Reviews

The Fourth Island by Sarah Tolmie

detailsandtales's review against another edition

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4.0

In this quiet, beautiful story, I feel like the islands are the main characters: both Innis Mor and the fictional fourth Aran Island, Innis Caillte. I've visited one of the Aran Islands on a day trip as a tourist, so I had some sense in my mind of what the setting looks like in real life, which only added to my experience of this story which is at once quiet, sad and beautiful. I also appreciated the different characters' perspectives, and how they made new lives for themselves together. I was intrigued by the experience of one character in particular, who is deaf on Innis Mor, but then gains hearing when she appears on Innis Caillte. I appreciate that this is disruptive to her, and that she has to make a huge adjustment, and even misses her deafness. And I like the new relationship with language that she develops.

starlesssara's review against another edition

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3.0

”once you have had pain like that, you dread its onslaught ever after. the fear of it never leaves you alone. just as the pain itself once was, it becomes your constant companion.”

this had some golden pieces of writing, but all in all I feel like the concept would’ve shone better if it had more pages to evolve and explore the characters and settings. by no means bad, but not what I was expecting.

sara419's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced

3.0

pagesandnights's review

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dark mysterious slow-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? No

3.0

frogggirl2's review

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4.0

A parable, a fantasy, every piece and every word has a meaning and if you could only put it all together, you would understand everything. So much world building and so many relatable, affecting characters in so few words

mars_213's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced

4.0

sixofravensreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

tebi's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5*

lostcanticles's review against another edition

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challenging slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

sascham's review against another edition

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5.0

Ohhhh this was good. Like a stiff breeze moving through your whole brain and clearing out all the trash hidden in the corners. How do you go on after death? How do the survivors manage? And what is the purpose of a good warm sweater in all of this? I guess you gotta read this poetic little story to find out. Don't go too far from shore though. The sea might eat you up and spit you out on the other side.