jazzyjan94's review against another edition
4.0
I had very high expectations for this book and they kind of fell flat, however once I got to the second half of the book I really enjoyed it! I loved looking for the Pride and Prejudice allusions against this interesting setting. 3.75/5 Stars
marineb09's review against another edition
2.0
I bought this books, maybe 2 years ago ... well I should have read it 2 years ago ...
It's suppose to be a Pride and Prejudice retelling ... I don't see it really, in all honesty I didn't remember this book to be a P&P retelling, I read about it in the comments... ^^I would have not seen it.
The concept of a prehistorical story was appealing but I wasn't a fan of the plot, the writing (the MC speaks to the girl saying "you"... it's disturbing ^^) and more importantly, the characters and the romance. It was all flat for me, nothing was gripping me ...
I am sure 2 years ago I would have enjoyed this one, but people grow up ...
It's suppose to be a Pride and Prejudice retelling ... I don't see it really, in all honesty I didn't remember this book to be a P&P retelling, I read about it in the comments... ^^I would have not seen it.
The concept of a prehistorical story was appealing but I wasn't a fan of the plot, the writing (the MC speaks to the girl saying "you"... it's disturbing ^^) and more importantly, the characters and the romance. It was all flat for me, nothing was gripping me ...
I am sure 2 years ago I would have enjoyed this one, but people grow up ...
angstyp's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the idea of this book, but it took so long to get to any real action or plot. Ugh.
emtheauthor's review against another edition
3.0
Ivory and Bone is such a strange book. I'll just lead with that.
The cover is beautiful. The title is one of my favorites ever (once I got far enough in the book to understand why it was significant). The idea seems interesting, especially since I've never really read a YA book set in the prehistoric era. I was interested but wary (and thought it was a stand alone) so one day I decided to break into it and see what I found.
Here is what I found:
I found a fascinating narrative choice that I'd never really seen before but really loved. It's in a 2nd person perspective of sorts, so for the majority of the book, Kol is telling Mya a story. This means he's referring things to her (ex: "the first time I saw you" or "you came that day" or "your brother was angry with me"), tying everything back to the prologue in which Mya asks Kol to tell her a story. The narrative choice: strange but really cool. I was instantly captivated.
I found a protagonist that truly bored me. Kol, to me, was cardboard, but not in the traditional sense I use that phrase in. I mean, he felt detached. I loved the way he told the story, but he didn't feel like a part of it--as if he were a Morgan Freeman narrator wannabe. He didn't have much personality or smarts or skills or anything of interest....but he wasn't necessarily stupid or inept or uninteresting. It was so so strange. The only somewhat interesting thing to me was the story line regarding the clan: how there were no females and he was stressed about finding a wife to continue his clan. I don't know why, but I thought that was an interesting romantic perspective, and while predictable, I was curious to see where the relationship with Mya would go. I soon found that Mya must've been uninterested in Kol because he was so boring (even though that wasn't really the reason. The real reason, for me, still doesn't completely make sense, but whatever).
I found a whole lotta detail about stuff I did not care about, including a whole lotta descriptions of kayak trips and hikes and such that I found myself skimming because I couldn't care less.
At the same time, I found an exquisitely beautiful and dangerous world painted in vivid detail, not only planting images in my mind, but giving Mother Nature a character all her own. Since setting was so important to this novel, I feel the description was spot on and really transported me to this grittier and wilder world that I'll never actually get to see.
I also found the promise of an awesome and violent clash between clans, a clash where lives would be lost and friends betrayed and the stakes raised higher and higher. I kept waiting for the amazing conflict, because the potential was there, oh it was so there. The strain between Mya and Lo could've been something epic. Instead, I found two girls taking turns telling a confused Kol the "real" story as he leans back and forth between the two, then in the last ten pages or so there's a fire and one fight and two people die and then it's over.
Ugh. I was so disappointed.
Ultimately, even with so much promise and potential, I opened Ivory and Bone expecting a prehistoric epic, a battle between clans, a conflicted yet developing protagonist torn apart as he's forced to choose a side even though either one could mean death and anyone could betray him. Instead, I opened Ivory and Bone and found a bland prehistoric love story, which, unfortunately, wasn't what I was looking for at all.
