wanderaven's review
4.0
I was drawn to this debut novel by the cover and the explanation in the synopsis that the story is inspired by Scottish fairytales and myths. Without this early suggestion, I likely would've primarily identified it as a post-apocalyptic novel. But it really isn't so much, as the point of the story isn't about explaining why the world has become the way it is. This was difficult at first because sometimes the reader simply has to trust that eventually they'll understand what's happening, but ultimately I enjoyed this aspect.
The reader is immersed in damp world, where the majority of the population lives on water (damplings), while the elite live tenaciously on land (landlockers). These roles cause strong political, religious, and, especially, social divides. I suppose you could even read it as being set on another world altogether, though references to and practice of pagan rites and the virgin in blue makes this less likely.
Logan's debut novel is my first experience reading her work and I am very glad I requested Random House allow me to review this lovely work. When I saw that the chapters are each a different character's point of view - some only once, others multiple times - I was nervous about this. I frequently dislike POV changing, because I become so invested in certain characters that I often enter into another character's POV feeling prejudiced. But Logan skillfully justifies these switches. Many of the characters are so disparate in their experiences or even just their physical location that we need their narratives to understand what's happening. Sometimes I felt like I knew what a character was like and what their motivations were, only to have that upended when the story switches to their perspective. Sometimes this felt like unreliable narration, which was an interesting and clever addition.
At it's heart, The Gracekeepers is a romance. Both of multiple characters and their stories about those they've loved and lost, but also of a particular couple and how they come together. I have to say, I didn't adore the very final chapter - not because of the way the story ended but rather because of the stylistic choice used and the way it was executed - it felt jarring in relation to the rest of the book and ultimately unnecessary. However, disregarding this minor quibble, I embraced this fairytale and Logan as a writer so much that I'm off to buy the Kindle edition of her short story collection, The Rental Heart and Other Fairy Tales.
*The Gracekeepers will be released in the United States on May 19th, 2015.
The reader is immersed in damp world, where the majority of the population lives on water (damplings), while the elite live tenaciously on land (landlockers). These roles cause strong political, religious, and, especially, social divides. I suppose you could even read it as being set on another world altogether, though references to and practice of pagan rites and the virgin in blue makes this less likely.
Logan's debut novel is my first experience reading her work and I am very glad I requested Random House allow me to review this lovely work. When I saw that the chapters are each a different character's point of view - some only once, others multiple times - I was nervous about this. I frequently dislike POV changing, because I become so invested in certain characters that I often enter into another character's POV feeling prejudiced. But Logan skillfully justifies these switches. Many of the characters are so disparate in their experiences or even just their physical location that we need their narratives to understand what's happening. Sometimes I felt like I knew what a character was like and what their motivations were, only to have that upended when the story switches to their perspective. Sometimes this felt like unreliable narration, which was an interesting and clever addition.
At it's heart, The Gracekeepers is a romance. Both of multiple characters and their stories about those they've loved and lost, but also of a particular couple and how they come together. I have to say, I didn't adore the very final chapter - not because of the way the story ended but rather because of the stylistic choice used and the way it was executed - it felt jarring in relation to the rest of the book and ultimately unnecessary. However, disregarding this minor quibble, I embraced this fairytale and Logan as a writer so much that I'm off to buy the Kindle edition of her short story collection, The Rental Heart and Other Fairy Tales.
*The Gracekeepers will be released in the United States on May 19th, 2015.
isigfethera's review against another edition
4.0
A kind of lyrical dystopian fantasy, this is quite a beautiful book. Though there's a lot of tension it's not exactly action packed, and I really enjoyed being able to savour the characters and setting. And who doesn't like a good fantastical circus?
rannaluv's review against another edition
4.0
This book has a delicate and sensual feel to it. Wonderful mysteries are in this book. I enjoyed it very much.
courtneyhollyy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
alina_books's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jess_esa's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
Gorgeous and very special book. So beautifully written and evokes folklore so subtly in an original and highly creative world. If you love theatrical and whimsical books, this is one for you.
acarbonbasedlifeform's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.25
sadiereadsagain's review against another edition
5.0
I went into this book expecting Scottish folklore and fairy tales...I didn't get that, at all. Instead, I got something I didn't even know I wanted, and I'm so glad for it. A world flooded, where people identify not by country or religion or colour, but whether they live on the little land that is left or whether they make their life at sea. A sailing circus, with genderbending acts and a girl with a bear, run by a deep-hearted ringmaster with a misplaced trust in his arrogant wife. A banished woman who makes her life as a Gracekeeper, putting to rest the bodies of the sea-dwellers and tending to their watery graveyards. I read this at the same time as [b:The Night Circus|9361589|The Night Circus|Erin Morgenstern|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387124618l/9361589._SY75_.jpg|14245059], and it was as if they were ganging up on me to prove see, you do like fantasy. Say it!! Turns out, an otherworldly circus is totally my jam. North and Callanish are two women caught between land and sea for different reasons, brought together by the mysteries of the water. The world building in this book is incredible, and Logan's writing has such a clean beauty about it that I was utterly mesmerised by this book. The ending would have broken me if it weren't for the hope that lay within it. I want to cuddle in to North's bear and read the next book, as my coracle is gently rocked by the sea. I would definitely be a dampling.
egraney's review
3.0
First off, I highly recommend listening to this as an audiobook as the reader has a gorgeous voice and does a fantastic job differentiating characters. At first, I really thought I would adore this book and I do, with reservations. The world is richly wrought and fascinating. There are enough details regarding the various religions and societies to feel real and tangible without being overly descriptive. The characters were definitely intriguing and varied.
Here are my hesitations (spoilers follow.) I read speculative fiction all the time so this is one me but, I just can't get into the whole mermaid thing. It feels so unrealistic (right? Like vampires, werewolves, ghosts et al are somehow more plausible?) So 100% on me for taking issue with it. But I did. And it pulled me right out of the book. Also, the mermaid (merman? gender neutral but still able to impregnate people mer creature?) essentially just goes around raping and impregnating random women and this is not an issue? The only issue is the fact that the child is some sort of hybrid that people cannot handle. That really bothered me. A lot. I would also have appreciated a bit more detail surrounding Callenish's mother. So, she forces her young child to assist her in giving birth and when that child, rightly, doesn't know how to help and the baby dies she goes batshit insane? Whuh?
This book probably deserves more than 3 stars based on the richly imagined world and the skill of the writing. But it was not a book for me.
Here are my hesitations (spoilers follow.) I read speculative fiction all the time so this is one me but, I just can't get into the whole mermaid thing. It feels so unrealistic (right? Like vampires, werewolves, ghosts et al are somehow more plausible?) So 100% on me for taking issue with it. But I did. And it pulled me right out of the book. Also, the mermaid (merman? gender neutral but still able to impregnate people mer creature?) essentially just goes around raping and impregnating random women and this is not an issue? The only issue is the fact that the child is some sort of hybrid that people cannot handle. That really bothered me. A lot. I would also have appreciated a bit more detail surrounding Callenish's mother. So, she forces her young child to assist her in giving birth and when that child, rightly, doesn't know how to help and the baby dies she goes batshit insane? Whuh?
This book probably deserves more than 3 stars based on the richly imagined world and the skill of the writing. But it was not a book for me.