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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. Beautiful writing and great storyline, but too confusing at times.
I enjoyed the accident season, so when I saw she had a new book out I was excited. This is definitely in my wheelhouse; friends and mysterious forces and spellbooks and magic at the edges. This is all about what we lose and what we find, and how we lose things in life and how we find each other. Lovely writing, and it feels like the perfect book for September fall weather really, especially if you like a little bit of magic
Loved it, loved the ambiance, the magic, the diversity of the characters and the inclusiveness. Love the vibe, the town and how I could almost picture it perfectly.
My only complain is that I still have like a thousand unsolved questions and I don’t love not having all of my questions answered but I guess that’s part of the mystery and appeal of the book.
My only complain is that I still have like a thousand unsolved questions and I don’t love not having all of my questions answered but I guess that’s part of the mystery and appeal of the book.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you don't close your mouth, a fly will fly in, and then you'll have to swallow a spider to catch the fly, and then a cat to catch the spider, and then a dog to catch the cat, and then a goat to catch the dog, and then a cow to catch the goat, and then a horse to catch the cow, and then a lost soul to catch the horse.Enchanting. Atmospheric. Mysterious. (a lost soul to catch the horse) Lush. Gritty. Suspenseful. There are so many good words I can think of to describe the beguiling collection of words that is this book. Dark. Mature. Sensual.
Wait for a sign.The narration weaves together three distinct voices, teen girls who take turns telling their stories of the people they encounter and the odd events that occur after they whimsically, drunkenly cast a spell of finding from a curious book they stumble upon in the woods. Some of the occurrences are explainable. Some aren't. Not even as dreams and hallucinations. The line between magic and reality has become blurred. And both--magic and reality--are an intoxicating mix of love, danger, heartache, growth, and connection. Surprising, unexpected connection.
If the lights go 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.
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.
Be careful what you wish for;
Not all lost things should be found.
Through it all, underneath the misty ambience, this is a coming-of-age tale. Of young people growing into adult experiences. Of finding who they are in response to unexpected ordeals. Because if you don't get lost, you'll never be found.
Reading this spellbook is a thrillingly murky and satisfyingly complex enthrallment.
Everybody's lost something. They may not know it, but everyone's got their defining loss: a parent, a pet, a trinket, a treasure, a memory, a belief. Some people have more than one. And if you're not careful you can spend your whole life looking for what you've lost.
But the truth is we're always losing something. Every day stray hairs fall from our bangs; we discard fingernail clippings; we shed skin. We're all made up of all of it: of longing, of belonging, and of all the things we lose along the way.
What have I lost?
What have I found?
What have I kept?
Seriously, I love this author! Her creativity and imagination and storytelling is top notch but then add in the beautiful writing and amazing characters… I can find no faults
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
All the stars!!! Once again I am blown away by Moïra Fowley-Doyle's writing and storytelling. She has a way of writing magical realism that makes it feel like a modern day folktales. She is also one of the few authors that leaves questions unanswered and it works.
The unusual construction of this book makes it a little difficult to unravel what's happening, and when, but you're meant to discover some truths along with the characters. The confusion is intentional, and it does come clear if you're patient. Sometimes the resolution of this puzzle is a little too clever, bringing together all these separate hints and clues in a magical, unreal, neat package. There's a definite sense of unexplained magic, of forces working behind the scenes, stories repeating again and again... the effect is surreal and dreamlike. All of this is emphasized by the language, the telling of this story, which is ranges from slightly fantastical to hallucination levels.
What's real, and what isn't? That's up for the reader to decide.
What's real, and what isn't? That's up for the reader to decide.
This isn't my normal genre but loved the cover and thought I'd give it a go. I thought the writing was beautiful and some of the story was very interesting. I have to say there were parts that were slow and it took me awhile to differentiate between all of the characters and their background. Maybe if I'd taken the time to make some flash cards, I wouldn't have been one of those who were lost in this tale.