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stephanierachel's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fairytale, cinderella,
aradhnak's review
4.0
in love with the way she writes tbh.
"Avery is a complete breath of fresh air, to Ellie and to me as a reader. Where Nico (and Tor) was broodiness and intensity, Avery is goofy charm and bright smiles. It’s a whole other sort of relationship, but also a wonderful read. Avery sees Ellie, even when she is so desperately sure no one sees what she is hiding, even when she so desperately wants to fly under the radar and disappear.
It is a charming love story, and a balm to Ellie’s wounded soul, but insecurities do not disappear, fears do not vanish just because a handsome boy smiles at you and takes you out for milkshakes. Instead the mysterious Auntie takes advantage of the loneliness and the pain, and slowly begins to leech off of Ellie."
full review up at foldedbetweenthepagesofbooks.tumblr.com
"Avery is a complete breath of fresh air, to Ellie and to me as a reader. Where Nico (and Tor) was broodiness and intensity, Avery is goofy charm and bright smiles. It’s a whole other sort of relationship, but also a wonderful read. Avery sees Ellie, even when she is so desperately sure no one sees what she is hiding, even when she so desperately wants to fly under the radar and disappear.
It is a charming love story, and a balm to Ellie’s wounded soul, but insecurities do not disappear, fears do not vanish just because a handsome boy smiles at you and takes you out for milkshakes. Instead the mysterious Auntie takes advantage of the loneliness and the pain, and slowly begins to leech off of Ellie."
full review up at foldedbetweenthepagesofbooks.tumblr.com
fredicia's review
3.0
To be honest, I liked the first one more. The first one was so much darker, that the contrast between the fairy tale and Lilith's book is all the more amplified. It's a pity that these books are not more popular. Because there's some parts that are really worth reading.
What's problematic is the lack of clarification in the world building. The concepts of magic this series diverges too much from traditional fantasy, which can be a bit overwhelming with the lack of details provided. I mean, here I am reading about Ellie making cloths, and half of my head is still asking questions about families and jacks and charms, which has still not be explained from the last book, and none of this is helpful. In fact, it is quite unhelpful, and it takes away from the actual story, even if the details have nothing to do with the actual plot.
What's problematic is the lack of clarification in the world building. The concepts of magic this series diverges too much from traditional fantasy, which can be a bit overwhelming with the lack of details provided. I mean, here I am reading about Ellie making cloths, and half of my head is still asking questions about families and jacks and charms, which has still not be explained from the last book, and none of this is helpful. In fact, it is quite unhelpful, and it takes away from the actual story, even if the details have nothing to do with the actual plot.
holly_tree's review
3.0
I think because I loved Nameless so incredibly much, Wayfarer fell a little flat for me. There were a few little things that went wrong for me: I didn't enjoy Ellie's character, I didn't find her love interest/their attraction to each other believable, and there was often bits of foreshadowing that went uncompleted, which I found frustrating beyond belief. Ellie would have a random thought, start going to some vague, foreshadowing, unrelated thought, and stop herself before we understood what in the world she was actually talking about.
But mostly, I missed the world building magic that lived in Nameless but wasn't apparent in Wayfarer. One thing I adored so much about Nameless was that the absurd and inappropriate and insane could happen, but St. Crow had built a world in which it was acceptable. I didn't feel that in Wayfarer. I felt like we had reverted back to the social customs of our own world, and that's not what makes stories exciting, you know? I missed it. I was just impressed with the way St. Crow has pulled it off in Nameless, and I was excited to see how she would do it again in Wayfarer.
I still love the world these books are based it. It's creatively different without being all dystopian.
But my favorite part of the whole book? THE EPILOGUE. That's where I felt the acceptable absurd of fairytales come in to play, and I loved it. It makes me wonder... now there are unsatisfied, secondary characters for TWO books that have disappeared at the end of the story... will they reappear in another book? Or is this the last we've seen of Rita, the Scarecrow, and Cami's brother, Tor? Somehow I don't think so.
I'm a little hesitant for Ruby's story. Characterwise, Ruby is much more like Ellie (in my opinion) than Cami, and I'm worried at the end of it all, I'll have enjoyed Nameless, but feel indifferent about the other two. We'll see, I suppose.
But mostly, I missed the world building magic that lived in Nameless but wasn't apparent in Wayfarer. One thing I adored so much about Nameless was that the absurd and inappropriate and insane could happen, but St. Crow had built a world in which it was acceptable. I didn't feel that in Wayfarer. I felt like we had reverted back to the social customs of our own world, and that's not what makes stories exciting, you know? I missed it. I was just impressed with the way St. Crow has pulled it off in Nameless, and I was excited to see how she would do it again in Wayfarer.
