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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was so fun! I didn't know that this book was coming out--I totally thought this series was over--so I was so excited to see it on a "recently released" shelf at my local bookstore! I ended up getting it from the library as I don't own this series and, while I'm interested in eventually collecting the series, am not emotionally ready to commit to this big of a series yet (nobody asked lol but that is why I got it from the library!).
This series holds so much nostalgia for me: I read/listened to the entire series one year while I was in college, and while truthfully I don't remember much about it at all, I remember the vibes that going through this series gave me. I loved getting back into the world, and the whole book was so quintessentially Flavia. The vibes were immaculate as always, and once again, there wasn't actually as much chemistry talk as I would have liked.
Flavia is really growing up a lot, and I loved being in her shoes again, and of course, the other characters in her house are so good! Dogger is one of the best characters in literature, in my opinion, and getting to see more of Mrs. Mullet than in previous books was really fun. The peeks of Undine were also fun, though I am starting to get annoyed with Flavia about her attitude towards Undine. The mystery was interesting but truthfully I wasn't very invested in it, I was more into the setting and house and chemistry more than the actual plot.
To be completely honest, I didn't really understand what a lot of the story was about or how the mystery was solved, and at the end I felt like it tied up too nicely. At the same time, I also didn't care too deeply about it, so I wasn't very pressed about it. Some of the plot points are starting to stretch my suspension of disbelief. There were a couple big plot twists, which I am certain allude to future books, which I am fairly ambivalent towards.
I think I will read as many of these books as there exist, but I don't expect any of them are going to be my favorite book anytime soon. I still loved reading it though, and it was really quick to fly through: I read it in bits and pieces over the course of a weekend and it was really fun!
This series holds so much nostalgia for me: I read/listened to the entire series one year while I was in college, and while truthfully I don't remember much about it at all, I remember the vibes that going through this series gave me. I loved getting back into the world, and the whole book was so quintessentially Flavia. The vibes were immaculate as always, and once again, there wasn't actually as much chemistry talk as I would have liked.
Flavia is really growing up a lot, and I loved being in her shoes again, and of course, the other characters in her house are so good! Dogger is one of the best characters in literature, in my opinion, and getting to see more of Mrs. Mullet than in previous books was really fun. The peeks of Undine were also fun, though I am starting to get annoyed with Flavia about her attitude towards Undine. The mystery was interesting but truthfully I wasn't very invested in it, I was more into the setting and house and chemistry more than the actual plot.
To be completely honest, I didn't really understand what a lot of the story was about or how the mystery was solved, and at the end I felt like it tied up too nicely. At the same time, I also didn't care too deeply about it, so I wasn't very pressed about it. Some of the plot points are starting to stretch my suspension of disbelief. There were a couple big plot twists, which I am certain allude to future books, which I am fairly ambivalent towards.
I think I will read as many of these books as there exist, but I don't expect any of them are going to be my favorite book anytime soon. I still loved reading it though, and it was really quick to fly through: I read it in bits and pieces over the course of a weekend and it was really fun!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
i have enjoyed all the previous flavia novels but felt like i lost the plot with this one a bit - it’s more of a spy novel (which was a jarring pivot) than a classic mystery, and i read the other ones so long ago i couldn’t remember what was going on.
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"Truth is the most precious thing we have. Economize it."
-Flavia de Luce paraphrasing Mark Twain
If that doesn't sum up Flavia and this entire series!
I enjoyed this installment and was glad to have more Flavia, but I prefer the books in the series that have more of a mystery and focus less on the mystery of Flavia's antecendents.
-Flavia de Luce paraphrasing Mark Twain
If that doesn't sum up Flavia and this entire series!
I enjoyed this installment and was glad to have more Flavia, but I prefer the books in the series that have more of a mystery and focus less on the mystery of Flavia's antecendents.
I enjoyed it, can’t say I didn’t. But the little cousin Undine has yet to grow on me at all. And, (this is a dumb complaint) after completing the book I still don’t understand what the title means.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It's certainly nice to see young Flavia de Luce again, especially after thinking the series had ended with book #10. Flavia is dealing with the death of her father and having her younger cousin, Undine, living with her and her sister, Daffy, at Buckshaw. When a local civil servant passes away, Flavia becomes involved because, well, she's Flavia, but also because the family's beloved housekeeper, Mrs. Mullet, the man's cook, is suspected, as she was the one who served him the supposedly poisoned mushrooms with his breakfast.
For me, the best parts of the Flavia series are now her interactions with beloved butler, Dogger, and Mrs. Mullet (Mrs. M). Flavia's wisdom and sweetness shine through as she talks to these grown-ups in her life, revealing how, at age 12, she is both old beyond her years, and yet, just a kid.
Alas, Undine, while growing on me, is still a tough character to like, and the series fairly recent addition of a secret society (the Nide) that involves the entire de Luce family is tedious. I truly prefer Flavia when she's just young Flavia, solving mysteries, riding her bike Gladys across the countryside, puttering about in her chemistry lab, and chattering with Dogger and Mrs. M.
So, while this is a fun read, there are plenty of distractions that take away from its true Flavia essence. Perhaps, sometimes, series are meant to end, though I'm sure I won't give up on Flavia anytime soon.
For me, the best parts of the Flavia series are now her interactions with beloved butler, Dogger, and Mrs. Mullet (Mrs. M). Flavia's wisdom and sweetness shine through as she talks to these grown-ups in her life, revealing how, at age 12, she is both old beyond her years, and yet, just a kid.
Alas, Undine, while growing on me, is still a tough character to like, and the series fairly recent addition of a secret society (the Nide) that involves the entire de Luce family is tedious. I truly prefer Flavia when she's just young Flavia, solving mysteries, riding her bike Gladys across the countryside, puttering about in her chemistry lab, and chattering with Dogger and Mrs. M.
So, while this is a fun read, there are plenty of distractions that take away from its true Flavia essence. Perhaps, sometimes, series are meant to end, though I'm sure I won't give up on Flavia anytime soon.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have waited so long to read another book in this series and was so happy to see it on the bookshop's shelf.
There is definitely, a different tone in this book, because Flavia has a different role in life, is maturing. In some ways I felt the emptiness and quiet of Buckshaw as I was reading, but quickly embraced the change.
I am so curious to see where Alan Bradley will take this series in the future. I hope his creativity never ceases.
There is definitely, a different tone in this book, because Flavia has a different role in life, is maturing. In some ways I felt the emptiness and quiet of Buckshaw as I was reading, but quickly embraced the change.
I am so curious to see where Alan Bradley will take this series in the future. I hope his creativity never ceases.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No