juliterario's review
4.0
Este es efectivamente el libro que más he tardado en leer en toda mi vida xD. Empecé a leerlo el primer día de JUNIO y recién lo termino hoy, 5 de SEPTIEMBRE. Pero hay una explicación. Este libro es demasiado LENTO. Cada vez que me quedaba sin qué leer y estaba en una situación donde quería leer algo, me ponía a leer The Queens of Innis Lear. Así que básicamente lo leía de vez en cuando, unos capítulos cada tanto... Y así... Y por eso, leyendo un capítulo cada dos semanas, tardé tanto en leerlo. ¡Es que es un libro MUY largo, con capítulos MUY largos y una narración MUY lenta!
“We are as strong as the people who love us.”
Este es un retelling del famoso relato de El Rey Lear de Shakespeare, pero adaptado por Tessa Gratton y narrado en forma de una novela. Por eso, me informé sobre la historia original antes de leerlo ya que no la conocía en absoluto. LA ESCRITURA de Gratton fue mi parte favorita de todas. Es una de las novelas más hermosas que he leído y su pluma me dejó fascinada. Lo amé todo, aprendí muchísimo de su manera de construir un libro y la admiro de pies a cabeza. En serio, es magnífica, y sin duda considero que es la mejor parte.
“What else is love but mettle and blood?”
Esta es una adaptación excelente del relato original de Shakespeare, sumamente atrapante y narrado a la perfección. En lo personal, atesoraré esta novela por siempre y en serio que es una que voy a nombrar seguido ya que me parece una obra maestra. PERO tengan cuidado antes de decidir que quieren leerla: tiene capítulos largos, un ritmo lentísimo, es súper introductorio y no pasa mucho. ¡Y es laaaaargo! Y es totalmente del estilo medieval. ¿Por qué lo amé tanto, entonces, si tengo tantas cosas negativas para enumerar? Este es un poderoso cuento sobre reinas, estrellas y coronas, bordado con una pluma preciosa. Es de esos libros que disfruto palabra por palabra aunque sean lentos y aburridos por el simple hecho de que tiene otro significado para mí.
“Sometimes we forgive others because it keeps our own hearts whole, not because they deserve it or for any thought of them.”
katrinahaines's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
erinarkin20's review
3.0
As soon as I read the summary for the Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton, I knew I wanted to read this book. When I started this one, I had high hopes and for some reason, it just didn’t grab me as much as I had hoped it would - I will say I liked the story but didn’t love it.
This book had some really solid character development in Elia, Gaela, and Reagan and I enjoyed the chapters from Ban’s point of view. There just seemed to be a lot of points of view and just when I was getting pulled into one piece of the story, the chapter ended, and I had to shift again to another perspective.
I love fantasy and I thought for sure I would love this book but for me, the story seemed to drag at times and I didn’t really latch onto any of the daughters to support throughout – I suppose if I had to choose I would pick Elia because she is the only one who didn’t appear to have ulterior motives to her actions. I did appreciate the backstories with them though as it helped to explain Gaela and Reagan’s feelings toward each other and Elia. I also liked getting the background on Ban and Elia’s friendship and was really hoping we’d get a bit more with these two.
In the end, I found this one to be just ok. I’m sure this is a case of “it’s not you, it’s me” as I’ve seen a lot of people raving about this book, but it just wasn’t what I wanted it to be and seemed to drag at times. I most likely won’t pick up the next book but don’t let my notes deter you if you are at all interested.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book had some really solid character development in Elia, Gaela, and Reagan and I enjoyed the chapters from Ban’s point of view. There just seemed to be a lot of points of view and just when I was getting pulled into one piece of the story, the chapter ended, and I had to shift again to another perspective.
I love fantasy and I thought for sure I would love this book but for me, the story seemed to drag at times and I didn’t really latch onto any of the daughters to support throughout – I suppose if I had to choose I would pick Elia because she is the only one who didn’t appear to have ulterior motives to her actions. I did appreciate the backstories with them though as it helped to explain Gaela and Reagan’s feelings toward each other and Elia. I also liked getting the background on Ban and Elia’s friendship and was really hoping we’d get a bit more with these two.
