Maybe it’s because I’ve never seen any visual adaptations of Frankenstein that I adored this classic. Can’t say the same about Bram Stoker. I had no idea what was going to happen and was heavily intrigued by the humanity that develops within the monster. I was totally on the monster’s side and loved this gothic horror of skill.
I tried to read the book over a period of years. Once I finished college I was able to make it a focus for a few months. I felt the first book was an enjoyable YA but as the series progressed it become more adult than I expected. For science fiction it didn’t go overboard and I felt welcomed in Lyra’s world. The series didn’t end the way I wanted it too and it’s still surprising I enjoyed it as much as I did.
Orphaned Karou lives in two different worlds. A seventeen-year-old art student in Prague with vibrant blue hair and endless talent in our world, and teeth gatherer to the chimera Brimstone in Elsewhere. Two lives under one identity that Karou struggles to place. Connected by magical doorways between here and there, her life is full of secrets.
But a force unknown to Karou is marking the doors, and as she tries to protect her other life, she’s suddenly cut off. Stuck in one world and unable to return to the magical family that has raised her, she tries to find a way back to Elsewhere. Along the way Karou discovers that the power behind the breaking of the pathways is more serious than she guessed. Unable to place herself in either atmosphere, she’ll have to decide where she truly wants to be.
All I can say is that Taylor knows what she is doing. For a proper crossover novel that counts as YA and adult fiction, look no further! A truly refreshing read, this first in the series will leave you aching for more as soon as you hit the final page. (Good thing there’s an excerpt from the upcoming second book!) Can I also say that I loved that this book was set in Prague? Generally the YA fiction I’ve reviewed this year has been set in either the USA or the UK and it’s such a pleasant change to be immersed in a different setting.
There’s a lot to this book and I don’t want to give away any spoilers. It’s got everything for a sink into your teeth kind of read: romance, supernatural creatures, a bit of magic and wonder. Taylor masters the ability to keep the reader guessing with the questions surrounding Karou. I can’t wait to read what happens in the second book.
Hodder & Stoughton provided this book for an honest review. Many thanks to the marketing and publicity team!
Just because a book is a bestseller doesn’t mean that it’s good. Although I have met El James, had her sign my copy that was given to me from a friend, there is nothing about these books that thrill me. I’m extra biased because I’m originally from Seattle and it’s obvious that her research was done online. She did finally make the trek out to Seattle last month, and for that I’m proud of her for doing so.
Poor writing and the constant repetition of words and phrases along with incorrect facts told me this book isn’t as great as everyone says it is. And yet, that’s part of its reputation now. People want to still read the books to know how dirty and horrible they are. Seriously folks, it’s not truly worth your reading time.
Anish Kapoor, ‘Tall Tree and the Eye’, London, England 2009
This book was published by MTV originally when I was in middle school. It was a word on the street book. Passed in the halls in between classes my friends and I poured over the words as a written version of our souls. Now, more than ten years down the road it’s finally getting its recognition with a movie coming out! An updated version of The Catcher in the Rye, it’s a book for a new generation. It made me felt infinite and you will too!
Through a Seattle Looking Glass 