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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Der Papiermagier" handelt von Ceony, die - obwohl sie eigentlich andere Interessen hatte - eine Lehre bei Emery Thane, einem der wenigen Papiermagier des Landes, beginnen soll. Sie kann sich absolut nicht vorstellen, was an Papier so toll sein soll oder wie man damit große Magie bewirken kann, da es ihr eher nutzlos und schwach vorkommt, vor allem im Vergleich mit der Metallmagie, die sie gerne erlernt hätte. Ich muss sagen, dass ich diese Gedanken zunächst geteilt habe, aber letztlich hat der Autor die Papiermagie unglaublich faszinierend dargestellt und es war interessant zu sehen, welche Möglichkeiten es gibt und wie viel ein begabter Magier tatsächlich zustande bringen kann. Die Schilderungen, wie die Magie gewirkt wurde, waren sehr bildlich und es war leicht, sich die Szenen vorzustellen; für mich war dies definitiv der beste Aspekt des Buches und ich hoffe, dass in Band 2 erneut ein großer Fokus darauf liegen wird und vielleicht sogar neue Anwendungsmöglichkeiten zur Sprache kommen werden. Generell gibt es beim World Building noch einiges bisher nicht ausgeschöpftes Potential und viel wurde nur angedeutet, was ich schade fand.
Die Protagonistin selbst war sehr sympathisch und ich mochte, dass sie klare Stärken und Schwächen hatte. Besonders bewundernswert fand ich, wie viel sie zu riskieren bereit war, um das Richtige zu tun und ihren Lehrer zu retten - die finstere Magie wurde definitiv als große, ernstzunehmende Bedrohung präsentiert und von daher war es sehr mutig, dass Ceony sich ihrer Gegnerin trotzdem gestellt hat. Ebenso hat mir gefallen, dass das Kräftemessen realistisch geschildert wurde und sie nicht problemlos alles erreicht hat, was sie sich in den Kopf gesetzt hatte. Thane war ebenfalls ein gut ausgearbeiteter Charakter, allerdings war ich nicht hundertprozentig begeistert davon, wie die Einblicke in sein Innenleben gewährt wurden oder welch großen Raum diese Szenen einnahmen, auch wenn es eine kreative Methode war und die Umsetzung an sich gelungen ist.
Das Buch bekommt von mir 3,5 Sterne. Es war eine angenehme Lektüre, ich finde das Konzept sehr interessant und die Charaktere waren sympathisch, doch ich hatte das Gefühl, dass gerade in Bezug auf den Aufbau der Welt noch zu viel offen blieb und ich hätte mir weitere Einzelheiten gewünscht. Die Geschichte selbst konnte mich aber weitgehend fesselnd und das Ende macht neugierig auf mehr.
Die Protagonistin selbst war sehr sympathisch und ich mochte, dass sie klare Stärken und Schwächen hatte. Besonders bewundernswert fand ich, wie viel sie zu riskieren bereit war, um das Richtige zu tun und ihren Lehrer zu retten - die finstere Magie wurde definitiv als große, ernstzunehmende Bedrohung präsentiert und von daher war es sehr mutig, dass Ceony sich ihrer Gegnerin trotzdem gestellt hat. Ebenso hat mir gefallen, dass das Kräftemessen realistisch geschildert wurde und sie nicht problemlos alles erreicht hat, was sie sich in den Kopf gesetzt hatte. Thane war ebenfalls ein gut ausgearbeiteter Charakter, allerdings war ich nicht hundertprozentig begeistert davon, wie die Einblicke in sein Innenleben gewährt wurden oder welch großen Raum diese Szenen einnahmen, auch wenn es eine kreative Methode war und die Umsetzung an sich gelungen ist.
Das Buch bekommt von mir 3,5 Sterne. Es war eine angenehme Lektüre, ich finde das Konzept sehr interessant und die Charaktere waren sympathisch, doch ich hatte das Gefühl, dass gerade in Bezug auf den Aufbau der Welt noch zu viel offen blieb und ich hätte mir weitere Einzelheiten gewünscht. Die Geschichte selbst konnte mich aber weitgehend fesselnd und das Ende macht neugierig auf mehr.
The Paper Magician starts out great with a great concept of using materials for magic. Unfortunately, the story was incredibly boring and does not progress much beyond the first 30% of the book. It features the classic genius protagonist who goes against all odds and has some incredible unbelievable power like a photographic memory (which doesn't exist). Further more, the rest of the book is of her going through her teacher's memories through her perspective which is not only a complicated and confusing story telling mechanism but doesn't really have a great conflict. She's in danger for the entire book, it desensitizes the reader.
Quella di Charlie Holmberg è una trilogia che – almeno in Italia – è passata quasi inosservata e invece merita decisamente una lettura. Un fantasy un pò steampunk, uno stile ritmato che non annoia, qualche colpo di scena e una protagonista molto determinata.
***
Charlie Holmberg's is a trilogy that - at least in Italy - has gone almost unnoticed and instead is definitely worth a read. A slightly steampunk fantasy, a rhythmic style that doesn't get boring, a few twists and a very determined protagonist.
***
Charlie Holmberg's is a trilogy that - at least in Italy - has gone almost unnoticed and instead is definitely worth a read. A slightly steampunk fantasy, a rhythmic style that doesn't get boring, a few twists and a very determined protagonist.
