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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
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.
What I liked:
-Agnieska is messy, bumbling, strong-willed...I really liked her character
-the Dragon's reactions to Agnieska being herself made me laugh; I also liked their dynamic (for the most part)
-pacing was well done; I listened to the audiobook and only stopped when I absolutely had to; I was engaged the whole time, and didn't find any parts of this that were unnecessary or stagnant
-the villain is interesting
-I liked that there were a couple of really strong women in this; I liked the friendship between Kasia and Agnieska (flawed and pockmarked but still a good solid friendship)
-good, solid writing, as far as I can tell from an audiobook perspective
What I didn't like:
-some of the Dragon's actions toward Agnieska (wanting to dress her a certain way, wanting her to change herself, etc.), especially at the beginning of the book; I know he was operating on the idea that anyone from a so-called "backward village" would want to have lovely clothes and change themselves, and it did cause a lot of humour on a surface level, but when examined closer, they aren't actions I would condone in real life; I'm glad Agnieska stood up to him in her own way!
-not sure the romance was convincing; some relationships can start off with the whole "opposites attract" idea, but I think that the Dragon still has a lot of growth to do when it comes to relationships (in a way, maybe that's why the book ended the way it did...hopeful but not conclusive)
-wish there had been a bit more information/history about the villain
-Agnieska is messy, bumbling, strong-willed...I really liked her character
-the Dragon's reactions to Agnieska being herself made me laugh; I also liked their dynamic (for the most part)
-pacing was well done; I listened to the audiobook and only stopped when I absolutely had to; I was engaged the whole time, and didn't find any parts of this that were unnecessary or stagnant
-the villain is interesting
-I liked that there were a couple of really strong women in this; I liked the friendship between Kasia and Agnieska (flawed and pockmarked but still a good solid friendship)
-good, solid writing, as far as I can tell from an audiobook perspective
What I didn't like:
-some of the Dragon's actions toward Agnieska (wanting to dress her a certain way, wanting her to change herself, etc.), especially at the beginning of the book; I know he was operating on the idea that anyone from a so-called "backward village" would want to have lovely clothes and change themselves, and it did cause a lot of humour on a surface level, but when examined closer, they aren't actions I would condone in real life; I'm glad Agnieska stood up to him in her own way!
-not sure the romance was convincing; some relationships can start off with the whole "opposites attract" idea, but I think that the Dragon still has a lot of growth to do when it comes to relationships (in a way, maybe that's why the book ended the way it did...hopeful but not conclusive)
-wish there had been a bit more information/history about the villain
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The parts of the story focused on the forest and the corruption there were pretty compelling. For a fantasy novel, it made for an interesting set up.
But the characters seem a bit surface level. I didn’t get a good sense of characters’ distinct personalities and how they fostered relationships with each other. I also didn’t like the romance, so I’ve chosen to just ignore it.
But the characters seem a bit surface level. I didn’t get a good sense of characters’ distinct personalities and how they fostered relationships with each other. I also didn’t like the romance, so I’ve chosen to just ignore it.