ssung's review
3.0
i am aghast at the cover of this book, because if that is parrish i'll eat a bicorne hat in impotent fury. where is my bollywood star in a frock coat and fancy hat?
sophie's refreshing in that she's actually curious about the world she's dropped into, but also incredibly annoying because not only is she drawn as being mostly brash and somewhat thoughtless, you are privy to her schizophrenic and mildly inane thought process, which includes anything from observations of otters to much idle speculation (much) over 'captain tasty'. aside from that, pretty fun read.
but scripping! i spent a good part of the book wondering why scripping and law don't seem to go hand in hand instead of the law/duelist setup.
sophie's refreshing in that she's actually curious about the world she's dropped into, but also incredibly annoying because not only is she drawn as being mostly brash and somewhat thoughtless, you are privy to her schizophrenic and mildly inane thought process, which includes anything from observations of otters to much idle speculation (much) over 'captain tasty'. aside from that, pretty fun read.
but scripping! i spent a good part of the book wondering why scripping and law don't seem to go hand in hand instead of the law/duelist setup.
kimreadsthings's review
3.0
3.5
This is just a super delightful fun, sea faring fantasy with high seas and magic. Need more? My full review at The Midnight Garden.
This is just a super delightful fun, sea faring fantasy with high seas and magic. Need more? My full review at The Midnight Garden.
chelsea_jack's review
5.0
Wow. This book was so. so. SO GOOD.
It was exactly what I needed - a dose of something really different.
Now, the beginning was a bit shaky - Sophie seems to handle being whisked off by a storm with greater aplomb that I can imagine. But it quickly becomes clear that she's used to rolling with it when bad things happen, and making the best of it until it's safe to collapse.
I loved Sophie. She's got some serious skills in her chosen field - basically exploring, really, and more practically in diving and soaking up the details of the world around her. But she's also got some real vulnerabilities - a soft heart, a serious responsibility complex (she feels responsible even when she couldn't have been reasonably expected to know the consequences), and a fear of being proven wrong. Growing up in the shadow of her brilliant younger brother has made Sophie a lot less confident about letting her inner light shine. Her curiosity and desire for knowledge is delightful. Sophie is a beautifully written character, fully formed, recognizable, and believable.
There's genuine affection between Sophie and her brother, and still a need for her to find out who her birth family is. I loved the interaction with Verena, with her birth parents, with Lais and 'Captain Tasty.' I'd love to read more about Parrish, and really, any of these characters.
The world building is wonderful and rich. I haven't read fantasy that's been so bound to the ocean and water, and so that was a nice shift for me. There are some really lovely details in here, not only about the biological, which Sophie is particularly interested in, but also politically.
The plot line revolves around a tricky bit of political maneuvering that is so much fun to watch as it unfolds. Sophie navigates this world at times a little bit like a bull in a china shop, but at the same time I can absolutely understand why she does what she does. Her voice is spot on - curious, defensive, full of self-doubt and snark. Excellent!
From cover to cover, this book had me hooked. I needed to know what would happen next. When I realized I only had another 50, then 30, then 10 pages left, I was so sad that it was almost over. There's so much *more* that I want to know, including what happens next to Sophie and Bram, Parrish and Verena, even Cly and Beatrice.
More, please!
Bottom line:
I strongly recommend this one. I want a hardcopy for my library because I will definitely revisit Stormwrack again. The sequel cannot come soon enough for me!
Check out the first chapter here: Excerpt at Tor.com and then go buy your copy!
5 stars
For fans of fantasy, of sea/pirate stories, new adult fantasy, good books.
Visit ToEachTheirOwnReviews.com for this and other reviews.
Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It was exactly what I needed - a dose of something really different.
Now, the beginning was a bit shaky - Sophie seems to handle being whisked off by a storm with greater aplomb that I can imagine. But it quickly becomes clear that she's used to rolling with it when bad things happen, and making the best of it until it's safe to collapse.
I loved Sophie. She's got some serious skills in her chosen field - basically exploring, really, and more practically in diving and soaking up the details of the world around her. But she's also got some real vulnerabilities - a soft heart, a serious responsibility complex (she feels responsible even when she couldn't have been reasonably expected to know the consequences), and a fear of being proven wrong. Growing up in the shadow of her brilliant younger brother has made Sophie a lot less confident about letting her inner light shine. Her curiosity and desire for knowledge is delightful. Sophie is a beautifully written character, fully formed, recognizable, and believable.
There's genuine affection between Sophie and her brother, and still a need for her to find out who her birth family is. I loved the interaction with Verena, with her birth parents, with Lais and 'Captain Tasty.' I'd love to read more about Parrish, and really, any of these characters.
