sarelle24's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I found this book very hard to put down. I really enjoyed it.
It is such a fun concept with being able to open a case and magically walk through it to another.
Flick is a great character quite honest sometimes which can be funny and needed in certain situations.
I am excited to see where the rest of this series takes me!
Quote:
"It's rather a funny thing, memory. It doesn't work in straight lines"
It is such a fun concept with being able to open a case and magically walk through it to another.
Flick is a great character quite honest sometimes which can be funny and needed in certain situations.
I am excited to see where the rest of this series takes me!
Quote:
"It's rather a funny thing, memory. It doesn't work in straight lines"
releaserina's review against another edition
5.0
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency (# 1) by L.D. Lapinski — I’ve been looking forward to this book’s US release since it came recommended by Jessica Townsend, author of the Nevermoor series, so I preordered it from the magical Books Of Wonder This middle-grade portal fantasy follows 12-year old Flick Hudson as she stumbles into Strangeworlds Travel Agency while explore the new town her family just moved to. Turns out she’s got a “knack” (if you will) for perceiving magical energy and so off she goes, traveling to other worlds by stepping into suitcases with her new friend, Johnathan. This book does a neat thing I’ve never seen before - uses #theythem pronouns with the greatest of ease without it being a major plot point. I love to see how language can stretch and evolve with time. I enjoyed this book so much and thanks to international delays in publishing, the 2nd book comes to our shores from Oz in August.
mehsi's review
3.0
Imagine a world where you can travel to other worlds with suitcases.
I have had my eyes on this one for a while and then I decided to buy it. While I did like the book, I don’t know it just missed something. Throughout the book it just felt incomplete. There was something missing that kept me from wanting to flip the pages.
I loved the beginning, I loved the travel agency, I love the idea that one can travel through suitcases, that there are so many worlds to discover. There are also rules which made me happy, because otherwise it would just been too easy to go to these worlds. I love that you could bring a suitcase with you, and that NO MATTER what, you couldn’t lose it. The explanation on how the suitcases work was fab, and I like that there were guidebooks and that we even get a glimpse inside, I would definitely love a separate book with maps and guide stuff. Not just pages in the official book, but a full book of it.
I love how Flick found the agency and how quickly she befriended Jonathan. I loved how she found a home away from her home. And I loved how, unlike so many other books about characters finding out about magic she stays cool and calm. She doesn’t even believe it at first despite what she saw. I love how down to earth she is, but how as the story continues she is getting more and more enthusiastic about it, more open and more believing.
Flick’s official name was also nice, Felicity.
The cover is a delight and is just so much fun.
I loved discovering the worlds and seeing what kind of worlds there were. From forests to Peter Pan situations (and I laughed so hard on how they escaped). The author did well on describing the worlds and I could just envision myself at the worlds and travel along with our duo (or Jonathan/Flick alone).
There were parts of Jonathan I liked and I did feel sorry for him for the losses he had in his life. I loved that nearer to the end he decided to go for it and what he did was just WOW. He went through so much for Flick. I loved how he tried his best to help the agency, learn about things, be strict despite whatever his age must be and how old the other travellers are.
Nicc has a special place in my heart. I love that little Thief. I thought at first she may turn out to be a baddie (like the Overseer) but she turned out to be a sweet girl who was just trying to make a living.
Jonathan, I never could get a grip on his age. At the one hand he felt like 14-15, but on the other hand also 30. It was utterly confusing for me.
Plus, his personality never felt OK to me. I don’t know, he was just so secretive, something was just off. Not to mention that what he held from Flick? I saw that coming a mile of. His reaction to when Flick showed that she knew magic was just too much.
There are very many more questions and mysteries to be answered and solved and that is also the reason why I am rating this one a bit lower because it just seemed we never get that. Instead it just piles on and on and on. It does give the story a bit more excitement.. but it is just frustrating as well.
Flick’s parents were just not my fav. I am happy to read that they do things for Flick, but you cannot expect your 12-year old to care for her baby brother the way she does. Feeding, cleaning, playing, caring. I get you have a job, but you got a kid, it is your baby, take care of it. Don’t dump it all with your other kid who wants to have a life and play.
