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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Biggest complaint is that Hazel and Olive’s perspectives are written so similarly that I’d have to go back to the start of the chapter to remind myself who I was reading
So after letting this book soak in, it definitely earned a full 4 stars. I picked this up in a small book shop when I was in Santa Barbara and I’m so glad I did. I don’t know that I would have come across this book otherwise as I hadn’t heard about it prior. Definitely worth picking up.
This book is so so so good!! It blurs the past and present. Lost things are found. Many things are lost. Magic is everywhere and in everything you do. If you haven't read it make some time to! It's really beautiful.
Caffeinated Aspects:
Decaffeinated Aspects:
Audio provided by the publisher.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
- I love the lyrical prose laced with metaphors that Moïra Fowley-Doyle delivers. She pulls me into her stories, and it all feels very surreal. She always manages to surprise me. Her stories offer rich characters, vivid scenery, and surprise twists. I confess, I did figure it out about midway, but her execution is flawless.
- I was delighted to discover an LGBTQ thread in this tale.It was beautifully done, giving readers an f/f relationship. Forget stereotypes and cliches, Fowley-Doyle's rendition was beautiful, genuine and realistic.
- The plot shares quite the list of characters and their stories all revolve around a spellbook. Contained within this book is a spell that allows you to find something lost. None realize that for this spell to work it requires a sacrifice. The story shares three POV's, and each has a group/cast of friends. Creating s story broken into several parts, and eventually, the three stories intertwine. The story begins with Laurel, Ash, and Holly. We do not spend a lot of time with them, but their story is relevant because it sets the story in motion. Laurel told their story. The second group consists of Oliva who narrates and her best friend, Rose. The girls begin to lose things. Little things at first like hair pins, jewelry but soon Rose is missing something bigger and refuses to talk about it. The third group is made up of Ivy, Hazel, and her twin brother, Rowan. They are squatters living in an abandoned building. Wait until you meet Hazel. She narrates their story, and I found her to be memorable. We soon learn they have lost something too. In the meantime, mysterious pages to a diary penned by Laurel appear around town. Fowley-Doyle weaves her magic pulling these characters together delivering a twisted tale about things lost and things recovered.
- The characters are rich and complex. Some we get personal with, and others are mysterious leaving us to learn as the story unfolds. The author gives us diversity with a large cast of female characters and thankfully leaves cliched stereotypes behind. Rose is a character of color, Olive is hearing-impaired, Hazel is gay, and Olive and Rose are bisexual. Each character has a unique personality. I think the author chose well when selecting the voice for each group.
- If you love magical realism, Fowley-Doyle is a must read author regardless of your age.
- This is the type of story that you question as it unfolds. You wonder how all of these plots and characters will come together. Only when the author wraps up the tale, do you sit back and reflect. It is then you come to realize how brilliant the telling was. Her books stick with you, and I often find myself thinking about it, the character and mysterious spellbook.
- This story does offer romantic threads, but the "lost and found" theme is central. These side stories simply added depth and realism.
- We have three talented narrators Elizabeth Sastre, Marisa Calin, and Saskia Maarleveld. Each brilliantly captured their POV's personality and worked well together from their tone to pacing. With three pov's and an extensive cast of characters, I think the three separate narrators enhanced this already brilliant story.
“What will you let go of? What can you not afford to lose?”
Decaffeinated Aspects:
- First, I loved this book so don't misunderstand me. My only complaint was keeping track of all the characters. The use of three narrators was a brilliant move on the publishers part because it helped with knowing whose voice we were hearing. I imagine that reading this might be confusing. Don't be discouraged, keep a notebook handy and jot down characters in each group. It will be worth it. Does that make sense?
- As I said the story felt off at times, maybe it was the pacing, but it all comes together brilliantly, and on reflection, I would not change a thing.
- I was left with a few questions, but I am not overly concerned as it fit the vibe of the book.
Audio provided by the publisher.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Absolutely spell-binding, recalling my favorite novel, Jellicoe Road, but this time with Irish, bisexual spell-casters!
Listen to the audiobook, it's narrated by three lovely, accented voices.
Listen to the audiobook, it's narrated by three lovely, accented voices.
It was hard to follow in the beginning like many other reviewers said, but it gets easier to follow the characters. The ending was terrible and left some key points of the book unanswered. It seems like the plot was not finished. There was poor character development for some key characters in the end. I wouldn't suggest reading the book if you have other books you're really looking forward to!