nora4's review against another edition
4.0
Das Buch war wirklich noch gut. Die Grundidee dafür hat mir super gefallen und für ein Buch, welches bereits für Kinder ab 12 ist (oder welches Alter auch immer, das habe ich nicht genau nachgesehen), hat dieses Buch wirklich noch eine gewisse Tiefe und einige dunklere Themen. Man sollte generell solche Bücher nicht unterschätzen, bloss weil sie für jüngere Leser gedacht sind.
Das Buch war einfach und schnell zu lesen, dank des lockeren Schreibstils und ich konnte auch gut einsteigen. Ich wusste nicht, dass es ein Einzelband ist und habe mehr eine Reihe erwartet, aber das Buch war auch so gut und hatte einen zufriedenstellenden Abschluss.
Der Aufbau dieser Welt war natürlich klar das Beste. Die Wildlands wurden sehr interessant dargestellt und ich fand es interessant, alle möglichen Fantasiewesen und Wesen aus Mythen darin zu sehen. Das wurde sehr gut aufgebaut.
Die Charaktere wurden ebenfalls gut ausgebaut. Ich mochte es sehr, wie Luisa irgendwie unbewusst eine Beschützerrolle gegenüber Zac eingenommen hat, nach dem Tod ihrer Mutter. Auch wurde es schön dargestellt, wie sich die beiden wieder annäherten und langsam wieder zueinander fanden. Auch die anderen Charaktere wurden gut dargestellt und ich konnte sowohl Zac und Lus Vater als auch Oliver gut verstehen, auch wenn beide auf den ersten Blick scheint, als ob sie die falsche Entscheidung getroffen haben.
Am allermeisten mochte ich aber den Phönix selbst. Er hat einen sehr interessanten Charakter bekommen. Er war, der der seine wohlverdiente Rache nahm, am Jäger und er war der, der auch mit Nachfahren dieses Jägers Freundschaften geschlossen hat. Der Phönix ist zwar nur ein Vogel und spricht auch nicht, man erkennt in ihm aber seine Schlauheit sehr gut.
Alles in allem kann ich sagen, wirklich nicht schlecht. Der Weltenaufbau war fantastisch. Die Charaktere hatten allesamt ihre Tiefe und das Buch liess sich schnell und leicht lesen. Von mir bekommt es deshalb vier Sterne.
Das Buch war einfach und schnell zu lesen, dank des lockeren Schreibstils und ich konnte auch gut einsteigen. Ich wusste nicht, dass es ein Einzelband ist und habe mehr eine Reihe erwartet, aber das Buch war auch so gut und hatte einen zufriedenstellenden Abschluss.
Der Aufbau dieser Welt war natürlich klar das Beste. Die Wildlands wurden sehr interessant dargestellt und ich fand es interessant, alle möglichen Fantasiewesen und Wesen aus Mythen darin zu sehen. Das wurde sehr gut aufgebaut.
Die Charaktere wurden ebenfalls gut ausgebaut. Ich mochte es sehr, wie Luisa irgendwie unbewusst eine Beschützerrolle gegenüber Zac eingenommen hat, nach dem Tod ihrer Mutter. Auch wurde es schön dargestellt, wie sich die beiden wieder annäherten und langsam wieder zueinander fanden. Auch die anderen Charaktere wurden gut dargestellt und ich konnte sowohl Zac und Lus Vater als auch Oliver gut verstehen, auch wenn beide auf den ersten Blick scheint, als ob sie die falsche Entscheidung getroffen haben.
Am allermeisten mochte ich aber den Phönix selbst. Er hat einen sehr interessanten Charakter bekommen. Er war, der der seine wohlverdiente Rache nahm, am Jäger und er war der, der auch mit Nachfahren dieses Jägers Freundschaften geschlossen hat. Der Phönix ist zwar nur ein Vogel und spricht auch nicht, man erkennt in ihm aber seine Schlauheit sehr gut.
Alles in allem kann ich sagen, wirklich nicht schlecht. Der Weltenaufbau war fantastisch. Die Charaktere hatten allesamt ihre Tiefe und das Buch liess sich schnell und leicht lesen. Von mir bekommt es deshalb vier Sterne.
lilyashtree's review
3.5
The plot and characters were great. Overall this was a good book, but I felt it was rushed and left the reader with too many loose ends. There is so much potential in this world and story for more, and I'm disappointed there isn't.
This story gave me Fablehaven vibes if Seth had a twin sister who was just as devious and adventurous as he was. If you've read the series you know just how much trouble that can cause.
I hope this review helps. Happy Reading and Blessed Be.
