What do you think?
Rate this book
Entwined Tales #2
An Unnatural Beanstalk
Some fairies ruin everything.
Eva never doubted her place in her happy little world. Born second to a former woodcutters-turned-wealthy merchants’ family, all she ever wanted was to care for her siblings and to play the harp. Unfortunately, when her fairy godfather’s gift-giving goes awry, Eva receives an unusual talent that gets her abducted and betrothed to a loathsome duke with giant plans for the kingdom.
Jack never ventured far from his mother’s farm. But when Eva’s fairy godfather, in an attempt to fix his goddaughter’s plight, forces Jack to take some magic beans and responsibility for saving Eva, Jack finds himself in as much danger as the girl he came to save.
In this retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, follow Jack and Eva as they attempt to outsmart the duke, save the kingdom, and just possibly find their own happily ever after as well.
An Unnatural Beanstalk is a romantic fairy tale novella. It can be read on its own but is more fun when read as a part of the Entwined Tales, a series of interconnected fairy tales by six different authors. Each story follows the adventures of one of seven children from the same family as they seek out their own happily ever afters in spite of their reluctant fairy-godfather.
Eva never doubted her place in her happy little world. Born second to a former woodcutters-turned-wealthy merchants’ family, all she ever wanted was to care for her siblings and to play the harp. Unfortunately, when her fairy godfather’s gift-giving goes awry, Eva receives an unusual talent that gets her abducted and betrothed to a loathsome duke with giant plans for the kingdom.
Jack never ventured far from his mother’s farm. But when Eva’s fairy godfather, in an attempt to fix his goddaughter’s plight, forces Jack to take some magic beans and responsibility for saving Eva, Jack finds himself in as much danger as the girl he came to save.
In this retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, follow Jack and Eva as they attempt to outsmart the duke, save the kingdom, and just possibly find their own happily ever after as well.
An Unnatural Beanstalk is a romantic fairy tale novella. It can be read on its own but is more fun when read as a part of the Entwined Tales, a series of interconnected fairy tales by six different authors. Each story follows the adventures of one of seven children from the same family as they seek out their own happily ever afters in spite of their reluctant fairy-godfather.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2018
505 people are currently reading
879 people want to read
About the author
Brittany Fichter
72 books602 followersBrittany lives with her Prince Charming, their little fairy, and their tiny prince in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the Air Force has most recently placed them. When she's not writing, Brittany can be found chasing her kids around with a DSLR or belting it in the church choir. You can find more of her work at her website BrittanyFichterFiction.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
February 26, 2018
I was NOT a fan of this book at all. Eva was probably the most disappointing heroine I've encountered in a good long while. I couldn't believe what she allowed to happen to herself, and what she inflicted on others because of it. We're supposed to feel sorry for her because of her plight, but I found myself simply disgusted. Stop playing! Say the magic ran out! Make a giant vine shoot up and pin the freaking Duke to the wall! No, no, of course not! Let's just sit there like a bump on a log, and do exactly what the Duke wants you to do, despite the fact that it's starving an ENTIRE COUNTRY'S WORTH OF PEOPLE.
The Duke was way over the top, and the other characters did nothing to really add any value, including Mortimer, who is useless. I didn't buy the romance between Jack and Eva; telling us that the spent a lot of time together, and that he would tell her not to believe the Duke when he said mean things (argh!) doesn't really cut it. We need to see a lot more happening between them, and that was definitely missing.
I love fairytales, and retellings of fairytales, and fractured fairytales. They've been some of my favorite stories since childhood. But the two I've read in this series have definitely left me wanting.
The Duke was way over the top, and the other characters did nothing to really add any value, including Mortimer, who is useless. I didn't buy the romance between Jack and Eva; telling us that the spent a lot of time together, and that he would tell her not to believe the Duke when he said mean things (argh!) doesn't really cut it. We need to see a lot more happening between them, and that was definitely missing.
I love fairytales, and retellings of fairytales, and fractured fairytales. They've been some of my favorite stories since childhood. But the two I've read in this series have definitely left me wanting.
January 13, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed “An Unnatural Beanstalk” much more than “The Goose Girl”. I was pleasantly surprised to find the characters, plot, and theme actually had some substance to them.
Jack and Eva were both characters I found I could sympathize with and relate to to some degree. And the dear housekeeper was a Mrs. Pots type of gentle motherly woman.
The Duke I wholeheartedly despised. The little weasel…
There were definitely some holes in the story like the obvious green path that apparently no one can see but Jack? But despite the few such things, I still found it an enjoyable read the fairytale whimsicalness which I usually don’t care for I found enjoying in this story.
The theme for this story was to be brave, have courage, and stand strong for what you know is right.
I enjoyed “An Unnatural Beanstalk” much more than “The Goose Girl”. I was pleasantly surprised to find the characters, plot, and theme actually had some substance to them.
Jack and Eva were both characters I found I could sympathize with and relate to to some degree. And the dear housekeeper was a Mrs. Pots type of gentle motherly woman.
The Duke I wholeheartedly despised. The little weasel…
There were definitely some holes in the story like the obvious green path that apparently no one can see but Jack? But despite the few such things, I still found it an enjoyable read the fairytale whimsicalness which I usually don’t care for I found enjoying in this story.
The theme for this story was to be brave, have courage, and stand strong for what you know is right.
February 16, 2024
So funny story about this one, I actually read it in a day (because it was a really bad day and all I wanted to do was read) but for some bizarre reason even though I enjoyed it once I finished I was at a complete blank on what to rate it or even say about it! So I decided to turn right around and reread it so I could properly rate and review it which is where we are now.
Moral of the story: it was weird, lol. 😂
Anyways, I really liked it! For such a short book both Eva and Jack had full, well developed character arcs with high stakes and such a sweet romance! The duke was an interesting villain in that he wasn’t ever scary in a mean or violent way but more in he was scary by how he viewed everything as his with no questions asked, and I don’t know about you guys but frankly that is terrifying. Eva’s family did annoy me a little because they didn’t seem at all that supportive or understanding of Eva 99% of the time, but even under my annoyance I could tell they still cared about her.
I don’t remember much about the original Jack and the Beanstalk tale (I only read it once and it was a while ago) so I can’t comment much on how well or creatively the author retold it, but the few nods I did catch I thought were well done.
The only hiccup I caught was Jack did ask Eva about how she was “cursed” twice in roughly the same way which I think the second time should have been worded more as him asking for more details rather then it being basically the same question again that Eva answered slightly differently, haha. Also I was disappointed the epilogue was in letter form as I felt cheated from an actual wrapping up the story with both our leads in an actual scene rather then just being told more of what happened, but that’s more of a personal opinion then an actual flaw.
I overall really enjoyed this one, as evidenced by me reading it twice just to make sure about my feelings, lol!
