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A review by readundancies
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This was a charming little fantasy middle grade read with some great messages regarding compassion and information literacy. There were some very obvious parallels to a certain former political leader of the free world and his impact on the country he governed, but at a much smaller scale and appropriate level for the age demographic.
I will say that it moves at a slower pace than I would’ve expected for a middle grade novel, and that slow pace is felt even more by the length of the story. You can feel the length and I think it could’ve been cut down a bit to alleviate this issue because I found myself getting slightly overworked by the sheer volume of words.
I did however enjoy the characters and the plot, despite the length of the reading experience. The narcissistically proud and yet honourable crows were definitely a highlight.
I’ve taken a listen to the sample of the audiobook and think the narrator Suzanne Torren does the story justice so I’d probably recommend that version to help anyone interested in getting into the story but who is daunted by the pace or length.
I will say that it moves at a slower pace than I would’ve expected for a middle grade novel, and that slow pace is felt even more by the length of the story. You can feel the length and I think it could’ve been cut down a bit to alleviate this issue because I found myself getting slightly overworked by the sheer volume of words.
I did however enjoy the characters and the plot, despite the length of the reading experience. The narcissistically proud and yet honourable crows were definitely a highlight.
I’ve taken a listen to the sample of the audiobook and think the narrator Suzanne Torren does the story justice so I’d probably recommend that version to help anyone interested in getting into the story but who is daunted by the pace or length.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying