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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
This book was GREAT!
Farrow writes in such a way that I really felt the despair of Shae's situation. It made me want to keep reading.
The magic is different than most other books I've read. There is magic in words-- but it's not like spellcasting. The only magic that I can think of that is similar to it is found in Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. But it isn't the same as that either. So that's definitely refreshing.
I really like how Shae deals with her emotions. She doesn't wallow in self pity, but she isn't always beeming with joy either. It's a more healthy approach (in my humble opinion) to dealing with her emotions, which is sometimes lacking in other YA books. She has deep emotions, but she doesn't dwell on the hard moments nor does she just glimpse over them like they never happened.
Whilst reading into the wee hours of the morning, I realized there were only a few pages left and I didn't have that long until the book would end. And I had so many questions that I knew couldn't be answered in those few pages. Which is awful because now I have to wait for the sequel! GAAHHH
But I am looking forward to reading the sequel! Really this was an entertaining read and I want to know the truth!! ( haha see what I did there??)
Disclaimers:
There is some slight swearing, but it isn't excessive and nothing too profane. There is some violence and gore, but it is mostly in the beginning of the book. Even then, it isn't too graphic. Otherwise there isn't much else to note.
Farrow writes in such a way that I really felt the despair of Shae's situation. It made me want to keep reading.
The magic is different than most other books I've read. There is magic in words-- but it's not like spellcasting. The only magic that I can think of that is similar to it is found in Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. But it isn't the same as that either. So that's definitely refreshing.
I really like how Shae deals with her emotions. She doesn't wallow in self pity, but she isn't always beeming with joy either. It's a more healthy approach (in my humble opinion) to dealing with her emotions, which is sometimes lacking in other YA books. She has deep emotions, but she doesn't dwell on the hard moments nor does she just glimpse over them like they never happened.
Whilst reading into the wee hours of the morning, I realized there were only a few pages left and I didn't have that long until the book would end. And I had so many questions that I knew couldn't be answered in those few pages. Which is awful because now I have to wait for the sequel! GAAHHH
But I am looking forward to reading the sequel! Really this was an entertaining read and I want to know the truth!! ( haha see what I did there??)
Disclaimers:
There is some slight swearing, but it isn't excessive and nothing too profane. There is some violence and gore, but it is mostly in the beginning of the book. Even then, it isn't too graphic. Otherwise there isn't much else to note.
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
This book is filled with mystery and intrigue. I spent a whole morning reading it non-stop and I loved every second of it. The characters are wonderful, and Shae is a great protagonist; everything the author writes seems so believable and at the same time it feels difficult to wrap the mind around what is happening. I must say that in this book, each and every character has a role leading to the epilogue, as if you take one character out and you won't have a story to read. They all have a part to play and no-one is indispensable. And if I dare indulge anything, even any character's name, it will definitely become a spoiler. It is better if you head on If you are a fan of Red Queen you'll definitely love this one.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect going into this book, and I ultimately found myself a bit disappointed. I think the concepts was really interesting, but the explanations and overall plotting was lacking a lot. At times, I felt like the world wasn't half as well explained as I would've liked, and the characters were a bit dull and common for my liking.
I am curious to see what the next one in the series brings, though. I'm still interested enough to want to know what happens.
I am curious to see what the next one in the series brings, though. I'm still interested enough to want to know what happens.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Hush drew my attention likely for the same reason most people were drawn to it: it was the debut novel by Dylan Farrow, daughter of Mia Farrow, who has most notably been in the headlines for speaking out, along with her mother and brother, Ronan, against Woody Allen about the abuse she allegedly faced at his hands. And while the publisher is likely banking on people picking it up out of curiosity due to said headlines, and perhaps out of some solidarity with her for finding another way to tell her story, this isn’t another celebrity kid vanity project, as like her brother, Ms. Farrow is very talented in her own right.
Her prose is engaging, and while her messaging of fighting against propaganda is very on-the-nose (even without the author’s note), she clearly has some good ideas here that can be developed into more complex ones as she goes on in the series (a sequel is scheduled to release in 2021).
Shae is a fairly compelling, if somewhat standard YA fantasy protagonist. I did resonate with her and what she faced, but I didn’t feel like there was enough to distinguish her from the traits of other major YA SFF protagonists fighting against oppression.
And even for a YA fantasy, which doesn’t often have complex world building or magic systems, it didn’t feel like it was immersive enough. I wanted more exploration into both, aside from maybe a few name drops that sounded like countries and stuff vaguely explained as “magic!”
However, I can see Dylan maturing into a great writer with time. I’m curious to see where she takes this series and if it can grow from there, and any other writing endeavors she may take on in the future. If you are familiar with her story, and were considering trying it, I would recommend it, as long as you aren’t looking for something overly complex.
