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hello_lovely13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship
thenovelmaura's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A huge thank you to Penguin Teen for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! If you've been following my Instagram account or reviews for any amount of time, you probably know that I love fairy tales, so this YA novel imbued with Nordic magic was right up my alley.
First of all, I need to recommend this book to fans of Shea Ernshaw! This one reminded me a lot of Winterwood, with its magic and chilling setting. On the contemporary side of things, Eline dealt with her feelings of abandonment and anger at her mother, as well as her fears that her best friend will move away. But what really worked for me were the magical realism aspects, which involved a ring that grants wishes, three wicked princesses, and a monster ripped straight from the pages of a Norwegian fairy tale (to name just a few). There was a sense of foreboding that followed Eline throughout her journey and kept me on my toes.
In addition, Lesperance's writing style was so beautiful that I was compelled to keep reading! I loved the short chapters that described Eline's childhood in Norway or her mother's adventures as a young girl. They were written in a fairy tale style that helped me understand how Eline and her mother viewed each other and the world. I can't give away the ending, so I'll just say it was very emotional and left me with a slight book hangover. Pick this one up if you're in the mood for something atmospheric or if you're looking for a cheap trip to Norway!
First of all, I need to recommend this book to fans of Shea Ernshaw! This one reminded me a lot of Winterwood, with its magic and chilling setting. On the contemporary side of things, Eline dealt with her feelings of abandonment and anger at her mother, as well as her fears that her best friend will move away. But what really worked for me were the magical realism aspects, which involved a ring that grants wishes, three wicked princesses, and a monster ripped straight from the pages of a Norwegian fairy tale (to name just a few). There was a sense of foreboding that followed Eline throughout her journey and kept me on my toes.
In addition, Lesperance's writing style was so beautiful that I was compelled to keep reading! I loved the short chapters that described Eline's childhood in Norway or her mother's adventures as a young girl. They were written in a fairy tale style that helped me understand how Eline and her mother viewed each other and the world. I can't give away the ending, so I'll just say it was very emotional and left me with a slight book hangover. Pick this one up if you're in the mood for something atmospheric or if you're looking for a cheap trip to Norway!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Violence
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