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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the first book in the Greenwing and Dart fantasy series, which, according to the back cover copy, are "fantasies of manners--and mischief." This seems an apt description. Greenwing is the narrator; Dart is his friend. Mild spoilers ahead....
This is not close to being my favorite book in the fantasy-of-manners genre. My attention drifted at points. And yet it is exactly the type of book I was seeking: light in tone, with sympathetic characters, several of whom aid each other. As such, I enjoyed it quite sufficiently to be tempted to proceed straight to book two. I note that, while I liked both Greenwing and Dart, my favorite character was Mrs. Etaris, who, good woman that she is, owns and runs a bookshop.
3.5 out of 5 sneezing stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Spoiler
In chapter one, Greenwing finds the eponymous stargazy pie, and the two friends end up trying to solve the mystery of who abandoned the pie and why they did so. This turns into a rather convoluted plot, involving much sneezing (by Greenwing), many descriptions of clothing, and magic, some of it sinister.This is not close to being my favorite book in the fantasy-of-manners genre. My attention drifted at points. And yet it is exactly the type of book I was seeking: light in tone, with sympathetic characters, several of whom aid each other. As such, I enjoyed it quite sufficiently to be tempted to proceed straight to book two. I note that, while I liked both Greenwing and Dart, my favorite character was Mrs. Etaris, who, good woman that she is, owns and runs a bookshop.
3.5 out of 5 sneezing stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As engrossing and effortless as I have come to expect from Goddard, but I have to admit that I was more confused than enlightened with the resolution and that soured the book/mystery for me a little. Definitely planning to read more though.
The complicated worldbuilding backdrop meant that it took me a little longer than usual to settle into this regency-with-magic fantasy ("fantasy of manners - and mischief," as the author's website accurately puts it) but once I was comfortable I really enjoyed it.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i am confused, but also entertained? anywho, onto the next one!
This is a fun book, but I can see why it doesn’t have as high a rating as her other books. I do want to read the next books in the series.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A fantasy of manners, a mystery, and an absolutely delightful romp. But it wouldn’t be Victoria Goddard if it was only that – this book visits very dark places as well.
I loved everyone! (And, oh, the pleasure of interconnected series: when you know a certain character’s real identity, mwahahahaha…)
Mr Greenwing: he wouldn’t know what a dishonourable thing was if it hit him on the head; his family circumstances are tragic and strange; there is heartbreak and sneezing issues. I haven’t yet met a fantasy character who was that allergic to… stuff. It is very inconvenient when you are hiding from scary things.
Mr Dart: I liked him immediately and without reservations. “This investigating thing is a lark! What fun it is to have a reason to gossip. Makes me see why people go into sociology.” Also, he blows smoke rings “with the evidence of much practice”.
Mrs Etaris is awesome in every way. “My dear Mr Greenwing, if there is anything I know about, it is how to have an adventure.”
There is a mystery to solve! There are curses, kidnappings, daring rescues. The magic is very, very, very dark and scary. Beware of small sleepy places where “nothing” ever happens, I tell you.
“Thank you for breaking the enchantment back there, Mr Dart.”
“Oh, my pleasure, Mr Greenwing.”
I didn’t expect them to start saying “right ho” as well, but when they did, it wasn’t unexpected at all :)))
The last chapters are a terrifying fever dream. (Don’t. Mess. With. Magic!!!) I couldn’t put the book down! Amazingly, there were also scenes that made me laugh out loud, in the middle of suffocating, sticky, bloody magic.
There are five more books in the series! Good, good, gooooooood.
I found the names of places nice, but was completely confused. There is a lot of sneezing, strange goings on, and many, many characters. I didn’t follow the mystery at all, which may just be me, but I was just as lost at the end as I was through the rest of the book. But I still read the whole thing.
I see how this could be a good series. There’s a very unique world, but the world-building is hard to track. I could see where Jemis was coming from, because he was the most fleshed out of the characters, but everyone else seemed a bit flat.
I may try the next book in the hopes it makes more sense, because I think a book that makes more sense in this world would be fun.
I see how this could be a good series. There’s a very unique world, but the world-building is hard to track. I could see where Jemis was coming from, because he was the most fleshed out of the characters, but everyone else seemed a bit flat.
I may try the next book in the hopes it makes more sense, because I think a book that makes more sense in this world would be fun.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is book one of a series, all of which I have now read.