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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I went into this book with fairly low expectations because I hadn’t really heard a ton about it, but ended up really enjoying it! I really enjoyed all the characters and got really attached to them. The female friendships in this book were great. They were all so supportive and felt so real. I also loved the romantic relationships and was really rooting for them in the end. The representation in this book is great: we have two bisexual characters, one who ends up in a f/f relationship and one in a m/f relationship, a lesbian narrator, an Indian side character, a main character who wears a hearing aid. It was really great to read.
I really enjoyed the story, as well. It’s slower and more focused on the characters than plot while not feeling too slow for the most part. I was really invested in the characters and them figuring out their issues.
My biggest qualm of this book was the magic and that it dragged. There were a couple sections that I thought meandered for no reason, and they could have used a tiny bit of editing. As for the magic, I’m just really picky about magical realism (I’ve written a whole post about it here). I like magical realism when (1) it’s obvious that the world is supposed to be like ours but with magic or (2) when the magic could either be magic or could be explained in some other way. This book never really committed to either. So I didn’t dislike the magical elements, they just weren’t my favourite.
So, yeah, overall, I really enjoyed this book. I’d definitely recommend it if you want something fun and queer but also a little magical.
I really enjoyed the story, as well. It’s slower and more focused on the characters than plot while not feeling too slow for the most part. I was really invested in the characters and them figuring out their issues.
My biggest qualm of this book was the magic and that it dragged. There were a couple sections that I thought meandered for no reason, and they could have used a tiny bit of editing. As for the magic, I’m just really picky about magical realism (I’ve written a whole post about it here). I like magical realism when (1) it’s obvious that the world is supposed to be like ours but with magic or (2) when the magic could either be magic or could be explained in some other way. This book never really committed to either. So I didn’t dislike the magical elements, they just weren’t my favourite.
So, yeah, overall, I really enjoyed this book. I’d definitely recommend it if you want something fun and queer but also a little magical.
Has really good ambiance. On the audio book though I had some trouble following what was going on.
***4 STARS***
Full review can also be found on Lair Of Books:
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/arc-august-review-spellbook-of-the-lost-and-found-by-moira-fowley-doyle/
Spellbook of the Lost and Found takes place in Ireland, much of the time is spent outside in the woods, a abandoned house, and a pub with a mysterious owner whose age remains unknown. The teens in this book are pretty much left to their own devices. It’s during a bonfire party that one of the characters by the name of Laurel, wakes up inebriated to find the spellbook that would inevitably bind all of their fates together. The spellbook contains the ingredients to cast the spell that would find what you’ve lost however…for every thing found…you must be willing to lose something & the choice is not always yours to make. These characters have all lost something valuable that they are willing to take the risk in order to get it back.
Spellbook of the Lost and Found was one of those books I spotted early on & just knew I wanted to read right away. I’m a lover of all things witches, spells, and mysterious atmospheres and this book delivered on all three. We follow multiple POV’s as there are three sets of friends:
Rose & Olive: Best friends and polar opposites
Rowan, Hazel, and Ivy: Rowan and Hazel: are fraternal twins squatting in a abandoned house after leaving a toxic home environment. Their childhood friend Ivy followed them & plays a protective role over them
Laurel, Ash, & Holly: with this set of friends we only get Laurel’s POV as she tells her group of friends story
Stories told in Multiple POV’s tend to be some of my most favorite because it’s a great way to have each character fleshed out, by getting in their heads. It did take me some time to get used to all of the players in this book because some shared striking character similarities with each other. I didn’t find any of these characters to have a real distinct voice but I enjoyed following the threads that connected them nonetheless. I did however, appreciate the diversity in this cast of characters with Rose being a bi-sexual POC, Olive being deaf & bi-sexual, and Hazel being gay. Friendship played a big theme in this book as well as sibling relationships. These characters for the most part are deeply flawed but what stood out most was the genuine concern for one another.
Spellbook of the Lost and Found is my first read by Moira Fowley-Doyle since I haven’t yet had the chance to pick up The Accident Season. Although there were moments of confusion, I was invested in this story and seeing it all the way through. Also, I wasn’t expecting the writing to be heavy with prose & so that took some getting used to but again it still maintained my interest. This is a slow paced read but the pay off makes it all worth your time. I found myself constantly trying to connect the dots & even went as far as making a little tree chart to see how each person knew the other haha! I can tell you this much…you won’t see the ending coming! & that alone was wonderful! seeing how well constructed & detailed this story really is was a real treat & speaks to the skill our author honed with her pen. I highly recommend Spellbook of the Lost and Found to those who enjoyed the movie The Craft & for anyone who enjoys piecing together a good mystery ;)
*HUGE Thanks Penguin Random House/Kathy Dawson Books & Moira Fowley-Doyle for the eGalley of Spellbook of the Lost and Found in exchange for an honest review
Full review can also be found on Lair Of Books:
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/arc-august-review-spellbook-of-the-lost-and-found-by-moira-fowley-doyle/
Spellbook of the Lost and Found takes place in Ireland, much of the time is spent outside in the woods, a abandoned house, and a pub with a mysterious owner whose age remains unknown. The teens in this book are pretty much left to their own devices. It’s during a bonfire party that one of the characters by the name of Laurel, wakes up inebriated to find the spellbook that would inevitably bind all of their fates together. The spellbook contains the ingredients to cast the spell that would find what you’ve lost however…for every thing found…you must be willing to lose something & the choice is not always yours to make. These characters have all lost something valuable that they are willing to take the risk in order to get it back.
