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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
I'm a little sad because I really wanted to enjoy this one more, but perhaps my gilded memories of how much I loved Monstrous gave me too high of expectations. This was a very good book, but in parts I found it meandering and difficult to keep my attention on.
Greta's story really is an interesting one; she's a lost girl trying to hold what little of her family remains after several traumatic events, and is forced to face the source of her PTSD in order to save what's important to her, while she is constantly dragged back and forth by her desire to help different groups. I found the treatment of her trauma very realistic and it was really nice to be able to see a young, hurt character be allowed to not only be hurt but to hate as well. She was allowed to have her turmoil over what happened to her and to be uneasy about helping people who she felt were partially responsible, even as she came to terms with the fact that other people suffered the way she did, and she can forgive them without forgiving the one who was really responsible for her pain.
The rest of the story, however, kind of dragged along outside of Greta's arc. There were some world-building bits that were enjoyable, but it felt like everything moved so slowly somehow.
It was an interesting addition to the world of Monstrous, but for whatever reason I didn't enjoy this one quite as much...still would absolutely recommend it to middle-grade fans of the first who are looking for more!
Greta's story really is an interesting one; she's a lost girl trying to hold what little of her family remains after several traumatic events, and is forced to face the source of her PTSD in order to save what's important to her, while she is constantly dragged back and forth by her desire to help different groups. I found the treatment of her trauma very realistic and it was really nice to be able to see a young, hurt character be allowed to not only be hurt but to hate as well. She was allowed to have her turmoil over what happened to her and to be uneasy about helping people who she felt were partially responsible, even as she came to terms with the fact that other people suffered the way she did, and she can forgive them without forgiving the one who was really responsible for her pain.
The rest of the story, however, kind of dragged along outside of Greta's arc. There were some world-building bits that were enjoyable, but it felt like everything moved so slowly somehow.
It was an interesting addition to the world of Monstrous, but for whatever reason I didn't enjoy this one quite as much...still would absolutely recommend it to middle-grade fans of the first who are looking for more!
3.5!
This was super cute. It got pretty melodramatic at times (but it's middle grade, so) and didn't shatter the tropes of young fantasy lit, but I usually go in for the atmosphere aspect & this one brought up a lot of nice themes and character growth that I think children will definitely benefit from. I'm gonna read the first book in the series. c:
This was super cute. It got pretty melodramatic at times (but it's middle grade, so) and didn't shatter the tropes of young fantasy lit, but I usually go in for the atmosphere aspect & this one brought up a lot of nice themes and character growth that I think children will definitely benefit from. I'm gonna read the first book in the series. c:
When Greta’s little brother is kidnapped by a witch whose hut has chicken feet, Greta must find a mysterious magical item to save the only family she has left. Unfortunately, locating such an item requires going back to the place Greta has her worst memories- the kingdom of Belladoma. She must face her own fears if she wants to save her brother.
This companion to Monstrous and reimagining of Hansel and Gretel brings magic, complex issues of right and wrong, and beautiful friendships. The lyrical writing creates a strong personal atmosphere where Greta voices her thoughts and brings out interesting facets of the power of fear and the consequences of magic. Never shying away from tough topics, Ravenous is not for the faint of heart but is sure to deliver a heartwarming experience by the end.
Out of all the beautiful layers in this story, the most powerful might be the way the book highlights the best way to face fears: with determination, support, and gentle courage. Greta is strong and independent, but she also grows to value a powerful friendship with Dalen, a moral and courageous character in his own right.
As intricate as the characters are, there are areas when the plot, particularly in the middle of the story, tends to drag a bit. However, readers who love character-focused stories will greatly appreciate the extra time to dive into Greta’s mindset on her journey to save her brother.
Those who loved the brilliant folklore and friendship elements in Monstrous will find them again in this companion. Ravenous dives right into the hearts of emotionally and morally complex conflicts and introduces a new spin on a classic tale.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/18342-ravenous
This companion to Monstrous and reimagining of Hansel and Gretel brings magic, complex issues of right and wrong, and beautiful friendships. The lyrical writing creates a strong personal atmosphere where Greta voices her thoughts and brings out interesting facets of the power of fear and the consequences of magic. Never shying away from tough topics, Ravenous is not for the faint of heart but is sure to deliver a heartwarming experience by the end.
