I really enjoyed the characterisations within this, as well as the invention of Gallacia and its language. The wFungi fiction is my favourite fiction!
I really enjoyed the characterisations within this, as well as the invention of Gallacia and its language. The way pronouns were woven into the story, giving extra meaning to scenes was masterfully done in my opinion.
I love that the author gave a nod in the Author's Note to having read Mexican Gothic and then feeling doubtful about her own work. I'm so glad she still published her take too because the world needs more fungi fiction!! (And although before reading you know fungi take a part in the plot, I felt the direction the story went in was still different and interesting).
T. Kingfisher has been firmly cemented as one of my favourite authors.
Merged review:
Fungi fiction is my favourite fiction!
I really enjoyed the characterisations within this, as well as the invention of Gallacia and its language. The way pronouns were woven into the story, giving extra meaning to scenes was masterfully done in my opinion.
I love that the author gave a nod in the Author's Note to having read Mexican Gothic and then feeling doubtful about her own work. I'm so glad she still published her take too because the world needs more fungi fiction!! (And although before reading you know fungi take a part in the plot, I felt the direction the story went in was still different and interesting).
T. Kingfisher has been firmly cemented as one of my favourite authors....more
First half - ★★.5 It was okay, just found myself mostly bored. Second half - ★★★★.5 Last chapter - ugh Overall: ★★★.5 I did want to read the sequel but nFirst half - ★★.5 It was okay, just found myself mostly bored. Second half - ★★★★.5 Last chapter - ugh Overall: ★★★.5 I did want to read the sequel but not sure if I will now because the last chapter has just put me right off it....more
I struggled to get into this, the three timelines/POVs just didn't hold my attention at all. I was considering DNFing at the 25% mark but I read a bitI struggled to get into this, the three timelines/POVs just didn't hold my attention at all. I was considering DNFing at the 25% mark but I read a bit further and suddenly the book was flying by. But... It was also just incredibly predictable. I made the mistake of believing since it was a thriller it would get better the further I read, but I should have just DNF'd it.
After mulling this over more: I really don't like the technique the author used to deceive the reader. She was so blunt in hiding the 'twist' by being frankly unrealistic in how a character would think about something to obscure the truth.. and yet the 'twist' was still utterly predictable anyway. Knocking this from 2 stars to 1.5 (but 1 for Goodread's purposes)...more
I think something that really held this book back for me was genre expectations. Looking at the cover of this, I expected a thriller as the image of aI think something that really held this book back for me was genre expectations. Looking at the cover of this, I expected a thriller as the image of a house and neon style writing is a big cover trend in that genre currently. I think others expected this to be horror, which I also expected to a degree. I think for me though I really struggled to engage with the first half of the book because I didn't know there'd be heavy fantasy elements. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely thriller and (more so) horror elements in this, but the fantasy elements completely hit me out of the blue!
Saying that though, once I was about 45% in and I was able to recognise the above, I fully started enjoying this!! The fantasy elements really worked for me when the plot got going. The issue for me is that it just took so long for that plot to get going in the first place.
Overall, I'm really glad I stuck with this. This probably could have been 5 stars for me if the first half of the book compared to the second half of the book at all. Go into this expecting a dark fantasy with heavy horror and thriller elements....more
I really enjoyed reading about the intricacies of this book's magic system. And I loved the ending!! No pressure Brandy but I'm gonna need that sequelI really enjoyed reading about the intricacies of this book's magic system. And I loved the ending!! No pressure Brandy but I'm gonna need that sequel sometime this decade....more
I loved how this started out and really thought it might become one of my new favourite books. I loved the overly long descriptions (I understand why I loved how this started out and really thought it might become one of my new favourite books. I loved the overly long descriptions (I understand why others didn't), it all felt so atmospheric.
Unfortunately as the book went on I lost a bit of my enamour. I think it could've definitely used some editing, as the plot just seemed to be going nowhere. I don't mind a slow plot, and I loved all the homey scenes, but there was just so much talking and not enough doing. I also felt that Diana lost a bit of her charm as the plot advanced; I loved her independent nature at the start of the book, but by the end she kind of just seemed like a child.
Overall I still enjoyed this and I'm glad I read it. I'm not sure when I'll get to the sequels though. 3.5/5...more
Jadey (the Bookish)
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