YMMV / East

• Alternate Character Interpretation: Perhaps the discussions are not heated enough to give us Base-Breaking Character examples, but there are still quite different opinions on several of the characters.
  • Some reviewers think Rose a kind and self-sacrificing girl who is a strong and inspiring character while averting Real Women Don't Wear Dresses, and others (even those who like the book in general) think her bland and boring.
  • Eugenia is either a flawed but ultimately caring wife and mother or selfish and cruel.
  • The Troll Queen is either an Anti-Villain who genuinely loves Myk in her own way and deserves some pity or a completely irredeemable Wicked Witch. Then there are readers who believe she crossed the line between the former and the latter by killing Tuki.
• Contested Sequel: West, judging by the reviews and ratings. Either a fantastic continuation that allows Rose's character to develop even more, brings in yet more elements of folklore and mythology, and has a Romance Arc for Neddy, or a Same Plot Sequel that adds nothing to the story and retcons Sara and Sofi into Sudden Sequel Death Syndrome (the narration for the first book ends after the time West’s plot is set and makes no mention of anyone dying after the Happily Ever After).
• Ensemble Dark Horse: Friendly, adorable Token Good Teammate Tuki is a huge favorite with fans.
• Squick: When Rose lives at the white bear's castle, someone keeps getting into her bed every night and sleeping at her side. And she can’t see who it is. And she is still about fifteen at that point. Granted, that part was present in the original fairytale as well, but the more realistic tone of this story makes it a lot creepier.