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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
An excellent reworking of a classic story. The perspective of Orual allows for the story through a different lens, and shows her increased maturity throughout her life and experiences, and how she learns from her regrets, even (and especially) those she did not regret at the time.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoy Lewis' writing but this story just wasn't for me. Perhaps it's because the heroines are unrelatable to the max (queens and demigods, as well as being either the most beautiful or "ugliest" women in the land) or because people in myths (and therefore in myth retellings) make stupid decisions and eye-rolling assumptions; either way, it was difficult for me to get on board. Lots of 5 star reviews of this one are from women with younger sisters. Listen I love my little sister but this story did nothing to tug at those heartstrings. In any case, I read it. Obviously because it's Lewis the prose is fekkin GORGEOUS, but that's all I have to say about that.
A retelling that doesn’t feel like one, and comes with lessons I didn’t expect. What we think is selfless love may be selfish after all; maybe that’s not a bad thing. We are not blameless, and likely played some part in our own broken relationships. And coming to terms with these revelations is the only way to grow.
Such an incredibly beautiful read. I desperately need more literature like this. Alas, I return back to Dramione fanfiction.
Honestly not my favorite book by Lewis. It serves as an effective illustration of his thoughts about the definition of Love, which he lays out in "The Four Loves." His character development and moral insights are as good as always, and perhaps more subtle and complex than in other works. However, anchoring the story to the Psyche myth made it feel pretty foreign and less relate-able to me. I always felt that I was missing some larger point in the plot, which I suspect is simply because I have never read the original Greek myth. I have heard people describe this as their favorite book by Lewis though, so I suspect my feelings have more to do with personal taste than anything else. I would have just rather been out adventuring with talking beasts or listening to Lewis talk by the fireside.
Honestly not my favorite book by Lewis. It serves as an effective illustration of his thoughts about the definition of Love, which he lays out in "The Four Loves." His character development and moral insights are as good as always, and perhaps more subtle and complex than in other works. However, anchoring the story to the Psyche myth made it feel pretty foreign and less relate-able to me. I always felt that I was missing some larger point in the plot, which I suspect is simply because I have never read the original Greek myth. I have heard people describe this as their favorite book by Lewis though, so I suspect my feelings have more to do with personal taste than anything else. I would have just rather been out adventuring with talking beasts or listening to Lewis talk by the fireside.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved a lot of the prose and way that CS Lewis describes things, but I didn’t love the story. The ending dragged and it was fairly depressing until the very end.