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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I listened to the audiobook and let me say that Jim Dale breathes life into this plot.
Three children, considered orphans, enter a foster home and
This plot was mid-blowing and easy to read. I never saw any of the events coming. It was beautifully crafted and articulated, leaving readers wondering if it was written for adults. The plot and world building were both highly developed, and kept me reading way past my allotted time.
I must say that every character readers were supposed to hate, I hated. Every character readers were supposed to love, I loved, except the middle child. The selfishness was almost unforgivable. The villain could’ve been darker, but for its intended audience, she was a true villain. However; we barely hear from her throughout the book. I also found it hard to envision the her until the middle of the book.
Overall, it was an easy read with tons of characters that helped carry the plot. I will be continuing the series. Hopefully, through the sound of Jim Dale’s voice.
Three children, considered orphans, enter a foster home and
This plot was mid-blowing and easy to read. I never saw any of the events coming. It was beautifully crafted and articulated, leaving readers wondering if it was written for adults. The plot and world building were both highly developed, and kept me reading way past my allotted time.
I must say that every character readers were supposed to hate, I hated. Every character readers were supposed to love, I loved, except the middle child. The selfishness was almost unforgivable. The villain could’ve been darker, but for its intended audience, she was a true villain. However; we barely hear from her throughout the book. I also found it hard to envision the her until the middle of the book.
Overall, it was an easy read with tons of characters that helped carry the plot. I will be continuing the series. Hopefully, through the sound of Jim Dale’s voice.
3.75. Concept has vibes of the Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, and Back to the Future. Maybe I just felt the HP because Jim Dale reads it, lol.
A good story for 12+ year olds. Some of the fighting scenes are a little graphic and had me cringing.
I like the relationship between the siblings and how they grew to appreciate each other’s abilities and knowledge as the story developed. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
A good story for 12+ year olds. Some of the fighting scenes are a little graphic and had me cringing.
I like the relationship between the siblings and how they grew to appreciate each other’s abilities and knowledge as the story developed. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I find myself regularly amazed by books that have been in my to read list for ages, but get pushed back for one reason or another. I cannot believe I've waited this long to finally start this series! As the first in tree series, this book was fascinating and I'm Ajay staying the next one!!
Also, I love that Michael is a dwarf expert with applicable knowledge from a textbook. Nerd win!
Also, I love that Michael is a dwarf expert with applicable knowledge from a textbook. Nerd win!
This book started a little slow for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it. My heart was pounding by chapter 5 and the action never stopped. It reminded me of the 100 Cupboards series and Fablehaven series, yet it's not an imitation. The characters are unique and the bad guys are suitably hideous. The only downside is there are no zombies in this series (that was a joke...). I'm ordering book two as soon as I write this.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
Gelesen von: David Nathan. Tolle Stimmfarbe und er verstellt seine Stimme passend zu jeder Figur. Toll gelesen.
Es spielen mit: Geschwister Kate, Michael und Emma, die mich im ersten Moment ein wenig an die Baudelaire Geschwister erinnert haben, aber im Laufe der Geschichte haben sie sich zu eigenständigen Charakteren gemausert. Mein Liebling ist Emma, weil sie so mutig und leidenschaftlich ist.
Außerdem auf der Bühne: Doktor Pym, den ich bis zum Ende schwer einzuschätzen fand. Die böse Gräfin, der stille Held Gabriel und noch ein paar andere.
Mit folgenden Kreaturen: Kreischer (gruselig und originell) und ein Haufen Zwerge (die find ich ja irgendwie doof).
Zauberhafte Elemente: Zeitreisen! Für ein Middle Grade Buch fand ich den Zeitreisenaspekt recht komplex. Kann am Hörbuch liegen, aber ich war manchmal selbst verwirrt von den Erklärungen.
Verlauf: Am Anfang war ich noch Feuer und Flamme. Drei Geschwister, ein altes Haus, Magie und gruselige Kreaturen. Leider verlor die Geschichte Stück für Stück an Reiz. Mein Interesse schwand und damit auch meine Aufmerksamkeit, wodurch ich später Probleme hatte Figuren auseinander zu halten und sie mir bildlich vorzustellen.
Irritationen sind aufgetreten: bei dem Verhalten von Gabriel und Emma. Es gibt Szenen, in denen die beiden sich ihre Zuneigung zueinander gestehen und es ist nicht ganz klar, ob das rein platonisch oder gar intim gemeint ist. Emma ist erst 10 oder 12 und Gabriel weit älter als sie.
Fortsetzung? Es soll noch 2 weitere Bücher geben, aber ich glaube die werden von mir nicht gelesen... nur ganz vielleicht, wenn David Nathan sie mir wieder vorliest.
Es spielen mit: Geschwister Kate, Michael und Emma, die mich im ersten Moment ein wenig an die Baudelaire Geschwister erinnert haben, aber im Laufe der Geschichte haben sie sich zu eigenständigen Charakteren gemausert. Mein Liebling ist Emma, weil sie so mutig und leidenschaftlich ist.
Außerdem auf der Bühne: Doktor Pym, den ich bis zum Ende schwer einzuschätzen fand. Die böse Gräfin, der stille Held Gabriel und noch ein paar andere.
