Scan barcode
anouk_reads's review against another edition
2.0
This book just wasn't it for me.
I didn't felt it while reading this. I also didn't like the character, like I didn't like the way she was. There is this scene where she and another character are in a car and she does something that you just can't do and it made me dislike her so much. I couldn't connect with the story in anyway and it took me so long to read.
Only the last 100 pages where intriguing towards me. No, this books just wasn't it for me.
The only thing that I enjoyed was the reference towards some Harry Potter stuff but that only happend twice.
I didn't felt it while reading this. I also didn't like the character, like I didn't like the way she was. There is this scene where she and another character are in a car and she does something that you just can't do and it made me dislike her so much. I couldn't connect with the story in anyway and it took me so long to read.
Only the last 100 pages where intriguing towards me. No, this books just wasn't it for me.
The only thing that I enjoyed was the reference towards some Harry Potter stuff but that only happend twice.
bookhound's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
creepy fairy tale meets real world YA story. Lots of buildup them a fairly rushed resolution. I enjoyed the "slightly scary without being horror" feel to it. And the cover, illustrations, and font are stunning.
ashton0109's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
crimeofpoisson's review against another edition
4.0
I had a bit to say about this fantastic book, so I wrote a blog about it instead:
https://crimeofpoisson.wordpress.com/2018/04/16/the-book-list-the-hazel-wood/
https://crimeofpoisson.wordpress.com/2018/04/16/the-book-list-the-hazel-wood/
tylerhayes's review against another edition
4.0
A good mystery/fairly tale esque story. A pretty big departure from recent high fantasy readings, this book (especially in the beginning) is a very contemporary, low fantasy. Started off a tiny bit slow, but still had some good intrigue with all the people following Alice, our main character. Alice is not super likeable, but she could be a lot worse, so I can live with it. I really enjoyed once she came home to find the letter, and then found other mother was kidnapped - that really set the whole plot into motion and got me invested. I also really liked finch, he makes for a good sidekick. We think he wants to help Alice, but his motivations are also a little suspect, since he wants to find her grandmother and her stories, and sll her fans are kind of cultish. And I liked his and Alice's dynamic, and the mystery/drama while they're being followed, and the bond they do form. I like how the fairy tales he tells also add to the lore of the hazel wood and make eve ything creepier. And it was kind of nice to avoid the cliche of them falling in love. This was the best part imo. The part once they get to the magical land gets a bit weird. Finch's death scene was fine - but him coming back in the way he did seems too convenient - and surprisingly unmagical. The whole deal with the "refugees" seems like a bit of a copout to give Alice some guides. But there could have been weird magical guides or her story senses or whatever to guide her instead of this solution. It felt to worldly in such a magical/rule breaking place. Also, I like the spinner, and how Alice is the door, etc - but I wish Alice did more to escape her own story, or maybe Alice and Finch. Once again, the refugees from the real world felt too grounded, like they shouldnt be able to make a difference in this world. So while the world was cool, it felt like a bit of a lackluster climax. Like it couldn't decide to learn into magic all the way or not, and we got a not-so-satisfying conclusion. Also, it set up all these characters - the briar king and Catherine - and Alice never got to face them or anything, or use them to end her story or something cool like that. I like the idea of Alice needing to free herself from the story, but not how it was done. But I did like the part after she returned to the real world. It sort of reminded me of the hunger games after prim died, where katniss is a wreck who needs rehabilitation. Same sort of thing, Alice is understandably a wreck, but it's good to see her get a happy ending of sorts. Pretty good book with a few unsatisfying points that drag it down.
kennnedyexe's review against another edition
2.0
i really love a character that is angry all the time, so i liked that. started out pretty promising, but the ending was just. underwhelming. and the characters seemed flat and honestly, not very interesting, with the exceptions of a few side characters. it took way too long to get through the exposition, just for the climax to be... eh. also im sorry but i could not give less of a fuck about ellory finch like. what was the point of bringing him back. just to save her?? and so the audience doesnt feel bad that some kid died??? whatever i think they shouldve just let him stay dead. and the fact that he "found another girl" like the MOST boring motivations for anything. i dont want to hear about him. i wanted to see more from the spinner also, her character was just. BORING. like if you want to write a morally grey character and also give them a god-like status make it interesting!
in summary, a book about fairy tales that wants to subvert the traditional fairy tale narrative, but instead is just boring.
in summary, a book about fairy tales that wants to subvert the traditional fairy tale narrative, but instead is just boring.
saraeliss's review against another edition
Did not like the dynamic between Finch and Alice. No chemistry.
uutopicaa's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. No es malo, pero no era para mí. No lo disfruté y terminarlo fue más una obligación "porque lo pagué" que otra cosa.
