Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-1916997-20160726221148/@comment-1916997-20170501184116

Eskaver wrote: CoolDudeAl wrote: Anyone else have thoughts on the book? Did people like this more or less than Red's Untold Tale? Since I can say something again, I guess I will. XD

I haven't read Red's Untold Tale, but I felt at that time that the Author has a niche. I think after this book, I can see it. (Well, she obviously writes a particular branch of fiction, lol.) I do have a question: How similar was Red's Untold Tale?

My only real critique (besides potential conflicts with canon) is more with the genre and real life humans, lol. I didn't really like Regina being infatuated with another person. I knew girl like that in highschool, having crushes on their teacher, etc. I feel it's realistic, but too much realism in my fantasy that it feels...dare I say...fanfictioney. Yeah, I often don't pull out the "f" word (despite there being really good fanfcitions). It was sort of inverted, I think. It felt as though someone dropped some Once in my "Life as a Teenager Girl". I don't want to be harsh as it's likely its not my personal taste. (Even if I read the Twilight Saga and A Song of Ice and Fire).

The canon conflicts and my personal headcanons sort of tossed me out of the story a bit, especially the events (of the romance and friendship) so close to Regina hating Snow.

But I do say despite those two things, she did a good job developing a wacky world into a more sensible, down to earth one. She also encapsulated Cora (though she was a bit one-note at times) and Henry Sr. really well. (Well, the whole Prince thing was a bit much as his character was pretty shallow and I don't really like the Ugly Jerk when there's plenty of Gastons).

I'd have to give it a re-read before I'd review it as there's always something one misses. It definitly had similarities to Red's Untold Tale. She does a good job of picking up small details from the show and expanding on them, as well as doing more world building than the show usually does. She did heavily focus on Red's feelings for Peter, much like in this book we had Regina's feelings for Jasper. I also feel that in both books she does a good job capturing the characters in a way that matches how they are portrayed on the show.