marimoose's review against another edition
4.0
Firebird was very enticing and pays quite an homage to the Old Russian tales. I was quite gleeful when I picked the book up, began to read, and realized I knew what each magical creature was, even before they began to explain the purpose of the rusalka and the leshii. And the firebird herself was, well, heavily magical at the very least!
I had expected something different of the story, actually, though I blame my misunderstanding what the book cover was telling me about the plot. I spent a good half of the book scratching my head with: "Well, when does Ilya get banished?" Or "That's technically not really being banished..." Still, it was not lacking of interest. I do wonder about the ghosts Ilya saw in his family grave.
The book itself seems like it was made for two parts. One story took place in Ilya's home, and a parallel, more magical story in the Katschei's castle. I loved that Lackey did repeat what Ilya learned the first time around and apply it the second time--and somehow he still managed to make things work.
Ilya's fox-friend was highly charming, too. But I regularly like clever foxes.
Really liked Firebird, yes I did!
I had expected something different of the story, actually, though I blame my misunderstanding what the book cover was telling me about the plot. I spent a good half of the book scratching my head with: "Well, when does Ilya get banished?" Or "That's technically not really being banished..." Still, it was not lacking of interest. I do wonder about the ghosts Ilya saw in his family grave.
The book itself seems like it was made for two parts. One story took place in Ilya's home, and a parallel, more magical story in the Katschei's castle. I loved that Lackey did repeat what Ilya learned the first time around and apply it the second time--and somehow he still managed to make things work.
Ilya's fox-friend was highly charming, too. But I regularly like clever foxes.
Really liked Firebird, yes I did!
xeni's review against another edition
5.0
I have read this book a few times. Every time when I think back on it, I have a really strong itch and in order to scratch it I need to read the book again! The story is just that amazing.
I love the setting (mystical, magical russia-like kingdom) and the many characters (the main one is of course a favorite). I had heard tales of the firebird before, so this fairy tale retelling wasn't a first for me, but the way that Lackey spins the plot is unique and wonderful.
It's not a thick book, but once you are done reading it you feel like you've lived an extra year of your life, there is just that much going on. Of course it is a HEA book, but it's all good :D
I love the setting (mystical, magical russia-like kingdom) and the many characters (the main one is of course a favorite). I had heard tales of the firebird before, so this fairy tale retelling wasn't a first for me, but the way that Lackey spins the plot is unique and wonderful.
It's not a thick book, but once you are done reading it you feel like you've lived an extra year of your life, there is just that much going on. Of course it is a HEA book, but it's all good :D
yelaninihara's review against another edition
3.0
I've always loved this book cus I've read it as a kid but oh my god the slut shaming. Like its a fairy tale so I get it but don't read this book if you want woment to be treated as people.
anaiira's review against another edition
3.0
Fairly solid retelling of the classic Russian fairytale. A few minor anachronistic language uses and the inconsistent Russian words gets a little gimmicky, but overall pretty enjoyable. A little more on the 3.5 side than 4.
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a unique retelling of a few fairy tales, this time set in Russia. Anyone who's read more than the Disneyified stories will recognise at least some of the elements, and seeing them all come together so well in one story was fascinating.
I found it hard to rate this book though, because although the story was excellent I didn't find it quite grabbing enough - it was too easy to put down, and I had to make myself keep reading.
I found it hard to rate this book though, because although the story was excellent I didn't find it quite grabbing enough - it was too easy to put down, and I had to make myself keep reading.
hoperu's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the idea of a retelling of the story of the Firebird more than I liked the actual retelling, in the end. Ilya is the despised middle son of a mean, petty, tyrant - although no real reason is given for why he is so hated, except that he is supposedly smarter and less violent than the others. he is routinely beaten by his many brothers, despite being so clever. The actual story takes a long time to get moving, with many false starts towards adventure along the way. The ending is rather too easy, and Ilya hasn't proved himself all that much smarter or more self-aware than he was at the beginning.
I was somewhat amazed at the casual misogyny in the story, since it was written by a female author (although I know that is no guarantee of better representation): At the beginning, the only way that Ilya thinks about women are as sex objects, apart from Mother Galina, who is too old and too much his mother figure to be seen that way. All women he can't view as sex objects for himself are seen as stupid, annoying, grasping and so forth.
A minor quibble - whoever wrote the jacket copy for the edition I read rather misrepresents the adventure aspect of the book, making it sound like Ilya sets out on his quest far sooner than he actually does.
I was somewhat amazed at the casual misogyny in the story, since it was written by a female author (although I know that is no guarantee of better representation): At the beginning, the only way that Ilya thinks about women are as sex objects, apart from Mother Galina, who is too old and too much his mother figure to be seen that way. All women he can't view as sex objects for himself are seen as stupid, annoying, grasping and so forth.
Spoiler
As the story progresses, he runs into the rusalka, an actual evil woman/monster, who is particularly terrible because she is cruel and grasping like all other women, but also strong enough to capture him. Eventually, he gains several female allies, the vixen, the nightingale, and the firebird herself - but all of them are also animals, even the firebird. When Ilya breaks the spell of the Katschei and finally gets what he thinks is the perfect bride, she turns out to be the worst woman of all. And what he wanted was the firebird - took him long enough.A minor quibble - whoever wrote the jacket copy for the edition I read rather misrepresents the adventure aspect of the book, making it sound like Ilya sets out on his quest far sooner than he actually does.
bookcub's review against another edition
2.0
hated this book, soooo super sexist, so much so, i thought it was going to be subverted or called out but nope, it was just part of the story
jennifer_fatula's review against another edition
3.0
Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. It was entertaining, I didn't mind picking it up at the end of the day, but I wasn't dying to know what was going to happen. I picked this up because I just finished the "Shadow and Bone" series and it talks about the Firebird in there so I thought this would be interesting to follow up with.
cabonin's review against another edition
4.0
Firebird was a very slow read for me, but I mean that in the best possible way. It's a fairy tale in the most traditional sense, the kind where the hero survives on his cleverness and the help of some magical creatures he befriends along the way. It's not an action-packed page-turner but may be the better for it. What is good about it is what Mercedes Lackey does best -- the world of the novel is rich, beautiful, and masterly crafted and it never loses that old-school fairy tale feel. In less capable hands, a novel that rests on a fool, a maze, a talking fox, and a firebird could have been ridiculous, but Firebird is as elegant as one could hope.
jelliclecax's review
Loan expired. Other things were more interesting. Maybe will come back to it later