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fatima3454r's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
lustucru1700's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
3.5
terriwestwell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
jakeybug's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
leena_p's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
_stephp's review against another edition
4.0
Iris est une jeune fille un peu atypique : elle est vide. Son ame, qui devrait être composée de 5 parties, n'est pas. Elle ne ressent rien. Et sa mémoire remonte à un an, pas plus.
Cela fait d'elle la parfait pickpocket pour voler des objets chargés de souvenirs, car elle n'est pas détectée par les "Yeux", ces machines qui analysent l'ame de chacun.
Jusqu'à ce qu'elle dérobe une mystérieuse bague... Elle semble alors récupérer son "étincelle", et est désormais traquée. Elle trouve refuge dans les bas-fonds, dans une boutique spécialisée en objets, auprès d'Olivander, un jeune homme qui lui semble étrangement familier...
S'enchainent alors de nombreuses péripéties, une quête vers des objets chargés de souvenirs pour lui permettre de retrouver toutes les parties de son ame, ainsi que sa mémoire.
Et si elle n'était pas si anodine que cela finalement ?
Plaisante histoire, un peu compliquée au début pour réussir à comprendre le concept d'âme divisée, mais une fois que l'aventure commence, on se laisse facilement embarquer par le rythme. Et les personnages sont attachants.
Cela fait d'elle la parfait pickpocket pour voler des objets chargés de souvenirs, car elle n'est pas détectée par les "Yeux", ces machines qui analysent l'ame de chacun.
Jusqu'à ce qu'elle dérobe une mystérieuse bague... Elle semble alors récupérer son "étincelle", et est désormais traquée. Elle trouve refuge dans les bas-fonds, dans une boutique spécialisée en objets, auprès d'Olivander, un jeune homme qui lui semble étrangement familier...
S'enchainent alors de nombreuses péripéties, une quête vers des objets chargés de souvenirs pour lui permettre de retrouver toutes les parties de son ame, ainsi que sa mémoire.
Et si elle n'était pas si anodine que cela finalement ?
Plaisante histoire, un peu compliquée au début pour réussir à comprendre le concept d'âme divisée, mais une fois que l'aventure commence, on se laisse facilement embarquer par le rythme. Et les personnages sont attachants.
cara_p's review
4.0
3.5 stars
This was a really creative idea and the story held together well. It was well-written and the prose was enjoyable to read. I had an idea of where it was going, but enjoyed the twists along the way. The romance is gradual enough that it works, and Iris's character arc was pretty believable, helped along by the different parts of her soul. The worldbuilding was really cool too. There was a lot that was different from our world, but I never felt confused or lost.
My only criticisms are that the cast could have been cut down by combining a few characters. There are a few that are ok but don't really add anything to the story, but that's neither here nor there. And then I couldn't quite work out the tech level of the world we were in. I got the impression at first that it was kinda Victorian-ish equivalent, but there were a few things that seemed strangely high-tech. It confused me a couple of times, but the story works, so I didn't mind. The genre feels like it shifts a little between the first and second half, but it just about works.
Glad I picked it up! It was the pretty cover that got me first, but the novel itself is worth reading :)
3.5 out of 5 shards of the soul.
This was a really creative idea and the story held together well. It was well-written and the prose was enjoyable to read. I had an idea of where it was going, but enjoyed the twists along the way. The romance is gradual enough that it works, and Iris's character arc was pretty believable, helped along by the different parts of her soul. The worldbuilding was really cool too. There was a lot that was different from our world, but I never felt confused or lost.
My only criticisms are that the cast could have been cut down by combining a few characters. There are a few that are ok but don't really add anything to the story, but that's neither here nor there. And then I couldn't quite work out the tech level of the world we were in. I got the impression at first that it was kinda Victorian-ish equivalent, but there were a few things that seemed strangely high-tech. It confused me a couple of times, but the story works, so I didn't mind. The genre feels like it shifts a little between the first and second half, but it just about works.
Glad I picked it up! It was the pretty cover that got me first, but the novel itself is worth reading :)
3.5 out of 5 shards of the soul.
katherinareads's review
5.0
• the title: intriguing, mysterious, bewitching. 5/5
• the cover: broken shards of gold on a dark teal background? 5/5
• the story: the world is divided based on the prominent characteristics of the soul. each soul is made of 5 components: the shadow, the spirit, the heart, the song and the spark.
the authority is called ‘the Order’, and it is made out of five houses: ‘the eye of obscura’ (house of shadow), ‘the flower of memoria’ (house of spirit), ‘the apple of cordata’ (house of heart), ‘the harp of harmonia’ (house of song) and ‘the torch of renato’ (house of spark). the Order's role is to maintain peace and ensure no tarnished souls roam freely. if someone is identified as tarnished, they are sent to the 'reformatory' for purification. however, our main character, iris, is a hollow—invisible, forgettable, without a soul. she poses a threat as she can evade 'the eye', which are the Order's magic lanterns used to illuminate people's souls and check for abnormalities or hollows. these lanterns are placed everywhere, always watching. yet, iris discovers there might be more to her than meets the eye. there's a possibility she wasn't always a hollow, but one of the higher-ups wanted her to be. will she uncover the truth? 5/5
• the ending: had me giggling like an idiot and crying happy tears. 5/5
✨️ final tally: 5/5 stars ✨️
fantasy books, everyone - highly recommended! this world was so unique that i couldn’t help but be absorbed by it. after careful consideration, i would probably be a spark, a fire soul — a warm energy that feels like a hug or a warm jumper. but not 101% sure.
💌 favourite quotes:
‘if you listened to the order, being soulless was the worst thing a person could be, but honestly it hardly bothered me at all.’
‘people had to act as if the authority was always watching. probably because they were.'
• the cover: broken shards of gold on a dark teal background? 5/5
• the story: the world is divided based on the prominent characteristics of the soul. each soul is made of 5 components: the shadow, the spirit, the heart, the song and the spark.
the authority is called ‘the Order’, and it is made out of five houses: ‘the eye of obscura’ (house of shadow), ‘the flower of memoria’ (house of spirit), ‘the apple of cordata’ (house of heart), ‘the harp of harmonia’ (house of song) and ‘the torch of renato’ (house of spark). the Order's role is to maintain peace and ensure no tarnished souls roam freely. if someone is identified as tarnished, they are sent to the 'reformatory' for purification. however, our main character, iris, is a hollow—invisible, forgettable, without a soul. she poses a threat as she can evade 'the eye', which are the Order's magic lanterns used to illuminate people's souls and check for abnormalities or hollows. these lanterns are placed everywhere, always watching. yet, iris discovers there might be more to her than meets the eye. there's a possibility she wasn't always a hollow, but one of the higher-ups wanted her to be. will she uncover the truth? 5/5
• the ending: had me giggling like an idiot and crying happy tears. 5/5
✨️ final tally: 5/5 stars ✨️
fantasy books, everyone - highly recommended! this world was so unique that i couldn’t help but be absorbed by it. after careful consideration, i would probably be a spark, a fire soul — a warm energy that feels like a hug or a warm jumper. but not 101% sure.
💌 favourite quotes:
‘if you listened to the order, being soulless was the worst thing a person could be, but honestly it hardly bothered me at all.’
‘people had to act as if the authority was always watching. probably because they were.'
faythfarrar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief