Scan barcode
himalaya's review against another edition
4.0
this is interesting! I like the take on a dark fey kind of story (though in this case it’s more like. they’re mimicking fey to the point of basically becoming them) (there are also less court-like fey briefly too)
I like the way the narrative feels like a fairytale, and all the interesting little elements of the interdimensional worlds - and different kinds of people and creatures - while leaving most of it mysterious. I could definitely read more stories set in this world(s).
And of course friendship-centred stories are also good :)
And of course friendship-centred stories are also good :)
youngthespian42's review
1.0
I don’t know what to say about this book. I think this is the worst book I read in 2022 so far. It sounds like it was make for me. I am a theatre person and love multiverses but this just did not do it. The plot was boring the characters not interesting and the prose was dry. I don’t like be negative and try to always say not for me, but I get the value but I really don’t here. I am in the minority so I guess I just didn’t get it.
kokechii's review against another edition
3.0
I'm of two minds about this one. It was a bit frustrating to read because it was boring at times but something compelled me to read on. I liked the style of writing, the... I'd say folklorish atmosphere and the world presented. It was just kind of - dry. I don't have a better word to describe it right now, sadly.
plufifi's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
abbynordman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? Yes
3.5
nattyyllie's review against another edition
1.0
I really wanted to love this book—the issue is this: it’s a wonderful idea, but incomplete.
Dora and Thistle/Albin have great potential and the worlds that are described here have magnificent blueprints but are mere wood and nails being hammered together; It’s nowhere near that final coat of paint. There are some nice depictions of imagery, and the characters are quite intriguing, but nothing feels complete. I have so many questions about every single character:
Where is Augusta from/how did she become such a monster? There’s no backstory. What is Ghorbi’s purpose in this? She is too much of an enigma. What is Pinax’s purpose? They are static. How does the memory theater exist? Who are these people composing it and does it live on? Nestor, the Director, Journeyman, Apprentice: there’s something there, but it’s just a sprout. The worlds are vague in the extreme as well. I wanted to know more—anything about what they were. And on and on…
The ending of the story was just flat disappointing.
Throughout the novella I thought multiple times of how a scene needed to be fleshed out. There are gaps in time that could have been utilized to demonstrate important aspects of the characters’ relationships. The only piece of this story that felt satisfying is when Augusta returned to Nils’ corpse after we understand why it is there now. The story idea itself has potential but it is simply too brief.
Dora and Thistle/Albin have great potential and the worlds that are described here have magnificent blueprints but are mere wood and nails being hammered together; It’s nowhere near that final coat of paint. There are some nice depictions of imagery, and the characters are quite intriguing, but nothing feels complete. I have so many questions about every single character:
Where is Augusta from/how did she become such a monster? There’s no backstory. What is Ghorbi’s purpose in this? She is too much of an enigma. What is Pinax’s purpose? They are static. How does the memory theater exist? Who are these people composing it and does it live on? Nestor, the Director, Journeyman, Apprentice: there’s something there, but it’s just a sprout. The worlds are vague in the extreme as well. I wanted to know more—anything about what they were. And on and on…
The ending of the story was just flat disappointing.
Throughout the novella I thought multiple times of how a scene needed to be fleshed out. There are gaps in time that could have been utilized to demonstrate important aspects of the characters’ relationships. The only piece of this story that felt satisfying is when Augusta returned to Nils’ corpse after we understand why it is there now. The story idea itself has potential but it is simply too brief.
cmdufresne's review against another edition
4.0
Dark fairy tale with elements of fair folk lore, alternate world travel, and warping of time. Short book, but not necessarily a fast read with the poetic prose. Reminded me a lot of classic fairy tales. More like a long short-story. Really enjoyed it!
nonesensed's review against another edition
4.25
Thistle and Dora are captives of a sort; Thistle as the unwilling servant of Lady Augusta and Dora as the disinherited daughter of Lord Walpurgis, both nobles of the Gardens. The Gardens is a place caught in one endless, repeating day of revelry and torture. To say it's an unpleasant place to live is beyond an understatement. Hopefully Thistle will find a way to reclaim his name before he grows too old to be a servant.
As a story, this brought up a lot of nostalgia for all manner of local folklore and stories I've grown up with. It brought me into a "fairy tale" mood. Loved everything about the memory theater itself, especially the montage. The ending didn't surprise me, which was a bit of a let down, but not in a way that ruined the book for me or anything like that. Worth a read, definitely!
As a story, this brought up a lot of nostalgia for all manner of local folklore and stories I've grown up with. It brought me into a "fairy tale" mood. Loved everything about the memory theater itself, especially the montage. The ending didn't surprise me, which was a bit of a let down, but not in a way that ruined the book for me or anything like that. Worth a read, definitely!