cheshirebelle's review against another edition
5.0
Zoals jullie misschien wel weten, ben ik gek op retellings. En ook dit is een retelling, sort of. Of misschien is het een eigen sprookje. Ik hou van dit boek omdat het verhaal echt meeslepend is. Het geeft wat verleden, wat heden en je eigen invulling van wat de toekomst kan zijn. Cerys aka Daisy is echt heel oprecht en heeft een prachtige ontwikkeling, maar fox heeft echt mijn hart gestolen. Deze vos houdt Cerys op het juiste pad, terwijl hij zelf er heerlijk vanaf dwaalt. Ook Vala is een prachtig beest en je kan ook haar gedachten meelezen. De manier waarop dieren gebruikt zijn in dit boek, maakt dat de magie naar meer smaakt. Ik ben geobserdeerd door dit boek, van begin tot eind, het verhaal wat hier afspeelt en stiekem heb ik, een DnD karakter gebaseerd op Cerys. Oeps.
cindeereads's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book so much it is the best YA Fantasy I have read in a long while. I loved all of the characters so much especially Cerys or Daisy as Fox calls her I also loved him so much they fit so well together as well. They both were such well written characters Cerys was a great yet flawed character that blamed herself for the loss of her friends and her mother and thought all she is the gardener's daughter when she is so much more. I really liked Fox for how complicated he is and how he can't be anything different than what think he is I like how he comes to the realization he is so much more than that. I really loved the plot it starts by telling of a tragedy that lost the MC her mother and friends and moved into that horror attacking those she loves and her and the Fox she cares about trying to find a way to fix that. So overall I really loved this book I hope for more in this world.
Spoiler
his identity as Loren the prince who was thought to be deadisewandireadthings's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dandelionsteph's review against another edition
I was so annoyed that Cerys and Fox got into a romantic relationship with each other when nothing about the book's blurb suggested it at all. I was annoyed that, if she was going to get in a romantic relationship with Fox, that it had to unambiguously set in so late in the book, when I had gotten invested in the plot. I don't like profanity, no matter how it's used, but I was particularly annoyed with how long it took for any profanity to show up. It didn't feel justified, given the overall tone of the book: it felt extraneous, like the book was trying to hard to market itself as a "grown-up book" rather than a middle grade book. (As if there's anything wrong with middle-grade.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Blood
katzuyas's review against another edition
1.0
there isn’t even one thing that I liked about this book.
to be honest, the only reason this is considered young adult, I think, is the gore and creepy descriptions of bone-eaters and the ancients. otherwise? the plot is weak, the characters don’t think about anything at all, the writing is focused on just moving the characters around with no depth or anything of the kind, the actions of the characters are often too ridiculous to bear and the silly puns and romance just feel forced and anticlimactic. and the climax? if a sigh can convey my disappointment with this book, I’ll be sighing till next year, most probably.
1 star. not worth the time spent reading.
to be honest, the only reason this is considered young adult, I think, is the gore and creepy descriptions of bone-eaters and the ancients. otherwise? the plot is weak, the characters don’t think about anything at all, the writing is focused on just moving the characters around with no depth or anything of the kind, the actions of the characters are often too ridiculous to bear and the silly puns and romance just feel forced and anticlimactic. and the climax? if a sigh can convey my disappointment with this book, I’ll be sighing till next year, most probably.
1 star. not worth the time spent reading.
abookdork's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
forsakenfates's review against another edition
2.0
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 5
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 6
Plot: 2
Intrigue: 3
Logic: 3
Enjoyment: 4
This book was quite a letdown for me. It started off with this fun adventure to save the kingdom and even though that is an overdone thing in YA fantasy right now, I was super interested in the woodcurse and I loved the idea of a girl and her fox friend saving the kingdom. But that excitement quickly dissipated and I was left creeped out by the budding romance in the story and that completely ruined it for me. I'm sure others will love it but it was so cringe worthy for me I couldn't do it. Not to mention how predictable this book was. I guessed what the big twist was about 15% into the book and there were no surprises. I also think the ending was rushed and everything worked out too perfectly for me to the point it was unbelievable.
Having now read two non-contemporary books by Ashely Poston, I can safely say for me she does not write enjoyable sci-fi or fantasy. I will stick to her contemporary books from now on.
I can see others enjoying and loving this book, but I was unfortunately not one of them. Thanks to the publisher for an early copy of the book!
Characters: 5
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 6
Plot: 2
Intrigue: 3
Logic: 3
Enjoyment: 4
This book was quite a letdown for me. It started off with this fun adventure to save the kingdom and even though that is an overdone thing in YA fantasy right now, I was super interested in the woodcurse and I loved the idea of a girl and her fox friend saving the kingdom. But that excitement quickly dissipated and I was left creeped out by the budding romance in the story and that completely ruined it for me. I'm sure others will love it but it was so cringe worthy for me I couldn't do it. Not to mention how predictable this book was. I guessed what the big twist was about 15% into the book and there were no surprises. I also think the ending was rushed and everything worked out too perfectly for me to the point it was unbelievable.
Having now read two non-contemporary books by Ashely Poston, I can safely say for me she does not write enjoyable sci-fi or fantasy. I will stick to her contemporary books from now on.
I can see others enjoying and loving this book, but I was unfortunately not one of them. Thanks to the publisher for an early copy of the book!
gabrieljingco's review against another edition
3.0
The story was good, however it's nothing out of the ordinary.