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arielzeit's review against another edition
4.0
After all the disapproving reviews, I didn't expect to like this. I loved it.
pontiki's review against another edition
3.0
I've read the Inkworld series, and enjoyed most of it, so thought I'd try this series. I liked it well enough to read it through, but there were some definite flaws.
I liked Jacob, because he had knowledge about the Mirrorworld, and had been on lots of adventures there. His determination to help his brother, Will, was courageous, and his ideas clever in his quest.
I didn't like Funkes' way of starting the book, which felt much like the middle. It was never explained how Will got the stone in his body, at least not clearly enough to me. Often, things would be referred to that had already happened, which had not been explained, then when they were explained, I lost the thread if the main story. It took me a good 100 pages to get into this book. Still worthwhile, though.
Will is a bit two dimensional, but developed as the story went along, and Clara has a brave, unwavering desire to help Will. SPOILER ALERT***I hated the "love triangle" bit, which was unnecessary, unrealistic, and obvious. I guess you're supposed to wonder if Jacob has real feelings for Clara, but it's only the larks water that made him kiss her. Same for Clara, whose shame makes no sense. It's all very juvenile, and these are adult characters, they should act like it.
I actually really liked the descriptions of the Goyl, and even the Black Fairy loved the Goyl King, so it would follow that she would want to protect him. It also seems the Goyl had been mistreated by the humans, so it's not a black and white, humans are good and Goyls are bad situation. I like that complexity.
Now I'm interested in reading Fearless to see how Jacob deals with his death sentence.
I liked Jacob, because he had knowledge about the Mirrorworld, and had been on lots of adventures there. His determination to help his brother, Will, was courageous, and his ideas clever in his quest.
I didn't like Funkes' way of starting the book, which felt much like the middle. It was never explained how Will got the stone in his body, at least not clearly enough to me. Often, things would be referred to that had already happened, which had not been explained, then when they were explained, I lost the thread if the main story. It took me a good 100 pages to get into this book. Still worthwhile, though.
Will is a bit two dimensional, but developed as the story went along, and Clara has a brave, unwavering desire to help Will. SPOILER ALERT***I hated the "love triangle" bit, which was unnecessary, unrealistic, and obvious. I guess you're supposed to wonder if Jacob has real feelings for Clara, but it's only the larks water that made him kiss her. Same for Clara, whose shame makes no sense. It's all very juvenile, and these are adult characters, they should act like it.
I actually really liked the descriptions of the Goyl, and even the Black Fairy loved the Goyl King, so it would follow that she would want to protect him. It also seems the Goyl had been mistreated by the humans, so it's not a black and white, humans are good and Goyls are bad situation. I like that complexity.
Now I'm interested in reading Fearless to see how Jacob deals with his death sentence.
abbielester's review against another edition
3.0
Jacob Reckless's childhood is marred by the sudden disappearance of his father until he discovers the magical properties of a mirror in his father's study which allows him to travel into a fairy tale reality. He spends most of his time in the other world without his brother and mother until one day his younger brother Will follows him through the mirror. All is not well in the other world, and the two brothers are caught in the violence when Will is attacked by a Goyle, and his body begins turning to stone.
Despite Jacob's distant relationship with Will developed by years of separation by the mirror, Will trusts his older brother completely, and the two set off on a quest to find a cure. They are joined by Will's fiance, Clara, adn Jacob's longtime companion, a shape-shifting human/fox. The quartet faces dangers from fairy tale characters who are familiar and other who are more obscure to American audiences. Even this magic world is filled with corruption, greed, and deceit. Though this is a fantastical tale, the characters are believable.
This book is a challenge to place because many of the plot elements will appeal to younger readers, but the characters are older than in Funke's earlier books and deal with more adult problems and situations. I really enjoyed this story, and I definitely recommend it fairy tale and fantasy fans.
Despite Jacob's distant relationship with Will developed by years of separation by the mirror, Will trusts his older brother completely, and the two set off on a quest to find a cure. They are joined by Will's fiance, Clara, adn Jacob's longtime companion, a shape-shifting human/fox. The quartet faces dangers from fairy tale characters who are familiar and other who are more obscure to American audiences. Even this magic world is filled with corruption, greed, and deceit. Though this is a fantastical tale, the characters are believable.
