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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Delightfully and colorfully written. I’ve not enjoyed a book as much in this vein since Chronicles of Narnia. The audio book was a treat.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4/5. I'm a huge Decemberists fan and that led me to read this book. I listened to the audiobook by Amanda Plummer, whose narration was wonderful. The comparisons to The Chronicles of Narnia are very apt.
There were points where I felt the book dragged a bit and it may be over long, but overall I think it was well written and if it had been around when I was a young reader I would have loved it.
Special character awards for Septimus the Rat and Iphigenia.
There were points where I felt the book dragged a bit and it may be over long, but overall I think it was well written and if it had been around when I was a young reader I would have loved it.
Special character awards for Septimus the Rat and Iphigenia.
okay, cute!
this story of 2 teens going into a forbidden forest to save one of their siblings who was abducted by a murder of crows was pretty interesting, but could’ve been told in 300 pages instead of the 541. I liked the plot, characters, and setting of the story, it was just sooo long and the details were kind of boring. other than that, great fall read! glad I finally got this book read after having it for so long :)
this story of 2 teens going into a forbidden forest to save one of their siblings who was abducted by a murder of crows was pretty interesting, but could’ve been told in 300 pages instead of the 541. I liked the plot, characters, and setting of the story, it was just sooo long and the details were kind of boring. other than that, great fall read! glad I finally got this book read after having it for so long :)
So I picked this book up on a whim after coming across it in a bookstore in the Chicago O'Hare Airport. Something about the concept just grabbed me.
To start off with, this book is probably too long for what it is. It was always just on the cusp of hooking me, but failed to completely do so. I was engaged just enough to keep reading and see it to the end, but I wasn't dying to finish it. The plot, while very Narnia-like, was entertaining enough to keep me interested, but again, was just missing a little something. I will warn you that if you're one of those people that like to flip ahead to see how long the next chapter is like me, the illustrations will definitely ruin some things for you, at least toward the end.
Overall, it was a pretty good book. Entertaining, but in a mediocre sort of way. I'm not really sure if I'm going to read the second book. I just didn't connect with it enough. However, if I'm looking for something to read, I'll probably give it a chance.
To start off with, this book is probably too long for what it is. It was always just on the cusp of hooking me, but failed to completely do so. I was engaged just enough to keep reading and see it to the end, but I wasn't dying to finish it. The plot, while very Narnia-like, was entertaining enough to keep me interested, but again, was just missing a little something. I will warn you that if you're one of those people that like to flip ahead to see how long the next chapter is like me, the illustrations will definitely ruin some things for you, at least toward the end.
Overall, it was a pretty good book. Entertaining, but in a mediocre sort of way. I'm not really sure if I'm going to read the second book. I just didn't connect with it enough. However, if I'm looking for something to read, I'll probably give it a chance.
A captivating fantasy about the age old forces of good and evil, set right outside modern Portland, Oregon and drawn with excruciating detail and lots of SAT words. Meloy clearly knows how to tell a good yarn; he kept me interested in his world building throughout the whole novel, and I was always eager to get back to it. He also inserts biblical, mythological, and historical references, and is very unapologetic about using big words, most of which younger readers won't understand. They'll have to get some of it from context, some from actually consulting a dictionary! In the tradition of Lemony Snicket, Meloy every so often uses the dialogue to define a word, and does a decent job of it.
I loved the characters, a combination of humans and animals. There's just about every species represented here, including the flora a la Avatar. I had no trouble visualizing the landscape.
Carson Ellis' illustrations are wonderful - very detailed and folk arty. However, it will take a specific kind of kid to pick this up, because the cover is not usual.
I found myself puzzled as to where to shelve this book - YA or juvenile. The characters are juvenile age, the story is not on the level of a YA fantasy. But some of the elements, and indeed to elevated language are YA. It will find a small but sophisticated audience, I think. Language arts teachers could use it well to increase students' word banks, and have a good tale to boot.
I loved the characters, a combination of humans and animals. There's just about every species represented here, including the flora a la Avatar. I had no trouble visualizing the landscape.
Carson Ellis' illustrations are wonderful - very detailed and folk arty. However, it will take a specific kind of kid to pick this up, because the cover is not usual.
I found myself puzzled as to where to shelve this book - YA or juvenile. The characters are juvenile age, the story is not on the level of a YA fantasy. But some of the elements, and indeed to elevated language are YA. It will find a small but sophisticated audience, I think. Language arts teachers could use it well to increase students' word banks, and have a good tale to boot.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
liked the end much more than the beginning - maybe i'll try the second book?