Reviews with content warning for War - The Kingdoms

Mysteriöse und gefühlvolle Geschichte über Zeitreisen und ihre Folgen

"Der Leuchtturm an der Schwelle der Zeit" ist eine teils verwirrende, aber auch originelle, komplexe und spannende Geschichte, die geschickt das Konzept verarbeitet, wie bei einer Zeitreise selbst winzige Veränderungen in einer Zeitebene zu großen Veränderungen in der Vergangenheit, der Gegenwart und der Zukunft führen können.

Im Jahr 1898 kommt Joe Tournier an einem Bahnhof in London an, ohne sich zu erinnern, wer er ist oder wie er dorthin gekommen ist. Er kennt andere Namen und Personen als die, die vor ihm stehen. Noch unheimlicher ist, dass er eine Postkarte von vor 95 Jahren erhält, die ihn auffordert, nach Hause zu gehen. Das ist der einzige Hinweis, den er hat. Die alte Postkarte eines Leuchtturms ist mit M. unterschrieben und Joe ist entschlossen, den Autor zu finden. Die Suche nach M. wird Joe jedoch dazu bringen, die Geschichte und sich selbst neu zu schreiben.

Dank Natasha Pulleys sehr anschaulichen und stimmungsvollen Schreibstil liest sich das Buch leicht und flüssig und ich hatte so keine Probleme, die verschiedenen Zeitebenen auseinanderhalten. Das Element der Zeitreise ist gut durchdacht, auch wenn der Roman sich Zeit lässt an dem Punkt in der Geschichte zu gelangen, an dem alles zusammenfällt und einen Sinn ergibt.
Neben den interessanten und vielschichtigen Charakteren kann die Geschichte auch durch ihre stimmungsvolle Beschreibung der Szenerie überzeugen, so hat man z. B. beim Lesen das Gefühl, man befinde sich an Bord von einen der dunklen, feuchten Marineschiffe.
Durch den Text fließt zudem eine leichte Magie, die geheimnisvoll und unerklärlich ist, die einen aber völlig in die Geschichte hineinzieht. Eine Liebesgeschichte, die durch Raum und Zeit reist und die die Geschichte verändert.
Auch ist das Buch voller Sehnsucht. Joe sehnt sich die ganze Zeit über nach etwas, das er nicht einmal kennt, aber je weiter man in die Geschichte eindringt, versteht man nach und nach, was sich Joe sehnt und was es mit seinem Gedächtnisverlust auf sich hat.

Ein Buch, das seine Zeit braucht um auf einen zu wirken und zu fesseln aber dann wenn man sich darauf einlässt, einen mit einer außergewöhnlichen und gefühlvollen Zeitreisegeschichte und deren Folgen belohnt wird.

Content Warnings

magneto's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
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

shmandy's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

"...in my head, you're so pristine. I just wanted to not get anything on you." // "I think you're the same thing in three different lights."

If anyone needs I will be screaming about Nataha Pulley from the top of a lighthouse. This was action fuelled and jam packed with plot while also being character driven and slow to the point of the anticipation crawling in so carefully you didn't realize how invested you were in everyone until their lives were in mortal peril ( dozens of times).

Every character - even the short lived ones- are so well written that you can't help but immediately understand and feel for them.

I would lay my life on the line for Kite. Everyone needs a hug and about 900 days of rest.

The writing - in particular the way she writes the characters physically existing beside each other is so well done. I highly suggest going in with no understanding of what's going on and being okay with being confused for a bit - it's well worth it.

My first Natasha Pulley book and absolutely not my last - as soon as the mail arrives.

Content Warnings

cmaples's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

miak2's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"I cannot- I cannot live any more counting the number of times I've seen you by the stars on your arm." p.411

Did I understand what happened in this book? No. Did I love it anyway? Absolutely.

Pulley threw us into the deep end in the very first chapter, and only fed us bits and pieces of the puzzle throughout the book. How are people so freaking creative? The concept, the execution? Masterful 👌🏼. Although there were a couple things that I figured out myself, the wait and the reveals were still incredibly satisfying. The story came together in such a delightful way, I cannot wait to reread this book and pick up on everything I missed the first time.

Joe quickly became one of my favorite protagonists. He was so nerdy and charming and endearing, and his early amnesia was so well-written. Kite, too, was such a dynamic character - hard to pin down but intentionally so. Get you a man who can do both: stare down a cannon without flinching but also curl up under a desk with a good romance book. What's an "I love you" when there's "I've missed you even when I didn't remember you." Ugh, my heart. I wish there'd been more/better-written female characters, and there were a few loose things that didn't get tied up very well, but as a whole this book made me feel so warm and giddy!

Content Warnings

spacebornfew's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

There's something about Natasha Pulley's books that just breaks me every time. They contain these moments that elicit this indescribable feeling of safety and warmth and belonging that curls up in my gut and sits there for days afterwards. Those moments intersperse with heartbreak and remorse and questions about what makes us who we are... I'm going to have a hell of a hangover from this book.

Content Warnings

breadwitchery's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-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? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

imrereads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

More...