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paragraphsandpages's review
2.0
First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me this ARC to review. Please note that the version I read was an advanced copy, and certain events/language may be changed in the published edition.
Stars (Out of 10): 3/10 Stars
Spoiler Free: This novella was meant to introduce the world and make readers more interested in the series, but I don’t really think this book did that at all. If I were to judge this novella purely on how well it accomplishes that task, it would’ve received 1 star. It barely bothered to explain the world at all, the one we were supposed to be growing interest in, and focused instead on a very oddly paced plot with characters that all read kind of the same.
Unfortunately, I found out pretty early on that I would most likely not be a fan of this novella. This revelation came purely from the writing style at first, as it felt super cut and dry, very simple and uninteresting. Instead of utilizing language to properly make readers feel and understand the world better, everything just felt stated. “Character A did this. Character B reacted like this.” It told more than it showed, which caused a major disconnect between me and the characters.
Additionally, the plot itself was fairly simple to guess, yet wasn’t aware of this. It not so subtly dropped many clues before every twist, so every reader would have actually picked up on it before it was revealed, but somehow our MC, Darian, was entirely clueless to everything going on around him. The pacing of the overall plot was also fairly weird. We had a very quick-moving start, almost as if we were dropped into the middle of a story, and then we get a lull in the middle, followed by a final chapter in Darian’s POV that suddenly dumps a bunch more information on the reader. When combined with the simple writing, it almost felt as if I was reading a very detailed outline of what the book was going to contain, instead of the book itself.
The world itself, as I mentioned above, is also just poorly explained. We learn nothing of the magic system (which is part of why I requested this novella, it sounded interesting), and almost nothing on the tension between the smaller villages and the kingdom, just that magic is the cause of it. It leaves readers in a limbo of who to believe, as we aren’t given a sympathetic outlook on either side. All we know is that the king is burning villages in search of a witch that is probably dead (but how do only the villages know this? Why doesn’t the king?) It’s all really confusing, so I’m trying not to dwell on it.
Lastly, I wasn’t able to get a grasp on almost any of the characters. While I overall did find Sian interesting, and the interplay of motives running through him, this same level of depth did not come through well in the other characters, and instead made them feel incontinuous. For example, with our main hero Darian, we don’t actually get to learn about life back in the village, or anything that makes us sympathetic to the cause Darian’s mother was fighting for. Furthermore, this makes his constant longing for his old life hard to empathize with, since we have no understanding of that life. His inner voice also seems to shift dramatically within the story, from a focus on home/hatred of the evil king, to a focus on love interest only, and then back to a focus on revenge/hatred without regard of said love interest. This imbalance actually comes through in that love interest as well, and I have a hard time gauging what her inner thoughts actually are, even after having read a POV chapter from her.
However, I was still intrigued. Even with everything above, I still want to learn more. Some might say that this want for more stems from the lack of content that the book provided me with in the first place, but I also didn’t expect much coming into this in terms of content (it is only 100 pages!)
Stars (Out of 10): 3/10 Stars
Spoiler Free: This novella was meant to introduce the world and make readers more interested in the series, but I don’t really think this book did that at all. If I were to judge this novella purely on how well it accomplishes that task, it would’ve received 1 star. It barely bothered to explain the world at all, the one we were supposed to be growing interest in, and focused instead on a very oddly paced plot with characters that all read kind of the same.
Unfortunately, I found out pretty early on that I would most likely not be a fan of this novella. This revelation came purely from the writing style at first, as it felt super cut and dry, very simple and uninteresting. Instead of utilizing language to properly make readers feel and understand the world better, everything just felt stated. “Character A did this. Character B reacted like this.” It told more than it showed, which caused a major disconnect between me and the characters.
Additionally, the plot itself was fairly simple to guess, yet wasn’t aware of this. It not so subtly dropped many clues before every twist, so every reader would have actually picked up on it before it was revealed, but somehow our MC, Darian, was entirely clueless to everything going on around him. The pacing of the overall plot was also fairly weird. We had a very quick-moving start, almost as if we were dropped into the middle of a story, and then we get a lull in the middle, followed by a final chapter in Darian’s POV that suddenly dumps a bunch more information on the reader. When combined with the simple writing, it almost felt as if I was reading a very detailed outline of what the book was going to contain, instead of the book itself.
