mrjesse's review against another edition
3.0
I know Goodreads tells you that 3 stars means 'I liked it', but when I rate things 3 stars means 'I didn't like it much.' (For me 2 stars is 'I very strongly dislike it' and 1 star is 'it should never have been written.')
I was extremely confused the entire time I was reading this. I think the world could have been explained a little better. My understanding was that life on Earth was going along normally, until something they call the Great Disruption happened, which messed up everything. (It's kind of like an alternate universe?- but there's also magic, so...)
And the magic was also difficult to grasp. I thought the maps were interesting- how the different maps show you different things, and you can put them all together and get a real sense of what the place was like.
The ending was weird, too. I felt like Blanca (the villain) just sort of came out of nowhere. And if Blanca was going to destroy the world or whatever with the Carta Mayor, why did Sophie and Theo (two kids) have to stop her? I thought they should have gotten some adults to help.
Anyway, there's my take. Maybe this is one of those books that takes a second read to actually understand. (But if I didn't enjoy it the first time, what's to make me reread it?)
I was extremely confused the entire time I was reading this. I think the world could have been explained a little better. My understanding was that life on Earth was going along normally, until something they call the Great Disruption happened, which messed up everything. (It's kind of like an alternate universe?- but there's also magic, so...)
And the magic was also difficult to grasp. I thought the maps were interesting- how the different maps show you different things, and you can put them all together and get a real sense of what the place was like.
The ending was weird, too. I felt like Blanca (the villain) just sort of came out of nowhere. And if Blanca was going to destroy the world or whatever with the Carta Mayor, why did Sophie and Theo (two kids) have to stop her? I thought they should have gotten some adults to help.
Anyway, there's my take. Maybe this is one of those books that takes a second read to actually understand. (But if I didn't enjoy it the first time, what's to make me reread it?)
missprint_'s review against another edition
3.0
Boston, 1891: Nearly a century has passed since the Great Disruption remade the world and threw all of the continents into different Ages. While Boston and the rest of New Occident moves forward in the 1890s, other parts of the world reside in drastically different Ages including some from the near past, prehistory and others that are entirely unknown.
Thirteen-year-old Sophia Tims knows all about maps thanks to her uncle Shadrack Elli, one of the most renowned carologers in New Occident. With the borders closing any day and Sophia's parents still missing after ten long years with no word, Shadrack and Sophia prepare to leave New Occident and mount a proper search expedition.
Unfortunately in midst of their preparations, Shadrack is kidnapped. With no idea how to find him beyond one small clue and a basic knowledge of what to expect in the Baldlands, Sophia sets off with an unlikely traveling companion and little else. As Sophia and Theo journey toward the Baldlands' capital of Nochtland they will uncover shocking truths about the Great Disruption and find themselves at the center of a vast conspiracy that could change the entire world in The Glass Sentence (2014) by S. E. Grove.
The Glass Sentence is Grove's first novel. It is also the start of the Mapmakers Trilogy.
Groves presents a rich fantasy with gorgeous world-building. Maps at the beginning of the novel introduce readers to Sophia's world as well as the outlying regions. The story opens right in the middle of the action as New Occident's borders are closed and never lets up.
The story expertly plays with readers' ideas of history and causality imagining, among other paradoxes, a world where John Donne is known through his works before the Great Disruption as England has not yet reached (and may never reach) the time of his birth. These details lend a haunting quality to The Glass Sentence allowing readers with knowledge of the related world history to imagine what might have been.
However readers who lack the historical background (due to youth or lack of interest) will still find an engrossing fantasy here. Sophia and Theo travel across New Occident and into the wilds of the Baldlands where they encounter outlandish travel companions and chilling villains.
Chapter epigraphs from Shadrack's published works as well as other sources further the world-building and explain key details of this alternate history to readers while a narrative structure reliant on clocks and time-keeping help keep readers grounded in the story.
Unfortunately with so many vivid and evocative details in the world-building and backstory, The Glass Sentence is decidedly lengthy at 493 pages. Although the arc of this novel is resolved in this story, the over-arching story of Sophia's missing parents will likely span the rest of the trilogy. Readers who enjoy thick, intricate fantasies will undoubtedly find a new favorite in this promising start to a series with both middle grade and young adult appeal.
Possible Pairings: The Search for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi, Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale and Nathan Hale, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, The Boneshaker by Kate Milford, The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel, The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Thirteen-year-old Sophia Tims knows all about maps thanks to her uncle Shadrack Elli, one of the most renowned carologers in New Occident. With the borders closing any day and Sophia's parents still missing after ten long years with no word, Shadrack and Sophia prepare to leave New Occident and mount a proper search expedition.
Unfortunately in midst of their preparations, Shadrack is kidnapped. With no idea how to find him beyond one small clue and a basic knowledge of what to expect in the Baldlands, Sophia sets off with an unlikely traveling companion and little else. As Sophia and Theo journey toward the Baldlands' capital of Nochtland they will uncover shocking truths about the Great Disruption and find themselves at the center of a vast conspiracy that could change the entire world in The Glass Sentence (2014) by S. E. Grove.
The Glass Sentence is Grove's first novel. It is also the start of the Mapmakers Trilogy.
Groves presents a rich fantasy with gorgeous world-building. Maps at the beginning of the novel introduce readers to Sophia's world as well as the outlying regions. The story opens right in the middle of the action as New Occident's borders are closed and never lets up.
The story expertly plays with readers' ideas of history and causality imagining, among other paradoxes, a world where John Donne is known through his works before the Great Disruption as England has not yet reached (and may never reach) the time of his birth. These details lend a haunting quality to The Glass Sentence allowing readers with knowledge of the related world history to imagine what might have been.
However readers who lack the historical background (due to youth or lack of interest) will still find an engrossing fantasy here. Sophia and Theo travel across New Occident and into the wilds of the Baldlands where they encounter outlandish travel companions and chilling villains.
Chapter epigraphs from Shadrack's published works as well as other sources further the world-building and explain key details of this alternate history to readers while a narrative structure reliant on clocks and time-keeping help keep readers grounded in the story.
Unfortunately with so many vivid and evocative details in the world-building and backstory, The Glass Sentence is decidedly lengthy at 493 pages. Although the arc of this novel is resolved in this story, the over-arching story of Sophia's missing parents will likely span the rest of the trilogy. Readers who enjoy thick, intricate fantasies will undoubtedly find a new favorite in this promising start to a series with both middle grade and young adult appeal.
Possible Pairings: The Search for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi, Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale and Nathan Hale, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, The Boneshaker by Kate Milford, The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel, The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
13_michelle's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite books of the year. I've now got to make a home for it on the re-read shelf.
em_harring's review against another edition
4.0
I want to read the second one immediately. Solid story, with great characters, and awesome world building. I recommend it!
iffer's review against another edition
3.0
I love the world-building and magic system in this book, and it is well-written (good prose that isn't stilted with the excuse of it being a children's book), but, for whatever reason, it didn't hold my attention as well as I anticipated that an adventure book would. The characters are appealing, though I would've enjoyed more development and less possibly romantic tension between Sophia and Theo.
archercm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
The worldbuilding in this book was phenomenal and unlike anything I'd read before! The concept of the maps and how the main character felt time was so interesting to me, as well as the idea of time periods being broken into physical places to visit. It was a very fun read and I loved getting to know the characters as I found them a very fun take on nobody is all bad or all good. I felt there was a lot of development throughout and after it picks up it's great!
gkepps'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? Yes
4.0
megalarza's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25