Reviews

Wow, this book. I don't know what I expected when I opened up that first page, but it far exceeded anything I thought I'd experience.

I loved the way that Roda and Ignis became friends. They bickered sometimes, but it felt like the way you argue with someone you feel close to and safe with. I loved their relationship. It felt really balanced, like they both had strengths and flaws.

The plot moved really quickly. I loved the quest and the strangeness of the story world. Some of the things that happened were things I'd hoped for and others surprised me.

I feel like I didn't hear any buzz about this book before stumbling across it, and it definitely deserves some buzz. I think it's a great pick for readers aging out of middle grade books. Fans of THE STORM KEEPER'S ISLAND or SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF should absolutely check this one out!

turtlebucket's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

allyexa's review

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

A fun adventure that read fast but also made me pay attention and delightfully bent my mind a bit. This would easily fit in with any Miyazaki movie.

For me, the plot was a bit too fast. A lot of things were thrown at us- transforming crows! Robots! Dragons! Time travel! Lightning wars! Enchanted castles!- that made me long for a little more downtime for character development. Perhaps this book was over-edited, or maybe it just read fast for a younger audience. I wished for more subtlety in the plot and personality. But maybe that would have expanded this into a weighty trilogy.

As it is, there are some glimmers of charm that shine through when the characters pause to take a breath, and the overall plot is still a ripping good tale. Definitely recommend for fans of howl’s moving castle or a wrinkle in time.

2/15/23

box43h's review

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Quote “No one would know her name or what she’d done here. No one would blame her if she ran or celebrate her if she saved the day. But they would feel the impact of what she did, whether they knew it or not. “ p. 287-288

blackrose52's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

destdest's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I read this book because someone said it gave "Howl's Moving Castle" vibes. I was pleasantly surprised. Things get very complicated in the end, concerning plot and morality, but I liked it. I wouldn't mind seeing more of Roda and Ignis. I also wanted to actually see them give the rings.

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