Scan barcode
naldorah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-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
4.0
booksi25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
5.0
I enjoyed this book, and am loving the information that was given to me. I had no idea there was lore behind the movie and I'm disappointed it took me this long to find out about it.
blbstorey's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book in the "Guardians" series - the next ones are due out this fall, just before the movie version of the series comes out. I DO like these books - they were written in response to a question from the author's child. "Do all the fairy tale characters know each other?" So William Joyce set out to, in effect, create a mythology where they DO all know each other.
Very inventive, very whimsical, and I love Joyce's illustrations. They are a good fit for a fairytale. But I still feel like there is something missing in these books, some depth that is lacking. There's no primal "a-ha" or "yes" of recognition to these characters, no real sense of universal or collective identification with the story because it IS new, and totally from Joyce's imagination. Maybe in time, the story will acquire that depth. Maybe I'm just too old to be able to accept his world as a given. ;)
I do still like the books - and the character of Bunnymund - a lot. (There are still grammatical errors that make me cringe, though.) And I do look forward to the books on the other two fairytale heros: Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies, and the Sandman (who does not speak). I love the theme of protecting children's' dreams, saving them from nightmares (Pitch, the Nightmare King), and the innocence of believing in magic. Maybe I'm not too old yet. :)
Very inventive, very whimsical, and I love Joyce's illustrations. They are a good fit for a fairytale. But I still feel like there is something missing in these books, some depth that is lacking. There's no primal "a-ha" or "yes" of recognition to these characters, no real sense of universal or collective identification with the story because it IS new, and totally from Joyce's imagination. Maybe in time, the story will acquire that depth. Maybe I'm just too old to be able to accept his world as a given. ;)
I do still like the books - and the character of Bunnymund - a lot. (There are still grammatical errors that make me cringe, though.) And I do look forward to the books on the other two fairytale heros: Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies, and the Sandman (who does not speak). I love the theme of protecting children's' dreams, saving them from nightmares (Pitch, the Nightmare King), and the innocence of believing in magic. Maybe I'm not too old yet. :)
zombeesknees's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps not QUITE as magical as the first installment in this series, but still plenty delightful; turning the Easter Bunny into an egg-obsessed Pooka earns Joyce top marks in my books. The final battle at the Earth's core is suitably thrilling, and there are plenty of endearing details. STILL looking forward to the forthcoming movie adaptation, and will have to check out the Tooth Fairy's story as soon as it's released.
brittney_dawn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
digitalrob's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to this with Aidan in the car.
This series is more interesting with every book. Aidan's only complaint was that we don't really get much of E. Aster until about 2/3rds through the book.
This series is more interesting with every book. Aidan's only complaint was that we don't really get much of E. Aster until about 2/3rds through the book.
19lindsey89's review against another edition
3.0
2.5
There was so much potential for exciting things to happen, but in the end, it felt like not much happened at all... All the problems were resolved really easily by a McGuffin, so the ending didn't feel like it had any stakes. I understand that these books are for kids, but really.
baronessekat's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly, I liked book more more.
But this one was just as fun and we get too meet the Easter Bunny.
I'm looking forward to starting book three.
But this one was just as fun and we get too meet the Easter Bunny.
I'm looking forward to starting book three.
mamabearreading's review against another edition
5.0
I went into this book pretty blind, or at least, as much as you can for having watched the movie and read the book that came before it! So I had no idea what to expect!
Some things still remain the same, the beautiful writing, the childlike wonder to the story, the characters that you've come to love. All those things that made the first book so special are here as well! The story is a little slower to start, but only marginally in my opinion.
Getting to know Pitch's story a bit more wasn't something I expected (though I really don't know why, I had always pictured him as a Villain with a capital 'V'. Always had been evil, always would be.) so the peak into his back story was an unexpected... pleasure isn't the right word. Bonus? Benefit of this story. It made me a lot more sympathetic to his character, something I did not expect when I opened the book. He's still the villain and clearly in the wrong, but knowing more about his history makes things different.
E. Aester Bunnymund also falls into the category of unexpected! It came out the same year as the movie, but in February, a full 9 months before the film came out, so I was surprised at just how different the character in the movie was from the book. I suppose I really shouldn't be, as our current version of the character who will be Santa is only slightly distanced from his ne're-do-well past, still very young, and still very skinny! But even in North's case, it doesn't take too much squinting to see his future self, but Bunnymund baffles me. As much as I really enjoyed his introduction and even the character arc he has in this book, he still seems so very different from who he will be. I'm hoping that we'll get to see more of his future self as the books continue!
Overall, I loved the book and am looking very forward to reading the third!
1 Star - Hated It
2 Stars - Didn't Enjoy It
3 Stars - It Was Okay
4 Stars - Really Enjoyed It
5 Stars - Loved It
Some things still remain the same, the beautiful writing, the childlike wonder to the story, the characters that you've come to love. All those things that made the first book so special are here as well! The story is a little slower to start, but only marginally in my opinion.
Getting to know Pitch's story a bit more wasn't something I expected (though I really don't know why, I had always pictured him as a Villain with a capital 'V'. Always had been evil, always would be.) so the peak into his back story was an unexpected... pleasure isn't the right word. Bonus? Benefit of this story. It made me a lot more sympathetic to his character, something I did not expect when I opened the book. He's still the villain and clearly in the wrong, but knowing more about his history makes things different.
E. Aester Bunnymund also falls into the category of unexpected! It came out the same year as the movie, but in February, a full 9 months before the film came out, so I was surprised at just how different the character in the movie was from the book. I suppose I really shouldn't be, as our current version of the character who will be Santa is only slightly distanced from his ne're-do-well past, still very young, and still very skinny! But even in North's case, it doesn't take too much squinting to see his future self, but Bunnymund baffles me. As much as I really enjoyed his introduction and even the character arc he has in this book, he still seems so very different from who he will be. I'm hoping that we'll get to see more of his future self as the books continue!
Overall, I loved the book and am looking very forward to reading the third!
1 Star - Hated It
2 Stars - Didn't Enjoy It
3 Stars - It Was Okay
4 Stars - Really Enjoyed It
5 Stars - Loved It
qkk1993's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0