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wajeemba's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love Sanderson and Michael Kramer's rendition of Hoid's voice. It's so funny and immediately brings a lighthearted delight to even my second listen. This is a perfect counterpoint to some of the very pogniant though relatable emotional distress the characters experience.
Also very interesting stuff about the Cosmere gets revealed in this Space Age book!
There is some body horror in chapter 10 that lasts about 3 sentences and can be easily skipped to no detriment. The lead up is quite obvious. Hoid is talking about dying and then goes something like "in case you can't imagine..."
It ends with "You're welcome. Fortunately for Tress a sailor soon stumbled..."
There are other cases of fairly graphic explanations of death, but the worst seems to be the one I mentioned.
Also very interesting stuff about the Cosmere gets revealed in this Space Age book!
There is some body horror in chapter 10 that lasts about 3 sentences and can be easily skipped to no detriment. The lead up is quite obvious. Hoid is talking about dying and then goes something like "in case you can't imagine..."
It ends with "You're welcome. Fortunately for Tress a sailor soon stumbled..."
There are other cases of fairly graphic explanations of death, but the worst seems to be the one I mentioned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Violence and Gun violence
seforana's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, and Physical abuse
maddie_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really enjoyed a lot of the aspects of this story:
- Whimsical
- Fairytale adjacent without being very young
- Writing/ storytelling style
- Humour and the random tangents (reminded me of Hitchhiker's)
- Characterization
- World-building
- Lots of well developed female characters
- Disability inclusion, they had a Deaf sensitivity/ representation reader, so cool!
What I didn't love:
- I didn't find the actual story that compelling after about chapter 8.
When I realized Tress was staying on the ship the entire novel and the story was going to go pretty predictably - she's obviously going to go get Charlie and have some form of happily ever after - Lack of tension
- Felt the pace could've been faster/ the pace was a little inconsistent/ slogged a bit after chapter 8
This was my first Sanderson novel so I'm definitely going to check out some more as I've heard they vary a lot in tone.
We want to imagine that people are consistent, steady, stable. We define who they are, create descriptions to lock them on a page, divide them up by their likes, talents, beliefs. Then we pretend some—perhaps most—are better than we are, because they stick to their definitions, while we never quite fit ours. Truth is, people are as fluid as time is. We adapt to our situation like water in a strangely shaped jug, though it might take us a little while to ooze into all the little nooks. Because we adapt, we sometimes don’t recognize how twisted, uncomfortable, or downright wrong the container is that we’ve been told to inhabit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Death, Murder, Slavery, Classism, and Vomit
Minor: Body horror and Gore
takarakei's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I hate to be a downer, but this was just a bit too whimsical for my taste... I think I'm just not a cozy fantasy person. The humor was trying a bit too hard and made me cringe. I also wasn't into the fourth wall breaks. Then the narration from Hoid really irked me at parts. Sanderson says he wanted to write a book from Hoid's pov before writing more from that character, but I don't understand why he had to be the narrator for Tress' story. I think the story overall would've been more impactful from a nameless narrator, a more traditional third person pov.
Unfortunately me knowing going into this that Sanderson was inspired by The Princess Bride was a detriment for me, because it's one of my all time fav movies, so I couldn't help compare too closely. I recognize that's unfair and my own issue. He says he wrote it as "if Buttercup had gone searching for Westley" - I personally read it as if Tress was Westley when he goes away and becomes the Dread Pirate Robert.
I did grow to love the cast of characters on the ship. There was great deaf representation! The world building is really interesting and unique. This is my first Sanderson book, and I've been assured it's very different from his other books. I plan to start the Stormlight series this year and look forward to what I'm hoping is a more straightforward epic high fantasy series.
Unfortunately me knowing going into this that Sanderson was inspired by The Princess Bride was a detriment for me, because it's one of my all time fav movies, so I couldn't help compare too closely. I recognize that's unfair and my own issue. He says he wrote it as "if Buttercup had gone searching for Westley" - I personally read it as if Tress was Westley when he goes away and becomes the Dread Pirate Robert.