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: a man and mother are verbally/mentally/emotionally abusive
Violence: a man slaps another’s face twice
Sexual: kissing (not detailed); a man insinuates a girl slept with another man (she didn’t) and says she has “loose morals”
Drug/Alcohol: characters go to a tavern; characters drink wine and ale; a character suspects their food was poisoned that made them very sick
Other: magic; fairies and fairy godfathers/mothers; magical abilities and objects; a girl is kidnapped, tied/locked up, and engaged against her will; a man and mother are verbally/mentally/emotionally abusive; magic creates a famine/drought in the land and kills all the plants
Moral of the story: it was weird, lol. 😂
Anyways, I really liked it! For such a short book both Eva and Jack had full, well developed character arcs with high stakes and such a sweet romance! The duke was an interesting villain in that he wasn’t ever scary in a mean or violent way but more in he was scary by how he viewed everything as his with no questions asked, and I don’t know about you guys but frankly that is terrifying. Eva’s family did annoy me a little because they didn’t seem at all that supportive or understanding of Eva 99% of the time, but even under my annoyance I could tell they still cared about her.
I don’t remember much about the original Jack and the Beanstalk tale (I only read it once and it was a while ago) so I can’t comment much on how well or creatively the author retold it, but the few nods I did catch I thought were well done.
The only hiccup I caught was Jack did ask Eva about how she was “cursed” twice in roughly the same way which I think the second time should have been worded more as him asking for more details rather then it being basically the same question again that Eva answered slightly differently, haha. Also I was disappointed the epilogue was in letter form as I felt cheated from an actual wrapping up the story with both our leads in an actual scene rather then just being told more of what happened, but that’s more of a personal opinion then an actual flaw.
I overall really enjoyed this one, as evidenced by me reading it twice just to make sure about my feelings, lol!
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: a man and mother are verbally/mentally/emotionally abusive
Violence: a man slaps another’s face twice
Sexual: kissing (not detailed); a man insinuates a girl slept with another man (she didn’t) and says she has “loose morals”
Drug/Alcohol: characters go to a tavern; characters drink wine and ale; a character suspects their food was poisoned that made them very sick
Other: magic; fairies and fairy godfathers/mothers; magical abilities and objects; a girl is kidnapped, tied/locked up, and engaged against her will; a man and mother are verbally/mentally/emotionally abusive; magic creates a famine/drought in the land and kills all the plants
December 31, 2021
This was soooo good. Brittany Fichter is on her way to becoming a favourite author of mine. This is the third book of hers in a row that I quite enjoyed!
Characters:
Fichter has a way of making characters come alive in such a delightful way. Each character has a distinct personality, and they are so much fun to read about.
I loved Eva's arch. It was relatable. She doubted herself and her worth, and doubted her courage to truly live life to the fullest (carpe diem!!). Her journey and progression to the point where she realized the truth was a pleasure to read.
Jack was such a sweetheart. I admired his loyalty to Eva, and how considerate he was.
The Duke. Ugh he was just awful. I think I despise self-righteous, proud, and just plain blind to their own conceit more than characters that are typical 'villains', if that makes sense. The Duke had not one ounce of likeable-ness. He was the worst.
Plot:
Fantastic; I was hooked from page one and probably would have read late into the night to finish it if I wasn't extremely tired.
I love books that are a whirlwind of emotions (most times), and this did not disappoint. There were funny parts, sad parts, edge-of-my-seat parts, parts that had me frustrated with characters, and finally at the end: happiness. 'Twas great!
One thing: the golden goose thing did not get resolved? Unless I missed something, but I am pretty sure nothing was mentioned about the whole deal with that and what it was about.
Writing:
Great writing! I was immersed into the story, and the descriptions were very well written.
I am so excited to read the next book in the Entwined Tales! The next sister main-character is Sophie, and by the way Fichter wrote about her briefly in this book, I think the next one by Shari L. Tapscott will be amazing.
4.5 stars
Characters:
Fichter has a way of making characters come alive in such a delightful way. Each character has a distinct personality, and they are so much fun to read about.
I loved Eva's arch. It was relatable. She doubted herself and her worth, and doubted her courage to truly live life to the fullest (carpe diem!!). Her journey and progression to the point where she realized the truth was a pleasure to read.
Jack was such a sweetheart. I admired his loyalty to Eva, and how considerate he was.
The Duke. Ugh he was just awful. I think I despise self-righteous, proud, and just plain blind to their own conceit more than characters that are typical 'villains', if that makes sense. The Duke had not one ounce of likeable-ness. He was the worst.
Plot:
Fantastic; I was hooked from page one and probably would have read late into the night to finish it if I wasn't extremely tired.
I love books that are a whirlwind of emotions (most times), and this did not disappoint. There were funny parts, sad parts, edge-of-my-seat parts, parts that had me frustrated with characters, and finally at the end: happiness. 'Twas great!
One thing: the golden goose thing did not get resolved? Unless I missed something, but I am pretty sure nothing was mentioned about the whole deal with that and what it was about.
Writing:
Great writing! I was immersed into the story, and the descriptions were very well written.
I am so excited to read the next book in the Entwined Tales! The next sister main-character is Sophie, and by the way Fichter wrote about her briefly in this book, I think the next one by Shari L. Tapscott will be amazing.
4.5 stars
January 19, 2021
Another solid read, clean cozy fairytale retelling. Not my favorite in the series- I get tired of the protagonist continuously letting others tell her what to do- but nevertheless a good story.
December 29, 2023
I didn't like this one nearly as much as the first book, mostly because I don't like the fairy tale of "Jack and the Beanstalk" to begin with. Also, I don't really get the ending.
Romance: CLEAN. No explicit scenes, no cursing.
Romance: CLEAN. No explicit scenes, no cursing.
September 2, 2021
I think this is the longest of the books in this series. I kind of lost track of the plot for a while because I couldn't tell where it was going. Everything worked out at the end so that was okay.
Jack was so sweet and I kinda wish his mum had died. Eva was precious and realistic. I loved the end and Mortimer's role in this. He was a tiny bit more helpful than usual, then again, not so much.
Jack was so sweet and I kinda wish his mum had died. Eva was precious and realistic. I loved the end and Mortimer's role in this. He was a tiny bit more helpful than usual, then again, not so much.
March 16, 2018
An Unnatural Beanstalk is a whimsical adventure. It’s full of wit and charm, and a dash of danger. This is a fun retelling you don’t want to miss!
Most of us have seen or heard a version of the original tale as children. Jack came home with some magic beans that grew a gigantic bean stalk. Atop the beanstalk was a giant (or ogre depending on the version) that had an unpleasant disposition, and a hankering for human. Among his possessions were a golden goose, and a magic harp.
Brittany has taken this original tale and added a touch of whimsy, a dash of pizzazz, and a splash of charm to the mix. Along with some unpredictable, yet fitting twists, she created a retelling that reads better than the original! This has become my new favorite retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk!
The writing was elegant and captivating. It drew me in and made me feel. It was unique and at the same time reminded me of K.M. Shea’s writing style. So, for that reason, I loved it even more.
Not only was this meant to be a retelling of a classic faerie tale, but it was also meant to be a continuation of sorts of the world that these 6 authors have built. So, the tale stood out on its own with the many beautiful facets of Brittany’s writing that I now love, but it also kept the same feeling that book 1, A Goose Girl, gave me. I found that quite exciting, because it really highlighted Brittany’s talent.
