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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had a really hard time getting into this book. I ended up skipping some at the beginning but as the book went on I found I enjoyed it.
Lots of world-building and set-up for the next book. Not a lot of action.
While the story follows a fairly traditional line - orphan is sent into world to be apprenticed, encounters strange creatures and adventures along the way - the world is so completely fresh and strange that you feel as though anything could happen and anything could exist. This cover really doesn't do the story justice, but if you love complex and detailed fantasy worlds, complete with maps and glossaries and calendars and diagrams of ships and clothing, there's certainly enough here to keep you interested. I'm looking forward to the second book. I think this would appeal to say middle school and up - readers who like Lloyd Alexander, and Tolkien, and stories of hapless characters going off into the big, strange world.
Interesting world, but slow reading. I liked it, but not enough to read the rest of the series n
This book is a great example of world building. First of all, I love books with maps of the world, but this one is so detailed and so different that it begs for explanations. What IS that long straight river at the top of the map?
Secondly, the Explicarium. How do you describe a major section of the book that introduces an entire world of nomenclature, objects, people, places, and ideas? Fascinating.
Finally, there is the story itself, which is perhaps the weak point. It is a good story, but it isn't as strong as the world building. And it wasn't strong enough for the only teen that I know who has read the book. He didn't care for it. Sigh.
Secondly, the Explicarium. How do you describe a major section of the book that introduces an entire world of nomenclature, objects, people, places, and ideas? Fascinating.
Finally, there is the story itself, which is perhaps the weak point. It is a good story, but it isn't as strong as the world building. And it wasn't strong enough for the only teen that I know who has read the book. He didn't care for it. Sigh.
This series was my all-time favourite as a pre-teen. I literally cannot recommend it highly enough. It's totally unique among YA fantasy, and it can probably be credited with starting me down the path of literary academia, due to its fascination with monsters, critique of gender and species categories, and next-level world-building. Buy it for your nerdiest teenage relative!!!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
2.5 stars.
It wasn't bad, nor was it boring, but I couldn't become invested in it and found my mind wandering as I was listening to it. I'd come back in and realise I hadn't missed much. It was recommended to me with high praise so I feel bad, but while I admired the imagination of Cornish, I wasn't engaged enough.
From the way the story begins I thought it would be slightly more adventurous, not that it didn't have its moments, but it felt slow. I suppose though, being the first book there may be more to come in the sequel. I liked the steampunk nature, and towards the end I think Rossamund became a better character which was great development.
By the end I think I was familiar enough with the characters to want to see it through and be glad they had whatever achievements and friendships they had, but I don't think I am going to jump straight into the next one.
Full review to come
It wasn't bad, nor was it boring, but I couldn't become invested in it and found my mind wandering as I was listening to it. I'd come back in and realise I hadn't missed much. It was recommended to me with high praise so I feel bad, but while I admired the imagination of Cornish, I wasn't engaged enough.
From the way the story begins I thought it would be slightly more adventurous, not that it didn't have its moments, but it felt slow. I suppose though, being the first book there may be more to come in the sequel. I liked the steampunk nature, and towards the end I think Rossamund became a better character which was great development.
By the end I think I was familiar enough with the characters to want to see it through and be glad they had whatever achievements and friendships they had, but I don't think I am going to jump straight into the next one.
Full review to come