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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
I've been looking forward to this book for so long! I absolutely fell in love with the cover and the blurb - it sounds exactly like something I would enjoy. However, this book didn't live up to my expectations. The fact that it was a debut novel was glaringly obvious with some of the mistakes made throughout. Despite this, the story was extremely creative and the concept and execution were unique and thrilling. Katherine Harbour is full of potential and I'm excited to see how her writing develops in future novels.
Finn was a character that I liked but I never fell in love with. She was unique and interesting but she made some terrible decisions and did a couple stupid things that just made me want to scream at the book. Honestly, she knew how dangerous a situation she was getting herself into and she just jumped in anyways. Her heart always seemed to be in the right place and she would make a smart choice but then go back on it a chapter later. And then we had Jack. Jack intrigued me. He was a mystery I just wanted to figure out. And, of course, he was attractive and dangerous and thrilling. You know, all that good stuff. But I honestly didn't understand what made him like her so much or vice versa. They were just suddenly all up on each other. Also, I really didn't like Finn's friends. I felt that they were hinderances more often than not and became liabilities in these situations.
One of the most frustrating things in this novel - the thing that really brought the rating down - was the fact that nothing was ever explained. Seriously, nothing. There was this huge mystery building up throughout the entire book and it was driving me crazy trying to figure out what was going on and I never really found out what was happening. All these clues would be dropped and Finn would finally realize what was happening and then it would just drop. It was never explained to the reader and it just...I just...
I'm not sure if I just didn't understand what I was reading or something but I wanted everything laid out and explained. None of this ambiguous stuff. No, stop it. Just tell me what is going on.
Despite all this, there was still parts that I absolutely loved. The atmosphere was so creepy and gothic. It was so much fun jumping into this world. The concept what I figured out about it, anyway was unique and drew me in. It was like a dream while reading.
Thorn Jack is a book that had a lot of wonderful aspects but they were brought down by things that just frustrated me to no end. Katherine Harbour is an author full of potential. I'm looking forward to what she comes up with next and seeing how she improves.
For more reviews, check out Wonderland's Reader!
Finn was a character that I liked but I never fell in love with. She was unique and interesting but she made some terrible decisions and did a couple stupid things that just made me want to scream at the book. Honestly, she knew how dangerous a situation she was getting herself into and she just jumped in anyways. Her heart always seemed to be in the right place and she would make a smart choice but then go back on it a chapter later. And then we had Jack. Jack intrigued me. He was a mystery I just wanted to figure out. And, of course, he was attractive and dangerous and thrilling. You know, all that good stuff. But I honestly didn't understand what made him like her so much or vice versa. They were just suddenly all up on each other. Also, I really didn't like Finn's friends. I felt that they were hinderances more often than not and became liabilities in these situations.
One of the most frustrating things in this novel - the thing that really brought the rating down - was the fact that nothing was ever explained. Seriously, nothing. There was this huge mystery building up throughout the entire book and it was driving me crazy trying to figure out what was going on and I never really found out what was happening. All these clues would be dropped and Finn would finally realize what was happening and then it would just drop. It was never explained to the reader and it just...I just...
I'm not sure if I just didn't understand what I was reading or something but I wanted everything laid out and explained. None of this ambiguous stuff. No, stop it. Just tell me what is going on.
Despite all this, there was still parts that I absolutely loved. The atmosphere was so creepy and gothic. It was so much fun jumping into this world. The concept what I figured out about it, anyway was unique and drew me in. It was like a dream while reading.
Thorn Jack is a book that had a lot of wonderful aspects but they were brought down by things that just frustrated me to no end. Katherine Harbour is an author full of potential. I'm looking forward to what she comes up with next and seeing how she improves.
For more reviews, check out Wonderland's Reader!
I was thoroughly obsessed with this book. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because the ending just felt kind of off. I can't really figure out why exactly, but it just was. Overall it was a totally worthy read though. Quite frankly I thought it was so good, it almost depressed me into not writing my book because I felt it couldn't compare.
This book was weird. Super weird. But I loved it. Dark fae. So many Twilightey scenes it was unreal. Got so fucking confusing at the end. Will probably have to reread it at some point if I continue on with the series.
I really liked the beautiful writing style and the mysterious feel to the story. I love anything to do with fairies in any form, so I easily enjoyed Thorn Jack.
The Fae as a mix of vampires and New England preppies. I'm not sure which half is worse, but the combination is awful. The worst part is that I grabbed this the day before the libraries closed for Covid-19, and I saw all three books, so I could have tried three different books and had a better chance of finding something interesting to read.
Okay, I'm going to be honest, I skimmed the second half. I just couldn't take it anymore. The first few chapters were a little confusing- a lot of characters, everyone dressing weird, multiple strange encounters at one time. It was kind of a lot to keep track of when your kids are constantly making you stop reading. Finally I was able to read at longer stretches and I could keep up but then I just got irritated. I mean, seriously. How many creepy abandoned old houses do you have to go into to realize that maybe you are going to find something to freak you out or possibly hurt you? Crimney, even Jack says the same thing in the book. And, speaking of Jack, how many times does the dude have to pop up on your balcony to realize that maybe he isn't human or, at the very least, aliv
I have read reviews comparing this book to the crappiness of the Twilight saga. I have read reviews by people who firmly deny any type of similarity to the Twilight saga. What I haven't read is how I can get my money back on my B&N card that I spent on this book. I can't say Finn is weaker than Bella but she is certainly ridiculously careless and kind of mind numbing in the same way as Bella is in Twilight. And these constant party scenes totally reminded me of the Dragnet movie with Tom Hanks. I was pretty hopeful that this book was going to intrigue and spellbind me in the same manner as The Child Thief and The Graveyard Book did, but it was not even close.
