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abiyy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It was a beautifully told tale, but I felt like there were too many threads within the story. I loved the mystery aspect and seeing how they connected back, but I also found it challenging to follow. Some of the transitions were quite jarring.
stars_n_scars's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readergrace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
lb22g10's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
snikkidee's review against another edition
4.0
On the one hand, I’m like what did I just read? On the other I’m like that was beautiful.
I love stories within stories, but I think I may have missed a little something in this. Erin’s writing is absolutely stunning, but it’s all just a bit too confusing and the love interests don’t ring true for me at all. Still a 4/5.
I love stories within stories, but I think I may have missed a little something in this. Erin’s writing is absolutely stunning, but it’s all just a bit too confusing and the love interests don’t ring true for me at all. Still a 4/5.
nordicowl's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
thebookschico's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
dowryofbooks's review against another edition
2.0
so...
i start reading this and i'm thinking the writing is so enchanting, i feel like i'm in a fairy-tale, this book is definitely going to be as great as everyone says. i'm being introduced to different characters and their stories. then, i start seeing how all of these stories are coming together and how everything is connected somehow. i'm getting so excited for the last half of the book because i'm thinking its going to beautifully weave everything together and conclude everything in a way that makes sense and blows my mind.
what actually happens?
nonsensical fuckery ensues.
around the halfway mark is when everything started getting super confusing for me. i was so lost. i kept trying to piece everything together in my head as the story was getting increasingly more complicated. it took me so long to finish this book because let me tell you i was dreading picking it back up. it started to feel so dense while at the same time nothing was happening in the story. a lot of it is probably my fault that i didn't enjoy it. i wanted everything to be wrapped up and clearly explained, and that just never happened.
the little short stories we get in between the main story line were so much more interesting to read than the main story. i also feel like the short stories took away from the main story because going back and forth added extra unnecessary confusion. there was nothing memorable about the main characters to make me care about any of them. i get that we were supposed to relate to Zachary because hes nerdy and loves books but like ??? he was way too bland to be the main character of this book.
there was a random romance thrown in between two characters who had absolutely NO build up or chemistry whatsoever. like i'm just supposed to believe that they are madly in love with each other and root for them to be together in the end after having maybe two conversations? WHAT.
i already knew that there wasn't much of a plot in this book before picking it up. so i'm not mad about there being no plot. however, i did expect this book to feel nostalgic and remind me why i fell in love with stories, why i love reading and literature. i know it did that for a lot of people, but it didn't do it for me. overall i'm really sad :( i wanted to love this so bad.
sorry if this review is a mess. i'm honestly dumbfounded about how to describe my thoughts because i have no idea what i just read. i was planning on reading it again so i could fully understand whatever deep meaning/metaphor this book is trying to convey, but after finishing it i've decided theres no way i'm gonna put myself through that again. i don't think the story is gonna touch me or have any kind of deep impact the second time around.
i start reading this and i'm thinking the writing is so enchanting, i feel like i'm in a fairy-tale, this book is definitely going to be as great as everyone says. i'm being introduced to different characters and their stories. then, i start seeing how all of these stories are coming together and how everything is connected somehow. i'm getting so excited for the last half of the book because i'm thinking its going to beautifully weave everything together and conclude everything in a way that makes sense and blows my mind.
what actually happens?
nonsensical fuckery ensues.
around the halfway mark is when everything started getting super confusing for me. i was so lost. i kept trying to piece everything together in my head as the story was getting increasingly more complicated. it took me so long to finish this book because let me tell you i was dreading picking it back up. it started to feel so dense while at the same time nothing was happening in the story. a lot of it is probably my fault that i didn't enjoy it. i wanted everything to be wrapped up and clearly explained, and that just never happened.
the little short stories we get in between the main story line were so much more interesting to read than the main story. i also feel like the short stories took away from the main story because going back and forth added extra unnecessary confusion. there was nothing memorable about the main characters to make me care about any of them. i get that we were supposed to relate to Zachary because hes nerdy and loves books but like ??? he was way too bland to be the main character of this book.
there was a random romance thrown in between two characters who had absolutely NO build up or chemistry whatsoever. like i'm just supposed to believe that they are madly in love with each other and root for them to be together in the end after having maybe two conversations? WHAT.
i already knew that there wasn't much of a plot in this book before picking it up. so i'm not mad about there being no plot. however, i did expect this book to feel nostalgic and remind me why i fell in love with stories, why i love reading and literature. i know it did that for a lot of people, but it didn't do it for me. overall i'm really sad :( i wanted to love this so bad.
sorry if this review is a mess. i'm honestly dumbfounded about how to describe my thoughts because i have no idea what i just read. i was planning on reading it again so i could fully understand whatever deep meaning/metaphor this book is trying to convey, but after finishing it i've decided theres no way i'm gonna put myself through that again. i don't think the story is gonna touch me or have any kind of deep impact the second time around.
lamina_miah's review against another edition
3.0
I really respect what Erin Morgenstern has created - better than the Night Circus by far. But the issue with crafting trickle by trickle intrigue stories is; that there needs to be a valid reason for me to be interested in the beginning, you run the risk of reader fatigue by being constantly dramatic, and you need to deliver on the suspense (some of the metaphors weren't quite as well constructed as the needed to be and this story is like 100+ metaphors in trench coats).
Several times I had to force my way through reading this, comparatively less times did I find golden moments I really enjoyed.
If I could I'd give it 3.5 stars.
Several times I had to force my way through reading this, comparatively less times did I find golden moments I really enjoyed.
If I could I'd give it 3.5 stars.
swikriti's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0