Reviews

The Truth About Owls by Amal El-Mohtar

mahi_tiwari's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

pickett22's review against another edition

4.0

I listened to this on Levar Burton Reads and I may have cried. It's very sad and very beautiful. I really, really love Amal El-Mohtar's imagery.

cloudwriter's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

marlisenicole's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

crunden's review against another edition

❧ audiobook review

I've heard so much about [b:This Is How You Lose the Time War|43352954|This Is How You Lose the Time War|Amal El-Mohtar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545755487l/43352954._SX50_.jpg|58237743], but alas I haven't had the chance to read it yet. This novella really made me want to bump it up my reading list, though!

If you want to read/listen to this book, go here.

sillyperson's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

toriaisoka's review

3.0

This is a great short story about accepting heritage, magic, and owls! Here's the link if you feel like reading it:
http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/the-truth-about-owls/

archaicgambit's review

dark emotional medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

A beautiful character-centric story. I loved the magical realism and relationship to mythology. 

softrosemint's review

3.25

i good little short story about identity and otherness. i liked the motif of the owls and folklore, i thought it was very smartly used.

lily_knowles's review

4.0

3,5 stars.

Amal El-Mothar is a talanted writer. The way she weaves words together to craft a story is beautiful!

This was an interesting and unique read. I loved the small sections that stated fact about owls, and how they tied into the story and character development. It dealt with very important aspects of coming from another country, not feeling welcomed, or like you belong. Having to deal with prejudices, and disconnection from parents due to not looking alike or of the same ethnicity.

I liked how the myth of Blodeuwedd was the catalyst lof everything. It was all fun to read about a myth I enjoy!

The last sentences of the ending were impactful, but I wish there had been a bit more to the ending at the moment it feels anticlimatic. But besides that I truly enjoyed it!