I have read reviews comparing this book to the crappiness of the Twilight saga. I have read reviews by people who firmly deny any type of similarity to the Twilight saga. What I haven't read is how I can get my money back on my B&N card that I spent on this book. I can't say Finn is weaker than Bella but she is certainly ridiculously careless and kind of mind numbing in the same way as Bella is in Twilight. And these constant party scenes totally reminded me of the Dragnet movie with Tom Hanks. I was pretty hopeful that this book was going to intrigue and spellbind me in the same manner as The Child Thief and The Graveyard Book did, but it was not even close.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The only reason this is not a five star review is I had some trouble getting into it at the beginning. Her prose was a bit too something and her descriptions were a bit over the top. I like my mythology and symbolism just a tinch more subtle.
Then I found myself captivated. The descriptions stopped being a hindrance to me enjoying the story and became beautiful paths into this dark autumn world. I love Finn and her friends. She was both vulnerable and strong. She was fierce as a folktale heroine should be. And she balanced concern for her friends wellbeing with knowing they had her back. I also loved Jack.
This was everything I love in modern fantasy. Dark, dangerous fae skirting our modern, not as mundane as we thought it was world. Perfect read for October.
Then I found myself captivated. The descriptions stopped being a hindrance to me enjoying the story and became beautiful paths into this dark autumn world. I love Finn and her friends. She was both vulnerable and strong. She was fierce as a folktale heroine should be. And she balanced concern for her friends wellbeing with knowing they had her back. I also loved Jack.
This was everything I love in modern fantasy. Dark, dangerous fae skirting our modern, not as mundane as we thought it was world. Perfect read for October.
I got an advanced copy of this book, so my review is based on that.
To be honest, I have very little doubt that with enough editing and publicity, this book will be the next Twilight. The reason I don't doubt this is because this book IS Twilight. Plain looking girl with something about her moves to small town with father and falls for murderous couple centuries old dead guy who also takes a liking to her. She even finds out he's a couple centuries old dead guy with the help of the internet. Harbour throws in some creepy elements -- ghosts, unexplained magical creatures, demons (?), etc. -- but that and the fact that Jack is some type of reanimated dead guy (in my opinion, what exactly the Fatas are is never really explained in enough detail) rather than a vampire are about the two major plot differences between the two books.
Harbour's writing seems to improve as the novel goes on, especially after Jack is introduced, which at least gives the reader something to read for and a plot point to grasp onto. Jack is the type of male character teen girls will grasp onto -- brooding, dark, witty, handsome. Some problem areas, though:
1. This book is trying harder to be goth than a 13 year old at Hot Topic.
2. There are areas in which Harbour is overly detailed -- I know every single outfit every character wore every time they were mentioned -- and areas in which she isn't detailed enough. As I said, I would like a more solid background on what exactly a Fata is beyond a living dead person. They seem to have some kind of magic, which is never really explored, and some of them seem to be more like demons (Caliban, for example). There are also supernatural creatures that pop up that really are never explained, so it seems like she just throws them in because she can. The book talks about faeries a TON but faeries never show up. There's a scene in which Weeping Angel like dolls that Harbour calls grindylow (not accurate) attack two of the characters, but where those statues came from and how they exist in our world is never explained.
3. I'm not sure if all of the literary references are cool or trying too hard.
4. I had a really hard time abandoning reality and buying into the story
The book's not an awful brain-candy read. I finished it, after all. I won't be surprised if a little while from now, all of the Twilight fandom starts obsessing over this. I don't have any interest in reading the sequels (it's implied that there will be sequels by the "A Night and Nothing Novel" on the cover), but Harbour has potential as a YA author.
To be honest, I have very little doubt that with enough editing and publicity, this book will be the next Twilight. The reason I don't doubt this is because this book IS Twilight. Plain looking girl with something about her moves to small town with father and falls for murderous couple centuries old dead guy who also takes a liking to her. She even finds out he's a couple centuries old dead guy with the help of the internet. Harbour throws in some creepy elements -- ghosts, unexplained magical creatures, demons (?), etc. -- but that and the fact that Jack is some type of reanimated dead guy (in my opinion, what exactly the Fatas are is never really explained in enough detail) rather than a vampire are about the two major plot differences between the two books.
Harbour's writing seems to improve as the novel goes on, especially after Jack is introduced, which at least gives the reader something to read for and a plot point to grasp onto. Jack is the type of male character teen girls will grasp onto -- brooding, dark, witty, handsome. Some problem areas, though:
1. This book is trying harder to be goth than a 13 year old at Hot Topic.
2. There are areas in which Harbour is overly detailed -- I know every single outfit every character wore every time they were mentioned -- and areas in which she isn't detailed enough. As I said, I would like a more solid background on what exactly a Fata is beyond a living dead person. They seem to have some kind of magic, which is never really explored, and some of them seem to be more like demons (Caliban, for example). There are also supernatural creatures that pop up that really are never explained, so it seems like she just throws them in because she can. The book talks about faeries a TON but faeries never show up. There's a scene in which Weeping Angel like dolls that Harbour calls grindylow (not accurate) attack two of the characters, but where those statues came from and how they exist in our world is never explained.
3. I'm not sure if all of the literary references are cool or trying too hard.
4. I had a really hard time abandoning reality and buying into the story
The book's not an awful brain-candy read. I finished it, after all. I won't be surprised if a little while from now, all of the Twilight fandom starts obsessing over this. I don't have any interest in reading the sequels (it's implied that there will be sequels by the "A Night and Nothing Novel" on the cover), but Harbour has potential as a YA author.