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heidimrogers's review
4.0
This book was a little slow at times, but I really really enjoyed the setting, which I thought was really unusual. It was like "historical new world America," WITH MAGIC. I also enjoyed the characters and loosely identified with stuff the main character was going through familialy.
lorathelibrarian's review
3.0
The story was interesting, but overcomplicated. There with all types of magic definitions, teachings, and magical settings and descriptions that muddled the plot and characters. Getting past that, it was an entertaining read, but not quite memorable. I don't think I'll pick up the next book in the series whenever it comes out.
sarabaggins's review
4.0
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed "Thirteenth Child"! It was set in a fascinating world (with mammoths and steam dragons!), and had a slow moving but riveting plot-line. This book featured a large cast of characters, yet they were all fleshed out very well. I hated and loved the characters at the same time!
One thing that was irritating was the blatant sexism, which the MC and all other female characters accepted without question. I understand that this is because that is what the culture was like in that time period, but it was still grating. Hopefully Eff shows some signs of feminism in future books!
-Recommended to all those who like: magic, cool creatures, colonial days, and alternate realities.
-Recommended age: 10/12+
I really enjoyed "Thirteenth Child"! It was set in a fascinating world (with mammoths and steam dragons!), and had a slow moving but riveting plot-line. This book featured a large cast of characters, yet they were all fleshed out very well. I hated and loved the characters at the same time!
One thing that was irritating was the blatant sexism, which the MC and all other female characters accepted without question. I understand that this is because that is what the culture was like in that time period, but it was still grating. Hopefully Eff shows some signs of feminism in future books!
-Recommended to all those who like: magic, cool creatures, colonial days, and alternate realities.
-Recommended age: 10/12+
elephantshoes4's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
feelingferal's review
3.0
I read this book to the kids at work. They liked it, but it didn't have the same attraction or draw of her other books that I have read. The kids enjoyed it, but weren't clamoring for the sequel.
bbqrplanting's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book but it wasn't a can't-put-down book for me.
I may have given it four stars but this book is set in a (fictional, alternate) North America-the wild west one might say. However, there are no Native Americans which is a little weird and problematic, it is an erasure of Native Americans, which is all too common in our culture. This is a fictional, fantasy book with a fictional, fantasy world (the lack of American Indians is not the only difference between the book world and real history) and I'm not sure how intentional the decision to leave them out was. I chalk it up to a clueless white person not realizing their privilege or seeing how framing a setting in this manner is problematic. There are two more books after this one, so perhaps she remedies the problem as the story progresses. I was able to get past it to enjoy the book, but if you don't think you can do that, you might want to skip this one.
I may have given it four stars but this book is set in a (fictional, alternate) North America-the wild west one might say. However, there are no Native Americans which is a little weird and problematic, it is an erasure of Native Americans, which is all too common in our culture. This is a fictional, fantasy book with a fictional, fantasy world (the lack of American Indians is not the only difference between the book world and real history) and I'm not sure how intentional the decision to leave them out was. I chalk it up to a clueless white person not realizing their privilege or seeing how framing a setting in this manner is problematic. There are two more books after this one, so perhaps she remedies the problem as the story progresses. I was able to get past it to enjoy the book, but if you don't think you can do that, you might want to skip this one.
gothicglasses's review against another edition
4.0
I have been having a lot of trouble getting into books for some reason latley so it has taken me a while to acutally finish this book. That doesn't mean this is a bad book on the contrary it is pretty good, a little slow paced but good.
I liked that this story for the fact that it isn't from the point of view of the most powerful character Lan. We get it from almost the sidekicks perspective. You will almost always see from the person best at whatever the book is about, almost never do we see second best.
Eff is second best and not only that but a lot of her family thinks she is cursed to be evil and her parents should have killed her when she was born. She has the emotions going along with being the "cursed" one in the family. In order to get Eff away from such a mentally damaging setting her Mom and Dad move her and most of her brothers and sisters out to the edge of cilivation in order for her father to get a fairly good job.
Here she and her brother Lan meet William, who she will get with even if I have to write a fanfiction! Darn it! I found him annoying at first, indifferent in the middle of the book and loving who he was by the end. Though to my slight disappointment there was no romance for our young heroine.
So in the end I love the POV, I liked most of the characters and the creatures. It was a little slow but that could have been because I'm just not in a reading kind of mood. *shrug*
I liked that this story for the fact that it isn't from the point of view of the most powerful character Lan. We get it from almost the sidekicks perspective. You will almost always see from the person best at whatever the book is about, almost never do we see second best.
Eff is second best and not only that but a lot of her family thinks she is cursed to be evil and her parents should have killed her when she was born. She has the emotions going along with being the "cursed" one in the family. In order to get Eff away from such a mentally damaging setting her Mom and Dad move her and most of her brothers and sisters out to the edge of cilivation in order for her father to get a fairly good job.
Here she and her brother Lan meet William, who she will get with even if I have to write a fanfiction! Darn it! I found him annoying at first, indifferent in the middle of the book and loving who he was by the end. Though to my slight disappointment there was no romance for our young heroine.
So in the end I love the POV, I liked most of the characters and the creatures. It was a little slow but that could have been because I'm just not in a reading kind of mood. *shrug*
anirastriker642's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5