The world building is wonderful and rich. I haven't read fantasy that's been so bound to the ocean and water, and so that was a nice shift for me. There are some really lovely details in here, not only about the biological, which Sophie is particularly interested in, but also politically.
The plot line revolves around a tricky bit of political maneuvering that is so much fun to watch as it unfolds. Sophie navigates this world at times a little bit like a bull in a china shop, but at the same time I can absolutely understand why she does what she does. Her voice is spot on - curious, defensive, full of self-doubt and snark. Excellent!
From cover to cover, this book had me hooked. I needed to know what would happen next. When I realized I only had another 50, then 30, then 10 pages left, I was so sad that it was almost over. There's so much *more* that I want to know, including what happens next to Sophie and Bram, Parrish and Verena, even Cly and Beatrice.
More, please!
Bottom line:
I strongly recommend this one. I want a hardcopy for my library because I will definitely revisit Stormwrack again. The sequel cannot come soon enough for me!
Check out the first chapter here: Excerpt at Tor.com and then go buy your copy!
5 stars
For fans of fantasy, of sea/pirate stories, new adult fantasy, good books.
Visit ToEachTheirOwnReviews.com for this and other reviews.
Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
kblincoln's review
4.0
I almost didn't finish it...now I can't wait for the sequel.
Hmm...does that sound like the writing's a bit uneven? It isn't like that at all. I think maybe my enjoyment of it had to undergo a revision in expectations.
I thought this would be a kick-butt female protagonist swashbuckling around an ocean-based world.
She does swash some buckle, but Sophie Hansa took some time for me to warm up to. Or maybe the world took some time for me to warm up to. Or maybe it was the odd place the action started-- with Sophie just having been rejected by her birth mother, foiling an attack on her birth-aunt, and being whisked off to an alternate world. It didn't feel like I was plopped straight into the action, it felt like I'd missed the pilot episode.
But I'm glad I stuck with it. Once Sophie gets the lay of the land and is sent back to our world in disgrace, she returns to the world of Stormwrack intent upon finding a mysterious spell that is the deterrent to war amongst disparate, squabbling island nations. She comes back with her brother, Bram, who is a genius and just as fascinated by language, geography, bats, otter behavior, and everything else that is different about this world.
Maybe its that Sophie really shines as part of her sibling duo, or that she gains enough confidence with Bram's presence to actually dare to assert her intelligence and good sense.
Either way, that's when the book became all kinds of fun. Granted, it's more political manuevering and spy-foiling complete with dramatic courtroom scene where Sophie saves the day with her wit, but still lots of fun.
And there's an incredibly honor-bound, raised by monks, stuffy love interest (who just screams Darcy-as-played-by-Colin-Firth-if-Darcy-were-a-buccaneer) that can't show an ounce of emotion to Sophie for all kinds of reasons.
And a spider-breeding rogue with loose morals. And pompous female politicians. And ex-pirates who torture captives by putting pearls underneath their fingernails. And a bio-dad who is Judge Dredd with a sword.
So once you get past the learning curve, and Sophie begins hanging with her sibs, this book is really fun. Fascinating world.
Hmm...does that sound like the writing's a bit uneven? It isn't like that at all. I think maybe my enjoyment of it had to undergo a revision in expectations.
I thought this would be a kick-butt female protagonist swashbuckling around an ocean-based world.
She does swash some buckle, but Sophie Hansa took some time for me to warm up to. Or maybe the world took some time for me to warm up to. Or maybe it was the odd place the action started-- with Sophie just having been rejected by her birth mother, foiling an attack on her birth-aunt, and being whisked off to an alternate world. It didn't feel like I was plopped straight into the action, it felt like I'd missed the pilot episode.
But I'm glad I stuck with it. Once Sophie gets the lay of the land and is sent back to our world in disgrace, she returns to the world of Stormwrack intent upon finding a mysterious spell that is the deterrent to war amongst disparate, squabbling island nations. She comes back with her brother, Bram, who is a genius and just as fascinated by language, geography, bats, otter behavior, and everything else that is different about this world.
Maybe its that Sophie really shines as part of her sibling duo, or that she gains enough confidence with Bram's presence to actually dare to assert her intelligence and good sense.
Either way, that's when the book became all kinds of fun. Granted, it's more political manuevering and spy-foiling complete with dramatic courtroom scene where Sophie saves the day with her wit, but still lots of fun.
And there's an incredibly honor-bound, raised by monks, stuffy love interest (who just screams Darcy-as-played-by-Colin-Firth-if-Darcy-were-a-buccaneer) that can't show an ounce of emotion to Sophie for all kinds of reasons.
And a spider-breeding rogue with loose morals. And pompous female politicians. And ex-pirates who torture captives by putting pearls underneath their fingernails. And a bio-dad who is Judge Dredd with a sword.
