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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I wasn't sure at first, but by the end I was all in, and now I can't stand that I read this early and will need to wait that much longer for the rest of the story.
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I literally cannot say how awesome this book was, for so many reasons. First off, though, I will have to caution that this is a continuation/spinoff of Hartman's Seraphina duology, and it would be far easier a read to start with those books and then continue on with this one, as the world-building isn't really that explained in Tess as it is in the first two books. I read the first two books a few years ago, and so I forgot a few things about the world, which made it a bit tricky to read Tess, but I managed.
Tess is a thoroughly incredible character. She's strong and sassy, full of love and is quick to help those around her even at her own expense. However, she's been beaten down because of the society in which she lives. I won't say too much about her backstory, because it's something that is beautifully discovered throughout the book, but she's had a hard time of it, and having a character work through her past like this was a really unique focus for a book, and I think it's one that definitely should be explored more. The themes of femininity, womanhood, agency, redemption, healing and finding your own place in the world are dealt with heavily through this book, and honestly I think it's a book that every young woman (or even adult woman) should read. I got teary-eyed several times.
I expected it to be more about adventure and less about the internal struggles of Tess, the main character, but I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed everything this book had to offer. Tess is Everywoman, out on a journey to discover herself and reconcile the parts of her past that she regrets or that have left indelible scars on her soul.
I literally want everyone to read this book, so go do it!!
I literally cannot say how awesome this book was, for so many reasons. First off, though, I will have to caution that this is a continuation/spinoff of Hartman's Seraphina duology, and it would be far easier a read to start with those books and then continue on with this one, as the world-building isn't really that explained in Tess as it is in the first two books. I read the first two books a few years ago, and so I forgot a few things about the world, which made it a bit tricky to read Tess, but I managed.
Tess is a thoroughly incredible character. She's strong and sassy, full of love and is quick to help those around her even at her own expense. However, she's been beaten down because of the society in which she lives. I won't say too much about her backstory, because it's something that is beautifully discovered throughout the book, but she's had a hard time of it, and having a character work through her past like this was a really unique focus for a book, and I think it's one that definitely should be explored more. The themes of femininity, womanhood, agency, redemption, healing and finding your own place in the world are dealt with heavily through this book, and honestly I think it's a book that every young woman (or even adult woman) should read. I got teary-eyed several times.
I expected it to be more about adventure and less about the internal struggles of Tess, the main character, but I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed everything this book had to offer. Tess is Everywoman, out on a journey to discover herself and reconcile the parts of her past that she regrets or that have left indelible scars on her soul.
I literally want everyone to read this book, so go do it!!
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
4.5*
god, this was good. i can understand the criticims that it was SLOW, but, honestly, i do think that ended up working out in its favour... this is very much a character-driven novel, very interior-focused, with the plot serving as a complement to tess' own story and growth as a character, and i think that worked really well. i genuinely LOVED it. i might come back with more thoughts, but for now: i don't know who's been telling people that you can read [and understand/enjoy] this book without having read the seraphina duology first, but... i would not recommend it, i feel like you'd lose a LOT coming to this before those two, a lot of word-building and nuance to relationships and minor mentions.
god, this was good. i can understand the criticims that it was SLOW, but, honestly, i do think that ended up working out in its favour... this is very much a character-driven novel, very interior-focused, with the plot serving as a complement to tess' own story and growth as a character, and i think that worked really well. i genuinely LOVED it. i might come back with more thoughts, but for now: i don't know who's been telling people that you can read [and understand/enjoy] this book without having read the seraphina duology first, but... i would not recommend it, i feel like you'd lose a LOT coming to this before those two, a lot of word-building and nuance to relationships and minor mentions.
Better than Seriphina and Shadow Scale. A unique feminine coming of age story.
This is a competently written book. If you like road trips of discovery stories with a fantastic bent or stories that tackles difficult subjects like I'm sure it'd be enjoyable.
However I found this book a little miserable because of those themes and the over-arching religious theme that connects them together. While that religious background strongly informs Tess and her way of thinking, the whole system is a not so subtle parallel to certain forms of religion in our own world. I am sure other readers might appreciate and gain something from these strong echoes, but I found them tiring and unimaginative.
