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pewterwolf's review
DNF (for time being) at 58% [16th December 2018]
I think am not in right frame of mind for this at the moment. Bit too slow and I want something more punchy. Will hopefully return to this at a later date, as I really liked the world and the writing.
I think am not in right frame of mind for this at the moment. Bit too slow and I want something more punchy. Will hopefully return to this at a later date, as I really liked the world and the writing.
nataliag21's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
c_elena's review
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It’s a pretty ok book plot and characters wise, but it has very little dialogue and not a lot of that good plot really. Five pages in when the action held me by the throat, she’d pull a random memory that had little to no relevance to what was happening, which lasted for like ten pages, or at least it felt like it. I get that the past was important for her journey, but the present was more important. We barely got anything about Enja and even the wolves if I’m honest. It took me almost a year to go through all the remembering random stuff so I really couldn’t enjoy the story itself.
It could be because I have ADHD and when the story gets randomly interrupted non stop I lose interest, but all in all, that was my experience.
I’m curious about her other book from the same universe but I don’t think I’ll actually be reading it, the writing style really tires me.
It could be because I have ADHD and when the story gets randomly interrupted non stop I lose interest, but all in all, that was my experience.
I’m curious about her other book from the same universe but I don’t think I’ll actually be reading it, the writing style really tires me.
marita_mariel's review
4.0
I remember reading the first Skane book (a shiver of snow and sky) in 2018 and enjoying it! I bought this one a bit after it came out but didn't get to reading it until now. It's a prequel to a shiver of snow and sky. I think my opinion on this one is quite similar to the other one. Even though they are somewhat your typical fantasy books I do think they have a uniqueness to them. The world is scandinavian inspired and set a in a time I would guess is quite far back. It doesnt feel old though, it feels fresh, just more back to basics of humanity (hunting, living etc.). And I'm very fond of the magic in this world. It's full of Runes, Stars/Constellations, Animals etc. And the adventure they go on to reach Gods and Goddesses are quite eerie! I am also a fan of the Lisa Lueddecke writes relationships (family, platonic, romantic) and how it evolves throughout the story. What I don't love about them is that I find them to be quite slow. The plot moves along in a good pace, the days aren't dragged out etc. But I rarely feel like something big is happening until the last chapter. They action parts of the story feel way more eerie than action filled. The eerieness makes you want to know what happens next and gives the book a magical feel, but I wasn't sitting excitedly waiting for the next part. I want to be excited but it just feels a bit lackluster compared to what I'd personally want. I wish I felt more compelled by the story than I did. I like to feel strong emotions when I read. The most emotional part of this series are the personal relationships and how they evolve. Lisa Lueddecke writes personal relationships in a realistic and beatiful way. It was very fun and cool how the ending of A Storm of Ice and Stars gave us the beginning of A Shiver of Snow and Sky. I always love some context and backstory. I think if you like one of these books you would also like the other, they're quite similar because the stories intertwine. Since it's the same world they both have the same magic and eerie that I like.
georgilvsbooks's review
2.0
I loved A Shiver Of Snow And Sky and couldn’t wait to read this one, but personally this book wasn’t for me at all.
booksandlemonsquash's review
4.0
This is a prequel to A Shiver of Snow and Sky, but I definitely feel that it needs to be read after. It’s set in the same gorgeous universe and has the same lovely and evocative writing as ASOSAS, but the foreshadowing for it is a little spoilery - I think it makes more sense to read it second.
And it is stunningly written, as the first one is. They are however very similar. They both have the red lights, and outcast girls, and journeys across the island. That was, for me, a little bit of a shame, as ASOIAS didn’t feel different enough. Having said that, I still loved it. And I loved the characters and the way their circumstances worked out - the background of Janna and Solvi was heartbreaking, and Enja and Siiva are great additions to Janna’s quest. I love the little ways you see it start to interact with Osa’s story from ASOSAS. And I adore the ending. It is perfectly done, and clever too. It’s not really what you expect going in, but it perfectly honours the world that has been built.
This book is definitely deserving of its 4 stars and I’d recommend it if you enjoyed the first one.
And it is stunningly written, as the first one is. They are however very similar. They both have the red lights, and outcast girls, and journeys across the island. That was, for me, a little bit of a shame, as ASOIAS didn’t feel different enough. Having said that, I still loved it. And I loved the characters and the way their circumstances worked out - the background of Janna and Solvi was heartbreaking, and Enja and Siiva are great additions to Janna’s quest. I love the little ways you see it start to interact with Osa’s story from ASOSAS. And I adore the ending. It is perfectly done, and clever too. It’s not really what you expect going in, but it perfectly honours the world that has been built.
This book is definitely deserving of its 4 stars and I’d recommend it if you enjoyed the first one.
estevens315's review
4.0
“That was how fear worked, breaking down your mettle and resilience until there was little left of you but a brittle frame that could be blown away by the wind.”
“How can you take on someone else's pain when you can hardly bear your own?”
I have read this so many times and yet, the heartbreak was unmatched. Never could i have imagined to feel such loss for a fictional character numerous times
“How can you take on someone else's pain when you can hardly bear your own?”
I have read this so many times and yet, the heartbreak was unmatched. Never could i have imagined to feel such loss for a fictional character numerous times
16eddy's review
This was a disappointment. In comparison to the first one, it felt like more or less the same story as the sequel (a shiver of snow…) just with new characters and on an earlier timeline. The characters themselves also lacked realistic motivation: sacrificing for strangers to such extremes?! They were also not realistic in their emotional expressions, where comes in a principal of mine: if you have not experienced it, do not write it. Jannas emotions of loss, I personally found, were lacking and only sad on a surface level, but failed to express anything of deep emotional value. This, I felt was a major flaw of the book as the book consistantly felt like a surface-level fantasy and escape which had clearly been written: essentially I could not get past the bland words to create a developed world expression. This book is little compared to the first one, however, I recommend that though I will not find myself recommending this.
ellie2424242's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, and Pandemic/Epidemic