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jacquelinec's review against another edition
3.0
Although it was a tad bit on the long side, The Splendor Falls is a rather enjoyable novel. While there are definitely paranormal elements involved, it's not the typical sort with supernatural species. Magic, ghosts, history, love, loss and hate - those are themes that are threaded throughout Rosemary Clement-Moore's story.
Sylvie is an interesting character, made all the more so by her tragic ballet injury and her subsequent struggles. She exudes intelligence and strength as she endeavors to learn more about her family's past and the mystery connects it to her present. And the mystery is a complicated one evidenced by the sheer length of the story. Though things did drag a bit in places, once the tale was underway I found it to be pretty captivating. I particularly enjoyed the setting and historical details that Clement-Moore employed. Her descriptions helped bring the story to life and added a feeling of realness.
My only real issue with this book is the ambiguity that surrounds the Sylvie-Rhys-Shawn love triangle. The triangle factors in greatly with the story - pretty much revolving around it in fact. However, by the end of it all, nothing definitive is uncovered about whether or not they are reincarnated as the story implies...
...To continue reading this review, visit my blog, The Eclectic Book Lover.
Sylvie is an interesting character, made all the more so by her tragic ballet injury and her subsequent struggles. She exudes intelligence and strength as she endeavors to learn more about her family's past and the mystery connects it to her present. And the mystery is a complicated one evidenced by the sheer length of the story. Though things did drag a bit in places, once the tale was underway I found it to be pretty captivating. I particularly enjoyed the setting and historical details that Clement-Moore employed. Her descriptions helped bring the story to life and added a feeling of realness.
My only real issue with this book is the ambiguity that surrounds the Sylvie-Rhys-Shawn love triangle. The triangle factors in greatly with the story - pretty much revolving around it in fact. However, by the end of it all, nothing definitive is uncovered about whether or not they are reincarnated as the story implies...
...To continue reading this review, visit my blog, The Eclectic Book Lover.
bungleboo's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book and was excited after getting my hands on it but It failed to deliver for me on so many levels.
The book was draw out in many places and felt to rushed in others, it was a slow build up to not very much happening in the end. I liked the idea of the magic and the past still haunting the house but there needed to be more of the magic throughout the book instead of the little hints. Some characters felt like they were not needed and others deserved a bigger part.
I can see so many people liked this book and it all most makes me feel bad for not enjoying it. The ideas were good, it just wasn't very well executed.
The book was draw out in many places and felt to rushed in others, it was a slow build up to not very much happening in the end. I liked the idea of the magic and the past still haunting the house but there needed to be more of the magic throughout the book instead of the little hints. Some characters felt like they were not needed and others deserved a bigger part.
I can see so many people liked this book and it all most makes me feel bad for not enjoying it. The ideas were good, it just wasn't very well executed.
samantha_89's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down, so much so that it actually looks like it hasn’t been read. I have very little to complain about this book and that was such a nice change because I am such a nitpicker when it comes to books!
The Splendor Falls is a young adult book, but it stands out amongst all the other books, even the books that are somewhat similar to it. What I enjoyed most about the book (beyond the plot and characters) was the effective and logical use of lyrical narrative and the setting.
Today, we see books full of sarcasm and jokes and dry humor and I love it, I really really do. Sometimes though, you need a break and Splendor Falls totally gave me that vacation. Sylvie is a ballerina and was an amazing one before her accident, for me the soft quality of the narrative helped add to her background and passion for such a beautiful dance. It’s important to note that while the narrative isn’t full of sarcasm and the like Sylvie is still able to deliver some amazing smart-mouth remarks. I’m impressed and I bow down to a master of quick remarks.
The book takes place almost entirely Cahawba, Alabama. Clement-Moor did an excellent job of creating a Southern feel (although, I’m from California so I wouldn’t *really* know) but didn’t overwhelm us. The south has been a popular place for YA lately and not everyone has done as excellent a job at creating the right amount of glamor, old-world charm and history as Clement-Moor has. The little town this book takes place in has moved its way up in to my places I would like to travel.
I liked the character of Sylvie, Rhys and Shawn. I think Clement-Moor instilled the right amount of charm into Rhys and made Slyvie just sympathetic enough for the readers to like her.
