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champers4days's review against another edition
5.0
This was SUCH a fun book to read, and welcome change from the Greek-mythology-steeped fantasy novels I have read of late!
Runemarks followed the adventures of 14 year-old Maddy, an outcast in her small, pre-Industrial era town, and an old traveling man, who taught her the forbidden skill of magic. It doesn’t sound like too crazy a set-up, but believe me, it gets very engrossing very quickly as what you thought you knew about the characters and the roles they play all come into question. The novel also had me heartily laughing a couple of times – I mean who wouldn’t laugh at the pig’s involvement toward the end of the story?!!!??
There was a mini-epic feel Runemarks, and with the introduction of many characters throughout, there was a chance that this plot could swing out of control. However, Harris’ direct writing style effectively conveyed personalities onto each new character as it drove this plot-driven story to an entertaining and unexpected end.
Runemarks followed the adventures of 14 year-old Maddy, an outcast in her small, pre-Industrial era town, and an old traveling man, who taught her the forbidden skill of magic. It doesn’t sound like too crazy a set-up, but believe me, it gets very engrossing very quickly as what you thought you knew about the characters and the roles they play all come into question. The novel also had me heartily laughing a couple of times – I mean who wouldn’t laugh at the pig’s involvement toward the end of the story?!!!??
There was a mini-epic feel Runemarks, and with the introduction of many characters throughout, there was a chance that this plot could swing out of control. However, Harris’ direct writing style effectively conveyed personalities onto each new character as it drove this plot-driven story to an entertaining and unexpected end.
celiapowell's review against another edition
3.0
A departure for Joanne Harris, as far as I know - I never would have pictured the author of Chocolat ripping out a jolly exciting fantasy based on Norse myths. But there you go. She did it quite well.
Maddy was born with a rune marked on her hand - a sign of the old gods, the old ways, and viewed with suspicion by the rest of the villagers. Magic - represented by the runes - is dangerous, and people are burned for using it. But Maddy enjoys using it, and the villagers turn a blind eye if she does so to control pests (or goblins, as the case may be). Now her friend wants her to descend into the World Below and retrieve something he calls the Whisperer - and of course, then all Hel breaks loose (ho, ho, aren't I amusing.)
It is a fun book, with lots of twists and turns - my basic knowledge of Norse mythology made it more enjoyable, and I wonder if people without that knowledge would be a bit lost. (Sidenote - I think Neil Gaiman's American Gods is always going to be the greatest modern Odin protrayal for me, though). But Harris does a good job at bringing those characters to life, and the Order, fighting against the old gods, are chillingly terrifying.
Maddy was born with a rune marked on her hand - a sign of the old gods, the old ways, and viewed with suspicion by the rest of the villagers. Magic - represented by the runes - is dangerous, and people are burned for using it. But Maddy enjoys using it, and the villagers turn a blind eye if she does so to control pests (or goblins, as the case may be). Now her friend wants her to descend into the World Below and retrieve something he calls the Whisperer - and of course, then all Hel breaks loose (ho, ho, aren't I amusing.)
It is a fun book, with lots of twists and turns - my basic knowledge of Norse mythology made it more enjoyable, and I wonder if people without that knowledge would be a bit lost. (Sidenote - I think Neil Gaiman's American Gods is always going to be the greatest modern Odin protrayal for me, though). But Harris does a good job at bringing those characters to life, and the Order, fighting against the old gods, are chillingly terrifying.
zoer03's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely fabulous and rich in humour and loads of intrigue betrayal and just about everything you can expect from Norse gods and mythology.
heyhannakai's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lesserjoke's review against another edition
3.0
This is a fun fantasy adventure story, drawing on Norse mythology but set several centuries after Ragnarok when the gods have largely passed into legend. Still, young Maddy Smith dreams of them, and she seems to have inherited some measure of their magic. Of course, it turns out the gods are not as dead as her people believe, and before long the girl is caught up in their schemes as they try to navigate a changing world. Maddy herself gets a little lost in the shuffle as the action reaches its climax, and I don't think a reader unfamiliar with these myths would enjoy the book as much, but it's all still pretty charming.
ssj88's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
isipet's review against another edition
3.0
I always love a good book about northern mythology. You follow a girl called Maddie and her adventure with the Gods, but you also read from a lot of other people’s perspectives. (I liked that, because I personally thought Maddie was a bit too “not like other girls”. She is kinda cool though.) An oracle has made a prophecy and Maddie is trying to stop the world from falling apart. It is a simple story, and it is easy to follow.
The reason I give it 3 stars is because it was a bit too edgy for my liking. Every character thinks they are the best and I got a little tired of it in the end. They are also not that fleshed out and a bit flat. So, if you love character driven books, this may not be your cup of the.
The beginning was good. I really liked the mystery of who Maddie is and why she can do magic. The middle of the book wasn’t boring, it just was kind of long. Maybe that was because I took a very long time getting through this book. I liked the ending, it had a few twists I didn’t see coming. I didn’t feel for any of the characters, but there were many cool scenes.
The reason I give it 3 stars is because it was a bit too edgy for my liking. Every character thinks they are the best and I got a little tired of it in the end. They are also not that fleshed out and a bit flat. So, if you love character driven books, this may not be your cup of the.
The beginning was good. I really liked the mystery of who Maddie is and why she can do magic. The middle of the book wasn’t boring, it just was kind of long. Maybe that was because I took a very long time getting through this book. I liked the ending, it had a few twists I didn’t see coming. I didn’t feel for any of the characters, but there were many cool scenes.
logolepsy_e's review
2.0
L'intreccio è forse un po' confusionario, caotico. Il cambio di focalizzazione avviene troppo spesso, rendendo così impossibile l'immedisimazione nei personaggi e il coinvolgimento totale.
Un romanzo che non mi ha catturata come avrei voluto.
Un romanzo che non mi ha catturata come avrei voluto.
50shekels's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I found this book a slow read, but I really enjoyed the characters and the twist on Norse mythology! It builds up a great world and atmosphere that I really liked.