Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Fun and light to read, but just felt like an overall shallow book with shallow characters. Not much new in the fantasy world they live in and no one had compelling motivations. Also seemed like there were no real rules for this world! A bit annoying
In a previous attempt to read this book, I had a hard time getting through the first chapter. This time through once past the first chapter, I really fell for the magic beyond the Wall. While Tristran was a bit annoying with the *my true love, Victoria* crap, it worked out well in the end. I really enjoyed the tie-together of the the Power of Stormhold as well.
All-in-all, a great book!
All-in-all, a great book!
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
My young adult fiction (for YA books, not necessarily YA people, as I would not qualify) picked this book, and I was a little surprised. First, because even though I've read a fair amount of Neil Gaiman, I'd never heard of it. And two, because it didn't really strike me as YA fiction. Yes, the protagonist is a teenager, and he goes on a journey into maturity. So that fits.
Occasionally with the picks for this particular book club (I'm embarrassed to admit how many book clubs I actually belong to, but it is many), I'll read the book with my 10 year old son and bring him along to discuss. Someone in the group suggested that for this pick. And then I got to Tristan's "origin story" and I decided, oh heck no, for a 10 year old boy who isn't particularly mature. So, while this may be YA, it does have dark themes, more in the Hunger Games camp than Harry Potter.
What is really good about this book, what separates Gaiman from others who write similar styles of books, is his ability to paint a deeply rich and interesting universe. I was completely transported into Faerie just like I was taken away in Neverwhere. They characters, the setting, the interactions of the different groups, all converging onto Tristan's mission, it was all excellent.
There was a pretty big chunk of "and then these interesting things happened along the way" after the pirates and before the ride in the cart where presumably Tristan and the star have many interesting interactions. I've read that the movie is actually "better" than the book, which I haven't seen yet, but I'm going to seek out. If that is the case, or even if they are "equally good" as I thought recently of The Princess Bride, it may be because of the opportunity to flesh out these brief descriptions of interesting events. I understand that it would have made the book much longer, and it was beautiful at the length it was. Yes, YA again.
So, while it isn't my favorite Gaiman book (still Neverwhere) and I didn't find it completely addictive YA writing that I couldn't put down (most recently Six of Crows duology), this was really good. Now, to find that movie. But first, I just picked up New Boy (the new Hogarth Shakespeare version of Othello) and I can hardly write a review or find time to eat or get dressed because that is starting off so strong.
Occasionally with the picks for this particular book club (I'm embarrassed to admit how many book clubs I actually belong to, but it is many), I'll read the book with my 10 year old son and bring him along to discuss. Someone in the group suggested that for this pick. And then I got to Tristan's "origin story" and I decided, oh heck no, for a 10 year old boy who isn't particularly mature. So, while this may be YA, it does have dark themes, more in the Hunger Games camp than Harry Potter.
What is really good about this book, what separates Gaiman from others who write similar styles of books, is his ability to paint a deeply rich and interesting universe. I was completely transported into Faerie just like I was taken away in Neverwhere. They characters, the setting, the interactions of the different groups, all converging onto Tristan's mission, it was all excellent.
There was a pretty big chunk of "and then these interesting things happened along the way" after the pirates and before the ride in the cart where presumably Tristan and the star have many interesting interactions. I've read that the movie is actually "better" than the book, which I haven't seen yet, but I'm going to seek out. If that is the case, or even if they are "equally good" as I thought recently of The Princess Bride, it may be because of the opportunity to flesh out these brief descriptions of interesting events. I understand that it would have made the book much longer, and it was beautiful at the length it was. Yes, YA again.
So, while it isn't my favorite Gaiman book (still Neverwhere) and I didn't find it completely addictive YA writing that I couldn't put down (most recently Six of Crows duology), this was really good. Now, to find that movie. But first, I just picked up New Boy (the new Hogarth Shakespeare version of Othello) and I can hardly write a review or find time to eat or get dressed because that is starting off so strong.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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