Sé que en toda saga el primer libro suele ser el “introductorio”, pero a The Hazel Wood se le va la mano en ese aspecto. La trama no avanza.
El primer 60% de la novela es solo la vida cotidiana de Alice y de su madre con los problemas normales de gente común y corriente + algún pequeño indicio de a qué apuntará la trama luego con lo de su abuela. Pero son detalles nada más y aparecen de vez en cuando, casi al pasar.
No ocurre NADA interesante. Es muy muuuuuy lento todo y podría haberse resumido en menos de la mitad de las páginas sin ningún inconveniente. El lector no se engancha (al menos, yo no).
Y luego de que ocurre “algo” en la historia, se siente como si hubiera otro 20% de relleno puro para mostrarnos el aspecto “mágico” de la novela. Y solo el 10% restante es importante para la trama, interesante y útil.
No pido que se explique todo lo que ocurre porque la magia y lo inverosímil no siempre requiere de datos reales, es incluso aceptable que se tome la idea del sinsentido de Alice in Wonderland en algunas escenas pero… no sé, acá incluso las cosas “mágicas” que ocurren se sienten en gran medida solo como relleno para mostrarnos un mundo que tiene MUCHÍSIMO por ofrecer y del que no vemos prácticamente nada útil.
Fue una gran decepción.
La idea base de la trama me encantó: una chica cuya abuela escribía cuentos de hadas fantásticos que tal vez no hubieran salido de su imaginación en realidad y un mundo cruel donde las historias se cuentan una y otra vez.
Así planteado se ve genial. Es una lástima que la ejecución haya sido tan pobre.
Dudo leer la segunda parte cuando salga publicada.
Y, como les digo siempre, esta es solo mi percepción de la historia. Una opinión personal basada en mi experiencia lectora y mis gustos personales. Tal vez a ustedes les fascine el libro, no hay nada de malo en ello.
Pueden leer la reseña completa en mi blog: https://pardonmispanglish.blogspot.com/2019/03/resena-la-puerta-del-bosque-melissa.html
Sé que en toda saga el primer libro suele ser el “introductorio”, pero a The Hazel Wood se le va la mano en ese aspecto. La trama no avanza.
El primer 60% de la novela es solo la vida cotidiana de Alice y de su madre con los problemas normales de gente común y corriente + algún pequeño indicio de a qué apuntará la trama luego con lo de su abuela. Pero son detalles nada más y aparecen de vez en cuando, casi al pasar.
No ocurre NADA interesante. Es muy muuuuuy lento todo y podría haberse resumido en menos de la mitad de las páginas sin ningún inconveniente. El lector no se engancha (al menos, yo no).
Y luego de que ocurre “algo” en la historia, se siente como si hubiera otro 20% de relleno puro para mostrarnos el aspecto “mágico” de la novela. Y solo el 10% restante es importante para la trama, interesante y útil.
No pido que se explique todo lo que ocurre porque la magia y lo inverosímil no siempre requiere de datos reales, es incluso aceptable que se tome la idea del sinsentido de Alice in Wonderland en algunas escenas pero… no sé, acá incluso las cosas “mágicas” que ocurren se sienten en gran medida solo como relleno para mostrarnos un mundo que tiene MUCHÍSIMO por ofrecer y del que no vemos prácticamente nada útil.
Fue una gran decepción.
La idea base de la trama me encantó: una chica cuya abuela escribía cuentos de hadas fantásticos que tal vez no hubieran salido de su imaginación en realidad y un mundo cruel donde las historias se cuentan una y otra vez.
Así planteado se ve genial. Es una lástima que la ejecución haya sido tan pobre.
Dudo leer la segunda parte cuando salga publicada.
Y, como les digo siempre, esta es solo mi percepción de la historia. Una opinión personal basada en mi experiencia lectora y mis gustos personales. Tal vez a ustedes les fascine el libro, no hay nada de malo en ello.
Pueden leer la reseña completa en mi blog: https://pardonmispanglish.blogspot.com/2019/03/resena-la-puerta-del-bosque-melissa.html
kaavyareadsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
This book had such a promising start, I really thought I would rate it higher. I loved the fairy tale concept, unfortunately the second half of the book was such a let down. It was really messy and difficult to enjoy. The only good part was the fairytales from Tales of the Hinterland.
tea_bex's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.5