I still love the world these books are based it. It's creatively different without being all dystopian.
But my favorite part of the whole book? THE EPILOGUE. That's where I felt the acceptable absurd of fairytales come in to play, and I loved it. It makes me wonder... now there are unsatisfied, secondary characters for TWO books that have disappeared at the end of the story... will they reappear in another book? Or is this the last we've seen of Rita, the Scarecrow, and Cami's brother, Tor? Somehow I don't think so.
I'm a little hesitant for Ruby's story. Characterwise, Ruby is much more like Ellie (in my opinion) than Cami, and I'm worried at the end of it all, I'll have enjoyed Nameless, but feel indifferent about the other two. We'll see, I suppose.
infinikey's review
4.0
Not being the greatest fan of Cinderella, I was really surprised to enjoy Wayfarer as much as I did.
You're back in Nameless universe and get to know Ellie better, which is nice after her grand moment in Nameless. Ellie is as lovable as she can get on your nerves (a little bit like those characters in horror movie who do everything to get kill while actively trying to stay alive).
Ellie is vibrant modern version of Cinderella, she is dealing with her evil step mother's abuse, her father's death, puberty, school workload, her powers and new found love. Kind of a lot for only one teenager who because of abuse doesn't trust anyone, not adult because they don't care, nor her friends because of her inferiority complex. Her loneliness is heartbreaking despite having people around her ready to fight her battles for her.
The retelling is really nicely done, the twists so good and the evil step mother so so so evil.
You're back in Nameless universe and get to know Ellie better, which is nice after her grand moment in Nameless. Ellie is as lovable as she can get on your nerves (a little bit like those characters in horror movie who do everything to get kill while actively trying to stay alive).
Ellie is vibrant modern version of Cinderella, she is dealing with her evil step mother's abuse, her father's death, puberty, school workload, her powers and new found love. Kind of a lot for only one teenager who because of abuse doesn't trust anyone, not adult because they don't care, nor her friends because of her inferiority complex. Her loneliness is heartbreaking despite having people around her ready to fight her battles for her.
The retelling is really nicely done, the twists so good and the evil step mother so so so evil.
titania86's review
3.0
Ellen Sinder is miserable. Her father recently died and before she could even begin to heal, her evil stepmother revealed her true colors. This marked the beginning of Ellen being treated as a servant in her own home and being subjected to all kinds of verbal, emotional, and physical abuse. She can't just leave because her school enrollment in high school and university are dependent on living in her family home. A few things are keeping her sane: her two best friends Ruby and Cami, her magical talent to charm, and the hope that she can eventually get away and make a real life for herself. Unfortunately, her situation is getting worse and worse as her stepmother gets more oppressive, her friends seem more distant, and her life is just disintegrating before her eyes. When will the downward spiral end?
Wayfarer is the follow-up-not-quite-sequel to Nameless (which I absolutely loved) and focuses on Ellen Sinder. This retelling of Cinderella vastly expands the unique fairy tale world that draws upon many recognizable tales and combines them in interesting ways. Again, Lili St. Crow just throws the reader into the deep end of her world with Families, Jacks, Twists, and the Deprescence. Things gradually come into focus, but the beginning is a little disorienting, especially having read the first book over a year ago. The Deprescence occured in the 20's and was an explosion of magic that ruined a lot of the world and a lot of people in it. People were Twisted into monsters and Jacks, which made them no longer fit to be a part of normal society. The positive side is that some people have Potential that means when their power settles, they can do wonderful or terrible things with their magic. Magic is used in everything from clothing and fashion production to medicine. The magic system is more explored here through Ellen's eyes and it seems to be a mix of magic and science, but without any specific explanation to really blend the two together. I liked the apprentice system for beginning Charmers and the way magic and Charms are integrated into their everyday lives.
Lili St. Crow takes the flat, stock characters of fairy tales and gives them dimension and at times unexpected characteristics. Ellen is obviously Cinderella, but she isn't the stereotypical enslaved but cheerful princess. The abuse definitely takes a toll on her. Hearing day in and day out that she is useless and unwanted wears on her and she subconsciously internalizes the insults. Leaving home isn't as easy as her friends make it sound. The abuse may be bad, but the unknown may be worse. At least she knows what to expect at home. Leaving could have her be without food, education, or even a place to sleep. She's determined not to be a burden or charity case to her friends. So many people are blind to Ellen's abuse that she feels completely helpless. This sentiment is repeated often, but is misguided since her friends only want her to be safe and happy. I grew annoyed with Ellen's insistence that her friends only wanted her around as charity or as some cruel joke when they showed time and time again that they were worried about her and cared for her, She also lashes out at them again and again until I was surprised she even had any friends left. I would have liked Ruby and Cami to have a more major role in the book. Most of the book has Ellen making horrible decision after horrible decision and simply ignoring or hiding from the consequences. This part was incredibly frustrating to read and I just wanted to talk some sense into her. Once she figured some stuff out and realized her own worth, I began to enjoy the novel again. Although it infuriated me, this portrayal of the effects of abuse is pretty accurate.
