Customer Reviews

Toads and Diamonds

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I admit it: I chose this book by its cover, at my local library. But it lived up to my hopes. I like the use of a fairy tale not covered by Disney. I appreciate the South Asian setting that provides a refreshing change of scene, as well as a reason for people to perceive the ability to conjure snakes and toads as blessing rather than a curse. I like that the stepsisters love each other and their mother/stepmother instead of being rivals as in a traditional fairy tale.

The plot offers plenty of adventure. The details of the setting give a nice view of a fascinating culture. The main characters are richly depicted; their thoughts sound realistic for young women. Tana's tendency to put herself down and Diribati's occasional daydreaming counterbalance the girls' many virtuous traits. Secondary characters are interesting too. The swift-moving plot doesn't allow much time to get to know them, but we see that they are more than just cardboard cutouts, each having their own lives and motivations. The hardships the girls face, from the discomforts of heat and hunger, to working with manure all day, to plague and the danger of physical violence, are all real and grim enough without being gratuitously horrifying.

I was grateful for the author's note that this is not meant to truly show India or the Mughal empire, but only a similar imaginary country reminiscent of a certain place and time. I would not have known the difference. I would have liked a drawing or two of the costumes of the Believers and the indigenous people, as I had a hard time picturing the outfits just from the text descriptions.

In response to the three-star review: "the story is somewhat standard in the story concepts it uses. There are some slaves, a lot of running, and haughty nobles." Good stories tend to be built on one of a few common frameworks, because they work well. The coming-of-age journey story, in which the main character grows wiser and stronger as he travels, is classic. This is not a drawback. Also, this book includes servants, but I don't recall them being described as slaves specifically, and the haughty nobles are there to flesh out the story; at least one of them turns out to be not so haughty.

On a tangent: if you enjoyed this book, you might also like The Secrets of Jin-shei. It has more of a fantastical element and is darker, definitely an adult book rather than young adult.

The sister who speaks toads also speaks snakes, and the author makes this into a good thing. Granted, making this into a good thing is not an easy task, and Tomlinson has a pretty good crack at it although the result still seems contrived.

Both sisters go on a journey, and their stories are intertwined. The transitions between the stories are pretty well done. Other than the twist of the fairy tale, the story is somewhat standard in the story concepts it uses. There are some slaves, a lot of running, and haughty nobles.

This was not a terrible novel but it was also not a fantastic one.

"Toads and Diamonds" is a brilliant, but sadly-neglected fairy tale. To my great joy and entertainment,, Tomlinson's book is an enchantingly rich retelling, seething with the loveliness of India, the enchantments of a goddess, and, best of all, real friendship. It's a delight to see this old story of step-family rivalry recast as a story of sisterly solidarity. Best of all, the story thoroughly examines the notion of the trickiness of magical "gifts" and "curses." I would encourage adult fairy tale lovers to check this out!

As a mother who screens everything her 11-year-old daughter reads, I love it when what she reads corresponds, even tenuously, with what she's currently studying at school. At this point, she is studying Ancient History, which, of course, includes India. It is *not* easy to find age-appropriate fiction that might heighten a sixth-grader's interested in Indian history during the time of Janahara (other than "The Royal Diaries") so I was especially intrigued to discover "Toads and Diamonds" by Heather Tomlinson. It is, truly, a gem in the genre.

I could not read the book without critical comment, however: in the author's note at the end of the book, she mentions a number of religious traditions present in India. I thought it was a glaring omission of Christianity that she made in favour of political correctness that I had to spend some time discussing with said daughter. Christianity was introduced in India by St. Thomas, one of the first Apostles of Jesus, and till this day factors significantly in India - just look at the mission started by Mother Theresa and maintained by Indian Christians. I only bring this point up because it is salient to the author's own discussion of her very, very well-written book. The language used was truly appropriate for the time and was a treat for all the senses. Both said daughter and I could literally feel the silks and smell the curries! In the words of said daughter:

"The book, 'Toads and Diamonds' by Heather Tomlinson is one of my all-time favorite fractured fairytales.

"Diribani is beautiful and kind. Her step-sister Tana is clever, practical and loyal. So when the goddess Naghali-ji grants Diribani the blessing of speaking flowers and jewels, Tana isn't surprised that she ends up speaking toads, frogs and snakes. However, are these really blessings or curses? Diribani's newfound wealth put her in touch with a charming prince - and murderers. Tana is banished from the village she grew up in but only she can produce the much-needed snakes that eat the rats which are causing the plague which is wiping out that village. Yet will the gifts the goddess gave them bring them wisdom, good fortune, love... or death?

"My favorite part was when Diribani admit her envy of her sister, wishing she had her sister's sharp mind and wit. At the same time, Tana is wishing she had Diribani's patience and kindness. I like it because it shows that everyone has something someone else envies.

"I would recommend this book to anyone interested in magic, adventure and the quest to find out what you where put on this earth for. I would also give this book five stars: two stars for the characters, two stars for the adventure and one star for the title which was very intriguing."

Toads and Diamonds was a book that took me by surprise. It had such an intricate world that it was set in that you are drawn right into it from the beginning. The two sisters are given these gifts that are both treasured but changes what they do with their lives so completely. Told from both of the girls in alternating chapters, you get a wide glimpse of their personalities, their desires and how they handle the challenges that face them. As much as the book ended in a way that really worked, I longed for more after I closed the book, it was that involving.

