Scan barcode
kate1998's review
3.0
“Such has it always been for powerful women.”
I’m so sad because I really wanted this to be a new favorite of mine but unfortunately it let me down. The plot of this book is so intriguing but the execution was just not well done. I felt like for the first 200 pages it was just ridiculously slow and nothing really happened but then when it did pick up I really enjoyed it until it got to the ending. I believe this is a stand alone and if that’s the case then this was not a good ending for this book. I usually love open ended books but this one just felt way too open ended and almost made me feel like the author didn’t know how to solve the problems in the books and come up with a good ending so she just stopped writing. I just felt like this book deserved a better ending. However, I did really enjoy most of the characters. Ruby was a wonderful main character and I loved how inquisitive she was. I also really appreciated the LGBT+ rep that’s in this book as that is not usually found in fantasy books. Overall, I mainly enjoyed the idea of the book and some of the parts in the middle but besides that I was just left disappointed.
I’m so sad because I really wanted this to be a new favorite of mine but unfortunately it let me down. The plot of this book is so intriguing but the execution was just not well done. I felt like for the first 200 pages it was just ridiculously slow and nothing really happened but then when it did pick up I really enjoyed it until it got to the ending. I believe this is a stand alone and if that’s the case then this was not a good ending for this book. I usually love open ended books but this one just felt way too open ended and almost made me feel like the author didn’t know how to solve the problems in the books and come up with a good ending so she just stopped writing. I just felt like this book deserved a better ending. However, I did really enjoy most of the characters. Ruby was a wonderful main character and I loved how inquisitive she was. I also really appreciated the LGBT+ rep that’s in this book as that is not usually found in fantasy books. Overall, I mainly enjoyed the idea of the book and some of the parts in the middle but besides that I was just left disappointed.
samrp01's review against another edition
4.0
Really good. Queer, russian, and badass. I hope there's a sequel!
insiya_'s review against another edition
4.0
From page one, The Wise and the Wicked swept me into a world of ancient Russian fairy tales, long-hidden family secrets, and a main character trying to make sense of the world and her place in it.
Lots of delightful Russian culture, folklore and wonderful story detail. The characters in this are great. It reminded me a little of “The Raven Cycle” with the quirky, small, intimate feel of it. But that ending...What?!?!
Lots of delightful Russian culture, folklore and wonderful story detail. The characters in this are great. It reminded me a little of “The Raven Cycle” with the quirky, small, intimate feel of it. But that ending...What?!?!
wreathedinviolets's review
4.0
It's not often that I want books to be longer but I wish this one did! While the story is magical, it's a little sluggish at the beginning. I did find it a welcoming twist on fairy tales and was surprisingly glad with the ending. There just needed to be more to wrap it up.
erleabee's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jaymeshaw's review against another edition
3.0
I liked where this was going but I am wholly unsatisfied with the ending.
emeraldawn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I very much enjoyed this story with its take on Russian folklore and witchcraft, with a family of secrets and mystery. I felt this story was down to earth for a magical YA novel, with characters that are unperfect and flawed.
The story has a surprising, but well done, LGBTQ Rep with a Trans character, and a lesbian couple. (Plus some talk about some side characters that fit the scale too.)
However the ending...is open, and was very foreshadowed that this was the way it was going to go, but still... ugh.
I loved how I didn't even know
The story has a surprising, but well done, LGBTQ Rep with a Trans character, and a lesbian couple. (Plus some talk about some side characters that fit the scale too.)
However the ending...is open, and was very foreshadowed that this was the way it was going to go, but still... ugh.
I loved how I didn't even know
catsofdeath's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
paper_mache_reader's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Fun, queer cast and I am always a sucker for witchy tales. I don't know much about Russian tradition and this was really fun to read
timbooksin's review against another edition
4.0
It took a while for this book's sails to catch wind but it was great when it did. This is a contemporary with fantastical elements and I would have preferred it the other way around but it was easy enough to look past some of the less enticing writing. I'm a bit unsure about the ending but it certainly left room for a sequel should one ever be written.