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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
ReRead - 3-stars
The first time I read this book I gave it 3.5 stars, bumped up to 4. (And apparently didn't write a review. Bad past self!)
On this audio re-read, I think I'd end up bumping it down to 3 instead.
I mentioned in on my of notes that I'd forgotten how slow the setup of the book is. At least the first 25% of the book is just set up, and I feel like it could've easily been condensed, because not much of real consequence happens.
And, honestly, the meet of the story all happens in the last 25%, so that leaves the middle 50% as more wandering about the place.
I wouldn't mind a good wander if I felt like spending that time deepened our understanding of the characters, except most of the characters, including Vasya, tbh, don't really seem that deep? And they don't really change much as the story progresses.
All that time did was remind me how infuriating I found the people in this book. Everyone is kind of awful, with the exception of Vasya and Dunya (sp?). Ok, and I guess Irina and the younger brother aren't bad - but, again, there's not all that much to them.
I won't say the misogyny wasn't realistic, but, my gods, I wanted to scream so often.
Vasya, girl, the people of this village do not deserve you trying to save them. Seriously, they're just the worst.
I did like the bits towards the end of Vasya and Morozko, though. They were the clear highlights of the book.
The first time I read this book I gave it 3.5 stars, bumped up to 4. (And apparently didn't write a review. Bad past self!)
On this audio re-read, I think I'd end up bumping it down to 3 instead.
I mentioned in on my of notes that I'd forgotten how slow the setup of the book is. At least the first 25% of the book is just set up, and I feel like it could've easily been condensed, because not much of real consequence happens.
And, honestly, the meet of the story all happens in the last 25%, so that leaves the middle 50% as more wandering about the place.
I wouldn't mind a good wander if I felt like spending that time deepened our understanding of the characters, except most of the characters, including Vasya, tbh, don't really seem that deep? And they don't really change much as the story progresses.
All that time did was remind me how infuriating I found the people in this book. Everyone is kind of awful, with the exception of Vasya and Dunya (sp?). Ok, and I guess Irina and the younger brother aren't bad - but, again, there's not all that much to them.
I won't say the misogyny wasn't realistic, but, my gods, I wanted to scream so often.
Vasya, girl, the people of this village do not deserve you trying to save them. Seriously, they're just the worst.
I did like the bits towards the end of Vasya and Morozko, though. They were the clear highlights of the book.
Written like a fairy tale with lyrical, evocative prose. I haven't read any books about medieval Russia and Russian folklore before so it was very captivating to learn all about the creatures, myths, and day to day living of that time.
It did drag a little in the beginning and so much of who was first mentioned, never was again. I'm hoping maybe they have some relevance in the second and third books or else it would seem silly to spend so much time on those characters.
It kind of felt like it could have ended, so I'm interested to see where the next books take us.
It did drag a little in the beginning and so much of who was first mentioned, never was again. I'm hoping maybe they have some relevance in the second and third books or else it would seem silly to spend so much time on those characters.
It kind of felt like it could have ended, so I'm interested to see where the next books take us.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have heard a few reviews about this trilogy and they have all spoke highly and passionately about it. I didn’t dislike it but I have to say I didn’t feel that rush of love that others have.
I will, of course, read the next 2 books but this first one was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I really enjoyed the first half of the story; watching Vasya grow, her relationships with her family, horses and the demons. However, as the book progressed and came round to telling the story of Death and the Bear I did struggle a little.
I really so enjoy fairytales and retellings of these but for me the story falls more around folklore (and much like mythology and Nordic tales) which for me isn’t a genre I enjoy so much. This is mainly because I find I get lost in these stories where everything gets turned on it’s head and my brain can’t quite commute what is real and not and I find that hard to grasp (I’m thinking about Vasya waking up in the woods but also in a bedroom; second sight is something new to me!)
It’s a little bit of a shame as I was so excited for it but I guess that’s why there are millions of books in the world, something for everyone. Overall the pace was too slow and some parts far too confusing for me to follow and for that reason I thought it was an average read and 3 stars from me.