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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
As an adult reader this was a good, fun 3 star read. If I'd had the chance to read it when I was a young teenager I would have adored this book.
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very interesting world building. Unfortunately there were too many characters to really become invested in many of them. Pacing was a little all over the place.
Emilie runs away from her uncle and aunt (her mother’s brother and his wife) because they’re too restrictive and want her to get married to an upstanding young man and have children. She wants an education and because she reads adventure novels, she decides to stowaway on a ship that will take her to her cousin’s school for girls.
But things happen and she winds up on another ship that takes her to the inside of the earth, a place known as Hollow World where adventure awaits.
This was very fast paced. Not sure who the target audience is, though. It reads like middle grade but touches on some YA topics but then the narrator made it sound like it's for the 8-12 crowd.
It reminded me a little of [b:Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos|472392|Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (Theodosia Throckmorton #1)|R.L. LaFevers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348525782l/472392._SX50_.jpg|2143025] but not as cute.
2.5 stars
But things happen and she winds up on another ship that takes her to the inside of the earth, a place known as Hollow World where adventure awaits.
This was very fast paced. Not sure who the target audience is, though. It reads like middle grade but touches on some YA topics but then the narrator made it sound like it's for the 8-12 crowd.
It reminded me a little of [b:Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos|472392|Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (Theodosia Throckmorton #1)|R.L. LaFevers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348525782l/472392._SX50_.jpg|2143025] but not as cute.
2.5 stars
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Eh. Martha Wells is hit or miss for me and this was more of a miss, more's the pity.
Loved this book - so much fun. I wish that it had been out when my daughter was younger, as I would have loved to have given it to her.
DISCLAIMER: I received Emilie and the Hollow World as a publisher ARC through Strange Chemistry in exchange for my honest review.
This review can also be found at The Title Page
My rating: 3.5 Stars
Emilie and the Hollow World was a great read. I don't regret one second spent reading this book. It didn't take me long to read at all because it kept me interested every page.
The book starts out with a bang, we follow Emilie as she steals aboard the Merry Bell as she is running away from her uncle and aunt. She boards the ship by mistake, originally intending to stow away on another vessel. We are quickly engulfed in magic and transported, along with the crew, to a world-within-a-world like destination.
The novel reads as an adventure. The cast of the book is met with one challenge at a time as they stride to their eventual goal. It is a really good read that is worth the time you will put into it, but it did fall short in that I wasn't blown away by it. It wasn't a book that I just couldn't put down, but at the same time, I never didn't want to pick it up again.
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be relatable. This book is easy to understand with a heroine you can really imagine in yourself. Emilie is strong-willed, but not pushy. She understands the extent of her knowledge and is willing to sit back and learn rather than insert herself into an issue.
There are deeper issues that are addressed in the book, in the Victorian world that it takes place, sexism is a common theme. The protagonists combat that in the best way possible. Two of the main characters, Emilie and Lady Marlende, are women. The way the author approaches this is very professional, the women aren't looked down upon, but are given less opportunity to advancement. While Emilie seems to have accepted her place in the world, Lady Marlende is a tough cookie who doesn't take that crap. She stands her ground and Emilie soon follows. Lady Marlende is definitely a winning character, she wins my favorite vote.
Sadly, the world building is where the novel suffered a bit, it could have used more depth. While reading the book, I didn't feel like I was transported to another world, which is normally my favorite part of alter-reality novels. While the world was creative enough, not enough description is given about the setting. We aren't told wether a place is supposed to be dark or light, forboding or inviting, etc. Things are explained in character conversation instead of the context of the book, and in that way it took away from the magic of the novel. I felt like I was reading a diary or memoir instead of a fiction novel.
To conclude my review, I suggest this book for the adventurous types, who don't like to waste time on romance. It is a quick, fun, read that you won't feel you've wasted time on.
This review can also be found at The Title Page
My rating: 3.5 Stars
Emilie and the Hollow World was a great read. I don't regret one second spent reading this book. It didn't take me long to read at all because it kept me interested every page.
The book starts out with a bang, we follow Emilie as she steals aboard the Merry Bell as she is running away from her uncle and aunt. She boards the ship by mistake, originally intending to stow away on another vessel. We are quickly engulfed in magic and transported, along with the crew, to a world-within-a-world like destination.
The novel reads as an adventure. The cast of the book is met with one challenge at a time as they stride to their eventual goal. It is a really good read that is worth the time you will put into it, but it did fall short in that I wasn't blown away by it. It wasn't a book that I just couldn't put down, but at the same time, I never didn't want to pick it up again.
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be relatable. This book is easy to understand with a heroine you can really imagine in yourself. Emilie is strong-willed, but not pushy. She understands the extent of her knowledge and is willing to sit back and learn rather than insert herself into an issue.
There are deeper issues that are addressed in the book, in the Victorian world that it takes place, sexism is a common theme. The protagonists combat that in the best way possible. Two of the main characters, Emilie and Lady Marlende, are women. The way the author approaches this is very professional, the women aren't looked down upon, but are given less opportunity to advancement. While Emilie seems to have accepted her place in the world, Lady Marlende is a tough cookie who doesn't take that crap. She stands her ground and Emilie soon follows. Lady Marlende is definitely a winning character, she wins my favorite vote.
Sadly, the world building is where the novel suffered a bit, it could have used more depth. While reading the book, I didn't feel like I was transported to another world, which is normally my favorite part of alter-reality novels. While the world was creative enough, not enough description is given about the setting. We aren't told wether a place is supposed to be dark or light, forboding or inviting, etc. Things are explained in character conversation instead of the context of the book, and in that way it took away from the magic of the novel. I felt like I was reading a diary or memoir instead of a fiction novel.
To conclude my review, I suggest this book for the adventurous types, who don't like to waste time on romance. It is a quick, fun, read that you won't feel you've wasted time on.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I did like this book. As all of Well's books I've read so far it got great characters, great world building and great writing. But I've been in a big reading slump this last month and books have taken time being finished because i just couldn't feel it. If it wasnt for slumping I would probably have giving this book 4 stars. I will also wait with the second book, Emilie & the Sky World until i get out of the slump.
adventurous
medium-paced