You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Reread this bc i remembered loving this series as a kid but unfortunately it does not live up to my memories :(
The plot moved slowly and the mc had little agency in the actions she took, often getting carried along by the plans of others or convenient plot points that served her goals. The mc was boring and one dimensional, presenting no unique characteristings that made her an intereseting perspective to explore the world from.
The world building has a lot of potential with the magic system based in natural born affinities to different crafts and elements, and the school system of elite education to train these skills reserved for nobility gives an interesting dichotomy of trained artisans and magic workers, but this isnt explored at all in the story.
Overall very boring and disappointing, but it did get me into reading rutkoski who has since become one of my favorite authors <3
The plot moved slowly and the mc had little agency in the actions she took, often getting carried along by the plans of others or convenient plot points that served her goals. The mc was boring and one dimensional, presenting no unique characteristings that made her an intereseting perspective to explore the world from.
The world building has a lot of potential with the magic system based in natural born affinities to different crafts and elements, and the school system of elite education to train these skills reserved for nobility gives an interesting dichotomy of trained artisans and magic workers, but this isnt explored at all in the story.
Overall very boring and disappointing, but it did get me into reading rutkoski who has since become one of my favorite authors <3
I read this book when I was much younger and I know for a fact I enjoyed it then.
good first book, doubt i will ever get to read the others though
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Listened to this in the car with my 9 year old, who gave it 9 out of 10 stars. It was good enough that I didn't mind the story but wasn't the most engaging to me. There is a lot of build up to what the Cabinet of Wonders actually is and how it plays into the story. Plus, the whole idea of the dad and his eyes being removed was a little graphic for kids.
Another first-in-a-series, and pretty good about setting up the place/characters. Problem is, it's also pretty predictable. I'll have to get a few second opinions from my students before I decide to buy this one.
After Petra's father, Mikal Kronos, has his eyes stolen from the prince of Bohemia, she and her mechanical spider leave their tiny town for Prague, convinced they can retrieve her father's eyes and restore some sense of peace to their family. She is aided along the way by friends with magical abilities and Gypsies -- whom she is originally told to avoid at all costs.
Petra learns that the clock her father built for the prince could easily be used as a weapon, and upon gaining access to the castle, is introduced to several interesting characters that both help and hinder her progress.
The plot moves quickly in this enjoyable story, and I couldn't help but want Astrophil (the spider) for my very own! A love of knowledge, a sprinkle of some real historical events and characters, and some interesting ways to use magic make this story a very fun read!
I'm eager to begin the second book in this series, The Celestial Globe.
Petra learns that the clock her father built for the prince could easily be used as a weapon, and upon gaining access to the castle, is introduced to several interesting characters that both help and hinder her progress.
The plot moves quickly in this enjoyable story, and I couldn't help but want Astrophil (the spider) for my very own! A love of knowledge, a sprinkle of some real historical events and characters, and some interesting ways to use magic make this story a very fun read!
I'm eager to begin the second book in this series, The Celestial Globe.
Petra Kronos is growing up in a world were magic is intertwined with every day life. Her father invents wonderous metalic creatures and has built the world's most magnificent clock for the prince of Bohemia. The Stavros Square Clock is more than beautiful, it can control the weather and thus wreak havoc. When the prince steals her father's eyes, Petra and her pet tin spider, Astrophil, set out on a quest to retrieve the eyes and stop the prince from using the clock to harm others.
Petra's world is at once familiar and strange, mixing historical people and places such as England and John Dee with a system of magical ability that is well thought out and detailed. This is a fun, quick read and the characters are both likable and sympathetic. The dastardly prince is hardly seen at all and most of the book is taken up with Petra's quest to regain her father's eyes. The dialogue is well down, descriptions vivid and well crafted and the pacing is good throughout. Because we see the prince so little he remains largely a caricature of evil, but other books in the series may fix that issue. I'll definitely be reading the next book.
Petra's world is at once familiar and strange, mixing historical people and places such as England and John Dee with a system of magical ability that is well thought out and detailed. This is a fun, quick read and the characters are both likable and sympathetic. The dastardly prince is hardly seen at all and most of the book is taken up with Petra's quest to regain her father's eyes. The dialogue is well down, descriptions vivid and well crafted and the pacing is good throughout. Because we see the prince so little he remains largely a caricature of evil, but other books in the series may fix that issue. I'll definitely be reading the next book.