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nataliealane's review against another edition
3.0
I like that there's continuity from the previous book---in "Thirteenth Child" Eff decides she wants to go out to the settlement lands and work with the wildlife; in 'Across the Great Barrier," she is not only working at the college menagerie, but she also gets to go on a research expedition farther out West. We also see greater development and maturity of her personal and magical identities. I could definitely pick up on a formula Wrede has going with these books; more low-key events towards the first 1/1-3/4 of the book with a couple hints of what may come, followed by more sudden realizations/conclusions and a final magical showdown. The relationships and emotions, as well as frontier and family politics, still play a larger role in the plot and sub-plots, but there is definitely more action and magic in AtGB than TC. I also got a firmer sense of the magic systems. Lan and Eff are both great characters, and Wrede writes them, their relationship and dynamics, and their developments, well. I like the sub-plot with Lan. It helps to flesh out his character and build on his relationship with Eff, as well as provoke growth in Eff herself. The plot was slower than in the first book and occasionally got a little boring. There was a lot of traveling and "We stopped and collected data and samples of plants and animals" sort of descriptions, and the first hints of danger/a big threat didn't come until almost the end of the research expedition. Also, even after Eff has some revelation about the possibility of a connection between Wash's magic pendant and her weird lucid dreams, I still fail to see their relevance to the plot. On a similar note, I didn't like how she never really told anyone about them, despite supposedly having intentions to do so. I still enjoyed reading the book (I was furious when my mom interrupted the last chapter or two, in the middle of an important scene!) and will definitely continue the series.
amibunk's review against another edition
4.0
Not as fabulous as the first book in the series, Across the Great Barrier is still a remarkable book. Only Patricia C. Wrede would think of writing a Western fantasy series.
magnetarmadda's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the additional world building and the buildup to the third book. I like Eff a lot and I appreciate how much she’s grown as a character, even if her voice hasn’t changed despite her aging over a decade by this point. The one thing I still can’t get over is the lack of Native Americans. I can’t think of one good reason for it, and having Native peoples would actually add a hell of a lot to the story.
tasharobinson's review against another edition
4.0
A solid YA novel, like the previous installment in the series. One of the things I find interesting about this series is that it's more about world-building and character than about action. This installment eventually includes a minor mystery and a little action, but they come toward the end. Mostly, it's about the day-to-day life of people in an Old West-era setting who are mostly limited to living in the East, because of the proliferation of incredibly dangerous magical creatures in the American wilds. Bit by bit, settlers have worked their way west, protecting themselves with magical shields as much as they can, but sometimes failing and dying anyway. The protagonist is generally deciding what she wants to do with her life, and is learning more about the world and its magic. This is a really solid antidote to Chosen One storylines where a single teenager is the most important person in the world; the protagonist here is just a comfortable part of her very interesting and unique world, and a useful window into it. Not necessarily what most people are looking for in their escapist fantasies, but still admirably different and enjoyable.
seeinghowitgoes's review against another edition
3.0
Reading the frontier series reminds me somewhat of Tampra Pierce's Page series, similar progression and style of writing describing the passing of time.
jolietatton's review against another edition
4.0
This was a calm book and was interesting but to calm.
heartofhandprints's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to the audio book at work. I loved it, and immediately started the third book!
booksnorkel's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book better than the first, though the first person narrative still isn't working for me here. I also wish that the author used terms that I can relate to. For example America is now New Columbia, or something, and even though the Rocky Mountains are in the book nothing else is. I think the Mammoth river is the Mississippi but again I don't know. Little details like this really distract me from the story.
rinn4's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite as good as the first one. This book feels like the middle installment of a series.
paradoxically's review against another edition
3.0
The most striking thing about this series isn't the characters, but rather the world they inhabit, which seems as wide and as varied as our own. The world that Wrede creates is huge and complex, and you find yourself sucked into it. At times it might seem a little dry, and at other times there's just a deluge of information that you need to know, which is its main detriment, but for the most part, it's hugely fascinating.
The book is less about Eff's grand adventures, and more about her day to day life and is sort of quiet in a way, even if you think that what she's doing should be hugely exciting. There's magic and danger, but all of it is incorporated into every day life and it's almost ordinary in that sense. The book is compelling in its own right, but I wouldn't be surprised to find other readers finding it boring or being entirely detached from it. Eff is a good main character, she's sensible and a steady sort, but she's also just a bit bland.
The plot moves slowly, but steadily. You always end up with a lot more questions than answers. You wonder why everything is happening, how it's happening, and the book seemed like more like the filler space between the first and third book than anything else. Eff learns a few more things, the people learn just a little bit more about their world, but it doesn't feel all that important or life changing--and that's not entirely a bad thing. You truly do get a sense of a group of people just living and doing their best to keep going one day at a time. At the same time, as a reader, I want more from the book. I want a few more answers, I want a little more excitement, and I want things to move just a little faster.
Still, I did enjoy reading the book, and I like the series. The writing is solid, and the world is drawn out very skillfully. I found the first book to be more interesting than the second, but the second isn't bad at all. 3 stars.
The book is less about Eff's grand adventures, and more about her day to day life and is sort of quiet in a way, even if you think that what she's doing should be hugely exciting. There's magic and danger, but all of it is incorporated into every day life and it's almost ordinary in that sense. The book is compelling in its own right, but I wouldn't be surprised to find other readers finding it boring or being entirely detached from it. Eff is a good main character, she's sensible and a steady sort, but she's also just a bit bland.
The plot moves slowly, but steadily. You always end up with a lot more questions than answers. You wonder why everything is happening, how it's happening, and the book seemed like more like the filler space between the first and third book than anything else. Eff learns a few more things, the people learn just a little bit more about their world, but it doesn't feel all that important or life changing--and that's not entirely a bad thing. You truly do get a sense of a group of people just living and doing their best to keep going one day at a time. At the same time, as a reader, I want more from the book. I want a few more answers, I want a little more excitement, and I want things to move just a little faster.
Still, I did enjoy reading the book, and I like the series. The writing is solid, and the world is drawn out very skillfully. I found the first book to be more interesting than the second, but the second isn't bad at all. 3 stars.