I was really hoping to like this book and I did. I really enjoyed it. There were spots where I felt a little lost due to the references to culture that I am not familiar with but I was not lost for long and not so lost that I still couldn't follow the story line. I thought this book was rich, creative, full and refreshing. I hated that it was over when I finished it. I wanted to know more. Granted, it was great to read a book for once that was just that, one book. No book one of x# series or trilogy. No having to wait till the next one to find out what happened. But just to say ok, done.
But in this case I would have like a little more just to find out what happened after. The story did end a little on the short side I believe. I felt like I needed more but I still loved the book.

Vastly different from Charles Perrault's The Fairies, in my opinion, Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson is a much-better version of the tale. For those not familiar with the original, two step-sisters encounter a disguised fairy on separate occasions. The younger of the two is blessed with a gift: Whenever she speaks, flowers and jewels fall from her lips. The eldest isn't a kind person, so the fairy curses her to spit out snakes and amphibians when she speaks. In traditional fairy tale fashion, the good-hearted, but downtrodden maiden overcomes all while those that put her down get their just rewards. Tomlinson took a fresh look at the original tale and thought, "What if the fairy blessed both sisters?" Both sisters are kind, good-hearted people who honestly love one another despite the fact that they don't share blood. Some parts of the tale remain consistent: Diribani is blessed with the gift of jewels and flowers, while her stepsister Tana is given the ability to speak snakes and toads. But which is a blessing and which a curse?

Tomlinson sets Toads and Diamonds in India, where snakes are revered. Tana has also received a gift, not a curse, though there are those who flee from what her lips release upon speaking. Many families own house nagas, snakes that eat the rats and keep pestilence from spreading. While outwardly, Diribani has received a priceless gift and releases a small fortune whenever she has something to say, it's actually a curse in disguise. She's locked up and kept away from everyone; her jewels line the king's coffers and a greedy governor wants her for himself. Toads and Diamonds is told in alternating POVs, so readers are able to follow both Diribani and Tana, seeing what becomes of the sisters and their "gifts."

Overall, Tana was my favorite of the sisters. She's made of strong mettle and goes through so much agony, while Diribani has a much easier life. Diribani's story flatlined a bit, and at times, I was eager to get back to Tana's plight. There was so much heartbreak and misery in her life; Tana was braver than most girls in her situation. As with any other fairy tale, there are also romantic prospects involved, though a relationship is hard for either sister due to their unique gifts. The throne doesn't want to let go of Diribani's riches while Tana feels that no one could love a girl who spits venomous snakes. The setting also played an important factor in the book and was a character in and of itself. I loved that Tomlinson modeled her land on a real country, India, and invented two powerful religions that are similar to ones we have in reality, while still being quite unique. Everything fit together well and created a lovely atmosphere not often seen in literature. Combined with an unusual outlook on what constitutes a blessing or a curse, Toads and Diamonds leaves readers with a lot to think about and reflect on.

Diribani and Tana both meet a goddess while fetching water from the town. She grants each sister a gift. When Diribani speaks, jewels and flowers fall from her mouth. When Tana speaks, toads and snakes fall from hers.

When their secret is discovered, it changes the sisters' lives. Diribani finds herself traveling with the Prince and his family. Each jewel is recorded and taken to send back to her village. She learns a new set of customs but struggles to keep part of herself intact.

Tana's gift brings fear. She, too, leaves her home and travels to a monastery. Before long, she sets off on a pilgrimage to learn the true meaning of her gift. Her travels bring her grief, and destruction follows in her path.

Are their gifts a blessing or a curse?

A wonderful fairy tale consisting of two sisters, with alternating chapters of each one's story. As each sister struggles to understand her gift, they encounter danger, friendship, romance, hardships, joy, tests of their strength, and a strong desire to see her sister.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

Diribani and Tana both meet a goddess while fetching water from the town. She grants each sister a gift. When Diribani speaks, jewels and flowers fall from her mouth. When Tana speaks, toads and snakes fall from her mouth.

When their secret is discovered, it changes the sisters' lives. Diribani finds herself traveling with the Prince and his family. Each jewel is recorded and taken to send back to her village. Diribani learns a new set of customs but struggles to keep part of herself intact.

Tana's gift brings fear. She, too, leaves her home and travels to a monastery. Before long, she sets off on a pilgrimage to learn the true meaning of her gift. Her travels bring her grief and destruction follows in her path.

Are their gifts a blessing or a curse?

I really enjoyed this read. I'm starting to adore Fairy Tales. The chapters alternated with each sister's story. As each sister struggles to understand her gift, they encounter danger, friendship, romance, hardships, joy, tests of their strength, and a strong desire to see her sister.

I have been on a YA book kick and finished this book in one gulp. She's a good writer and a mean spinner of tales (I should say re-spinner).I loved the way she retold this tale, adding in rich layers in the sister's relationship but also in examining both all aspects of whether the god given gifts were truly a gift. I loved the way she set the story in olden day india. There's not a lot of ways one can re-tell a tale about how toads and snakes falling from ones lips could be a good thing. Of course in a land where snakes are deified, its a no brainer. I am moving on to the rest of her work based on the strength of this book.