The world itself, as I mentioned above, is also just poorly explained. We learn nothing of the magic system (which is part of why I requested this novella, it sounded interesting), and almost nothing on the tension between the smaller villages and the kingdom, just that magic is the cause of it. It leaves readers in a limbo of who to believe, as we aren’t given a sympathetic outlook on either side. All we know is that the king is burning villages in search of a witch that is probably dead (but how do only the villages know this? Why doesn’t the king?) It’s all really confusing, so I’m trying not to dwell on it.
Lastly, I wasn’t able to get a grasp on almost any of the characters. While I overall did find Sian interesting, and the interplay of motives running through him, this same level of depth did not come through well in the other characters, and instead made them feel incontinuous. For example, with our main hero Darian, we don’t actually get to learn about life back in the village, or anything that makes us sympathetic to the cause Darian’s mother was fighting for. Furthermore, this makes his constant longing for his old life hard to empathize with, since we have no understanding of that life. His inner voice also seems to shift dramatically within the story, from a focus on home/hatred of the evil king, to a focus on love interest only, and then back to a focus on revenge/hatred without regard of said love interest. This imbalance actually comes through in that love interest as well, and I have a hard time gauging what her inner thoughts actually are, even after having read a POV chapter from her.
However, I was still intrigued. Even with everything above, I still want to learn more. Some might say that this want for more stems from the lack of content that the book provided me with in the first place, but I also didn’t expect much coming into this in terms of content (it is only 100 pages!)
stine_reads's review against another edition
3.0
*free copy received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book was just okay, and only because it was so short. I think my biggest issue with this book was the writing. It has a very juvenile and at times grocery list-y kind of writing. It didn't invite to any more reading at all. Let's just say I've spent four days avoiding to read 50 odd pages...kind of says everything, no?
I did find the story interesting at times, but the writing style didn't make for a very inviting character development. The book is meant to be an intro to the Whyland universe, but we're dropped smack in the middle of the story, and that's a bit odd for an intro novella in my opinion. It took me considerable time to get my bearings straight, and to know what in the world was going on.
I'm having mixed feelings, because I wanted to like it so much - just look at that gorgeous cover and the blurb! - but alas. 2,75 stars from me.
This book was just okay, and only because it was so short. I think my biggest issue with this book was the writing. It has a very juvenile and at times grocery list-y kind of writing. It didn't invite to any more reading at all. Let's just say I've spent four days avoiding to read 50 odd pages...kind of says everything, no?
I did find the story interesting at times, but the writing style didn't make for a very inviting character development. The book is meant to be an intro to the Whyland universe, but we're dropped smack in the middle of the story, and that's a bit odd for an intro novella in my opinion. It took me considerable time to get my bearings straight, and to know what in the world was going on.
I'm having mixed feelings, because I wanted to like it so much - just look at that gorgeous cover and the blurb! - but alas. 2,75 stars from me.
scribblesandknots's review against another edition
2.0
I received this novella from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"14-year old Darian was raised in an isolated village, resisting the King and his army. When his life takes a tragic turn, he ends up in the castle, closer to his former enemies than he has ever imagined. His only solace is Cayla, a girl who helps him smile again, for whom he slowly falls in love. But the castle has more dangers than he imagined."
I wanted to like this book - the cover is pretty, and I'm always down for some YA fantasy. The magic of the world and a few of the characters piqued my interest at times, but could not overcome the novella's numerous problems.
The worldbuilding was almost entirely done by the narrator, or by characters ostensibly talking to each other in a way that's obviously for the sole benefit of the reader. A scene like the latter comprises the entire discussion of the magic promised in the title, spell-speaking. Magic in general is forbidden, but the few times it's used are hand-waved away with little difficulty. I was very bored by this - if magic is forbidden, practicing it in secret should be exciting! This was not exciting.
I found Darian almost entirely unsympathetic and unbelievable for a few reasons. First, all of the characters in the story sound the same. The lack of tone and voice differences between the characters makes it read very flat, and Darian is the flattest. We're constantly reading about Darian's feelings in terms of "Darian felt sad" - I wanted so badly for Darian's tone to tell me that, or his actions.
Darian regularly "knows" things the author wants the reader to know, like how the castle is lit by strange daylight panels - Darian knows all about them, even though this is his first time in the castle. He knows all about his people's nature-worshipping beliefs and the nuances of why they personify abstract concepts into gods and goddesses, and about how best to hide after the army finds a secret site...which wouldn't be such a problem, if he wasn't missing out on ridiculously basic social cues in the next scene, and repeatedly after that.
This leads into my other major problem with the story: most of the conflict is generated via Darian not understanding something someone else is trying to tell him, and the other character refusing to speak plainly. This is a perfectly fine trope, but when it happens three or four times in one story - and when every one of those reveals is glaringly obvious to the reader - it gets very stale, very quickly.
