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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
This book was hard on me. It rocked me, emotionally. It was work to read it. Good work. Work that needed to be done. Rachel Hartman has such a deep understanding of people, and it shines through relentlessly.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
Tess is like the Arya of her world.
Tess of the Road was an okay book. Yes, I did compare her to my beloved Arya throughout the entire book. Mostly because she's a lady but doesn't want to just be a lady. She wants more - like Ariel... but wait this isn't Disney.
Long story short, she punches someone at a wedding and is now being shipped to a nunnery. So it's kind of like The Sound of Music...but I'm pretty sure Maria didn't punch a relative - but I would love to see that.
Another long story short, she never arrives to become a nun because she is basically done with everyone's bullshit. She is now portraying as a boy - dun dun dun #DISGUISE.
Again, it was an okay book. Yes, we get to watch Tess sort of grow throughout the book. We also get to see everything that she went through and how she is going to adapt from it all. It was a nice journey to travel with her.. but I will admit that I was bored at times. Whether it was the pacing or just being bored in general with everything - it happened. I didn't want it to but it did.
In the end, I might dive into the next book if it ever comes out - who knows?
Tess of the Road was an okay book. Yes, I did compare her to my beloved Arya throughout the entire book. Mostly because she's a lady but doesn't want to just be a lady. She wants more - like Ariel... but wait this isn't Disney.
Long story short, she punches someone at a wedding and is now being shipped to a nunnery. So it's kind of like The Sound of Music...but I'm pretty sure Maria didn't punch a relative - but I would love to see that.
Another long story short, she never arrives to become a nun because she is basically done with everyone's bullshit. She is now portraying as a boy - dun dun dun #DISGUISE.
Again, it was an okay book. Yes, we get to watch Tess sort of grow throughout the book. We also get to see everything that she went through and how she is going to adapt from it all. It was a nice journey to travel with her.. but I will admit that I was bored at times. Whether it was the pacing or just being bored in general with everything - it happened. I didn't want it to but it did.
In the end, I might dive into the next book if it ever comes out - who knows?
First, absolutely read Seraphina and Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman before you read this. Tess of the Road focuses on a separate character but takes place after the events of Seraphina's novels and does refer to events from the first two novels.
Tess of the Road focuses on Tess who is the troublemaker of the family.
After she causes a scene at her perfect sister's wedding, her mother decides to send Tess to a convent where she won't embarrass the family any longer. Tess doesn't like that option so with some encouragement from her half-sister Seraphina, she runs from her family and begins a journey that twines through her past and present. She joins with an old quigutl friend and together they search for the World Serpent, she learns to steal, to build roads, to run and most importantly to walk on.
Rachel Hartman does an amazing job at character development. I had to fight my way through some of the novel because Tess starts out whiny, over-stubborn and resigned to her fate as "the fallen sister". But chapter after chapter turned her into a very real and very moving character.
For those who have not read Hartman's work, you may be dissatisfied with the ending but I like Hartman's endings because they leave a lot open. Phases of your life do not open and close but rather rise and fall continuously .
I would recommend this novel for fans of Seraphina, Tamora Pierce, Grave Mercy
Tess of the Road focuses on Tess who is the troublemaker of the family.
After she causes a scene at her perfect sister's wedding, her mother decides to send Tess to a convent where she won't embarrass the family any longer. Tess doesn't like that option so with some encouragement from her half-sister Seraphina, she runs from her family and begins a journey that twines through her past and present. She joins with an old quigutl friend and together they search for the World Serpent, she learns to steal, to build roads, to run and most importantly to walk on.
Rachel Hartman does an amazing job at character development. I had to fight my way through some of the novel because Tess starts out whiny, over-stubborn and resigned to her fate as "the fallen sister". But chapter after chapter turned her into a very real and very moving character.
For those who have not read Hartman's work, you may be dissatisfied with the ending but I like Hartman's endings because they leave a lot open. Phases of your life do not open and close but rather rise and fall continuously .
I would recommend this novel for fans of Seraphina, Tamora Pierce, Grave Mercy
Everyone wrote in the reviews how slow it was, but I don't agree. This is a moving story about dealing with trauma, plus with fantasy and dragons and stuff. TWs apply, but get ready 2 b uplifted and feel hope also :)
This is definately going down as my favourite coming of age type book. Something every young adult should read and understand.
The writing was excellent and clever and beautifully descriptive.
I cannot sing enough praises for this gem!
The writing was excellent and clever and beautifully descriptive.
I cannot sing enough praises for this gem!
4.5 stars
Tess of the Road is a unique fantasy book. It's mainly a character study of Tess, a young woman who is on a healing journey, running away from abusive and traumatic experiences. The author does an exceptional job of showing her growth, especially when it comes to dealing with her past traumas. It's probably one of the best depictions of this in recent memory. The overall pace is slow, which may not be to everyone's liking, but it works really well because healing takes time and a faster pace wouldn't have felt authentic.
Tess of the Road is a unique fantasy book. It's mainly a character study of Tess, a young woman who is on a healing journey, running away from abusive and traumatic experiences. The author does an exceptional job of showing her growth, especially when it comes to dealing with her past traumas. It's probably one of the best depictions of this in recent memory. The overall pace is slow, which may not be to everyone's liking, but it works really well because healing takes time and a faster pace wouldn't have felt authentic.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for giving me this book to review.
Tess of the Road is a companion novel to Seraphina, but I did not grab me like that book. I think my main problem with this book was that was really slow paced, and it isn’t what I want in an adventure fantasy novel. I like to escape into a book and leave the realistic things in the real world, but this book was not an easy read as it is emotionally draining, which meant this book was more about Tess learning to accept the past and herself and less about having a fun adventure.
Tess is an interesting character and at some points I liked her with her stubbornness but also how emotionally damaged she was, but at other times she seemed so selfish, spiteful and unable to compromise that I just could not connect with her.
While I DNF Tess of the Road at 44% I would still recommend it to those who enjoyed Seraphina but are looking for a book about self-discovery rather than adventure.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Tess of the Road is a companion novel to Seraphina, but I did not grab me like that book. I think my main problem with this book was that was really slow paced, and it isn’t what I want in an adventure fantasy novel. I like to escape into a book and leave the realistic things in the real world, but this book was not an easy read as it is emotionally draining, which meant this book was more about Tess learning to accept the past and herself and less about having a fun adventure.
Tess is an interesting character and at some points I liked her with her stubbornness but also how emotionally damaged she was, but at other times she seemed so selfish, spiteful and unable to compromise that I just could not connect with her.
While I DNF Tess of the Road at 44% I would still recommend it to those who enjoyed Seraphina but are looking for a book about self-discovery rather than adventure.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No