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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
I wish I could give Fly by Night 6 stars - it's the best read I've had for ages: clever, inventive and imaginative, complex and snortingly funny. And there's a sequel on the way...
Mosca, the main character, is so wonderful. She was not afraid to think for herself and to follow the adventure wherever it went. Her goose Saracen is the best and I need my own ASAP!
I really enjoyed this world that Hardinge created, reminiscent of 1700s England but set in a whole different world. The different guilds and leaders had really interesting jobs/professions, like the Locksmiths who made locks but also were able to break in anywhere and had a loud voice in politics. Overall it was a fun and silly romp of a story!
I really enjoyed this world that Hardinge created, reminiscent of 1700s England but set in a whole different world. The different guilds and leaders had really interesting jobs/professions, like the Locksmiths who made locks but also were able to break in anywhere and had a loud voice in politics. Overall it was a fun and silly romp of a story!
Characters: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 6
Plot: 5
Intrigue: 7
Logic: 5
Enjoyment: 7
Total: 6.71 = 3 stars
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 6
Plot: 5
Intrigue: 7
Logic: 5
Enjoyment: 7
Total: 6.71 = 3 stars
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book made me fall back in love with words again
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Mosca is full of want. To be more than what she is forced to be. In search of words that are unspoken and travels that are unending. What she gets is all that and more. She accidentally burns down her Uncle's mill, who is just the worst, and becomes a fugitive in doing so. Saracen (her pet goose) is the only friend she has to keep her company. That is until she encounters Clent, a con of proportions who takes Mosca under his wing. Even though many tell her that he is not someone a girl should be in the company of, she ignores them all and stays near.
"Because I'd been hoarding words for years, buying them from peddlers and carving them secretly onto bits of bark so I wouldn't forget them, and then he turned up using words like 'epiphany' and 'amaranth'. Because I heard him talking in the marketplace, laying out sentences like a merchant rolling out rich silks. Because he made words and ideas dance like flames and something that was damp and dying came alive in my mind, the way it hadn't since they burned my father's books."
Although Clent aids her in being a part of all the madness, he makes everything more interesting and fills the pages with plenty of action-packed adventures. Introducing Mosca to a variety of characters. Many with their own personal agendas, others they double crossed on the way, many she never though she would ever encounter. Including the Locksmiths and Stationers who are a part of an ever growing war, in hopes of taking over Mandelion and creating their own perfect society.
And lets not forget Saracen who is a goose full of craziness. A mind of its own, with no end in sight. He lets no one tell him where to go and how to be, let alone treat him as though he is the next thing on the dinner plate. There are many laughable moments because of him and kooky antics. Mosca adores Saracen and holds him dear to her heart. And much aware that Saracen can defend himself if need be.
"At last she raised the broad bonnet brim and gazed cautiously out into the shop. The floor was awash with the chalky shrapnel of shattered leaves and slivered ribbons. Through the debris swaggered Saracen, trailing a hessian rug like a cloak, a sprinkling of stone dust across his orange beak. Farthingale had taken refuge behind the wreckage and was cupping one hand over his bloodied nose."
For all book enthusiasts, this is a read that will genuinely be enjoyed. Knowing that even though books and reading were banned, this little girl found a way to bring all that back into her life and make the pages in her mind have meaning. With twists and turns at every corner, Fly By Night will keep you reading 'til the very last word.
***I received this copy from Amulet Paperbacks via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
"Because I'd been hoarding words for years, buying them from peddlers and carving them secretly onto bits of bark so I wouldn't forget them, and then he turned up using words like 'epiphany' and 'amaranth'. Because I heard him talking in the marketplace, laying out sentences like a merchant rolling out rich silks. Because he made words and ideas dance like flames and something that was damp and dying came alive in my mind, the way it hadn't since they burned my father's books."
Although Clent aids her in being a part of all the madness, he makes everything more interesting and fills the pages with plenty of action-packed adventures. Introducing Mosca to a variety of characters. Many with their own personal agendas, others they double crossed on the way, many she never though she would ever encounter. Including the Locksmiths and Stationers who are a part of an ever growing war, in hopes of taking over Mandelion and creating their own perfect society.
And lets not forget Saracen who is a goose full of craziness. A mind of its own, with no end in sight. He lets no one tell him where to go and how to be, let alone treat him as though he is the next thing on the dinner plate. There are many laughable moments because of him and kooky antics. Mosca adores Saracen and holds him dear to her heart. And much aware that Saracen can defend himself if need be.
"At last she raised the broad bonnet brim and gazed cautiously out into the shop. The floor was awash with the chalky shrapnel of shattered leaves and slivered ribbons. Through the debris swaggered Saracen, trailing a hessian rug like a cloak, a sprinkling of stone dust across his orange beak. Farthingale had taken refuge behind the wreckage and was cupping one hand over his bloodied nose."
