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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
i have the same issue with fly by night as i did with a face like glass. the world is fun the characters are interesting the writing is amazing but for the life of me i simply couldn't focus. objectively this is a good book but there is far too much Scheming and fantasy politics for me, and it left me finding it rather hard to follow.
i did adore the Beloved though. i was imagining the shrines like the mesopotamian votive figures with their giant eyes (look them up!!!) and they're kinda like saints which i think are objectively very cool so i really enjoyed that. the Beloved plus the gods of the Myriad in deeplight have me certain that frances hardinge should come up with every single fantasy religion ever.
i did adore the Beloved though. i was imagining the shrines like the mesopotamian votive figures with their giant eyes (look them up!!!) and they're kinda like saints which i think are objectively very cool so i really enjoyed that. the Beloved plus the gods of the Myriad in deeplight have me certain that frances hardinge should come up with every single fantasy religion ever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Religious bigotry
Mosca and Epynomous have run out of money (again), but not ideas. They're off to foil a kidnapping plan and secure themselves a reward. Though, as usual, what they think is going on is truly just the tip of the iceburg.
Once again Hardinge's voice is beautiful, but not aloof. Silly, laugh out loud humor peppers the page along with wonderful descriptions.
"Rust, grime, and lichen covered Mosca's face like war paint, and dove feathers still clung to her hair and arms. The unlit pipe in her mouth also gave her an otherworldly, young-old look."
I loved this one. It was an excellent sequel to Fly Trap.
This novel is full of action, vivid imagery, commedy, and adventure- the things that define Hardinge's books and make them difficult to put down.
Once again Hardinge's voice is beautiful, but not aloof. Silly, laugh out loud humor peppers the page along with wonderful descriptions.
"Rust, grime, and lichen covered Mosca's face like war paint, and dove feathers still clung to her hair and arms. The unlit pipe in her mouth also gave her an otherworldly, young-old look."
I loved this one. It was an excellent sequel to Fly Trap.
This novel is full of action, vivid imagery, commedy, and adventure- the things that define Hardinge's books and make them difficult to put down.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
" Dukes and kings may go mad at their leisure, for nobody has enough power to stop them. "
“Everybody knew that books were dangerous. Read the wrong book, it was said, and the words crawled around your brain on black legs and drove you mad, wicked mad.”
“The world is like a broken wrist that healed the wrong way, and will never be the same again.”
“My child, you have a flawed grasp of the nature of myth-making. I am a poet and storyteller, a creator of ballads and sagas. Pray do not confuse the exercise of the imagination with mere mendacity. I am a master of the mysteries of words, their meanings and music and mellifluous magic.”
“It did seem hard to be doing something heroic while everyone was too busy to notice.”
“She dreamed of a world where books did not rot or give way to green blot, where words and ideas were not things you were despised for treasuring.”
“Fear made everyone look very alive in a strange and fragile way, like the last flare of a candle before it dies.”
“The path was a troublesome, fretful thing. It worried that it was missing a view of the opposite hills and insisted on climbing for a better look. Then it found the breeze uncommonly chill and ducked back among the trees. It suddenly thought it had forgotten something and doubled back, then realized that it hadn’t and turned about again. At last it struggled free of the pines, plumped itself down by the riverside, complained of its aching stones, and refused to go any farther. A sensible, well-trodden track took over.”
“Everybody knew that books were dangerous. Read the wrong book, it was said, and the words crawled around your brain on black legs and drove you mad, wicked mad.”
“The world is like a broken wrist that healed the wrong way, and will never be the same again.”
“My child, you have a flawed grasp of the nature of myth-making. I am a poet and storyteller, a creator of ballads and sagas. Pray do not confuse the exercise of the imagination with mere mendacity. I am a master of the mysteries of words, their meanings and music and mellifluous magic.”
“It did seem hard to be doing something heroic while everyone was too busy to notice.”
“She dreamed of a world where books did not rot or give way to green blot, where words and ideas were not things you were despised for treasuring.”
“Fear made everyone look very alive in a strange and fragile way, like the last flare of a candle before it dies.”
“The path was a troublesome, fretful thing. It worried that it was missing a view of the opposite hills and insisted on climbing for a better look. Then it found the breeze uncommonly chill and ducked back among the trees. It suddenly thought it had forgotten something and doubled back, then realized that it hadn’t and turned about again. At last it struggled free of the pines, plumped itself down by the riverside, complained of its aching stones, and refused to go any farther. A sensible, well-trodden track took over.”
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love Hardinge voice and clever worlds.
This one didn't suck me in as hard as some of the others I've read and loved, but it was still good. There were a lot of politics and philosophy, and I think it's brilliant that Hardinge never underestimates her audience. I will say I wanted Mosca to choose a different ending, but this way we get a sequel -- so I'll hold my tongue.
This one didn't suck me in as hard as some of the others I've read and loved, but it was still good. There were a lot of politics and philosophy, and I think it's brilliant that Hardinge never underestimates her audience. I will say I wanted Mosca to choose a different ending, but this way we get a sequel -- so I'll hold my tongue.
Mosca Mye is obsessed with books, and with learning. In a world where words are considered to be the most dangerous weapon there is these are considered treasonous habits. Following her heart leads Mosca to the midst of a revolution, and she and her trusty goose Saracen are facing a battle to survive.
Another cracker of a book by Frances Hardinge. I would love to know what goes on in her mind and how she comes up with such unique ideas!
As with all of Hardinge's books that I've read so far, our protagonist is a young girl struggling against the restrictions her society has placed on her. She's headstrong and determined, and always tries to do the right thing. A great character and a good role model for younger readers, especially younger girls. With the other characters it is hard to know who to trust, and a few of them surprised me along the way. I did have a soft spot for Clent though, despite him being a bit of a cad.
I found the early parts of the book didn't grab me as much as some of Hardinge's others have, it took me a while to get really into the story. Part of this is probably because it took a but of time to get to the main plot. Once our unlikely heroes made it to Mandelion though I found I was gripped. This was where the real magic happened.
I loved the concept of coffee houses on the river as a safe meeting place for revolutionaries, and the different guilds of the town was a brilliant idea. Yet again Hardinge has developed a world that I would be fascinated to visit.
Overall a great read, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.
Another cracker of a book by Frances Hardinge. I would love to know what goes on in her mind and how she comes up with such unique ideas!
As with all of Hardinge's books that I've read so far, our protagonist is a young girl struggling against the restrictions her society has placed on her. She's headstrong and determined, and always tries to do the right thing. A great character and a good role model for younger readers, especially younger girls. With the other characters it is hard to know who to trust, and a few of them surprised me along the way. I did have a soft spot for Clent though, despite him being a bit of a cad.
I found the early parts of the book didn't grab me as much as some of Hardinge's others have, it took me a while to get really into the story. Part of this is probably because it took a but of time to get to the main plot. Once our unlikely heroes made it to Mandelion though I found I was gripped. This was where the real magic happened.
I loved the concept of coffee houses on the river as a safe meeting place for revolutionaries, and the different guilds of the town was a brilliant idea. Yet again Hardinge has developed a world that I would be fascinated to visit.
Overall a great read, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really imaginative world building, but for a rollicking yarn the pace was sometimes terribly slow. I’ll read the next though.
Just not for me. Couldn't get or stay interested in any of the characters and couldn't finish the book. Sad, because concept was promising.