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lola1229's review against another edition
DNF. This book disappeared from my Kindle, and it took more than a month to realize it was gone. 🤷‍♀️
bkrutzfeldt's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.25
cheritee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
xandrarama's review against another edition
This didn’t connect with me for whatever reason - I read up to 30% and then skipped to the last chapter to find out whether my predictions were correct (they were). I think the memory loss and mystery bits dragged on too long for me and I wasn’t able to sustain enough interest to keep going. Lovely descriptions of the library though and very realistic depiction of English train travel!
mkmaineknitter's review against another edition
2.0
It’s okay. The bookish bits are intriguing, at the first library. But things are just too convenient for me to believe how things settled in with the beginning of the second library. I read the audio version of this, and usually like audio books. But I just couldn’t get into the book. Other books jostled this one out of the way on my currently reading list, and I never finished it. I wanted to like it. I wanted to let it take me away. It just couldn’t. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Bookbinder's Daughter is an atmospheric YA/NA fantasy/romance by Jessica Thorne. Released 20th Sept 2021, it's 248 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is an engaging and well written romance/fantasy. The author has quite a lot to say about bullying, entitlement, elitism, and the meaning of honesty, integrity, and family. Protagonist Sophie has a personal history of submissiveness and passivity after personal tragedy has left her with post-traumatic holes in her memory. Several current crises cast her into a new professional life back at the scene of her earlier trauma.
The character development and plotting were a bit two dimensional and linear in most places. There weren't a lot of deviations or alternative subplot stories to explore. The antagonists were -completely- irredeemable and the protagonists were paragons. The dialogue was often wrought (not cringe-worthy, but definitely stilted) and I found myself being yanked out of my suspension of disbelief not infrequently. On the other hand, I'm not the target audience (I found my way in via the "biblio-fantasy" door, not the clearly marked romance one). Readers who appreciate fresh, well written YA/NA romance will find a lot to like here; especially readers who really enjoy a healthy dose of draaama with their stories. I, on the other hand, found myself wanting to shake some of the characters.
Three and a half stars, rounded up for technically adept writing and an engaging premise.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Bookbinder's Daughter is an atmospheric YA/NA fantasy/romance by Jessica Thorne. Released 20th Sept 2021, it's 248 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is an engaging and well written romance/fantasy. The author has quite a lot to say about bullying, entitlement, elitism, and the meaning of honesty, integrity, and family. Protagonist Sophie has a personal history of submissiveness and passivity after personal tragedy has left her with post-traumatic holes in her memory. Several current crises cast her into a new professional life back at the scene of her earlier trauma.
The character development and plotting were a bit two dimensional and linear in most places. There weren't a lot of deviations or alternative subplot stories to explore. The antagonists were -completely- irredeemable and the protagonists were paragons. The dialogue was often wrought (not cringe-worthy, but definitely stilted) and I found myself being yanked out of my suspension of disbelief not infrequently. On the other hand, I'm not the target audience (I found my way in via the "biblio-fantasy" door, not the clearly marked romance one). Readers who appreciate fresh, well written YA/NA romance will find a lot to like here; especially readers who really enjoy a healthy dose of draaama with their stories. I, on the other hand, found myself wanting to shake some of the characters.
Three and a half stars, rounded up for technically adept writing and an engaging premise.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
readitwithred's review against another edition
5.0
A magical book that is about so much more than you think.
It is about grief, finding your voice, family, legacy and knowledge.
Trigger warning!
The abuse from the controlling and manipulative, relationship with Victor, I thought was written very well. The way his voice plays in her mind and makes her conscious of her actions, things he wouldn't like. It is heartbreaking.
Then we have all the magical elements and memories that the author carefully drops hints and clues throughout the book before the big reveal, it has you believing you know what happens but then there is so much more.
A must read!
It is about grief, finding your voice, family, legacy and knowledge.
Trigger warning!
The abuse from the controlling and manipulative, relationship with Victor, I thought was written very well. The way his voice plays in her mind and makes her conscious of her actions, things he wouldn't like. It is heartbreaking.
Then we have all the magical elements and memories that the author carefully drops hints and clues throughout the book before the big reveal, it has you believing you know what happens but then there is so much more.
A must read!
readwithacapricorn's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was just magical!
Magic trees, magic library, magical people, everything!
It was such a unique and interesting read - very much light/dark academia vibes with betrayal, drama and familial secrets!
Our MC, Sophie, was pretty much your average women with her own trauma and loss, trying to deal with new circumstances.
She reconnects with her childhood best friend and things just go up from there
Will and Sophie’s relationship was so wholesome and sweet that I could not stop reading! Even though the book wasn’t super romance-driven, it was definitely a prevalent element and I loved it.
The world-building and lore surrounding the library itself and its people could have had more time to be fleshed out, but overall it was a fabulously magical read!
This book was just magical!
Magic trees, magic library, magical people, everything!
It was such a unique and interesting read - very much light/dark academia vibes with betrayal, drama and familial secrets!
Our MC, Sophie, was pretty much your average women with her own trauma and loss, trying to deal with new circumstances.
She reconnects with her childhood best friend and things just go up from there
Will and Sophie’s relationship was so wholesome and sweet that I could not stop reading! Even though the book wasn’t super romance-driven, it was definitely a prevalent element and I loved it.
The world-building and lore surrounding the library itself and its people could have had more time to be fleshed out, but overall it was a fabulously magical read!
kieyen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
jessicat10's review against another edition
5.0
I was hooked from the first page. This was everything I want in a book. It has magic, romance, mystery, heart. A perfect read. I cannot recommend it enough. I am absolutely going to be reading more from this author.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.