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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
200 pages in and was so bored
skimmed the rest of the book
I don't think the writing style is for me
skimmed the rest of the book
I don't think the writing style is for me
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
The best book I've read this year. Finally a complex female driven fantasy story with interesting but not dense world building and thoughtful explorations of deeply feminist/emotional topics like teen pregnancy, grief, trauma, religious/bodily shame and becoming yourself, all in a medieval fantasy world with dragons and other fantastical creatures.
I enjoyed this so much - a road trip novel for fantasy junkies with a female character that is prickly, ornery and interesting!
This book. Where to even start with this book. I should start by saying that while this book is technically a standalone, I highly recommend you read Hartman's previous duology (Seraphina and Shatter Scale) because it establishes important world-building that is VITAL to getting everything out of this tale.
Hartman grapples with extremely difficult and incredibly adult concepts in this story and it makes this story an important one not just for young women but also, and maybe even more important for, young men. She holds no punches in addressing rape culture and issues of toxic masculinity, and takes no prisoners.
Tess is probably the most dynamic character I've seen in a long time. She is beautifully unlikeable and delightfully contrarian and the young adult world needs more characters like her.
I read many reviews of this book and so many people DNF it. And that is a damn shame. There are times where the plot gets thin, but Tess and her story are WORTH IT.
Hartman created a beautiful world in some ways absolutely contrary to ours and in others (terrible, awful, tragic ways) is completely the same. Her beautiful prose makes Tess all the more amazing and her story all the more heart-crushing. Her story is not her burden, but her story, it is hers but does not define her. And this message is of paramount importance.
Hartman grapples with extremely difficult and incredibly adult concepts in this story and it makes this story an important one not just for young women but also, and maybe even more important for, young men. She holds no punches in addressing rape culture and issues of toxic masculinity, and takes no prisoners.
Tess is probably the most dynamic character I've seen in a long time. She is beautifully unlikeable and delightfully contrarian and the young adult world needs more characters like her.
I read many reviews of this book and so many people DNF it. And that is a damn shame. There are times where the plot gets thin, but Tess and her story are WORTH IT.
Hartman created a beautiful world in some ways absolutely contrary to ours and in others (terrible, awful, tragic ways) is completely the same. Her beautiful prose makes Tess all the more amazing and her story all the more heart-crushing. Her story is not her burden, but her story, it is hers but does not define her. And this message is of paramount importance.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
A really well done follow up duology to the first. Tess is loveable despite, or perhaps because of, her many flaws. Her story develops alongside flashbacks to her past, which was done very well to make the reader love her all the more for her accomplishment while also feeling for the pain of her past.
A sometimes painful, but important look into sexual abuse, grooming, and victim blaming. The fantastical journey and self discovery alongside this is an amazing foil to the hard topics it covers.
Highly recommended read or listen.
A sometimes painful, but important look into sexual abuse, grooming, and victim blaming. The fantastical journey and self discovery alongside this is an amazing foil to the hard topics it covers.
Highly recommended read or listen.
This is a really hard book for me to rate. I found parts to be very moving and enjoyable. However, the dark and mature themes of this book were just too much for me in the end. I thought I was prepared, but I was not in the right mindset and they overwhelmed me.
After rereading the wonderful Seraphina duology, this book just didn't compare. I found the pacing to be very slow. Several plot things just happen without ultimate repayment and I found that to be rather unsatisfying. I won't deny that certain parts of this book are very well done and certainly thought-provoking. Ultimately though, after 500+ pages, I feel more unnerved than satisfied.
After rereading the wonderful Seraphina duology, this book just didn't compare. I found the pacing to be very slow. Several plot things just happen without ultimate repayment and I found that to be rather unsatisfying. I won't deny that certain parts of this book are very well done and certainly thought-provoking. Ultimately though, after 500+ pages, I feel more unnerved than satisfied.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Slow going at first, and very long, but worth it.
Spoiler
Will the sequel be titled Tess of the Sea?
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes