Reviews

Falls of Forgotten Island by Liz Kessler

verityw's review

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2.0

*****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review*****

So, I read a lot of middle grade, so I thought I'd try this. But as it turns out, this is not my sort of Middle Grade, and in jumping in 7 books in to the series I had missed a lot of world building and set up that wasn't really filled in over the course of the book. I didn't like the main character - she's a bit too spoilt and self-centred for my liking, and the plot was a bit confusing without any of the background to the series. Still, I can see that this would make a good read for the younger end of the middle grade spectrum, if they like mermaids and fairy tales and have read the rest of the series. It just wasn't really for me. Never mind.

snydnae11's review

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jaymelynnway's review

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4.0

*I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review *

I started this series years ago when one of my nieces fell in love with it. Overall I find the books quick, fun adventures with great overarching themes of friendship and bravery and belonging.

Falls of Forgotten Island was another foray into a great imaginary world. Emily dealt with relatable adolescent issues but with the fantasy element of being half mermaid.

My one drawback was I wish the books weren't as heavy on the young romance element. I don't really like for middle grade books to have much romance in them, I just feel other elements of a tween's personality and life would be a better focus. But that's more of a personal preference than an actual critique of the book itself.

silver_star08's review against another edition

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5.0

Emily Windsnap #7

Emily is at it again. She is supposed to be on a relaxing vacation but can't help herself in finding a mystery to solve.

Shoana has had enough. She no longer wants to be drug into Emily's hijinks. What is going to happen to their friendship?

literally_laura's review

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4.0

Another cute book in the Emily Windsnap series. Again, a bit predictable, but not horribly so considering I'm in my 30s instead of tweens like the intended audience. My favorite part was that occurred between Aaron and Emily at the very very end (no spoilers). I think this is a very important lesson for young people.

vasiliki_21's review

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5.0

( Το έχω διαβάσει στα ελληνικά). Το προτείνω ανεπιφύλακτα. Ήταν φανταστικό βιβλίο. Η αγαπημένη μου σειρά ως πιο μικρή.

an_adult_ish_bookworm's review against another edition

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4.0

This one definitely wasn't my favorite. I spent a good chunk of the beginning being annoyed with literally every single character except for Emily, especially Shona. I guess maybe she was acting the way most 13-year-olds do in that kind of situation, but it drove me crazy, haha. I did like the new characters, but it wasn't as centered around them as the plotlines usually are so I didn't make as much of a connection with them as I usually would. I did like Aaron's involvement in this one! I definitely would not have been happy if this was the last book in the series, so I'm really glad there's (at least) one more!

kadiehaywardmullins's review against another edition

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3.0

@kidlitexchange #partner
Confession: I have not read the other Emily Windsnap books and this may impact my review. With that said, I’ve ordered several from the series for my nieces after reading this one. Perfect for middle grade readers with an interest in fantasy and a whimsical spin, The Falls of Forgotten Island is rife with the kind of drama one would expect enjoyable to read and somewhat relatable for the 8-12 crowd.

I think there is something inherently thrilling for the intended audience about a seemingly average kid who can live a very special and adventurous life – even if there is a little ‘romance’ thrown in. This book isn’t for everyone, but it isn’t written for everyone. If you enjoy ‘tweeny’ whimsy, mermaids, and fairy tales, this one is for you!

Thank you for the @kidlitexchange network for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own. #kidlitexchange

indiebookshops's review against another edition

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3.0

Overall I found the title fun and really good at exploring friendships and dominance within peer groups. The adventure was cracking along nicely also, until the final few chapters when Neptune had to be introduced to the story from practically nowhere with very little (no?) foreshadowing. It felt very weird and threw me out of enjoying the book and took it from a four-star review down to a three-star review.

I would still recommend it as a fun adventure for youngrer readers though.
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