kelsleanne's review against another edition
3.0
(3.5)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The concept was amazing. I always enjoy stories of rival families that have to challenge their beliefs that have been passed down through generations.
The romance in this was a bit on the "insta-love" side, though I still found myself rooting for Cluck and Lace. McLemore painted such a vivid image of the world in my head, I could see it so clearly. I was wishing that I could be in the audience of their amazing shows.
Though I overall liked the book, I did have a couple of issues with it. Mostly, the pacing was a bit off for me. I felt like it moved too slow at times that didn't need more description. Parts that I didn't care for were stretched out, while parts that I loved were cut short. I wished we got more time with the performances and the details in the shows. But, I enjoyed this quick read and I'm glad I finally picked it up!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The concept was amazing. I always enjoy stories of rival families that have to challenge their beliefs that have been passed down through generations.
The romance in this was a bit on the "insta-love" side, though I still found myself rooting for Cluck and Lace. McLemore painted such a vivid image of the world in my head, I could see it so clearly. I was wishing that I could be in the audience of their amazing shows.
Though I overall liked the book, I did have a couple of issues with it. Mostly, the pacing was a bit off for me. I felt like it moved too slow at times that didn't need more description. Parts that I didn't care for were stretched out, while parts that I loved were cut short. I wished we got more time with the performances and the details in the shows. But, I enjoyed this quick read and I'm glad I finally picked it up!
juniperwilde's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
breadedbookpages's review against another edition
5.0
one of my favorite ya books, ever. it's just so good and has the romeo+juliet trope!
madelinefmcguire's review against another edition
1.0
The Palomas and the Corbeaus have always had a feud. Both families believe that touching the a member from the other will curse them or harm them. Both families are performers who go around to different cities, they try to avoid running in to each-other but in one town they always do. When Lace Polomas gets stuck in an acid rain storm and a Corbeaus boy (Cluck) saves her, she is marked and banned from her family. She goes to the find Cluck to get him to take his mark back so she can return home, but its more complicated than that. Mostly because he doesn't know she's a Palomas. There's more to the family feud than either of them know but one things for sure. Their meeting will change the family forever.
I don't think I'm the right type of reader for this book. I think that if I read slower and let the events of the book sit, it would make more sense to me. But I'm not a slow reader I read books mostly in a few hours, so for the first half of the book I was confused. I think its wonderfully written and once you get into it it's interesting. I'm just confused, and unsure how to feel at this point. Maybe in a few days I'll understand it more. But for now I'm just kind of confused.
I don't think I'm the right type of reader for this book. I think that if I read slower and let the events of the book sit, it would make more sense to me. But I'm not a slow reader I read books mostly in a few hours, so for the first half of the book I was confused. I think its wonderfully written and once you get into it it's interesting. I'm just confused, and unsure how to feel at this point. Maybe in a few days I'll understand it more. But for now I'm just kind of confused.
frogzai's review against another edition
1.0
If you like John Green, Rupi Kaur, mass market historical romance plot lines/twists, and abandoned dumpsters in Kentucky trying to be fairytales... then this is the story for you.
tjdaz's review against another edition
1.0
“You’ve never read a love story quite like this.” And I hope I never read anything quite like it,,, ever again
ajsterkel's review against another edition
3.0
The Palomas and the Corbeaus are warring families of circus performers. The Palomas put on tails and perform underwater while the Corbeaus wear wings and dance in the trees. The families usually avoid one another, but one day, a disaster brings Lace Paloma and Cluck Corbeau together. They begin a forbidden romance that could tear their families apart.
I have mixed feelings about this book. There are some elements that I absolutely love and some that I feel more “Meh” about. First, the book is beautifully written. There are some repetitive descriptions (everything tastes like salt for some reason), but overall the writing is strong. It’s my favorite part of the book. It’s atmospheric, and the imagery it creates is stunning.
I also really like the cultures of the characters. The Palomas are Spanish and the Corbeaus are French-Romani. The author incorporates Spanish and French words in to the narrative. The characters’ cultures and superstitions are a big part of their lives. It makes the magical realism elements of the book more believable. The reader always has to wonder if the curses could be real because the characters believe in them so strongly.
I’m not a huge romance lover, but the romance is handled well in this book. Cluck and Lace are both very sweet. They really do seem to care about each other. I like that the author shows how living with an overbearing family can damage a person, and I think the book ends perfectly. The ending is exactly what I wanted. I was so happy for Cluck and Lace. This book puts a unique spin on the classic Romeo and Juliet love story.
Even though I enjoyed this book, I did have a lot of issues with it. I never felt like I was fully immersed in the story. It didn’t capture my attention, and the book was very easy to put down. I think my problems came from a mixture of underdeveloped characters, slow pacing, and a lack of worldbuilding. I got confused fairly often because some of the scenes are hard to picture, and it’s difficult to keep all of the characters straight. Family trees would have been great. Knowing more about the world would have also helped with my confusion.
This isn’t my favorite book, but I still think it’s worth reading, especially if you love magical realism. I’m interested to see what the author writes next. She’s definitely a talented writer.
I have mixed feelings about this book. There are some elements that I absolutely love and some that I feel more “Meh” about. First, the book is beautifully written. There are some repetitive descriptions (everything tastes like salt for some reason), but overall the writing is strong. It’s my favorite part of the book. It’s atmospheric, and the imagery it creates is stunning.
I also really like the cultures of the characters. The Palomas are Spanish and the Corbeaus are French-Romani. The author incorporates Spanish and French words in to the narrative. The characters’ cultures and superstitions are a big part of their lives. It makes the magical realism elements of the book more believable. The reader always has to wonder if the curses could be real because the characters believe in them so strongly.
I’m not a huge romance lover, but the romance is handled well in this book. Cluck and Lace are both very sweet. They really do seem to care about each other. I like that the author shows how living with an overbearing family can damage a person, and I think the book ends perfectly. The ending is exactly what I wanted. I was so happy for Cluck and Lace. This book puts a unique spin on the classic Romeo and Juliet love story.
Even though I enjoyed this book, I did have a lot of issues with it. I never felt like I was fully immersed in the story. It didn’t capture my attention, and the book was very easy to put down. I think my problems came from a mixture of underdeveloped characters, slow pacing, and a lack of worldbuilding. I got confused fairly often because some of the scenes are hard to picture, and it’s difficult to keep all of the characters straight. Family trees would have been great. Knowing more about the world would have also helped with my confusion.
This isn’t my favorite book, but I still think it’s worth reading, especially if you love magical realism. I’m interested to see what the author writes next. She’s definitely a talented writer.
thelastcolour's review against another edition
4.0
I just love this author so much. Everything that she writes is a work of art and, for a debut, this was just fantastic. It reminded me of a mix between romeo and juliet and the night circus and if that is not enough to convince to read it then here's what you can expect...
It's a story of pain, of age old feuds that have seeped poison through generations. It's the quiet, just you and the world and the stars above. It's feathers falling on skin, feathers in pockets, feathers growing from your back. There's mermaids, a sequins twinkling in the moonlight and swimming until your lungs gasp for air. There's tears and angry and a fury so strong that the sky might crack.
It's a story of pain, of age old feuds that have seeped poison through generations. It's the quiet, just you and the world and the stars above. It's feathers falling on skin, feathers in pockets, feathers growing from your back. There's mermaids, a sequins twinkling in the moonlight and swimming until your lungs gasp for air. There's tears and angry and a fury so strong that the sky might crack.
evreardon's review against another edition
4.0
Took me long enough to pick this up again. What a shame, too. I could have been loving this book for a while longer.