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emily_mh's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed reading this book and always looked forward to picking it back up. The characters were all really interesting and distinct, and each added something vital to the story. I particularly liked the MC’s journey of seeing herself as worthy and capable, and I loved the animal companions and the levity they brought to the story. The plot was pacey and had much more action than I was expecting, which was a nice surprise. The ending was especially clever!
HOWEVER, I had one major gripe with this book. At the beginning of the book you are given a map of the lands that Maud lives in. Knowing this story was a quest narrative, this map set my expectations of the plot sky-high considering that specific places like the “Unreached Tower” and “Glassfall” and the “Poison Loch” and “The Frog King’s Throne” were depicted complete with illustrations. However, we go to literally 0 of these cool places and instead spend nearly the entire book in the hardly original and barren Shadelands (they are exactly how they sound). This was so incredibly disappointing and to me a missed opportunity. I really feel like that map wasn’t necessary and instead one should have been given of The Shadelands itself, given that such a map is discussed in the book.
BUT I saw so much potential in this story and in its characters, so I would be interested in any sequels if they were to be written, especially as they would likely explore more interesting parts of the world Maud lives in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Ableism, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, Child death, Cannibalism, and Gore
Minor: loss of a loved one
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