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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
2.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️✨
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The Spellbook of the Lost and Found is from three perspectives: Hazel, Olive, and the diary of a girl nicknamed Laurel. It’s the morning after a town drinking party that the teenagers throw yearly, and when everyone wakes up, they realize that stuff has gone missing. A spell had been cast to return something precious, but it had come at a cost to the entire town… and some disappearances were more precious than others.
Did I enjoy this book?
Umm… Kind of?
I wasn’t a huge fan—I don’t think it fits my genre of choice as much as I was expecting it to—but it wasn’t outright painful to read. Actually, the writing style was quite lovely! I loved the descriptions and the details involving the missing items, even if they were hard to keep track of initially. I had issues mostly with the pacing; it was very slow. It was hard to see the point of certain events, actions, or details except to add that air of ~mystery~ that was present in the novel (like the bit about the kitten — very easy to miss and unnecessary to me). It was very much a mystery book with a touch of magic, rather than a magical mystery, if that makes sense? If I had gone in with different expectations I think I might have liked this book more.
The points of view were all in first person, so it was a bit of a head spinner to try and remember all of the girls within the first handful of chapters. Once I got into the story, though, it was easy to distinguish the characters by their voices and circumstances. Each character was distinct, which is an impressive feat since there were around nine central characters (Ivy, Hazel, Rowan, Rose, Olive, Laurel, Holly, Ash, and Jude) to keep track of. This is not a very romance-focused story, and yet there were a lot of dynamics and chemistry floating around. Considering this is a YA book, the romances weren’t terribly out of place, but I don’t think it quite fit within the vibe of the story.
It wasn’t a bad book by any means, it was just not for me. I enjoyed the writing and the character development, as well as the ending revelations. The plot wasn’t bad either! It was more of a suspenseful and confusing read, with a mystical quality. I just knocked it down a couple of stars because it had a few loose ends and fell flat for me. I almost rated this three stars, and then I looked at my review and realized this book really, *really* wasn’t for me. I’m trying to give it the benefit of the doubt because I don’t think it was a book I should have picked up, so I’m trying to be fair, but in addition, I really did think the story fell flat, even if I went in with different expectations. So I’m sorry to say this is only a 2.5 star read, and would probably only be 3-3.5 stars if it was done differently.
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The Spellbook of the Lost and Found is from three perspectives: Hazel, Olive, and the diary of a girl nicknamed Laurel. It’s the morning after a town drinking party that the teenagers throw yearly, and when everyone wakes up, they realize that stuff has gone missing. A spell had been cast to return something precious, but it had come at a cost to the entire town… and some disappearances were more precious than others.
Did I enjoy this book?
Umm… Kind of?
I wasn’t a huge fan—I don’t think it fits my genre of choice as much as I was expecting it to—but it wasn’t outright painful to read. Actually, the writing style was quite lovely! I loved the descriptions and the details involving the missing items, even if they were hard to keep track of initially. I had issues mostly with the pacing; it was very slow. It was hard to see the point of certain events, actions, or details except to add that air of ~mystery~ that was present in the novel (like the bit about the kitten — very easy to miss and unnecessary to me). It was very much a mystery book with a touch of magic, rather than a magical mystery, if that makes sense? If I had gone in with different expectations I think I might have liked this book more.
The points of view were all in first person, so it was a bit of a head spinner to try and remember all of the girls within the first handful of chapters. Once I got into the story, though, it was easy to distinguish the characters by their voices and circumstances. Each character was distinct, which is an impressive feat since there were around nine central characters (Ivy, Hazel, Rowan, Rose, Olive, Laurel, Holly, Ash, and Jude) to keep track of. This is not a very romance-focused story, and yet there were a lot of dynamics and chemistry floating around. Considering this is a YA book, the romances weren’t terribly out of place, but I don’t think it quite fit within the vibe of the story.
It wasn’t a bad book by any means, it was just not for me. I enjoyed the writing and the character development, as well as the ending revelations. The plot wasn’t bad either! It was more of a suspenseful and confusing read, with a mystical quality. I just knocked it down a couple of stars because it had a few loose ends and fell flat for me. I almost rated this three stars, and then I looked at my review and realized this book really, *really* wasn’t for me. I’m trying to give it the benefit of the doubt because I don’t think it was a book I should have picked up, so I’m trying to be fair, but in addition, I really did think the story fell flat, even if I went in with different expectations. So I’m sorry to say this is only a 2.5 star read, and would probably only be 3-3.5 stars if it was done differently.
