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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So, I have a physical copy of this book, and when I first picked it up, I noticed the torn edging of the pages that provided a tactile sensation on my fingers as I held it. I merely thought that was an aesthetic choice until I actually started reading it. That small decision drew me further in, immersing me fully into the story each time I held it. The treatment of the physical pages is not original, but paired with this particular story was a great choice.
Now, let's talk about the writing. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. I've never been a fan of overly flowery or poetic writing, but Harrow managed to strike the perfect balance. Her gorgeous descriptions of small details brought me right into January's world(s), enriching the fantastical mood without making the text inaccessible. It's evidence of her skill that even the most banal scenes or objects were brought to life with her words.
The story felt a little slow to me at first, especially the scenes in Locke House. But as the story picked up, it made me appreciate the setup that part of the story provided for the adventure to come and how a place of privilege and comfort can, in many ways, feel like a prison that can atrophy your imagination.
Now, let's talk about the writing. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. I've never been a fan of overly flowery or poetic writing, but Harrow managed to strike the perfect balance. Her gorgeous descriptions of small details brought me right into January's world(s), enriching the fantastical mood without making the text inaccessible. It's evidence of her skill that even the most banal scenes or objects were brought to life with her words.
The story felt a little slow to me at first, especially the scenes in Locke House. But as the story picked up, it made me appreciate the setup that part of the story provided for the adventure to come and how a place of privilege and comfort can, in many ways, feel like a prison that can atrophy your imagination.
4.5. Beautifully written and so full of possibility it almost aches. Reminiscent of “The Starless Sea.”
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
Absolutely stunning.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was a great adventure fantasy book, but outside of the norm for genres I prefer.
4.5/5
From the very beginning it gave me strong "His Dark Materials" vibes, and that opinion hasn't really changed at the end. I loved that it is set in a world that is familiar but different, with problems that are also familiar but different - it was fun to read about January's teenage crush, her absent father, her problems with authority figures (all very familiar as someone who was also a teenage girl once) contrasted with her other, more magical issues. A little bit of romance, mystery, fantasy and slice of life. Loved it!
From the very beginning it gave me strong "His Dark Materials" vibes, and that opinion hasn't really changed at the end. I loved that it is set in a world that is familiar but different, with problems that are also familiar but different - it was fun to read about January's teenage crush, her absent father, her problems with authority figures (all very familiar as someone who was also a teenage girl once) contrasted with her other, more magical issues. A little bit of romance, mystery, fantasy and slice of life. Loved it!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
There were some plot holes. Things that could have been addressed.
The formatting of this audiobook made for incredibly long chapters (99 minutes? Seriously !?!) and it just felt interminable, with no good stopping points. I didn’t enjoy the narrator (who, it felt like, was cast because her name was January) and I just felt so disengaged the more I listened. I might have enjoyed it in a different format, but this formatting made it so challenging.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
While I enjoyed this book overall, parts of it really dragged for me. There were parts where I’d predicted what was going to happen and I just wanted it to get there. I also struggled to connect with most of the characters. The one exception was Bad, whose experiences were so heartbreaking that they sometimes overshadowed the rest of the narrative for me, making it hard to stay in the story.
Despite these issues, the overarching story was compelling. The concept of hidden doors leading to other worlds is captivating. It’s a solid read, but one that requires patience in some stretches.
Despite these issues, the overarching story was compelling. The concept of hidden doors leading to other worlds is captivating. It’s a solid read, but one that requires patience in some stretches.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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:
No
Not a book I would choose to read, but I’m very glad I did. The narrator’s tone was humorous throughout and kept tapping through the third wall when it felt the need. By the end, you want to slip into an adventure and leave the orderly world behind.