Rated 2.7/5 for an interesting narrative choice, vivid imagery and an awesome title use
The cover is beautiful. The title is one of my favorites ever (once I got far enough in the book to understand why it was significant). The idea seems interesting, especially since I've never really read a YA book set in the prehistoric era. I was interested but wary (and thought it was a stand alone) so one day I decided to break into it and see what I found.
Here is what I found:
I found a fascinating narrative choice that I'd never really seen before but really loved. It's in a 2nd person perspective of sorts, so for the majority of the book, Kol is telling Mya a story. This means he's referring things to her (ex: "the first time I saw you" or "you came that day" or "your brother was angry with me"), tying everything back to the prologue in which Mya asks Kol to tell her a story. The narrative choice: strange but really cool. I was instantly captivated.
I found a protagonist that truly bored me. Kol, to me, was cardboard, but not in the traditional sense I use that phrase in. I mean, he felt detached. I loved the way he told the story, but he didn't feel like a part of it--as if he were a Morgan Freeman narrator wannabe. He didn't have much personality or smarts or skills or anything of interest....but he wasn't necessarily stupid or inept or uninteresting. It was so so strange. The only somewhat interesting thing to me was the story line regarding the clan: how there were no females and he was stressed about finding a wife to continue his clan. I don't know why, but I thought that was an interesting romantic perspective, and while predictable, I was curious to see where the relationship with Mya would go. I soon found that Mya must've been uninterested in Kol because he was so boring (even though that wasn't really the reason. The real reason, for me, still doesn't completely make sense, but whatever).
I found a whole lotta detail about stuff I did not care about, including a whole lotta descriptions of kayak trips and hikes and such that I found myself skimming because I couldn't care less.
At the same time, I found an exquisitely beautiful and dangerous world painted in vivid detail, not only planting images in my mind, but giving Mother Nature a character all her own. Since setting was so important to this novel, I feel the description was spot on and really transported me to this grittier and wilder world that I'll never actually get to see.
I also found the promise of an awesome and violent clash between clans, a clash where lives would be lost and friends betrayed and the stakes raised higher and higher. I kept waiting for the amazing conflict, because the potential was there, oh it was so there. The strain between Mya and Lo could've been something epic. Instead, I found two girls taking turns telling a confused Kol the "real" story as he leans back and forth between the two, then in the last ten pages or so there's a fire and one fight and two people die and then it's over.
Ugh. I was so disappointed.
Ultimately, even with so much promise and potential, I opened Ivory and Bone expecting a prehistoric epic, a battle between clans, a conflicted yet developing protagonist torn apart as he's forced to choose a side even though either one could mean death and anyone could betray him. Instead, I opened Ivory and Bone and found a bland prehistoric love story, which, unfortunately, wasn't what I was looking for at all.
Rated 2.7/5 for an interesting narrative choice, vivid imagery and an awesome title use
alexperc_92's review against another edition
4.0
Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*.
Torn between writing my review for this book or "This Savage song" by V. Schwab, I decided to give into my turmoil and the disappointment I felt when I read the book...and realised why so many bloggers found it lacking or not for their taste.
Taking a deep breath. Here I go.
"Ivory and Bone" takes place in the prehistoric times. If you are not familiar with Pre-History or Paleo-Archaeology, think of the book as Disney's "Brother Bear", but for YA.
Kol and his family, also his clan, live in a well-forested area which is close to the sea and rivers. It's a hunter's life, meaning that they have to hunt for caribou, mammoths, occasional greens and honey. When another family from another clan joins Kol's family in a hunt and he meets Mya, then Kol will have to battle his growing feelings for her as also the secrets and rumors that haunt Mya's clan history.
First of all, let's praise how well imagined Julie's worldbuilding is: it's hard to create a prehistoric setting, take care to also describe the pre-historic tools and tents AND add in the relationships with the characters. The first ones need deep research. We had in uni a special course about tools and hunting gear in the pre-historic times and I assure you, the author did her best.
Secondly, let's talk about the relationships. In some reviews, I read that the romance was like insta-love or forced. Which is not true. Imagine living in a world where your cat is the size of Diego from "Ice Age" and wants to eat you for dinner, and also the human species is AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN! You'll have to rethink about a boyfriend/girlfriend.
