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rockstar_girl83's review against another edition
3.0
I was so looking forward to reading this, as I've read and enjoyed the other three in the series, but this one, compared to those, was just sort of "blah." The dead body didn't come about until halfway through the book, which made the first half of the book sort of drag by.
Not bad enough to put me off the series entirely, but not as good as the first three.
Not bad enough to put me off the series entirely, but not as good as the first three.
spokrine's review against another edition
4.0
Rating : 4,5 out 5 stars.
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows is the fourth installment in the Flavia de Luce series. A Red Herring Without Mustard failed to convince me so I expected the next volume to be better. And it was. I laughed and I cried, which hasn't happened to me in a long time. I have grown very fond of Flavia: though she is only 11, she is smart, she is witty, and her interest for chemistry has something appealing. The greatness of this book lies in its main character, but also in the way Alan Bradley manages to make her family and friends interesting. When I read that book, I had the same feeling I have when I watch a Miss Marple episode: I felt at home. I wouldn't say it is the book of the century, but it has the merit of being unpretentious and adorable.
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows is the fourth installment in the Flavia de Luce series. A Red Herring Without Mustard failed to convince me so I expected the next volume to be better. And it was. I laughed and I cried, which hasn't happened to me in a long time. I have grown very fond of Flavia: though she is only 11, she is smart, she is witty, and her interest for chemistry has something appealing. The greatness of this book lies in its main character, but also in the way Alan Bradley manages to make her family and friends interesting. When I read that book, I had the same feeling I have when I watch a Miss Marple episode: I felt at home. I wouldn't say it is the book of the century, but it has the merit of being unpretentious and adorable.
fekete815's review against another edition
4.0
You can never go wrong with a Flavia de Luce mystery. These books are always a delight. If you're a fan of the first three books, I'd be surprised if you didn't also enjoy this one.
gwendle_vs_literature's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Flavia de Luce mysteries are enjoyable and fairly light reads that I like to use as mental palate cleansers after reading a few heavier, denser, longer, or more challenging books.
This one felt a bit sillier than the preceding ones in terms of premise, but it served its purpose.
This one felt a bit sillier than the preceding ones in terms of premise, but it served its purpose.
wormythebookworm's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
kasche's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-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? Yes
4.0
jmarchek's review against another edition
3.0
A murder takes place at Flavia's house on Christmas eve while a film crew is making a movie and the whole town is there. I think the author did a better job in this one of making Flavia actually seem like a kid, maybe because she's obsessed with trying to catch Santa Claus. I wasn't that interested in the murder and figured out who did it pretty early. I'll still keep reading this series though.
dulinf's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
lunaseline's review against another edition
4.0
Folk kan babbla om Lisbeth Salander bäst de vill; min bokhjältinna är Flavia de Luce 😍
Smart, vetgirig, egensinnig (och ganska ensam), vältalig, snäll. Detta i brittisk by-miljö, komplett med diverse byoriginal, gamla gods och efterkrigsstämning. Och så ond bråd död, förstås. Det skulle kunna bli ren patisch, och Bradley spelar såklart med klyschorna, men mitt i allt det gulligt välbekanta, och mellan de Christie-(eller bittermandel-) doftande morden, finns den där bråddjupa svärtan som får mig att vilja lyfta nästa del i serien direkt, bara för att se hur det ska gå för Flavia. Att språket är underbar fin-50-tals engelska (högtravande, elegant och jäkla fyndig) gör den viljan ännu starkare ❤️
Läs dem i ordning, läs dem i original och läs dem istället för alla deckare med ”starka kvinnor” i huvudrollen - det är starka flickor som är grejen! 👌🏼 (Sa jag inte det...? Flavia är 11 😊)
Smart, vetgirig, egensinnig (och ganska ensam), vältalig, snäll. Detta i brittisk by-miljö, komplett med diverse byoriginal, gamla gods och efterkrigsstämning. Och så ond bråd död, förstås. Det skulle kunna bli ren patisch, och Bradley spelar såklart med klyschorna, men mitt i allt det gulligt välbekanta, och mellan de Christie-(eller bittermandel-) doftande morden, finns den där bråddjupa svärtan som får mig att vilja lyfta nästa del i serien direkt, bara för att se hur det ska gå för Flavia. Att språket är underbar fin-50-tals engelska (högtravande, elegant och jäkla fyndig) gör den viljan ännu starkare ❤️
Läs dem i ordning, läs dem i original och läs dem istället för alla deckare med ”starka kvinnor” i huvudrollen - det är starka flickor som är grejen! 👌🏼 (Sa jag inte det...? Flavia är 11 😊)