Reviews

Acorna's Quest by Anne McCaffrey

alyshadeshae's review against another edition

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4.0

Last book of 2012 for me... And I finished it right before my midnight kiss, too!

I'm rereading the Acorna series and still loving them, but I'm noticing things that I've not noticed before about the characters - namely that they aren't as well developed as I remember them to be. I guess it's a good thing they're already fleshed out in my mind! :-p The story is still great, though.

ofearna's review against another edition

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3.0

re-read Nov 26, 2000

blusocket's review against another edition

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3.0

Stronger than the first novel in this series, as it gives the characters (esp Acorna) some internal conflict and more complex motivations, but still very breezy

whisper88's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5


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zanthems's review

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3.0

Once again, our magical orphan protagonist wins through all situations with her charm and superpowers and very little fuss. I kept hoping that she'd have to work for something for once, but sadly, not in this story. And as in the first book of the series, she is surrounded by a weirdly condescending and petty cast of characters, who are forever posturing and swaggering and overprotecting her. There are glimpses of depth—Acorna gets some good complex moments as she faces the possibility of meeting her long-lost people—but they never lead to meaningful character development.

With that said, this book is still an improvement on the previous one. There are fairly compelling dangers and disasters to be averted, and some adventure in the process. The fun factor was high enough that I'll probably keep reading the series, but not with high hopes.

astrologicalblues's review against another edition

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I'm still indecisive on how to express my feelings on this book. Like, I like how most of this book was written, but there were many passages where I felt like I was reading a Physics/ some sort of complicated science college book.

I love Acorna. I love how she grew up and how you can tell there's this sort of attitude you can expect from a pre-teen. Although it feels like she was quick to shy away from that attitude. I don't know if it's because how people like her grow up quicker than humans? But even that seems far fetched to me. But, when you spend so much time helping others, healing, and finally meeting others of your species and realizing just how different they are from what you expected... I don't know.

I know I was thrown off by Acorna's people for sure. I guess I'm just thrown off by how Acorna is... they're a peaceful people but they run away from problems. They run from others trying to destroy them thinking that's the best way to handle them. And their attitudes on humans that they've never met... very rude. But I think that experience helped them for the best. I hope that's reflected in the third book.

Full review to come... as if I didn't actually typed most of the review here. Oops... xD

kerveros's review against another edition

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2.0

I know I read an Acorna book when I was in school - judging from the cover it may have been this one. But in the... 15 odd years since if it was this one I recalled none of the plot points. Which... good re-read value I guess?

I last read the first book in this series in February last year, and although it does have a relatively open ending it is self-enclosed enough that it was on a whim I borrowed this from a friend, as opposed to a need to find out what happens next to Acorna and her adopted family.

Due to the year and... 3/4 since I last read Acorna I appreciated the recap that you get at the beginning of this book. That said either I've forgotten some of the events, misinterpreted them or there is some ret-conning going on here. I can't point out particularly bits but I am just left with a feeling that some parts of it don't quite add up for me.

The plot of this book is.. adequate. Whereas the first book feels self-contained this one is screaming "I'm part of a bigger story!!!!!!" which, honestly I am not a huge fan of books that do that. Pretty much everything here screams set-up for future books - be it the introduction of some of Acorna's species (including an Aunt, all of whom know best for Acorna and to my mind don't so much as listen to her concerns (or hear them I guess) but say "oh yes you feel x so let me distract you with 5"... no sense at all), to the introduction of the species that killed Acorna's parents (also and spoiler here for the end of the book
WHAT KIND OF MERCENARY LETS A SHIP/SURVIVOR GET AWAY TO TELL TALES?!?!? I mean... it *seems* to maybe have worked out for them here but I doubt that is the case. What is this Mulan and you're letting a messenger go back to confirm how blood thirsty you are?
) the major plot points all felt like they were included to be part of a larger narrative.

The POVs with Acorna are arguably the best, the POVs with her 'relatives' I just found dull. Karina was a new character that was not needed and I'd be glad not to have her in the next book (the synopsis of which sounds like I might get my wish there). The three miners from the first book just weren't that good/interesting/important here... Pal (the un-wanted love interest from Acorna) is quickly dealt with... all in all it was a pretty much a picture perfect cookie cutter happy ending. Not that there is anything wrong with that... but sometimes it just...doesn't work for me.

Overall I found this to be a bit of a disappointment, it just doesn't hold the same charm as Acorna. My friend only has the first three books in the series so I can only hope that the third and final book (that I will read in this series) is back on par with the first! (That said this line from the end of the book did rather amuse me
"...They [humans] are quite barbaric and vicious beyond belief: when attacked, they actually fight back!"
)
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