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dragonrider29's review against another edition
5.0
This book was sitting on my shelf for ages but when I got a copy of the second in the series I thought it was time to pick it up, and my goodness I was so glad I did! This is a fabulous beginning to what I hope will evolve into an utterly awesome series. It has everything that anyone would want in a fantasy series, fabulous world building, fascinating and believable characters, a twisty turny plot, and the most excellent writing (and translation). It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a YA novel so much, though I hesitate to pigeon hole it as YA as like all great books it transcends definition and could be enjoyed about just about everyone. I don't want to say anything about the story as I think it's best to go in blind and just let the magic of this glorious book unfold before you. I'm off to start book two.
momotan's review against another edition
4.0
Un'ambientazione affascinante, che ci mostra una terra trasformata e irriconoscibile, divisa in terre fluttuanti intorno a un nucleo ardente, popolate dai discendenti di divinità esiliate su queste terre dalla Lacerazione, ormai prive di memoria.
Le genti delle singole Arche dotate di poteri ereditati dalle divinità, che vanno dalla capacità di leggere la storia degli oggetti al ripararli, dal muoversi attraverso gli specchi al combattere con la forza del pensiero, dal creare illusioni alla telepatia... e ogni Arca è differente.
Il libro comincia in un'Arca quasi idilliaca, dove la protagonista Ofelia, Lettrice e Attraversaspecchi, gestisce un museo e rifiuta matrimoni combinati, fino a quando non viene incastrata dalle reggenti dell'Arca e data in moglie a uno straniero, proveniente dal Polo, una lontana e gelida Arca di stampo nordico: gente pallida, grande e grossa, belligerante e crudele.
Intrighi di corte, complotti e misteri ancestrali si sovrappongono alla storia di questo fidanzamento forzato e non desiderato.
Una trama che farebbe pensare a un'abbondanza di romance, e invece questo è praticamente assente: Ofelia è decisa a conquistarsi della libertà e a non soccombere ai piani che i capi delle Arche hanno per lei. Ed è decisa a non cedere a questo matrimonio non desiderato, con una persona distante e inaccessibile. Sembrerebbe il preludio allo scoppio di un grande amore, ma almeno in questo libro la cosa ci è risparmiata, e Ofelia mantiene il suo carattere.
Personaggi interessanti, intrighi non banali, un mondo che lascia a bocca aperta e una scrittura che fa volare via il libro, cinquecento pagine che scorrono via rapide come fossero meno della metà.
Ah, e un finale che fa subito desiderare di avere il seguito a portata di mano.
Una piacevolissima sorpresa.
Le genti delle singole Arche dotate di poteri ereditati dalle divinità, che vanno dalla capacità di leggere la storia degli oggetti al ripararli, dal muoversi attraverso gli specchi al combattere con la forza del pensiero, dal creare illusioni alla telepatia... e ogni Arca è differente.
Il libro comincia in un'Arca quasi idilliaca, dove la protagonista Ofelia, Lettrice e Attraversaspecchi, gestisce un museo e rifiuta matrimoni combinati, fino a quando non viene incastrata dalle reggenti dell'Arca e data in moglie a uno straniero, proveniente dal Polo, una lontana e gelida Arca di stampo nordico: gente pallida, grande e grossa, belligerante e crudele.
Intrighi di corte, complotti e misteri ancestrali si sovrappongono alla storia di questo fidanzamento forzato e non desiderato.
Una trama che farebbe pensare a un'abbondanza di romance, e invece questo è praticamente assente: Ofelia è decisa a conquistarsi della libertà e a non soccombere ai piani che i capi delle Arche hanno per lei. Ed è decisa a non cedere a questo matrimonio non desiderato, con una persona distante e inaccessibile. Sembrerebbe il preludio allo scoppio di un grande amore, ma almeno in questo libro la cosa ci è risparmiata, e Ofelia mantiene il suo carattere.
Personaggi interessanti, intrighi non banali, un mondo che lascia a bocca aperta e una scrittura che fa volare via il libro, cinquecento pagine che scorrono via rapide come fossero meno della metà.
Ah, e un finale che fa subito desiderare di avere il seguito a portata di mano.
Una piacevolissima sorpresa.
georgialilyw's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
4.5
I want to reread this in English as I feel I missed a lot of the nuance. But the world created and characters introduced were so interesting, I've never tried a french fantasy before but I can't wait to explore the rest of the series.
elinsbookishreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lyvane's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
tafeeeeee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
What a unique story. I was hooked pretty quickly. It did feel like it was dragging at times. I'v never read a book with a magic system like this one. It would have been nice to know more about the other powers.
I'm still a little confused about how this world came to be, though. Everyone is living on various shards of a destroyed planet? What are the "family spirits"?
I'm still a little confused about how this world came to be, though. Everyone is living on various shards of a destroyed planet? What are the "family spirits"?
reilledup's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m SO sucked into this world and I need to know more immediately. I need to know more about Thorn and I’m so interested to see how Ophelia will adapt in the following books. I understand why people say it’s slow, I felt that a bit at the beginning, but the last 100 pages were an absolute whirlwind that just introduces but doesn’t resolve chaos.
This isn’t getting 5 stars because 1) the internal monologue is structured with a lot of questions which made me think the book thought I was too stupid to think of them myself and 2) the English translation is a bit wonky in places so I didn’t always love the way it was written.
Regardless, I’m starting the next one immediately!
This isn’t getting 5 stars because 1) the internal monologue is structured with a lot of questions which made me think the book thought I was too stupid to think of them myself and 2) the English translation is a bit wonky in places so I didn’t always love the way it was written.
Regardless, I’m starting the next one immediately!
amely44's review against another edition
3.0
I have strong and really mixed feelings about this book. I can't even collect my thoughts to make a review out of them.
I wasn't attached to any character's...which is very rare for me I usually can find one person to like. Here I really couldn't. The only one you can trust is the main character, but I wasn't even attached to her!
Some parts seemed so long and lost my interest while others I was completely hooked and on the edge of my seat. It was a roller coaster and not in a good way.
The magic system is super interesting and intriguing. The world is like nothing I have ever read. I'm really curious to see where the story goes. Who will betray who next? How will the relationship between Ophélie and Thorn change? What will her relationship with Archibald be like?
I don't know, I wasn't madly in love with the book but I am so intrigued that I will probably pick the second book up.
I wasn't attached to any character's...which is very rare for me I usually can find one person to like. Here I really couldn't. The only one you can trust is the main character, but I wasn't even attached to her!
Some parts seemed so long and lost my interest while others I was completely hooked and on the edge of my seat. It was a roller coaster and not in a good way.
The magic system is super interesting and intriguing. The world is like nothing I have ever read. I'm really curious to see where the story goes. Who will betray who next? How will the relationship between Ophélie and Thorn change? What will her relationship with Archibald be like?
I don't know, I wasn't madly in love with the book but I am so intrigued that I will probably pick the second book up.