As a story, it seemed a bit thin to me, though I very much appreciated the overlapping worlds. I think it would have seemed richer to me in book form--in fact, I think I'd like to read it in book form. But even in book form, the theme, "child who is angry at parents for their life" is a drag for me, and this was true even before I got on this side of the parent-child equation. This is assuming the kid's lot is basically okay and all that's going on--basically--it adolescence. If the parents are brutes, that's another matter, though then I tend not to like it because I don't like stories about overcoming brutish parents. I guess, in general, stories where the conflict revolves in some wise around the parent are a hard sell with me. I realize they're big successes with most people, though.
Ones where the protagonist's life is basically okay but they want it to be different just make we want to dope slap the protag. I'd prefer it if they just wanted to go out and find their fortune (cheerfully)--that's fine! That's something I wanted to do as a kid, and it's something I don't take umbrage at as a parent. But "Man my parents are such JERKS and I hate this LIFE" is not something I fall into sympathy with.
I also didn't care for the possible "only a dream" interpretation of events. I loved that the connection between the other world and ours was Helena's drawings and that her drawing on the porch, overlooked by Dark Helena, is the key to returning. But the notion that the drama might all be internal to Helena--just a psychological drama--I didn't like. For some people, I guess the possibility of being able to interpret it psychologically makes the story all the more real and all the stronger: Helena is battling her own internal demons, is able to set her mind to rights, and then, coincidentally and fortunately, her mother gets better. I think I'm the opposite, though. I don't like the other world reduced to a mere psychological tool. I want it to be unambiguously real, and have psychological explanations, if they have to be offered, be ones for people who can't deal with the reality of the other world.
The interaction between Helena and Valentine was great, and Valentine's independent actions (which do go against the all-just-a-dream element) were great. Although. The other world is thin on details as a world in its own right, such that I found myself wondering where and how Valentine was supposed to use those jewels. Where are the markets? Where are other people? (The other world is thin on residents who are not key players in Helena's psyche.) And doesn't the very strength of the Dark Queen render a normal, jewel-enhanced life a meaningless reward? (What with crumbling people and things to nothingness and all?)
But my complaints are more complainy than I actually feel. The visuals of it were beautiful and enough for me to forgive a lot, and the characters were appealing enough that I do want to read the book (if there's a book? I just assume there's one) despite my reservations about the anti-parent motif. Especially Valentine :-)
Hope my negative remarks don't get you down. I liked it in spite of all that, truly. If I were telling you this in person, with more give and take, I think it would come through more clearly...
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As a story, it seemed a bit thin to me, though I very much appreciated the overlapping worlds. I think it would have seemed richer to me in book form--in fact, I think I'd like to read it in book form. But even in book form, the theme, "child who is angry at parents for their life" is a drag for me, and this was true even before I got on this side of the parent-child equation. This is assuming the kid's lot is basically okay and all that's going on--basically--it adolescence. If the parents are brutes, that's another matter, though then I tend not to like it because I don't like stories about overcoming brutish parents. I guess, in general, stories where the conflict revolves in some wise around the parent are a hard sell with me. I realize they're big successes with most people, though.
Ones where the protagonist's life is basically okay but they want it to be different just make we want to dope slap the protag. I'd prefer it if they just wanted to go out and find their fortune (cheerfully)--that's fine! That's something I wanted to do as a kid, and it's something I don't take umbrage at as a parent. But "Man my parents are such JERKS and I hate this LIFE" is not something I fall into sympathy with.
I also didn't care for the possible "only a dream" interpretation of events. I loved that the connection between the other world and ours was Helena's drawings and that her drawing on the porch, overlooked by Dark Helena, is the key to returning. But the notion that the drama might all be internal to Helena--just a psychological drama--I didn't like. For some people, I guess the possibility of being able to interpret it psychologically makes the story all the more real and all the stronger: Helena is battling her own internal demons, is able to set her mind to rights, and then, coincidentally and fortunately, her mother gets better. I think I'm the opposite, though. I don't like the other world reduced to a mere psychological tool. I want it to be unambiguously real, and have psychological explanations, if they have to be offered, be ones for people who can't deal with the reality of the other world.
The interaction between Helena and Valentine was great, and Valentine's independent actions (which do go against the all-just-a-dream element) were great. Although. The other world is thin on details as a world in its own right, such that I found myself wondering where and how Valentine was supposed to use those jewels. Where are the markets? Where are other people? (The other world is thin on residents who are not key players in Helena's psyche.) And doesn't the very strength of the Dark Queen render a normal, jewel-enhanced life a meaningless reward? (What with crumbling people and things to nothingness and all?)
But my complaints are more complainy than I actually feel. The visuals of it were beautiful and enough for me to forgive a lot, and the characters were appealing enough that I do want to read the book (if there's a book? I just assume there's one) despite my reservations about the anti-parent motif. Especially Valentine :-)
Hope my negative remarks don't get you down. I liked it in spite of all that, truly. If I were telling you this in person, with more give and take, I think it would come through more clearly...