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lila1921's review against another edition
5.0
This book hit home in a way nothing else will ever be able to for me. It was beautiful and absolutely devastating.
murderpigeonsgobump's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 ⭐️ I wasn’t super invested until the end, but I really liked the atmosphere of folk tales. I feel like the setting of Norway is not a common one for YA books.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
1/5
I have not had any luck with books lately. Don't get my wrong I was excited to read this book but I've been practically drained from studying that I can't keep the story straight ( Or my eyes open ). I found the story interesting of course, but it was hard for me to follow what was happening.
REREAD 8/13/22
2/5
Decided to come back to this book because I didn’t remember much about it but I do remember being excited to read it. I wanted to like the story, don’t get me wrong but the way it was written just couldn’t get me enthralled into the story.
I have not had any luck with books lately. Don't get my wrong I was excited to read this book but I've been practically drained from studying that I can't keep the story straight ( Or my eyes open ). I found the story interesting of course, but it was hard for me to follow what was happening.
REREAD 8/13/22
2/5
Decided to come back to this book because I didn’t remember much about it but I do remember being excited to read it. I wanted to like the story, don’t get me wrong but the way it was written just couldn’t get me enthralled into the story.
alyscriv17's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Wide Starlight was absolutely beautiful. The emotions it made me feel about my relationship with my mother and daughter were visceral and heartbreaking. I loved the magical realism and the fairy tales interwoven into the book. Plus the cover is absolutely gorgeous.
rusticreadingal's review against another edition
5.0
This was an absolutely beautiful story showcasing the love between mother and daughter. It was heartbreaking and emotional and oh so moving. I loved it.
I became fully immersed in this world. I was completely captivated by it. The author's writing style really made things come alive. Everything was so vivid. I didn't want to leave the pages of this stunning story.
This was a great blend of contemporary, magical realism, and Norwegian folklore. It's one of my favorite reads of the year so far, and I'm definitely gonna be on the lookout for more from this author. Highly recommended!
I became fully immersed in this world. I was completely captivated by it. The author's writing style really made things come alive. Everything was so vivid. I didn't want to leave the pages of this stunning story.
This was a great blend of contemporary, magical realism, and Norwegian folklore. It's one of my favorite reads of the year so far, and I'm definitely gonna be on the lookout for more from this author. Highly recommended!
joisaddler's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
yuuto's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Interesting fantasy/folk tale elements woven into a story about a girl whose mother was whisked away by the northern lights…but at times, the regular storytelling and the fantasy parts got a bit…messy, I suppose. Not a bad book, and I enjoyed the audiobook reading.
Interesting fantasy/folk tale elements woven into a story about a girl whose mother was whisked away by the northern lights…but at times, the regular storytelling and the fantasy parts got a bit…messy, I suppose. Not a bad book, and I enjoyed the audiobook reading.
bookstobarbells's review against another edition
2.0
I really struggled with this one. At first, I thought I was going to love it: a mystery with folklore tied in, cool. However, it felt so muddy and drawn out, I could not connect to it.
Eline, the main character, is mopey and boring. I couldn’t tell you much about her personality except she was anxious and self-focused. I wasn’t sure if it was supposed to make you empathetic, but I didn’t find myself feeling much other than annoyed with her most of the time.
What could have been an interesting look at mental health and mother/daughter relationships, ended up being a muddled view of folk fairy tales and a bizarre fantasy/mystery hybrid.
The redeeming quality for me was the writing. I found the descriptions to be vivid and well-thought out. You can really see the stark difference in the various landscapes and worlds that you’re traveling between when either in the present or folk land. I can appreciate the craft, even if I’m not in love with the content.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Eline, the main character, is mopey and boring. I couldn’t tell you much about her personality except she was anxious and self-focused. I wasn’t sure if it was supposed to make you empathetic, but I didn’t find myself feeling much other than annoyed with her most of the time.
What could have been an interesting look at mental health and mother/daughter relationships, ended up being a muddled view of folk fairy tales and a bizarre fantasy/mystery hybrid.
The redeeming quality for me was the writing. I found the descriptions to be vivid and well-thought out. You can really see the stark difference in the various landscapes and worlds that you’re traveling between when either in the present or folk land. I can appreciate the craft, even if I’m not in love with the content.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
sassyykassie's review against another edition
5.0
This book is the beautiful and very difficult in between of contemporary and fantasy where nothing is really explained and it just feels like real magic.
We follow Eli who when she as 5 her mother took her out to the middle of the glacier range near their home in Norway and then ... disappeared. Now a senior in high school, Eli is noticing odd magical things happening around her. And she also got a note that her mother is trying to contact her.
From there, this book caught me. We have feathers in lockers and narwhals showing up on the coast of Maine, 3 magical princesses, and a storybook of the history of the family. I absolutely loved it. If you're a fan of Katrina Leno's writing or The Last True Poets of the Sea, this book fits right into that category of magical realism.
We follow Eli who when she as 5 her mother took her out to the middle of the glacier range near their home in Norway and then ... disappeared. Now a senior in high school, Eli is noticing odd magical things happening around her. And she also got a note that her mother is trying to contact her.
From there, this book caught me. We have feathers in lockers and narwhals showing up on the coast of Maine, 3 magical princesses, and a storybook of the history of the family. I absolutely loved it. If you're a fan of Katrina Leno's writing or The Last True Poets of the Sea, this book fits right into that category of magical realism.