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Once Upon a Twist Tales #3
Diamond: A Rapunzel Story
Diamond leads a quiet life with the woman she calls Mother. There isn’t much to pass the time save for excursions in the forest and one-sided conversations with her pet rabbit, Hobie. Men are cruel beings who care only for themselves and must be avoided at any cost. After all, Diamond’s own father gambled her away once. What other terrible fates might await her if people knew she existed?
Seth Stendahl is an alchemist with a middling proficiency in the Rohesian tongue. After growing up with and surviving six sisters, there shouldn’t be anything too difficult for him to master – except maybe breaking his leg and being locked in the top of a ruined watchtower.
This is Rapunzel with a twist like you’ve never seen it before.
Seth Stendahl is an alchemist with a middling proficiency in the Rohesian tongue. After growing up with and surviving six sisters, there shouldn’t be anything too difficult for him to master – except maybe breaking his leg and being locked in the top of a ruined watchtower.
This is Rapunzel with a twist like you’ve never seen it before.
125 pages, Paperback
Published May 13, 2020
5 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Fichter
11 books83 followersKirsten Fichter is a Christian writer who loves being the wife to her favorite person ever, mommy to four precious blessings, a piano enthusiast, a dragon buff, a serious bookworm, and an INFP synesthete. Fairytales have always fascinated her, and she has made it her goal to rewrite as many as possible and become known as the “Grimm Dickens” (i.e. mixing Grimm fairytales with a Dickens style). She is present in many online circles under the name “Kiri Liz” if you care about things like that. As you read this, she’ll be somewhere under a maple tree – trying very hard to finish the seventeen and half other stories she unwisely started all at once.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 18, 2020
The third book of the Once Upon a Twist Tales series is heeeere!
And if it’s not obvious, I’m a little bit excited. Okay, that was a lie. I AM OVER THE MOON, BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS, SCREAMING FROM THE ROOFTOPS EXCITED.
Diamond is a Rapunzel retelling (*squee*) novella and, as mentioned, the 3rd book of Kirsten Fichter’s One Upon a Twist Tales series.
Each book more or less stands alone, so if you haven’t read the first two yet, you CAN jump into this one. Though this one does connect pretty closely to book #2, Spindle Dreams. If you read that one and are still left dangling off the edge of that explosive cliffhanger of an epilogue NO FEAR. This story answers alllll questions. BUT if you’ve not read the previous two, I think you can still dive into this one without much trouble, as it follows a brand new set of protagonists.
THE RUNDOWN
These books are considered Kingdom Adventure (fantasy with no magic) with a slight steampunk twist. They take place in the cozy kingdom of Rohesia, where roses abound and the endearing royal family do their best to keep the peace.
Diamond hardly knows anything beyond her little cave home and the surrounding forest. Her strict mother assures she stays safe in their secluded hideaway where no one can hurt Diamond—like her father, who gambled away Diamond’s very life. But when Diamond comes across a man unconscious in the forest with a broken leg, she can’t just leave him for dead. Unfortunately, danger has followed this man, and Diamond’s quiet, secluded, safe life takes an upturn as she goes against everything Mother has taught her and tries to help him.
THE CHARACTERS
Endearing characters is this author’s trademark, and AAAAHHHHHH!!! The characters of this one! They may be my favorite set of Once Upon a Twist characters yet. (Although I feel like I say that about all of them. I JUST LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH.)
DIAMOND: The most preciousest of precious cinnamon rolls. Can I just adopt her and love her and hug her forever and ever please and thank you??? I am SOFT for cinnamon rolls. Those gentle, kindhearted, innocent souls steal my heart every. single. time. and it’s always so refreshing to find female protagonists like this. (Like, you can be “strong” while also being soft-spoken and kind. SHOCKER I KNOW.) Diamond has such an admirable, quiet grace about her. No, she doesn’t know much about the world, but that doesn’t mean she’s dumb and useless. In fact, the girl has a hidden spunk to her, and a drive to help those in need. I looooved when she chose to help Seth, even though she knows the risks. Despite her fear and uncertainty and shyness, she still chose to step up and do what she thought was right. And that is the type of protagonist I want to follow. She also had some wonderful growth and became more and more brave as time went on. I just absolutely adored this quiet, kindhearted, courageous woman!
SETH: Oh my gracious goodness, SETH. The man defines “adorkable”. He’s such a DORK. But in the most adorable way ever. First of all, the Rohesian language is not his first language. He stumbles over it quite a bit, and I thought it was so well-written how he kept falling back to his native language and struggled with Rohesian. (Huzzah for books that don’t have everyone magically speaking the exact same language!) Secondly, he’s just so good-natured. He tries to make jokes and lure Diamond into conversation, but she’s so shy and quiet, it just makes things more awkward. BRB DYING FROM CUTENESS OVERLOAD. But, the poor guy, has grown up with six older sisters, so he knows his fair share about how women work. And I loved that. I loved how he tried to figure Diamond out via everything he’s learned growing up with six girls. He’s also a nerd to the highest order, as he’s super into alchemy, which was a ton of fun! He was just so refreshing—good humored and awkward and Trying His Best(TM) but accidentally stumbling into so much trouble. Poor, poor Seth. XD Seriously, I can’t with this man. He was great!
