Scan barcode
nikrodee's review
4.0
What a delightful gem.
This book is very Romeo & Juliet. Cluck and Lace are from two totally different families that hate each other. Both of their families travel and have shows. Mermaids and Birds, what could go wrong? Well for starters, you can fall in love with someone from your archenemies family. After a terrible, totally avoidable, accident in the small town where both families are preforming Lace and Cluck are thrown together before they even realize who the other is. When they both come to terms with what they have done, they must find a way for their love to survive.
Cluck breaks my heart. Everything he goes through in the book at the hands of his family truly makes me feel for him. Lace is different from Cluck but also the same. She wants to be part of her families show, but she is still treated as an outsider. Cluck wants to get far away from his families show and his cruel family.
The plot twist in the end totally caught me off guard but it wasn't outrageously crazy. It brought everything together nicely and explained more things than I even had questions for. This book was so well rounded in general and was a nice light stand alone novel. I wish I could re read this book fresh already. I highly suggest this book for anyone to loves carnivalish books with romance and a sense of classic style.
This book is very Romeo & Juliet. Cluck and Lace are from two totally different families that hate each other. Both of their families travel and have shows. Mermaids and Birds, what could go wrong? Well for starters, you can fall in love with someone from your archenemies family. After a terrible, totally avoidable, accident in the small town where both families are preforming Lace and Cluck are thrown together before they even realize who the other is. When they both come to terms with what they have done, they must find a way for their love to survive.
Cluck breaks my heart. Everything he goes through in the book at the hands of his family truly makes me feel for him. Lace is different from Cluck but also the same. She wants to be part of her families show, but she is still treated as an outsider. Cluck wants to get far away from his families show and his cruel family.
The plot twist in the end totally caught me off guard but it wasn't outrageously crazy. It brought everything together nicely and explained more things than I even had questions for. This book was so well rounded in general and was a nice light stand alone novel. I wish I could re read this book fresh already. I highly suggest this book for anyone to loves carnivalish books with romance and a sense of classic style.
babs_reviews's review against another edition
3.0
I love the cover of The Weight of Feathers
It was easy to find things to love about this book; the Romeo and Juliet, two star-crossed lovers who go against their families to be together, is always an appealing plot. The fantasy angle with paranormal elements attached. It has some great emotional depth with a few twists I didn't see coming. All great things!
Now the bad part, the writing was so lyrical and prosy that I often found myself wandering from the plot. Not a good thing. It was overkill and actually took away from the storyline opposed to enhancing it. Execution is everything in a novel. This one missed the mark.
That said, I still enjoyed reading about the two families and all the crazy superstitions that went along with their deep dislike of each other. I loved that our main characters had flaws, they weren't perfect, yet they ended up perfect for each other.
To me this is one of those books you read in between the books that mess you up and make you ugly cry. A mellow read you need to level yourself with.
It was easy to find things to love about this book; the Romeo and Juliet, two star-crossed lovers who go against their families to be together, is always an appealing plot. The fantasy angle with paranormal elements attached. It has some great emotional depth with a few twists I didn't see coming. All great things!
Now the bad part, the writing was so lyrical and prosy that I often found myself wandering from the plot. Not a good thing. It was overkill and actually took away from the storyline opposed to enhancing it. Execution is everything in a novel. This one missed the mark.
That said, I still enjoyed reading about the two families and all the crazy superstitions that went along with their deep dislike of each other. I loved that our main characters had flaws, they weren't perfect, yet they ended up perfect for each other.
To me this is one of those books you read in between the books that mess you up and make you ugly cry. A mellow read you need to level yourself with.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
1.0
1/5
I was looking forward to this book so much! In the end I just felt like the plot was lacking in something
I was looking forward to this book so much! In the end I just felt like the plot was lacking in something
kidawalker's review
1.0
One of the most disappointing things is when a book has all the things that you love (Magic? Mermaids? French Romani with wings? Set in the Salinas Valley?) but it doesn't really have a story.
The plot is Romeo and Juliet without any drama. There's nothing coming in this story that will take you by surprise. McLemore is really imaginative though. Hope for future publications.
