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2.99 AVERAGE
2.99 AVERAGE
DNF
None of the characters were calling to me, so I've had to give up on it.
None of the characters were calling to me, so I've had to give up on it.
I love this author and she has always rated highly in my opinion. However this was not a novel I could get into. I started it years ago and shelved it for a little bit, I decided to tackle it as a challenge prompt to finish a book you gave up on. Well it’s finished but the next books will not be on my to be read list.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I had read several negative reviews before starting this, and I actually think it helped me enjoy it more. (I do love an underdog). The reviews now seem hypercritical, and I quite enjoyed this story. I do not feel that Gregory wanted to do anything more than entertain us with a quick tale set in the Middle Ages that lightly touches on the importance of not making rash judgments.
easy and fun read. The characters develop and you really want to know what happens next, so you keep on reading
This book (& series) got me into reading again! I used to read a lot as a kid, then just stopped and didn’t pick up a book for years. Randomly decided to read these as I love Philippa Gregory and haven’t stopped reading since!
I really liked these books, I thought they were captivating and different. I do think it’s a bit more fantasy-like than people might have expected, and also slightly immature in the sense that the characters are clearly young and naive, but I enjoyed them. If a 5th book does come out, I will be the first to buy it!
I really liked these books, I thought they were captivating and different. I do think it’s a bit more fantasy-like than people might have expected, and also slightly immature in the sense that the characters are clearly young and naive, but I enjoyed them. If a 5th book does come out, I will be the first to buy it!
This was an okay read. A richly woven world and interesting characters are always appealing. What I didn't like about this was that it felt like two separate stories, with the second story being better suited as a short story, rather than being tacked on almost as an after thought.
On a brighter note, while at first I questioned the suitability of this being considered YA, I enjoyed the lack of sexual content, drugs, and extreme violence I've been finding in many so-called YA novels. The historical facts were interesting, and I even liked the authors not eat the end with even more information. I have never read a book by this author before, though I will most likely finish reading this series.
On a brighter note, while at first I questioned the suitability of this being considered YA, I enjoyed the lack of sexual content, drugs, and extreme violence I've been finding in many so-called YA novels. The historical facts were interesting, and I even liked the authors not eat the end with even more information. I have never read a book by this author before, though I will most likely finish reading this series.
For being the first in a series, it does a good job at introducing the characters and their relationships with one another and their role in the future story line. It is very well written (of course) and keeps your attention. There is a lot of suspense and mystery. The flip-side is that I feel that it does not do enough with the well introduced characters for this to feel complete. While I know it is the first in a series, I find that most individual books in long series are still capable of almost standing on their own--this one just left me feeling a little short-changed. The title, Changeling, relates to one of the characters in some way but is never fully planned out. I think it definitely could have been better named and that so much more could have been done in this first novel.
I would recommend it, but I would recommend waiting until there are at least two in the series to begin it.
I would recommend it, but I would recommend waiting until there are at least two in the series to begin it.
More reviews posted on Of Reading and Random Things
Let me just start this review by saying: If you want an action-packed and exciting book, maybe Changeling isn’t for you. I feel like the book summary is somewhat misleading. Yes, the characters did encounter ‘werewolves’ and ‘witches’, but it’s nowhere as interesting as the back of the book makes it sound.
In fact, by the time I reached the halfway mark, I feel like I’ve read a lot, but nothing actually happened and I honestly couldn’t remember what I’ve read. The ‘mystery’ at the nunnery was lukewarm at best and it really wasn’t difficult to figure out. The book is written in 3rd person POV, but even though I usually enjoy books written this way, but Changeling makes the switch from character to character in a way that made me reread the sentences to make sure I got it right.
It’s not unusual for me to like side characters a lot, sometimes more than the main characters, and that’s exactly what happened with Changeling. I liked Freize and Ishraq way more than I liked Luca and Isolde, who are not very interesting or witty in my opinion. Or maybe people from the 1450s are just not my favorite, especially the way they treat women. Lots of eye rolls from me.
Honestly, Changeling isn’t that bad, but it’s not that good, either. I looked for reviews of this book just in case I’m alone in my opinion, but I guess not? I don’t know if I’ll read the second book, but if I do, it probably wouldn’t be soon.
Let me just start this review by saying: If you want an action-packed and exciting book, maybe Changeling isn’t for you. I feel like the book summary is somewhat misleading. Yes, the characters did encounter ‘werewolves’ and ‘witches’, but it’s nowhere as interesting as the back of the book makes it sound.
In fact, by the time I reached the halfway mark, I feel like I’ve read a lot, but nothing actually happened and I honestly couldn’t remember what I’ve read. The ‘mystery’ at the nunnery was lukewarm at best and it really wasn’t difficult to figure out. The book is written in 3rd person POV, but even though I usually enjoy books written this way, but Changeling makes the switch from character to character in a way that made me reread the sentences to make sure I got it right.
It’s not unusual for me to like side characters a lot, sometimes more than the main characters, and that’s exactly what happened with Changeling. I liked Freize and Ishraq way more than I liked Luca and Isolde, who are not very interesting or witty in my opinion. Or maybe people from the 1450s are just not my favorite, especially the way they treat women. Lots of eye rolls from me.
Honestly, Changeling isn’t that bad, but it’s not that good, either. I looked for reviews of this book just in case I’m alone in my opinion, but I guess not? I don’t know if I’ll read the second book, but if I do, it probably wouldn’t be soon.