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jenn_burros's review against another edition
3.0
It is probably like a 3.5 stars. The book was good and the premise was intriguing but it was not what I had been expecting from this book and I think that is why I didn't rate it higher. If I had known exactly what this book was about then I think I would have enjoyed it more but I went in thinking it was going to be about one thing and then it was the complete opposite. That being said it was still really interesting.
bs9389's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very confusing to get through. I did not like reading from Anouk's point of view, she was not an appealing character. I had to force myself to read this book, I just don't think that it was my cup of tea. It wasn't a bad book, just not the book for me.
laurenbookishtwins's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Edelweiss for review purposes.
I was not really impressed with the first part of A Drop of Night, mostly because of the unlikeable, mean-girl protagonist, but I was quickly enthralled in the mystery of the Palais du Papillon, the Palace of the Butterfly.
A Drop of Night centres on five teenagers brought together on a mysterious excavation on an underground palace that was built with the intention to hide a French Duke and his aristocratic family from the clutches of the peasants. It is narrated by our protagonist Anouk. It flits between present day, and the late 1700s during the French Revolution. This aspect I enjoyed immensely and I was enthralled by Aurelie's story, and the exploration of the captivating history of the Palais du Papillon. In the present-day, as the five teenages embark on their journey of discovery, things turn dangerous and they find themselves stuck in the mysteriously deadly Palace, and they're not alone.
It was the history of the Palais du Papillon and its hidden depth that encouraged me to persevere past the first part. A Drop of Night manages to keep you on your toes with it's engaging mystery and revelations, fast pace, captivating history and sinister creepy element.
As for the characters, the only one I managed to be emotionally invested in was Anouk who, despite our rocky start, really shone through and I ended up enjoying her characterization hugely. As for the others, we never really got to know them very much, especially caught up in the midst of the action, and therefore I didn't really feel connected to them. I did enjoy Aurelie and Jacques from the 1780s, and how their story connected with the five teens present-day predicament.
Overall, I would recommend this book to people looking for a quick, action-packed, fast-paced novel with a blend of historical, sci-fi and thriller elements.
I was not really impressed with the first part of A Drop of Night, mostly because of the unlikeable, mean-girl protagonist, but I was quickly enthralled in the mystery of the Palais du Papillon, the Palace of the Butterfly.
A Drop of Night centres on five teenagers brought together on a mysterious excavation on an underground palace that was built with the intention to hide a French Duke and his aristocratic family from the clutches of the peasants. It is narrated by our protagonist Anouk. It flits between present day, and the late 1700s during the French Revolution. This aspect I enjoyed immensely and I was enthralled by Aurelie's story, and the exploration of the captivating history of the Palais du Papillon. In the present-day, as the five teenages embark on their journey of discovery, things turn dangerous and they find themselves stuck in the mysteriously deadly Palace, and they're not alone.
It was the history of the Palais du Papillon and its hidden depth that encouraged me to persevere past the first part. A Drop of Night manages to keep you on your toes with it's engaging mystery and revelations, fast pace, captivating history and sinister creepy element.
As for the characters, the only one I managed to be emotionally invested in was Anouk who, despite our rocky start, really shone through and I ended up enjoying her characterization hugely. As for the others, we never really got to know them very much, especially caught up in the midst of the action, and therefore I didn't really feel connected to them. I did enjoy Aurelie and Jacques from the 1780s, and how their story connected with the five teens present-day predicament.
Overall, I would recommend this book to people looking for a quick, action-packed, fast-paced novel with a blend of historical, sci-fi and thriller elements.
ceruleanrider's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
fatfatrat's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lauramndl's review against another edition
3.0
Ich fand die Geschichte echt sehr spannend und habe das abwich in einem Stück durchgelesen, aber mit den Charakteren konnte ich irgendwie nicht so richtig warm werden und beim Ende hätte ich mir was anderes erhofft. Vielleicht was spektakuläreres. Es war nicht so, dass das Ende nicht besonders gewesen wäre, aber ich hätte gedacht, dass es dramatischer wird, dafür, dass man die ganze Zeit im dunklen umherwandert und planlos ist. Daher 3,5 Sterne.
springpetunia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was a weird book. There was too little but not enough happening at the same time. The pacing is very strange, going from nothing happening to three different things thrown at you in the span of a chapter. The resolution is less than 10 pages, which does not feel like enough closure or enough of an ending for the characters following their insane experiences.
I didn't particularly like any of the characters. Anouk's narration grated on me and I did not think any of the other characters (even Aurelie) were developed enough for me to care about. I think the book could have benefited from removing a piece or two to be able to fully explore the remaining parts.
I will say, there was never a dull moment once we got into the bulk of the plot.
I didn't particularly like any of the characters. Anouk's narration grated on me and I did not think any of the other characters (even Aurelie) were developed enough for me to care about. I think the book could have benefited from removing a piece or two to be able to fully explore the remaining parts.
I will say, there was never a dull moment once we got into the bulk of the plot.
sherwoodreads's review against another edition
Sent by the publisher.
I thought when I first got this that someone at Greenwillow knew my tastes for YA fantasy with a strong historical element, and I looked forward to this book. And it started off really well, vividly written chapters swapping with Anouk, a bright contemporary teenager who has family problems and Aurelie, a French aristocratic teen in 1789 terrified by the advent of the Revolution.
But when the French Revolution part got a bunch of details wrong, then Aurelie's mother did something that signaled Horror Novel (you know what I mean, actions that make no sense except in horror novels) I began to see that the synopsis was misleading. And I guess I was just picked randomly to receive it, as I am so not into horror.
For some reason I could not determine, Anouk and four other teens were selected to investigate an archaeological find, a hideaway from the time of the Revolution hidden below a chateau that had been destroyed at the advent of the trouble. The kids are flown to France . . . then drugged and stuck in an underground chamber of terrors that mix modern and eighteenth century elements, while the villains kept menacing them just off stage.
I kept putting the book down and picking it up again a few days later hoping the plot would be something else besides more chamber of madness dangers, but no, it just kept on with that, and so finally I abandoned it.
Stefan Bachmann's style was vivid, and the characters started off being intriguing, but the more the story moved into horror territory, including motivations and consequences, the less involved I became.
So if you like horror, do give it a try. Not my cuppa.
I thought when I first got this that someone at Greenwillow knew my tastes for YA fantasy with a strong historical element, and I looked forward to this book. And it started off really well, vividly written chapters swapping with Anouk, a bright contemporary teenager who has family problems and Aurelie, a French aristocratic teen in 1789 terrified by the advent of the Revolution.
But when the French Revolution part got a bunch of details wrong, then Aurelie's mother did something that signaled Horror Novel (you know what I mean, actions that make no sense except in horror novels) I began to see that the synopsis was misleading. And I guess I was just picked randomly to receive it, as I am so not into horror.
For some reason I could not determine, Anouk and four other teens were selected to investigate an archaeological find, a hideaway from the time of the Revolution hidden below a chateau that had been destroyed at the advent of the trouble. The kids are flown to France . . . then drugged and stuck in an underground chamber of terrors that mix modern and eighteenth century elements, while the villains kept menacing them just off stage.
I kept putting the book down and picking it up again a few days later hoping the plot would be something else besides more chamber of madness dangers, but no, it just kept on with that, and so finally I abandoned it.
Stefan Bachmann's style was vivid, and the characters started off being intriguing, but the more the story moved into horror territory, including motivations and consequences, the less involved I became.
So if you like horror, do give it a try. Not my cuppa.
storyseeker5000's review against another edition
5.0
Suspenseful, freaky, awesome book!! You have to read it!