Scan barcode
notlikethebeer's review against another edition
2.0
This was okay, but not brilliant. I think the subject matter and the way the fantasy elements were portrayed were suited to middle grade, whereas the tone and much of the content was definitely young adult. That made it a bit difficult for me to grasp as I wasn't sure where it was aiming? And made it feel a bit all over the place. However, in general it was a good book with an interesting plot.
johavandyk's review against another edition
2.0
I struggled a bit to get through this novel but I think it has more to do with personal preference.
Using the perspective of The Sea as a storyteller was quite interesting and brought a new angle to a retelling of The Little Mermaid. The mechanics of mythology was also interesting though it was difficult to connect pirates (old school pirates) with the modern world. I understand what Dockrill was trying to do, it just wasn't for me.
It's also very British for anyone who enjoys that manner of writing/dialect/slang etc.
Using the perspective of The Sea as a storyteller was quite interesting and brought a new angle to a retelling of The Little Mermaid. The mechanics of mythology was also interesting though it was difficult to connect pirates (old school pirates) with the modern world. I understand what Dockrill was trying to do, it just wasn't for me.
It's also very British for anyone who enjoys that manner of writing/dialect/slang etc.
coyotes_tiptoe's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot recommend this book more. I don't know what more to say really other than it's not what you expect from a book about mermaids and, spoilers, was but expecting a sad ending but I cried.
julinino19's review against another edition
1.0
Wow. Where to begin?
I don't want to say anything overly negative. I don't want to go off into a rant about all the things that made me roll my eyes so far into the back of my head that I thought they'd stay stuck back there forever.
I have never rated a book 1 star. It hurst me, it really does.
I have wanted to read this book for years, so it truly saddens me that I was this disappointed.
Cons:
- Trash plot
- Horrible execution of any kind of character development
- Trash ending and horrendous attempt at any kind of resolution
- Just so nonsensical at times
Pros:
- I literally can't think of any
I have read my fair share of YA and it’s a genre I enjoy reading, so me not liking this has nothing to do with it being YA. If anything, throughout the entire book I was giving it the benefit of the doubt. I was really hoping that the ending would salvage it, but the ending was just so so so so bad. Is that too harsh? I'm sorry.
I love me some mermaids and pirates and all that, but this just wasn't it.
I don't want to say anything overly negative. I don't want to go off into a rant about all the things that made me roll my eyes so far into the back of my head that I thought they'd stay stuck back there forever.
I have never rated a book 1 star. It hurst me, it really does.
I have wanted to read this book for years, so it truly saddens me that I was this disappointed.
Cons:
- Trash plot
- Horrible execution of any kind of character development
- Trash ending and horrendous attempt at any kind of resolution
- Just so nonsensical at times
Pros:
- I literally can't think of any
I have read my fair share of YA and it’s a genre I enjoy reading, so me not liking this has nothing to do with it being YA. If anything, throughout the entire book I was giving it the benefit of the doubt. I was really hoping that the ending would salvage it, but the ending was just so so so so bad. Is that too harsh? I'm sorry.
I love me some mermaids and pirates and all that, but this just wasn't it.
sosophie's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I could give this book 4 stars. If the rest of the book was as fast paced as the last 100 pages then I would have. The book is quite slow at the beginning but by the end it's so twisted and dark. I've never read any books on mermaids before but I'm glad I read this one as it is not sappy or childish at all. One thing which I really loved is Dockrill's character building. Each character is described in such a precise way that you can imagine them easily in your head.
thebooksareeverywhere's review against another edition
3.0
https://thebooksareeverywhere.com/2017/05/09/review-lorali-by-laura-dockrill/
Disclaimer: I received this book from Hot Key UK in exchange for an honest review. This has not changed my views in any way.
This book reminded me very much of Ink, for a good reason and a bad reason. The good reason was the uniqueness. There is no denying I have never read a book like Lorali, or met characters like the ones in her world.
