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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
More reviews at Rondo of a Possible World: YA Book Reviews
I really enjoyed this book. It really makes you question the duration of the book and the true essence of a full day and how much can be accomplished or taken away. Throughout my reading of this book Sophie and Josh really grew on me, not because I'm a teenager who can relate with a similar age, but more so because of their reactions to all of the actions that had been thrust upon them.
Great Characterization from everyone in the story, they all sucked me into their universe and i have yet to return to my own.
Another thing that i enjoyed about the book was how every character (besides the twins) has a history and you can actually research them: Nicholas Flamel, Perenelle Flamel, Dr. John Dee, ect. I found it was extremely fun to look up all the Immortals even the Elders: Hekate, The Morrigan, The Witch of Endor, even Bast. I always enjoy putting in extra research, it makes the book more memorable in a way.
One thing theme that i felt was incorporated nicely was trust. I felt, while reading, that trust is really something that is really easy to give when your surroundings change and someone is there to help guide you through them. But once you become informed, the trust begins to disintegrate. Along with the trust theme was the power of guidance brought about by Nicholas and Dee.
I really enjoyed this book. It really makes you question the duration of the book and the true essence of a full day and how much can be accomplished or taken away. Throughout my reading of this book Sophie and Josh really grew on me, not because I'm a teenager who can relate with a similar age, but more so because of their reactions to all of the actions that had been thrust upon them.
Great Characterization from everyone in the story, they all sucked me into their universe and i have yet to return to my own.
Another thing that i enjoyed about the book was how every character (besides the twins) has a history and you can actually research them: Nicholas Flamel, Perenelle Flamel, Dr. John Dee, ect. I found it was extremely fun to look up all the Immortals even the Elders: Hekate, The Morrigan, The Witch of Endor, even Bast. I always enjoy putting in extra research, it makes the book more memorable in a way.
One thing theme that i felt was incorporated nicely was trust. I felt, while reading, that trust is really something that is really easy to give when your surroundings change and someone is there to help guide you through them. But once you become informed, the trust begins to disintegrate. Along with the trust theme was the power of guidance brought about by Nicholas and Dee.
Not a bad plot, but it could have used some more substance.
4
khá thích những ý tưởng của tác giả tạo nên, đồng thời liên hệ với các sự kiện và nhân vật có thật
trận chiến ở cuối truyện khá xàm và không hấp dẫn như ở giữa truyện
khá thích những ý tưởng của tác giả tạo nên, đồng thời liên hệ với các sự kiện và nhân vật có thật
trận chiến ở cuối truyện khá xàm và không hấp dẫn như ở giữa truyện
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This book could have been good but instead it just feels hollow. It is well researched but the characters don't have any depth and don't seem real or human at all. All the important plot points happen accidentally and the main motivation is just "to fight evil".
I, like many other people, was first interested in this story probably because I recognized Nicholas Flamel not from history as much as from Harry Potter. Even though this story isn't related to HP at all, it sounded possibly interesting.
That said, when I first saw it, I vascillated alot on whether I actually wanted to pick it up or not. Finally, after reading some good reviews, and getting it through amazon's 4-for-3 deal (so, thus, not feeling like I necessarily spent any money on it), I picked it up.
I kind of wish I hadn't.
At first I was mostly amused by the "secret histories" littered throughout the book. But, and it's a big but, after a short while it started to pass the point of credulity - I mean, Flamel and/or Dee seem to have been involved in almost every major historical event since their birth, and have known almost every major historical figure. It just got annoying.
As to the mythology, well, I guess I'm just a purist. I had a hard time associating Scathach (who calls herself 'Scatty'), a Scottish warrior, as being granddaughter to the Witch of Endor, a Babylonian figure (and a vampire, no less, but not one of "those" vampires). The Morrighan, Irish, being niece to the Egyptian Bastet. Yes, I got the point that the mythos are meant to refer to these actual beings, and it's the same people under different names - but, it just kinda made me twitch. At least the associations were generally accurate.
But the representation of the Hecate just confused me. The triplicate of the Hecate, in the old myths, is not as maiden, mother, crone, but generally depicted as a woman with three faces of the same age - representing different abilities or, simply, being representative of being the goddess of the crossroads, gates, pathways, etc. In some depictions, the heads aren't even human.
But the real point of confusion was when Hecate, in the story, was depicted as being weakest at night, since she is generally said to have lunar associations.
But, anyway, really - that wasn't even my biggest complaint.
Mostly, I was just kinda bored. I didn't feel attached to the characters. When they were being attacked, I didn't feel any suspense. The whole thing was rather ho-hum, and I was reading to finish more than to fulfill any real desire to see what was going to happen.
The writing was kind of repetitive. I'm not sure how many times I needed to by told that the twins were twins, that the parents were archeologists (who specialize in every field, apparently), or that they were confused with this new world they were being thrust into. But maybe that's the point - we were told, over and over, but we were never shown in a way that made me really care or see them as 'real' people.
I'm not fussed abount continuing the series, though I might if someone convinces me they get a good deal better.
That said, when I first saw it, I vascillated alot on whether I actually wanted to pick it up or not. Finally, after reading some good reviews, and getting it through amazon's 4-for-3 deal (so, thus, not feeling like I necessarily spent any money on it), I picked it up.
