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adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Clariel in many ways reminded me of the first book of The Old Kingdom, Sabriel. However, Clariel is annoying and not as interesting as Sabriel.
HOWEVER. Clariel is a tragic figure and one that will be remembered. You have actually already met Clariel, and that is as far as I will go.
Clariel is one of those books where you have to wait a while for things to develop. It's given to you bit by bit throughout, some threads from previous events starting (because this takes place about 100 years before Sabriel). In the end, you enjoy the ride but realize that you had to put up with endless moaning and griping from Clariel about wanting to run away or not follow her chosen path.
A lot of people didn't like this story and gave it bad reviews. I want to say that I knocked it down because of my dislike for the main character. However, it is a book that is worth a read and when you figure everything out in the end you are glad you read it.
HOWEVER. Clariel is a tragic figure and one that will be remembered. You have actually already met Clariel, and that is as far as I will go.
Clariel is one of those books where you have to wait a while for things to develop. It's given to you bit by bit throughout, some threads from previous events starting (because this takes place about 100 years before Sabriel). In the end, you enjoy the ride but realize that you had to put up with endless moaning and griping from Clariel about wanting to run away or not follow her chosen path.
A lot of people didn't like this story and gave it bad reviews. I want to say that I knocked it down because of my dislike for the main character. However, it is a book that is worth a read and when you figure everything out in the end you are glad you read it.
Not as good at the original trilogy but still fun to read.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this, but not as much as the original series. The main characters aren't very complex and their motivations seem shallow. The stakes weren't very high, so the plot lacked tension. Overall, it felt a bit more YA than the original books. Still, I liked having some backstory and the cameos were fun.
It was a weird book. It was entertaining and action packed but didn't hook me, so I left it for a couple months before going back to it and finishing it. The main character was bland and annoying and her story predictable.
NGL, I'm not even sure where this book is. If I find it, I'll resurrect it
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
As you read this series you get to experience the author improving his skills. This series started out with very basic good guys vs bad guys stuff but with every book there was a little more nuance thrown in with this one having the most nuanced and interesting lead character of them all. I slowed down reading this book because I didn't want it to end. But this was a good thing. I had previously plowed through the other ones very quickly. It is such a sad ending because of what you know is going to happen from the previous book because this one takes place several hundred years in the past. I think there are just a couple more books to go. I am looking forward to them.
I don't like prequels when you already know what will happen (see Star Wars Episode III). But then we didn't even get that little bit we knew was coming anyway... Bah.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Let me start by saying I did not like Clariel. My favourite character, by far, was Belatiel.
My issues with Clariel stemmed from her selfish nature and the lack of positive thoughts she had for her parents. I understand her feelings in some regards, her mother was barely there, but her father did his best and she looked down at him constantly. I suppose this is reminiscent of young people thinking they know better than their parents and to see it written down makes it all the more infuriating.
I understood her need to go back to Estwael, but I was hoping for a change of character after her parents were murdered. This didn't happen. Instead, she continued to think selfishly and expected everyone else to avenge her parents while she lived out her dreams in the forest. It was only after her Aunt Lemmin was arrested for no reason did Clariel change her mind, and even then, when she saw the Clayr marching to the castle, she became selfish again and wanted to leave it all to them to deal with. This didn't sit right with me, as she'd had nothing but high praise for her Aunt, and yet when she needed rescuing Clariel was thinking of leaving because there were other people to do the job for her.
Let's not forget also, how she planned to leave Belatiel, passed out, in the middle of nowhere so she could, again, leave for the forest; only returning when she had to save his life.
I adored Belatiel, though. His personality and charm more than made up for Clariel's selfish attitude. He knew what he had to do, and it wasn't for any personal gain, it was because it was the right thing to do, for everyone. He wasn't completely without flaws, however. I felt sorry for Denima after she got upset that he and Clariel would be intimate behind her back, especially with Bel saying he wouldn't do anything like that and then professing his love to Clariel and denouncing Denima as 'just a friend' after she'd left. It was pretty darn obvious how she felt about him.
All in all, the book, despite Clariel, was fun to read and I can't wait to read Sabriel. Hopefully she'll be a little less annoying.
My issues with Clariel stemmed from her selfish nature and the lack of positive thoughts she had for her parents. I understand her feelings in some regards, her mother was barely there, but her father did his best and she looked down at him constantly. I suppose this is reminiscent of young people thinking they know better than their parents and to see it written down makes it all the more infuriating.
I understood her need to go back to Estwael, but I was hoping for a change of character after her parents were murdered. This didn't happen. Instead, she continued to think selfishly and expected everyone else to avenge her parents while she lived out her dreams in the forest. It was only after her Aunt Lemmin was arrested for no reason did Clariel change her mind, and even then, when she saw the Clayr marching to the castle, she became selfish again and wanted to leave it all to them to deal with. This didn't sit right with me, as she'd had nothing but high praise for her Aunt, and yet when she needed rescuing Clariel was thinking of leaving because there were other people to do the job for her.
Let's not forget also, how she planned to leave Belatiel, passed out, in the middle of nowhere so she could, again, leave for the forest; only returning when she had to save his life.
I adored Belatiel, though. His personality and charm more than made up for Clariel's selfish attitude. He knew what he had to do, and it wasn't for any personal gain, it was because it was the right thing to do, for everyone. He wasn't completely without flaws, however. I felt sorry for Denima after she got upset that he and Clariel would be intimate behind her back, especially with Bel saying he wouldn't do anything like that and then professing his love to Clariel and denouncing Denima as 'just a friend' after she'd left. It was pretty darn obvious how she felt about him.
All in all, the book, despite Clariel, was fun to read and I can't wait to read Sabriel. Hopefully she'll be a little less annoying.