Scan barcode
ashlyndiane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sargeantwoof's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
princess_gtm122's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
avasisx's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn't my favourite character story but I still thought it was interesting
abyjo's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
niyahlikesreading's review against another edition
4.0
I think this is my favorite in the series so far
aspenlenore's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't want this story before I started reading, but I did enjoy the beauty and the sadness of this story more than I thought I would.
There is a separation of character and story. The character is the main focus with some of the story only hinted at because the reader only really needs to know how it affects the character not what happened which is an interesting way to tell the story.
I don't understand the reverse curse. Did she still age forward a time before she aged backwards.. Does she age backwards one year at a time or slower? All accounts of her say she was older when the curse started but this story has her drink the potion at not quite 18. I'm pretty sure the 1st story had her with children and her sister in this book who was 7ish years younger said she had a son missing to the goblin market but Lundy was only showing fourteen which wouldn't be enough time accounted for.....
There is a separation of character and story. The character is the main focus with some of the story only hinted at because the reader only really needs to know how it affects the character not what happened which is an interesting way to tell the story.
I don't understand the reverse curse. Did she still age forward a time before she aged backwards.. Does she age backwards one year at a time or slower? All accounts of her say she was older when the curse started but this story has her drink the potion at not quite 18. I'm pretty sure the 1st story had her with children and her sister in this book who was 7ish years younger said she had a son missing to the goblin market but Lundy was only showing fourteen which wouldn't be enough time accounted for.....
rballenger's review against another edition
3.0
Type of read: Commuter Read.
What made me pick it up: Continuing the Wayward Children series.
Overall rating: 'In an Absent Dream' was a good, quick read. As a prequel, there seem to be none of our favorite characters from previous books in the series; however, the story of Lundy gives another dimension to the Wayward Children and their adventures through different realms, worlds, and just trying to find their home. Additionally, the end of the book ties everything together in an absolutely perfect way. I have no huge complaints about the actual book itself. Some of the writing was a little 'eh' and there were a few points where I was like 'whhhhaaaa just happened' because it got a little far fetched (yes, even for a book about adventuring children who conquer the unknown in crazy worlds only accessed by doors that pop up only when they want to).
All that said, I did have a big struggle with 'In an Absent Dream.' I've read and performed Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market for high school speech competitions, and I could not get that poem and interpretation out of my mind when I read this book. Don't get me wrong, I love the original poem, I think it's absolutely beautifully tragic but the original poem portrays the Goblin Market as a magical place with extremely dark and dire consequences (potentially sexual assault, drug addiction, etc. depending on the interpretation you take) and I think that took away from a bit of the lightheartedness of 'In an Absent Dream' for me.
What made me pick it up: Continuing the Wayward Children series.
Overall rating: 'In an Absent Dream' was a good, quick read. As a prequel, there seem to be none of our favorite characters from previous books in the series; however, the story of Lundy gives another dimension to the Wayward Children and their adventures through different realms, worlds, and just trying to find their home. Additionally, the end of the book ties everything together in an absolutely perfect way. I have no huge complaints about the actual book itself. Some of the writing was a little 'eh' and there were a few points where I was like 'whhhhaaaa just happened' because it got a little far fetched (yes, even for a book about adventuring children who conquer the unknown in crazy worlds only accessed by doors that pop up only when they want to).
All that said, I did have a big struggle with 'In an Absent Dream.' I've read and performed Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market for high school speech competitions, and I could not get that poem and interpretation out of my mind when I read this book. Don't get me wrong, I love the original poem, I think it's absolutely beautifully tragic but the original poem portrays the Goblin Market as a magical place with extremely dark and dire consequences (potentially sexual assault, drug addiction, etc. depending on the interpretation you take) and I think that took away from a bit of the lightheartedness of 'In an Absent Dream' for me.
kimminy_cricket's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5