fnxtxsticfox's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
I spent three years searching for this book, on & off. Recommended by my elementary school librarian and still beloved. Read it this summer again.
comealongphil's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
emcl7weenie's review against another edition
I am not a fan of the writing. There are random world building tangents that seem to take place in random dialogue breaks. I got 23% through and I'm still bored. Sad because a lot of people seem to rave about it. But I'm not drawn in enough to continue.
kers_tin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Grief, Colonisation, Violence, Misogyny, Ableism, and Genocide
zolophone's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kerrisbooks13's review against another edition
3.0
The idea/concept was solid but the execution left something to be desired. This book was weird and even though the second half picked up and the weirdness started to make sense, it didn’t make up for the fact that it was so weird it was a little…boring? Idk. This is the second work of this author that I’ve read and the second one that I haven’t really liked so might be a pass on any more
kbatch's review against another edition
Absolutely horrible. I couldn’t get any further than 25% into the book.
larkiereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I first read The Lost Conspiracy back around middle school, I can't remember exactly when, but I remember it making a huge impression on me. For a long time I listed Francis Hardinge as one of my favorite authors, even though the library didn't have any of her other books. But it's been a long time, the details of the plot and the world have faded from my memory, so I decided to try it again.
I still love this book. I love the multicultural world, with lots of details on some cultures and implied depth in others. I love the way that the landscape itself shapes the story, with the volcanoes being characters in their own right. I love the Lost, and the implications for how a society would shape itself around people with the ability to send their senses outside of themselves.
But I also love Hathin. I love her determination and her dedication, I love how she had to grow up too fast as a way to fulfill her role, and I love how she grows from the smallest sister tasked with keeping the biggest secret to someone who can stand up and shape the world around her. I love how she loves Arilou as much as she's frustrated by her, and I love that she gets to save everyone.
Anyway. 10/10 book from my childhood that still holds up.
I still love this book. I love the multicultural world, with lots of details on some cultures and implied depth in others. I love the way that the landscape itself shapes the story, with the volcanoes being characters in their own right. I love the Lost, and the implications for how a society would shape itself around people with the ability to send their senses outside of themselves.
But I also love Hathin. I love her determination and her dedication, I love how she had to grow up too fast as a way to fulfill her role, and I love how she grows from the smallest sister tasked with keeping the biggest secret to someone who can stand up and shape the world around her. I love how she loves Arilou as much as she's frustrated by her, and I love that she gets to save everyone.
Anyway. 10/10 book from my childhood that still holds up.
sugarbloom's review against another edition
5.0
This...this book is art.
I'm still in shock. Let me just say it was an extremely pleasant surprise.
The language, characters, plot, setting, culture, everything, are all genius.
The twists, oh the twists! I had to read carefully, weighing every word, to make sure I wasn't missing anything, but it was still fast-paced and quick to follow.
The descriptions...there are several of my favorite kind, which make me stop and think "Oh, that's how it is, isn't it!" Like "self-control hissing out of him like grain out of a bag" and "once again, the conversation fell screaming into the language chasm".
The setting is gorgeous - the island is richly populated with so many people groups who have languages, customs, superstitions of their own, and they clash in a way I wish mine would - senselessly, furiously - like real humans' do. Their legends are beautiful.
I genuinely didn't expect it to be told from the perspective of one of the "smiling tribe of traitorous murderers" mentioned on the cover, but am glad it was. I also liked the other perspectives. The setting and voice is gritty, rich, gorgeous. The only thing that threw me out of the story (I read it in three sittings) were wondering if Hathin had ever seen some of the things she was comparing objects to. I can't think of any right now, but I did think "has she ever seen that, as an island child?"
Few books can make me turn to the back flap to see "who the heck wrote this?" but this one did. And somehow the author looks perfect. She has quirky, fuzzy, arched eyebrows and a black hat. She's strange and she doesn't care who knows it.
It's also quite funny in parts. Also mildly creepy. I love the way Hathin talks to the volcanoes, and I was hoping - oh, I was hoping - that things would turn out similarly to the way they did. It was highly satisfactory.
There was mild language, no magic or sexual content. Most of the supporting characters had an arc or an interesting tidbit, so much so that I loved them nearly as much as the main character. The themes are so cleverly tied in....
Read it. Just read it.
I'm still in shock. Let me just say it was an extremely pleasant surprise.
The language, characters, plot, setting, culture, everything, are all genius.
The twists, oh the twists! I had to read carefully, weighing every word, to make sure I wasn't missing anything, but it was still fast-paced and quick to follow.
The descriptions...there are several of my favorite kind, which make me stop and think "Oh, that's how it is, isn't it!" Like "self-control hissing out of him like grain out of a bag" and "once again, the conversation fell screaming into the language chasm".
The setting is gorgeous - the island is richly populated with so many people groups who have languages, customs, superstitions of their own, and they clash in a way I wish mine would - senselessly, furiously - like real humans' do. Their legends are beautiful.
I genuinely didn't expect it to be told from the perspective of one of the "smiling tribe of traitorous murderers" mentioned on the cover, but am glad it was. I also liked the other perspectives. The setting and voice is gritty, rich, gorgeous. The only thing that threw me out of the story (I read it in three sittings) were wondering if Hathin had ever seen some of the things she was comparing objects to. I can't think of any right now, but I did think "has she ever seen that, as an island child?"
Few books can make me turn to the back flap to see "who the heck wrote this?" but this one did. And somehow the author looks perfect. She has quirky, fuzzy, arched eyebrows and a black hat. She's strange and she doesn't care who knows it.
It's also quite funny in parts. Also mildly creepy. I love the way Hathin talks to the volcanoes, and I was hoping - oh, I was hoping - that things would turn out similarly to the way they did. It was highly satisfactory.
There was mild language, no magic or sexual content. Most of the supporting characters had an arc or an interesting tidbit, so much so that I loved them nearly as much as the main character. The themes are so cleverly tied in....
Read it. Just read it.
eevanelson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0