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avaquaver_12's review
I’m on a roll with not finishing books! Hope this doesn’t keep up! This book was for my book club and I had read it before a few years ago. I wasn’t fussed on it then and I’m certainly not fussed on it now. Wasn’t holding my interest and was actually making me push away reading at that point. Sorry book club just this one’s not for me!
gabiirayner's review
3.0
Just good fun!! I especially love the focus on cartography and the use of it as the medium for description.
It felt like a really fresh, unique piece of fiction but seemed to be unsure of what demographic it was for? Overall it suits a younger audience thematically and in its protagonist but there were moments of real darkness and gruesomeness that surprised me. The 'resolution' was a little bit confusing but I enjoyed the story as a whole for definite!
It felt like a really fresh, unique piece of fiction but seemed to be unsure of what demographic it was for? Overall it suits a younger audience thematically and in its protagonist but there were moments of real darkness and gruesomeness that surprised me. The 'resolution' was a little bit confusing but I enjoyed the story as a whole for definite!
kitkat8's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cloud_kitty_cat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
3.5
amylauren15's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ember12's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
michalice's review
3.0
When I first heard about The Girl of Ink and Stars it sounded like a book filled with adventure, but when I began reading I found it hard to join in with this adventure. The idea behind the story was great, and I liked hearing about the old stories and the descriptions of maps, but I found it hard to relate to the characters and really find anything interesting about them.
Isa's world is full of mystery and maps, so when her friend Lupe goes missing, she wants to join the group of people who go looking for her, even if it means disguising herself as her brother. This part I can relate to, willing to do anything to find a friend is the only kind of friendship, but that and her ability to make maps were the only things of Isa that interested me.
The journey to find Lupe isn't an easy one, and I liked how different legends were mixed into the pages to add a touch of uniqueness to this story, but at some points it did feel like it dragged on just a bit too long, and I did get distracted and it took me a lot longer to finish this book than it usually would.
Final Verdict
The Girl of Ink and Stars wasn't quite my cup of tea, but I think it would be a better read for younger children who would appreciate the story better.
Isa's world is full of mystery and maps, so when her friend Lupe goes missing, she wants to join the group of people who go looking for her, even if it means disguising herself as her brother. This part I can relate to, willing to do anything to find a friend is the only kind of friendship, but that and her ability to make maps were the only things of Isa that interested me.
The journey to find Lupe isn't an easy one, and I liked how different legends were mixed into the pages to add a touch of uniqueness to this story, but at some points it did feel like it dragged on just a bit too long, and I did get distracted and it took me a lot longer to finish this book than it usually would.
Final Verdict
The Girl of Ink and Stars wasn't quite my cup of tea, but I think it would be a better read for younger children who would appreciate the story better.
luweebayy's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This is the second book I’ve read so far where there’s a big build up and then the ending happens in a couple of pages.
I read the ending in bed and I feel like if I’d have been sleepily reading it, I’d have missed what actually happened, it happened that quickly.
However, the remainder of the book is absolutely brilliant. The plot line, the characters, the setting. I loved it! Tbh, I kept waiting for the myth to be proved wrong, like would normally happen, some big twist. But that doesn’t happen, which kept me on my toes, even though it probably was the authors intention, just my expectation.
It is obviously set in an alternate universe where place names are slightly different (Chine, Amrica, Europa) which annoyed me slightly but it’s a kids books, so would make it easier to follow than the standard made up fantasy names you find.
I read the ending in bed and I feel like if I’d have been sleepily reading it, I’d have missed what actually happened, it happened that quickly.
However, the remainder of the book is absolutely brilliant. The plot line, the characters, the setting. I loved it! Tbh, I kept waiting for the myth to be proved wrong, like would normally happen, some big twist. But that doesn’t happen, which kept me on my toes, even though it probably was the authors intention, just my expectation.
It is obviously set in an alternate universe where place names are slightly different (Chine, Amrica, Europa) which annoyed me slightly but it’s a kids books, so would make it easier to follow than the standard made up fantasy names you find.
patchworkbunny's review
3.0
Isabella is the daughter of a cartographer and best friend to the Governor's daughter, Lupe. Her mother and twin brother are dead, and it is alluded to that the Governor's harsh regime contributed to their fate. When one of their classmates is found dead, Isabella blames Lupe and the two fall out. The next morning Lupe is missing; she's gone to find the killer and prove that she's not rotten.
In order to join the search party for Lupe, Isabella disguises herself as a boy. I'm not a huge fan of this trope; first off why can't girls have adventures anyway? Secondly, I find it hard to believe a haircut and some trousers is enough of a disguise.* Slightly redeemed by the fact one person who knows Isabella isn't fooled. Why are fictional fantasy worlds always a bit sexist? Demon dogs fine, gender equality? Nah, no one will believe that.
Isabella inhabits an alternate world, with similar place names but clearly a world without our level of technology. The island of Joya is based on the real life Canary Island of La Gomera. With all the volcanic activity of these islands I can imagine their mythology is full of danger from beneath, and this is brought through in the book.
As well as the supernatural elements it also has an undercurrent of colonial tensions. The Governor came from another land and took over the island. He brought it laws preventing the native people from leaving and split the island in two. If you break his laws, you are banished to the other side, never to be seen again.
I think it would be a lovely addition to your child's bookshelf though. And don't be annoyed by the fact it has girl in the title, for once it is actually about a girl! In the US, it's called The Cartographer's Daughter, but I was pleased to hear that the UK publisher didn't want to use that formula. She's more than just the daughter of a man, and it turns out she's just as much a cartographer of him, using ink and stars to navigate and create her own maps.
In order to join the search party for Lupe, Isabella disguises herself as a boy. I'm not a huge fan of this trope; first off why can't girls have adventures anyway? Secondly, I find it hard to believe a haircut and some trousers is enough of a disguise.* Slightly redeemed by the fact one person who knows Isabella isn't fooled. Why are fictional fantasy worlds always a bit sexist? Demon dogs fine, gender equality? Nah, no one will believe that.
Isabella inhabits an alternate world, with similar place names but clearly a world without our level of technology. The island of Joya is based on the real life Canary Island of La Gomera. With all the volcanic activity of these islands I can imagine their mythology is full of danger from beneath, and this is brought through in the book.
As well as the supernatural elements it also has an undercurrent of colonial tensions. The Governor came from another land and took over the island. He brought it laws preventing the native people from leaving and split the island in two. If you break his laws, you are banished to the other side, never to be seen again.
I think it would be a lovely addition to your child's bookshelf though. And don't be annoyed by the fact it has girl in the title, for once it is actually about a girl! In the US, it's called The Cartographer's Daughter, but I was pleased to hear that the UK publisher didn't want to use that formula. She's more than just the daughter of a man, and it turns out she's just as much a cartographer of him, using ink and stars to navigate and create her own maps.
curlypip's review
2.0
Hmm... it sounded so great, but didn’t live up to expectations for me. And I don’t think it’s because it’s a YA novel, just because it’s too short and so it’s not deep enough.
The characters are very one dimensional, and I didn’t get anywhere near enough of a sense of place from the descriptions. The myths were not convincing or explored well enough, and didn’t hold true for me.
It was a quick read though, which is about all I can say for it
The characters are very one dimensional, and I didn’t get anywhere near enough of a sense of place from the descriptions. The myths were not convincing or explored well enough, and didn’t hold true for me.
It was a quick read though, which is about all I can say for it