As you can see, a lot of good, a lot of love… but sadly also things I just wasn’t happy with. For now it is going to be 3 stars as I still enjoyed reading it, and I was happy to see all the worlds and see the characters grow.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I have had my eyes on this one for a while and then I decided to buy it. While I did like the book, I don’t know it just missed something. Throughout the book it just felt incomplete. There was something missing that kept me from wanting to flip the pages.
I loved the beginning, I loved the travel agency, I love the idea that one can travel through suitcases, that there are so many worlds to discover. There are also rules which made me happy, because otherwise it would just been too easy to go to these worlds. I love that you could bring a suitcase with you, and that NO MATTER what, you couldn’t lose it. The explanation on how the suitcases work was fab, and I like that there were guidebooks and that we even get a glimpse inside, I would definitely love a separate book with maps and guide stuff. Not just pages in the official book, but a full book of it.
I love how Flick found the agency and how quickly she befriended Jonathan. I loved how she found a home away from her home. And I loved how, unlike so many other books about characters finding out about magic she stays cool and calm. She doesn’t even believe it at first despite what she saw. I love how down to earth she is, but how as the story continues she is getting more and more enthusiastic about it, more open and more believing.
Flick’s official name was also nice, Felicity.
The cover is a delight and is just so much fun.
I loved discovering the worlds and seeing what kind of worlds there were. From forests to Peter Pan situations (and I laughed so hard on how they escaped). The author did well on describing the worlds and I could just envision myself at the worlds and travel along with our duo (or Jonathan/Flick alone).
There were parts of Jonathan I liked and I did feel sorry for him for the losses he had in his life. I loved that nearer to the end he decided to go for it and what he did was just WOW. He went through so much for Flick. I loved how he tried his best to help the agency, learn about things, be strict despite whatever his age must be and how old the other travellers are.
Nicc has a special place in my heart. I love that little Thief. I thought at first she may turn out to be a baddie (like the Overseer) but she turned out to be a sweet girl who was just trying to make a living.
Jonathan, I never could get a grip on his age. At the one hand he felt like 14-15, but on the other hand also 30. It was utterly confusing for me.
Plus, his personality never felt OK to me. I don’t know, he was just so secretive, something was just off. Not to mention that what he held from Flick? I saw that coming a mile of. His reaction to when Flick showed that she knew magic was just too much.
There are very many more questions and mysteries to be answered and solved and that is also the reason why I am rating this one a bit lower because it just seemed we never get that. Instead it just piles on and on and on. It does give the story a bit more excitement.. but it is just frustrating as well.
Flick’s parents were just not my fav. I am happy to read that they do things for Flick, but you cannot expect your 12-year old to care for her baby brother the way she does. Feeding, cleaning, playing, caring. I get you have a job, but you got a kid, it is your baby, take care of it. Don’t dump it all with your other kid who wants to have a life and play.
Spoiler
The whole Flick escaping from the waiting room just felt out of place and unnecessary. At first I thought it was cool, but then she got captured within like 10-15 minutes and it just felt like a plotdevice instead. Like OMG look what Flick can do. She can not just see glitter and sparkles and schisms, but also can open/break closed worlds. *rolls eyes* I think it would have been better if it had been incorporated in the story a bit better, make it natural.As you can see, a lot of good, a lot of love… but sadly also things I just wasn’t happy with. For now it is going to be 3 stars as I still enjoyed reading it, and I was happy to see all the worlds and see the characters grow.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
kellyjmac's review
5.0
I really enjoyed the whole Strangeworlds Travel Agency series. I read them all within a few days and couldn’t put them down. I picked them up based on the covers and am so glad I did. I loved all of the characters and especially loved the new worlds that were created for them all to travel to. I liked the diversity of characters that were included, it felt natural not forced. By the end of the series I was ugly crying at parts because I had become so attached. Definitely a great fantasy series for all ages.
girlreading's review
4.0
a brilliantly imaginative and action packed adventure full of heart and whimsy… this was so much fun!!!
alm_07's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
shelvesofstarlight's review
5.0
This book was so darn good and I loved every second of it! I loved it so much and thought that the magic system was original and amazing and so much fun to read about. I cannot wait to read more about Flick and Jonathon.
k_k2023's review
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5