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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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
Beautifully written. Should be a movie. Or a tv series.
First of all, Novik is apparently one of the co-creators of AO3, and I have never been so directly connected to a living legend as in this moment. A true icon and inspiration for us all.
This is an amazing read. The book just made sense. From the characters, to the plot, to the writing style, it fits perfect. The characters reacted logically, even the magical forest made sense. Such a relief after the usual plothole filled storylines in fantasy.
Also, I don’t know if it is the writing style, setting or protagonist but it really reads like a fairytale (the OG fairytales, not the Disney-washed kind). The story has a unique magical, dark and gritty feel. There are quite a lot of awful events in the book but it doesn’t turn into a depression story, only one of determination.
The protagonist has a name I can’t pronounce or remember, zero balance and no spacial awareness (like seriously, she should see a doctor about that). She is, however, a tough one. Doing many things out of spite or sheer stubbornness, I found her likeable. She was also very relatable, her fear understandable and less prone to do impulsive stuff and make a scene just for the plot. She struck a great balance between being a powerful witch and a newbie. Talented, but prone to make mistakes.
The “Dragon” (who is just a dude) is a dick. Good lord, doesn’t he have any social skills? He is like a Reddit comment come to life. I did appreciate how he didn’t do a 180 the moment he fell in love. His core characteristics stayed consistent, and he and Agnie (not the main girls name but close enough) simply learned to appreciate each other for who they were.
I also really liked Kasia. She is clearly her own person with a well-rounded, interesting character. She compliments Agnie well, strong in different area’s but with her own faults. Her story also stood on her own, and although Agnie influenced it, it wasn’t about her. Their relationship is also the most beautiful, a little bit like Else and Anna in Frozen.
Trully an amazing book, definitely will be reading more from her.
This is an amazing read. The book just made sense. From the characters, to the plot, to the writing style, it fits perfect. The characters reacted logically, even the magical forest made sense. Such a relief after the usual plothole filled storylines in fantasy.
Also, I don’t know if it is the writing style, setting or protagonist but it really reads like a fairytale (the OG fairytales, not the Disney-washed kind). The story has a unique magical, dark and gritty feel. There are quite a lot of awful events in the book but it doesn’t turn into a depression story, only one of determination.
The protagonist has a name I can’t pronounce or remember, zero balance and no spacial awareness (like seriously, she should see a doctor about that). She is, however, a tough one. Doing many things out of spite or sheer stubbornness, I found her likeable. She was also very relatable, her fear understandable and less prone to do impulsive stuff and make a scene just for the plot. She struck a great balance between being a powerful witch and a newbie. Talented, but prone to make mistakes.
The “Dragon” (who is just a dude) is a dick. Good lord, doesn’t he have any social skills? He is like a Reddit comment come to life. I did appreciate how he didn’t do a 180 the moment he fell in love. His core characteristics stayed consistent, and he and Agnie (not the main girls name but close enough) simply learned to appreciate each other for who they were.
I also really liked Kasia. She is clearly her own person with a well-rounded, interesting character. She compliments Agnie well, strong in different area’s but with her own faults. Her story also stood on her own, and although Agnie influenced it, it wasn’t about her. Their relationship is also the most beautiful, a little bit like Else and Anna in Frozen.
Trully an amazing book, definitely will be reading more from her.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a really fun read! I enjoyed learning about all of the characters and there were a lot of twists that I wasn’t expecting.
So good and yet so terrible. This book was not "ok" despite my two stars. There was so much potential here, but the Mary Sue-ness of the main character and, more importantly, the abusive "romance" really killed it for me. There's nothing about abuse that is romantic. Agnieszka is a kid and Dragon is a creepy jerk.
As others have said, if the author had focused more on Kasia - a much more compelling character - it would have been better. Heck, have Kasia and Agnieszka team up much earlier and simply abandon Dragon - he's not needed in this story. Also as others have said, the magic system was lame, and lazy, and didn't provide sufficient challenge to bring excitement.
The author's prose is excellent, though slow throughout, and the editor should have taken a hatchet to big chunks of the book. But I like the fractured fairy tale set up. Could have been so much more and the formula is there:
-Abuse -Mary Sueness +Kasia +Team-up -Easy Magic +Chop 20% out of the descriptions = 4 or 5 stars. Probably.
As others have said, if the author had focused more on Kasia - a much more compelling character - it would have been better. Heck, have Kasia and Agnieszka team up much earlier and simply abandon Dragon - he's not needed in this story. Also as others have said, the magic system was lame, and lazy, and didn't provide sufficient challenge to bring excitement.
The author's prose is excellent, though slow throughout, and the editor should have taken a hatchet to big chunks of the book. But I like the fractured fairy tale set up. Could have been so much more and the formula is there:
-Abuse -Mary Sueness +Kasia +Team-up -Easy Magic +Chop 20% out of the descriptions = 4 or 5 stars. Probably.
I loved this book more the second time. I feel the same now about it as when i read Naomi's other "fairytale" standalone Spinning Silver.
I read it too fast to focus on the small details, but just the atmosphere, the feeling, of magic, of twisted tales, -its all just my kind of vibe.
3.5 stars
It took me till about halfway through to realize that "the Dragon" is not actually a dragon but a wizard.
This book has been on my tbr shelf for along time and I've heard mixed reviews about it. I finally read it and it was okay.
> I felt everything moved very fast.
> The romance was not developed enough. I did like the mostly cold-hearted Sarkan but the romance wasn't deserved. (there wasn't really much anyway)
> I couldn't pronounce like half the names and none of the spells, but sometimes fantasy books are like that, i guess it just adds to the whole feel of the world.
> Lots of plant imagery
Honestly I struggled so much to finish this book after hearing so much praise for it. Aside from the problematic (kind of abusive - but not written with that interpretation?) love interest, I was bored.
Very good, very satisfying. But in some places it went on a little long and in some places I was wishing for more pages.