Scan barcode
twistykris's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I was a little bit of a horse girl growing up, but not to the extent as our main character, Regan, so I guess this story was a little.. underwhelming for me. Again, as with previous books in the Wayward Children series, the world-building is fantastic and the prose is lovely, but this book was more ~vibes~ than plot for a lot of it. The inclusion of an intersex character was wonderful, and I loved how Regan's parents are attentive and loving and supportive, unlike some children in previous books. I also loved the found-family aspect, with the centaurs taking her in without question. Chicory was my favorite and I loved every interaction with her.
The ending (pre-epilogue) is what disappointed me the most. It felt like this huge build-up only to have an unsatisfying conclusion.
The epilogue was pretty gutting, and I really thought there would be some mention of Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, but there wasn't. Maybe Regan will be brought back in a later book. Overall, my least favorite in the series so far.
The ending (pre-epilogue) is what disappointed me the most. It felt like this huge build-up only to have an unsatisfying conclusion.
The epilogue was pretty gutting, and I really thought there would be some mention of Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, but there wasn't. Maybe Regan will be brought back in a later book. Overall, my least favorite in the series so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Murder, Outing, Blood, Body shaming, and Animal death
Minor: Confinement
ehmannky's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.5
I can't get over how much I love this series. I really like the flashback books like this, where the theme of "there is no one wrong way to be a girl" comes through so strongly. The ending of this book is a little abrupt for my tastes, but otherwise, I loved everything about this story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Murder and Death
leanne_miron's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Bullying, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Transphobia
Moderate: Body shaming and Misogyny
Minor: Murder
anniereads221's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Outing, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence
sunsetcity's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Gaslighting, Medical content, Murder, and Toxic friendship
empathephant's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Small thematic spoilers, no major plot spoilers:
Seanan's depiction of childhood is spot on, and beautiful in a horrid sort of way. I reflected on the cruelty of playground politics, the secret wishes I hoped for as a child, and the ways I attempted to change myself to fit in people's boxes. I love the character of Reagan and the way she grows and frees herself from the shackles of destiny–or really just others' expectations.
The intersex representation is refreshing. I love when queer characters are allowed to just be and the story does not center on their queerness, though in this case the book manages to be educational and include an important scene about discovering identity, while still letting her go off and have adventures and have an identity that has more personality traits than just "oppressed queer person."
Literary structure of ending is mentioned:
<spolier>
The twist ending was unexpected and awesome. I loved the social commentary that could be discussed after reading the end.
Seanan's depiction of childhood is spot on, and beautiful in a horrid sort of way. I reflected on the cruelty of playground politics, the secret wishes I hoped for as a child, and the ways I attempted to change myself to fit in people's boxes. I love the character of Reagan and the way she grows and frees herself from the shackles of destiny–or really just others' expectations.
The intersex representation is refreshing. I love when queer characters are allowed to just be and the story does not center on their queerness, though in this case the book manages to be educational and include an important scene about discovering identity, while still letting her go off and have adventures and have an identity that has more personality traits than just "oppressed queer person."
Literary structure of ending is mentioned:
<spolier>
The twist ending was unexpected and awesome. I loved the social commentary that could be discussed after reading the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Bullying
Moderate: Kidnapping, Confinement, Murder, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Body shaming
Minor: Terminal illness
mxrumphius's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, Body shaming, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Blood, Violence, and Murder
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ACROSS THE GREEN GRASS FIELDS is the balm to my horse-kid soul, a caring story of wildness, hoofbeats, and the importance we place on something as fickle and illusory as destiny.
I love how the possible quest is secondary to the important task of helping the MC feel safe and watching her grow up. She's a human in the Hooflands and that means Important Things Must Someday Happen, but they don't have to happen today. In a series that has had many more straight-forward quests and presumably will have many more, this is a mostly calm break, a landing place after a lot of very intense events in the previous entry, COME TUMBLING DOWN. As one of the self-contained entries it doesn't try to comment on the universe which makes this story possible, but lets it exist unto itself while still being consistent with the broader narrative with which returning readers will be familiar.