And if you can’t tell, I ADOOOORED these two cinnamon rolls together. Their budding friendship was so innocent and sweet, with so many hilariously awkward moments and a good dash of squee-worthy ones. Diamond has literally talked to no one but her mother, so her trying to befriend someone who struggles to even speak her native tongue was just ALKJSLDJLJF. I LOVED IT SO MUCH.
The other characters were so dynamic too. Diamond’s mother was deliciously ruthless (and those who have read Spindle Dreams should recognize her *smile, smile*). Dalvira was another favorite. She’s basically the total opposite of Diamond, and I LOVED when they worked together. It was so much fun! Annnd there were quite a few cameos of some familiar faces from the previous stories which is always thrilling.
All these characters made me smile so, so much. Can I just shrink them all and keep them in my pocket??? <333
OTHER THINGS TO LOVE
ALCHEMY – Each of these novellas always has a specific steampunkish something to it, and this go round it was alchemy. It was sooo much fun how Seth used his alchemy knowledge to help save the day. Just because he was stuck with a broken leg didn’t mean he couldn’t be useful!
ALL THE RAPUNZEL THIIINGS (without magic) – One thing that’s so clever about these books is that they have zero magic AND YET still manage to always throw in sooo many elements from the fairy tale they’re retelling. This one had like ALL the Rapunzel things but, brilliantly, without using a lick of magic. I especially appreciated how there was an actual REASON Diamond had ridiculously long hair. (It always annoys me when Rapunzel retellings have a girl with long hair just…’cause.) But not only did this have so, so many Rapunzel elements, but they each had such a clever twist. Like the GUY being stuck in the tower! It was a delight finding all the clever Rapunzel references throughout. Definitely one of my favorite bits!
THE GENERAL COZINESS – There’s just always something deliciously cozy about this author’s writing style, and this story was one of the coziest. I loved the setting of Diamond’s little cave home, her gathering food in the forest, Seth’s hideaway in the watchtower—just all of it! It felt so homey and beautiful and sweet. Like, can I live in Rohesia??? It’s such a lovely place!
DID I MENTION THE CHARACTERS??? – I just love them so much, guys. I CAN’T.
CONTENT CAUTIONS
Absolutely nothing??? These books are always so refreshingly clean. The characters had a few injuries, so some blood is mentioned, but nothing was ever over detailed. And there was barely even any romance.
Though these fall under the young adult genre, they’d be great to read to younger siblings as well!
CONCLUSION
I was kind of having a bad day when I first started reading this, and it instantly lightened my mood. It just made me so HAPPY. It’s one of those stories that leaves you smiling and lighthearted after you read it.
As mentioned, though it does connect to the previous books (especially book #2) in some ways, it can be read as a standalone. So if you want to just jump into this one, GO FOR IT. (Though the others are 1000000% worth the read too.)
If you need a good magic-less, cozy, quick, fairy tale read THIS IS IT. With endearing characters, a lovely setting, an intriguing plot, and just so much fun and humor and heart, this novella is sure to bring a smile to your face.
Review originally posted on my blog: https://christinesmithauthor.com/2020/05/book-review-diamond-by-kirsten-fichter/
And if it’s not obvious, I’m a little bit excited. Okay, that was a lie. I AM OVER THE MOON, BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS, SCREAMING FROM THE ROOFTOPS EXCITED.
Diamond is a Rapunzel retelling (*squee*) novella and, as mentioned, the 3rd book of Kirsten Fichter’s One Upon a Twist Tales series.
Each book more or less stands alone, so if you haven’t read the first two yet, you CAN jump into this one. Though this one does connect pretty closely to book #2, Spindle Dreams. If you read that one and are still left dangling off the edge of that explosive cliffhanger of an epilogue NO FEAR. This story answers alllll questions. BUT if you’ve not read the previous two, I think you can still dive into this one without much trouble, as it follows a brand new set of protagonists.
THE RUNDOWN
These books are considered Kingdom Adventure (fantasy with no magic) with a slight steampunk twist. They take place in the cozy kingdom of Rohesia, where roses abound and the endearing royal family do their best to keep the peace.
Diamond hardly knows anything beyond her little cave home and the surrounding forest. Her strict mother assures she stays safe in their secluded hideaway where no one can hurt Diamond—like her father, who gambled away Diamond’s very life. But when Diamond comes across a man unconscious in the forest with a broken leg, she can’t just leave him for dead. Unfortunately, danger has followed this man, and Diamond’s quiet, secluded, safe life takes an upturn as she goes against everything Mother has taught her and tries to help him.
THE CHARACTERS
Endearing characters is this author’s trademark, and AAAAHHHHHH!!! The characters of this one! They may be my favorite set of Once Upon a Twist characters yet. (Although I feel like I say that about all of them. I JUST LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH.)
