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A review by theinquisitxor
The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth
3.0
Ok well I flew through this book! Mainly because I was stuck inside almost all day due to an snow/ice storm with nothing else to do except start baking for the holidays. (it is also very quick to read) This is another portal fantasy, which is something I've been trying read more of (since it is one of my favorite tropes after all).
This reminded me a lot of several other portal fantasy books I have read. It draws heavily on The Chronicles of Narnia in so many ways. Magical forest/creatures, a war against invading humans, wwii, siblings, an Aslan figure, etc. Even though this has major Narnia vibes, it asks the crucial question Lewis never explored: what happens after? How do children who essentially 'grew up' in another world, who find themselves back in their childhood body, deal with all of that? Pretty poorly according to Laura E Weymouth. It also reminded me a little of The Wayward Children series in that these children have found the one place they truly belong, but are cast out for whatever reasons. Wayward children also explores the grief and feelings of displacement.
This story is split up into two sections: Evelyn and Philippa. They, along with their brother, James, found themselves in a different world one night after a London air raid. The Great Woods offers sanctuary for the children, but a war of its own threatens. The main story takes place after the children have returned to their own world, but every other chapter is a scene from in the Great Wood. I really liked these parts, just because I always love seeing what a fantasy/portal world is like.
Evelyn is the one who really loves The Great Wood and has been struggling for years to readjust back to normal life. She disappears one day, and it is up to Philippa (and James) to try to figure out if she somehow made it back to the Wood, or if she succumbed to her grief.
The book overall isn't very happy, and is full of sadness and grief of losing one's home. I generally liked the characters and the little relationships were cute. I guess Evelyn would represent Lucy (from The Chronicles) in the way she is the most connected to the Wood, and the Aslan figure, Cervus. Phillipa is more like a Susan figure- she has (tried to) moved on with her life and has become more interested in 'lipsticks and nylons' (I understood that reference lol). I liked Phillipa's section more and her narration was better in my opinion, and her little romance was cute too.
I also liked the poetry and artwork that is discussed throughout the book, I feel like that added more to the story and the depth of the characters. There were parts of the writing style I didn't care much for, and almost all the dialogue was like the characters were trying to say something profound or really deep each time they talked, which was annoying. I also didn't get super attached to the characters or their plights. Other than that, I can definitely see what sources the author pulled from, and her (I'm assuming) deep love for the genre.
This reminded me a lot of several other portal fantasy books I have read. It draws heavily on The Chronicles of Narnia in so many ways. Magical forest/creatures, a war against invading humans, wwii, siblings, an Aslan figure, etc. Even though this has major Narnia vibes, it asks the crucial question Lewis never explored: what happens after? How do children who essentially 'grew up' in another world, who find themselves back in their childhood body, deal with all of that? Pretty poorly according to Laura E Weymouth. It also reminded me a little of The Wayward Children series in that these children have found the one place they truly belong, but are cast out for whatever reasons. Wayward children also explores the grief and feelings of displacement.
This story is split up into two sections: Evelyn and Philippa. They, along with their brother, James, found themselves in a different world one night after a London air raid. The Great Woods offers sanctuary for the children, but a war of its own threatens. The main story takes place after the children have returned to their own world, but every other chapter is a scene from in the Great Wood. I really liked these parts, just because I always love seeing what a fantasy/portal world is like.
Evelyn is the one who really loves The Great Wood and has been struggling for years to readjust back to normal life. She disappears one day, and it is up to Philippa (and James) to try to figure out if she somehow made it back to the Wood, or if she succumbed to her grief.
The book overall isn't very happy, and is full of sadness and grief of losing one's home. I generally liked the characters and the little relationships were cute. I guess Evelyn would represent Lucy (from The Chronicles) in the way she is the most connected to the Wood, and the Aslan figure, Cervus. Phillipa is more like a Susan figure- she has (tried to) moved on with her life and has become more interested in 'lipsticks and nylons' (I understood that reference lol). I liked Phillipa's section more and her narration was better in my opinion, and her little romance was cute too.
I also liked the poetry and artwork that is discussed throughout the book, I feel like that added more to the story and the depth of the characters. There were parts of the writing style I didn't care much for, and almost all the dialogue was like the characters were trying to say something profound or really deep each time they talked, which was annoying. I also didn't get super attached to the characters or their plights. Other than that, I can definitely see what sources the author pulled from, and her (I'm assuming) deep love for the genre.