This is such a cheery and heartwarming book. Essentially, everything that I can imagine that would make me feel cozy is represented in it. Except thatThis is such a cheery and heartwarming book. Essentially, everything that I can imagine that would make me feel cozy is represented in it. Except that my cats, unfortunately, do not have wings. And my plants do not say actual words out loud that people other than me can hear (Which, in this case is a good thing because I’m an accidental serial torturer of spider plants.).
Lately, I’ve been reading quite a bit of epic fantasy that is often packed with steamy romance. This was quite a refreshing breath of fresh air. All of that epic stuff is still happening in this book—it just frames the story. Instead, we get to witness small town life on a stunningly beautiful island where everyone is neighborly, the merhorse farmer is hot, and staircases wind around oceanside cliffs and such. Most magical creatures live in harmony, and almost all of the residents seem to be a different species of subhuman (all being cute and fun), but it also doesn’t seem to matter, and I didn’t care that it isn’t explained. I do have to mention that the description of the unicorns pay homage to Peter S. Beagle).
I really related because the main character is a librarian who has trouble putting down her books to experience real life. Even though the island couldn’t be more ideal, the talking spider plant has to convince her that real people can be as good as books and to take a chance on life. ...more
This was such a fantastic and powerful read, but I was twitching with the desire to jump into the book and yell at or rescue everyone the whole time. This was such a fantastic and powerful read, but I was twitching with the desire to jump into the book and yell at or rescue everyone the whole time. I was worried that it would be too disgustingly graphic, but it had just the appropriate amount of detail necessary without gratuitous gore. ...more
The female artists are being held back by society and circumstance (the largest being WWII). There are a lot of things to read into this book, but I rThe female artists are being held back by society and circumstance (the largest being WWII). There are a lot of things to read into this book, but I really loved the self actualization, accountability, and friendship that the women gained through their study of tarot. I hadn’t really thought of tarot as a form of mediation: the women are able to break down their trauma and come to terms with their desire as they learn to interpret it in the symbols and numerology. Remedios takes it furthest and even sees the trappings of their bohemian lifestyle and has to weigh the price of true individuality: relationships can both be a crutch as well as inspiration, and even in rebellion, you are still not truly free. “Obtaining freedom is not the same as maintaining it” and “Rebelling is really just defining yourself in contravention, instead of assimilation. But the thing being rebelled against still has control.”...more
I often accuse books of being a beauty and the beast retelling, but I somehow didn’t suspect that this book might be one until the end. The rivaling f I often accuse books of being a beauty and the beast retelling, but I somehow didn’t suspect that this book might be one until the end. The rivaling families, plot twists, and violence certainly kept the story moving. I’m not sure how I feel about a large chunk of the book turning essentially into the less gentle urban fantasy version of Fifty Shades of Gray. I did love the attempt to fuse programming and hacking with geology and magic, but it kind of fell short of the mark for me (did they learn how to code by watching the movie Hackers?). I didn’t feel as though the magic was adequately explained, but the characters didn’t seem to understand it either and were learning. This is the first of a series, so there is time. I’m planning to read the second book....more
There wasn’t enough circus or character development for me. I also would like a little more backstory on the Elementals, but since this is the first iThere wasn’t enough circus or character development for me. I also would like a little more backstory on the Elementals, but since this is the first in as series, I’m sure that will eventually surface. ...more
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