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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but not her best, May 31, 2010
This review is from: The Storyteller's Daughter: A Retelling of "The Arabian Nights" (Once Upon a Time (Simon Pulse)) (Mass Market Paperback)
A retelling of the Arabian Nights tale from the Once Upon a Time series. There once was a king who was deeply wounded by his wife. In response, he walled up his heart and vowed to continually take a bride and kill her the following morning. Hoping to save the kingdom, the future wives, and the king, Scheherazade volunteered herself and married the king. She had a trick up her sleeve, however, and using her talents for storytelling, she wove a fantastical story that had the king in thrall. Refusing to kill her until the story was completed, the king listened to Scheherazade's tale over the course of many nights until he found himself falling in love with her.
The basic story is the same as the original, though the characters' personalities and backstories are changed and expanded on and the tales Scheherazade tells are, as far as I can tell, Dokey's own creations. While I didn't connect with these characters as much as I connected in Dokey's other books in the series, the story was engaging and multi-layered. Scheherazade's tales were woven seamlessly throughout, adding depth and a meandering quality befitting a fairy tale.
I find Dokey's strong points are her original twists to the fairy tale she's retelling that have surprised and impressed me and her ability to create characters the reader connects with and cares about. Unfortunately, The Storyteller's Daughter fell flat for me in both areas. While not terrible and good on its own, I find myself slightly disappointed with this book in comparison to Dokey's other offerings in the series. I'd give this one more like 3 and 1/2 stars, but bump it up that extra 1/2 star because her other books are so much better.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It will leave you breathless., May 18, 2008
This review is from: The Storyteller's Daughter: A Retelling of "The Arabian Nights" (Once Upon a Time (Simon Pulse)) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is one of the best books that I have ever read, and everyone I have let borrow it agrees with me. This is a book that you come away from wowed. The truths Cameron Dokey expresses in the story about love and selflessness are exceptionally well-put. The story is so well-written that you are drawn to the end without stopping for a breath. Bravo, Cameron Dokey!
(Incidentally, her other fairy tale retellings are not as good, but they are still pleasant reads. Those stories call to young minds, whereas this book captures the hearts of all ages.)
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good story, horribly written, June 6, 2011
This review is from: The Storyteller's Daughter: A Retelling of "The Arabian Nights" (Once Upon a Time (Simon Pulse)) (Mass Market Paperback)
I liked the idea. It's been a while since I've heard the story and it was nice to reread it again. However, it just wasn't done well.
The point of view kept switching back and forth and to everyone else. It wasn't consistent. One sentence it would be hers, next it would be his and next... who knows.
I wasn't crazy about the way the story was told. It was third person for most of it. But then every once in a while, it'll have some stupid narration coming in and saying "I know what you're thinking" or something along those lines. -_- That ruined the story. It ruined the point of view. It ruined the third person. It was third and first and who knows what else all at once. A jumbled mess if you ask me.
I don't remember the names in the original story, but the names in this one was too much. The two main characters, male and female, had very similar names. I couldn't tell one from the other except one had a "d" at the end and the other had a "r" at the end. Even the brothers were so close in names, it was annoying. How can I tell who is who if I don't even know what name goes with who?
This was supposed to be more of an Indian feel to it. After all, it is after Arabian Nights, isn't it? However, they call their deity God and not Allah. I may not know much about different religions, but at least I know that much.
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't all that good either. I don't like the way Cameron writes. I saw some reviews that mentioned she writes better than this one, so I might give her another try. But it won't be for a while.
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