DIAMOND: The most preciousest of precious cinnamon rolls. Can I just adopt her and love her and hug her forever and ever please and thank you??? I am SOFT for cinnamon rolls. Those gentle, kindhearted, innocent souls steal my heart every. single. time. and it’s always so refreshing to find female protagonists like this. (Like, you can be “strong” while also being soft-spoken and kind. SHOCKER I KNOW.) Diamond has such an admirable, quiet grace about her. No, she doesn’t know much about the world, but that doesn’t mean she’s dumb and useless. In fact, the girl has a hidden spunk to her, and a drive to help those in need. I looooved when she chose to help Seth, even though she knows the risks. Despite her fear and uncertainty and shyness, she still chose to step up and do what she thought was right. And that is the type of protagonist I want to follow. She also had some wonderful growth and became more and more brave as time went on. I just absolutely adored this quiet, kindhearted, courageous woman!
SETH: Oh my gracious goodness, SETH. The man defines “adorkable”. He’s such a DORK. But in the most adorable way ever. First of all, the Rohesian language is not his first language. He stumbles over it quite a bit, and I thought it was so well-written how he kept falling back to his native language and struggled with Rohesian. (Huzzah for books that don’t have everyone magically speaking the exact same language!) Secondly, he’s just so good-natured. He tries to make jokes and lure Diamond into conversation, but she’s so shy and quiet, it just makes things more awkward. BRB DYING FROM CUTENESS OVERLOAD. But, the poor guy, has grown up with six older sisters, so he knows his fair share about how women work. And I loved that. I loved how he tried to figure Diamond out via everything he’s learned growing up with six girls. He’s also a nerd to the highest order, as he’s super into alchemy, which was a ton of fun! He was just so refreshing—good humored and awkward and Trying His Best(TM) but accidentally stumbling into so much trouble. Poor, poor Seth. XD Seriously, I can’t with this man. He was great!
And if you can’t tell, I ADOOOORED these two cinnamon rolls together. Their budding friendship was so innocent and sweet, with so many hilariously awkward moments and a good dash of squee-worthy ones. Diamond has literally talked to no one but her mother, so her trying to befriend someone who struggles to even speak her native tongue was just ALKJSLDJLJF. I LOVED IT SO MUCH.
The other characters were so dynamic too. Diamond’s mother was deliciously ruthless (and those who have read Spindle Dreams should recognize her *smile, smile*). Dalvira was another favorite. She’s basically the total opposite of Diamond, and I LOVED when they worked together. It was so much fun! Annnd there were quite a few cameos of some familiar faces from the previous stories which is always thrilling.
All these characters made me smile so, so much. Can I just shrink them all and keep them in my pocket??? <333
OTHER THINGS TO LOVE
ALCHEMY – Each of these novellas always has a specific steampunkish something to it, and this go round it was alchemy. It was sooo much fun how Seth used his alchemy knowledge to help save the day. Just because he was stuck with a broken leg didn’t mean he couldn’t be useful!
ALL THE RAPUNZEL THIIINGS (without magic) – One thing that’s so clever about these books is that they have zero magic AND YET still manage to always throw in sooo many elements from the fairy tale they’re retelling. This one had like ALL the Rapunzel things but, brilliantly, without using a lick of magic. I especially appreciated how there was an actual REASON Diamond had ridiculously long hair. (It always annoys me when Rapunzel retellings have a girl with long hair just…’cause.) But not only did this have so, so many Rapunzel elements, but they each had such a clever twist. Like the GUY being stuck in the tower! It was a delight finding all the clever Rapunzel references throughout. Definitely one of my favorite bits!
THE GENERAL COZINESS – There’s just always something deliciously cozy about this author’s writing style, and this story was one of the coziest. I loved the setting of Diamond’s little cave home, her gathering food in the forest, Seth’s hideaway in the watchtower—just all of it! It felt so homey and beautiful and sweet. Like, can I live in Rohesia??? It’s such a lovely place!
DID I MENTION THE CHARACTERS??? – I just love them so much, guys. I CAN’T.
CONTENT CAUTIONS
Absolutely nothing??? These books are always so refreshingly clean. The characters had a few injuries, so some blood is mentioned, but nothing was ever over detailed. And there was barely even any romance.
Though these fall under the young adult genre, they’d be great to read to younger siblings as well!
CONCLUSION
I was kind of having a bad day when I first started reading this, and it instantly lightened my mood. It just made me so HAPPY. It’s one of those stories that leaves you smiling and lighthearted after you read it.
As mentioned, though it does connect to the previous books (especially book #2) in some ways, it can be read as a standalone. So if you want to just jump into this one, GO FOR IT. (Though the others are 1000000% worth the read too.)
If you need a good magic-less, cozy, quick, fairy tale read THIS IS IT. With endearing characters, a lovely setting, an intriguing plot, and just so much fun and humor and heart, this novella is sure to bring a smile to your face.
Review originally posted on my blog: https://christinesmithauthor.com/2020/05/book-review-diamond-by-kirsten-fichter/
March 16, 2024
Diamond is book 3 in the Once Upon a Twist Tales series, after The Rose and the Balloon and Spindle Dreams--and it's great. Diamond follows a loose retelling of the Rapunzel fairytale. Being my favorite of all the fairytales, I came in with solid expectations and Fichter delivered!
