natcommon's review against another edition
4.0
Very cute and feel good book. Made me think of a Dicken’s fairy tale. I just wish there was a little bit more world building because the world is interesting, but I have a lot of questions and want more details.
wolfquix's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
slinkmalink's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Fun cute little animal themed adventure with some nice stuff about the importance of music and dreams and hope
I loved the descriptions of what he could hear like the snow falling and the sap inside trees, and the gradually learning to sing
The Fagin's gang bit was fun
There were a couple of bits I wish had been explored a bit more and some characters that we could've understood better but overall pretty fun
I loved the descriptions of what he could hear like the snow falling and the sap inside trees, and the gradually learning to sing
The Fagin's gang bit was fun
Spoiler
and I appreciated the fact that they were redeemed/came back at the endSpoiler
the gathering of all the heroes at the end was very cute I'm a fan of that trope, the only thing I was confused about that didn't feel like it tied in at the end was the manticore? which felt a little bit like it was from a different storyThere were a couple of bits I wish had been explored a bit more and some characters that we could've understood better but overall pretty fun
caronmonster's review against another edition
1.0
Abandoned this one.
Felt too much like a patchwork of a lot of other books.
Felt too much like a patchwork of a lot of other books.
ali556's review against another edition
4.0
This was a nice book, but it´s been a while since I last read it. I remember it being a bit too full of description, but otherwise, it was entertaining and light-hearted.
lovegirl30's review against another edition
4.0
Previously posted on The Young Girl Who Loved Books
This is such a delightful little tale about a character named Number 13. He is a cute little half human, half-fox. He is unfortunately stuck inside an orphanage, and the situation is quite grim. He is dying to get out, to explore who he is and what his destiny to come might be. He is forced to work in the horrible orphanage factor until he can escape with the aid of his friend Trinket.
The world building in this story is so interesting. It is comprised of both humans, regular animals, as well as human and animal hybrids, that are called groundlings. These guys can speak and act like typical humans but they have some physical characteristics of animals. I found this to be an interesting part of the story it really captured my interest.
The writing in this novel is beautiful and eloquent. It is filled with meaningful words and magical stories. The writer describes things in great detail without diving into word vomit, which can be a hard line to walk. I think the best part about the writing is that feels very authentic.
One of my favorite things about this book is how there is a bewitching focus on music, songs, and the musical sounds of nature. Since Number 13 has been prohibited from any musical contact for most of his life, once he leaves the orphanage he begins to experience different types of music for the first time, and he is full of awe as his starving heart swells with the sounds. The intimacy of his reactions to music pulls the reader into that appreciation for things we usually take for granted. As a musician, I always love reading stories with music at the center.
Disclaimer: I was fortunate enough to receive an e-copy of this book from Candlewick Press through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest, and completely unbiased review. All thoughts are my own.
This is such a delightful little tale about a character named Number 13. He is a cute little half human, half-fox. He is unfortunately stuck inside an orphanage, and the situation is quite grim. He is dying to get out, to explore who he is and what his destiny to come might be. He is forced to work in the horrible orphanage factor until he can escape with the aid of his friend Trinket.
The world building in this story is so interesting. It is comprised of both humans, regular animals, as well as human and animal hybrids, that are called groundlings. These guys can speak and act like typical humans but they have some physical characteristics of animals. I found this to be an interesting part of the story it really captured my interest.
The writing in this novel is beautiful and eloquent. It is filled with meaningful words and magical stories. The writer describes things in great detail without diving into word vomit, which can be a hard line to walk. I think the best part about the writing is that feels very authentic.
One of my favorite things about this book is how there is a bewitching focus on music, songs, and the musical sounds of nature. Since Number 13 has been prohibited from any musical contact for most of his life, once he leaves the orphanage he begins to experience different types of music for the first time, and he is full of awe as his starving heart swells with the sounds. The intimacy of his reactions to music pulls the reader into that appreciation for things we usually take for granted. As a musician, I always love reading stories with music at the center.
Disclaimer: I was fortunate enough to receive an e-copy of this book from Candlewick Press through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest, and completely unbiased review. All thoughts are my own.
sunflowerscottie's review against another edition
4.0
THE WONDERLING was a marvelous, fairytale-esque story! I was rooting for Arthur and Trinket the entire time. The illustrations are beautiful, the story is engaging, and I definitely recommend it.
rants_n_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Grim, but beautiful like a mix of fairy tales, Oliver Twist, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Arthur's story is realistic and filled with hope in times of darkness. I like that Arthur didn't end up becoming a messiah figure like many other fantasy books. He has a few extra skills, but his greatest strength comes from his ability to see the good in others. He trusts those of whom people are usually suspicious of, and he remains truthful and polite. He's not the stereotypical sly fox, which is wonderful in a book about battling class and race discrimination. The only fault I found was in the pacing. Parts one and two are more slow and steady, while everything sort of jumps into action all at one in Part three. It gets a bit action-crowded compared to the rest of the book.