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abbie_bryant's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
theinkthief's review against another edition
4.0
Ingo was a special favourite of mine when I was younger. I recently reread it, wanting to recapture that spellbound feeling I had the first time I read it. Dunsmore's novels have the power to transport the reader, to make them feel as though they've entered another world entirely.
"Ingo" immerses readers in a world of enchantment, blending the allure of the sea with a sense of mystery and magic. This spellbinding fantasy novel, crafted for young adult readers, explores themes of family, belonging, and the irresistible pull of the unknown.
The story revolves around Sapphire, a young girl living on the Cornish coast, who discovers a hidden underwater world called Ingo. As she becomes entangled in the secrets of this mystical realm, she must navigate the challenges of divided loyalties between her terrestrial family and her newfound aquatic kin. The novel is a poignant exploration of identity and the delicate balance between the tangible and the magical.
Dunsmore seamlessly weaves themes of curiosity, the power of nature, and the bonds that tie families together. The ocean, a character in its own right, serves as a mesmerizing backdrop to the narrative. The author's descriptive prose vividly brings Ingo to life, making it a character as real and complex as the human protagonists. The story delves into the consequences of choices and the price of embracing the extraordinary.
The allure of "Ingo" lies in its ability to transport readers to a world where the boundary between reality and fantasy blurs. The author's ability to capture the essence of the sea and its mysteries is both poetic and evocative. I found myself captivated by the world-building and the atmospheric writing, which felt as though it had transported you to Ingo itself.
While "Ingo" is a captivating read, there were instances where the pacing felt uneven, particularly in the middle of the narrative. Some character motivations might leave readers wanting more depth and exploration.
"Ingo" is highly recommended for readers who appreciate a blend of fantasy and environmental themes. It's a captivating journey for those who enjoy tales of hidden worlds, family bonds, and the allure of the unknown. Young adult readers, in particular, will find the protagonist's journey relatable and thought-provoking.
Helen Dunsmore's "Ingo" is a compelling dive into a world where magic meets reality, where the sea whispers secrets, and family ties are tested by the lure of the extraordinary. It's a beautifully crafted tale that resonates with readers of all ages, leaving them with a sense of wonder and a longing for the mysteries that lie beneath the waves.
"Ingo" immerses readers in a world of enchantment, blending the allure of the sea with a sense of mystery and magic. This spellbinding fantasy novel, crafted for young adult readers, explores themes of family, belonging, and the irresistible pull of the unknown.
The story revolves around Sapphire, a young girl living on the Cornish coast, who discovers a hidden underwater world called Ingo. As she becomes entangled in the secrets of this mystical realm, she must navigate the challenges of divided loyalties between her terrestrial family and her newfound aquatic kin. The novel is a poignant exploration of identity and the delicate balance between the tangible and the magical.
Dunsmore seamlessly weaves themes of curiosity, the power of nature, and the bonds that tie families together. The ocean, a character in its own right, serves as a mesmerizing backdrop to the narrative. The author's descriptive prose vividly brings Ingo to life, making it a character as real and complex as the human protagonists. The story delves into the consequences of choices and the price of embracing the extraordinary.
The allure of "Ingo" lies in its ability to transport readers to a world where the boundary between reality and fantasy blurs. The author's ability to capture the essence of the sea and its mysteries is both poetic and evocative. I found myself captivated by the world-building and the atmospheric writing, which felt as though it had transported you to Ingo itself.
While "Ingo" is a captivating read, there were instances where the pacing felt uneven, particularly in the middle of the narrative. Some character motivations might leave readers wanting more depth and exploration.
"Ingo" is highly recommended for readers who appreciate a blend of fantasy and environmental themes. It's a captivating journey for those who enjoy tales of hidden worlds, family bonds, and the allure of the unknown. Young adult readers, in particular, will find the protagonist's journey relatable and thought-provoking.
Helen Dunsmore's "Ingo" is a compelling dive into a world where magic meets reality, where the sea whispers secrets, and family ties are tested by the lure of the extraordinary. It's a beautifully crafted tale that resonates with readers of all ages, leaving them with a sense of wonder and a longing for the mysteries that lie beneath the waves.
shelleeeyw's review against another edition
3.0
i thought this book was ok. it had a pretty good story line but i think i was just too old to really enjoy this book. if id been a few years younger i think i would of loved it. but being the age that i was when i read this (teenager) i was looking for something else in a book which i didnt find in this one. but i still enjoyed this book to some degree. so ive it a go ad judge it for yourself :)
minabix's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I read this series as a kid and I'm happy to discover that they're even better on a reread - such an evocative, unique take on mermaid mythology, and impressively well-written.
The tension between the safety of Air and the captivating world of the Mer is great, and I love the portrayal of the ocean as a genuinely dangerous, hypnotic force. The story itself feels hypnotic - from the bees and honey cakes and cute dogs on land to the beautiful glittery calmness and wild excitement of the sea, it's a world so wonderfully described that you truly want to live there yourself. True, we don't spend that much time with the Mer compared to the other books (I remember loving the fourth one where they swim to the Arctic), but the world of Air in this story was just as interesting as the underwater world. The exploration of how time flows differently in the two worlds was cool too and added an extra layer of tension every time they visited the Mer.