Mit folgenden Kreaturen: Kreischer (gruselig und originell) und ein Haufen Zwerge (die find ich ja irgendwie doof).
Zauberhafte Elemente: Zeitreisen! Für ein Middle Grade Buch fand ich den Zeitreisenaspekt recht komplex. Kann am Hörbuch liegen, aber ich war manchmal selbst verwirrt von den Erklärungen.
Verlauf: Am Anfang war ich noch Feuer und Flamme. Drei Geschwister, ein altes Haus, Magie und gruselige Kreaturen. Leider verlor die Geschichte Stück für Stück an Reiz. Mein Interesse schwand und damit auch meine Aufmerksamkeit, wodurch ich später Probleme hatte Figuren auseinander zu halten und sie mir bildlich vorzustellen.
Irritationen sind aufgetreten: bei dem Verhalten von Gabriel und Emma. Es gibt Szenen, in denen die beiden sich ihre Zuneigung zueinander gestehen und es ist nicht ganz klar, ob das rein platonisch oder gar intim gemeint ist. Emma ist erst 10 oder 12 und Gabriel weit älter als sie.
Fortsetzung? Es soll noch 2 weitere Bücher geben, aber ich glaube die werden von mir nicht gelesen... nur ganz vielleicht, wenn David Nathan sie mir wieder vorliest.
You have 3 orphans. The oldest, Kate, is also the most responsible. The boy and middle child, Michael, is a geeky, Dwarf-loving talkative smart kid. The youngest, Emma, is the snarky and sarcastic one. Oh, and of course, they all love each other dearly and express it, though Emma and Michael fight just enough to make you think they are less clichéd than they really are. Or maybe that makes them more clichéd?
Their childhood has been difficult, bouncing from orphanage to orphanage, wondering if their parents will ever return for them, and why they had to leave them in the first place. But soon the adventure begins, and the kids are transported back in time to a place filled with magic...and Dwarves. And monsters. Oh, and they did this by using a book.
Then begins all sorts of trauma and all manner of dangerous situations, from imprisonment to separation and plenty of other stuff. It's a fine story, but maybe I am just too old and jaded to enjoy this sort of thing more than I did. But wait! It's not just me that thinks this is unoriginal! This was a bedtime story to my two sons (13 and 11). The 11 year old gave it "3.5 stars. I would have liked it better if so many things didn't seem like they were done before." And there you have it.
Still, I must note that no one (including me!) requested to stop the book. It's not *bad*, it's just not as good as maybe it could have been. I did enjoy the character development; their separate personalities and such made reading their spoken lines aloud all the more fun (and easier). So at points it did not matter so much that it felt familiar and sometimes eye-rolling. Also, both kids requested to read the sequel. There is a third planned as well, but the sequel is still fairly new.
Admittedly, my mind wandered during a fair bit of the reading. It was easy to do, the writing did not have an iron grip on me, and I can read out loud pretty much on auto-pilot. Thankfully the kids paid attention and were always willing to remind me who was who and when did THAT happen and other stuff.
Towards the end, during the especially dramatic scenes, I noticed the author uses the word "leapt" a lot. Enough that I noticed, and then he used it even more, and my noticing was upgraded to irritation. Minor, but still. I can blame the editor for that.
Overall, it's a decent fantasy read. The description for this calls it a Narnia for the tween set. I can see that, though the fights in The Emerald Atlas don't have the same epic feel, and I don't think there were any talking animals or moving trees. But I'd have to ask the kids to be sure. ;)
Their childhood has been difficult, bouncing from orphanage to orphanage, wondering if their parents will ever return for them, and why they had to leave them in the first place. But soon the adventure begins, and the kids are transported back in time to a place filled with magic...and Dwarves. And monsters. Oh, and they did this by using a book.
Then begins all sorts of trauma and all manner of dangerous situations, from imprisonment to separation and plenty of other stuff. It's a fine story, but maybe I am just too old and jaded to enjoy this sort of thing more than I did. But wait! It's not just me that thinks this is unoriginal! This was a bedtime story to my two sons (13 and 11). The 11 year old gave it "3.5 stars. I would have liked it better if so many things didn't seem like they were done before." And there you have it.
Still, I must note that no one (including me!) requested to stop the book. It's not *bad*, it's just not as good as maybe it could have been. I did enjoy the character development; their separate personalities and such made reading their spoken lines aloud all the more fun (and easier). So at points it did not matter so much that it felt familiar and sometimes eye-rolling. Also, both kids requested to read the sequel. There is a third planned as well, but the sequel is still fairly new.
Admittedly, my mind wandered during a fair bit of the reading. It was easy to do, the writing did not have an iron grip on me, and I can read out loud pretty much on auto-pilot. Thankfully the kids paid attention and were always willing to remind me who was who and when did THAT happen and other stuff.
Towards the end, during the especially dramatic scenes, I noticed the author uses the word "leapt" a lot. Enough that I noticed, and then he used it even more, and my noticing was upgraded to irritation. Minor, but still. I can blame the editor for that.
Overall, it's a decent fantasy read. The description for this calls it a Narnia for the tween set. I can see that, though the fights in The Emerald Atlas don't have the same epic feel, and I don't think there were any talking animals or moving trees. But I'd have to ask the kids to be sure. ;)
