made me more anxious to read the first book in the Grimm Diaries; Snow White Sorrow. Can’t wait!!
By the way… I am currently on some kind of fairytale-trip. I’ve just read these wonderful prequels, I’m watching the first season of Once Upon a Time on TV and I’m reading Brother Grimm’s stories for my eldest son (who loves them)… Sooo, you can say I’m knee-deep into fairytales right now :-)
I’ve always wondered what happened before or after the story is told. What happens in between the pages we don’t know about? Apparently I’m not the only one who’s been wondering, so have Cameron Jace too, and I’m happy he chose to put it on paper and share his tales with us.
Prequels 7-10 give a little more insight, a little deeper look into the fairytale-world, but it doesn’t necessarily shows us the Truth. Because, honestly, who knows which one of the characters tells the truth, and who is lying?
We get to see more of Jack and who his little girlfriend (the mermaid Marmelade) are, we met Rumpelstiltskin (or Rumleskaft as he’s called in Danish) – one of my favorite characters I might add in the old tales, the Sandman, and of course my favorite Queen – the Queen of Sorrow.
Cameron jumps a bit back and forth in history in his tales which makes sure you’re kept a bit on your toes so you get who is whom and most importantly – why. There were twists in these prequels I didn’t see coming, but loved just as much as the ones I did see (and knew). Not to mention, he gives the story of the Beauty and the Beast a whole new point, which I always love.(Because in truth… Who is really the Beast and who is the Beauty?) And who knew there was a girl in the moon?
If you liked the previous 6 prequels, you’re going to love these as well. And this has definitely just made me more anxious to read the first book in the Grimm Diaries; Snow White Sorrow. Can’t wait!!
By the way… I am currently on some kind of fairytale-trip. I’ve just read these wonderful prequels, I’m watching the first season of Once Upon a Time on TV and I’m reading Brother Grimm’s stories for my eldest son (who loves them)… Sooo, you can say I’m knee-deep into fairytales right now :-)
March 4, 2013
'The Grimm Diaries Prequels' are a completely new and ingenious take on fairy tales. It is a set of prequels leading up to 'Snow White Sorrow' (due out soon) to introduce the characters. Rather than review each separately (as they are very much tied altogether), I will review them as a whole.
Character development is in one word: amazing. Many times, it is very much a mystery who is speaking until the end and then it all clicks. For me, that's one thing I loved. It wasn't a confusing mystery, but more of you're getting to know someone that you've know since you were young all over again in a new way. Without finding out who they are until the end, it kills your preconceived notions of what they should be like and let's you immerse yourself completely in this new re-telling of classic characters' stories.
Story development is interesting. Personally, I've never read entire stories modeled as diary entries. I enjoy first person POV narrative though, and this was no exception. Many times throughout the works you get internal dialogue as well as character dialogue. It all progresses the story smoothly and logically while maintaining the aforementioned mystery of just who's story you're following.
The details are what truly make these stories amazing though. As I read all of these prequels, I swear that I could practically see it playing out on a projector in my mind. And, honestly, no matter what I'm reading, that's something that I really strive for. I want to be able to plunge fully into the book and be there, seeing it as it's happening, just for me in my own little world.
I applaud Mr. Jace for an amazing set of prequels and cannot wait for the next set of prequels and 'Snow White Sorrow.'
Character development is in one word: amazing. Many times, it is very much a mystery who is speaking until the end and then it all clicks. For me, that's one thing I loved. It wasn't a confusing mystery, but more of you're getting to know someone that you've know since you were young all over again in a new way. Without finding out who they are until the end, it kills your preconceived notions of what they should be like and let's you immerse yourself completely in this new re-telling of classic characters' stories.
Story development is interesting. Personally, I've never read entire stories modeled as diary entries. I enjoy first person POV narrative though, and this was no exception. Many times throughout the works you get internal dialogue as well as character dialogue. It all progresses the story smoothly and logically while maintaining the aforementioned mystery of just who's story you're following.
