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thewildnorry's reviews
213 reviews
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
3.0
Every time I read this, I love it a little bit more.
Legendary by Stephanie Garber
4.0
I came into this book not expecting to enjoy it. I wasn't a huge fan of Caraval. I found the first book cliched and predictable and the dialogue between the characters had me rolling my eyes many times. But, this seemed like a nice audiobook to fill up the short car-rides to and from work or church that are just enough time for the radio to get old but not enough time to really call someone.
I was surprised to be so gripped with this story that I was cleaning my house just to justify listening to it (because apparently in my brain you have to be doing something else to justify sitting and listening to an audiobook vs. reading a physical book).
Some thoughts:
I loved the story of the Fates and a development of a new mythology. I hope this is something that continues to be threaded into the next book rather than abandoned (kinda like how the myths about Legend were completely abandoned during this book.)
I think I found Tella's character more likable than Scarlett's, but she still felt more like a caricature than a human being. Garber was a little heavy handed with her "secret" insecurities: "I'll never fall in love so I don't get hurt" and "Everyone I love leaves me" -- [Even though that's only true for one person?]). Still, Tella's predicament was infinitely more captivating than Scarlett's. Probably because whereas the first one was a pure scavenger hunt, this one has significant stakes and the nature of the game is even questioned. Tella wandering around trying to piece together what she really wants and how she should get what she really wants and how she should navigate being in WAY over her head was what won me to her side.
I found Scarlett just as insufferable in this one as she was in the first book. And her subplot was as confusing as it was completely unnecessary.
The subplot of their missing mother though was intriguing and relatively unique. I hope to hear even more of her story in the next one.
This story does have its predicable cliches like Tella's insecurities. Oh, and...
But overall I enjoyed it, and it has me interested in reading the next one for sure.
I was surprised to be so gripped with this story that I was cleaning my house just to justify listening to it (because apparently in my brain you have to be doing something else to justify sitting and listening to an audiobook vs. reading a physical book).
Some thoughts:
I loved the story of the Fates and a development of a new mythology. I hope this is something that continues to be threaded into the next book rather than abandoned (kinda like how the myths about Legend were completely abandoned during this book.)
I think I found Tella's character more likable than Scarlett's, but she still felt more like a caricature than a human being. Garber was a little heavy handed with her "secret" insecurities: "I'll never fall in love so I don't get hurt" and "Everyone I love leaves me" -- [Even though that's only true for one person?]). Still, Tella's predicament was infinitely more captivating than Scarlett's. Probably because whereas the first one was a pure scavenger hunt, this one has significant stakes and the nature of the game is even questioned. Tella wandering around trying to piece together what she really wants and how she should get what she really wants and how she should navigate being in WAY over her head was what won me to her side.
Spoiler
Plus, there was a bigger pay off for the audience in this one because the game is real and they don't undo all of it a la "We TOLD you not to get swept up in the game." Although, I do take issue with the fact that the beginning does start with undoing one of the few real things of the last book (Count Nicholas). It seems like this was done after she had written the book and realized she didn't want to spend time explaining away why Tella wasn't worried about running into the Count or even include the Count into this book.I found Scarlett just as insufferable in this one as she was in the first book. And her subplot was as confusing as it was completely unnecessary.
The subplot of their missing mother though was intriguing and relatively unique. I hope to hear even more of her story in the next one.
This story does have its predicable cliches like Tella's insecurities. Oh, and...
Spoiler
Tella is the Jack of Heart's one true love? Wow. I'm so shocked. I never saw that coming. Who would have thought it? It's not like I noticed the Jack of Hearts and his card being mentioned every five pages? I kinda hope this magically goes away in the next one because their relationship had very very minimal growth and even less believable growth. But also if it does go away, that's lazy. You made your heart shaped bed, time to lay in it.But overall I enjoyed it, and it has me interested in reading the next one for sure.