So once you get past the learning curve, and Sophie begins hanging with her sibs, this book is really fun. Fascinating world.
erikka's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
3.0
Fun little sea adventure. The world building was decently fleshed out. I wish the characters were more fleshed out and plot points were rushed or glossed over.
wunder's review
5.0
This was just the book I needed. Graceful prose pulling me into a different place, characters I love, doing things that make me care, and a wonderfully inventive world. With no infodumps, squicky stereotypes, or gratuitous whatever.
The first night, I stopped at page 102. The second night, I stopped at page 212. The third night, I didn't stop.
I need the next one. Now.
The first night, I stopped at page 102. The second night, I stopped at page 212. The third night, I didn't stop.
I need the next one. Now.
hoperu's review
3.0
I enjoyed this, but I also felt a little disappointed by it. The premise is very interesting, the world building is pretty good, and the characters have promise... But there were so many strands of the plot and story that didn't get picked up by the end, and at times the events seemed to rush by without quite enough explanation. I assume that some of those strands are left for a future sequel, but it was a bit of a let down to not have closure. Also, I sort of came away feeling that the book was good, but could have been better. So, three stars. I will probably read a sequel if there is one.
renpuspita's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
Child of a Hidden Sea is my first try of Ms Dellamonica's books. I request this title on NetGalley because I love the cover (it scream "adventure!!) and the premise about a woman who transferred into another world is one of my favorite theme. The story of Child of a Hidden Sea is about Sophie Hansa, 24 year old chick that swept away from her home in San Fransisco into another realm called Stormwrack. In Stormwrack she discover a realm that so much resembled Earth (called Erstwhile) but consist of so many archipelagos and big ocean. The world in Stormwrack is like.. if I put it well like in the Pirates of Carribean movies. And yes, there are pirates here.
The magic system in Stormwrack make Sophie can go back to Earth (after she saved by a ship, her aunt warn her to not come back and she also have a brief affair with fellow passanger). But when Sophie's step sister that she never know, Verena Feliachild confront her, Sophie and her adopted brother Bramwell go back to Stormwrack. There, Sophie found that her aunt Gale, murdered and people who kill Gale demand Sophie to give them the Heart of Temperance. Together with Bram, Verena, Gale's friend, Captain Garland Parrish (whose Sophie called "Captain Tasty") investigate the truth behind Gale's murder and a conspiracy that lead into a war that will brewing in Stormwrack.
I feel.. a little bit confused, maybe because some English words in this book is a little bit fancy and English also not my native. I think that the world in Stormwrack is fascinating and some of the nations in Stormwrack like Verdanii, Tallon, etc resemble some nations and race in the Earth. Stormwrack more like a once-upon-a-time steampunk version of Earth. And I read some review that maybe Stormwrack is the future version of what happen to Earth. It explain why the citizens called English as Anglay, prove that this languange once exist, but they just not use it anymore. Also, some of the people also aware with the exist of the Earth, like Sophie's aunt Gale. Heck, Sophie's biological mother is live in the Earth.
Ms Dellamonica write the magic system, languange, habitat (the flora and the fauna), noble system and the politic in Stormwrack court well. Her imagination is so huge and make her world believable. Even there are some thing that make me confused. Like when Sophie bring her phone and DLSR camera, I wonder why those thing did not run out of electricity? From what I gather, the world of Stormwrack didn't have electricity and they rely on diesel and steam. So why Sophie can record a video, send texts to Bram (even there's no signal) and took pictures in Stormwrack, while she spent time there in one month? It's seems like plothole for me. Or maybe Sophie bring some extra batteries or something like that but the author forget to write about it. Another thing that lacked from this book is there was no map! And glossarium! I would love to Ms Dellamonica to insert those things, so it's easy for reader to understand the world that she created.
I see that this book somehow put into YA books list in Goodreads, while I think that Child of a Hidden Sea can be categorized into NA/Adult book. Even Sophie is already in her 24-ish, sometimes she act immature, like send Bram text over and over. I think this kinda childish. But, I see that Sophie is a strong-willed, witty and independent woman. I love the fact that she is a scientist and I enjoy the way she explain about Stormwrack ecosystem and its citizen dynamic. I see too, that in Sophie, Ms Dellamonica insert her insight about homophobic and gay rights into Sophie without feeling forced.
One mistake that bugged me is a typo for Verena's name. I forget what chapter, but when Sophia met her biological father, Verena introduced herself as Thorna. Then it back again to Verena. Later, in some chapter, the name back to Thorna. I don't know if this just a typo, but if yes, it's a fatal typos.
