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castorstarr 's review for:
A Book of Spirits and Thieves
by Morgan Rhodes
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.