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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
This was incredibly fun. I loved all the aspects/plotlines of this novel and am excited for further installments.
An okay book, but not one I’ll come back to. I’m not planning on finishing the series either, as I just...don’t care about the characters. Also, am I the only bothered by the age gap between Farrell and Crys? She’s seventeen and he’s nineteen/twenty (I think twenty, but I could be wrong).
A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes is the companion novel to her Falling Kingdoms series! It is the first book in it’s own trilogy that follows an eclectic cast of characters as the navigate the real world and ancient Mytica.
First and foremost I want to say that Falling Kingdoms is my favorite series of all time and that Morgan Rhodes is an absolute gem of an author! I was able to attend the book launch for this book back in June of this year and was able to meet and speak with Morgan Rhodes herself at her signing. It was such a blast and further solidifies my love for the series. So anyway, enough babbling on, lets get to the review portion!
Plot + Writing:
A Book of Spirits and Thieves which many of you guys know it from its abbreviated form, ABOSAT, takes place in two different worlds or times (I don’t know which one is correct). In modern day Toronto (my hometown, how EXCITING) we meet sisters Crystal and Becca and the badboy Farrell. After a mysterious package arrives at their bookstore that their family owns, Crys and Becca decide to open it and see what’s inside. What they didn’t expect to see was an ancient book written in a language they have never heard of. Upon opening the text, Becca becomes catatonic as her spirit is sucked into the book and transported to another world/time. Now Crys must find the answers to save her sister, Farrell must do everything in his power to get that book for his master, and Becca and Maddox (the boy from Mytica that can see spirits) must figure out a way to stop the powerful Goddess Valoria.
This book has everything! The plot was absolutely exciting as it takes you on a magical journey in search for answers. It is told by alternating points of view from Crystal, Farrell, and Maddox (with spirit Becca), so you get deep into all the characters mindsets. You get to see their struggles, accomplishments, and thoughts. With a plot so thickly woven with magic and fate it is no wonder I gave this book such a high rating!
Morgan Rhodes has outdone herself with the writing of this book! Not only can she tell a great story with vivid descriptions and complex characters, but she always sets the right tone. With alternating points of view it never seemed messy and jumbled. She perfected her characters personalities and personas in a way that I have never read before!
Characters:
The four main characters of the story were all so different and exciting to me! Crystal is fierce, protective, cunning, careless and loyal. Even though her relationship with her sister has been rocky lately and she always seems at war with her mom, she fights with all that she can to save her sister and her family. She has strong will and desire to protect the ones she loves which is very admirable of her.
Farrell Grayson is the quintessential rich bad boy. I loved his chapters probably the most just because of how complex he is. He is apart of an underground society called the Hawkspear Society in Toronto. Throughout the whole novel he seems to struggle with the right thing to do. But as the power becomes greater and greater his mind seems to become brainwashed to do his master’s bidding. I hope he can overcome this in the future installments to the series!
And finally we have Maddox and Becca! Our very first insta-love of the series. Oh how I hate those… but I do like their characters individually! Maddox is trying to come to terms with his new powers and the origins of his ancestry. When he meets Becca in spirit form he thinks he’s going crazy. It isn’t until he gets captured by Valoria that he realizes that the situation is far greater than he thought. As for Becca, even though we don’t get her point of view yet we know that on the outside she has a strong facade. So I am looking forward to diving deep into her character in the next books!
Setting:
I have a love hate relationship for the setting of the book. Although it is very unique in the aspect of getting modern day vs. old world Mytica, I struggled a bit. As much as I loved having a book set in my hometown of Toronto and knowing where all the landmarks used in the story are, I just didn’t connect with it as much. I like fantasies that are set in a new world not like my own. It’s hard to explain in full detail what I’m feeling in this aspect of the story. Which is why I consider it a love hate relationship.
I loved the use of my hometown of Toronto, but I just wished there was more of the story in Mytica. That is the world I want to explore more of. Since it is in the time of the Goddess’, I really want to dive deeper into it’s history and beginnings.
In Conclusion:
A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes was an amazing companion to the Falling Kingdoms series. Many of the confusing aspects from Falling Kingdoms come into light and are answered in this book. I had a lot of fun fitting the puzzle together and getting the history of the Mytica I know an love.
First and foremost I want to say that Falling Kingdoms is my favorite series of all time and that Morgan Rhodes is an absolute gem of an author! I was able to attend the book launch for this book back in June of this year and was able to meet and speak with Morgan Rhodes herself at her signing. It was such a blast and further solidifies my love for the series. So anyway, enough babbling on, lets get to the review portion!
Plot + Writing:
A Book of Spirits and Thieves which many of you guys know it from its abbreviated form, ABOSAT, takes place in two different worlds or times (I don’t know which one is correct). In modern day Toronto (my hometown, how EXCITING) we meet sisters Crystal and Becca and the badboy Farrell. After a mysterious package arrives at their bookstore that their family owns, Crys and Becca decide to open it and see what’s inside. What they didn’t expect to see was an ancient book written in a language they have never heard of. Upon opening the text, Becca becomes catatonic as her spirit is sucked into the book and transported to another world/time. Now Crys must find the answers to save her sister, Farrell must do everything in his power to get that book for his master, and Becca and Maddox (the boy from Mytica that can see spirits) must figure out a way to stop the powerful Goddess Valoria.
This book has everything! The plot was absolutely exciting as it takes you on a magical journey in search for answers. It is told by alternating points of view from Crystal, Farrell, and Maddox (with spirit Becca), so you get deep into all the characters mindsets. You get to see their struggles, accomplishments, and thoughts. With a plot so thickly woven with magic and fate it is no wonder I gave this book such a high rating!
Morgan Rhodes has outdone herself with the writing of this book! Not only can she tell a great story with vivid descriptions and complex characters, but she always sets the right tone. With alternating points of view it never seemed messy and jumbled. She perfected her characters personalities and personas in a way that I have never read before!
Characters:
The four main characters of the story were all so different and exciting to me! Crystal is fierce, protective, cunning, careless and loyal. Even though her relationship with her sister has been rocky lately and she always seems at war with her mom, she fights with all that she can to save her sister and her family. She has strong will and desire to protect the ones she loves which is very admirable of her.
Farrell Grayson is the quintessential rich bad boy. I loved his chapters probably the most just because of how complex he is. He is apart of an underground society called the Hawkspear Society in Toronto. Throughout the whole novel he seems to struggle with the right thing to do. But as the power becomes greater and greater his mind seems to become brainwashed to do his master’s bidding. I hope he can overcome this in the future installments to the series!
And finally we have Maddox and Becca! Our very first insta-love of the series. Oh how I hate those… but I do like their characters individually! Maddox is trying to come to terms with his new powers and the origins of his ancestry. When he meets Becca in spirit form he thinks he’s going crazy. It isn’t until he gets captured by Valoria that he realizes that the situation is far greater than he thought. As for Becca, even though we don’t get her point of view yet we know that on the outside she has a strong facade. So I am looking forward to diving deep into her character in the next books!
Setting:
I have a love hate relationship for the setting of the book. Although it is very unique in the aspect of getting modern day vs. old world Mytica, I struggled a bit. As much as I loved having a book set in my hometown of Toronto and knowing where all the landmarks used in the story are, I just didn’t connect with it as much. I like fantasies that are set in a new world not like my own. It’s hard to explain in full detail what I’m feeling in this aspect of the story. Which is why I consider it a love hate relationship.
I loved the use of my hometown of Toronto, but I just wished there was more of the story in Mytica. That is the world I want to explore more of. Since it is in the time of the Goddess’, I really want to dive deeper into it’s history and beginnings.
In Conclusion:
A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes was an amazing companion to the Falling Kingdoms series. Many of the confusing aspects from Falling Kingdoms come into light and are answered in this book. I had a lot of fun fitting the puzzle together and getting the history of the Mytica I know an love.
okay, but who would've thought that I would fall in love with the spinoff series just by the first book. My goodness, once again Morgan Rhodes captures my heart and mind and blows them away with her twists that despite knowing that they will come still amaze me. Morgan, you are a master. Can't wait to fall more in love with these characters AND MORGAN CAN YOU PLEASE NEVER STOP WRITING
*3.5 stars*
A good start to what I think will be a really cool series, but ultimately it fell short in a few areas. However, some really great exciting moments that really fleshed out the history of Mytica for FK fans. I do prefer FK to this though.
My more complete thoughts to come.
A good start to what I think will be a really cool series, but ultimately it fell short in a few areas. However, some really great exciting moments that really fleshed out the history of Mytica for FK fans. I do prefer FK to this though.
My more complete thoughts to come.
3
I wasn't sure I was going to review this, since the only reason I read it at all was because a patron complained about disturbing, age inappropriate content and I needed to audit it. But, read is read, so I might as well share my thoughts.
I'll agree and say that there was some unpleasant stuff in this book, though I wouldn't call it age inappropriate. My biggest problem with it, actually, was that the writing itself felt like a very young YA title, but those other moments made me not want that demographic to read it. So, I guess this is YA Fantasy for teens that don't read that much fantasy. I don't mean that to be insulting to those teens, or anyone else who happens to like this book, but personally the main thought I had in my head while reading this was "a 23 year old bookworm should not be reading this".
