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thelibraryskeeper's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
At first I really had a hard time keeping all the characters in line. I kept forgetting who was who and what point of the story we were at. Because of this, it took me longer than I wanted to get through the book. I had to keep rereading and a few times I had to flip back to make sure I hadn't missed something plot wise.
I really enjoyed the spooky dark feel and the magical realism. This is for sure a great read for October or any time a spoopy read is needed.
At first I really had a hard time keeping all the characters in line. I kept forgetting who was who and what point of the story we were at. Because of this, it took me longer than I wanted to get through the book. I had to keep rereading and a few times I had to flip back to make sure I hadn't missed something plot wise.
I really enjoyed the spooky dark feel and the magical realism. This is for sure a great read for October or any time a spoopy read is needed.
caffeineaddict980's review
5.0
'If you don't get lost, you'll never be found,'
After a summer party, Olive and Rose start to lose small things, but one of the girls has lost something a lot bigger.
After meeting three girls, who are holding onto their own secrets tightly, they find an spellbook that may do more harm than good...
This novel was amazing, it was the perfect blend of realism, romance, friendship and supernatural.
Haven't read anything like it before!
Utterly unique!
5 stars!
After a summer party, Olive and Rose start to lose small things, but one of the girls has lost something a lot bigger.
After meeting three girls, who are holding onto their own secrets tightly, they find an spellbook that may do more harm than good...
This novel was amazing, it was the perfect blend of realism, romance, friendship and supernatural.
Haven't read anything like it before!
Utterly unique!
5 stars!
vidhi26p's review
4.0
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher.
"If you don't get lost, you'll never be found."
This novel truly surprised me with how addicting and enchanting it was. It explores the fine line between coincidence and fate, between reality and magic. It's an enthralling novel and if you enjoyed the author's debut novel "The Accident Season" you're sure to love this. It's one of the most sophisticated works I've read this year and it will drown you, until you don't know which way is up, even if it's staring you right in the face. If you like fantasy, with an aura of mystery, coupled with alluring characters, this is the novel for you. But don't pick this book up if you don't have a few hours on hand, because I promise you won't want to put it down.
"If you don't get lost, you'll never be found."
This novel truly surprised me with how addicting and enchanting it was. It explores the fine line between coincidence and fate, between reality and magic. It's an enthralling novel and if you enjoyed the author's debut novel "The Accident Season" you're sure to love this. It's one of the most sophisticated works I've read this year and it will drown you, until you don't know which way is up, even if it's staring you right in the face. If you like fantasy, with an aura of mystery, coupled with alluring characters, this is the novel for you. But don't pick this book up if you don't have a few hours on hand, because I promise you won't want to put it down.
jmoore522's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
laocin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
libreroaming's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up. This book is primarily atmospheric, with a small Irish town setting and trying to keep the magic vague in the "is it real or just coincidence?" camp (even though it's pretty obviously real to the reader). While its slow pace and large cast of characters make it a perfect fit for some readers, it's not a typical magical realism book and not an easily accessible story for anybody who wants fantasy.
Doyle juggles three narrators deftly, although the large cast of characters meant some are only vaguely sketched. Throw in some aliases to compound the difficulty level, make them all flora-related and you have a new challenge on the "who did what now?" scale, although it's still child's play compared to any Russian novel. The story follows Ash, Laurel, and Holly; then Rose and Olive; then Hazel, Rowan and Ivy, as all three groups' fates are tangled up in a spellbook called, obviously: The Spellbook of Lost and Found.
The three groups intersect throughout the novel, although one may be considered a very late reveal. Since there are so many characters, many of them are left with vague poetic descriptions and given definition by their losses. Personally, my favorite character was Olive's sister, Emily, who seemed to be apart from the moody, contemplative angst of the main cast and acted like a real teenager who is just becoming socially aware, so her contrast made her memorable.
The overall plot was thin but not without a narrative flow. I found the last twist to be a little too predictably tidy, but otherwise enjoyed it more than The Accident Season.
Doyle juggles three narrators deftly, although the large cast of characters meant some are only vaguely sketched. Throw in some aliases to compound the difficulty level, make them all flora-related and you have a new challenge on the "who did what now?" scale, although it's still child's play compared to any Russian novel. The story follows Ash, Laurel, and Holly; then Rose and Olive; then Hazel, Rowan and Ivy, as all three groups' fates are tangled up in a spellbook called, obviously: The Spellbook of Lost and Found.
The three groups intersect throughout the novel, although one may be considered a very late reveal. Since there are so many characters, many of them are left with vague poetic descriptions and given definition by their losses. Personally, my favorite character was Olive's sister, Emily, who seemed to be apart from the moody, contemplative angst of the main cast and acted like a real teenager who is just becoming socially aware, so her contrast made her memorable.
The overall plot was thin but not without a narrative flow. I found the last twist to be a little too predictably tidy, but otherwise enjoyed it more than The Accident Season.
Spoiler
Still wondering how this is her second psuedo- incest book though. Odd writing tic, that.jdemarest's review against another edition
4.0
This book started off a bit slow, and I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters as the point of view shifted from chapter to chapter. About halfway through I started to get my bearings, and then that’s when the story really picked up for me. The characters started to become their own people, and the magic pulled me in. Definitely worth reading, even if it takes you a little while to get into it.