Moira is becoming a favorite for me. Give me more! She does magical realism so well *swoons.*
"Both of us like monsters casting spells that destroy other people's lives because they've destroyed ours."
So there were lost things and found things and secrets and strange boys. Oh, and a spellbook, can't forget that ingredient. Did all of this happen during Mercury Retrograde? Because I'm pretty sure this happened during Retrograde. I mean, come on, lost things, mysterious newcomers, and everything is slightly off...yeah.
"You're always falling in love with somebody"
Man, that slapped me right in the face. I can really relate to a lot in the book. Love is such a beautifully relatable thing. Something that shouldn't go unnoticed.
This book definitely makes me sad that I lost my favorite chunk of blue calcite and I'm so worried I'll never find it. Like it vanished into another dimension. Maybe I need that particular spellbook. Lol.
And the rain! It hasn't rained here in forever! I'm so jealous of all the rain ☔ I just want to go out and dance in it.
Ready for the next one! Hurry, please, Moira!
"Both of us like monsters casting spells that destroy other people's lives because they've destroyed ours."
So there were lost things and found things and secrets and strange boys. Oh, and a spellbook, can't forget that ingredient. Did all of this happen during Mercury Retrograde? Because I'm pretty sure this happened during Retrograde. I mean, come on, lost things, mysterious newcomers, and everything is slightly off...yeah.
"You're always falling in love with somebody"
Man, that slapped me right in the face. I can really relate to a lot in the book. Love is such a beautifully relatable thing. Something that shouldn't go unnoticed.
This book definitely makes me sad that I lost my favorite chunk of blue calcite and I'm so worried I'll never find it. Like it vanished into another dimension. Maybe I need that particular spellbook. Lol.
And the rain! It hasn't rained here in forever! I'm so jealous of all the rain ☔ I just want to go out and dance in it.
Ready for the next one! Hurry, please, Moira!
Fowley-Doyle's writing is just pure magic. This might have been even better than the Accident Season. Loved it!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“That night, everybody lost something.
Not everybody noticed.”
La premisa de este libro es bien simple, tras una fiesta de verano, Olive y su mejor amiga Rose, empiezan a perder cosas. Empieza todo con cosas sencillas como accesorios, pero poco a poco avanza la trama nos vamos enterando que han perdido cosas más importantes.
Pronto descubren que no son las únicas que perdieron algo aquella noche, y así conocen a Rowan, Ivy y Hazel, una familia no convencional con la que conectarán.
Luego se encuentran con un libro de hechizos titulado Spellbook of the Lost and Found, que invita a estos jóvenes a hacer un hechizo para encontrar sus objetos -y no objetos- perdidos. Pero siempre bajo un precio…
“Wait for a sing.
If the light goes out, you will know the lost are listening.
If you hear dogs barking, you will know the lost have heard your call.
If you hear the howling, you will know the lost have answered.”
Es el segundo libro de la autora que leo como así también es su segundo libro. Voy de adelante para atrás con ella; arranqué con All the bad apples hace unos meses, el cual fue su último libro, seguí con este, y hace unos días arranqué con su primer libro. A decir verdad, tenía miedo. Tras el éxito que tuvo All the bad apples, sabía que las reseñas de este segundo libro eran un poco más mixtas que las que tuvo su último libro publicado (y el miedo que tenía/tengo al leer The Accident Season ni les cuento 😂😅) Y, si bien entiendo esas reseñas flojas o negativas, por mi parte, lo amé.
Comprendo y hasta comparto algunas de las críticas, y tampoco puedo evitar compararlo con All the bad apples, pero la verdad que este libro me gustó muchísimo y definitivamente va a terminar en mi top de libros favoritos de este año.
Como dije, la trama es bastante sencilla, pero tiene su aspecto original. No es algo que haya leído en otro libro, ni me haya hecho acordar de ninguna otra trama. Leo muy, muy poco realismo mágico, y eso es algo que accidentalmente estoy cambiando, lentamente, este año, y lo poco que voy leyendo, por más que sea todo de la misma autora, me está fascinando.
