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A review by dianacantread
Nightspell by Leah Cypess
I liked Mistwood better.
Many of the problems for me originated from the fact that I didn't like any of the characters. All of them had their own agendas that counteracted each other, and all of them refused to compromise with one another. This made for a very frustrating experience, especially when plans that actually made sense were foiled by the more idiotic ones.
There is an abundance of info-dumping sections that really destroyed the mood for me. None of the characters figured out much until they were told by the BWAHAHAHAHA "evil" spirits what the plan was, and the stuff they somehow did realize was never fully explained. For example, one character found out who killed another character, but he never reveals any information as to how he discovered that.
The pacing was a bit off due to the lack of romance, which is both a blessing and a curse in itself. Both are minor issues, but they still took away from my reading experience.
I think the setting is beautiful, just like in Mistwood. Cypess has a gift in that.
Another plus is how realistically the prejudices are portrayed. I found myself frustrated every time Darri felt repulsed about being close to the dead, but then I realized that it's how I would react, too, if I had been told my entire life that dead things that come back to life are unnatural and evil. In a way, I guess I have been told that, but since we don't actually have dead people walking the earth, I think it's a little different in my case.
All in all, the story kept me interested, but I had some issues with the characters and the writing style. Still, the setting is gorgeous, and I'm looking forward to when I can pick up Cypess's other series.
3.25/5 stars.
Many of the problems for me originated from the fact that I didn't like any of the characters. All of them had their own agendas that counteracted each other, and all of them refused to compromise with one another. This made for a very frustrating experience, especially when plans that actually made sense were foiled by the more idiotic ones.
There is an abundance of info-dumping sections that really destroyed the mood for me. None of the characters figured out much until they were told by the BWAHAHAHAHA "evil" spirits what the plan was, and the stuff they somehow did realize was never fully explained. For example, one character found out who killed another character, but he never reveals any information as to how he discovered that.
The pacing was a bit off due to the lack of romance, which is both a blessing and a curse in itself. Both are minor issues, but they still took away from my reading experience.
I think the setting is beautiful, just like in Mistwood. Cypess has a gift in that.
Another plus is how realistically the prejudices are portrayed. I found myself frustrated every time Darri felt repulsed about being close to the dead, but then I realized that it's how I would react, too, if I had been told my entire life that dead things that come back to life are unnatural and evil. In a way, I guess I have been told that, but since we don't actually have dead people walking the earth, I think it's a little different in my case.
All in all, the story kept me interested, but I had some issues with the characters and the writing style. Still, the setting is gorgeous, and I'm looking forward to when I can pick up Cypess's other series.
3.25/5 stars.