Sylvie is an interesting character that could probably be compared to Claire from The Morganville Vampire series because although she is seventeen she has been an adult for a few years now touring with the ballet company. When she goes to stay with family she is back to being a kid again and it’s a very interesting situation for her to be in.
With enough YA books under my belt I knew to dislike Shawn but that didn’t turn me off from him, I liked his character and although he isn’t in a huge chunk of the book he is important and I really felt like he was a fully developed character.
Rhys was charming but I’m not sure I really saw past the charm and fell in love with him like I was supposed to. The characters of Rhys and Shawn and the way they interact is lovely and perfectly done.
The story does have a love triangle. I didn’t feel like it was trying to copy Twilight though and saw much more of the 1990s teen lit in this book then what is going on now. People who liked The Vampires Diaries will probably enjoy this book as well. I liked the mix of fantasy and reality and the book and never felt overwhelmed by it, this book can definitely be read by both those who are and aren’t obsessed with the paranormal. As for the romance in book… it’s gentle. No one over the age of twelve is going to blush while reading the book. However you feel about intimacy in the book that comment can go both ways. The PG aspect of the book makes it readable by more, but the PG aspect also makes us older readers wanting for more.
Some have said that they felt the book was too long. The story (which I believe takes place in about a week) certainly would be told more condensed by other writers. I didn’t have a problem with the length and actually would have appreciated a little more at the end because I felt the epilogue was a little rushed. A lot of people felt GiGi overshadowed everyone in the book. GiGi had been her friend for the past few months, of course she is going to be a big part of the book. It was interesting to see a pet incorporated so much in the book. She did probably get more page time then Rhys and I would have appreciated more time to spend with Rhys.
My biggest issue with the book is that it employs the absent parent writing technique. In the beginning of the book her mother gets married and although in other circumstances I could understand that her mother would go off on a honeymoon and not talk to her daughter for a week this was a circumstance where I just couldn’t by that. Now, if her mother had appeared to be uncaring or indifferent to her daughter’s situation than I could have understood that. It wasn’t shown though and it felt like her mother was just forgotten about and at 500 pages Clement-Moor just didn’t want to go through and incorporate her into the story.
Ultimately, I love this book. I finished it over a month ago and still do not want to leave the world. Even with all the loose ends cleaned up and tied off I would still read a sequel in a heartbeat. Since a lot of people have complained about the length of the book I would say it’s great for those who hate short books. Even though it was longer than most books though I still read it in about two or so days, so keep that in mind.
The Splendor Falls is a young adult book, but it stands out amongst all the other books, even the books that are somewhat similar to it. What I enjoyed most about the book (beyond the plot and characters) was the effective and logical use of lyrical narrative and the setting.
Today, we see books full of sarcasm and jokes and dry humor and I love it, I really really do. Sometimes though, you need a break and Splendor Falls totally gave me that vacation. Sylvie is a ballerina and was an amazing one before her accident, for me the soft quality of the narrative helped add to her background and passion for such a beautiful dance. It’s important to note that while the narrative isn’t full of sarcasm and the like Sylvie is still able to deliver some amazing smart-mouth remarks. I’m impressed and I bow down to a master of quick remarks.
The book takes place almost entirely Cahawba, Alabama. Clement-Moor did an excellent job of creating a Southern feel (although, I’m from California so I wouldn’t *really* know) but didn’t overwhelm us. The south has been a popular place for YA lately and not everyone has done as excellent a job at creating the right amount of glamor, old-world charm and history as Clement-Moor has. The little town this book takes place in has moved its way up in to my places I would like to travel.
I liked the character of Sylvie, Rhys and Shawn. I think Clement-Moor instilled the right amount of charm into Rhys and made Slyvie just sympathetic enough for the readers to like her.
Sylvie is an interesting character that could probably be compared to Claire from The Morganville Vampire series because although she is seventeen she has been an adult for a few years now touring with the ballet company. When she goes to stay with family she is back to being a kid again and it’s a very interesting situation for her to be in.
