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Anne's Reviews > The Fairest Beauty
The Fairest Beauty (Hagenheim, #3)
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Anne's review
bookshelves: fairytale, kindle-app, random-grabs-from-library, i-lost-brain-cells, dnf
Aug 25, 2014
bookshelves: fairytale, kindle-app, random-grabs-from-library, i-lost-brain-cells, dnf
DNF at 39%
Warning: This is Christian Fiction
Not that there's anything wrong with that...
I reallyreallyreally would have appreciated knowing that, though, before I invested my mother-#@!ing reading time in this sucker!
There is no way I would have picked this thing up if I'd known what I was getting into.
Where is Tipper Gore with her little Advisory stickers when you need her?!
I kept wondering why the hero and heroine kept saying things like, "God help me escape", or "God, help me to be strong.".
And I also wondered why Snow White (or Sophie) was such a freakin' goody-goody.
I must be kind, I must forgive, I must follow my Savior's example.
Ok, admittedly, that last one should have clued me in.
But it wasn't that they prayed to God that got under my skin.
Oh no.
I started getting annoyed when Gabe (hero) was soooooo impressed by Sophie's chaste ways.
"She truly was a virtuous maiden, nor flirtatious like some, nor selfish, nor anxious to put herself forward. She would make a wonderful wife for Valten."
M'kay. I was just about ready to vomit and put the book down at that point.
Then a few pages later, it became crystal clear that this wasn't just any old fairytale retelling of Snow White.
Because...
"I have most of the book of Saint Luke memorized. Would you like me to recite it to you?"
"Of course," he said. "That would be good."
Sophie began reciting Jesus's parable:
"A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited..."
Yeah. Um.
*cough*
No.
No, thank you, but this is not for me.
However, if anyone out there is looking for Christian Fiction, then you might appreciate this story more than I did.
Warning: This is Christian Fiction
Not that there's anything wrong with that...
I reallyreallyreally would have appreciated knowing that, though, before I invested my mother-#@!ing reading time in this sucker!
There is no way I would have picked this thing up if I'd known what I was getting into.
Where is Tipper Gore with her little Advisory stickers when you need her?!
I kept wondering why the hero and heroine kept saying things like, "God help me escape", or "God, help me to be strong.".
And I also wondered why Snow White (or Sophie) was such a freakin' goody-goody.
I must be kind, I must forgive, I must follow my Savior's example.
Ok, admittedly, that last one should have clued me in.
But it wasn't that they prayed to God that got under my skin.
Oh no.
I started getting annoyed when Gabe (hero) was soooooo impressed by Sophie's chaste ways.
"She truly was a virtuous maiden, nor flirtatious like some, nor selfish, nor anxious to put herself forward. She would make a wonderful wife for Valten."
M'kay. I was just about ready to vomit and put the book down at that point.
Then a few pages later, it became crystal clear that this wasn't just any old fairytale retelling of Snow White.
Because...
"I have most of the book of Saint Luke memorized. Would you like me to recite it to you?"
"Of course," he said. "That would be good."
Sophie began reciting Jesus's parable:
"A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited..."
Yeah. Um.
*cough*
No.
No, thank you, but this is not for me.
However, if anyone out there is looking for Christian Fiction, then you might appreciate this story more than I did.
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Reading Progress
August 25, 2014
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Comments Showing 1-50 of 60 (60 new)
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by
Carmen
(new)
Sep 04, 2014 05:00PM
Yes, oftentimes Christian fiction has fooled me into thinking it was general fiction until some small clues started to build up...
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Yes. It was very small stuff at first!But the bottom line was that this was crap. The girl was a one-dimensional doormat. The virtuous stuff pushed me over the edge. I don't think she needed to be a big old 'ho, but the chastity thing was beyond ridiculous.
LOL There's a huge gap between "chaste" and "big old 'ho" in my opinion. LOL
Yeah, not wanting to sleep with anyone is a personal choice. And probably a very smart one. But getting all excited over a girl who isn't 'forward' smells like dirty ass to me. The girl who 'went walking' with the Huntsman was very evil...of course.
Yes, I'm fine with Christian literature saying, "This woman is saving herself for marriage." I am NOT fine when they start saying, "But this woman who let a man touch her is a dirty worthless slut." That's where they lose me, see?
Me too. It's such an old fashioned concept, but if that's what you want to do? Great!I'm not sure how they can't see that this idea of virgin brides only works in the man's favor. It seems a fairly obvious way to control a woman, but whatever.
thanks for the warning!
Bummer, but life is too short to use it on books that aren't working for you. Good call to drop it.
Callie wrote: "thanks for the warning!"LOL! No problem. It would get better ratings if it were marketed properly.
Alejandro wrote: "Bummer, but life is too short to use it on books that aren't working for you. Good call to drop it."Yeah, I didn't want to waste my time on something that was obviously not written for someone like me.
Sounds miserable.
Wow, I am so glad that I read your review. Nook has it on sale for .99, so I was thinking, hey looks like it could be interesting... but nope! I can't handle that.
Wow. Pretty harsh review. I'm taken aback but I respect your opinions. To the people that DO like Christian fiction, you should definitely read this book. It's awesome!
I agree. There's a huge market for CF, but if it's not labeled properly, it gets a bad reaction from people who aren't fans. It would be like someone who wants a clean romance ending up with a mislabeled erotic novel. It wouldn't get a good review from the person who read it. That's why I didn't rate this one, it wouldn't be fair to rate a book that I'm not the target audience for. It was my version of a Parental Advisory Label. ;)
Thanks for the review. CF is not for me either.
