I likely would have enjoyed this book more if I was a bigger fan of its source material, the classic Les Miserables. As it is, this tale simply made me feel sad, as it's focused on the extreme poverty Eponine grows up in and the unfeeling caregivers who raise her. I was satisfied by the story's conclusion, but I wanted more for her that this book gave her. ( )

We all leave something behind us. A bird in flight will lose a snow-white feather, and flowers in the hedgerows will drop petals. And people? We leave memories. Footprints in the dust and fingerprints on everything we’ve touched, warmth in every hand we’ve held. We become stories that are spoken of, for always. And in this way, we carry on.

This is Eponine’s story. If you had no familiarity with Les Miserables and did not know the events that took place in that novel, you might feel a little lost and let down in this one. I tried to imagine not being able to fill in the blanks with the true story of Les Miserables, and I felt, under those circumstances, I would have ended this with more questions than answers.

Susan Fletcher is a good writer. She is very effective at drawing her reader into her characters. I suppose what bothers me here is that this is not her character, this character belongs to Victor Hugo, and his Eponine is more real and complete for me than Fletcher’s is.

I feel it is imperative to say I am seldom enthusiastic about one author adopting another’s characters or storyline to their own purposes. I find it fails far more often than it succeeds. I acquired this book without realizing it was that kind of story, but entered hopefully, after all this is Susan Fletcher. I love Fletcher and this is the only time I have not felt inclined to give one of her books 5-stars. That is not to say this is not a good book. I did enjoy it; I just didn’t love it.

I must end this review, as I end all my Susan Fletcher reviews, READ [b:Corrag|7306310|Corrag|Susan Fletcher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327953887l/7306310._SY75_.jpg|8745326] (also known as [b:Witch Light|9313604|Witch Light|Susan Fletcher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1335708726l/9313604._SX50_.jpg|8745326]). It is too marvelous to miss. It is Fletcher at her best.
( )

This book was...good. But it could have been better.

I think that I would have loved to see this book but aimed towards an older audience. As a huge fan of Les Mis, I would have loved to see that darker side come through a little more, something that I think with the target audience as it is, it wasn't able to do. There is something that is so raw about Les Mis that you can't really show through a book like this mostly focused on the romance aspect of it.

That being said there were certainly some really cute and really sad moments in the book that kept it from getting a lower rating, and looking past a few inconsistencies, I would say I enjoyed it! ( )

more like 2.5, but honestly, this is me we're talking about - MY USERNAME IS "EPONINES," (though my favourite character is cosette, and let's be fucking real, i cried in public because i love her so much. my cosette ❤️) but the reason why i see all these 4 stars is because they're by casual les mis fans, which is fine, because my les mis obsession is like, way too over the top but this meant i spotted a shitload of inaccuracies, like, "grantaire is dead?" WHAT THE FUCKITY FUCK??? also, jean valjean gave his name which was NOT something he did; he went by fauchelevent.

but this is me being picky as a person who's read les mis cover to cover a couple times, performed in the musical and spent a good chunk of time in the fandom and reading fanfiction. the characterization was pretty good. COSETTE WAS ON POINT. the one thing i wanted to see was eposette action and like, i got that, and enjolras was decent, and éponine was decent but she could be a lot tougher (like remember she laughed in the patron-minette's faces? ha!) eponine was more based on the "on my own," I think, in les misérables she was described as a wolf, and i saw like, a white terrier.

so like. read the original novel (or fanfic from people who know it inside out like me), but if you're young and want to know more about eponine without trudging through hugo's dense essays (read: WATERLOO), then this is a good place to start. ( )

If you expected something new, you're in for a real treat since this book definitely flubs a few things about parts in Les Mis that are for sure surprising. Although it is everything you'd expect from a book about Eponine.