With enough YA books under my belt I knew to dislike Shawn but that didn’t turn me off from him, I liked his character and although he isn’t in a huge chunk of the book he is important and I really felt like he was a fully developed character.
Rhys was charming but I’m not sure I really saw past the charm and fell in love with him like I was supposed to. The characters of Rhys and Shawn and the way they interact is lovely and perfectly done.
The story does have a love triangle. I didn’t feel like it was trying to copy Twilight though and saw much more of the 1990s teen lit in this book then what is going on now. People who liked The Vampires Diaries will probably enjoy this book as well. I liked the mix of fantasy and reality and the book and never felt overwhelmed by it, this book can definitely be read by both those who are and aren’t obsessed with the paranormal. As for the romance in book… it’s gentle. No one over the age of twelve is going to blush while reading the book. However you feel about intimacy in the book that comment can go both ways. The PG aspect of the book makes it readable by more, but the PG aspect also makes us older readers wanting for more.
Some have said that they felt the book was too long. The story (which I believe takes place in about a week) certainly would be told more condensed by other writers. I didn’t have a problem with the length and actually would have appreciated a little more at the end because I felt the epilogue was a little rushed. A lot of people felt GiGi overshadowed everyone in the book. GiGi had been her friend for the past few months, of course she is going to be a big part of the book. It was interesting to see a pet incorporated so much in the book. She did probably get more page time then Rhys and I would have appreciated more time to spend with Rhys.
My biggest issue with the book is that it employs the absent parent writing technique. In the beginning of the book her mother gets married and although in other circumstances I could understand that her mother would go off on a honeymoon and not talk to her daughter for a week this was a circumstance where I just couldn’t by that. Now, if her mother had appeared to be uncaring or indifferent to her daughter’s situation than I could have understood that. It wasn’t shown though and it felt like her mother was just forgotten about and at 500 pages Clement-Moor just didn’t want to go through and incorporate her into the story.
Ultimately, I love this book. I finished it over a month ago and still do not want to leave the world. Even with all the loose ends cleaned up and tied off I would still read a sequel in a heartbeat. Since a lot of people have complained about the length of the book I would say it’s great for those who hate short books. Even though it was longer than most books though I still read it in about two or so days, so keep that in mind.
ianthe_the_unicorn's review against another edition
5.0
I've only had this book in my collection for a year, and I've now picked it up for the 4th time. I must like it, or some such. I love ballet, and there isn't enough of it in the world. I also love Clement-Moore, having started with Texas Gothic. After finishing that excellent book I sought others of her work and quickly consummed this title. It is an elegant and resonate story.
sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
Slyvie used to be a prima ballerina, but an unfortunate accident has ruined the use of her leg. Slyvie is sent to her cousin's house in Alabama, while her mother is on her honeymoon with Slyvie's step dad. Slyvie meets a whole slew of quirky people and the whole town is wrapped in a mystical mystery. This book was good, but if you are expecting the snark of Clement-Moore's other novels, this one won't live up to those standards.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know what it was about this book, but I started it in the morning and finished it at around 12:30 that night, thoroughly annoyed when I had to put it down (for stupid things like eating etc.). Sylvie Davis, tragically incapacitated ballerina, is a spunky and likable main character who deals with being stranded in her estranged cousin's creepy old Southern mansion for the summer by 1) being snarky, 2) starting to see ghosts of the Civil War-era residents/her ancestors, and 3) suspecting the other teenagers in town of being part of some kind of voodoo conspiracy. Add into the mix a cute Welsh guy who ALSO seems to be up to something and a well-defined sense of place, and this mystery/ghost story definitely has what it takes to compete and win against every other aspect of my life for 24 hours.
holly_tree's review against another edition
3.0
Alright so... essentially, I enjoyed this book. I say this AFTER I finished it. If you had asked me at page 150, 250, 350... I would have said something along the lines of... "WHAT THE FREAKING FREAK IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?!?! JFIOSDJIOHJFASKMCLKAJSJRIOWJdsjfioweioafnewhjioajeklrj! CAN WE GET ON WITH IT ALREADY?!?"
Truly, I would have given it up... had it not been for Gigi. Thank goodness for 6-pound fluffy reject designer handbag dogs... because she saved this book.
