maddyreads89's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
-wish the world was fleshed out a little more, but there are future books for that (and mc is a child so she’s not gonna get all the nuances of the place)
-didn’t think the villain was a great foil cause September’s journey in Fairyland ended up being pretty different from the villain she is compared to
-want to read more of valente’s work
-didn’t think the villain was a great foil cause September’s journey in Fairyland ended up being pretty different from the villain she is compared to
-want to read more of valente’s work
sandraagee's review
I wanted to love this book. I really did. The premise is one that would normally suck me in, and I love that it doesn't seem to be a Narnia / Harry Potter rip-off. No, this is a book that clearly stands on its own two feet.
But I just couldn't get into it. The language - while lovely and enticing when taken one sentance at a time - was just a bit too much. Much like [b:The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing|10446871|The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I The Pox Party|M.T. Anderson|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cQsxVruyL._SL75_.jpg|577024], the style of writing will either make of break this book for readers. I have a feeling though that readers who stick to it will be rewarded in the end.
Perhaps I needed to work myself into the right mood to handle this book. Perhaps if I had not taken it home during my busiest month this year I would be writing a much more glowing review. But alas.
Part of me wonders if I would enjoy this book more if I could hear it read aloud on audio.
But I just couldn't get into it. The language - while lovely and enticing when taken one sentance at a time - was just a bit too much. Much like [b:The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing|10446871|The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I The Pox Party|M.T. Anderson|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cQsxVruyL._SL75_.jpg|577024], the style of writing will either make of break this book for readers. I have a feeling though that readers who stick to it will be rewarded in the end.
Perhaps I needed to work myself into the right mood to handle this book. Perhaps if I had not taken it home during my busiest month this year I would be writing a much more glowing review. But alas.
Part of me wonders if I would enjoy this book more if I could hear it read aloud on audio.
shanaqui's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A favourite, rereading it to spark my reading mojo. It's working! And I'm surprised by the things I'd forgotten in this first book alone.
rhysciar's review
3.0
No matter what, no matter how hard I tried, I still didn't like it. I guess stories that resemble to Alice in Wonderland are just not meant for me.
dixiet's review
4.0
What an unusual book. It felt much more dense to me than most stories; I had to read it in small chunks because it quickly became too much to absorb. But it was fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
jpcolkitt9190's review
adventurous
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Great fairy tale book for children 3rd-middle school aged
erraticmusings's review against another edition
4.0
This book starts off incredibly strong. From the first words, Valente reels you in and sets the stage for the distinctive narration that is to come. The stylized chapter headings and narrative tone give off 19th century vibes around a story that at first feels reminiscent of Alice's journey into wonderland, but the September's tale quickly turns raw and arduous in a way that was both unexpected and very much welcome (and very much 21st-century :) ). Valente manages to convey the realness of time passing on a journey, the aching in one's muscles and bones, the hunger when food is nowhere to be found -- something rare amongst writers of this type of highly stylized fantasy. The magicalness of it all is also so compelling; I caught myself wondering about oddities and creatures described in Fairyland as I went about my day. Once the rules and logic of the world are established, she sticks to them and unfolds additional details seamlessly as our characters encounter them -- Nothing feels tacked on, and there is no deus ex machina moment. The plot itself feels very sensible and and meaningful. I did feel towards the end of the story that the sparkly sense of wonder in the narrative voice had worn off a bit, but it was a reasonable change given the fast-paced action leading up to the conclusion. Overall, I enjoyed this a lot; it was a change in pace and so distinctive among everything I've read recently.
feelingferal's review
5.0
cute story! fun to read. A young adult book but definitely enjoyable for grown-ups. Cute without being cute-sy. Fun, well-written and engaging. A little Phantom Tollbooth, a little Narnia, a little Wizard of Oz and a big scoop of Alice in Wonderland. I liked it and look forward to the sequels.
lmc168's review
3.0
Closer to 3.5 stars. Good writing and I liked the storytelling, but it was a little younger than most of the YA I read (though still pretty dark in some parts) and a touch too whimsical.