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reading_is_life08's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.0
larcy's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
pogseu's review
4.0
Still bedridden and feeling unwell—certainly not well enough to walk about—, but thankfully, stuck with the kind of illness that does not prevent one from reading (no fever, so that’s something!), I came across this title and felt I ‘had to read it’ as soon as I’d finished Shadows on the Moon (see that review for ramblings on YA books)
Barefoot on the Wind is a ‘companion’ book to shadows on the moon, which I had read in one very long sitting. It said it was the second opus in the Moonlit Lands series, so I was hoping to get a second chance to follow the characters from Shadows on the Moon.
However, this is a standalone novel and has nothing much to do with Shadows on the Moon. But I truly enjoyed it nonetheless. The world and the time period are the same in both novels. A sort of fantasy version of Japan, which I personally loved and thought was beautifully done. Although the author is not Japanese, she received grants and even an award I believe from Japan. She seems to have researched the subject matter in what I would call an academic way, which makes her books so much more enjoyable than your average YA fiction (and I do mean ‘average’ here, as there are certainly some very good YA novels out there. I meant that unfortunately, as with most genres, the bulk of it is not always that.. good, and the most popular books are not necessarily the best amongst what YA fiction has to offer)
Anyhow; I found something out about the plot early on and that bothered me. I hate it when that happens (see my m review of Shadows on the Moon for more ramblings on the topic!)
So I’m remaining very vague. Better to go in completely in the dark for this one.
It’s the same principle as the first one (if you’ve read it although you don’t have to).
If you like Japanese culture, folklore and mythology, mixed in with some Western references, with fleshed-out characters and excellent settings for the story, a strong storyline and a good bit of fantasy and folklore, both Japanese and Western, then look no further.
& same goes for Shadows on the Moon.
All in all, a very satisfying read, perfect for my current state (of body and mind).
Barefoot on the Wind is a ‘companion’ book to shadows on the moon, which I had read in one very long sitting. It said it was the second opus in the Moonlit Lands series, so I was hoping to get a second chance to follow the characters from Shadows on the Moon.
However, this is a standalone novel and has nothing much to do with Shadows on the Moon. But I truly enjoyed it nonetheless. The world and the time period are the same in both novels. A sort of fantasy version of Japan, which I personally loved and thought was beautifully done. Although the author is not Japanese, she received grants and even an award I believe from Japan. She seems to have researched the subject matter in what I would call an academic way, which makes her books so much more enjoyable than your average YA fiction (and I do mean ‘average’ here, as there are certainly some very good YA novels out there. I meant that unfortunately, as with most genres, the bulk of it is not always that.. good, and the most popular books are not necessarily the best amongst what YA fiction has to offer)
Anyhow; I found something out about the plot early on and that bothered me. I hate it when that happens (see my m review of Shadows on the Moon for more ramblings on the topic!)
So I’m remaining very vague. Better to go in completely in the dark for this one.
It’s the same principle as the first one (if you’ve read it although you don’t have to).
If you like Japanese culture, folklore and mythology, mixed in with some Western references, with fleshed-out characters and excellent settings for the story, a strong storyline and a good bit of fantasy and folklore, both Japanese and Western, then look no further.
& same goes for Shadows on the Moon.
All in all, a very satisfying read, perfect for my current state (of body and mind).
thelibraryofklee's review against another edition
5.0
There is a monster in the forest.
Never go out at the dark of the Moon.
No one ever comes back from the Dark Wood.
What a fantastic retelling of “Beauty and the Beast”. Zoe Marriott has more than successfully created a beautiful tale with a feminist spin.
Hanna is a fantastic protagonist. She’s strong and capable, she is intelligent, and so very, very human. Hanna lives in a village mottled by fear. An encroaching dark wood steals people from the village and word of a beast who eats them keeps people in a constant state of fear. Of course, not all is what it seems, and Hanna is the one who brings this revisiting of Beauty and the Beast to life.
The writing was eloquent - the descriptive nature of this mythical Japan-like setting captured my imagination. I felt the snow crunching under my feet, and imagined the gnarled trees that spoke to her rustling in the breeze. The atmosphere lolled between being beautifully serene and grotesquely morbid.
There is a lot of enduring themes in this book - about the power of forgiveness, the poisonous nature of guilt, and the genuine forms of love and acceptance. The love isn’t just romantic love, but the complex love of a family.
Just a purely genuine and wonderful reimagining that feels like it was loved from the moment the words hit the paper.
Never go out at the dark of the Moon.
No one ever comes back from the Dark Wood.
What a fantastic retelling of “Beauty and the Beast”. Zoe Marriott has more than successfully created a beautiful tale with a feminist spin.
Hanna is a fantastic protagonist. She’s strong and capable, she is intelligent, and so very, very human. Hanna lives in a village mottled by fear. An encroaching dark wood steals people from the village and word of a beast who eats them keeps people in a constant state of fear. Of course, not all is what it seems, and Hanna is the one who brings this revisiting of Beauty and the Beast to life.
The writing was eloquent - the descriptive nature of this mythical Japan-like setting captured my imagination. I felt the snow crunching under my feet, and imagined the gnarled trees that spoke to her rustling in the breeze. The atmosphere lolled between being beautifully serene and grotesquely morbid.
There is a lot of enduring themes in this book - about the power of forgiveness, the poisonous nature of guilt, and the genuine forms of love and acceptance. The love isn’t just romantic love, but the complex love of a family.
Just a purely genuine and wonderful reimagining that feels like it was loved from the moment the words hit the paper.
maria_elisabeth's review against another edition
2.0
I'm so disappointed to these books... I love re-tellings and asian ispired books, but these books didn't do anything for me. The writing is partly the reason, I was pushed out from the story, because of it. Somehow it just wasn't for me :/
eggbois_gf's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
3.0
It was a bit disappointing to read, as I really love Zoë Marriott's books, but for me this just fell flat. Maybe it's because I'm coming back to her books years later, but the writing just felt stagnant at parts, and Hana just got really annoying sometimes. I would recommend Shadows on the Moon more than this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
writingwwolves's review against another edition
5.0
This book really did make me smile, despite its heartbreaking start. When this book was first delivered I was sad about its length; it's so much shorter than Shadows on the Moon & this made me sad. But, it really has not mattered. This story is just a beautiful as the first book and has so many layers to it that its length doesn't matter. I developed a deep love for Hana & Itsuki & the ending made me cry. The dark tale behind the story was beautifully created & incredibly chilling - I loved it. This whole book is wonderful & I must read more of Zoë's work; she has an incredible ability to world-build & brings beautiful characters with those worlds; I think it's safe to say she has become one of my favourite authors over this last week.