confessions_of_a_bookaholic's review against another edition
5.0
Red has sworn to get her brother back from the fairy realm, at all costs. Facing the fairy court she strikes a bargain to get him back, and regain her own freedom. The price is a challenge set by the rulers of the court - she must find and return all 13 charms belonging to Tanya's charm bracelet, which have been scattered in the human world. With Tanya and Fabian's help Red sets out on a frantic search, quickly realising that the charms are now twisted and wreaking havoc. Red and friends search desperately, trying to prevent any serious harm coming to those they love, all the while hoping against hope that the fairy court will keep their side of the bargain.
It was quite a while since I read 13 Treasures, so when I started this one it did take me a little while to re-aclimatise myself with the characters and what had happened. Once I got a few chapters in things started to come back to me though, and before long I was immersed in the book.
I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the first book in this series, and this one follows suit. Although it's a middle grade read it's quite dark in places. Not extravagently so, it's still suitable for younger readers, but it's noticable and makes a difference to your reading experience.
I liked that this book followed Red more than Tanya, so we got to see more of her story and learn how she had gotten to where she was. She's a great character with a lot of depth, and I enjoyed seeing her come to terms with the things that had happened to her.
Story wise you could read this as a standalone if you really wanted to, but you'll have a better feel for the characters and the world they live in if you've read the first book. This one ties in really nicely, bringing the 13 charms of Tanya's bracelet in as a key part of the storyline. I thought it was a clever idea to make Red's quest a treasure hunt for items that her and her friends are part familiar with, and using that to help explain more of the history of Elvesden Manor.
A great read and a fantastic book to build on book one of the series. I'm excited to see where Harrison goes next with the story, and will definitely not be leaving it so long before I read the final book in the series!
It was quite a while since I read 13 Treasures, so when I started this one it did take me a little while to re-aclimatise myself with the characters and what had happened. Once I got a few chapters in things started to come back to me though, and before long I was immersed in the book.
I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the first book in this series, and this one follows suit. Although it's a middle grade read it's quite dark in places. Not extravagently so, it's still suitable for younger readers, but it's noticable and makes a difference to your reading experience.
I liked that this book followed Red more than Tanya, so we got to see more of her story and learn how she had gotten to where she was. She's a great character with a lot of depth, and I enjoyed seeing her come to terms with the things that had happened to her.
Story wise you could read this as a standalone if you really wanted to, but you'll have a better feel for the characters and the world they live in if you've read the first book. This one ties in really nicely, bringing the 13 charms of Tanya's bracelet in as a key part of the storyline. I thought it was a clever idea to make Red's quest a treasure hunt for items that her and her friends are part familiar with, and using that to help explain more of the history of Elvesden Manor.
A great read and a fantastic book to build on book one of the series. I'm excited to see where Harrison goes next with the story, and will definitely not be leaving it so long before I read the final book in the series!
clara99's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.75
the pacing was off. the first half was slow and the last half was fast i feel like they found the charms way too easily and quickly
marvusxoloto's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
gemstone's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jjones229's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this second book in the '13' series very much. In this book some of the characters travel to the faerie realm and I particularly loved the sense being in a familiar landscape but a totally unfamiliar and terrifying alternate version of it. I still think that the author manages her settings better than her characterisation but I don't think that in this case it detracted too much from the overall affect of the book. Sometimes the most compelling part of a story is the setting rather than the characters. That said the character of Red/Rowan is developed well and I enjoyed the flashbacks to her back-story I just felt that Tanya and Fabian were rather neglected.
I'd recommend it to 9+ readers (but not nervous ones- there are scary nightmarish scenes!)
Taking it further...
Red/Rowan goes to an exhibition of fairy pictures in the book and researches fairy stories Grimm's fairy stories (the original, gruesome versions)are great
[b:Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales|564309|Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales|Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278335673s/564309.jpg|1855987]
or try Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy stories(that's her mother's book in '13 Curses').
