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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
It took me a hot minute to get into this book, but I stuck with it and enjoyed it. I love stories that link together as separate lives. I’m glad that everything got explained, but the ending felt anticlimactic for me. But overall I really enjoyed the story!
This book is a series of entwined stories about Blessed Island, a place where residents enjoy unnaturally long lives as the result of the Dragon orchid that lives on the desolate western portion of the island. Eventually we learn that the name of the island is Bloed (blood) Isle.The stories are related to each other through the passage of time by characters of similar name who in each story have some tie of love or affection.
The stories have the quality of folktales told long ago and vaguely remembered. The motif of blood sacrifice and renewal runs throughout them. Each part is so interesting (beautiful AND terrible) and well written that the reader is sucked in and surprised when it ends. I thought each was deserving of a book of its own.
I will be reading more by this author.
The stories have the quality of folktales told long ago and vaguely remembered. The motif of blood sacrifice and renewal runs throughout them. Each part is so interesting (beautiful AND terrible) and well written that the reader is sucked in and surprised when it ends. I thought each was deserving of a book of its own.
I will be reading more by this author.
Enjoyed the thematic nature of the book-better written than most ya
Very good, but I do understand why some people say it's not really a YA book. There's nothing in it to make it unsuitable for teens, but it certainly doesn't seem to be written with them in specifically in mind, and I think on the whole that probably adults will enjoy it more.
Utterly fascinating in both the story and how it is structured. Very uniquely done. An emotional story with a lot of depth that is deeply engaging as you try to figure out what is happening and why. Wholly satisfying by the time you reach the end. Definitely worthy of keeping few tissues on hand.
I just couldn't put this down - read it in one sitting
4.5
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I definitely enjoyed the way in which this story was told; it was incredibly unique and kept me hooked through the entire book. I agree with a lot of other reviewers who say the book isn't really young adult, except for the writing style, but that doesn't really bother me. Still, I felt like all of the stories were slightly underdeveloped and left more to be desired. All in all, it was pretty good and I definitely recommend it to those who don't mind a book that doesn't seem to have a plot.
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I definitely enjoyed the way in which this story was told; it was incredibly unique and kept me hooked through the entire book. I agree with a lot of other reviewers who say the book isn't really young adult, except for the writing style, but that doesn't really bother me. Still, I felt like all of the stories were slightly underdeveloped and left more to be desired. All in all, it was pretty good and I definitely recommend it to those who don't mind a book that doesn't seem to have a plot.
I read this book because it was the next and last book we would be discussing for class.
I am undecided as to whether I would want to teach with this book in school. It has great examples of different types of love, and it was a great read. I'm not sure if all the talk of sacrifice would be great to reference in school, but it might be okay.
Warnings: drugs (tea that makes you forget), sex (kissing), R&R (sacrifices, seven lives, forgetting tea), violence (sacrifices, mention of a previous accident with a scythe)
I am undecided as to whether I would want to teach with this book in school. It has great examples of different types of love, and it was a great read. I'm not sure if all the talk of sacrifice would be great to reference in school, but it might be okay.
Warnings: drugs (tea that makes you forget), sex (kissing), R&R (sacrifices, seven lives, forgetting tea), violence (sacrifices, mention of a previous accident with a scythe)