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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I really struggled to get into this book but I 'toughed it out' as I like to finish what I start but I could not engage. The concept was interesting but I struggled to follow, or even care about any of the characters, particularly the main character. I was interested to follow her and Eliot's story but well, that was also a disappointment - though I imagine it will be continued in the next book.
I found it to be incredibly slow paced. It also felt like any other book with the same premise and by the time I got 90 pages in i realised i wasn't interested
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder
Ilsa is a magician’s assistant in a London that is close to the familiar Victorian view – full of cloaks and smoke and orphans. Ilsa herself is an orphan, carving out a life between pickpocketing and pretending that her magic isn’t real on stage, propping up a drunken, washed up magician.
Her world is almost quite literally turned upside down when she discovers the Witherward, the world reflective of, but not quite a copy of, the London she knows. She gets thrown in, and we with her, to a new world of warring factions and militia, of Principles and allegiances. It’s a lot of information packed in to a relatively short book, and at times I wished for a companion map or cheat sheet to remember who lives where and what their magic power was!
Along with finding out all of this new world stuff, she discovers that her family (she is not alone in the world, after all) rules a part of London, and they can also shapeshift, just like she can. Finally she is at home, learning how to wield her magic and that she is not weird or strange or the product of something terrible. It’s here that I was glad of the well drawn characters she meets along the way, as part of her new household and outside of it. I’ll mention Fyfe and Captain Fowler as particular favourites, although I don’t want to say too much more as I don’t want to ruin any of the reveals.
Personally, I found it hard to get to know Ilsa, what she thought and felt with this new found place in the world. There are mentions of how she finally feels like that something that was missing has been restored, and it’s lovely, but I would have liked someone, a friend, for her to share this discovery with.
I did find myself immersed in the book and just as eager to solve the mysteries as Ilsa is. I think it’s a testament to Hannah’s amazing imagination that she’s able to world-build so formed and solid – the names of the characters are both believable but also slightly out of kilter with our world – Ilsa, for example. Not quite Elsa, not quite Isla. Cassia, Gedeon and others.
In terms of recommendations, I’d align it with Garth Nix’s Abhorsen trilogy, Philip Reeves’ Mortal Engines and Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, it has the same otherworldly but adjacent feeling, coupled with a strong and confident female lead.
I’m looking forward to what I hope will be book 2 – goodreads has it down as #1 – a good indication that there’ll be a sequel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Titan Books for the digital review copy – pre-order this book today, available from February 15th!
Her world is almost quite literally turned upside down when she discovers the Witherward, the world reflective of, but not quite a copy of, the London she knows. She gets thrown in, and we with her, to a new world of warring factions and militia, of Principles and allegiances. It’s a lot of information packed in to a relatively short book, and at times I wished for a companion map or cheat sheet to remember who lives where and what their magic power was!
Along with finding out all of this new world stuff, she discovers that her family (she is not alone in the world, after all) rules a part of London, and they can also shapeshift, just like she can. Finally she is at home, learning how to wield her magic and that she is not weird or strange or the product of something terrible. It’s here that I was glad of the well drawn characters she meets along the way, as part of her new household and outside of it. I’ll mention Fyfe and Captain Fowler as particular favourites, although I don’t want to say too much more as I don’t want to ruin any of the reveals.
Personally, I found it hard to get to know Ilsa, what she thought and felt with this new found place in the world. There are mentions of how she finally feels like that something that was missing has been restored, and it’s lovely, but I would have liked someone, a friend, for her to share this discovery with.
I did find myself immersed in the book and just as eager to solve the mysteries as Ilsa is. I think it’s a testament to Hannah’s amazing imagination that she’s able to world-build so formed and solid – the names of the characters are both believable but also slightly out of kilter with our world – Ilsa, for example. Not quite Elsa, not quite Isla. Cassia, Gedeon and others.
In terms of recommendations, I’d align it with Garth Nix’s Abhorsen trilogy, Philip Reeves’ Mortal Engines and Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, it has the same otherworldly but adjacent feeling, coupled with a strong and confident female lead.
I’m looking forward to what I hope will be book 2 – goodreads has it down as #1 – a good indication that there’ll be a sequel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Titan Books for the digital review copy – pre-order this book today, available from February 15th!
It was a while since I read a book that I couldn't put down and that made me giggle and snort. This was that. It was a delightful surprise in many ways, and I absolutely loved it.
Now I just have to wait for the second one to arrive. Sigh.
Now I just have to wait for the second one to arrive. Sigh.
A good start to what im assuming will be a series.
I like the character development and the overall theme of then novel.
However it does have a lot of typical fantasy/romance clichés. Where isla feels betrayed by Eliot when it turns out he's the spy. But wait for it, it's because he's being blackmailed by Hester of course.
I like the character development and the overall theme of then novel.
However it does have a lot of typical fantasy/romance clichés. Where isla feels betrayed by Eliot when it turns out he's the spy. But wait for it, it's because he's being blackmailed by Hester of course.
Three and a half stars for me, I did enjoy reading it and the story moved at a fast pace, but something was missing I can’t put my finger on.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced