kcoccia's review against another edition
2.0
Imagine being able to magically be part of the stories you read or write. Sounds like the most amazing thing right? I'm still hoping I'm a witch/wizard and Hagrid is on his way with my letter. Haha.
This book is supposed to be like that but it's boring. It has no redeeming qualities. From the very beginning it was a let down. I almost feel bad saying that but it's the truth. So much potential here but it just didn't get there.
This book is supposed to be like that but it's boring. It has no redeeming qualities. From the very beginning it was a let down. I almost feel bad saying that but it's the truth. So much potential here but it just didn't get there.
jazzyjan94's review against another edition
4.0
This review appears on my blog: https://confessionsofabookwormweb.wordpress.com/2016/06/10/book-review-worlds-of-ink-and-shadow/
This was the book I received in my OwlCrate box in January, and I've been longing to read it. Finally over Spring Break I had a chance to dedicate the time to read it. At first it was hard for me to get into, in fact I almost stopped reading because it was such a slow start. However, things started to get interesting about 100 pages in.
The novel is about the Bronte siblings: Charlotte, Emily, Anne and their brother Branwell, who live with their father in a small country parish town. When they were children they created their own worlds and wrote numerous stories set in these worlds. Lena Coakley takes this fact and develops a novel where the Brontes are able to travel to their worlds, which proved to be a very interesting concept.
At first I didn't like the story because it seemed as if the Brontes just had the ability to travel to their worlds, however later it is discovered that this ability comes with a price (to quote Rumpelstiltskin from Once Upon a Time, "All magic comes with a price." ) and it shows how this starts to affect both Charlotte and Branwell who were the first ones to gain this ability to travel to their fictional realms.
The fictional countries that the siblings travel to were actual countries they had created, as well as the characters that live in these fictional countries, which was really interesting. Obviously, the events in the book are fictional, but Coakley tries to use this fictional account of their lives to explain why they all died so young.
It was also interesting to see the various characters and how some of them kind of alluded to the characters in Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, having read both of these novels I got excited when I saw these traits.
I am giving this book 4/5 Stars because even though it was a good book the first half was slow moving and didn't really grab my attention. But once the story started to progress I couldn't put it down.
This was the book I received in my OwlCrate box in January, and I've been longing to read it. Finally over Spring Break I had a chance to dedicate the time to read it. At first it was hard for me to get into, in fact I almost stopped reading because it was such a slow start. However, things started to get interesting about 100 pages in.
The novel is about the Bronte siblings: Charlotte, Emily, Anne and their brother Branwell, who live with their father in a small country parish town. When they were children they created their own worlds and wrote numerous stories set in these worlds. Lena Coakley takes this fact and develops a novel where the Brontes are able to travel to their worlds, which proved to be a very interesting concept.
At first I didn't like the story because it seemed as if the Brontes just had the ability to travel to their worlds, however later it is discovered that this ability comes with a price (to quote Rumpelstiltskin from Once Upon a Time, "All magic comes with a price." ) and it shows how this starts to affect both Charlotte and Branwell who were the first ones to gain this ability to travel to their fictional realms.
The fictional countries that the siblings travel to were actual countries they had created, as well as the characters that live in these fictional countries, which was really interesting. Obviously, the events in the book are fictional, but Coakley tries to use this fictional account of their lives to explain why they all died so young.
It was also interesting to see the various characters and how some of them kind of alluded to the characters in Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, having read both of these novels I got excited when I saw these traits.
I am giving this book 4/5 Stars because even though it was a good book the first half was slow moving and didn't really grab my attention. But once the story started to progress I couldn't put it down.
kketelaar's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know a lot about the Bronte's beforehand, and at first I wasn't sure why the characters needed to be such well-known historical figures. By the end, however, I really enjoyed the way the author did tie into the real lives of the Bronte's and used the characters in their make-believe world to foreshadow the characters the Bronte's would later create in their novels.
The book was tightly plotted. I have heard criticism that it was hard to determine which world the characters were in at some points, but to me that was rather the point. At what point does our escape from reality through created worlds (be it through books, movies, or gaming) become dysfunctional and cause us to lose parts of ourselves?
I'm so glad Owlcrate choose this book, because I had not even heard of it and am doubtful I would have picked it up on my own.
The book was tightly plotted. I have heard criticism that it was hard to determine which world the characters were in at some points, but to me that was rather the point. At what point does our escape from reality through created worlds (be it through books, movies, or gaming) become dysfunctional and cause us to lose parts of ourselves?
I'm so glad Owlcrate choose this book, because I had not even heard of it and am doubtful I would have picked it up on my own.
bookishbay's review against another edition
3.0
More like a 3.25-3.3 stars. Would love more books about the family and their lives :)
meganmreads's review against another edition
3.0
Review originally published at Love Literature Art and Reason book review blog.
