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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
I read this book while sick, so I had a difficult time following the factions and subplots in this unusually intrigue-filled children's book. I think I'll enjoy reading it again sometime when I'm feeling better and have forgotten how it turns out.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was so much fun. I loved how the characters were made out to be morally grey, including Mosca and Clent. The wordbuilding was crazy and whimsical while also setting up an intriguing backdrop for the power struggles that the story revolved around. The politics of Mandelion itself was well thought out and well written. The only weak point about however was that the introduction of key characters relied a little too much on coincidental run-ins between Mosca and said characters, but the writing, the plot and the characters more than made up for that.
"Little god, you see the world through such black eyes."
"Got no choice. My father give 'em to me."
"Little god, you see the world through such black eyes."
"Got no choice. My father give 'em to me."
The concept of this book was really interesting and out of the ordinary, but unfortunately I got confused quite a lot. I foud it difficult to follow at times, and had trouble remembering who the characters were as they would constantly change sides as the story developped.
I absolutely adore Frances Hardinge's writing and her ideas and this book is no exception, but it is sadly not a new favorite for me.
I absolutely adore Frances Hardinge's writing and her ideas and this book is no exception, but it is sadly not a new favorite for me.
Luin tämän päivän ehkä yläasteikäisenä. Silloin pidin tosi paljon.
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is likely my final book review for 2019. Fly by Night is "fantasy" only in the sense that it doesn't take place in our world. Though the world it does take place in has a lot of similarities to 1700 England, making this almost-but-not quite historical fiction. Or maybe alt-history?
I quite nearly gave Fly by Night four stars. Precocious Mosca Mye is a delight, it has dozens of fantastic passages, and the plot is an interesting departure from the norm. But this is the most coincidence-driven book I think I've ever read and it just became a bit too much for me in the end.
12-year old Mosca is an orphan who falls in with a not-especially lovable con-man named Clent as her ticket out of the backwater village she grew up in. They spend much of the book distrusting and backstabbing one another -- so this isn't a bosom buddies duo.
Much of the good is undermined by the author's complete inability to put together an organic plot. Everything in the book is driven by coincidences, as opposed to character skill or ingenuity or cleverness. They meet the Princess on the road to the city by luck. On her very first day in the city, Mosca not only stumbles on the seditious "Floating School" but also the Princess's right hand man in a coffee shop. At the docks Mosca happens to run into the same river-boat captain she had met a few days previous. When she visits the castle to deliver a letter she somehow wanders through the castle and runs into the Princess and the Duke having an extremely important conversation and overhears Important Things. When she's at the castle the one servant girl she meets happens to be the one who holds the key to unraveling the mystery. When looking through a garbage dump on rag pickers boats she happens to spot an Important Piece of Evidence. When she's at the animal fighting bar, she happens to run into the biggest crime lord in the city. And on and on and on.
But between all of that it has lots of really great parts especially involving Blythe and Saracen.
This is quite likely the only book that makes a goose not only integral to the story but somewhat terrifying to boot.
It is also a totally self-contained story. There's a sequel of sorts but only in the sense the Mosca and Clent go somewhere else to have another adventure. As much as I liked this book I'm not sure I need to see "further adventures of Mosca and Clent".
“You will promise loyalty to the Parliament,” said the guild heads, “or your cityfolk will have no flour for their bread or slate for their roofs.” ‘“Our cause is so just,” said the Royalist leaders, “that our people will hold out against a siege even if they are hungry and the snow piles up in their beds.” “Perhaps,” said the guild heads. “But in the meantime no one will set your wives’ hair into ringlets, and your horses will be ungroomed.” And so the Royalist leaders trembled, and said they would give an answer next day.
I quite nearly gave Fly by Night four stars. Precocious Mosca Mye is a delight, it has dozens of fantastic passages, and the plot is an interesting departure from the norm. But this is the most coincidence-driven book I think I've ever read and it just became a bit too much for me in the end.
12-year old Mosca is an orphan who falls in with a not-especially lovable con-man named Clent as her ticket out of the backwater village she grew up in. They spend much of the book distrusting and backstabbing one another -- so this isn't a bosom buddies duo.
Mosca lowered the bucket deep, and spat out long-winded aspersions which long ago she had discovered in her father’s books, before her uncle had over-zealously burned them all.
Clent stared at her.
‘This is absurd. I refuse to believe that you have even the faintest idea what an “ethically pusillanimous compromise” is, let alone how one would . . .’ Clent’s voice trailed away as his eyes fixed on something beyond Mosca’s shoulder.
Much of the good is undermined by the author's complete inability to put together an organic plot. Everything in the book is driven by coincidences, as opposed to character skill or ingenuity or cleverness. They meet the Princess on the road to the city by luck. On her very first day in the city, Mosca not only stumbles on the seditious "Floating School" but also the Princess's right hand man in a coffee shop. At the docks Mosca happens to run into the same river-boat captain she had met a few days previous. When she visits the castle to deliver a letter she somehow wanders through the castle and runs into the Princess and the Duke having an extremely important conversation and overhears Important Things. When she's at the castle the one servant girl she meets happens to be the one who holds the key to unraveling the mystery. When looking through a garbage dump on rag pickers boats she happens to spot an Important Piece of Evidence. When she's at the animal fighting bar, she happens to run into the biggest crime lord in the city. And on and on and on.
‘I heard Lady Tamarind say something about that too.'
But between all of that it has lots of really great parts especially involving Blythe and Saracen.
‘Sussuratch smile!’ murmured Miss Kitely. ‘She’s gathering away – we are finding our pace at last.’ Perhaps they were. Perhaps this was fast for a coffeehouse. Mosca could not help noticing that they were still being overtaken by ducks.
This is quite likely the only book that makes a goose not only integral to the story but somewhat terrifying to boot.
‘Tare! What are you doing? Are you mad? Put that pistol away!’
‘I tell you, it’s the goose from the Grey Mastiff! I’ve seen it break men’s legs like kindling!’
It is also a totally self-contained story. There's a sequel of sorts but only in the sense the Mosca and Clent go somewhere else to have another adventure. As much as I liked this book I'm not sure I need to see "further adventures of Mosca and Clent".
loved the premise, but it kind of dragged on and on for me. i read it because i wanted to read the sequel, so we'll see how far i get into that one...
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, War