In the end, I found this one to be just ok. I’m sure this is a case of “it’s not you, it’s me” as I’ve seen a lot of people raving about this book, but it just wasn’t what I wanted it to be and seemed to drag at times. I most likely won’t pick up the next book but don’t let my notes deter you if you are at all interested.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
geldauran's review
2.0
I'll preface this review by saying that King Lear has never been my favorite Shakespeare work. Although rightfully, this book stands pretty well on it's own, it's close enough to the source material that I wasn't enraptured. I prefer retellings when their source material is something with lots of room for interpretation and give - fairy tales, fables, legends, myths, etc. But retelling something like King Lear means you're rather bound to follow the twists and turns that already exist. Uh, anyway.
I think many of my reader friends would like this more than I did. The writing is truly lush and lyrical- there are many beautiful sentences here. And I did appreciate having three distinct female voices, and the success Gratton has in making them thoughtful, individual, and mostly sympathetic. The fantasy setting feels like a dark and stormy night, with blood, earth, and star magic all swirling around. There's a lot here to love.
But:
I didn't appreciate the fact that a lot of the action takes place off stage. There are so many interesting, key moments that get mentioned only in hindsight. Constantly "oh, did you hear about this?" rather than getting to see any of it. Maybe this is out of respect to the source material's format, but it felt disappointing in novel form, particularly given the length. (and this is a slog- make no mistake. I can appreciate giant books, like anything Brandon Sanderson writes, but there's got to be activity to fill the pages, not just pretty descriptions.) The book is very introspective, and I know that a lot of my friends love that kind of thing, but I wanted more time outside the POV's head.
And while I understand the reason to write in backstory ( it makes the characters far more sympathetic ), there's just way too much here. So much. The book is already feels so long, I could have missed around half of the backstory and not felt any worse for it. I found myself skimming large sections to try and get back to the actual action.
I guess my ultimate beef here isn't the book's characters or it's world- it's the execution. This book didn't mesh with me, but I'd guess others will cherish it.
I think many of my reader friends would like this more than I did. The writing is truly lush and lyrical- there are many beautiful sentences here. And I did appreciate having three distinct female voices, and the success Gratton has in making them thoughtful, individual, and mostly sympathetic. The fantasy setting feels like a dark and stormy night, with blood, earth, and star magic all swirling around. There's a lot here to love.
But:
I didn't appreciate the fact that a lot of the action takes place off stage. There are so many interesting, key moments that get mentioned only in hindsight. Constantly "oh, did you hear about this?" rather than getting to see any of it. Maybe this is out of respect to the source material's format, but it felt disappointing in novel form, particularly given the length. (and this is a slog- make no mistake. I can appreciate giant books, like anything Brandon Sanderson writes, but there's got to be activity to fill the pages, not just pretty descriptions.) The book is very introspective, and I know that a lot of my friends love that kind of thing, but I wanted more time outside the POV's head.
And while I understand the reason to write in backstory ( it makes the characters far more sympathetic ), there's just way too much here. So much. The book is already feels so long, I could have missed around half of the backstory and not felt any worse for it. I found myself skimming large sections to try and get back to the actual action.
I guess my ultimate beef here isn't the book's characters or it's world- it's the execution. This book didn't mesh with me, but I'd guess others will cherish it.
elizabethreads98's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lassarina's review
3.0
A retelling of King Lear that interrogates all the ways that said King is a garbage fire, while poking at how each of his daughters is what he made her to be. I tried to read this in November 2019 and failed, but a second go in August 2021 was more successful. It's a slow book, rich with descriptions of the land and the magic that binds it, and that magic is red in tooth and claw, not sanitized and lovely. I liked the questions about selfhood and rulership, and found it pretty satisfying in terms of the giant middle finger it aimed at Lear himself.
mistermatthias's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this novel. It had a lot more depth to it than many novels I have read as someone who is just getting back into reading for fun.
There were a couple times where I got a little lost in the details, but the overall narrative was gripping and exciting!
There were a couple times where I got a little lost in the details, but the overall narrative was gripping and exciting!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Murder
emiann2023's review
4.0
Confession: I've not yet read King Lear.
So coming into this, I had no expectations or notions. But I can see the threads of Shakespearean tragedy woven through it. I was impressed I think most, though, by the writing style. It was fluid and lyrical. Also, the way we are introduced to characters and the ways that they change throughout the book are really intriguing. I hated Mars and loved Ban in the beginning. By the end, that had flipped.
The ending was a bit of a disappointment to me though. I really wanted Elliya to end up with Mars.
