Emily
A word about this book - I read it after finishing Crown of Midnight, and it absolutely was a great spot to cut over and read this prequel. Reading it before would have lessened the emotional impact of the stories, as I wouldn't have felt as strongly about the characters.
Update on 2024 re-read: still fantastic, still heartbreaking
not in the right headspace for this one, will give it another go in a bit.
2025 reread: 4 stars. Is a little juvenile and a relic of its time, but a casually enjoyable read.
dnf for me at 7%. medical memory loss and degenerative brain things are a no-go for me apparently.
I really love how much the world opens up in this one. it really expands and becomes more of a fantasy world!
(44/303) not for me. wish it was though, the premise sounded excellent.
dnf @ p44. library loan is up and I haven't picked it up in a day and a half so I'm going to return it. maybe I'll pick it back up later if it sticks around in my mind?
on reread, probably 15+ years later, still an excellent read.
unsure how much nostalgia glasses played into this rating, as this was one of my favorite books throughout late elementary, middle, and early high school, and I reread it dozens (not exaggerating) of times. it was one of my first fantasy books, and for that it will always have a special place in my heart.
there were definitely some quirks I noticed on reread that I never noticed when I was younger - we'll call them artifacts of being written by a young author for a young audience. nothing major/immersion breaking, just goofy little bits.
What an amazing read. This book had me on the tips of my toes the entire time - filled with characters I wanted to see thrive, locations that seemed so realistic and well described I could visualize them. Was so invested in the story that the last third of the novel had me crying every other page. Highly, highly recommended, especially if you enjoy historical fiction.
dnf @ 30%, been reading this book for two years I think it's time to give up for now.
dnf for now