[b:Fairy Tales Of Hans Christian Andersen|6356046|Fairy Tales Of Hans Christian Andersen|Hans Christian Andersen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1331174948s/6356046.jpg|942531]
I wonder whether Michelle Harrison was thinking of Arthur Rackham when she wrote about the pictures of faires in the exhibition that Red/Rowan visits? I've always found his fairies beautiful but sinister too- especially the ones in his illustrations of Peter Pan- there are some here:- http://rackham.artsycraftsy.com/
I'd recommend it to 9+ readers (but not nervous ones- there are scary nightmarish scenes!)
Taking it further...
Red/Rowan goes to an exhibition of fairy pictures in the book and researches fairy stories Grimm's fairy stories (the original, gruesome versions)are great
[b:Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales|564309|Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales|Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278335673s/564309.jpg|1855987]
or try Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy stories(that's her mother's book in '13 Curses').
[b:Fairy Tales Of Hans Christian Andersen|6356046|Fairy Tales Of Hans Christian Andersen|Hans Christian Andersen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1331174948s/6356046.jpg|942531]
I wonder whether Michelle Harrison was thinking of Arthur Rackham when she wrote about the pictures of faires in the exhibition that Red/Rowan visits? I've always found his fairies beautiful but sinister too- especially the ones in his illustrations of Peter Pan- there are some here:- http://rackham.artsycraftsy.com/
ria_mhrj's review against another edition
3.0
Though the first section dragged, I soon got swept up in Red's mission and was pleasantly surprised at the brave choices that were taken. The book concluded in a satisfying way and leaves plenty of promising plot developments for book 3.
eccentricutie's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book once I was about halfway through. Like the first book, it starts off very slow. It is nice to learn background about Red and others, but it could have been done through the book. The "quest" doesn't even start until half way through the book and then it is rushed.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
An sequel, but not quite, to 13 Treasures, which I enjoyed. The same characters appear, but this is more Red's story than Tanya's. Since I sense that there's another book coming, can I just ask for one from Fabian's point-of-view?
Red's time in the land of the fay is, of course, passing faster than time in the non-fay world. After being trapped by the Hedgewitch, she learns more about her brother's capture and meets Stitch, a human who decides to help her with her quest to plead for James at the Seelie court. Timing being everything, they arrive at the court on Samhain, when the Seelie gives over to the Unseelie. The two courts send Red on a Quest to retrieve the 13 charms on the charm bracelet; the task is relatively easy, but the charms aren't exactly "charmed" any longer.
As with many sequels, there's padding here. A lot. The whole back story to how James was taken could have been cut and wouldn't have been missed. The descriptive passages about the fox glamor, or the time in the Hedgewitch's dungeon could have been tightened, and while Nell was an interesting addition, she could have had less page time (and her parrot? lose him).
ARC provided by publisher.
Red's time in the land of the fay is, of course, passing faster than time in the non-fay world. After being trapped by the Hedgewitch, she learns more about her brother's capture and meets Stitch, a human who decides to help her with her quest to plead for James at the Seelie court. Timing being everything, they arrive at the court on Samhain, when the Seelie gives over to the Unseelie. The two courts send Red on a Quest to retrieve the 13 charms on the charm bracelet; the task is relatively easy, but the charms aren't exactly "charmed" any longer.
As with many sequels, there's padding here. A lot. The whole back story to how James was taken could have been cut and wouldn't have been missed. The descriptive passages about the fox glamor, or the time in the Hedgewitch's dungeon could have been tightened, and while Nell was an interesting addition, she could have had less page time (and her parrot? lose him).
ARC provided by publisher.
racheljoy7's review
4.0
Ever as wonderful as the first in this trilogy! The continuation of the adventures of Tanya, Fabian, and Rowan keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last chapter, with a twist to the plot that I really wasn't expecting.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a well written story about the world of Fae from an author who quite obviously knows her fairy lore and mythology.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a well written story about the world of Fae from an author who quite obviously knows her fairy lore and mythology.