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patty_creatively_bookish's review
3.0
Verhaal: 3/5
Karakters: 3/5
Schrijfstijl: 3,5/5
Herlezen: Zou kunnen, mocht ik ooit deel 2 tegenkomen.
Karakters: 3/5
Schrijfstijl: 3,5/5
Herlezen: Zou kunnen, mocht ik ooit deel 2 tegenkomen.
scarletpaul's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
chrisbiss's review against another edition
4.0
A fantastically realised world, a gripping story and characters I actually cared about. Plus Johnstone manages that wonderful thing of writing a children's/teen book that doesn't talk down to its audience. It isn't up there with His Dark Materials, but it's close. Definitely on a par with the Old Kingdom books. I'm already excited for the sequel.
cindeereads's review against another edition
2.0
This book was ok it was really boring and so very slow paced it was a chore to finish it the writing was fine also the synopsis gave away too much it lost all mystery and was just boring. The characters were just fine the writing was good but the story was way too slow paced for me to stay interested. While I was reading I found it a chore to read it was just so slow I will more than likely not read any more of this series it is just not that interesting to me. So overall this book was just ok and nothing more not interesting in continuing.
crookedfern's review against another edition
5.0
This is an excellent beginning to an intriguing series! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from my local bookstore owner. The new cover is beautiful. So, anyway, The Bell Between Worlds is about a young boy named Sylas Tate who lives with his Uncle Tobias in Gabblety Row. Sylas used to live with his mother, now taken by an insane asylum. When encountering a mysterious man named Mr. Zhi, Sylas's life changes forever.
This book was amazing! It played with the ideas of different dimensions being alike, while being completely different at the same time! The magic system in this world was fantastic! This will be the next big thing.
This book was amazing! It played with the ideas of different dimensions being alike, while being completely different at the same time! The magic system in this world was fantastic! This will be the next big thing.
raven_pine's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
3 stars reading this as an adult but when I read this when I was a bit younger it would have had a 4 star rating.
It is a bit cliché with the main character being powerful but doesn’t know it and a ‘surprising’ betrayal.
There were some unique elements to the story as well such as the way he was transported to another world and the magic system was different too which enjoyed
3 stars reading this as an adult but when I read this when I was a bit younger it would have had a 4 star rating.
It is a bit cliché with the main character being powerful but doesn’t know it and a ‘surprising’ betrayal.
There were some unique elements to the story as well such as the way he was transported to another world and the magic system was different too which enjoyed
ariereads's review against another edition
3.0
There's nothing particularly wrong with this book at all - other than a tendency to over-describe, which is not unusual, and the fact that it starts off incredibly derivative (it does get more original as the plot moves on) - I simply think that there are children's books that transcend genre and age, and ones that don't. This is the latter. My ten-year-younger self would have absolutely adored this book, though, especially the take on mirror selves and the ravel runes. Infinitely better than anything like City of Bones.
penguininabluebox's review against another edition
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am so sorry to say this, but I could not get into this book at all. It was by no means bad, but I didn't care for anything that happened, so I did not finish it. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. I'll leave it unrated because that seems like the fair thing to do.
I am so sorry to say this, but I could not get into this book at all. It was by no means bad, but I didn't care for anything that happened, so I did not finish it. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. I'll leave it unrated because that seems like the fair thing to do.
booksnbookends's review against another edition
5.0
I received a free copy of this book by the book's publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sylas Tate never thought that a trip from Gabblety Row to post letters for his uncle could change everything he ever knew. A trip into the mysterious new shop, 'The Shop of Things' and meeting a certain Mr Zhi alters everything Sylas ever thought possible. A humongous bell chiming and a magical journey could make Sylas finally see that his true destiny is in another world...
This was an amazing read that entralled me from the first page and there's not many books that do that! I quickly became immersed in Johnstone's worlds and enchanting characters. Sylas' plight is immersive and I rapidly felt myself being drawn to his unfair situation. The story is packed with well paced adventure, thrills, fantasy and excitement! A book that easily conjures images of the wonderful worlds Johnstone has created and their equally magical qualities.
This was a real page turner and I think this book will appeal equally to adults and children alike. If you enjoy reading books akin to the great fantasy writers such as J. K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett etc. you need look no further. The language used is exceptional and vividly brings the story to life.
I cannot recommend this book enough to you, and I'm sat here eagerly awaiting the second book in the series. I for one, cannot wait to see what is next for the young Sylas Tate...
Sylas Tate never thought that a trip from Gabblety Row to post letters for his uncle could change everything he ever knew. A trip into the mysterious new shop, 'The Shop of Things' and meeting a certain Mr Zhi alters everything Sylas ever thought possible. A humongous bell chiming and a magical journey could make Sylas finally see that his true destiny is in another world...
This was an amazing read that entralled me from the first page and there's not many books that do that! I quickly became immersed in Johnstone's worlds and enchanting characters. Sylas' plight is immersive and I rapidly felt myself being drawn to his unfair situation. The story is packed with well paced adventure, thrills, fantasy and excitement! A book that easily conjures images of the wonderful worlds Johnstone has created and their equally magical qualities.
This was a real page turner and I think this book will appeal equally to adults and children alike. If you enjoy reading books akin to the great fantasy writers such as J. K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett etc. you need look no further. The language used is exceptional and vividly brings the story to life.
I cannot recommend this book enough to you, and I'm sat here eagerly awaiting the second book in the series. I for one, cannot wait to see what is next for the young Sylas Tate...