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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
For some reason, I had low expectations of this book but I am so glad I bought it as it was so enjoyable! It captured me from page 1 and the characters instantly leave an impression on you. It's fast paced but still maintains good character development and has all the features a great fantasy book needs! I could not put this book down and will inevitably be reading the next books.
I loved every inch of this book and its masterful world. A book that bursts at the seams and was a total bomb to my mind. Go here for my full review: http://epicbooknerd.blogspot.com/2011/06/emerald-atlas-by-john-stephens.html
Jim Dale is the best narrator I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. He narrated all of the Harry Potter books. So when I looked him up to see if he narrated anything else, this trilogy popped up in the library. So I downloaded this first book and gave it a listen.
Problem one:. After over 100 hours of listening to him narrate Harry Potter it is REALLY hard to wrap your brain around a different story.
Problem two. This story happens to be what I can only describe as the love child of Harry Potter and Lord if the Rings. So VERY similar world. See problem one again.
That said, about two chapters in I was able to immerse myself into this world and fully enjoy the tale. I primarily listen to this book on a daily walk so I also became the crazy lady laughing to herself on a regular basis.
The main characters each bring their own to the story, Kate, the eldest is the responsible one with the world resting on her shoulders, Emma is darling, fearless, and fiercely loyal. Michael is inquisitive and scholarly and his greatest passion turns out to be real to the delight of us all.
Even though it kind of feels like you have read it all before, I still enjoyed the adventure. I have already started listening to the second book
Problem one:. After over 100 hours of listening to him narrate Harry Potter it is REALLY hard to wrap your brain around a different story.
Problem two. This story happens to be what I can only describe as the love child of Harry Potter and Lord if the Rings. So VERY similar world. See problem one again.
That said, about two chapters in I was able to immerse myself into this world and fully enjoy the tale. I primarily listen to this book on a daily walk so I also became the crazy lady laughing to herself on a regular basis.
The main characters each bring their own to the story, Kate, the eldest is the responsible one with the world resting on her shoulders, Emma is darling, fearless, and fiercely loyal. Michael is inquisitive and scholarly and his greatest passion turns out to be real to the delight of us all.
Even though it kind of feels like you have read it all before, I still enjoyed the adventure. I have already started listening to the second book
I'm a little tired of YA books starting out with parents dying/disappearing because the thought of it is just unbearable to me, but that not withstanding, a lovely story and book. It was funny and touching and interesting. It didn't really go into the book's mythology too much yet, but I presume the next two books will deal more with that.
I enjoyed it. :)
I enjoyed it. :)
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
I read 100 pages and couldn't get into it, but I kept stopping it for other books and then couldn't remember things that well. I may try it another time.
Five stars from my 8 year old whom I read this book to. I enjoyed it too, although not to all five stars. The story tends to stop and recapitulate/over explain things a bit, which might be necessary for its young target audience but then again it might not. And there is a tendency to start a chapter with suddenly jumping forwards in the story for about two pages and then going back to explain how we got there. I didn't quite warm to this technique. However, there are definitely exciting elements in the story and we're coming back for the second book in the series.
Jim Dale mostly saved this one. A standard magical fantasy that involves time travel which isn't my favorite plot device. It's okay.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5
This is a book which should work for me, and just didn't. I never really connected with the characters, and I found it kind of boring, to be honest. I started to get annoyed how the kids sort of got shuffled from one actiony sequence to the next, often being saved by others - though they do hold their own at the end.
My favorite character was probably Pym. I liked Albert (I think) a lot - but then he mostly disappeared from the story. Gabriel was cool, but I would've liked the relationship between him and Emma to have developed more. It was like insta-love - but a familial love instead of romantic one. the villain was cartoonish.
Honestly, I don't have much to say about this book. It took me forever to get through, and I probably won't be continuing the series.
This is a book which should work for me, and just didn't. I never really connected with the characters, and I found it kind of boring, to be honest. I started to get annoyed how the kids sort of got shuffled from one actiony sequence to the next, often being saved by others - though they do hold their own at the end.
My favorite character was probably Pym. I liked Albert (I think) a lot - but then he mostly disappeared from the story. Gabriel was cool, but I would've liked the relationship between him and Emma to have developed more. It was like insta-love - but a familial love instead of romantic one. the villain was cartoonish.
Honestly, I don't have much to say about this book. It took me forever to get through, and I probably won't be continuing the series.