This faithful retelling of the Norwegian fairy tale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" adds new depth to the story by shifting perspectives between the main characters. The internal dialog from so many characters can by jarring at first, but it proves invaluable at showing their motivations and desires.

I picked this up because I had nostalgic good memories of this book from when I was a teen. And it is a good story. But the writing is bland and drags on sometimes, and I didn't like the multiple character POVs - it didn't feel like any of them really had a distinct voice.

Still, I'm interested enough to read the sequel, which I didn't know about till now.

I've come to read this for the 4th time. I just love this book! I feel like its such a simple tale, woven in the author's literature to be much more than that. This book will stay with me, always and forever. <3

Such an inspiring tale that has stayed with me since grade school. East of the Sun and West of the Moon has always been a favorite fairytale and this is an epic retelling of it. I am normally not a fan of multiple POVs, but Pattou handles the pacing of this tale masterfully. Every character is well-developed and complex. Rose is an inspiring heroine who simply cannot stay still and yearns for adventure and discovery. Her superstitious mother only wishes to keep her safe, but fate finds a way of leading Rose down her true path. And the poor, tormented Isbjorn needs Rose more than he could possibly know.
In a nutshell: deep, emotional characters, epic journeys, and powerful magic. What more could you want?

I remembered ‘East’ as a book that I picked up when I was, I believe, in middle school. As I made my way through the book, I realized that I never finished it. And now that I have, I can’t imagine any reason good enough to have put this book down and never pick it up again.

The retelling of this fairytale is incredible. The writing is superb, the dialogue realistic, and the story enchanting. The characters are so clearly portrayed, and it is as if they came to life and jumped off the page. I felt the emotion of each character, from the melancholy and hope of the white bear to the fear and excitement of Rose.

This is a fantastic book that I recommend to anybody who enjoys magic and mythology that touch life and change it. It is a story I could read again and again and still not tire of the tale. Definitely recommended!

I enjoyed this book for its characters and the growth Rose experiences throughout her adventure. Well-written prose and loved the fact that the story was told through various perspectives. I did feel, however, that the relationship between Rose and her bear felt a bit rushed at the end, like the author was trying to tie up loose ends quickly.

the best book that is similar to the cupid and psche version but with Norse names and stories! Loved it!!! Read the Jessica George version West of the Sun East of the Moon!!!!

Awesome! I have read the version of this fairytale by Jessica Day George as well and I would say both are excellent!

wow, what a great read! epic story-telling. I couldn't put the book down. fast-moving. lots of adventure. read all 500 pages plus the commentary by the author at the end in 2 days. I can see this becoming a movie someday.

In this retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon, Rose’s mother has tried desperately to stop her from ever leaving home. But when a mysterious white bear appears and asks Rose to come with it, she agrees. But upon getting to a mysterious and empty castle, she realizes that’s only the beginning of her adventure.

Read this if you like: Fairytale retellings, strong female characters, mystery.