This book is a challenge to place because many of the plot elements will appeal to younger readers, but the characters are older than in Funke's earlier books and deal with more adult problems and situations. I really enjoyed this story, and I definitely recommend it fairy tale and fantasy fans.
inthenevernever's review against another edition
4.0
Mágico! No hay palabra mejor para definir este libro. Con una edición sumamente cuidada y unas ilustraciones con las que la misma autora inicio cada capitulo, para darnos su particular visión del mundo del detrás del espejo.
Jacob, Will, Clara y Zorro se verán envueltos en una serie de aventuras, donde los peligros no son pocos, y donde las leyendas e historias más variadas cobran vida, eso si, no esperes a que sean exactamente como las conocemos a este lado del espejo.
"¿Habéis oído hablar alguna vez de Blancanieves, la chica humana que vivió con varios hermanos enanitos antes de entablar relación con un antepasado de la emperatriz? Acabó siendo muy desgraciada y finalmente escapó con él. ¡Con un enanito!"
No falta las intrigas, el amor y el desamor. Me quede prendada del estilo de la Cornelia!!!
Jacob, Will, Clara y Zorro se verán envueltos en una serie de aventuras, donde los peligros no son pocos, y donde las leyendas e historias más variadas cobran vida, eso si, no esperes a que sean exactamente como las conocemos a este lado del espejo.
"¿Habéis oído hablar alguna vez de Blancanieves, la chica humana que vivió con varios hermanos enanitos antes de entablar relación con un antepasado de la emperatriz? Acabó siendo muy desgraciada y finalmente escapó con él. ¡Con un enanito!"
No falta las intrigas, el amor y el desamor. Me quede prendada del estilo de la Cornelia!!!
courtney_niiicole's review against another edition
2.0
2.75
It's really hard for my to know how I actually feel about this book because I was in a MAJOR book slump when I attempted to read this book. So that definitely ended up putting a damper on the book for me. It took about 130ish pages in to get into it (granted that was when I finally dedicated sometime to sitting down and really reading it.)
This book was obviously not one that would get me out of a slump, which makes me think that I wouldn't have been overly thrilled with it even if I wasn't in a slump when I read it. So with that I'm not its biggest fan but I can see why people may enjoy it. Just wrong timing for me.
It's really hard for my to know how I actually feel about this book because I was in a MAJOR book slump when I attempted to read this book. So that definitely ended up putting a damper on the book for me. It took about 130ish pages in to get into it (granted that was when I finally dedicated sometime to sitting down and really reading it.)
This book was obviously not one that would get me out of a slump, which makes me think that I wouldn't have been overly thrilled with it even if I wasn't in a slump when I read it. So with that I'm not its biggest fan but I can see why people may enjoy it. Just wrong timing for me.
jodilynns's review against another edition
2.0
Liked the overall concept, but writing seemed stilted. Perhaps a poor translation.
librarygrrl's review against another edition
4.0
Once again, Ms. Funke has created a beautifully enchanting world, fraught with danger and excitement. Two brothers cross through a mirror from our world into a magical land (brothers named Will and Jacob...a little more than suggestive of the Grimm brothers, hmmm?) They find themselves entangled in a war between the Goyl, who are stone humanoids, and the humans who rule the land. The Goyl have a fairy on their side who has given them the ability to transform humans into Goyl. Will becomes infected, and Jacob must scurry all over the land to try and reverse the curse. Like many of her other books, there is a lot of backstory that is discussed but not actually part of this book. I was a bit worried that the book wouldn't end satisfactorily, but I'm happy to report there wasn't much of a cliff-hanger. Just enough to make me want to read the next one, but not enough to make me hate her for not tying up the loose ends of this story.
jana_17's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
3.75
s_wahl9's review against another edition
5.0
As a fan of Cornelia Funke's other works, like the Thief Lord, the Inkheart Trilogy, and Dragon Rider, I was eager to read this book. Little did I know that I would find this not only one of my new favorite books of all time but also her greatest novel yet. The world created in Reckless is similar to the Inkworld, in that it is a warped version of the classic fantasy world we all know. There is magic, monsters, and treasure yes, but also politics, assassination attempts, and cruel curses. Jacob Reckless is a character I could easily see as the star of a video game in the vein of the Witcher series. He is an experienced adventurer and treasure hunter thrown into a crisis by the transformation of his brother into a monstrous Goyle. His companions, including his friend, Fox, go with him to try and break the curse. Along the way, they discover the darkness behind the old aristocracies of the land. Overall, this story is a fun adventure that will leave you wanting more of the Mirrorworld.