Out of all the beautiful layers in this story, the most powerful might be the way the book highlights the best way to face fears: with determination, support, and gentle courage. Greta is strong and independent, but she also grows to value a powerful friendship with Dalen, a moral and courageous character in his own right.
As intricate as the characters are, there are areas when the plot, particularly in the middle of the story, tends to drag a bit. However, readers who love character-focused stories will greatly appreciate the extra time to dive into Greta’s mindset on her journey to save her brother.
Those who loved the brilliant folklore and friendship elements in Monstrous will find them again in this companion. Ravenous dives right into the hearts of emotionally and morally complex conflicts and introduces a new spin on a classic tale.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/18342-ravenous
3.5 Stars
This was a fun and imaginative twist on a classic fairy tale (Hansel and Gretel meets Howl's Moving Castle, mixed with original elements).
Also, I love the covers for this series so much!! The illustration style is beautiful, and I love the title typography.
A part of me wishes I had read Monstrous first, but that's just me and personal reading preferences. Ravenous still stands successfully on it's own, which is a compliment.
This was a fun and imaginative twist on a classic fairy tale (Hansel and Gretel meets Howl's Moving Castle, mixed with original elements).
Also, I love the covers for this series so much!! The illustration style is beautiful, and I love the title typography.
A part of me wishes I had read Monstrous first, but that's just me and personal reading preferences. Ravenous still stands successfully on it's own, which is a compliment.
There are no more books in this series and that makes me so sad. :( Ravenous was awesome and I'm so glad I picked up the first book. That was a sweet, wonderful, and exciting journey. I may reread it in a few months.
Hansel and Gretel meets the babayaga and Cthulhu? weird as hell and a bucket of fun
(Keep in mind I read this after Monstrous, so I'll be making connections between the books and including some details of Monstrous that would be considered spoilers.)
I'll start with the positives. I enjoy the writing. It's breezy enough to read, but still sophisticated, with the vocabulary very much fitting the fantasy genre as well as the unique world of the story (for example, I was amused by phrases like, "What in the realm?"). The plot was fast and full of twists and several different layers of conflict. I loved all the references to Monstrous, but I was especially impressed by how different the character Greta is from Kymera, sometimes to the point she's like her opposite. They're both brave and dutiful heroines, but Greta's more rash. They're both intelligent, but Kymera's is more contemplative and introspective. They both have strong character arcs, each seemingly learning a lesson the other already knows: Greta learns to trust others by seeking the good in people (such as the Belladomans and the frightened hybrids) and accepting others' help, while Kymera learns to trust herself, connecting memories as Rosabel with other dots in order to face the truth of her predicament and gain independence from her villainous "father." I relate more to Kymera personally, but Greta's fierce independence and emotional strength is admirable.
Ravenous is very plot-driven, which kept me reading. But I was much less emotionally engaged. This could partly be due to Greta's tougher personality, though she did have some vulnerable moments alone and with Dalen. Even so, I didn't find Greta and Dalen's relationship as touching as Kymera and Ren's. It makes sense: Greta is dead-set on saving Hans, but even without that focus, she rarely allows herself to get sentimental (I don't count the instances where she gets emotional about her parents, because that is a completely normal and expected reaction to that kind of trauma). While it takes a lot to affect Greta, Kymera, on the other hand, tends to ruminate on her feelings, big or small. Plus, she has an intimate relationship with Ren that stems farther back than Greta and Dalen's, even if her memories of it aren't crystal clear. Both relationships have hints of potential romance, but it's much more overt between Kymera and Ren. Which brings me to my next point...
One of the things I liked about Monstrous was that, for middle-grade fiction, it read more like Y/A. Besides the romantic aspect, the thing I think makes Monstrous better for a slightly older audience, even if predictable early on, is the proximity of the villain to the protagonist the entire time. Barnabas is a very smart and manipulative villain, and that mixed with his magic has Kymera convinced he's her father -- a loving, altruistic, well-intentioned one at that! He's evil, but being evil isn't the only motivation behind his terrible actions, as he also turns out to have quite the long history with Kymera/Rosabel's real and royal family. The threat of Barnabas on a psychological level makes Monstrous a more mature read. Ravenous better fits the middle-grade label. Compared to Barnabas, the villains in Ravenous aren't very scary at all, and in my opinion come off as flat. The witch, Vincali and even Ensel are all evil like Barnabas, but they lack deeper motivation. They're not psychologically scary; rather than being particularly cunning, they only seem to pose a physical threat, with Vincali leading an army and the witch -- the main villain but hardest of all to take seriously -- living in a house supported by chicken feet and feasting on children, much like the Sonzeeki. Despite having many conflicts throughout, the flatness (and in the witch's case, ludicrosity) of the villains in Ravenous lowered the stakes considerably. Ravenous fits its target audience, but given that it's a companion novel to Monstrous, I was expecting more of the same level of maturity.