Kol's mother acts in many occasions in the book as a matchmaker, because the clan NEEDS to have more people in order to survive. It's instinct. There's no internet or a cinema or a freaking bookstore to go for a date!
Hunting for honey though acted as a good idea. Mya was an annoying character and made Kol second-thinking of his feelings but it was worth in the end.
Lastly, the POV: Kol's POV is the one called "the second POV", meaning that whatever he says it is directed to Mya, like he is telling her a story. I really couldn't understand why some fellow bloggers gave 2 stars because of the POV.
There is another book I know that it has the same POV as Ivory and Bone and that is "Stolen: A Letter to My Captor" by Lucy Christopher. It's the story of a girl who is abducted and her captor expects her to fall in love with him. The book is amazing and also written in the form of letters in the second POV.
True, the narrator of the second POV is directing his story to a person he wants and not the readers but that does not diminish how good the book is.
The ending was good and I was surprised to see that this is a trilogy. I'll be looking forward to reading the next books and hope that the author will give more adventures of Kol and Mya. ;)
Torn between writing my review for this book or "This Savage song" by V. Schwab, I decided to give into my turmoil and the disappointment I felt when I read the book...and realised why so many bloggers found it lacking or not for their taste.
Taking a deep breath. Here I go.
"Ivory and Bone" takes place in the prehistoric times. If you are not familiar with Pre-History or Paleo-Archaeology, think of the book as Disney's "Brother Bear", but for YA.
Kol and his family, also his clan, live in a well-forested area which is close to the sea and rivers. It's a hunter's life, meaning that they have to hunt for caribou, mammoths, occasional greens and honey. When another family from another clan joins Kol's family in a hunt and he meets Mya, then Kol will have to battle his growing feelings for her as also the secrets and rumors that haunt Mya's clan history.
First of all, let's praise how well imagined Julie's worldbuilding is: it's hard to create a prehistoric setting, take care to also describe the pre-historic tools and tents AND add in the relationships with the characters. The first ones need deep research. We had in uni a special course about tools and hunting gear in the pre-historic times and I assure you, the author did her best.
Secondly, let's talk about the relationships. In some reviews, I read that the romance was like insta-love or forced. Which is not true. Imagine living in a world where your cat is the size of Diego from "Ice Age" and wants to eat you for dinner, and also the human species is AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN! You'll have to rethink about a boyfriend/girlfriend.
Kol's mother acts in many occasions in the book as a matchmaker, because the clan NEEDS to have more people in order to survive. It's instinct. There's no internet or a cinema or a freaking bookstore to go for a date!
Hunting for honey though acted as a good idea. Mya was an annoying character and made Kol second-thinking of his feelings but it was worth in the end.
Lastly, the POV: Kol's POV is the one called "the second POV", meaning that whatever he says it is directed to Mya, like he is telling her a story. I really couldn't understand why some fellow bloggers gave 2 stars because of the POV.
There is another book I know that it has the same POV as Ivory and Bone and that is "Stolen: A Letter to My Captor" by Lucy Christopher. It's the story of a girl who is abducted and her captor expects her to fall in love with him. The book is amazing and also written in the form of letters in the second POV.
True, the narrator of the second POV is directing his story to a person he wants and not the readers but that does not diminish how good the book is.
The ending was good and I was surprised to see that this is a trilogy. I'll be looking forward to reading the next books and hope that the author will give more adventures of Kol and Mya. ;)
meganmreads's review against another edition
2.0
Ivory and Bone was incredibly disappointing.
Jane Austen retelling/reimagining books in the YA world have been extremely dazzling and unique. I expected there to be a reason for the setting in prehistoric times and I expected a story that focused on interpersonal relationships because there was little else for clans to do in prehistoric times but create legends, survive, and carry on.
To be quite honest, I couldn’t help but feel like the book was a waste of potential. The setting, while boring to some, left a lot of room for real character development. The Pride and Prejudice inspiration seemed like it would be a story that was inspired and passionate. There was even a unique aspect to the POV because Kol, the narrator, spoke to you, a love interest in the story. But none of those things worked well. I almost feel like the prehistoric aspect was a way to strip down a simple story and make it even more simple and to the point. It is a story that could’ve happened anywhere, so I don’t feel like there was real storytelling or character development.
