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A review by cherryreads
The Vengeful Half by Jaclyn Dolamore
5.0
I’m not a difficult reader to please, so if you give me a cool new fantasy world with interesting characters and laugh out loud moments? I’m beyond happy. The Vengeful Half was enjoyable in so many ways. It was a great book to read just before bed to wind down after a long and exhausting day. Despite the seriousness of the events and the high stakes, Jaclyn Dolamore entertains with her witty sense of humor and unique brand of comics. The story could have been read without the comics, but the experience is so much more fun with them added to the story. It’s probably why I enjoyed reading about the characters so much.
The world building was well thought out and embedded throughout the story which was great. There are three races in the Hidden Lands, the Miarlems with telepathic abilities, the Daramons who are the superior sorcerers, then there are the Fanarlem–dolls with souls inside of them. But it’s not all unfamiliar because there’s a lot of American pop culture thrown into the mix. In a kind of crazy way it made everything more believable.
Overall, the characters are well-developed and interesting to read about. Olivia and Alfred are the main stars of this novel and it’s no secret the two begin to develop feelings for each other. What I enjoyed was how the whole romance aspect didn’t drown out the main plot of the story but helped it in some ways. Olivia is a fresh new face in the sea of young adult heroines. Her greatest weakness is that she "enjoys being boring". When I read that, I kind of loved her already. She’s also sensible and resourceful, handling situations responsibly despite all that’s going on in her life. Alfred on the other hand, might as well be a prince, being an heir to a wealthy family and all. Even if that wealth is built on illegal potions trade. Despite what his family does for a living, Alfred is kind, thoughtful and reliable. Beware of this one though, he’s a sweet talker. Once you meet him, “bellora” might become your favorite word. There are tons of other awesome characters in this story that I would love to go on about but this review would never end. Just know that even the side characters are fun and lovable (i.e. George & the Alamonts).
When the author, Jaclyn Dolamore, contacted me saying she was looking for reviewers who enjoy anime & manga, I was thrilled to be getting her book before it came out. In case you didn’t know, I’ve loved anime ever since I was a little girl thanks to shows like Sailor Moon and Pokemon. The Vengeful Half was humorous and charming in a way that was reminiscent of my favorite mangas/anime. If you like manga/anime, this is an epic blend of young adult fiction and entertaining illustrations that’s a must read! And even if you’re not familiar with anime or manga, I would still recommend The Vengeful Half because it’s full of hilarious comics, unpredictable twists and charming characters.
*this is a variation of the review posted on my blog
The world building was well thought out and embedded throughout the story which was great. There are three races in the Hidden Lands, the Miarlems with telepathic abilities, the Daramons who are the superior sorcerers, then there are the Fanarlem–dolls with souls inside of them. But it’s not all unfamiliar because there’s a lot of American pop culture thrown into the mix. In a kind of crazy way it made everything more believable.
Overall, the characters are well-developed and interesting to read about. Olivia and Alfred are the main stars of this novel and it’s no secret the two begin to develop feelings for each other. What I enjoyed was how the whole romance aspect didn’t drown out the main plot of the story but helped it in some ways. Olivia is a fresh new face in the sea of young adult heroines. Her greatest weakness is that she "enjoys being boring". When I read that, I kind of loved her already. She’s also sensible and resourceful, handling situations responsibly despite all that’s going on in her life. Alfred on the other hand, might as well be a prince, being an heir to a wealthy family and all. Even if that wealth is built on illegal potions trade. Despite what his family does for a living, Alfred is kind, thoughtful and reliable. Beware of this one though, he’s a sweet talker. Once you meet him, “bellora” might become your favorite word. There are tons of other awesome characters in this story that I would love to go on about but this review would never end. Just know that even the side characters are fun and lovable (i.e. George & the Alamonts).
When the author, Jaclyn Dolamore, contacted me saying she was looking for reviewers who enjoy anime & manga, I was thrilled to be getting her book before it came out. In case you didn’t know, I’ve loved anime ever since I was a little girl thanks to shows like Sailor Moon and Pokemon. The Vengeful Half was humorous and charming in a way that was reminiscent of my favorite mangas/anime. If you like manga/anime, this is an epic blend of young adult fiction and entertaining illustrations that’s a must read! And even if you’re not familiar with anime or manga, I would still recommend The Vengeful Half because it’s full of hilarious comics, unpredictable twists and charming characters.
*this is a variation of the review posted on my blog