Hush drew my attention likely for the same reason most people were drawn to it: it was the debut novel by Dylan Farrow, daughter of Mia Farrow, who has most notably been in the headlines for speaking out, along with her mother and brother, Ronan, against Woody Allen about the abuse she allegedly faced at his hands. And while the publisher is likely banking on people picking it up out of curiosity due to said headlines, and perhaps out of some solidarity with her for finding another way to tell her story, this isn’t another celebrity kid vanity project, as like her brother, Ms. Farrow is very talented in her own right.
Her prose is engaging, and while her messaging of fighting against propaganda is very on-the-nose (even without the author’s note), she clearly has some good ideas here that can be developed into more complex ones as she goes on in the series (a sequel is scheduled to release in 2021).
Shae is a fairly compelling, if somewhat standard YA fantasy protagonist. I did resonate with her and what she faced, but I didn’t feel like there was enough to distinguish her from the traits of other major YA SFF protagonists fighting against oppression.
And even for a YA fantasy, which doesn’t often have complex world building or magic systems, it didn’t feel like it was immersive enough. I wanted more exploration into both, aside from maybe a few name drops that sounded like countries and stuff vaguely explained as “magic!”
However, I can see Dylan maturing into a great writer with time. I’m curious to see where she takes this series and if it can grow from there, and any other writing endeavors she may take on in the future. If you are familiar with her story, and were considering trying it, I would recommend it, as long as you aren’t looking for something overly complex.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was initially really excited to read this book, but it’s all over the place.
I realise it’s a debut novel, but it reads as if it hasn’t had any editing guidance at all.
Things happen out of the blue, with little to no explanation, things switch and change and don’t make sense.
Shea is an infuriatingly naïve character who is supposed to be strong, but comes off as a little dense.
The journey of this book happens all too easily, with things just coming to Shea magically.
It’s simple, and the world building is weak. Nothing is really explained and just happens.
The writing style is also clunky as hell, with literally everything told to you and so many adverbs.
Ya fantasy is not an easy genre to dip one’s toes in, but I’m afraid this falls so short.
I realise it’s a debut novel, but it reads as if it hasn’t had any editing guidance at all.
Things happen out of the blue, with little to no explanation, things switch and change and don’t make sense.
Shea is an infuriatingly naïve character who is supposed to be strong, but comes off as a little dense.
The journey of this book happens all too easily, with things just coming to Shea magically.
It’s simple, and the world building is weak. Nothing is really explained and just happens.
The writing style is also clunky as hell, with literally everything told to you and so many adverbs.
Ya fantasy is not an easy genre to dip one’s toes in, but I’m afraid this falls so short.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book.... this book. I was into it at first, but it lost me as I went along and I almost dnfed. Then it picked up a bit at the end so I finished it. But honestly I don't even know what happened for most of the story. There is so much withheld information, and hazy worldbuilding, and mysterious characters who suddenly do 180s in how they react to Shae, not to mention the whole 'am I going mad or is this some sinister illusion?' thing that was the latter 50% of the book.
The characters were flat, with the only depth provided by rapid 180s in how they reacted to and interacted with Shae and their many many layers of being 'mysterious'. The plot made literally no sense, and any sense I managed to grasp was thrown out by that ending. WTF even happened?
We have Ravenod seemingly kinder / less aloof than other bards to her. Then Ravenod cold and dismissive. Then Ravenod freaked about her crush and disappearing. Then Ravenod helping her. Then becoming aloof again. Then rapelling down a cliff??? to write 'danger' on her window. Then seeming to understand. Then swooping in and spoiling her plans at the end and disappearing.
There was so much back and forth in the story that it felt less like a madness vs illusion plot and more like a 'we have no idea wtf is going on either' plot. I won't be reading the sequel.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an e-arc for review
The characters were flat, with the only depth provided by rapid 180s in how they reacted to and interacted with Shae and their many many layers of being 'mysterious'. The plot made literally no sense, and any sense I managed to grasp was thrown out by that ending. WTF even happened?
We have Ravenod seemingly kinder / less aloof than other bards to her. Then Ravenod cold and dismissive. Then Ravenod freaked about her crush and disappearing. Then Ravenod helping her. Then becoming aloof again. Then rapelling down a cliff??? to write 'danger' on her window. Then seeming to understand. Then swooping in and spoiling her plans at the end and disappearing.
There was so much back and forth in the story that it felt less like a madness vs illusion plot and more like a 'we have no idea wtf is going on either' plot. I won't be reading the sequel.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an e-arc for review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No