How this play uses multiple subplots, fake deaths and evil plans to create the best possible ending is cleverly fabricated over time. The tension builds up slowly, then the final scenes have everything come together and explained quickly. Beatrice was the most perceptive, quick-witted character and therefore tried to keep most of the characters (namely the guys) around her in line. She was definitely my favorite character and was the most realistic overall.

My initial reaction is that the book is ten times more fun to read than watching the Disney version. The Disney movie version is still wonderful in my eyes, but the book is laced with more adventures and character development of Wart, Kay, Merlyn and Sir Ector. The story does start off slow, but the pacing was well-done, but I didn't appreciate this un till the book ended.

A modern, imaginative twist on a classic and timeless story.

First of all, this play was perfect to read around the holidays. The character of Perdita wasn't quite as strong of a female character as I would've hoped for her to be, but the rest of the action in the play was amazing. Most of Shakespeare's plays that I read don't start off as tragedies and then become fun and light-hearted by the end. Paulina was easily my favorite character, though Hermione was well-written also. The two women were loyal to a fault and never wavered from what they believed in, and I'm glad that resulted in Hermione coming back to life (or simply returning home, depending on your interpretation) by the last scene. That last scene where Hermione returned from the dead was shocking! I hadn't read any spoilers for this play so that part was the most surprising and magical to me.

What I was most surprised about was that, out of all the Shakespeare plays I've read up un till now, "Cymbeline" had some of the most poetic writing. The lines of dialogue from the characters flowed in an exceptional rhythm together and clear descriptions and personal thoughts derived from these instances. The lines in Act III Scene III spoke by Arviragus: "What should we speak of When we are old as you? when we shall hear The rain and wind beat dark December, how, In this our pinching cave, shall we discourse The freezing hours away?" were an example of this spectacular use of circumstance, feeling and climate to create a general mood.