The Splendor Falls is a 513 page book. Of the Young Adult Urban Fantasy Genre. However, it isn't until page 405, yes that would be FOUR HUNDRED AND FIVE, that MAGIC is confirmed as part of the plot.
405.
It's not even BROUGHT UP until a few pages earlier (page 393, to be exact).
That's a lot of pages to read of Sylvie Davis mucking around Bluestone Hills, not knowing what's going on. There's a few ghostly encounters and some skepticism towards the motives of the Teen Town Council, particularly Shawn Maddox, and some love/hating going on with Welsh hottie Rhys, as well as some prime time pouting over the loss of Sylvie's ballet career... but other than that, it's just mucking around the family mansion-turned-almost-open-inn, and gardening.
That's where Gigi saves the day. Like I said, good ol' reject designer handbag chihuahuas. :)
Anyways, once the whole magic thing is FINALLY put on the map, the books lights up like a Christmas tree, and it becomes so much more entertaining, exciting, and pleasing to read. I truly believe that if Ms. Clement-Moore had condensed the first 400 pages into like, 150, or 200 tops, then it would have flowed faster, easier, and been simply more pleasing to read. There was simply a TON of material to get through.
Because Sylvie's quest for info on her ancestors took her to all different sources all over the course of the book, it became patchy, confusing, and as a reader, you felt like the information was all over the map, and yet wasn't drawing any conclusions, for Sylvie or you as a reader. Also, often during coversations throughout the book, I felt like they jumped topics without making sense on many different occasions. Am I the only one who felt that? Like, they were alluding to one thing, like Hannah, and then all of a sudden they were talking about the Welsh legends, with no segue whatsoever? I got confused..... or, not confused, but thought it was really strange and RANDOM...
AND WHAT THE HECK DOES THE TITLE "The Splendor Falls" MEAN? Am I just stupid and can't make the connection to anything? I mean, there are a couple of LITERAL slips and "falls" during the course of the book... Hannah falling in the river, Clara down the stairs, and of course, Slyvie's epic fall that broke her leg in the first place etc., but I wouldn't have referred to them as SPLENDORific in anyway. And there weren't any sort of WATERfalls along the river, splendor or otherwise... Someone please explain it to me?
See, as much as I seriously dislike the one-word title craze going on amongst the YA genre, at least you can generally UNDERSTAND the reference. Grrrrrr.
Anyways, I'm glad Gigi didn't end up dying in some sort of heroic deed at the end or anything, because I REALLY would have been pissed off. Like, seriously pissed off. Like, throw the book at the wall pissed off.
And I don't even LIKE chihuahuas.
Truly, I would have given it up... had it not been for Gigi. Thank goodness for 6-pound fluffy reject designer handbag dogs... because she saved this book.
The Splendor Falls is a 513 page book. Of the Young Adult Urban Fantasy Genre. However, it isn't until page 405, yes that would be FOUR HUNDRED AND FIVE, that MAGIC is confirmed as part of the plot.
405.
It's not even BROUGHT UP until a few pages earlier (page 393, to be exact).
That's a lot of pages to read of Sylvie Davis mucking around Bluestone Hills, not knowing what's going on. There's a few ghostly encounters and some skepticism towards the motives of the Teen Town Council, particularly Shawn Maddox, and some love/hating going on with Welsh hottie Rhys, as well as some prime time pouting over the loss of Sylvie's ballet career... but other than that, it's just mucking around the family mansion-turned-almost-open-inn, and gardening.
That's where Gigi saves the day. Like I said, good ol' reject designer handbag chihuahuas. :)
Anyways, once the whole magic thing is FINALLY put on the map, the books lights up like a Christmas tree, and it becomes so much more entertaining, exciting, and pleasing to read. I truly believe that if Ms. Clement-Moore had condensed the first 400 pages into like, 150, or 200 tops, then it would have flowed faster, easier, and been simply more pleasing to read. There was simply a TON of material to get through.
