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timefliesaway's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Just like the previous book, it takes a while to get going, but definitely gets up the pace faster here. It was much more exciting and much more happening, but, again, the author drowns in long descriptions about things that aren't that important. While it is nice to read in itself and the writing style is almost poetic, it simply isn't what the story needs. Or deserves. So many questions were left unanswered. The actual bulk is under 30 pages.
The main characters found each other, but what about the world? What about the villains and their plans?
Just like in the previous book, it feels like the world is just there. Nothing important. Things are happening but the author is mostly writing about the main characters. The world-building feels very unfinished, which is a waste.
It doesn't feel like an ending. Maybe it's not the last book in the series? Maybe the author plans more? Or maybe that's his style. Leave things unanswered.
The book wasn't bad and I did like it more than the first, but it simply left me quite... empty? Unsatisfied?
The main characters found each other, but what about the world? What about the villains and their plans?
Just like in the previous book, it feels like the world is just there. Nothing important. Things are happening but the author is mostly writing about the main characters. The world-building feels very unfinished, which is a waste.
It doesn't feel like an ending. Maybe it's not the last book in the series? Maybe the author plans more? Or maybe that's his style. Leave things unanswered.
The book wasn't bad and I did like it more than the first, but it simply left me quite... empty? Unsatisfied?
sphynxreads's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
A dull, convoluted, and disappointing conclusion.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
"The Whatnot" is what a strange woman in the Old Country calls Hettie, as if she's not a Peculiar (half-human/half-fairy) and instead a collectable. Hettie is in Piscaltine's very odd house, filled with walls that move and a clock that chimes moods, following a very long walk through Deepest Winter with a fairy butler. All she wants is to be found by her brother - she doesn't want to be Piscaltine's friend and she's afraid of the other fairies.
Barty, Hettie's brother, is, in fact, looking for her, searching among the few remaining fairy folk in London. He finds Pikey Thomas, also a Peculiar, who claims he's seen Hettie in his "odd" eye (it's not like your eye or mine, it's cold and grey and doesn't see things in this world. and a "gift" from some fairy.) The two travel around England, looking for a door into the Old Country, where they'll find and rescue Hettie.
This isn't bad fantasy. At times it's a little rushed or confusing, but what bothered me (and won't matter to younger readers) is how derivative it is. For example, eating Piscaltine's cake will forever trap Hettie in the Old Country, or the mischievous cobble fairies. On the other hand, much to its credit, this isn't a sequel that depends on the reader having read the first book.
ARC provided by publisher.
Barty, Hettie's brother, is, in fact, looking for her, searching among the few remaining fairy folk in London. He finds Pikey Thomas, also a Peculiar, who claims he's seen Hettie in his "odd" eye (it's not like your eye or mine, it's cold and grey and doesn't see things in this world. and a "gift" from some fairy.) The two travel around England, looking for a door into the Old Country, where they'll find and rescue Hettie.
This isn't bad fantasy. At times it's a little rushed or confusing, but what bothered me (and won't matter to younger readers) is how derivative it is. For example, eating Piscaltine's cake will forever trap Hettie in the Old Country, or the mischievous cobble fairies. On the other hand, much to its credit, this isn't a sequel that depends on the reader having read the first book.
ARC provided by publisher.
seitenreise's review against another edition
5.0
Was ein toller zweiter Band! Die Erzählstimme war trotz der Kindlichkeit, die oft anklang (was aber ob der jungen Charaktere vollkommen in Ordnung ist), meist sehr düster. Keiner der drei Hauptcharaktere hatte es je einfach und ich flog einfach nur durch die Seiten, weil Richard Bachmann einen ganz besonderen Stil hat.
literarystrawberry's review against another edition
4.0
"A tower of blood and a tower of bone. A tower of ash and a tower of stone. Who's at the top of them, who's in the dark? Who climbs the stairs without leaving a mark?"
Subtly creepy, atmospheric, full of delicious little details and descriptions that are completely unexpected but somehow work perfectly. The plot is thin, and there's a sad lack of Mr. Jelliby (he was one of my favorite parts in The Peculiar; at least he gets the prologue in here), but I don't even care. The prose is gorgeous, and the characters give me emotions. That's enough for me.
First read: Sometime in 2013.
Re-read: Feb. 2015
Subtly creepy, atmospheric, full of delicious little details and descriptions that are completely unexpected but somehow work perfectly. The plot is thin, and there's a sad lack of Mr. Jelliby (he was one of my favorite parts in The Peculiar; at least he gets the prologue in here), but I don't even care. The prose is gorgeous, and the characters give me emotions. That's enough for me.
First read: Sometime in 2013.
Re-read: Feb. 2015
chewdigestbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Granted, it has been years and a thousand plus books since I've read the first book in this series, [b:The Peculiar|13455553|The Peculiar (The Peculiar, #1)|Stefan Bachmann|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1342944438s/13455553.jpg|18983909], but this book had some moments that were very empowering for kids (and for this adult) that, while I remember liking the first, I don't recall feeling in the first.
Example: "What is this liking? If you liked everything that happened to you, you would be a feeble person. A thousand things will happen to you, and some of it will be good and some of it will be bad and some of it will be utterly dreadful, but they all..." The fairy butler paused, "They all lead somewhere."
There were a final few quotes on that were noteworthy on always keeping hope near the end of the book that I adored. Unfortunately, the book was borrowed and the timing was to tight to return it. so I missed them.
Ultimately, the world that Bachmann creates is amazing and believable for this skeptic. It was really the messages that shone through though and I can't wait to push this series on the few kids of the right age I know. I really wish that I hadn't let so much time fall in between the two books.
Example: "What is this liking? If you liked everything that happened to you, you would be a feeble person. A thousand things will happen to you, and some of it will be good and some of it will be bad and some of it will be utterly dreadful, but they all..." The fairy butler paused, "They all lead somewhere."
There were a final few quotes on that were noteworthy on always keeping hope near the end of the book that I adored. Unfortunately, the book was borrowed and the timing was to tight to return it. so I missed them.
Ultimately, the world that Bachmann creates is amazing and believable for this skeptic. It was really the messages that shone through though and I can't wait to push this series on the few kids of the right age I know. I really wish that I hadn't let so much time fall in between the two books.
lyndiane's review against another edition
5.0
As excellent as the first book. This young writer has a unique ability to weave a Charles Dickens-type London society into a terrifying story about abduction, evil faeries and horrendous experimentation, seasoned with a heavy dose of greed for power. His characters are flawed, courageous, reluctant and very, very frightening. A perfect read for Christmas Day, I wait with anticipation for his future work.
jennybeastie's review
5.0
I was not familiar with Stefan Bachmann before this title, but I am so glad to know about him now. While the poverty and violence of this particular magical world may be a little much for the under-12s, the story is gripping and the characters are wonderfully engaging. I am always particularly impressed with authors who capture the dark side of the fairy world, and Stefan has certainly done that. A feast for the visual imagination and a fresh story.