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nei's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed reading about the hag and of course the cats but the fairies in a nightclub not so much.
zabcia's review against another edition
4.0
80%
A surprisingly unique fantasy fiction book! I really enjoyed Jack the cat and his relationship with the Pride, as well as the other bizarre magical "Crag" creature characters (not sure I'll ever look at rats the same way again, though). The take on faeries was also one I haven't seen before, which I found fascinating - it makes me wish there were some drawings to accompany the writing!
I found Emma's parents to be annoying - I mean really, you're adults, get a grip! But thankfully they weren't too invasive in the story, so they were ignorable. Emma herself acted older than her age a lot of the time, but given the circumstances it's understandable; trauma does tend to make you grow up faster.
A surprisingly unique fantasy fiction book! I really enjoyed Jack the cat and his relationship with the Pride, as well as the other bizarre magical "Crag" creature characters (not sure I'll ever look at rats the same way again, though). The take on faeries was also one I haven't seen before, which I found fascinating - it makes me wish there were some drawings to accompany the writing!
I found Emma's parents to be annoying - I mean really, you're adults, get a grip! But thankfully they weren't too invasive in the story, so they were ignorable. Emma herself acted older than her age a lot of the time, but given the circumstances it's understandable; trauma does tend to make you grow up faster.
angielina's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 Stars
Claws was a very...interesting book. It's a book about Emma who has just moved into a trailer in a forest full of magical creatures because her sister, Helena has gone missing. While she is there, she meets a cat named Jack who helps her find her sister.
Honestly, the book never really caught my attention and I had doubts that I wouldn't like it. The beginning was very boring and...blah. I feel like the authors created a very poor fantasy landscape and never really described anything with much detail. The dialogue also felt very awkward a lot of the time, especially when Jack was speaking. I barely liked him at all.
However, characters like Toe-Chewer were ones that I enjoyed. Fat Leon's humor was also very clever. So it has cats, which I like, so I'll give it that!
Another thing is that almost everyone has very bland names. Ex; Emma, Jack, Chloe, Matt, etc. Couldn't the author had come up with better names than that?
Later on, there is more action that kind of held my attention, but other than that, the book wasn't very good. I'm not even sure who I'd recommend it to. It's more for cat people I guess? But it isn't hardcore fantasy.
Claws was a very...interesting book. It's a book about Emma who has just moved into a trailer in a forest full of magical creatures because her sister, Helena has gone missing. While she is there, she meets a cat named Jack who helps her find her sister.
Honestly, the book never really caught my attention and I had doubts that I wouldn't like it. The beginning was very boring and...blah. I feel like the authors created a very poor fantasy landscape and never really described anything with much detail. The dialogue also felt very awkward a lot of the time, especially when Jack was speaking. I barely liked him at all.
However, characters like Toe-Chewer were ones that I enjoyed. Fat Leon's humor was also very clever. So it has cats, which I like, so I'll give it that!
Another thing is that almost everyone has very bland names. Ex; Emma, Jack, Chloe, Matt, etc. Couldn't the author had come up with better names than that?
Later on, there is more action that kind of held my attention, but other than that, the book wasn't very good. I'm not even sure who I'd recommend it to. It's more for cat people I guess? But it isn't hardcore fantasy.
katiegrrrl's review against another edition
4.0
Emma's sister has gone missing and her family has lost everything searching for her. Emma has been offered magic by a cat to help her find her sister.
In Emma's world magic is real. There are harpies, hags and fairies. Cats have magic, are stronger in a pride and act just as indifferent as the cats in our world without magic.
It took me a little bit to get into the story, Emma was a very engaging in the beginning. As she embraced her magic and pride she grew as a character.
In Emma's world magic is real. There are harpies, hags and fairies. Cats have magic, are stronger in a pride and act just as indifferent as the cats in our world without magic.
It took me a little bit to get into the story, Emma was a very engaging in the beginning. As she embraced her magic and pride she grew as a character.
alexrambles's review against another edition
4.0
Claws follows Emma Vu, a twelve-year-old girl whose sister Helena has been missing for months. Emma lives in a world not so different from ours, but in her world, there are creatures that live alongside humans in a tentative truce. These creatures are called Crags.
Crags are all the mythical creatures we associate with fantasy books. Selkies, Hags, Incan snake shifters, Nagas, and of course, cats.
Cats are the most magical of all creatures- they hold the magic to transform themselves into any other creature. Not put a glamour on themselves like the fae, actually physically change their shape and nature. For instance, if a human changes to a lion she also gains all the instincts of a lion.
Emma's father moves their family to a small town on the edge of the Deep Forest, a magical place that suddenly grew to overwhelm part of the city years ago. He tries to ally himself with the Crags in hopes that they can help him find his daughter.
Little does he know that his daughter Emma has already met a Crag- a cat named Jack- and has forged a deal of her own to find her sister. She knows Jack has an agenda of his own, but she is willing to do almost anything to find her sister and return her to her family.
Even become a Crag herself.
I loved this book! I feel like it's the first in a series though. The ending doesn't seem very final. I don't want to spoil, but Emma's future is left uncertain, and Jack hints at more to come. If a sequel to this book is released then I may up the rating to five stars. As it is, it is a terrific book, but the lack of a sequel is driving me crazy! You can't just hint at more like that and not give me a sequel!!!
Crags are all the mythical creatures we associate with fantasy books. Selkies, Hags, Incan snake shifters, Nagas, and of course, cats.
Cats are the most magical of all creatures- they hold the magic to transform themselves into any other creature. Not put a glamour on themselves like the fae, actually physically change their shape and nature. For instance, if a human changes to a lion she also gains all the instincts of a lion.
Emma's father moves their family to a small town on the edge of the Deep Forest, a magical place that suddenly grew to overwhelm part of the city years ago. He tries to ally himself with the Crags in hopes that they can help him find his daughter.
Little does he know that his daughter Emma has already met a Crag- a cat named Jack- and has forged a deal of her own to find her sister. She knows Jack has an agenda of his own, but she is willing to do almost anything to find her sister and return her to her family.
Even become a Crag herself.
I loved this book! I feel like it's the first in a series though. The ending doesn't seem very final. I don't want to spoil, but Emma's future is left uncertain, and Jack hints at more to come. If a sequel to this book is released then I may up the rating to five stars. As it is, it is a terrific book, but the lack of a sequel is driving me crazy! You can't just hint at more like that and not give me a sequel!!!
baticorn's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This was my favorite book for YEARS in school.
glamourfaust's review against another edition
2.0
It may be "the best book EVER" for a 9 year old, but not so much for her mom.
euchre35's review against another edition
4.0
This is supposed to be a young adult book, but I ended up being the one reading it and unable to put it down. A bit of fantasy for those that aren't quite sure they like that genre. A cat helping a sister to find her sibling. A woods that is terrifying and intriguing at the same time. This author is definitely one to keep reading.
maya_lily's review against another edition
A perfect mix of fantasy, magic, and suspense.