I really enjoyed coming back to the world of the Entwinted Tales. Brittany painted me a vivid picture and placed brilliant images in my mind. She also created some fabulous characters for her retelling that made me want more from her as an author. I was wooed by Jack, felt sympathy for Eva, and consistently wanted to slap the Duke! Brittany also showed me another side of our grumbly Faerie Godfather!
This one was exhilerating! I loved every minute of it! It read as a standalone, but was so much better having been read after A Goose Girl. I’ve already fallen in love with this whole series and would recommend it to all faerie tale lovers!
Thank you to the author for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review and as part of my Faerie Tale Friday post.
Most of us have seen or heard a version of the original tale as children. Jack came home with some magic beans that grew a gigantic bean stalk. Atop the beanstalk was a giant (or ogre depending on the version) that had an unpleasant disposition, and a hankering for human. Among his possessions were a golden goose, and a magic harp.
Brittany has taken this original tale and added a touch of whimsy, a dash of pizzazz, and a splash of charm to the mix. Along with some unpredictable, yet fitting twists, she created a retelling that reads better than the original! This has become my new favorite retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk!
The writing was elegant and captivating. It drew me in and made me feel. It was unique and at the same time reminded me of K.M. Shea’s writing style. So, for that reason, I loved it even more.
Not only was this meant to be a retelling of a classic faerie tale, but it was also meant to be a continuation of sorts of the world that these 6 authors have built. So, the tale stood out on its own with the many beautiful facets of Brittany’s writing that I now love, but it also kept the same feeling that book 1, A Goose Girl, gave me. I found that quite exciting, because it really highlighted Brittany’s talent.
I really enjoyed coming back to the world of the Entwinted Tales. Brittany painted me a vivid picture and placed brilliant images in my mind. She also created some fabulous characters for her retelling that made me want more from her as an author. I was wooed by Jack, felt sympathy for Eva, and consistently wanted to slap the Duke! Brittany also showed me another side of our grumbly Faerie Godfather!
This one was exhilerating! I loved every minute of it! It read as a standalone, but was so much better having been read after A Goose Girl. I’ve already fallen in love with this whole series and would recommend it to all faerie tale lovers!
Thank you to the author for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review and as part of my Faerie Tale Friday post.
August 30, 2020
'An Unnatural Beanstalk' is the second book in the "Entwined" series, a series of novellas by different authors that seek to retell classic fairytales. If you couldn't tell already, this one is a re-telling of Jack and the Beanstalk, although drastically different from my recollection of the original story.
Eva has been given a gift. One she doesn't want, one that doesn't help her, and one that's about to give a lot of trouble to everyone around her. Because her gift does things, and people in power want to use it to further their own agendas. Including one misguided person who has great plans for Eva. Her only hope is a boy she met once at a dance, a boy named Jack who is given some very special beans.
Eva and Jack are both great characters. They have dreams, flaws, and seek to improve themselves and their situations. Even in such a short story, there was enough character development that you got to see that growth as well. And of course the antagonist was delightfully evil in a sinister, but childlike way. I do think Jack's mother is a whole 'nother story that we'll probably have to get to, because that thread of intrigue just can't be dropped.
The plot was interesting. I don't know if it weaved other stories in, but it was definitely a unique take on the beanstalk myth. Mainly because (and I'll spoil it for you), it doesn't involve climbing or giants. The romance was thankfully more developed than the first one, and I could see why Eva and Jack actually liked each other.
Eager for the next one!
Review by M. Reynard 2020
Eva has been given a gift. One she doesn't want, one that doesn't help her, and one that's about to give a lot of trouble to everyone around her. Because her gift does things, and people in power want to use it to further their own agendas. Including one misguided person who has great plans for Eva. Her only hope is a boy she met once at a dance, a boy named Jack who is given some very special beans.
Eva and Jack are both great characters. They have dreams, flaws, and seek to improve themselves and their situations. Even in such a short story, there was enough character development that you got to see that growth as well. And of course the antagonist was delightfully evil in a sinister, but childlike way. I do think Jack's mother is a whole 'nother story that we'll probably have to get to, because that thread of intrigue just can't be dropped.
The plot was interesting. I don't know if it weaved other stories in, but it was definitely a unique take on the beanstalk myth. Mainly because (and I'll spoil it for you), it doesn't involve climbing or giants. The romance was thankfully more developed than the first one, and I could see why Eva and Jack actually liked each other.
Eager for the next one!
Review by M. Reynard 2020
February 23, 2018
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review of this novella—and honestly, I loved it!
“An Unnatural Beanstalk” was a sweet story and a clever retelling of “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Eva is a smart and kind heroine whom I loved supporting, and Jack is the perfect love interest. Their relationship was adorable, though it still had some room to grow. On the other hand, the duke is appropriately detestable, and I couldn’t wait to see his evil plans foiled. There were some intriguing twists in the plot, and though I don’t believe the Golden Goose mystery was ever resolved, I enjoyed the elements of the original tale.
It took a moment to orient myself in the prologue—Eva has so many siblings!—and there were some awkward time gaps in the tale, but the story wrapped up nicely. This is the first book I’ve read of the Entwined Tales series, and I plan to read the rest of them as well. It’s also my first Brittany Fichter book, but I’ll be looking into her other publications after this great introduction! I would recommend this fun novella to anyone who loves fairy tale retellings.
“An Unnatural Beanstalk” was a sweet story and a clever retelling of “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Eva is a smart and kind heroine whom I loved supporting, and Jack is the perfect love interest. Their relationship was adorable, though it still had some room to grow. On the other hand, the duke is appropriately detestable, and I couldn’t wait to see his evil plans foiled. There were some intriguing twists in the plot, and though I don’t believe the Golden Goose mystery was ever resolved, I enjoyed the elements of the original tale.
It took a moment to orient myself in the prologue—Eva has so many siblings!—and there were some awkward time gaps in the tale, but the story wrapped up nicely. This is the first book I’ve read of the Entwined Tales series, and I plan to read the rest of them as well. It’s also my first Brittany Fichter book, but I’ll be looking into her other publications after this great introduction! I would recommend this fun novella to anyone who loves fairy tale retellings.
August 28, 2025
Compared to the other Mortimer books this one was kind of a let down. The writing was very bland and the couple wasn’t as fun.
February 25, 2018
Oi I thought I reviews this when I finished it! Hopefully I can gather my thoughts together.
I love retellings and I really liked this book. It took me a little bit to get into it but I really liked it. It was a nice twist on the story. I loved Eva. She was so strong and she went through so much. She was great. And Jack was really great too. But best of all is that the duke REALLY gave me the creeps. Like the entire time I was reading I was so grossed out and ugh which was such a good thing because sometimes when you're reading a book as you continue along the story you kind of get used to the "bad guy" and they lose some of their ugh-ness? I can't think of a better word then ugh. This story was really original and magical. The way the elements from the original story (beanstalk, harp, golden goose) are put into this story was really interesting. Brittany Fichter is brilliant when it comes to world building. I never have problems when it comes to her stories and picturing where they are taking place. I have a feeling that I'm going to really enjoy this entire series.
