A Wicked Thing
Author: Rhiannon Thomas
Series: A Wicked Thing #1
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Retelling
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Summary:
One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.
Her family is long dead. Her “true love” is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.
As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.
First Sentence: She woke up with a kiss.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
My Review:
A Wicked Thing was definitely one of my most anticipated books of 2015. Not only is a fairytale retelling (I have a HUGE weakness for fairytale retellings), but the cover is beyond gorgeous. However, as reviews started flowing in, I slowly became more and more depressed since everyone wasn’t overly fond with it – as of now, the date I’m writing this review, A Wicked Thing has a 3.57 rating on Goodreads, which translates to not worth reading in my opinion. (I’m not trying to degrade A Wicked Thing – it’s just there are so many books out there to read and so little time that you just have to choose very carefully which books you give your time to.) However, since I’ve already received an ARC of A Wicked Thing, I thought the fair thing to do was to give it a chance despite what the majority other people said about it. In the end, I have to agree with the majority.
“I didn’t ask for this.” Aurora felt stupid even for saying it, but she could not stop the defiance in her from issuing a final plea. “I didn’t want this.” (ARC 158)
The first thing I’m a bit annoyed about is how Rhiannon Thomas changed the Sleeping Beauty retelling I knew and loved as a child. Instead of Aurora’s parents and staff falling asleep along with Aurora, Aurora was the only one who fell asleep and didn’t age, changing things drastically. Now, Aurora is all alone when she wakes up (which is kind of the point of the book, I know, but I can’t help but be annoyed that this was changed) since her parents and everyone around her was wake, ended up aging, and died. Another thing that was changed from the original Sleeping Beauty retelling was the aspect of magic. Apparently, Aurora and her dead family has a distaste for magic and magic had disappeared while Aurora was asleep. I’m not completely sure about this, but I am 99% sure that in Sleeping Beauty, magic was beloved by the royal family (why else would they invite fairies to give baby Aurora magical gifts?) and didn’t disappear when Aurora woke up. I normally wouldn’t mind if the author changed a bit of the original fairytale in a fairytale retelling, but since A Wicked Thing tells the story of Aurora after she woke up from the ending of Sleeping Beauty, I expect things to remain exactly the same as the original fairytale.
I can also sum up A Wicked Thing in one simple sentence: Aurora wakes up and has to decide whether she supports the current royal family, support the rebel’s cause, or take the coward’s way out and run away. (Guess which path she takes.) That’s it. That’s the whole essence of the book. Or, I can also describe A Wicked Thing in three words: Aurora does nothing. Nothing happens in A Wicked Thing – more than half of the book is about Aurora trying to gain courage, her submissively listening and following other people’s directions, and her mainly keeping her thoughts to herself, otherwise known as things I just don’t care about. I wanted to see some action. The closest thing we ever get to real action was a very little part of the book and the last eight or so pages at the end. That’s it. The rest of A Wicked Thing was about dresses and outfits and Aurora passively doing nothing while thinking another thing. Just, ugh. I feel so ripped off after finishing this book.
Smile. Curtsy. Be silent and beautiful. Her presence would add wordless legitimacy to everything that the king said, but her input itself was unwanted. (ARC 46)
For people who are expecting a swoony, epic romance (because whenever I think of Sleeping Beauty, I think of a very cute romance for some reason), I’m sorry to disappoint you guys and say that there isn’t any swoony or epic romance in this one. In fact, what little romance developed was quickly shot down and grinded into dust, not that the romance was believable in the first place. There are also hints of Aurora having three love interests. Be prepared for a love square guys, if you plan on reading the sequel to this one.
Overall, although it really saddens me to say this, I strongly recommend you guys to skip A Wicked Thing altogether. I can’t think of any redeeming qualities it has besides that gorgeous cover and the fact that it’s a fairytale retelling. I can guarantee you that if you’re like me and prefer a book filled with action and not characters thinking one thing, but never actually doing anything, you’ll feel so ripped off after finishing this book too.
what a sad sad thing to happen…but i wasn’t surprise about your review of this book…coz i just read the other day the arc review of this from one of the blogger i also followed faithfully…just ugh what a waste of that gorgeous cover you know? and i love fairy tale retellings if done right…so i’m definitely skipping this one then.
Wow, that is so sad. I was really looking forward to this book too. I had been hearing that some people didn’t care for it but I didn’t know the rating had gotten that low. Looks like I’ll be skipping this one. Thanks for the review.
SarahO. recently posted…Splintered by A.G. Howard
Oh no! I love fairy Tale retellings and had high hopes for this one! Oh well at least the cover is pretty :)
Sue Holmes recently posted…Katie McGarry: Author Interview
I felt the same way. I really wanted some action in this, something to really pull me in. But I was SO BORED. And Aurora really annoyed the hell out of me at how passive and submissive she was. I’m probably going to check out the sequel to see how she fairs outside of the castle. Hopefully the next book has action and adventure otherwise I’m chucking this series into the DNF pile. Great review.
Courtney recently posted…Review: A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas
I’m so sad! I was hoping that this would be good but I think I’ve only read maybe one good review on this. Stink. I just need more retellings in my life. I was hoping that this one would be good. Great review.
I thought her parents were supposed to all be asleep as well. I thought it was her whole kingdom, but then I wondered if it was just the Disney version that was like that. I think there are several versions of the story. And as it is an original Grimm story before the one that we all know and love, this seems more like what would have happened. I kind of like getting back to the more original tales. But I do agree with you that she did really nothing in this book. I’m hoping that the 2nd one will make her actually the person we all wanted her to be. Sorry that you didn’t like it.
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Tag
It always sucks when a book you’ve been dying to read doesn’t work out :( I hope your next read is better!
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy A Wicked Thing. I was anticipating reading it soon but now I’m not so sure. I’m disappointed especially to hear that the book lacked magic, which was also one of my favorite aspects of the original. And a love square ?? That’s ridiculous. I think I only saw a hint of one in The Winner’s Curse, but to think it was fully realized in a book is something I know I won’t like… I appreciate the honest review, though:)
Claire W. recently posted…BBL: High Fives
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favs… I might read this one even though you weren’t raving about it just because I love sleeping beauty so much
Emily @ Follow the Yellow Book Road recently posted…A Wizard Rises
Nice one sentence summary
Now I feel so conflicted…I was hoping you might like this book since it’s a retelling, but after reading your review I feel like I was disappointed as well and I haven’t even read this book yet. But I can tell the difference when you like a book and barely like it. This review showed the latter. And that feeling of being ripped-off of your time, I just can’t stand it! That’s what usually puts me in a reading slump…but you are so right. That cover, so pretty! But no cover is worth the risk of me feeling bad after reading a book. I might end up following your advice about this one. :/
Hmm . . . I was really looking forward to this book because I LOVE retellings and Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorites. But I am not sure I like the changes you mentioned. And yes, in the movie the royal family loved magic. I am torn about this one. Great review.
Cynthia recently posted…BOOK REVIEW: The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
I was also let down by this story. I did like the originality and what the author did with the story, but I was bored and I didn’t particularly care about any of the characters.
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…Review 216. Mira Grant – Feed.
This sounded good to me at first too. Based on early reviews I bumped it down my list. I’m sorry you were disappointed. I hate it when nothing happens in a book. I’m not a big romance girl but it could at least have a little. I think I’m taking your advice and skipping this one. Thanks, at least you saved the rest of us.
Molly Mortensen recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Book Related Problems I Have
Awwww sorry you didn’t like it. My excitement is greatly depleted because of your review. But the cover and synopsis get an A+