The bad reason, however, is the confusion. I liked the uniqueness, but you can go too far...and unfortunately, I feel like Lorali did.
Creating a whole new concept in YA is a brave thing - and I can say Dockrill did that. But even though the concepts for both Lorali and Ink are both good, they weren't carried out in the right way.
For a start, the world of mermaids is a concept hard to get your head around, especially in this book. I think part of the problem was the writing - it felt so debut-y. And pre-teen-y. The language just didn't seem right. Even though I enjoyed the different way Rory sounded in his writing, it came across as immature.
I also disliked the ending, which felt like it cancelled out some of the book for me. I won't say anymore because of spoilers, but it kind of felt like she lost a lot of the things she gained by 'surfacing'. Okay, I'm going to stop moaning in a second! The last complaint I have is the amount of different characters in this book. Oh, it confused me so!
Onto the good stuff. I think the concept salvaged this story more than anything else. It's unique, it's different, and a lot of people will love it. There are not many mermaid themed books, so this one definitely creates something fresh and interesting. I also can't say I disliked the book while I was reading it. Sure, I found a lot wrong...but I didn't hate the actual process of reading it.
So overall, mixed feelings. It's been a tough choice, but I am going to carry on with the series and read Aurabal if I can! Even though I didn't like the main ending, the epilogue has actually drawn me in.
I give this book...
★★★
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
Disclaimer: I received this book from Hot Key UK in exchange for an honest review. This has not changed my views in any way.
This book reminded me very much of Ink, for a good reason and a bad reason. The good reason was the uniqueness. There is no denying I have never read a book like Lorali, or met characters like the ones in her world.
The bad reason, however, is the confusion. I liked the uniqueness, but you can go too far...and unfortunately, I feel like Lorali did.
Creating a whole new concept in YA is a brave thing - and I can say Dockrill did that. But even though the concepts for both Lorali and Ink are both good, they weren't carried out in the right way.
For a start, the world of mermaids is a concept hard to get your head around, especially in this book. I think part of the problem was the writing - it felt so debut-y. And pre-teen-y. The language just didn't seem right. Even though I enjoyed the different way Rory sounded in his writing, it came across as immature.
I also disliked the ending, which felt like it cancelled out some of the book for me. I won't say anymore because of spoilers, but it kind of felt like she lost a lot of the things she gained by 'surfacing'. Okay, I'm going to stop moaning in a second! The last complaint I have is the amount of different characters in this book. Oh, it confused me so!
Onto the good stuff. I think the concept salvaged this story more than anything else. It's unique, it's different, and a lot of people will love it. There are not many mermaid themed books, so this one definitely creates something fresh and interesting. I also can't say I disliked the book while I was reading it. Sure, I found a lot wrong...but I didn't hate the actual process of reading it.
So overall, mixed feelings. It's been a tough choice, but I am going to carry on with the series and read Aurabal if I can! Even though I didn't like the main ending, the epilogue has actually drawn me in.
I give this book...
★★★
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
m3l89's review against another edition
2.0
Modern version of The Little Mermaid set in Hastings. Initially, having The Sea as a narrator really confused me and I'm not sure how well it worked. It seems a useful but convenient tool used to convey plot from a wide range of characters that probably wouldn't have fit into a split point of view novel. Lorali's narration was disjointed, didn't flow and didn't add much to the novel for me. I would have preferred the entire plot to have been from Rory's point of view.
darkclouds's review against another edition
2.0
It can't end like that!
I can appreciate the humour and adventurous events that take place, but the short choppy chapters and strange plot made me struggle to love this book. It's definitely one of a kind and I really liked MC Rory.
It just wasn't my cup of coffee. (I hate tea.)
I can appreciate the humour and adventurous events that take place, but the short choppy chapters and strange plot made me struggle to love this book. It's definitely one of a kind and I really liked MC Rory.
It just wasn't my cup of coffee. (I hate tea.)