HarperCollins, 2011
215 pages
YA/MG; Fantasy; Fairy Tale
3/5 stars
Source: Received a free e-galley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really like Gail Carson Levine so I was excited to see another book by her. The cover indicated a dragon and hopefully another spunky heroine in the vein of Ella Enchanted. I got that in the dragon Meenore and the would-be actor Elodie.
And I did like those two elements but the book as a whole didn't cohere for me. It felt disjointed and it seemed like a character would be introduced for a few chapters and then leave just as I was starting to get to know him. This happened several times. I also found Levine's made-up words and names more annoying than cool, which might have been different if I'd read this when I was ten.
However I did enjoy the wrapping up of the plot. Elodie unravels a mystery and I really liked how she deducted and induced clues. Happily it didn't take her too long to do this and I was caught completely off-guard by the villain.
Overall: The pieces for a great story are there but it didn't come together as I hoped.
Cover: For those who've read the book, I like that Elodie isn't wearing a cap ;)
I think I might avoid this - I tend to hate books that I would have enjoyed as a kid and I'm not a huge fan of her books anymore... thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI do love the cover though, it's really pretty.
I liked this one, but Elodie didn't do it for me. I loved Meenore though. The made up words bugged me a lot.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd like to tackle this book any time soon, mostly because I hate it when characters just disappear, without ever having had a purposes. But the cover is really cute, I must say!
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