I listened to this title, and the narrator was excellent. Her characters were distinct, she did a good child (child voices are hard), and when the actI listened to this title, and the narrator was excellent. Her characters were distinct, she did a good child (child voices are hard), and when the action was fast she kept the pacing fast without stumbling. The plot was somewhat predictable; any heroine who tells a male she hates him will fall hard for him, of course. There were surprises in the story—sweet characters who turn nasty, and the world is an interesting construction. The ending suggests a #2 to follow....more
Emily has learned a few more social skills. She is still cranky. She is still ambitious, and untidy, but she and Wendell are getting along much betterEmily has learned a few more social skills. She is still cranky. She is still ambitious, and untidy, but she and Wendell are getting along much better. In fact, they are engaged. Emily is determined to develop a map of the other lands, and so doing find an opening to Wendell Kingdom in fairy. She, Wendell, her niece, Ariadne, and Professor Rose set off to a hamlet in the mountains of Europe, in hopes of curing Wendell from his poison, find a way back to Wendell’ Kingdom. And vanquish his evil stepmother, there are bogging, trolls, dwarves, enchanted professors, and Emily is in the midst of it all....more
I read most of the Charlie Bone series by Nimmo, and enjoyed it. The friendships and relationships between the various child characters were believablI read most of the Charlie Bone series by Nimmo, and enjoyed it. The friendships and relationships between the various child characters were believable. The adult characters, not so much, but I read through book after book, following the kids and the animals as they figured out how to use their powers together.
Not with this series—one, and done. First, the snow spider had no relationship to the main character. It was a tool, not a partner. Yeah, I don’t like spiders, but I learned that Charlotte the spider was lovable, so it can happen. Actually, there weren’t any characters that I warmed to, and the magic involved in the story didn’t always make sense. ...more
**spoiler alert** Why the vampire book? Just to get him out of the way? And I didnt really like the backstory of Mariam so near the end, but I enjoyed**spoiler alert** Why the vampire book? Just to get him out of the way? And I didnt really like the backstory of Mariam so near the end, but I enjoyed the story of magic, blood and books....more
I liked the first book, I found this one kept my attention but I was willing to fall asleep listening to it and not worry about missing part of the stI liked the first book, I found this one kept my attention but I was willing to fall asleep listening to it and not worry about missing part of the story. Bad sign, so I won’t read/listen to more in the series. The narrator is terrific, though....more
The idea of an animated teddy bear is charming, and traveling along with Threadbare as he learns the ropes of being alive seems great. It is great, buThe idea of an animated teddy bear is charming, and traveling along with Threadbare as he learns the ropes of being alive seems great. It is great, but I felt all along that I was missing part of the story, since there were all hese readouts of various skill levels—is that something from gaming? Everything would periodically stop while we were read off skill increases in tailoring, or adorable levels, and so forth. The story kept me reading (listening) and I did go ahead and listen to the next book in the series, but I won’t be reading the third or any following in the progression. I have to say the narrator was astounding at giving voice to the various characters!...more
Emily Wilde is unlovable, and that is all right with her. She doesn’t know how to be sociable, and she is not interested in learning such a skill. SheEmily Wilde is unlovable, and that is all right with her. She doesn’t know how to be sociable, and she is not interested in learning such a skill. She is an ambitious scholar, determined to make her name in the world with an exhaustive study of fairies [faeries?]. To that end she has rented a miserable little cottage in a little country sort of like Iceland in hopes of studying the Tall Ones, or courtly faeries. Suddenly her sort-of-a-friend, Wendell Bambleby shows up, invites himself into the cottage and her research project. He is beautiful, fashionable, charming and indolent—and Emily’s only friend. She dislikes him, and needs him.
It’s a lovely quirky read, with the two main characters constantly at amiable odds. Emily manages to offend most of the villagers, Wendell charms them, and Emily finds herself learning social skills as she risks all to establish herself as a renowned scholar....more
I would have finished this novel faster if I had enjoyed it. The main character comes off as whiny, his love interest is stuffy, and many of the otherI would have finished this novel faster if I had enjoyed it. The main character comes off as whiny, his love interest is stuffy, and many of the other characters are not fleshed out enough to draw interest. There is a lot of hacking and stabbing throughout the story, so perhaps adolescent males might enjoy it....more
