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madame_medusa's review against another edition
4.0
"Only one voice will find him" but the rest do guide him in this beautiful story of a boy with a gift, and his connection to Romesville! This book did leave me with some questions that maybe could be answered in the reread or perhaps that is the charm of the story, never fully knowing everyone's intentions for Henry.
It was a bittersweet ending to a bittersweet story! Left me wanting more!
It was a bittersweet ending to a bittersweet story! Left me wanting more!
animelanie's review against another edition
2.0
I felt this book was written simply & did not progress.
lesedi's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
bluestarfish's review against another edition
3.0
Reading is a magical power, and here even moreso. Henry is running around Elizabethan London picking pockets, getting into fights, and trying to exist in a world where places are nice if you're rich and really, really hard when you're poor. One inspiration for this work is Shakespeare's Dark Lady series of sonnets, which is such an interesting jumping off point for the novel.
patrickwreed's review against another edition
3.0
The rating might be a little unfair, as I admit I've never really got on with the YA genre - likely because I never really read any when I was the target audience or younger. As a result, there are elements of this book that I felt were a little heavy-handed, or too obvious, and perhaps wouldn't have seemed so to the intended reader.
It also suffers from being the first in a series, so much of it reads as if it's just getting started, and then ends quite abruptly having not particularly resolved any of the questions raised by the story. That sort of thing will likely come into focus in subsequent books, but it's hard to say at this point.
It was a quick, enjoyable read all the same, and the setting was well-researched and believable, even if some of the supporting characters felt a tad one note (which, again, may be more a hallmark of the YA genre than a criticism of this story in particular). I don't know if I'll necessarily read the rest of the series when it's released, but as a fan of Akala's work in other genres, I'd definitely be interested to see what else he comes up with in the realm of fiction, particularly if he decides to tackle more mature fare in the future.
It also suffers from being the first in a series, so much of it reads as if it's just getting started, and then ends quite abruptly having not particularly resolved any of the questions raised by the story. That sort of thing will likely come into focus in subsequent books, but it's hard to say at this point.
It was a quick, enjoyable read all the same, and the setting was well-researched and believable, even if some of the supporting characters felt a tad one note (which, again, may be more a hallmark of the YA genre than a criticism of this story in particular). I don't know if I'll necessarily read the rest of the series when it's released, but as a fan of Akala's work in other genres, I'd definitely be interested to see what else he comes up with in the realm of fiction, particularly if he decides to tackle more mature fare in the future.
alos3478's review
adventurous
challenging
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
4.0
lovegriefandgender's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-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
5.0
missn80's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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
5.0
georgiacassandra's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
frombethanysbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Release Date: 22nd April 2021
Genre: Young Adult | Fiction | Historical Fiction
Who is Henry? An orphan, a theif, an outcast. And a boy with extraordinary gifts.
Living in a quasi-elizabethan London, Henry lives with his cousins Mary and Matthew in the slums after being abandoned by his Mother who could be anywhere. Haunted by the dreams of a mysterious dark lady, Henry has to navigate his newfound gifts, his power over words and language while still trying to navigate the racial and societal prejudices threatening to erase him.
Henrys story started off as a slow-moving, leisuirely stroll through days long in the past, gaining momentum with every turned page until I was thrown into a new world. The narration was full of slang and shakespearean dialogue which may confuse some readers but only pulled me in deeper.
I had high expectations opening up this book, Akala is a master wordsmith and I wasn't disappointed at his first foray into the written world. The Dark Lady was beautifully poetic and enchanting - each voice unique and spell-binding.
I expected a full fantasy going on here but instead found a magical historical tale that was realistic and other-worldy at the same time.
This book may be for children on the cover (which is just stunning!) but this is definitely not just for teenagers - I can't wait to learn more about the world of The Dark Lady with Henry.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Akala and Hachette Childrens Group for an ARC in return for an honest review.