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totallywickedruth333's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This is one of my all-time favorite books. Ever. Kelly Barnhill is an amazing writer. This book will make you laugh, cry, and laugh and cry all at the same time. Even if you don't like fantasy, you will like this book. The characters and story are well crafted, with all of it intertwined beautifully. I'd recommend this book to anyone! ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood
justapasser's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
alex_wordweaver's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
lisajuliareads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The last few months I have been struggling with reading, it kept giving me headaches or pain in my eyes. Most books I started I was unable to finish because I just couldn't read and eventually lost interest or hope. I managed to read a graphic novel and 2 very short books the last few months, but that was about it. Then this book came (along with a new pair of glasses to try) and I ~finally~ was able to finish it!
This book was an easy and quick read - if I had my pre-2022 reading abilities, I would've devoured this book in 2 or less days. The chapters were a perfect mix of medium or short, the occasional longer chapter didn't feel too long. It was easy to follow the switches between POVs, even if there was still some mystery around some characters.
The plot was interesting. When I read the summary, I knew I wanted to read this book. It did not disappoint.
However, at some point not getting answers to the dozen questions I had got a bit annoying. The whole time you're aware you don't know the full story, and I know that's on purpose because the characters suffer from magical amnesia, but it gets frustrating. Even by the end it still feels like there are questions unanswered.
Speaking of the end, it felt kind of rushed to me. The whole book is slow to medium paced, and then the last few pages are suddenly very fast. It didn't really give the ending the story deserved. It was over too fast.
I would still recommend this book. While it didn't become an all time favorite like I had expected, I still had fun reading it. I'll still cherish this book, think back to it with a smile.
My rating: 3.75☆
This book was an easy and quick read - if I had my pre-2022 reading abilities, I would've devoured this book in 2 or less days. The chapters were a perfect mix of medium or short, the occasional longer chapter didn't feel too long. It was easy to follow the switches between POVs, even if there was still some mystery around some characters.
The plot was interesting. When I read the summary, I knew I wanted to read this book. It did not disappoint.
However, at some point not getting answers to the dozen questions I had got a bit annoying. The whole time you're aware you don't know the full story, and I know that's on purpose because the characters suffer from magical amnesia, but it gets frustrating. Even by the end it still feels like there are questions unanswered.
Speaking of the end, it felt kind of rushed to me. The whole book is slow to medium paced, and then the last few pages are suddenly very fast. It didn't really give the ending the story deserved. It was over too fast.
I would still recommend this book. While it didn't become an all time favorite like I had expected, I still had fun reading it. I'll still cherish this book, think back to it with a smile.
My rating: 3.75☆
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, Blood, Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death and Child death
carolinacortez's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
WOW WOW WOW
La belleza de este libro es enorme (hay una razón por la que no le di las 5 estrellas, hablaré de eso después), hace siglos que no leía un middle grade y wow a veces se necesitan, son un abrazo para el corazón, volver a la simpleza de una enseñanza que podríamos pensar que como adultos ya tenemos pero muchas veces lo olvidamos.
La belleza de este libro es enorme (hay una razón por la que no le di las 5 estrellas, hablaré de eso después), hace siglos que no leía un middle grade y wow a veces se necesitan, son un abrazo para el corazón, volver a la simpleza de una enseñanza que podríamos pensar que como adultos ya tenemos pero muchas veces lo olvidamos.
" Ya he vivido bastante más de un periodo razonable en esta tierra. Y tengo mucha curiosidad por conocer lo que sigue."
Ame a todos y cada uno de los personajes, pero sobre todo amo con toda mi alma a Fyrian, el pequeño dragón que es simplemente enorme, amo su inocencia y lo feliz que es en cualquier situación, nunca falló en hacerme feliz
"Bebiste mucho de la luna y ahora la luna llena está dentro de ti."
Le di cuatro estrellas en lugar de cinco por qué, a mí gusto, la primera parte del libro es muy lenta, se siente como si no estuviera pasando nada (aunque si está pasando) pero se siente lento, si no hubiera sido por eso para mí era un libro perfecto.
En fin 1000% recomendado
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Death, and Mental illness
melancholymegs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Blood, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Death
bookwormcat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Grief
Minor: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Blood, and Death
rachelditty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
My co-worker handed this to me and told me to read it, and I'm so glad she did! What a lovely little book; this was such a great read. I was surprised to find myself almost tearing up at the end.
I was really interested in how all the different stories would come together at the end, and Barnhill did such a satisfying job of doing so. I really loved Antain and Ethyne, and I like that Luna and Adara ended up staying with them--I was hoping Luna and Antain would form some sort of familial bond. Fyrian absolutely stole my heart, was a kind dragon. Xan going into the bog with Glerk really had me at the end, and so did Luna releasing the poem into the world.
