A review by maaikereadsbooks_
Unraveller by Frances Hardinge

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Many thanks to Macmillan UK Audio and Frances Hardinge for the advanced audio copy of Unraveller via NetGalley, in return for my honest and unbiased review. Quick note: I don’t recap plots in my reviews, as it’s easy enough to read the book’s synopsis and blurbs, I purely focus on my feelings & opinions of how the books makes me feel. 

Unraveller is an epic story weaving fantasy folklore with the concepts of grievance, redemption, trust, love, hate, manipulation, empathy, (mis)understanding and navigating the world. 

I was blown away by the sheer amount of imagination encompassed within the story. The tale moved from one fantastical piece of lore to the next, but they all blended seamlessly, beautifully in a masterful way. 

This book is suitable for children through to adults. I will certainly be getting a hard copy for my children to enjoy when they’re a little older, and it will be a story that I’m sure I’ll glean more from upon each re-read. 

The narrator, Eleanor Bennett, was a lovely choice and was a pleasure to listen to. There were many sound descriptions (“swish swash”, “splish”) within the story which were done beautifully and really added to the story. The pace of the narration is quite slow and, as the book is a long one, this makes the whole mood of the story one to sit back and just close your eyes and listen to the story. Often I listen to my audiobooks whilst I’m working, walking or doing things. But this book and narration was so intense, but gentle at the same time, that I really just wanted to sit or lie back, close my eyes, and just immerse myself in the world of Kellen, Nettle and the Little Brothers. 

I really hope this is picked up and optioned for a film adaptation. 

NOTE: if you have genuine arachnophobia, I would not recommend this book. 

Spice: 0/5 

Rating 

Story: 5/5 

Audio: 5/5 

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