**I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**
I love retellings and I really liked this book. It took me a little bit to get into it but I really liked it. It was a nice twist on the story. I loved Eva. She was so strong and she went through so much. She was great. And Jack was really great too. But best of all is that the duke REALLY gave me the creeps. Like the entire time I was reading I was so grossed out and ugh which was such a good thing because sometimes when you're reading a book as you continue along the story you kind of get used to the "bad guy" and they lose some of their ugh-ness? I can't think of a better word then ugh. This story was really original and magical. The way the elements from the original story (beanstalk, harp, golden goose) are put into this story was really interesting. Brittany Fichter is brilliant when it comes to world building. I never have problems when it comes to her stories and picturing where they are taking place. I have a feeling that I'm going to really enjoy this entire series.
**I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**
May 5, 2018
A fresh take on Jack and the Beanstalk. I wish the female protagonist would've been stronger and more active.
February 29, 2020
Hello, I'm just passing by and reading the Entwined Tales series. (Although in the future I may check out some other works by Brittany Fichter but who knows.)
I'm gonna be honest Jack and the Beanstalk is my least favorite fairy tale however I was willing to read this book just because it was in the Entwined Tales series.
So anyways An Unnatural Beanstalk is a story about Eva the sibling we hear a little from Rynn's story in "A Goose Girl" who was ahem curse by their fairy godfather with magical power. I'm gonna be spoiling stuff from the story so I will put it under spoiler tags for respect for any wandering reader who may be reading this book or the series and don't wish to be spoiled.
So this book isn't bad. I did like the interesting twists this book had on this fairy tale but honestly, I had a struggle trying to read this book, to be honest. It felt like it dragged at times for me and at times I wanted to drop this just to go ahead and read something else but I wanted to finish this just to get it off my kindle and write a review about it. I will admit that Brittany Fichter did make this novella longer than the previous book which I did appreciate for. Her writing isn't bad at all I actually don't mind it but this book, however, was not for me though.
( Edit: Nevermind I have attempted to try to finish this series but I just can't. I don't blame the author's fault at all but this series just isn't for me. I just find it too dragging, dull, and boring and have completely lost interest altogether this is just my honest thoughts. )
I'm gonna be honest Jack and the Beanstalk is my least favorite fairy tale however I was willing to read this book just because it was in the Entwined Tales series.
So anyways An Unnatural Beanstalk is a story about Eva the sibling we hear a little from Rynn's story in "A Goose Girl" who was ahem curse by their fairy godfather with magical power. I'm gonna be spoiling stuff from the story so I will put it under spoiler tags for respect for any wandering reader who may be reading this book or the series and don't wish to be spoiled.
So this book isn't bad. I did like the interesting twists this book had on this fairy tale but honestly, I had a struggle trying to read this book, to be honest. It felt like it dragged at times for me and at times I wanted to drop this just to go ahead and read something else but I wanted to finish this just to get it off my kindle and write a review about it. I will admit that Brittany Fichter did make this novella longer than the previous book which I did appreciate for. Her writing isn't bad at all I actually don't mind it but this book, however, was not for me though.
( Edit: Nevermind I have attempted to try to finish this series but I just can't. I don't blame the author's fault at all but this series just isn't for me. I just find it too dragging, dull, and boring and have completely lost interest altogether this is just my honest thoughts. )
August 24, 2018
My experience with this author so far has been very hit and miss: one book I didn't finish because I disliked the writing style so much, one story I loved, and this one, which falls somewhere in between those two. This one was definitely better written than the previous book in the series, in my opinion.
I'm planning to continue the series at this point, but it will definitely be interesting to see if the writing quality continues to fluctuate, with every book being written by a different author.
There's no real content issues to speak of here, but I might keep very young readers from reading it, as the villain gets just mildly icky and inappropriate with some of his 'love' stories and poetry.
I'm planning to continue the series at this point, but it will definitely be interesting to see if the writing quality continues to fluctuate, with every book being written by a different author.
There's no real content issues to speak of here, but I might keep very young readers from reading it, as the villain gets just mildly icky and inappropriate with some of his 'love' stories and poetry.
February 27, 2025
It's cute, but that's really it. Nothing super special.
July 21, 2018
An Unnatural Beanstalk is an adaptation of "Jack and the Beanstalk," but without the fantastical elements from the fairy tale. There are no man-eating giants, no golden eggs, and no beanstalks that tower into the sky. It's quite a shame because those are the elements that made the fairy tale really stand out, and it would have been a lot of fun to read about them from a fresh perspective, especially after the cancellation of Disney's Gigantic. Instead, the book was a pretty generic princess story about an insecure young woman named Eva getting captured by a duke while quietly plotting to unravel his plans to take over the kingdom. Even though the original fairy tale had no romance in it, Jack got demoted to the role of the protagonist's love interest in this version. Though he attempts to come to Eva's rescue upon learning that she was kidnapped, it proves to be far more difficult than he expected.
Eva's unwanted gift from Mortimer to grow or destroy crops when she plays the harp becomes a crucial factor in the duke's plan. He forces her to play his harp every morning and night to ensure that his land would be fruitful while simultaneously killing the crops for the rest of the kingdom. The concept of a peasant girl being forced to do something magical by a powerful man hearkens to the story of "Rumpelstiltskin." In fact, the fairy tale about an unwanted magical gift to spin straw into gold creating misfortune for the main character would have fit a lot better with the overarching theme of the Entwined Tales series than "Jack and the Beanstalk," so I'm a little surprised that nobody used it. Though Eva's story is rather generic as far as fairy tales go, she did have a few traits that made her unique. She was uncommonly tall for a girl, which made it difficult for her to find a suitor, and her insecurities made it hard for her to stand up for herself. Because of her uncommon humility, she never summoned her irritable fairy godfather Mortimer to request his faulty magic, making her his "favorite" of the woodcutter's children.
The book seemed to be a thinly veiled cautionary tale about bad parenting. Both of the main characters' problems were caused by poor parenting decisions. Eva was sent away to live with her nefarious cousin, Tamra, as her parents' way of "protecting" her from people who might take advantage of her supernatural abilities. It was later revealed that the duke who kidnapped Eva was raised by the type of parents who believed in participation trophies and constant praise, making him oblivious to the negative consequences of his actions. The duke was the closest attempt that the book made at humor with his awful poetry and his complete lack of awareness that Eva did not return his affections, but her situation was so grim that the tone never felt as light as the rest of the Entwined Tales series. If anything, his black humor was comparable to Count Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events. Jack's mother was also every bit as cold and demanding as she was in the original fairy tale, which is why he was the first person to notice Eva's humility and kindness and quickly grew to love her. Brittany Fichter even included a bonus chapter for subscribers to her newsletter about how much of an unwanted ruckus Jack's mother caused after he and Eva were trying to enjoy their happy ending. Though the bonus chapter had a lot of typographical errors, it was funnier than the actual book in many ways because it satirized overbearing mothers.
An Unnatural Beanstalk created a lot of untapped potential by excluding the giants and the magical kingdom in the sky from the story it was based on. Thanks to the lack of whimsy, I found it less creative than the other books in the series and by far the darkest. The plot was very similar to every other princess book I've read. That said, Jack and Eva were likable enough as characters, and the romance between them was endearing. I saw many parallels to Brittany's other novel, The Autumn Fairy, but I liked that book a lot more thanks to its fantasy and originality. The message about bad parenting was enforced a little too much. It seemed as if all of the characters' problems could have been solved with better parents whether Mortimer's magic had been part of the story or not. It was an enjoyable enough book, but not the best in the series.
