Member Reviews
Darkwood series is officialy my favourite fairytales retellings of all times. It is written with so much wit and humor, and characters are just amazing. In many parts it reminds me of Terry Practhett's Tiffany Aching series or Witches series. I know that it is tagged children fantasy, but really, I think that every fan of Discworld and humorous light novels will like it. True, main protagonists are about 12 or 13, but there are others magnificent characters that are older and I think that reader in every age will find this novel appropriate.
I liked Darkwood, but Such Big Teeth is even better. For most part it covers a story of Gretel and her team going north to find allies in north witches. Of course it isn't easy. And there's Hansel and Daisy going to Citadel to trying to stop a monster, where they find out what politic really looks like. We meet some new interesting characters and there's also sweet romances both straight and queer.
I think that more people should know about this series, because it is really good. Characters are just amazing, it's like, you meet your favourite fairytale characters in totally new light. My personal favourite is Snow, but there are others that are almost as great.
You want something funny, with witty dialogues and characters you will root for from start to the end? Go read Darkwood series!
The ending promises us a new adventures and want them right now!
Thank You NetGalley for giving me ARC copy of this magnificent book.
5 stars
When I first requested this book I didn't realize it was the second in the series. So before digging in I bought and read book 1 Darkwood. I found the writing in both to be very fun and witty. While more juvenile than my usual taste I feel safe saying this is a series the whole family can enjoy. There were times I laughed out loud and much to my husband's delight Read aloud sections to him. This second book was slightly slower at times than book 1 and maybe a hint darker.
Let me explain that a bit. In book 1 it felt like even if things went wrong for the characters things were still kept light and fluffy. Sort of like Spaceballs. Where even the bad guy is a little goofy and you can't take him totally seriously. IN Such big teeth while there is still a humorous element to the bad guys. I found myself really hoping they would get a good comeuppance.
Overall Like I said I really loved the humorous fairy tail story and will defiantly recommend this book to my 10-year-old to read.
This book made me wish I had an eight year old to snuggle up with, to read it aloud with funny voices (except said eight year old might be in hysterics by lights-out, so maybe it's not the best choice for bed time)!
Such Big Teeth is more than a fractured fairy tale - it's a mad mash-up of Shrek Goes to Prydain, in all the best ways. When I requested it I didn't realize it was the second book in a series, but the back story is relayed organically and doesn't slow the action. Not having read the first book did not impede my enjoyment of Such Big Teeth, and if anything, made it more likely that I'd seek the first book out as well.
The book's strength is its dialogue, for which the term "witty" is inadequate, and which is so layered that children and adults will all find something amusing in it. Highly, highly recommend!
This is the second installment in the Darkwood series, and it picks up right after the events in the first book. The Battle of Nearby Village may be over and the Huntsmen waylaid by Gretel and her band of magical misfits, but the war is far from over. Knowing they'll need a lot more forces to join their cause, the group journey to the hostile lands of the north forest seeking help from whoever they can. Along the way, they meet a grumpy old Bear Witch, a werewolf and a cursed raven man. As Gretel and gang try to persuade them to their side, her brother Hansel and best friend Daisy head off on their own dangerous quest to the Citadel, where they stumble upon an election that's sure to shake the entire country to its core. Just like the first book, this was a hilarious magical romp. Crouch's writing is so clever and quick witted, I found myself chuckling the entire time. It still gives off all the Monty Python/Terry Pratchett vibes which I loved. I did find some parts of this a little slower than the first, but still really enjoyed it. If you're in the mood for a funny take on the fairytale trope, check this series out.
I have immersed myself for a quite a while now in the grim dark future that is the world of Warhammer and has forgotten the sheer joy that can be had reading a book that doesn’t involve space marines or Primarchs, this book was excellent, it held me enraptured and I only wish I could have listened to as well as read (my current favourite form of reading is Audible) I hope the author releases this as an audiobook because I would certainly buy it!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Farrago for an ARC of this book.
This is a fantastic follow up to Darkwood, which I loved reading last year and was among my favourite reads for the year. I can already tell that Such Big Teeth will be among my faves for this year as well.
Gretel and her witchy friends travel to another part of the Darkwood in the hopes of finding new witchy allies. They discover a werewolf, a cursed man-raven, and a bear witch named Gilde Locke who doesn't like things too hot or too cold. Yep. Our friends set about trying to win these three over to their cause, or failing that plan to try to split them apart. I was a bit sad that our super loyal group would attempt to split another group apart, but the story managed to make it seem like a good thing by making one of the characters not so nice. Turning it into more of a rescue than a betrayal, though the sense of betrayal couldn't be entirely erased.
Hansel and Daisy leave Nearby to go to the Citadel and protect it from a monster that Hansel has a vision about. The monster turns out to be not actually what they expected. The Huntsmen are in the middle of an election campaign, a new head Hunstmen is to be chosen. The orange candidate plans to create new abomination lists and punish people more severely and make it so that women don't vote in future - wouldn't you know, the colours used by candidates confuse women voters because the colours clash with their hair. Isn't he kind to try to protect women from such a horrible thing? The green candidate is a nice woman, she wants to get rid of all the torture and abomination lists and the hunting of innocents. Hansel and Daisy set about helping her win. Also she has a super cute puppy. Poems have been written about this puppy. It's uber cute.
My absolute favourite thing about this series is the wholesome loyalty of the characters. Our friends are all loyal to each other of course, but other people are too. This world has great potential to turn people against each other and the back stories of some characters sadly reflect this truth. But we get to focus in on a massive group that don't turn against each other. The entire village of Nearby once again pull together and are willing to sacrifice everything to protect those they love, and those they don't even know that well. They become willing to give all for the Darkwood itself, and all the creatures within. And the way this series breaks the evil step parent trope is great too, I love how much the Mudd family loves each other. The Mudd step parents are so amazing.
Of course the humour is also very good, I laughed out loud - like actually out loud - several times, and smirked and snorted even more. The trope breaking is very well done, and the underlying messages are great. Yes it's funny what the orange candidate says about women, but it's also noted that some people agree with him, and that is something worth learning and recognising about the real world. The book does that a lot without shoving it all in your face. It's great. And the casual inclusion of four LGB people was quite well done. There is nothing sexual in these books, to be clear - it is a kids book after all. The most we get is some hand holding and some discussions that mention kissing and are hilarious.
I very much look forward to the next book.