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A review by stefhyena
Undine by Penni Russon
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Interesting idea. I could have done without Undine emerging as boy crazy. Early 2000s seems a little late to be portraying that as "normal development" or whatever, something she can't help. I don't mind that she didn't get with Trout but I don't like the way he was portrayed within that and I am not convinced we needed all of the other two.
Undine's relationship with her little brother is cool as well as with her "aunty" but apart from that the female relationships in the book are somewhat lacking. There is Undine and her dysfunctional relationship with her mum (and do mother's really have to choose between being as boring as Trout's mother or as selfish as Lou? Can't they have their own life without being horrid to their kids?). Trout's mother hates her in a way that seems like sterotypical MIL energy. The friends who notice where she is or care about her are boys. Trout's mother hates Lou as well.
The magic- light, dark thing and the parasiting off someone else's magic is interesting. The resolution of it seems a bit of a cop-out but I guess publishers wouldn't accept anything darker.The way of weaving in elements of Shakespeare's Tempest is great...hopefully stuff like that makes people curious to read it.
Undine's relationship with her little brother is cool as well as with her "aunty" but apart from that the female relationships in the book are somewhat lacking. There is Undine and her dysfunctional relationship with her mum (and do mother's really have to choose between being as boring as Trout's mother or as selfish as Lou? Can't they have their own life without being horrid to their kids?). Trout's mother hates her in a way that seems like sterotypical MIL energy. The friends who notice where she is or care about her are boys. Trout's mother hates Lou as well.
The magic- light, dark thing and the parasiting off someone else's magic is interesting. The resolution of it seems a bit of a cop-out but I guess publishers wouldn't accept anything darker.The way of weaving in elements of Shakespeare's Tempest is great...hopefully stuff like that makes people curious to read it.