The Paper Magician: letteralmente nel cuore di Gesù
Leggi la recensione completa su The Book Girls.
I problemi iniziano appena la parte introduttoria della narrazione è finita. C’è un’enorme porzione al centro di The Paper Magician che si può commentare solo parafrasando i Cugini di Campagna: trama mia, torna a casa tua.
Leggi la recensione completa su The Book Girls.
I problemi iniziano appena la parte introduttoria della narrazione è finita. C’è un’enorme porzione al centro di The Paper Magician che si può commentare solo parafrasando i Cugini di Campagna: trama mia, torna a casa tua.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
1.3/5. DNF at 71%, which I found out is more than a lot of folks. Half the book is a vignette of flashbacks of the mentor character. The magical origami seemed so cool and had so much potential, but we get like 2-3 lessons? There was also very limited interactions between the mentor and the main character, and honestly, I can’t recall any unique characteristics and I just put the book down. Nothing offensive to bring it below the 1 star rating but wow, this was not a good book. Added .3 for some of the writing that makes me want to do origami.
Sooo, this was a cute little book. It reminded me just a bit of "The Night Circus" in that some of the descriptions of paper magic were indeed "whimsical", as the author's title page describes this series.
Ceony, a young apprentice, has been told that since there is a shortage of paper magicians, she will be forced to be bonded (hah! get it?) to paper, even though she would rather work with iron and the bonding to one material to manipulate magically is for life. She's a bit upset about this, but accepts her fate with good graces and reports to her teacher, Emery, who reminds me most of Johnny Depp in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", which sadly renders him utterly useless as a romantic lead for me. But make no mistake, he is indeed the romantic lead of the book.
Ceony is capable and intrepid, and when her master is attacked, she flies after those who have stolen his heart in a giant paper airplane(again, this can be fun) and ends up wandering through Emery's heart in order to find a way to defeat his enemies.
The downside of this adventure is that in journeying through Emery's heart, we learn far more about him than we do about Ceony, who, frankly, is a more interesting character. I like Ceony quite a bit, but am unconvinced that Emery is her match. Ceony ends the book convinced that Emery is destined to be with her, however, and I'm afraid that's how this all will end.
There are some interesting looks at magic here, and some of it is fresh. Some of it, though, reads like a younger and unworldly author. For example, Ceony decides to do all the cooking. She makes pasta (dried, not fresh) with tomatoes and basil. I'm not sure how common this dish was in nineteenth century England, where the book was set, and I'm pretty sure that dried pasta was not the thing. It seems like in the bigger things, the author thought out how her setting should be, but when it came to smaller or domestic details, she fell back on what she knew, instead of researching a more true-to-life scenario.
I guess that to me the book felt a bit like Gail Carriger's "Soulless" series in tone, but far less thoroughly researched and written less densely. If you like whimsical Victorians having supernatural romance, I'd suggest checking Carriger out.
Ceony, a young apprentice, has been told that since there is a shortage of paper magicians, she will be forced to be bonded (hah! get it?) to paper, even though she would rather work with iron and the bonding to one material to manipulate magically is for life. She's a bit upset about this, but accepts her fate with good graces and reports to her teacher, Emery, who reminds me most of Johnny Depp in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", which sadly renders him utterly useless as a romantic lead for me. But make no mistake, he is indeed the romantic lead of the book.
Ceony is capable and intrepid, and when her master is attacked, she flies after those who have stolen his heart in a giant paper airplane(again, this can be fun) and ends up wandering through Emery's heart in order to find a way to defeat his enemies.
The downside of this adventure is that in journeying through Emery's heart, we learn far more about him than we do about Ceony, who, frankly, is a more interesting character. I like Ceony quite a bit, but am unconvinced that Emery is her match. Ceony ends the book convinced that Emery is destined to be with her, however, and I'm afraid that's how this all will end.
There are some interesting looks at magic here, and some of it is fresh. Some of it, though, reads like a younger and unworldly author. For example, Ceony decides to do all the cooking. She makes pasta (dried, not fresh) with tomatoes and basil. I'm not sure how common this dish was in nineteenth century England, where the book was set, and I'm pretty sure that dried pasta was not the thing. It seems like in the bigger things, the author thought out how her setting should be, but when it came to smaller or domestic details, she fell back on what she knew, instead of researching a more true-to-life scenario.
I guess that to me the book felt a bit like Gail Carriger's "Soulless" series in tone, but far less thoroughly researched and written less densely. If you like whimsical Victorians having supernatural romance, I'd suggest checking Carriger out.
Review for Battle of the Books
Yes for questions. Appropriateness is also fine, word “whore” used once. Instalove. Cool sounding premise, good writing, not so great execution. Very repetitive, take the paper thing out of the bag, put it back into the bag. Female character is "strong" but completely driven by her feelings for male SC. Not a top choice.
Yes for questions. Appropriateness is also fine, word “whore” used once. Instalove. Cool sounding premise, good writing, not so great execution. Very repetitive, take the paper thing out of the bag, put it back into the bag. Female character is "strong" but completely driven by her feelings for male SC. Not a top choice.
Great setting and a unique take on magic. A little too cheesy at the end for my taste but overall a nice read.