audreybt's review
5.0
Plot Summary
A collection of three short stories about kissing, with elements of the supernatural playing a role. In "Goblin Fruit," goblins crave the souls of young girls who dream endlessly of being pretty and of waking up as someone else. Kizzy, from an active gypsy family, wishes her family could just be normal; the goblin's want her soul more than anyone's. Was the handsome new boy in school sent by them? In "Spicy Little Curses Such as These," a child is cursed that her voice will kill anyone who hears it. She has been silent since the curse was placed. Now that she is in love, can she continue to hold her tongue? In "Hatchling," another girls discovers that she and her mother lead a transient life because she belongs to another world entirely. What will happen when she goes back?
Critical Evaluation
Laini Taylor's tales are evocative of the hidden magics and terrible curses of the fairy tales of the Grimm Brothers. Her stories effectively draw the reader in, and, though the stories are short, she is able to create finely-drawn characters with believable motivations and histories. This book was a Cybil nominee in 2009, and the award was richly deserved. It was also a finalist for the National Book Award and a YALSA Top Ten Book for Young Adults pick. I loved this book so. much.
A collection of three short stories about kissing, with elements of the supernatural playing a role. In "Goblin Fruit," goblins crave the souls of young girls who dream endlessly of being pretty and of waking up as someone else. Kizzy, from an active gypsy family, wishes her family could just be normal; the goblin's want her soul more than anyone's. Was the handsome new boy in school sent by them? In "Spicy Little Curses Such as These," a child is cursed that her voice will kill anyone who hears it. She has been silent since the curse was placed. Now that she is in love, can she continue to hold her tongue? In "Hatchling," another girls discovers that she and her mother lead a transient life because she belongs to another world entirely. What will happen when she goes back?
Critical Evaluation
Laini Taylor's tales are evocative of the hidden magics and terrible curses of the fairy tales of the Grimm Brothers. Her stories effectively draw the reader in, and, though the stories are short, she is able to create finely-drawn characters with believable motivations and histories. This book was a Cybil nominee in 2009, and the award was richly deserved. It was also a finalist for the National Book Award and a YALSA Top Ten Book for Young Adults pick. I loved this book so. much.
pumpukin's review
Put on hold: I'm struggling with this one. Maybe I'll try it again someday.
tehani's review
5.0
I don't know how I hadn't realised Laini Taylor, who wrote one of my favourite books of 2011, had other work out, but this short novella collection demonstrates she's been writing brilliant stuff for a while. Loosely connected by tone rather than anything else, this gorgeously illustrated collection is stunning, in every way. Adored it, and if you liked Daughter of Smoke and Bone, you must read it!
kblincoln's review
4.0
I think I enjoyed this book almost equally for the freshness of it's formatting as much as the writing itself. This is a trio of stories; none connected except for the conceit of a kiss being a changing point in the characters' lives.
Each story is prefaced with dialogue-less graphic novel type depictions of an important backstory for the characters before the narrative begins.
I loved trying to guess what the graphic novel parts meant, and then going back and looking at them with new understanding after reading the stories.
The first story is the weakest, in my opinion, of the three. However, it contains the snappiest dialogue (high school girl funnies) and most enthralling (to my taste) characters. It's a modern day high school girl with a strange family who enounters a dangerous new boy at school. While the characters were compelling, the kiss and the ending were entirely unsatisfactory.
The second story is set in India. While I enjoyed the story of a girl cursed to kill everyone within hearing if she speaks, the characters themselves did not come as alive as the first story for me. The kiss and the ending, however, felt more complete and less rushed.
The third story was the most interesting for mein terms of world-building. Again, set in modern times, it features a races of shape-shifting immortals called the druj who steal human children. The characters all have depth, the druj are a fresh approach to this immortals trope, and the ending is satisying. I almost wished for this particular story to go on further into full length novel.
All in all a very good read.
Each story is prefaced with dialogue-less graphic novel type depictions of an important backstory for the characters before the narrative begins.
I loved trying to guess what the graphic novel parts meant, and then going back and looking at them with new understanding after reading the stories.
The first story is the weakest, in my opinion, of the three. However, it contains the snappiest dialogue (high school girl funnies) and most enthralling (to my taste) characters. It's a modern day high school girl with a strange family who enounters a dangerous new boy at school. While the characters were compelling, the kiss and the ending were entirely unsatisfactory.
The second story is set in India. While I enjoyed the story of a girl cursed to kill everyone within hearing if she speaks, the characters themselves did not come as alive as the first story for me. The kiss and the ending, however, felt more complete and less rushed.
The third story was the most interesting for mein terms of world-building. Again, set in modern times, it features a races of shape-shifting immortals called the druj who steal human children. The characters all have depth, the druj are a fresh approach to this immortals trope, and the ending is satisying. I almost wished for this particular story to go on further into full length novel.
All in all a very good read.
maixpaix's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jerseygrrrl's review
3.0
Very mixed collection (thus the 3 star rating). I turned the last page of the first story, fully expecting it to continue and... nope, it was done. It seemed incomplete. On the other hand, the third story was wonderful: original, soaring, surprising, beautifully written.
sneakyawe's review
4.0
All three stories are beautiful and haunting and lovely, but the first one didn't seem up to the standards of the others. Still wonderful, but not as much.
I'm glad I have a physical copy of this book. It's one of those ones that you want to keep around forever, because it's so pretty to look at! I love the way this author writes though, so I'm happy to add it to my collection. :)
I'm glad I have a physical copy of this book. It's one of those ones that you want to keep around forever, because it's so pretty to look at! I love the way this author writes though, so I'm happy to add it to my collection. :)