Story: 5/5
Worldview: 4/5
Story gets a 5 because this was just such a wonderful new twist on Rapunzel. The characters grew from where they were in the last book in a way that felt organic and real. There were some plot twists that were very well done and yet heartbreaking all the same. Diamond and Seth also make a cute couple, and even though Diamond knows nothing of the world, there wasn't a weird power dynamic with that. I loved the world building between the two main kingdoms and the language barrier was done well, too! All in all, a great novel with some Tangled and Barbie: Rapunzel references.
Worldview also greatly improved from book 2, Spindle Dreams. The characters don't sit there and whine to God when they are at their wit's end. They actually seek his guidance and help in many things. Even though the story never talks about how Jesus can free a person from gambling, I like that Diamond's mother wasn't condemned for her addiction either. It's hard to have a family member that suffers from an addiction, and to have it reflected as saying that someone will never recover would really suck. In any case, this novel didn't do that as far as I could tell.
All in all, another nice installment in this series. Overall rating sits at 4.5.
Story: 5/5
Worldview: 4/5
Story gets a 5 because this was just such a wonderful new twist on Rapunzel. The characters grew from where they were in the last book in a way that felt organic and real. There were some plot twists that were very well done and yet heartbreaking all the same. Diamond and Seth also make a cute couple, and even though Diamond knows nothing of the world, there wasn't a weird power dynamic with that. I loved the world building between the two main kingdoms and the language barrier was done well, too! All in all, a great novel with some Tangled and Barbie: Rapunzel references.
Worldview also greatly improved from book 2, Spindle Dreams. The characters don't sit there and whine to God when they are at their wit's end. They actually seek his guidance and help in many things. Even though the story never talks about how Jesus can free a person from gambling, I like that Diamond's mother wasn't condemned for her addiction either. It's hard to have a family member that suffers from an addiction, and to have it reflected as saying that someone will never recover would really suck. In any case, this novel didn't do that as far as I could tell.
All in all, another nice installment in this series. Overall rating sits at 4.5.
August 31, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! All the little nods to the Disney movie made me chuckle! The characters also do their best to rely on and trust in God to get them through their trials, which I liked.
I think one of my favorite aspects of the story was the character who hasn’t quite grasped the language of the area and stumbles over his wordings. I enjoyed reading it, as it was quite funny at times, and I appreciate the work I know went in to creating that character.
I had only one small issue with this book. The first time a character prayed, it seemed to come from nowhere (about 22% into the book) and it threw me because at first I thought it was an exclamation, “Oh, Lord, …” until I realized it was a prayer.
With this book, you get a twist on the original tale, some snippets of the beloved original, and a nice Christian theme all bundled together!
* I received a complementary copy from the author in hopes of an honest review. I was not obligated to leave a positive review. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
I think one of my favorite aspects of the story was the character who hasn’t quite grasped the language of the area and stumbles over his wordings. I enjoyed reading it, as it was quite funny at times, and I appreciate the work I know went in to creating that character.
I had only one small issue with this book. The first time a character prayed, it seemed to come from nowhere (about 22% into the book) and it threw me because at first I thought it was an exclamation, “Oh, Lord, …” until I realized it was a prayer.
With this book, you get a twist on the original tale, some snippets of the beloved original, and a nice Christian theme all bundled together!
* I received a complementary copy from the author in hopes of an honest review. I was not obligated to leave a positive review. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
May 13, 2020
Not all Diamonds glitter.
This Diamond is a girl. Her mother keeps her hidden away, always obsessing about her nearly eighteen feet of golden hair.
Before you start thinking you've seen this Disney movie before, you need to know that this is a non-magical story. Everything it totally plausible, well except for the alchemist, he's still not magic though, just very fashion forward with the goggles and the foreign accent.
I loved the main characters who are super cute together. Seth, with his six older sisters knows how to say just the right thing. And poor Diamond, who has never spoken to another soul in her life let alone a man, has no idea what to say.
I also loved the gender swapping element of Seth being the one stuck in the tower, even though Diamond still had the long hair. It was an interesting twist that added originality to the story.
Okay so yes there are nods to everyone's favorite Disney movie too. The jokes about the horse not acting very horse like were a particular favorite of mine. But Diamond shines (Pun Always Intended) on it's own as a unique fairytale retelling that is sure to remind you why you love Disney movies in the first place.
*I was slipped an electronic copy of this story, secretly in the dead of night, for purposes unknown. I willingly relate to you now my honest opinion of the material so that you may be informed and forewarned about the contents.*
This Diamond is a girl. Her mother keeps her hidden away, always obsessing about her nearly eighteen feet of golden hair.
Before you start thinking you've seen this Disney movie before, you need to know that this is a non-magical story. Everything it totally plausible, well except for the alchemist, he's still not magic though, just very fashion forward with the goggles and the foreign accent.
