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unseenwizzzard's review against another edition
3.0
Well, this was an odd book. I enjoyed it, don't get me wrong, but it was very slightly-twisted-humor in it's character quirks. If you enjoy Pratchett with a bit of gruesome humor added in, then this is the book for you. Oddly enough, the demon duck was probably my favorite character, which is a sign that the oddness was right for the storyline.
gogglor's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A Lee Martinez’s books are one of my favorite new discoveries. This one has his trademark thread of humor running through a well-done story about accepting yourself and finding your own way. I really loved the world-building and the secondary characters. It was just a cracking good story.
mackle13's review against another edition
3.0
Several reviews describe this book as quirky, and I'm certainly not going to argue there. It plays with tropes to the level of parody - a witch cursed with beauty (and a hunger for flesh), a demon in the body of a duck, a thoughtful troll, a wistful broom, and a true White Knight.
It starts out being a sort of revenge story, but it's really more a coming-of-age/romance kind of book. And there's definitely more in the way of romance than I was expecting. Not that I mind, as it's the "story book" kind of romance that I like (as opposed to the euphemistic kind), I just wasn't really prepared for it.
I think my overall verdict is "cute". I liked the characters in a "hey, they're pretty cool/funny" kinda way, but never really connected with them. Part of this is the narration, I think, which, while written in first person, is also rather distant.
That said, there was a fair bit of wry, slightly twisted humor, which I certainly enjoyed. I never laughed out loud, or anything, but I did find myself smirking from time to time.
As to the quest, I would've liked for their to be more at stake. The witch is nigh immortal - ageless and also very hard to kill. I never really felt like there was any real peril, until the end, and even then it was sort of short lived.
The focus, to me, definitely seemed to be on the romance and the coming-of-age stuff. The quest is sort of a vessel for that more than anything.
So, yeah, cute, quirky, darkly wry, and mostly sweet with a side dish of wistful longing.
It starts out being a sort of revenge story, but it's really more a coming-of-age/romance kind of book. And there's definitely more in the way of romance than I was expecting. Not that I mind, as it's the "story book" kind of romance that I like (as opposed to the euphemistic kind), I just wasn't really prepared for it.
I think my overall verdict is "cute". I liked the characters in a "hey, they're pretty cool/funny" kinda way, but never really connected with them. Part of this is the narration, I think, which, while written in first person, is also rather distant.
That said, there was a fair bit of wry, slightly twisted humor, which I certainly enjoyed. I never laughed out loud, or anything, but I did find myself smirking from time to time.
As to the quest, I would've liked for their to be more at stake. The witch is nigh immortal - ageless and also very hard to kill. I never really felt like there was any real peril, until the end, and even then it was sort of short lived.
The focus, to me, definitely seemed to be on the romance and the coming-of-age stuff. The quest is sort of a vessel for that more than anything.
So, yeah, cute, quirky, darkly wry, and mostly sweet with a side dish of wistful longing.
dmdeacon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
theartolater's review against another edition
4.0
I've now read two A Lee Martinez books, and they're really filling a void I didn't know I had in my reading. I like books that make me laugh without being cheap about it, and I like books that are aware that they are funny and aren't afraid to embrace it. Martinez appears to be good at this.
This book is one of those "turn X story on its head" types, with a witch cursed with beauty and tasked to avenge the death of her mentor. She ends up heading off with a familiar (in this case, a demon in the form of a duck), a troll, and, later, a stereotypically dashing virtuous knight. The book doesn't really throw any curveballs, but it doesn't have to - it's simply a fun read with a lot going for it, and moves very quickly for a 300+ page read.
Definitely liked this, and I definitely need to pick up more by Martinez sooner rather than later. Just a good time all around.
This book is one of those "turn X story on its head" types, with a witch cursed with beauty and tasked to avenge the death of her mentor. She ends up heading off with a familiar (in this case, a demon in the form of a duck), a troll, and, later, a stereotypically dashing virtuous knight. The book doesn't really throw any curveballs, but it doesn't have to - it's simply a fun read with a lot going for it, and moves very quickly for a 300+ page read.
Definitely liked this, and I definitely need to pick up more by Martinez sooner rather than later. Just a good time all around.
laurla's review against another edition
"pierced from every possible angle and two or four impossible angles as well." (by arrows)
"damn it! I thought witches knew the future."
"knowing what will be is not the same as knowing how it will come to pass."
"did they teach you such nearly enlightened yet vaguely mysterious phrases in witch's school or do you make them up as you go?"
"a little of both."
"what is love? nobody really knows. it defies explanation in its complex simplicity."
"reasons are of little consequence. they are justifications for doing what we would do anyway."
"eager to die are you?"
"if death means leaving behind your vainglorious chatter, I welcome it."
"damn it! I thought witches knew the future."
"knowing what will be is not the same as knowing how it will come to pass."
"did they teach you such nearly enlightened yet vaguely mysterious phrases in witch's school or do you make them up as you go?"
"a little of both."
"what is love? nobody really knows. it defies explanation in its complex simplicity."
"reasons are of little consequence. they are justifications for doing what we would do anyway."
"eager to die are you?"
"if death means leaving behind your vainglorious chatter, I welcome it."
frogggirl2's review against another edition
4.0
"It was not fate, she explained once, but rather the past yet to be. Not to be confused with the future that might come or the present that never was," p. 18.
This is a whimsical, sweet, romantic fairy tale for adults. Occasionally funny and continuously entertaining, this book is a fast, fun palate cleanser.
This is a whimsical, sweet, romantic fairy tale for adults. Occasionally funny and continuously entertaining, this book is a fast, fun palate cleanser.
bookwormyami's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed this book and all the characters!