hoosgracie's review
4.0
Rossamund - a boy - has an unfortunate name. When he is recruited to be a lamplighter, he begins an adventure in reaching the lamplighters facility. Full of adventure and magic this was a fun audio book.
morepagesplease's review
4.0
This book is completely original and unlike anything I've ever read. In tone, it reminded me of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, or the Lord of the Rings, but of course the story bears no resemblance to those tales. I instantly was drawn in by the characters, and am intrigued as to what shall befall Rossamund in the next book.
conspiracycrows's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A strange, dark, and slightly Eldritch setting, the story itself is very good, and the world building and exposition is informative, without pulling you from the story. Occasionally dark, it not only introduces you to a whole new world, but also asks deep questions about that world and how it functions. And if it is the right way to do things.
dolaya's review against another edition
1.0
The problem with this book, is probably that the main character is depressingly weak, horribly gullible, fairly stupid, and thoroughly clueless. Frankly, my best advice is not to read this at all, since if you have any taste for good literature, you probably will be very disappointed by this title. It's simply not worth it.
My first issue is the main character, Rossamund Bookchild. Apart from the really unfortunate name, everything about this character is, well, also unfortunate. It was a bad choice that simply got worse as the plot progressed. Because he doesn't do much to move the story along. He's kind of just dragged along for the ride, all while making the reader endure whiny existential crises that are simply unnecessary. Honestly, the supporting characters do more for this story than he does, and he's the most depressingly stupid and gullible character I've ever had the misfortune to read. One of my friends said that you could replace him with a walrus and the plot arc wouldn't vary too much, and I'm somewhat inclined to agree.
The second thing is that the writing is inconsistent with the linguistic theme of the book. This might be a bit nit-picky, but the cover and the headings for the title are written in Latin, while all of the characters speak in a manner that can only be described as vaguely Scottish. In some points, the writing of that accent is so profuse that it becomes difficult to understand the dialogue, and other times I just didn't want to bother trying to read it.
Actually, I didn't want to bother is the theme of my interaction with this book. It's boring, and there really is no good side to vouch for in terms of enjoyable literature. Perhaps some of the setting was creative, but compared to the rest, it could have been a desert for all I care.
Conclusion? This is not worth the read, and I would advise you to turn and run in the other direction if you see this book on a shelf or - worse yet - someone offers it to you. Don't bother with this thing, there are plenty of MUCH better books to read.
My first issue is the main character, Rossamund Bookchild. Apart from the really unfortunate name, everything about this character is, well, also unfortunate. It was a bad choice that simply got worse as the plot progressed. Because he doesn't do much to move the story along. He's kind of just dragged along for the ride, all while making the reader endure whiny existential crises that are simply unnecessary. Honestly, the supporting characters do more for this story than he does, and he's the most depressingly stupid and gullible character I've ever had the misfortune to read. One of my friends said that you could replace him with a walrus and the plot arc wouldn't vary too much, and I'm somewhat inclined to agree.
The second thing is that the writing is inconsistent with the linguistic theme of the book. This might be a bit nit-picky, but the cover and the headings for the title are written in Latin, while all of the characters speak in a manner that can only be described as vaguely Scottish. In some points, the writing of that accent is so profuse that it becomes difficult to understand the dialogue, and other times I just didn't want to bother trying to read it.
Actually, I didn't want to bother is the theme of my interaction with this book. It's boring, and there really is no good side to vouch for in terms of enjoyable literature. Perhaps some of the setting was creative, but compared to the rest, it could have been a desert for all I care.
Conclusion? This is not worth the read, and I would advise you to turn and run in the other direction if you see this book on a shelf or - worse yet - someone offers it to you. Don't bother with this thing, there are plenty of MUCH better books to read.
somewheregirl7's review
3.0
Rosamund is a boy with a girl's name and an orhpan to boot. Some kids have rotten luck. Rosamund lives in an alternate reality/different planet that bears only passing resemblance to our own and when he is apprenticed to become a lamp-lighter he sets out on a series of adventures.
I almost discarded this book many times while reading it. The first part of the book is one huge info-dump after another and the world that the author paints is so different from ours and every other word is some new thing or name or concept screaming out how different it all is. The world buidling felt slopilly done and it was definitely information overload. This was the first book in a series and it ends before there is any real resolution and before any of the mysteries have been cleared up. Action scenes are interspersed with LONG passages where nothing at all happens and a whole lot of things seem just left to chance. WHY is Rosamund basically kidnapped? No explanation. WHY is he so different? Also no explanation. That was annoying and some it felt like deliberate open-endedness for the sequel while others felt like just poor story-planning and dropped story threads. I won't be picking up the second novel though I will admit the concept of this book and some of the story elements were intriguing. The info over-load was just too much for me and could have been handled much more skillfully. Good world-building is subtle and layered, it is not the equivalent of being walloped with a brick as someone shouts "this place is different."
I almost discarded this book many times while reading it. The first part of the book is one huge info-dump after another and the world that the author paints is so different from ours and every other word is some new thing or name or concept screaming out how different it all is. The world buidling felt slopilly done and it was definitely information overload. This was the first book in a series and it ends before there is any real resolution and before any of the mysteries have been cleared up. Action scenes are interspersed with LONG passages where nothing at all happens and a whole lot of things seem just left to chance. WHY is Rosamund basically kidnapped? No explanation. WHY is he so different? Also no explanation. That was annoying and some it felt like deliberate open-endedness for the sequel while others felt like just poor story-planning and dropped story threads. I won't be picking up the second novel though I will admit the concept of this book and some of the story elements were intriguing. The info over-load was just too much for me and could have been handled much more skillfully. Good world-building is subtle and layered, it is not the equivalent of being walloped with a brick as someone shouts "this place is different."
missyansell's review
3.0
3.5 stars. This book is about Rossamund. An foundling or orphan who finally gets to leave the orphanage because he got a job as a lamplighter. His journey to start his new job is supposed to be easy, but turns into something more when he gets tricked onto the wrong ship. From there his adventure really starts.
I wanted to like this book more, but I often found it boring in a lot of places. Rossamund seemed a bit too complacent to just let things happen around him rather that speak his mind. My favorite character was Europe. She was very interesting and her personality complex. I would rather have her as the main character. The world was interesting with the constant battle between the monsters and humans, but we didn't really get to see much of that. I will probably read the second book in the series in the hopes that Rossamund will grow more as a character.
I wanted to like this book more, but I often found it boring in a lot of places. Rossamund seemed a bit too complacent to just let things happen around him rather that speak his mind. My favorite character was Europe. She was very interesting and her personality complex. I would rather have her as the main character. The world was interesting with the constant battle between the monsters and humans, but we didn't really get to see much of that. I will probably read the second book in the series in the hopes that Rossamund will grow more as a character.
squishies's review against another edition
4.0
Admittedly, I was drawn by the gorgeous illustrations and front cover - not to mention that it's a hardcover book... at half the cost! (I've got such a weakness for hardcovers)^^^^So did not regret picking this gem up. Very involved though with their own animals, technology, life-style, and mode of transportation - some may find it quite boring to slog through and having to remember so many things, but it's really quite worth it.
tmdavis's review against another edition
3.0
I read this one again since the second book was coming out and I couldn't remember the story. About 200 pages of the book is a glossary of terms since the author basically created his own world.