I did grow to love the cast of characters on the ship. There was great deaf representation! The world building is really interesting and unique. This is my first Sanderson book, and I've been assured it's very different from his other books. I plan to start the Stormlight series this year and look forward to what I'm hoping is a more straightforward epic high fantasy series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Confinement, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Gore, Slavery, and Vomit
kylaeduff's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, and Excrement
Minor: Excrement, Death, Mental illness, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Vomit, and Violence
lizziaha's review against another edition
adventurous
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Having read the book now, I think the comparison to The Princess Bride holds up, specifically in the tone of the story (along with certain plot points). Unfortunately, I wasn’t as sold on the romance. But other aspects of the story were certainly compelling: the piracy, the spores and the sprouting, the secret king’s assassin, the zombie. Fun read overall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Trafficking, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Classism, Fatphobia, Ableism, and Excrement
myhandmadehell's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Normally I don’t write reviews for Sanderson’s works because I don’t feel I have much to add to the plethora of other commentary you can find wherever you look. I don’t have a lot to add here either but I wanted to rave a bit. This book is so sweet, funny, cozy (while still being adventurous and frightening at times), hopeful, and overall: EXTREMELY cool. As with any Sanderson book, the world building and magic system are incredibly creative, intriguing, and immersive. Tress may be my favorite book heroine of all time. The voice of the book in its entirety was a delight to read: not too schlocky, just enough schlock to be laugh out loud funny. I feel like I could take on the world after reading it. (Right after I nap, because, as may be appropriate for a book borne out of inspiration from The Princess Bride, I read this whole book while sick.)
5 stars forever. I want more books in this world, Brandon! There’s like 9 seas we haven’t seen yet!
Oh and this edition? Unbelievably gorgeous. Howard Lyons’s illustrations were absolutely breathtaking. Reading this edition made the reading experience that much more special.
5 stars forever. I want more books in this world, Brandon! There’s like 9 seas we haven’t seen yet!
Oh and this edition? Unbelievably gorgeous. Howard Lyons’s illustrations were absolutely breathtaking. Reading this edition made the reading experience that much more special.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Kidnapping, Vomit, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Gore
mbmayo's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.25
This was a really fun found-family story about a girl setting out on a quest to rescue her childhood best friend (who is also her true love) from The Sorceress. I have not read any Sanderson before, because I associated him with The Wheel of Time series, and that type of epic is not my cup of tea. I'm glad I picked this up, and can assure you that it is just as delightful even if you have no idea what the cosmere is. The setting of the spore seas was particularly fun, and I loved many of the begrudging pirate crew, especially Ulaam. Tress tinkering with the spores to solve various problems was also fun to see.
I did have some trouble with the narrative style in the first third of the book. The narrator would stop at points and scold the reader for thinking certain things, or having an expectation of what might come next. But, I was never thinking what I was being scolded for and it just annoyed me. Thankfully, that tapered off after the first third or so (If I still had the book, I would pull an example quote, but it has already been returned to the library.)
The character of Ann also sometimes had an accent and sometimes didn't, which annoyed me a little.
I did have some trouble with the narrative style in the first third of the book. The narrator would stop at points and scold the reader for thinking certain things, or having an expectation of what might come next. But, I was never thinking what I was being scolded for and it just annoyed me. Thankfully, that tapered off after the first third or so (If I still had the book, I would pull an example quote, but it has already been returned to the library.)
The character of Ann also sometimes had an accent and sometimes didn't, which annoyed me a little.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Violence, Abandonment, and Confinement
hectoralvf_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Gore and Blood
tinyelfarcanist's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
An outstanding start for The Year of Sanderson.
Tress is one of the most sensible heroines you'll find in YA. She seeks help, talks openly with her parents, and admits when she's scared. She also goes on a suicidal mission for the man she loves, but that's love for you.
This book features beautiful relationships (romantic or otherwise), tons of adventure, and FEELINGS. Even deaths that should have been insubstantial pack a punch. Also, as expected from Sanderson's fantasy novels, a fascinating and innovative magic system. You may need to have read other of his books (The Way of Kings, Elantris) to appreciate it fully.
I LOVED the fairytale vibes. It's no coincidence that it was inspired by one of my favourite books of all time: The Princess Bride. This book has some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read. It's funny, it's witty, and full of insightful lessons. I kept highlighting passage after passage. I hope Sanderson keeps exploring this narrator.
Tress is one of the most sensible heroines you'll find in YA. She seeks help, talks openly with her parents, and admits when she's scared. She also goes on a suicidal mission for the man she loves, but that's love for you.
This book features beautiful relationships (romantic or otherwise), tons of adventure, and FEELINGS. Even deaths that should have been insubstantial pack a punch. Also, as expected from Sanderson's fantasy novels, a fascinating and innovative magic system. You may need to have read other of his books (The Way of Kings, Elantris) to appreciate it fully.
I LOVED the fairytale vibes. It's no coincidence that it was inspired by one of my favourite books of all time: The Princess Bride. This book has some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read. It's funny, it's witty, and full of insightful lessons. I kept highlighting passage after passage. I hope Sanderson keeps exploring this narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Classism, Ableism, and Chronic illness
Minor: Medical content, Alcohol, Bullying, Slavery, Vomit, Terminal illness, and Torture