You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"He was irritated with me every time I came into his library, even on the few days that I managed to keep myself in good order: as though I were coming to annoy and interrupt him, instead of him tormenting and using me. And when he had finished working his magic through me and left me crumpled on the floor, he would scowl down at me and call me useless."
"Useless". I'm DNFing at page 38. I have no time for these type of books, with abusive relationships and douchebags.
"Useless". I'm DNFing at page 38. I have no time for these type of books, with abusive relationships and douchebags.
This book was just okay. I love Naomi Novik's Deadly Education series so I was really excited to read this but it was meh. I enjoyed it while I was reading but it barely stayed with me when I put it down and nothing was pulling me to pick it back up. The book was longer than it should have been and the descriptions of magic were tedious. The Wood was a great idea and villain but the Dragon felt underdeveloped as a main character and Neishka just became great at magic overnight which felt more like a way to move the plot forward and less like actual character development and creating someone to root for.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm conflicted on this one, because on the one hand, it was really easy and fun to read, but I do think it has some serious flaws. Despite not being advertized as YA, it definitely felt like it. It had several irritating YA traits-- young protag who is "different than other girls and definitely not pretty", the girls all get chosen at 17 (why is it always 17?), the love interested is introduced within a sustained power dynamic that's supposed to be attractive.
I thought it had some really good ideas, the forest fascinated me, I think the magic system and the forest were my favourite parts. And it truly was effective in roping me in, otherwise I would have quit reading. I liked Agnieszka's decriptions of magic, especially how she had a special way to access it, which was different from the rigid magic structures most others used. The spell descriptions were lovely too.
I think there was too much war, after a while of people getting killed off, you stop being emotionally connected, and it completely loses impact. The point trying to be made through the war was already established for me, it didn't need to continue for so long. That leads me directly to my next point: the resolution wasn't given enough time. I kept waiting for the ending I knew was coming, and it only happened in the last couple chapters, where a whole bunch of information was dumped and all the loose ends tied up.I knew the forest wasn't evil at heart, and it's true, the forest queen's people were hunted by the humans, and then they buried her alive unable to die-- who can blame her for wanting to exact revenge? But the book goes on and on about how evil the forest is, and then it all switches in a couple chapters to "oh, we have to live in harmony now" and Agnieszka is healing the forest. I don't think either side of the story got the resolution they deserved. I also found the resolution to the romance unsatisfying. On one page she's saying how he left to the city and never wrote to her, and it's ok, she's made her peace, but then on the very last page he reappears, and everything is happy go lucky. The last line is literally "come meet my mother".
I thought it had some really good ideas, the forest fascinated me, I think the magic system and the forest were my favourite parts. And it truly was effective in roping me in, otherwise I would have quit reading. I liked Agnieszka's decriptions of magic, especially how she had a special way to access it, which was different from the rigid magic structures most others used. The spell descriptions were lovely too.
I think there was too much war, after a while of people getting killed off, you stop being emotionally connected, and it completely loses impact. The point trying to be made through the war was already established for me, it didn't need to continue for so long. That leads me directly to my next point: the resolution wasn't given enough time. I kept waiting for the ending I knew was coming, and it only happened in the last couple chapters, where a whole bunch of information was dumped and all the loose ends tied up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, War
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
DNF'd at 83%.
I know I probably should've just finished it at this point but I couldn't. I simply didn't care about the story anymore. I really wanted to like this book but my expectation were already pretty low.
I know I probably should've just finished it at this point but I couldn't. I simply didn't care about the story anymore. I really wanted to like this book but my expectation were already pretty low.
I have a heavy tough job and had some big stress going on in my life. I asked my friend for a total escapist read and she suggested this. And boy, it did not disappoint. She described it as a twist on - the girl in a tower story, and while it was, it was much more. Evil dead meets fairytale. Strong females, female friendships, magic, battles- the book was perfect and just what i needed. Can’t wait to read more from this author.