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annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
3.0
Even though I no longer get the boxes from the Book Box Club I do keep up with the books they include in their parcels. Mostly because they include often more unknown books and also because they include quite some books I never would have gotten myself. This is one of both. I haven't heard anyone about this book and didn't know it existed. I also don't know for sure if I would have gotten the book if I would have heard about it.
After finishing the book I'm a little in doubt what I actually think about it. The book has something addictive. I think it's the atmosphere, the presence of the magic, the questions that stay unanswered for such a long time. I was quite curious to find out what was going on and what had happened to the two girls. Therefore I kept on reading and couldn't put the book down, which was helped by the bigger font and the easy to read writing style.
However, the magic didn't really convince me in the end. I think I understand what the author tried to do with this book, I think I understand the idea behind the magic, but it all still feels a little wobbly. The magic system doesn't seem too solid. I wouldn't be able to explain to someone else how it works exactly, I also wouldn't be able to predict what would happen if the author presented me with a different case set in this world.
And although the author states that this book is about female friendship, I'm not entirely sure if the book succeeds when it comes to that. I do hope that in most cases the situation is not as bad as it is here. I understand the girls have been friends for such a long time and I understand the book shows us how they stay friends eventually despite everything, but we mostly see their friendship break, shatter and crack during the book, which made me a little uncomfortable.
I think that especially younger readers will for sure enjoy this book, but for readers needing their YA novels to be that little bit more, this book might not be it.
After finishing the book I'm a little in doubt what I actually think about it. The book has something addictive. I think it's the atmosphere, the presence of the magic, the questions that stay unanswered for such a long time. I was quite curious to find out what was going on and what had happened to the two girls. Therefore I kept on reading and couldn't put the book down, which was helped by the bigger font and the easy to read writing style.
However, the magic didn't really convince me in the end. I think I understand what the author tried to do with this book, I think I understand the idea behind the magic, but it all still feels a little wobbly. The magic system doesn't seem too solid. I wouldn't be able to explain to someone else how it works exactly, I also wouldn't be able to predict what would happen if the author presented me with a different case set in this world.
And although the author states that this book is about female friendship, I'm not entirely sure if the book succeeds when it comes to that. I do hope that in most cases the situation is not as bad as it is here. I understand the girls have been friends for such a long time and I understand the book shows us how they stay friends eventually despite everything, but we mostly see their friendship break, shatter and crack during the book, which made me a little uncomfortable.
I think that especially younger readers will for sure enjoy this book, but for readers needing their YA novels to be that little bit more, this book might not be it.
twinklstarcandy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Okay weird and rushed at the end
gn2001's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Nice book, interesting ending
katiechikin's review against another edition
Forgot about it but will read again (probably not)
vicki82octopus's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
This reads very YA ( which it is). It was a lovely little plalette cleanser. I found I was left wanting more, it'd love to read a more adult version, the plot was very good. The characters were likable. Lovely short chapters, not very long ideal for teenagers who like a bit of fantasy/paranormal.
thelibraryofklee's review against another edition
3.0
“I was curious about you, Bitsy Clark.”
Bitsy Clark is a teenager who has grown up amongst the mystery of the local woods and The Revelry, the mystical event that occurs at the end of senior year. Amy convinces her bestie Bitsy to sneak in to the event. They wake the next day with no recollection of what happened but things have changed. Mysterious rings burn on their finger. Bitsy is caught up in the mystery of it all while Amy seems to move forward with her life, which only seems to get better while Bitsy's gets worse.
This book is a light fantasy thriller focused on teenage female friendship. Bitsy and Amy are painfully real protagonists: teenage friendship fraught with the complexity of change for these girls. Will their friendship withstand the meddling magic of The Revelry? Or will one be lost forever?
I enjoyed this book - it was an easy read and I flew through it. I do have some questions about the woods and how they came to be the way they were, a bit more back story may have satisfied me, but overall, it was a satisfying read. I def recommend this book for your local high school library.