Spellbook of the Lost and Found was one of those books I spotted early on & just knew I wanted to read right away. I’m a lover of all things witches, spells, and mysterious atmospheres and this book delivered on all three. We follow multiple POV’s as there are three sets of friends:
Rose & Olive: Best friends and polar opposites
Rowan, Hazel, and Ivy: Rowan and Hazel: are fraternal twins squatting in a abandoned house after leaving a toxic home environment. Their childhood friend Ivy followed them & plays a protective role over them
Laurel, Ash, & Holly: with this set of friends we only get Laurel’s POV as she tells her group of friends story
Stories told in Multiple POV’s tend to be some of my most favorite because it’s a great way to have each character fleshed out, by getting in their heads. It did take me some time to get used to all of the players in this book because some shared striking character similarities with each other. I didn’t find any of these characters to have a real distinct voice but I enjoyed following the threads that connected them nonetheless. I did however, appreciate the diversity in this cast of characters with Rose being a bi-sexual POC, Olive being deaf & bi-sexual, and Hazel being gay. Friendship played a big theme in this book as well as sibling relationships. These characters for the most part are deeply flawed but what stood out most was the genuine concern for one another.
Spellbook of the Lost and Found is my first read by Moira Fowley-Doyle since I haven’t yet had the chance to pick up The Accident Season. Although there were moments of confusion, I was invested in this story and seeing it all the way through. Also, I wasn’t expecting the writing to be heavy with prose & so that took some getting used to but again it still maintained my interest. This is a slow paced read but the pay off makes it all worth your time. I found myself constantly trying to connect the dots & even went as far as making a little tree chart to see how each person knew the other haha! I can tell you this much…you won’t see the ending coming! & that alone was wonderful! seeing how well constructed & detailed this story really is was a real treat & speaks to the skill our author honed with her pen. I highly recommend Spellbook of the Lost and Found to those who enjoyed the movie The Craft & for anyone who enjoys piecing together a good mystery ;)
*HUGE Thanks Penguin Random House/Kathy Dawson Books & Moira Fowley-Doyle for the eGalley of Spellbook of the Lost and Found in exchange for an honest review
Holy crap this book was good!
I was really surprised by it, it kinda gave me the wicked deep vibes!
Full review: http://evelynreads.com/review-spellbook-of-the-lost-and-found/
I was really surprised by it, it kinda gave me the wicked deep vibes!
Full review: http://evelynreads.com/review-spellbook-of-the-lost-and-found/
I absolutely loved this book. It was beautifully written and intriguing. The young characters are realistic and human. Their growth through the story is heartwarming. Highly recommended!
Apparently 2019 is the year for DNF’ing books. I got this from the library last summer and only made it a couple chapters in before having to return it. Then I picked up the audiobook this week and at first was enjoying it much more cuz Irish accents, but by the time I got to the 25% mark I realized I was quite bored and couldn’t tell who was who even though I’d read the first quarter two times. Any recs for not boring witchy queer lady books?
Teenagers messing around with magic, LGBTQ characters (bisexual&lesbian*), tattooed runaways, switching POV's & magical realism. Yes please!
Very much enjoyed Spellbook of the Lost and Found.
*Two of the characters are bisexual, another one I assume is lesbian, but she isn't specifically labelled in the book as being lesbian.
Very much enjoyed Spellbook of the Lost and Found.
*Two of the characters are bisexual, another one I assume is lesbian, but she isn't specifically labelled in the book as being lesbian.
I finished this book weeks ago but I forgot to update my Goodreads, so here you go!
This book was more confusing than it was intriguing up until the last half of the book, which made it less enjoyable for me. The mystery aspect and the cryptic way in which it was written was just a bit too much for my taste.
What I really appreciated was the seamless integration of diversity; it didn't seem forced or anything, just as it should be.
This book was more confusing than it was intriguing up until the last half of the book, which made it less enjoyable for me. The mystery aspect and the cryptic way in which it was written was just a bit too much for my taste.
What I really appreciated was the seamless integration of diversity; it didn't seem forced or anything, just as it should be.