Eva's unwanted gift from Mortimer to grow or destroy crops when she plays the harp becomes a crucial factor in the duke's plan. He forces her to play his harp every morning and night to ensure that his land would be fruitful while simultaneously killing the crops for the rest of the kingdom. The concept of a peasant girl being forced to do something magical by a powerful man hearkens to the story of "Rumpelstiltskin." In fact, the fairy tale about an unwanted magical gift to spin straw into gold creating misfortune for the main character would have fit a lot better with the overarching theme of the Entwined Tales series than "Jack and the Beanstalk," so I'm a little surprised that nobody used it. Though Eva's story is rather generic as far as fairy tales go, she did have a few traits that made her unique. She was uncommonly tall for a girl, which made it difficult for her to find a suitor, and her insecurities made it hard for her to stand up for herself. Because of her uncommon humility, she never summoned her irritable fairy godfather Mortimer to request his faulty magic, making her his "favorite" of the woodcutter's children.
The book seemed to be a thinly veiled cautionary tale about bad parenting. Both of the main characters' problems were caused by poor parenting decisions. Eva was sent away to live with her nefarious cousin, Tamra, as her parents' way of "protecting" her from people who might take advantage of her supernatural abilities. It was later revealed that the duke who kidnapped Eva was raised by the type of parents who believed in participation trophies and constant praise, making him oblivious to the negative consequences of his actions. The duke was the closest attempt that the book made at humor with his awful poetry and his complete lack of awareness that Eva did not return his affections, but her situation was so grim that the tone never felt as light as the rest of the Entwined Tales series. If anything, his black humor was comparable to Count Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events. Jack's mother was also every bit as cold and demanding as she was in the original fairy tale, which is why he was the first person to notice Eva's humility and kindness and quickly grew to love her. Brittany Fichter even included a bonus chapter for subscribers to her newsletter about how much of an unwanted ruckus Jack's mother caused after he and Eva were trying to enjoy their happy ending. Though the bonus chapter had a lot of typographical errors, it was funnier than the actual book in many ways because it satirized overbearing mothers.
An Unnatural Beanstalk created a lot of untapped potential by excluding the giants and the magical kingdom in the sky from the story it was based on. Thanks to the lack of whimsy, I found it less creative than the other books in the series and by far the darkest. The plot was very similar to every other princess book I've read. That said, Jack and Eva were likable enough as characters, and the romance between them was endearing. I saw many parallels to Brittany's other novel, The Autumn Fairy, but I liked that book a lot more thanks to its fantasy and originality. The message about bad parenting was enforced a little too much. It seemed as if all of the characters' problems could have been solved with better parents whether Mortimer's magic had been part of the story or not. It was an enjoyable enough book, but not the best in the series.
December 25, 2021
I'm not sure that this reworking of Jack and the Beanstalk really is a romance as such, what with most of the development happening "they'd spent time together over the last x number of days" off the page style, but it's an inventive take on the story none the less. From a henpecked Jack to a downright Princess Bride worthy scene-chewer of a villain, it's not the story you thought you knew.
Again, being part of the Entwined Tales series, it suffers for not explaining the context of the seven siblings and their ass of a fairy godfather situation. In this tale we do get the backstory recounted, but not until half way through, and by then we've already had (to me at least) a highly confusing prologue full of characters I didn't know and a good deed leading to a fairy blessing/curse by the unfortunate godfather Mortimer. Despite having read one of the series before, I didn't recognise the characters, their relationships, or even get why what happened, happened. But then we're away into Eva strange little tale.
In it, our heroine - tall, gangly, finds it hard to stand up for herself Eva - is "blessed" with the ability to make plants grow or wither whenever she plays her beloved harp. She has no control over her powers, but a fairy-blessed girl is still in high demand amongst the would-be suitors of her town. Going to stay with her distant cousin doesn't help much when said cousin sells her out to a magic-obsessed duke with a dastardly plan to put his backside on his kingdom's throne. All the while, Jack lives under the thumb of his neglectful mother who cares little for their farm or family. He's smitten by the pretty girl Eva, and when she vanishes, he's determined to seek her out. Unfortunately, a rather surly fairy godfather has realized his mistake and might just need to offer aid...
There was a lot I liked about this retelling. It's like the original, but also really, really not. There are beans and cows and magical things... But no fee-fi-fo-fum-ing giants or literal golden egg-laying geese. The context of magical crop failures and an absolutely loopy villain was fun.
Eva and Jack could feel a little flip-floppy at times though; they're supposed to be defined by their lack of standing up for themselves, but despite being told this repeatedly the things they do are at odds with it. Eva's inability to act until the last moment didn't quite make sense to me as a character arc; she could have done it at any time, and nothing seemed to really prompt the change. The same goes for Jack, as I didn't get the "he's a quitter" vibes we're constantly told about. I didn't feel the romance so much, as it sort of just popped up after a few glances and off screen proximity. The tone was a little odd too, as I expected it to be more comedic with how OTT the dastardly duke was. While not rushed like some novellas, it still seems like there should have been more time for descriptions, for characters to grow, and just to get an idea of what this evil plan of the duke's really was. At times the plot seemed to drag strangely even though it felt a tad sparse on actual events.
The ending is cute enough, wraps everything up (though quite quickly), and slightly teases the next book in the series.
I did enjoy it, so a sort of 2.5 rounded up for inventiveness, but I can't help but feel like it wasn't as developed as well as it could have been.
Again, being part of the Entwined Tales series, it suffers for not explaining the context of the seven siblings and their ass of a fairy godfather situation. In this tale we do get the backstory recounted, but not until half way through, and by then we've already had (to me at least) a highly confusing prologue full of characters I didn't know and a good deed leading to a fairy blessing/curse by the unfortunate godfather Mortimer. Despite having read one of the series before, I didn't recognise the characters, their relationships, or even get why what happened, happened. But then we're away into Eva strange little tale.
In it, our heroine - tall, gangly, finds it hard to stand up for herself Eva - is "blessed" with the ability to make plants grow or wither whenever she plays her beloved harp. She has no control over her powers, but a fairy-blessed girl is still in high demand amongst the would-be suitors of her town. Going to stay with her distant cousin doesn't help much when said cousin sells her out to a magic-obsessed duke with a dastardly plan to put his backside on his kingdom's throne. All the while, Jack lives under the thumb of his neglectful mother who cares little for their farm or family. He's smitten by the pretty girl Eva, and when she vanishes, he's determined to seek her out. Unfortunately, a rather surly fairy godfather has realized his mistake and might just need to offer aid...
There was a lot I liked about this retelling. It's like the original, but also really, really not. There are beans and cows and magical things... But no fee-fi-fo-fum-ing giants or literal golden egg-laying geese. The context of magical crop failures and an absolutely loopy villain was fun.
