Scan barcode
dimplesage's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
miketurner1012's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
thebooklovingpanda's review against another edition
5.0
Frances Hardinge has an amazing way of describing things - like really complex feelings that you would never understand unless she was explaining it to you and then you're just like: Wow...I get how this feels!
The plot is super mysterious and full of murder mystery and politics, and seriously even I couldn't tell who was the good or bad guy until the very end. The plot twists I never saw coming and the end was a real surprise. The people I thought were good ended up being the most horrible puke-faced villainous scumbags ever but that just goes to show how well her characters are written!
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a title I first encountered when it was nominated for the Goodreads awards. I recognised the author from A Skinful of Shadows, and The Lie Tree, two dark and interesting stories that I found captivating in their own ways. I put in a request for the book at my local library and didn't even bother with the blurb. I often find that going in unprepared makes for a good reading experience. I'm gals that this book was worth the several months' wait.
My caveat going in, is that this isn't necessarily a title that everyone would like. There are some really strange and bizarre things happening in it. It has magical elements that don't line up nicely with science. The main character is called Neverfell; the names in this book have a lovely texture, reminiscent to me of Philip Reeve's work. The setting is primarily subterranean.
In an underground world, the people have no intuitive facial expressions. Every expression they use is something that needs to be taught, and performed by choice. This has implications for those in power having access to more faces to learn, and the underclasses not being given faces that would allow them to express their feelings.
Neverfell is brought up as an orphan who was discovered in the cheese-maker's tunnels. She is forced to wear a velvet mask because her face is disconcerting. She worries about this disfigurement, and has an isolated life as the cheese-maker's apprentice, unable to go out and with her only real friend being a message boy. Her first naïve foray into the wider cave system places her in dangerous situations as she is manipulated by people who she cannot comprehend.
As an Autistic reader, a lot of this resonates. The whole underpinning of a world where you can't interact intuitively, where people say things they don't mean, and you are a little lost in social situations, is a very familiar situation. Neverfell slowly begins to comprehend her difference from others and finds herself in the confidence of powerful people, some of whom are VERY strange indeed.
This is a powerful and adventurous story, with strange quirks and turns. There are secrets and mysteries, and some graphic violence. It is similarly dark and resonant to other books by the author; I'm really keen to see what other offerings I can unearth by Frances Hardinge.
My caveat going in, is that this isn't necessarily a title that everyone would like. There are some really strange and bizarre things happening in it. It has magical elements that don't line up nicely with science. The main character is called Neverfell; the names in this book have a lovely texture, reminiscent to me of Philip Reeve's work. The setting is primarily subterranean.
In an underground world, the people have no intuitive facial expressions. Every expression they use is something that needs to be taught, and performed by choice. This has implications for those in power having access to more faces to learn, and the underclasses not being given faces that would allow them to express their feelings.
Neverfell is brought up as an orphan who was discovered in the cheese-maker's tunnels. She is forced to wear a velvet mask because her face is disconcerting. She worries about this disfigurement, and has an isolated life as the cheese-maker's apprentice, unable to go out and with her only real friend being a message boy. Her first naïve foray into the wider cave system places her in dangerous situations as she is manipulated by people who she cannot comprehend.
As an Autistic reader, a lot of this resonates. The whole underpinning of a world where you can't interact intuitively, where people say things they don't mean, and you are a little lost in social situations, is a very familiar situation. Neverfell slowly begins to comprehend her difference from others and finds herself in the confidence of powerful people, some of whom are VERY strange indeed.
This is a powerful and adventurous story, with strange quirks and turns. There are secrets and mysteries, and some graphic violence. It is similarly dark and resonant to other books by the author; I'm really keen to see what other offerings I can unearth by Frances Hardinge.
jesslynh's review
5.0
To anyone that follows me---READ. THIS. BOOK.
The story blew me away and I can't explain, because to do so is to spoil elements of the book.
Just read it and don't read any book descriptions.
Trust me on this.....
The story blew me away and I can't explain, because to do so is to spoil elements of the book.
Just read it and don't read any book descriptions.
Trust me on this.....
hayleybeale's review
5.0
Superlative world building, extraordinary writing, and rivetingly complex characters - another winner from Frances Hardinge. See my full review here.
kayla_vermaak's review
2.0
I picked this book up because I was intrigued by the cover and the title however I was bitterly disapointed as I continued reading. First of all the book was slightly confusing as there are a lot of made up objects and people, you end up half way through saying ' wait what's that again?'.
I thought that there was not a very big climax around the middle of the book. Also the ending was reasonably boring and easily estimated.
This book basically led me to plough through 486 pages of boring, literally just reading until the end so I could say I finished it and did not quit half way through (which I oh so much wanted to do).
I thought that there was not a very big climax around the middle of the book. Also the ending was reasonably boring and easily estimated.
This book basically led me to plough through 486 pages of boring, literally just reading until the end so I could say I finished it and did not quit half way through (which I oh so much wanted to do).
starleyfowler's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0