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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I found the storytelling to be too affected to be appealing, and the story too thin.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Una pena. Es lo único que puedo decir de este libro. Tiene una trama con un potencial buenísimo e interesante, pero está demasiado mal llevado para disfrutarlo. Es aburrido de leer, me han faltado explicaciones a muchas situaciones y actos, y un mejor desarrollo de los personajes, de sus vidas, intereses (incluidas las Bestias, que, desde luego, olvidadas están durante la mayor parte de la lectura) ... El escenario es practicamente el mismo durante toda la historia y ni siquiera lo he llegado a conocer bien. Me ha faltado una narrativa más elaborada y coherente durante todo el viaje. En definitiva, para mi gusto le falta profundidad y sentido.
Al parecer este es el primer libro de la autora, y creo que no tiene más justificación que esa.
Al parecer este es el primer libro de la autora, y creo que no tiene más justificación que esa.
Sybel, part wizard, continues the search and collection of magical beasts that her father Ogam and his father, Myk, also part wizards, had started. She communicates with them either by speech, or most often through telepathy. They keep her company, offer protection and advice.
I love that these animals can be divided into the four elements, symbolically associated with specific character traits to each.
This is definitely a women's tale, and a coming of age. It tells of Sybel, who cares not for other humans but her father who teaches her everything. But, when she is 16, a man brings her a baby to raise, and she is faced with emotions she never knew before. She discovers herself, her femininity, her strengths and weakness, and the various roles she can have as a person.
In this cautionary tale of hatred and revenge, Sybel plays into political intrigue between two blood enemies that have fought before, and who both want to use powerful wizard powers to crush the opponent once and for all - but all she wants is her own freedom to do as she pleases and yield to no man.
I find interesting that the author chose not to reveal everything in the processes that Sybel is experiencing and her decision making - sometimes this is done one or several pages later, and the suspense is very well built.
Often poetic, i liked the fluid writing style and how Sybel's psychology and her coming of age includes the symbols of fear, death and their acceptance, as well as division of light and dark, and in spite of a few words that seem obviously inspired from JRR Tolkien, the story itself is very different from his - and created a very different kind of romance novel, where fantasy, magical beasts, telepathy and a woman's self-discovery are all intertwined and form one coherent tale, divided into rather long 12 chapters that are easy to read thanks to the fluidity.
I highly recommend, in spite of the mentions of hunting, furs and a few non veg meals ; all these aren't the focus of the story.
Score 9/10 !
I love that these animals can be divided into the four elements, symbolically associated with specific character traits to each.
This is definitely a women's tale, and a coming of age. It tells of Sybel, who cares not for other humans but her father who teaches her everything. But, when she is 16, a man brings her a baby to raise, and she is faced with emotions she never knew before. She discovers herself, her femininity, her strengths and weakness, and the various roles she can have as a person.
In this cautionary tale of hatred and revenge, Sybel plays into political intrigue between two blood enemies that have fought before, and who both want to use powerful wizard powers to crush the opponent once and for all - but all she wants is her own freedom to do as she pleases and yield to no man.
I find interesting that the author chose not to reveal everything in the processes that Sybel is experiencing and her decision making - sometimes this is done one or several pages later, and the suspense is very well built.
Often poetic, i liked the fluid writing style and how Sybel's psychology and her coming of age includes the symbols of fear, death and their acceptance, as well as division of light and dark, and in spite of a few words that seem obviously inspired from JRR Tolkien, the story itself is very different from his - and created a very different kind of romance novel, where fantasy, magical beasts, telepathy and a woman's self-discovery are all intertwined and form one coherent tale, divided into rather long 12 chapters that are easy to read thanks to the fluidity.
I highly recommend, in spite of the mentions of hunting, furs and a few non veg meals ; all these aren't the focus of the story.
Score 9/10 !
This was a beautiful story with a lot of depth buried beneath its fantastical surface. The magical beasts were great, but really it was Sybel’s journey to find herself that made this book so satisfying.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I had high hopes going into this book, especially as a fantasy fan, but unfortunately, it didn’t fully click for me. While I appreciate that this book is considered a classic in the genre, I found it hard to get into—and when I did, it was so sporadic that I struggled to stay engaged.
The way the book started didn’t capture my attention, and throughout, the writing felt flat. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, which made it hard to connect with the characters or the world. The jumble of names, timelines, and events left me more confused than immersed, and I found myself having to backtrack at times just to piece it all together.
I was recommended this book for its fantasy elements, but I don’t think this is the kind of fantasy that resonates with me. I’m more of a Hogwarts fantasy kind of reader—I love magical worlds that are rich in detail and charm, which I didn’t feel here.
That said, I can see how this book might appeal to readers who enjoy more abstract, poetic storytelling. It just wasn’t the right fit for me. If you’re a fan of classic fantasy and don’t mind a more disjointed narrative, it might be worth a try, but it’s not one I’d revisit.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
This is such a lovely book, using beautiful, concise prose to explore complex themes. Despite technically being young adult, it's told in a way that feels more emotionally mature than many adult books, examining love, loss, fear, and anger. It's fantastical, almost mythical or folklore-esque, but subdued, and knows how to handle its themes and characters with the right amount of nuance.
I’ve been struggling with trying to write a review for this book.
Overall, it’s not a bad story, it reads very much like a traditional fairy tale which I liked. However, I wanted it to dig so much deeper than it did which is why I feel very torn. I think I would have liked it more if I read it when I was younger, which isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy it, but I just wanted a bit more time with the characters and their feelings.
Overall, it’s not a bad story, it reads very much like a traditional fairy tale which I liked. However, I wanted it to dig so much deeper than it did which is why I feel very torn. I think I would have liked it more if I read it when I was younger, which isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy it, but I just wanted a bit more time with the characters and their feelings.
2.5 stars. I’m rather disappointed with this one, but I can see why a lot of people like it. If you’re a fan of faerie tales, or study them, this one’s for you. I, unfortunately, have grown sick and tired of faerie tales and most of their discourse. I feel like I needed to have read this novel when it first came out, before the media got flooded with faerie tale discourse left right and centre.
That isn’t to say I didn’t appreciate Sybel as a protagonist—she’s feminist as heck and I love her for it. But I felt her relationship with Coren (who’s an egocentric ass, in my opinion) was wooden and forced. Tam’s home-away-home-again journey was also fairly on rails and I wasn’t invested in his growth.
Where the novel really shined was Sybel’s inner journey and her struggle with the patriarchal structures of society that tried to tie her and her innate powers down. Maelga was an interesting side character and sort of foil to Sybel as well. The rest wasn’t really for me.
That isn’t to say I didn’t appreciate Sybel as a protagonist—she’s feminist as heck and I love her for it. But I felt her relationship with Coren (who’s an egocentric ass, in my opinion) was wooden and forced. Tam’s home-away-home-again journey was also fairly on rails and I wasn’t invested in his growth.
Where the novel really shined was Sybel’s inner journey and her struggle with the patriarchal structures of society that tried to tie her and her innate powers down. Maelga was an interesting side character and sort of foil to Sybel as well. The rest wasn’t really for me.