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lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Reread 10.03.2023
After rereading this book, I realized how much I still love Kai Meyer's writing and world building. The atmosphere of this magical Venice with mermaids and flying stone lions is amazing. It actually reminds me a lot of the world building and atmosphere in Ghibli movies. And I love when this happens.
But although I like the plot and its potential for a great adventure story, not that much actually happens in this book. Half of it consists of others telling the protagonist stories about the past. Which sounds cool, but we don't actually get to experience it.
I also wish we had more bonding moments with the characters. Merle and Junipa start with such a wonderful friendship but get separated way too early. And Merle and Serafin literally have one conversation, but I am supposed to believe they care deeply for each other. Sigh.
Still enjoyed the book a lot and am curious about the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia and Vomit