"Stranger things have happened in Ember Grove."
Bitsy Clark is a teenager who has grown up amongst the mystery of the local woods and The Revelry, the mystical event that occurs at the end of senior year. Amy convinces her bestie Bitsy to sneak in to the event. They wake the next day with no recollection of what happened but things have changed. Mysterious rings burn on their finger. Bitsy is caught up in the mystery of it all while Amy seems to move forward with her life, which only seems to get better while Bitsy's gets worse.
This book is a light fantasy thriller focused on teenage female friendship. Bitsy and Amy are painfully real protagonists: teenage friendship fraught with the complexity of change for these girls. Will their friendship withstand the meddling magic of The Revelry? Or will one be lost forever?
I enjoyed this book - it was an easy read and I flew through it. I do have some questions about the woods and how they came to be the way they were, a bit more back story may have satisfied me, but overall, it was a satisfying read. I def recommend this book for your local high school library.
"Stranger things have happened in Ember Grove."
firefox's review against another edition
3.0
I would have much preferred a cult brainwashing book rather than.. whatever that last 100 pages was.
obsessively's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
a_hutchinson19's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
I found the writing very juvenile and the plot didnt grab me but I liked the characters and the fast pace of the book
alongreader's review against another edition
3.0
Welcome to (hopefully) the last mixed review of the year!
Katherine Webber can definitely write. The turns of phrase and descriptions in this novel are fantastic. I was never bored and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. They story itself was interesting and not like anything else I've read.
However, I felt a bit like Katherine was trying to marry two different genres and it didn't work very well for me. Spoilers: I'm still not sure now what really happened. Were the woods magic? Did Bitsy talk herself into believing they were? A mix of both? I really couldn't tell and I'm not sure Katherine knew, either. Weird for weirdness sake doesn't work too well for me.
Overall I enjoyed it, though, and I do recommend it to other readers who enjoy urban fantasy. I think it's going to do well.
Amy became obsessed.
Ever since, she's tried to find out what day it falls, exactly where it happens - what happens. All we know is that it's near the end of summer, before the new school year begins.
And that it's in the woods.
Once, when we were around nine, and still having sleepovers in the tent in the apple orchard, we saw people stumbling out of the woods at dawn. Two girls were laughing, high-pitched almost hysterical giggles, but one boy, I could have sworn he was bleeding. And the strangest thing was they were all wearing wings. Costume wings, the kind you slip over your shoulders and the fake feathers moult in minutes, but as they came out of the woods, for a moment I thought those wings were real. And we knew, we knew they have come from the Revelry. We warched them in silence, waiting for a hint, a clue to what had happened.
But they didn't notice us at all.
Katherine Webber can definitely write. The turns of phrase and descriptions in this novel are fantastic. I was never bored and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. They story itself was interesting and not like anything else I've read.
However, I felt a bit like Katherine was trying to marry two different genres and it didn't work very well for me. Spoilers: I'm still not sure now what really happened. Were the woods magic? Did Bitsy talk herself into believing they were? A mix of both? I really couldn't tell and I'm not sure Katherine knew, either. Weird for weirdness sake doesn't work too well for me.
Overall I enjoyed it, though, and I do recommend it to other readers who enjoy urban fantasy. I think it's going to do well.
Amy became obsessed.
Ever since, she's tried to find out what day it falls, exactly where it happens - what happens. All we know is that it's near the end of summer, before the new school year begins.
And that it's in the woods.
Once, when we were around nine, and still having sleepovers in the tent in the apple orchard, we saw people stumbling out of the woods at dawn. Two girls were laughing, high-pitched almost hysterical giggles, but one boy, I could have sworn he was bleeding. And the strangest thing was they were all wearing wings. Costume wings, the kind you slip over your shoulders and the fake feathers moult in minutes, but as they came out of the woods, for a moment I thought those wings were real. And we knew, we knew they have come from the Revelry. We warched them in silence, waiting for a hint, a clue to what had happened.
But they didn't notice us at all.