I loved the main characters who are super cute together. Seth, with his six older sisters knows how to say just the right thing. And poor Diamond, who has never spoken to another soul in her life let alone a man, has no idea what to say.
I also loved the gender swapping element of Seth being the one stuck in the tower, even though Diamond still had the long hair. It was an interesting twist that added originality to the story.
Okay so yes there are nods to everyone's favorite Disney movie too. The jokes about the horse not acting very horse like were a particular favorite of mine. But Diamond shines (Pun Always Intended) on it's own as a unique fairytale retelling that is sure to remind you why you love Disney movies in the first place.
*I was slipped an electronic copy of this story, secretly in the dead of night, for purposes unknown. I willingly relate to you now my honest opinion of the material so that you may be informed and forewarned about the contents.*
May 15, 2020
1. It's a delightfully twisted retelling as Seth is the one who gets trapped in a tower, not dearest Rapunzel -cough- Diamond. She's still the one with eighteen feet of hair, though, and an oppressive "mother" who only wants her out of revenge.
2. Seth is an Alchemist! A successful-ish, one, too. Mostly because he isn't trying to make gold. He's also adorable as he tries to function despite a language barrier. He speaks the native tongue, but not well, so ... frustration for him, but amusement for us. Also, his sister is awesome.
3. Diamond is adorable. Kept away from people her whole life, she's so naive and precious. Someone give this girl a friend. A real friend, not a rabbit. (Not offense to rabbits, though.)
4. Non-magic retelling. Except for a small stretching of science with the alchemy, the book is 100% realistic, and I do love it when retellings go in that direction.
5. All of the references to the original tale. There's so many, and it's awesome - and even the Disney references aren't too obtuse,
2. Seth is an Alchemist! A successful-ish, one, too. Mostly because he isn't trying to make gold. He's also adorable as he tries to function despite a language barrier. He speaks the native tongue, but not well, so ... frustration for him, but amusement for us. Also, his sister is awesome.
3. Diamond is adorable. Kept away from people her whole life, she's so naive and precious. Someone give this girl a friend. A real friend, not a rabbit. (Not offense to rabbits, though.)
4. Non-magic retelling. Except for a small stretching of science with the alchemy, the book is 100% realistic, and I do love it when retellings go in that direction.
5. All of the references to the original tale. There's so many, and it's awesome - and even the Disney references aren't too obtuse,
May 19, 2020
Positives: The focus on the characterization of both Seth and Diamond was great. All the characters were again distinguished and they didn’t feel like copies of the previous characters in the previous books. To add to that, I though how Diamond was a mixture of naivety, a slight bit of jadedness, and a sad pot of fearfulness was really well done. They’re negative, yes, but her so-called”softness” and kindness shined through. Seth was an adorable man child who was both incredibly mature and also incredibly babied, apparently (XD). It made for an interesting person, how his alchemical pursuits (Varian?) and good nature combined with his injury and interactions with Cabbage Lady. 😛 Also, I liked how the Rapunzel elements popped up inside and how this made a pretty good sequel to the last book.
Plot was well set up, I believe, and the theme carried across well! 🙂 AND OOH! There was also the WOOONDERFUL set up for the next book (though she concluded this arc satisfyingly), something I’m excited to read since it’s a retell of WHOOPS! I think spoilers?
Genre-wise, this was preeeeettyyyy good, too. Steampunk and fairy tale inspired is surprisingly great, and I think Kirsten Fichter is my first foray into steampunk! (Now I’m curiouser about this genre.)
Negatives: The villain was a little absent, though that didn’t really take away from her awfulness nor her backstory. She did seem a tad touched awry-ly in the head though, considering her obsession with her motivation for doing everything. Just goes to show how bitterness and foolish decisions from multiple parties can negatively affect the innocent AND yourself. Also, though I did LOVE the Tangled references (the nose thing killed me, as did the horse), I sometimes found one or two of them to not flow as well with the narrative.
Furthermore, the fast pacing, while not bad, did at times make the characterizaiton feel rushed, though I still found it realistic enough (just a wish to smooth it out a bit). Also, the thing about the tears kind of confused me (like the dream thing last book did) but I didn’t find it too terrible, to be honest.
Opinion: It was…just…cute!! 🙂 If you’re looking for an explanation for every single detail and circumstance, I wouldn’t say to pick up this book. This focuses on its story very nicely and wraps up its own arc while leaving room for a sequel. Considering this book focused so much on the Rapunzel-getting-out-of-her-tower part, I appreciated that it didn’t go heavy on the romance (don’t think there was any, though I couuuuuld see it happen *waggles eyebrows*) and focused on the friendship. 🙂
I think if the author meant for this book to make you smile without dumping anything heavy on you, it did a greeeat job in doing so. I mean, I still did have a few issues with the mechanics and the pacing (though, admittedly, the copy I read didn’t have the final edits, so that might just be a me thing) , but I DID like the book.
NOW…this means I have to wait for the sequel. 😦
Content: Very clean! In fact, it really doesn’t have romance at all (or anything resembling that, though I think it DOES hint one). There’s a bit of violence but…I don’t think it would bother most readers over age 12.
