You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Such fun! And there are 5 or 6 more books in this series!!! What a treat.
Amazon has been persistently recommending Victoria Goddard for some time. I really hate to admit it, but they are so right. Up till now, she really hadn't been on my radar (I'm good at resisting Amazon's wiles). Then I read a Tor dot com article about "cosy" reading, which recommended her novel The Hands of the Emperor, and when I was looking for it I stumbled across this book, and the Greenwing and Dart series. It happened that I was more in the mood for this, and what a happy surprise it was. I think this is the first book to seriously scratch my Diana Wynne Jones itch (and, yes, I have read Frances Hardinge). Other readers in Goodreads complain about the world-building, but I love how "show not tell" it is - just go with it, and by the end of the novel you have a pretty clear idea of the world. I think part of those readers' problem is that they're looking for a simple analogue, like "alt-Paris, or alt-Venice" when this is vaguely "alt-Europe" with some distinctly 18th century vibes, but also something of its own. Great characters. I LOVE Mrs. Etaris, and Violet is most intriguing. The writing is witty and sharp.
Such a pleasure. A happy discovery!
Amazon has been persistently recommending Victoria Goddard for some time. I really hate to admit it, but they are so right. Up till now, she really hadn't been on my radar (I'm good at resisting Amazon's wiles). Then I read a Tor dot com article about "cosy" reading, which recommended her novel The Hands of the Emperor, and when I was looking for it I stumbled across this book, and the Greenwing and Dart series. It happened that I was more in the mood for this, and what a happy surprise it was. I think this is the first book to seriously scratch my Diana Wynne Jones itch (and, yes, I have read Frances Hardinge). Other readers in Goodreads complain about the world-building, but I love how "show not tell" it is - just go with it, and by the end of the novel you have a pretty clear idea of the world. I think part of those readers' problem is that they're looking for a simple analogue, like "alt-Paris, or alt-Venice" when this is vaguely "alt-Europe" with some distinctly 18th century vibes, but also something of its own. Great characters. I LOVE Mrs. Etaris, and Violet is most intriguing. The writing is witty and sharp.
Such a pleasure. A happy discovery!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was extremely chaotic and confusing with one of the most useless main characters of all time... But I was amused. Just don't ask me to explain anything that happened in the book OR the world-building.
4.5 but rounded up because the things I didn’t like about it could just be because I haven’t read my books with proper historical language like this. I love how the characters are realistic and relatable and just common people thrown into crazy situations and have valid reactions. There is quite a lot of sneezing but there’s a reason for that. Very much a Pride and Prejudice with magic and cults and mayhem. Very humorous at times. But there’s a lot of characters being introduced relatively quickly and (as it was in this culture) each one has several different names and titles. It was hard to keep them all straight. Confusing at times but the hilarity and overall plot made up for it. There’s some mention of sex/orgies/homosexuality but is pretty mild and rather glazed over. Honestly didn’t add anything to the plot but I suppose it added an extra sort of ghastliness to the cult
See? Sometimes besides only starting books I'm also capable of finishing then lmao
I saw a few reviews complaining about the setting, about how the apocalypse happened but not here and bla bla, this should NOT be your first story into the world, because you are gonna have various complaints about that type of 'bad' writing. (It's not bad writing u are just not reading the right book for the entry point)
Still it wasn't that great, it really took a long time to get better like at 60% and until 85% then I was bored again.
I saw a few reviews complaining about the setting, about how the apocalypse happened but not here and bla bla, this should NOT be your first story into the world, because you are gonna have various complaints about that type of 'bad' writing. (It's not bad writing u are just not reading the right book for the entry point)
Still it wasn't that great, it really took a long time to get better like at 60% and until 85% then I was bored again.
"Do remember that gossip when well organized is sociology and when ill regulated, slander."
One of many sage remarks in this tale that spoofs Victorian etiquette. Opens the door to humorous interactions among characters trying always to be on their best foot. Mix the spoofs, the humor, with a vigorous shake from the 'mystery' spice container marked...ag aga agatha..(small print)...christ...ahh; Agatha Christie then add magic, cults and the nefarious. Quite the stew Victoria Goddard has brewed.
