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eleven_hummingbird's review against another edition
4.0
A fun, whimsical adventure of magic and monsters, quirky in all the best ways.
The setting is really excellent, reminds me a lot of reading Harry Potter but through a totally different lens. The illustrations are great, reminding me of the Dark Crystal.
Only real downside is the characters. Some of the fantastical characters are fun, Tweezel probably being my favorite, but none of the human characters really made an impression for me, at least beyond their silly costumes. The two young protagonists are fairly stereotypical literary British youths. Quint is brash, dreamy, and adventurous, while Maris is forever upset and inevitably a damsel in distress. Linius is so horrifically irresponsible that I could not feel much empathy for him.
Despite the lackluster characters, the story and setting are enjoyable enough to make this an entertaining read.
The setting is really excellent, reminds me a lot of reading Harry Potter but through a totally different lens. The illustrations are great, reminding me of the Dark Crystal.
Only real downside is the characters. Some of the fantastical characters are fun, Tweezel probably being my favorite, but none of the human characters really made an impression for me, at least beyond their silly costumes. The two young protagonists are fairly stereotypical literary British youths. Quint is brash, dreamy, and adventurous, while Maris is forever upset and inevitably a damsel in distress. Linius is so horrifically irresponsible that I could not feel much empathy for him.
Despite the lackluster characters, the story and setting are enjoyable enough to make this an entertaining read.
bluejay21's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
viandemoisie's review against another edition
I just remembered this book. I've read it so long ago, I don't remember much besides flying ships held up by magic rocks and there was the big floating city held by a chain.
oftheabyss's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a well written middle grade fantasy with a very unique world and interesting world building! I'll be reading the rest of the series on ebook because there's just so many; if I decide I really love the whole series when I finish I'll get them in the new paperbacks!
laura_2209's review against another edition
5.0
I adore these books, I started them when I was young and decided to revisit them with the recent publication. Fresh and invigorating to read the story in the Curse of the Gloamglozer is a fast paced tale of intrigue and adventure. Easy to read and impossible to put down with detailed and realistic characters I believe this series would appeal to any fantasy reader regardless of age!
hattie21's review
4.0
I am glad that I read this book. I loved the idea of the fact that there is a group of people that travel around in flying ships, but also that there is an academy dedicated to sky sciences. But also the fact that there once was a section for earth science that had started to be abandoned. Following Quit as the main character finding out information through his mind is quite intriguing. After the ending of this book, I want to find out what is going to happen next as I am not quite sure what could exactly happen. Which is the exciting thing as it makes me want to find out what may happen next.
friedatweehuysen's review against another edition
4.0
Power, absolute power can be your downfall in life and so too in this book...
It is also surprising just what we will do to aid someone we care about and how fear blocks us.
This is a splendid start to what looks like it will be a staggering tale.
It is also surprising just what we will do to aid someone we care about and how fear blocks us.
This is a splendid start to what looks like it will be a staggering tale.
p1nc7's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
5.0
Yes to the entire series. Just, yes.
blakethebookeater's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Huge thanks to Gavin from How to Train Your Gavin for opening up a portal in my mind and reminding me that these books exist. Because let me tell you, these books were probably the MOST influential series to me that I read (besides Goosebumps and Percy Jackson) while growing up.
Now this book is slightly weird because it's a prequel to the Twig Saga (which I read first because it came out first) but it's now recommended as the start to the Edge Chronicles, which now spans THIRTEEN books.
The Edge is a basically an entire world on this massive cliff. The Deepwoods (where Twig's story begins) is more inland, and towards the edge of the Edge, a massive floating city hangs in the sky: Sanctaphrax, where our story takes place.
This being my first read of this series in well over a decade, I wanted to see if it would be a good entry point for new readers, and since I had forgotten most everything, I was basically a new reader.
...and it was AWESOME!
We open with a sky pirate battle (ships utilizing the floating rocks of the same kind that supports Sanctaphrax--yes this world building is so damn cool)!!!! Apparently this was a separate short story that was later added in to this edition, but it's so seamless and I think it's the perfect intro to the zany, wild world.
Quint is the son of the Wind Jackal and he wants to be a sky pirate like his dad, but after his father is summoned by the Most High Academe of Sanctaphrax, Linius, they head to the city. And Quint is made Linius's apprentice. Most of the book follows Quint learning things about the city (and the various backstabbing and cutthroat nature of its scholars) and also befriending Linius' daughter Maris. They don't get along at first, but the way their relationship develops is touching.
The main plot of this novel kicks in when Quint and Maris discover that Linius is keeping a secret deep in the heart of the stone that supports Sanctaphrax, and they head to investigate.
I loved these characters and their adventures so much, and something that surprised me the most was HOW DARK THIS BOOK IS. This is a MIDDLE GRADE novel, where people die (onscreen), most of the main character's family was killed in a fire (which is remembered by Quint in fairly gruesome detail), and also MONSTERS THAT SUCK THE MEMORIES OUT OF YOU UNTIL YOU DIE.
So yes, I loved this series as a kid because it wasn't condescending and yes it may have given me nightmares because of the pictures when I was younger, but adult me just loved that stuff. I am so so excited to read the rest of this series now. Definitely going to be bingeing them all so watch out for that!
Go read this series <3
Now this book is slightly weird because it's a prequel to the Twig Saga (which I read first because it came out first) but it's now recommended as the start to the Edge Chronicles, which now spans THIRTEEN books.
The Edge is a basically an entire world on this massive cliff. The Deepwoods (where Twig's story begins) is more inland, and towards the edge of the Edge, a massive floating city hangs in the sky: Sanctaphrax, where our story takes place.
This being my first read of this series in well over a decade, I wanted to see if it would be a good entry point for new readers, and since I had forgotten most everything, I was basically a new reader.
...and it was AWESOME!
We open with a sky pirate battle (ships utilizing the floating rocks of the same kind that supports Sanctaphrax--yes this world building is so damn cool)!!!! Apparently this was a separate short story that was later added in to this edition, but it's so seamless and I think it's the perfect intro to the zany, wild world.
Quint is the son of the Wind Jackal and he wants to be a sky pirate like his dad, but after his father is summoned by the Most High Academe of Sanctaphrax, Linius, they head to the city. And Quint is made Linius's apprentice. Most of the book follows Quint learning things about the city (and the various backstabbing and cutthroat nature of its scholars) and also befriending Linius' daughter Maris. They don't get along at first, but the way their relationship develops is touching.
The main plot of this novel kicks in when Quint and Maris discover that Linius is keeping a secret deep in the heart of the stone that supports Sanctaphrax, and they head to investigate.
I loved these characters and their adventures so much, and something that surprised me the most was HOW DARK THIS BOOK IS. This is a MIDDLE GRADE novel, where people die (onscreen), most of the main character's family was killed in a fire (which is remembered by Quint in fairly gruesome detail), and also MONSTERS THAT SUCK THE MEMORIES OUT OF YOU UNTIL YOU DIE.
So yes, I loved this series as a kid because it wasn't condescending and yes it may have given me nightmares because of the pictures when I was younger, but adult me just loved that stuff. I am so so excited to read the rest of this series now. Definitely going to be bingeing them all so watch out for that!
Go read this series <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Slavery
treereader's review against another edition
3.0
The world-building is still my favourite part of these books. So vivid.