Lily Ashtree
This story gave me Fablehaven vibes if Seth had a twin sister who was just as devious and adventurous as he was. If you've read the series you know just how much trouble that can cause.
I hope this review helps. Happy Reading and Blessed Be.
Lily Ashtree
dandelionsteph's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The Fablehaven comparison may have affected my review. While it does have a Fablehaven-like premise, it carries it out much less effectively. Though it takes a while for characters to traverse, the preserve feels smaller than Fablehaven's, as does its very world. After reading Fablehaven and Bruce Coville's series about unicorns, I was disappointed that most of the supernatural creatures, centaurs exempted, are little more intelligent than trained horses. The phoenix, despite being immortal, critical to the plot and capable of complex, non-animal-like plans, never actually speaks. The phoenix communicates only by conveying snippets of its memories to someone it really likes, leading the other person to interpret it. It feels like a sort of dehumanization and what ought to be the most "human-like" supernatural character, insofar as its mental capacity is critical to its role in the plot. It reminded me of The Dragon of Trellian and perhaps The Pit Dragon Chronicles, if I'm recalling the latter correctly.
It also felt like a cop-out to reveal near the end that their mother died of a freak aneurysm. Her sudden and unexplained death is critical to the plot. As the plot unfolds, the idea that the curse of the phoenix kills people who stay away from the preserve for too long is important to another character's motivations, as is the idea that the phoenix mysteriously granted their mother an extension of her return deadline, but she was unable to meet the extended deadline each August (as she usually does) because of one of the protagonists being in the hospital. If the author wanted to write a story where the phoenix had nothing to do with her death and was falsely blamed, I believe it could have been written better than revealing it was only a freak aneurysm a few pages before the end. For example, the characters could have overheard a few specific details from an autopsy and perhaps a few risk factors their mother had for an aneurysm, but they dismiss it or don't pay attention to it at first, only to realize that it must have been true a little farther away from the story's end. One of the protagonists spent nearly her whole summer blaming the phoenix, and the phoenix is surely smart enough and benevolent enough to have revealed critical information on the mother not having the curse at all earlier in the plot.
On a more minor note, I'm kind of disappointed the protagonists have no Asian heritage (or, at least, it's never confirmed). Vivienne To usually illustrates books with Southeast Asian or Indian main characters, "Lu" sounds like it could be a Southeast Asian name (or perhaps a nickname derived from one), and the facial features on the cover suggest a broad-faced sort of Korean phenotype. I was initially pleased that Southeast Asian children could be the protagonists of a story set in Britain with Western dragons and unicorns, instead of always corralling people of particular ethnicities into stories based on the mythology of their ethnic origin. But no: there's no sign this is the case.
It also felt like a cop-out to reveal near the end that their mother died of a freak aneurysm. Her sudden and unexplained death is critical to the plot. As the plot unfolds, the idea that the curse of the phoenix kills people who stay away from the preserve for too long is important to another character's motivations, as is the idea that the phoenix mysteriously granted their mother an extension of her return deadline, but she was unable to meet the extended deadline each August (as she usually does) because of one of the protagonists being in the hospital. If the author wanted to write a story where the phoenix had nothing to do with her death and was falsely blamed, I believe it could have been written better than revealing it was only a freak aneurysm a few pages before the end. For example, the characters could have overheard a few specific details from an autopsy and perhaps a few risk factors their mother had for an aneurysm, but they dismiss it or don't pay attention to it at first, only to realize that it must have been true a little farther away from the story's end. One of the protagonists spent nearly her whole summer blaming the phoenix, and the phoenix is surely smart enough and benevolent enough to have revealed critical information on the mother not having the curse at all earlier in the plot.
On a more minor note, I'm kind of disappointed the protagonists have no Asian heritage (or, at least, it's never confirmed). Vivienne To usually illustrates books with Southeast Asian or Indian main characters, "Lu" sounds like it could be a Southeast Asian name (or perhaps a nickname derived from one), and the facial features on the cover suggest a broad-faced sort of Korean phenotype. I was initially pleased that Southeast Asian children could be the protagonists of a story set in Britain with Western dragons and unicorns, instead of always corralling people of particular ethnicities into stories based on the mythology of their ethnic origin. But no: there's no sign this is the case.
yapha's review
3.0
The whole time I was reading this, I felt like I had read it before. The storyline is very similar to some others -- two children find out their family has to take care of a mythical creature preserve, similar to [b:Fablehaven|44652|Fablehaven (Fablehaven, #1)|Brandon Mull|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460309528l/44652._SX50_.jpg|2129546] or [b:The Menagerie|15818029|The Menagerie (Menagerie, #1)|Tui T. Sutherland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353271665l/15818029._SY75_.jpg|21545629], with a little bit of [b:The Secrets of Hexbridge Castle|35530272|The Secrets of Hexbridge Castle|Gabrielle Kent|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498663006l/35530272._SY75_.jpg|44301544] thrown in as well. It was a fun adventure and will be enjoyed by readers who are obsessed with mythical creatures. For grades 4 & up.
phyrre's review
5.0
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Many thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
This cover is so utterly charming that there really wasn’t any way I could not read this book. Unicorns and dragons and phoenixes, oh my! Mix that with some heartwarming sibling bonds and yes, right onto my TBR it went.
Curse of the Phoenix is an adventure filled with mythical creatures, dark family secrets, and plenty of adventure, featuring sibling bonds, chronic illness rep, and a heartwarming story about grief and healing.
I came for the adventure but was pleasantly surprised to find that this also has chronic illness rep (which I hadn’t realized). One of the protagonists has asthma and severe allergies to . . . well, most things, actually. It’s the sibling bonds, though, that really stole the show with this one! Zac and Lu make quite the team, and I loved going on this adventure with them.
My Thoughts
- Animal lovers are sure to love all the mythical creatures that call the Wildewood home! They’re mythical, they’re magical, and sometimes they’re quite dangerous. After all, what would be an adventure without a bit of danger, right? The creatures that live in the Wildewood, as Lu and Zac’s family stresses, are wild. There are those that are less likely to harm humans, certainly, but that doesn’t make them tame. I particularly enjoyed this distinction, as well as the healthy dose of respect given to the creatures and the fact that the humans are trespassing on their habitat and they’re just responding as they do. Lu, especially, as an animal lover who’s used to approaching wild animals (generally in the form of stray cats and the like, of course) repeatedly reminds Zac that you shouldn’t just walk up to an animal you don’t know. I’m especially partial to this narrative because it’s something I need to remind Minion all the time! There’s a little of everything when it comes to creatures, from unicorns to dragons to centaur and all sorts of things in between. I would’ve enjoyed spending a little more time in the Wildewood and learning more about the creatures. I feel like there are a lot mentioned, but they’re sort of episodic and in passing. Still, it’s a wonderful setting for a middle grade book, and certainly somewhere I’d love to visit. I can easily imagine middle grade readers will be as charmed as I was with this world!
- After the death of their mother, Lu and Zac spend the summer with family they didn’t even know they had on their mother’s side . . . and this family isn’t without its secrets. The dark kind. Carter does such a wonderful job building up tension and suspense around these secrets. When Zac and Lu arrive at their family’s mansion (because how’s that for a surprise?!), they soon realize things aren’t quite what they seem. Never mind the fact that their mother never even told them that she had family (which is kind of a big omission), but the family seems divided on whether the twins should be there in the first place. Lu especially is really good at eavesdropping (and honestly, what kid isn’t?!), which makes for some interesting overheard conversations! I don’t know if it was just me being utterly oblivious, but I didn’t even guess the couple of family plot twists in the book, and I was pleasantly surprised when they were revealed! I may have suspected a few different things, but I’m always a fan when plot twists sneak up on me but still make sense at the same time. I mean, they’re not major plot twists, but they definitely change the feel of the book in a couple places, which is always fun! I do enjoy a book that keeps me guessing.
- There’s a beautiful theme of grief and healing, both among adults and the twins, at the loss of their mother. It’s guaranteed to tug at heart strings! The book is set shortly after Zac and Lu’s mother dies suddenly. Zac, unfortunately, is the one who finds her collapsed on the kitchen floor, and he has a lot of grief and trauma around that. Not to mention the guilt, as misplaced as it is, that he didn’t take better care of his mother or look after her more. The stages of grief that Lu and Zac go through just tugs my heart strings. What I love the most is that they eventually need to come together to help each other forgive themselves and understand that it’s neither of their faults. It isn’t just the kids grieving, though. Their father is, too, and that was probably the hardest part for me to read. Their father does some really crappy things, like shipping them off to family they didn’t know in the summer. It made me so freaking angry, but at the same time, it was clear he was basically having a nervous breakdown at that point. I think this is such an interesting plot point that I don’t see in middle grade that much, and it’s so important! Adults grieve, too, and they need permission and space to do so. And sometimes they make choices they later regret while they’re grieving.
