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adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A female-centered retelling of the Perseus myth focusing on three separate but converging tales. The story begins with his mother, Danae, followed by Medusa, and culminating in the story of his wife, Andromeda. An interesting story that flips the old myth on its head, re-envisioning the mythological hero as instead a violent, gaslighting abuser. It removes the magical and mystical elements from the historical style tale and instead explores the potential "truth" behind the stories.
The writing in this book is beautiful and Heywood does a fantastic job of creating her characters. There was a lot of strong emotion tied to each of the sections of the story and I loved the deft way in which she managed to instill messages of feminism, autonomy, and misogyny. The underlying current of the book carried home the lesson that history is written by the victors...in most cases by white men...and as a result we aren't always necessarily given the truth in the history we have learned. Yes, this is a retelling of a myth, but all tales have some basis in fact and it's good to consider how this tale may have come into being.
Key takeaway: perspective matters. It is always good to question what the story is from the opposite point of view. Humans are not great at admitting their faults and, historically, writers have tended to want their characters (or themselves/their side in cases of nonfiction) to be seen as faultless, valiant, and in the right. Heywood's imagination in this case created a LOT of moments where I really paused to consider how the tale's core truths would be altered based on who was the teller and which characters wished to be seen in the best light. An intriguing read.
The writing in this book is beautiful and Heywood does a fantastic job of creating her characters. There was a lot of strong emotion tied to each of the sections of the story and I loved the deft way in which she managed to instill messages of feminism, autonomy, and misogyny. The underlying current of the book carried home the lesson that history is written by the victors...in most cases by white men...and as a result we aren't always necessarily given the truth in the history we have learned. Yes, this is a retelling of a myth, but all tales have some basis in fact and it's good to consider how this tale may have come into being.
Key takeaway: perspective matters. It is always good to question what the story is from the opposite point of view. Humans are not great at admitting their faults and, historically, writers have tended to want their characters (or themselves/their side in cases of nonfiction) to be seen as faultless, valiant, and in the right. Heywood's imagination in this case created a LOT of moments where I really paused to consider how the tale's core truths would be altered based on who was the teller and which characters wished to be seen in the best light. An intriguing read.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.75 stars.
This was SUCH a good book. Newitz's writing is very reminiscent of Becky Chambers and her world-building was just magnificent. The characters are all so very creatively developed with the best of inclusion. The writing is seriously just so great. It is intriguing and immersing. I was absolutely absorbed into this book and I did NOT want to leave. Things were written so beautifully they just hit my heart.
Where I had issues was with the construction. If there ever was a case for a book to be expanded into a trilogy THIS IS IT. Constructed in three parts, this should have been made into three separate books. Putting them together was such a disservice to the story and made things feel like they transitioned and ended too abruptly. I not only wanted more, there NEEDED to be more. Annalee Newitz PLEASE consider writing the rest of the story...fill in the gaps, give more follow-up on an ending. This gorgeous world deserves it.
I will ABSOLUTELY be reading all of Newitz's backlist. Clearly their writing is right up my alley.
This was SUCH a good book. Newitz's writing is very reminiscent of Becky Chambers and her world-building was just magnificent. The characters are all so very creatively developed with the best of inclusion. The writing is seriously just so great. It is intriguing and immersing. I was absolutely absorbed into this book and I did NOT want to leave. Things were written so beautifully they just hit my heart.
Where I had issues was with the construction. If there ever was a case for a book to be expanded into a trilogy THIS IS IT. Constructed in three parts, this should have been made into three separate books. Putting them together was such a disservice to the story and made things feel like they transitioned and ended too abruptly. I not only wanted more, there NEEDED to be more. Annalee Newitz PLEASE consider writing the rest of the story...fill in the gaps, give more follow-up on an ending. This gorgeous world deserves it.
I will ABSOLUTELY be reading all of Newitz's backlist. Clearly their writing is right up my alley.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've been a fan of this series for years and it mostly holds up as an adult reading. This installment is definitely more of a young adult read than a middle grade novel due to some inclusion of sexuality and it does feel a bit like an outlier after my reread of the first three books in the series. Still, it was fun to have a story with the twins and I enjoyed that time travel continues to take a part.
