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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
Started off a bit tricky for me. I guess I just don't go in for lots of random fictional history about things with names that lewis Carroll would have been proud of... It was too much for my brain to remember without knowing if I cared about the story
However, when the story picked up it was an enjoyable read and I read the rest of it in a day.
I suspect that, were I 30 years younger, and into random details and addendums, this book would be enthralling. Therefore, I have placed it on my son's nightstand to find in the morning.
Good plot development. Some interesting depictions of things. Quite well written action/fight scenes.
However, when the story picked up it was an enjoyable read and I read the rest of it in a day.
I suspect that, were I 30 years younger, and into random details and addendums, this book would be enthralling. Therefore, I have placed it on my son's nightstand to find in the morning.
Good plot development. Some interesting depictions of things. Quite well written action/fight scenes.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Woah. I was not expecting in the slightest to like this book as much as I did. In fact, I *loved* it.
After my previous book taking me approximately six months to shuffle through, I was not expecting to tear through this in just a couple of weeks. My first time attempting to read this book in the past (I only made it through a few chapters) I didn't like the intentional silliness of the writing style. This time, however, I didn't have any issues with how the book was written.
Peterson has crafted an intriguing world with lots of unwritten background lore that provides a foundation which can be built upon in many different ways later. Characters have unique, unspoken quirks and moments of obvious growth (some could perhaps critique the growth as *too* obvious, but it didn't bother me) and the whole world around the main characters feels alive and lived in. All of the characters and locations and fictional cultures, histories, and fauna are as entertaining as they are interesting & creative. A lot of love went into creating this world and it is all presented in a unique approach of taking its very un-serious content very seriously.
What I believe Peterson mastered here was writing a story in which the stakes were authentic throughout. I've become accustomed to the Rick Riordan style of writing in which every chapter ends with some sort of dramatic cliffhanger that is immediately resolved in the very next opening paragraph. Nothing truly bad or lasting happens to any of the characters, and it trains you to expect that no risk is ever meaningful or truly a threat to the characters for more than a few pages. Comics books do this very often as well. All characters return to a status quo at the end of each story, and any perceived intense moment on one panel is typically resolved within the next page or few pages. Peterson, in contrast, quickly teaches you that when characters appear to be in trouble on one page, they *really are* in trouble that won't be easy for them to get out of and will have real consequences. Very few times in the story did a brand-new, unexpected character or event suddenly appear out of nowhere to magically solve the predicament that the characters were in on the previous page. Actions and events had meaning and weight.
I also appreciated that despite being a book aimed and teens or tweens, it didn't pull any punches. It was not a case of "every character always survives all of the time" and it didn't use indirect methods to present violence or deaths for everything à la comic books again. The world was fun and at times whimsical, but the hard parts of life were not overly sugarcoated.
Overall, this was a spectacular book and I'm actually excited to read it to my own kids one day. I haven't felt this way about a story in years, since my days of reading Harry Potter and Gregor the Overlander and the like. Great world, gripping plot, fun characters, realistic emotions & reactions, admirable lessons taught, definitely recommend this for anyone looking for some quick and meaningful fiction to read.
After my previous book taking me approximately six months to shuffle through, I was not expecting to tear through this in just a couple of weeks. My first time attempting to read this book in the past (I only made it through a few chapters) I didn't like the intentional silliness of the writing style. This time, however, I didn't have any issues with how the book was written.
Peterson has crafted an intriguing world with lots of unwritten background lore that provides a foundation which can be built upon in many different ways later. Characters have unique, unspoken quirks and moments of obvious growth (some could perhaps critique the growth as *too* obvious, but it didn't bother me) and the whole world around the main characters feels alive and lived in. All of the characters and locations and fictional cultures, histories, and fauna are as entertaining as they are interesting & creative. A lot of love went into creating this world and it is all presented in a unique approach of taking its very un-serious content very seriously.
What I believe Peterson mastered here was writing a story in which the stakes were authentic throughout. I've become accustomed to the Rick Riordan style of writing in which every chapter ends with some sort of dramatic cliffhanger that is immediately resolved in the very next opening paragraph. Nothing truly bad or lasting happens to any of the characters, and it trains you to expect that no risk is ever meaningful or truly a threat to the characters for more than a few pages. Comics books do this very often as well. All characters return to a status quo at the end of each story, and any perceived intense moment on one panel is typically resolved within the next page or few pages. Peterson, in contrast, quickly teaches you that when characters appear to be in trouble on one page, they *really are* in trouble that won't be easy for them to get out of and will have real consequences. Very few times in the story did a brand-new, unexpected character or event suddenly appear out of nowhere to magically solve the predicament that the characters were in on the previous page. Actions and events had meaning and weight.
I also appreciated that despite being a book aimed and teens or tweens, it didn't pull any punches. It was not a case of "every character always survives all of the time" and it didn't use indirect methods to present violence or deaths for everything à la comic books again. The world was fun and at times whimsical, but the hard parts of life were not overly sugarcoated.
Overall, this was a spectacular book and I'm actually excited to read it to my own kids one day. I haven't felt this way about a story in years, since my days of reading Harry Potter and Gregor the Overlander and the like. Great world, gripping plot, fun characters, realistic emotions & reactions, admirable lessons taught, definitely recommend this for anyone looking for some quick and meaningful fiction to read.
A slightly slow starter but I really got into it in the second half and it is beautiful. Excited to read the rest of the series.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My children loved this series and have been after me to read it for some time. Peterson captures honor, duty, goodness, and truth in this first installment of what promises to be a great fantasy adventure!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting… It was very hard to get into the story. Not a lot of authors are able to pull off whimsical angst; I’m not so sure that this author has… Some of the names and situations are downright ridiculous, but other parts can be so compelling—it makes for a jarring experience at first. Some aspects of the worldview I liked, specifically, the Wingfeathers themselves. Poor Pete the Sockman has my whole heart, I can tell you that. I was definitely hooked by the end of the series.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Truly one of the best adventure fantasy books ever written. Makes a fantastic and memorable read aloud that will enrapture the whole family. Hard to find a book that equally captivates a 38 year old, 10 year old, 8 year old, and six year old.