Eva and Jack could feel a little flip-floppy at times though; they're supposed to be defined by their lack of standing up for themselves, but despite being told this repeatedly the things they do are at odds with it. Eva's inability to act until the last moment didn't quite make sense to me as a character arc; she could have done it at any time, and nothing seemed to really prompt the change. The same goes for Jack, as I didn't get the "he's a quitter" vibes we're constantly told about. I didn't feel the romance so much, as it sort of just popped up after a few glances and off screen proximity. The tone was a little odd too, as I expected it to be more comedic with how OTT the dastardly duke was. While not rushed like some novellas, it still seems like there should have been more time for descriptions, for characters to grow, and just to get an idea of what this evil plan of the duke's really was. At times the plot seemed to drag strangely even though it felt a tad sparse on actual events.
The ending is cute enough, wraps everything up (though quite quickly), and slightly teases the next book in the series.
I did enjoy it, so a sort of 2.5 rounded up for inventiveness, but I can't help but feel like it wasn't as developed as well as it could have been.
February 13, 2018
Magical. Romantic. Adventurous. This book has all the above and more. I just love fairy-tale retellings and reading along with the series so far, I absolutely adore the different situations this not-so-good fairy godfather gets everyone into. I like how this book empowers the strength we carry in ourselves and to choose our own path in life. Eva and Jack have their own problems, but how they come together and choose their own decisions, tells an enlightening and lighthearted story. I really liked how the author put a unique and entertaining spin on the classic Jack and the Beanstalk tale we all know. I would recommend this book to any young adult or adult who enjoys reading fairy-tale retellings.
An Unnatural Beanstalk is a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, also is the second standalone story in the Entwined Tales series.
I voluntarily received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Final Rating: 5 Stars
An Unnatural Beanstalk is a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, also is the second standalone story in the Entwined Tales series.
I voluntarily received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Final Rating: 5 Stars
February 21, 2021
Reader thoughts: When this series was on sale, and because Melanie Cellier was one of the authors, I decided to purchase all of them and read all of them. I HAD to like them because Cellier's book was #6. (I'd read #1 a few years ago and thought it was okay.)
Book #2 was fun, short, but nothing to rave about. I was skeptical about Jack and how hesitant he was to be the hero. He was okay otherwise, and I LOVED the twist at the end. I should have seen that coming!
Eva didn't seem to try very hard to escape. Actually, most of my frustration came from how useless she was. She just didn't seem to be very creative nor try to escape or fix her situation. I wanted to know exactly what the duke could do so that I knew how she could fix it. Instead, the reader is just told that there were enchantments preventing her escape. The end. Disappointing.
The duke seemed to have WAY too much power. He was mostly not clever, but he still nearly out-clevered Jack and Eva. That goes to show how non-clever they were being. They had almost no plan and can't seem to pull off anything.
Still, I appreciated that the romance was clean and sweet. No hints of inappropriateness. No Jack thinking all about her luscious body (other than her hair and lips, perhaps). No lusty touches. Just the two of them happy to be together and enjoying each other's company.
Writer thoughts: Fichter was writing a retelling and a romance but not a book where readers are intended to be awed by the characters' cleverness. Readers aren't expect to try and figure out what's going on because we aren't given enough details or see Eva's try-fail cycles. So, just sit back with this book and don't think too hard about what's going on.
Book #2 was fun, short, but nothing to rave about. I was skeptical about Jack and how hesitant he was to be the hero. He was okay otherwise, and I LOVED the twist at the end. I should have seen that coming!
Eva didn't seem to try very hard to escape. Actually, most of my frustration came from how useless she was. She just didn't seem to be very creative nor try to escape or fix her situation. I wanted to know exactly what the duke could do so that I knew how she could fix it. Instead, the reader is just told that there were enchantments preventing her escape. The end. Disappointing.
The duke seemed to have WAY too much power. He was mostly not clever, but he still nearly out-clevered Jack and Eva. That goes to show how non-clever they were being. They had almost no plan and can't seem to pull off anything.
Still, I appreciated that the romance was clean and sweet. No hints of inappropriateness. No Jack thinking all about her luscious body (other than her hair and lips, perhaps). No lusty touches. Just the two of them happy to be together and enjoying each other's company.
Writer thoughts: Fichter was writing a retelling and a romance but not a book where readers are intended to be awed by the characters' cleverness. Readers aren't expect to try and figure out what's going on because we aren't given enough details or see Eva's try-fail cycles. So, just sit back with this book and don't think too hard about what's going on.
February 27, 2018
Summary:
Eva has always been the quietest of her sisters. She tries to go unnoticed, but her height makes that impossible. She shies away from love and life, except in her music. She has a love for the harp specifically. All of her dreams revolve around her music. Just when her dreams are beginning to come true, a good deed sends her spiraling out of control. As the old saying goes, "No good deed goes unnoticed."
The next thing Eva knows, her music is a curse to her and everyone around her, and she's been kidnapped and betrothed to an utterly despicable man.
Will she be able to bring her music back to life and find the man of her dreams? Or will life become a dreary, submissive place for Eva?
My Thoughts:
I must admit, my initial thoughts when I started this book were not great. My opinions were not based on the author, or even the cover (the cover is amazing btw!). My thoughts were purely based on my lack of interest in the original tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. I can't really say why, it has just never been a fave of mine.
Back to An Unnatural Beanstalk, it was awesome! I genuinely enjoyed reading this novel. I love the main character, Eva. She is feminine and self-conscious yet also strong and determined, a beautiful combination. I enjoyed each new plot twist as they came and it kept me yearning to read more.
This was another quick read for me. I love that, but I also miss the characters once I'm done. This is one of the joys of the Entwined Tales series. The characters make appearances in each novel, so I don't feel like they are completely gone just yet. I am reading them completely out of order, but it does not take away from the tales at all. Each can be stand alone, but it is recommended to read them in order. What can I say? I guess I'm a rule breaker. Check out my thoughts on A Bear'sA Bear's Bride (Entwined Tales - Vol. 2)
Eva has always been the quietest of her sisters. She tries to go unnoticed, but her height makes that impossible. She shies away from love and life, except in her music. She has a love for the harp specifically. All of her dreams revolve around her music. Just when her dreams are beginning to come true, a good deed sends her spiraling out of control. As the old saying goes, "No good deed goes unnoticed."
The next thing Eva knows, her music is a curse to her and everyone around her, and she's been kidnapped and betrothed to an utterly despicable man.
Will she be able to bring her music back to life and find the man of her dreams? Or will life become a dreary, submissive place for Eva?
My Thoughts:
I must admit, my initial thoughts when I started this book were not great. My opinions were not based on the author, or even the cover (the cover is amazing btw!). My thoughts were purely based on my lack of interest in the original tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. I can't really say why, it has just never been a fave of mine.
Back to An Unnatural Beanstalk, it was awesome! I genuinely enjoyed reading this novel. I love the main character, Eva. She is feminine and self-conscious yet also strong and determined, a beautiful combination. I enjoyed each new plot twist as they came and it kept me yearning to read more.
