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annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
3.0
The nice thing about the Book Box Club is that I not only get books I normally wouldn't have gotten in the bookstore myself, but it's also that we do this buddy read, whether or not I'm in the mood for it. That means that I usually don't even bother to read blurbs or check out what the story is about. I dive in and then I see how it ends and what I think of it.
I'm not entirely sure what to think of this book though. I think the premise and the story itself are actually quite nice and interesting. Although a lot of elements were quite predictable, it was nice to watch the mystery unfold and to slowly get a much better image of what was actually going on and happening. But the pacing of the story felt a little off at times. The story starts quite slow and we're already past the halfway point when the plot actually becomes more visible and thickens. The last 60 pages however are a rollercoaster, although mostly filled with info dumps.
On top of that the characters were not that fleshed out either. Isaebail is kind enough, but somehow it's also hard to understand her actions and why she does certain things. Her curiosity often borders on downright stupidity and in a lot of cases it's hard to understand why she does something or why she doesn't run from something. Maria, on top of that, is extremely annoying and spoiled. And the explanation for that didn't feel good enough in the end.
So, I'd say it's a story that could have been amazing, but fell a little flat because of the execution. It's not a bad book, far from it, but it's not a really great book either.
I'm not entirely sure what to think of this book though. I think the premise and the story itself are actually quite nice and interesting. Although a lot of elements were quite predictable, it was nice to watch the mystery unfold and to slowly get a much better image of what was actually going on and happening. But the pacing of the story felt a little off at times. The story starts quite slow and we're already past the halfway point when the plot actually becomes more visible and thickens. The last 60 pages however are a rollercoaster, although mostly filled with info dumps.
On top of that the characters were not that fleshed out either. Isaebail is kind enough, but somehow it's also hard to understand her actions and why she does certain things. Her curiosity often borders on downright stupidity and in a lot of cases it's hard to understand why she does something or why she doesn't run from something. Maria, on top of that, is extremely annoying and spoiled. And the explanation for that didn't feel good enough in the end.
So, I'd say it's a story that could have been amazing, but fell a little flat because of the execution. It's not a bad book, far from it, but it's not a really great book either.
saraheholtom's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
alongreader's review against another edition
3.0
Iseabail, a young girl from a Hebriden island, is employed as the companion of a rich merchant's daughter on the mainland. The position promises her wealth and education, but it may cost her far more than that.
I have such mixed feelings about this book. And they've mostly surfaced since I finished reading and began thinking about it; while I was reading it I was caught up in the story and not really thinking about the implications.
Let's start right at the start. On Iseabail's island, situated somewhere in the Hebrides, men are in charge and women have no say in anything. They can't even approach men in conversation. So far, so normal. But this aspect is never brought up again. Once she leaves the island, no one treats her with anything less than respect. The men have taught the women that it takes days in a boat to get to the mainland, but Iseabail doesn't seem too surprised when they reach it on the second day of her trip. There's no thoughts about how she's been lied to, not even a note that this boat must be very fast.
The blurb says she's disturbed by, in order, the hidden chapel, the foreign language speaking servants and the mute stableboy. None of this is born out in the text. She's surprised by the chapel, briefly annoyed that she can't communicate very well, and intrigued by the stableboy.
I don't want this come across as if I hated the book. I enjoyed it very much while I was reading it. It's when I set it down to think about it that the problems set in. I'm going to guess that Trudi enjoyed Misty comics as a child, or maybe The Twilight Zone, as the ending is very much in that style. But I hope there's a second book, as I'd love to know what, if anything, happened next.
I have such mixed feelings about this book. And they've mostly surfaced since I finished reading and began thinking about it; while I was reading it I was caught up in the story and not really thinking about the implications.
Let's start right at the start. On Iseabail's island, situated somewhere in the Hebrides, men are in charge and women have no say in anything. They can't even approach men in conversation. So far, so normal. But this aspect is never brought up again. Once she leaves the island, no one treats her with anything less than respect. The men have taught the women that it takes days in a boat to get to the mainland, but Iseabail doesn't seem too surprised when they reach it on the second day of her trip. There's no thoughts about how she's been lied to, not even a note that this boat must be very fast.
The blurb says she's disturbed by, in order, the hidden chapel, the foreign language speaking servants and the mute stableboy. None of this is born out in the text. She's surprised by the chapel, briefly annoyed that she can't communicate very well, and intrigued by the stableboy.
I don't want this come across as if I hated the book. I enjoyed it very much while I was reading it. It's when I set it down to think about it that the problems set in. I'm going to guess that Trudi enjoyed Misty comics as a child, or maybe The Twilight Zone, as the ending is very much in that style. But I hope there's a second book, as I'd love to know what, if anything, happened next.
booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
2.0
I buddy read this with friends, who didn’t really enjoy it. I saw why but I was liking it more than them, and had hope for how it was going. I liked the concept of how mysterious it was, of how Iseabail was trying to deal with her new life.
I would have slapped the hell out of Maria though! She is a horrible child.
However the ending really threw me. You don’t get any resolution at all, other than finding out about the mystery. I found it very frustrating.
Plus I agree with reviews that say this is more middle grade than YA. 2.5 stars.
I would have slapped the hell out of Maria though! She is a horrible child.
However the ending really threw me. You don’t get any resolution at all, other than finding out about the mystery. I found it very frustrating.
Plus I agree with reviews that say this is more middle grade than YA. 2.5 stars.
amythereader's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
gabriela_ytzel's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I found the storyline very intriguing even though I could guess easily what would happen a couple of times. the ending was not what was I was expecting and I would definitely read this again.
healingtothemax's review against another edition
1.0
Disappointing overall. I really wanted to like this book, setting and concept and cover art were all there: Scotland, legends, mysterious gothic setting. Elements and writing talent were there but 0 character/plot development restrained everything to fit the "pure heart" trope, resulted in frustrating unbelievable (and unlikeable) heroine, story, reading experience. Felt chained to a wall the whole read through. Author left a door wide open for a sequel. Not that this reader will be returning, even to save the real unicorn. [Note: First time a selection from this overseas book box fell way short of the quality usually experienced, perhaps the other book featured in this month's 2-book offering is also a letdown? Wondering how these books get chosen for spotlight.]
lydiahephzibah's review against another edition
2.0
This was a lot more basic than I was expecting and I feel like it's being wrongly marketed as YA fantasy (which is a huge and rich category) when it is definitely more like middlegrade fantasy, aimed at age 12ish. The writing was quite bland and there was a lack of characterisation, and the exclamation points in the narrative bothered me. It also felt a bit ... loose. It didn't satisfy, and I don't think it was right to be included in a YA book box as that is not the right audience - this is much more a kids/preteen book.
mrs_h7's review against another edition
3.0
I recieved this book in my Book Box and in truth I would not have chosen it left to my own devices. I will happily read most fantasy, but I did find this a little simplistic. The characters were quite simple and one dimensional, there was not enough depth to hold my interest. I'd say this is aimed at an older preteen/younger teen age range.