The details are what truly make these stories amazing though. As I read all of these prequels, I swear that I could practically see it playing out on a projector in my mind. And, honestly, no matter what I'm reading, that's something that I really strive for. I want to be able to plunge fully into the book and be there, seeing it as it's happening, just for me in my own little world.
I applaud Mr. Jace for an amazing set of prequels and cannot wait for the next set of prequels and 'Snow White Sorrow.'
February 13, 2013
Moon and Madly:
I liked discovering more about Jack and getting some of the background information behind Marmalade. They are fun characters and the interpretation of Jack is very good. I’m not completely familiar with the “normal” telling of Jack and the Beanstalk, but I have a feeling I would like this version better.
Once Beauty Twice Beast:
Beauty and the Beast has never been a favorite of mine, but I LOVE the cyclical story in this book. It kept me guessing throughout the entire prequel and left me wanting more. Cameron Jace is an incredible storyteller. I really felt as if I were in the castle with “Beauty” and “Beast” which is really why I love his books so much. Although still not my absolute favorite prequel (what can I say? I love the Queen of Sorrow too much), it definitely ranks highly.
Rumpelstein:
While I liked the story, it isn't a favorite of mine. I liked that there were many characters who appeared in this story. It was a good way to combine the various characters I've met in the previous prequels and how much I love them all. The introduction of new characters is interesting and I look forward to seeing their stories develop.
Jawigi:
Jawigi is the prequel I have been looking forward to the most of all the new ones, and I was not disappointed! It started off a little slower than the others, but the pace picked up quickly and I had to tell myself to slow down because I was reading so quickly. And the ending! *sigh*
I am getting more and more excited for the full series to come out. Looking forward to the last few prequels and all the mysteries to come!
I liked discovering more about Jack and getting some of the background information behind Marmalade. They are fun characters and the interpretation of Jack is very good. I’m not completely familiar with the “normal” telling of Jack and the Beanstalk, but I have a feeling I would like this version better.
Once Beauty Twice Beast:
Beauty and the Beast has never been a favorite of mine, but I LOVE the cyclical story in this book. It kept me guessing throughout the entire prequel and left me wanting more. Cameron Jace is an incredible storyteller. I really felt as if I were in the castle with “Beauty” and “Beast” which is really why I love his books so much. Although still not my absolute favorite prequel (what can I say? I love the Queen of Sorrow too much), it definitely ranks highly.
Rumpelstein:
While I liked the story, it isn't a favorite of mine. I liked that there were many characters who appeared in this story. It was a good way to combine the various characters I've met in the previous prequels and how much I love them all. The introduction of new characters is interesting and I look forward to seeing their stories develop.
Jawigi:
Jawigi is the prequel I have been looking forward to the most of all the new ones, and I was not disappointed! It started off a little slower than the others, but the pace picked up quickly and I had to tell myself to slow down because I was reading so quickly. And the ending! *sigh*
I am getting more and more excited for the full series to come out. Looking forward to the last few prequels and all the mysteries to come!
April 5, 2013
Man this author is really setting you up for the book that is coming out "hopefully" soon. I just hope the book is not a let down b/c I am dying to know how he is going to tie in ALL the numerous characters he has going on here. I want to know more about Jack, the King of Sorrow, why in Gods name Snow White is so evil even from birth and seriously just how these guys plus dreamhunters are going to play a role. I already bought the next set of prequels but if the book doesnt' come out soon I am not sure how long I will keep buying these little snatches of story. They're good don't get me wrong but it is frustrating to only have 5 or so pages of a story and then sit and try to figure out what is going on and where it will lead. Not to mentioned that the author warns us these characters in this series won't be in the first book other than the Queen. SO WHATS THE POINT... OMG I seriously just want to read the WHOLE book and then maybe go back and re-read these short stories (if they can even be called that) to see how he worked them in or didn't.