The other characters are equally dynamic. Cami and Ruby are amazing friends who couldn't be more different from each other. Cami is quiet and sweet while Ruby is loud and brash, but they both care for Ellen in their own way. I felt so sorry for them when Ellen refused to accept their help or listen to their advice. Avery is the Prince Charming here and while he was sweet and nice, the romance could have been developed a bit more. The evil stepmother is the only character that is completely and flatly evil. She has the ability to charm other people, especially adults, into not seeing her horrible side, which definitely reminded me of some real people I know. I loved to hate her and the depths of her evilness surprised me, The fairy godmother Auntie is my favorite of the minor characters. She's a weird mix of a typical fairy godmother and the witch from Hansel and Gretel.
I didn't enjoy Wayfarer as much as I did Nameless, but it has the same magical world, darkly humorous writing, and realistic language. Some may be offended or condemn the language as too adult, but it's the reality of how people speak. It was nice to see a YA not censoring itself for its audience for once. My main problems were with Ellen's refusal to see sense for much of the book and the slow pace at times. I still liked the book and devoured it within a day. I can't wait to read the next book, Kin.
Wayfarer is the follow-up-not-quite-sequel to Nameless (which I absolutely loved) and focuses on Ellen Sinder. This retelling of Cinderella vastly expands the unique fairy tale world that draws upon many recognizable tales and combines them in interesting ways. Again, Lili St. Crow just throws the reader into the deep end of her world with Families, Jacks, Twists, and the Deprescence. Things gradually come into focus, but the beginning is a little disorienting, especially having read the first book over a year ago. The Deprescence occured in the 20's and was an explosion of magic that ruined a lot of the world and a lot of people in it. People were Twisted into monsters and Jacks, which made them no longer fit to be a part of normal society. The positive side is that some people have Potential that means when their power settles, they can do wonderful or terrible things with their magic. Magic is used in everything from clothing and fashion production to medicine. The magic system is more explored here through Ellen's eyes and it seems to be a mix of magic and science, but without any specific explanation to really blend the two together. I liked the apprentice system for beginning Charmers and the way magic and Charms are integrated into their everyday lives.
Lili St. Crow takes the flat, stock characters of fairy tales and gives them dimension and at times unexpected characteristics. Ellen is obviously Cinderella, but she isn't the stereotypical enslaved but cheerful princess. The abuse definitely takes a toll on her. Hearing day in and day out that she is useless and unwanted wears on her and she subconsciously internalizes the insults. Leaving home isn't as easy as her friends make it sound. The abuse may be bad, but the unknown may be worse. At least she knows what to expect at home. Leaving could have her be without food, education, or even a place to sleep. She's determined not to be a burden or charity case to her friends. So many people are blind to Ellen's abuse that she feels completely helpless. This sentiment is repeated often, but is misguided since her friends only want her to be safe and happy. I grew annoyed with Ellen's insistence that her friends only wanted her around as charity or as some cruel joke when they showed time and time again that they were worried about her and cared for her, She also lashes out at them again and again until I was surprised she even had any friends left. I would have liked Ruby and Cami to have a more major role in the book. Most of the book has Ellen making horrible decision after horrible decision and simply ignoring or hiding from the consequences. This part was incredibly frustrating to read and I just wanted to talk some sense into her. Once she figured some stuff out and realized her own worth, I began to enjoy the novel again. Although it infuriated me, this portrayal of the effects of abuse is pretty accurate.
The other characters are equally dynamic. Cami and Ruby are amazing friends who couldn't be more different from each other. Cami is quiet and sweet while Ruby is loud and brash, but they both care for Ellen in their own way. I felt so sorry for them when Ellen refused to accept their help or listen to their advice. Avery is the Prince Charming here and while he was sweet and nice, the romance could have been developed a bit more. The evil stepmother is the only character that is completely and flatly evil. She has the ability to charm other people, especially adults, into not seeing her horrible side, which definitely reminded me of some real people I know. I loved to hate her and the depths of her evilness surprised me, The fairy godmother Auntie is my favorite of the minor characters. She's a weird mix of a typical fairy godmother and the witch from Hansel and Gretel.
