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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
House of Frost and Feathers is a beautiful fairy tale that would be perfect to curl up with in front of a fire in deep winter. The cast of characters is endearing, the magic system is interesting, and the story overall wraps up really nicely.
That said, if you aren’t a fan of slower, cozier fantasies, the pace is challenging to get through for the first half of the book and although the plague provides pretty high stakes and an actual deadline, there isn’t really a sense of urgency until closer to the end. I also had a harder time engaging with Marisha at the beginning, but loved Olena and was much more invested as she had her own focus chapters.
Would definitely recommend to fans of cozy fantasy, Ghibli movies, and Slavic folktales.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
That said, if you aren’t a fan of slower, cozier fantasies, the pace is challenging to get through for the first half of the book and although the plague provides pretty high stakes and an actual deadline, there isn’t really a sense of urgency until closer to the end. I also had a harder time engaging with Marisha at the beginning, but loved Olena and was much more invested as she had her own focus chapters.
Would definitely recommend to fans of cozy fantasy, Ghibli movies, and Slavic folktales.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
slow-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
slow-paced
Thank you for the ARC BookHuddle, I enjoyed this book a lot!
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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
Vibes? Slavic folklore meets Howl's Moving Castle. Vibe check? Absolutely passes.
House of Frost and Feathers is a very character-driven story, with the heart of the story being the growth of the characters and their relationships between one another. That's not to say there isn't a plot - the central mystery of the sleeping plague and Marisha's unsettling dreams makes for a compelling story. But if you're someone that wants an action-packed plot or a fast-paced read, this may not be for you.
I loved how the narrative didn't shy away from the uglier parts of the characters - they are flawed, complex people, with defined personalities that often clash with one another. Pretty much all of them are determined and stubborn, so some clashes are inevitable - but that's the fun of the developing relationships here!
The story was atmospheric, and the setting vivid, with the house an obvious character of its own, all of which lent itself to the fairytale feeling of much of the story.
While I'm not sure this story is going to be the most memorable, it was an overall enchanting read and that's more than enough for me.
Thank you to the publisher, Harper Voyager, and to NetGalley for the ARC.
House of Frost and Feathers is a very character-driven story, with the heart of the story being the growth of the characters and their relationships between one another. That's not to say there isn't a plot - the central mystery of the sleeping plague and Marisha's unsettling dreams makes for a compelling story. But if you're someone that wants an action-packed plot or a fast-paced read, this may not be for you.
I loved how the narrative didn't shy away from the uglier parts of the characters - they are flawed, complex people, with defined personalities that often clash with one another. Pretty much all of them are determined and stubborn, so some clashes are inevitable - but that's the fun of the developing relationships here!
The story was atmospheric, and the setting vivid, with the house an obvious character of its own, all of which lent itself to the fairytale feeling of much of the story.
While I'm not sure this story is going to be the most memorable, it was an overall enchanting read and that's more than enough for me.
Thank you to the publisher, Harper Voyager, and to NetGalley for the ARC.
mysterious
medium-paced
A fantastic Slavic fairy tale! Great characters and story, nicely paced and had me hooked almost from the start.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to enjoy this book fully but it was a challenge. The story and characters were obviously thought out and rather loveable, even the villains and anti-hero’s. It’s a pretty slow read and 90% of the actual action is in the last few chapters but that isn’t an issue, with the first half of the book having wonderful worlds building and wonder.
The thing that made it a rough read for me, was the writing style. In fact, it was the sole reason I found getting to the end tedious. We don’t need to be told the name of the person saying/doing something, Every. Single. Sentence. “Baba Zima sighed. Baba Zima sat down and drank her tea. Baba Zima gestured for Olena to come closer.” -not actual sentences but it’s exactly how the whole book is written. It made it feel incredibly childish in its writing, for what is a beautifully dark and adventurous story; with magical worlds, objects and beings that I have a special interest in myself. It was like the reader couldn’t be trusted to know who was doing or saying something if it wasn’t spelt out, letter by letter, every single time.
In conclusion, I do recommend this book and I hope others enjoy it wholeheartedly, in the ways I couldn’t. It really is a hidden gem in its own right.
The thing that made it a rough read for me, was the writing style. In fact, it was the sole reason I found getting to the end tedious. We don’t need to be told the name of the person saying/doing something, Every. Single. Sentence. “Baba Zima sighed. Baba Zima sat down and drank her tea. Baba Zima gestured for Olena to come closer.” -not actual sentences but it’s exactly how the whole book is written. It made it feel incredibly childish in its writing, for what is a beautifully dark and adventurous story; with magical worlds, objects and beings that I have a special interest in myself. It was like the reader couldn’t be trusted to know who was doing or saying something if it wasn’t spelt out, letter by letter, every single time.
In conclusion, I do recommend this book and I hope others enjoy it wholeheartedly, in the ways I couldn’t. It really is a hidden gem in its own right.