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mastersal's review
4.0
So this has been on my shelves for ages … hiding. I’m glad I finally read it - full review to follow but I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this. Really enjoyed my time the this pretty much throughout the book. And despite the comparison to Discover of Witches this is pretty different in tone. And in some respect better than it. This is a portal fantasy not a romance. And it’s almost realistic is how a woman dropped into a fantasy world would struggle.
I mean - they have no Advil. Imagine
I mean - they have no Advil. Imagine
celiapowell's review against another edition
4.0
The brief summary of this plot doesn't sound terribly like my kind of thing - woman gets captured by fairies, taken through portal into another, magical world, tries to find her way home. But I thought it was wonderfully fun. On reading other less positive reviews, it does have flaws - particularly the sudden ending and the meandering pacing. But I really enjoyed the meandering, like Nora's gradual progression with learning magic. I was rather disappointed to see the sequel is in the process of being written and is presumably some time away.
brittanylovesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
itspanicszn's review against another edition
3.0
Nora was incredibly irritating. But I liked the book as a general whole. I totally understand where the 1 star reviews are coming from. However if you enjoy novels that simply plod along describing how the people in the novel live day to day and the relationships and hardships and little things that happen, you'll probably enjoy this. I found it easier to read than Anna Karenina at least.
nowimfiner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
noemilysclub's review against another edition
5.0
Ahaha I loved this book, it was a blast. The most fun I've had reading a book in ages. I LOVE the 'character 1 and character 2 hate each other but slowly come around to respect and even.....love???' trope and the fantasy plot around it was really engaging. Good stuff all round
carrieauwarter's review against another edition
3.0
Well this was definitely not what I expected! I think if the author had chosen just one or two of the many plot points to focus on it could have been better. That being said, I'd be interested in reading a sequel, as I enjoyed the last parts of the book the most, and it definitely ends on a to be continued note.
kaceybriann's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.5
branomir's review against another edition
3.0
I mostly enjoyed reading this, but as I finished it, I'm sort of left wondering why that was. When I look back at the book's troubles, I feel like I'm being generous by giving it three stars instead of two, but it would be morally dishonest not to. I did enjoy picking it up.
So let's unravel this.
First off, the title is just stupid when you look at the story. There is no guide and the book itself doesn't function as one. "The thinking woman" and "real magic" are referenced but as far as the former is concerned, it is more in name than anything else.
So the world is fun and so are most of the characters (though we see far too little of the best ones) and this is why I enjoyed my reading it of it. The problem was that I kept reading expecting something to happen in the next chapter or the next one, but for 300 or so pages (in the middle) NOTHING happens. The events of the end of the book should have been moved to the middle and she should have gone on from there, rather than stretching what she had and declaring she'll make a trilogy out of it. 6 years later there is still no sequel, I might add.
For those of you who don't know, this book is supposed to be a Pride and Prejudice type of work with a magical twist. The only problem is that Nora does not seem to have quite the backbone that Elisabeth has. (She does eventually tell him where to stick it but it is far, FAR too late in the novel) And where Mr. Darcy was rude at first, he learns from his faults and betters himself. He is very much redeemed by the end. Aruendiel however, is an arse. He is one in the beginning, he's still one near the end. His behaviour against her is just inexcusable, especially considering he can't even claim he doesn't know better because of the time and place he lives in, as, by his own admission, he has visited other worlds. It just baffled me that not only did Nora put up with most of it, she even defended him against others. Worst of all, this is not his worst characteristic. Are you ready for it, mild spoiler warning, he is a murderer! Yep, murdered his own wife. I kept waiting the entire novel for something to redeem him for this, some explanation, some excruciating regret or some enchantment that made him do it or something else that left him with no choice, but no nothing. He's a coldblooded murderer, but apparently that doesn't faze our Thinking Woman much. I do believe she even mentions feeling jealous of the murdered spouse. I mean...what?!
The ending was worst of all. There simply isn't one. The book just stops, like she reached her maximum word count. No resolution, no wrapping up of anything, it just stops. I feel like I bought half a book, even though it's far too long for its own good.
The writing definitely needs work as well. Her descriptive writing is poor, half of the time I had no idea what exactly was going on and she keeps forgetting little details like people picking up or putting down certain things, or wearing certain things, so you're constantly find yourself correcting the image in your head, through no fault of your own. It took me a long time to get an idea what our MC looked like as well, as she was so sparing with her details.
At the end of the day, the book started off promisingly, I liked the premise, the characters had promise but it all went horribly wrong somehow and the ending was ridiculously bad. And yet, somehow, I mostly enjoyed it. Sigh. I don't know, give it a go if you think it is for you, I can't say I would recommend it.
So let's unravel this.
First off, the title is just stupid when you look at the story. There is no guide and the book itself doesn't function as one. "The thinking woman" and "real magic" are referenced but as far as the former is concerned, it is more in name than anything else.
So the world is fun and so are most of the characters (though we see far too little of the best ones) and this is why I enjoyed my reading it of it. The problem was that I kept reading expecting something to happen in the next chapter or the next one, but for 300 or so pages (in the middle) NOTHING happens. The events of the end of the book should have been moved to the middle and she should have gone on from there, rather than stretching what she had and declaring she'll make a trilogy out of it. 6 years later there is still no sequel, I might add.
