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gillothen's review against another edition
4.0
I read this when Farah Mendlesohn linked to her review here. I thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly the first two-thirds. I did feel the later stages were a little rushed, covering almost a decade in much less than the space given initially to two years. However, the writing is excellent, the world-building compelling and the characterisation superb. Utterly absorbing.
thehonestpuck's review against another edition
4.0
I give this book the two greatest compliments any book can get: I stayed up much later than I intended reading the book to the end, and I could not stop thinking about it after I had finished it. The world-building here is fantastic, the main character, Jane Shepherd, is a powerfully realized person, one who keeps making decisions I profoundly disagree with but whose journeys and struggles I followed avidly. I love the creepiness and dangerousness of the spirits/fey beings that the human characters interact with, and I fully believe what happens as a result.
Several content warnings should be made for this book: the main character undergoes some instances of assault -- being kissed against her will -- and there is one character who commits suicide in the book.
Several content warnings should be made for this book: the main character undergoes some instances of assault -- being kissed against her will -- and there is one character who commits suicide in the book.
farahmendlesohn's review against another edition
5.0
I first read this as an MA novel (in a class where I made everyone write one before we even started the sessions). I loved it then, and having reread it this week, I love it still. I've waited a long time to see it in print so I can enthuse about it to you all.
Jane is a musician, a flautist, when she meets Lucian Palafox, who tricks her away to Spellhaven, an island in the mist where the spirits must be appeased with entertainment. Spellhaven is a Morrissian fantasy of music, dance, theatre and life, but it relies on the impressed labour of artists from the world who serve three years and then are sent back, whether they will or won't. It is faery. But Jane won't play the game, refuses contract with Lucian and spends her time in Spellhaven trying to understand how the city works.
The writing is delicate, it reminds me of Delia Sherman's The Porcelain Dove. It is slow, gentle and devastating.
Please go buy it.
Jane is a musician, a flautist, when she meets Lucian Palafox, who tricks her away to Spellhaven, an island in the mist where the spirits must be appeased with entertainment. Spellhaven is a Morrissian fantasy of music, dance, theatre and life, but it relies on the impressed labour of artists from the world who serve three years and then are sent back, whether they will or won't. It is faery. But Jane won't play the game, refuses contract with Lucian and spends her time in Spellhaven trying to understand how the city works.
The writing is delicate, it reminds me of Delia Sherman's The Porcelain Dove. It is slow, gentle and devastating.
Please go buy it.
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