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akroth's review against another edition
5.0
Magic. Pure magic.
"He wanted words in his mouth to be alive, to take on flesh, wood, bark, sap, leaves, rings of annual laughter and sorrow. He wanted to speak life."
"The trees and wind were shouting their names, their histories, proclaiming their glories with violence."
"She was beautiful and tired. Her eyes were deep, her voice, her motion, deep with a slow, terrible joy. A joy despite sadness. A joy build on sadness."
"He spent days in the streets, working like he had never worked. But those days were also filled with meals like he had never eaten, laughter and singing like he had never heard, nights full of stories, and the sleep of a body and mind used like tools and not like treasures."
Thank you, N.D.
"He wanted words in his mouth to be alive, to take on flesh, wood, bark, sap, leaves, rings of annual laughter and sorrow. He wanted to speak life."
"The trees and wind were shouting their names, their histories, proclaiming their glories with violence."
"She was beautiful and tired. Her eyes were deep, her voice, her motion, deep with a slow, terrible joy. A joy despite sadness. A joy build on sadness."
"He spent days in the streets, working like he had never worked. But those days were also filled with meals like he had never eaten, laughter and singing like he had never heard, nights full of stories, and the sleep of a body and mind used like tools and not like treasures."
Thank you, N.D.
lissajean7's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this story. The second book in a trilogy usually drags a bit, but wow, not this one! There is a ton more action and suspense and mystery in this one, with the same beautiful characterization and fascinating world. The picture of dandelion fire will stay with me for a long time--absolutely beautiful. Loved it! Couldn't put it down.
sugarbloom's review against another edition
5.0
A funny, slightly strange, refreshingly original fantasy, despite the common "portal" theme. Some of the characters' responses to things seemed unrealistic, but I loved getting into the other worlds and their sheer foreignness and difference from one another.
linbee83's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't like this one as much as the first one, [b:100 Cupboards|1661390|100 Cupboards|N.D. Wilson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1186518979s/1661390.jpg|1656177], but I still enjoyed this immensely. It's a nice wrap up to the stray ends that were left from the first one. Action packed, and has you rooting for the main characters.
abitofmoxie's review against another edition
2.0
This was a disappointing sequel. I give it two stars because the ideas were exciting and could have been something really great, but the execution just.. doesn't take it where it needed to go.
The main concept of the cupboards in book one was really cool and my daughter and I were excited to learn more about the cupboards, but it turns out there's not a whole lot left to learn. There's 99 in the wall, and most of them go to different parts of the same world, so that kind of kills that. Then they go through to the other world and just kind of stay there.
Another interesting concept introduced is some of the cupboards are linked to a moment and some to a world, but that is never really explored or taken to any sort of conclusion. It seems that a water source was needed in a later book, so this bit was added in to introduce it for later.
Finally, the idea of the 7th son having special powers was an additional plot development in the second book that sets it firmly in the fantasy genre and opened the door for further interesting developments. But there didn't really seem to be any guidelines for how the magic worked. We were confused about the limits of it, and why he wasn't using it in certain circumstances, and was in others.
In fact, it felt like a lot of the characters, settings, and plot developments introduced seem like they were just added on the spot to satisfy a need in the book. They aren't thought-out or woven into the story at all, just kind of plopped down in the middle. This leaves a lot of unanswered questions and (double spoiler alert) they aren't answered in the next book either.
I want someone to take these ideas and make them awesome, please.
The main concept of the cupboards in book one was really cool and my daughter and I were excited to learn more about the cupboards, but it turns out there's not a whole lot left to learn. There's 99 in the wall, and most of them go to different parts of the same world, so that kind of kills that. Then they go through to the other world and just kind of stay there.
Another interesting concept introduced is some of the cupboards are linked to a moment and some to a world, but that is never really explored or taken to any sort of conclusion. It seems that a water source was needed in a later book, so this bit was added in to introduce it for later.
Finally, the idea of the 7th son having special powers was an additional plot development in the second book that sets it firmly in the fantasy genre and opened the door for further interesting developments. But there didn't really seem to be any guidelines for how the magic worked. We were confused about the limits of it, and why he wasn't using it in certain circumstances, and was in others.
In fact, it felt like a lot of the characters, settings, and plot developments introduced seem like they were just added on the spot to satisfy a need in the book. They aren't thought-out or woven into the story at all, just kind of plopped down in the middle. This leaves a lot of unanswered questions and (double spoiler alert) they aren't answered in the next book either.
I want someone to take these ideas and make them awesome, please.
catladylover94's review against another edition
5.0
loved the second book as much as the first one, read in a day
wiseowl33's review against another edition
3.0
Love the idea of these books but sometimes get caught up in Henrys dream sequences a bit much. Lose interest in the storyline.
justinchonaker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
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
4.75
changelingreader_adrian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Would mainly just add that I think this is an older middlegrade that could even potentially dip into young adult at some points since there are some more intense scenes that I would not consider as suitable for kids younger than say, 9 or 10 unless one knows their kid will handle the material fine.
Actually, to add on, unlike some other comments/reviews I've seen, this book made perfect sense to me and I really liked the variety of perspectives we get. I love the choices made and how N.D. Wilson accurately captures the "learning-as-you-go" aspect of what it would be like to be thrown into the situation(s) like Henry is. Ain't no way everything would be explained right away (which is partly why I view it as a more mature middlegrade since the learning curve is a bit harder than the first book, but the trilogy generally has a curve that might be difficult for younger readers [and some older ones, too, apparently]) and I trusted Wilson to provide explanation as the story went and I thought he did fairly well with some threads left still for the third book.
Actually, to add on, unlike some other comments/reviews I've seen, this book made perfect sense to me and I really liked the variety of perspectives we get. I love the choices made and how N.D. Wilson accurately captures the "learning-as-you-go" aspect of what it would be like to be thrown into the situation(s) like Henry is. Ain't no way everything would be explained right away (which is partly why I view it as a more mature middlegrade since the learning curve is a bit harder than the first book, but the trilogy generally has a curve that might be difficult for younger readers [and some older ones, too, apparently]) and I trusted Wilson to provide explanation as the story went and I thought he did fairly well with some threads left still for the third book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Medical content, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror and Blood