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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Advance copy from Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore (hold on, I need to catch my breath), via NetGalley
Loved this. I wasn't sure about it at first, so I encourage anyone who has doubts to keep going. I was worried I wouldn't like Celia, but I ended up liking her very much indeed. I loved how the relationships developed and how the characters changed, grew, and realized they could be wrong.
Loved this. I wasn't sure about it at first, so I encourage anyone who has doubts to keep going. I was worried I wouldn't like Celia, but I ended up liking her very much indeed. I loved how the relationships developed and how the characters changed, grew, and realized they could be wrong.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent, War
hopeful
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
I think it's a craft to be able to tell a rich and beautiful story succinctly, even more so if we're talking about a tale in the Fantasy genre. Usually, these worlds are so vast, it's tough to condense it all to its core and not feel like you've left out all the important lore - but Naomi Novik managed it almost perfectly!
I felt immediately immersed in the tale, which was both heartbreaking and absurd at times. It had politics, it had magic, it had intrigue and romance and friendship and family - what more could one ask for?
While there were some parts that felt a bit info-dump-y, I was too eager to find out what happened next to really care. There was definitely potential to expand on the characters and the world more, but I didn't feel like I was lacking anything by the end. I just enjoyed seeing people deeply care for each other!
Fazit: 4.5 stars!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
I felt immediately immersed in the tale, which was both heartbreaking and absurd at times. It had politics, it had magic, it had intrigue and romance and friendship and family - what more could one ask for?
While there were some parts that felt a bit info-dump-y, I was too eager to find out what happened next to really care. There was definitely potential to expand on the characters and the world more, but I didn't feel like I was lacking anything by the end. I just enjoyed seeing people deeply care for each other!
Fazit: 4.5 stars!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
This fairy-tale novella follows three siblings: Celia (sorceress), Roric (unwanted, forgotten), and Argent (skilled knight and also gay).
This is a fairy story in that a novella's shorter length necessitates quick, fairy-tale storytelling, but also in that it deals with the fae. Celia's home, Prosper, borders the Summer Lands, a magical place inhabited by the fae, who had been fighting an eternal war of vengeance against her people until her father's cleverness ended it. However, the war may not stay in the past forever.
This was very cute in the harsh, raw Naomi Novik style. I am THEEE sucker for sibling dynamics, and I loved all of them here. And I loved how Celia is indeed her father's daughter.
This is a fairy story in that a novella's shorter length necessitates quick, fairy-tale storytelling, but also in that it deals with the fae. Celia's home, Prosper, borders the Summer Lands, a magical place inhabited by the fae, who had been fighting an eternal war of vengeance against her people until her father's cleverness ended it. However, the war may not stay in the past forever.
This was very cute in the harsh, raw Naomi Novik style. I am THEEE sucker for sibling dynamics, and I loved all of them here. And I loved how Celia is indeed her father's daughter.
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This reads like a fairy tale. It's a very short story about three siblings and two kingdoms. It has a bit of a Holly Black feeling to it.
It's a good novella, probably my favorite from Naomi Novik.
Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC.
It's a good novella, probably my favorite from Naomi Novik.
Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC.
I loved the tone of this book - it takes me away to a different land. I was really excited that this title was a novella. So many students have a hard time getting through a longer book and this would be a great way to get them interested in the author. Unfortunately, for me, I had a really hard time connecting with any of the characters. There was so much potential with the plot to create a tale that would have me rooting for anyone, but this didn't do it. The conflict that was there didn't leave me with any sense of turmoil or concern. For that reason, I had a hard time wanting to pick this book back up. I will recommend it to students, but with the caveat that they should check out her books.