Plot was well set up, I believe, and the theme carried across well! 🙂 AND OOH! There was also the WOOONDERFUL set up for the next book (though she concluded this arc satisfyingly), something I’m excited to read since it’s a retell of WHOOPS! I think spoilers?
Genre-wise, this was preeeeettyyyy good, too. Steampunk and fairy tale inspired is surprisingly great, and I think Kirsten Fichter is my first foray into steampunk! (Now I’m curiouser about this genre.)
Negatives: The villain was a little absent, though that didn’t really take away from her awfulness nor her backstory. She did seem a tad touched awry-ly in the head though, considering her obsession with her motivation for doing everything. Just goes to show how bitterness and foolish decisions from multiple parties can negatively affect the innocent AND yourself. Also, though I did LOVE the Tangled references (the nose thing killed me, as did the horse), I sometimes found one or two of them to not flow as well with the narrative.
Furthermore, the fast pacing, while not bad, did at times make the characterizaiton feel rushed, though I still found it realistic enough (just a wish to smooth it out a bit). Also, the thing about the tears kind of confused me (like the dream thing last book did) but I didn’t find it too terrible, to be honest.
Opinion: It was…just…cute!! 🙂 If you’re looking for an explanation for every single detail and circumstance, I wouldn’t say to pick up this book. This focuses on its story very nicely and wraps up its own arc while leaving room for a sequel. Considering this book focused so much on the Rapunzel-getting-out-of-her-tower part, I appreciated that it didn’t go heavy on the romance (don’t think there was any, though I couuuuuld see it happen *waggles eyebrows*) and focused on the friendship. 🙂
I think if the author meant for this book to make you smile without dumping anything heavy on you, it did a greeeat job in doing so. I mean, I still did have a few issues with the mechanics and the pacing (though, admittedly, the copy I read didn’t have the final edits, so that might just be a me thing) , but I DID like the book.
NOW…this means I have to wait for the sequel. 😦
Content: Very clean! In fact, it really doesn’t have romance at all (or anything resembling that, though I think it DOES hint one). There’s a bit of violence but…I don’t think it would bother most readers over age 12.
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May 19, 2020I'm not rating this one since I had the honor of being a beta reader, but this book is both fun and sweet, with some truly unique twists that set it apart (the way Diamond gets her name is one of my favorite aspects of the story--it fits in so well the the motives behind the original tale!)
I actually haven't read the first two books in the series (yet) but this one works just fine as a standalone-although since this novel *does* include appearances by characters from previous books, I'd recommend tackling those first for maximum enjoyment!
I actually haven't read the first two books in the series (yet) but this one works just fine as a standalone-although since this novel *does* include appearances by characters from previous books, I'd recommend tackling those first for maximum enjoyment!
May 15, 2020
I was a little hesitant about picking up Diamond, to be honest. I didn't love the first book in this series, The Rose and the Balloon: A Beauty and the Beast Story. But I was intrigued by the premise of Diamond and figured I'd give it a try, and I ended up liking it quite a bit!
Diamond lives in a hidden cave in the forest with a woman she only knows as Mother, patiently growing her hair out over her entire life so Mother can eventually cut it, sell it, and make them rich. Seth is a traveling alchemist who accidentally ends up in the middle of an international espionage plot. One thing leads to another, and soon Seth is dying in a tower in the woods and the only person who can save him is Diamond.
On the whole, Diamond was a solid, enjoyable read. It didn’t have any stand-out sparkle to me, but neither did it have any really big problems. In terms of specific elements:
— Plot/retelling. This wasn’t the most clever or mind-blowing take on Rapunzel, but I still enjoyed a lot of the twists Fichter put on the story, particularly Rapunzel’s love interest being the one in the tower and how Diamond got the name Rapunzel.
— Characters. I struggled with a cartooniness and lack of depth to some characters in TR&TB, but that wasn’t the case here! Everyone was decently well-rounded and interesting (though some more than others); they all felt like pretty solid characters. Dalvira was definitely my favorite and stood out to me as the most complex and interesting through subtleties in her dialogue, mannerisms, and so on even though she didn’t get nearly as much page time as others.
— Christianity, I guess. So I suppose I have to review the Christian aspect of this book, because this is, in a very technical sense, Christian fantasy, and that’s what I do in these reviews: I talk about Christian fiction from an agnostic perspective. But honestly, the Christian element in this book is so blink-and-you-miss-it minimal it’s almost not worth touching on. Characters occasionally say things like “Lord willing, this thing will happen” and that’s it. This is honestly the rare Christian book I feel I can recommend to most people regardless of their feelings on Christianity.
— The tie-in to past books. This part is more of a guide to anyone who might be thinking of reading Diamond than a review. Although characters from TR&TB appear briefly, you absolutely don’t have to have read TR&TB to understand what’s going on. The same is basically the case with Spindle Dreams: A Sleeping Beauty Story, the second book in the series, from which Diamond follows more directly. It would be worth it to read the blurb of Spindle Dreams just so you have a bit of an idea of what you missed, but I didn’t read Spindle Dreams before Diamond and I was able to put everything together just fine.
