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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
No
I adored this. A truly unique story (which feels like a rarity) and was never predictable. Beautiful book!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i enjoyed this book much more than expected!!! it’s magical and adventurous and a little dark, with endearing characters and animal companions. the house as a character is very fun and surprisingly sweet. i was intrigued by the transience of characters, to match the transience of the house.
at the core of this book is a lonely girl who feels trapped by her destiny and i really worried about whether or not we’d find a good ending … and i do think i was a bit right to worry! i really enjoyed this book up until the end, in which we must ignore the lore provided so far to achieve a “happy” ending.
Read for 52 Book Club Challenge 2023 #2. Featuring an inheritance.
Marinka rails against her destiny - to live in House With Chicken Legs which never stays in one place very long, and be a Guardian of The Gate, like her grandmother Baba Yaga, who gives the dead one last night to remember on Earth before guiding their spirits between this world and the next. Marinka longs to just be "normal" and make friends, but her attempts to escape her inheritance have unforeseen consequences that she must try and put right...
I loved the world-building of this novel, based on Slavic folklore and the idea of a House with legs who plays with you and cares for you and can take you anywhere. In fact, the House was one of the best characters in the book. Marinka wasn't a particularly sympathetic character (other reviewers have mentioned the moaning!) however, if she hadn't wanted something different to her destiny, there would have been no story at all!!
I also loved the the words used to send the dead on their way, after asking them what they take with them from their lives to take to the stars...
"May you have strength on the long and arduous journey ahead. The stars are calling for you. Move on with gratitude for your time on Earth. Every moment now an eternity. You carry with you memories of infinite value...Peace at returning to the stars. The great cycle is complete."
Marinka rails against her destiny - to live in House With Chicken Legs which never stays in one place very long, and be a Guardian of The Gate, like her grandmother Baba Yaga, who gives the dead one last night to remember on Earth before guiding their spirits between this world and the next. Marinka longs to just be "normal" and make friends, but her attempts to escape her inheritance have unforeseen consequences that she must try and put right...
I loved the world-building of this novel, based on Slavic folklore and the idea of a House with legs who plays with you and cares for you and can take you anywhere. In fact, the House was one of the best characters in the book. Marinka wasn't a particularly sympathetic character (other reviewers have mentioned the moaning!) however, if she hadn't wanted something different to her destiny, there would have been no story at all!!
I also loved the the words used to send the dead on their way, after asking them what they take with them from their lives to take to the stars...
"May you have strength on the long and arduous journey ahead. The stars are calling for you. Move on with gratitude for your time on Earth. Every moment now an eternity. You carry with you memories of infinite value...Peace at returning to the stars. The great cycle is complete."
I really enjoyed the story and world that this book introduces to the reader. It's not the typical young witch story. It provokes thoughts about predestination, and what kind of responsibility or expectations adults should have for the children they raise, and if a child should accept them. It also brings up some interesting thoughts/an alternative to conventional death and "passing on."
The only reason that I can't give it a 5 star rating is that I don't fell like the main character develops enough. She causes a lot of her own problems and in the end she gets what she wants at the cost of others. It just seemed unfair and too sparkly of an ending without any attempt to make amends.
The only reason that I can't give it a 5 star rating is that I don't fell like the main character develops enough. She causes a lot of her own problems and in the end she gets what she wants at the cost of others. It just seemed unfair and too sparkly of an ending without any attempt to make amends.