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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.8 ☆☆☆☆☆
I’m full of emotions T__T
[EDIT]
Review time!
I've read a lot of reviews that said the book was boring and slow, and yes - it's not a swashbuckling dragon adventure, it's a story about a girl who runs away from home in a world that happens to have dragons (and gigantic world serpents). So I see where the critique might come from, but if you actually take a step back and take the book for what it is, you'll find an absolutely beautiful story. But it's also a story you have to pick up at the right time in your life I guess. For me this was one of those quiet books that through some cosmic coincidence come to you at the exact moment you need them.
The writing is beautiful too, and with all the high stakes drama that most fantasy books are these days, it was so relieving to just follow this disaster of a girl on her road into the unknown.
I will say though, even though this is a stand-alone, there are a lot of references to [b:Seraphina|19549841|Seraphina (Seraphina, #1)|Rachel Hartman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387577872l/19549841._SY75_.jpg|17375239] and [b:Shadow Scale|16085457|Shadow Scale (Seraphina, #2)|Rachel Hartman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405355942l/16085457._SY75_.jpg|21451371]. And while I read Seraphina, I skipped Shadow Scale because I just didn't like it that much. You don't absolutely have to, but I'd suggest reading at least Seraphina beforehand, otherwise some parts of the worldbuilding/character interaction might be a bit confusing.
I’m full of emotions T__T
[EDIT]
Review time!
I've read a lot of reviews that said the book was boring and slow, and yes - it's not a swashbuckling dragon adventure, it's a story about a girl who runs away from home in a world that happens to have dragons (and gigantic world serpents). So I see where the critique might come from, but if you actually take a step back and take the book for what it is, you'll find an absolutely beautiful story. But it's also a story you have to pick up at the right time in your life I guess. For me this was one of those quiet books that through some cosmic coincidence come to you at the exact moment you need them.
The writing is beautiful too, and with all the high stakes drama that most fantasy books are these days, it was so relieving to just follow this disaster of a girl on her road into the unknown.
I will say though, even though this is a stand-alone, there are a lot of references to [b:Seraphina|19549841|Seraphina (Seraphina, #1)|Rachel Hartman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387577872l/19549841._SY75_.jpg|17375239] and [b:Shadow Scale|16085457|Shadow Scale (Seraphina, #2)|Rachel Hartman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405355942l/16085457._SY75_.jpg|21451371]. And while I read Seraphina, I skipped Shadow Scale because I just didn't like it that much. You don't absolutely have to, but I'd suggest reading at least Seraphina beforehand, otherwise some parts of the worldbuilding/character interaction might be a bit confusing.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tess is the younger sister of a character I loved dearly, and Tess barely made an impression on me in those original books. Given a chance to spread her wings (metaphoric wings- she is completely human) in her own book, however, Tess is a character I won't forget again. Having been laid low for her loose morals and shameful vices, 17 year old Tess basically runs away from home to chase down a myth. And thus begin her adventures on the road, which are numerous and worthy of being told.
Sequel(s) await.
Sequel(s) await.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tess of the Road is a slow paced, character driven story about a young woman and her journey, both in the literal sense and in the metaphorical sense. Her character growth from an impulsive noble girl to an independent strong woman is done very well.
And the ending was so incredibly satisfying.
CW:
And the ending was so incredibly satisfying.
CW:
Spoiler
Rape, physical and emotional abuse
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the pieces of Tess’s journey feel a little disconnected, with some clumsy handling of some issues & themes, but the relationships are compelling & Tess’s character development is fantastically done. [content warning for child death, childhood sexual abuse, & religiously motivated child abuse]
A very different book from the author's previous novels (though connected) but still touched with Hartman's wonderful way with words, her ingenuity with plot and her utterly wonderful characters. Seraphina is one of my favourite fantasy characters but I think I might love Tess just a little bit more, she's just so wonderfully flawed, gorgeously stubborn, elegantly cantankerous, heart-breakingly wounded and a truly fabulous heroine.