I'll start with the positives. I enjoy the writing. It's breezy enough to read, but still sophisticated, with the vocabulary very much fitting the fantasy genre as well as the unique world of the story (for example, I was amused by phrases like, "What in the realm?"). The plot was fast and full of twists and several different layers of conflict. I loved all the references to Monstrous, but I was especially impressed by how different the character Greta is from Kymera, sometimes to the point she's like her opposite. They're both brave and dutiful heroines, but Greta's more rash. They're both intelligent, but Kymera's is more contemplative and introspective. They both have strong character arcs, each seemingly learning a lesson the other already knows: Greta learns to trust others by seeking the good in people (such as the Belladomans and the frightened hybrids) and accepting others' help, while Kymera learns to trust herself, connecting memories as Rosabel with other dots in order to face the truth of her predicament and gain independence from her villainous "father." I relate more to Kymera personally, but Greta's fierce independence and emotional strength is admirable.
Ravenous is very plot-driven, which kept me reading. But I was much less emotionally engaged. This could partly be due to Greta's tougher personality, though she did have some vulnerable moments alone and with Dalen. Even so, I didn't find Greta and Dalen's relationship as touching as Kymera and Ren's. It makes sense: Greta is dead-set on saving Hans, but even without that focus, she rarely allows herself to get sentimental (I don't count the instances where she gets emotional about her parents, because that is a completely normal and expected reaction to that kind of trauma). While it takes a lot to affect Greta, Kymera, on the other hand, tends to ruminate on her feelings, big or small. Plus, she has an intimate relationship with Ren that stems farther back than Greta and Dalen's, even if her memories of it aren't crystal clear. Both relationships have hints of potential romance, but it's much more overt between Kymera and Ren. Which brings me to my next point...
One of the things I liked about Monstrous was that, for middle-grade fiction, it read more like Y/A. Besides the romantic aspect, the thing I think makes Monstrous better for a slightly older audience, even if predictable early on, is the proximity of the villain to the protagonist the entire time. Barnabas is a very smart and manipulative villain, and that mixed with his magic has Kymera convinced he's her father -- a loving, altruistic, well-intentioned one at that! He's evil, but being evil isn't the only motivation behind his terrible actions, as he also turns out to have quite the long history with Kymera/Rosabel's real and royal family. The threat of Barnabas on a psychological level makes Monstrous a more mature read. Ravenous better fits the middle-grade label. Compared to Barnabas, the villains in Ravenous aren't very scary at all, and in my opinion come off as flat. The witch, Vincali and even Ensel are all evil like Barnabas, but they lack deeper motivation. They're not psychologically scary; rather than being particularly cunning, they only seem to pose a physical threat, with Vincali leading an army and the witch -- the main villain but hardest of all to take seriously -- living in a house supported by chicken feet and feasting on children, much like the Sonzeeki. Despite having many conflicts throughout, the flatness (and in the witch's case, ludicrosity) of the villains in Ravenous lowered the stakes considerably. Ravenous fits its target audience, but given that it's a companion novel to Monstrous, I was expecting more of the same level of maturity.
I thought I'd give another one a try but the sad fact is I don't like this author's writings style. Her protagonists tend to be loners and they tend to narrate from inside their heads and it gets to be monotonous.
2.5 stars
Maybe it's because I haven't read Monstrous but I wasn't all too into this when I was reading it. It started off a bit fast paced and the storyline just wasn't my thing. I thought I would love this since I love fairy tale retellings but nope.
Maybe it's because I haven't read Monstrous but I wasn't all too into this when I was reading it. It started off a bit fast paced and the storyline just wasn't my thing. I thought I would love this since I love fairy tale retellings but nope.