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Title: Once Upon a Winter's Night
ISBN: 0451458540
Author:
Dennis L. McKiernan
Publicate Date: 2002-07-01
Publish: 2002-07-01
List Price: $7.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $3.86
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.01
Amazon Merchant Price: $7.99
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1: Takes a while to get into...
The Mary Sue main characters can get a bit annoying at times, but since they are supposed to be based, essentially, on the tale of Phyche and Eros who are supposed to be impossibly beautiful and godly and such.
If you take this as just your average fantasy novel, then you will be sorely disappointed. If, however, you take it as what it is: an attempt at detailing out a fairy tale, then it is a decent novel to pass some time.
You do have to keep in mind that the language is intentionally over-wrought (something that takes getting used to). I was also a little irritated when the main female character solved impossible riddles and wandered randomly yet somehow ended up where she needed to be and yet somehow didn't figure out that her boyfriend was also the bear - something that I had figured out by the bear's first appearance.
The whining, moaning, "everyone loves me and is willing to face mortal danger upon meeting me, but won't clear me of my hotel bill" main character did get on my nerves, particularly when she was simultaneously incredibly intelligent and at the same time painfully stupid, but the overall story was interesting enough to keep reading. This one is right on the line.
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2: just... don't
east of the sun and west of the moon is one of my preferred stories from mythology, and this book did it little to no justice. i didn't connect with the heroine at all and at times felt like she was trying too hard and with not enough motivation. i felt that the author was making her out to be more clever and strong than she actually was, which is annoying. i mean, we all love strong, smart, courageous heroines, and because we love them we can tell when someone doesn't fit the bill, however hard the author tries to boost the character's image in the eyes of the reader (the truth always comes through).
also, there's suggested bestiality in the story, which is cool, i mean besides the fact that some people are into that, it can symbolically bring a raw, primal aspect to the story, but not in a book intended for something of a younger audience. i am not against younger people becoming familiar with what sex is, as it would be absurd to hide it from them beyond a certain age and not do them some sort of harm, but the... flavour of sexual experience they are aware of should be left to human on human until later on. this may be my inner prude coming to light, but i would be hesitant to give it to anyone younger than me for fear that they might pick up on the suggestion.
i gave it a two star rather than a one because i like faeries, and i suppose i appreciate the author's attempt to incorporate faeries into the plot, what with the red caps n such, and the prince being kind of a faery himself, so i put aside the poor writing for one of my obsessions, but other than that i deem it to be a failed attempt.
i've just finished reading another retelling called East by Edith Pattou. i found that to be more successful. the story is a good one, this was just a bad version of it.
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3: "Speaking forsoothly..."
I think it was Josephine Tey, in her mystery The Daughter of Time, that coined the term "speaking forsoothly". "Speaking forsoothly" refers to using a faux-Shakespearean or medieval-type language. Another term for it might be "Ye Olde Englishe". Shakespeare pulled it off, but what *couldn't* he pull off? But when fantasy/historical writers try to pull it off...
Now, fantasy and historical novels can sin too far in the *other* direction. For example, Garcia y Robertson's Firebird. That (besides the other problems that beset the novel) is steeped in over-modern, slangy language that took me out of the story.
But "speaking forsoothly" can also get between the reader and the story. When the reader tries to envision the characters speaking aloud, it can sound ridiculous and stilted. (And when this sort of language is employed in a *sex scene*...) Worse, in this and the other books in the series, the narrative voice also is sprinkled with Ye Olde Englishe. Which, unfortunately, has the effect of making the writer's voice sound affected, not natural.
And it truly *is* unfortunate, because normally I love novel-length retellings of fairy tales, and there are plenty of elements in this book that stand out--the quest itself, the world of Faery with its four quarters, and many of the fantasy creatures and beings. But I agree with those who think that Camille is just too pure and naive a heroine, despite her bravery in setting out on the quest. And to me, her romance with Alain seemed not to have quite enough buildup. I know that it's supposed to be a reflection of fairy tales, but other retellings of fairy tales have fleshed out budding romances better.
