Scan barcode
elliemelliemoo's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
3.5
franhopes's review
1.0
If this sounds like your kind of book, I recommend you read The Night Circus instead.
This was confused, badly written, 1D characters and a story that didn’t seem to know where it was going. Struggled to care about any of it- and on paper this is the sort of book I should love.
This was confused, badly written, 1D characters and a story that didn’t seem to know where it was going. Struggled to care about any of it- and on paper this is the sort of book I should love.
itisnotdaisy's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
onthesamepage's review against another edition
The writing and the protagonist weren't really working for me. After looking up some reviews I've decided to stop here since I don't think the direction this story takes is one I'd enjoy much.
millielou2002's review
2.0
Okay, so the concept was super interesting... but that's the only reason this gets more than 1 star. I mean, I can definitely see the potential for liking it? But it would need to be rewritten, completely. I just didn't feel the story ever got anywhere, I was 10 pages from the end and still waiting for SOMETHING to actually happen. Also, Morrie is just ugh, I hate him, super creepy and possessive and I hated the fact that Danu DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND HIM but then he was made out to be the only person she could trust? Like no! If she's not comfortable around him, and doesn't love him, she shouldn't be suddenly made to love him! I don't know, it just really wasn't for me, which was such a shame because if it was written differently, I could totally see this being a good book, but as it is, I didn't like any of the characters and it was all just a bit flat for me.
ghostlyevan's review
the chapters are to long, its repetitive, hard to understand and overall just boring 🤷♀️
aimeeactually's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
conprimo's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For a while I wasn't sure if I liked this book. It has a rambling quality which reminds me of a Kate Greenaway nominated book I can't quite remember the name of that I championed to primary schools when I was in high school.
It perfectly captures grief and heartache by sketching the shadows around them. There's a magic to it, and in it, but it's an uncomfortable sort of magic.
There's a lightness at the end. But it's a lightness that leaves me with questions that I suspect will never be answered. And it's a lightness which reminds us that to choose one path you have to let another path go.
It perfectly captures grief and heartache by sketching the shadows around them. There's a magic to it, and in it, but it's an uncomfortable sort of magic.
There's a lightness at the end. But it's a lightness that leaves me with questions that I suspect will never be answered. And it's a lightness which reminds us that to choose one path you have to let another path go.
pagesofash's review
4.0
"Death steals all the answers to unasked questions."
I have thought and thought about what I would say about this book when I was done reading it. I tried to keep notes, in my head, on paper, it didn't help. This problem is partly because the things I want to talk about the most, I can't share without spoiling the ending. So I'm limiting this to a few thoughts that have stuck with me...
This story is about grief, silly as it may sound I didn't realise that until I read the quote above, somewhere around the 300 page mark, then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
It is also about love. Again, silly as it may sound I didn't fully realise that until I read the author's acknowledgements, which you should read and not just skip over by the way.
Danu is a tormented character.
The story is bittersweet.
The city of Matryoshka is fantastic but we don't get to the city as soon as I thought we would. And on that note...
After the initial few pages the pace slows. It picks up in places but it's more sedate over all than I anticipated.
This is a journey book, be prepared for that. We're following Danu through a journey of healing and discovery; she's not always going to do what you want her to do.
The city of Matryoshka and the Circus weave a mystical magical atmosphere through the story.
Some people will be put off by the writing, it's choppy most of the time and fragmented at others. I think the writing is important though, the style reflects Danu frame of mind and how fragmented she is.
You get segments of writing from Morrie's point of view, they break up Danu's narrative nicely and give you insight to the circus and the characters.
One last thing; I feel that this is the kind of book that rewards you if you take your time with it. Something to think on.
I have thought and thought about what I would say about this book when I was done reading it. I tried to keep notes, in my head, on paper, it didn't help. This problem is partly because the things I want to talk about the most, I can't share without spoiling the ending. So I'm limiting this to a few thoughts that have stuck with me...
This story is about grief, silly as it may sound I didn't realise that until I read the quote above, somewhere around the 300 page mark, then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
It is also about love. Again, silly as it may sound I didn't fully realise that until I read the author's acknowledgements, which you should read and not just skip over by the way.
Danu is a tormented character.
The story is bittersweet.
The city of Matryoshka is fantastic but we don't get to the city as soon as I thought we would. And on that note...
After the initial few pages the pace slows. It picks up in places but it's more sedate over all than I anticipated.
This is a journey book, be prepared for that. We're following Danu through a journey of healing and discovery; she's not always going to do what you want her to do.
The city of Matryoshka and the Circus weave a mystical magical atmosphere through the story.
Some people will be put off by the writing, it's choppy most of the time and fragmented at others. I think the writing is important though, the style reflects Danu frame of mind and how fragmented she is.
You get segments of writing from Morrie's point of view, they break up Danu's narrative nicely and give you insight to the circus and the characters.
One last thing; I feel that this is the kind of book that rewards you if you take your time with it. Something to think on.