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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am getting annoyed at books that are so hyped up reviews RAVE about them. I dive into them with excitement and high hopes only to finished and feel like I have been played. I feel like I cannot trust any 5 star reviews anymore because it feels like people are getting paid give positive reviews or are just far easier pleased than myself.
To sum up my feels about the book...
It was good in a very average way but not great. It felt like something was missing in a big way. I kept waiting for certain characters to break out and really shine or for their role to have a big impact on the story. It all just fell flat and none of that happened. By the end I was sad that I didn’t care more because I wanted to be invested, I wanted it to work but it was just so lackluster for me. I was kinda bummed that I had such high hopes to begin with.
To sum up my feels about the book...
It was good in a very average way but not great. It felt like something was missing in a big way. I kept waiting for certain characters to break out and really shine or for their role to have a big impact on the story. It all just fell flat and none of that happened. By the end I was sad that I didn’t care more because I wanted to be invested, I wanted it to work but it was just so lackluster for me. I was kinda bummed that I had such high hopes to begin with.
6/23/25: this book is still incredible.
3/28/23: I went to bed instead of staying up late to finish this book because my husband was tired. Truly sacrificial love.
3/28/23: I went to bed instead of staying up late to finish this book because my husband was tired. Truly sacrificial love.
Wow. A beautiful whimsical Russian fairytale. It had a very slow start, which is why it took me multiple tries to get through the first section. But when it picked up I flew away with it. For the first of a trilogy tho, I don’t feel any need to go to a second book. I want to get to know Morozk and see where that relationship will go, but frankly I don’t feel any real pull. So I’ll read in my TBR pile for a bit before deciding to go to book 2.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
inspiring
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
The last half of this book gave me chills. The folk tale style weaves the story between the main character point of view to the other characters. It was done in a seamless way that shockingly didn't bother me. Vasilisa has the Sight and talks to and learns from the household spirits who are invisible to her family but her culture has always given these spirits tribute which sustains them and allows them to guard the household from evil spirits, hunger, and cold. Vasilisa's mother died giving birth to her, and when her father bringing home a new wife because Vasilisa has grown wild and "needs a mother". There is also the Winter King, who has an interest in Vasilisa that isn't clearly explained in this first book of the series. Vasilisa's new step mother (who also has the Sight but believes she is insane for it) hates and torments Vasilisa cruelly through her childhood and as she becomes a young women but as a reader I couldn't truly hate Annie. I only felt sorry for her, and when she is murdered at the end by the "Bear" evil spirit, it is just sad and pathetic. I was in tears at the end when Vasilisa's father sacrifices himself to lock the Bear back away. He had his faults by being a little oblivious, but he did his best to protect his family and his people. And at the end, when the Bear tells him he will spare his family and people if only he sacrifices Vasilisa to him, he refuses and throws himself at the evil spirit instead.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No