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amys_bookworld's review against another edition
3.0
beautiful pictures and a truly lovely book. Probably for ages 8-11
sash23332's review against another edition
4.0
Withering-by-sea was a dive into the past for me. Years ago when released I read this book but after a second reading years later I have realised how much I had forgotten. From the interesting mystery to the beautiful simplicity of the setting this book was a fun quick read. I give this book a 4 and 1/2 ⭐️. I did not give it a five star only because the pace was the tiniest bit fast
booksnorkel's review against another edition
3.0
I was able to get an advanced copy from my work
This book appeals to my love of the Victorian era, and my love of fantasy. For whatever reason though this book took a very long time to start and a little bit too long in getting to a plot. We spend a long time in the hotel where the girl and her aunts are staying. They went because there was a ‘healing’ spring that guests can drink from. In the typical Dahl style her aunts are terrible and make her do boring lessons, and say things like ‘curiosity is lewd’ and the like. Stella, found an atlas book and it’s her favorite thing, but she has to keep it secret. She is reading it one night and sees a man hide something in the conservatory and she takes it. Eventually we find out that there are watered down versions of the old myths. The man was a dryad he was arguing with a vaudeville magician who has control over a boy who can see visions in ink. We also eventually learn that Stella isn’t 100% human and she has to keep the package from the magician. The writing was lovely and I did enjoy the book it just had a lot of book with not a whole lot of action. I think it’s more for adults who like children’s books than for a child. Probably a good read aloud book. For fifth graders on up who are looking for a Victorian fae mystery.
This book appeals to my love of the Victorian era, and my love of fantasy. For whatever reason though this book took a very long time to start and a little bit too long in getting to a plot. We spend a long time in the hotel where the girl and her aunts are staying. They went because there was a ‘healing’ spring that guests can drink from. In the typical Dahl style her aunts are terrible and make her do boring lessons, and say things like ‘curiosity is lewd’ and the like. Stella, found an atlas book and it’s her favorite thing, but she has to keep it secret. She is reading it one night and sees a man hide something in the conservatory and she takes it. Eventually we find out that there are watered down versions of the old myths. The man was a dryad he was arguing with a vaudeville magician who has control over a boy who can see visions in ink. We also eventually learn that Stella isn’t 100% human and she has to keep the package from the magician. The writing was lovely and I did enjoy the book it just had a lot of book with not a whole lot of action. I think it’s more for adults who like children’s books than for a child. Probably a good read aloud book. For fifth graders on up who are looking for a Victorian fae mystery.
thereaderdragon's review against another edition
4.0
In the Hotel Majestic, high above the town of Withering-by-Sea, Stella Montgomery leads a miserable life with her three horrid aunts: Condolence, Temperance, and Deliverence.
When she should be spending her days learning pianoforte and French Conversation for Young Ladies, Stella prefers to be exploring or reading from her most prized possession - an old battered atlas of the world, and so she often finds herself in trouble with her aunts. But no amount of trouble compares to that which she finds herself in on the night that thieves break into the hotel. And it turns out that they're looking for something that she's taken...
But the trouble doesn't end there. It turns out that the aunts have been hiding something from Stella. Something about exactly who - or what - she is.
Withering-by-Sea is a light fantasy about a young girl who finds herself in a whole world of trouble as a result of her boundless curiousity.
Knowing this novel was going to be filled with mystery, I was expecting it to have a bit of a detective-y Nancy Drew feel to it. It turns out it's not that sort of mystery at all. And I ain't even mad.
This was a really fun read filled with adventure, magic, and friendship, and I often had trouble putting it down. It was exactly the sort of book I needed to help me unwind after the stressful Christmas rush at work.
If you enjoyed A Series of Unfortunate Events, I feel you might get a bit of a kick out of this one.
When she should be spending her days learning pianoforte and French Conversation for Young Ladies, Stella prefers to be exploring or reading from her most prized possession - an old battered atlas of the world, and so she often finds herself in trouble with her aunts. But no amount of trouble compares to that which she finds herself in on the night that thieves break into the hotel. And it turns out that they're looking for something that she's taken...
But the trouble doesn't end there. It turns out that the aunts have been hiding something from Stella. Something about exactly who - or what - she is.
Withering-by-Sea is a light fantasy about a young girl who finds herself in a whole world of trouble as a result of her boundless curiousity.
Knowing this novel was going to be filled with mystery, I was expecting it to have a bit of a detective-y Nancy Drew feel to it. It turns out it's not that sort of mystery at all. And I ain't even mad.
This was a really fun read filled with adventure, magic, and friendship, and I often had trouble putting it down. It was exactly the sort of book I needed to help me unwind after the stressful Christmas rush at work.
If you enjoyed A Series of Unfortunate Events, I feel you might get a bit of a kick out of this one.
jackierobinson's review against another edition
4.0
What a lovely little book!
I enjoyed it very much, very cute and highly imaginative. I loved the illustrations on the pages, and will hopefully get my hand on the second book in this series as soon as I can :)
Also! There were mentions of 9 cats (I counted) in the book and they really made the book so much better. Yup. Loved it.
I enjoyed it very much, very cute and highly imaginative. I loved the illustrations on the pages, and will hopefully get my hand on the second book in this series as soon as I can :)
Also! There were mentions of 9 cats (I counted) in the book and they really made the book so much better. Yup. Loved it.
cassia_salvatore's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
blockofsoy's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really cute book and it took me back to my middle school days when I’d read the “Magic by the Lake” series after school while munching on snacks my mom prepared for me. It was a simple little story, but not so simple at all. Sophie reminds me a lot of the little boy from Roald Dahl’s “The Witches” and the characters she meets along the way are all quite endearing. I really enjoyed this read!
shilohbone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
littleelfman's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautifully presented, very well written middle grade and I really enjoyed it! Historical setting, a mystery, a touch of the fey... what else could you want?