I didn't enjoy Wayfarer as much as I did Nameless, but it has the same magical world, darkly humorous writing, and realistic language. Some may be offended or condemn the language as too adult, but it's the reality of how people speak. It was nice to see a YA not censoring itself for its audience for once. My main problems were with Ellen's refusal to see sense for much of the book and the slow pace at times. I still liked the book and devoured it within a day. I can't wait to read the next book, Kin.
daringreader13's review
4.0
So even though I picked up the second book without reading the first one on complete accident I really enjoyed it. There were bits and pieces that probably would have made more sense if I had read the first book but overall I liked it a lot, enough that I probably will go read the first book in the near future hahaha!
holtfan's review
2.0
1.5 stars...because this book wasn't absolutely despicable, just absolutely meh
I loved the possibility hidden within [b:Nameless|13541909|Nameless (Tales of Beauty & Madness, #1)|Lili St. Crow|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359136503s/13541909.jpg|19105998]. The strange world, unique creatures, and varied characters...it could have been so much. But it wasn't. I was so convinced the story could be better that I decided to read Wayfarer, even though the synopsis didn't strike me as that amazing. Cause really, another Cinderella re-telling? Just what the world needs.
Or not.
This book was utterly confusing. I found it much more difficult to pierce the confusing rounds of characters and plot elements and to discover that elusive what-might-be that drew me into the first story. I'm still not clear what it means to Twist (outside of a deformity of sorts?), how that differs from a Jack, and where minotaurs fit into all this. There seem to be different power groups (charmers, The Family, whatever it is Ruby belongs to) but these never get fully fleshed out. Still, I suppose this second book does a better job than the first in introducing them. There was just so many unexplained factors. I wanted to like it all...but I couldn't understand it. Also, what was up with the pseudo-Catholicism? Does this author need to work through something in her boarding school past?
Ellie was a constant blur of shifting, bitter emotions. It drove me crazy. She is constantly pissed at everyone and the frequent use of language grated on my nerves. I found it hard to like or sympathize with her character. She had good friends. It made no sense for her to constantly consider herself a third wheel...especially when we got that particular fear/pity party from Cami in the last book.
Her relationship with Avery was okay. I liked that it wasn't insta-love. In fact, there romance was pretty decent. Avery is your average, dorky teenage guy. There is just a problem...he isn't Nico. Nico basically made the last book worth it, and I'm not usually one of those girls who goes for a bad boy. But in Wayfarer, there is no Avery POV to give explanation. He is wholesome and dorky and...nice. While that certainly added to the story, it lacked spark.
Speaking of Nico...where was he? Oh, I know this was Ellie and not Cami's story, but I sure would have loved a little more of Nico/Cami.
The story had a good twist at the end and I liked all the adults who finally stepped forward. The action scenes were confusing and largely hard to follow.
In summary...disappointing. The story wasn't bad but it lacked spark. Meh.
I loved the possibility hidden within [b:Nameless|13541909|Nameless (Tales of Beauty & Madness, #1)|Lili St. Crow|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359136503s/13541909.jpg|19105998]. The strange world, unique creatures, and varied characters...it could have been so much. But it wasn't. I was so convinced the story could be better that I decided to read Wayfarer, even though the synopsis didn't strike me as that amazing. Cause really, another Cinderella re-telling? Just what the world needs.
Or not.
This book was utterly confusing. I found it much more difficult to pierce the confusing rounds of characters and plot elements and to discover that elusive what-might-be that drew me into the first story. I'm still not clear what it means to Twist (outside of a deformity of sorts?), how that differs from a Jack, and where minotaurs fit into all this. There seem to be different power groups (charmers, The Family, whatever it is Ruby belongs to) but these never get fully fleshed out. Still, I suppose this second book does a better job than the first in introducing them. There was just so many unexplained factors. I wanted to like it all...but I couldn't understand it. Also, what was up with the pseudo-Catholicism? Does this author need to work through something in her boarding school past?
Ellie was a constant blur of shifting, bitter emotions. It drove me crazy. She is constantly pissed at everyone and the frequent use of language grated on my nerves. I found it hard to like or sympathize with her character.
Spoiler
I still don't get what drove her back to her house to rescue her step-sister at the end. There was no real motivation there. She clearly didn't like the girl. Why the sudden empathy?Her relationship with Avery was okay. I liked that it wasn't insta-love. In fact, there romance was pretty decent. Avery is your average, dorky teenage guy. There is just a problem...he isn't Nico. Nico basically made the last book worth it, and I'm not usually one of those girls who goes for a bad boy. But in Wayfarer, there is no Avery POV to give explanation. He is wholesome and dorky and...nice. While that certainly added to the story, it lacked spark.
Speaking of Nico...where was he? Oh, I know this was Ellie and not Cami's story, but I sure would have loved a little more of Nico/Cami.
The story had a good twist at the end
Spoiler
Of course...candy cottage made it a little obviousIn summary...disappointing. The story wasn't bad but it lacked spark. Meh.
vvsmydiamonds's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5