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livsliterarynook 's review for:
Feathertide
by Beth Cartwright
Feathertide was not quite what I expected based on first impressions from the cover, but it turned out to be a beautiful coming-of-age, fantasy novel steeped in magical-realism and focused on ideas of self-confidence and love.
The novel follows a young girl Marea who is born with feathers and kept hidden away in the cellar of a whore-house for her whole life. She slowly begins to realise as she grows up that she is different from those who inhabit her world around her and she hides herself and her feathers. The novel speaks to those that are shunned for being different as Marea is part-bird and deeply fearful of being shown in a 'Freaks and Oddities show. Upon reaching maturity, she takes the decision to brave the wide-open world and search for answers about her father, her identity and her future. This takes her to the City of Murmurs which is a city steeped in mystery and magic. Here Marea experiences first loves, makes friends, and begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding her heritage and future.
It took me a little bit to get into this novel, but it really came into its own once Marea landed in the City of Murmurs. The relationship that blossomed between her and Leo, and her and the girl with the flaming golden hair who embodied the ocean as much as Marea represented the sky really captured by heart. The relationships that Marea developed between these two beautifully represented the struggles of first loves, identity and developing sexuality. The focus was on the person and their behaviours and values rather than their gender or identity which I really liked. Both of the love-interests taught Marea something about herself and helped her to grow as a person and I loved this element of the novel.
The actual plot itself is quite slow and meandering as the focus is on Marea's growth and development, her family and love. The novel is steeped in description and beautiful metaphors as it builds up the city and the characters within. I do wish we'd had a little bit more about the world and the history of The City of Murmurs and how it came to be, where it is. Nevertheless, this was a novel that was beautiful in its descriptions and reminded me very much of [b:The Night Circus|9361589|The Night Circus|Erin Morgenstern|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387124618l/9361589._SY75_.jpg|14245059]. For those that loved The Night Circus the flowery descriptions, slow plot pacing and focus on mystery, magic and finding ones identity will love Feathertide.
This was a beautiful mystery that slowly and daintily unraveled itself and surprisingly impressed me as it went along. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the eARC.
The novel follows a young girl Marea who is born with feathers and kept hidden away in the cellar of a whore-house for her whole life. She slowly begins to realise as she grows up that she is different from those who inhabit her world around her and she hides herself and her feathers. The novel speaks to those that are shunned for being different as Marea is part-bird and deeply fearful of being shown in a 'Freaks and Oddities show. Upon reaching maturity, she takes the decision to brave the wide-open world and search for answers about her father, her identity and her future. This takes her to the City of Murmurs which is a city steeped in mystery and magic. Here Marea experiences first loves, makes friends, and begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding her heritage and future.
It took me a little bit to get into this novel, but it really came into its own once Marea landed in the City of Murmurs. The relationship that blossomed between her and Leo, and her and the girl with the flaming golden hair who embodied the ocean as much as Marea represented the sky really captured by heart. The relationships that Marea developed between these two beautifully represented the struggles of first loves, identity and developing sexuality. The focus was on the person and their behaviours and values rather than their gender or identity which I really liked. Both of the love-interests taught Marea something about herself and helped her to grow as a person and I loved this element of the novel.
The actual plot itself is quite slow and meandering as the focus is on Marea's growth and development, her family and love. The novel is steeped in description and beautiful metaphors as it builds up the city and the characters within. I do wish we'd had a little bit more about the world and the history of The City of Murmurs and how it came to be, where it is. Nevertheless, this was a novel that was beautiful in its descriptions and reminded me very much of [b:The Night Circus|9361589|The Night Circus|Erin Morgenstern|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387124618l/9361589._SY75_.jpg|14245059]. For those that loved The Night Circus the flowery descriptions, slow plot pacing and focus on mystery, magic and finding ones identity will love Feathertide.
This was a beautiful mystery that slowly and daintily unraveled itself and surprisingly impressed me as it went along. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the eARC.