Y es que este libro tiene la pizca perfecta de realismo mágico, misterio y atmósfera oscurita con contemporáneo que tanto me encanta.
“Be careful what you bargain with:
Every lost thing requires a sacrifice-
A new loss for every called thing found.
What will you let go of?
What can you not afford to lose?
Consider carefully before you cast the calling:
It may not be for you to choose.”
Spellbook of the Lost and Found está narrado desde tres puntos de vista, alternados. Seguimos tres grupos distintos de amigos, el de Laurel, el de Hazel y el de Olive, siendo ellas tres las que narran de cada grupo, y siendo a través de los ojos de ellas que conocemos a los demás personajes y sus historias.
Al mismo tiempo no está narrado del todo de forma lineal, que es algo que también me gusta mucho encontrarme en libros. No puedo comentar mucho más al respecto de esto porque sería spoiler pero lo dejo ahí.
En cuanto a estos povs, los capítulos de Hazel y Olive fueron los que más me gustaron, creo que eran los que más abundaban entonces era la historia que más me interesaba y lo que más me había enganchado. Laurel, por otra parte, fue con la que menos conecté, no sé si porque sus capítulos son la minoría o porque su grupo de amigas tampoco me terminaba de cerrar por completo.
Los capítulos eran cortos, pero eso sí, para mi este libro es bastante slow-paced. Se me hizo un poco lento al principio, me costó engancharme a pesar de que cada vez que me sentaba a leerlo, por más que leía muy poco, lo que leía me encantaba. Sacando de lado que yo lo abandonaba al pobre libro por otros que estaba leyendo al mismo tiempo, me refiero a que la trama se me hizo de ritmo lento, al menos hasta el 40 o 50% del libro, hasta que todos los personajes se van conociendo y las historias se van conectando entre sí. Ahí sí, sentí que comenzaba a acelerarse un poco más y el libro cobraba ritmo.
Creo que, además, tardó en engancharme por la cantidad de personajes que tiene la historia. Al principio eso abruma un poco y cuesta diferenciarlos, y seguir el hilo de la trama. Luego, con el correr del libro el lector comienza a diferenciarlos y también a encariñarse con ellos.
“Be careful what you wish for:
Not all lost things should be found.”
La representación de este libro me gustó muchísimo. Me encanta encontrarme diversidad de personajes y distintas representaciones en los libros que leo y no hablo solo de identidad de género y orientación sexual. ¡Así que, fue una grata sorpresa encontrarse con Olive siendo completamente sorda de un oído y usando un audífono! Además, Rose es de decendencia india y también menciona un par de veces el racismo que ha vivido a lo largo de su corta vida.
Y, por supuesto, tenemos representación lgbt+, más específicamente, bisexual. Dos personajes son bisexuales, y amigas, y ME ENCANTÓ que no hubiese ni se desarrolle ningún interés amoroso entre las dos mejores amigas bisexuales; GRACIAS MOIRA YOU'RE DOING FINE, SWEETIE. Además, tenemos otro personaje que no es heterosexual, sin ninguna etiqueta explícita, pero formando parte de una relación f/f muy bonita y tierna.
De alguna forma, me hizo acordar a The Raven Boys. No sé si fue el setting, o la atmósfera oscurita sin que necesariamente algo oscurito estuviese pasando, o qué. O tal vez los tópicos que toca, ya que trata mucho esto de encontrar un grupo de amigos y el sentimiento de, finalmente, pertenecer a algún lugar. Además de que se habla mucho de la familia y la pérdida, y no hablo de pérdida de objetos materiales, sino de personas, sentimientos y cualidades a lo largo de la vida. Además, hay una familia abusiva entre los familiares de los jóvenes protagonistas, así que eso también tiene en común…
No me voy a cansar de decirlo, pero la prosa de Moïra me parece una belleza🤩 Lo poco que leo (y tiene) esta mujer me parece super mágico. Te transporta a Irlanda con su prosa tan lírica y armoniosa.