The family dynamics and characters are also really well written and totally believable, with lots of nice moments together and realistic motivations. I like that the author takes the time to set up everything, like the lingering mystery of their dad's disappearance. The history of the characters and their hometown feels very real. The side characters like Mer-boy Faro and wary old witch Granny Carne are a lot of fun too.
The only thing I didn't like so much was that the siblings argue quite a lot in the middle of the book, but that just makes their relationship seem more realistic. Sapphire is a strong protagonist and we're right there with her all through the story, grappling with real emotions and making important decisions with high stakes.
Whether you're twelve or twelve at heart, this is an excellent read.
The tension between the safety of Air and the captivating world of the Mer is great, and I love the portrayal of the ocean as a genuinely dangerous, hypnotic force. The story itself feels hypnotic - from the bees and honey cakes and cute dogs on land to the beautiful glittery calmness and wild excitement of the sea, it's a world so wonderfully described that you truly want to live there yourself. True, we don't spend that much time with the Mer compared to the other books (I remember loving the fourth one where they swim to the Arctic), but the world of Air in this story was just as interesting as the underwater world. The exploration of how time flows differently in the two worlds was cool too and added an extra layer of tension every time they visited the Mer.
The family dynamics and characters are also really well written and totally believable, with lots of nice moments together and realistic motivations. I like that the author takes the time to set up everything, like the lingering mystery of their dad's disappearance. The history of the characters and their hometown feels very real. The side characters like Mer-boy Faro and wary old witch Granny Carne are a lot of fun too.
The only thing I didn't like so much was that the siblings argue quite a lot in the middle of the book, but that just makes their relationship seem more realistic. Sapphire is a strong protagonist and we're right there with her all through the story, grappling with real emotions and making important decisions with high stakes.
Whether you're twelve or twelve at heart, this is an excellent read.
beatniksafari's review against another edition
3.0
Sapphire feels a close connection with her father, and is devastated when he disappears. Although his boat washes up near their Cornish coastal town, both Sapphire and her brother Conor feel that he is still alive. Add to the mystery some local legends about mermaids, a neighbor who may or may not be magical, and who may or may not be hundreds of years old, and some good old adolescent angst, and the story takes a genre-bending turn.
The descriptions of the coastal area and the underwater world that captivates Sapphire are terrific. However, I felt that at times the story dragged and could have been edited down and lost none of its power. Sapphire, for instance, had the same conversation with her mother about eight times in the novel. I know, I know, I had the same conversation with my mom infinite times as a pre-teen, yet if writing a book about it, I would not include every time!
The descriptions of the coastal area and the underwater world that captivates Sapphire are terrific. However, I felt that at times the story dragged and could have been edited down and lost none of its power. Sapphire, for instance, had the same conversation with her mother about eight times in the novel. I know, I know, I had the same conversation with my mom infinite times as a pre-teen, yet if writing a book about it, I would not include every time!
tatianab's review against another edition
5.0
'I wish I was away in Ingo' This quote is basically the whole theme of the book. Sapphire is pulled by the pull of the sea, as is her brother Conor. They end up entering a whole new world beneath the waves called 'Ingo'.Here they begin searching for their father. This book was very enticing and i found myself enjoying the story more than I thought I would.
willwork4airfare's review against another edition
3.0
The deeper I got into it, the more I grew to like it, but overall the book was just okay. Ingo is what they call the underwater world of mermaids in this series and the descriptions of the people there and the dichotomy with Air are the best part of this novel for me. It was darker than I expected with much more hostility from the Mer than I thought I would find in a children’s book.
Between the narrator and the writing style, this book is best for younger readers, but also deals with death, disappearance, and serious injury so it’s kind of hard to place. While I liked the evolution of Sapphire and Roger’s relationship, it was pretty typical and cliche, and the same for her relationship with her older brother Connor, and their single parent Mom.
I feel like all the great “mysteries” in this book (and probably the whole series) have pretty predictable outcomes, and if the world-building of Ingo wasn’t so interesting (and also sparse) in this first novel, I wouldn’t be interested in reading the next installment at all. As it is, I do kind of want to keep reading just to find out more about this underwater world and how it works, but nothing about these characters or the storyline has me caring very much about what happens in the plot. A short book and a fast read, but nothing amazing. I’ll remain neutral, leaning negative, until I read more of the series (if I do).
Between the narrator and the writing style, this book is best for younger readers, but also deals with death, disappearance, and serious injury so it’s kind of hard to place. While I liked the evolution of Sapphire and Roger’s relationship, it was pretty typical and cliche, and the same for her relationship with her older brother Connor, and their single parent Mom.
I feel like all the great “mysteries” in this book (and probably the whole series) have pretty predictable outcomes, and if the world-building of Ingo wasn’t so interesting (and also sparse) in this first novel, I wouldn’t be interested in reading the next installment at all. As it is, I do kind of want to keep reading just to find out more about this underwater world and how it works, but nothing about these characters or the storyline has me caring very much about what happens in the plot. A short book and a fast read, but nothing amazing. I’ll remain neutral, leaning negative, until I read more of the series (if I do).
zasobel's review against another edition
4.0
this is probably a 3-star book but I can't help loving it because childhood
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
3.0
good story. not your average mer folklore. I love that it was a little dark.