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sereia8's review against another edition
5.0
D.M. Cornish has created a lush, fantastical, and detailed world: the Half-Continent, inhabited by complex characters, monsters, and ever-present evils, dangers and mysteries. Though this second installment was dauntingly long, I still wasn't ready to leave this world at the end.
lyntwhit's review against another edition
5.0
I am in love with this series! I see that the created vocabulary aggravates some readers, but I find it fascinating! The unusual, but yet familiar feeling words, stay with me after I put the book down and play on my tongue throughout the day. I can't wait to start book three! I want to know who Rosamund really is! As much as this book is an odyssey and in that, perhaps predictable, it's not. I like that both books so far have been hopeful and a triumph of good over evil in some respects. Sure would love to read the graphic novels of these, if there is one of each volume.
rukistarsailor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
1yourmom1's review against another edition
5.0
If you were wondering when Rosemund’s story would become even more intriguing, look no further than ‘Lamplighter’. I shut off the audiobook and picked up my hardback copy by the end, unable to continue to patiently listen when my own eyes could tell me what was happening at a quicker pace. A few nights of rest have been sacrificed in following the young lamplighter’s journey, and I suspect a few more will be lost in the reading of book 3, ‘Factotum’.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
4.0
This was not quite as interesting as the first book, but I am looking forward to #3. Rosamund learns something disturbing about himself and is courtmartialed by the Lamplighters. He begins his new life as a factotum for the luzar.
janeefritz's review against another edition
5.0
I love tagging along on adventures with our little man. He’s been through so much and is still brave and kind❤️ I am worried about his safety in the next novel though. There are foul schemes afoot and several people wanting to do Rosamund harm right now. I hope the Duke of sparrows is watching over him! Can’t wait to see how the trilogy concludes.
rbreade's review against another edition
The further adventures of Rossamund Bookchild in a fantasy world as lovingly and exactingly built as any and more so than most. Cornish continues to somehow avoid the trap of the info dump that plagues so much fantasy and science fiction, perhaps because he's included mush of it in his marvelous appendix that he calls an "explicarium" and from which he can draw as needed: exposition "just in time" as it were, rather than "just in case." The writing is top-notch, with interesting new characters met along the way, and some dramatic revelations to keep you guessing as to the ultimate destination of the series.
silquesoleil's review against another edition
5.0
The events of the second book start almost two months after the first one and, according to the starred review of the Library Journal:
“Book Two of the epic series Monster Blood Tattoo, Lamplighter, promises twice the action and the adventure, twice the fascinating characters and incredible creatures, twice the excitement and entertainment! Enter the world of the Half-Continent, and don’t forget your hat!”
My first thought was: ‘hey, wait, I rated 5 stars for Book One, how can this get any better?’
Well, the quality remains, but we get more pages and more story/events. Yes!
My only complaint is that I wouldn’t call the series “epic” – it’s such a crushing word. I feel way to much at home in Rossamünds world (though I wouldn’t survive a week there) to call it “epic”.
While the First Book was mainly about Rossamünd discovering the world outside the foundlingery and developing his own view and opinion, the Second Book deals with the question if he can reconcile this opinion with his life as a lamplighter.
One can really tell that D.M. Cornish is carving some more details into the already detailed story, finer nuances… Rossamünd’s strenghts, his fears, people’s varying attitude to monsters and that bogles and nickers are in fact not so unlike men: They too can have their own ranks in the monster "society".
So, the finer parts of story telling are not forgotten while our young lamplighter prentice meets some old friends and makes some new; and finds himself in a life of adventure that he seeked but that is not at all like he wanted. Especially unaware of things connected to himself, he may not be the smartest main character of all time but one of the kindest and so very interesting in his own way. Also, he’s losing his hat again and since hats seem to be so huge in his world I start to wonder if there is a metaphor hidden behind it. O.O
Another thing that I absolutely loved about the books were the women. Aside from the fascinating kick-ass fulgar from Book One, Europe the Branden Rose, another lahzar enters the scene: Threnody, a young peeress and wit who has yet to fully master her witty ability, as well as her arrogance. That girl really is a pain, but I loved her for her fearlessness, her straightforward attitude and being a quite good shot. She’s a bit stuck with Rossamünd since he’s the only one who is nice enough to endure her presence.
A bit like “Harry potter”, “Monster Blood Tattoo” is a series about outsiders. The characters that had my heart were the feisty lahzar women (I’m talking about Europe and Threnody, of course), the slightly odd hermit Mama Lieger (whose Gott I found both charming and irritating), and the scarred, poor Mr. Numps who regards bloom as his friend and who is probably the most adoring mentally ill I’ve ever found in a book. And Rossamünd – well, he brings the concept of outsiders to a new level.
To sum it up: a worthy prequel that still leaves enough subtle loose ends to have me craving for the next one.
“Book Two of the epic series Monster Blood Tattoo, Lamplighter, promises twice the action and the adventure, twice the fascinating characters and incredible creatures, twice the excitement and entertainment! Enter the world of the Half-Continent, and don’t forget your hat!”
My first thought was: ‘hey, wait, I rated 5 stars for Book One, how can this get any better?’
Well, the quality remains, but we get more pages and more story/events. Yes!
My only complaint is that I wouldn’t call the series “epic” – it’s such a crushing word. I feel way to much at home in Rossamünds world (though I wouldn’t survive a week there) to call it “epic”.
While the First Book was mainly about Rossamünd discovering the world outside the foundlingery and developing his own view and opinion, the Second Book deals with the question if he can reconcile this opinion with his life as a lamplighter.
One can really tell that D.M. Cornish is carving some more details into the already detailed story, finer nuances… Rossamünd’s strenghts, his fears, people’s varying attitude to monsters and that bogles and nickers are in fact not so unlike men: They too can have their own ranks in the monster "society".
So, the finer parts of story telling are not forgotten while our young lamplighter prentice meets some old friends and makes some new; and finds himself in a life of adventure that he seeked but that is not at all like he wanted. Especially unaware of things connected to himself, he may not be the smartest main character of all time but one of the kindest and so very interesting in his own way. Also, he’s losing his hat again and since hats seem to be so huge in his world I start to wonder if there is a metaphor hidden behind it. O.O
Another thing that I absolutely loved about the books were the women. Aside from the fascinating kick-ass fulgar from Book One, Europe the Branden Rose, another lahzar enters the scene: Threnody, a young peeress and wit who has yet to fully master her witty ability, as well as her arrogance. That girl really is a pain, but I loved her for her fearlessness, her straightforward attitude and being a quite good shot. She’s a bit stuck with Rossamünd since he’s the only one who is nice enough to endure her presence.
A bit like “Harry potter”, “Monster Blood Tattoo” is a series about outsiders. The characters that had my heart were the feisty lahzar women (I’m talking about Europe and Threnody, of course), the slightly odd hermit Mama Lieger (whose Gott I found both charming and irritating), and the scarred, poor Mr. Numps who regards bloom as his friend and who is probably the most adoring mentally ill I’ve ever found in a book. And Rossamünd – well, he brings the concept of outsiders to a new level.
To sum it up: a worthy prequel that still leaves enough subtle loose ends to have me craving for the next one.