You got farther than I did lol
Renee wrote: "You got farther than I did lol"Ha! I take it you got tricked into it, as well?
You should Snow by Tracy Lynn, I really like that retelling. But we'll see how this one goes... I'm a Christian, but I find a lot of Christian fiction lacking.
I hope you like it, Marissa! I think if you aren't biased, you could end up loving this one. Let me know what you think from the standpoint of someone who is (potentially) looking for Christian Lit!
Well, the writing- not so impressed. But I'm a sucker for romance, so I did enjoy that aspect of the book. I just don't think I'll be reading it again.
That's good to know, Marissa. Thanks for giving an opinion from the other side of the fence!
Thank you so much for the warning. I can't handle Christian fiction and hate it when it sneaks up on me like that.
No problem, Sara! I think it would probably make a great book for lots of people, but when that's not what you're looking for...*crinkles nose*
True man...totally toture
Aqeela wrote: "True man...totally toture"Ha! Did you accidentally pick this one up, too?
You're really selling me on this one. I want to read it and see if it's truly as horrid as you say.
Rea wrote: "You're really selling me on this one. I want to read it and see if it's truly as horrid as you say."It may not be horrid if you like CF. That's just...not my thing. *cough*
Omg! I love that cover! Why do they out good covers on some books you don't like. I think it's a sin. So there!
Some CF can be good, some bad. I think adding the Christian part can make it bad sometimes if its done poorly, ie-shoved down the reader's throat. If its woven into the story well and the story is good on its own, then it's usually ok to pretty great. I agree, it should be labeled as CF so those who aren't into that genre can avoid it. I do enjoy reading CF, but not if its preachy. Just because an author has God in the book doesn't make it a well written book automatically. From what you quoted in your review, the religion seems to be over the top, which can wreck an otherwise good story. It's a delicate balance. I am going to read something by this author and form my own opinion about her writing, but from the reviews I've read of them, the religion seems it might be too in your face for me.
I agree wholeheartedly with you, Jen. And I don't mind when characters believe in God in books, at all. Religion can add a whole new layer to stories, and that can be really interesting. But this was definitely in your face. I think you should read it for yourself, though. To each his own, and all that.
Melissa wrote: "Omg! I love that cover! Why do they out good covers on some books you don't like. I think it's a sin. So there!"Covers make or break my choices for me! I'm so shallow! And I really LOVE that cover. Perfect for a fairytale!
AggghhhhhGetting caught up in CF is THE WORST if that's not what you are looking for.
I got sucked in ONEFREAKINGTIME and after that I got a little more careful.
I don't care that the CF books exist, obviously there is a market for them, but they should be clearly marketed that way. If I even suspect that's what is happening I run the other way. There is a big difference between books that have characters that are religious (many do and I'm cool with that) but to have an overarching religious message shoved down my throat is a fast track to a one star review for me.
Hey, Anne, guess what little gem showed up for me. (Apparently it's been checked out to me for a week. That's what I get for going with an ebook and never checking emails.) I'll let you know what I think when I get to reading it.
Casey wrote: "AggghhhhhGetting caught up in CF is THE WORST if that's not what you are looking for.
I got sucked in ONEFREAKINGTIME and after that I got a little more careful.
I don't care that the CF books exi..."
Agreed.
I thought it was a very good book. The other day I was reading reviews on the first book in this series (The Healers Apprentice) and someone had said something like, "I am OK with books about people who believe in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam but Christian fiction are awful. They force their beliefs on people." I for one think that is STUPID. If you have a problem with Christianity why be OK with all the others? And they DO NOT force their beliefs on people. Just a thought.~Royalskylark17
If it's any consolation, I don't like themes with any sort of religion in my books. I'm not just anti-Christian. I'm anti-Muslim, anti-Hindu, anti-All of It. I'm glad you enjoyed the book, though.
Also, if you enjoyed this one, then you'll probably like The Golden Braid. It's by the same author, and in the same series.
You saved my time and mental health! I get allergic reaction when I accidentally digest Christian Fiction. ;-)
You are VERY welcome. This thing is on a ton of lists that I've run across and none of them seem to mention that little tidbit!
Well, better to run across a clean Christian fiction book than to run across an explicit sex scene in a book met for teenagers
Maggie wrote: "Well, better to run across a clean Christian fiction book than to run across an explicit sex scene in a book met for teenagers"What book was that, Maggie?
I’m fine with Christian overtones but this book has God mentioned every 3.5 lines. So painful I wish I’d known before reading it.
I'm the same way! Most books have some sort of religious overtones because most people believe in something, and I'm ok with it. This was just veryveryvery Christian lit. Which is fine if that's what you've signed on for, you know?
thanks for the warning! A big, NO on Christian fiction.
Well, to each their own. lolI think it would help the book find the right audience if they had a better labeling system, you know?
Have you looked into some of the listopia lists around Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ? I think they should help you find more of the books you're looking for. Here's what I found:/search?utf8...
I grew up in a Christian home (father went to seminary and was a missionary, my favorite uncle was the pastor of my church) and have read the Bible multiple times over, so I do actually have a decent grip on the source material. A lot of people are turned off by Christian fiction (I think) because that's not what they believe, and have no wish to read about a religion that they don't practice. If you don't believe in something (aliens or fairies for example) then you aren't going to want to read books that treat that subject matter as true-life. I'm not a fan of books that have any religions (Musim, Jewish, Hindu, etc) incorporated as part of the main character's story.