I kind of wish I hadn't.
At first I was mostly amused by the "secret histories" littered throughout the book. But, and it's a big but, after a short while it started to pass the point of credulity - I mean, Flamel and/or Dee seem to have been involved in almost every major historical event since their birth, and have known almost every major historical figure. It just got annoying.
As to the mythology, well, I guess I'm just a purist. I had a hard time associating Scathach (who calls herself 'Scatty'), a Scottish warrior, as being granddaughter to the Witch of Endor, a Babylonian figure (and a vampire, no less, but not one of "those" vampires). The Morrighan, Irish, being niece to the Egyptian Bastet. Yes, I got the point that the mythos are meant to refer to these actual beings, and it's the same people under different names - but, it just kinda made me twitch. At least the associations were generally accurate.
But the representation of the Hecate just confused me. The triplicate of the Hecate, in the old myths, is not as maiden, mother, crone, but generally depicted as a woman with three faces of the same age - representing different abilities or, simply, being representative of being the goddess of the crossroads, gates, pathways, etc. In some depictions, the heads aren't even human.
But the real point of confusion was when Hecate, in the story, was depicted as being weakest at night, since she is generally said to have lunar associations.
But, anyway, really - that wasn't even my biggest complaint.
Mostly, I was just kinda bored. I didn't feel attached to the characters. When they were being attacked, I didn't feel any suspense. The whole thing was rather ho-hum, and I was reading to finish more than to fulfill any real desire to see what was going to happen.
The writing was kind of repetitive. I'm not sure how many times I needed to by told that the twins were twins, that the parents were archeologists (who specialize in every field, apparently), or that they were confused with this new world they were being thrust into. But maybe that's the point - we were told, over and over, but we were never shown in a way that made me really care or see them as 'real' people.
I'm not fussed abount continuing the series, though I might if someone convinces me they get a good deal better.
This was a fun one – lots of fun esoteric historicalish stuff blended with mythology. I can't wait for the next! My first go at checking out a library ebook, too.
There were several things I appreciated about this story. I loved that Michael Scott used Auras in his magic system. THANK YOU! It was well done and used well. As someone who works with auras and on occasion can see them, it is fun to have them in a story. Michael also uses Lei lines of the Earth. The Raven Cycle uses those too. That's another great idea to put into a magic story. Lei lines are just the Earth's meridians, simple concept.
Another positive about this book is I do like how Michael weaves different mythologies together to create his story and world and wrap it up into his system. Yggdrasil is in the story, and I love the thought of the world tree. I was glad to see this in there and how he used it. It was a cool place to live.
This is a good story, a decent story, and average mythology story, in my mind. I think if you want mythology brought into the modern world, Rick Riordan is the way to go. He does it so well. If you don't like the humor and puns, then maybe this will be more your style.
Dee, the villain was not fleshed out at all. I don't know any of his motivations. I did not appreciate the cliff-hanger. I need to speak of this so:
SPOILER WARNING:
I do not think that using King Authors sword, no matter how magical, could kill the Yggdrasil tree. It just isn't going to do that. There is too much life and energy in the tree of life to ever be killed my one sword stab. I didn't buy that. Plus, killing the world tree bothered me. I mean, brutal.
The chase didn't seem all that exiting to me and Dee as a villain didn't do much for me either. I didn't feel the stakes here. As I said, this is a good book and it will probably be a decent series. It will probably even get better, but I don't feel the need to go on with the series and I'm a 'finish the series kind of person'. I'm learning that I have so many series to read that I have to chose which series I finish.
I think this is a great book for middle grade readers and above who are into mythology or want to get into it. It's not Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
Another positive about this book is I do like how Michael weaves different mythologies together to create his story and world and wrap it up into his system. Yggdrasil is in the story, and I love the thought of the world tree. I was glad to see this in there and how he used it. It was a cool place to live.
This is a good story, a decent story, and average mythology story, in my mind. I think if you want mythology brought into the modern world, Rick Riordan is the way to go. He does it so well. If you don't like the humor and puns, then maybe this will be more your style.
Dee, the villain was not fleshed out at all. I don't know any of his motivations. I did not appreciate the cliff-hanger. I need to speak of this so:
SPOILER WARNING:
I do not think that using King Authors sword, no matter how magical, could kill the Yggdrasil tree. It just isn't going to do that. There is too much life and energy in the tree of life to ever be killed my one sword stab. I didn't buy that. Plus, killing the world tree bothered me. I mean, brutal.
The chase didn't seem all that exiting to me and Dee as a villain didn't do much for me either. I didn't feel the stakes here. As I said, this is a good book and it will probably be a decent series. It will probably even get better, but I don't feel the need to go on with the series and I'm a 'finish the series kind of person'. I'm learning that I have so many series to read that I have to chose which series I finish.
I think this is a great book for middle grade readers and above who are into mythology or want to get into it. It's not Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
A quick read that plays around with mythological/magical concepts and beings woven into history as we know it, there's enough to like in this simply written book if you're a fan of fantasy. The twins were terribly annoying with not much dimension, here's hoping they mature a bit in the next one.
Entertaining brain candy. I look forward to the sequel.