The plot is Romeo and Juliet without any drama. There's nothing coming in this story that will take you by surprise. McLemore is really imaginative though. Hope for future publications.
maddiemcevoy's review
2.0
so the first thing i want to mention right off the bat is that the two protagonists of this book who are deeply and passionately in love are revealed to be either first or second cousins (it was hard to tell) and they are together at the end of the book. so yeah that was a little weird.
basically, i liked almost everything about this book besides the relationship. the writing was lush and atmospheric. although the writing wasn’t my personal favorite, i did think it was well done.
i also liked the synopsis, the way the world was set up was very well done and interesting. i’m not a huge fan of magical realism to be honest, but the whole thing about the families and all of the lore was interesting.
i didn’t like any of the characters to be honest. none of them were developed — side characters had literally zero personality— and the main characters were fairly likable but also annoying. i hated pretty much all of the side characters.
topics like rape and abuse and body positivity/ beauty standards were not handled well in my opinion, and i did not like the portrayal of family.
i don’t know what to say about this book because i just didn’t like it. it’s not my genre and i didn’t enjoy the plot or characters, but i don’t generally like books where the romance is the whole plot— especially when the romance is based on...... literally nothing. i have nothing else to mention, have a nice day!
basically, i liked almost everything about this book besides the relationship. the writing was lush and atmospheric. although the writing wasn’t my personal favorite, i did think it was well done.
i also liked the synopsis, the way the world was set up was very well done and interesting. i’m not a huge fan of magical realism to be honest, but the whole thing about the families and all of the lore was interesting.
i didn’t like any of the characters to be honest. none of them were developed — side characters had literally zero personality— and the main characters were fairly likable but also annoying. i hated pretty much all of the side characters.
topics like rape and abuse and body positivity/ beauty standards were not handled well in my opinion, and i did not like the portrayal of family.
i don’t know what to say about this book because i just didn’t like it. it’s not my genre and i didn’t enjoy the plot or characters, but i don’t generally like books where the romance is the whole plot— especially when the romance is based on...... literally nothing. i have nothing else to mention, have a nice day!
parpacifica's review
2.0
I began this book with high hopes. As someone who can kinda speak Spanish and mostly speak French, I was excited to flex my linguistic skillz. But then I opened the book. It started of slow. I kept waiting for it to pick up. And eventually it got too boring to continue. Both the narrators are utterly boring and completely lacklustre, so it comes to no surprise that I DNF this.
Also please ignore my confusing activity updates on this review. You'd think that I'd know how to click a button but it seems to not be the case.
Also please ignore my confusing activity updates on this review. You'd think that I'd know how to click a button but it seems to not be the case.
mollywetta's review
2.0
You know when a book sounds like it will be so "you" but then isn't? This was that book. Not bad, just not a favorite like I had hoped it would be.
geekwayne's review
5.0
'The Weight of Feathers'by Anna-Marie McLemore proves that I can be sucked in by any story if it's told well, even a romance.
This book features two star-crossed lovers, Lace Paloma and Luc "Cluck" Corbeau. Their families are locked in a revenge fest because of something that happened years ago. Lace's family have a mermaid act that they perform on water. Luc's family has an act in trees that they perform with wings.
Once a year, the two warring families find themselves in the same California town competing for local dollars, and avoiding each other with enmity until an accident forces Lace into Luc's life. She hides among his family, afraid that she'll be discovered as a Paloma. The tragedies of the present collide with those of the past, and Luc and Lace have to decide what their path will be.
I love any book that is well written, and this book is very well written. I love the hints of magical realism that creep into the story around the edges. Does Luc really have red feathers sprouting from his body, and does Lace really have scales on hers? It's such a light touch that it keeps the story grounded in reality, but adds an ethereal, magical touch to the story. The story has some true sorrow as well, which is handled deftly and not heavy handed. The unintended choices of others lead to the sorrows of the present, but neither of the main characters feel like moping victims. I picked up this book because the description intrigued me, and I was surprised by how much I ended up liking it.
I received a review copy of this ebook from St. Martin's Press, Thomas Dunne Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this well written ebook.
This book features two star-crossed lovers, Lace Paloma and Luc "Cluck" Corbeau. Their families are locked in a revenge fest because of something that happened years ago. Lace's family have a mermaid act that they perform on water. Luc's family has an act in trees that they perform with wings.
Once a year, the two warring families find themselves in the same California town competing for local dollars, and avoiding each other with enmity until an accident forces Lace into Luc's life. She hides among his family, afraid that she'll be discovered as a Paloma. The tragedies of the present collide with those of the past, and Luc and Lace have to decide what their path will be.
I love any book that is well written, and this book is very well written. I love the hints of magical realism that creep into the story around the edges. Does Luc really have red feathers sprouting from his body, and does Lace really have scales on hers? It's such a light touch that it keeps the story grounded in reality, but adds an ethereal, magical touch to the story. The story has some true sorrow as well, which is handled deftly and not heavy handed. The unintended choices of others lead to the sorrows of the present, but neither of the main characters feel like moping victims. I picked up this book because the description intrigued me, and I was surprised by how much I ended up liking it.
I received a review copy of this ebook from St. Martin's Press, Thomas Dunne Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this well written ebook.
icaruscurse's review
4.0
i really love the way this author writes. i hope she continues with magical realism in her books because it's something i rarely get to read, and she writes it so well.
ehmannky's review
I don’t know why this book didn’t hold my interest since I think it’s as well written as other mclemore books that I’ve loved.