Because Sylvie's quest for info on her ancestors took her to all different sources all over the course of the book, it became patchy, confusing, and as a reader, you felt like the information was all over the map, and yet wasn't drawing any conclusions, for Sylvie or you as a reader. Also, often during coversations throughout the book, I felt like they jumped topics without making sense on many different occasions. Am I the only one who felt that? Like, they were alluding to one thing, like Hannah, and then all of a sudden they were talking about the Welsh legends, with no segue whatsoever? I got confused..... or, not confused, but thought it was really strange and RANDOM...
AND WHAT THE HECK DOES THE TITLE "The Splendor Falls" MEAN? Am I just stupid and can't make the connection to anything? I mean, there are a couple of LITERAL slips and "falls" during the course of the book... Hannah falling in the river, Clara down the stairs, and of course, Slyvie's epic fall that broke her leg in the first place etc., but I wouldn't have referred to them as SPLENDORific in anyway. And there weren't any sort of WATERfalls along the river, splendor or otherwise... Someone please explain it to me?
See, as much as I seriously dislike the one-word title craze going on amongst the YA genre, at least you can generally UNDERSTAND the reference. Grrrrrr.
Anyways, I'm glad Gigi didn't end up dying in some sort of heroic deed at the end or anything, because I REALLY would have been pissed off. Like, seriously pissed off. Like, throw the book at the wall pissed off.
And I don't even LIKE chihuahuas.
pixiefairy15's review against another edition
3.0
Sylvie Davis is a ballerina who can’t dance. A broken leg ended her career, but Sylvie’s pain runs deeper. What broke her heart was her father’s death, and what’s breaking her spirit is her mother’s remarriage—a union that’s only driven an even deeper wedge into their already tenuous relationship.
Uprooting her from her Manhattan apartment and shipping her to Alabama is her mother’s solution for Sylvie’s unhappiness. Her father’s cousin is restoring a family home in a town rich with her family’s history. And that’s where things start to get shady. As it turns out, her family has a lot more history than Sylvie ever knew. More unnerving, though, are the two guys that she can’t stop thinking about. Shawn Maddox, the resident golden boy, seems to be perfect in every way. But Rhys—a handsome, mysterious foreign guest of her cousin’s—has a hold on her that she doesn’t quite understand.
Then she starts seeing things. Sylvie’s lost nearly everything—is she starting to lose her mind as well?
I like to think of this book as being in quarters. The first quarter is ok, the second is slow, the third is awesome and the fourth is, well, meh.
It had all the potential to be awesome, and in some places it is. But in the others, the writing falls flat, the effect is complete and utter boredom. Don't get me wrong, it's alright, but that's it. The ending is too abrupt, they solve it all and then it's like: 'here's what happened to him, here's what happened to her, and now I'm living happily ever after.' Also, the title has nothing to do with the story. Unless it does, in which case I need someone to explain it to me.
If this was an OFSTED report, I'd give it 3.
Uprooting her from her Manhattan apartment and shipping her to Alabama is her mother’s solution for Sylvie’s unhappiness. Her father’s cousin is restoring a family home in a town rich with her family’s history. And that’s where things start to get shady. As it turns out, her family has a lot more history than Sylvie ever knew. More unnerving, though, are the two guys that she can’t stop thinking about. Shawn Maddox, the resident golden boy, seems to be perfect in every way. But Rhys—a handsome, mysterious foreign guest of her cousin’s—has a hold on her that she doesn’t quite understand.
Then she starts seeing things. Sylvie’s lost nearly everything—is she starting to lose her mind as well?
I like to think of this book as being in quarters. The first quarter is ok, the second is slow, the third is awesome and the fourth is, well, meh.
It had all the potential to be awesome, and in some places it is. But in the others, the writing falls flat, the effect is complete and utter boredom. Don't get me wrong, it's alright, but that's it. The ending is too abrupt, they solve it all and then it's like: 'here's what happened to him, here's what happened to her, and now I'm living happily ever after.' Also, the title has nothing to do with the story. Unless it does, in which case I need someone to explain it to me.
If this was an OFSTED report, I'd give it 3.
hollylynna's review against another edition
5.0
This book is another one added to my top ten teen books of 2009. Its slow moving time and rich characters drew me right in and I still think about them. This book made me laugh (at Gigi's antics), cry, and most of all shiver.