"Greenwing and Dart" proceed Goddard's "Lays of the Hearth-Fire." In the Nine Worlds. The main characters appear in the "Lays" as a cameo. Thought I'd give this series a shot and am glad I did. Read mostly with a smile on my face. I had to absolutely stop laughing and go pour a scotch when our hero-heroine(s) rushed into a burning house to save a damsel in distress seen through a window only to discover said damsel was a mermaid in a bathtub. Of course the bathroom window had to broken so the trio could exit into a river. Where else would a mermaid be comfortable? In the water, of course. Goddard makes the impossible real.
"Never cry for the future before it's happened."
I will read the next in the series right away, but I will save the others for intermediate reads in between more serious reads. Greenwing and Dart are just plain fun!
One of many sage remarks in this tale that spoofs Victorian etiquette. Opens the door to humorous interactions among characters trying always to be on their best foot. Mix the spoofs, the humor, with a vigorous shake from the 'mystery' spice container marked...ag aga agatha..(small print)...christ...ahh; Agatha Christie then add magic, cults and the nefarious. Quite the stew Victoria Goddard has brewed.
"Greenwing and Dart" proceed Goddard's "Lays of the Hearth-Fire." In the Nine Worlds. The main characters appear in the "Lays" as a cameo. Thought I'd give this series a shot and am glad I did. Read mostly with a smile on my face. I had to absolutely stop laughing and go pour a scotch when our hero-heroine(s) rushed into a burning house to save a damsel in distress seen through a window only to discover said damsel was a mermaid in a bathtub. Of course the bathroom window had to broken so the trio could exit into a river. Where else would a mermaid be comfortable? In the water, of course. Goddard makes the impossible real.
"Never cry for the future before it's happened."
I will read the next in the series right away, but I will save the others for intermediate reads in between more serious reads. Greenwing and Dart are just plain fun!
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've read some other works by Goddard and enjoyed them! I was rarely confused. But Stargazy Pie is a trip. I am as confused as it's protagonist, also probably because things are interrupted by sneezing all the time. I would read more in her other series before I picked up this one again.
The most chaotic and poorly-explained world building I've come across in lo, these many years. Needed a map, an historical preface, and list of characters to make it comprehensible, and then you'd still be stuck with the overly arch and witty (and repetitive) badinage. I couldn't wait to finish it.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Actual rating: 2.5
After becoming DEEPLY hyperfixated with HOTE and ATFOTS and the other lays books for the past month or so, my obsession following those characters finally died down enough to see what else was happening in some of the other nine worlds, especially knowing a certain character whose brief appearances in other books I loved has a larger role with the Alinor gang. Unfortunately I feel it was only my deep knowledge of aspects of this world through rereading ROFA and RPA (and lots of cameos in fanfiction) that gave me even a little context for what was happening in this book: all the worldbuilding was being thrust at me to a highly confusing degree. While I did enjoy the Sherlock Holmes-esque mystery and Victorian style setting of this world, I was mostly just confused the entire time. I will probably continue the series just in the hopes of wringing as much as I can out of the nine worlds and wanting to get to the parts of Jemis' life that were discussed in other books I've read, and I can hope it gets easier to understand the more i continue reading.
After becoming DEEPLY hyperfixated with HOTE and ATFOTS and the other lays books for the past month or so, my obsession following those characters finally died down enough to see what else was happening in some of the other nine worlds, especially knowing a certain character whose brief appearances in other books I loved has a larger role with the Alinor gang. Unfortunately I feel it was only my deep knowledge of aspects of this world through rereading ROFA and RPA (and lots of cameos in fanfiction) that gave me even a little context for what was happening in this book: all the worldbuilding was being thrust at me to a highly confusing degree. While I did enjoy the Sherlock Holmes-esque mystery and Victorian style setting of this world, I was mostly just confused the entire time. I will probably continue the series just in the hopes of wringing as much as I can out of the nine worlds and wanting to get to the parts of Jemis' life that were discussed in other books I've read, and I can hope it gets easier to understand the more i continue reading.