Worlds of Ink and Shadow was a fictional story involving the Bronte siblings and the worlds they created before some of them became published authors. In the book, their fictional world of Verdopolis was a place they could visit through a doorway of sorts which allowed them to be a part of their world. I received the book in an Owlcrate box, but I’ve left it sitting on my shelf for awhile. I’m not a huge fan of the Bronte sisters and their literary works, so I was afraid that the story wouldn’t interest me.
Worlds of Ink and Shadow is great for fans of the Bronte sisters and those unfamiliar with them. While the story does involve the siblings and the actual works of fiction they created and historical fact, aside from those details, the story was just an interesting blend of fact and fiction and the author took liberties with the characters and created a great world.
I can see why Owlcrate chose the book. It was unique and interesting. It was a bit like the Inkheart novels and Narnia in a way because the siblings jumped into a fictional world. I think I would have appreciated the book more if I was more educated about the Bronte sisters and if I enjoyed Jane Eyre a little more. I could see the way that Roque related to Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights, but a lot of the Jane Eyre connections were kind of lost on me. As far as the idea of having a fictional world, being able to step into it, and having to pay a price to be there, I thought it was an awesome idea but the execution wasn’t as interesting as I felt it could’ve been. I think other books do it better and perhaps the biggest reason for that is that those books weren’t worried about tying history in with a fictional plot.
I recommend Worlds of Ink and Shadow, but it wasn’t as amazing as I’d hoped. It is a great book and if you have it on your shelf already, dive in, because it’s short and a standalone, and quite fun. I just don’t necessarily recommend seeking it out on purpose.
Worlds of Ink and Shadow was a fictional story involving the Bronte siblings and the worlds they created before some of them became published authors. In the book, their fictional world of Verdopolis was a place they could visit through a doorway of sorts which allowed them to be a part of their world. I received the book in an Owlcrate box, but I’ve left it sitting on my shelf for awhile. I’m not a huge fan of the Bronte sisters and their literary works, so I was afraid that the story wouldn’t interest me.
Worlds of Ink and Shadow is great for fans of the Bronte sisters and those unfamiliar with them. While the story does involve the siblings and the actual works of fiction they created and historical fact, aside from those details, the story was just an interesting blend of fact and fiction and the author took liberties with the characters and created a great world.
I can see why Owlcrate chose the book. It was unique and interesting. It was a bit like the Inkheart novels and Narnia in a way because the siblings jumped into a fictional world. I think I would have appreciated the book more if I was more educated about the Bronte sisters and if I enjoyed Jane Eyre a little more. I could see the way that Roque related to Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights, but a lot of the Jane Eyre connections were kind of lost on me. As far as the idea of having a fictional world, being able to step into it, and having to pay a price to be there, I thought it was an awesome idea but the execution wasn’t as interesting as I felt it could’ve been. I think other books do it better and perhaps the biggest reason for that is that those books weren’t worried about tying history in with a fictional plot.
I recommend Worlds of Ink and Shadow, but it wasn’t as amazing as I’d hoped. It is a great book and if you have it on your shelf already, dive in, because it’s short and a standalone, and quite fun. I just don’t necessarily recommend seeking it out on purpose.
iggyebab's review against another edition
2.0
This book sounded so intriguing. It felt like I missed something from the very start. The writing was fine but not particularly compelling. Not my sort of book, I did not finish it.
katrina26's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
bigdreamsandwildthings's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this so much more than I was expecting to! I made the mistake of reading some reviews before posting my own, but I have to say, I disagree with those who didn't find themselves interested and invested in this story. I found it to be transporting in such a cool way; going to these other worlds felt like a dream within a dream (and I actually dreamed about this book last night too, it definitely got in my head). I loved reading about these characters. I loved reading about these characters' characters. This was whimsical and magical and atmospheric, and despite some developmental flaws in terms of relationships and perhaps some missed opportunities, I still think this is worth a read.
karathagan's review against another edition
4.0
I have never read anything by a Bronte but the premise was interesting: creative writing as a means to create whole worlds and true realities. The story focuses on Brenwell & Charlotte creating a city and characters by writing, and crossing over to live in and interact with it. Their sisters, Emily and Anne, used to cross over with them but have recently been restricted.
I thought it was well-written, unique, and engaging. The relationships between siblings and society are driving the story, but there is a strong element of the wonder of literary efforts. I liked the writing aspects and Anne's criticism that Charlotte's stories weren't true gave me food for thought. I, too, prefer stories of adventure and discovery over personal failings.
I thought it was well-written, unique, and engaging. The relationships between siblings and society are driving the story, but there is a strong element of the wonder of literary efforts. I liked the writing aspects and Anne's criticism that Charlotte's stories weren't true gave me food for thought. I, too, prefer stories of adventure and discovery over personal failings.