Reviews - The Listeners | The StoryGraph

1.02k reviews for:

The Listeners

Maggie Stiefvater

3.96 AVERAGE

inkletter7's review against another edition

5.0

emotional informative mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

booky_b's review against another edition

3.0

mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

fawnifer's review against another edition

3.25

emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

leah_west's review against another edition

3.5

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

okevamae's review against another edition

4.75

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This novel is a lovely historical fiction novel, based on real events I had never learned about before, with an interesting magical realism twist. A lot of readers seem to be complaining that “nothing happens” in this book, and it is definitely slow paced. But the slow pace in this book did not bother me much because the plot is not really what the book is about. It’s about the setting, which was so rich and detailed that the Avallon felt like it must be a real place, and the characters, most of whom I found interesting enough to keep my intention despite the slow moving plot, and most of all it’s about the relationships and interactions between characters, which in my opinion has always been one of the things at which Stiefvater excels most brilliantly, that and her gorgeous writing style. All of these things, which are the author’s true strengths, are on full display in her adult debut. If you’re the type of reader who needs a fast and engrossing plot, this isn’t the book for you, but if you can hang in for a slower-paced discovery of a place and the characters who live there, give this one a try. I’d recommend it for fans of Becky Chambers – it’s less cozy and more literary, it’s a lot lighter on the SF/F elements, and it’s historical rather than futuristic, but it still gave me very similar vibes.

Representation: POC characters, neurodivergent character

I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings

bookmaddie's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book was so fun & had it all! A bit of magic, history, secrets & plots, romance, luxury.. love!

Content Warnings

lolabrigitte's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous funny informative slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

julia_duna's review against another edition

4.75

emotional informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

rlavent's review against another edition

4.5

challenging informative mysterious reflective 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: Complicated

anapego's review against another edition

4.0

Quite enjoyed the audiobook. It’s well written, the attention to details is impressive and I was immersed in the story.
Not something I’ll be longing to read again or be thinking about after reading… I didn’t fall in love with June, but I surely enjoyed reading her story.

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