Now for my regular sequel check. This is part of the Wayward Children Series, but, just like its fellow even-numbered books, it can be read as a stand-alone. This one in particular has a MC who is either completely new or who I just don't remember from the previous books; I'm pretty sure she's a new character and this is her introduction. As a self-contained book with a completely new MC, it doesn't wrap up anything left hanging from previous books, its entire storyline begins in this book and wasn't present in the previous book. It definitely leaves things to be addressed, like, what will the MC do in any future installments in the series? This series has a strained relationship with linearity and a very specific premise tying everything together, so it doesn't actually spoil anything to say I hope I see her again. The MC is distinct from previous characters, but the omniscient narrator is a soothing, knowing voice I recognize from other books by this author, it's in keeping with the narrator's style in the previous installments in this particular series. That narrator remembers being a kid and conveys beautiful how the particular kids in the story think about the adults around them, all without ever diminishing their experiences as children. This would absolutely make sense if someone started with this book and didn't know about the series. They might wonder what's going on with the doors, but the MC doesn't know either and so someone could happily read this and then, energized and intrigued and even more in love with horse-creatures, go back for the previous entries (rest assured that they have just as much heart but sadly fewer horses).
I was pulled in by the centaurs and the unicorns, but what absolutely made my day were the twin delights of the kelpie (my favorite murderous water horse in any fae-adjacent story) and the peryton (new to me and oh so welcome). I didn't know I needed a scavenging sky-deer in my life but now I don't know what ever I did without it. The social dynamics of centaurs was a treat I won't soon forget. Seanan is the author I read when I want to feel better without pretending not to be sad, and this was a great entry in a fantastic series.
I love how the possible quest is secondary to the important task of helping the MC feel safe and watching her grow up. She's a human in the Hooflands and that means Important Things Must Someday Happen, but they don't have to happen today. In a series that has had many more straight-forward quests and presumably will have many more, this is a mostly calm break, a landing place after a lot of very intense events in the previous entry, COME TUMBLING DOWN. As one of the self-contained entries it doesn't try to comment on the universe which makes this story possible, but lets it exist unto itself while still being consistent with the broader narrative with which returning readers will be familiar.
Now for my regular sequel check. This is part of the Wayward Children Series, but, just like its fellow even-numbered books, it can be read as a stand-alone. This one in particular has a MC who is either completely new or who I just don't remember from the previous books; I'm pretty sure she's a new character and this is her introduction. As a self-contained book with a completely new MC, it doesn't wrap up anything left hanging from previous books, its entire storyline begins in this book and wasn't present in the previous book. It definitely leaves things to be addressed, like, what will the MC do in any future installments in the series? This series has a strained relationship with linearity and a very specific premise tying everything together, so it doesn't actually spoil anything to say I hope I see her again. The MC is distinct from previous characters, but the omniscient narrator is a soothing, knowing voice I recognize from other books by this author, it's in keeping with the narrator's style in the previous installments in this particular series. That narrator remembers being a kid and conveys beautiful how the particular kids in the story think about the adults around them, all without ever diminishing their experiences as children. This would absolutely make sense if someone started with this book and didn't know about the series. They might wonder what's going on with the doors, but the MC doesn't know either and so someone could happily read this and then, energized and intrigued and even more in love with horse-creatures, go back for the previous entries (rest assured that they have just as much heart but sadly fewer horses).
I was pulled in by the centaurs and the unicorns, but what absolutely made my day were the twin delights of the kelpie (my favorite murderous water horse in any fae-adjacent story) and the peryton (new to me and oh so welcome). I didn't know I needed a scavenging sky-deer in my life but now I don't know what ever I did without it. The social dynamics of centaurs was a treat I won't soon forget. Seanan is the author I read when I want to feel better without pretending not to be sad, and this was a great entry in a fantastic series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Bullying and Murder
CW for interphobia, bullying, kidnapping, violence, animal death (not depicted), death (not depicted).megj23's review
adventurous
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Bullying, and Murder
More...