TL;DR While Diamond wasn’t the most brilliant story I’ve ever read, I still certainly enjoyed it. I would recommend it to fans of cozy fairytales and novellas. I’m glad I gave Kirsten Fichter another chance, and I’m interested to see what she comes up with next.
Diamond lives in a hidden cave in the forest with a woman she only knows as Mother, patiently growing her hair out over her entire life so Mother can eventually cut it, sell it, and make them rich. Seth is a traveling alchemist who accidentally ends up in the middle of an international espionage plot. One thing leads to another, and soon Seth is dying in a tower in the woods and the only person who can save him is Diamond.
On the whole, Diamond was a solid, enjoyable read. It didn’t have any stand-out sparkle to me, but neither did it have any really big problems. In terms of specific elements:
— Plot/retelling. This wasn’t the most clever or mind-blowing take on Rapunzel, but I still enjoyed a lot of the twists Fichter put on the story, particularly Rapunzel’s love interest being the one in the tower and how Diamond got the name Rapunzel.
— Characters. I struggled with a cartooniness and lack of depth to some characters in TR&TB, but that wasn’t the case here! Everyone was decently well-rounded and interesting (though some more than others); they all felt like pretty solid characters. Dalvira was definitely my favorite and stood out to me as the most complex and interesting through subtleties in her dialogue, mannerisms, and so on even though she didn’t get nearly as much page time as others.
— Christianity, I guess. So I suppose I have to review the Christian aspect of this book, because this is, in a very technical sense, Christian fantasy, and that’s what I do in these reviews: I talk about Christian fiction from an agnostic perspective. But honestly, the Christian element in this book is so blink-and-you-miss-it minimal it’s almost not worth touching on. Characters occasionally say things like “Lord willing, this thing will happen” and that’s it. This is honestly the rare Christian book I feel I can recommend to most people regardless of their feelings on Christianity.
— The tie-in to past books. This part is more of a guide to anyone who might be thinking of reading Diamond than a review. Although characters from TR&TB appear briefly, you absolutely don’t have to have read TR&TB to understand what’s going on. The same is basically the case with Spindle Dreams: A Sleeping Beauty Story, the second book in the series, from which Diamond follows more directly. It would be worth it to read the blurb of Spindle Dreams just so you have a bit of an idea of what you missed, but I didn’t read Spindle Dreams before Diamond and I was able to put everything together just fine.
TL;DR While Diamond wasn’t the most brilliant story I’ve ever read, I still certainly enjoyed it. I would recommend it to fans of cozy fairytales and novellas. I’m glad I gave Kirsten Fichter another chance, and I’m interested to see what she comes up with next.
May 14, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is funny and it has heart. Despite my intentions, I'd never quite gotten around to reading one of Kirsten Fichter's books before. I can now call myself a fan. I already had The Rose and the Balloon, but I've added Spindle Dreams because I want to see a take on Sleeping beauty without magic.
Things I love in this book:
The first paragraph. It give a unique feel to the story.
That blasted man. This is a character who is often referred to and i find the name amusing.
I had a strong sense through the story that there was a key piece of information that I didn't have. it gave a tension to reading it. Something was going to break out and ruin everything. It works because the main characters shouldn't know this and really aren't in a place to guess.
The story felt realistic. Yes, it's Rapunzel, but this isn't a fairy story. It's not serious, but it is grounded. The whole long hair deal is explained as were the other key elements of the Rapunzel story.
This story doesn't stick to a Rapunzel plot. There's some role reversal and points where the story just does its own thing and that makes it fresh. It wasn't predictable.
Diamond is a great take on the Rapunzel character. It's not easy to write a girl who has only ever interacted with one another person, but this was done well.
Seth is not your typical prince type character. He's an alchemist with goggles and vials and six older sisters. But he's not some mad scientist either. He's nice. I think I could be friends with someone like him. Just let's not speak Rohesion, because he's not very good at it.
This book is very much not afraid of making references to the original tale. It doesn't take itself too seriously and isn't subtle and that works really well.
Things I love in this book:
The first paragraph. It give a unique feel to the story.
That blasted man. This is a character who is often referred to and i find the name amusing.
I had a strong sense through the story that there was a key piece of information that I didn't have. it gave a tension to reading it. Something was going to break out and ruin everything. It works because the main characters shouldn't know this and really aren't in a place to guess.
The story felt realistic. Yes, it's Rapunzel, but this isn't a fairy story. It's not serious, but it is grounded. The whole long hair deal is explained as were the other key elements of the Rapunzel story.
This story doesn't stick to a Rapunzel plot. There's some role reversal and points where the story just does its own thing and that makes it fresh. It wasn't predictable.
Diamond is a great take on the Rapunzel character. It's not easy to write a girl who has only ever interacted with one another person, but this was done well.
Seth is not your typical prince type character. He's an alchemist with goggles and vials and six older sisters. But he's not some mad scientist either. He's nice. I think I could be friends with someone like him. Just let's not speak Rohesion, because he's not very good at it.