So coming into this, I had no expectations or notions. But I can see the threads of Shakespearean tragedy woven through it. I was impressed I think most, though, by the writing style. It was fluid and lyrical. Also, the way we are introduced to characters and the ways that they change throughout the book are really intriguing. I hated Mars and loved Ban in the beginning. By the end, that had flipped.
The ending was a bit of a disappointment to me though. I really wanted Elliya to end up with Mars.
benjaminvr's review against another edition
4.0
I received ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It was initially a 3.5 review, but I’m rounding it up to 4 because it deserves it.
Before I begin with the review, can we appreciate the cover? Both the UK and US edition are as beautiful as they are mysterious.
I got into the story with a little knowledge of what it was about. I must admit that I read the book without being very familiarized with the King Lear’s story, I had some background knowledge but that was it. Maybe that’s the main reason I didn’t enjoy it that much (?)
Too many books have been compared to Game of Thrones, yet this is one that to a certain point, makes some justice.
✨ Plot: as I said before, my lack of knowledge about this being a retelling, may have done the experience differently. Nevertheless, I found myself dragged into the story of these three sisters and their adventures. I wouldn’t fin appropriate tot ell you more, because it’s fair that you discover by your own, the magic realism that surrounds the story.
✨ Writing style: It’s so lyrical and poetic that it turns impossible not to fall in love with it. Reading this was magical. It’s a very slow-paced story and even though I read it in three days, I found myself thinking about quitting it. All the “suffering” will be worth at the end, though.
✨ Worldbuilding: this is the major asset from the bool. It’s so well-done, it’s gorgeous and it gives some LOTR vibes.
You must be aware that great part of the book is about descriptions of places and character’s thoughts and points of views.
The magic system was dark and interesting, it fitted perfectly with the book atmosphere.
✨ Characters: if I started talking about each character I liked, I think I’d never end. So, I will only review this aspect in a general way.
They are all memorable. Some of them better than others but they were so well-developed, with an interesting background and depth that gives them a sense of reality. There were also very good villains who will break your heart.
The sisters with their own personalities and the way each of them was developed, turned them into amazing characters.
Finally, despite the slow-paced rhythm, the so many descriptions and the fact that I didn’t know a lot about King Lear, I do recommend this book and I really hope this isn’t a stand-alone because that ending was so open, and I want to read more about this world.
Note: I don’t know if the printed edition has a map, it will make the experience even better.
It was initially a 3.5 review, but I’m rounding it up to 4 because it deserves it.
Before I begin with the review, can we appreciate the cover? Both the UK and US edition are as beautiful as they are mysterious.
I got into the story with a little knowledge of what it was about. I must admit that I read the book without being very familiarized with the King Lear’s story, I had some background knowledge but that was it. Maybe that’s the main reason I didn’t enjoy it that much (?)
Too many books have been compared to Game of Thrones, yet this is one that to a certain point, makes some justice.
✨ Plot: as I said before, my lack of knowledge about this being a retelling, may have done the experience differently. Nevertheless, I found myself dragged into the story of these three sisters and their adventures. I wouldn’t fin appropriate tot ell you more, because it’s fair that you discover by your own, the magic realism that surrounds the story.
✨ Writing style: It’s so lyrical and poetic that it turns impossible not to fall in love with it. Reading this was magical. It’s a very slow-paced story and even though I read it in three days, I found myself thinking about quitting it. All the “suffering” will be worth at the end, though.
✨ Worldbuilding: this is the major asset from the bool. It’s so well-done, it’s gorgeous and it gives some LOTR vibes.
You must be aware that great part of the book is about descriptions of places and character’s thoughts and points of views.
The magic system was dark and interesting, it fitted perfectly with the book atmosphere.
✨ Characters: if I started talking about each character I liked, I think I’d never end. So, I will only review this aspect in a general way.
They are all memorable. Some of them better than others but they were so well-developed, with an interesting background and depth that gives them a sense of reality. There were also very good villains who will break your heart.
The sisters with their own personalities and the way each of them was developed, turned them into amazing characters.
Finally, despite the slow-paced rhythm, the so many descriptions and the fact that I didn’t know a lot about King Lear, I do recommend this book and I really hope this isn’t a stand-alone because that ending was so open, and I want to read more about this world.
Note: I don’t know if the printed edition has a map, it will make the experience even better.
arkhonix_reads's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A fantasy take on King Lear, this book is very haunting and melancholy, and has an interesting Celtic inspired theming to its magic. It adapts the tragedy it’s based on incredibly well, even if the book is strange in parts