One of the bright spots in the story was Sian, an important character whose voice is perhaps the most distinct of all the characters. His tragic past and sarcasm are his most interesting traits, and the inevitable future standoff between his goals and Darian's is perhaps the only thing I'd like to see more of in the coming series.
On the whole, I think this story would benefit from a serious rework - better character voice, more emphasis on demonstrating the world and characters rather than describing them, and a whole lot of higher stakes.
Rating: 1.5/5 stars
"14-year old Darian was raised in an isolated village, resisting the King and his army. When his life takes a tragic turn, he ends up in the castle, closer to his former enemies than he has ever imagined. His only solace is Cayla, a girl who helps him smile again, for whom he slowly falls in love. But the castle has more dangers than he imagined."
I wanted to like this book - the cover is pretty, and I'm always down for some YA fantasy. The magic of the world and a few of the characters piqued my interest at times, but could not overcome the novella's numerous problems.
The worldbuilding was almost entirely done by the narrator, or by characters ostensibly talking to each other in a way that's obviously for the sole benefit of the reader. A scene like the latter comprises the entire discussion of the magic promised in the title, spell-speaking. Magic in general is forbidden, but the few times it's used are hand-waved away with little difficulty. I was very bored by this - if magic is forbidden, practicing it in secret should be exciting! This was not exciting.
I found Darian almost entirely unsympathetic and unbelievable for a few reasons. First, all of the characters in the story sound the same. The lack of tone and voice differences between the characters makes it read very flat, and Darian is the flattest. We're constantly reading about Darian's feelings in terms of "Darian felt sad" - I wanted so badly for Darian's tone to tell me that, or his actions.
Darian regularly "knows" things the author wants the reader to know, like how the castle is lit by strange daylight panels - Darian knows all about them, even though this is his first time in the castle. He knows all about his people's nature-worshipping beliefs and the nuances of why they personify abstract concepts into gods and goddesses, and about how best to hide after the army finds a secret site...which wouldn't be such a problem, if he wasn't missing out on ridiculously basic social cues in the next scene, and repeatedly after that.
This leads into my other major problem with the story: most of the conflict is generated via Darian not understanding something someone else is trying to tell him, and the other character refusing to speak plainly. This is a perfectly fine trope, but when it happens three or four times in one story - and when every one of those reveals is glaringly obvious to the reader - it gets very stale, very quickly.
One of the bright spots in the story was Sian, an important character whose voice is perhaps the most distinct of all the characters. His tragic past and sarcasm are his most interesting traits, and the inevitable future standoff between his goals and Darian's is perhaps the only thing I'd like to see more of in the coming series.
On the whole, I think this story would benefit from a serious rework - better character voice, more emphasis on demonstrating the world and characters rather than describing them, and a whole lot of higher stakes.
Rating: 1.5/5 stars
emma_did_it's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know if I was supposed to read book 1 first, but I really liked the characters, my favorite is Sian. I can't wait to know how the story will unfold.
landscapesofink's review against another edition
1.0
So I got 25% into this book and had to stop. I really didn't like it. The writing style was so jerky, the sentences terrible, the description was non-existent. It felt so run-on to me. I knew nothing about the MC, and didn't feel connected to him in any way. I couldn't keep going, despite the short length.
jwood112's review against another edition
4.0
This novella introduces the world of Whyland and the backstory to the main players of the upcoming Portals of Whyland series. For such a quick introduction, the novella is thoughtful, artfully written, and filled with personality-defining events. While I am sure you would be able to start the upcoming series without reading The Spell Speakers, I would urge you to pick up and start with it anyway. The tragedies of this short glimpse into our characters are worth experiencing first hand.
Though young, even for a YA, the characters are easy to relate to and their motivations are realistic. (I would assume they are so young so they are late teens in the future series, which makes a lot of sense.) The antagonist, a mistreated older sibling, is as likeable as he is untrustworthy. The protagonist is young and innocent, but the reader watches as he matures, as he grows from victim of circumstance to a leader with a hidden agenda.
The world was richly constructed and the conflict clearly portrayed. While the magic of the world is touched upon throughout the story, it does not have an active role in the course of events yet so it is not discussed in detail. Which works to peak the reader’s interest in the full series.
I was surprised by the depth of the writing; it appeared to me that The Spell Speakers was a middle grade story. I expected a shallow, but happy story. Leitao, however, delivers a story filled with unexpected philosophical ruminating and beautiful prose. She depicts love and tragedy appropriate for her young characters that resounds joyfully and heartbreakingly in readers of all ages. Yet, because this is a book for younger readers, the plot twists are simple, the emotions are written with simple language, and often the dialogue moves the story forward. While I don’t see these as shortcomings, I warn adult readers that this is not a challenging book.