Me encantó que al comenzar cada capítulo nos encontráramos con una listita de lo que la persona que está narrando ese capítulo perdió o encontró, siendo no siempre cosas materiales; por ejemplo, algunas chicas perdieron “la confianza de sus padres” o “la señal del celular”, cosas así. Este simple detalle me fascinó!
“If you’re not careful you can spend your whole life looking for what you’ve lost.”
En resumen, un libro con una trama muy original, unos personajes entrañables y una prosa preciosa. Con un audiolibro muy recomendado porque es full cast con unas narradoras con acento irlandés 🤩 Todo lo que hace esta mujer es magia y no me voy a cansar de recomendar los dos libros que leí de ella hasta el momento. Eso sí, vale aclarar, no esperen fantasía, no esperen brujas y continuamente hechizos, esto es realismo mágico con UN hechizo y una atmósfera algo oscura, pero lo que más se destaca es la prosa y las relaciones entre los personajes *chef kiss*
📌 Puntuación: 4,5/5⭐
Content warning: mención de violación, abuso físico, alcoholismo, familia abusiva.
--- Reseña en mi bookstagram: Libros con(té)
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*I received a copy of this book through Penguin's FirstToRead Program!****
This YA Fantasy has so much of what I really enjoy reading: LGBT representation (a lesbian character and two bi characters), dark magic, and small towns with some mysterious residents.
I enjoyed the bit about two bi characters trying to give it a go (because they're the only ones open in town) and then realizing that some people just should stay friends. Stuff like that really flies in the face of what people see bi people as. Like they fuck anyone anytime. Just because you're attracted to a gender in general, doesn't mean you will automatically make a good couple with them.
My only problem was that while I genuinely liked these characters, half of them could have been written out or combined and I might not have noticed. Mostly because they all had very similar voices and POVs. I don't really enjoy when I have to parse out who I'm following through context (even with the names at the start of their POV I got confused at times).
I'm also glad the magic here adhered to its own rules. Sometimes that gets a little iffy, especially in YA.
SPOILER AFTER THIS POINT
The bit with leaving Mags' involvement ambiguous is brilliant as well. Some things don't need to be explicitly laid out in stories like this, in my opinion.
This YA Fantasy has so much of what I really enjoy reading: LGBT representation (a lesbian character and two bi characters), dark magic, and small towns with some mysterious residents.
I enjoyed the bit about two bi characters trying to give it a go (because they're the only ones open in town) and then realizing that some people just should stay friends. Stuff like that really flies in the face of what people see bi people as. Like they fuck anyone anytime. Just because you're attracted to a gender in general, doesn't mean you will automatically make a good couple with them.
My only problem was that while I genuinely liked these characters, half of them could have been written out or combined and I might not have noticed. Mostly because they all had very similar voices and POVs. I don't really enjoy when I have to parse out who I'm following through context (even with the names at the start of their POV I got confused at times).
I'm also glad the magic here adhered to its own rules. Sometimes that gets a little iffy, especially in YA.
SPOILER AFTER THIS POINT
The bit with leaving Mags' involvement ambiguous is brilliant as well. Some things don't need to be explicitly laid out in stories like this, in my opinion.
I found this book at the dollar store on a shelf alone I took it home because I felt bad but this book was so good! It has so many twists and turns and you get to put the story together as you learn new clues. It is haunting, cute, intriguing, and beautiful all at the same time
This is a story of friendship & love, trust & lies, belief & magic.
This is such a strange book, but also a really intriguing one; I was caught up in the story & its drama very early on & all of the teenagers felt very real to me. The cast were diverse, with more than one bisexual character & someone of Native American descent, & things like alcoholism & dementia were also mentioned. The plot was interesting & had a lot of layers to it - I was never quite sure what was going on & nothing was ever predictable. This book is certainly one of a kind; it was a lot deeper than I thought it would be & I got emotional on more than one occasion. This book makes you think & leaves you confused & full of wonder; it was quite an interesting read.
Trigger Warning: This book contains discussion of rape.