This was another quick read for me. I love that, but I also miss the characters once I'm done. This is one of the joys of the Entwined Tales series. The characters make appearances in each novel, so I don't feel like they are completely gone just yet. I am reading them completely out of order, but it does not take away from the tales at all. Each can be stand alone, but it is recommended to read them in order. What can I say? I guess I'm a rule breaker. Check out my thoughts on A Bear'sA Bear's Bride (Entwined Tales - Vol. 2)
November 19, 2022
Content:
Language: None
Violence: None
Sexual: Mild. some kissing, and creepy 'romance' poetry (played for humor)
Trigger Warning: Parental neglect and abuse, kidnapping and emotional abuse/gaslighting.
There aren't a lot of Jack and the Beanstalk retellings out there, but out of the ones I've read, this is the best. It's got nearly all the pieces of the original tale but they are all twisted nicely to fit within the realm of this loose series, which was delightful to read and made me smile.
Eva is kind. She is also passive and prefers to leave things be, which she's been criticized for by others. Jack doesn't like fighting, and is subject to the whims of a mother who acts more like a toddler than an adult, all he wants is to take care of his brothers and get out from under his mother's thumb. When the two meet, it's easy to see just how well they fit together, good and bad qualities alike.
Can I just say, nice job on the antagonists? Holy idiotic creeper Duke Batman. I wanted to punch him on Eva's behalf. Many many times. Although the sonnets, songs, and poetry were gag-worthy and a little funny in a horrific sort of way. The Duke could have easily been a ridiculous clown of a villain, but along with his stupidity, he was masterfully evil. The juxstoposition actually made him seem more...real? And Jack's Mom. That woman was disgusting and pitiable and I wanted him to just leave her to rot in her own self imposed victimhood. She bothered me more than the Duke. Good thing Jack is a better person than me is all I can say.
This was very well executed and I look forward to reading more from Brittany Fichter, she's been on my to-read for years. Ahahaha...(there are so many books to read, it's a lovely problem okay?!)
Language: None
Violence: None
Sexual: Mild. some kissing, and creepy 'romance' poetry (played for humor)
Trigger Warning: Parental neglect and abuse, kidnapping and emotional abuse/gaslighting.
There aren't a lot of Jack and the Beanstalk retellings out there, but out of the ones I've read, this is the best. It's got nearly all the pieces of the original tale but they are all twisted nicely to fit within the realm of this loose series, which was delightful to read and made me smile.
Eva is kind. She is also passive and prefers to leave things be, which she's been criticized for by others. Jack doesn't like fighting, and is subject to the whims of a mother who acts more like a toddler than an adult, all he wants is to take care of his brothers and get out from under his mother's thumb. When the two meet, it's easy to see just how well they fit together, good and bad qualities alike.
Can I just say, nice job on the antagonists? Holy idiotic creeper Duke Batman. I wanted to punch him on Eva's behalf. Many many times. Although the sonnets, songs, and poetry were gag-worthy and a little funny in a horrific sort of way. The Duke could have easily been a ridiculous clown of a villain, but along with his stupidity, he was masterfully evil. The juxstoposition actually made him seem more...real? And Jack's Mom. That woman was disgusting and pitiable and I wanted him to just leave her to rot in her own self imposed victimhood. She bothered me more than the Duke. Good thing Jack is a better person than me is all I can say.
This was very well executed and I look forward to reading more from Brittany Fichter, she's been on my to-read for years. Ahahaha...(there are so many books to read, it's a lovely problem okay?!)
November 29, 2019
Honestly, I had thought I would love all the books in this series. After reading A Goose Girl, I went immediately to this book, and somehow got bored in the first two chapters itself. I then read all the other books in this series, hoping that knowing the fate of all the other siblings would make me want to read this book. But no.
Sometimes, I don't have an explanation for why I don't like a book. I somehow just don't. But when I forced myself to go ahead with this book, I understood the reason. I didn't like Eva! She was portrayed in a very disappointing manner. At every point in the book, I would think to myself, "She could have done this bit differently!"
What makes or breaks a book for me, generally, is character development. The plot is, of course, important, and I can never read a dry book even if the characters are developed wonderfully. But if the plot is great, shallow characters just put me off. And that's how I would describe all the characters of this book. Shallow. Eva, the villainous Duke, and even Jack weren't given enough depth.
The ending was wonderful, and it redeemed the book in my eyes. That is the sole reason I'm giving it 3 out of 5 stars. I am, after all, a sucker for happy endings. But otherwise, the book just didn't cut it for me.
Sometimes, I don't have an explanation for why I don't like a book. I somehow just don't. But when I forced myself to go ahead with this book, I understood the reason. I didn't like Eva! She was portrayed in a very disappointing manner. At every point in the book, I would think to myself, "She could have done this bit differently!"
What makes or breaks a book for me, generally, is character development. The plot is, of course, important, and I can never read a dry book even if the characters are developed wonderfully. But if the plot is great, shallow characters just put me off. And that's how I would describe all the characters of this book. Shallow. Eva, the villainous Duke, and even Jack weren't given enough depth.
The ending was wonderful, and it redeemed the book in my eyes. That is the sole reason I'm giving it 3 out of 5 stars. I am, after all, a sucker for happy endings. But otherwise, the book just didn't cut it for me.
February 18, 2021
This short book is a twist on a fairytale. Eva loves playing the harp, and her godfather repays a kind act on her part by making her harp playing magical: she can make plants grow or die based on her mood as she plays. This makes her a target for anyone who wants to use her magic. She's kidnapped and her family threatened if she doesn't do as she's told. Her godfather sends Jack to rescue her, but she refuses. She's determined to figure out what the grand plan is and save the kingdom with Jack's help.
Eva and Jack became friends as they worked together, and Jack helped to counter the cruel words spoken by the captor. They both became more courageous as they faced challenges together. However, it bothered me that Eva knew that she must be doing harm but did it anyway. Especially after she learned of the devastation she was causing the entire nation. It felt selfish for her to care more about the threat to her family. There were a number of things they could've tried to stop the bad guy. Instead, she continued to create a famine in the hopes they might someday figure out why the bad guy wanted a famine. Does "why" matter? Just stop him! There was no sex or bad language. Overall, this fairytale retelling had an interesting twist, but I didn't find the characters to be very engaging.
Eva and Jack became friends as they worked together, and Jack helped to counter the cruel words spoken by the captor. They both became more courageous as they faced challenges together. However, it bothered me that Eva knew that she must be doing harm but did it anyway. Especially after she learned of the devastation she was causing the entire nation. It felt selfish for her to care more about the threat to her family. There were a number of things they could've tried to stop the bad guy. Instead, she continued to create a famine in the hopes they might someday figure out why the bad guy wanted a famine. Does "why" matter? Just stop him! There was no sex or bad language. Overall, this fairytale retelling had an interesting twist, but I didn't find the characters to be very engaging.
January 19, 2023
The beginning bit of this started out so well! I really liked the writing and Eva as a main character, and I was excited to see where the story went.
Unfortunately, after that this turned into a very "meh" book for me. I liked Eva and Jack well enough, but their romance did absolutely nothing for me. The plot felt pretty dull (and at one point there was a reveal that I didn't even realize was supposed to be a mystery? maybe it was just the characters realizing it...) And I couldn't STAND the antagonist. Not in a 'you're so well-developed but you're also terrible' way, but in a 'I so wish you weren't in this book' way. He was alternately insufferably annoying, and apparently an actual murderer? Maybe it was supposed to feel chilling, but it just felt ridiculous and weird and underdeveloped - the like the author couldn't decide what kind of villain he was so just did both.