Now that the little rant above is over I still give them 4 stars because hey he did a great job at hooking me in obivously since I keep buying these damn prequels. His twists and turns on the fairytales are interesting and I like where i think he is heading. I will say this, he is excellent at hooking the reading and making us pant for more (I just read about the birth of Snow White sorry panting is in the brain) oh and for the record I am dying to know just what the heck is this particular shade of monster?
Now that the little rant above is over I still give them 4 stars because hey he did a great job at hooking me in obivously since I keep buying these damn prequels. His twists and turns on the fairytales are interesting and I like where i think he is heading. I will say this, he is excellent at hooking the reading and making us pant for more (I just read about the birth of Snow White sorry panting is in the brain) oh and for the record I am dying to know just what the heck is this particular shade of monster?
September 25, 2015
Out of this collection, my favorite by far was Once Beauty Twice Beast. I adored the twist of Beauty being a guy and the beast being a girl and loved even the final reveal, twisting the story back in on itself, giving a whole new perspective on the original tale. The Moon & Madly, while good, felt pitched to a young audience (whereas most of the other stories up till now felt like the characters were talking to an older audience). Rumplestein felt very borrowed from the TV show Once Upon a Time. It even used the favorite line by Rumple in the series of “Magic always comes with a price” and the twisting of having the characters who are normally in separate tales suddenly related to each other, just like in the series. And it spends far too long obsessing on Rumplestiltskin’s name. Jawigi felt too overloaded with confusing (and relatively uninteresting) world-building details, though the story of Snow White’s birth was fascinating and thrilling (though felt really oddly placed like the narrator was determined to ram it down our throats even though there was nothing to really lead into it).
I did adore Once Beauty and Moon & Madly was entertaining, though pitched young. I shall always encourage fairy tales with new and dark twists and fans of Once Upon a Time should be sufficiently entertained by this series.
I did adore Once Beauty and Moon & Madly was entertaining, though pitched young. I shall always encourage fairy tales with new and dark twists and fans of Once Upon a Time should be sufficiently entertained by this series.
December 30, 2015
I never know what will happen in these books. You think you know but then there's the twist or a different take on it, that I would've never thought of. Once Beauty Twice Beast was interesting. I kind of forget that these are short little prequels, I keep reading and reading and next thing I notice it's over :(
I really liked Moon & Madly. At first I didn't know what fairy tale I was reading. I've never heard of it, so I just read on and I didn't expect to like it as much, you know why this one is my fave do far, because this story actually has a happy ending. I'm used to that and I want the characters to be happy. So I think this one was cute, and had unexpected things happen. :) but I do like how dark and spooky these books are :) and I've noticed that Jack shows up a lot, not a bad character..... so far :)
Rumpelstein was also a story that I kind of understood the original. The mix stories always leaves you wondering who's who. You want to solve the mysterious and learn the secrets. But the ending did leave me confused. Makes me wonder what happened first in all these stories, what's the order? It goes back and fort so it does get confusing.
And this last one, Jawigi did surprise me. I thought it was someone else. So it's like Duh duh duuuh.... what will happen next, now that evil has all this information.
I really liked Moon & Madly. At first I didn't know what fairy tale I was reading. I've never heard of it, so I just read on and I didn't expect to like it as much, you know why this one is my fave do far, because this story actually has a happy ending. I'm used to that and I want the characters to be happy. So I think this one was cute, and had unexpected things happen. :) but I do like how dark and spooky these books are :) and I've noticed that Jack shows up a lot, not a bad character..... so far :)
Rumpelstein was also a story that I kind of understood the original. The mix stories always leaves you wondering who's who. You want to solve the mysterious and learn the secrets. But the ending did leave me confused. Makes me wonder what happened first in all these stories, what's the order? It goes back and fort so it does get confusing.
And this last one, Jawigi did surprise me. I thought it was someone else. So it's like Duh duh duuuh.... what will happen next, now that evil has all this information.
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