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badriyaishere's review against another edition
"There is a time and a place for reading a certain book" is the recurring thought I had when reading the first two chapters.
I first read this book back in 2020 (roughly). It stuck with me years later for its magic: the awe and wonder of a magical world slowly flourishing with the real world as more people believed in the beauty around them. As a child, it would have been a dream come true to experience that. However, as an adult having seen a lot in the four years since, the magic left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Dinsdale writes beautifully, let's get that out of the way. One thing I remember in particular was his vivid descriptions of Paris, the Flowers by Night, which bloomed with rich colours and vibrant fauna that lived among them. These descriptions were weaved in with the plot, following Isabelle closely at first, and caused a steady pace for the story to develop. It's a slow burner, so if you're not a fan of lengthy descriptions I believe this would not be a story for you. If you are a fan of slow burn, it will pay off during the climaxin which the Flowers by Night bloom lavishly alongside Paris and the world of the Old Country fully becomes alive .
Paris by Starlight has the overarching theme of displacement, and with it comes xenophobia. The main characters and love interests, Isobelle and Levon, navigate this as Levon and his family find a way to peacefully live in Paris after being forced out of their home and way of living by night. Again, I enjoyed this book when I read it for the first time, and picked it up to experience the magic again. However, given events in the UK and globally, I could not find myself escaping into the book, rather it felt too close to home to ignore. Dinsdale does a great job navigating many different perspectives through his characters, all brilliantly entwined with each other, yetthe resolution of these characters' arcs comes in the final chapter. All of them seemingly fitting but at the same time felt very rushed. (Please note that I skipped to the final chapter for a refresher on the resolution).
Overall, if you're looking to read this book I'd say be prepared to place the outside world out of your mind and be in it for the long haul, although the resolution may not be worth the time and energy spent when you get to the end.
I first read this book back in 2020 (roughly). It stuck with me years later for its magic: the awe and wonder of a magical world slowly flourishing with the real world as more people believed in the beauty around them. As a child, it would have been a dream come true to experience that. However, as an adult having seen a lot in the four years since, the magic left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Dinsdale writes beautifully, let's get that out of the way. One thing I remember in particular was his vivid descriptions of Paris, the Flowers by Night, which bloomed with rich colours and vibrant fauna that lived among them. These descriptions were weaved in with the plot, following Isabelle closely at first, and caused a steady pace for the story to develop. It's a slow burner, so if you're not a fan of lengthy descriptions I believe this would not be a story for you. If you are a fan of slow burn, it will pay off during the climax
Paris by Starlight has the overarching theme of displacement, and with it comes xenophobia. The main characters and love interests, Isobelle and Levon, navigate this as Levon and his family find a way to peacefully live in Paris after being forced out of their home and way of living by night. Again, I enjoyed this book when I read it for the first time, and picked it up to experience the magic again. However, given events in the UK and globally, I could not find myself escaping into the book, rather it felt too close to home to ignore. Dinsdale does a great job navigating many different perspectives through his characters, all brilliantly entwined with each other, yet
Overall, if you're looking to read this book I'd say be prepared to place the outside world out of your mind and be in it for the long haul, although the resolution may not be worth the time and energy spent when you get to the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Xenophobia
sarahp85's review against another edition
4.0
We were blessed to recieve this book both as ARC on here as well as in hardback thanks to Penguin Random House.
It is a stunning book and a wonderful magical story.
I had seen a lot of people saying that Dinsdale's writing reminded them of the Night Circus or Laini Taylor's writingstyle.
And where I still haven't read the Night Circus, I am a big fan of Laini Taylor's work and now... I am of Robert Dinsdale too.
The writing is almost poetic it is so beautiful. The magical setting felt warm and cozy.
Eventhought the story is quite dark.
I loved all the characters and all I can say this is well worth the read so please do check it out!
It is a stunning book and a wonderful magical story.
I had seen a lot of people saying that Dinsdale's writing reminded them of the Night Circus or Laini Taylor's writingstyle.
And where I still haven't read the Night Circus, I am a big fan of Laini Taylor's work and now... I am of Robert Dinsdale too.
The writing is almost poetic it is so beautiful. The magical setting felt warm and cozy.
Eventhought the story is quite dark.
I loved all the characters and all I can say this is well worth the read so please do check it out!
bookeliina's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the world building in first half, but the rest didn't click within me.
curly_kate94's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.25
b00kh0arder's review against another edition
3.0
Couldn't get into this as I could Gingerbread, but is definitely a case of "it's me not the book" or possibly "not the right book for me right now", as it is still beautifully written, with themes that are both poignantly resonant and relevant.
Thank you to Netgalley for ARC in exchange for review.
Thank you to Netgalley for ARC in exchange for review.
blindedbynature's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
3.0
I probably wrote it quite a few times already, but I love how the Book Box Club helps me to read out of my comfort zone. Not every adventure is as successful, of course, but I truly did discover amazing books I never would have picked up if they hadn't been in the Book Box Club bookbox. And this is also a book that I might have looked at, because the story is pretty and the title lovely, but I don't think I eventually would have picked it up.
And now, after finishing the book, I have a hard time phrasing what I thought about it. Objectively I totally understand that this book is special and magical. There is literally magic in the air and a world full of small, and some bigger, wonders is opening up to us. And although the magic is a little otherworldly, it also seems like it could happen around every corner and to anyone. And yet, yet I never really felt this book.
Objectively I could see the magic and the beauty, but I never felt it. I wasn't amazed nor enchanted by all the descriptions of the changing world and all the light. I wasn't involved with the plot, slowly moving forward towards a confrontation that you saw coming from miles away. And, most of all, I wasn't really involved with the characters. I didn't feel like I knew them, I didn't feel like they were my friends, I didn't really care about them.
And that's a pity, because I think if the story had been a bit more personal and if it had been a bit easier to really feel for all those characters, the message of the story would have come across far better too. Because this is a perfect example of using fiction to tell a story mirroring problems we're dealing with in our world. And potentially, if the book had really grabbed me, this could have been a really touching and heartbreaking tale.
But now I didn't really feel anything while reading. And that's a pity, because that's my reason to read. To feel the emotions of a million characters.
And now, after finishing the book, I have a hard time phrasing what I thought about it. Objectively I totally understand that this book is special and magical. There is literally magic in the air and a world full of small, and some bigger, wonders is opening up to us. And although the magic is a little otherworldly, it also seems like it could happen around every corner and to anyone. And yet, yet I never really felt this book.
Objectively I could see the magic and the beauty, but I never felt it. I wasn't amazed nor enchanted by all the descriptions of the changing world and all the light. I wasn't involved with the plot, slowly moving forward towards a confrontation that you saw coming from miles away. And, most of all, I wasn't really involved with the characters. I didn't feel like I knew them, I didn't feel like they were my friends, I didn't really care about them.
And that's a pity, because I think if the story had been a bit more personal and if it had been a bit easier to really feel for all those characters, the message of the story would have come across far better too. Because this is a perfect example of using fiction to tell a story mirroring problems we're dealing with in our world. And potentially, if the book had really grabbed me, this could have been a really touching and heartbreaking tale.
But now I didn't really feel anything while reading. And that's a pity, because that's my reason to read. To feel the emotions of a million characters.
nafisa_tasnim67's review against another edition
will get back to this later. i got sucked into some other books but i've liked what i read so far in those 40 pages. would like to start fresh sometime later.😊