At the end of the book, I didn’t feel like I really knew anyone. Let me be clear, there was next to nothing else aside from characters interacting with one another in the book because that’s all there was. Someone hunted, they moved, they made pelts, they found honey, they told stories. It was a prehistoric setting. So to feel like I didn’t really know anyone meant that the ONLY aspect in the entire book that existed wasn’t very well done.
I just.. I just don’t get why this book exists. It didn’t really work. It was boring, forgettable, and it told a story that could’ve been whittled down to a few sentences because there wasn’t much else going on. Why would anyone do this story in this setting in this way?
To be honest, I would’ve been more intrigued if it was detailed in the way they hunted, made weapons, worshipped, and lived their lives. Chapters full of the hierarchy of each clan, complete with legends told by the fire would’ve made the book worth my time because there would’ve been something MORE to it.
The POV didn’t work at all. The lack of communication and lack of understanding that everyone had for one another just made the first person to second person narration simple (since Kol only understood his own life and assumed everything else about Mya’s and we never really got into Mya’s head because we were in Kol’s the whole time) and I think I would’ve needed to get into the head or daily life of everyone to have enjoyed myself.
Jane Austen retelling/reimagining books in the YA world have been extremely dazzling and unique. I expected there to be a reason for the setting in prehistoric times and I expected a story that focused on interpersonal relationships because there was little else for clans to do in prehistoric times but create legends, survive, and carry on.
To be quite honest, I couldn’t help but feel like the book was a waste of potential. The setting, while boring to some, left a lot of room for real character development. The Pride and Prejudice inspiration seemed like it would be a story that was inspired and passionate. There was even a unique aspect to the POV because Kol, the narrator, spoke to you, a love interest in the story. But none of those things worked well. I almost feel like the prehistoric aspect was a way to strip down a simple story and make it even more simple and to the point. It is a story that could’ve happened anywhere, so I don’t feel like there was real storytelling or character development.
At the end of the book, I didn’t feel like I really knew anyone. Let me be clear, there was next to nothing else aside from characters interacting with one another in the book because that’s all there was. Someone hunted, they moved, they made pelts, they found honey, they told stories. It was a prehistoric setting. So to feel like I didn’t really know anyone meant that the ONLY aspect in the entire book that existed wasn’t very well done.
I just.. I just don’t get why this book exists. It didn’t really work. It was boring, forgettable, and it told a story that could’ve been whittled down to a few sentences because there wasn’t much else going on. Why would anyone do this story in this setting in this way?
To be honest, I would’ve been more intrigued if it was detailed in the way they hunted, made weapons, worshipped, and lived their lives. Chapters full of the hierarchy of each clan, complete with legends told by the fire would’ve made the book worth my time because there would’ve been something MORE to it.
The POV didn’t work at all. The lack of communication and lack of understanding that everyone had for one another just made the first person to second person narration simple (since Kol only understood his own life and assumed everything else about Mya’s and we never really got into Mya’s head because we were in Kol’s the whole time) and I think I would’ve needed to get into the head or daily life of everyone to have enjoyed myself.
bookishlizz's review against another edition
3.0
Just okay. Okay characters and okay storyline. The boys being so desperate for wives was a little off-putting as an overall theme. But kept my interest for the most part.
gillianewise's review against another edition
5.0
Read this in 2 days. Would rate between a 4.5 and 5 but leaning more toward a 5 here. Loved the main characters of Kol and Maya.
shellycampbellauthor's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful, immersive twist on a classic tale.
Ivory and Bone stuck with me so much that this is my second read through. Kol is a sensitive main character with a quiet steady strength. Mya is a lovely mystery to unravel and Julie is a master at elegantly describing their Neolithic setting. I could smell the sea and sense the urgency of the hunts. Fantastic, unique read. I loved it!
Ivory and Bone stuck with me so much that this is my second read through. Kol is a sensitive main character with a quiet steady strength. Mya is a lovely mystery to unravel and Julie is a master at elegantly describing their Neolithic setting. I could smell the sea and sense the urgency of the hunts. Fantastic, unique read. I loved it!