rakentajantytar_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
oatsandtotes's review against another edition
2.0
2.5*
*Sigh*. In the first 3/4, this was looking like a 4-4.5* read for me. Then the last 1/4 happened.
I liked the FMC and the mystery. There was tension. It was easy to read. I did NOT like the romance though. He didn't talk to her for 11 years over something that wasn't her fault and then they didn't even talk it through??
Most of my issues lie in the plot.
yeah I would not recommend this book.
*Sigh*. In the first 3/4, this was looking like a 4-4.5* read for me. Then the last 1/4 happened.
I liked the FMC and the mystery. There was tension. It was easy to read. I did NOT like the romance though. He didn't talk to her for 11 years over something that wasn't her fault and then they didn't even talk it through??
Most of my issues lie in the plot.
Spoiler
Everyone was being so dramatic and for what? The town didn't ruin you, you were petty and lied to eachother. How could someone spend 20+ years in the Agloe alone?? And abandon their child??? Wouldn't you go insane?? And there was absolutely an alternative when the MC found the map than for her father to ghost her and banish her from her dream and ruin her life???? He could have just lied and then hid it, idk. But come ON bro??? And the ending??? Now the MC is stuck there and nobody cares??? Not her lover or her mother??? It's just 'I hope she's happy now'???? bro she's stuck alone in some barren town???? UGH.yeah I would not recommend this book.
verity_lilolia's review against another edition
A very enjoyable read with all the bits you hope for: an interesting story, adventure, suspense, mystery, magic, and love. Highly recommended for a few hours of good entertainment!
cateslittlelibrary's review against another edition
5.0
oh my god this book is what i've been wanting and needing. it had mystery without being a cookie cutter mystery, it had fantasy and magic without being all rah rah shadow and bone/ACOTAR vibes. i loved the cartographers!! i loved the concept, i LOVE a well-done backstory, and i thought the second half really delivered after the buildup and intrigue of the first half. i liked nell- she was bold and headstrong and it honestly just made me happy that she was really smart. i'm not entirely sure how i feel about her and felix because like, what, but it wasn't really about them anyway. the Cartographers group was such an interesting unfolding of this story, and i loved getting the perspective from all of the different members/friends. this book had a similar vibe in some ways to The Starless Sea, which i also love. i just loved books that feel like love letters to storytelling and the veils between us and what could be. so good!
lostintheforest's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
pastapatrick's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, a real treat. This book left me reading as I walked up the escalator to the office, spellbound and unable to put it down. Such a fun mystery, a beautifully intricate story with all the depth you want and the twists you need. I couldn’t put it down!
ablue489's review against another edition
4.0
Very different than my usual murder, mystery, and horror book, but I really enjoyed this for what it was and didn’t spend much time overthinking the issues that others seem to have with the book. It was fun, magical, and I’d definitely recommend to others.
rrickman33's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so fantastical to read but I was so unsatisfied with the ending
vvijayanti's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
charity1313's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book should have been perfect for me - nerdy, magical realism, mystery - but it wasn't. It felt clunky and obvious. Maybe I've just read too many books like it so the plot devices employed were easy to spot. I almost quit and while I'm glad I finished it out, I was never really pleased with the plot direction. It wasn't an enjoyable read for me.