For those of you who don't know, this book is supposed to be a Pride and Prejudice type of work with a magical twist. The only problem is that Nora does not seem to have quite the backbone that Elisabeth has. (She does eventually tell him where to stick it but it is far, FAR too late in the novel) And where Mr. Darcy was rude at first, he learns from his faults and betters himself. He is very much redeemed by the end. Aruendiel however, is an arse. He is one in the beginning, he's still one near the end. His behaviour against her is just inexcusable, especially considering he can't even claim he doesn't know better because of the time and place he lives in, as, by his own admission, he has visited other worlds. It just baffled me that not only did Nora put up with most of it, she even defended him against others. Worst of all, this is not his worst characteristic. Are you ready for it, mild spoiler warning, he is a murderer! Yep, murdered his own wife. I kept waiting the entire novel for something to redeem him for this, some explanation, some excruciating regret or some enchantment that made him do it or something else that left him with no choice, but no nothing. He's a coldblooded murderer, but apparently that doesn't faze our Thinking Woman much. I do believe she even mentions feeling jealous of the murdered spouse. I mean...what?!
The ending was worst of all. There simply isn't one. The book just stops, like she reached her maximum word count. No resolution, no wrapping up of anything, it just stops. I feel like I bought half a book, even though it's far too long for its own good.
The writing definitely needs work as well. Her descriptive writing is poor, half of the time I had no idea what exactly was going on and she keeps forgetting little details like people picking up or putting down certain things, or wearing certain things, so you're constantly find yourself correcting the image in your head, through no fault of your own. It took me a long time to get an idea what our MC looked like as well, as she was so sparing with her details.
At the end of the day, the book started off promisingly, I liked the premise, the characters had promise but it all went horribly wrong somehow and the ending was ridiculously bad. And yet, somehow, I mostly enjoyed it. Sigh. I don't know, give it a go if you think it is for you, I can't say I would recommend it.
kasiej's review against another edition
3.0
I was actually quite excited when I received this big ole book in the mail. The synopsis sounds magical and romantic right? Oh if only that was so.
At least the cover is pretty? ¯\(°_°)/¯
Nope, didn't happen. There was no weighing her life. With a little push from her counterpart she just went. The bad guys got away, the love between the 2 main characters took 3 steps back, and the that's all folks.
The worst part about all of this is that the rest of the book was actually good! The world building was beautiful and incredibly detailed. There is even a map on Emily Croy Baker's website. Characters were developed to just the right level of unique. Even the conflict was fully thought out. However, what does all of that matter if the story can't bring everything together?
Truthfully the plot confused me quite often. Each individual aspect in The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic was well done, but in the end that doesn't mean all that much. Kind of like, having a basket full of high end ingredients only to make gruel with them.
I'm not sure you can consider this a Romance novel either. What romance? The failed attempt with Raclin or the make believe one with Aruendiel? It wasn't until well over half way through that I even realized who the leading man was.
To sum it up, I was a little disappointed. The first half of the book I could barely get my head wrapped around. The second half seemed to revolve around the fragile relationship between two people who clearly didn't understand each other, only to end without conclusion. I honestly don't feel like either character changed at all. If anything, it reminds me a little of Alice in Wonderland because the entire content felt like it might as well of been a dream. If it was, maybe I'd be a little less peeved about it. This makes it really hard for me to rate between a 2 and 3 star, depending on if the story continues or really ends the way it did.
Maybe I'll get lucky and the author will decide to write a sequel. An interview online hints towards it, so I'll go with 3 stars and cross my fingers that one day I will get to finish the story of Nora and Aruendiel.
Interview hosted by: Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
At least the cover is pretty? ¯\(°_°)/¯
Spoiler
I'm just going to start off with my biggest issue, there was no closure (or cliffhanger in my opinion). This is a huge problem to me and if I knew before reading, I wouldn't have touched it. Let's use the synopsis for example:"When a passage home finally opens, Nora must weigh her "real life" against the dangerous power of love and magic."
- Emily Croy Baker
Nope, didn't happen. There was no weighing her life. With a little push from her counterpart she just went. The bad guys got away, the love between the 2 main characters took 3 steps back, and the that's all folks.
The worst part about all of this is that the rest of the book was actually good! The world building was beautiful and incredibly detailed. There is even a map on Emily Croy Baker's website. Characters were developed to just the right level of unique. Even the conflict was fully thought out. However, what does all of that matter if the story can't bring everything together?
Truthfully the plot confused me quite often. Each individual aspect in The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic was well done, but in the end that doesn't mean all that much. Kind of like, having a basket full of high end ingredients only to make gruel with them.
I'm not sure you can consider this a Romance novel either. What romance? The failed attempt with Raclin or the make believe one with Aruendiel? It wasn't until well over half way through that I even realized who the leading man was.
To sum it up, I was a little disappointed. The first half of the book I could barely get my head wrapped around. The second half seemed to revolve around the fragile relationship between two people who clearly didn't understand each other, only to end without conclusion. I honestly don't feel like either character changed at all. If anything, it reminds me a little of Alice in Wonderland because the entire content felt like it might as well of been a dream. If it was, maybe I'd be a little less peeved about it. This makes it really hard for me to rate between a 2 and 3 star, depending on if the story continues or really ends the way it did.
Maybe I'll get lucky and the author will decide to write a sequel. An interview online hints towards it, so I'll go with 3 stars and cross my fingers that one day I will get to finish the story of Nora and Aruendiel.
Interview hosted by: Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
I’m pretty sure that Nora will find her way back to Aruendiel’s world. The two of them really need to talk and to be straight with each other, don’t you agree? And of course she has a lot more to learn about magic—and how to use it properly.
- Emily Croy Baker