- The sibling bonds in this book are so fraught with tension and grief and emotion that as much as I enjoyed the adventure, I think I enjoyed Lu and Zac working through their grief together the most in this book. I’m sure middle grade readers will probably disagree with me . . . unless they’ve experienced grief and loss themselves? I’m a big advocate for books that tackle this, because most middle grade readers will lose someone in their lives. The way Zac and Lu fall apart after their mother’s death and then slowly grow together is just *chef’s kiss*. All the feels. The healing process is even further complicated by the fact that Zac is chronically ill, which means a lot of things can make him sick or even prove to be fatal. For Lu, the idea of losing her brother after losing her mother is extra terrifying, and she goes into ultra protective mode. Her mother isn’t around to take care of Zac anymore, so it falls to her, of course. For Zac, he harbors a bunch of guilt over his limitations and fears he’s holding his sister back. He’s also often frustrated about his illness and the things he can’t do. Both of them have such valid and relatable fears, and watching them grow together and heal each other was so rewarding!
Many thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
This cover is so utterly charming that there really wasn’t any way I could not read this book. Unicorns and dragons and phoenixes, oh my! Mix that with some heartwarming sibling bonds and yes, right onto my TBR it went.
Curse of the Phoenix is an adventure filled with mythical creatures, dark family secrets, and plenty of adventure, featuring sibling bonds, chronic illness rep, and a heartwarming story about grief and healing.
I came for the adventure but was pleasantly surprised to find that this also has chronic illness rep (which I hadn’t realized). One of the protagonists has asthma and severe allergies to . . . well, most things, actually. It’s the sibling bonds, though, that really stole the show with this one! Zac and Lu make quite the team, and I loved going on this adventure with them.
My Thoughts
- Animal lovers are sure to love all the mythical creatures that call the Wildewood home! They’re mythical, they’re magical, and sometimes they’re quite dangerous. After all, what would be an adventure without a bit of danger, right? The creatures that live in the Wildewood, as Lu and Zac’s family stresses, are wild. There are those that are less likely to harm humans, certainly, but that doesn’t make them tame. I particularly enjoyed this distinction, as well as the healthy dose of respect given to the creatures and the fact that the humans are trespassing on their habitat and they’re just responding as they do. Lu, especially, as an animal lover who’s used to approaching wild animals (generally in the form of stray cats and the like, of course) repeatedly reminds Zac that you shouldn’t just walk up to an animal you don’t know. I’m especially partial to this narrative because it’s something I need to remind Minion all the time! There’s a little of everything when it comes to creatures, from unicorns to dragons to centaur and all sorts of things in between. I would’ve enjoyed spending a little more time in the Wildewood and learning more about the creatures. I feel like there are a lot mentioned, but they’re sort of episodic and in passing. Still, it’s a wonderful setting for a middle grade book, and certainly somewhere I’d love to visit. I can easily imagine middle grade readers will be as charmed as I was with this world!
- After the death of their mother, Lu and Zac spend the summer with family they didn’t even know they had on their mother’s side . . . and this family isn’t without its secrets. The dark kind. Carter does such a wonderful job building up tension and suspense around these secrets. When Zac and Lu arrive at their family’s mansion (because how’s that for a surprise?!), they soon realize things aren’t quite what they seem. Never mind the fact that their mother never even told them that she had family (which is kind of a big omission), but the family seems divided on whether the twins should be there in the first place. Lu especially is really good at eavesdropping (and honestly, what kid isn’t?!), which makes for some interesting overheard conversations! I don’t know if it was just me being utterly oblivious, but I didn’t even guess the couple of family plot twists in the book, and I was pleasantly surprised when they were revealed! I may have suspected a few different things, but I’m always a fan when plot twists sneak up on me but still make sense at the same time. I mean, they’re not major plot twists, but they definitely change the feel of the book in a couple places, which is always fun! I do enjoy a book that keeps me guessing.
- There’s a beautiful theme of grief and healing, both among adults and the twins, at the loss of their mother. It’s guaranteed to tug at heart strings! The book is set shortly after Zac and Lu’s mother dies suddenly. Zac, unfortunately, is the one who finds her collapsed on the kitchen floor, and he has a lot of grief and trauma around that. Not to mention the guilt, as misplaced as it is, that he didn’t take better care of his mother or look after her more. The stages of grief that Lu and Zac go through just tugs my heart strings. What I love the most is that they eventually need to come together to help each other forgive themselves and understand that it’s neither of their faults. It isn’t just the kids grieving, though. Their father is, too, and that was probably the hardest part for me to read. Their father does some really crappy things, like shipping them off to family they didn’t know in the summer. It made me so freaking angry, but at the same time, it was clear he was basically having a nervous breakdown at that point. I think this is such an interesting plot point that I don’t see in middle grade that much, and it’s so important! Adults grieve, too, and they need permission and space to do so. And sometimes they make choices they later regret while they’re grieving.