It's a shame, because this fairy tale is a terrific one and the actual *plot* of this novel is quite captivating. But because of the problems with the main character, the central romance, and most of all the issue of "speaking forsoothly", I can't wholeheartedly get into it.
I've read "Once Upon A Summer Day" and haven't gotten to the other books in the series yet; I may do so. But the problem of "speaking forsoothly" carries over into the other books as well, from what I can see. It might have been better if McKiernan had simply let his characters speak in a regular manner--not modern and slangy, but simple English, and let *what* they said establish mood and time period, rather than *how* they said it.
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4: A graceful, delightful fairy tale fantasy
Inspired by a fairy tale, McKiernan's novel is written like one, in a lyrical style that produces more eloquence than awkwardness. The poetic prose is the novel's best element. Another strong element is the likable and endearing protagonist, Camille, who is wholly good, pure, and noble. The novel's structure reminded me of The Lord of the Rings: In the same way that Frodo's quest takes him on a journey throughout Middlearth, Camille's quest takes her on a journey throughout Faery. Some of the stops on this journey are superfluous to the primary storyline, however they allow the author to portray his setting and characterize Camille. We learn much about her character through her interactions with the denizens of Faery, although none of it is a surprise, since she is a sweetheart from start to finish. My main qualm is the insignificance of the antagonist: I would have liked the villain to play a more substantial role. Also, I'm not a fan of cliffhanger endings like this one.
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5: And they were just so perfect....
Following the original (East of the Sun, West of the Moon), Once Upon a Winter's Night is the story of a girl, Camille, who unmasks her true love's face against all warnings, beginning a curse that will change her life. Prior to, Camille had been a poor maiden of the mortal world, one of six sisters (and one brother), children to parents both desolate and hopeless. One night, a large white bear knocks at the door, proposing that if Camille would marry Prince Alain of the Summerwood, the Prince in return would pay a goodly sum to the family for years to come. Knowing that the money was needed to keep her young brother alive, Camille gives her consent and is whisked away to Summerwood Manor on the back of the great bear.
Once there, Alain is revealed only during the night and even then wearing a mask. Despite, the two fall deeply in love, until Camille returns to the mortal world to visit her family. When there, her mother persuades Camille to light a candle in the night and reveal the Prince's face. Overcome with influence and curiosity after Camille's return to Summerwood, she lights the candle, and upon seeing her fiance's beautiful face, sends the Manor and all within into a whirlwind of magic, leaving Camille deserted in a foreign land. Determined to set all right again, she begins the task to find the place East of the Sun and West of the Moon where her true love lies at the risk of all peril.
Ah, me, to be a romantic. It's all about good adventure and love, yet the story is filled with such annoyances that I can't help but wish someone else had written it. The characters are extremely stereotypical with absolutely no depth (I mean, it's really bad), to the point where sometimes you'd wish something unanticipated would happen, like Camille forgetting a riddle, or one of her acquaintances forgetting about her, leaving her stranded and without aid. (But no, then she'd have to use her brain). It's actually pretty graphic (The sex scenes with all the unnecessary "Oh Mithras".), plus the over abused French (I took French and struggled with the absurdity of some of the phrases). Not to mention those really bad riddles...they weren't difficult at all, but I will refrain from bashing them. I think it was a good story line (obviously, someone else thought of it), but the characters were so lame that it ruined everything. By the end it was kind of funny, because the most interesting thing was the bird (which does not talk).
Having read the Blue Fairy Book, these little slips in the short story are standard. But because this is not just a story but also a novel, it seems quite unacceptable.
I'll admit, I liked the idea of this series, so I did continue the I, just finishing Once Upon a Summer Day the other day, finding that story a lot more enjoyable. (Though still flawed. Hmm...maybe the third book will be better?) Anyways, I have not given up hope. Though I don't recommend this book, it wasn't a complete waste of time. Well...not totally..(if you're into reading shoddy fairy-tales...)
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