This book is really good at taking on some difficult topics. There are discussions on good and evil, peer pressure, misogyny, some mild feminism, and (of course) sexual attraction. Things are pretty well handled, especially when you consider the fact that this book was written in the 1980s.
I enjoyed the setting and the retelling of an early Noah & the Ark story. I'm not very religious, but I still had fun with the fact that L'Engle took these rather well known characters and known moral story and used them to further tell moral tales. Very clever and still very entertaining.
There is a bit of deus ex machina, but I let that mostly slide since this is a younger style book. Would it have been better without the convenience? Yes. But it was still a good read regardless.
L'Engle continues to be one of my favorite writers even after oh so many years. I'm looking forward to finishing the quintet soon.
This book is really good at taking on some difficult topics. There are discussions on good and evil, peer pressure, misogyny, some mild feminism, and (of course) sexual attraction. Things are pretty well handled, especially when you consider the fact that this book was written in the 1980s.
I enjoyed the setting and the retelling of an early Noah & the Ark story. I'm not very religious, but I still had fun with the fact that L'Engle took these rather well known characters and known moral story and used them to further tell moral tales. Very clever and still very entertaining.
There is a bit of deus ex machina, but I let that mostly slide since this is a younger style book. Would it have been better without the convenience? Yes. But it was still a good read regardless.
L'Engle continues to be one of my favorite writers even after oh so many years. I'm looking forward to finishing the quintet soon.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dark read with some pretty creepy undertones. A nice Gothic setting and a bit of southern flair. Excellent and unique premise, but it just didn't follow through on the execution.
Holly was not my favorite character. She was unfortunately a bit overly naive and made ridiculous decisions that had me forever shaking my head. She could have been written a bit smarter without causing too much damage to the movement of the plot and she would've been a much more solid character to read. Her dumb choices meddled with the logic and pulled me out of the story a few times because it just didn't feel believable.
Maura was a nicely written mysterious character that I wish there had actually been more of. A story written from her perspective could actually be quite intriguing. She is clever and diabolical and just not quite right. I kind of liked her crazy a bit too much. There was a hint of backstory to Maura in the narrative, but I felt like it really didn't get explored enough. I almost would have rather the information was left out than have it dangled there with no real resolution or full understanding.
The setup of the novel is prime creepiness and I loved the botanical flavor. There were some great bits of knowledge peppered into the plot that I found really fun. In fact, I wish there had been more of the historical use of flowers. Overall, I enjoyed the storyline, but it just felt like it didn't go far enough. There was a lot of set up and a lot of development that resulted in a fairly rushed and flat ending, leaving me a bit disappointed.
Holly was not my favorite character. She was unfortunately a bit overly naive and made ridiculous decisions that had me forever shaking my head. She could have been written a bit smarter without causing too much damage to the movement of the plot and she would've been a much more solid character to read. Her dumb choices meddled with the logic and pulled me out of the story a few times because it just didn't feel believable.
Maura was a nicely written mysterious character that I wish there had actually been more of. A story written from her perspective could actually be quite intriguing. She is clever and diabolical and just not quite right. I kind of liked her crazy a bit too much. There was a hint of backstory to Maura in the narrative, but I felt like it really didn't get explored enough. I almost would have rather the information was left out than have it dangled there with no real resolution or full understanding.
The setup of the novel is prime creepiness and I loved the botanical flavor. There were some great bits of knowledge peppered into the plot that I found really fun. In fact, I wish there had been more of the historical use of flowers. Overall, I enjoyed the storyline, but it just felt like it didn't go far enough. There was a lot of set up and a lot of development that resulted in a fairly rushed and flat ending, leaving me a bit disappointed.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had read one of the books much later in this series and quite enjoyed it, so I decided it was time to take on the series from the beginning. I'm not typically a big detective style novel reader, so this was a bit out of my wheelhouse. And yet...I still quite enjoyed it.