Extended Review: https://writingwolves.wordpress.com/2017/07/14/spellbook-of-the-lost-found-by-moira-fowley-doyle/
This is such a strange book, but also a really intriguing one; I was caught up in the story & its drama very early on & all of the teenagers felt very real to me. The cast were diverse, with more than one bisexual character & someone of Native American descent, & things like alcoholism & dementia were also mentioned. The plot was interesting & had a lot of layers to it - I was never quite sure what was going on & nothing was ever predictable. This book is certainly one of a kind; it was a lot deeper than I thought it would be & I got emotional on more than one occasion. This book makes you think & leaves you confused & full of wonder; it was quite an interesting read.
Trigger Warning: This book contains discussion of rape.
Extended Review: https://writingwolves.wordpress.com/2017/07/14/spellbook-of-the-lost-found-by-moira-fowley-doyle/
her smile is seven kinds of sunlight.
tw/cw: sexual assault/harassment (rape?), alcoholism (by teenagers)
this? was? so? weird? i have absolutely no idea what happened in this book, but i think i liked it?
the confusion was a big part of this book. the characters are confused, the reader is confused and maybe the author was confused, as well, who knows?and i've got to be honest, it bothered me. because, obviously, i do not like to be confused while reading, especially if it doesn't get cleared up in the end.
i mean, there were a lot (a lot!) of characters and for a pretty short book it took me a long time until i had memorised all the names and remembered who they were when mentioned.
the relationships in this book (1 m/f, 1 f/f) (the bi rep was: great) were so pure. a small warning for non-explicit really well written sexual scenes.
fortunately, this book also had a lot of good things going for it. let's continue with the characters: a few of them have this teen-rebellion thing going on, but to ridiculous extremes that would normally bother me a hell lot (and, yes, i rolled my eyes a lot at them), but i found myself actually enjoying them because there was more to them, they had depth. and maybe i am just very soft for them.
the atmosphere of this book was superb. it was magical and whimsical and mysterious (those are all synonyms for one another). the writing perfectly captured the characters' emotions and the setting.
i really enjoyed the messages in this book concerning sexual assault and feminism. this is not a book about feminism (and if it would be that would just make it better), it's more casual feminism in a way that is true and teaches the reader lessons without them necessarily noticing.
i can just guess that not everyone would like the ending. which i understand because a lot of question are still not answered, and while i would love some answers i also enjoy the mystery because that seems a bit more realistic. what happened to these characters was some weird thing that went on for a week and they'll probably always remember it and wonder what the fuck happened and how it was possible, but then they'll also remember their conversation about embracing the uncertain and that's just nice.
not all endings have to have answers.
bur really, what the hell is going on with mags and WHY and HOW???
tw/cw: sexual assault/harassment (rape?), alcoholism (by teenagers)
this? was? so? weird? i have absolutely no idea what happened in this book, but i think i liked it?
the confusion was a big part of this book. the characters are confused, the reader is confused and maybe the author was confused, as well, who knows?and i've got to be honest, it bothered me. because, obviously, i do not like to be confused while reading, especially if it doesn't get cleared up in the end.
i mean, there were a lot (a lot!) of characters and for a pretty short book it took me a long time until i had memorised all the names and remembered who they were when mentioned.
the relationships in this book (1 m/f, 1 f/f) (the bi rep was: great) were so pure. a small warning for non-explicit really well written sexual scenes.
fortunately, this book also had a lot of good things going for it. let's continue with the characters: a few of them have this teen-rebellion thing going on, but to ridiculous extremes that would normally bother me a hell lot (and, yes, i rolled my eyes a lot at them), but i found myself actually enjoying them because there was more to them, they had depth. and maybe i am just very soft for them.
the atmosphere of this book was superb. it was magical and whimsical and mysterious (those are all synonyms for one another). the writing perfectly captured the characters' emotions and the setting.
i really enjoyed the messages in this book concerning sexual assault and feminism. this is not a book about feminism (and if it would be that would just make it better), it's more casual feminism in a way that is true and teaches the reader lessons without them necessarily noticing.
i can just guess that not everyone would like the ending. which i understand because a lot of question are still not answered, and while i would love some answers i also enjoy the mystery because that seems a bit more realistic. what happened to these characters was some weird thing that went on for a week and they'll probably always remember it and wonder what the fuck happened and how it was possible, but then they'll also remember their conversation about embracing the uncertain and that's just nice.
not all endings have to have answers.