What I did enjoy was the other bits of world building - how there are different species of dragons, all cousins to one another, the quigutl culture and mythology - and the personal revelations Tess experienced, as slow as they were. (She is only 17, so it'd be unfair to expect her to be self-aware and self-reflect so deeply, but this book definitely tries your patience if you enjoy things faster paced.)
Spoiler
rape & purity culture, especially as a result of religion; the effect of losing a child, or alcoholismHowever I found this book a little miserable because of those themes and the over-arching religious theme that connects them together. While that religious background strongly informs Tess and her way of thinking, the whole system is a not so subtle parallel to certain forms of religion in our own world. I am sure other readers might appreciate and gain something from these strong echoes, but I found them tiring and unimaginative.
What I did enjoy was the other bits of world building - how there are different species of dragons, all cousins to one another, the quigutl culture and mythology - and the personal revelations Tess experienced, as slow as they were. (She is only 17, so it'd be unfair to expect her to be self-aware and self-reflect so deeply, but this book definitely tries your patience if you enjoy things faster paced.)
Soooo... Will there be another book? If so, when? Can I have it now?
Tess is a character that is hard to like at first, but then we see her grow and start to understand why she acts the way she does. Then we start to like her, then we start to root for her and by the end we want to read about all of her adventures.
And by we, I mean me obviously...
Tess is a character that is hard to like at first, but then we see her grow and start to understand why she acts the way she does. Then we start to like her, then we start to root for her and by the end we want to read about all of her adventures.
And by we, I mean me obviously...
It was fascinating to listen to this so soon after reading [b:The Body Keeps the Score|18693771|The Body Keeps the Score Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma|Bessel van der Kolk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594559067l/18693771._SY75_.jpg|26542319]. Among other things, Hartman is asking the question, "What would it look like for someone with PTSD to live and recover from trauma in a medieval fantasy-type setting?" Our protagonist, Tess, doesn't have access to EMDR or neurofeedback therapy, but she discovers other ways of healing, from moving her body in strong and purposeful ways to reteaching her body how to approach physical intimacy slowly, in a safe environment.
This book was recommended to me by a listener of Get Booked after I wrote in asking for a book in which the protagonist has experienced a past trauma but you don't know what it is when the book opens, and who finds love that supports her in her healing but isn't healed by love itself. At first, I thought the recommender was mistaken because the source of Tess' trauma seems clear early on, but in fact, there are layers and layers of past experiences that are revealed throughout the course of the book.
I had a hard time getting into this book at first and thought about abandoning it because Tess was such an unlikable character, but I'm glad I stuck with it and got to see her transformation into confidence and healing. I could have done without the whole side plot about Kikiu because I never really understood the point of it, but I enjoyed the rest of Tess' adventures and.
I don't feel strongly about picking up the sequel (which I don't think has been published yet anyway), but I'm glad this was recommended to me and enjoyed going on the road with Tess.
This book was recommended to me by a listener of Get Booked after I wrote in asking for a book in which the protagonist has experienced a past trauma but you don't know what it is when the book opens, and who finds love that supports her in her healing but isn't healed by love itself. At first, I thought the recommender was mistaken because the source of Tess' trauma seems clear early on, but in fact, there are layers and layers of past experiences that are revealed throughout the course of the book.
I had a hard time getting into this book at first and thought about abandoning it because Tess was such an unlikable character, but I'm glad I stuck with it and got to see her transformation into confidence and healing. I could have done without the whole side plot about Kikiu because I never really understood the point of it, but I enjoyed the rest of Tess' adventures and
Spoiler
I appreciated how Hartman gives us a chance to see what happened to all of the characters from the rest of the book via Brother Jacomo's experience following Tess' trailI don't feel strongly about picking up the sequel (which I don't think has been published yet anyway), but I'm glad this was recommended to me and enjoyed going on the road with Tess.
I could not get through this book! I might try reading it again sometime but it just felt very weird and I didn’t like it that much