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knittyreader's review
3.0
I received a free copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I was kind of drawn by this book, because I have a soft spot for Macbeth. I liked how this book wove the play into a more contemporary story. However, I did find it hard to get invested in the main character, which made it harder to get into the story. It is clear that the chaotic storyline bears resemblance to the actual play, and was needed, but together with my slight problem with the MC it made that the book left me not too happy.
I was kind of drawn by this book, because I have a soft spot for Macbeth. I liked how this book wove the play into a more contemporary story. However, I did find it hard to get invested in the main character, which made it harder to get into the story. It is clear that the chaotic storyline bears resemblance to the actual play, and was needed, but together with my slight problem with the MC it made that the book left me not too happy.
ankysbookbubble's review
4.0
The Invisible Hand was a short and fun read. The characters were well created and likable. The storyline was pretty confusing yet not too confusing either.
I felt that the ending wasn't really an ending, but then again, that's how some books end, right? Only to begin again!
I'll be looking forward to the next book's release, and hopefully I'll get to read and review that too!
All in all, The Invisible Hand was intriguing, confusing in a good way, full of adventure and a fun read!
I felt that the ending wasn't really an ending, but then again, that's how some books end, right? Only to begin again!
I'll be looking forward to the next book's release, and hopefully I'll get to read and review that too!
All in all, The Invisible Hand was intriguing, confusing in a good way, full of adventure and a fun read!
samanthajayne_x's review
3.0
"The interlinked of events worked very well during the play as I said from back and forth between the two places. The pacing of the book was very fast paced but it worked with what was happening and I didn’t feel like it took away from the story or we were missing anything. The ending of the book was very good it linked with the second book which introduced the next character and the next story again it was in the format of the letter which I liked the cycle of starting and ending with the letter."
If you would like to read my full review: https://authorsamanthajaynegrubey.wordpress.com/2017/02/10/the-invisible-hand-shakespeares-moon-act-1-james-hartley/
If you would like to read my full review: https://authorsamanthajaynegrubey.wordpress.com/2017/02/10/the-invisible-hand-shakespeares-moon-act-1-james-hartley/
xokristim's review
4.0
I’m a huge fan of books set at boarding schools, that is why this book was a must read for me. It starts out with a letter from our main character, Sam to his parents after being at boarding school for almost a month. I thought this was a unique and enjoyable way to bring us into the story right away. The letter also contained some valuable background information.
I think the author is wonderful at world building, I felt like I could see everything around me while reading. I feel like each of the chapter titles was perfection. I’m excited that each of these books will be focused on a different Shakespeare play. It makes me so much more interested in each of the plays.
I highly enjoyed every aspect of this book. It was a fun and adventurous read that I would recommend to people wanting to learn a little bit more about Shakespeare or his plays. I also think this was a great way to get children/teenagers interested in Shakespeare. I can’t wait to jump into the rest of these books as soon as I can.
I think the author is wonderful at world building, I felt like I could see everything around me while reading. I feel like each of the chapter titles was perfection. I’m excited that each of these books will be focused on a different Shakespeare play. It makes me so much more interested in each of the plays.
I highly enjoyed every aspect of this book. It was a fun and adventurous read that I would recommend to people wanting to learn a little bit more about Shakespeare or his plays. I also think this was a great way to get children/teenagers interested in Shakespeare. I can’t wait to jump into the rest of these books as soon as I can.
kba76's review
3.0
Thanks to NetGalley for granting me access to this series. As an English teacher I’m always on the lookout for books that will ease students into things they find daunting, such as Shakespeare.
This series interested me as I was curious to see how the author used the source material to frame each book. This first in the series is linked to Macbeth, but it certainly wouldn’t offer much insight to someone who hadn’t read/studied the original play.
Sam, our main character here, gets sent to boarding school and he ends up in a curious dreamland that seems to transport him to medieval Scotland. While there he befriends a young girl who then turns up in his own world.
This would probably interest readers who like historical novels or fantasy tales, but it seems rather misleading to focus too much on the Macbeth link.
This series interested me as I was curious to see how the author used the source material to frame each book. This first in the series is linked to Macbeth, but it certainly wouldn’t offer much insight to someone who hadn’t read/studied the original play.
Sam, our main character here, gets sent to boarding school and he ends up in a curious dreamland that seems to transport him to medieval Scotland. While there he befriends a young girl who then turns up in his own world.
This would probably interest readers who like historical novels or fantasy tales, but it seems rather misleading to focus too much on the Macbeth link.
rincondejoss's review
5.0
at first it was hard for me to understands what was happening, but that was also true for our protagonists, as you advance more in the story you become one with it and want to know more and discover all the secrets that the plot is holding.
I became very fond of Sam and Leana and the little hint at the end of what play is coming next was so cool.
It has everything you need in a book, romance, intrigue, a little craziness and of course interesting characters, a must for fantasy and plays fans.
I became very fond of Sam and Leana and the little hint at the end of what play is coming next was so cool.
It has everything you need in a book, romance, intrigue, a little craziness and of course interesting characters, a must for fantasy and plays fans.
kimchi84's review
4.0
Firstly thank you to James Hartley (@jameshartleybks)and Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources)for letting me be a part of this blog tour.
At the start of the book you are thrown into the world of Sam, he has been put in a boarding school whilst his father is working as an archaeologist and unfortunately his mother is in hospital with a mental illness. One night he goes off to sleep and we are in the world of Shakespeares Hamlet in Scotland. How he managed to get there was never explained in the book and I think this should have been explained. It can't be as simple as just going to sleep can it? Although we did find out that the full moon affects what happens. On Sam's first "visit", shall we say, we also meet Leana. She also travels forward to Sam's time and she doesn't quite understand Sam's time. I did like Sam and his thirst for knowledge, even if it did get him into a lot of trouble.
The Invisible Hand is in my eyes a strange book but how could I resist Scotland and time-travel? I read it quite quick as it is, very much so, for a younger audience. I love YA books but I felt that this was for a much younger reader. With that said, I did still enjoy the read and it was a little different to what I've read in the past.
I'm going to give this book a 4/5 mainly because I do feel it is more suited to much younger readers. The main thing that drew me to the book was actually the cover. It's such a pretty cover and gives nothing away. Except for the full moon playing it's part.
At the start of the book you are thrown into the world of Sam, he has been put in a boarding school whilst his father is working as an archaeologist and unfortunately his mother is in hospital with a mental illness. One night he goes off to sleep and we are in the world of Shakespeares Hamlet in Scotland. How he managed to get there was never explained in the book and I think this should have been explained. It can't be as simple as just going to sleep can it? Although we did find out that the full moon affects what happens. On Sam's first "visit", shall we say, we also meet Leana. She also travels forward to Sam's time and she doesn't quite understand Sam's time. I did like Sam and his thirst for knowledge, even if it did get him into a lot of trouble.
The Invisible Hand is in my eyes a strange book but how could I resist Scotland and time-travel? I read it quite quick as it is, very much so, for a younger audience. I love YA books but I felt that this was for a much younger reader. With that said, I did still enjoy the read and it was a little different to what I've read in the past.
I'm going to give this book a 4/5 mainly because I do feel it is more suited to much younger readers. The main thing that drew me to the book was actually the cover. It's such a pretty cover and gives nothing away. Except for the full moon playing it's part.
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