This book is very much not afraid of making references to the original tale. It doesn't take itself too seriously and isn't subtle and that works really well.
May 15, 2020
This novella is quite the delightful retelling of a popular fairy tale, and is the first book I’ve read by Kirsten Fichter. Now, I’m hooked. The characters are wonderfully written with unique personalities, and the world-building is fantastic. I loved Diamond’s first thoughts and description of Seth, and her inner battle between obeying her “mother” and helping someone in need is perfectly executed. My only wish for this novella is that the ending wasn’t so rushed. In short, this is the perfect novella to pick up if you’re looking for a sweet, Christian fairy tale retelling, pick up Diamond.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
The rest of the review can be read at https://madismusingsblog.wordpress.co...
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
The rest of the review can be read at https://madismusingsblog.wordpress.co...
May 19, 2020
Guys, you have no clue how much I love these Once Upon a Twist Tales. Details from the original fairy tale, a few Disney nods, and so much Kirsten magic combine to make stories that capture the heart and imagination. In Diamond, there was so much to wonder at... I've only been dying to read it since I read Spindle Dreams (BTW Awesome book! You should read that one too, and it'll help a little with this one since they sorta got intertwined...) I love how Kirsten gave actual plausible explanations for everything that happens to Diamond/Rapunzel and Seth, her tower-bound friend. Kirsten has a way of taking the magic out and replacing it with her own wordy brilliance. The plot was great, of course, and even had a nice little subplot bunny hopping around, but what really gets me are the characters. Every one of them had me asking for more. Motives and desires and just a real-life-person-ness brought Diamond, Seth, Dalv, and even Mother drew me in and trapped me. It was one of those one-sitting reads, and I can't wait to read it with my sisters. (We're currently reading The Rose and the Balloon out loud together, but we hope to read Spindle Dreams and Diamond too before the end of the summer. Julie especially is very invested... who knew 7-year-olds were so ensnarable?) I do hope that I don't speak French like poor Seth speaks Rohesian... Oi! (Although, he didn't do poorly for learning such a difficult language!)
Bottom line: If you're looking for a magically non-magical twist on one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time... Stop looking and start reading! With a cute cover, a great plot, and so many characters to love (or love hating), Diamond has it all!
Bottom line: If you're looking for a magically non-magical twist on one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time... Stop looking and start reading! With a cute cover, a great plot, and so many characters to love (or love hating), Diamond has it all!
May 20, 2021
By far my favorite of the whole series! I just love it so much!!! 😍😍
Diamond is amazing, shy, and compassionate—I immediately clicked with her and loved seeing her grow and overcome her fears to do what was right and good for herself as well as for Seth. And Seth! He’s an adorable dork and I love him to death and wish he was real. He is so tender, understanding, and kind to Diamond that just made me love him more plus I really liked how he botched talking in a different language—that would totally be me, LOL!
I also thought the author did a great job with the language barrier and in portraying it the way she did without making up another language or using another well known one.
I think out of all the couples in this series Diamond and Seth are the best suited for each other and have the best chemistry that I could see and find believable and real. Also the Tangled references (and Barbie as Rapunzel!) were so fun and increased my enjoyment and love of this book tenfold as I adore those movies.
I really look forward to possibly seeing more of Diamond and Seth in future books, and I would read this one over and over again because I love it so much and it brings me tons of joy. Another knock out Rapunzel retelling!
Diamond is amazing, shy, and compassionate—I immediately clicked with her and loved seeing her grow and overcome her fears to do what was right and good for herself as well as for Seth. And Seth! He’s an adorable dork and I love him to death and wish he was real. He is so tender, understanding, and kind to Diamond that just made me love him more plus I really liked how he botched talking in a different language—that would totally be me, LOL!
I also thought the author did a great job with the language barrier and in portraying it the way she did without making up another language or using another well known one.
I think out of all the couples in this series Diamond and Seth are the best suited for each other and have the best chemistry that I could see and find believable and real. Also the Tangled references (and Barbie as Rapunzel!) were so fun and increased my enjoyment and love of this book tenfold as I adore those movies.
I really look forward to possibly seeing more of Diamond and Seth in future books, and I would read this one over and over again because I love it so much and it brings me tons of joy. Another knock out Rapunzel retelling!
October 21, 2021
A refreshingly different twist on Rapunzel!
It was a sweet and enjoyable take on the Rapunzel tale that I breezed through. I enjoyed the twists on the original fairytale and found myself only guessing what could happen next.
I really liked Diamond and Seth- Diamond with her sweet nature and Seth with his playful one. They made an endearing pair that I enjoyed seeing them bond and their story play out.
My only complaint was that it was too short though, so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series!
It was a sweet and enjoyable take on the Rapunzel tale that I breezed through. I enjoyed the twists on the original fairytale and found myself only guessing what could happen next.
I really liked Diamond and Seth- Diamond with her sweet nature and Seth with his playful one. They made an endearing pair that I enjoyed seeing them bond and their story play out.
My only complaint was that it was too short though, so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series!
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