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A review by leilaxx
The Thief on the Winged Horse by Kate Mascarenhas
2.0
Ok, wow, first of all, I can't believe I finished this in like 5 hours. It was such a slow and dull read. I can't believe I managed to convince myself to complete it. I contemplated stopping, but I felt I had done so too many times this year.
Why not give it a chance?
The plot, let me just say, got lost on me quickly. It starts with the introduction of a mysterious stranger, claiming to be a long-lost relative of the Kendrick doll makers. He is set on working as an apprentice and planning to learn the secret craft of enchantments on the dolls. Next thing you know, two other POVs are introduced; the paid mourner doll is stolen and well. Soon, the world and magic of doll building became too incoherent and confusing for my focus.
The three different character POVs were useless. I felt so detached from them. They truly had no other personality or intriguing character traits or background besides all working for Conrad. It was just reading the same thing three times. I was so bored. The characters also had no connection to one another, neither to the reader nor the setting itself; all their perspectives were useless, and their acquaintance with one another made no sense.
More of my issues:
The original doll thief never properly gave their motive as to why they did it. I don't even remember who it was. Was it even uncovered or explained? Maybe it was, but I was so fed up that the last 100 pages blurred into one for me.
Larkins' motive washed over me, and he was all over the place.
The magic side of things did not make sense nor add up.
How old were our characters? What did they look like? It was hard trying to form an image in my head when barely any character description was provided.
The whole hex and magic doll-making enchanting skill. What was the purpose? How does it work? Why did the family secret not get leaked by anyone generations down? Are you all that loyal?
Briar and his drinking problems were probably the most prominent part of this novel. He was the main character because that was the only exciting thing happening.
The plot did NOT move forward or change throughout the 300-plus pages. The book was a constant return, like a circle of everyone repeating the same ideas, thoughts and brain.
There was no winged horse, lol.
Why not give it a chance?
The plot, let me just say, got lost on me quickly. It starts with the introduction of a mysterious stranger, claiming to be a long-lost relative of the Kendrick doll makers. He is set on working as an apprentice and planning to learn the secret craft of enchantments on the dolls. Next thing you know, two other POVs are introduced; the paid mourner doll is stolen and well. Soon, the world and magic of doll building became too incoherent and confusing for my focus.
The three different character POVs were useless. I felt so detached from them. They truly had no other personality or intriguing character traits or background besides all working for Conrad. It was just reading the same thing three times. I was so bored. The characters also had no connection to one another, neither to the reader nor the setting itself; all their perspectives were useless, and their acquaintance with one another made no sense.
More of my issues:
The original doll thief never properly gave their motive as to why they did it. I don't even remember who it was. Was it even uncovered or explained? Maybe it was, but I was so fed up that the last 100 pages blurred into one for me.
Larkins' motive washed over me, and he was all over the place.
The magic side of things did not make sense nor add up.
How old were our characters? What did they look like? It was hard trying to form an image in my head when barely any character description was provided.
The whole hex and magic doll-making enchanting skill. What was the purpose? How does it work? Why did the family secret not get leaked by anyone generations down? Are you all that loyal?
Briar and his drinking problems were probably the most prominent part of this novel. He was the main character because that was the only exciting thing happening.
The plot did NOT move forward or change throughout the 300-plus pages. The book was a constant return, like a circle of everyone repeating the same ideas, thoughts and brain.
There was no winged horse, lol.