These few pages have successfully enticed me into the world of Whyland and to finish the story that I’ve started. Thank you to NetGalley, Day Leitao, and SparklyWave for the eARC which powered this review. I look forward to the upcoming series with excitement.
Though young, even for a YA, the characters are easy to relate to and their motivations are realistic. (I would assume they are so young so they are late teens in the future series, which makes a lot of sense.) The antagonist, a mistreated older sibling, is as likeable as he is untrustworthy. The protagonist is young and innocent, but the reader watches as he matures, as he grows from victim of circumstance to a leader with a hidden agenda.
The world was richly constructed and the conflict clearly portrayed. While the magic of the world is touched upon throughout the story, it does not have an active role in the course of events yet so it is not discussed in detail. Which works to peak the reader’s interest in the full series.
I was surprised by the depth of the writing; it appeared to me that The Spell Speakers was a middle grade story. I expected a shallow, but happy story. Leitao, however, delivers a story filled with unexpected philosophical ruminating and beautiful prose. She depicts love and tragedy appropriate for her young characters that resounds joyfully and heartbreakingly in readers of all ages. Yet, because this is a book for younger readers, the plot twists are simple, the emotions are written with simple language, and often the dialogue moves the story forward. While I don’t see these as shortcomings, I warn adult readers that this is not a challenging book.
These few pages have successfully enticed me into the world of Whyland and to finish the story that I’ve started. Thank you to NetGalley, Day Leitao, and SparklyWave for the eARC which powered this review. I look forward to the upcoming series with excitement.
katsreadingcorner's review against another edition
2.0
Personal rating 2.5 stars
I was sent an e copy from net galley for honest review.
This is an opening novella which I think is aimed at setting up the world ready for the series to continue.
The novella is only 108 pages long and personally, I didn't think there was enough world building, or that enough happened in the book for it to be a separate book. I think that this could have easily been slightly condensed and been the first few chapters in the first actual book in the series.
Not enough happened in the novella to capture my attention and make me want to continue reading the series.
I also personally found some of the speech a little confusing and there were chunks that had no indication to who was talking.
I was sent an e copy from net galley for honest review.
This is an opening novella which I think is aimed at setting up the world ready for the series to continue.
The novella is only 108 pages long and personally, I didn't think there was enough world building, or that enough happened in the book for it to be a separate book. I think that this could have easily been slightly condensed and been the first few chapters in the first actual book in the series.
Not enough happened in the novella to capture my attention and make me want to continue reading the series.
I also personally found some of the speech a little confusing and there were chunks that had no indication to who was talking.
bettelort's review against another edition
3.0
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review *
This was a cute novella that serves as an introduction to a world.
Now, I know that it was a novella, but I still wanted it to be just a little longer, because I didn't get as much of an understanding of the characters, as I get in a little longer books.
But what we got was enjoyable.
This was a cute novella that serves as an introduction to a world.
Now, I know that it was a novella, but I still wanted it to be just a little longer, because I didn't get as much of an understanding of the characters, as I get in a little longer books.
But what we got was enjoyable.
clairisa's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't connect with the characters at all. The story was to fast pace even for a Novella. The only character I found interesting was Sian. Darian and Cayla's relationship developed to quickly. The Novella didn't make me want to read the rest of the series.
katsreadingcorner's review
2.0
Personal rating 2.5 stars
I was sent an e copy from net galley for honest review.
This is an opening novella which I think is aimed at setting up the world ready for the series to continue.
The novella is only 108 pages long and personally, I didn't think there was enough world building, or that enough happened in the book for it to be a separate book. I think that this could have easily been slightly condensed and been the first few chapters in the first actual book in the series.
Not enough happened in the novella to capture my attention and make me want to continue reading the series.
I also personally found some of the speech a little confusing and there were chunks that had no indication to who was talking.
I was sent an e copy from net galley for honest review.
This is an opening novella which I think is aimed at setting up the world ready for the series to continue.
The novella is only 108 pages long and personally, I didn't think there was enough world building, or that enough happened in the book for it to be a separate book. I think that this could have easily been slightly condensed and been the first few chapters in the first actual book in the series.
Not enough happened in the novella to capture my attention and make me want to continue reading the series.
I also personally found some of the speech a little confusing and there were chunks that had no indication to who was talking.