Reviews

Verdigris Deep by Frances Hardinge

x_librarian's review against another edition

3.0

a slightly creepy read.

_david_'s review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

3.0

Interesting premise and characters! It's a great horror story with kids as main characters and a satisfying ending. I would've loved this book when I was younger. It has a lot of respect for both the kids and adults around them.

Now, the book often didn't manage to gripe me very well. I would have to reread sections multiple times before I fully understood what was going on. Not sure why though, but that's the reason I'm only giving it 3 stars. 

I think people who enjoyed Good Omens would like this book as well. The setting, powers, characters and mysteries are similar though the stories are unique!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Death, Child death, Grief, Medical content, and Pregnancy

Drowning described multiple times! Both a character that has been drowned and the experience of drowning. Violence = one punching fight between children, one magic attack which makes objects in the room attack a person

smitinghedgehog's review

challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

beccastarling's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

alidottie's review against another edition

2.0

This is not poorly written, but I rate books by my taste and I just didn't care for this book. It aimed to be terrifying at times and that is just not my preference. If you enjoy that kind of book, you will enjoy this much more than I did. I could have used a little more intervals of lighter, happier events.

misspippireads's review against another edition

4.0

Nice and creepy! A group of friends needed bus fair to get home. They didn't realize that taking coins from the well would lead to terrifying circumstances.

Reviewed from a library copy.

hayleybeale's review against another edition

4.0

While I'm waiting for the new Frances Hardinge, Deeplight, I caught up with this early one from 2007. It's distinctly Hardingean, creepy and wildly imaginative, but just not quite as captivating as most of her later ones. Maybe it's because it's her only novel with a male protagonist? Maybe it's because for me, the unpleasantness of the creepiness just went a little too far? Nonetheless, as ever, second-tier Hardinge is light years ahead of most other fantasy for kids and I'm only giving it 4 stars in comparison to later masterworks like The Lie Tree and Skinful of Shadows.

nmorin's review against another edition

3.0

Cute! Liked Shel the most.

nouriee's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

”we always find it difficult to forgive our heroes for being human” 

surlymanor's review against another edition

4.0

Three British kids steal money for bus fare from an old wishing well and now the well witch wants reparations! They have to grant the wishes people made on each coin they stole - wishes granted via slightly magical powers bestowed on them by the well witch. Powers in the form of eyes growing on one boy's palms, electromagnetic control and psychic abilities!

This book is not perfect, and begins on the slow side - but still, AWESOME!