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drgnlv's Reviews (823)
You know what was the worst thing about this book? There were many problems, starting with structure, continuing with choppy characterization, and ending in an unsatisfactory and ridiculous conclusion. Yet the very worst thing about this book was the fact that Kit Bristol, who literally knows nothing about being a highwayman or really having any life experience at all, is depicted as being the biggest male savior for a female damsel in distress for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. Let's just take a look at his meek little princess in need of saving, shall we?
1) Powerful fairy
2) Rebel leader of an entire army
3) Magical powers that allows for transformation of her entire body into someone else
4) Far older then Kit, possibly immortal
5) Beautiful and fiercely intelligent
6) Refuses to be be married off without her consent
7) Deeply loves and respects the fairy people she rules, securing their devotion
Yet, Ben Tripp in his infinite male wisdom has first created this character and then DESTROYED her by making this story about human boy, Kit Bristol. Kit, who is FOR SOME REASON put in charge of this almighty princess. Kit, who is somehow the savior in this whole situation, constantly taking the reigns of the group of sundry magical persons because HAHA women can't possibly be expected to make it anywhere or do anything on their own! Even powerful a Princess with AN ENTIRE ARMY WHICH SHE IS SECRETLY COMMANDING EVEN AS SHE IS BEING DRAGGED AROUND ENGLAND BY THIS BOY-CHILD. But, a woman can't be expected to save herself, no matter how powerful and old she is, because she's pretty, right?
So instead, Kit is brought in to lead her and oogle over how beautiful she is and fall in love with her and make this all about him. The entire, deeply sagging, middle of this book is all about Kit and his princess falling in "love". I'm sorry, this is even less believable than the Anakin-Padme romance in Attack of the Clones, because at least Anakin COULD DO COOL THINGS! Kit Bristol can... be a circus performer? No, that's not all! According to Ben Tripp, this useless child who has never done anything particularly impressive in his life (like LEADING A REBEL ARMY OR DEFYING AN EVIL KING TO BRING FREEDOM TO THE FEY PEOPLE), is somehow the only person in the group able to figure out how to get the princess from point A to point B and protect her along the way.
HIM protect HER!! There is absolutely nothing in this story to suggest that the princess needs any type of protection, and the romance that supposedly grows out of this male-dominated situation is not only unrealistic, but insulting. The audience for this book is young adults, not monkeys. This book is just another tedious example of men being painted arbitrarily painted as damsel-saving heroes in stories, no matter how strong and capable those damsels actually are. Writing strong female characters is never going to fix your books, boys, until you start writing the agency-driven narratives to match.
That is all, thank you, never read this book.
1) Powerful fairy
2) Rebel leader of an entire army
3) Magical powers that allows for transformation of her entire body into someone else
4) Far older then Kit, possibly immortal
5) Beautiful and fiercely intelligent
6) Refuses to be be married off without her consent
7) Deeply loves and respects the fairy people she rules, securing their devotion
Yet, Ben Tripp in his infinite male wisdom has first created this character and then DESTROYED her by making this story about human boy, Kit Bristol. Kit, who is FOR SOME REASON put in charge of this almighty princess. Kit, who is somehow the savior in this whole situation, constantly taking the reigns of the group of sundry magical persons because HAHA women can't possibly be expected to make it anywhere or do anything on their own! Even powerful a Princess with AN ENTIRE ARMY WHICH SHE IS SECRETLY COMMANDING EVEN AS SHE IS BEING DRAGGED AROUND ENGLAND BY THIS BOY-CHILD. But, a woman can't be expected to save herself, no matter how powerful and old she is, because she's pretty, right?
So instead, Kit is brought in to lead her and oogle over how beautiful she is and fall in love with her and make this all about him. The entire, deeply sagging, middle of this book is all about Kit and his princess falling in "love". I'm sorry, this is even less believable than the Anakin-Padme romance in Attack of the Clones, because at least Anakin COULD DO COOL THINGS! Kit Bristol can... be a circus performer? No, that's not all! According to Ben Tripp, this useless child who has never done anything particularly impressive in his life (like LEADING A REBEL ARMY OR DEFYING AN EVIL KING TO BRING FREEDOM TO THE FEY PEOPLE), is somehow the only person in the group able to figure out how to get the princess from point A to point B and protect her along the way.
HIM protect HER!! There is absolutely nothing in this story to suggest that the princess needs any type of protection, and the romance that supposedly grows out of this male-dominated situation is not only unrealistic, but insulting. The audience for this book is young adults, not monkeys. This book is just another tedious example of men being painted arbitrarily painted as damsel-saving heroes in stories, no matter how strong and capable those damsels actually are. Writing strong female characters is never going to fix your books, boys, until you start writing the agency-driven narratives to match.
That is all, thank you, never read this book.
Surprisingly suspenseful and well-written! One star off for the unsettling lack of female characters in a book for children young enough to build their ideas about the world order from the stories read to and by them. I hope that Cressida Crowell adds some female viking heroes in the next book.
David Tennent should narrate everything. The End!
David Tennent should narrate everything. The End!
Book 6: The prologue to Book 7
Unfortunately, this book did not stand up when read directly after Book 5. Where the Order of the Phoenix dove deeply into scene descriptions, superfluous dialogue, and Harry's interiority, this book steps so far back from Harry's feelings that it could be a story from any character's perspective. The plot, while still being better and more cohesive than some other published novels, was very simple for a Harry Potter book. I would equate the Half-Blood Prince with the complexity of the Sorcerer's Stone, only a little more boring because of an utter lack of new and interesting ideas (really, mentioning inferi a million times does not significantly increase the worldbuilding...). This book is the Sorcerer's Stone for older readers.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book, where stuff actually happens again.
Unfortunately, this book did not stand up when read directly after Book 5. Where the Order of the Phoenix dove deeply into scene descriptions, superfluous dialogue, and Harry's interiority, this book steps so far back from Harry's feelings that it could be a story from any character's perspective. The plot, while still being better and more cohesive than some other published novels, was very simple for a Harry Potter book. I would equate the Half-Blood Prince with the complexity of the Sorcerer's Stone, only a little more boring because of an utter lack of new and interesting ideas (really, mentioning inferi a million times does not significantly increase the worldbuilding...). This book is the Sorcerer's Stone for older readers.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book, where stuff actually happens again.
