I like Shannon Hale and I'm sure that under other circumstances i might like this book a little more (maybe a full four?) but I couldn't really get into it. I just think it's all a little much, even for a fairy-tale retelling.  Hale's books are often pretty dark for middle grade but I guess it's been awhile since I've read her work because uhhhh I sure did forget how fucking dark they got. The result was that I couldn't really get lost in it because it made me deeply uncomfortable. The writing is incredible and the story is original so I couldn't hate it even a little but I didn't enjoy this read.