Also, it bugged me a little the way everyone was like 'yeah Jack what are you going to do, listen to your MOM some more?' His mom is a truly awful person, and THAT'S why he shouldn't listen to her - not because he's a man and she's his mom, which is kind of what it felt like the book was implying sometimes?? or at least framing it as an equally important reason.
CW: Kidnapping, attempted forced marriage, verbal abuse
Unfortunately, after that this turned into a very "meh" book for me. I liked Eva and Jack well enough, but their romance did absolutely nothing for me. The plot felt pretty dull (and at one point there was a reveal that I didn't even realize was supposed to be a mystery? maybe it was just the characters realizing it...) And I couldn't STAND the antagonist. Not in a 'you're so well-developed but you're also terrible' way, but in a 'I so wish you weren't in this book' way. He was alternately insufferably annoying, and apparently an actual murderer? Maybe it was supposed to feel chilling, but it just felt ridiculous and weird and underdeveloped - the like the author couldn't decide what kind of villain he was so just did both.
Also, it bugged me a little the way everyone was like 'yeah Jack what are you going to do, listen to your MOM some more?' His mom is a truly awful person, and THAT'S why he shouldn't listen to her - not because he's a man and she's his mom, which is kind of what it felt like the book was implying sometimes?? or at least framing it as an equally important reason.
CW: Kidnapping, attempted forced marriage, verbal abuse
February 20, 2018
It took me awhile to get into this story. I've read a couple of other stories by Brittany and this one was much harder for me to get the feel of. We saw more of Mortimer in this story than we did in the first one, which helped to understand his character better, which I liked. We also got a bit of a picture of Sophie, who is the next sister, and that will help when I read the next book - connecting me to the stories. She also referred to the first sister often as well, keeping the first story fresh in my mind. Eva was complex. She wanted to be strong, but she kept getting kicked down. She had a magic that she could have used to fight for herself, but she didn't have the confidence in herself to use it. Jack cared about his family and his friends and felt trapped by his mother for his brothers' sake. While trying to help Eva he gives away his feelings and things go awry. It's at this point that we see Eva's strength and Jack's determination finally come out. I think it was at about 45% I was really into the story and glad that I had kept going.
June 20, 2018
2.5 stars. The ending almost got it up to 3 solid ones but, in the beginning, I was alternately bored, apathetic and slightly annoyed with Eva. It wasn't until after Eva finally grew a backbone, that I became invested in the end of the story. I mean I would have finished it anyway, but it stopped being such a drag.
Not to say the writing was terrible, it's not and the story was alright. Eva though and Jack were meh characters for me. I get they needed to work on their flaws and come into their own, but they weren't relatable and I found it hard to care about what would happen to them.
Recommended? Yes
Buy/Borrow? Borrow
I think I'll start putting these in order of my favorites with number 1 being my favorite. Since I do plan on reading this entire series.
1) Goose Girl by K.M Shea
2) An Unnatural Beanstalk by Brittany Fichter
Not to say the writing was terrible, it's not and the story was alright. Eva though and Jack were meh characters for me. I get they needed to work on their flaws and come into their own, but they weren't relatable and I found it hard to care about what would happen to them.
Recommended? Yes
Buy/Borrow? Borrow
I think I'll start putting these in order of my favorites with number 1 being my favorite. Since I do plan on reading this entire series.
1) Goose Girl by K.M Shea
2) An Unnatural Beanstalk by Brittany Fichter
December 29, 2024
*4.25
Content Rating: 4.9/5
Content Note: Eva is kidnapped and forcibly engaged to a duke who writes poems and songs about her. There are no details given, but lots of hints that they talk about inappropriate desires.
Theme Rating: 4.5/5
Age Rating: 11-12+
This was another fun story in the series. I adored Jack and Eva's relationship, and the theme was sweet. Obviously I despised the Duke, and we get a little more of Mortimer in this one, which showed how horribly frustrating a godfather he is... but some parts were also hilarious. I loved seeing how things worked out, and I adored the ending! spoilers ahead Overall, this was such a fun fairytale retellings, and I was a lot more familiar with the story of Jack and the Beanstalk than some others, so that was cool, plus it was such a creative retelling!
Content Rating: 4.9/5
Content Note: Eva is kidnapped and forcibly engaged to a duke who writes poems and songs about her. There are no details given, but lots of hints that they talk about inappropriate desires.
Theme Rating: 4.5/5
Age Rating: 11-12+
This was another fun story in the series. I adored Jack and Eva's relationship, and the theme was sweet. Obviously I despised the Duke, and we get a little more of Mortimer in this one, which showed how horribly frustrating a godfather he is... but some parts were also hilarious. I loved seeing how things worked out, and I adored the ending! spoilers ahead Overall, this was such a fun fairytale retellings, and I was a lot more familiar with the story of Jack and the Beanstalk than some others, so that was cool, plus it was such a creative retelling!
February 12, 2018
What a joy it was to see this novella! I don't know how Brittany Fichter manages so much quaity writing, I had prepared myself for a long wait after her last novel and yet here is this little gem, produced just weeks later.
My delight was even greater when I discovered that this is one of a set of six "intertwined" stories by some of my favourite authors; I cannot wait to read them all.
I love re-told fairy tales by such good writers because they usually "fix" what seems like serious flaws in the original tales, and this novella is no exception. Add to that a charming love interest, interesting plot and deep human understanding and you have there, in one re-readable package, just what I love most in a book.
As always, the characters have depth and yet there is a lightness, a sense of fun. For instance, I found myself chuckling at the fairy godfather's interactions and at Eva's desperation to get back to "normal".
I thoroughly recommend this novella.
My delight was even greater when I discovered that this is one of a set of six "intertwined" stories by some of my favourite authors; I cannot wait to read them all.
I love re-told fairy tales by such good writers because they usually "fix" what seems like serious flaws in the original tales, and this novella is no exception. Add to that a charming love interest, interesting plot and deep human understanding and you have there, in one re-readable package, just what I love most in a book.
As always, the characters have depth and yet there is a lightness, a sense of fun. For instance, I found myself chuckling at the fairy godfather's interactions and at Eva's desperation to get back to "normal".
I thoroughly recommend this novella.
February 13, 2018
The Entwined Tales Series is off to an amazing start! K.M. Shea’s “A Goose Girl” introduced us to the woodcutter’s family and Mortimer, their bumbling fairy godfather, in a lovely twist on the original fairy tale. Brittany Fichter picks up the next story and really delivers an amazing tale of another sibling who is kidnapped for her magic. The characters are flawed, making the story so much more. We get to see Jack and Eva grow strong and brave, working together to overcome evil. I like that there are no helpless princesses waiting to be rescued or puffed up princes riding off blindly to save the day. Even Mortimer, the seemingly careless fairy godfather, grows on you through the story.
Once again, Brittany has truly taken an old tale and used her own magic to create a lovely new adventure. I can’t wait for the next one!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Once again, Brittany has truly taken an old tale and used her own magic to create a lovely new adventure. I can’t wait for the next one!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews