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lirael83's review
3.0
I only got half way through. It wasn't that the story was bad in anyway, but I was not gripped in the slightest. Half way through and the story hadn't really shown it was going anywhere specific. Quite slow moving and sadly not what I had hoped from it. Well written through out however. I am glad I gave it a go.
thepiqht's review against another edition
3.0
Stars peered through, bright, watching eyes, blinking in horror at the desecration that was to come.
This book has SO MANY ISSUES but it did manage to drag me out of my reading slump. So, for that, I'm thankful. The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden is a short and somewhat sweet read for those who are unaware or do not care about how family values are portrayed. There is beautiful imagery, lovely descriptions and the author manages to effectively convey how terrible the big problem actually is. Whether it was because of the main character's selfish hesitance, the misguided desperation of the victims or the phenomenal greed of the villain – this wasn't going to be an easy thing to solve. However, there were some things very wrong with this book.
To start with, there is the whole family situation and struggle that Thomas goes through. He thinks that, and this is a little bit spoilery, he's found somewhere that he belongs. Someone with whom he belongs with. So he ditches his family without a second glance. His parents, who have raised, cared for and loved him for the ENTIRETY of his life, are suddenly reduced to people that he couldn't care less about. I don't really have anything coherent to say, except to elaborate how disgusting it was to read about. I understand that he might be having an identity crises and is currently unsure in his own skin – but it's almost as if he's refused to love them anymore. As though because they don't have the same blood as him, they're worthless. To me, that was just gross.
I suppose part of the reason that this annoyed me, so much so that it's lost two stars, is because I'm adopted and can kind of understand his situation a little. I UNDERSTAND why he might have been written in such a way, and I UNDERSTAND why someone would feel the way that he does, but the fact that the author doesn't do anything to address it or set it right really bugs me. In the end, perhaps they do talk a little about it all and maybe he does comes to terms with it but, um, I honestly wouldn't know. All that is obvious is that the only reason that they have reconciled is because Thomas needs them to do something for him.
Keep in mind that nothing they had done had made him reject them. They DIDN'T beat him, abuse him or restrict him from doing anything that any other good parent would let their child do. Instead, they took care of him to the best of their abilities and loved him with all that they could. They were honestly really good parents and didn't deserve the characterisation that they received.
Oh! I also had an issue with one of the lines because it didn't really make sense:
But I read it a few times over, and I think that I finally managed to understand it? Anyway, apart from that it was a lovely book. I would have honestly adored it and the terrible things that were happening, if it weren't for the clumsy way that the 'adoption' had been handled. It's such a simple thing to have fixed – focus on how isolated or lied to Thomas felt, instead of simply forgetting about the parents. Have his attention taken up entirely taken up by the others without the degrading comments about his family! Ugh, it would have been so easy for me to have enjoyed this.
This book has SO MANY ISSUES but it did manage to drag me out of my reading slump. So, for that, I'm thankful. The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden is a short and somewhat sweet read for those who are unaware or do not care about how family values are portrayed. There is beautiful imagery, lovely descriptions and the author manages to effectively convey how terrible the big problem actually is. Whether it was because of the main character's selfish hesitance, the misguided desperation of the victims or the phenomenal greed of the villain – this wasn't going to be an easy thing to solve. However, there were some things very wrong with this book.
To start with, there is the whole family situation and struggle that Thomas goes through. He thinks that, and this is a little bit spoilery, he's found somewhere that he belongs. Someone with whom he belongs with. So he ditches his family without a second glance. His parents, who have raised, cared for and loved him for the ENTIRETY of his life, are suddenly reduced to people that he couldn't care less about. I don't really have anything coherent to say, except to elaborate how disgusting it was to read about. I understand that he might be having an identity crises and is currently unsure in his own skin – but it's almost as if he's refused to love them anymore. As though because they don't have the same blood as him, they're worthless. To me, that was just gross.
I suppose part of the reason that this annoyed me, so much so that it's lost two stars, is because I'm adopted and can kind of understand his situation a little. I UNDERSTAND why he might have been written in such a way, and I UNDERSTAND why someone would feel the way that he does, but the fact that the author doesn't do anything to address it or set it right really bugs me. In the end, perhaps they do talk a little about it all and maybe he does comes to terms with it but, um, I honestly wouldn't know. All that is obvious is that the only reason that they have reconciled is because Thomas needs them to do something for him.
Keep in mind that nothing they had done had made him reject them. They DIDN'T beat him, abuse him or restrict him from doing anything that any other good parent would let their child do. Instead, they took care of him to the best of their abilities and loved him with all that they could. They were honestly really good parents and didn't deserve the characterisation that they received.
Oh! I also had an issue with one of the lines because it didn't really make sense:
Thomas'd never quite felt so alone. Not one of the folks who trotted and skipped around him as he walked, and certainly not one of the strange creatures that deadnettle had claimed.
But I read it a few times over, and I think that I finally managed to understand it? Anyway, apart from that it was a lovely book. I would have honestly adored it and the terrible things that were happening, if it weren't for the clumsy way that the 'adoption' had been handled. It's such a simple thing to have fixed – focus on how isolated or lied to Thomas felt, instead of simply forgetting about the parents. Have his attention taken up entirely taken up by the others without the degrading comments about his family! Ugh, it would have been so easy for me to have enjoyed this.
lmn9812's review
5.0
AMAZING. So good it hurts. Fairies and magic and whimsy and creepiness all rolled up into one. One of the best MG books I've read!
lollypopkins225's review
3.0
This was a story somewhere between fantasy and historical fiction since it takes place in 1840's(?) London. In my opinion though the story is almost half over before it gets interesting and Thomas is more intriguing. I think the pacing could have been better personally but overall an interesting cute story for middle grade.
minhoca's review
2.0
I liked the story of The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden, but don't think the author carried it properly, it could have been more darker and some parts feels just unnecessary, but what makes me give this book 2 of 5 stars was the characters lack of feelings, especially Thomas and Deadnettle.
hannahh_munro's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
xandra_lyn's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was such an amazing story!! A little dark, but the theme of identity is so poignant
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Slavery
kidnapping and slavery: this is what happened to the faeries.samanthampg's review
2.0
When I first picked up this book I can't say I expected it to change my life and in reality it DIDN'T but I'm not upset about the book either. It was a short read but it ended up touching on some themes that actually went a little deeper than I expected for a middle grade novel.
The story centers around a boy named Thomas who is a graverobber with his father and one night they dig up a grave and inside is a boy who looks identical to Thomas. Thus starts the story of Thomas's introduction to the world of Faeries, learning about the secrets of his past and finding out who he really is.
I liked most of the characters in the novel, there wasn't much character development besides Thomas himself, but because it was a short novel I found that I wasn't expecting it to be anything more than that... if that makes sense. The book is very much what you expect it to be.
It did take me a long time to finish the book because I wasn't really into it, it was hard for me not to get distracted from the novel because I wasn't super invested, but it was cute and nice read ultimately!
The story centers around a boy named Thomas who is a graverobber with his father and one night they dig up a grave and inside is a boy who looks identical to Thomas. Thus starts the story of Thomas's introduction to the world of Faeries, learning about the secrets of his past and finding out who he really is.
I liked most of the characters in the novel, there wasn't much character development besides Thomas himself, but because it was a short novel I found that I wasn't expecting it to be anything more than that... if that makes sense. The book is very much what you expect it to be.
It did take me a long time to finish the book because I wasn't really into it, it was hard for me not to get distracted from the novel because I wasn't super invested, but it was cute and nice read ultimately!