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unusuallyy's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's a great concept to play with, but there isn't much character development and it's hard to imagine the main character besides her love for umbrellas. It's kind of like they came up with one 'quirky' character trait and threw that into the mix but didn't develop anything else. The way the concept is presented also isn't great - from the main storyline to choices, it just goes choice to choice to choice - not giving readers much time to breathe and confusing me beyond belief. It had potential, though. Just wished it could've been structured and developed better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death and Death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Alcohol, and Kidnapping
there's a gun mentioned at one pointgracefully_jk's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
One of my very favorite books, from my very favorite author. There’s a lot to be said about this book, but mostly, you just have to read it. “Maybe—just maybe—what was lost could be found.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Jane was raised by her eccentric Aunt Magnolia after her parents were killed in a plane crash when she was a child. But then Aunt Magnolia dies suddenly, after making Jane promise to accept an invitation to the mansion Tu Reviens, so when an old acquaintance invites Jane to the Tu Reviens gala, she says yes. In the house, Jane meets a host of strange and interesting characters and is faced with choices that will alter her life completely.
First off, this might be the strangest book I've ever read. It was part mystery, part drama, part science fiction, and part fantasy, and it was amazing. I thought I could guess where the book was going at first, but quickly realized that it was not what I expected—but in a good way! Without giving too much away, I loved how the format of the book showed different perspectives and added details about each character.
The idea of the multiverse is head-splittingly complex, and I thought Cashore did an amazing job showing how small choices changed the story completely. I loved how each possible decision created a new universe, getting progressively weirder with each choice. After the portal to space in the fourth version of the multiverse, I didn't know how Cashore could create an even stranger discovery for Jane in the last section, but she managed it with the Narnia/Golden Compass-esque world in the painting!
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just my judgement of how happy the ending is because I always wish someone would tell me this before I read books):It's complicated...but ultimately there's a happy ending!
First off, this might be the strangest book I've ever read. It was part mystery, part drama, part science fiction, and part fantasy, and it was amazing. I thought I could guess where the book was going at first, but quickly realized that it was not what I expected—but in a good way! Without giving too much away, I loved how the format of the book showed different perspectives and added details about each character.
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just my judgement of how happy the ending is because I always wish someone would tell me this before I read books):
Content Warnings
Minor: Kidnapping
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was wild, and it just got crazier the long it went. I still am not entirely sure what happened, especially in part 4, but I don't care. I love a book that makes me feel lost and confused! (Seriously, not being sarcastic here.) This book had the effect of making me want to go back and reread it and look for the things I missed.
My main complaint I have is that the characters were all just a bit too over the top. I wish they had felt a little more grounded and realistic. I also don't feel like we really got an ending, which won't bother everyone but does bother me.
My main complaint I have is that the characters were all just a bit too over the top. I wish they had felt a little more grounded and realistic. I also don't feel like we really got an ending, which won't bother everyone but does bother me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Animal cruelty
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