First of all, the main characters were both stock characters with flat personalities and reminiscent of early fanfic OCs (nothing against fanfic! that type of character is a type, and that type tends to be "I'm still learning how to make my own characters", which usually leads to even better writing. The point here is, fellow fanfic writers, I see you and I love you.). The jokes were unsubtle, the character voices all sounded similar and extremely modern, and I didn't buy, not just the romantic arc, but the sisterly love either. None of these characters made me feel anything, or make me believe that they felt something.
All of that aside, I'll say again that I am out of this demographic that would probably really enjoy this book, and that without the near-rape scene in the beginning I probably would have read this book myself at 11 or 12. Some of the ideas expressed were interesting, and the fact that this book is linked to others doesn't expect me as a reason I wouldn't be as enamored.
I wasn't sure I was going to review this, since the only reason I read it at all was because a patron complained about disturbing, age inappropriate content and I needed to audit it. But, read is read, so I might as well share my thoughts.
I'll agree and say that there was some unpleasant stuff in this book, though I wouldn't call it age inappropriate. My biggest problem with it, actually, was that the writing itself felt like a very young YA title, but those other moments made me not want that demographic to read it. So, I guess this is YA Fantasy for teens that don't read that much fantasy. I don't mean that to be insulting to those teens, or anyone else who happens to like this book, but personally the main thought I had in my head while reading this was "a 23 year old bookworm should not be reading this".
First of all, the main characters were both stock characters with flat personalities and reminiscent of early fanfic OCs (nothing against fanfic! that type of character is a type, and that type tends to be "I'm still learning how to make my own characters", which usually leads to even better writing. The point here is, fellow fanfic writers, I see you and I love you.). The jokes were unsubtle, the character voices all sounded similar and extremely modern, and I didn't buy, not just the romantic arc, but the sisterly love either. None of these characters made me feel anything, or make me believe that they felt something.
All of that aside, I'll say again that I am out of this demographic that would probably really enjoy this book, and that without the near-rape scene in the beginning I probably would have read this book myself at 11 or 12. Some of the ideas expressed were interesting, and the fact that this book is linked to others doesn't expect me as a reason I wouldn't be as enamored.
V v v anticipated buddy read with real life Cleo
I initially thought that this book was would a very close fitted spin-off of the Falling Kingdom series but wow, it’s so much more fast paced and interesting.
A Book of Thieves and Spirits, offers a wonderful rendition of a modern spinoff of the Falling Kingdoms series. It shares the same various point of views that were offered in the initial series but in a much more interesting way. Where book 1 from Falling Kingdoms was monotonous and confusing, this book was lively and mysterious and captivating.
It switches between a contemporary world situated in Toronto, Ontario and a historic Mytica (that some would be familiar with).
I really enjoyed the simultaneous worlds that were offered. It provided a fresh outlook each time the worlds changed and hinted at more thought-provoking ideas (like time travel and parallel universes.)
Now, if I hadn’t read the Falling Kingdom’s series first, I would have most likely found the abrupt change of point of views to be irritating but since I’m already comfortable with it, it didn’t really pose as an issue for me but new readers should be aware.
“It’s The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, one of my all-time favorites. I think we have a few copies in stock.” She showed him to the children’s nook, where she located a copy. He inspected the cover happily.”
When a book gives you nostalgic flashbacks to your childhood, you know it’s a good book. *_*
I absolutely adored all the very Canadian (can finally relate for once) and Mytican (???) references, it made me feel like I was in on some fascinating inside joke (oh my gosh, that sounds so lame).
And the characters! How could I forget? They were epic. The comparison to the Falling Kingdom’s characters is definitely there, thought subtle, which really gave these characters their own personalities. And I really appreciated that!
The ending left me with so many unanswered questions and I really, really NEED the next book and soon!!!
“I don't really like lies. I prefer to tell the truth whenever possible. It's much easier to keep track of.”
4 stars!!
Rating: 3 stars
This was a good book, but not my favorite. It was definitely a bit slow, but it picked up by the end. The characters and the plot was so interesting and complex. I'm so excited to the next book! Watching the characters grow into themselves (or out, in Farrell's case) was lots of fun.
A wonderful mix of fantasy and reality! I highly recommend this book to fans of both :)
This was a good book, but not my favorite. It was definitely a bit slow, but it picked up by the end. The characters and the plot was so interesting and complex. I'm so excited to the next book! Watching the characters grow into themselves (or out, in Farrell's case) was lots of fun.
A wonderful mix of fantasy and reality! I highly recommend this book to fans of both :)