For all book enthusiasts, this is a read that will genuinely be enjoyed. Knowing that even though books and reading were banned, this little girl found a way to bring all that back into her life and make the pages in her mind have meaning. With twists and turns at every corner, Fly By Night will keep you reading 'til the very last word.
***I received this copy from Amulet Paperbacks via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
This is a pretty good book overall. Just a few complaints: the bulk of the book is kind of slow moving, so when the plot thickens and the pace quickens but the writing style remains the same, it feels a bit like going from a lazy creek to rapids but still being on a wooden raft. Also, Clent ends up too good, it seems kind of nonsensical.
Review originally posted here.
Fly by Night has a very Dickensian feel to it. Mosca Mye is a clever orphan with an instinct for survival and she has to survive in a world of shady adults and dangers. Adults with names like Eponymous Clent, Linden Kohlrabi, Lady Tamarind and Captain Blythe. This book is a word lovers delight. Hardinge plays with names and is a master of figurative language. The descriptions in the book bring the world of The Fractured Realm to life. The realm is a fully realized one with a detailed history that is revealed in clever turns of phrase and dropped hints. The artistry of this is important because it is, essentially, a book about the power of words.
"Words were dangerous when loosed. They were more powerful than cannon and more unpredictable than storms. They could turn men's heads inside out and warp their destinies. They could pick up kingdoms and shake them until they rattled. And this was a good thing, a wonderful thing."
Hardinge has such a way with words it is easy to forgive her for the sometimes ridiculous twists the plot takes. It all fits in with the quirky world and characters she has created. One small quibble I had with Mosca was that she sounded like a street urchin. I find it hard to believe with everything you discover about Quillam Mye that he would have allowed his daughter to talk in such ways. She was educated by him and lived with him until she was 8, her speech patterns would have already been set and they certainly wouldn't have devolved so greatly over four years working as a bookkeeper in her uncle's mill. That being said, Mosca does think like a genuine 12 year old. She makes impulsive decisions and jumps to conclusions that are very natural for a 12 year old mind.
The book says for ages 10 and up and I think that is a good suggestion to go by. There is a very sinister feel to the book and it explores many themes most younger readers simply lack the maturity and critical thinking skills to understand. It tackles the dark side of politics, economics, crime war and social unrest. The religion of the Realm is also explored in detail as is Mosca's response to it. There is a very definite condescending atheism that develops in Mosca by the end that would make for an interesting discussion.
I really thought the book wrapped up well in the end. I was surprised because I knew going in there was a sequel, but you could read just this one volume and have a complete story. Depending on where you live the sequel is called Twilight Robbery (UK) or Fly Trap (US). Guess which version has the better cover?
Fly by Night has a very Dickensian feel to it. Mosca Mye is a clever orphan with an instinct for survival and she has to survive in a world of shady adults and dangers. Adults with names like Eponymous Clent, Linden Kohlrabi, Lady Tamarind and Captain Blythe. This book is a word lovers delight. Hardinge plays with names and is a master of figurative language. The descriptions in the book bring the world of The Fractured Realm to life. The realm is a fully realized one with a detailed history that is revealed in clever turns of phrase and dropped hints. The artistry of this is important because it is, essentially, a book about the power of words.
"Words were dangerous when loosed. They were more powerful than cannon and more unpredictable than storms. They could turn men's heads inside out and warp their destinies. They could pick up kingdoms and shake them until they rattled. And this was a good thing, a wonderful thing."
Hardinge has such a way with words it is easy to forgive her for the sometimes ridiculous twists the plot takes. It all fits in with the quirky world and characters she has created. One small quibble I had with Mosca was that she sounded like a street urchin. I find it hard to believe with everything you discover about Quillam Mye that he would have allowed his daughter to talk in such ways. She was educated by him and lived with him until she was 8, her speech patterns would have already been set and they certainly wouldn't have devolved so greatly over four years working as a bookkeeper in her uncle's mill. That being said, Mosca does think like a genuine 12 year old. She makes impulsive decisions and jumps to conclusions that are very natural for a 12 year old mind.
The book says for ages 10 and up and I think that is a good suggestion to go by. There is a very sinister feel to the book and it explores many themes most younger readers simply lack the maturity and critical thinking skills to understand. It tackles the dark side of politics, economics, crime war and social unrest. The religion of the Realm is also explored in detail as is Mosca's response to it. There is a very definite condescending atheism that develops in Mosca by the end that would make for an interesting discussion.
I really thought the book wrapped up well in the end. I was surprised because I knew going in there was a sequel, but you could read just this one volume and have a complete story. Depending on where you live the sequel is called Twilight Robbery (UK) or Fly Trap (US). Guess which version has the better cover?
