Sally Gardner

3.5
This suffered from being too long - had it been edited way down it might have been a 5 star book - but it ambled on too much.
I also felt that this book was a little "too progressive" for its time period.
Other than that the characters are great - but the main love story was dragged out ridiculously due to both characters not having the guts to say anything about how they felt. They also could have saved themselves a lot of fear and worry if theyd bothered to investigate a possible marriage sooner. Everyone in this book drags their feet.
The book has a hint of magical realism - only one character though.

book channel: https://www.youtube.com/@starkissedstories… (more)

3.5
This suffered from being too long - had it been edited way down it might have been a 5 star book - but it ambled on too much.
I also felt that this book was a little "too progressive" for its time period.
Other than that the characters are great - but the main love story was dragged out ridiculously due to both characters not having the guts to say anything about how they felt. They also could have saved themselves a lot of fear and worry if theyd bothered to investigate a possible marriage sooner. Everyone in this book drags their feet.
The book has a hint of magical realism - only one character though.

book channel: https://www.youtube.com/@starkissedstories… (more)

A mysterious and clever novel. I loved the concept, the storytelling. I have knocked off a star from my rating because I was left with a lasting impression that the author, Sally Gardner, could have done so much better if she hadn't turned her two main protagonists into two very beautiful people. I found this such a tiresome cliche which was consuming my thoughts after I had finished reading the book - and I wanted to be left with so much more. If it wasn't for this distraction I would say this novel is a masterpiece and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a mysterious, atmospheric, other-worldly historical novel.… (more)