- The sibling bonds in this book are so fraught with tension and grief and emotion that as much as I enjoyed the adventure, I think I enjoyed Lu and Zac working through their grief together the most in this book. I’m sure middle grade readers will probably disagree with me . . . unless they’ve experienced grief and loss themselves? I’m a big advocate for books that tackle this, because most middle grade readers will lose someone in their lives. The way Zac and Lu fall apart after their mother’s death and then slowly grow together is just *chef’s kiss*. All the feels. The healing process is even further complicated by the fact that Zac is chronically ill, which means a lot of things can make him sick or even prove to be fatal. For Lu, the idea of losing her brother after losing her mother is extra terrifying, and she goes into ultra protective mode. Her mother isn’t around to take care of Zac anymore, so it falls to her, of course. For Zac, he harbors a bunch of guilt over his limitations and fears he’s holding his sister back. He’s also often frustrated about his illness and the things he can’t do. Both of them have such valid and relatable fears, and watching them grow together and heal each other was so rewarding!
germanpotato's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
arrr's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My 10yo recommended this book to me after listening and we both loved it.
catwithbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Eine Geschichte um ein Fabelwesen, welches teils selten in Geschichten vor kommt.
Die beiden Zwillinge machen einen etwas unfreiwilligen Urlaub bei der Tante ihrer Mutter in England.
und dort entdecken die beiden dass die Geschichten ihrer Mutter wahr sind.
Eine schöne Abenteuer Geschichte mit vielen tollen Fabelwesen.
Auch wenn man zu Anfang merkt das sich die beiden Zwillinge von einander entfernt haben, so denken sie immer an den anderen. Und wollen gegenseitig nur das Beste für den anderen. Etwas was die beiden im Verlauf der Geschichte erkennen.
Ich mochte Lu und Zac wirklich gerne. Anders sah es da bei der Tante Rowena aus. Total brummig und auch unfair den Kinder gegenüber und ich habe mich gefragt warum sie die beiden überhaupt eingeladen hat.
Im Laufe der Geschichte lernen die beiden Geschwister sich wieder besser kennen und lernen auch was aus der Vergangenheit ihrer Mutter sowie den Fluch der auf der Familie liegt.
Peter Kaempfe hat zwar eine angenehme Stimme, ich fand nur dass die Geschichte sehr langsam vorgetragen wird. Aber dafür gibt es den Geschwindigkeitsregler.
Die Geschichte entführt nicht nur die kleinen Zuhörer in eine Welt, die man selber als Kind gerne entdeckt hätte. Wer würde nicht gern mal auf einen Einhorn Reiten? :)
Die beiden Zwillinge machen einen etwas unfreiwilligen Urlaub bei der Tante ihrer Mutter in England.
und dort entdecken die beiden dass die Geschichten ihrer Mutter wahr sind.
Eine schöne Abenteuer Geschichte mit vielen tollen Fabelwesen.
Auch wenn man zu Anfang merkt das sich die beiden Zwillinge von einander entfernt haben, so denken sie immer an den anderen. Und wollen gegenseitig nur das Beste für den anderen. Etwas was die beiden im Verlauf der Geschichte erkennen.
Ich mochte Lu und Zac wirklich gerne. Anders sah es da bei der Tante Rowena aus. Total brummig und auch unfair den Kinder gegenüber und ich habe mich gefragt warum sie die beiden überhaupt eingeladen hat.
Im Laufe der Geschichte lernen die beiden Geschwister sich wieder besser kennen und lernen auch was aus der Vergangenheit ihrer Mutter sowie den Fluch der auf der Familie liegt.
Peter Kaempfe hat zwar eine angenehme Stimme, ich fand nur dass die Geschichte sehr langsam vorgetragen wird. Aber dafür gibt es den Geschwindigkeitsregler.
Die Geschichte entführt nicht nur die kleinen Zuhörer in eine Welt, die man selber als Kind gerne entdeckt hätte. Wer würde nicht gern mal auf einen Einhorn Reiten? :)
joanna77_'s review
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This was fun! It didn’t super blow me away but it was a fun quick read! I liked that one of the main characters had severe allergies, I’ve never read a book where a character struggles with that and it was really eye-opening. I kind of felt like the pacing was off a bit though but overall it was a cute middle grade!
🦄🌲🐉
🦄🌲🐉