I feel that the ending somehow too rushed. It do not give a satisfying ending, no satisfying result for Gale's murder and the conspirary that Sophie faced. Her relationship with Parrish also left open, no hint of romance even it's apparent that Sophie find him interesting. Turn that Child of a Hidden Sea is the first of the series, from what I gather in Ms Dellamonica's Q&A, called the Hidden Sea tales. It explain the abrupt ending. While I think that Child of the Sea just okay for me, I want to know more what happen to Sophie next. How she will able to go to Stormwrack again, her romantic relationship with Parrish (and I smell love triangle hint there), her relationship with her estranged biological parents and much more.
Thanks for NetGalley and Tor for provided the e-ARC for honest review
Child of a Hidden Sea is my first try of Ms Dellamonica's books. I request this title on NetGalley because I love the cover (it scream "adventure!!) and the premise about a woman who transferred into another world is one of my favorite theme. The story of Child of a Hidden Sea is about Sophie Hansa, 24 year old chick that swept away from her home in San Fransisco into another realm called Stormwrack. In Stormwrack she discover a realm that so much resembled Earth (called Erstwhile) but consist of so many archipelagos and big ocean. The world in Stormwrack is like.. if I put it well like in the Pirates of Carribean movies. And yes, there are pirates here.
The magic system in Stormwrack make Sophie can go back to Earth (after she saved by a ship, her aunt warn her to not come back and she also have a brief affair with fellow passanger). But when Sophie's step sister that she never know, Verena Feliachild confront her, Sophie and her adopted brother Bramwell go back to Stormwrack. There, Sophie found that her aunt Gale, murdered and people who kill Gale demand Sophie to give them the Heart of Temperance. Together with Bram, Verena, Gale's friend, Captain Garland Parrish (whose Sophie called "Captain Tasty") investigate the truth behind Gale's murder and a conspiracy that lead into a war that will brewing in Stormwrack.
I feel.. a little bit confused, maybe because some English words in this book is a little bit fancy and English also not my native. I think that the world in Stormwrack is fascinating and some of the nations in Stormwrack like Verdanii, Tallon, etc resemble some nations and race in the Earth. Stormwrack more like a once-upon-a-time steampunk version of Earth. And I read some review that maybe Stormwrack is the future version of what happen to Earth. It explain why the citizens called English as Anglay, prove that this languange once exist, but they just not use it anymore. Also, some of the people also aware with the exist of the Earth, like Sophie's aunt Gale. Heck, Sophie's biological mother is live in the Earth.
Ms Dellamonica write the magic system, languange, habitat (the flora and the fauna), noble system and the politic in Stormwrack court well. Her imagination is so huge and make her world believable. Even there are some thing that make me confused. Like when Sophie bring her phone and DLSR camera, I wonder why those thing did not run out of electricity? From what I gather, the world of Stormwrack didn't have electricity and they rely on diesel and steam. So why Sophie can record a video, send texts to Bram (even there's no signal) and took pictures in Stormwrack, while she spent time there in one month? It's seems like plothole for me. Or maybe Sophie bring some extra batteries or something like that but the author forget to write about it. Another thing that lacked from this book is there was no map! And glossarium! I would love to Ms Dellamonica to insert those things, so it's easy for reader to understand the world that she created.
I see that this book somehow put into YA books list in Goodreads, while I think that Child of a Hidden Sea can be categorized into NA/Adult book. Even Sophie is already in her 24-ish, sometimes she act immature, like send Bram text over and over. I think this kinda childish. But, I see that Sophie is a strong-willed, witty and independent woman. I love the fact that she is a scientist and I enjoy the way she explain about Stormwrack ecosystem and its citizen dynamic. I see too, that in Sophie, Ms Dellamonica insert her insight about homophobic and gay rights into Sophie without feeling forced.
One mistake that bugged me is a typo for Verena's name. I forget what chapter, but when Sophia met her biological father, Verena introduced herself as Thorna. Then it back again to Verena. Later, in some chapter, the name back to Thorna. I don't know if this just a typo, but if yes, it's a fatal typos.
I feel that the ending somehow too rushed. It do not give a satisfying ending, no satisfying result for Gale's murder and the conspirary that Sophie faced. Her relationship with Parrish also left open, no hint of romance even it's apparent that Sophie find him interesting. Turn that Child of a Hidden Sea is the first of the series, from what I gather in Ms Dellamonica's Q&A, called the Hidden Sea tales. It explain the abrupt ending. While I think that Child of the Sea just okay for me, I want to know more what happen to Sophie next. How she will able to go to Stormwrack again, her romantic relationship with Parrish (and I smell love triangle hint there), her relationship with her estranged biological parents and much more.
Thanks for NetGalley and Tor for provided the e-ARC for honest review
rachel_abby_reads's review
3.0
Interesting and not offensive. On reflection, the characters were all pretty flat; there isn't much I could tell you about any of the characters beyond the central character, and even she is pretty simplistic. Still, if my reading list is feeling heavy duty, I might pick up the sequel(s) for some light reading.