I think if anything, I wish we had gotten a little more about Fyrian's mother and the witch who stopped the volcano all those years ago. I know there's another short-story set in this universe, so maybe it goes into more of that aspect of the story. There was also a point where, when everything was getting revealed, that Antain kind of repeated everything that had already been said, and I didn't really understand why we got that information twice in such rapid succession. That happened another time too, with Luna re-explaining something, both times which I didn't really think were necessary. We also never really get into the more detailed history between Sister Ignatia ad Glerk, which I was VERY interested in.
But I loved these characters! I was really interested in seeing how Luna, our titular character, was going to end up being the center of everything happening. I loved all the little families we got to see, and even the side characters we only saw a few glimpses of. Ethyne was incredible, I'm so glad we got those scenes of her and the Grand Elder.
Some quotes I liked:
"Yes, child. This is a true story. What other kinds of stories are there?" (p. 58)
"'Death is always sudden... even when it isn't.'" (p. 80)
"'Curiosity is the curse of the Clever. Or perhaps cleverness is the curse of the Curious. In any case, I'm never lacking for either, I'm afraid, which does keep me rather busy.'" (p. 122).
"Anger buzzed through Luna's body, from the top of her head to the bottoms of her feet. This is how a tree must feel, she thought, as it is hit by lightning." (p. 231).
"The material is less consequential than the intention." (p. 372).
"And she drifted away, loving everything." (p. 379).
"The heart is built of starlight/ And time./ A pinprick of longing lost in the dark./ An unbroken chord linking the Infinite to the Infinite./ My heart wishes upon your heart and the wish is granted./ Meanwhile the world spins./ Meanwhile the universe expands./ Meanwhile the mystery of love reveals itself,/ again and again, in the mystery of you./ I have gone./ I will return." (p. 383).
"She belongs to us, but one day her magic will fade and she will wander back into the Bog and we won't have a witch anymore. Only stories. Perhaps she will find the Beast. Or become the Beast. Or become the Bog. Or become a Poem. Or become the world. They are all the same thing, you know." (p. 386).
Really great read from Barnhill! I will definitely be finding time for the sequel/prequel.
I think if anything, I wish we had gotten a little more about Fyrian's mother and the witch who stopped the volcano all those years ago. I know there's another short-story set in this universe, so maybe it goes into more of that aspect of the story. There was also a point where, when everything was getting revealed, that Antain kind of repeated everything that had already been said, and I didn't really understand why we got that information twice in such rapid succession. That happened another time too, with Luna re-explaining something, both times which I didn't really think were necessary. We also never really get into the more detailed history between Sister Ignatia ad Glerk, which I was VERY interested in.
But I loved these characters! I was really interested in seeing how Luna, our titular character, was going to end up being the center of everything happening. I loved all the little families we got to see, and even the side characters we only saw a few glimpses of. Ethyne was incredible, I'm so glad we got those scenes of her and the Grand Elder.
Some quotes I liked:
"Yes, child. This is a true story. What other kinds of stories are there?" (p. 58)
"'Death is always sudden... even when it isn't.'" (p. 80)
"'Curiosity is the curse of the Clever. Or perhaps cleverness is the curse of the Curious. In any case, I'm never lacking for either, I'm afraid, which does keep me rather busy.'" (p. 122).
"Anger buzzed through Luna's body, from the top of her head to the bottoms of her feet. This is how a tree must feel, she thought, as it is hit by lightning." (p. 231).
"The material is less consequential than the intention." (p. 372).
"And she drifted away, loving everything." (p. 379).
"The heart is built of starlight/ And time./ A pinprick of longing lost in the dark./ An unbroken chord linking the Infinite to the Infinite./ My heart wishes upon your heart and the wish is granted./ Meanwhile the world spins./ Meanwhile the universe expands./ Meanwhile the mystery of love reveals itself,/ again and again, in the mystery of you./ I have gone./ I will return." (p. 383).
"She belongs to us, but one day her magic will fade and she will wander back into the Bog and we won't have a witch anymore. Only stories. Perhaps she will find the Beast. Or become the Beast. Or become the Bog. Or become a Poem. Or become the world. They are all the same thing, you know." (p. 386).
Really great read from Barnhill! I will definitely be finding time for the sequel/prequel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Abandonment
Minor: Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Animal death, Blood, Grief, and Kidnapping
captainoliimar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Confinement, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Child death
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Violence
skudiklier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This book was really sweet, and I loved the way it was written. It touches on some really important ideas and I'm glad I'll get to talk about it with others in my book club. I'd recommend this to fantasy fans, and people who want a complicated but mostly heartwarming story about love and found family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Grief, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Murder
Minor: Self harm, Pregnancy, and Death of parent