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A review by hobbes199
The Isadora Interviews by Katie Cross
4.0
This is an excerpt of the full review, previously published as part of a tour at If These Books Could Talk
A lot of the time with a book series, readers wonder about the back-story of other characters. Now some authors chose to throw every single nugget about their creations into the novel, leaving us with 800+ pages to wade through; often that’s not in the book’s favour making it feel stodgy, and only a few authors can really get away with it. Katie Cross, the author of The Network Series, has chosen to enhance the life of some of her most popular characters in book 1.5, ‘The Isadora Interviews‘, and it works brilliantly.
Isadora is a Watcher, and the witch who has the final decision on whether a candidate is successful in her application to the esteemed Miss Mabel’s. Gifted with ‘the sight’ she can see into a girls heart, and knows how important they will be to the future of the school. In this novella we’re given an insight on how some of those applicants dealt with the build-up and the actual interview, leading to them becoming major players in the first two books.
Three of the girls in question, Leda, Camille, and Michelle go on to be firm friends of the series central protagonist Bianca, while the fourth candidate, Priscilla, is her biggest threat during the competition that forms the basis of the first book.
Cross not only uses ‘The Isadora Interviews‘ as a means to expand upon the characters, but to also give readers and fans of the series a more detailed look at the world she has created. In the main books, we’re rarely taken outside of the main locations, so it’s great that we’re given a more intimate look at the other parts of Letum Wood, and the wealthy city of Asleigh.
As a fill-in novella ‘The Isadora Interviews’ performs it’s purpose perfectly, and at just 50 pages is the ultimate quick read. Filled with Cross’ trademark attention to detail and obvious affection for her characters, this is an essential addition to ‘The Network Series’.
A lot of the time with a book series, readers wonder about the back-story of other characters. Now some authors chose to throw every single nugget about their creations into the novel, leaving us with 800+ pages to wade through; often that’s not in the book’s favour making it feel stodgy, and only a few authors can really get away with it. Katie Cross, the author of The Network Series, has chosen to enhance the life of some of her most popular characters in book 1.5, ‘The Isadora Interviews‘, and it works brilliantly.
Isadora is a Watcher, and the witch who has the final decision on whether a candidate is successful in her application to the esteemed Miss Mabel’s. Gifted with ‘the sight’ she can see into a girls heart, and knows how important they will be to the future of the school. In this novella we’re given an insight on how some of those applicants dealt with the build-up and the actual interview, leading to them becoming major players in the first two books.
Three of the girls in question, Leda, Camille, and Michelle go on to be firm friends of the series central protagonist Bianca, while the fourth candidate, Priscilla, is her biggest threat during the competition that forms the basis of the first book.
Cross not only uses ‘The Isadora Interviews‘ as a means to expand upon the characters, but to also give readers and fans of the series a more detailed look at the world she has created. In the main books, we’re rarely taken outside of the main locations, so it’s great that we’re given a more intimate look at the other parts of Letum Wood, and the wealthy city of Asleigh.
As a fill-in novella ‘The Isadora Interviews’ performs it’s purpose perfectly, and at just 50 pages is the ultimate quick read. Filled with Cross’ trademark attention to detail and obvious affection for her characters, this is an essential addition to ‘The Network Series’.