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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
”Your credo goes further than you realized: walk on, yes, but don’t walk past people who need you. Uncurl yourself so you can see them and respond.”
Once again, I can’t remember why I picked this up. (Some day I might make better notes.) However, it was what I needed. Tess is an interesting character and her world was fascinating. I have not read the novels that Hartman had previously set in this place, but that was not a deterrent.
I had a wonderful time. Hartman made me glad that I like fantastic worlds – I just wish I had more time to visit them.
Once again, I can’t remember why I picked this up. (Some day I might make better notes.) However, it was what I needed. Tess is an interesting character and her world was fascinating. I have not read the novels that Hartman had previously set in this place, but that was not a deterrent.
I had a wonderful time. Hartman made me glad that I like fantastic worlds – I just wish I had more time to visit them.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is the first of a companion series to the "Seraphina" series, it follows Seraphina's half-sister Tess on her journey from lady-in-waiting to adventurer. In her time on the Road, Tess meets new and familiar faces while processing her trauma and discovering her world's best kept secret. The world building and lore of Rachel Hartman's universe is beautiful, this novel was a good read from start to finish!
"We're clinging to a sphere, after all," he'd said. "From some angles, up is toward the earth and down toward the sky, and everything-people, horses, cathedrals, dreams-is suspended over the ceaseless void, barely hanging on."
Tess of the Road is a story of adventure, magic, self-discovery, and the dichotomy of human emotions. It has so much life to it, including the really ugly stuff that no one wants to talk about. The main character, Tess, has grown up believing she is a terrible person, and her guilt leads her to rationalize her behavior. However, as we discover through flashbacks during the story, she is a product of her environment and an upbringing which had a very misogynist world-view. The flashbacks are challenging, but piece together an important part of her own history that she, over time, faces and becomes stronger from.
At times, this story reminded me of a fantasy version of [b: Into the Wild|1845|Into the Wild|Jon Krakauer|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403173986s/1845.jpg|3284484] where our heroine meets characters that step into her life to fulfill a need or offer support, and I found myself wondering what happens to those characters. But as with real life, so often people do come into our lives, touch them, and them leave- and we are left wondering about them from time to time.
I really enjoyed the quigutl characters- their use of ungendered pronouns, contradictory language, and mythos are important for the story line. as well as the And while their quirky habits and nature lighten up the tone of the book at times as well- even though the main quigutl, Pathka, is fighting Ko's (the quigutl ungendered pronoun) own parallel internal battle as well.
Like the quote listed above, the author's intelligent fantasy writing prompts you to reflect on the mysteries outside of one's own view of the word. There is always more to the world than what there appears to be, if only you have the will to take the road and find it.
Tess of the Road is a story of adventure, magic, self-discovery, and the dichotomy of human emotions. It has so much life to it, including the really ugly stuff that no one wants to talk about. The main character, Tess, has grown up believing she is a terrible person, and her guilt leads her to rationalize her behavior. However, as we discover through flashbacks during the story, she is a product of her environment and an upbringing which had a very misogynist world-view. The flashbacks are challenging, but piece together an important part of her own history that she, over time, faces and becomes stronger from.
At times, this story reminded me of a fantasy version of [b: Into the Wild|1845|Into the Wild|Jon Krakauer|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403173986s/1845.jpg|3284484] where our heroine meets characters that step into her life to fulfill a need or offer support, and I found myself wondering what happens to those characters. But as with real life, so often people do come into our lives, touch them, and them leave- and we are left wondering about them from time to time.
I really enjoyed the quigutl characters- their use of ungendered pronouns, contradictory language, and mythos are important for the story line. as well as the And while their quirky habits and nature lighten up the tone of the book at times as well- even though the main quigutl, Pathka, is fighting Ko's (the quigutl ungendered pronoun) own parallel internal battle as well.
Like the quote listed above, the author's intelligent fantasy writing prompts you to reflect on the mysteries outside of one's own view of the word. There is always more to the world than what there appears to be, if only you have the will to take the road and find it.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is a book about healing and finding yourself.
It packs more into one coming-of-age novel than I'd expect in 3 usual forays along that well=worn fantasy novel path.
The fantasy elements are there but are a secondary focus.
The insights and maturation are a little on-the-nose. That's a quibble.
I loved it.
I especially loved the imperfect but striving title character.
She screws up in very recognizable, realistic ways; bad things happen, but she also has her triumphs.
It packs more into one coming-of-age novel than I'd expect in 3 usual forays along that well=worn fantasy novel path.
The fantasy elements are there but are a secondary focus.
The insights and maturation are a little on-the-nose. That's a quibble.
I loved it.
I especially loved the imperfect but striving title character.
She screws up in very recognizable, realistic ways; bad things happen, but she also has her triumphs.
Truly a novel of the road, as Tess is pushed/pushes herself to keep exploring, going further into the world and her own psyche. Very enjoyable—immediately put the sequel on reserve.
This arc was provided to me for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
First, I was unaware of what I was getting into when I read this book. It was only until half way that I realized there was a previous book series. I would have liked to have read that series before I started this one. Just so I could have understood the background of the world more. However, that is my fault and mine alone.
I did in fact enjoy this book as it had all the makings of my kind of novel. It had adventure, dragons, romance, and some good fights. I really liked Tess as a character as the story evolved because she slowly lets you in a little bit at a time. You think you know exactly who she is until you see a little bit more.
This book revolves around Tess, the eldest daughter who has somehow shamed herself and now must help her sister marry. Tess being the troublemaker she is causes a scene at the wedding and her family attempts to send her to a nunnery. That is when Tess finally decided to leave it all behind and run. Tess has a grand adventure before her and we meet some very entertaining characters.
Tess’s background is what hit me the hardest, we are led to believe it was one thing, but, it’s not. I appreciated Tess because she wanted to be more than what the men in her life wanted her to be. She never would have been meant for a mundane lifestyle.
If you like dragons and long adventures, then I would highly recommend this book to you. The characters alone are worth the read.
3.5 Stars
First, I was unaware of what I was getting into when I read this book. It was only until half way that I realized there was a previous book series. I would have liked to have read that series before I started this one. Just so I could have understood the background of the world more. However, that is my fault and mine alone.
I did in fact enjoy this book as it had all the makings of my kind of novel. It had adventure, dragons, romance, and some good fights. I really liked Tess as a character as the story evolved because she slowly lets you in a little bit at a time. You think you know exactly who she is until you see a little bit more.
This book revolves around Tess, the eldest daughter who has somehow shamed herself and now must help her sister marry. Tess being the troublemaker she is causes a scene at the wedding and her family attempts to send her to a nunnery. That is when Tess finally decided to leave it all behind and run. Tess has a grand adventure before her and we meet some very entertaining characters.
Tess’s background is what hit me the hardest, we are led to believe it was one thing, but, it’s not. I appreciated Tess because she wanted to be more than what the men in her life wanted her to be. She never would have been meant for a mundane lifestyle.
If you like dragons and long adventures, then I would highly recommend this book to you. The characters alone are worth the read.
The last third is infinitely better than the first two thirds. An easy read with moments of introspection, that while are meaningful, are also repetitive at times and distracting at others. I liked it overall, and even connected with it a bit. Slightly disappointed as I was expecting a different kind of dragon story, but that doesn't mean it is not worth a read.