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A review by what_ella_reads
Splinters of Scarlet by Emily Bain Murphy
4.0
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I have not read much of the historical fantasy subgenre. In fact I think that this is only the third historical fantasy novel I have read. Out of the three I have read I think that I like this one best!
This book has so many positives. My favorite thing about this book has to be the female relationships. There are so many positive female friendships and familial relationships in this book, which can be hard to find YA. The friendship between Marit, the main character, and her best friend Liljan was so sweet. They loved to tease and make fun of each other, but if someone else came for them, they better watch out! I also loved the familial relationship between Marit and Eve. Marit put Eve's needs above her own so many times, while Eve was always willing to stick up for and to use her new status to protect Marit.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this story was the magic system. The author did a great job of describing the magical powers and The Firn. Though the plot twist about the firn was shocking and fantastical, it also was logical. Considering that this is the author's first fantasy book, I have to give her props for creating a logical magic system!
The last thing I really enjoyed in this story was the mystery. I truly did not guess the ending at all! Pretty much all of the revelations surprised me, especially the ones involving the deaths of certain characters (who I will not name because spoilers).
Though there are many positives about this book, there is one thing about this book that I didn't always love and that was the prose. While I love thought provoking metaphor and lavish descriptions, I have to admit that I am just not personally a fan of very descriptive, flowery prose. That type of prose style usually take me out of the story and tempts me to skip ahead. Since there are A LOT of flowery prose in this story I felt myself getting a little bored at times.
There were some metaphors and descriptions that I really enjoyed in this, especially towards the end, but I just did not enjoy the prose as a whole, unfortunately.
I am hope to give Ms. Murphy's other books a go in the future!
I have not read much of the historical fantasy subgenre. In fact I think that this is only the third historical fantasy novel I have read. Out of the three I have read I think that I like this one best!
This book has so many positives. My favorite thing about this book has to be the female relationships. There are so many positive female friendships and familial relationships in this book, which can be hard to find YA. The friendship between Marit, the main character, and her best friend Liljan was so sweet. They loved to tease and make fun of each other, but if someone else came for them, they better watch out! I also loved the familial relationship between Marit and Eve. Marit put Eve's needs above her own so many times, while Eve was always willing to stick up for and to use her new status to protect Marit.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this story was the magic system. The author did a great job of describing the magical powers and The Firn. Though the plot twist about the firn was shocking and fantastical, it also was logical. Considering that this is the author's first fantasy book, I have to give her props for creating a logical magic system!
The last thing I really enjoyed in this story was the mystery. I truly did not guess the ending at all! Pretty much all of the revelations surprised me, especially the ones involving the deaths of certain characters (who I will not name because spoilers).
Though there are many positives about this book, there is one thing about this book that I didn't always love and that was the prose. While I love thought provoking metaphor and lavish descriptions, I have to admit that I am just not personally a fan of very descriptive, flowery prose. That type of prose style usually take me out of the story and tempts me to skip ahead. Since there are A LOT of flowery prose in this story I felt myself getting a little bored at times.
There were some metaphors and descriptions that I really enjoyed in this, especially towards the end, but I just did not enjoy the prose as a whole, unfortunately.
I am hope to give Ms. Murphy's other books a go in the future!