Krueger's writing is straightforward and doesn't pull any punches. His storylines are easy to follow with characters feel almost universally realistic without the need for hyperbole or stereotyping. There are a few along the way who don't make this exception to the rule, but they are few and far between.
The atmosphere in the book is fantastic, with a great capturing of the Minnesota landscape and the cultures. Krueger's research into and understanding of the local Native American cultures is also well-handled in the storyline. Though not an OwnVoices read, he is from Minnesota and it is my understanding that he has consulted with tribal members as to his content and portrayals in these novels.
A fast-moving plot with some interesting twists and turns, this kept my attention. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.
Krueger's writing is straightforward and doesn't pull any punches. His storylines are easy to follow with characters feel almost universally realistic without the need for hyperbole or stereotyping. There are a few along the way who don't make this exception to the rule, but they are few and far between.
The atmosphere in the book is fantastic, with a great capturing of the Minnesota landscape and the cultures. Krueger's research into and understanding of the local Native American cultures is also well-handled in the storyline. Though not an OwnVoices read, he is from Minnesota and it is my understanding that he has consulted with tribal members as to his content and portrayals in these novels.
A fast-moving plot with some interesting twists and turns, this kept my attention. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars.
A good start to an interesting younger middle grade series steeped in Japanese mythology. Lots of adventure and great background information.
Momo is a good, wholesome character with a lot on her plate. A lot is expected of this young girl and that makes the setup feel a little unbelievable. Her mom is sick, but pushes too far to helpless, leaving young Momo to be responsible for far too much. This makes things a bit heavier than they need to be for a middle grade read. However, I did appreciate the inclusion of some difficult topics in the story, including peer pressure and bullying. I also liked that she was paired up with Danny, a willing sidekick who isn't always on the same wavelength as Momo. The extra tension present because of the history in Momo & Danny's relationship added some great depth to the story and teaches some good lessons that I think will continue to evolve through the series.
I liked Niko's character on the surface and appreciated that he was fairly sarcastic, but sometimes he veered a little too close to mean. As a result, some of the language used feels a bit whiny and occasionally too rude. I'm not sure this is a good example for younger readers and wish it would have been toned down just a bit. It wasn't overwhelming through the plot, so hopefully this will change a bit as the series develops.
There is a LOT packed into this read and that can be a little overwhelming. I really found a lot of interest in the mythology that was presented through the story and there are some incredibly interesting tales and characters. I learned a lot, but probably glazed over a little at the sheer number of mythological characters and monsters. A reread probably wouldn't be a bad idea prior to continuing the series.
A good start and I'm interested to see where this journey might go. I will be continuing the series.
A good start to an interesting younger middle grade series steeped in Japanese mythology. Lots of adventure and great background information.
Momo is a good, wholesome character with a lot on her plate. A lot is expected of this young girl and that makes the setup feel a little unbelievable. Her mom is sick, but pushes too far to helpless, leaving young Momo to be responsible for far too much. This makes things a bit heavier than they need to be for a middle grade read. However, I did appreciate the inclusion of some difficult topics in the story, including peer pressure and bullying. I also liked that she was paired up with Danny, a willing sidekick who isn't always on the same wavelength as Momo. The extra tension present because of the history in Momo & Danny's relationship added some great depth to the story and teaches some good lessons that I think will continue to evolve through the series.
I liked Niko's character on the surface and appreciated that he was fairly sarcastic, but sometimes he veered a little too close to mean. As a result, some of the language used feels a bit whiny and occasionally too rude. I'm not sure this is a good example for younger readers and wish it would have been toned down just a bit. It wasn't overwhelming through the plot, so hopefully this will change a bit as the series develops.
There is a LOT packed into this read and that can be a little overwhelming. I really found a lot of interest in the mythology that was presented through the story and there are some incredibly interesting tales and characters. I learned a lot, but probably glazed over a little at the sheer number of mythological characters and monsters. A reread probably wouldn't be a bad idea prior to continuing the series.
A good start and I'm interested to see where this journey might go. I will be continuing the series.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Quick moving, closed circle thriller mystery that blends reality show with Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. A fast-paced read that kept the intrigue high and the tension cranked. I enjoyed the writing and the reimagining of such a well-known story and felt like that was actually fairly well executed.
The writing is good and the setting is atmospheric. Do not go in thinking this will be a mild mystery. This baby is gory and intense. Williams does not hold back on making this a horror-style thriller. And for a YA read, this reaches peak violence. The murders are presented in a way that makes them strongly on page even if they occur in the wings.
So things went well with the narrative, why is this not a 4-star? Well...where I struggled was with the characters. Not a likable one in the bunch. And honestly, that would have been fine, but they also felt like a pile of cookie cutters and stereotypes. I wasn't very interested in them or really rooting for any of them. It's difficult to have everyone be a standout in such a large cast, but I at least needed a small handful. And I didn't feel like I got it. I liked the action, but could care less about who was who. That was a problem.
Regardless of my character issues, this is still a fun read. It will be a good beach read slasher. (Is that a thing? I feel like it should be a thing.)
The writing is good and the setting is atmospheric. Do not go in thinking this will be a mild mystery. This baby is gory and intense. Williams does not hold back on making this a horror-style thriller. And for a YA read, this reaches peak violence. The murders are presented in a way that makes them strongly on page even if they occur in the wings.
So things went well with the narrative, why is this not a 4-star? Well...where I struggled was with the characters. Not a likable one in the bunch. And honestly, that would have been fine, but they also felt like a pile of cookie cutters and stereotypes. I wasn't very interested in them or really rooting for any of them. It's difficult to have everyone be a standout in such a large cast, but I at least needed a small handful. And I didn't feel like I got it. I liked the action, but could care less about who was who. That was a problem.
Regardless of my character issues, this is still a fun read. It will be a good beach read slasher. (Is that a thing? I feel like it should be a thing.)
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This BARELY squeaked a 3-star rating for me. Unfortunately, I just found myself mostly bored. The concept is great, but I struggled with the execution.
The world-building was mildly interesting, but seemed to get a little bit convoluted and I started not to care as much when I got confused. Instead of fully explaining the world and how the magic worked (why do the Luminaries exist??) in a way that gripped me, there felt like a lot of textbook entries and quick quips of information. I found the mythological setup for the background really interesting and liked this basis for the world, I just wish it had been delivered a little bit better.
The protagonist and the writing both came off a bit whiny for my liking. Winnie has a strong backstory, but there is a LOT of repetition about how she feels like an outcast and it just makes her feel like a weak character rather than one who is overcoming the crap hand she was dealt. She wound up being a fairly bland character when she really could have been a diamond in the rough. Disappointing. Meanwhile, the writing felt a bit childish for a young adult read and there were several moments where the narrative felt much more like a middle grade novel. I expected more subtlety and more sophistication than I got. This was incredibly sad given that I have heard so much about how great Susan Dennard's books are and now I'm just not certain she's for me.
I nearly DNFd this read, but held out to see if things would pick up and give me something to root for. As the first in a series, I wanted to give a little wiggle room since sometimes world-building can really blight the story to begin with. Unfortunately, I was not rewarded for my patience. The ending is a bit abrupt and things were highly unresolved, which felt more like a ploy to create a series than a naturally progressing story that warrants multiple novels. There is definitely a lot that can be done in this world, but there was not enough resolution present in this book to make it feel like a satisfying read.
Maybe if I had waited and read the whole series back-to-back after it is finished I would feel differently, but right now I walked away just feeling frustrated and likely will not continue with the series unless I hear fantastic things about the remaining books. Either way, I will not be jumping to the next read until the entire series has been released.
The world-building was mildly interesting, but seemed to get a little bit convoluted and I started not to care as much when I got confused. Instead of fully explaining the world and how the magic worked (why do the Luminaries exist??) in a way that gripped me, there felt like a lot of textbook entries and quick quips of information. I found the mythological setup for the background really interesting and liked this basis for the world, I just wish it had been delivered a little bit better.
The protagonist and the writing both came off a bit whiny for my liking. Winnie has a strong backstory, but there is a LOT of repetition about how she feels like an outcast and it just makes her feel like a weak character rather than one who is overcoming the crap hand she was dealt. She wound up being a fairly bland character when she really could have been a diamond in the rough. Disappointing. Meanwhile, the writing felt a bit childish for a young adult read and there were several moments where the narrative felt much more like a middle grade novel. I expected more subtlety and more sophistication than I got. This was incredibly sad given that I have heard so much about how great Susan Dennard's books are and now I'm just not certain she's for me.
I nearly DNFd this read, but held out to see if things would pick up and give me something to root for. As the first in a series, I wanted to give a little wiggle room since sometimes world-building can really blight the story to begin with. Unfortunately, I was not rewarded for my patience. The ending is a bit abrupt and things were highly unresolved, which felt more like a ploy to create a series than a naturally progressing story that warrants multiple novels. There is definitely a lot that can be done in this world, but there was not enough resolution present in this book to make it feel like a satisfying read.
Maybe if I had waited and read the whole series back-to-back after it is finished I would feel differently, but right now I walked away just feeling frustrated and likely will not continue with the series unless I hear fantastic things about the remaining books. Either way, I will not be jumping to the next read until the entire series has been released.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just love Marissa Meyer's style. I'll pretty much read whatever she writes at this point. I arrived a little bit late to the hype train, but I'm a solid passenger now.
This is a great retelling duology. I loved the characters and the atmosphere. The storyline is so clever and fun without being too cutesy. Do not expected a fluffy, happy-go-lucky telling with just a bit of villianry. The level of dark in this story is ample and fantastic.
I will admit that this wasn't quite as gripping as the first in the series, but I loved it all just the same. It is a little bit long and did slow down a couple of times, but the world building is on point and I love the historical background that gets built up for this multi-god world. It felt like a blend of Greek mythology and Rumpelstiltskin in the best ways possible.
Whatever she wants to write from here out, consider me down for it.
This is a great retelling duology. I loved the characters and the atmosphere. The storyline is so clever and fun without being too cutesy. Do not expected a fluffy, happy-go-lucky telling with just a bit of villianry. The level of dark in this story is ample and fantastic.
I will admit that this wasn't quite as gripping as the first in the series, but I loved it all just the same. It is a little bit long and did slow down a couple of times, but the world building is on point and I love the historical background that gets built up for this multi-god world. It felt like a blend of Greek mythology and Rumpelstiltskin in the best ways possible.
Whatever she wants to write from here out, consider me down for it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A highly atmospheric read with several woven together bits. The construction style did lend itself to causing some confusion, which will be intriguing for some readers and frustrating for others. I found it interesting, though it did slow down my reading experience.
The narrative is quite dark and a solid blend of mystery, thriller, and horror with a touch of paranormal and dystopian. It also contains three separate isolated circle type storylines that work together. It's an interesting mix that made for an attention-grabbing read. Though I didn't find it necessarily scary in a jump scare kind of way, there is a good amount of gore, so be prepared going in as a reader. The writing is quite visceral does a great job of being fairly cinematic in its descriptions.
An interesting read with a lot of tense situations. The myriad of characters can become a bit confusing now and then, but it is overall fast-paced and gripping.
The narrative is quite dark and a solid blend of mystery, thriller, and horror with a touch of paranormal and dystopian. It also contains three separate isolated circle type storylines that work together. It's an interesting mix that made for an attention-grabbing read. Though I didn't find it necessarily scary in a jump scare kind of way, there is a good amount of gore, so be prepared going in as a reader. The writing is quite visceral does a great job of being fairly cinematic in its descriptions.
An interesting read with a lot of tense situations. The myriad of characters can become a bit confusing now and then, but it is overall fast-paced and gripping.